Phiroum Svy, Covington, WA. Residential Homes, Associate Broker

Not sure where to begin when trying to de-clutter and stage a home? Here is my simple breakdown list.

Coat racks should be left empty. I know it isn't practical, but no leaning tower of coats please.

Shoe racks should not be left outside by the front door. Do not leave a "remove your shoes" sign unless the carpet or flooring is brand new or you just had it steamed cleaned. It doesn't make sense to have people remove their shoes if your carpets is just as dirty.

Hide Key Racks. Don't forget to pack away extra copies of all keys.

Remove excess wall clutter. Such as dried flower wreaths and family photos. No bright colors, modern, ethnic, or religious art. Less is more.

A hall table and mirror work well for the entryway. Agent's cards and flyers can go here. A small votive candle may safely be used to warm and scent the entry hallway.

Here are some great events happening at the Covington Library this week.

Searchlight Kid's Book Group
Event Type: Children's Programs NOT Story Times
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Start Time: 1:30 PM
Library: Covington Library
Description: Ages 8 to 12 and their grown-up, younger siblings welcome
Enjoy an active parent-child book discussion. Afternoon snack and juice box provided. Homeschoolers encouraged and new members always welcome...
Age(s): Children & Families
Other: Registration not required.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Covington Library

Study Zone
Event Type: Study Zone (K-12)
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Start Time: 6:30 PM
Library: Covington Library
Description: Grades K-12
Drop-in during scheduled Study Zone hours for free homework help from volunteer tutors.
High School Math on WednesdayEvent Type: Adult Programs s and Thursdays only.
Age(s): Teens, Children & Families

Irish Dancing with Rowan Fae Dance Troupe
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Start Time: 7:00 PM
Library: Covington Library
Description: Rowan Fae will perform to both modern and traditional Celtic tunes on St. Patricks's Day. The dance troupe is Irish Dancers, ages 10 to 18, directed by Jenny Kolln.
Age(s): Adults, Children & Families

Game On!
Event Type: Teen Programs/Games
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Start Time: 4:00 PM
Library: Covington Library
Description: Play videogames at the library! We have a Wii, a PS2, Xbox 360s, GameCubes and tons of great games. Just show up and play. It's free!
Age(s): Teens

Study Zone
Event Type: Study Zone (K-12)
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Start Time: 6:30 PM
Library: Covington Library
Description: Grades K-12
Drop-in during scheduled Study Zone hours for free homework help from volunteer tutors.
High School Math on Wednesdays and Thursdays only.
Age(s): Teens, Children & Families

Study Zone
Event Type: Study Zone (K-12)
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2009
Start Time: 6:30 PM
Library: Covington Library
Description: Grades K-12
Drop-in during scheduled Study Zone hours for free homework help from volunteer tutors.
High School Math on Wednesdays and Thursdays only.
Age(s): Teens, Children & Families

Young Readers Brunch Book Bunch
Event Type: Children's Programs NOT Story Times
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2009
Start Time: 10:00 AM
Library: Covington Library
Description: Grades 1 to 3, adult partner welcome
Covington's kids book group will read together and talk about books while we munch a mid-morning snack! Please bring a brown-bag snack. Our book for March is Age(s): Children & Families
Other: Book group meets monthly. Sponsored by the Friends of the Covington Library.

Talk Time
Event Type: Talk Time
Date: Monday, March 23, 2009
Start Time: 10:30 AM
Library: Covington Library
Description: Free conversation class to improve basic English. Meet people from around the world and learn about American culture.
Age(s): Adults
Other: Registration not required.

• The family room needs to look like a family room if at all possible. If you were using the room for you kid's play area, borrow or rent a sofa and cofee table. Clean off bookshelves, mantles, and coffee table.

Use stacking tables, a trunk, or ottoman as coffe table will work too. Some of my suggestions to set a coffee table are as follows: a teapot, two tea cups/saucers, two napkins; a small bowl of five or so lemons, a vase of fresh flowers, and a pedestal type cake or cookie plate arranged with tea cookies......get the idea?Take away the throw rug under the coffe table unless flooring is hardwood or tile.

If your family room has a fireplace, furniture should be arranged to enjoy the fire, not the TV. If you have a beautiful view, focus on the view. Try to create a conversation area that doesn't focus on the TV.

Entertainment equipment and speakers should be minimized. I never said that staging was practical, but it can be profitable. Remember this while you move the large black speakers to the garage and hiding the remotes under the couch.

The sight of lazy boys are not so appealing to women. Make your home appealing to everyone by moving the recliners to the garage.

Lastly, remove family photos and religious icons.....we don't want to offend anyone. For security reasons, I'd rather no one know who lives in the house. I have showed many homes with family photos still hanging and I just don't understand why some agents don't inform their clients about these things or it could be just stubborn sellers....who knows. Taking the photos away keeps buyers' attention on the home and not on the cute photos on the wall.

"Positive thinking will let you use the abilities,
training and experience you have."

"Positive thinking won't let you do anything but it will
let you do everything better than negative thinking will."

"We all need a daily check up from the neck up
to avoid stinkin' thinkin' which utimately leads
to hardening of the attitudes."

"It's not what happens to you that determines how far you
will go in life; it is how you handle what happens to you."

"You cannot tailor make the situations in life,
but you can tailor make the attitudes to
fit those situations before they arise."

"Of all "attitudes" we can acquire,
surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important
and by far the most life-changing."

"When you choose to be pleasant and positive in the
way you treat others, you have also chosen,
in most cases, how you are going to be treated by others."

"You can disagree without being disagreeable."

"I've got to say "no" to the good so I can say "yes" to the best."

"To respond is postive, to react is negative."

"Attitude" By Zig Zigglar

A dining room must look like dining room to start. If you don't have a table and chairs, a fold out table or patio tables can be disguised with table cloths. No one will know.

Do you have a china cabinet with glass? Take out a significant amount of the items from the cabinet. These pieces can be packed away or used as centerpiecses or decorations around the house. Neat and nice looking should be the end result.

Set the table and let the wood shine through. By the time you finish setting the table, the wood will hardly show. Create a nice floral center piece. As a rule, use silk arrangements younger than 2 years old. All plastic arrangements and greenery should be stored away or thrown away.

Remove any extra chairs or tea carts. Remember that you want to create the impression of more square footage.