Floods, earthquakes, severe weather, and pandemics can quickly create an emergency situation for your family. Without a plan in place, what was once a scary idea can become a dangerous situation. Not only does a plan help keep everyone on the same page, but it can also help alleviate the anxiety caused by uncertainty. Courtesy of Dayton Parent, find out how to make an emergency plan and discover what information and gear you should have ready for any situation.

Have a Family Discussion

A crisis such as COVID-19 can remind us how important it is to have a plan in place for emergencies. While a pandemic is a little different than a flood or tornado, it can still cause the same feelings of uncertainty for your family.

Right now is the perfect time to sit down and have a family meeting about what to do and how to communicate during emergencies. As a parent, you can start by identifying which emergencies you should discuss with your kids. The types of hazards you face will depend on where you live. It’s important to cover any situations that your family may experience.

During your discussion, make sure everyone knows how to quickly and safely escape the house if needed. It’s also important to establish a meeting place so everyone can stay together. Keep in mind that your children’s ages will affect how you approach this conversation. According to the CDC, children cope with disasters differently depending on how old they are, so it’s important to be sensitive to this during your meeting.

Gather Emergency Contact Information

When an emergency strikes, you don’t want to waste time looking for important contact information. As a parent, you should have emergency numbers saved on your phone. If your kids have phones, consider saving some of these numbers for them as well. A contact list should also be printed and displayed somewhere in the home, such as on the refrigerator.

As you’re gathering numbers, it’s a good time to make sure your kids know how and when to dial 911. Calling emergency services might already be intimidating for your child, but in a true emergency, it’s often even scarier to take action.

Stock Some Emergency Meals

You don’t need a bunker full of food to make it through an emergency situation. In fact, stockpiling too much food can make it hard for other people to get the basic supplies they need, and it can lead to spoilage if you can’t make your way through everything before it expires.

With that being said, you should have a reasonable supply of food to feed yourself if you do get stuck inside for several days or even a few weeks at a time. According to Ready.gov, you need at least three days of food for each family member in your emergency stock.

However, it’s important to consider where you live and what disasters you might encounter as a result. For example, if you’re in a rural area, it may take longer for the effects of natural disasters (such as power outages) to be resolved. To compensate for any delays, you may consider building a two-week supply instead.

Nip Any Potential Problems in the Bud

One way to help prepare for a disaster, severe storm, or bad weather is to take a good look at your property. If you have any toys, tools, or items around your yard, make sure you clean them up and store them away. You should also make sure any trees you have don’t pose a potential threat to your home. If you’re concerned that a tree may come down during a storm, consider removing it beforehand. You can search “tree service near me free estimate” on Google to find local well-reviewed pros who can handle this project for you. You should budget between $50 and $1,500 for this service, depending on the size of the tree in question.

Put Together an Emergency Kit

An emergency kit contains everything you need to survive an unexpected situation. While food can be stored in your pantry for easy access, it’s generally a good idea for your emergency kit to be portable. This allows you to leave the house with everything you need.

Your emergency kit or go-bag should include portable food, first aid items, personal documents, money, and basic survival supplies. For example, it’s a good idea to include gear like headlamps that are waterproof and rechargeable. Adding hand sanitizer and other disinfectants is also smart so you can kill germs when hand washing isn’t an option. With a few basic ingredients, you can even make your own hand sanitizer in a pinch.

No one likes to think about emergency situations, which is exactly why your family needs to have a plan. Natural disasters and pandemics can cause a great deal of anxiety, but when you have everything prepared ahead of time, there’s less uncertainty.

Find Curtis at Tradesbright.org

The post Why You Need a Family Emergency Plan and How to Make One appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

Summertime is party time. There’s something about the warm weather that makes people want to come out and have some fun, whether it’s at a pool, in the backyard, or out on the block. Now it’s your time to organize one, and it’s OK if you feel a little nervous. It’s no small feat to make sure the kids are entertained while putting on a memorable event for the adults as well. If you want to be sure you do it right, follow these tips.

Set a Budget

You’re throwing a party to have fun, not to go broke. Take a look at your account and set an amount that you can realistically spend. A spreadsheet works wonderfully for itemizing and allotting a dollar sum for everything, including food, drinks, decorations, and so on. This will also help you organize your shopping and preparation.

Make a Guest List

Be sure it’s an interesting mix and that the kids have others their own age to play with. Start by going through your contacts and Facebook friends and writing down names, with a preference for people that would bring their whole family along. Next, narrow down the number to something you can manage.

Pick a Theme

The right theme will get the kids excited long before the bash begins. If you’re stumped for ideas, the party people at Industrious Family have come up with a number of themes from Peter Rabbit to Highland Games that parents can join in as well. You can even find some exciting arts and crafts so that everyone has something to take home as a memento of the wonderful time they had.

Match Your Decor

Take your party to the next level by tweaking your decor to go with your party theme! Wallpaper is one way to really pack a punch. Sites like Spoonflower offer a nearly endless selection of papers with different textures and patterns, all designed by independent artists. Too many to pick from? Order a sample pack. And if you don’t find the perfect fit, you can even design your own! Your shindig will be truly epic with your custom wall treatment!

Before you start decorating, consider working with a professional organizer to get your space in order. If your home is a little disorganized or clutter is piling up, an organizer can help eliminate unnecessary possessions and assist you with finding the perfect spot for everything else

Send Out Invitations

Get creative and incorporate your theme. That’ll make sure your guests are intrigued and that nobody turns you down without a good reason. Nowadays, it’s much more practical to design an electronic invitation to send out by email, unless it’s a true class affair that demands a formal letter by mail. You’ll find a number of sites online that will help you create both.

Don’t Go Hungry

Buffet style is better for larger affairs, especially if there are lots of kids who can’t sit still with so much excitement going on. Remember to include some vegetarian options so nobody goes hungry, and Martha Stewart has what you need alongside recipes that meat lovers will dig. You’ll also score extra points with a few healthy snacks from your local farmers’ market.

Plan Some Games

Keep everyone entertained, especially kids who will need something to keep them occupied. Luckily, there are plenty of games out there that everyone can enjoy with very little planning or props involved at all. You’ll get to know new friends better with a spirited session of Likes and Dislikes, while the Laughing Game will have you in stitches.

Be a Great DJ

Now is not the time to put on the blues or show off your exotic collection of Tuvan throat-singing. Pick some songs that are kid-friendly but won’t drive the adults crazy while inspiring everyone to get up and move their feet. “Happy,” by Pharrell Williams, should give you the right idea. Oh, and no Nickelback.

Put Safety First

Clear your downstairs or backyard of things that people could trip over. That means tucking any cords or cables behind furniture or under rugs to keep them away from kids’ feet. You may also want to store your valuables and anything fragile such as vases and pottery in a room that you can lock shut.

Follow this advice, and you’ll be a legend. All your friends, family, and their kids will be badgering you to throw another party as soon as possible.

Image via Unsplash.

Find Aimee at https://diydarlin.com/

The post The Right Way to Throw a Legendary Party appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

Working from home is a privilege, and more and more people are starting to do it, whether it’s in a part-time or full-time capacity. With that said, one challenge that comes with working from home is maintaining a good work-life balance. When you’re working in the same space that you relax and do housework, it can be difficult to focus on tasks and avoid interruptions.

If you’re looking for ways to create a workspace that’s separate from your main living areas, look to your garage. Do you use it on a daily basis? Or is it basically serving as a storage unit for seasonal clothing, garden tools, and household items you’ll never use? If the latter, then perhaps you can maximize the space in your garage by converting it into a magnificent home office. That way, you can achieve a healthy work-life balance without going through the expensive, drawn-out process of a home addition.

Let’s take a look at some of the most important steps involved in making your garage your home office. And if you’d rather someone else handle all the heavy lifting, give Silver Lining Organizers a call at (937) 672-7567 or email us at [email protected].

Create a Clean Slate

The first step in creating your dream home office is to clear all the junk out of your garage. If weather permits, consider removing everything and setting them outside. Then, carefully go through the items and determine what to keep and what to get rid of. If there are still things you need to store but don’t have enough space in your home at the moment, consider renting a self-storage unit for the time being. Once most of the conversion is completed, you might find that you can discreetly store a number of items in the garage.

Make It Climate-Controlled

Whether it’s just you in the office or you plan to have customers/clients coming in, it’s essential that the area is climate-controlled. Make sure there is adequate insulation in the walls and ceiling. Putting up drywall can also help to regulate the temperature, not to mention it can make the space look much better. Although it can be costly, consider extending your home’s HVAC system to the garage. A cheaper alternative is to get portable heaters and air conditioners.

Light, Furnish, and Decorate to Your Needs

Light is critical to productivity. Utilize natural light if your garage has windows, and add as many overhead, table, desk, and floor lamps as necessary to brighten the place. Make the space comfortable and inspiring enough for everyday usage.

If you won’t be getting many visitors, you can get away with just a desk, chair, bookshelf, filing cabinet, and/or some personal decor (e.g., photos, art, plants, etc.). If you’ll be hosting customers or clients, you might need to invest in additional furniture and decor to boost the appeal and professionalism of the office.

Keep in Mind

As you alter your home to accommodate your work, it’s important to keep some business essentials in mind, especially if you’re a new entrepreneur. Every new business should be registered with your state. To do this, you’ll need to come up with a unique name, which isn’t as easy as it sounds. It should convey what you do and be easy to spell and understand.

Also, you should form a business structure. This part is actually simpler than it sounds. For instance, you might choose to form an LLC in light of the tax advantages and asset protection it offers. There are online services that allow you to establish it quickly and easily in Ohio, and then you can move on to more interesting aspects of starting your venture, like marketing and snagging that first customer!

There’s no doubt garages can make great home offices when you take the right steps. Thoroughly clean out the garage first. Then, make sure the office is climate-controlled, install the proper lighting, and add the furnishings and decorations it needs to be a comfortable office. Using your garage as your workspace can go a long way in helping you achieve that all-important work-life balance.

You can find Aimee Lyons at [email protected] and https://diydarlin.com/

Image via Pexels

The post Make Your Garage Into the Home Office You’ve Always Wanted appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

“Happy New Year!”  These three words can spark both excitement and dread:  hope for things to come and anxiety about keeping our New Year’s Resolutions.  In fact, many are boycotting New Year’s Resolutions altogether this year because they are often empty promises we never keep to ourselves.  We all have our own individual resolutions: exercise more, stop smoking, eat healthily, go back to school, get a new job, spend more time with family, etc. Most of us eat healthy for a couple of weeks; we work out every day, then once a week, then once a month; we make a date for a Family Game Night but never follow through.  Life gets busy and time goes by and the resolutions fade away.

What if, instead, we had New Year Goals?  A Resolution is defined as “a firm decision to do or not to do something.”  That is pretty rigid.  A Goal is “the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.”  A Goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based.  We can adjust our goals throughout the year as we grow and learn.

Getting Organized is on almost everyone’s list, and I believe it is the first step to reaching ALL of our Goals!  How?

Being organized saves time and money!!

• Can find what you need when you need it.
• Don’t overbuy items because you know what you have and where it is.
• Can buy ahead and plan purchases.
• No lost bills, late fees, or penalties because you pay on time.
• Can make a budget so you don’t overspend.
• Plan errands and trips so you have money on fuel.
• Less stress because you are not frantically looking for misplaced items.
• Stronger relationships and fewer family conflicts over clutter.
• More time to exercise, plan, and cook meals.
• More time for devotion, family, friends, and hobbies.

So how do you begin?

First, make a List of YOUR New Year’s Goals!

Next, make an Action Plan for each Goal, including Steps and Resources:

For example:

Goal:  Get Organized! 

This goal is too vague – break it down into smaller goals and be more specific!

Goal:  Organize the Master Closet by My Birthday

Goal:  Organize Pantry by Valentine’s Day

Goal:  Organize Garage by June 1st.

These Goals are all measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based!

Next, list the steps to reaching each Goal.

_________________________________________________________________________________

For example:

Goal:  Organize Paperwork by April 17th

Steps: 

1. Gather supplies
2. Gather ALL paperwork
3. Sort each paper into piles:  “Keep”, “Trash”, “Shred”
4. Sort “Keep” pile into 2 categories:  “Action Required” & “To File”
5. Keep “Action Required” papers in a “To-Do” File

Sort File pile into categories

Once you do this for each Goal you are well on your way to a successful Year!

Remember:  be flexible – sometimes our life and goals change, and that’s ok!

This New Year:  Light Your Own Spark!   

For more information of how a Professional Organizing can help you reach your goals, read our blog: Organize with a Professional or visit out web site SilverLiningOrganizers.com.

The post New Year GOALS appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

Cleaning and staging a home can take time. So if you’re a busy parent, you may be looking for solutions to prevent prepping your home from stressing you out. Silver Lining Organizers can help you get your home ready for potential buyers by putting everything in order. You can also benefit from these nifty tricks to help you stay sane and your home stay clean for showings and open houses:

Don’t Overlook Minor Details

Addressing big tasks like cleaning and decluttering is important, but keep in mind that when buyers come to your house or look at pictures online, they’re taking every aspect into consideration. This means smaller but equally important details, like the appearance of your furniture. Even if you plan on taking your furniture with you, its condition will likely factor into a buyer’s decision (i.e., when they’re determining the cleanliness of the home).

If your furniture has seen better days, you don’t have to buy all-new pieces to appeal to buyers. You can simply replace the fabric on the furniture you already have. If you lack the time for this, hire a furniture reupholstery service to get the job done for you. It can cost anywhere from $350 to $1,000 depending on the type of fabric and how much of it is needed.

Hire a Professional Housekeeper & Cleaner

If you’re maxed out on time and constantly stressed out with parenting responsibilities, then hiring local housekeeping services may be your best option for getting your house spotless and keeping it that way while you try to sell your home. Hiring a housekeeper can even help your home sell faster.

Maid services will offer more in-depth cleaning services, so be sure to weigh each option to determine which is the best for your needs and your budget. If you decide to call around to local housekeeping and maid companies, The Spruce recommends asking about a professional interior deep cleaning. This service will likely be separate from routine maid or housekeeping services but will help get your home spotless.

Schedule a Sitter to Help With DIY Cleaning Projects

Prefer to clean your home without the help of professionals? Then you should at least consider hiring professionals to help out with your children as you take on this essential staging task.

If you need help finding a sitter, MommyBytes suggests a few simple tricks to locate someone you can trust to help keep an eye on your children. Check in with local faith organizations, your pediatrician, or with online sitting services that pre-vet sitters. This will allow you to focus on all of those detailed deep cleaning and decluttering projects that will help stage your home for buyers. Keep in mind that a babysitter charges an average of $16.75 per hour to look after one child, so if it’s not in your budget, you can also consider asking friends or family members to help out with your little ones.

Have Children Help With Decluttering & Cleaning Tasks

Depending on the age of your little ones, you can always put them to work helping out with household chores that will help keep your home clean for showings. Try to keep your kids’ age and abilities in mind when assigning chore responsibilities and also consider setting up a reward system to keep your kids motivated. Chores help to teach children about responsibility and will help them establish healthy habits to reduce stress in adulthood.

Since tidying can be a real challenge in kids’ rooms and play areas, you should also think about letting your children help with decluttering these spaces. As your children choose toys and other items to throw away or donate, have them thank those possessions for the joy brought by them. They can then donate those items to worthy causes, and enjoy all sorts of warm fuzzies as a result.

Selling a home doesn’t have to put extra pressure on parents. Consider getting help from outside sources, such as Silver Lining Organizers, so you don’t have to stress about cleaning and staging your home. With a few simple tricks up your sleeve, you’ll be moving in no time!

Photo Credit: Pexels

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Planning to sell your home? If so, it’s time to start thinking about staging. Staging is the process of making your home presentable for photos and tours. It’s not just a matter of decorating; you have to set your home up in a way that looks aesthetically pleasant and universally appealing. This means limiting stylized designs, getting rid of clutter, and focusing on nice, neutral decor.

In the COVID-19 era, however, you have to pay extra attention to how your staging will come across in a digital format. Listing photos, video tours, and other virtual showing options have a major place in a socially distant market. Here are some tips you can use to get your house looking great over the web and in person.

Research Your Market

Get a sense of how other owners are selling online.

• Pay attention to listing descriptions and photography to see what’s working.
• Look at pending listings to see how long they were on the market.
• Research local infection rates to get a sense of your COVID-19 threat.

Focus on the Visuals

Listing photography and virtual tours make a bigger difference now than ever.

• Worried about tours during the pandemic? There are virtual options available.
• Start by talking with your real estate agent about what they’ve seen on the market so far.
• Prepare your home for listing photos so you make a great first impression.
• Make sure your home is decluttered and well-organized. If you need help in this department, the experts at Silver Lining Organizers can help you.
• Host a virtual open house on Facebook Live or Zoom.
• Video and virtual tours are another great way to show your home off from a distance.

Prepare for In-Person Viewings

Digital options may only get you so far — buyers might need to see your home in person.

• Thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces before and after showings.
• Ask buyers and agents to wear a mask while inside the house.
• Open doors and turn on lights to help buyers avoid touching surfaces.

Great staging is just one part of the home-selling process, but it can make a big difference. A well-staged house catches buyers’ attention and imagination. Create a home people can picture themselves in, and you’ll have offers in no time.

By  Natalie Jones

The post 12 Fun Stress Relief Ideas for the Whole Family appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

You’ve started on your lists of small repairs, you’ve contacted a real estate agent, and now you’re in the final steps of getting ready to sell your house. But before you put your home up for sale, and certainly before having your first open house, here are 11 things to consider that most home sellers forget to think about and could cost you a sale.

1. Declutter and Organize Your Closets and Cabinets

Sure, you went through your entire house and reduced the clutter in each room, organized your desk and other surfaces, and arranged your collection of antique ceramic kitty figurines to be facing perpendicular to the window. However, did you tackle your closets and cabinets?

One thing you should definitely expect during an open house or individual home tours is that potential homebuyers will be looking in your closets, kitchen drawers and cabinets. Will your walk-in closet fit all of his shoes and her summer dresses? Is there enough storage space in your kitchen for their cookware, bakeware, and all the kitchen gadgets that they seem to collect each year? These are all questions homebuyers will be asking themselves as they walk through your home.

Of course, you as a home seller will have no idea what the needs are of a potential homebuyer, but you can definitely showcase what your house has to offer in terms of storage. Start by decluttering your closets, cabinets, and drawers, and then keeping only enough belongings in each to really show off the potential that space has to offer. Think of it as an extension of staging your home, but for your storage areas.

2. Clean Stains and Eliminate Odors

We should all consider small stains, marks, and other imperfections as badges of honor for a house that has been lived in for years. Nonetheless, these slight bumps and bruises your home has encountered over time will stick out to potential homebuyers, so tackle them head-on.

Begin by trying to put yourself in the shoes of a potential homebuyer and look at your house objectively. Start by going outside and then re-entering your house as if you didn’t actually own it but were an interested homebuyer looking at it for the first time. What do you see? Walk through every room and take note of all the imperfections you notice. You might surprise yourself with how quickly your list grows. You can then add them to your list of repairs so you can make your house truly be at its best before your first open house.

Also, if you have pets there is a strong possibility that your home has an odor which you can no longer smell. Deep cleaning your house is a sure fire way to help eliminate these odors, but also think about using an odor eliminating spray every day for about a week before your first open house. You can also place plugin room fresheners that offer a great crisp smell, like cucumber, to help infuse a sense of cleanliness throughout your house.

3. Replace Light Bulbs

Walk through each room in your house and look at every light bulb to see if it’s working. As homeowners, we sometimes forget to immediately replace a lightbulb when it goes out. You want your house to be at its brightest when new homebuyers are touring your home and replacing old burnt out light bulbs is one of the easiest ways to do it.

Also, don’t forget to walk around the outside of your house to make sure all the lights of your home’s exterior are working as well. Depending on the time of year, your open house or home tours could happen when the sun is going down or when it’s already dark. So be sure to make your house shine inside and out!

Similarly, if you’re considering how to sell your timeshare, you’ll want to be just as thorough and thoughtful in your approach to ensure a successful transaction.

Pro tip: Make sure all your light bulbs are the same color temperature inside your house as well as outside. A soft-white light LED bulb can create a bright but welcoming environment for new homebuyers.

4. Think About the Small Details: Plants, Mirrors, Rugs

Consider each room’s individual characteristics, so you can really showcase the potential every room in your house can offer. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind while you start prepping every space for an exceptional open house experience.

Add a little green to your spaces

Nothing breathes life into a room more than a little greenery. A potted tree can work wonders in a living room, but for smaller areas think smaller plants such as a small potted herb garden in the kitchen or a miniature cactus on the mantel.

Open up even the smallest rooms

Mirrors can make small spaces seem large because they create the illusion of depth. Mirrors also work wonders in darker rooms as they reflect light deep into areas of a room that may not receive an abundance of natural light.

Add character to an otherwise unimpressive space

While staging your home, think about adding character to various spaces with rugs. However, keep in mind that you want to use rugs to enhance a space, not be the focal point of it. Also, if you have a strange space that you never really figured out a good use for, a rug could at least offer a little personality while leaving the space and its potential to the imaginations of homebuyers.

5. Enhance Your Outdoor Space

You’re probably already aware that enhancing your curb appeal is one of the most impactful things you can do to create a great first impression. However, you don’t want to forget about your other outdoor areas, such as your front porch or entrance, your back entrance, side yard, and backyard. You want to enhance your outdoor spaces around the house so potential buyers can see themselves living as much outside your house as inside.

Simple enhancements like placing potted plants to your front entrance or adding fresh beauty bark around the base of your hedges and trees can go a long way. If you don’t already have a designated outdoor space for entertaining, think about building a DIY fire pit and adding four Adirondack chairs to create the idea of outdoor fun. Ultimately, your outdoor space can be just as important of a space as what your home has to offer on the inside.

6. Get Professional (Aerial) Photography

By now your research has probably shown you that homes with professional photos sell for more and spend less time on the market on average. What you may not have considered is adding aerial photography to your listing photos.

Aerial photography can show off your entire property, a scenic view, and the surrounding area.  If you have a lot of property, an aerial shot can easily put into perspective the full scope all your land has to offer to potential homebuyers.

Furthermore, aerial photography has come a long way thanks to the rapid development of drone technology, resulting in reasonable pricing that is accessible for many homeowners today. For higher-end listings, drones can even capture video of your property, helping it stand out among the hundreds of other homes for sale.

7. Don’t Forget About Your Gutters

Imagine that you’re having your first open house and despite the rain, foot traffic has been steadily increasing all morning. Your house looks immaculate, like one of those home’s off of an HGTV show, and your real estate agent has been messaging you updates every hour about how great it’s going. But then the unexpected happens. A small stream of water starts coming down right in front of your large bay window in the living room. The stream is outside the house, but your would-be buyers watch on as it grows into a miniature waterfall.

Red flags go up for the homebuyers touring your house as the foot traffic thins then disappears altogether. What they didn’t see was that the spillage was the result of a clogged gutter, nothing more, causing water to spill over in a very inopportune place and at the worst time.

Depending on where you live, you may not see as much rain in locations like Phoenix, AZ, but in many locations where rainfall is a common occurrence, such as Seattle, WA, this situation is more likely to happen. If you don’t have time to clean your gutters yourself—because you have a house to sell and a million other little things to do—there are professional services that can clean your gutters for you so this little oversight doesn’t drown out your hopes of selling your home quickly.

8. Paint Your Baseboards and Crown Molding

It’s pretty common knowledge that you should paint the interior of your home a neutral color to appeal to more buyers. Homebuyers want to imagine themselves and their stuff in your space, so your red accent wall will need to be painted over with a more neutral hue. But what a lot of home sellers forget to do is pay attention to their baseboards and crown molding.

Where crown molding may just need some cleaning and touch-ups, your baseboards most likely have seen a lot more traffic, especially if you have kids. It may be a toy truck that has repeatedly crashed into your white baseboards, crayons that went rogue, or the black rubber wheels from bikes racing down the hallway, most likely your baseboards have been marked with years of life experiences.

To correct these homely blemishes, you can try cleaning your baseboards with simple dish soap and water. But if it has been years of wear and abuse, you most likely will need to paint. Use a paint with a semi-gloss finish that will offer a light sheen but not glossy enough to distract attention away from your floors. You can also match your crown molding using the same paint, making every room pop to potential homebuyers. Of course, if you end up hiring painters to repaint that accent wall of yours, you might as well have them paint your baseboards while they’re there.

9. Focus on Your Floors

Your hardwood floors were once beautiful and one of the initial reasons you bought your home, but after years of traffic your hardwoods have since dulled to a shadow of their former glory. Likewise, your once plush carpet has also now matted down into obvious paths that lead from room to room.

One of the first things potential homebuyers look at when entering a new home is the floors, so make yours a statement.

If your carpet is approaching that 10-year mark, it is most likely looking pretty worn. Think about recarpeting your house to make it look fresh and ready for new homeowners. Such as you did with your walls, you’ll want to go more neutral in color to appeal to the majority of homebuyers. If your carpet is only a few years old, however, getting it professionally cleaned can go a long way in bringing your carpet back to life.

If you have hardwood floors bring them back to their former glory by refinishing them. Refinishing hardwood floors typically includes sanding down the floors to eliminate the original finish and stain, then restaining with the desired color followed by a coat or two of sealer. Your floors will look brand new and really stand out during the open house.

10. Gather Your Documents

You might not be aware of this but you’ll want to gather all the documents you have in regards to warranties, manuals, service records, and repairs done to your house. These documents are hugely important for several reasons and certain ones are needed by different parties before you sell your house.

Your agent is your best friend during the home selling process. They are also your homes’ first line of marketing and the more information they have about your house, the better they can promote it. They will write out the specific details of your home as well as an enticing description that will highlight key features that homebuyers want. So, if you’ve made recent updates like a new deck, new roof, updated HVAC, or if your home has hot water on demand make sure your agent knows it and you have the paperwork to back it up.

During the home inspection process, home inspectors are going to go over your house with a fine-toothed comb. If your furnace or water heater hasn’t been serviced in years, they’ll let you know. Take a proactive approach by gathering all your service records, so you’ll know ahead of time if something needs to be serviced using this website before listing your home.

However, beyond the paperwork your agent and the home inspector would like to see, title companies require very specific documentation in order for you to even sell your home, including:

• Mortgage loan information, which will show any outstanding mortgage balance and pay-off balance (if there is any)
• Final purchase and sale agreement
• Deed
• Title report
• Property tax information, including most recent tax statement
• Homeowners insurance information
• Lease agreement, if you’re currently renting the property
• Any reports or documentation that relates to the property
  • Warranty paperwork, permits, service documentation, instruction manuals, dates of home improvement projects, and age of the roof, furnace, hot water heater, HVAC, and all the other major appliances.

11. Pre-Sale Home Inspection

The last thing most people don’t think about before they sell their home is getting a pre-sale home inspection. Though it is not mandatory, a pre-sale home inspection is a proactive approach to understanding your home’s condition at that point in time, and if there are any repairs that need attention, you can address them now versus trying to do it during the home selling process.

Homebuyers will most likely get a home inspection of their own, right? So, why would you get one as a seller?

A home inspection report will most likely turn up a list of repairs that will need to be fixed. Would you prefer to fix these issues now before you list your home, or after you’re in negotiations with a potential buyer? If you wait, you may push back the sale date of your house as repairs are being made. Or, homebuyers may ask for concessions on your asking price in order to cover the repairs and the time it takes to make them. Ultimately, getting a pre-sale home inspection will leave you in a better position when it comes time to negotiate with potential buyers.

You may feel like spending a lot of time and money on your house is pointless because you’re just going to sell it anyway, right? Just consider that the more you appeal to the majority of homebuyers the more bids you’ll likely see and ultimately help you sell your house quicker and for more money.

Jeff Anttila

Jeff enjoys writing about the many aspects of home-ownership. From how-to projects he does on his own home to mortgage payoff and investment strategies, he likes to create useful content his readers will enjoy. His dream home would be a small house on a lake or the Puget Sound, with lots of natural light and a dedicated space for his woodworking.

Read more: Can You Buy a House Before Selling Your Own

Originally published on Redfin

The post Getting Ready to Sell Your House? appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

Moving in with your partner is an exciting — and, if we’re being honest, an intimidating — time in a relationship. Even if you have lived with a significant other before, there are a lot of unknowns to navigate together. Focusing on the new adventure ahead — the planning and anticipation — brings many couples even closer together. That’s not to say that there won’t be tense or stressful moments, and finding a balance during this major life change can be tricky. Below are several budget-minded solutions to many problems and complications couples face when they decide to join forces and move in together.

What Are Our Communication Methods?

 Communication — what you say and how you say it — isn’t just about talking. While you may have solid communication with your partner in your current living arrangement, once bills, meals, chores, and spare time are on the line, the conversations change. Before moving in together, assess your communication styles and learn strategies for talking through challenging times and topics. While this may be a time-consuming process, it doesn’t have to be a financially consuming one. There are many free online resources about relationship communication. You and your partner can also take an online course together, where you learn how to identify your personal communication strengths and weaknesses. You can also find plenty of books on the topic; find popular titles from major retailers like Barnes and Noble (and don’t forget to shop sales to save a few bucks).

How Do We Combine Our Styles?

 You both will have art, decor, and tools that mean more than just their practical usage. So, what happens when these sentimental items, creative decor, and innovative artwork clash? In some cases, one or both of you may have to make some hard decisions. In other situations, you just grin and bear it. You can also make the effort to pick out new items together, starting with a clean slate in your fresh place. If that’s the path you decide to take, save money on items such as towels, dishes, rugs, lighting, and more by shopping online for special deals from major retailers like Bed, Bath, and Beyond through a cost-saving website like Ebates.

Is It Okay to Ask for Alone Time?

 Yes, yes, yes! In fact, your relationship will be better for it. After all, living with your significant other requires more of your time and energy. That’s why it’s important you give each other the freedom to carve out time for yourselves. Before you move into your new home, agree to set up spaces that are solo and sacred. They can be shared spaces that you use one at a time, such as a meditation room, or areas that are yours and yours alone. For example, let’s say you love playing video games, but your partner doesn’t want the television commandeered by the latest version of Mario. You can create your own gaming space in a spare room or the bedroom. A gaming setup can get expensive, but you can save money by purchasing a used TV and resale games or using promo codes to get discounts online.

Moving in together can be full of emotional ups and downs, but it’s an exciting chapter to start, especially with someone you really love and genuinely enjoy being around. While living together will, in the long run, save you money on rent, utilities, food, and other expenses, it can require a few more up-front expenses. Save money for a vacation, a holiday, or a big-ticket item by shopping smart on the little things.

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The post Budget-Conscious Solutions to Problems Couples Face When Moving In Together appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.