Keeping It Real

Doggie Decorating Do’s and Don’ts: How to make your house, and not your pet, the center of attention. Dogs making a mess in the house can be comical to watch. My dog, Mia, loves to take out every one of her toys, and just like a child, leaves them out for us to pick up. Click on this link to view my dog Mia playing with her toys https://youtu.be/GFYcY2PFj9g Despite the laughs that dogs can bring us, having your house a mess when you have it up for sale, is not the ideal scenario. Many times, people forget they are selling the house, not the people, pets, or possessions inside of it. So, although you love your dog and all of her possessions, the people buying your house may not. In fact, potential buyers may not be dog or cat lovers, but instead could even be allergic to your furry friends. So, in order not to turn off any potential buyers, here are some doggie (and cat and any other mammal or reptile) decorating do’s and don’ts to ensure your house shows to ...

Oftentimes people don’t know where to begin when prepping their home to sell. One of the first steps, and often one of the most difficult, is decluttering and depersonalizing the space we call home. Time spent living in a house brings years of knick knacks, family photos and torn and tattered furniture and fabrics. We often fail to notice the wear and tear our carpet, drapes and bedspreads have taken over the years. The hole in the throw pillow where our golden retriever Sophie pulled out the stuffing or the dip in the sofa where dad has a direct view to the television often goes unnoticed by household members, but focused on by potential buyers. Thus, the first step in preparing a house to sell is to pack up all the family photos, flowered vases and doilies knitted by Aunt Sue. Next, paint the walls a neutral color such as beige, white or the light gray in the bedroom below.   After this, minimize the amount of furniture in the room. Two nightstands, a dresser and ...