Paying it forward. Dream builder. Mentor.

These are terms you hear often. How often do you incorporate them in your life?  Four times a year I enjoy doing a week long personal event I call Random Acts of Kindness. I pay for someone's Starbucks or an oil change, etc. It is anonymous and no credit is given or expected but it truly boosts my spirits and moral because I am lifting someone else up and giving them a chance to look at their day or life through that small gift.

There is a reason God teaches us to give and to look outside ourselves. Those small moments when you teach a child to read, or you help someone with a flat may be the moment in that persons life that opens the door to fully see who they are or what they can be. It may be the moment they learn how to live differently and give back to others.

Yes, your life may be happy. Yes, you may have a good life but until you give back or reach outside your own boundaries to teach, give or uplift someone else you can't see the full benefits God has available for your own life.

A few days ago, I was the recipient of a Random Act of Kindness.  I had been working on our yard work and depend on my son to help me keep this acre+ lot looking great. However, he and his sister were sick and my life seemed to be snow balling with to do's. A sweet neighbor was talking to me on the phone & listened to what was going on.  She said I will be there in 10 minutes with my weed eater! I said you don't have to do that. She was in my yard 10 minutes later edging my yard!! This sweet neighbor and friend uplifted me when life was a little too full. She gave my heart a huge smile and the energy to work with her to complete the task at hand.  It's wonderful to see God's amazing Grace at work. It's also so rewarding to see how he provides.

So this week when you are busy with your daily routine and own busy life don't forget to take a few moments to look for ways that you can be an instrument to  enrich the lives of others.

Home Staging!

Home staging still remains important for helping your home stand out against the others out there on the market.

You've cleaned, you've done all the basic repairs, you've mowed the grass & trimmed the bushes but your home is just sitting there on the market.  Maybe it's time to hire some help!

Hiring a Home Stager does more than have someone "pretty up" the place.  It helps you get your home ready for someone else. Home staging will give your home that pulled together look and make the house feel welcoming and inviting for a new family.

Fees for home staging are more affordable than an interior designer and give you options for the home that can either stay with the house or follow you to your new home.

When looking to hire a Home Stager look at their portfolio, ask for references, get a clear written contract for fees and what services are provided for that fee.  Make sure you feel comfortable with the contract and then be willing to listen and follow through with the advice and work that the Stager provides.

Here's hoping you find the right person to help you sell your home! 

Winter wind down...

Things you can do now to get a jump on Spring. 

Outdoors:
1. Start prepping your planting beds.  Pull any early or dead weeds, turn the earth and add some organic planting mix.

2. Orders seeds! Seeds are a great cost effective way to have a flower bed full of color and the envy of the neighborhood.  Home centers have seeds now but a lot of heirloom seeds and old fashion favorites can only be found at seed catalogues.

3. Make a list of things you would like to see accomplished in your outdoor spaces.

4. Check stored cushions for mildew or damage to assess needs for the coming season.

5. Plants that have been indoors for over wintering can use a little extra water and a feeding in prep for moving outdoors.

Indoors:
1. Clean window seals , ceiling corners, and the bottoms of tables and furniture of cobwebs. These are all areas that spiders like to nest and lay eggs....help cut down on household spiders now!

2. Start evaluating what things to pack away that give your home that cozy wintry look and assess your belongings to update throws, pillows & accessories for a fresh up to date look for Spring.

3. Starting mid March in our area you can start cleaning extra blankets and beddings and store in plastic bags for safe keeping for next winter.

4. Gather and clean all the hats, scarfs, and snow clothes for summer storage. 

5. Pick up cedar balls for use when storing linens and clothing.

6. Start looking at your favorite catalogues for this seasons colors so you can find inspiration for an item or two to add that special punch to your space!

Everything in it's place...

I don't know about all of you but this is something I continually strive for.  I have been studying Interior design & home organization for years and find there is always room for improvement! 

Coming soon I will share tips for budget friendly kids rooms and how to get them on top of their game with taking control of their own rooms!  Keep in mind I'm not a miracle worker & age appropriate expectations have to be the focus.

Kids rooms can look great and they can keep it that way!  From elementary to college I will highlight rooms that are truly lived in.

Staging is more important than ever!

I just help sell another home that I staged!  It was a small home in Lewisville & had been on the market for 60 days with no furniture in it.  Clean basic white walls. 

We painted it a neutral warm color and staged each room to show a simple, tasteful purpose for each room & the home sold in 21 days.  We did not even lower the price in this home.  Sometimes a buyer needs a vision.  Don't overlook what a few minor changes can do for a space.

If you can't seem to find a vision or have the time to make it happen then hire a professional.  It doesn't have to be cost prohibitive!  Most Stagers, such as myself, have different price points based on what you need and what you want and it does make a difference in todays economy in getting that home SOLD!

Loving this Fall weather!

Beautiful weather the past few days!  Don't forget to take some time to look at your yard...this is the time to assess what is dying out from summer and go ahead and trim it back or pull it.  Plant those bulbs for Spring & start putting in ornamental cabbage, mums, cyclamen & pansies to give you a pretty bed that will last through the winter. (At least in the DFW Metroplex area.. :))  Giving your shrubs a good trim now will give you a neat look that will last you until the new spring growth starts to occur. 

Plan now for that lush spring lawn.  Give the yard a good dusting of Weed & Feed and then in a few weeks a final coverage with pre-emergance.  It will help get ahead of those weeds before the spring rains!

Inside take a look around and take a little time to swap out summer pillows, window panels & add the extra blanket to your bed and add a nice throw to your favorite reading chair or corner of the couch.  Look for ways to add a touch of seasonal color to each room.  This will  give the inside of your home that texture and comfort that will chase the chills away!

Happy Fall everyone!

Teresa Stephens Harvey shares advice on Home Staging

Staging a home in today's market can make the difference in the home that sits and sits on the market and one that attracts a buyer.

Using a professional can help you get things done quickly, effeciently and without the struggles of personal attachment.

However, you can do this if you choose to go it alone. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

1. It doesn't have to be expensive but may require some expense.
*Walk through your home and carefully evaluate every room. Look carefully at the walls, switch plate covers, moldings, carpet, light fixtures and take note of any damage or anything that is overly dated or stained. If an item is damaged you must repair it, if an item is stained or dirty look into cleaning even if it means hiring a professional. If an item is outdated look into ways to update either with a new item or modifications to what is there. Paint if walls are overly dirty or damaged, don't forget the trim work. Finish any started projects. Don't start any major projects or re-modeling projects. Keep it simple and timely.

2. Declutter
Pack up and store extra books, pictures, accessories, clothes, and toys. Preparing your home for sale is a little like getting ready for a special occassion and less is more in this case. Pack away out of season clothes, all the books you've all ready read accept for a dozen or so hard back books that can be used to stage shelves. Remove all buy one or two personal pictures per space or one or two photo collages from a wall. Pack away all extra movies & videos. Keep only a handful of favorite toys out and pack away all the extras that are cluttering up family rooms, kitchens & common areas. As you go through the items to pack you may find things you no longer use or need and this is a great time to make charitable contributions. Pay attention to all rooms of your home, don't forget to go through and pack away items in your kitchen and dining room. Packing extra dishes, large cookware & holiday dishes that aren't used daily will make the space easier for the new buyer to see and visualize their things in the space. Lastly, go through your garage & attic space. These areas used to be commonly used for storing packed boxes or over looked as messy areas that were accepted but today more and more buyers demand that they be able to move around and see every area that they are buying. Paying money for storage is a small price to consider for a timely sale! Keep in mind that the goal is to sell your home and be able to move to your new space.

3. Clean
VERY important is the cleaning of your home. Yes, you may be neat and tidy and clean your home regularly but this is a time for no holds barred cleaning. Baseboards, door frames, ceiling fans, corners of the room all need to be dusted and cleaned. Carpets should be professionally cleaned (talk to the company you use about a discount rate for a final cleaning on the day after you move out - most company's will do a final clean for a 40-50% discount.), vacum and clean all drapes and blinds, scrub your tile & bathrooms (take the time to re-caulk where needed), dust and polish all furniture not forgetting the legs and sides of pieces, wash all wood cabinets with Murphy's oil soap and then give them a good wipe down with lemon oil. Have a good friend or family member walk through and ask them to be brutally honest about the visual cleanliness and smell of your home. Keep a light fragrant plug in or candle handy to even out the smells in your home on a daily basis. Again don't forget the garage & attic spaces. You don't want dead bugs lying around, spider webs or oil marked walls even in these areas. A clean home is a welcoming home!

4. Room Arrangements
Arrange furniture in a way that creates balance & easy walk ways. I like to stage a room and then walk through and take one accessory & one piece of furniture away when I'm done and then walk through again. More times than not the final choice is the rooms look with the items taken away. Living a few months without a favorite chair or lamp is a small sacrafice. Keep tables stream lined and balanced with a simple lamp, a book or two or clear and cleaned. If you have a mantle a simple piece of art above with matching lamps or flower arrangements make for a classic and simple appeal for that space. Definitely remove any furniture that needs repair or a project that was started and never completed. If you have bodly patterned furniture consider slip covering it with a neutral covering. You want the buyers to look at your space not your furnishings. Look at your furniture as props that are there to create a well maintained and inviting environment. Art should be simple and classic and compliment a room. Take down any extra art or groupings again so the buyer doesn't focus on what is in the room but the room itself.

5. Pets
If you have large pets you need to consider kenneling or having a friend or family member pet sit for the time the house is on the market. Many people are afraid of and/or allergic to animals. Even small pets should have a kennel or area that is safe and out of the way to be when the house is being showed for their safety and well being as well as the potential buyers. Many people will pass on a house where there are loose animals running around or they will get distracted into playing or avoiding the pet and miss out on the features of your home. I don't take this advice lightly. I have 4 dogs & 2 cats in my own home so I know this is a large task but it is one tip that I take to heart because I don't want any potential buyer to avoid my house because there are pets in the house or yard. Also repair any areas that your pets have damaged. Holes in the yard, chewed mouldings, torn carpet, etc...it is not the time to try to camaflouge the damage. You want your house to be tidy and ready to go.

6. Curb Appeal
Don't neglect your outdoor spaces. Clean the flower beds, trim the bushes, mow and edge the grass. Clean walk ways and patios (rent a power washer if needed to rid the areas of mold and dirt build up), clean, paint or repair any outdoor furniture if needed, buy new cushions to freshen up your space. Buy seasonal flowers for a pop of color. You don't need to buy an accessive amount just enough to move the eye around the yard. Back yards are as important as front yards! If you have trees with dead limbs have them removed, if you have started a yard project take the time to finish it. You don't have to have an overly done area just a clean and tidy space where the next owner can again see themselves in the potential of the space.

Selling a home takes effort on your part as well as your realators. A little elbow grease is worth the effort. Have your home ready before the sign goes up in the yard, you only have one opportunity to make a great impression for most buyers. You can't count on everyone to be able to see pass the flaws to the potential.

Good luck with selling your home.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/randomlytj1/show/ *Examples of Staged rooms.