Staging Bathrooms

{This is part 4 in a series called Home Staging 101.  The lovely and talented Kym Tarr ofShoestring Home Staging is teaching us all how to stage a home for sale. Join me as I learn how to put my home's best foot forward!}

We have seven people in our house and one bathroom.  (Granted, 2 of those people are infants who don't have much use for a bathroom just yet.)  Which means that this bathroom is a work horse.  I need to make it look like the restful retreat I know it can be even though there are 5 people spitting toothpaste in there several times a day.  Here are the changes Kym Recommended for my bathroom:

Make it sparkle.   I scrubbed the tiles and grout, washed the baseboard, dusted the light, shined the fixtures, washed the mini-blinds (I've shared before about my simple way to clean mini blinds), and scrubbed everything.  Cleaning is the cheapest way to make any room look better!

Remove Personal Products.  I placed our bath products in a shower caddy that can be tucked in the linen tower between uses.  I wish I'd done this years ago!  There's nothing pretty about a bottle of body wash...tuck it out of sight!

Add fluffy white towels. Is there anything more luxurious and indulgent than fluffy white towels? I added some white bath towels on the edge of my bath tub and a white hand towel by the sink.

Add greenery or flowers. My bathroom almost always has a flower or two because they make me happy and my bathroom is where I go to hide from the children, er, um....I mean have a bubble bath and relax....

Kym also suggested that I remove the garbage can for showings.  Which, of course, is great advice. But I'm trying to keep my list of things to do before showings small because, let's face it, just getting things tidy and five kids out the door is going to be an ordeal! So instead, I made room under my vanity for the garbage can to live there full time.  This meant tucking products we don't use every single day in the linen closet and keeping only the necessities in the vanity cabinet.  It is worth it to have one less thing to think about on our way out the door!

We also replaced some loose tiles and removed some decorative shelves.  All in all, staging our bathroom was nearly free.

Here's the before and after pics of our newly staged bathroom:

Kym's top 3 tips for staging YOUR bathroom:

1.Make it cleaner than clean! Scrub down tiles, wash or change the blinds, curtains & shower curtains. Don’t forget shower door frames, window sills, light fixtures, baseboards and behind the toilet.

2. Ditch Carpets, seat covers and bath mats. They hold onto moisture and odors. Mats that fit around the pedestal of toilets and sinks look old fashioned.

3. Get rid of your ‘stuff’ When selling, clear every surface of all your day to day care products. Personal items distracts buyers. Limit counter top decor to a hand towel and pretty soap dispenser.

If you are currently staging your Georgia home to sell and not having much luck, contact me today! I am one of Atlanta's top real estate agents and I specialize in assisting struggling FSBO home owners sell their home quickly! Visit my website, www.movingwithmj.com for more information!

Staged and Sold!

Overwhelmed with all that goes into selling your home by yourself? If you live in the North Atlanta, Dunwoody or Marietta area Contact MJ Thomas, with Keller Williams Realty, and she will help you sell your home fast!  With over 15 years of real estate experience in the North Atlanta, Marietta, and Dunwoody area, MJ Thomas can help ease the stress that many FSBO's face when attempting to sell their home.

Check out her website, movingwithMJ.com or call her, 404-512-2400.

Great Home Showing Cleaning Tip!

Even though my house might not reflect it sometimes (hey, I'm human too), I actually greatly enjoy cleaning. That said, I loathe cleaning baseboards. Sure to do them right it involves buckets and cleaners, rags and... ugh. Just ugh. Forget all that drama and do this less than desirable task far less with the help of a fabric softener sheet.

Remember when we talked about some tricks and tips on taking care of a home with pets? One of those tips should be shared with more than just the pet owners of the world. A dryer sheet to dust can help in many ways. Not just because it kicks the dust to the curb since it banishes static, but because it actually coats as it cleans (which is why we're not huge fans of it for laundry) for residual dust-fighting power.

When used on your baseboards it can not only help repel pet hair, but general keep the things that get tracked in and out of our home off the walls and on the floor where it can be swept up. If you have a Swiffer or something like it, just attach the dryer sheet to the bottom of the mop head and run it along as frequently as your house seems to require the chore.

Overwhelmed with all that goes into selling your home by yourself? If you live in the North Atlanta, Dunwoody or Marietta area Contact MJ Thomas, with Keller Williams Realty, and she will help you sell your home fast!  With over 15 years of real estate experience in the North Atlanta, Marietta, and Dunwoody area, MJ Thomas can help ease the stress that many FSBO's face when attempting to sell their home.

Check out her website, movingwithMJ.com or call her, 404-512-2400.

33 Moving Tips That Will Make Your Life So Much Easier

1. Pack an overnight bag containing all the essentials.

clutchbags.com

Chances are, you’ll be too tired to unpack your things. You’ll want your essentials within easy access, including a change of clothes if you’re going back to work the next day as well as all your toiletries. It’s also a great way to transport a laptop, which could run the risk of getting stolen during a move.

2. Pack the items you will need FIRST in a clear plastic bin.

theloudandclear.com

This includes things like a box cutter, paper towels, trash bags, eating utensils, select cookware, power strips, phone chargers, toilet paper, tools, etc. The clear bin allows you to see inside; it also separates itself from the myriad of cardboard boxes.

3. Wrap your breakables (dishes, glasses, etc.) in clothing to save on bubble wrap.

blog.makezine.com

Two birds, one stone: you’re packing your clothes and kitchenware at the same time.

4. For extra padding, pack your glasses and stemware in clean socks.

crescentviewysa.blogspot.com / Via reddit.com

5. In addition to labeling what’s in your boxes, add what room they’ll be going into, as well.

marthastewart.com

When you arrive at your new home, unpack BY ROOM. The unpacking process will feel more manageable.

And remember to label the SIDES of the boxes, not the tops. This way, you’ll be able to identify them even if they’re stacked.

6. If you can, show up to your new home before the move and pre-clean the bathroom and kitchen.

ohhappyday.com

Put up a new shower curtain liner and stock some new bath towels and toilet paper, as well. You’ll want to take a hot shower after a long day of moving.

7. Place an extra cotton pad or ball into your powder cosmetics to keep them from breaking.

missnattysbeautydiary.com

This is a great tip for traveling in general.

8. Cover the openings of your toiletries with saran wrap, then put the tops back on.

realsimple.com

This will keep your toiletries from breaking and leaking all over your stuff during the move.

9. Pack plates vertically, like records. They’ll be less likely to break.

apartmenttherapy.com

10. Keep drawers intact by covering them with Press’n Seal.

Dresser drawers are like their own moving boxes — this will keep you from having to unpack and re-fold their contents.

It’ll also make moving the actual dresser much more manageable.

11. Press’n Seal is also great for keeping jewelry displays intact.

orgjunkie.com

12. Buy a roll of stretch wrap.

google.com

It works like Press’n Seal but on a bigger scale. You can group items together, and it’ll protect your furniture from getting scuffed and scratched.

13. Keep sandwich bags handy for holding any small parts of things you have to take apart, like curtain rods or mounted flat-screen TVs.

realsimple.com

Tape the sandwich bags to the back of the item they correspond to.

ALSO: use this method with the cords for your electronics.

14. Beer boxes are the best for books because they have handles on the sides.

instructables.com

So be sure to hit up your local liquor store.

15. Take a photo of how your electronics are connected so you can remember how and where all the wires go.

popularmechanics.com / Via reddit.com

16. Cut down on boxes by making all of your baskets, laundry bins, hampers, and suitcases work for you.

thewickerhouse.blogspot.com

Pack them with stuff! Use the wheeled suitcases for heavy things like books.

17. The fastest way to pack a closet:

thewickerhouse.blogspot.com

This also keeps your clothes on their hangers, for much faster unpacking.

18. Vacuum seal your out-of-season clothing.

cardboardboxes.ie

Not only will they take up less space and be a breeze to pack, but they can go directly into storage in the new home.

19. Along with food and alcohol, give your friends who help you move first dibs on anything you originally planned to sell or donate.

blog.themansionsatdelmar.lincolnapts.com

It’s just an extra perk, since you won’t be paying them.

20. Make sure everything is completely packed before your friends show up to help you move.

cheapmovers-bocaraton.info

Don’t be that horrible person who makes everyone wait around/help you pack.

Another note: if you have enough friends, split them up into shifts — one set to help you move in the morning, and another to help you move when you get to your new home.

21. Enlist the color-coding system.

neighborhood.vivint.com

Pick a color code for each room and label that room’s boxes accordingly. Label the door of each room with the corresponding sticker/tape so that movers know where to place the boxes.

22. It doesn’t hurt to number your boxes.

jenthousandwords.com

Make a detailed corresponding list of what’s in each box by number. This makes it easier to make sure you didn’t forget any boxes, or god forbid, someone stole one. AND, if there’s anything valuable in there, you won’t be broadcasting it to the world by writing it down right there on the box.

23. If you have a lot of fragile valuables, hiring movers as opposed to asking friends can end up paying for itself.

google.com

Many movers come with insurance, which means if something breaks, they have to compensate you. You might want to weigh the pros and cons though — they won’t want to be responsible for a television that isn’t properly packed in its original box and could end up charging you upwards of $150 to pack it as they see fit.

Also remember to book them weeks in advance — you’re not the only person trying to get out of your space on the last day of the month.

24. If you do hire movers, be sure to read the fine print and find out if they have any weird rules.

angieslist.com

For instance, some movers will only move things in boxes, not garbage bags. Which means you’ll be paying them extra for unnecessary boxes at a marked-up price.

25. If you’re renting, take photos of your cleaned-out old home and your new home before moving in.

bestportlandrentals.com

This is essential if you ever hope to get your deposit back. It will save you major headaches with difficult landlords who charge you cleaning and repair fees unnecessarily when moving out.

26. Fill the nail holes in your previous home with a bar of soap.

budgetsavvydiva.com

27. If you’re doing a cross-country move and you don’t need your stuff immediately, consider shipping via Greyhound.

google.com

It’s an inexpensive shipping option for large items. Just remember to pack your stuff really well — your boxes WILL get a little beat up along the way.

28. Change your address at least two weeks prior to moving.

Flickr: macaroniandglue

This might seem like a no-brainer for important things like utilities and cable but don’t sweat the small stuff. You’ve also got Amazon, PayPal, credit cards, your bank, magazine subscriptions, and your mail to worry about.

29. If you own items that you want to get rid of but are too valuable to just give away, start selling on eBay, Etsy, or Craigslist at least 6 weeks before moving.

blog.ebay.com

It’s an easy way to make you feel like you aren’t procrastinating, and you might be able to make enough money back to pay for the entire move itself.

But it takes time for things to sell on Etsy and eBay so you’ll want to plan accordingly.

30. Arrange for a charity organization to come pick up the items you don’t want at least a week or two before moving.

ilikebreadandbutter.blogspot.com

It’ll save you the trouble of having to take it there yourself.

31. Make your last grocery trip two weeks prior to moving.

blog.polleverywhere.com

The more food you end up using before moving, the less you’ll have to throw out.

32. For same-city moves, hire a sitter for the children and pets.

lovablefrenchies.com

The last thing you need is to be worrying about losing track of your kids or pets on this stressful day.

33. Remember to defrost your refrigerator at least a day before moving and wipe up any liquid.

pinterest.com

Else you’re going to have stinky wet mess when you get to your new home.