A FEW HOME STAGING TIPS FOR FALL AND THE HOLIDAYS

                               4 Easy Home Staging Tricks For Fall & Holidays

Putting your home on the market during the fall season is often the perfect solution if you are looking for less competition or hoping to purchase a new home before the beginning of a new year. In order for your home to sell quickly, it’s essential to stage your home in a way that both invites and entices buyers.

How can you make your home ready for fall?

Get Cozy
Does your home showcase a beautiful, working fireplace? Up the coziness factor by lighting a fire and creating a warm, snug room that makes the fireplace the focal point. Don’t have a fireplace? Some well-placed candles can create the same intimate effect.
Seasonal Scents
Whether you love the idea of pumpkin cookies or a peppermint candle, incorporating seasonal scents is the perfect way to add a subtle touch throughout any home. However, remember that some potential buyers could have aversions to certain smells. With any scent, make sure it’s subtle and not overpowering in order to have the best response.
Curb Appeal
Many people selling their home think curb appeal only applies during the spring and summer, when fresh flowers and a beautifully green lawn go a long way. During autumn, embrace the natural colors of the season by planting some foliage. While you won’t have time to grow a maple tree from sapling to towering giant, you can still take your pick and plant mums, burning bush, and aster or a combination of all to add some fall color to your front yard and bump up your overall curb appeal.
Keep It Simple
With home staging, less is more. While an red wreath on the front door can be the perfect accent to fall, an entire home cluttered with Halloween decorations and overdone fall accessories can come across as both overkill and unappealing. For home staging to work, it must be subtle. A clean, elegantly decorated home can make all the difference between an offer and zero interest.

Staging your home during the fall and holiday season doesn’t need to be complicated. By sticking to tried and true practices, you can make it easier for buyers to fall in love with your home, resulting in you getting a better price in less time.

NEED HELP, CALL MIMI AT ORGANIZDWELL 201.446.8374

STAGE WELL - SELL WELL

7 WAYS TO TURN OFF BUYERS

1. OUTDATED KITCHEN
You don't need to have all top-of-the line stainless steel appliances,tile flooring,brand new cabinets, and granite counters. But it can't have a stove from the last century, tile counter tops, a carpeted floor and no dishwasher. If you want your home to sell quickly for a price you like consider some fixes:

• - paint cabinets white - it is really In
• - change obsolete appliances with new ones
• - change hardware
• - declutter counters

2. OUTDATED BATHROOMS
Here is a few things you can do to make your bath look Appealing to Today's Buyer

• new faucets
• new shower curtain
• new light fixtures
• mirrors 

They all have big impact for the money spent!!!!

3. DARK ROOMS - follow these steps!

• paint the walls in neutral colors
• let light in by removing window treatments
• wash your windows inside and out
• remove dark furnishings 
• replace any lighting fixtures that don't illuminate enough

 4. OFFENSIVE SMELLS - Scents hold power. They create strong emotional responses.
Some fixes:

• clean the HVAC filters
• clean the cat box regularly
• fix leaks under sinks
• limit smoking to outside
• take garbage and soiled diapers daily outside

5. DIRT
 Cleaning is the most economical step you can take to prepping your home for sale

6. WALLS THAT NEED WORK
These has to go:

• wallpaper
• unusual dark colors
• wall stencils
• stripes
• murals
• faux finishes 

7. POOR FLOOR PLAN

You can stage rooms to distract from what can be considered problem areas like dormer rooms and windowless or closet-less rooms. Consider return those rooms to their original use.
In other words, stage your bedrooms as bedrooms, not an exercise room or home office. Stage your dining room as an eating and entertaining area, not a homework central.


MAKE IT EASY FOR BUYERS TO LOVE YOUR HOME
YOU WILL GET A BETTER PRICE AND IN LESS TIME

STAGE WELL - SELL WELL

10 Clever Ways Magazine Holders Can Organize Your Life

10 Clever Ways Magazine Holders Can Organize Your Life

1. Organize cans of food.
Simply stick a clean magazine holder in your pantry and fill with cans. To optimize space, place the cans on their sides.

2. Organize toilet paper.
So much better!

3. Organize your hot irons.
Placing them in a decorative magazine holder adds instant style to your bathroom, too.

4. Hang up your hairdryer.
It's so simple, but this method prevents major cord tangling.

5. Organize and hang your food wrap.
Say goodbye to junk drawers!

6.  Organize your yarn.
Magazine holders make it so easy to keep your craft supplies organized.

7. Organize all your flip-flops.
No more searching for matching sandals!

8. Organize your cutting boards.
You can hang the holder under the sink or simply leave it on or under the counter.

9. Organize your clutches.
This tip upgrades any closet.

10. Organize cords.
Loose cords can make any space look disorganized and cluttered. Use magazine holders to help hide the cords that create that cluttered look. For instance, use a magazine holder to hide your modem and router.

THE TOP 5 DONTS IN HOME STAGING

Top 5 Don’t in Home Staging

1. Don’t be emotionally attached. 
As soon as your sellers make the commitment to sell, they need to look at their end goal. Are they downsizing, moving to be near family, or a warmer climate? It’s important for them to emotionally detach from selling their home. Any negative remarks you gather as their real estate professional from home buyers, the sellers need to be able to use as constructive criticism and be willing to do what it takes to get their “product” sold timely and for top dollar.

2. Don’t be afraid to team up. Selling a home can be overwhelming. Just packing and decluttering is a monumental task and that is why using a professional home stager is an investment in getting your property sold. A professional stager (not a decorator) is an expert who can look at the home objectively and provide proven methods to help enhance your clients’ home showings.

3. Don’t leave anything broken. 
Everything should function properly and be in working order. Sellers need to make sure they repair leaky faucets, cracked windows, loose doorknobs, broken tile, as well as replace any light bulbs that don’t work.

4. Don’t invest in major renovations.

Updated dark wood cabinets with white paint is a simple solution to giving a kitchen a more modern appeal.
Now is not the time to gut the kitchen with a complete makeover. Keep it to the essentials in giving the home a basic cosmetic fix. Painting goes a long way in providing a modern “facelift” to a home, from the kitchen cabinets to the bathroom vanities. Update a home by adding new flooring, if needed, a new bathroom vanity and light fixture, and making any necessary repairs — those projects can be worth the investment to get the house sold.

5. Don’t buy all new furniture. 
Rearrange and put away excessive pieces to simplify and make the room appear larger. Update or hide imperfections in the sellers’  furniture with new throws and pillows. However, if your sellers are already planning to purchase updated furniture for their new home, they may want to consider buying sooner for selling purposes too.

THE ULTIMATE TECHNIQUES TO OUTDOOR SPRING HOME STAGING

STAGE WELL - SELL WELL  by OrganizDwell

Spring appears to be around the corner! 

As a professional home stager, I am often asked by my clients how to stage the outside of a house. I always begin with "First impressions count!" and curb appeal cannot be underestimated.  After all, if a potential buyer is turned off to your house by the outside, they will not be impressed with the inside, no matter how perfect your house is!

 Here is the checklist for outdoor home staging:

1. Pressure wash your house; if your exterior paint needs touch ups, do them...  if your siding needs repairs, do them
2. Have your windows professionally cleaned (both inside and out)
3. If necessary, paint exterior doors and garage doors
4. If necessary, install new outside lighting (this can be done for a reasonable cost from Home Depot or Lowe’s), and make sure that the lighting fixtures match the style of your house
5. Place new, colorful doormats in front of every exterior door, including the door from the garage into the house
6. If you have a front porch that is large enough to accommodate a chair and side table (think wicker), then place one there
7. Add splashes of color with pretty potted flowers.  If you have a place to hang baskets, then by all means, do
8. Re-seed bare patches on your lawn, and once gardening season begins, place decorative edging around your garden beds and use wood chips in the beds
9. If your house numbers are dingy or barely visible, replace them (or at least take them down and spray paint them in a color that contrasts the house color)
10. Rake dead leaves and remove dead fallen branches
11. Make sure that all exterior lighting has fresh light bulbs
12. If your storm door needs to be replaced, then do it
13. If you have a basketball hoop attached to the exterior of your house, remove it

Although this list may seem daunting, it is well worth it if you are motivated to sell your home.  And the ROI (return on investment) can be huge.  It can make the difference between a quick sale and a house that sits on the market for months. And even if you aren’t selling your home, this is a great refresher for the exterior of your home.  
After all, who doesn’t like to come home to a really pretty house?

NEED HELP - call me 
Mimi at
www.OrganizDwell.com
(201)446 8374

WHERE TO DONATE MY STUFF?

There are numerous organizations, schools, and thrift stores in NJ that welcome donations. Below are some suggestions in New Jersey.

TheStuffStop.com

A free nationwide community resource website that provides information to match up your unwanted stuff with local charities, ministries and companies that connect it with people in need.

www.donationtown.org

This website shows you a list of charities in your area that pick up donations and you can schedule a pick up from this site.

Vietnam Veterans of America New Jersey 

www.vva.org or 
www.scheduleapickup.com
 800-775-8387

They will pick up items from your home.

Goodwill Drop Off Donation Center 
Rt 18 East Brunswick NJ

They accept toys, clothing, household items, and books.

www.goodwillny.org/donatedgoods.jsp

The Salvation Army

1-800-95-TRUCK

www.use.salvationarmy.org

Call for a pick up of your items or to find out the nearest drop off location.

Rescue Mission of Trenton NJ
They do not pick up furniture.

www.rescuemissionoftrenton.org/mission-store.htm

609-695-1436

Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.

www.lupuspickup.org

See their website for list of accepted items. They will pick up items from your home.

HomeFront of NJ
 
www.homefrontnj.org

1880 Princeton Avenue 
Lawrenceville NJ 08648

609-989-9417

Dress for Success New Jersey

www.dressforsuccess.org

A nonprofit organization that provides office attire to low income
women so they can get and maintain jobs. All items must be on
hangers when dropped off. Located in Newark and Jersey City NJ.

Cell Phone Donations NJ

Many municipalities and cell phone stores have a place to donate old
cell phones. www.wirelessfundraiser.com to find programs in NJ.

Eyeglass Donations NJ

www.neweyesfortheneedy.org

Boats and Jet Ski Donations in NJ

www.boatangel.com

8 TIPS TO STAY FOCUSED AT WORK DURING THE HOLIDAYS

We’re quickly approaching the holiday season, and as you try to juggle parties, shopping, hosting, planning, traveling, and work, there’s a good chance you will lose focus and momentum in the office.
Here are 8 ways to stay focused and maintain high productivity during the chaotic holiday season:

1. Take a few days off. If you have a few vacation days available, take the time to do a little shopping or enjoy a day with your loved ones. This will give you a chance to refresh and recharge during the busy holiday season. We work to LIVE not Live to Work!!!
2. Clear your mind. Get your tasks and projects, both personal and professional, onto paper and out of your head. Once you see all your commitments and want-to-do’s, decide which to drop and which could wait until the new year.
3. Avoid multitasking. Try to avoid working on personal and work-related tasks at the same time. Shopping online while listening in on a conference call could be disastrous.
4. Start working on year-end projects and personal tasks early. Start your holiday shopping earlier than you have in the past, and get a head start on any upcoming projects at work. This way, when you’re busy with office parties and planning family gatherings later this month, you’ll have fewer to-do items on your plate.
5. Don’t take your work home. We all have family obligations during the holiday season. When at the office try to set clear and reasonable goals for what you want to accomplish and commit to a hard stop time. Use your motivation for getting out the door on time as a way to fight off those tempting distractions.
6. Take care of yourself physically. Exercise more, not less, even if it’s just a walk around the block. Sleep more, not less, just thirty minutes more a night can make a big difference. Enjoy Hot chocolate or a cookie - don't feel guilty!!! Love yourself!!
7. Don’t over-commit. With all the office parties, client events, and secret Santa exchanges it can be tough to stay focused on work. Be sure to prioritize and balance your holiday activities with your work obligations. Don’t feel like you have to go to every department lunch gathering or office party you get invited to.
8. Remember what the holidays are all about. Keep in mind the holiday season is for celebration. This should be a joyful time of the year. A chaotic holiday season is a choice, not a given.

ENJOY THE SEASON AND IF YOU CANNOT FOCUS - TAKE THE TIME OFF!