If you’ve been thinking about buying or selling your house this spring, now is the time to jump in and start planning! Coming off of a record year that topped $3 billion in sales for 2017, the Ada County and Boise real estate market is hot.

Traditionally, spring is when real estate is most active, but last year it amped up early with buyers and sellers getting busy in February. We expect more of the same this year, and with a proper game plan, you can take advantage of the excitement. But, you need to get to work now.

First, whether buying or selling, interview local agents who have expertise in the area and hire the one who answers your questions confidently, listens to you and presents a strategy. If you are selling your house, select an agent who will stage, professionally photograph and market your home, and will communicate with you/advise you throughout the process. If you are buying, select an agent who listens to your wants and needs, communicates well with you and you feel comfortable knowing they have your best interest at heart.

Also, learn about the market where you are buying or selling so that you have reasonable expectations on pricing. Some people think their home is worth more than the market will bear, because of sentimental reasons or what they paid for it. Overpricing your house results in it not selling. Eventually you will have to lower the price anyway, so price it right in the beginning. Ask your agent for comparable sales in the area and have reasonable expectations. Likewise, if you are buying, you will of course want to get the best deal possible, but the sellers know what their house is worth.  Low-balling likely won’t result in a positive outcome for you.

Tips for Spring Cleaning and Getting Your House Ready to Sell

If you are selling, you know you will have to do some spring cleaning and decluttering, so you may as well get started now so you won’t have to do everything at once. Because of low inventory, buyers are making decisions quickly, so you need to be sure your house will show at its shining best. We recommend staging – we offer complimentary staging with every listing – however, before staging you will have to declutter, pack up (you’re moving anyway, so you might as well get a head start), and clean.

After doing some research, we liked Martha Stewart’s spring cleaning tips best.  However, Joanna Gaines has a good blog also. We liked Joanna’s recommendation on organizing before you start your cleaning. She says, “This spring cleaning is a perfect opportunity to rid your home of the “stuff” you can live without. I can’t stress this enough—your whole family will feel the benefits of rooms and spaces that can breathe, so before you even start the cleaning, get five trash bags and start filling them with items your family has outgrown or no longer needs. If you don’t love it, toss it. Trash anything that is broken and serves no purpose and donate items to local shelters and you’ll feel much better before you even start.” Click here for Joanna’s full blog and checklist.

Back to Martha — she recommends, “After you read through the tips and techniques, tailor the list to your home and yard. Create a realistic schedule, keeping in mind that a single weekend won't suffice, as you'll need several days for more involved projects, such as shampooing carpets and organizing closets. Whether you prefer to proceed from the attic to the basement or start outdoors and wind your way inside, focus on one task at a time. And be sure to enlist the help of family members.”

Click here for a thorough and printable Martha Stewart spring cleaning checklist.

Watch this for in-depth information on how to organize and prepare your house for sale!

And, don’t forget about the outside of your home. Check out our blog on tips for spring cleaning the exterior of your home:  https://www.templetonrealestategroup.com/blog/top-tips-to-spring-up-your-boise-house/

By Bonnie Way Snider, Licenced Realtor© and Blogger

Sources:

http://boirealtors.com/3-billion-worth-homes-sold-ada-county-setting-new-record/

https://magnoliamarket.com/spring-cleaning/

http://www.marthastewart.com/267295/spring-cleaning-checklist. The information was excerpted from "Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook" (Clarkson Potter/Publishers; 2006).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvTsOklDY50&t=70s

Are you thinking about relocating to Boise? Well, join the ranks – you are not alone!  Boise, and the Treasure Valley as the area is known, is growing faster than the national average. In fact, the Washington Post claims in an article dated Dec. 26, 2017, “Idaho is the fastest-growing state in the union. …And Boise is booming. Most newcomers have settled in the capital and the cities and suburbs surrounding it, compounding the state’s urbanization advantage. They appear to be drawn by the city’s combination of size and low cost of living. Idaho has the fourth-cheapest cost of living in the country, according to a 2017 index from the Council for Community and Economic Research.”

People have discovered our grand city and want to enjoy the quality of life that so many of us appreciate here. Good jobs, affordable housing and a safe, clean and vibrant downtown make Boise a great place to live.

Downtown Boise with Idaho's Capitol Building and snow-covered foothills

Boise has something for everyone – four seasons; including hot, dry summers and snowy, cold winters! The seasons afford outdoor activities year-round, including golf, river rafting, paddle boarding, boating, biking, and hiking to downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and now roller-coastering at our local ski hill. Indoor enthusiasts can enjoy all that larger cities offer including concerts, professional theatre, ballet and philharmonic. Sports enthusiasts enjoy pro sports with local minor league hockey and baseball teams, and Boise State University showcases its nationally-ranked football team each year and BSU basketball is quite popular also.

The Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce describes Boise as, “…a great place to live, work and visit! Whether it’s the vibrant cultural and recreational opportunities, the friendly people or the mild climate, Boise and the surrounding communities afford a quality of life second to none. Nestled in the Treasure Valley against the majestic foothills, Boise is part of a thriving metropolitan area of over 550,000 people. Boise is the largest metropolitan area in Idaho, and also the most remote metropolitan area in the United States, fostering a “unique sense of community.”

Watch this HGTV spot on a family’s journey relocating to Boise from California.

If you are thinking about moving here or just wondering about all the hubbub, give us a call. We’d love to talk with you about our city and our housing market. Though housing prices are rising, they are still very affordable and there’s something here for everyone. We specialize in East Boise, but our agents are well-versed with the entire valley, work with out-of-state buyers all of the time, and with a few questions can help you find your ideal neighborhood.

Templeton Real Estate Group – 208-473-2203. Call us today!

By Bonnie Way Snider, Licensed Realtor© and Blogger

Source:

http://www.boisechamber.org/relocation

http://www.hgtv.com/videos/relocating-to-boise-idaho-0195004

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/12/26/2017s-fastest-and-slowest-growing-states-are-neighbors-heres-why-their-paths-diverged/?pushid=5a42b759873fb41d00000029&tidr=notifi_push_breaking-news&utm_term=.828db34092d1

We love Boise, and we love Bown Crossing block parties  -  the annual Summer Extravaganza and the Winter Holiday Mix & Mingle! It’s a great opportunity for us to thank our valued clients and friends, and let you know how much we appreciate you! 

At this year’s event, we did some wonderful holiday arrangement giveaways, as well as a children’s prize, and hosted a VIP soiree! Thanks to everybody who stopped by to share in some holiday cheer, and to those who couldn’t make it, we hope to see you next time! Or, any time you're in the neighborhood.

Happiest of holidays to you all and our very best wishes for a joyous New Year!

Many people feel nostalgic during the holidays. They long for Christmas’ past, to their childhood homes, and warm family memories. Often these memories are made by sharing in family traditions. Perhaps it’s a memory of baking and decorating cookies with your grandmother, cooking a special Christmas-eve dinner or Christmas-day brunch, watching a favorite movie, or caroling with family and friends around the neighborhood.

Whether you have these memories or not, the great thing about traditions is that you can always begin new ones! You can start something this year that your kids and family will look forward to for years to come, and maybe carry on with their families.

We have a few in our family, but one in particular we look forward to every year, is a visit to Boise’s Botanical Gardens, “Winter Garden Aglow,” on Christmas Eve. Some years friends join us, and other years we go alone. But, every year – rain or sleet or snow or verrrry cold - we go. The thousands of twinkling lights look so much more magical to us on Christmas Eve, and after we return home, we make hot chocolate and eat cookies by the fire to warm up. I realized how important this tradition was to my daughter when I mentioned about possibly doing something else this year, and she gasped in horror at the very thought. The gasp was followed by an adamant, “No!”

Traditions help create the fabric of our families. And, like sewing a square onto a quilt, we can add to that fabric, square-by-square, tradition-by-tradition, and let it encompass us with warmth.

If you would like to start a new tradition with your family this year, check out some events to participate in and some great ideas provided by Parents.com:

• Count down to Christmas
  Build suspense for Santa’s arrival with a countdown calendar. Feeling crafty? Follow this step-by-step tutorial that uses paper cups, a bulletin board, and tasty treats to create an Advent calendar. Or, transform a magnetic board into a countdown calendar with tiny tins, magnets, and glue. If you’re not so DIY, a store-bought calendar will still equal big-time fun for cuties who can’t wait until Christmas!
• Visit a tree farm
  Start your family's holiday festivities off right by bundling up and heading to a local Christmas tree farm to search for the perfect tree. Chances are, you'll get to enjoy more than finding the perfect fir: Many tree farms offer hayrides, sleigh rides, and other family-friendly activities (Santa may even show up!). Hot cocoa so not optional!
• Trim the tree together
  Your Christmas tree is your home's focal point for several weeks, so deck it out in style. Step one to achieving an Instagram-worthy tree: Fluff those branches, then hang lights (make sure to perform a Clark Griswaldesque bulb check first) starting at the base and working your way up, before stringing garlands. Be sure to supervise the unpacking of ornaments and hooks to avoid breakage or injury to little hands. Then, take turns hanging fave ornaments on the tree. A boost from mom or dad to reach high branches is sure to induce giggles and a photo-worthy moment. Just remind eager tree-trimming tots to be careful with the delicate ornaments and family heirlooms.
• Start an ornament collection
  Capture memories in the form of special ornaments that grow your collection each year. Commemorate your baby’s first Christmas, a child’s special interest, frame school photos to hang on the tree, or even personalize ornaments with names and dates. Another idea: DIY one together with your kids as a fun craft project. You can give one each year when you trim the tree, or attach them to wrapped gifts as a special decorative touch.
• Set up a Christmas Eve hot cocoa bar
  Break out the hot cocoa and Christmas cookies—but step up your presentation a notch: Instead of just serving everyone a mug of cocoa, set up a hot-cocoa station complete with mini marshmallows, whipped cream, colored sprinkles, candy canes, and more.
• Go holiday "light-seeing"
  Whether your house is aglow in holiday lights or you prefer to let others do the outdoor decorating, pick a night where you all pack in the car and drive around to see the dazzling displays in your neighborhood. Pack hot cocoa or apple cider in insulated sippy cups and set off!
• Wear matching holiday PJs
  Admit it: Matching holiday PJs are just fun—and not just for your kids, either. Start a Christmas Eve tradition where you all open up one special gift that you can use right away—coordinating pajamas—and start the holiday off in sweet matchy-matchy style.
• Incorporate a new cultural tradition
  Broaden your family's cultural awareness and spice up a typical holiday celebration with traditions from around the world. Look to your own roots for inspiration, or explore a culture that has always fascinated you. It can be as simple as teaching the kiddos how to say "happy holidays" in another language, or as elaborate as fixing a traditional holiday food from across the globe. One idea: Celebrate Nochebuena. Another idea: invite friends over for a multicultural holiday soiree!
• Give back
  Make others' lives merry and bright during the Christmas season. Some fun ideas for giving back: Wrap gifts to help kids who need it have a happier holiday season. Volunteer at your local homeless shelter or senior living community. Or, send supplies and greeting cards to soldiers stationed abroad, and away from their families, for the holidays.
• Create a holiday playlist
  Whether you're trimming the tree, preparing for a party, or just in the car or getting dinner ready, help your family get their groove on with a customized holiday playlist. Ask everyone to add their favorites, from classics like 'Jingle Bell Rock' to Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas is You.'  Add different artists' interpretations of familiar songs, and challenge each family member to discover a festive new find.

For fun ways to make the holiday extra-magical for your family, click this!

And, if we can help you with a new Boise-area home to create those wonderful family traditions, please call us today @ 208.473.2203.  As a FULL SERVICE real estate brokerage, our mission is to provide you, our clients with the pinnacle of service, staging and redesign expertise, as well as top notch real estate marketing when buying or selling your Boise Home.

From our Templeton Real Estate Group family to yours, Happy Holidays!

By Bonnie Way Snider, Licensed Realtor© and Blogger

Source:

https://www.parents.com/holiday/christmas/traditions/creating-family-traditions/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtPqLWUW1zU

One of the things I, and pretty much everybody I talk with who lives in and around Boise, love about living here is the sense of community and generosity of the people. Year-round, people get involved, donating their time and treasure, to the many wonderful non-profit groups and do what they can to help those less fortunate thrive. That is most obvious around the holidays.

There are so many ways to offer help, whether it be serving holidays meals to the homeless through the Boise Rescue Mission or buying gifts from hanging wish tags on a downtown tree for moms and children who are sheltered at the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. And, what I have found is that once a family engages together to help people, it feels so good that it becomes something they all look forward to doing together each year — and a family tradition is born.

In addition, to helping others during the holidays, families can continue or begin new traditions that may carry on for generations. Some of the events, such as the Holiday Parade, Saint Alphonsus’ Festival of Trees, and The Grove and State Capitol tree lightings have already occurred. But, there is still plenty of time to take in some other of our favorite holiday events.

A must see is the Idaho Botanical Gardens, Winter Garden Aglow. It features a display of more than 300,000 sparkling lights with special visits from Santa and his reindeer Prancer and local choirs, visitors can also enjoy cocoa, cider and cookies. Open 6-9 pm daily through Jan. 1.
More info at: http://idahobotanicalgarden.org

Another steadfast holiday event is Ballet Idaho’s annual production of The Nutcracker.  Shows are performed at the beautiful Morrison Center and run evening and matinee times from Dec. 15-17.  Then, take in another holiday favorite at Morrison Center with the sounds of Mannheim Steamroller.
More info and tickets at: http://www.morrisoncenter.com/events/detail/the-nutcracker and http://www.morrisoncenter.com/events/detail/mannheim-steamroller-christmas

If you feel like being a little more active, take part in the Downtown Boise YMCA Christmas Run on Dec. 23. There’s something for the whole family to enjoy as participants dress up in holiday costumes and are encouraged to walk, jog or run!
More info at: http://www.ymcatvidaho.org/runs/christmas-run/

Those are just a few of our favorites, however, there is much more to do. Check out these links to find more information about Treasure Valley holiday events!

https://downtownboise.org/events/christmas-in-the-city

http://www.boise.org/boise/events

https://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/eventsearch

http://www.idahocalendar.com/events/holiday-seasonal-browse-38.aspx

And remember this is a great time to list or buy a home. Please call us – our team of professionals at Templeton Real Estate Group are here to help if we can be of service 208.473.2203! Happy Holidays!

By Bonnie Way Snider, Licensed Realtor© and Blogger

Selling your house over the holidays can be difficult, however, keep in mind that with less inventory this time of year - and overall low inventory in Boise, your house has less competition! You have an opportunity to make your house shine. So, how do you do that and also decorate for the holidays so you and your family can still feel festive?

You will want to be careful to not overdo the holiday decor. But, if you follow the tips below, you can achieve both objectives - appeal to buyers and still honor your family traditions.

HGTV.com contributing writer, Kara Wahlgren, offers these tips on staging your home over the holidays:

• Clean and stage. “Before you decorate, your house needs to be staged,” Powers says. If your living room is already piled high with clutter and tchotchkes, your ceramic reindeer collection is only going to add to the sense of overcrowding.
• Create a cozy vibe. The less-is-more mantra of home staging may tempt you to forgo holiday cheer this year. But a few subtle touches like a bowl of pinecones, an evergreen wreath, or a pot of cider simmering on the stove can create a warm and festive feeling in your home.
• Complement your palette. Before you start untangling your tinsel, make sure your holiday collection matches your current decor. If your living room is painted a soothing ocean-blue hue, skip the clashing red garland and opt for white snowflakes or a silver glass-ball wreath. If you’ve got an earthy color scheme, accent with rich tones like cranberries, forest greens and gold.
• Accentuate the positive. Too many trimmings may distract buyers, but the right accessories can draw attention to your home’s best features. Dangle mistletoe in an arched doorway, or display your menorah on the ledge of a bay window; just don’t block a beautiful view with stick-on snowflake decals or clutter an elegant fireplace with personalized stockings.
• Go light on lights. Step away from the inflatable snowman, Clark Griswold. One man’s “merry” is another man’s “tacky,” so tone down any garish light displays while your home is on the market. (No, your neighbors didn’t pay us to say that.) Instead, use simple string lighting to play up your home’s architecture or draw attention to the gorgeous fir tree in your front yard.
• Be an equal-opportunity decorator. Leave the life-sized Nativity scene in storage this year, because overtly religious flourishes may be off-putting to some buyers. “You want to keep neutrality throughout, so you can attract any type of buyer,” Powers says. Not sure what qualifies? Powers adds, “No matter what your religion is, you’re not going to feel offended by a nutcracker.”
• Mind the tree. A tall Christmas tree can help you show off your two-story great room, but make sure the wide base won’t overwhelm the floor space. If your living area is on the small side, save space with a skinny tree. Swap the gaudy heirloom ornaments and trim your tree in a cohesive theme such as icicle lights and silver tinsel, for example, or blue and gold glass balls.
• Clear the clutter. A few decorations can stir the holiday spirit, but don’t feel obliged to hang every last ornament. “A lot of people, when they decorate, tend to use all the extra space in their house,” Powers says. “You still want each space to look as spacious as possible.” Limit yourself to a few hints of holiday flair, but stash the rest in the basement for now. If you start to miss your Santa figurines, just remember that with a little luck, you’ll be celebrating next year’s holidays in a new home. And you can decorate that place any way you please.

Tips for Staging Over the Holidays

A great real estate agency will professionally stage or help you stage your home appropriately. This service is complimentary when you list with Templeton Real Estate Group. And, staging when done well has been proven to sell houses faster and for more.

If you are thinking about selling your Boise area home, call us today for a free market analysis – 208.473.2203. All Templeton Real Estate Group clients receive a home preparation consultation, a home preparation report, photo styling assistance and whole home staging by Silver Sage Staging.  We deliver results with decades of area expertise, service, property pricing, and negotiating.

By Bonnie Way Snider, Licensed Realtor© and Blogger

Source:

http://www.hgtv.com/design/real-estate/staging-tips-for-selling-during-the-holidays

Here we are — full swing into the holiday season! And, Boise Idaho is an amazing place to enjoy the holidays. However, if you’re like me, from here until January, life becomes very hectic! Planning, shopping, cooking, baking, carpooling, sports practices, recitals, work, holiday events, parties, dinners, house decorating, gift wrapping, standing in long lines to mail gifts at the post office — whew, breathe!

So, amidst all of this, how happy was I to read a recent article which says all of this busy stuff is good for us! The article quotes research published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience that found the busier you are, the better it is for your cognitive function. I was particularly interested to read this as my father passed away in February from Alzheimer’s. And, probably like you, I’ve heard other information that keeping your mind active and engaged, along with regular exercise and eating well, may be the key to staving off cognitive decline.

Yet, even though we can agree that a busy schedule may be good for us, the stress it causes may not be. So, here are some tips from the article I read in Your Home and Lifestyle Magazine to manage this busy time of year and help relieve you of some of the hectic holiday stress:

Tip #1: DO TWO THINGS A DAY

Instead of getting overwhelmed by a massive ‘to-do list,’ every morning when you wake up decide on just two things that you are going to get done today.  They can be small errands you have been putting off, or big projects you need to spend an hour getting started on. But, pick just two and write them down. Then, check in at night and make sure you got them done. Of course, you will do other things, as well, but having some focus on two tasks helps you keep moving forward, and gives you a sense of accomplishment no matter how your day went.

Tip #2: CREATE A MASTER TO-DO LIST

Unlike you daily to-do list, the master one serves as a record of the ongoing things that you’d like to get done such as removing the wallpaper from the bathroom or updating your holiday address list.  This helps you do a brain dump on paper and helps you feel more organized. This list you should only refer to once or twice a month.

Tip #3: ESTIMATE THE TIME YOU THINK EACH ITEM WILL TAKE YOU ON YOUR MASTER PROJECT LIST

This one is huge considering many of us have a hard time gauging just how long a certain task will actually take us.  After you complete your two things a day, you can use free time to tackle something off of the master list based on the time it will take.

Tip #4: BREAK PROJECTS INTO ACTION STEPS

Too often people try to tackle big projects, like painting a room or completing a report, without stopping to think about all of the small tasks and time involved to prepare and complete the project. At the start of each week, take some time to plan out three to seven action steps related to a few of your big projects. Then, focus on each action step one at a time. You will progress instead of being stuck with a big project staring you down.

Tip #5: DO A CALENDAR REVIEW EACH MORNING

Taking those ten minutes in the morning – or night before – to go over the things you need to accomplish for the day can really help you better focus on the tasks at hand. It gives you a minute to consider what your day looks like, when you need to be somewhere, when will you have time to be focused and productive. Getting a quick sense of your day can help you be more prepared to juggle your busy schedule.

And, use these additional tips to manage your holiday stress!

Here at Templeton Real Estate Group, we see people all the time who are crazy busy trying to managing their lives AND trying to buy or sell their homes. That can add to the stress level. And, is the reason why you want to call us so we can manage all of the tasks for you and help you organize what needs to be done. Our team of professionals will guide you, stress-free, through the process and relieve you of those worries.

If you are thinking about buying or selling, give us a call. We offer complimentary consultations and would be happy to tell you about our success record and all that we do to help you get the result you want! Call 208.473.2203 today!

By Bonnie Way Snider, Licensed Realtor© and Blogger

Source:

Your Home and Lifestyle Magazine. Blake Miller. October 2016

Staging has become an essential tool to sell East Boise homes

We talk a lot about staging. When selling your home, we recommend some level of staging be done, a service Templeton Real Estate Group provides to our clients in the Boise area. Staging, prior to selling, has almost become a necessity. It allows discerning buyers to see past your personal items and décor, and envision their own furnishings in “your home.”

However, we also realize that living in your pristine and expertly staged house can be difficult. You never know when you might get a call for a showing, and you can’t just shove toys in closets or pile the dishes in the sink! So, how do you keep “your home” in perfect condition all the time?

Laura McHolm, writing contributor for HuffingtonPost.com, has this sound advice for you to follow:

IT’S NOT YOUR HOME ANYMORE

First and foremost, you have to change your mindset; it is not “your home” anymore. Treat the house as if it were a five-star hotel; you need to maintain the staged look and keep everything spotless. You do not want it to appear that anyone is living in the home; there should be no dishes, family pictures, or piles of personal stuff visible. The good news is that keeping your house like a five-star hotel will also enable you to treat yourself and your family to a mini-vacation - no cooking and lots of fun outings!

KEEP IT CLEAN

Kitchen-

·         Remove all of your kitchen appliances from the counters. Do not use them; keep clean and hidden.

·         Have one set of cups, plates and utensils for each family member neatly stored in a cabinet. Use only these dishes and hand wash after every use. Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink or out in a dish rack. Eat, drink, wash, dry and put away.

·         Use recycled paper plates and cups to limit dishwashing.

·         Keep only the essentials in the refrigerator and pantry (potential buyers are known to look inside). Unused pantry items can be donated to your local food bank.

Bathrooms-

·         No personal care products (soap, shampoo, lotion, toothbrush, etc.) should be left out. Give each family member a bathroom tote to hold their daily-used products, to be put away into a closed cabinet after each use. 

·         Keep antibacterial wipes under the sink for quick and easy cleanup after each sink and shower use. 

·         Use stick-on toilet cleaners inside the bowls to keep toilets clean and smelling fresh. 

·         Only guest towels should be displayed in the bathrooms. Each family member should have his or her own set of towels, to be washed regularly and kept out of sight.

Bedrooms-

·         Keep all nightstands and dresser tops clear of personal items. Purchase plastic containers with lids that can easily slide under beds to store reading glasses, books, journals, medications, tissue boxes, etc. 

·         Be sure to make the beds each morning; that way there is one less thing to do when a showing is scheduled.

·         Keep all clothing items neatly put away and laundry baskets hidden in closets.

·         Wash, dry, fold and put away laundry on a daily basis if necessary.

Living Room-

·         To maintain a tidy living room, keep daily-used items (remote controls, DVDs, video games, children’s toys, etc.) hidden away in closed drawers, cabinets or storage ottomans.

·         Do not let newspapers, magazines or mail stack up; file away or recycle immediately.

·         Perhaps keep the latest newspaper in your car; it may come in handy when showings are scheduled and you need to head out to a coffee shop or other fun destination.

Eating & Entertainment-

·         By now you may be thinking, “How does my family eat?” It is best to go out to eat during this time. Even take-out is a no-no; the goal is to keep your home smelling like fresh flowers, not fried chicken.

·         To stay on a budget, visit websites like Groupon or Restaurants.com for deals and coupons. Also, look into daily/weekly meal deals at your local restaurants, like $2 Taco Tuesdays or where kids can “eat free.”

·         Get your whole family involved and make a list of activities to do on the days your house is scheduled to be shown. Ideas include bowling, going to the beach, zoo, museums, amusement parks, or even visiting relatives.

Pets-

·         Unfortunately, Fido and your feline are not staged-home friendly; it may be best to find another place for them to stay while your home is staged. Perhaps a family member, friend or neighbor can take care of your beloved four-legged family members. Another option would be to send them to a kennel-free boarding “resort” for their own vacation.

·         If they must stay in your staged home, designate 1-2 rooms for your pets to live in. This will keep the fur cleanup to a minimum.

Living in a staged home may not come naturally, but if you and your family can adjust your daily routine, it can be a lot of fun. Take the opportunity to go out, explore and do things you all had always hoped to do. Motivate every family member to get in on the challenge and it can turn out to be a memorable time spent together!

And, if you are thinking about selling your Boise area home, we are your East Boise Real Estate Experts. Call us today @ 208.473.2203!  All Templeton Real Estate Group clients receive a home preparation consultation, a home preparation report, photo styling assistance and whole home staging by Silver Sage Staging.  We deliver results with decades of area expertise, service, property pricing, and negotiating.

By Bonnie Way Snider, Licensed Realtor© and Blogger

Source link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-mcholm/how-to-live-in-a-staged-h_b_12430228.html?utm_hp_ref=real-estate