If you aren't committed to prepacking and decluttering, then why list your house for sale at all? Commitment to a show-worthy house will make is sell-able. So, either, you're in, or you're not. So decide now because if you can't prepack, then you aren't ready for the next step of staging a house....

When we started looking at real estate, there was never any question that my husband and I would buy an old house. We didn’t even bother looking at any that were built after 1950. We knew we wanted the style and craftsmanship of an old home. Now, a couple of years after buying a house that was built in 1912, I’ve learned a few lessons. Even though I’ve lived in older houses and buildings as a renter, actually owning an old house has its own challenges.

Helpful list of Home Staging Tips - specifically things to NOT do when selling your house, along with the FREE printable checklist. Sell your home now!

Do I live in a hoarder house? I found myself questioning. My journey on breaking free from hoarding and cleaning up my home and life.

How To FAKE a Clean House When You Don’t Have Time To Clean – Need to clean a messy house FAST? This step by step checklist below will help you …

Tips on making your house or apartment a more home-like place.

Feel free to message me! Both pictures are of me- when I was 14 and when I was 15 (I'm much older now).

When building a house there are definitely places you can splurge and places you can save your money, read this to find out where.

There are plenty of ways to make your house brighter and lively. With proper planning and execution, your house can feel vibrant and cheerful again.

Don’t let the dreary cold weather fool you, spring is just around the corner. It doesn’t matter if it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market, springtime is when most buyers are out looking to purchase a new home. So if you’re planning to put your house on the market- now is the time to start getting ready. Here’s a guide to help you make the most out of your home’s debut to market. DEEP CLEAN While light cleaning will be required prior to showings, take advantage of the time you have now to have your home thoroughly deep cleaned. Wash all curtains or drapes, dust the blinds, and remove spider or cobwebs hanging in the corners up high on the walls. Clean baseboards, remove the lime build up on drains, in sinks, and on shower heads. It’s hard to put your finger on the details, but when you walk into a clean house you know it right away. Another often overlooked item – wash the windows, both inside and out. Sparkle and shine will sell a home. Sunlight through clean windows can create just the right setting, like having a great filter on a social media picture. IF YOU KNOW IT’S BROKEN, FIX IT No home is perfect, not even new construction. Home repairs can accumulate over time, and while it’s not fun to spend money on your soon to be “old house” it can save you money on negotiations later on. Getting an inspection done prior to selling is not usually necessary, you can be proactive now just by taking care of any know issues. Look at it from the prospective of a buyer, with multiple homes on the market to choose from- would you want to choose a home with a long list of repairs? In many cases, this can overwhelm a buyer, even if they are relatively small repairs. For top dollar, a buyer will expect a well-maintained home. TAKE A LOOK AT THE WALLS Are there any walls painted colors that could be qualified by the phrase, “you either love it or hate it”? If this is the case you might want to consider choosing a more neutral palette. A new coat of paint can go a long way to make a home feel fresh and new. Baseboards should also be thoroughly cleaned and repainted if necessary. Changing the ceiling color from a bright white to a creamier tone can also help bring the room together creating a warmer ambiance. DEPERSONALIZE YOUR SPACE Think of this as creating a blank canvas for a buyer to envision themselves living there. When a buyer comes through they typically won’t have a chance to spend a whole lot of time thinking about what they would do to make this their home. Your goal is to make it as easy as possible for them by removing as many personal items as you can so that it’s not distracting for them. When they walk out you want them to remember the attributes of the home itself, not your ‘stuff’ as you’ll be taking that with you. Consider renting a storage unit to clear out any clutter, spacious rooms are a top feature homebuyers are looking for. CHOOSE [THE RIGHT] LIGHT Add light bulbs to your shopping list so you can change any light bulbs that are out. Place tasteful lamps throughout the home for an added touch brightening any dark spaces. Make sure to have them on for showings as well. Choose soft colored balanced lighting that will create a calm and warm atmosphere. Some light bulbs can be too bright and distracting. Also, think about how a room will appear in pictures. Most real estate photographers do not bring studio light gear with them when the shoot the listing pictures, they work with the lights already in the home. While this can be adjusted in editing, you want to help make sure there isn’t anything missed. CURB APPEAL We all know first impressions matter. Many buyers will drive by a home prior to making an appointment to see it. They might see it as they’re checking your neighborhood, or they might have made a list and decided to drive as they cut down their list of homes they want to see. Having a well-kept yard can be the deciding factor on making the cut. Main items here would be trimming bushes and trees, having a clear pathway to the front door, use dark mulch in flower beds, clearing out weeds and overgrowth. And, because spring is quickly approaching, you will have a great selection to choose from to add pretty colorful flowers to your flower beds. Keep in mind as the grass begins to grow quickly again in the spring and summer months and it will require more frequent mowing. Power washing the sidewalk and driveway is also a good idea. Here’s an important tip for Sienna Plantation residents, some may not be aware that the Sienna HOA requires an inspection prior to closing. A complete list of items can be found on siennanet.com under the Realtor tab, Certificate of Compliance Checklist. Make sure to discuss this with your agent. If you are not currently working with an agent, please don’t hesitate to contact me to find out more about what this could mean for a seller or buyer in Sienna Plantation. Updates are good, just make sure you are in line with the market. HGTV has a way of making home improvement look overly glamorous and easy. The truth is, while we all love beautiful top-of-the-line features, over-improvement can be costly and eat away at your equity. Before you begin a remodeling project, look at what is currently for sale in your neighborhood. How does your home compare? If the housing trends in your neighborhood are selling without it, you might want to make smaller improvements instead. Consulting with an experienced agent can help you determine which updates will help sell your home quickly. Getting ready to list your home can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Make a checklist, it will help you keep track of your progress and break it down into more manageable pieces. Download a free printable checklist HERE. Tip: Laminate the Home Showing Checklist, this way you can use it each time before a showing. Consider doing a walkthrough with someone who can provide objective feedback, it will help bring clarity to what needs to get done. If you would like a customized game plan to get you ready and listed to sell quickly, contact me today to set up a complimentary consultation.

Print Name: Lagangarbh Bothy 👋 Hi there! Thanks for stopping by my Etsy store - explore all my prints at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AleanaLewisFilm 🖨 Printed on 310gsm Hahnemühle German Etching paper, (324gsm Mohawk card for the 4x6 option) this print showcases the beauty of this wee bothy captured on film. It is produced using a carbon neutral printer, reflecting my commitment to sustainability. Please note the print is free of watermarks, includes a small border and delivered without a frame. If you would like a frame, please get it touch and we can arrange a framing option that compliments your style. 📫 Your order will be delivered in recycled and biodegradable packaging, ensuring a planet-friendly experience. Orders are dispatched within 48 hours of order being received. 🎞 The Glencoe road is well known as one of the most beautiful drives in Scotland. I have driven this road many times in my life and every time, no matter the weather, the beauty blows my mind. When I was a teenager I nicknamed this house 'f*ck off house', as to me, it was the perfect spot to live away from society. Maybe not the case anymore as this road has become well known and it is now one of the most photographed bothy's in Scotland. 🌍 Interested in the location of this shot? https://maps.app.goo.gl/ND2AoeTJCJWrEnDq5

I’m SO excited to share the finished product of my latest project: replacing our old carpets with laminate floors. Mostly I’m just excited that this project is finished, period! Ever since we moved into our house back in June, the carpets had been driving me crazy. It wasn’t so much the look—although they looked pretty rough—it was the smell. Think pet smell + old house smell + former smoker smell all rolled into one musty cloud. It was not pleasant, especially as the hot summer wore on. We looked into having a professional install laminate floors, but between the materials and labor the estimate came in around $6,000—totally out of the question after our recent bathroom remodel. When I looked into the cost of just the supplies, though, things looked a lot more doable. Based on my research, installing laminate floors is a pretty basic project that even a beginner can tackle. I had a friend who was planning a visit in August, and this was the perfect motivation I needed to bite the bullet and get the floors done. Choosing A Laminate Floor If you’re looking into laminate floors, you probably know there are thousands of options out there. […]

Every year I sit up to watch the Oscars and this year was no exception, even though I was cross eyed, its a tradition since forever. I love, love, love, films every kind, I am a big fan of old movi…

It can’t be just me, right? Do you ever get feelings of stress and overwhelm caused by your very own home? Do you often dream about having a bigger home, but then reality hits and moving doesn’t...

What are the signs you are ready to buy a house? In a recent post, we discussed the cost of building vs. buying a house; and since you are here reading this, you have probably decided that

What are the signs you are ready to buy a house? In a recent post, we discussed the cost of building vs. buying a house; and since you are here reading this, you have probably decided that

Grandma's guest room rights clash with daughter's growing family! 🏠👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Ever felt the urge to yell at neighbors as they toss out old doors and windows? Me too. It was the defining moment of when I fell in love with old houses.

Celebrating over 40 years of offering exclusive custom-designed homes, here's a look at some of the most popular plans offered by Southern Living House Plans.

I am super excited to share my covered and open deck reveal on the blog today. It has been a long process; however, it was definitely worth the wait.

Buying your first home? Make sure to check out these home buying tips that can save you thousands of dollars. Learn by our mistakes!

Pack your bags!

Popular Philadelphia lifestyle blogger just bought her first home and shares her First House Essentials Checklist to help you out. Click here now to read more!

This is the home page for The Grumpy Olive. We are a food blog all about deliciously easy recipes everyone can make.

If you're thinking of buying a house, here is a checklist of 21 things you need to know before buying a house for the first time!

Grandma's guest room rights clash with daughter's growing family! 🏠👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

It’s been four months since I bought my house and that is absolutely crazy to me. If you had told me that by 22 I would settle down and commit to one house in one city I’d laugh. Through high school my family moved across states several times and college was constantly changing too. I … Continue reading "How I Bought my House at 22"

"I doubt I’ll ever experience a time like this again."

A family chose MyCabin to construct prefab structures in their home country of Latvia. The prefab structures have space for work, sleep, and relaxation.

Are you thinking of selling a vacant house? There are many considerations when selling an empty house. Here are the top mistakes to avoid!

We're building a house & can't wait to share the process with you the whole way! It's been a fun adventure that we are way too excited about!

What are the signs you are ready to buy a house? In a recent post, we discussed the cost of building vs. buying a house; and since you are here reading this, you have probably decided that

What are the signs you are ready to buy a house? In a recent post, we discussed the cost of building vs. buying a house; and since you are here reading this, you have probably decided that