Now we’ve all got a bit more time…
#StayAtHome means we are all spending a whole lot more time enjoying, or doing our best to enjoy, our places of residence.
And after having our fill of Netflix, we have the opportunity to get on to all those little home projects we may have always thought about doing, but never quite had the time to get around to actually doing them.
You may be contemplating selling either during the COVID-19 period, or shortly after, so what a great opportunity to tackle all the jobs now, to get your home ready and make it stand out from the crowd.
Homes are all about love.
Buyers use their hearts first and then their heads when deciding to buy their dream home. Even if you’re not wanting to sell, why not think of these projects as a way of falling in love with your own home all over again.
As of the date of publishing this article, 15 April, nurseries and hardware stores are still considered an essential business, so it’s a brilliant excuse to get out of the house, enjoy the car ride to Bunnings and get what you need to get those odd jobs done.
Not sure where to start?
Here’s a quick list to get you on your way:
Front and back
- Clear away any rubbish or scraggly unsightly vegetation
- Create a place for garbage bins to be stored away from sight.
- Throw away any broken backyard toys, furniture, planters etc. Book that council pick up.
- It’s the perfect time of the year to get into the garden, not too hot, not too cold, and with the rain we’ve been having, the soil will be lovely and moist and it should be a little easier to get all those pesky weeds out.
- Check your fences. Make sure your front fence and gate is in working order, and if needed, do a repaint to make it all look clean and fresh.
- Have you ever thought about painting your fences in a dark colour? It gives your yard a more contemporary look and really makes your garden “pop”.
Make an entrance
Start at the beginning.
Pretend you are a visitor and approach your home by the pathway and up to the front door. Look at it from a strangers eyes. Can you make more of the balcony/ porch area? Can you add a couple of chairs, some plants. How would the front door look painted a different colour?
For more excellent tips to help to make you entrance more inviting and welcoming click here https://www.stonerealestate.com.au/the-door-is-open-how-to-make-an-entrance/
1 Glenlee Close, Mount Kuring-gai
Now for the inside
Get snap happy. Grab your phone and switch to camera mode.
Pick one room and one room only. You know the old saying, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
Take photos. All angles, all surfaces. Even take a photo of the inside of your cupboards.
Download them on to your laptop and take a good honest look. These are your “before” photos. Have a think of how you would ultimately like that room to look. It may be as simple as repainting, throwing a rug over a stained carpet, and re-arranging the furniture.
Grab a big bag or box- actually four of them.
Each one has a purpose…
- Recycle – give away what you no longer need or want.
- Rubbish- throw away anything that is broken (and has been for some time/ unfixable), that you don’t really like, or have no longer any use for, out of date medicines etc. It is easy for us to hold onto things just because they cost a certain amount of money, but we need to remember that the costs have already been incurred and no amount of holding on to them will make them any more valuable. Sad but true.
- Relocate – if in the wrong room, it can be taken back to where it belongs. If you are getting ready to sell and the items would be better out of your home for inspections, you may want to hire a storage facility to house them until after your home is sold.
- Retain – Not everything has to be thrown out or recycled. Many objects we have are what make our home a home- after all we don’t really want to live in a showroom.
Spray and wipe
Let’s face it, most of us ignore the clutter of bathroom, kitchen and laundry cabinets, and the grime that accumulates underneath them all. Put your favourite music on and empty those shockers out. Spray, wipe and only put back in the cupboard items that are still in date and still used.
Don’t forget the linen press- take it all out, only keep what you still use, need and like. Sort and refold what you’re keeping and put the rest in a bag to be recycled.
A clean and organised home reduces anxiety. Once you know where everything is, a feeling of calm is experienced. A de-cluttered home creates a more serene family environment. And we all need a bit more of that at the moment don’t we?