Are Americans Overstuffed? - [REPOST]

Are Americans Overstuffed? Check In Your Closets and Garages To Find the Answer (edit/delete)

Great advice for those of us that have trouble with the excess in our lives!
Via Pat Fenn (Marketing Specialist for Cindy Jones RE/MAX Allegiance):


No this isn't a commentary on waist lines but instead on the amount of stuff we seem to accumulate. Over the last few years I have become acutely aware of the clean up and throw out process. It started when I began downsizing myself. Along the way I became friends with the folks at the Fairfax County Dump, Salvation Army, 1-800-Junk, PODS and more My new routine is if I haven't used it in a year then I can live without it forever.

Within shouting distance of my home are at least three self storage facilities. Every time I drive down another industrial road I see at least another two. So where has the need come for all of us to hoard so much stuff?

In today's "throw away" society it seems a bit odd that there should be so much of a need for storage facilities. What is lurking behind all of those locked containers? Is it stuff we really need or is it easier just to tuck it away instead of dealing with it? How much money is being spent every year to store things that really should be headed to the dump or donated to a favorite charity? Could you have a vacation with the money instead?

Need some help getting started on the de-cluttering? It is over-whelming I can admit it! So here are a few ideas that helped get me started on the stuff purging:


•Pick a room-doesn't matter where you start
•Set a timeframe-only work on the room a couple of hours at a time
•Sort through it-look at it once and decide if it is a keep, toss or donate
•Don't reminisce-high school is long over, the faded corsages have got to go
•Keep the space organized-have trash bags and plastic bins handy so that you aren't surrounded by piles
•Repeat the process on the next room-move on the next day or next weekend to another space.
•Reward yourself-trust me after you have made a run to the dump you want a reward
So take a look around and decide what you really need and what is ready to go. You might be surprised how good it feels to not have all of the stuff cluttering up your life. And don't try to pass it off on your kids. It will only come back to you when they decide to move!

Do-it-Yourself is Overrated!

I am a home project, died in the wool, do-it-yourself fanatic, so I believe anyone can take on whatever house improvement task they set their mind to – if they are committed. What people need to realize is that when I take on a project it’s usually because I want to; when a home owner decides to make an improvement it’s usually because they have to fix something as they’re getting ready to sell their house. In this case it’s no longer an enjoyable hobby, and the task can quickly feel like a burden rather than an escape.

Many sellers are fine taking on a few things as they think about getting their house “match-fit” to sell. At least until they get half way into the work and realize that it’s more than they bargained for when they signed up for it. I love the idea of painting – only the idea of it – but many sellers feel that this is something they can save a few bucks on if they do it themselves. Nevertheless, once they get a couple of brush strokes into it they suddenly realize it’s a bit more of a pain than a pleasure. At best, it’s more work than they had imagined. At worst they will seek therapy after getting through all of it.

Only this week we had a client email us as they are getting ready to put their house up for sale. There are a number of small painting projects that seemed manageable. They had committed to hire a professional painter to handle the big stuff, so a few little areas seemed reasonable. Half way into the five-foot square bathroom they were ready to jump out of the window. I believe they did finish, but needless to say the professional will be getting the rest of the house.

Home owners rarely have the experience, tools, time, and of course the patience to take on the apparently “do-it-yourself” project, especially when they are under the gun. A contractor or handy man comes to the job prepared; they usually don’t have to run out to the store every five minutes because they didn’t plan properly. They also have the experience to do the job in about one third the time it takes for the average home owner to do it. They look at the work as a job, and while you’re at the office doing yours, they’re at your home doing theirs. When you get back in the evening the job is completed professionally, usually without the throwing of objects or the loosing of tempers. If it’s not done correctly it’s not your responsibility to fix it.

I love to take on projects, but I’m the first to admit that when you are getting your house ready to sell, leave it to the professionals. Take a step back and let someone that does this type of work ALL THE TIME do it for you. Save your energy for the new residence, because that’s where you want to be anyway. If you’re not sure who to get for the job then call your Realtor. They are a wealth of information with lists of contractor contacts and recommendations.

John VanderSyde is an Associate Broker with Virginia Properties, A Long & Foster Company, and is also a Licensed Architect. He and his wife Ann are business partners who believe that HOME is a lifestyle choice. You can learn more about Ann & John by visiting www.InSydeHomes.com or by calling (804) 282-7300

First Impressions – Your House & Your Yard

In real estate, like most things in life, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Remember that first date in high school? Or perhaps like me you’d just as soon forget about it! Well, trust me; a lot of folks out there feel the same way about YOUR house the moment they drive up to it. Unlike that first date, however, they will simply turn around and get the heck out of there as quickly as possible. If that happens, there will be NO second date!

It may be true if you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still just a pig. But I believe a house is a little different – for the most part anyway. It seems to me (as my managing broker likes to say) that “for every doghouse there is a dog”, but some lipstick goes a long way toward getting them to sniff around it, especially if you want to sell quickly for the highest and best price.

I constantly tell sellers that, according to statistics, the greatest “bang for your buck” is in landscaping and the yard. Every year, house trends show the money you put into your yard has the greatest dollar for dollar return on your investment. The first thing you need to do is get the purchaser inside. If they see a manicured yard and a well maintained exterior, they have a tendency to be more forgiving with the interior space that may not meet all their needs.

So, start by getting someone involved in sprucing up the yard. There are a ton of eager landscapers and yard-upkeep companies that can come in and bang out some improvements in no time at all. Have a plan and commit to making it shine; really make a difference. Get a couple of bids, and you’ll be surprised how reasonable it is. Not to mention the fact that you don’t have to lift a finger.

I know men & women who like to putter in the yard, but this in not the time. Get professional assistance that will make a quick and immediate difference in your home’s curb appeal. You won’t regret coming home after a day at the office to find a finished product. Your house will look markedly different, and will appeal more to purchasers looking at other homes that haven’t been touched.

You’ve heard it a million times, but this is the first step to making a strong “first impression” about your property. Otherwise, forget about a second date!

For more insight, information and any questions on this and other important issues, please contact your most valued real estate professional, we are here to serve you!

Sources: John VanderSyde, Architect & Associate Broker, Virginia Properties, A Long & Foster Company