Bonnets

Quote of the day, actually quoted today (usually I'm a little behind, or it was a quote from decades ago). I was speaking to one of my buyer clients and when I told her I would follow up on a radon re-test, she said:

I know you are on it like a bonnet.

Yes, yes I am. And I actually chuckled to myself, because I am on it like a bonnet. And then I thought of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Little House on the Prairie.

And this is my new favorite phrase. Because I am good at following up on things, tracking them to completion.

House Sale Prep Checklists

For each seller client, I create a customized House Sale Preparation Checklist.  While of course some of the items on the list may be universally helpful to sellers, I take into consideration that particular client's situation, their means and time available, and the most likely buyer of their house in making suggestions to them about getting the property into optimal showing condition.

Recently I worked with some seller clients whose house was already in terrific condition and who are quite handy and comfortable with home improvement projects.  I started with an initial one page list with these categories:
   * POD - rent one and start filling it with...
   * Sorting/Clearing Out
   * Projects [minor household repairs]
   * Early Staging

Once they finished that list (in 5 days!!), I went back to their home with my notepad in hand and made a second, final list (typed and emailed by that evening).  This one was more detailed and led up to the time when the professional photographer I had hired was scheduled to arrive.  This "Stage 2" checklist included items such as:

   * Add to the POD (and get the POD picked up)
   * Sorting/Clearing Out [the finer points]
   * Yard Word/Exterior
   * Projects
   * Final Staging
   * Pre-Photo Little Things

For another seller client, I created a room-by-room list rather than by categories, because that was an easier way for her to work through her house preparation tasks.

My best practice for sellers is helping organize and plan with you to make your house shine for its potential buyers.
 

Gardening, In the Winter?

Gardening ... in the winter, you might ask?  It is cold here in Maryland right now, although we don't have snow on the ground like Wisconsin and other places north.  I was just sitting here at my desk in my home office, tidying up a bit, organizing brochures from homes I've seen into my new expandable file folders (the binders requiring three hole punches were a deterrent to filing), planning for more showings and previews, planning another Real Estate and Refreshments event at the end of January, and dreaming of warmer days weeding in my yard. Dreaming of weeding??  Strange but true.  

My family members and I, with varying degrees of enthusiasm and time allocation, spent many hours weeding and pruning last winter.  Here in the DC Metro area, we had a very mild winter last year so it was pleasant enough to be outside working in the garden.

We have a different type of yard, not one with sweeping expanses of finely trimmed, lush, green lawn and beds of sun-loving perennials.  No, we live in the forest, in a wonderful neighborhood of Bethesda called Woodhaven.  True to its name, it is a haven, with lots of trees.  We also live on a hill so there are terraces nicely landscaped by previous owners.  It took some adjustments and now our girls enjoy the great hide-and-seek spots, the Harry Potter classrooms and Great Hall they've imagined, the tree bark forts for Lego people.

And I love the progress I've seen by removing extensive beds of invasive, non-native ivy, trimming back overgrown bushes, pulling down weeds that had climbed up all our massive tree trunks.  I look forward to doing more this winter and early spring.

In my tidying indoors, I just found an article from the Local Living section of the Washington Post by gardening columnist Adrian Higgins from last July titled "Member of the wedding party."  My favorite quote from the article is:
Look out for poison ivy, get your tetanus booster shot, and recognize that it may take three years to create the garden you want.

I have two more winters/springs to go. Can't wait.

Quote of the Day: Organize!

This Quote of the Day (heretofore QOTD if that's OK with everyone) is brought to you courtesy of my retired 2012 Franklin Covey planner, pocket-sized, spiral-bound.  This little guy was my failed attempt at having a full year of organization in my purse at all times.  This approach and format were short-lived, well, at least by my long-standing relationship with Franklin Covey planners.  I used this small size planner from approximately January 16 through October 22, 2012.

As background, I have been using the same time management system since... wait for it... 1991.  But, I need more space than two pages per week, page size 4" x 5.5" so I am back to the Compact two pages per day format that is comfortable like an old pair of jeans.

I digress... the quote is:

Don't agonize. Organize.
-Florynce Kennedy

In your daily life, or long term planning, or home search, or home sale preparation, just put pen to paper (or stylus to tablet, if you prefer) and make a list.  Then follow it to completion.  I can help if necessary. I was giving some time management advice to a colleague just the other day.  And I create customized home preparation checklists for my sellers as part of my standard listing services.  Let me know how I can help you make more effective use of your time, whether buying, selling, or even staying.