Posts Tagged ‘interior decorating’
START NOW – Get Your Home Ready for Holiday Visitors
The countdown has started! Time is already running out to complete your home projects before the holidays arrive. So, get your ‘Honey-Do List’ and your Pinterest board ready! Start your projects now to be sure the dust has settled before your holiday visitors arrive. Here are some tips to help you get ready, get the design you want and get it done on time!
TIME-SENSITIVE MATERIAL
First, since this topic is about a fast approaching deadline, let’s start with thinking about the end. When are visitors coming to your home this holiday season? Now, back that up… What date do you need to have your home projects completed to be ready for the visitors? Then, back that up one more time… When do you need to start your projects?? That thought might have lit your fire of urgency, so here we go!
Plan with a Schedule, Design and Budget
A well thought out plan is critical, not only to get your project done, but to how smoothly your project will run along the way. Think about every detail- from the ugly demolition to the pretty things you want to see at the end. Preparing a schedule, your design and a budget will help you to start your project with confidence and be ready for the unexpected that may arise. These 3 important planning tools will be your guide when selecting materials, planning deliveries and preparing for installation.
Gather the facts
Clearly understand where you are coming from and where you are headed in your project. Measure and document what currently exist in the project area before starting. Also, collect your ideas and photos that represent the new design. Create a detailed project list of action items noting who is responsible for each. Always have this information on hand, especially on time-sensitive projects! You will use this valuable information for focused decision-making. Likewise, reviewing the facts of your project will give you an objective look at areas of concern or while creating a design feature.
Take your time to Select Materials
The design ideas in your head (and Pinterest board) become reality when you start making selections for your project. Take time to do some research and educate yourself on the options. Consider care and maintenance, along with price, style and color. Reading reviews might help you make swift decisions that you will be happy with in the end. For good measure, narrow selections down to 2 options you would be happy with; you know, just in case.
Expect the Unexpected
There are always surprises. Whether they’re behind the wall you’ll be knocking down, or the vanity cabinet that just went on back order. Even the smallest projects have many moving parts that can go sideways in the blink of an eye; such as mis-measures, missing parts, and mishandled merchandise. Unexpected delays are manageable when you are prepared to make decisions quickly. Your well thought out plan will keep these potential hiccups from derailing your project.
Need help? Another Opinion LLC can help you with creating a design, preparing a schedule and budget, and making selections for your project. Contact Staci and start now to get your home ready for your holiday visitors!
Downsizing Tips for Empty Nesters
Have you and your spouse just become an Empty Nesters? If your kiddo has left for school or they’ve recently moved out, you are certainly feeling the mixed emotions that come along with this major life event. It’s a bittersweet moment, however, can also become one of empowerment. Your home is ready for a transition, so seize this moment to transform your life! Here are a few tips to help reclaim your space and reinvent yourself along the way:
Your Home Should Fit Your Lifestyle
Until now your home life has revolved around raising a family. So, don’t feel guilty when considering the lifestyle you want in the years ahead. If your home does not support who you want to become, you have permission to change it.
Reclaim Your Space
As an Empty Nester you’ve just been given back square footage of your home. Take ownership by giving this space a new intention! Let your lifestyle be your inspiration…. Such as, that craft room you always wanted, the mancave he’s talked about for years, or maybe an exercise room that would eliminate the monthly gym expense.
Letting Go
You’ve collected, accumulated and been given a lot of stuff over the years. And now you’ve become keeper of things the kids left behind. If your home is overwhelmed with things that do not support your lifestyle, it’s time to lighten your load. Living with less will allow for more freedom in your life to do what you enjoy and to fully appreciate what you have.
Sorting Stuff
Sorting through belongings is overwhelming. But, the relief that you’ll feel after the space is cleared will be well worth your effort. To move swiftly through your sort, make decisions quickly. If you linger on an item, keep it for further evaluation and move on. You’ll get another look when you’re moving the sorted items onward to their final destination.
Moving It Forward
Removing the ‘get rid of’ pile from your home can be a daunting task as well. Give yourself a limited time frame to have everything out of your home so you don’t keep pushing it off. Consider a charity with donation pick up to make it easier for you. For heirlooms that family members aren’t interested in, consider transforming it with a furniture makeover!
Get Help From A Professional
Don’t be afraid to call a professional to help you get started. An outsider’s perspective will give you clarity and keep you motivated to get your project completed.
Becoming an Empty Nester is the time to be empowered and create the lifestyle you want. Another Opinion will help you reclaim spaces in your home and find relief from overwhelming stuff. Contact Staci to start transforming your life!
How to Prepare Your Home for Sale
If your home does not look similar to a HGTV reveal, then you have work to do before listing your home on the market. Potential buyers have high expectations when they tour a home they might want to buy. Taking an objective look when you prepare your home for sale will help you see it from a buyer’s perspective. Below we’ve collected some great tips to give your home a competitive edge and to maximize your profit.
From The Curb – They Will Judge The Book By Its Cover
A positive first impression is critical. What a buyer sees as they pull up to the curb will influence everything they see after that point. Power wash and repair the exterior, tidy up plantings and remove debris and excess from the yard. Add bright colors with flowers and a small seating area if there is enough space.
Clean, then Clean Again
Every inch of your home will be under the buyer’s microscope, especially those areas typically neglected like lights, baseboards and vents. A disgusting bathroom and dirty windows easily distract potential buyers. But, a thorough deep scrub will have them comfortable in that the home looks to have been well maintained.
Let There Be Light
Lighting has a big impact on a buyer’s experience by making rooms look spacious and inviting. Open up curtains and blinds to feature sunlight and maximize outdoor views through clean windows. Enhance light fixtures with bright bulbs of matching color for a consistent look.
Floors Are The Foundation of Preparation
Improving the appearance of worn out and damaged floors will keep buyers from turning away. Overall condition will determine if a DIY repair or replacement is appropriate, but the effort will be well worth the added value and return. Giving buyers a move-in-ready home will give you a competitive edge too.
Give Your House a Facelift
Fresh surfaces will turn back years of wear and tear in your home. Paint walls and trim, update cabinets and counters to give potential buyers the look of new and improved. Look for small ways to make your home more current, such as integrating technology.
Set The Stage
Show off your home’s best features by keeping furniture and accessories to a minimum. Apply home staging techniques to help potential buyers make a connection with the home. And by staying neutral with colors and gender, your home will appeal to the widest audience.
As a seller, seize this opportunity to control how buyers will perceive your home. An objective eye and view from the buyer’s perspective will give you a competitive edge and maximize your profit. Get Another Opinion for help with preparing your home for sale. Contact us today!