Your REALTOR® moved your house off the market, 10 tips to keep you sane during the transition from old to new

The professional REALTOR® you hired promised your house would sell, and it did. Now, just take a breath and follow these simple steps for a smooth, successful move.

1. Do not move anything you do not love. Pare down, use up, sell, recycle or donate anything you haven’t used or don’t want to move.
2. Packing supplies may be as near as around the corner. If someone moved into the area recently, knock on their door and ask if you can haul away their boxes.
3. Contact your insurance agent to transfer all insurance including medical, property and auto policies and make sure to check on coverage while you and your things are in transit.
4. Create a special folder for moving expenses and religiously keep all receipts. This will make tax time a breeze as many moving expenses are deductible. Talk to a tax specialist for specifics before your move for important details.
5. Each day, pack some 5 to 10 boxes and keep them in the room they belong in. Color code boxes and number them. Label what they contain on the outside. Keep a master moving list on a clip board or in a zip up bag or notebook. When you unload on the other end, all the boxes color coded should go in one room, green in another, etc. The movers will love you for it.
6. If you have school-age children it is important to notify old and new schools and arrange for the transfer of school records, even if you are moving in the summer those records are especially important for the new school to place your child appropriately.
7. Think about hiring a cleaning service to clean the old house. You only have so much energy, save it for the new house and unpacking. You should not arrive at your new house already exhausted from cleaning.
8. Purchase a simple apron with big pockets, either the kind that ties around your waist or that hangs from your neck and ties around your waist. Keep markers, scissors, a notebook, pen, your cell phone and keys in the pockets.
9. Don’t forget to make arrangements to connect and disconnect any cable, internet, electric or other services. Dealing with this before you move will help you avoid any disruption in service in your new home and save you from being charged for service at your old residence after you have moved out.
10. When the moving van arrives at your new home and its time to unpack, only one person should be the director to tell the movers where things go. (This is when the color coding is a life saver) Stack boxes against one wall in each room so there is floor space to set up furniture.

Home Staging Numbers Are Magic!

The numbers don’t lie, especially in tough financial times. Statistics released by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) show the benefits of hiring a professional home stager are well worth the dollars spent. RESA figures released in 2010 show professionally staged homes sold in 78% less time than their un-staged counterparts.

The RESA formula shows in black and white the difference in dollars spent while your home sits on the market un-staged. For example, an $1800.00 mortgage with direct expenses of $300, puts the total cost per month at $2,100.00

RESA studies show un-staged homes stay on the market for an average of 9 months.
2,100.00 X 9 months = $18,900.00 in expenses.

Now consider the numbers if you staged your home first. The good news is that according to RESA, that homeowner would spend an average of just 60 days (7 months LESS) on the market.
2,100.00 X 7 months = $14,700.00
Staging first in this example saves $14,700.00
**numbers are based on a sample mortgage and expenses, individual situations will differ.

The formula is simple and clear and it means dollars saved for homeowners who choose to stage their homes before they open the door to buyers.

Mortgage + expenses (utilities etc.) = Monthly expenses
Monthly expenses X 9 months (avg. time un-staged) = Cost to list house un-staged
Savings: Expenses x 7 months (average time on market reduced) minus staging fee =Savings if you stage your house first!

Still not convinced?    By deciding to stage your home before its sale a professional stager can offer insights about how to make your home look its best, often for very little cost. The experienced home staging professional brings knowledge, design skills and common sense that will give you the biggest return on your investment and help your home sell for top dollar. Home stagers are highly skilled artists who can create dramatic scenery or arrange furniture in fresh, new groupings or add unique elements to draw attention to classic areas of your home. Your realtor can recommend a professional home staging firm in your area.

10 Ways to make your home “green”

When it comes to the environment and saving our planet, being a good global citizen can benefit the planet and the sale of your home.

1. Green up your appliances and replace old ones with energy-efficient models that bear the “Energy Star” logo. Energy-saving appliances are attractive to prospective buyers.
2. Look at your heating and cooling system and if possible, upgrade to something more energy-efficient. If that is too costly, consider installing a programmable thermostat to make temperature changes automatically, which can save energy and money. And don’t forget to replace the furnace filter each month.
3. Aerators on household faucets can cut annual water consumption by 50%. If you can, install a low-flow toilet or adjust the float valve in your old toilet’s tank for more big savings.
4. Energy-efficient light choices make a green statement to potential buyers. Replace your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and use 66% less energy. Install light sensors so that lights turn on or off automatically depending on room occupancy.
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Alice Explains Why Real Estate loves Web 2.0

The house hunting process has never been easier thanks to all the innovations of Web 2.0. Unlike other industries, real estate is tailor made for the benefits of this exciting technology thanks to its interactive qualities and wide reach.

Virtual home tours allow buyers to get their first look at a prospective home by viewing photos that pan over each room in the house as well as the yard and any outbuildings on the property. This green option saves time and energy; no driving from house to house, instead buyers can create a short list of properties they’d like to see in person.

Social media advertising is another area that uniquely benefits the real estate market. The power of the Internet is obvious when agents effectively use Facebook, YouTube or Twitter to post dynamic, attractive ads for their listings. The best part of social media advertising is that it doesn’t cost a dime. RealEstateCrusher.com is a portal that offers a wealth of information about social media marketing for real estate professionals.