If you’re planning to sell your home soon, you’ve got a lot of tasks to accomplish. Besides getting yourself a real estate agent and determining what price to list at, you’ll also be faced with prepping your home for the market. Part of getting your home staged and ready to be shown is de-cluttering.

Agents and professional home stagers will always recommend that homeowners thoroughly go through their homes and get rid of any clutter that diminishes the appeal of the home. Certainly, de-cluttering is an important part of home staging, but there are a right and a wrong way to go about it.

When it’s time to tackle the de-cluttering job, be sure you avoid the following blunders:

1. Tackling the Whole House at Once

Trying to deal with the entire house at once can make the job seem overwhelming, which can increase the odds of you throwing in the towel early. Besides, trying to do too much all at once will likely result in a sloppy, haphazard job.

Instead, start by focusing on one room at a time, then break that down even further by working on one space at a time, such as the floor, then the desk, then the closet, and so forth. Not only will this allow you to ensure a better job, it will also allow you to see results much more quickly which can encourage you to keep going.

2. Getting Too Emotionally Attached

It’s highly likely that you will come across artifacts that you haven’t seen in a while, particularly those that you have some emotional tie to. For instance, you might find old photos, or artwork that your children made a few years back, or a gift that a far-off relative gave you. Whatever the item might be, try not to get too emotionally attached. Doing so will just end up allowing the clutter to remain where it was.

Don’t get too sentimental. If you’re having a particularly hard time letting go, set these items aside to be dealt with another time and keep forging ahead. Otherwise, set up a box for you to keep items like these in to be stored out of sight.

3. Putting it Off

Procrastinating is not going to get the job done. At some point, it will have to get done, so you might as well roll up your sleeves and get started right away. Pencil in a date and time to de-clutter and stick to it. This is especially important if there is quite a bit of clutter to deal with, in which case you’ll need more time to get it done. Plus, starting early can allow you to do a little at a time so you’re not rushing to beat the clock at the last minute.

4. Forgetting to Label

If you are planning to store boxes of your belongings or are simply getting your things ready for the big move, don’t forget to label these boxes accordingly.

It’s one thing to put things away and out of sight, but how will you know what is in each box when you move them to your new home? Having your boxes labeled properly will not only help you find things much easier, it will also help you identify where each box should be placed once you move into your new house.

5. Starting Without a Plan

De-cluttering might not sound like there’s much planning involved. Just trash what you don’t want and throw the rest into another pile, right? The thing is, you’ll be more likely to wind up just moving your clutter from one spot to another with no real progress being made without a plan in place.

Instead, you should go into the de-cluttering process with a strategy, which includes having more boxes available than simply those for storage or garbage. In addition to these two, you’ll also want to have boxes that are for donations, for keeps, or for “I’m not too sure yet.” This will help you stay much more organized when you’re deciding what to do with the things you come across.

6. Trying to Be Perfect

While your goal should certainly be to eliminate all clutter and attempt to get your home in showing condition, it shouldn’t be to strive for perfection. Trying to achieve perfection will only set you up for disappointment, so don’t try to outdo the impeccably organized closets you might see in home decor magazines. As long as you have a plan for de-cluttering and stick with it, the end result will be enough.

7. Doing it All By Yourself

De-cluttering an entire house will be a big job, especially if you’ve got a lot of stuff and your home is ample in size. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, even if it’s just for a couple of hours here and there. Odds are it will take a lot of time and effort to de-clutter from top to bottom, so the more people you can bring in to help, the better. Just make sure to extend your appreciation by keeping drinks and snacks on hand.

The Bottom Line

De-cluttering isn’t exactly an enjoyable job, but if your home is buried in stuff, it’s a job that will definitely need to get done before your home hits the market. But if you avoid all of these mistakes and go in with a solid plan in place, you should end up with a home that buyers will be impressed with.

If you’ve been keeping up with your favorite programs on HGTV, you’ll likely have noticed quite a few shows dedicated to the successful house flipper. Whether it’s “Flip or Flop,” “Fixer Upper,” or “First Time Flippers,” there’s one common theme throughout each episode aired: a handsome profit.

Sure, some projects are more successful than others (and there are probably a handful of projects that probably didn’t go so well for the investors), but one thing’s for certain: there’s some serious money to be made by fixing and flipping houses, as long as the job is done right.

Obviously, your goal is to make a good profit when you take on a project like this. In order to make that happen, there are a few things you’ll have to take into consideration. Here are a few tips to help you maximize your profits when fixing and flipping houses, whether you’re a newbie or a veteran in this realm.

Buy in the Right Area

You may have found the perfect home at a great price that doesn’t require a ton of in-depth work, but if the area it’s located in is undesirable, move on. The location is the most important factor involved in buying and selling real estate, regardless of whether or not you’re fixing and flipping.

If you want to increase the odds of selling the home in a short time period, you need to make sure that the area is one that buyers would be willing to spend the bucks to live in.

Work With the Right Professionals

Unless you’re a contractor yourself and are planning to do all the improvements on your own, you’ll want to make sure you’ve lined up an experienced and reliable team of professionals to help with your rehab project.

A bad crew will do nothing more than cause undue stress. To avoid that, make sure you’ve teamed up with the right people to get the job done as planned and get it sold and off the market, leaving you with a nice pile of cash when all is said and done.

Don’t Get in Over Your Head

Some rehab projects are simple and only involve a few cosmetic updates. Others, on the other hand, can require extensive renovations that might be too much for you to handle, especially if you’re new at this game.

If you’re just getting started as a fixer-flipper, choose a project that’s not too big. Start with a smaller home that won’t require an exorbitant amount of money to fix. The bigger the property and the more extensive the renovations, the bigger risk you’ll be taking on, which is not how you want to start your fix and flip business.

Be Wary of the Type of Updates Required to Bring the Home Up to Par

Certain updates can add a lot of value to a property compared to the amount of money required to complete the projects. Others, however, do little to boost property value and can end up bringing in a poor ROI when all is said and done. Make sure to look into the types of features and updates buyers in the area are looking for, and always consult with your agent about the types of projects you should take on.

Crunch the Numbers – Backwards

A little arithmetic is warranted when a fix and flip project is on the agenda, and in this case, you’d be working backward with your math. Before taking on a project, be sure to figure out what the actual value of the property would be after all improvements have been made. This number should be a realistic one that accurately reflects the current market in the area and is a figure that you can successfully list the home at after it’s been updated.

Using the price that the home would be able to realistically sell for when it’s renovated, subtract all the costs associated with renovating and selling the home, with another 10% added to that to cover any unforeseen expenses. Then, determine how much of a profit you would be satisfied with, and subtract that number from the figure you’ve got. This should be the highest price you pay for a property.

For instance, let’s say a home’s potential value (after consulting with your agent) is $700,000, and the renovation/selling costs are $100,000. If you want to make a minimum $50,000 profit, you shouldn’t spend any more than $550,000 for the house. Don’t forget to factor in capital gains taxes you’ll likely have to pay on any profits you make.

Don’t Forget About Carrying Costs

You may have calculated how much you’ll have to pay your contractors and real estate agent and factored these figures into your equation, but what about all the money you’ll be spending in carrying costs before the home is sold? Mortgage interest, HOA fees, property taxes, and utility bills are just some of the holding costs you’ll incur, which is why a fix and flip project should be done as quickly as possible to minimize such costs.

Work With an Agent Who is Familiar With the Local Market

Your real estate agent is your close ally in a fix and flip deal. Be sure to choose one who is experienced with the local market and has dealt with fix and flips in the past. Understanding the local market is essential to ensure that a decent profit will be made. Feel free to ask your agent many questions about the process and whether or not the current market will be able to support a profitable project.

The Bottom Line

Fixing and flipping houses is not for the faint of heart, but if you have all your ducks in a row and are ready to make it happen, there’s little reason why you can’t walk away with a handsome check once the job is done. Make sure to team up with the right agent and contractors, crunch the numbers in detail, and pick a neighborhood that buyers will spend the bucks in. With some homework and due diligence, you just might make this a regular occurrence!

Do you ever get uncontrollable cravings for your favorite foods? Well, I do! This week had me craving sushi in a bad way. Luckily, I found Miku Sushi just in the nick of time. Located at 4514 N Lincoln Ave., this charming spot is just south of Lincoln Square. We came in just after they opened at 11 am on a Monday, so the restaurant wasn’t busy at all. We immediately noticed their awesome lunch special. You can choose from the Maki Selection, Sushi Bar Lunch Entree (chef’s selection), or Bento Box. The Maki Selection includes miso soup and your choice of either 2 or 3 maki rolls. The Sushi Bar Lunch Entree is your choice of Sushi Lunch (5 pieces of sushi, spicy tuna maki) or Sushi & Sashimi Lunch (3 pieces of sashimi, 3 pieces of sushi, California maki). Each Bento Box comes with California maki, gyoza, house salad, and your choice of meat (beef, salmon, or chicken teriyaki, or shrimp/veggie tempura). I decided on the Maki special with the Spicy Salmon roll and the Mini Ocean Sundae. The Spicy Salmon is packed with salmon, masago, spicy mayo, red tobiko, scallion, and chili oil. This was very tasty, the salmon was light and fresh and the sauces were not overpowering. The Ocean Sundae has shrimp tempura, cream cheese, avocado, red tobiko, sriracha, scallion, tempura crumbs, wasabi mayo, and sweet soy sauce. This was my favorite roll! The flavors were outstanding. The combination of the fried shrimp with the deliciously rich cream cheese and avocado was so satisfying. The wasabi mayo was wonderful as well. My mom ordered the Shrimp & Veggie Tempura Bento Box. The tempura was really good- sometimes I think the breading is much too heavy and it takes away from the flavor of the meat/veggies. One of the vegetables was sweet potato, which I thought was so unique. It was very tasty! I also loved the dressing on the house salad.

Miku Sushi is open Mondays through Thursdays from 11 am to 10 pm, Fridays and Saturdays  from 11 am to 11 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 10 pm. Their lunch special is from 11 am to 4 pm daily. All of their Lincoln Square Classic Maki and Traditional Maki are half price when you order before 6 pm (dine-in customers only). Find more information about this delightful sushi spot here.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

Moving is a huge endeavor. Just think about your life’s worth of belongings having to be carted from one house to another, and depending on how far you’re moving or how much stuff you’ve accumulated over the years, the job can be an even bigger one.

But before you make the big move, there’s a lot of preparation that needs to go into it. You can’t just call a mover and throw all of your stuff in the back of the truck and hope for the best. A streamlined, stress-free move is what you are aiming for, but you’re not going to get that if you’re not properly prepared before moving day.

If you want things to be as hassle-free as possible when it’s finally time to say goodbye to your old home and hello to your new abode, there are a few things you should do first, including the following.

1. Give the House a Good Scrub-Down

Sellers should typically leave their old homes in “broom-swept” condition, but it’s likely that more cleaning will be required. Even if there are no dust bunnies left behind, you’ll still probably want to mop the floors, clean the bathrooms, wipe down the sinks, clean inside the kitchen cabinets, and polish any other surfaces before you move in.

Cleaning without any furniture and accessories around is much easier. If this isn’t the type of job that excites you, hire a cleaning crew to get your home spic and span before you show up with all of your belongings.

2. Clean the Ducts

You never know when the ducts in the house were last cleaned, and a lot of dust and debris can accumulate in these hidden areas over time, which will wind up circulating all over the home. In order to ensure good air quality in your new home, hire a duct cleaning company to clean your air ducts before you spend your first night there.

3. Tackle Repairs

It’s much easier to make any necessary improvements to your new home when it’s empty as opposed to when it’s been filled to the brim with your things. Any changes that need to be done to the place should ideally be done before you settle in. Whether you’re painting the walls, installing new light fixtures, or getting rid of that unsightly popcorn ceiling, such work can make a mess. Before you haul all of your stuff in, make sure to tackle any updates or repairs beforehand.

4. Call the Utility Company

The sellers of the home you just bought obviously had electricity and running water, but they’re not going to continue paying those bills just so you can have these modern-day perks. Instead, you’ll have to call the utility company yourself and set up your electricity, gas, and water in your own name.

While you’re at it, you’ll also want to set up cable, internet, home phone, and anything else that you need to operate your home and make it comfortable.

5. Establish a Blueprint of How You’ll Arrange Your Furniture

If you already have furniture that you’ll be moving from your old home, try to come up with a layout of how you’ll arrange it in your new place. It would be a lot easier to have the movers set the furniture down in the exact spot that you want it in rather than have to shuffle it around after the fact.

6. Change the Locks

On closing day, you’ll be given a set of keys to your new home. However, there’s always a chance that another set might still exist. Rather than taking the chance of having keys to your house in someone else’s hands, consider changing the locks before you move in for added security.

7. Change the Alarm Code

If there is already an alarm system installed in the home and you will be keeping the same monitoring company, change the codes and put the account in your name.

8. Book Your Movers

Unless you’re renting a big truck and moving all your stuff on your own, you’ll want to book a moving company well in advance of moving day. These professionals book up quickly, so if you want to make sure you have some help the day you need it, you’d be well-advised to pencil in a date and time with your moving company of choice.

The Bottom Line

There’s definitely a lot of work to be done before the big day. Moving is already a labor-intensive project, but the steps that you take beforehand can make the process a lot easier and more streamlined. Don’t skimp on the pre-moving day preparations in order to keep things more simplified when it’s finally time to move into your new home.