Month: November 2016

Maybe the thought of moving to a smaller, low-maintenance home has only briefly crossed your mind, or maybe you’re seriously considering downsizing. But before you trade your too-large house in for, say, a cozy condo downtown, there are a few things to consider.

Downsizing requires quite a bit of planning: You may need to figure out what to keep and what to discard, choose between the love seat and the sofa for your new living room, and determine which furniture pieces can serve multiple functions.

Here are a few downsizing tips to help you prepare to sell your current home.

Start Reducing Your Possessions Now

The sooner you are able to get rid of furniture, household items, and knickknacks you no longer use or need, the better off you’ll be. When you do decide to sell your home, you will thank yourself for spending a few hours a week decluttering now rather than waiting to do everything all at once.

If You Can, Sell Instead of Discard

Many homeowners choose to downsize to spend less money on a mortgage and more money on fun experiences. If you are able to start decluttering weeks in advance, you will have the time to sell unwanted possessions and save the money for future vacations. Consider hosting a yard sale, posting items for sale online, or having high-end items appraised.

Have a Plan

To avoid getting overwhelmed by all the work involved in downsizing, form a plan to keep your stress at bay. Consider these planning tips:

• Make a checklist of possessions you cannot live without in your new home.
• Create a checklist of wants and needs for your new home.
• Determine which items you can pack now and which items you need to keep handy.
• Start packing your nonessential belongings.

Get Started by Working with a Real Estate Expert

One of the biggest mistakes home sellers make, whether or not they’re downsizing, is not hiring a real estate professional to make the most of their investment. An agent’s experience and knowledge will help you sell your home for the most money possible, allowing you to use the proceeds to purchase a smaller home.

Are you thinking about downsizing? Start the process by requesting a market analysis for your property. Contact us to learn more.

“You took the time out of your lives to go somewhere you’ve never been before, to do something you’ve never done before. We thank you for that.”

Who knew that Giveback Homes would forever change me? Who knew that this amazing guy that was talking to all the volunteers could move me to the point of crying with his hype and his words. Who knew that those Habitat for Humanity homes do not come for free to anyone! You read it right, not FREE. 300 hrs of work on your house plus a monthly mortgage payment will get you into a home once qualified. Do you know what that means? Imagine adding those hours to some that already works two jobs. Now, I do; and I’m be extremely grateful to Intero Real Estate Services for finding Giveback Homes and deciding to partner with them.

Through my client’s real estate transactions, I have been able to donate a portion form every closing and in just 3 months I have given $1750 towards the construction of this, our first build day.

Only 6 hr of construction, which felt more like a zillion to me, but it gave me perspective. I learned how much hard work goes into building a home (now I appreciate home builders even more), I learned how privileged I have been all my life and I that made me feel that I had to give back even more than what I am giving now. My goal for 2017 is to contribute $5000 toward the construction of another home. If you or anyone you know would like to make a contribution to Giveback Homes please contact me. There is no better feeling than #Givingbacktothecommunity #forsocialgood #Givebackhomes #karlaarjonasellshomes

Giveback Homes is a community of real estate professionals who are committed to creating social change by helping build homes for deserving families around the globe. We work together to organize fundraising events, mobilize teams of volunteer homebuilders, and we inspire others to take action for social good; rest assured that 100% of your contributions goes directly to a family in need, making their dreams of home ownership a reality.

With the holiday season approaching, many homeowners are starting to plan get-togethers with friends or family. While entertaining can be more of a challenge in a smaller home, it’s not impossible to host a memorable dinner party with your loved ones if you’re working with limited space.

Here are a few tips for throwing a large dinner party in a small area.

Before Guests Arrive, Clean and Clear Your Home

You don’t have to put as much effort into cleaning and decluttering as if you were selling a home; the basics will do.

Put away any unnecessary furniture, home décor, and kitchen appliances before the dinner party. Clean and dust the rooms that guests will visit: bathrooms, the kitchen, and the dining area. If you have pets, don’t forget to vacuum upholstery and stash toys or the litter box out of sight.

Get Creative with Guest Seating

You likely don’t keep a dozen matching chairs in storage just for dinner parties. Show off your creativity by relocating chairs, stools, benches, or ottomans currently in your home around the dinner table.

Maximize Your Table Space

Invest in a tiered platter for dinner parties. Raising the serving plates gives the appearance of more space on your counters and tables and keeps your serving stations from looking cramped.

To further free up space on your dining room table, keep the centerpiece decorations to a minimum. Instead, hang decorations from your walls or ceiling to maximize your space.

Trying to Make the Most of Your Space?

If you’re downsizing but still want to entertain friends and family in your new home, there are many ways to make the most of your space while still enjoying memorable occasions with your loved ones. As real estate experts, we can share downsizing tips and help you find a home that’s just the right size. Contact us to learn more.