It’s officially spring! While the warmer weather may be welcome, the idea of spring cleaning may not. However, the right spring cleaning projects can actually add value to your home, and that’s definitely welcome news if you’re planning on listing your home in the near future. Continue reading
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When it comes time to selling your home, staging it can play an important role in getting it sold. Home staging is all about showing how the space can be used and to help buyers envision themselves living in this space. Essentially, you’ll want to remove most of the personal elements and make the space as neutral and minimalist as possible. Here are some tips for staging your home. Continue reading
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Downsizing your home is a big decision and one that requires some consideration. We are often emotionally, as well as financially, invested in our homes. While it may be beneficial to move out, it is not always an easy choice. On the bright side, there are many benefits of downsizing to a condo that might make it worthwhile. Here are some of the top benefits to help you decide if moving into a smaller home is the right choice for you. Continue reading
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Moving is a great opportunity for you to declutter your home to give yourself a fresh start in your new space. Decluttering is especially important if you’re downsizing your home. You can keep a surprising amount of household items out of our landfills by recycling them. Continue reading
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2018 is here! Time to take stock of what we’ve accomplished so far and formalize any new goals. With the new year comes the idea of fresh beginnings, promises and possibilities. This feeling of newness often brings along the desire to declutter and organize our homes. Decluttering, however, can seem like an insurmountable chore, if you don’t know where or how to start. I suggest tackling the clutter one small step at a time, knowing that it will lead to big improvements over time. Here are some of my suggestions for decluttering and organizing your home. Continue reading
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Yes, it’s all the rage right now to be a minimalist. Don’t worry. I am not here to say that you should become one, but I did point out in my last blog some great minimalist ideas for getting out the old. When getting a home ready for sale, we do need to be mindful of what we can take with us and if we really need to, as well.
This time I would like to add in the importance of donating instead of dumping items we once loved. Donating to thrift store and charities not only keeps our local landfills from overflowing, it gives another person the chance to love our gently used item as much as we did. Many times, the biggest obstacle is where to take our goodies to share. Below is a list of charities looking to make our old items someone else’s new treasure.
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) will pick up your used clothing, household items and even cars right from your home in the Prince William County area. Just label your boxes for pick up by the VVA and set them out for pick up. VVA notes that clothing is always a huge need, as well as clothing accessories, shoes (all kinds), baby items, house and glassware, all linens and kitchenware.
Goodwill of Greater Washington is open seven days a week for your donations. They also have a pack and ship program that allows you to ship donated items for free! Their website provides a detailed breakdown of all the items they can accept. Currently, they need household items, toys and books.
If you are heading for the landfill and don’t want to make another trip out in to town, just separate your gently loved items from the broken ones. The Donation Place at the Prince William County landfill is a brilliant space used to collect items that are still usable and in need of a new a home. The Donation Place is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore takes your building materials, appliances, furniture, tools and more and then sells them to the general public at forty to ninety percent off retail prices. All proceeds support adequate housing initiatives and home repairs in partnership with local families in need. Hours vary, so visit the website.
Taking the time to donate items not only gives your closets a much needed pare-down, but also gives your home a great start toward a look that will sell!
I love sharing these ideas with you on the blog as well as when preparing you to buy or sell a home. I sincerely enjoy working with my incredible clients and am so glad to be able to help:
“Our listing and selling process with Belinda was outstanding! From the original evaluation, to contract decisions, to staging the home professionally, everything was well thought out and handled superbly by her. Her marketing resources and materials were very professional. The open houses proved to be beneficial. Belinda was very responsive to all of our communications and we appreciated her immediate action on everything. We would highly recommend Belinda for your real estate needs. Her expertise made the sale of our home a quick and smooth process.” ~ J. Wilkins
Thank you to the Wilkins Family for the privilege of working with them. If you are ready to experience the Jacobson advantage, please contact Belinda Jacobson-Loehle at Jacobson Realty and Home Staging today.
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Are you looking around the house and thinking, “Where in the world did all of this stuff come from?” Hey, no judgement here, everybody has been deluged by more stuff than they need. And many times, things need replacing or updating, and we are not quite sure what to do with the old once we bring in the new.
This also works with household updates as well. Many times, we are ready to do some much-needed changes to our home, but we know the clutter will remain if we don’t come up with a plan to trade out the new for the old. What are some of the secrets that uber-organized people use to obtain and maintain organized spaces?
Old Out First
Some people throw out the old right away. Before even going to the store to purchase a new needed or wanted item, they cruise by the local thrift store to donate the old item or drop off a broken item at the waste management area. They may have to go without an item for a day or so, but they are not trying to work around the old item while bringing in the new. These same people prefer to make donations before Christmas to make room for the new stuff!
Two for One
Rumor has it, this is the Zen way of handling clutter. For every item, you bring into the house you make a promise with yourself you will donate or throw away two. From shoes to televisions, this strategy does not have to be a straight across trade, but can clean up some of the more stacked-up areas of a home, such as the back-entry way or the laundry room. If a new front door is in the works, you can always count the old front door and the squeaky screen door that is not really needed as your two old pieces for one new. Simply maintaining this mindset a portion of the time can keep you on track for constant decluttering.
Six and Out
Try the “six and out” game. Go around the house and look for clothes, gadgets or other items that nobody has paid attention to in 6 months. If they have no seasonal use and are just collecting dust or getting in the way, pack them up and take them to a local charity. Another variation of this game is great for considering the replacement of larger ticket items or updating your home’s interior. Have you had trouble with a bathroom sink more than once in the last six months? Have you noticed fading paint or a balding carpet for more than six months? Maybe it is time to look at getting those areas of your home updated.
Photograph and Move Out
If de-cluttering is a priority, super-motivated folks will use the “shoot and move-out” method to get the job done. It’s simple. Take a photo of the personal memorabilia, keep in a digital file on any or all devices, and then move the stuff out of your house. It’s quick, it’s easy and the memories made are not forgotten. And the best part, your house is cleaner and more organized faster!
When it comes down to it, a cleaner, less cluttered house makes it easier to care for all of your belongings. And when the time comes for you to move on to better things, not only does an uncluttered, updated home look great to a new buyer, it may mean a better sales price and a much easier move for you!
If you’re interested in learning more about tips for buying or selling a home let us help. We can help you stage your property for the best market price ad help you find the perfect home to move up to. Contact Belinda Jacobson-Loehle at Jacobson Realty and Home Staging today.
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It’s the beginning of a new year, the time when we all get a fresh slate and extra burst of motivation for change and new beginnings. What better way to cleanse your house and your soul than starting the year off with a great decluttering? So get your boxes and bags, along with my suggestions, and get to work! You’ll feel so much better with fewer things filling up your home or distracting your attention. Here are some tips to get you moving in the right direction:
· Donate, donate, donate – It’s a new year and a great way to be charitable right from the start. Donations of goods to charities are tax deductible, and donating is a good way to give back to your community while you declutter your home. Clearly this is a win-win for all. If you have items that are in good or workable condition, find the right charity and donate them. Consider making donations to the Habitat for Humanity Restore facility at its new location, 10159 Hastings Drive in Manassas! They are currently accepting donations Monday – Friday from 9-6pm and Saturday’s from 9-5pm. Habitat accepts houseware, appliances and recycled construction material, to include old cabinets, countertops, ceiling fans, faucets and more! The grand opening for the retail store is scheduled for January 23, 2016 from 9-5pm with a ribbon cutting ceremony, food and special entertainment. For further details you can call 703-369-6145 or visit www.HabitatTWC.org. The Salvation Army in Manassas is another great organization that accepts donations. Located at 11201 Ball Ford Rd., donations are taken Monday – Saturday 8am – 6pm and Sundays 11- 6pm. For additional information call 703-686-4607.
· If you don’t use it, get rid of it – Trinkets from vacations past are only collecting dust and taking up space in your home, and old school projects have seen better days. Once you decide to let those items go, you will feel better and have more space for storage.
· Don’t forget to keep your house safe by getting rid of hazardous material – Old paint cans can really stack up (literally), and dangerous fertilizer bags aren’t safe to have sitting around. The Prince William County landfill, located at 13000 Ballsford Rd., will accept hazardous waste material, electronics, and selected chemicals on the second Saturday of every month from 10am-3pm. The larger landfill located at 14811 Dumfries Rd., takes everything!
· Make a little extra cash – After the holiday season of gift giving, a lot of our bank accounts may be low. What better way to make a little extra cash than to sell unwanted or unused items online? You could use an auction site like eBay for smaller, easier to ship items. For furniture and other large items that are still in good condition, you can sell them on Craig’s List. You can also sell your items at a local consignment shop.
· Use social media – Give items away for free! You can post your items on social media such as Craig’s List without the hassle of hauling it to a donation center! Just get the unwanted stationary bike or desk to the curb or garage and your job is done.
· Save time and organize – Once you have decluttered your home, organize your remaining items so that you have a system for keeping your home tidy. If there’s a place for everything, day-to-day cleaning won’t take so long. With fewer items lying around your house you can devote that extra time to a new hobby, an extra workout or spending more quality time with your family! Did you know? Decluttering is also the first step in preparing to sell a home.
If house selling is on your agenda for 2016, please know that we offer home improvement recommendations and free professional home staging with every listing. Contact us today to learn how to make the sale of your house quicker and more profitable with our help. Contact Jacobson Realty and Home Staging today for information.
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