If any of you reading this are like me, you’ve put off a lot of cleaning, organizing and decluttering tasks to enjoy the summer. As we wrap up the month of August and kids return to school, it’s the perfect time to revisit these chores and get ready for fall.

A recent Real Simple article, 10 Things to Declutter Before September, covers this topic and provides the perfect list to get you (and me!) started. They suggest having four boxes or bins, labeled Keep, Trash, Recycle and Donate. Their list is just a starting point, you obviously don’t need to tackle all these items or you may have other areas you want to focus on, so feel free to edit.

Real Simple’s author suggests the following:

• Outdoor and Water Toys
• Summer Shoes and Clothes
• School Supplies
• Papers, Books and Magazines
• Garden Tools and Supplies
• Towels and Linens
• Skin Care Products
• Grilling Tools
• Canned Goods and Spices
• First Aid Products

When you finish an area, don’t just put the boxes aside. Put things away you plan to keep, drop them off at a donation spot, or put them in the trash or recycling. You’ll feel like you’ve accomplished something this summer, and you’ll have more time to enjoy the fall.

The post Freshen Up Your Space For a New Season appeared first on Laffely Real Estate Associates.

Last weekend, clocks sprung forward which brings longer days and soon warmer temperatures. This can trigger feelings associated with Spring Fever.

While patiently waiting for the season to officially spring, I find myself wanting to clean, organize and freshen up inside. That way, my family is ready to relax and have fun in the sun!

As I consider how to tackle this year’s spring cleaning, I thought it would be helpful to share some insight found on Zillow’s blog. You may already do many of these things as part of your spring-cleaning routine, but it’s always helpful to get a fresh perspective to get you started.

Earlier this month, Zillow posted a blog titled, “Spring Cleaning 101: Make it Fast, Easy and Effective.” The post includes seven suggestions for tidying up your home as we move into the new season.

1. Create a plan: Assign jobs and select areas to clean and organize.
2. Minimize cleaning supplies: Take inventory of what you already have and buy cleaners that can do more than one job.
3. Clean room-by-room: Focus on one space at a time to feel more accomplished.
4. Focus on the most important areas: Select the most visible and used areas of the home first.
5. Work smarter, not harder: Think about how to make a task easier before starting (i.e. self-clean setting on the oven).
6. Get rid of clutter: Create four categories when sorting items to help you decide what is important and needs to be kept versus what can be donated or tossed.
7. Create more efficient habits: Decide on one new way to help keep things clean (i.e. go paperless).

If you are on a roll with spring cleaning, you may also find this Zillow post helpful covering how to organize and declutter the garage.

The most important takeaway is to tackle spring cleaning area-by-area and day-by-day. This makes it more manageable to feel you’ve accomplished something as you work towards your goals.

Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

The post Spring Cleaning Goals appeared first on Laffely Real Estate Associates.

It appears we’ll see very little change in the real estate forecast for buyers and sellers. This is according to a recent poll conducted by Trulia and featured in U.S. News & World Report on December 13, 2017. According to the article, buyers need to remain diligent and sellers can be very optimistic.

The main reason again this year…inventory is expected to stay low. If you are thinking of buying or selling, make a “to do” list and start working on it now. This will put you in great shape ahead of the spring market (hint, hint…it will start earlier than you think!).

Here’s a list to help get you started:

1. Interview realtors: Sign on with someone who’s attentive and available. This will matter when you are dealing with multiple offers.
2. Get your financing in order: Meet with a financial professional to understand your options.
3. Start to declutter your home or apartment: This will help make packing easier, whether you’re buying or selling. Check the tips in the Infographic below from Houselogic.com. They will make getting started less painful.
4. Plan your next move: Research areas, neighborhoods, home values, etc. (Hint: a real estate professional can help with this and provide a CMA – comparative market analysis – for your property!)
5. Don’t rule out getting started early: Work with your realtor and follow the market in your area. Listing your home or buying a home early might put you ahead of the competition.

Image: HouseLogic

The post 2018 Real Estate Goal: Start Planning appeared first on Laffely Real Estate Associates.