1. Manage your time properly

Start organizing and packing at least one month before the moving day. Start with things that you don’t use daily. Your ski suit, snow boots, winter clothes, most of the books, CD’s and computer games and other things you can do without for a few weeks. Start slowly and dedicate an hour or two every day for packing. The most important step is to go through your stuff and sort it.

2. Be sure to have recycling bins and donation bags and garbage bags

Before you start packing, you need to get rid of things that you don’t need. A good example are clothes that you haven’t worn for the last two years and that are taking up space you could use for new clothing.  This applies to books, toys and home decorations.

3. Throw out the fridge

or at least a lot of it – Food and vitamins are not like good wine. They don’t get better with age!  Go through your pantry, medicine cabinet and vitamins; throw away anything that has expired.  Be sure to check-out the Wisconsin DNR for pharmaceutical disposal guidelines.

4. The “Maybe Box”

Sometimes it’s hard to let go. If you feel conflicted, put it in a “MAYBE box” that you have prepared especially for tough decisions. After a few days, go check in with your “maybe box”. Your clarity will increase and you may see things differently.

5. Use existing containers, suitcases, etc for packing

Take a look at your home. You probably have some plastic containers, suitcases and camping bags that can be used for packing. Sometimes these bags are stored in the attic and they are full of dust; clean them and use them for your move.

6. For the rest of your things rent reusable plastic moving boxes from FROGBOX.  

They are easy to work with. Your belongings won’t get wet while loading/unloading in the rain. They are not only eco-friendly (since they reduce cardboard waste) they are family friendly too- if you by accident have packed your child’s most important stuffed toy… all you have to do is open the lid, take it out and close it back up. (You’d be surprised how often this happens.)

7. Soft Items

Do not pack all your towels in one big box. Use the towels to pad the bottom of each box when packing dishes and other fragile items. Use another towel on top and close the lid.

8. Label Every Box

Don’t label the top – always on the side, so when you stack them on each other you can tell what’s inside. When you rent FROGBOXes you get labels with your order but you can always just flip open the lid to see what’s inside so the contents of you boxes will never be a mystery.

9. Don’t let your junk mail move with you!

Use this as an opportunity to manage your mail with services like DMAchoice, OptOutPrescreen and Catalog Choice.   Feel good about simplifying your life, while saving hundreds of trees each year.

10. When choosing a mover…

make sure they’re licensed and bonded, and have a great reputation. Call or email FROGBOX for a list of trusted Madison area movers.

11. Do it yourself moving

Consider renting the smallest van or truck that your things will fit into.  This will make loading the truck much easier and you’ll save money and fuel.  If you have a small amount to move and don’t own a car it might be a great opportunity to use a car share program like Community Car.  They have some roomy pick-ups and mini vans that are great for moving and FROGBOX customer get 50% off the Community Car registration fee.

12. Set a goal to unpack

Unpack a certain number of boxes each day in your new home. If you rent FROGBOXes you’ll appreciate having a deadline for unpacking your boxes – sometimes a little motivation is healthy!. When you’ve reached your goal, make sure to treat yourself, you deserve it!

Good luck with your move and let us know if we can help!

SOLD in 25 Days!

Congratulations! 802 Bewick Drive sold in 25 days! Gotta love that! Listed for $179,900 and sold for $170,500. Gorgeous updates, completely renovated with a new kitchen, stainless steel appliances. Dining room overlooks huge deck and beautiful yard. One of the best features is a His and Hers garage. The attached one car garage (perhaps this is hers?) is spotless clean with an easy entry to the kitchen. Plus a detached oversized and heated 2 car garage. Not that there aren’t garage loving women out there but I know I like my garage to be attached and certainly don’t need it to be heated because I’m just not hanging out in the garage much. Congratulations to the Seller for doing a fantastic job staging this home; great colors, perfect fitting furniture and no clutter! Combine that with tech savvy Realtors, excellent exposure, marketing and great negotiating skills and we are happy to report another successful sale. 

Need help getting your home sold? Contact Sara Alvarado today, 608.438.5005, sara@thealvaradogroup.com.

This classic four bedroom colonial in the Village of Shorewood Hills SOLD in 4 days! The Sellers put in a lot of time to staging and preparing the home for sale and making sure that when it hit the market it was spotless and in perfect showing condition. There are many people that are always watching the Village of Shorewood Hills to see what home will come up for sale and if it will be a good fit for their family. That is why it was so important for 1215 Wellesley Rd to be ready and priced right because the Sellers wanted an accepted offer in the first 30 days. And they got it!

Sure enough, the buyers that snatched it up had been looking for a long time at every new listing in Shorewood and they didn’t hesitate in submitting an offer and moving quickly on this spacious home. Congratulations to everyone for a smooth and successful transaction.

Market Data Info:
- 4 BR, 3 BA,  2,985 Sq.Ft.
- List Price: $624,900
- List date: 6/9/11
- Sold price: $607,500
- Sold date: 8/15/11

Are you thinking of selling? Contact Sara Alvarado today to talk about the timeline, process and get started on preparing your home for the SOLD sign!

Beautiful end unit condo at Hatchery Hill in Fitchburg is now SOLD! Congratulations to the new Buyers and to the Sellers on a successful and a quick closing. With an accepted offer in the first week of April we were still able to close at the end of the month with less than 30 days! Thanks to Christa Sweeny at River Valley Bank for helping to make it happen.

5460 Coachman Place – Listed for $179,900. 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1760 sq. feet townhouse. Sold in 65 days for $170,700.

Looking for a condo in Fitchburg or somewhere else in the Dane County area? Looking to sell your home or condo? Call our team today! You can meet us all here.

This gorgeous Northlake home in Middleton just sold and we are excited to report another successful and smooth transaction. 5502 Grassland Trail, listed in February for $449,900 had a total of 4 showings and sold after 15 days for $425,000.  

The Sellers did their part in making sure the home was in perfect showing condition. They made necessary repairs, cleaned the carpet, decluttered, packed and stored personal items and made sure they were listing their home to sell it and not just to test the market. There is great power in the intention to move and in a time of fear and uncertainity it is easy for some families to doubt their ability to sell their homes and have everything work out exactly the way it is supposed. This was a great example of the power of intention, positive thinking and a certain amount of calm in what can be an incredibly stressful time.

If you are thinking of selling your home, contact Sara Alvarado to talk about the possibilities, 608.438.5005, sara@thealvaradogroup.com.

Focus on projects that will pay you back

For example, if you’re dealing with hot or cold weather, try to lower heating and cooling bills by properly sealing your home. Look for drafts around windows, doors, and vents,and then use caulk or weather stripping to seal them. It may not be glamorous, but it will pay you back down the road.

Know where to start

If you have never taken on a major project, start with spaces such as the living room, spare bedroom, or the garage — rooms that won’t limit your ability to function, says Oosterhouse. I also recommend working one room at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed with the whole house.

Closet reorganization

Many times, people have maxed out their closet and have no more room to add, let alone organize. That’s when it’s time to evaluate. Donate clothes you no longer wear to a charity, store seasonal attire in a separate location, and try living by the rule for kid’s toys that when a new one comes in the home, an old one has to go out (meaning donate not trash).

Break down a big project

Planning is essential. As Oosterhouse says, if you think you can just start up any big job without a plan, then you are in for a world of frustration. Know your capabilities and limitations. It helps to have a notebook or a binder dedicated for your home where you can keep lists of what you want to do, what you’ve done (include dates), receipts and warranty paperwork along with contact info for your favorite contractors (or check our list here). This is a great asset when you are ready to sell your home too! It will make it easier for your Realtor to properly market the updates and features of your home to potential buyers.

Know where the biggest ROI is

The improvements that will most add to the value of your home include: the kitchen, the master bedroom and bathroom. These can boost your resale value and attract buyers who want a space that’s move-in ready.

These are just some of many great suggestions for tackling home improvement projects. Feel free to contact me for more ideas and please forward this email on to your neighbors and friends that are homeowners too.

Source: Lowe’s Creative Ideas magazine, 2010

JUST SOLD! Congratulations!

Alvarado Real Estate Group congratulates our Seller clients as they close on their Madison home and can settle into their new life across the country with peace of mind. It was a long rocky road to get this home a new happy family. Due to a lack of turnover it was very difficult for appraisers to find good comparables in this stable neighborhood. But with perserverance and a targeted market that loved the wonderful features of this home and community we can celebrate a successful sale! 

12 Quinn Circle sold for $261,000. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a beautifully finished lower level with access to the gorgeous backyard and hot tub, plus an attached two car garage. The Sellers had updated the home and created great energy efficient features (important to today’s buyers) including radiant floor heating along with tearing a wall down that separated the kitchen and living area giving it an open and spacious feel.

Are you thinking of buying or selling? Contact us today to have that important first conversation. It is crucial that you and your agent connect and find a good fit to create a successful transaction.

Show Ready Home

The goal for any home seller is to sell their property quickly, while investing as little as possible in renovations. One of my favorite things is walking through homes with my Seller clients and discovering all the great ways they can increase their home’s appeal and sales price with a limited budget and a little effort. The key is to focus on the prospective buyers experience on their first visit.

Curb appeal

First impressions are everything and this has never been truer than in today’s market. To leave a positive impression on buyers, take care of any exterior maintenance issues before buyers arrive, such as power washing walkways and patios, cleaning your gutters, touching up peeling paint, replacing broken light bulbs, edging and mulching beds, and adding fresh annuals. Some free things you can do include polishing your front door hardware and sweeping away pesky cobwebs. Remember that the buyers might be standing on your front steps for a bit while their Realtor is accessing the key and opening the front door.

Kitchen

Give your kitchen a mini facelift on a budget by repainting your cabinets instead of replacing them. For a more contemporary look, consider a semi-gloss espresso brown. For a more traditional look, opt for a semi-gloss creamy white. Complete the makeover by adding new hardware. Considering professional help? Ask your local painter if they can spray a lacquer finish on your cabinets. This treatment is more expensive than painting the cabinets yourself but the result looks like a factory finish.

Bathroom

Give an outdated bath a pick-me-up by replacing your existing lighting, faucets and hardware with updated styles. Make sure the caulk around bathtubs is fresh, and color coordinate towels, hand soap and shower curtains.

Family room

Make your fireplace or great view the selling feature, not your entertainment center. Chances are, your family room is currently centered around the things you do everyday, such as watching television. Before showing, rearrange your room to showcase the architectural focal point of your family room.

Dining room

Keep the dining room decluttered and streamlined so buyers can imagine how they can enjoy this space with their families. Before showing, make sure to remove any knick-knacks and extraneous items from your china cabinet or sideboard. A rule to follow: pack up any items that are smaller than a softball, such as salt and pepper shakers, wedding cake toppers and small figurines.

Living room

Make sure you are selling your space, not your stuff. Give this space a less-cluttered look by keeping no more than three items per surface. For example, go with a piece of art and a pair of candlesticks on the mantle instead of your favorite collection.

A little bit of work and preparation can go a long way toward selling your home sooner. For more tips and advice, contact the Alvarado Group for a no obligation consultation. And, if you have a friend trying to sell, please feel free to pass this on. Get other home selling tips via Twitter.

2645 East Lawn Court is absolutely the sweetest home & incredibly maintained! Two bedrooms on main floor, hardwood floors, open floor plan from kitchen, eating area to living room & updated bathroom. Kitchen features newer appliances, new flooring, new sink, tiled counters. Lower level finished with amazing detail. Great bonus room! Ceiling fans in almost every room, updated electrical, loads of shelving in basement & garage. Beautiful deck, fenced yard. The Sellers did a fabulous job getting their home ready, keeping it clean and making sure they said yes to all showing requests.

JUST SOLD! Congratulations!

 For more information on selling your home in Madison’s real estate market - contact Sara Alvarado today, 608.438.5005,  sara@thealvaradogroup.com.

Every detail counts!

First impressions are everything. When you are selling your Madison WI home you have control over an important selling factor – condition. Here is a list of important improvements and staging tips that can make a HUGE difference in capturing a buyer’s interest and getting you top dollar! 

Paint

Some homes have too much color or wild colors and need to be neutralized. Some homes are too stark with white walls everywhere. Give rooms some color. Touch up paint. Make the home move in ready.

Light fixtures

Outdated light fixtures give the buyers a perception that the home needs to be updated and create the impression that bigger items like the roof and furnace may also need updating. Spending $50 – $300 updating light fixtures is a smart move.

Kitchen and bathroom hardware

Changing the knobs and handles on cabinets and drawers can make an older kitchen newer without having to replace cabinets.

Clean, Clean, Clean

A deep cleaning will make the home sparkle. Be sure to clean cobwebs in the basement, high ceiling corners and around the mechanical equipment.

Pack and organize

You are moving so don’t wait until the last minute to start packing. If you start moving things to a storage area now (or create an organized space in the basement, garage or storage shed) and de-clutter your home, it will look bigger and feel more spacious to prospective buyers. No one can do this for you so if you are overwhelmed with what to spend time and money on, hire out the repairs and cleaning and spend your time packing and organizing your home.

Remove big pieces of furniture

Again, the goal is to make the home feel bigger and spacious.

Replace Appliances

Buyers see new kitchen appliances and are immediately wowed. It is always nice to have a new water heater, but a new refrigerator and stove is a better buy if you are trying to capture a buyer’s interest.

Landscaping

The curb appeal is a huge aspect to the emotional draw for buyers. There are times a buyer is scheduled to see a home and when they drive up to the showing they decide they don’t even want to go in.

Window coverings

Updating window coverings with simple curtains can warm up the room and soften a vacant home.

New flooring

Sometimes it seems it would be easier to replace the carpeting after you’ve moved out but the initial reaction of old and stained carpet or ancient vinyl flooring can be a big turnoff for buyers. If you can’t replace the carpet at least let the buyers know in writing when they come to the home that you are willing to replace the carpet or get the carpets professionally cleaned  prior to close or provide a credit for new carpet. Changing vinyl flooring in kitchens and bathrooms can make a big difference and is worth looking into.

Staging

Talk to us about help with staging your home using our services or local experts that provide accent pieces, wall hangings and even furniture to dress up your home. Here is a great blog post about Green Designs in helping you sell.

Maintenance checkups

Have the furnace cleaned and checked, the air conditioner, fireplace/chimney and have a plumber come over and repair any leaky faucets or loose toilets (here is a list of our preferred vendors). Providing the potential buyers with these reports and receipts of a well maintained house will go a long way.

It may feel like a lot of work and even a substantial amount of money to prepare your home to sell it. However, if you put your home on the market for $250,000 and you are getting showings but no offers, you are getting feedback from the market. 

The three most important factors in selling your home are:

• Price
• Location
• Condition

Of those three factors, what do you have control over? Price and Condition. So if you aren’t getting any offers you now have a couple of options: one is to lower your price. Most likely your next price adjustment will be a minimum of $5,000. But it may mean changing the price to $240,000 (a $10,000 adjustment). Consider keeping your home at $250,000 and investing $3,000 into improvements and you’ll make more money and your house will sell quicker! 

When you first think about spending $3,000 to sell your house it sounds like a lot doesn’t it? But when you think of lowering the price from $250,000 to $245,000 because you haven’t had any offers and your house has been on the market for 60 days that seems reasonable. 

Of course it is all perception. I challenge you to consider this perception when thinking about properly preparing your home for current market conditions. 

It is never to soon to call Sara Alvarado when you are thinking about selling your home. Call 608.438.5005 or email Sara@TheAlvaradoGroup.com.