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Winnipeg Real Estate News Letter - January

January edition of the Winnipeg Real Estate Newsletter - Bo Kauffmann REALTOR - Newsletter for Winnipeg home buyers, sellers and owners. Houses and Condos

January edition of the Winnipeg Real Estate Newsletter - Bo Kauffmann REALTOR - Newsletter for Winnipeg home buyers, sellers and owners. Houses and Condos

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Tips, <strong>News</strong> & Advice For Home Buyers, Sellers And Owners<br />

<strong>Winnipeg</strong><br />

<strong>Real</strong> <strong>Estate</strong> Times<br />

<strong>January</strong> <strong>News</strong>letter 2021


<strong>January</strong> 2021<br />

Don't Make These 6<br />

Mistakes as a First-<br />

Time Home Buyer<br />

Experience will be your best ally when it<br />

comes to avoiding pitfalls when buying your<br />

first home. We are here to help you avoid<br />

these most common mistakes.<br />

1. A real estate agent who doesn't have your<br />

best interests at the forefront or the right tools<br />

and resources to assist in getting the job done<br />

effectively won't likely produce good results.<br />

Be selective in choosing who will represent<br />

you.<br />

2. Relying on a lender just because of a past<br />

banking relationship may not yield the best<br />

rate and terms for your loan. Explore the<br />

competition.<br />

3. In a hot seller's market, hesitating to put in<br />

an offer on a suitable home could mean losing<br />

a rare buying opportunity and creating<br />

uncertainty when it comes to future<br />

prospective properties.<br />

4. Not staying within your budget and moving<br />

forward with a higher-priced home can cause<br />

you to pinch pennies to make ends meet and<br />

trigger unnecessary anxiety.<br />

5. If you are in the midst of a seller's market<br />

and you have not been preapproved for a loan,<br />

your offer is in a very weak position. You risk<br />

losing every buying opportunity until you do<br />

get preapproved.<br />

6. You will miss valuable buying<br />

opportunities if you make your home search<br />

parameters too broad. Don't spend too much<br />

time looking at properties that really aren't for<br />

you. Narrowing down what features of a<br />

home are on your bucket list will allow you to<br />

home in on those properties from the start.<br />

We are here to ensure you have a smooth<br />

home-buying experience. Call or email us and<br />

let us help you avoid these mistakes and other<br />

potential pitfalls.<br />

Melbourne Residents Send Love<br />

<strong>Letter</strong>s to Their Favourite Trees<br />

The citizens of Melbourne, Australia, have long had a strong bond with nature<br />

and the outdoors. Pre-COVID, many a Melburnian could be found soaking up<br />

the city's glorious flora and fauna amongst the city's 70,000 eucalyptus, oak and<br />

elm trees. When local city services launched a novel way for inhabitants to<br />

easily report problems with trees, dangerous branches and storm damage in<br />

2018, they could never have imagined the response that ensued.<br />

Planners initially came up with the idea to assign each tree its own email<br />

address so that passersby could easily send reports. But some residents saw an<br />

opportunity to commune with nature by sending emails directly to the trees<br />

themselves! Dubbed "tree-mails," the messages expressed adoration for the<br />

trees' beauty, declarations of love for specific trees, simple greetings and<br />

existential dilemmas.<br />

One example reads, "My dearest Ulmus. As I was leaving St. Mary's College<br />

today, I was struck, not by a branch, but by your radiant beauty. You must get<br />

these messages all the time. You're such an attractive tree."<br />

Over the years, the endearing exchanges have endured. Local Jane Evans<br />

reflected on the cultural phenomenon with the Good <strong>News</strong> Network on Earth<br />

Day back in April 2020.<br />

When she realized an elegant jacaranda tree from her area was missing, she<br />

looked it up in the database, sent it an email and was thrilled to receive a<br />

personal response. Apparently, the tree lived on in spirit, thanked her for her<br />

well wishes and even told her a joke.<br />

Want to Sell Your Home Fast?<br />

Get These Essential Tips<br />

Preparing your home for sale can<br />

make the difference between<br />

getting the price you want – or<br />

ending up disappointed.<br />

Discover some easy things you<br />

can do by requesting my free<br />

guide, “50 Tips to Prepare Your<br />

Home for a Speedy, Top-Price<br />

Sale.”<br />

Reach out to 204-333-2202 and<br />

I’ll send it right out to you.


Here's How to Cultivate<br />

Your Creativity<br />

<strong>January</strong> is International Creativity Month, a time we collectively<br />

acknowledge those who work in creative industries and how various creative<br />

infrastructures foster new ideas for the betterment of all. It's also a chance to<br />

ignite the latent creativity within. Here are few tips to help get that fire<br />

burning.<br />

Before picking up a paintbrush or pencil, you may need to break out of a<br />

fixed pattern of not believing you're capable of creating in the first place.<br />

Replace closed-ended statements such as "I can't" or "I don't know" with "I<br />

have what it takes" and "There's always a way." These creative mantras will<br />

allow inspiration to bubble up to the surface naturally and spontaneously.<br />

Finding a creative outlet may seem like a daunting task, but it's as simple as<br />

opening a box of crayons and sitting down with a colouring book. Give<br />

yourself permission to play rather than focusing on the discovery of talent or<br />

the pressure of the perfect end result. Enjoy the process of self-expression<br />

and its stress-relieving benefits. You may need to explore a few different<br />

techniques before you find one that suits you, so don't go overboard buying<br />

the latest kit or supplies.<br />

Remember that creativity isn't confined to the fine arts. It can be anything<br />

that excites you, invigorates you or offers you a simple moment of joy.<br />

Beyond painting and writing, a whole world of creative pursuits exists. You<br />

could knit while watching old movies, get groovy during an online dance<br />

class or cook up a storm in the kitchen.<br />

Be kind to yourself when things don't go to plan. In the wise words of Bob<br />

Ross, celebrate the "happy little accidents" that occur as you navigate the<br />

lifelong journey of inspiration.<br />

What Is Title Insurance?<br />

When you prepare to close on your new home purchase, title insurance will be<br />

an important item on your settlement statement. If you have a loan, then prepare<br />

to see two line items for title insurance costs. These one-time up-front costs are<br />

a form of indemnity insurance to protect you and your lender from financial loss<br />

that may come from title defects. You or the seller will pay for standard title<br />

protection, while your lender will require you to pay for increased coverage<br />

based on the loan amount.<br />

Title insurance protects against ownership issues that may arise from unknown<br />

title defects, past unrecorded liens and encumbrances, right-of-way easements<br />

and matters coming from false and illegal documents associated with ownership<br />

interests of others.<br />

Even if you pay cash for your home, obtaining title protection is recommended.<br />

Buyers and sellers can negotiate as to who will pay the fee for one of the most<br />

important closing costs items of any home sale.<br />

Thank you for<br />

your referrals!<br />

I succeed when people like you<br />

refer me to your friends,<br />

neighbours and loved ones. It’s the<br />

best kind of feedback I can receive.<br />

So thanks for continuing to pass<br />

this newsletter on to people you<br />

care about.<br />

Maple Cinnamon Apple<br />

Sweet Potatoes<br />

Apples, sweet potatoes, maple syrup and<br />

warm spices are the perfect flavours to keep<br />

you cozy this winter. This super simple and<br />

hearty side dish is a breeze to prepare and<br />

will have your kitchen smelling oh so<br />

delicious!<br />

Serves 6<br />

2 large apples, diced medium<br />

2 large sweet potatoes, diced medium<br />

1 tablespoon olive oil<br />

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon<br />

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg<br />

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup<br />

Preheat oven to 400˚ F.<br />

Combine the apples, sweet potatoes, olive oil,<br />

cinnamon and nutmeg in a large bowl.<br />

Toss well to coat the apples and sweet<br />

potatoes with the oil and spices. On a large<br />

baking sheet, spread in an even layer.<br />

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the sweet<br />

potatoes and apples are tender.<br />

Remove from oven and drizzle with maple<br />

syrup.<br />

Serve hot.


A Step-by-Step Guide to<br />

Decluttering and Downsizing<br />

Worth Reading<br />

Even if you are not moving, one of the more challenging parts of home<br />

ownership is keeping your home clutter free, knowing how to downsize your<br />

spaces and how to practically reduce the number of your belongings.<br />

This guide will help you improve your skills so you can get the job done with<br />

the outcome you planned for.<br />

Once you know why you need to declutter and downsize, how you do so will<br />

make more sense. Take a moment to realize the mental and physical benefits<br />

of the task at hand. Create a mental picture of what end result you wish to<br />

achieve. Hold on to that idea and enjoy the process.<br />

Start with items that no longer have meaning to you or are no longer<br />

functional. They will be the easiest to discard and will create your<br />

decluttering mindset and enable you to keep going.<br />

Next are the things that still bear a bit of a question mark as to whether they<br />

stay or go.<br />

These items may be duplicates of things you have kept "just in case."<br />

Analyze their real value, rarity and usefulness. Doing so will answer the<br />

question of if they are worth taking up precious space.<br />

The final step would be to address those pieces that still stir memories. It is<br />

hardest to declutter the photos and heirlooms that stir your emotions,<br />

especially if they'll make you feel guilty if you part ways.<br />

Consider scanning old documents and photos. Friends and relatives may feel<br />

honoured if you pass on small collectibles. Some items can be repurposed to<br />

start new lives in your newly created spaces.<br />

It is a learning process to successfully declutter and downsize. Stay focused<br />

on your mission. We have guided many clients through the process and can<br />

do the same for you.<br />

Quick Quiz<br />

For an answer, email me at<br />

boknowshomes@gmail.com<br />

or call 204-333-2202.<br />

On <strong>January</strong> 11 of which year did<br />

Amelia Earhart become the first<br />

person to fly solo across the<br />

Pacific?<br />

How to Declutter Your Digital Life<br />

By Brit + Co<br />

Brit+Co<br />

You may have already sparked joy<br />

and "KonMaried" your home, but<br />

there's one area of clutter that may<br />

have escaped your notice: your tech.<br />

Luckily, this helpful article has some<br />

great tips and tricks to help you<br />

declutter your social media, organize<br />

photos and files, get on top of<br />

services and subscriptions and even<br />

wrangle wires and accessories no<br />

longer in use. More:<br />

https://tinyurl.com/link0121a<br />

Are You Wishing Your Life<br />

Away? Six Tips for Making the<br />

Best of Your <strong>Real</strong>ity<br />

By Anabel Jensen<br />

Six Seconds<br />

If your yearning for easier times is<br />

getting in the way of action, this Six<br />

Seconds article has some excellent<br />

ways to help you stay grounded. One<br />

example is the "Name It to Tame It"<br />

method, which involves putting<br />

strong emotional reactions into<br />

words to help your brain function<br />

effectively. Another example is<br />

building a safe space in your brain to<br />

smooth out intense feelings: it could<br />

be a childhood treehouse or a beach<br />

in Hawaii. More:<br />

https://tinyurl.com/link0121b<br />

This newsletter and any information contained herein are intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial or<br />

medical advice. The publisher takes great efforts to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this newsletter. However, we will not be responsible at any<br />

time for any errors or omissions or any damages, howsoever caused, that result from its use. Seek competent professional advice and/or legal counsel with<br />

respect to any matter discussed or published in this newsletter.


Brought to you free by Bo Kauffmann<br />

Inside Your <strong>News</strong>letter:<br />

Don't Make These 6 Mistakes as a First-<br />

Time Home Buyer<br />

Melbourne Residents Send Love <strong>Letter</strong>s<br />

to Their Favourite Trees<br />

Here's How to Cultivate Your Creativity<br />

A Step-by-Step Guide to Decluttering<br />

and Downsizing<br />

Wondering What’s<br />

Happening in Your<br />

Neighbourhood?<br />

Sudoku instructions: Complete the 9 × 9 grid so that each row, each column<br />

and each of the nine 3 × 3 boxes contains the digits 1 through 9. Contact me<br />

for the solution!<br />

We can’t make this stuff up!<br />

After his train crashed through the barriers at the end of the track, a Dutch<br />

train driver's life was saved by a giant whale tail. The aquatic sculpture<br />

stopped the train from plunging into the water 30 feet below.<br />

There's a new mayor in the tiny town of Rabbit Hash in Boone County,<br />

Kentucky, and he's got four paws and a tail! Wilbur the French bulldog<br />

claimed 13,143 votes and replaced pit bull Brynneth Pawltro.<br />

Two kayakers in California had a close brush with the local wildlife. Their<br />

boats were launched into the air when a whale breached with its mouth<br />

open, but luckily, no one was harmed.<br />

Six-year-old Londoner Ella got a big surprise when her dad unveiled his<br />

six-month lockdown project, a child-sized replica of Diagon Alley from the<br />

Harry Potter stories. The previously unused space is accessed by a secret<br />

wardrobe door.<br />

How has the price of your home changed<br />

in today's market? How much are other<br />

homes in your neighbourhood selling for?<br />

These are all critical questions that<br />

shouldn't be overlooked when thinking<br />

about buying or selling your home.<br />

Whether you're curious about prices in<br />

your area, whether it's an excellent time to<br />

sell, or just need an expert to answer your<br />

questions, I can give you the tools and<br />

offer guidance through the entire buying<br />

or selling process.<br />

Let me know how I can help by simply<br />

giving my office a call at 204-333-2202<br />

to set up a time to connect.<br />

Contact me today:<br />

Bo Kauffmann<br />

Remax Performance <strong>Real</strong>ty<br />

942 St. Marys Road<br />

<strong>Winnipeg</strong> Manitoba<br />

204-333-2202<br />

boknowshomes@gmail.com<br />

<strong>Winnipeg</strong>HomeFinder.com


Buying a Home is a Team Effort<br />

Over the past few years, potential<br />

buyers of houses and condos have<br />

been conditioned to go to their banks<br />

and get pre-approved. While preapproval<br />

is a very important step, I<br />

personally recommend that it is NOT<br />

the FIRST step in your home buying<br />

process.<br />

By the time a buyer takes possession<br />

of their new home, a number of<br />

professionals will have been involved:<br />

a real estate agent,<br />

lawyer, mortgage lender, home<br />

inspector, home insurer, moving<br />

company and others. Since a real<br />

estate agent will have close contact<br />

with all of these professionals, my<br />

suggestion is that a home buyer<br />

START his/her search by selecting<br />

their real estate buyers agent. An<br />

experienced agent will have learned,<br />

sometimes thru trial and error, which<br />

business professionals can provide<br />

the best service for their clients. Let’s<br />

take a look at the whole home-buying<br />

team:<br />

Home Buying in <strong>Winnipeg</strong> is a team<br />

effort. Get the best team!<br />

<strong>Real</strong> <strong>Estate</strong> Agent<br />

Think of a good real estate buyers<br />

agent as the quarterback of your<br />

home buying team. He or she will<br />

help the buyer find and look at all the<br />

houses or condos that suit the buyers<br />

needs and budget. The agent will help<br />

structure an Offer to Purchase which<br />

walks the fine line between protecting<br />

the buyer and at the same time appear<br />

attractive enough for the seller to<br />

accept it. A GREAT agent will be able<br />

to make referrals to the following<br />

people:<br />

A MORTGAGE<br />

PROFESSIONAL<br />

Whether the buyer prefers to deal with<br />

a bank, a credit union or a mortgage<br />

broker, the real estate agent should<br />

have trusted professionals in each of<br />

these services. When<br />

a mortgage lender pre-approves the<br />

buyer, the real estate agent needs to<br />

be able to trust this approval. This<br />

‘trust’ is important to the buyer as<br />

well, so ask your real estate agent for<br />

a referral to a great mortgage lender.<br />

REAL ESTATE LAWYER<br />

<strong>Real</strong> <strong>Estate</strong> Law is different than<br />

Criminal Law, Family Law or Civil<br />

Law….. so use a qualified, experienced<br />

real estate lawyer. Again, your<br />

REALTOR® should be able to make a<br />

referral to a good lawyer. Although<br />

the price between different lawyers<br />

might vary a little (a couple of<br />

hundred dollars) getting a lawyer who<br />

is responsive to any problems that<br />

might pop up (and they DO) is<br />

important. Cheap does not usually<br />

equate with good.<br />

HOME INSURANCE<br />

Your bank or credit union will demand<br />

that you get home insurance in order<br />

to protect your (and their) investment.<br />

Home Insurance is NOT optional…..


you will need to get it. An insurance<br />

broker should be able to offer several<br />

options, with different coverage and<br />

costs. As your real estate agent for a<br />

referral here as well. (Note: Home<br />

insurance is NOT the same as<br />

‘mortgage insurance’)<br />

MORTGAGE/LIFE<br />

INSURANCE<br />

The buyer has just made a<br />

significant investment, with<br />

perhaps as much as 95% of it still<br />

owed to the mortgage company.<br />

While, unlike Home<br />

Insurance, mortgage/life insurance is<br />

optional, it is still highly<br />

recommended.<br />

Protect your family and your<br />

investment in case of your untimely<br />

demise. There are significant<br />

differences between mortgage<br />

insurance and life insurance: speak to<br />

a professional about these differences.<br />

Most real estate agents might not<br />

know the difference, but would know<br />

an expert in this field.<br />

Home Buying should be fun<br />

HOME INSPECTOR<br />

If you’re lucky enough NOT to have to<br />

compete against other buyers, you may<br />

be able to demand a home inspection.<br />

(Actually, you can always demand<br />

one….. but speak to your agent about<br />

the reality of being able to get your<br />

offer accepted in such a case). A<br />

qualified home inspector may be able<br />

to detect problems, and prevent you<br />

from buying a ‘money pit’. Home<br />

Inspectors are, unfortunately, a<br />

somewhat unregulated industry.<br />

Nearly anyone with a ladder and a<br />

flashlight can call themselves a home<br />

inspector…. Don’t rely on kijiji or<br />

google to find a good one. Ask your real<br />

estate agent for 2 names and pick one.<br />

MOVING COMPANY<br />

There are a lot of ‘Guys with a Truck’<br />

type of companies out there. Like a lot<br />

of things, you ‘get what you pay<br />

for’. Get a quote in writing, and make<br />

sure it’s not too open-ended.<br />

(Example: $150 per hour, 5 hours<br />

or until the move it completed….??)<br />

If in doubt, check the BBB listings, and<br />

ask for recommendations. Or better<br />

yet, as your real estate agent for a<br />

referral….. chances are, he/she have<br />

used and recommended a good moving<br />

company in the past.<br />

ELECTRICIAN,<br />

RENOVATORS, PAINTERS<br />

Although not technically part of the<br />

buying process, you might end up<br />

needing an electrician to fix knob<br />

and tube wiring, or a renovator to<br />

put in a proper bedroom into the<br />

basement, for example. A good real<br />

estate agent should have a list of<br />

these types of professionals that a<br />

buyer can benefit from.<br />

Expert Tip for home buying<br />

Home buying (or Condo buying) should<br />

be fun….. but always ‘play safe’.<br />

Surround yourself with knowledgable<br />

professionals, and minimize your<br />

exposure to danger. It is perhaps the<br />

largest purchase you will ever make.


Recent Articles For You<br />

BIRDNESTING – A<br />

NEW CONCEPT IN<br />

DIVORCE-HOUSING<br />

When you got married, you likely<br />

had every intention that it would<br />

be forever. And when the kids came<br />

along, that commitment likely<br />

only increased. After all, as a<br />

parent, the thing you want most in<br />

the world is to give your kids the<br />

best possible life. You want them<br />

to have happiness and security.<br />

You want to shield them from life’s<br />

troubles and make whatever path<br />

they must travel as smooth and<br />

easy as possible.<br />

6 REASONS TO BUY A<br />

CONDO<br />

If you plan on buying a home,<br />

then you should know that there<br />

are plenty of options available.<br />

Variety is one aspect the real<br />

estate market is definitely not<br />

lacking in. One of the options<br />

you have is buying a condo. This<br />

is a great alternative if you want<br />

your own place, but can’t quite<br />

afford or simply aren’t interested<br />

in buying a house.<br />

HOME BUYERS<br />

TIMETABLE<br />

One of the most common questions we<br />

receive is “What is a good time to buy<br />

a home?” While the answer is<br />

“Anytime OTHER THAN the spring<br />

time”, the reality remains<br />

that home buyers come out into<br />

the real estate market during the<br />

months of March – June. So if you’re<br />

thinking of buying a home in 2021 or<br />

beyond, here are a few things you<br />

should be doing right now – to<br />

prepare.<br />

WINNIPEG LUXURY<br />

HOME MARKET REPORT<br />

JAN-FEB 2021<br />

<strong>Real</strong> <strong>Estate</strong> Market<br />

Update for Luxury Homes in<br />

<strong>Winnipeg</strong>, <strong>January</strong> 2021. Listings,<br />

sales and available stats for luxury<br />

houses and luxury condos in <strong>Winnipeg</strong><br />

THE CONDOS OF<br />

WELLINGTON<br />

CRESCENT<br />

8 of <strong>Winnipeg</strong>’s most recognizable<br />

and luxurious condos along<br />

Wellington Cr. Luxury Condos in<br />

<strong>Winnipeg</strong>, including sales and listing


MORE THAN JUST YOUR REALTOR ®<br />

Over the years, Bo Kauffmann has established a network of trusted professionals to help his clients<br />

in every step of the home buying and selling journey. “I want you to think of me as more than just<br />

the real estate agent of choice. When buying or selling, my clients will need a lawyer, home and life<br />

insurance services, mortgage lending, reliable moving companies, home stagers and inspectors, and<br />

more. I have all of these on speed dial, ready to serve you at any time.”<br />

AN ACTIVE SUPPORTER<br />

Throughout his chosen career, Bo has been serious about giving back. He<br />

supports many charities and non-profit organizations including:<br />

Children’s Miracle Network<br />

Right from the start of his real estate career, Bo has supported this organization through<br />

regular donations tied to every sale he makes. “Children’s Miracle Network® raises funds<br />

and awareness for 170 member hospitals. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and<br />

healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and research.”<br />

Manitoba REALTORS ® Shelter Foundation<br />

Bo is a founding member of the Manitoba <strong>Real</strong> <strong>Estate</strong> Association Shelter Foundation. This<br />

organization raises money for shelter-related causes. Bo continues his support through regular<br />

donations tied to every sale he makes.<br />

D’Arcy’s Animal Rescue Centre<br />

Animal neglect and abuse have always been of special concern to Bo. In 2013, he connected<br />

with one of <strong>Winnipeg</strong>’s largest pet shelters, the non-profit D’Arcy’s Animal Rescue Centre. Bo<br />

usually organizes one or two fundraising events (pre-pandemic) such as Pet Fashion Shows,<br />

Bud-Spud and Steak events, and Mother’s Day Celebrations, in order to raise money for this<br />

worthy cause.<br />

WORDS FROM BO’S CLIENTS<br />

Bo was fantastic to deal with. We have never sold a<br />

house before, had no idea where to start, what to do,<br />

when to do it, what to leave behind, and what to toss.<br />

He guided us beautifully, leading to the successful and<br />

quick sale of the house. It was surprising how much<br />

fun it ended up being. We would highly recommend<br />

Bo to anyone looking to sell a house or buy a home.<br />

It was a stress-free experience and wonderful to be<br />

able to look back on it now and be pleased with the<br />

outcome. Thanks for everything, Bo!<br />

- Stacey B. (<strong>Winnipeg</strong>, MB)<br />

I was in contact with Bo a year before<br />

I moved to <strong>Winnipeg</strong>, and he always<br />

provided me with the service I needed.<br />

When we finally went house hunting,<br />

it was efficient but not rushed. I was<br />

able to buy a beautiful home within<br />

two days, and he kept providing<br />

excellent service until everything<br />

was done beyond what was expected.<br />

Highly recommended.<br />

- Brian C. (Texas, USA)


5 Quick Staging Tips For Your Home<br />

When homes are presented as-is, it’s<br />

difficult for buyers to envision<br />

themselves living there. By creating a<br />

neutral yet stylish home, buyers can<br />

see the home in its best light and<br />

dream about adding their own style to<br />

it.<br />

You can’t just throw a “for sale” sign<br />

on your lawn and assume the perfect<br />

buyers will walk through your door.<br />

Staging your home to make the best<br />

first impression can mean the<br />

difference between selling and having<br />

to stay there another year.<br />

Staging doesn’t have to be expensive<br />

— you likely already own a lot of what<br />

you need, and there are affordable<br />

shops with lovely home decor. Clever<br />

decluttering tricks and an eye for<br />

decorating can also boost your home’s<br />

appeal and get it off the market.<br />

1. Declutter and Minimize<br />

Your first step is to get rid of clutter.<br />

Think about the items you don’t use on<br />

a regular basis, like your clothing for<br />

next season, and pack them away.<br />

Consider renting storage space to get<br />

everything out of the house (it’ll also<br />

make moving easier)<br />

2. Clean and Keep Up<br />

With Maintenance<br />

If you’re going to be living in your<br />

home while its staged, you’ll need to be<br />

extra diligent about cleaning. Be sure<br />

to clean thoroughly on a regular basis<br />

so you don’t have to scramble when<br />

someone wants to see the house.<br />

Bathrooms and the kitchen should be<br />

especially clean. Also, keep up with<br />

organization and maintenance. Don’t<br />

let any room get cluttered and out of<br />

hand, and fix little things as they<br />

occur, like blown light bulbs or torn<br />

fabric.<br />

This goes for the exterior too. Curb<br />

appeal is important, as your buyers<br />

don’t want to purchase a home<br />

knowing they’ll have to redo the front<br />

walkway or replace the front door.<br />

Keep up with landscaping, update the<br />

hardware on the outside of the home,<br />

and add lighting to make the home feel<br />

more secure.<br />

3. Decorate in a Neutral<br />

Style<br />

You don’t want to decorate in your own<br />

style; you want to decorate in an<br />

appealing, mainstream style. That can<br />

be as simple as removing items that<br />

are too bold or patterned to pare back<br />

to just the neutral furnishings and<br />

decor you already have. If you’re going<br />

to add items, look for one-of-a-kind<br />

furnishings or decor that viewers<br />

won’t see in every home.<br />

You need to de-personalize the home,<br />

too, so that viewers can personalize it<br />

in their imagination. People don’t want<br />

to feel like they’re moving into<br />

somebody else’s home. They want to<br />

feel like they’ve found their home.<br />

Place things like family photos,<br />

awards, and trophies into storage and<br />

out of sight.


4. Highlight the Best<br />

Features<br />

What’s the biggest selling point of<br />

your home? Is it an enormous kitchen,<br />

a landscaped backyard, or a sleek<br />

fireplace? Make that area the focal<br />

point. For example, you can add fresh<br />

fruit to a clear bowl and put it in your<br />

kitchen, along with a pretty cake on<br />

display and fresh flowers on the<br />

counter.<br />

Is the setting of your home its biggest<br />

draw? Consider highlighting that by<br />

choosing decor that delivers the full<br />

experience.<br />

For example, if you live in New York<br />

City, you can highlight the locale by<br />

decorating with modern furniture and<br />

an urban style. The same goes for the<br />

season, especially if you’re selling a<br />

vacation home instead of a full-time<br />

home. For example, if you’re selling<br />

your beach house, the decor should be<br />

bright, airy, and evoke summertime.<br />

5. Brighten the Space Up<br />

One of the most overlooked home<br />

staging tips is to brighten the space up.<br />

Everything looks better in a brighter<br />

light. First give your windows a good<br />

cleaning inside and out. Then, consider<br />

replacing some of your thicker curtains<br />

with more sheer ones that let in natural<br />

light.<br />

If you have a room that doesn’t have<br />

any windows, add mirrors to reflect<br />

natural light from other rooms and<br />

make the area brighter. When you’re<br />

showing the house, turn on all the<br />

lights.<br />

You’re not selling a house — you’re<br />

selling a lifestyle and a future to your<br />

buyers. Home staging is the first step to<br />

making your buyer’s dream a reality.<br />

Your home is now all about them, even<br />

if you’re still living there. If you’re<br />

ready to move into a new home<br />

yourself, staging can speed up the<br />

selling process.<br />

https://www.youtube.com/watch?<br />

v=JXNDecPzzjk


https://www.youtube.com/<br />

watch?v=J4X5O4J65iI


Trusted Professionals<br />

Click on their heading to go to their sites!<br />

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Insurance<br />

Mortgage Broker<br />

Insulation<br />

Home Insurance<br />

Heating & A/C

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