U-Pak-- and pack and pack
In preparation for staging, we had to dump most of our stuff into a portable, self-storage locker. Different companies provide this services (U-Pak is one). Done right, these can hold a tremendous amount of stuff: over 420 cubic feet of items-- the equivlant of a 1 bedroom suite. In packing your container here are some important tips:
- Use regular sized boxes. It would be perfect if you could use nothing but the same sized boxes. If you cannot do that, you can aim for either two or three sizes that hook together. Or, aim to get a least 20 boxes of the same shape. The goal is to get enough boxes of the same shape to do one entire layer of boxes. Our favorite: paper boxes like those you find at print shops. They hold a handy weight, they are strong and they are usually free (or they should be).
- Pack heavy on the bottom, light on the top. Books at the bottom; teddy bears on top. U-Paks will get moved and stored for a week to a month. It's important to remember that gravity is working all the time. If your stuff will survive a day before getting crushed, how will it fare after two months of weight?
- Layering is okay (Shelves are your Friend, Episode I). When you have table tops and removable shelves, you can use these over top of a layer of boxes. They will distribute the load and prevent crushing. You can also use these vertically to prevent avalanches (what I have dubbed 'crudalanches') of stuff.
- Fill the voids (Shelves are your Friend, Episode II). When you pack a layer of boxes, but in a layer of furniture. Then, pack items in another around the furniture. This is important for two reasons: 1) it uses the maximum amount of space; 2) if you don't fill the spaces, stuff could shift and end up in these holes but end on their sides or busted open; 3) if the furniture is heavier, it is less likely to move. When you move in a bookshelf, make a point of filling the shelves.
- Clothes are good (so are cushions and blankets). When you pack clothing, try to pack them in sturdy garbage bags. Don't overstuff the bags, you want them to have about the area of a shirt and about 4"-8" thick. Use these soft flat bags to fill in the gaps. This will limit motion, settling and breakage.
- Don't be afraid to repack. This is tetris. If you have a big gap of space, pull out several boxes and leave them near the door. Try to pack them again and do a better job. Don't go nuts, but be willing to back up and and re-try.
- Go for a consistent height. My goal is always to pack to the ceiling. If you cannot get to the ceiling, make sure everything is consistently packed to about the same height.
- Lock off the last layers. Save some large items (shelves, couches, etc.) When you get to the end of the U-Pak (the door), put in these large items so that they in the doorway and in the corner so that should you have a crudalanche the items will not spill out the door. In one of these, I was lucky: I had broken down some industrial shelves and had these sturdy 6'6"" bars available. I hooked them into a shelf at the door so that if anything travelled, it would hit the bars and the bars would hit the side of the doors.
Labels: staging, upak
Solutions For Packing You Self Storage Unit
Moving home or undergoing a house renovation etc can come with its ups and downs as well as its thrills and frustrations but one way that you can make the whole process a lot easier is by enlisting the help of a self storage unit but if you are using the help of a self storage unit you need to make sure that you pack the self storage unit in the correct way.
In order to make sure that you have gathered all of the household items and personal belongings that you want to place into storage as well as making sure that all of these items are placed into the storage unit in the best way you need to be organised.
Whatever situation you are in that has meant you have needed to enlist the help of a self storage unit you should make a list of all the items that you are placing into storage so that you have a record of where all of your items are.
The one aspect that people always seem to have trouble with when it comes to getting their belongings into storage is packing. This is because it is guaranteed that you will probably need more boxes and packaging material than you originally think that you will so it is a good idea to always buy more packaging material and boxes than you actually need just to make sure that you have enough to cover all of the items that you want to place into storage. Also boxes come in all shapes and sizes so no matter what you want to store you can do; however it is not advised that you store precious items such as jewellery and financial or legal papers.
The purpose of packaging the items that you are placing into storage is primarily to protect and preserve them and secondly to improve the presentation of them. This protection is needed when your items are being transported to the self storage unit as you may encounter uneven road surfaces that cause the vehicle to jolt on the road, which could potentially damage your items if they aren't protected properly.
You will need packaging items such as boxes, bubble wraps, un-printed packaging paper and packaging tape. All of these items will help to cushion your items whilst you are getting them over to your self storage unit. As previously mentioned make sure that you buy more than you need of these as any unused supplies can be returned after you have got all of your items over to the unit.
When you are packing all of your belongings it is a good idea to fill your boxes completely and store heavy items in smaller boxes for easier lifting. If you are storing clothes you can get a special wardrobe shaped box in which you can hang your clothes.
As a general rule when you are placing your items in your self storage unit you should place heavy items at the rear of the unit and then work your way forwards and upwards with your lighter and more fragile items. Also the items that you need more access to should be placed near the front of the storage unit. You also need to take into account if you need walking space within your self storage unit, depending on whether you do you may have to leave room for a walk way.
Make sure that all of your items are safely and securely placed in your self storage unit and ensure that when it comes to removing your items you can do so with ease.
Helen is the web master of Keep Safe Self Storage, who are specialists in providing you with all of your Self Storage needs, including all of the Packaging Material you will need. Please feel free to republish this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our site
Labels: staging, storage, upak
Adventures in Home Sales - Part 1: Staging
We are packrats. We love to get stuff. People love to give us stuff: so much so, that prior to my 40th birthday, I asked scrubbed my wish list and replaced it with "A House." I figured if I said, "Matches and gasoline" and something happeneded, I would be in serious trouble.
So, step 1 of the prep work is the stager. Staging: two things are staged. Crime scenes and house sales. So, you need to stage so that people see your place. Because so many places are staged you fall behind by honestly showing your home as it normally looks. It's like being the one Playboy bunny who
doesn't have breast enhancements. You don't want to do that what bunny does: make up for it by being cheap.
Our realtor (great guy), sent in his stager.
She gave us a long and painful assessment of our situation.
If you don't have money for a stager, here is a cheap and less annoying way to achieve the same:
- Book a night at a nice hotel. If you are in the thick of home selling, you will need the getaway.
- Bring a digital camera.
- Take LOTS of photos when you first come in-- even before you bring in your bags. Cupboards, bedroom, etc.
- Take the pictures home and go over them with a fine-tooth comb. You want to make your home look like the hotel.
- Devoid of character.
- Neutral colors.
- Calm and uncluttered.
- Ironically, you make your place looking liveable by making it look like no one lives in it. It's the burger concept: if someone else takes a bite out of your burger (proving it's fit to eat), it becomes much less appetizing.
- Hide everything you can until your home looks like those hotel photos. Our solution: use a U-Pak. It's a combo-move: we will load items into a shipping container. The container gets stored for a few months at their warehouse. Then it gets delivered to your new home. It's like a moving truck, with a terrific pause button feature.
Labels: homeselling, Oswego, staging, upak
Purge to be Fabulous. How to Have a Yard Sale
This from
Howcast:
All it takes is some advance planning—and a little psychology—to unload all your junk in a yard sale.
You Will Need
* Poster paper and markers
* Card tables
* Plastic grocery bags and cardboard boxes
* A cash box and small bills and coins to make change
* An extension cord
* A mirror
* A classified ad (optional)
* A clothing rack (optional)
* Refreshments (optional)
Step 1: Have a co-sale
Get as many friends, neighbors, and relatives to participate as you can. The bigger the sale, the better everyone will do.
Step 2: Advertise
Advertise your yard sale a few days ahead of time by putting up clearly marked signs with the date of the sale on them in thick black lettering that can be read from a car. Place the signs every 50 feet or so, with arrows. If you’re selling a lot of stuff, place a classified ad in the local paper, or post an online ad on Craigslist.
If you take out an ad, be specific about some of the stuff you’re selling, like “toddler-size boys’ clothes” or “exercise equipment.”
Step 3: Find ways to display goods
Assemble as many card tables as you can; items sell better if they’re neatly displayed, as opposed to strewn on the lawn. If you’re selling clothes, hang them from a clothing rack.
Step 4: Spruce up sale items
Spruce up the items you’re selling as best you can. Shiny knickknacks and clean, pressed clothes will sell better than stuff people are afraid to touch. Use pretty ribbon to bundle loose items.
Step 5: Collect grocery bags and boxes
Start accumulating grocery bags and boxes. People will buy more if you make it easier for them to carry off their purchases.
Step 6: Prepare a “free” box
Take everything you want to get rid of that you can’t imagine anyone paying for and put it in a carton clearly marked “FREE.” Stick it in a prominent place near the curb to attract passersby.
If you have a lot of toys, put them in a “take one free” box for children.
Step 7: Be able to make change
Keep at least $50 in coins and small bills in your cash box so you can make change.
Step 8: Price items
Figure out what you want for an item and then mark it up a bit; people like to haggle. A good rule of thumb is to charge a quarter of the original cost for items in good condition.
Do a little sleuthing. You don’t want to sell a candy dish for 50 cents and then find out it was worth $500. Check your prices against online auctions sites, like eBay.
Step 9: Provide an electrical cord
If you’re selling electric items, snake an extension cord from the house so people can test the goods.
Step 10: Have a mirror
Have a mirror so people can see how hats, scarves, jewelry, and such look on them.
Step 11: Group like items
Group like items—kitchen stuff on one table, tools on another.
Step 12: Put out refreshments
Put out refreshments. Providing coffee, lemonade, and cookies will most likely pay for itself by encouraging people to linger longer.
Step 13: Be flexible
Be flexible about prices, especially as the day winds down. Do you really want to lug all this stuff back inside your house?
The world’s longest yard sale takes place every summer along a 630-mile stretch from Ohio to Alabama.ya
Labels: de-clutter, yard sale
10 Big Mistakes from Homesellers
You’ll sell your house faster — and for more money — if you avoid these common pitfalls.
You Will Need
* A thorough housecleaning
* An open mind
* Home improvements
Step 1: Declutter your home
Get rid of as much clutter as possible. Stuffed closets, extraneous furniture, exercise equipment in living quarters, crowded countertops, overflowing cabinets, and endless knickknacks make homes seem smaller than they are. Consider putting some things in storage.
Step 2: Hide your pets
Hide all evidence that you own animals. Just because your potential buyer loves his own pets doesn’t mean he wants a house that reeks of yours. Get rid of pet stains and odors (pay a professional if you have to) and send the four-legged family members to a neighbor’s house when you show your home.
Step 3: Be scarce yourself
And, while you’re at it, make yourself scarce during home showings. You know how you feel about those annoying salespeople who follow you around the store, making you uncomfortable? That’s how potential home buyers will feel about you.
Step 4: Don't discount the first offer
Think carefully before you reject the first offer on your home; studies show it is usually the highest bid you get. And the longer you hold out for a better offer, the lower your chances are of getting it, because people start to think that something must be wrong with a house that’s been on the market for so long.
Step 5: Always negotiate
Don’t take lowball offers personally, or you’ll lose a lot of potential buyers. Instead of viewing them as insults, look at them as starting points for negotiation.
To attract the most buyers, list your home a few thousand dollars below a major round number. If you’re hoping to get about $200,000, for example, list it as $199,000, not $205,000. You don’t want to miss out on buyers who have set $200,000 as their cutoff point.
Step 6: Out with the old
Toss or change anything that makes your home look tired—worn carpeting, old throw rugs, dirty light switch covers. Give every room a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color. Don’t let cost deter you; this is truly a case where you’ve got to spend money to make money.
Step 7: Remember curb appeal
Don’t discount the importance of a good first impression from the street. Trim hedges, reseed the lawn, plant some flowers, wash the windows, scrape and repaint the front door and windowsills, and put some oversized potted plants at the entrance.
Step 8: Depersonalize your home
Rid your home of all your treasured personal touches—family photos, the kids’ artwork on the fridge, religious artifacts, bowling trophies, your ceramic pig collection, the shrine to Elvis. They will only make it more difficult for potential buyers to imagine themselves in your home.
Step 9: Aim for light and bright
Because home buyers are nearly unanimously looking for a light, bright house as opposed to a dark, dreary one, do what you can to make that happen. Ditch the heavy drapes, take down dark wallpaper, put in high-wattage light bulbs, and get rid of wood paneling.
Step 10: Fix anything that's broken
Fix whatever is broken before you list your home. It’s almost always cheaper to do it yourself than to let the buyer use it to bring down the price.
Most realtors say that the kitchen is the room most likely to attract — or repel — a potential buyer.
Labels: real estate, selling
Ideas on Staging
Staging is the art of using marketing and decorating techniques to create an environment that buyers can aspire to. "If I buy this house, I can live like this." Stagers use the art of "positioning" to create several "emotional connection points" throughout the home so that when a buyer steps into the house they "feel home." "This is it." "This is the one." What does feeling home look like? For Home Stagers it's a combination of eight elements analyzed in each room in order to create a lasting impression for the home buyer:
1. First Impressions - Room by room, we will walk through and take note of our first impressions, what grabs us, what glares at us and what gives to us a feeling of home?
2. Eliminating Clutter - The packing starts now as we pack away a good percentage of everything in the room in order to create a more clean, open and spacious feel.
3. Emphasizing the Positive - While Downplaying the Negative - Finding your beautiful focal points, we will emphasize what we love about the room and hide or distract the negative aspects of the rooms.
4. Lighten Up - Focusing on lighting and color, we will make each room into a bright, warm and inviting space that buyers can respond to.
5. Home Buyers Appeal - In order for a buyer to "feel home" they need not be reminded of this being your home. We'll depersonalize the space while retaining the warmth and fun of photos.
6. Odor free/Cleaning/Repairs - The dirty work speaks for itself but is many times overlooked because you've lived here for so long. Let's get rid of the buyer's mental "repair list" by doing it ourselves.
7. Modernizing - Updating your style and building simple accessories out of what you already have to create clean lines and form. In some cases, we'll recommend purchases as valuable "investments" in the staging process.
8. "Emotional Connection Points" - Creating the "Wow Factor". This is the fun part and is a huge focus of our positioning strategy. We'll show you how to build in these subtleties in order to make the buyers subconsciously desire to live here and "feel home". The "emotional connection points" are where marketing strategy really comes in to play
You are eight critical steps away from selling your home quickly and for more money. The process is started in the consultation by having the seller put on "buyers eyes" as a first step in transforming their home into what home buyers will desire and buy.
Labels: homeselling, staging
