Hey, look, I managed to remember Giveaway Day was coming and left something out on purpose during the packing!
{Okay, not really. I have all my panels still hanging in the closet. But let's pretend I'm organized and prepared!}
{It's not really crooked. That's my mad camera skillz.}
Up for grabs: one 23x44" quilt panel by South Seas Imports. Slap some borders on it and it'll make a great baby quilt.
To enter, leave a comment with your favorite house selling tip. As a military wife, I have the moving thing down {going on #8 in 11 years!} - but I am a newbie and terrified by this house selling process!
Giveaway ends May 10 at 5 pm PST.
Check out more giveaways at Sew Mama Sew!
What a fun panel! I'd love to win. And good luck with the move...definitely not my favorite thing...but hopefully after our move last year we won't be moving for a LONG time.
ReplyDeleteer, this will sound crazy (b/c it is), but my sister has (SEVERAL TIMES) buried a figurine of some Saint (you'd have to Google it) in her yard to sell a house, and she says it works. Like I said, crazy, but... ?
ReplyDeleteMy thought is "curb appeal" - make sure the yard is attractive. That is HUGE around here.
We moved this past Christmas, sold and bought in 20 days. Oddly enough, the house we moved into have the upside down saint buried in the front flower bed, that giddy99 mentioned in her comment. It was so odd that it happened so fast, in a not so fast washington dc market. I actually had someone walk into the house and make me an offer. I'm not catholic and don't know which saint it is...but hey, if it cost a buck fifty? why not!
ReplyDeleteMy other tip is no staging. Everyone was trying to talk us into staging this and that. I boxed everything up so people knew we were not going to have the house on the market long. That is also what helped people see the urgency and place offers on the house. Good luck with it. It's always a stressful time, with all the showing and getting the kids and dog in the car to vamoose for 2 hours :) Ah memories!!!
Concentrate on your kitchen. An awesometastic kitchen will sell a house.
ReplyDeleteA nice flowery garden will help to sell the house. Nice panel.
ReplyDeleteA clean kitchen and clean bathroom are important for me when looking
ReplyDeleteOh I love this love this panel! I've never sold or bought a house so I have no tips for you, alas. But from renting, I hate the places that are over-staged. As in, why yes, I really believe that someone just happened to have 12 identical easy chairs scattered throughout the house... indeed. Oh, and the 10' giraffe statues in every room, some with the warehouse tag still on them? REALLY believable. :) Clean the place, yes. Scrub everything as much as you can, clear away clutter, and you're good to go. Er, for showing a place for renting at least. :)
ReplyDeletePack, pack, and pack some more. We put 100 boxes in a friend's barn, and it made the house feel so much bigger! We have kids, so lots of what we packed was toys and various accoutrements.
ReplyDeleteIf you have an unfinished basement, paint the floor and walls so it looks clean and dry and wonderful. Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great panel. My tip I learned was to take a picture of each room from the doorway. The picture will show you first impressions of the room and what the room really looks like, not what we think in our mind the room looks like.
ReplyDeleteI am waiting to find out all the tips...ours goes up for sale very soon!
ReplyDeleteLovely panel. While some people will say to not stage the house, I have heard both opinions. You do not want the house crowded. Small rooms should not be packed with furniture, they just look smaller. If you need to move things out, move them out. Be smart about what you leave in the house, clean and tidy go a long way. I have seen pictures of house that people post online and I find them a huge turnoff when there is spilled laundry all over a couch or the floor. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteOpen the curtain/blinds and turn on ALL the lights whenever someone comes to view your house. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI have no experience. But, I like to check out the kitçhen when I am looking for a new house.
ReplyDeleteDeclutter, clean like you're about to have a military housing inspection and definitely de-personalize. My daughter was able to sell her 700 sq. ft. house in a dead market in just six days by packing and moving the majority of their belongings into my garage, then cleaning within an inch of her life and staging. They even had two dogs in this small space and it still sold when nothing else in the neighbourhood had in over 3 months. Good luck on your upcoming move!
ReplyDeleteI would say neutral paint tones (doesn't have to browns necessarily), declutter and clean, and bake cookies right before an open house, so it smells good.
ReplyDeleteVery clean, with a shining kitchen and polished bathrooms, well aired and no pets running around.
ReplyDeleteI don't envy you for this load of work to get done.
Selling a house is such a pain. Empty as much as possible out so it looks bigger. No toys or pets helps, too. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThe panel is cute. I know a couple of expectant moms....
Hi Katie, I love this saying...reminds me of the song from the kids' movie: The Lion King. I'd definitely make this panel up for our granddaughter's wall.
ReplyDeleteFavorite house selling tip (after numerous moves with hubby's career).....have the company buy it from you. We've always been fortunate enough to have them purchase it from us. But.....that benefit is now gone so we are staying put ...at least for now.
What a very cute panel. I bought and sold twice in 4 years and I agree with what most people have said. I'm a clutter person, so I rented storage and moved it all out. I always put one of my quilts on the master bed, and I like to think that helped! Make sure all the light bulbs work, the bathrooms have beautiful towels (invest) and brew coffee (for the smell). An orchid is nice too. I agree about the staging. Don't hang hideous pics or have ugly ornaments!
ReplyDeleteThis panel would be perfect to make a quilt for my classroom! Thanks for the great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteAwesome panel. Great start to a quick quilt. Thanks for the chance to win! Sorry, we built and still live in our first home, so I have no house selling advice. Good luck, though!
ReplyDeleteHouse selling... isn't that a trial? My dad is an architect and he was always dragging us around to show homes and such when I was a kid. The thing I liked best about the houses for sale? I liked the ones that were properly aired. You know - like the air conditioner was on or the windows were open. It always made me think of breezy things and that always led me to think about beaches and nice open roomy houses. Good luck with the selling!
ReplyDeleteWe chose an elderly lady who started in real estate in the 1960s. She was recommended by a friend. We were surprised when she showed up and appeared to be about 90. She walked through the house and told us what cosmetic things we should do just like on one of those tv shows, only she did it for free. She showed our house 3 times and sold it to the second couple. She was so fast we had to put stuff in storage and live with my parents for a month until we could retire.
ReplyDeleteI have never sold a house, so I really don't know. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI am a military wife two. We are posted this summer and this will be my third military move in 16 years. (Canadian military) The first two moves we had to buy and sell houses. This year we are in military housing so it is much simpler. As far as advice... I don't really know... keep it as clean as you can so you are always ready for a showing and try not to worry too much. It will all work out in the end.
ReplyDeleteFirst impressions last. Make the outside look good and the inside smell good!
ReplyDeleteHope you dont have kids.. LOL..Paint fresh trim, it will make the house smell like paint.
ReplyDeleteCurb appeal! At least that's what all those house selling shows tell us!
ReplyDeleteClean out the clutter and keep it tidy. One time we had an elk head mounted in our entry. Later, one of the potential buyers said his wife saw it through our front window and wouldn't come in. It was the only 2 story place we had and I'd gotten so used to it, I forgot what a statement it made! Good luck, seems to be a good year to sell. thanks.
ReplyDeleteMake sure it smells nice! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI haven't moved since I was married (26 years) but I'm told the smell of freshly baked bread or freshly ground coffee helps!
ReplyDeleteI have heard that anything baked helps. Cookies, cake, pie etc. It gives the homey type of smell to the house.
ReplyDeletesyvisser@gmail(dot)com
Definitely bake cookies right before your open house, something about the smell of baking makes people want to buy your house! (OK I'm not sure if that's true or not, but it can't hurt, and then you'll have cookies! Cookies make everything better!)
ReplyDeleteDeclutter first - your real estate pictures will look much better, plus you'll have less to pack and move. Thanks for the giveaway chance!
ReplyDeleteI haven't sold a house before. Still in the same house 14 years later. I have heard de-cluttering and removing half of your clothes from closet to make it appear bigger. Thanks for chance to win.
ReplyDeleteFresh lemons in a bowl on the kitchen counter is appealing and calming.
ReplyDeleteSimmering cinnamon or baking chocolate chip cookies is a good idea. I was also advised to take out any extra furniture and knick knacks.
ReplyDeleteClear out the clutter. Almost nothing should be on your countertops. Stage your house, for example if you have a lovely porch, stage it with a comfy throw, a book and a pitcher and glass. I used to take out all the laundry, garbage and a laundry basket of whatever toys the kids had out and stash them in the back of my truck when I got a call for a showing. No one wants to see your laundry, clean or dirty. I was lucky and would drive over to my moms, so by the time I went back, I'd have clean laundry :)
ReplyDeletePack up everthing that isn;t vital and put it in storage so your home looks very open inviting and full of space. Lots Space is what all new homeowners are seeking. Make sure everthing is spotless and clean. Espcially the carpets and flooring. Make sure the yards are mowed, fresh much in your flower beds. Make you home have lots of eye appeal. And if you have tons of art work and decor on your walls take it down. So they can envison how those blank walls will look with their artwork. As said above clear countertops in all rooms with counters. Closets need to be totally neat tidy & organized. Don;t let them look packed witgh clothing with no space at all. If you have pets take them with you when you leave teh house for people to come for showings. Make your home smell clean. I would put scented toliet cleaner in the toliet bowls evertime ia would leave for them to show. and the realtor would allways tell me how everyone thought my home was so fresh and clean
ReplyDeleteI have not sold a house yet, but things I would consider would be get rid of excess clutter since it makes the rooms seem much smaller. I've heard its good to bake some bread or cookies to give the house an enticing aroma as well
ReplyDeletedetroitgirl77 AT gmail DOT com
I hate selling houses. How about hire a good home stager?
ReplyDeleteHave a great relationship with your realtor. Be able to tell him/her that you aren't comfortable with X, Y or Z
ReplyDeleteI haven't sold a house... I just bought 2 years ago. Sorry, no great advice from me!
ReplyDeleteStage your house well and make sure it is bright and cheery :)
ReplyDeleteBake something that smells great like your favourite cookies or cake (just make sure you don't burn them)
ReplyDeleteWe rent out apartments, granted it's different than houses, but it's always easier to find new tenants when the place is completely cleared out of any furniture and spot on clean. It never brought us anything if someone still lived in it and we showed to other people.
ReplyDeleteMake the yard look pretty. I don't know. I never sold a house, sorry! Thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteWe have lived in the same small house for 30 years. We would have lots of work to do to move- too much stuff and too small space. Getting rid of the clutter is suppose to be the main thing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win the panel. It is very cute.
Regards from Alberta,
Anna
I have always heard baking cookies but I look for a sturdy, clean kitchen (sturdy cabinets) and a bathroom that at least looks like it has room enough for kids and dogs...all at the same time. Oh, and clean windows. thank you!
ReplyDeleteI've never sold or bought a house so I don't have any tips. I guess my advice would be to make it look as welcoming as possible.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh! I have no idea really. My hubby and I (also military, but reservist for now) have only lived in apartments... Well, simplicity is key, you do not want rooms to be cluttered. (GHTV)
ReplyDeletemake sure the clutter is away, bake some cookies to have that homey scent in the air when buyers come in, make sure you have curb appeal
ReplyDeleteGet rid of as much of your normal stuff as possible - open and clean gives the sense of space. And first impressions matter - walking up to the door and walking in the door. And yes on the cooking - if you don't cook, get some apple juice and put some cinnamon [or cider seasoning] in it and warm it on the stove. Or bake something yummy.
ReplyDeleteI've never sold a house, but I would suspect a good attorney and a good realtor. (In New Jersey attorneys are required)...
ReplyDelete