Life In Wake Forest NC.....

Selling your house can be challenging when you have pets and I'm going to focus today on your CAT. Your furry friend and family member. I've got three myself so I understand and can empathize with my selling clients when it comes to this subject. I got plenty of inspiration to share some kitty tips when selling from my own experience over the weekend. I decided to move my cat's litter box from the basement to our first floor mudroom. See, my cats are senior citizens now and since I'm not planning to move into a ranch style home with no stairs for THEIR sake, I had to make some adjustments for them.

The dreaded 'litter box" can pose some challenges when you put your house up for sale. I've seen litter boxes in just about every room now in working with sellers over a number of years. I still remember when we were looking for a house to buy, we toured two houses with cats. The one house had about 7 litter boxes throughout the house including bedrooms. Hmmmm....do you think they had a problem? The other house had only one litter box and it was located in their family room right by the sofa. It reeked. Needless to say, we didn't buy either of those houses. Downplaying the presence as well as the location of the litter box really is critical when selling.

Location...Location...Location

I've found the best locations for a litter box is out of the way places like the basement and laundry/mudroom. I've seen them in bathrooms too but I've found that buyers really want to see the bathroom and not get distracted by a litter box. One way to help my kitties better transition when I moved their box was to put their food in close range of it. This worked perfectly.


What's That Smell?
If you have cats then you know that if you don't keep their throne pristine, it's going to smell. When selling, this is a no brainer. You may have to scoop 3-4 times a day but this is a MUST. Do you have a COVER for your box? If you do, great! Now make sure you turn the box to make sure the hole is facing a wall. If you don't have a "cover", think about getting one. If the box has to be present during showings, at least the box is covered up and the hole is against the wall. Buyers really do not want to see inside of the box even if it is pristine. They just don't.
I also recommend buying those "stick ups" they sell in the pet aisle or pet stores that help neutralize odor. Stick that baby on the side of the covered litter box. They really do work. And a quick spritz of Febreeze in the area before a showing is a good idea too. Remember I said "quick spritz"........NOT half the bottle.


Take It Outside
The BEST solution I give my clients is to place the litter box in the garage during a showing if at all possible. I know this doesn't work for some kitties that can't be trusted but I've found that it works for the majority. My own cats freak and run under a bed and hide when visitors come to our house so having a missing litter box for an hour is not a problem.


Creative Solutions
I came across an amazing idea on a forum while doing some research for this article. Someone was building a house and decided to incorporate the litter box into their laundry room cabinetry so it was out of the way and they could keep the room....ummm.....more "visually appealing" you might say. I jumped all over this idea and told my husband to break out the power tools and cut a side door into our sink cabinet that is in our mud room. The cats go through the door and all I have to do is open up the front doors to scoop and be done.
It's hidden and better than a covered litter box.


Talk About "Staging" Your Litter Box

Who knew there were such a wide variety of creative litter box options out there? (I'd just suggest turning that hole around to face the wall.)




What about these cool styles?






Okay...if you were freaking out like I was when I first saw this, you can relax when I tell you that I think they are trying to show another option here. I don't think most people would actually put a litter box beside their bed (but you never know!). A cozy hideaway bed for your cat is another way to use this piece of furniture. Feel better? I know I did.



For the modern cat:

Entry Table AND Litter box in one...Who Knew?




Need a Litter box in the Office? Just be careful that you get the right box when looking for that file....




I'm having too much fun with this...can you tell?




Here's some other Staging Tips For Kitty When Selling:

Princess Perspective:
This might be harsh, but when you are selling, kitty is NOT the princess (or prince) anymore. The castle is for sale and things cannot stay the way they are. That means that the cat jungle/scratching post tower has to put away, the million mouse and feather toys must be rounded up and the sunning window perch for cats has to be disassembled and stored away. Yes, I realize that it's your cat's favorite place but your potential buyers needs to see how pretty the window is, not looking at the pile of cat hair left on the cushion attached to the window.

Meow Mix Mayhem:
Did you know that kitty's dishes shouldn't be out during a showing? It's so much a part of our everyday lives that we don't think about it, right? But when selling, they need to be gone. This also goes for those cool plug in water fountains. The cat may love them but with their messy cord and location near a plug (which is usually in the kitchen) it's not a great thing to keep around when you're trying to impress buyers.

Not Everyone Loves Your Cat



I know, it's your baby. I understand. I have three furry children myself and I love them dearly. Not everyone is a cat person. Or likes pets at all. Many are allergic to cats as well. When you are selling, it is really important to see it from the perspective buyer's point of view.

Fur Ball Fiasco:
If you've got a cat, you've definitely got this: Cat Hair. Getting rid of as much cat hair as possible and staying on top of it by cleaning frequently is critical. Are you trying to use a lint brush to get rid of hair on the furniture or curtains? Forget it. The best thing to use is a rubber glove. A damp cloth works really well too. The Swiffer is another great product to use on the floors. I'm constantly amazed at all the invisible hair you can't see until you look at the bottom of the swiffer pad when you're done. Whoa.

Stay Or Go?



Have you been waiting for me to answer the obvious question: What the heck should I do with my cat during a showing? Don't worry, your cat will probably be fine staying at home. More than likely the cat will either go hide (like mine) or lay on a bed and look slightly annoyed at the interruption from strangers. If your cat is never to be outside, you may want to consider putting him in a cat carrier or taking him with you. Better safe than sorry.



Even though your pet is a huge part of your family, downplaying their presence while selling your house is a smart move. Remember it's all about the house and getting it sold. Follow these tips and ideas I've shared with you today so that it can help you better deal with your kitty when selling so that it doesn't cost you a sale.

Happy Staging!

I have a confession to make...I've got a thing about staging Laundry Rooms. The Kitchen may be the "heart of the home" but many hours are spent each week in the laundry room. And THAT makes this room a very important space to feature when selling your home.

Many times when I am consulting with homeowners and we get close to the laundry area, they'll ask if I want to see it because after all, it's only the laundry room. In their minds, it's that space that's a catch-all for dirty clothes, shoes, coats, 5 cases of water bottles, dog food and old paint cans. Oh yes! I tell my clients, I DEFINETLY want to see what's behind that door.

The Laundry Room needs some attention and staging too. This is one space you don't want to forget about! The biggest issue is getting rid of everything that is not needed so the room can breathe and look spacious. Yes...that means you have to get rid of the 20 pairs of shoes on the shoe rack behind the door, the dog food has to find a new home and you're going to have to store all that water neatly in the garage.

(Image: Hampton Designs)

Here's a few Staging Tips that can help you transform your laundry room into a fabulous space that buyer's will love:

• DECLUTTER: Get everything out that you don't need. The only thing that should be in there is the stuff you need to do laundry...(detergent, softener, etc.) Now is not the time to buy the HUGE 50 gallon jug of detergent. I'll tell you why in a minute.

• CLEAN LIKE CRAZY: Wipe down that washer and dryer from top to bottom. Push it back against the wall if needed. I've seen a lot of washer and dryers pushed out with all those hoses showing. Tuck the hoses in while you're at it. Think NEAT and ORGANIZED.

• PAINT. Most laundry rooms need a fresh coat of paint and a different color. For some reason, I see alot of sponge painting in these spaces. Probably because it was a "safe" room to try your hand at the technique years ago. I'm speaking from personal experience here and mine looked just dreadful! Trust me, a fresh coat of paint goes a long way.

• STAGE: Canvas Bins and Baskets make a HUGE DIFFERENCE visually when used to store all those detergents. Buyers do not want to see all those bottles that look like clutter anyways. It looks so much more organized and fresh staged with these pretty bins or baskets. This is why you don't want to hit Cosco for the jumbo size detergents. I want you to hide it in the bins.

• KEEP UP THE LAUNDRY: Not letting the laundry get out of hand during selling can be a challenge. We lead busy lives. Doing a load a day keeps you on top of the process. Buyers should NEVER see dirty clothes in piles, in a basket, anywhere. Ever. The same goes for clean laundry. It should not be sitting out on the counter or top of the dryer waiting to be put away or hanging around. Buyers don't want to see your laundry. They want to see the space. Show them an organized room they can emotionally connect to. Not how much work laundry can be.

• HANGERS & CLOTHES BASKETS: Yes...we need them to do laundry but during showings, they should not be anywhere in sight. Storing all those extra hangers on the clothes rack is not an option either. Throw them in one of the bins/baskets or if you are lucky to have a closet in your laundry room, store them there.

• HIDE IT: And one last mention here. If you have a last minute showing or you are just REALLY behind on laundry because you didn't listen to my "one load a day" advice, make sure you get it out of sight and HIDE those baskets. When I sold our house a few years back, I would actually take those baskets of dirty laundry and hide them on the garage shelves during a last minute showing. (They were concealed well and no one ever knew!) I have also been known to take it with me in the car. Hiding it in the actual washer or dryer is good too. For those that have always kept your laundry up, stop laughing. The rest of you know what I'm talking about and it's a great strategy to use.

Ready to prepare your home for the Spring selling season? We're ready to help you and look forward to your call!

Happy Staging!

I wrote last week about how distracting personal photos can be when it comes to selling your home: Old School Thinking: Personal Photos do NOT Make Your Home Feel More Like HOME While You Are Selling"

I'm in a lot of homes as I consult with Sellers and I do see many beautiful and artfully displayed photos on the wall. Wall Words are very popular right now as well as frames with meaningful sayings that celebrate the family displayed and what is important to them. I see gorgeous black and white photography of families and children. And let's not forget those baby shots that just melt your heart!

But when you are SELLING....as stunning as these pictures and wall displays are, they are DISTRACTING to your Buyers. If you haven't read my last post about this, stop and click the above link to read. It's alright...I'll wait. (whistling...looking around...)

Okay...you're back. You got that now, right?


So... now the BIG question. What do we do with these beautiful photo displays on the walls?

• Do we take them all down, patch the wall/re-paint and stare at a blank boring wall?
• Do we add a piece of artwork instead?
• What if we have A LOT of walls with photos?

Don't despair! There is a "Staging Technique" that works quite well.


One of the easiest and cheapest ways to "neutralize" those family photos is to replace the photos inside.

Here's how in 3 Easy Steps:

1. I tell my clients to go to Google.com and then to "Images". Do a search for "Black and White landscaping/nature/trees/flowers....." whatever you prefer or works in that particular room. And it can be in "color" too if it works better for that space.
2. Once you find what you're looking for, print it off in the appropriate size.
3. Put it over the existing photo in the frame and Ta-Dah!....you have a nice, neutral photo.

Here's an example of a past client's homes. The pictures to the right were of their children but temporary replaced with neutral B&W photos.

• There may be some walls that everything will need to come down and you'll patch and re-paint.
• There may be a wall that will need a piece of artwork in place of the photos. The photo below is a perfect example. DO NOT attempt adding 11 pictures of "trees" to this collage and calling it a keeper.

• If you have a display of photos with mis-matched frames, they DEFINITELY need to come down. DO NOT attempt to replace the photos with the staging technique above using all those different frames. It just won't work.

• Which brings me to the last guideline: Be sure that all the frames in your display are the same. This creates a nice, clean simplistic presentation that does not distract from the selling features of the room. The example below is a good one. Now, don't start thinking that the photos in those frames would be fine for selling either. Can you just see the Buyer's getting sucked into how sweet those babies are? Are they looking at your fabulous fireplace and large windows right now? A good replacement photo would be a landscape. You'll see in the far top left hand side the photo looks to be a far off shot of a hillside and trees. If people ARE in it and you can barely make them out...it's fine to keep that one. Landscape of a beautiful hillside, mountain, river etc. go well with the wording too.

Still unsure about creating that balance?

Consider hiring a Home Stager. Stagers offer a Staging Consultation that is a very cost effective solution. The professional House Stager can assist you with creating that balance as well as an overall plan to get your house ready for the market. This takes all the second guessing and stress out of it as you prepare your home.

Happy Staging!

I wrote last week about how distracting personal photos can be when it comes to selling your home: Old School Thinking: Personal Photos do NOT Make Your Home Feel More Like HOME While You Are Selling"

I'm in a lot of homes as I consult with Sellers and I do see many beautiful and artfully displayed photos on the wall.  Wall Words are very popular right now as well as frames with meaningful sayings that celebrate the family displayed and what is important to them.   I see gorgeous black and white photography of families and children.  And let's not forget those baby shots that just melt your heart!
 
But when you are SELLING....as stunning as these pictures and wall displays are, they are DISTRACTING to your Buyers.  If you haven't read my last post about this, stop and click the above link to read.   It's alright...I'll wait.        (whistling...looking around...)

Okay...you're back.  You got that now, right?  


So... now the BIG question.  What do we do with these beautiful photo displays on the walls?  

• Do we take them all down, patch the wall/re-paint and stare at a blank boring wall?   
• Do we add a piece of artwork instead?     
• What if we have A LOT of walls with photos?    

Don't despair!  There is a "Staging Technique" that works quite well.  


One of the easiest and cheapest ways to "neutralize" those family photos is to replace the photos inside.

Here's how in 3 Easy Steps:

1. I tell my clients to go to Google.com and then to "Images".  Do a search for "Black and White landscaping/nature/trees/flowers....." whatever you prefer or works in that particular room.  And it can be in "color" too if it works better for that space. 
2. Once you find what you're looking for, print it off in the appropriate size.   
3. Put it over the existing photo in the frame and Ta-Dah!....you have a nice, neutral photo.    

Here's an example of a past client's homes. The pictures to the right were of their children but temporary replaced with neutral B&W photos.

• There may be some walls that everything will need to come down and you'll patch and re-paint.  
• There may be a wall that will need a piece of artwork in place of the photos. The photo below is a perfect example.  DO NOT attempt adding 11 pictures of "trees" to this collage and calling it a keeper. 

• If you have a display of photos with mis-matched frames, they DEFINITELY need to come down.  DO NOT attempt to replace the photos with the staging technique above using all those different frames.  It just won't work.

• Which brings me to the last guideline:  Be sure that all the frames in your display are the same.  This creates a nice, clean simplistic presentation that does not distract from the selling features of the room.  The example below is a good one.  Now, don't start thinking that the photos in those frames would be fine for selling either. Can you just see the Buyer's getting sucked into how sweet those babies are?  Are they looking at your fabulous fireplace and large windows right now?  A good replacement photo would be a landscape.  You'll see in the far top left hand side the photo looks to be a far off shot of a hillside and trees.  If people ARE in it and you can barely make them out...it's fine to keep that one.  Landscape of a beautiful hillside, mountain, river etc. go well with the wording too.

Still unsure about creating that balance?  

Consider hiring a Home Stager.  Stagers offer a Staging Consultation that is a very cost effective solution. The professional House Stager can assist you with creating that balance as well as an overall plan to get your house ready for the market.  This takes all the second guessing and stress out of it as you prepare your home.  

Happy Staging!

Thanks to HGTV and many other media articles on home staging, Sellers are starting to understand the importance of removing their personal photos as part of the overall preparing their home for the real estate market.  However, I've still noticed an awful lot of personal photos in our MLS when I check out the local listings.   So what gives?



Old School Thinking:  Often it is very difficult for Realtors to tell their Sellers that the personal photos have got to go.  Sellers can be very attached and proud of their grand displays of their kids and extended families. On the other hand, one of the old school thinking I have heard many times is to leave the photos up because buyers want to see who lives there and it feels more like "home".


This simply is not true.  Don't buy into that old school thinking.  The way houses are marketed and shown today are completely different than 5-10 years ago.

Sellers MUST take themselves out of the picture.  If you walked into a house with a large display of these gorgeous Olan Mills photos I'm showing here (and I'm being sarcastic folks!), would you be distracted?  You'd probably be taking a trip down memory lane instead of remembering those great selling features. 

The same stands true for those beautiful up to date baby/family photos and wall collages. Yes, they distract too!

Think of it this way:   How would Buyers feel when they came to view your home?  You want them to connect and feel like the home could be theirs.  With all the photos, they'll feel like a GUEST and that they are intruding.  Buyers also get distracted by trying to figure out who lives there and why they might be selling. 


Remember:  "Distraction" equals forgetting about your house and all it has to offer. It's the kiss of death because those buyers just walked out your door and will forget your house completely as they view 10+ more that day. Or worse, buyers do remember the house...."Oh yeah, is that the fifty million photo crazy house? What did that one look like? I only remember all those pictures."

Bottom Line:  Pack those photos up.  Let the house be the "STAR"and on DISPLAY...NOT the people who live there.  Doing so will get you one step closer to a successful sale!