Tips from the Professionals

This section of our site, gives tips from professional’s.

Check back regularly, we post a question about our latest blog post. The suggestions and tips are fabulous!

13.)Question: “Share with us your ideas on how to decorate on a small budget”

I am just so happy when people realizes the benefits of Home Staging, but they do tend to focus more on the inside of the house then, than curb appeal and we as Home Stagers need to remind them of the obvious.
It’s all about that First Impression and I am a firm believer that if the exterior doesn’t appeal to a potential home buyer, they won’t even give that house a second look!

Great site! Fresh cut flowers are always a scene stealer and a mood lifter.
Just a simple adjustment of furniture changes the look, along with switching out soft goods.

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I have seen simply lovely looking art, mainly various florals, in frames at the dollar store. Buy four, arrange in a square pattern, and it’s a designer look for a whopping $4!

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If you are painting, get a few small containers of darker and lighter colors in the same family. Then go thrifting. Find vase and statues with an appealing shape but unappealing color. Paint ’em to coordinate with the room.

—Hunt thrift stores and yard sales.

Grab canvases with deep sides when they show up. Thrift skirts and large shirts/blouses with attractive patterns. Clean them. Then staple or use masking tape to fasten them to the canvas.

Buy unattractive pictures in attractive frames. Paint the frames the same color as the walls (the color will look subtly different). Either wrap the pics as above, or overlay the pic with a collage, or paint over the pic – even painting a solid color with a stripe or three can look very elegant.

—Purchase remnants of drapery fabric, in coordinated colors/patterns, from the local fabric store. Wrap it around foam board (pad it with low rise quilting or thrifted fabric diapers) to make amazing valences. Attach it as a wide border on the bottom of solid colored drapes (also thrifted). Wrap it around throw pillows. Wrap it around those canvases and hang ’em on the wall. Coordinate the whole room. THEN paint the vases a bright, contrasting color to really make the room pop.

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Move your existing art around the house. Take prints from one room and place them in another. Fresh new look for no money

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A roll of outdoor bamboo reed fencing from Home Improvement stores works wonders when mounted on old metal bi-fold closet doors. The material is light enough to use an industrial glue from a spray can. You can easily cut the bamboo to the size you need. After mounting (take the doors off and lay flat) trim it out with 1/2″ x 1/2″ wood — I painted the trim glossy black before adhering to the doors! I left a 2″ area outside the bamboo-trimmed section in the middle of the doors that works well in terms of the way it looks and also since most of these bi-fold doors have a knob, it’s just easier to work around. A durable fabric trim I suppose could be used to trim it out as well.

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Cover your throw pillows with a new pop of color that fits with the room’s color scheme and spread accessories in that color throughout the room. Quick, easy and cheap.

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I always shop out of season, because many things can be recycled each season. I also shop, believe it or not, at Goodwill stores. Living in Atlanta, you can really find bargains . Vases, plates , and many used house ware items can be transformed with paint and re used.

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12.)Question: “Share with us how you keep you and your family warm, and your energy bill low this Winter”

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11.)Question: “Lacking motivation to organize? Share with us your ideas on how you motivate you and your family to do the things you dread!”

Dr. Christine W. Thorpe

Cris Simone Online Beauty & Health Resource for Professional Women of Color

Instead of dreading to cook, we look at it as art and an expression of love. We purchase organic ingredients and take the time to cook them. The final product nourishes the body and the soul, and that is the reward.

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11A.)Question: Tell us how the blog article “motivation to organize” has motivated you?

Jessica Ritz-Porter, Senior Project Coordinator

I am going to redesign my closet and daughter’s now!!!  We do not have walk-ins (old house) and after looking at the picture of the closet, it gave me the idea to tear down and build it like cabinetry instead of sliding doors (which are so non functional in a closet. I like what you had to say…it does disturb others when you haven’t accomplished what you need to do….that was very insightful…..

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10.)Question: “Share with us your ways to refine your goals and not start from scratch this year.“

Melonie Blanks

Top To Bottom Interior Services

I’m inspiring action for the New Year as I see you are. January is “Get Organized” month so I am focusing on encouraging everyone to organize your favorite space (maybe your office), be more productive and functional. Personally, I’ve made an action list including staying on target with my organizing business, school and a new exercise program. I’m preparing for the challlenges to come for what I believe will be a great new decade.

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9.)Question: “Let’s save money and buy gifts! Share with us your ideas for cost cutting gifts this holiday!”

Yvette Ervin

Beauty Full of Color

I have decided to put my culinary skills to work in the kitchen and bake items like my famous lemon pound cake and give them away for the holidays. There’s a lot of love that goes into these cakes.

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nakia sanford

President at the Betty Ann Robinson Foundation

I think the best gifts are ones, that can address a need and can be used over and over. For example, I am gifting intro Spanish lessons as one present present.

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Sylvia Browder

Project Director at WBC

I love the comments. Gifts from the heart are so much better than running out and spending money on ‘things.’ @Yvette, I have a lemon tree full of lemons, I wish I could send you a few dozen of them! @Nakia, awesome, the gift of your time and talent.

As for me, I don’t spend a ton of money on ‘things’ but get my kids one or two fun items and everyday items that they can use such as socks and underwear, etc.

Happy Holidays… Sylvia

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Bailey Earith

Owner at Bailey Fiber Art Studio

www.BaileyFiberArt.com

As an artist, My gifts are hand-crafted. My creative friends prefer something unique and artistic.

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8.)Question: “Tell us your tips for holiday cost cutters, and family traditions”

Suzanne Byrd

Home Staging Designer & Marketing Professional

Buy that turkey at .29 cents/lb., farm out a couple side dishes and there’s plenty of $$ left to buy a decent bottle of chardonnay!
Have a great holiday!
Cheers,
Suzanne

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Chris Jeub

Owner, Monument Publishing

www.jeubfamily.com.

Here’s an article we published on our family Web site taking the cost of Thanksgiving dinners into account: http://jeubfamily.com/2008/11/17/how-much-does-a-jeub-thanksgiving-dinner-cost/ .

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Jean Kristensen

Experienced Government Marketing Executive

When the economy took a downturn, I immediately began looking for ways to reduce my grocery bill. I learned very quickly that some of the wholesale clubs had very reasonable prices on staples that in the supermarket chains cost significantly more. I buy all of my milk, bread, orange juice, and detergent at either Walmart or BJs. I was pleased to learn that both stores have organic and green choices. I am purchasing my turkey and trimmings from a traditional supermarket that is offering a deal if you spend over a certain amount.

I also signed up for a local race this year, I made a donation and accepted donations on behalf of my clients to fill a local food pantry.

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7.) Question: “Tell us your tips for selling your home at the holidays”

Hi, it’s Karen–company is Elite Interiors. This was a while ago however I have used this trick when working as a design assistant to an interior designer. We did model homes & staffed them during Parade of Homes, etc. I always kept a batch of chocolate chip cookies baking to make it smell homey. And that’s what the people who stopped by our home on Thanksgiving said–It smells like home.

After all–most people when looking to purchase a house are really looking for a home. The smells of fresh cookies baking or fresh bread puts people in the frame of mind where they see a home; subliminal just like in the movies where they used to flash eat popcorn, drink coke.

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6.)Question: “Tell us your tips for hassle-free travel, and keeping you and your family sane!”

Sue Hagen

Owner, Avant-Garde Personalized Travel

www.travelavant-garde.com

All great responses! Sounds like a lot of folks are driving these days. I’m sure that’s because no one really relishes the thought of flying. We provide travel concierge services to people that are fed up with the “hassle” and want the “hassle-free” travel. We take care of all the details from start to finish of your travel event so you can focus on what you need to do and not worry about the travel.

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Sanjiv Deva

General Manager at Total Business Solutions

For slightly older ones ie 8 to 13 years in a car trip ..over and above the busy bag stuff..
1. you need to clearly identify boundaries within the car.,ie a invisible line and a clear demarkation of their area within the car..outside which they cannot go..this keeps them from push around and complaining in a loud voice about each other, which is very distracting when you are driving…
2. Get them to participate in the driving map so they help in the driving process
3. Games – family games are critical which keeps every one occupied and alert
4. Strict break every 3 hours – slows the trip but the running around helps in changing the environment
5. Changing seat places every time you have a drinks break

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Tom Richerme

President at Wingtip Aviation

www.wingtipaviation.com

We own and charter a light twin airplane.We have folks that use us to fly to Indianapolis, South bend, and Milwaukee for less crowded airports and better airline connections. We charge $500 to $700 dollars, get them from Chicago to Indy in 40 minutes, Milwaukee 30 minutes, South Bend 20 minutes. That may seem a bit much but once you miss a flight, a connection, a cruise, due to delays…you save! Not to mention no long term parking, waiting, cancellations, etc. BusinessCharter Oct Nov Specials[1]

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Ben Breeland

Experienced Sales Engineer, Enterprise Management Architect/Consultant, Systems Engineer, Presenter, and IT Professional

I get home from work on Wednesday, pack, take a nap, wake up at midnight, pile the family in the minivan, drive eight hours to the destination, take a nap, wake up to the smell of turkey at my Mom’s house. Joy, Joy, Joy!!

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Lucy Cripps

www.English-Pro.EU

When we fly back to the the UK from Austria with our 2-and 3-year-olds we take a portable DVD player or laptop with movies, a couple of paperback picture books and a fair amount of snacks (healthy ones!!). My son, the eldest, will happily watch a movie all the way through, but the younger one needs more – with the temptation to run up and down the aisle far too great; for her safety and the for the sanity of the other passengers I keep that to a minimum- books, colouring and so forth for her.

In a car they both tend to sleep after an hour or so, when they wake we have a break. Fortunately most of our journeys are less than four hours, with the bonus of a grandparent at the the destination!

My parents drove us to Portugal from the UK when we were under-10s, we spent most of the 4-day drive listening to our Walkmans (tape players back then!) on which were also a dictaphone function. Most of the time we listened to my brother perfecting his first 2 hours’ of the journey! “Mum and Dad woke us up at….Oh no, that was wrong… woke us, Oh, didn’t hit record.. with sausage sandwiches…”

And so on!

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Walter Wise

CEO, BPI Strategy Group and Business Performance Improvement Specialist

Pack light.  Arrive at the airport early. Check your bags. Be patient.

Expect the unexpected. Always remember to smile. If you drive, be safe!

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Cheryl Rankin

fitforbusiness.ca – Business Consultant / Marketing Consultant

Both my kids pack “busy bags” including books, small toys, snacks, small stuffed animals, game boys, music choices and for really long rides movie choices. I love wrapping up a few surprises that they open every 2 hours…..can be snacks or $1 store items. They love the surprise and the anticipation for the next small gift. Have fun! We used to do 14 hour trips from Boston to north of Toronto…..my kids are great travelers.

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5.)Question: “Tell us your ideas for stress free holiday home planning…“

Sylvia Browder

Project Director at WBC

A few tips that I embrace: Plan shopping and activities in advance! I don’t spend a lot of money, but I like to start my shopping early to beat the crowds and take advantage of sales.

Set a Budget! This is very important especially due to our current economic situation. By budgeting, you can keep track of your spending while protecting your financial situation.

Write a special note OR bake cookies for people you know. I find this to be more endearing than trying to buy gifts for people, it’s personal and special!

Stay Positive and remember the reason for the season. It’s not about spending your money and maxing out your credit cards… It’s a celebration of Christ, family traditions and enjoying and embracing our loved ones.

Thanks again!

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Carol Bowlin

Owner, Jon Allison Designs

I try to start a month or two earlier. With my past experiene as a teacher, I’ve learned to think ahead. When making my floral designs, I always buy the leftovers from the season to get started for the next year.

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Tami Gallagher

Owner, Organized to the Core – Professional Organizing Consultant

Start by examining your values.  This makes choosing so much easier.  You’ll know what you can let go of, how you can meet expectations, and how you can just relax and enjoy the season.

Determine Your Values

“Never let the things that matter the most be at the mercy of things that matter the least.” ~ Alan Zimmerman

Knowing your values helps you stay focused and keep the holidays in perspective.

There are numerous ways to reveal your values.  Looking at a list can get you started.  Here is a resource: http://www.stevepavlina.com/articles/list-of-values.htm.  Which stand out as most significant to you?  Which ones are guides for your behavior and how you live your life?

Make Conscious Decisions

#1 Align your choices with your values. Sometimes it’s easy. If spirituality is one of your values, you may want to go to your place of worship versus a casino Christmas Eve.  Some take a little more thought.  Say generosity is a value.  Are you honoring it more by giving gifts to family or to charity?  Kristee says, “I try to have all Christmas shopping done by the first week in December so Advent can be celebrated without being bombarded by the materialism of our culture.”  Her decision to shop early supports her values of faith and moderation.

#2 Know your priorities. Remember to take care of you before others.

#3 Own your behavior. Say, “I am choosing to…” versus “She made me…”  As easily as you can choose to do something, you can choose not to.

#4 Plan ahead. And know that someone else’s lack of planning is not your problem.

Remove the Clutter Make a list spanning your holidays.  List the people, the parties, and the stuff.  List expectations.  Now evaluate based on your values.  You should only do those things that are in alignment with your values.  All tasks, obligations, and activities should support and honor your values.

So if good health is one of your values, you may want to give health club memberships as gifts.  You’ll want room self-care, you may not want to make all those homemade cookies or eat all those appetizers at a party.  Anything that is not aligned with your value of good health should be scrutinized and eliminated or reduced.

Choose to relax and enjoy this holiday season.  Remember, you’re making memories!

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Beth Handline (Dance Trance)

Global Director at Dance Trance LLC

Dance every day!!

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4.)Question: “Tell us your ideas for adding curb appeal to the home…“

Meg Gaffney

Website: blueleaflandscape.com

Think safety as well as presentation. Some people feel apprehensive about large shrubs near entries or low-reaching tree limbs near walks. Imagine you are a single woman or 6′-4″ man.

Open views between 3′ and 7′-8′ high. Insure walkway head clearances are a minimum of 7′ high:

1) Limb up trees that obscure the view to the front of the house or are too close to walks and drives. Make clean cuts near the trunk (no stubs).

2) Bushes over 8′ tall can be pruned into patio-trees: prune all the secondary stems out of the interior until the remaining foliage is over head, leaving a multi-stem trunk. *If you aren’t happy with the outcome you can always saw it off at the ground.

Remove dead plants, limbs and foliage. Finish with mulch and crisp edges!

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Ron Crummer

Owner at NZ Interior Design Limited

I consulted with a client who actually had a cool looking motorcycle ( scooter ) in one of their bedrooms! They weren’t happy to leave it over anyone else’s place so I used it to my advantage and had them park it in their off street parking area during their open homes in the front side of the house. My point was to suggest a cool urban lifestyle. I know of some home stagers who ask clients to find/hire ‘ an expensive car ‘ to also try to sell a successful lifestyle. Sometimes a bit of thinking ‘ outside ‘ the square is needed.

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Sherrie Wilson

at Spotlite Staging & Redesign

Make it inviting! Warm up the entrance of your home. During the fall season decorate with pumpkins, gourds and beautiful mums. Buy mums early October that are full of buds, they will last well into November.

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Kathy Cinquemani

Owner at Sell or Dwell, Staging Inside Out

MULCH. Biggest bang for the buck. Highlights plantings, covers weeds, defines beds, great contrast to attract the eye to the house, makes things tidy/crisp and neat looking, reduces watering and weed seed germination. Must be at least 2-3 inches deep, however.

Mow and edge. Crisp edges to everything.

Green lawn spray paint to hide ugly brown patches in the lawn.

Where to buy green lawn spray:

http://www.grassbgreen.com/?Click=2&gclid=CNyHzvav3Z0CFaM45Qod-m1uNg

http://www.gemplers.com/tech/greenlawnger-fq.htm

http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page1446.html

Watch the YouTube video on the above site!

Valspar makes one which I think is carried at Lowe’s

No shrubs or bushes covering up windows or entrances/porches. Take them down to below ground level if you cannot dig them out.

Add color to attract the eye. If it’s too cold to do flowers, use a colorful planter with an evergreen in it and maybe a weatherproof colorful bow to reflect the season….. a pot bigger than a bowling ball but to scale with surroundings. A tiny stoop or a large porch–keep in line with size of setting. Impact and bold, not tiny pots scattered.

Sparkling clean: windows, woodwork, concrete, driveway, walk and clean curb.

Stencil spray paint house numbers on to curb in front of house.

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Tere Michels

Organizing Consultant, HR Generalist

Flowers! – even 1 pot of flowers adds a lot and says “welcome to my home.”

Getting rid of ant hills and weeds in the cracks of sidewalks and driveways says that you care about the appearance of your home. Pick up trash and move trash cans from sight. Turn on the lights!

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Lori Kim Polk

Owner, Artful Journey Designs and Staging

Here is a blog that I wrote. Part of a series.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/109168/-honey-stop-the-car-the-importance-of-curb-appeal-

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Aysha Griffin

at GreenRoads Realty

It’s amazing that what might seem obvious and common sense often evades homeowners who either have overlooked the condition of their property for so long, or have a different sensibility regarding junk, clutter and deferred maintenance; i.e., they don’t see it and they don’t care.

Here are some tips:

Remove everything but the natural landscape. (Car, wheelbarrows, tools, etc.)

Clean up the landscape: rake leaves, clip plants/trees/bushes/grasses, pull dead plants — this is good autumn maintenance in any case.

Clean up the hardscape: broom and wash all hard surfaces, as if they were indoors. Patch, paint, wash and otherwise make look as new as possible every part of the exterior. If there is deferred maintenance that the seller cannot afford to fix, address that in the listing and offer a credit — just as you might door for interior flooring. Many buyers would prefer to choose their own trim color, as long as they know they are being credited the money to do so.

Make sure the front door area is pristine: a new welcome mat, a doorbell that works, light fixtures that work (and are cobweb free!).

Pretend the queen or president (or whomever you hold in high esteem) is coming to pay you a call, with the media in tow! If you really want to sell, especially in today’s competitive market, make sure your home shines above the competition.

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Tami Gallagher

Owner, Organized to the Core – Professional Organizing Consultant

Seasonal arrangements! http://www.homesowngardens.com/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=2:Seasonal%20Curb%20Appeal&Itemid=7

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3.) Question: “Upgrading your home… to stay competitive and current“

Aysha Griffin

GreenRoads Realty

Website: www.GoRealtySantaFe.com

Upgraded kitchens and baths tend to bring the highest return on investment.

Of course, ROI depends on many factors like: the less money you put down and are able to leverage, the more return you realize. In remodeling, it’s called “bang for the buck”.

There are many tips I could provide for maximizing ROI and saving money on remodeling or updating, but a key one is this: do not move the location of drains, especially toilets. People often rearrange sinks and drains, at big expense, and it does nothing for the value of the kitchen or bath.

The rule in real estate is “you make your money going in” — from getting the best deal buying your home to shopping wisely for upgrades.

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2.) Question: “Share your tips for planning, packing, and moving .”

Denise Mair

Mfg Engineer, Problem Solver. Networking to learn of opportunities in Greater Providence area.

When I have packed people for a move, I always number the boxes then create a master list separately of what is in each box. Instead of listing “toaster, cuisinart, utensils” on the outside of the box, I list the ROOM it is going to and the box number on ALL FOUR SIDES. Why all four sides? Because that way no matter how the box is placed, you can still see the information without moving and restacking!

On arrival at the destination, the boxes can go to the general area and you can selectively unpack what you need right away (coffee maker and filters!) and hold off on items that are less important (fondue pot).

I also have used color-coded stickers for items going into long-term storage, i.e. if moving in the summer, winter hats/gloves/coats can go into the REAR of the unit instead of the front.

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Vicki Winterton

Organizing Expert with The Organized Woman Show at The WIN online

Website: http://www.organize-utah.com/utah-moving/

As a professional organizer who has managed some moves, I have a few tips:

1. Be sure you delete as you pack things up

2. Round up some help to unpack. If you need to pay 3 to 4 additional helpers, it is money well spent

3. Hire a Professional Organizer to oversee and train your unpack team so your items will be organized once unpacked

4. Spend a little money to purchase organizing products and systems so your new home’s organized spaces are EASY to maintain.

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Kaosarat (Kozy) Fawehinmi

K’Or Cleaning Services – Eco-Friendly Residential and Commercial Cleaning Company

Have a “moving party” where friends can come help you box stuff and you all can eat and chill afterward. It will be fun and trust me you’ll get alot done in no time.

Oh and get alot boxes ahead of time.

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Kelly Santos

Owner, XtraHands, Professional Organizer

I find many of my organizing clients take time off of work to move but do not set aside time to unpack. It is important to set aside time to get you home back in working order or at least the essentials rooms, kitchen, bath and bedroom.

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JoEllen Salkin

Professional Organizer, Speaker, Author, and co-owner of Organizing 4 U

Website: http://organizing4u.com/moving.php

I have found that the time estimated to prepare for and pack is always more that anticipated. Therefore, as soon as the decision has been made to move, it is time to begin.

Determine which items will be moved, and the room in the new home where they will be used. Mark the packing boxes accordingly, and add a list of the items in each box. This will make the unpacking process easier.

Consider creating a box of “open me first” items that will be needed right away, such as a coffee maker and personal items.

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Ramona Creel

www.RamonaCreel.com — Professional Organizer, Photographer, Full-Time RVer, Writer, Simplicity Coach, Renaissance Woman

I actually just posted several blogs on an organized move — tons of tips and suggestions:

“Lightening The Load” at http://ramonacreel.com/BlogEntry.asp?Entry=235

“Before You Leave” at http://ramonacreel.com/BlogEntry.asp?Entry=234

“Packing Made Easy” at http://ramonacreel.com/BlogEntry.asp?Entry=236

“Transporting Your Possessions” at http://ramonacreel.com/BlogEntry.asp?Entry=237

“Unpacking And Settling In” at http://ramonacreel.com/BlogEntry.asp?Entry=238

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Renee English

Owner, Proof of Assets

As the owner of Proof of Assets that specializes in digital documentation, we strongly recommend photographing all of your contents before you pack them up especially if you have someone else packing/moving for you. These photographs will provide you with an inventory of what you have and the quality of these items before they were moved. This is just one of the many documentation services we provide. For those that wish to do it themselves, we recommend being very thorough with your photographs. Get EVERYTHING!!! open cabinets and all the little things!

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Laurie Barrera

Real Estate Consultant & Relocation Expert

Here in Boise, Idaho, I send clients to a business called Dixon Container, which I call the “Costco” of moving supplies (great prices).

I tell my story of what I do when I move: if timing allows, my “planning” is where to put kitchen items, and next I move my kitchen first and even unpack it. Then as I move into a new place, there is one room that is “done”, and that particular room is really where most people are comfortable.

I feel moving your favorite room first makes the move less stressful.

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Julie Bavington

Professional Organizer @ Organize With Julie LLC

I took a course through http://3daysorless.com/ Last Spring at the NAPO 2009 conference. Their site may interest you!

Best tip ever: Unpack Kitchen and bedrooms first. Everything else will follow.

I LOVE unpacks!

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1.) Question: “Tell us your time saving, home organization and home staging tips.”

From:

Paul Spencer

Visionary Property Consultant and Managing Director of London Mortgage Centre Ltd

Website: http://www.londonmortgagecentre.com/

Tips for Home Staging:

1. High Powered light bulbs.
2. Clean windows in and out to high standard.
3. Smell…must be good [coffee machine or scent]
3. Position so max light will enter.
4. Space ..all surfaces clear to give impression of space..
5. Matching sets of artwork always seem to look impressive.
6. Colour coded bedrooms cheap to do.

I am sure their must be loads more,when I designed my house I went to Foxtons website in London and looked at houses between 5 and 10million for ideas….

-Kind regards,

Paul

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Diane Beck

Principal Designer at Vibrant Interiors

Website: http://dbvibrantinteriors.com/Vibrant_Interiors/Welcome.html

Tips for Home Staging:

Adding to Paul’s list:

1.) Make sure the home has upgrades and looks modern: Buyer’s can’t always picture the potential of a space when its outdated.

2.) Plan for clutter: When seller’s live in the home and have last minute showings neatness is a must. Have a basket for gathering of everyday items such as papers, sports equipment, etc.

3.) A new paint job always makes rooms look fresh

-Diane Beck

For more home staging ideas on Stagetecture, click here.