How to Get Your Home Ready for the Selling Market

Did you know decluttering is an important key in selling your home!

There are many reasons for decluttering.

First of all, decluttering allows fewer distractions to the buyers. They will be able to envision their belongings in the space. This is an important piece of the puzzle. The potential buyers want to be able to picture what it would be like to live there. If they can't, the home will likely be scratched from their list.

Second - The home will look more spacious without the trinkets, photos and extra furniture. Space is what buyers are looking for so decluttering the home will make it look larger.

Third - Well organized and less cluttered homes raise the property value. It allows for better professional photos too. This will bring in more potential buyers.

So - how do we declutter?

Step 1 - Get ready to get rid of it. Get four bins and label them.

1. Throw it out
2. Recycle/Reuse
3. Sell it
4. Donate it

Step 2 - When decluttering, do each room at a time. It will seem less overwhelming and feel like you're accomplishing more.

Step 3 - Organize.

• Use the under-the-bed storage containers for shoes, scarves, and wrapping paper.
• Get shelf dividers for purses, sweaters, and hats.
• Get some of those mesh storage bags for your kids’ toys.
• Plastic bins come in many sizes. You can stash decorations, kitchen utensils, seasonal clothing away.
• Storage boxes. The paper/cardboard kind to organize photos, cards, and important documents.

Once you've completed the decluttering process...then what?

Well, now you can do a self-check.

• Can you open all the cupboards without any issues? Believe it or not, buyers will open them! 
• Can you open doors all the way? It's a feeling of less space when you can't open things to their full potential.
• Of course, this is a false way of living but think of it this way. Having most of your things packed up will make for less time cleaning. It will also be quicker to tidy and maintaining your home.
• Finally, get your agent to take your photos once you've finished decluttering. Your photos will look their best which will have more people coming to see your home. 

There you have it. If you are looking to sell your home in the future, then declutter so your home shows off its full potential. Maximize the space by minimizing your things. Show all your rooms and their use. Don't leave a room idle. The buyer may see it as wasted space and wonder why they're paying for it. Keep your home looking at its best while it's on the market. Sit back, relax and be proud of all your hard work while you wait for your agent to call with an offer!

Thanks for taking the time to read. Until next time - Keep it "REAL"

What is the Right Home Style for You?

Home styles are important because we want to live in a house that suits who we are. We want it to suit our likes, our dislikes, and our personality. Here is a list of home styles and a little bit about them.

Split Entry Homes

There are several types of split entry homes:

A split entry home is a style of house in which the floor levels are staggered. There are typically two short sets of stairs, one running upward to a bedroom level, and one going downward toward a basement area.  

Side Split

A side split is a split level home where the levels are visible from the front elevation. The garage is on one side while the other half of the house is the main living area. The kitchen and living room are on the main level. The split happens on the main level with a few steps going down to the lower level and a few going up to the bedroom area. Part of a story above the garage level and part of a story below the bedroom level. Grading or steps connect the exterior street to the front door on the main level.

Side splits separate bedrooms from living space without the need for a full flight of stairs. It is less land-efficient than a two-story house but more efficient than a bungalow.

Most side splits have a crawlspace that is half the size of the house. Which means the foundation is the same for both halves of the "split" house. Some others may have a split foundation with a full basement below even the lower main living area.

Back Split

Another split-level home but the split level is only visible from the side elevation. The front elevations shows only a single story and the two stories are in the back.

Bungalow

In a bungalow, all living areas are on a single-story and there are no stairs between living areas. A bungalow is a great fit for the disabled and the elderly as there are no stairs. Bungalows are one or one and a half stories, housing a loft. Planted trees and shrubs are usually used to block the view of neighbors. They provide cost-effective residences.

Ranch

Ranch style homes are one-story houses with an open and casual layout. The shape of the house is either rectangular or an "L" or "U" shape. Many ranch homes sit on a concrete slab, though some have a basement or crawl space.

Cape Cod

A Cape Cod house is a low, broad, single-story frame building. It has a steep pitched gabled roof, a large central chimney, and very little ornamentation.

Salt Box

A saltbox house is generally a wooden frame house with lots of space.

I hope this post has been useful to you and there is a style you've found that feels like "home" to you.

Thanks for reading - until next time...Keep it "REAL"