I Design Spaces Serving the Bay Area since 2003

5 tips to safer home showings

Safety First
5 tips to safer home showings

Although we usually don’t think of home-selling as a dangerous activity, safety issues should be considered:                                                                                                                                  

1.  Firearms, knives, including those in the kitchen, and other weapons should be removed from sight and locked up.

2.  Family photos and anything labeled with a name should be removed from view.

3.  Bills, invoices, credit-card statements and anything with a Social Security number or other identifying information on it should be removed from view.

4.  Jewelry and other valuables should be placed in a safety deposit box or out of sight.

5.  Prescription medications should be removed from medicine cabinets and bedside tables and placed out of sight.

For more visit one of my favorite sites: www.energizedseller.com

10 Steps to a Successful Showing!

10 Steps to a Successful Showing!

****REMEMBER:  BUYERS BUY THROUGH EMOTION.  Make your home FEEL good by keeping in mind all Senses:  Sight / Sound / Smell / Feel

1. Clean up Bedroom / Bathroom / Kitchens Daily. (including Dusting and Vacuum)
2. Walk through house to make sure Furniture / Accessories (pillows, rugs, plants, lamps, artwork) are all straightened out and in place (neat)
3. Turn on ALL lights and lamps…lights make the house seem more inviting and bigger!
4. Open all curtains and blinds, angle some blinds to re-direct unsightly views.
5. Make sure the temperature of home is comfortable.  (a couple degrees warmer or colder than it is outside depending on season)
6. Turn on some music to set the stage!  Light jazz is always a good choice.
7. Open Windows for at least 30 minutes to "air out" home before showing. 
8. Potpourri:  Try “Ambrosia”  you can use fragrance reeds too.
9. EXTERIOR: Garage Closed / Hoses put away / Garbage Cans out of site.
10. If you have PETS:  Place Bedding and Food Bowls in a discreet location or better yet, in garage or outside.

Creating a Stylish Home for 2010

It's cold or wet in lots of places. Time to make the home more cozy, more comfortable, more inviting. But it's also time to make it more stylish for 2010 and give your whole family an uplift for the new year. Here are some easy ideas and things to tackle first.

Eliminate that Clutter - If you haven't packed up all the holiday decorations, now's the time to get it done and out of the way until next Christmas. Organize the decorations by color or type and be sure to label the boxes appropriately. Seal up the boxes with tape to keep bugs and dust out and store in a safe, dry, cool place. Check out every room for unnecessary clutter and messes and resolve to step by step get it put away or tossed away or given away. After all, you've got to make way for all the new clutter you plan on acquiring in 2010, right?
 

Freshen Your Colors and Art- Look at your paint. Do your walls need to be freshened up? How about the color? Would a new color update your home in a flash? Check out your artwork. Is it dated, tired and old? Reuse the frame but update the image.
Freshen Up the Bedrooms - Take advantage of the white sales to change out your bedspread, bed pillows, sheets, pillowcases, towels and so forth. In really cold climates, add more blankets or winterized sheets. Dark, warm colors will make a cold room feel warmer and more inviting. Switch to cool, light colors for spring and summer looks.

Organize Your China - During the holidays I use dinnerware and flatware that I save for special times of the year. But I also like to change out my everyday wear once a year. It is tiring to use the same dishes for too long. You can buy separates or sets especially at this time of year. It's a great way to spruce up your daily meal time for everyone in one scoop.

Give away your old dinnerware - you know you're not going to use it any more. Decorative dinnerware can also be hung on walls or displayed beautifully in china cabinets.

Add Storage or Make Storage More Functional - Tackle those messy shelves, drawers, cabinets, closets. Don't try to do everything all at once if you feel overwhelmed. Do one a week. You'll be done before you know it. Buy furniture that serves more than one purpose if space is limited. Buy storage units that have doors or tops to keep the contents out of sight.

*You can read more at one of my favorite sites: http://www.homestagingredesign.com/2010january.html

Set the Stage for a Quick House Sale

BEFORE: The lack of doors on the kitchen cabinets make this galley kitchen look cluttered and cramped. The homeowner took the doors off the cabinets because he wanted a loft-apartment feel, but he never finished the shelves.

AFTER: The cabinets have been sanded and painted white to match the shelving, and brushed-nickel handles have been added for a modern touch. A cleanup of clutter and a new light fixture complete the look. A new chandelier and contemporary art pieces in the dining room make the room look as chic as a Chanel suit.

-courtesy of frontdoor.com

Decorating for New Year’s, storing Christmas decorations

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