10 Steps to Preparing your Home for Sale
/Would you like to make as much money as possible on the sale of your home? Sellers are getting top dollar when they put some skin in the game and prepare their home for the market.
These are important first steps:
#1. Put away your emotions and put on your business hat. You are now selling a product and someone else’s dream.
#2. Curb Appeal: Get your landscaping dialed in. Weeded, planted, mulched (no red bark please) and beautiful. Be honest-how does your front door look? (See #3)
#3 Paint: Out with the strong statement colors and in with the neutrals. [Check out this blog post for in-tell on paint]
#4 Lighting: Remove fabric window coverings, valances and anything that blocks out the light. Illuminate the room with table lamps and floor lamps or better yet, a current light fixture.
#5 Reinvent rooms. Create an office in a small nook area, or a craft room in a dingy area of the basement. (See #10)
#6 Pack away belongings and de-clutter. Do not leave any closet untouched. Get a storage pod and pack pack pack. Or better yet, move out altogether.
#7 Clean. Professionally is always my vote. Cleaners see so much more than homeowners. They know the drill. Do not forget windows-inside and out.
#8 Repair as much as possible. Make a list in order of importance. Buyers want a home that has been well cared for and loved.
#9 Interview Real Estate Agents and listen to them. They are in the business of helping homeowners get top dollar and most should know how to do that.
#10 Hire a reputable staging company. Check out their current work and reviews from clients. Start with Houzz. It cost money to stage so make certain you have connected with the right staging company.
Valentines Day Ideas
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We have some cool Valentine treat suggestions.
Try the new Color of the year: “Living Coral” instead of traditional red and pink.
I know our daughters love sassy Valentine t shirts and so do us older girls.
These were big sellers for the holiday and I think they work great as Valentine gifts as well.
This is easy….Chocolate!!!
And for him….
You have about 2 weeks to make it happen so click ,shop and love.
New Construction Bellevue
/How decadent to move into such a beautifully built home. It flows so well, has great multi functioning spaces and all over well designed. We love staging Winfield Homes.
I am showing you the back of the home because I love the outdoor space.
Listing by Tiffany Schmitz for Keller Williams, staging by Open House LLC and construction by Winfield Homes.
The New Year!!
/We all need renewal and new beginnings. It’s good for the soul to be sure. Some of us spent November being Grateful, December-Giving and now let’s make January-The Launch. Celebrated with clients today and we talked about vision boards, dreaming big, planning big and not fearing.
Here are some ideas to get you launched!
Clean up your office, studio or work space.
Messy offices can clutter your head and create a backlog of paperwork. Get ‘er done!
2. Sort your mail daily.
You know it is only a 2.5 minute task that needs doing.
3. Sign up for daily inspiration.
My favorite is tut.com . Each day you will receive an email with 1 or 2 lines. For sure you are gonna smile and most definitely laugh out loud. It’s good stuff about loving your life… (You’re welcome)
4. A Netflix show to get you organizing: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
One cannot help but love this sweet woman who gently teaches you to get rid of and organize your stuff.
If anything, it will at least get you to look at your home and your “stuff” differently.
5. Less Talking and more Listening
It’s just all around good when listening happens more than talking…
6. Get more Sleep and drink more Water
Ya’ll know that goes without saying but it is often a good reminder.
7. Create a Vision Board with Action Steps
I guided a group of family and friends, with the help from my sister Sue, on creating vision boards. They loved the part of cutting out of magazines but did not like the more difficult part of the action steps.
8. Be of Service
Volunteering or giving is a great way to get those “life is good” vibes. I promise you-it works!
9. Make a quick list of 10 things you would like to do this year.
Post it where you will see it. One year I had something as simple as “Order a cheese plate". Weird, I know but I would so often pass on that in restaurants and it was something I just loved. I finally did it at the very end of the year.
10. Do something that scares you.
Step out of that comfort zone and take a different route. Maybe a solo road trip, a bit of networking, a job change perhaps, talking to strangers,or take a trip with my high school girlfriends. That’ll scare the crap out of you!
My husband and I were at a bar and a young gal approached us and asked us what our names were and what was our favorite movie. She said she was new to Seattle and this helped her get to know people. That would be scary for me.
There you have it. Your 2019 list.
I am proud of you already!
Laurelhurst Home Staging
/Another nice Laurelhurst remodel for you to put on Santa’s list.
This job for us was a fabulous remodel by fellow stager, owner and sister Tara of Open House Staging & TaraNelsonDesigns, listing by Home Smart Agent Michelle Farber, photos by Robert Brittingham@ RJ Images and staging by Open House.
Erin's Gift Guide
/HAPPY HOLIDAY SHOPPING!
With 3 women in my household you can only imagine how many beauty products we have passing between us. We are all loving Charcoal! Google it. It reduces toxins, whitens teeth and so much more. Here are 3 favorites:
[affiliate links]
Leopard print just does not go out of style! Our mother’s even had pieces back in the day. Just a touch here and there and you are stylin’!
When my girls went off to college they missed their cats. Recommended by a much admired friend, I had photos of our cats made into pillows. BEST. GIFT. EVER.
This chopper looks dorky and gimmicky but it’s not. Was gifted it and now I spread the chopper love. Instant Pots really do rock and who can resist a beautiful oven mitt?!
And now for the men in our lives…
I think this will be the gift of the season. They come in all shapes, sizes and prices. (I am not telling who I am giving this to!)
You can also stop by our SHOP for more inspiration.
Tara's Holiday Gift Guide Picks
/Sat around with some friends last weekend talking about some of our gift ideas for friends and family. It helps to hear what others are doing so that we can get ideas for the people on our list. So…we hunted down some of Tara’s picks.
Here you Go!
[affiliate links]
Stop over in our shop for more gift giving ideas.
Queen Anne Staging
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Condo listed by Orvis & Orvis Real Estate, photography by Steve Hanson at Hanson Photo Group and staging by Open House LLC.
Favorite ETSY Finds
/We have been purchasing a ton of fabulous things on ETSY. Items for staging our homes, items for our home remodels and even my trailer remodel.
We are often asked for buying suggestions so we brought you just a few of our favorites and included some fashion favorites as well. Shop away friends!
{Affiliate Links}
Forge Hardware Studio
Cottonmood
If you like what you see then stop over in our SHOP for additional inspiration.
New Construction Staging
/How to get the Urban Farmhouse look:
An edgy hybrid style of two popular design aesthetics. Rustic wood mixed with linen and leather that warms the space. Add in high-contrast finishes and onyx accents to create the contemporary side. And…BAM! You got the look.
Our SHOP also has what it takes to help you with this vibe.
Listing by Jason Viydo for Windermere Real Estate, photographs by our very own Jodi Merrywell here at Open House and staging by us!
