Category Archives: Home Staging self -storage

Basement Clean-out  brings back Family Memories

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Basement Clean-out  brings back Family Memories
2/11/16
By Jerry Brown

 It was not the way that my brothers, my sister and I wanted to spend our weekend. Our octogenarian parents had recently decided to sell the family home and downsize to a senior community with limited storage space. So we found a reputable self-storage facility and prepared to sift through the multitude of boxes and household items accumulated in the basement and attic. It was a daunting task that took two days. What we didn’t anticipate was the flood of great family memories that would be unearthed that weekend.

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  During our basement clean-out we found boxes and boxes of old black and white photos, baby pictures, and photos of the four of us with our very young parents, and grandparents. We found boxes of of home movies – you know, the ones that Dad thought that we should all watch every time we had company to the house. Old Greeting cards, and letters, even some pictures of our parents as high school sweethearts! Pictures of our grandfather in uniform looking like a 1950’s movie star – he had served in two wars and in two branches of the military. But by far the most touching thing that we found was the box of letters and cards that our parents had given to each other over the years.  Love letters, Birthday, Christmas and Anniversary cards – even some pencil drawings that Dad had made for Mom.They met in 1952 at the Teen Club in Philadelphia, fell in love, and never looked back. Two people who have loved one another for over 60 years, raised a family, and still going strong at eighty plus. How fitting that we were doing this on Valentine’s Day weekend!

 All of these memories realized by undertaking the unenviable task of cleaning out the basement. Well they are carefully boxed now and ready to go to the local self storage facility, but what started as a chore, ended as a wonderful trip back in time.  So go ahead and get organized. Clean out the attic, the basement, and that old junk closet. You never know what memories you might find!

Home Staging and Self-Storage

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Home Staging & Self-Storage
Jerry Brown
www.TheStorageInn.net
2/4/16

Home staging, or the practice of removing personal items and decorating a home for sale to improve its perceived value, is becoming more popular than ever in today’s market. This is where real estate meets interior decoration. “Staging” is a smart way to get the property sold more quickly and at the best possible price.

Most realtors work with one or more home staging firms, but it’s also possible to do the job yourself, especially if you a flair for decor and/or want to save money. Either way, self-storage is going to be essential to the process. De-cluttering is the first, and most important step toward staging a home This means your personal collections, family photos,  and any “unique” furniture has got to go. You can still live in your home during staging, but empty it out as much as possible. This is where self-storage comes into play

Home staging is all about allowing potential buyers to envision the home with their own furniture, family photos, and personal items in each room. Making your home look neutral and spacious to potential buyers is the key. Keeping personal artifacts out of view and minimizing the “lived in look” better allows potential buyers to use their imagination. Make sure everything is clean and fresh, particularly in the kitchen and baths. Plug in air fresheners are a great touch!.

Replacing outdated wall coverings can also be important – replace old paneling or wallpaper with a fresh coat of neutral color paint. This will freshen the rooms, as will sheer curtains that let in as much natural light as possible during open house. Tell a story for the purpose of each room. For example, that spare room you’ve been using for storage, might be staged as a neat home office. Use the remaining furniture to section off wide open spaces – position the couch so its back is to the dining area.

Remember that exterior curb appeal is just as important as the interior, and could make-or-break a home shopper’s first impression of your home. Spruce up your porch and backyard deck, and ensure all landscaping is tidy.

Keep in mind that potential buyers will surely open your closets, so a strategy of stuffing everything you want to hide from other rooms into the closets isn’t going to fly. This is Self-storage homestaging. If you don’t need an item for day-to-day life, store it during this transitional time. the silver lining may be that living in a organized, de-cluttered environment might just inspire you to keep things that way in your new home.