Retirement is a time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Many retirees choose to move to a new home during this time, whether it’s downsizing to a smaller space or moving closer to family and friends. Adjusting to a new home after retirement can be challenging, but with a few tips and tricks from Northern Lights Home Staging and Design, you can quickly and happily settle into your new space.

Before You Move In

Now is the perfect moment to consider the colors for your new space and how they will harmonize with your belongings. If you are considering repainting, doing so before you unpack can save you significant time and effort. To set yourself on the right track, why not consider a color consultation? Expert guidance on paint colors can make a world of difference. The right colors will seamlessly blend with the existing fixed finishes of your new home to complement your belongings and ensure that your new space becomes a true reflection of your style and personality.

Enlist Help for Unpacking

Unpacking can be a daunting task, especially if you’ve accumulated a lot of belongings over the years. Enlisting the help of family and friends or hiring professional movers can make the process much more manageable. Having a plan for unpacking, such as prioritizing essential items and organizing by room, can also help you feel more in control of the process.

Personalize Your Living Space

Buying new items for your new home can be an exciting and fulfilling experience, allowing you to personalize your living space and make it feel more like your own. When shopping for new items, be sure to read in-depth product reviews from unbiased sources to ensure you’re making a wise investment. Consider investing in items that will improve your quality of life, such as comfortable furniture, high-quality bedding, and kitchen appliances.

If you’re not sure where to start, contact Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. They can help you to make great choices to make your new place feel like home.

Set Up Your Bedroom First

Your bedroom is where you’ll spend a good portion of your time, so it’s essential to set it up first. This will give you a comfortable and familiar place to rest and recharge after a long day. Be sure to prioritize items such as your bed, nightstands, and lamps, and take the time to personalize the space with items that bring you joy.

Investing in high-quality bedding can transform your sleeping experience and make your new home feel more comfortable and inviting. Opt for a two-sided duvet in designs that you can change according to your mood. You can also find high-quality cotton sheets that are soft and breathable.

Make a Few Updates

While you probably don’t want to go into full renovation mode right after moving, you may want to make a few improvements once you’re settled in. Updating window coverings can give a room a fresh, new look while also changing the amount of light in your living space.

You may also want to update a few appliances to ensure they are energy efficient and aesthetically pleasing. Refrigerators can be a big draw on your energy needs, so put that one at the top of your list to consider. Also, upgrading your range hood can decrease the amount of cooking smells that permeate your kitchen and home. If you have an older one, look into upgrading.

Add Some Personal Touches

Incorporating personal touches into your new home can help you feel more connected to the space and make it feel like your own. Displaying family photos, hanging artwork, or showcasing your collection of books are just a few ways to personalize your new home. By incorporating these sentimental items, you can create a warm and inviting space that feels like home.

Protect Your Investment with a Home Warranty

If you’ve recently moved into a new home, it would be wise to consider investing in a home warranty. A home warranty can provide peace of mind and financial protection in case any unexpected repairs are needed on home appliances, systems, or major components.

Unlike homeowner’s insurance, which typically only covers damages caused by natural disasters, a home warranty can cover everyday wear and tear on items such as your refrigerator, air conditioning unit, or plumbing systems. With all the uncertainties that come with moving and homeownership, this deserves a look. A good warranty can provide this extra layer of protection, which is a small price to pay for the potential peace of mind.

Meet Your Neighbors

Meeting your neighbors is an excellent way to start feeling connected to your new community. Take the time to introduce yourself and get to know your neighbors. You can also attend community events or join local clubs or organizations to meet like-minded individuals and become involved in your new community.

Explore Your Surroundings

Exploring the area around your new home is a great way to familiarize yourself with your surroundings and find new places to enjoy. Take a walk through local parks, visit nearby museums, or try new restaurants to get a better understanding of your new location. By taking advantage of unique opportunities in your new community, you can create new experiences and make lasting memories.

Join Community Groups

Joining community groups is an effective way to meet new people, form friendships, and become an active part of your new community. There are several options to choose from, such as fitness groups, book clubs, or volunteer organizations like Rotary, that can help you stay engaged and active during your retirement years. Consider joining one of these groups to expand your social circle and add more joy to your daily life.

Make a Smooth and Enjoyable Transition

Adjusting to a new home after retirement can be challenging, but by following these tips, you can quickly and happily settle into your new space. Setting up your bedroom, adding personal touches, and exploring your new neighborhood are all excellent ways to make the most of your retirement and enjoy your new home.

This article was written by Suzie Wilson of  Happier Home for Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

Need Help Setting Up Your New Home?

Get your home set up to be perfectly aligned with who you are with and Aligned Design consultation.

Learn more about Global style design in my article, Tell Your Story with Global Style Interior Design.  Curious about what Global Style might be right for you? Take the quiz below. Ready to try to get the look in your own home? Try one of my Edesign packages.

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

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Paying for College by Flipping Houses

If you’re an adult looking to head back to school, expect to pay through your nose for it: A college education will set you back anywhere from $10,423 to $39,723 in most places. Flipping houses is a potentially fast, convenient way to save up the money you need for college. An average flip takes 177 days (close to 5 months), according to an ATTOM report, with a typical gross profit of $64,900 – which is enough for your tuition and then some.

If you’re interested in house flipping, Northern Lights Home Staging and Design offers some tips on getting started.

Getting into the right mindset

House flipping takes time, money, and patience. There will be challenges, ranging from absentee contractors to market downturns. It’s important to have a practical, committed mindset if you’re serious about making money from flipping. You’ll have to treat it as an investment, build up your skills, create a reliable team, and focus on growing a business.

Finding fixer-uppers with good potential

To turn a significant profit, you have to be discerning with your fixer-upper. First, consider the property’s location. You want something in a desirable neighborhood with, preferably, rising property values. Ask yourself if you’d want to live there, and why. Second, consider your fixer-upper’s condition. Factor in any repairs or upgrades you’re going to have to make to it.

Getting a mortgage

Purchasing a fixer-upper and upgrading it will require a significant amount of money. Some flippers purchase houses through hard cash while others do it through financing options like loans. Some examples are the FHA, VA Renovation Loan, and HomeStyle Renovation. Non-mortgage options include zero-percent credit cards, personal loans, and a home equity line of credit.

Improvements to attract buyers

Adding functional and aesthetic upgrades to your fixer-upper can make it more attractive to buyers, netting you a bigger profit at the end of the day. Some examples are adding a fresh layer of paint, modifying the washroom, adding smart home accessories, and setting up a security system. Again, it’s important you think about whether any upgrade is worth it. The Balance covers some upgrades that are not worthwhile.

Marketing your property is essential if you want to find buyers. Know your ideal buyers and target your marketing toward them. Also, price your property based on what your buyers can afford. Be sure to feature high-quality photos or videos of the property to give them an idea of the fixer-upper. Working with a good realtor can help raise your property’s profile. You can also conduct social media and other ad campaigns to cast a wider net.

Professional staging can help your property stand out

Staging a property is prepping it to make it look extra pretty for visitors during viewings. To stage a home, you clean, declutter, furnish (or refurnish), change up the lighting, add decoration, and make other changes to make it as attractive as possible. Working with Mary Ann Benoit of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design can be well worth it. She has the experience as well as an eye for what makes a home extra attractive.

You can opt for online education too

Online programs are an option if you’d like to learn while you work on growing your business. Furthermore, online programs are more affordable than in-person learning, and you can typically learn at your own pace. If you’d like to house flip full-time, you could do so while keeping up with your studies. For example, going back to school and earning an online teaching degree can help you obtain a teaching license.

Managing documents for your house-flipping business

You can expect a great deal of paperwork when you get into house flipping. If you’d like to store or share files, PDFs are often the preferred format over Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. This deserves a look if you want an online tool that allows you to convert these types of files to PDFs by simply dragging and dropping them into the tool.

House flipping can be very lucrative, and a lot of fun as well. Like with any other business or side gig, it will take some time for you to see any returns – meaning it could be a while before you have enough for college. For better chances of success, make sure to run the numbers before investing any money into a fixer-upper.

This article was written by Suzie Wilson of  Happier Home for Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

Marketing Your Property for Profit.

After all your hard work, make sure you get the most from your sale with home staging.  I can help you sell fast and for more, wherever you live.

Offer your buyers a great tip on getting their new home set up   with an Aligned Design consultation which combines color and design advice and can even create some custom art and decor for  your new home.

Learn more about Global style design in my article, Tell Your Story with Global Style Interior Design.  Curious about what Global Style might be right for you? Take the quiz below. Ready to try to get the look in your own home? Try one of my Edesign packages.

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

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Prices subject to change without notice.

Examples may contain affiliate links, meaning I may get a small commission for sharing them with you if you buy something, at no additional cost to you.

Have you dreamed how to flip a house and make a profit? The first step is buying a great property with good potential to make a return on your investment. Then it is important to invest wisely in your repairs and upgrades. Finally, prepare the home for sale by having it professionally staged, create great curb appeal, get professional photos and sell it fast and at the high end of the price range for similar homes before you have any price reductions.

Invest Wisely

We have all heard the real estate rule of thumb about buying the worst house in the best neighborhood. That strategy gives you the greatest opportunity to make the most profit, as long as the investment needed to fix it up is less than the value of similar homes in that neighborhood in great shape. Do your research on market values for similar homes to know what you can reasonably list it for. Prices can fluctuate so consider that in your calculations.

Before making upgrades, consider what is typical for similar homes in the area so you get a good return on your investment. You don’t want to invest a lot of money installing granite counter tops, for example, if similar homes nearby have laminate counter tops. Consider what the typical finishes are for counter tops, flooring etc. Look at local listings on Zillow and the details for homes for sale to find out.

Of course, you want your house to stand out and look better than similar homes to get the highest price. Great design and color choices can make all the difference without having to spend more for higher cost materials. Do a consultation with an Interior Designer or color consultant to come up with a great plan before you purchase anything.

List High and Avoid Mistakes

There is a range of prices for similar homes in your market. You want the home to look in great condition so you can get an appraised value at the high end of that range and sell fast so you don’t have any price reductions. Time is the enemy of the house flipper due to holding costs. Price it competitively. Give yourself the best chance for success by using professional home staging and avoiding mistakes many home sellers make that cause a house not to sell quickly.

Connect with Buyers

The key to selling fast and for the highest price is making an emotional connection with buyers so they can envision themselves living in your for-sale home.

Hire a Professional Home Stager

The best way to connect with buyers is to get a consultation with a professional home stager and have them stage it for you. They are experts at decorating a home to highlight its best features, downplay the flaws and connecting with buyers so they can envision living there. They can give you paint color recommendations, stage it to appeal to your target market and give you tips for living in the home if needed while it is for sale. They can often use your existing furnishings and belongings to stage it and save you money on furniture and other rental fees if you plan to live in the home while it is listed. See my article on what to look for to find a great home stager to help you.

Don’t sell it Vacant

If you are not living in the home, you may be tempted to skip the cost of staging and sell it vacant. It is hard for any buyer to make an emotional connection with an empty house. They look a little sad and lonely! Buyers have a hard time visualizing how big the rooms are (they often look smaller with nothing in them to give a sense of scale), if their belongings will fit, how to arrange furniture and the purpose of different rooms. Without furniture and other things in the rooms, there is nothing to focus on except potential flaws. Vacant homes often stay on the market much longer, leading to price reductions.

Stage for your Target Market

Who is your target market? Is it a young family with children that are interested in your location near schools? A single professional? A retired couple? Look at who lives in your current neighborhood or is moving in. Check on Zillow to see how close the house is to different schools and what ratings they have. Stage your house to appeal to that target market. For example, to appeal to a young family with children, at least one bedroom should be decorated as a child’s room. A professional home stager will do this research and stage it to appeal to that market.

Increase Your Selling Price with Color

Before selling, consider your paint colors, inside and out. Did you know that the right paint colors in the right rooms attract buyers and can increase the sales price? The wrong colors can also reduce the price buyers are willing to pay. To find out more, check out my free report,  Top Paint Colors for a Speedy and Profitable Home Sale.

Great exterior colors and a memorable front door color can also make a big difference in helping your house stand out and be memorable with buyers….in a good way!

Get Professional Photos

The first step to getting buyers to look at your property is to outshine the competition online with great photos. Your home stager or realtor can recommend a professional real estate photographer to take photos of your beautifully staged home to attract buyers online.  Check out my tips on how to prepare for your photoshoot.

Get Buyers in the Door with Curb Appeal

Make sure you have great curb appeal with a neat and clean yard, and a welcoming front door.  Your online photos may get buyers to the property, but without great curb appeal they may just drive by and never make it inside. Here is a handy guide on how to increase your curb appeal. A great front door color, beautiful door mat and pots of flowers or outdoor art can make a big difference. Consider highlighting “outdoor living space”, which is a great selling feature to attract younger buyers.

You can do it!

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Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

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