During this slower economic time it is very important to assure that you have your home in tip top condition if you plan to sell.  It is a competitive seller's market and you want to make sure that you have done everything to assure you have curb appeal and a clear open space for potential buyers. If moving is in your future, here’s some tips to help make it a smooth transition! 

Thanks to Nicole Lindt of Coldwell Banker (nlindt@cbmove.com)  who assisted with some of the tips from a realtor’s point of view!

1.      Before you put the house on the market, the first step is to minimize and declutter! If you want a quick sale it is important to give potential buyers a clear view so they can see the possibilities of what the home can mean to them and their own style.

2.      This is a great time to begin your packing. If you are moving directly to the home, mark on the boxes the room where it will reside and what is in each box. If you are sending the items to storage, create a list for what is in each box and only write a corresponding number from the list on the box. You don't want to let anyone know which box contains your heirlooms or fine china! If you are interested in how to create this list,sign up for our newsletter in the month of April, we will send you a copy via email.

3.      Don’t forget the outside of your home – decluttering is not just an inside job! Make sure that the kids toys don’t litter the yard, the shed is well organized, and that the front of your home is neat, clear and has curb appeal.

4.      Create a folder or bin for all of your supplies for moving. In addition to your packing list, include markers and labels you may choose to utilize. A section should be dedicated to information to discuss with the realtor, paperwork related to sale and purchase, and any papers that you will need to have easy access to when you go to settlement and arrive in your new home, such as deeds, electric bills, water bills, taxes, school paperwork for children, address change forms, etc.

5.      Have plenty of boxes, bubble wrap, and available for packing available early in the process. It’s easier to pack a little a time rather than waiting until right before the move. You can get boxes from stores (call before to see which day they dispose of the boxes before they destroy them) or purchase them from moving and storage facilities. Some items that will be stored long term in the basement or attic, such as holiday decorations should be stored in clear plastic bins and marked when it's in a clear bin rather than a box, you are more apt to find it more quickly.

6.      If you find in your decluttering that you need to move some items out of the home to make it show better, consider a temporary storage facility or use of a POD (these are storage bins that are brought to your home to fill and stored in the bin until you are ready to use the items). One word of caution, do not use a storage facility long term unless you have a good reason - out of sight often means out of mind.

7.      Keep in mind how and what you pack in the boxes. Try to keep each box limited to one room – for instance, don’t pack kitchen items in with bathroom items. Also, it is important to remember to not pack boxes too heavy! Books should be packed in smaller boxes for ease in moving.

8.      Keep a toolbox equipped with items necessary to make the new home “your home”. This would include the usual hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, etc., but also items you need to hang curtains, shower curtains, pictures, etc. As you take down pictures and other hanging items off the walls in preparation for the move, keep the hardware in zip lock baggies and mark each bag for ease in rehanging.

9.      The most important rooms that people want to have organized first are the kitchen and bedrooms. Pack a box marked "immediate needs" - items such as hand towels, dish detergent, other cleaning supplies, some munchies and beverages, and bed linens.You can customize this box for whatever your most immediate needs happen to be!

10.  Arriving in a new home is the perfect time to "get it together"! Find logical homes for all of your items - place dishes in a cabinet near the table, pots and pans near the stove, etc. This will help make your home the organized and happy haven it should be!