Tips for Sellers: Pre-Showing Checklist

Thanks to CW Title for this handy Pre-Showing Checklist!

Selling a home can a stressful time.  There is packing, moving and many other things to keep in mind.  Below are a few tips that can make things easier on you and your family.

All over house:

• Empty the garbage in each room
• Dust and vacuum
• Open blinds to make rooms brighter
• Turn on lights, even during the day

Bedrooms:            

• Straighten up closets
• Beds are nicely made            
• Dirty clothes in closed hamper
• Toys picked up and put away in children’s rooms

Bathrooms: 

• Put away everything that isn’t essential such as hand soap, towels, etc.
• Drawers and cabinets are cleaned and uncluttered
• Clean the shower and tub
• Fold towels neatly
• Put the toilet lid down

Kitchen:

• Dishes should be in dishwasher or put away, don’t leave anything in the sink
• De-clutter the countertops… put away toaster, coffee maker, blender, etc.
• Clean and organize the refrigerator
• Cabinets and pantry are tidy
• Stove, stovetop and microwave clean of food stains
• Take out garbage and recycle

Living Room:

• Straighten pillows and cushions on the couch and chairs
• Turn answering machine volume to low so they don’t hear people leaving you messages
• Dust television screen

Office:

• Tidy up
• Dust computer monitor

Hallway Closets/Storage Areas:

• Double check that they are neat and orderly (towels nicely folded, etc.)

Pets:

• Clean kitty litter
• Fresh water in bowls, or put away until they leave
• Fresh food in bowls, or put away until they leave
• Clean the fish tank if needed
• Clean cages for birds, hamsters, etc.

Yard:

• Mow lawn, rake leaves during autumn
• Sweep walkway and doorstep
• Turn on outside lights if evening time
• Pick up after pets and put away outdoor toys and tools

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country
Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475

Your Home - Custom Scents

There is a strong connection between smells and human emotions. Given that home-buying can be an emotional process, you’ll want your home to look and smell good when you’re getting it ready for a showing.  Make sure your home passes the smell test by following these tips from HGTV.

If there are any foul odors in your home, don’t just cover them up by baking cookies – try to identify the source and focus on eliminating the odors.  Old carpets are often the biggest culprit.  If you don’t have the time or budget to replace old rugs with new carpet or hardwood floors, wash the carpet with mild detergent soap and water solution, then go over it with a damp towel to neutralize the odor.  And be sure to circulate the fresh air by keeping windows on opposite walls open.

After you’ve rid your home of bad scents, or if you just want to fill it with more pleasant smells, consider boiling fruit peels, spices or herbs in water.  Rather than throwing away lemon or orange peels, boil water and let the peels sit for a few minutes, adding water every half-hour or so.  You can also mix the peels with other soothing scents. Using oils such as sandalwood, lavender, tea tree and eucalyptus can be therapeutic and inviting.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country

Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475

Curb View

Everybody knows that first impressions matter. The outside of your house ways a lot to guests and potential buyers before they even walk in the door.  There are easy ways to clean and freshen up the exterior of your home that don’t require gallons of paint or a landscaping crew.  Consider these tips from DIY Network.

Start with the front door.  If you’re willing to make a bold move, paint your door a bright color like canary yellow to help your house stand out (as long as the color is complementary to the trim, the shutters and the rest of the house).  Also, make sure lighting fixtures match the style of your house and are working properly.  Another quick way to brighten up the front of the house: add flower boxes or pots with colorful blooms to your porch railings or around your door.

Curb appeal is all about the details.  Ask yourself:  Is there sufficient outdoor lighting?  Are overgrown plants and bushes creating an unsightly mess?  Is your home address visible?  Revitalize your door by replacing old hardware, installing tidy new address numbers or giving it a paint job.  What’s more, as simple as it sounds, installing a new mailbox – near the road or mounted to your house – can go a long way toward showing off your home.  The options and materials are endless, but as with any other updates, make sure the style fits your house.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country
Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475

Universal Appeal

As more homeowners choose to live in their homes longer as they age, many of them are improving their space with universal design features to help them live more comfortably.  Before making any improvements, the National Aging in Place Council outlines the most common universal designs modifications.

Are the entryways accessible?  Adding a ramp or constructing no-step entries can help those confined to a wheelchair or who have trouble climbing stairs.  Open floor plans and wider hallways make everyone feel less cramped and allow people to move around easily.  Wider doorways provide easier access to other parts of the home and enable people to move larger items in and out of the house.

To improve safety in bathrooms, install grab bars and elevated toilets.  Make sure there’s enough turnaround space for someone in a wheelchair, and consider lowering the bathroom sink and adding a roll-in shower with multiple showerheads.  A non-slip floor and shower surface will help everyone stay on their feet.  In the master bedroom, consider reconfiguring an existing walk-in closet or building a new one with storage at different heights.

In the kitchen, lower cooking surfaces and countertops built at varying heights will appeal to home cooks to have difficulty bending over or have height limitations.  Wall ovens and microwaves should be mounted at reachable heights, and storage and shelf space should be abundant and accessible.

Well-placed skylights and ceiling lights will aid those with poor vision and make the home more personable and safe.  Installing rocker switches and door lever handles can aid people with poor hand strengths as well as those carrying groceries into the house.

A universally-designed home provides smart solutions for everyday living that everyone can enjoy.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country

Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475

A Fresh Start

Most New Year’s resolutions involve promises to fit into last years’ suit and to avoid the fast-foods lane. But don’t let your self-improvement list end there.  These home improvement tips, suggested by About.com, help make your home safer and healthier in the New Year.

Safety first.  Make this the year to be truly prepared by creating a household emergency kit.  Pack it with first aid supplies, a working flashlight, batteries, extra blankets, a can opener and some nonperishable food.  Also take the time each month to make sure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working.  Purify the air in the home by swapping out furnace filters every month, and burn real firewood rather than mass-produced logs to avoid potentially harmful chemicals.

Throw it away.  De-clutter your life one room at a time.  Start with the kitchen: Toss and recycle containers that have long lost their matching lids, and pare down small appliances to the ones you use most often.  Then head to the bathroom and dump half-used bottles of shampoo or face wash that have gone unused in the past six months to clear up space.  Finish in the living room by consolidating or recycling old magazines or newspapers.

Invest wisely.  Is your refrigerator on its last legs?  Saving money to update or replace aging appliances should be on every homeowner’s mind.  By saving a small amount each week – say $10 or $20 – homeowners can work toward a specific goal, such as purchasing a more energy-efficient washer and dryer set.  When deciding what to buy, be sure to research any potential cost-saving benefits, too.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country

Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475

Noise Control

For many homeowners, the days of hearing the neighbor’s radio through paper-thin walls are gone.  But noise can still be a problem, even under your own roof.  Lower the decibel level in your abode with some ideas from TLC.

First, find out how sound travels in your home with one simple step.  Turn off the lights in one room while leaving the rest of the lights on in surrounding rooms and look for any light that’s peeking through the walls.  If light can travel through, so can sound.  Use acoustical caulk, available from most hardware stores, to seal off these hidden cracks between walls, ceilings and floors.  Put carpet or rugs on higher-level rooms to reduce the noise travelling to lower floors.

To help reduce noise in other rooms, in-wall insulation can help, but it requires cutting holes in the walls.  For an easier fix, buy wall coverings that have soundproofing capabilities and repaint them to match your décor, or hang noise-control curtains in the room.  The most time- and cost-intensive fix – but also one of the most effective – is to replace standard windows with double-paned ones, which will greatly reduce the noise.

Don’t forget the outdoors.  Block off sounds from the street by placing heavy shrubbery and evergreens with large leaves near doors and windows.  And consider ornamental fountains for a more welcoming sound.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country

Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com

(360) 400-3475

17 Tips for Packing Like a Pro

Moving to a new home can be stressful, to say the least. Make it easy on yourself by planning far in advance and making sure you’ve covered all the bases.

1. Plan ahead by organizing and budgeting. Develop a master “to do” list so you won’t forget something critical on moving day, and create an estimate of moving costs.

2. Sort and get rid of things you no longer want or need. Have a garage sale, donate to a charity, or recycle.

3. But don’t throw out everything. If your inclination is to just toss it, you're probably right. However, it's possible to go overboard in the heat of the moment. Ask yourself how frequently you use an item and how you’d feel if you no longer had it. That will eliminate regrets after the move.

4. Pack similar items together. Put toys with toys, kitchen utensils with kitchen utensils. It will make your life easier when it's time to unpack.

5. Decide what, if anything, you plan to move on your own. Precious items such as family photos, valuable breakables, or must-haves during the move should probably stay with you. Don't forget to keep a "necessities" bag with tissues, snacks, and other items you'll need that day. 

6. Remember, most movers won’t take plants. If you don't want to leave them behind, you should plan on moving them yourself.

7. Use the right box for the item. Loose items are prone to breakage.

8. Put heavy items in small boxes so they’re easier to lift. Keep the weight of each box under 50 pounds, if possible.

9. Don’t over-pack boxes. It increases the likelihood that items inside the box will break.

10. Wrap every fragile item separately and pad bottom and sides of boxes. If necessary, purchase bubble-wrap or other packing materials from moving stores.

11. Label every box on all sides. You never know how they’ll be stacked and you don’t want to have to move other boxes aside to find out what’s there.

12. Use color-coded labels to indicate which room each item should go in. Color-code a floor plan for your new house to help movers.

13. Keep your moving documents together in a file. Include important phone numbers, driver’s name, and moving van number. Also keep your address book handy. 

14. Print out a map and directions for movers. Make several copies, and highlight the route. Include your cell phone number on the map. You don’t want movers to get lost! Also make copies for friends or family who are lending a hand on moving day.

15. Back up your computer files before moving your computer. Keep the backup in a safe place, preferably at an off-site location.

16. Inspect each box and all furniture for damage as soon as it arrives.

17. Make arrangements for small children and pets. Moving can be stressful and emotional. Kids can help organize their things and pack boxes ahead of time, but, if possible, it might be best to spare them from the moving-day madness.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country

Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com

(360) 400-3475