I get it – you
all have to live in your home while it's listed for sale...
The
home-selling process can be very disruptive, and often stressful, on kids. You
may want to recommend that they play a part in preparing their rooms for sale
themselves, to help them with the transition. If you have any knowledge of
their next home, you can also help to get them excited about getting their new
home ready.
-Engage your kids in the process – get
them involved with deciding what will stay, and what will be packed for the new
house.
-Kid’s toys should be limited to their
bedrooms and play area (if available). Remove all additional toys from the
living room, kitchen, dining room, and other adult entertaining areas.
-If you need to have some toys in an
adult area, considering investing in a wicker or canvas basket - fill with
toys, and place a blanket over the top to cover. This will cleverly disguise
your toy basket as a simple “blanket basket”!
-Kid’s play areas are a great selling
feature, in the right neighbourhood, if there is space available for them.
Adding baskets to these areas will help to keep the toys contained, and somewhat organized.
-Kid’s Rooms – Kids will be kids, but
when selling a house, it’s important that to check their rooms each morning to
ensure that the beds are made and toys put away.
-Limit the toys to a maximum of 2 toy
bins, and unless these are considered decorative, such as a storage bench, keep
these bins stored away in the closet or under the bed.
-Take advantage of your “free” storage
areas – these are areas that prospective buyers will not be looking in and
includes under beds, dresser drawers, and inside any other furniture that you
own. Remember, if it is sold with the house, they will look inside, so avoid
over-filling any built-in cabinets or closet spaces.
-Tone down any accessories and wall
coverings – since it’s a kid’s room, some toys or other fun items should be on
display, but be sure that these are kept to a minimum as well, and aim for a
few select larger items rather than multiple small items.
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While parents
have often joked about shipping their kids off for the time that the house is
for sale, some clients have actually make arrangements for the kids to be out
of town, or have an extended stay at grandparent’s house for the first week or
two. This helps to minimize stress on everyone, and allow them to be more
flexible with available showing times – this can result in a faster sale, and
return to normal life.
When preparing your home for sale, the ultimate goal is to ensure that the home shows at it’s very best, and appeals to as many potential buyers as possible. This strengthens your chance of receiving quality offers, and selling the home quickly.
Unfortunately, not all buyers are pet lovers, and in fact, a home with pets can often be a cause of concern for many, especially for those with allergies. Evidence of pets such as toys, food dishes, and pet beds will also put potential buyers on the lookout for damage throughout the house that may have been caused by furry family members. By eliminating the presence of the pets in the home, buyers can focus on the home’s features, instead of scrutinizing and looking for flaws.
The BTSH team consists of serious animal lovers, and we are proud of our dedication to the animal community. We are all pet owners, and Shauna Lynn takes “crazy cat lady” to a whole new level. Despite this, our recommendations when selling a home with pets is always the same - consider removing all pets from the home, not only for showings, but for the duration of the sale. At the very least, aim for a temporary home for your furry family members for the first two weeks that the home is listed – this is when you receive the greatest amount of traffic and interest in the house. Approach trusted friends and relatives about opening their home to your fur babies. This will mean less stress on both you, and the pets. Animals can be incredibly sensitive to changes, and to strangers in the house (even when they are removed from the home for showings), and you won’t have the worry of trying to maintain the home with the fur, dirt, and other messes that these pets create for us.
If removing your pets is not an option, there are some steps that you can take to ensure that the evidence of them is minimized. To minimize any potential pet odours, ensure that all pets and pet areas are given a thorough cleaning. Opening the windows for a few minutes every day, regardless of the season, will help to remove any stale odours that may be lingering.
Selling Your Home With Cats
Selling your home can be especially stressful for cats, so it is strongly recommended that cat-owners find a temporary home for them while the house is on the market. Indoor cats, when left in the house for showings, often escape, whether by fright or negligence of the potential buyers.
If the cat(s) absolutely must remain in the house for showings, it is important that their presence is minimized as much as possible.
Litter box should be cleaned twice daily
Litter box should be completely emptied and washed at least once a week
Remove cat and litter box for showings if possible (sometimes this can be as simple as a car ride for the duration of the showing or open house)
Store food in an unmarked, opaque container – this will help to keep it hidden from buyers, as well as keep the food fresh
Remove all scratch trees, beds, and all toys
Ensure that their food area is kept clean and tidy, and remove it for showings
Vacuum and dust daily
Selling Your Home With Dogs
Dogs are a little easier to “hide” while a house is on the market. Usually, a homeowner (or a friend or family member) can remove the dog(s) for showings, if given sufficient notice. It is still recommended that a temporary home be found for dogs whenever possible, but if they must remain living in the house for the time that it is on the market, their presence should be minimized as much as possible.
Remove the dog for all showings
Hide all evidence (leashes, food, toys, beds, etc.)
Store food in an unmarked, opaque container – this will help to keep it hidden from buyers as well as keep the food fresh
Thoroughly clean all fabric surfaces (couch, carpet, rugs, bed, etc.)
Keep dog(s) well-groomed
Clean the house regularly
Keep the yard cleaned and patch any bare areas
To check out a few of the furry friends that we have had the pleasure of meeting and working with, check out our video here.
For more information on how to prepare your home for sale, contact Beyond The Stage Homes!
We want you to have a stress- and anxiety-free move. Here are the TOP SIX benefits for why you should declutter before moving homes:
* Getting rid of the clutter will allow you to relax and feel great!
* The Home Staging process will be faster and more effective.
* Your home will look inviting and it will attract more buyers.
* Save time, energy and $$ by not moving unnecessary items.
* Less time spent unpacking in your new home; arranging only the items you love.
* Sell and/or Auction Unwanted items to get $$ back.
DECLUTTER IN 14 STEPS TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR SALE AND MAKE YOUR MOVE SEAMLESS.
1. WHAT’S YOUR WHY? What do you want? Why do you want it? How are these goals going to make your life better?
2. CAN YOU PICTURE IT? Visualize your ideal space. What does it look like? How do you feel when you are there? Having a clear vision in your mind that motivates you will make the process of decluttering and moving way easier. You will also have a better understanding for what items to take with you and what to leave behind. What kind of activities would you like to do in the new space? Make sure to set up the spaces according to your needs.
HELPFUL TIP: Are you moving into a smaller space? Having detailed measurements of every room can help you decide if an item will fit in the space or not. Measure and play with the layout before you move in.
3. PICKING A SPACE TO START. What is your first priority? What space can you benefit the most from? It’s very powerful to be able to start and finish one area. You will be able to experience a functional and inviting space. This will empower you to keep going with other areas.
4. ACCEPT HELP. Yes, it is true. Getting help makes the decluttering process much faster and more fun! Having someone else will help you feel supported, give you extra hands, help you keep the motivation going and keep you accountable.
5. SCHEDULE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME. Be realistic. This is a tough one. It will depend on how fast you make decisions, how much help you have, and how many items there are in the space. Don’t try to do it all at once. Take whatever you estimated and add 2 more hours ;)
6. TAKE BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS. Pictures are not just for professionals to build their portfolios. Taking photographs will help you see your accomplishment and will be motivation you for future sessions.
“When you understand what drives you, what truly motivates you, you are then able to create an environment that facilitates your goals. It frees up space so the new you can step in. There is purpose in how you live.” - Lanna Nakone, Organizing for Your Brain Type.
7. SET UP A STATION. If possible set up a folding table in the space you are working. Only deal with the items on the table. Keep focused and use a timer if you need to. Under the table, have a few bins (donation, recycling, garbage, shredding, belongs in another space, to give to someone, to sell). Every situation will require some or all of these bins. If you have clear space in the room or close by in another room you can make piles there.
8. THE ‘WAVE’ PROCESS. Start on one side of the room and do a “wave” touching every item in the space: Do I need this item? Is it going to help me achieve my goals? Put the item in the proper pile. If you are unsure make a pile of unsure items and go back to it later.
HELPFUL TIP: Taking a photo of an item can help you keep the memory of it without having the physical item. Keep working with the items you know for sure what to do with them.
9. MESSIER BEFORE IT GETS BETTER. Don’t panic. Things will look messier during the beginning of this process. Allowing time to clean up and place things where they belong at the end of the session is very important.
10. GIVE EVERYTHING A ‘HOME’ Every item that stays in the space needs a permanent spot. No excuses.
11. KEEP A TO-DO LIST. As you sort through your items write down every task that comes to mind as you work. It will help you get things done and make smarter decisions. At the end of the session make sure to schedule all the tasks in your calendar.
12. UNWANTED ITEMS. If you know for sure there will be a lot of unwanted items to go for donation, auction, consignment, and/or recycling make sure to arrange for transportation.
13. STORING ITEMS FOR SOMEONE ELSE. Give them a deadline and make sure they are gone before the end of the session. Move them to another space if that’s an option. They need to understand that you are dealing with clutter and working really hard to get your space back. Their stuff is not helping you accomplish your goal.
14. PAPER. Dealing with paper can take a very long time and you won’t see immediate visual results. We recommend putting the paper aside and deal with it in a future session when you have a clear space to tackle it. If you are dealing with paper you may benefit from reading Tips to win the constant battle against paper clutter.
REAL CLIENT EXAMPLES:
ART STUDIO TRANSFORMATION
CREATING A STARTING POINT
OFFICE ORGANIZING
FINAL NOTE
Decluttering your home will allow you to make the process of selling your home and moving seamless.
It will also allow you to get a fresh start. It’s a new chapter in your life and you can decide what that chapter includes.
Don’t want to tackle decluttering on your own? We love working with KW Professional Organizers. Call them today at 226-606-3233!
Our home staging clients often tell us how much they wish that they had brought us in sooner, before they decided to sell the house, so that they could have enjoyed some of the changes that we made! They especially love seeing some of our home staging tricks and hacks first hand, so we’ve decided to share some of our favourites with you! You can put these low-cost ideas to use in your home, regardless of whether or not you are selling.
1. Use baskets to hide cables
It’s not a fancy trick, but it can be incredibly effective. Hide routers, cables, and other messes using baskets. NOTE: some items (such as routers) need room to vent, so be sure to account for and allow for this.
Consider adding a shelf under your desk to get the cords and cables off of the floor.
2. Zip tie your lamp cords (and other electronics)
In staging, there is nothing worse than seeing a long dangling cord behind a table. By zip-tying these, they can be cleaned up and out of site. Wind up extra slack in the cable or cord not needed and tie. You can bundle the cord close to the table top and tie, or tie the cord to the table leg at the top and bottom, and bundle the cord at the base. It’s easy for cables and chargers to become a bit of a mess as well. Group your office or tv cables together and zip tie in a few spots to keep them from getting tangled. It’s also a great idea to label your cords (close to the plug) so that you can easily unplug one when you need to without needing to do serious detective work to find the right one to disconnect. There are a variety of cord labelling systems available for sale, but it doesn’t need to be fancy - you can these create with any labels or tape that you have in your household already. 3.Use painters tape or masking tape to hang art on plaster walls
This will prevent the wall from splitting when you puncture it with the nail. Simply place a small piece of tape (approximately ½”) where you want to hang the nail before hammering.
4. Disguise your everyday products
Hat boxes are an attractive way to hide your everyday toiletries, and come in sizes large enough to fit your lotions and sprays easily!
5.Freshen your furniture with touch-up markers
While it’s not the most glamorous fix, this is a trick that is often used in home staging, and works great for giving furniture a quick touch-up from nicks and scratches. When you’re selling your home, even though you are not likely selling your furnishings, showing care of these items will help to show pride of ownership in your home. 6. Get rid of your fireplace's brass trim
One of the biggest things that can show a fireplace’s age is a brass trim! Pick up some black barbeque paint and cover the brass for an instant update! 7. Fix outdated backsplashes
Have an out-dated backsplash but can’t afford to replace it? Painting it will give it a fresh new look! This is intended as a temporary solution, but with the right paint, it can last for a few years. Not recommended for floor tiles.
8. Yes, you can paint brick!
Paint brick to give an instant update, whether on the interior or exterior of your house. Again, you’ll want to ensure that you are using a paint designed for this type of surface; you’ll be amazed by the finish.
9.Need a table runner?
Create a “make-shift” table runner from an old drape with a few tucks and folds (if you don’t intend to use the drape again, you may wish to cut it and add some hem tape to create a proper seam).
10. Get a custom closet for less!
Hang all similar colours together with matching hangers and add baskets to your shelves. Use space saving hangers for best results – your closet will look and feel much more organized and spacious!
I continually hear people say “I wish I could be as organized as you!”. I am always looking for ways to better organize my own home, and make things easier to find and access. I’m a firm believer in having everyday things at my fingertips. The first step in organizing is to sort through the areas of clutter and arrange a system. Categorize the items by what needs to stay where it is (but in an organized way of course), what is truly junk and can be tossed, and what is worth keeping, but is in the wrong place. Once you’ve done this, start with the “wrong place” items, and put them in the correct place immediately. Next, conquer the clutter and organize the items that are going to stay put.
Small Solutions Jewellery trays—these don’t have to be your traditional silver trays, but can be a vintage ceramic plate or bowl. I keep one in every bedroom in my house, so that guests have a safe place to put their jewellery, watches, and other tokens. Store remote controls in a decorative dish or basket (one with dividers is ever better!). This could also be a good place to keep a pen and paper handy. Use small clear containers or reseal-able bags to store small items such as paper clips, hair elastics, travel shampoos, etc. By using a clear container, it will be easy to find, and keeps all like items together. I have a large collection of craft items and find that this is the best way to keep all my thingamajigs and doohickies organized.
Kitchen Storage Perhaps the room that simply never seems to be big enough, or have enough storage space! When doing staging projects, one of the first things that I always suggest to homeowners is to clear off the kitchen counters. From a resale point of view, buyers want to see the counter space available, so you don’t want to hide it. The problem? Homeowners shriek at the thought of having to find room in their cupboards for the items that are sitting on the counter! As a first step, I always recommend looking at what is on the counter, and see what is used several times a week. For items that are not used as often, consider how important it is to the kitchen, and whether it can be stored in another storage area (such as a crawl space, closet, or even the garage), or whether it can be tossed altogether.
A Few More Kitchen Tips Add drawer dividers to keep even your junk drawer organized Use clear, stackable containers to store flour, sugar, rice, etc in your cupboards Make use of the empty space above the fridge—place baskets or storage boxes to keep it looking clean and organized, and store takeout menus, recipes, and special occasion dishware.
I Know I Said To “Toss” It, But Please Don’t Throw It Out Since this article touches so much on “tossing” unnecessary items, which may not be the most environmentally friendly approach, consider donating to a salvage store, or selling through a local classified paper or online site. The latest in re-using is “Freecycle”, which allows only free items to be posted in an effort to keep them out of landfills. Search online to find a site for your region.
Written by Shauna Lynn, Beyond The Stage Homes www.beyondthestagehomes.com
1. Keep a decorative dish by the door to place keys and any other items you’ll need when you leave the house
2. Put a basket near the entrance for bills that need to be paid, and use another basket for bills that have been paid – be sure to mark a date on the calendar at least once a month to organize and file paid bills. Sort into labelled file folders, and store in a file cabinet or bankers box
3. Keep an envelope handy for receipts that may be needed in case of warranty claims or returns – make a point of going through these once a month when you sort your bills
4. Install hooks inside the coat closet and use for hanging things such as umbrellas or flashlights
5. Install hooks on the back of your bedroom closet door to hang necklaces and bracelets from
6. Store scarves, mitts, hats, etc in a box that can be easily stored during the warmer months, and easily found before winter
7. Store seasonal items in Rubbermaid bins, and label clearly
8. Decorative storage boxes are a great way to store almost anything – purses, hats, CDs, etc
9. Use clear containers to store items used more often so they can be easily identified
10. Create a folder or box for all tax related information – file items such as renovation receipts, charitable donations, T4s, etc throughout the year – this will make tax time much less taxing!
11. If you’re not the scrapbooking type, and never seem to get around to putting pictures in albums, file in a box, and be sure to clearly mark what the pictures are of either with index card dividers, or the photo envelope the pictures came in (see ATH from May 11/09 to make your own photo box)
12. Keep all your instruction manuals a box, clearly labelled – you can use a shoe box, or a plastic storage container
13. Paper boutique bags, or gift bags, can make attractive for an attractive storage solution – store items and hang on hooks in your closet
14. Pick up greeting cards when there is a sale so you’re never caught on an occasion without one – store in a clear storage box or wicker basket
15. Wrap labels around the ends of cords plugged into a power bar, and label the item they’re attached to
16. Keep your sheet sets together by storing the sheets and extra pillowcase inside the other pillowcase
17. Organize the junk drawer with a drawer organizer, or multiple small plastic bins (a variety of sizes available at the dollar store)
18. Buy furniture with hidden storage, such as ottomans, bench seats, or easy chairs with armrest storage
19. Use an umbrella stand or tall vase to store wrapping paper – especially handy during the Holiday season when you’re wrapping lots of gifts, and it will blend in nicely with the other holiday decorations
20. Go through your closets every summer and winter to purge items that you no longer wear and donate to goodwill
- If you need to have some toys in an
adult area, considering investing in a wicker or canvas basket - fill with
toys, and place a blanket over the top to cover. This will cleverly disguise
your toy basket as a simple “blanket basket”!
- Take advantage of your “free” storage
areas – these are areas that prospective buyers will not be looking in and
includes under beds, dresser drawers, and inside any other furniture that you
own. Remember, if it is sold with the house, they will look inside, so avoid
over-filling any built-in cabinets or closet spaces.
