Hi Everyone:
If you want to receive the remainder of the blog posts on
Getting Your Home Ready to Sell in 12 weeks, ( Or how to eat an elephant)
Please email us at
AllenMarketingx2@gmail.com
Unfortunately, we suspect that someone is ripping off this blog and using it as their own work and trying to charge money for it. For that reason, I will be emailing it out from this point on. (It is copyrighted but who wants to fight that fight.) Sad that some people make it hard for the rest of us.
Warmly,
Mary Allen
336.988.0555
Monday, March 31, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Week 4 Getting your home ready to sell in 12 weeks (or how to eat an elephant)
Well, if you are following along, you may feel that your house looks like a disaster right now. Just hang in there....
You will need.... Way to make a list, access to internet
Time to make some lists...
Go room by room and see any maintenance that needs to be done. This will be easier now that you have less in the rooms. Make a list. Do the rooms need to be painted, blinds cleaned, flooring cleaned or replaced? Just make the list....no stress.
Via a real estate website, look at how rooms are staged. Look at the price range where you feel your home will be listed. This is your competition. You want your home to stand out....in a good way. Make note of a few homes that make you want to see them and homes that are a turn-off.
Also use your time on line to find ways to rearrange your rooms to make them look their best. Go ahead and try something different.
If you want access to our local MLS, let me know and I will set up an account for you. No obligation. All that is needed is your name and email address - email us at AllenMarketingx2@gmail.com
Until Wednesday...
Taking those bites wth you,
Mary
You will need.... Way to make a list, access to internet
Time to make some lists...
Go room by room and see any maintenance that needs to be done. This will be easier now that you have less in the rooms. Make a list. Do the rooms need to be painted, blinds cleaned, flooring cleaned or replaced? Just make the list....no stress.
Via a real estate website, look at how rooms are staged. Look at the price range where you feel your home will be listed. This is your competition. You want your home to stand out....in a good way. Make note of a few homes that make you want to see them and homes that are a turn-off.
Also use your time on line to find ways to rearrange your rooms to make them look their best. Go ahead and try something different.
If you want access to our local MLS, let me know and I will set up an account for you. No obligation. All that is needed is your name and email address - email us at AllenMarketingx2@gmail.com
Until Wednesday...
Taking those bites wth you,
Mary
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Weekend -Week 3 Getting Your Home Ready to Sell in 12 weeks (or how to eat an elephant)
Glad you are hanging in there and getting things done.
This weekend we will finish outdoor projects and begin to work on inside projects.
First:
If you still have a "curb appeal" project to do - finish it this weekend.
Go through the steps outlined earlier to pace yourself and remember to play/rest too.
Next:
Go through your entire home this weekend and make decisions about what furniture and accessories you can put in storage.
You will need: Moving boxes or containers, post-it notes, drinks and snacks.
Thursday night - begin this process..
Tackle your first room. Put post-it notes on each piece of furniture or large items that you can remove from this room. Most people remove 1/3 to 1/2 of their items. Remember you are trying to show the home, not your stuff. Keep in mind that you want to keep the items in the space that are in the best condition. If a chair or sofa needs help, add cleaning it to your "to do" list or consider other ways you can handle that. (Throws, pillows, furniture makers, paint?)
Look at this first room and the post-its. Do you have somewhere to put these items that will not make your home look smaller (basement storage?) or do you need to rent a storage unit or "pod" for a few months?
While you are thinking about this move to your second room.
Repeat your process with the second room, third room, etc. How large of a storage space do you need to really make your home show at it's best?
Note: I am a big advocate of "pods". You can have a pod dropped off in your driveway and pack things away until you are ready to put your home on the market. Then call the pod company and they will store the entire thing until you need it at your new home. They will then deliver it to your new home. Such a good idea! You can even go to the storage facility and retrieve something or add something if you like. Remember - pack things so that they won't get damaged regardless of what storage you choose.
By the time you have gotten to all your rooms and your outside entertaining spaces, you should be able to count the number of large pieces you have to estimate how much storage you need.
At this point make your decision. Where will you store items?
A good thought is to begin by using your garage. (If you don't have a garage, and can't do a pod, consider family and friends that might have storage space you can use.)
If you know some fitness buffs, weight lifters, call them to come over for a work out on Saturday. Ask them to move all the items with post its into your chosen storage. Do you need to borrow/rent a truck? Make sure you choose people who will be careful with your things and will not injure themselves. (It is always good to make sure you are insured in case someone does hurt themselves - check your homeowners policy)
Before the moving begins, go through any drawers and decide whether you need to remove contents. You may want to actually pack things away in the drawers, keeping in mind not to make the items too heavy. Please do not pack books in these pieces, they are make things too heavy.
When the moving begins on Saturday, plan to have some drinks and snacks on hand for your helpers.
Once all the items have been removed to your storage site. Thank everyone and have some fun.
Your home may look strange....but just relax and hold on.
Until Sunday night.....
Taking those bites with you,
Mary
This weekend we will finish outdoor projects and begin to work on inside projects.
First:
If you still have a "curb appeal" project to do - finish it this weekend.
Go through the steps outlined earlier to pace yourself and remember to play/rest too.
Next:
Go through your entire home this weekend and make decisions about what furniture and accessories you can put in storage.
You will need: Moving boxes or containers, post-it notes, drinks and snacks.
Thursday night - begin this process..
Tackle your first room. Put post-it notes on each piece of furniture or large items that you can remove from this room. Most people remove 1/3 to 1/2 of their items. Remember you are trying to show the home, not your stuff. Keep in mind that you want to keep the items in the space that are in the best condition. If a chair or sofa needs help, add cleaning it to your "to do" list or consider other ways you can handle that. (Throws, pillows, furniture makers, paint?)
Look at this first room and the post-its. Do you have somewhere to put these items that will not make your home look smaller (basement storage?) or do you need to rent a storage unit or "pod" for a few months?
While you are thinking about this move to your second room.
Repeat your process with the second room, third room, etc. How large of a storage space do you need to really make your home show at it's best?
Note: I am a big advocate of "pods". You can have a pod dropped off in your driveway and pack things away until you are ready to put your home on the market. Then call the pod company and they will store the entire thing until you need it at your new home. They will then deliver it to your new home. Such a good idea! You can even go to the storage facility and retrieve something or add something if you like. Remember - pack things so that they won't get damaged regardless of what storage you choose.
By the time you have gotten to all your rooms and your outside entertaining spaces, you should be able to count the number of large pieces you have to estimate how much storage you need.
At this point make your decision. Where will you store items?
A good thought is to begin by using your garage. (If you don't have a garage, and can't do a pod, consider family and friends that might have storage space you can use.)
If you know some fitness buffs, weight lifters, call them to come over for a work out on Saturday. Ask them to move all the items with post its into your chosen storage. Do you need to borrow/rent a truck? Make sure you choose people who will be careful with your things and will not injure themselves. (It is always good to make sure you are insured in case someone does hurt themselves - check your homeowners policy)
Before the moving begins, go through any drawers and decide whether you need to remove contents. You may want to actually pack things away in the drawers, keeping in mind not to make the items too heavy. Please do not pack books in these pieces, they are make things too heavy.
When the moving begins on Saturday, plan to have some drinks and snacks on hand for your helpers.
Once all the items have been removed to your storage site. Thank everyone and have some fun.
Your home may look strange....but just relax and hold on.
Until Sunday night.....
Taking those bites with you,
Mary
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Week 3, Getting your home ready to sell in 12 weeks.....or How to eat an Elephant.
Getting your home ready to sell in 12 weeks....or how to eat an elephant.
Recently, we had a home go "under contract" 20 days after we got it on the market. The sellers had their home ready, we marketed it diligently and it paid off!
This week....
Same idea, different areas...
Do the same thing in your Laundry area, entrance area and those places where items tend to gather. Go through the cabinets, drawers, shelves and purge, purge, purge. Sort into your 3 boxes.
Remember - You are trying to get to a sleek, clean look where buyers can have a blank canvas to picture themselves living there.
Begin to get your children involved in doing the same things in their rooms. Think of a charity that would be meaningful for them to give the toys and clothes they don't use. You can also allow them to plan to have a table at a future yard sale, as a motivator.
You are taking bites of the elephant.
Until Wednesday night....
Taking those bites with you,
Mary
Same idea, different areas...
Do the same thing in your Laundry area, entrance area and those places where items tend to gather. Go through the cabinets, drawers, shelves and purge, purge, purge. Sort into your 3 boxes.
Remember - You are trying to get to a sleek, clean look where buyers can have a blank canvas to picture themselves living there.
Begin to get your children involved in doing the same things in their rooms. Think of a charity that would be meaningful for them to give the toys and clothes they don't use. You can also allow them to plan to have a table at a future yard sale, as a motivator.
You are taking bites of the elephant.
Until Wednesday night....
Taking those bites with you,
Mary
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Weekend #2 Getting your home ready to sell in 12 weeks, or how to eat an elephant
Prepare for Weekend #2 -Getting your home ready to sell in 12 weeks.
or Eating an elephant- one bite at a time;-)
Weekend Two – More First Bites of the Elephant.
Another Great weather forecast!….so let’s head outside and finish our work on “Curb appeal”
What you will need: Exterior List/photos from last week (3 items you decided needed improvement)
You should be able to check one item off the list that you took care of last week. Yay!
Choose another item from last week’s list that will help make the biggest improvement to the “curb appeal” of your home.
If you have fallen trees and debris from the recent ice storm or other issues to deal with that may become the first priority. Otherwise, let's keep going....
If it is a project that you think you can do:
Wednesday: Find out how by looking online or asking people you know.
Ask for help from people you trust to do a good job.
Make a list of items you need to purchase
Plan your meals (crockpot?) and plan for help (childcare?).
Thursday: Pick up items you need and other items, food/ drinks you will need for the weekend.
Friday: Complete prep work on Friday night
Saturday: Work on the main project(s) on Saturday and complete. Remember excellence, not perfection is your goal.
Clean up as you go and/or ask someone to help.Please
don’t skip this.
Don’t work until exhaustion and neglect clean-up – it may frustrate you. It is always best to clean up as you go;-)
don’t skip this.
Don’t work until exhaustion and neglect clean-up – it may frustrate you. It is always best to clean up as you go;-)
Sunday: Satisfaction and Refreshment. (Yes! Enjoy what you did! Get your favorite beverage and look at what you accomplished.)
If it is a project that you need to hire someone:
Seek recommendations on Thursday.
Remember sources like Angie’s list, Facebook, Friends.
Establish a budget and scheduling
Decide if it is a good investment. (Ask a Realtor if you are unsure)
Get it scheduled
OR….
If you have decided to hire someone for your some of your curb appeal, move onto #2, or #3, if they are projects you can do. Complete one project this weekend.
Remember: Pace yourself. Break tasks up into small “bites” Keep focused except for breaks. Take time to enjoy what you are accomplishing. Think about how much this will help when you get your home on the market.
If your projects are not large you may be able to do them all in one weekend but make sure you schedule some relaxation and play time into your weekend too, even if you don’t need it, your family/friends probably do.
As you work through your projects, keep your 3 boxes in mind. Use them to purge things as you go through your day to day activities and as you work on special projects.
Trash
Donate/Sell/Yard sale etc….
Pack away to keep (always label boxes)
Post your comments, let me know what you find helpful.....
Congratulations! You have taken MORE first bites of the elephant! You are taking steps in the right direction. Look at the list of what you have already gotten done! ;-)
I am posting on Wednesdays and Sunday nights for 12 weeks.
The Sunday night posts will be small things you can do during the week. The Wednesday night posts will help you get ready for weekend projects.
“Eating the elephant” with you – one bite at a time ;-),
Mary
*While I have great confidence in my subject matter, I do not have great confidence in my writing, grammar or spelling. (I should have paid more attention in English class.) Please be gentle if you feel the need to correct me ;-)
copyright 2014 Allen Marketing
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Getting your home ready to sell in 12 weeks....or how to eat an elephant.
Technical difficulties this week dictate that I be brief. (Sometimes we must deal with the unforeseen, with grace.)
This week....
Same idea, different room...
Do the same thing in your "family room" this week that you did in the kitchen last week. Go through the cabinets, drawers, shelves and purge, purge, purge. Sort into your 3 boxes.
Go ahead and pack away most family photos. You are trying to get to a sleek, clean look where buyers can have a blank canvas to picture themselves living there.
If you find you have a tendency to keep things, watch an episode of "Hoarders". (Note: No one ever thinks of themselves as hoarders)
You are taking bites of the elephant.
Until Wednesday night....
Taking those bites with you,
Mary
This week....
Same idea, different room...
Do the same thing in your "family room" this week that you did in the kitchen last week. Go through the cabinets, drawers, shelves and purge, purge, purge. Sort into your 3 boxes.
Go ahead and pack away most family photos. You are trying to get to a sleek, clean look where buyers can have a blank canvas to picture themselves living there.
If you find you have a tendency to keep things, watch an episode of "Hoarders". (Note: No one ever thinks of themselves as hoarders)
You are taking bites of the elephant.
Until Wednesday night....
Taking those bites with you,
Mary
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Getting your home ready to sell in 12 weeks. Week 2
Getting ready to
put your house on the market
or Eating an elephant- one bite at a time;-)
Week Two – More First Bites of the Elephant.
Great weather
forecast!….so let’s head outside and work on “Curb appeal”
What you will
need: Exterior List/photos from last week (3 items you decided needed improvement)
Choose the
item from last week’s list that will make the biggest improvement to the “curb
appeal” of your home.
If
it is a project that you think you can do:
Wednesday:
Find out how by looking online or asking people you know.
Ask
for help from people you trust to do a good job.
Make a list of
items you need to purchase
Plan
your meals (crockpot?) and plan for help (childcare?).
Thursday: Pick
up items you need and other items, food/ drinks you will need for the weekend.
Friday: Complete
prep work on Friday night
Saturday: Work
on the main project(s) on Saturday and complete. Remember excellence, not perfection is your goal.
Clean
up as you go and/or ask someone to help.Please
don’t skip this.
Don’t work until exhaustion and neglect clean-up – it may frustrate you. It is always best to clean up as you go;-)
don’t skip this.
Don’t work until exhaustion and neglect clean-up – it may frustrate you. It is always best to clean up as you go;-)
Sunday: Satisfaction and Refreshment. (Yes! Enjoy what you did! Get your favorite beverage and look at what you accomplished.)
If
it is a project that you need to hire someone:
Seek
recommendations on Thursday.
Remember
sources like Angie’s list, Facebook, Friends.
Establish
a budget and scheduling
Decide
if it is a good investment. (Ask a Realtor if you are unsure)
Get
it scheduled
OR….
If
you have decided to hire someone for your #1 improvement to curb appeal, move
onto #2, or #3, if they are projects you
can do. Complete one project this weekend.
Remember: Pace yourself. Break tasks up into
small “bites” Keep focused except for breaks. Take time to enjoy what you are accomplishing. Think about how much this will help when you get your home on the market.
If
your projects are not large you may be able to do them all in one weekend but make
sure you schedule some relaxation and play time into your weekend too, even if
you don’t need it, your family/friends probably do.
As you work through your projects,
keep your 3 boxes in mind. Use them to
purge things as you go through your day to day activities and
as you work on special projects.
Trash
Donate/Sell/Yard
sale etc….
Pack away to
keep (always label boxes)
Post your comments, let me know what you find helpful.....
Congratulations! You have taken MORE first bites of the elephant! You are taking steps in the right direction.
I am posting on
Wednesdays and Sunday nights for 12 weeks.
The Sunday night
posts will be small things you can do during the week. The Wednesday night
posts will help you get ready for weekend projects.
“Eating the
elephant” with you – one bite at a time ;-),
Mary
*While I have great confidence in my
subject matter, I do not have great confidence in my writing, grammar or
spelling. (I should have paid more attention in English class.) Please
be gentle if you feel the need to correct me ;-)
copyright 2014 Allen Marketing
Sunday, March 2, 2014
First Bites....Getting your home ready to sell in 12 weeks, (Part 2)
Getting ready to put your house on the market
or Eating a elephant one bite at a time;-)
Week One- (Part 2) - More First Bites of the Elephant.
What you will need: Notepad, Small snatches of time
1. Purge/organize kitchen drawers
Take 10 minutes and clean a drawer in your kitchen one at a time, until you get through the drawers. Why not call a friend, put the phone on speaker and chat while you do this?
2. Review the interior photos that you took
Make a list of things that you would like to improve for photos.
Some things to consider:
Washing bedding/window treatments
Review how your paint and trim looks in photos
Make note of other things that you would like to do
Don't be a perfectionist ;-)
You have Totally finished week one! Yay!
Congratulations! You have taken more bites of the elephant! You have completed week one! Have your favorite beverage and relax…
If you would like to view homes online to see what other's photos look like, I can give you a MLS account so you can see how houses in your price range look. It may help you pinpoint things you would like to do and things you would like to avoid. (Email me at AllenMarketingx2@gmail.com) There are never any strings attached to this complimentary offer....never, ever. We believe in paying it forward.
From this point on I will post on Wednesday night to begin to plan for the weekend.
Remember....
The Sunday night posts will be small things you can do during the week. The Wednesday night posts will help you get ready for weekend projects.
Post your comments, let me know what you find helpful..... share this information with others.
“Eating the elephant” with you – one bite at a time ;-),
Mary
*While I have great confidence in my subject matter, I do not have great confidence in my writing, grammar or spelling. (I should have paid more attention in English class.) Please be gentle if you feel the need to correct me ;-)
copyright 2014 Allen Marketing
Saturday, March 1, 2014
First Bites....Getting your home ready to sell in 12 weeks
Getting ready to put your house on the market
or Eating a elephant one bite at a time;-)
Week One - First Bites of the Elephant.
What you will need: Boxes (You can usually get free boxes at
stores where you shop), packing tape, marker, camera,
1. Photos (camera on your phone is fine)
1.
Take some casual photos of your home from the
curb.
2.
Take similar photos of the other exterior areas
of your home
3.
Take photos of interior areas. (usually from the doorway is good.
4. Put these aside for a bit.
2. Get boxes and label them:
1. Trash
2. Donate/Sell/Yard
sale etc….
3. Pack
away to keep (always label boxes)
You have started!
Yay! High Five!
3. Purge your Kitchen
1. Take ONE
cabinet at a time.
Take all non-essential kitchen
items and sort them into your waiting boxes.
Be ruthless. Think about what you really use. Toss things that are no
longer in good shape. Be Ruthless. Be Ruthless.
Ask yourself, “What would happen if I no longer had this item?”
Arrange the items you keep in your
cabinets in a pleasing way. Think HGTV
meets REAL life. It doesn't need to be perfect, just make it look less crowded. No perfectionism! We will re-visit this area briefly before you put your home on the market.
4. Find a place to put your boxes
1. Go ahead and take your donate
box to the drive-thru donation
collection center today or tomorrow.
(Get a receipt ;-)
3. Get the trash box out, dump it
so you can re-fill ;-)
2. Find a place for your packed
items. Ideally this should be a place
like a corner of the garage, a storage building or a POD. It can just be your
least used room.
Congratulate yourself on the steps you have taken! Catch
your breath.
5. Load photos to a larger screen.
Note 3 things you can do to improve
how your home looks from the curb.
Note other things you could do to
the rest of your exterior. These can be as simple as putting your trash cans in
a better place, sowing grass seed, trimming bushes, planting flowers, painting shutters,
pressure washing. Remember, you are just making the list at this point.
If you draw a blank with this, I
can give you a MLS account so you can see how houses in your price range look
from the exterior) (Email me at AllenMarketingx2@gmail.com)
Save the
interior photos for a later time.
Congratulations! You have taken the first bites of the elephant! You
have done most of the work for this week! Have
your favorite beverage and relax…
The next post will be on Sunday night.
From this point on I will post on Wednesdays and Sunday
nights for 12 weeks.
The Sunday night posts will be small things you can do
during the week. The Wednesday night posts will help you get ready for weekend projects.
Post your comments, let me know what you find helpful..... share this information with others.
“Eating the elephant” with you – one bite at a time ;-),
Mary
*While
I have great confidence in my subject matter, I do not have great confidence in
my writing, grammar or spelling. (I
should have paid more attention in English class.) Please be gentle if you feel the need to
correct me ;-)
copyright 2014 Allen Marketing
Friday, February 28, 2014
Ready, set, go.....New blog starts March 1, 2014
Happiness!
It appears we have turned the corner in real estate and that the market is taking off! Yay!
Let's get those homes ready to put on the market!
When you subscribe to this blog, you will see a bi-weekly list of suggested actions to get your home ready to put on the market in 12 weeks.
The 12 week time period will allow you to do other things. Getting your home ready should not consume your entire life.
Anyone ready to eat this elephant...one bite at a time?
Until tomorrow,
Mary
It appears we have turned the corner in real estate and that the market is taking off! Yay!
Let's get those homes ready to put on the market!
When you subscribe to this blog, you will see a bi-weekly list of suggested actions to get your home ready to put on the market in 12 weeks.
The 12 week time period will allow you to do other things. Getting your home ready should not consume your entire life.
Anyone ready to eat this elephant...one bite at a time?
Until tomorrow,
Mary
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