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Use these tips to help you host a barbecue that will be the talk of the summer for both your friends and family.
Do a potluck-style menu
Chances are that your friends and family will ask you what they can bring. Instead of brushing them off and trying to tackle everything yourself, see if they can bring a side. This way you’ll only have to worry about cooking the main course and dessert. Besides, your guests will love having various yummy side dishes to try.
Set the mood with summer jams
Certain songs just scream, “summer!” and will help to keep your guests in a good mood all afternoon. In fact, there are playlists that are designed specifically for summer barbecues. Just try to be mindful of your guests, and keep it appropriate. As long as the songs makes your guests smile and dance, you can rest assured that you’re playing the right type of music.
Break out yard games
As fun as eating is, your party will have to include other activities. Yard games are perfect for all age groups. Backyard activities like horseshoes, corn hole, and Jumbo Jenga® will be a hit for both adults and kids. Not only will fun games entice your guests to stay longer, they’re a great way to get people to mingle.
Keep the decorations simple
It’s not necessary to overdo it with the decorations at a barbecue. Keep it simple with colorful tablecloths and coordinating place settings. If you want to take it a step further, consider stringing a few sets of lights around the trees and setting out Mason jars with tea lights and fresh flowers.
Incorporate a delicious dessert
Regardless of the menu, dessert is always a crowd-pleaser. However, it doesn’t have to be fancy. Since you’ll already have the grill out, consider using it to make dessert, too. Various fruits like peaches, cantaloupe, and watermelon can be grilled to create a delicious treat. Top the fruit with honey, cinnamon, and a dollop of ice cream.
This summer, get creative and throw a laid-back barbecue that is sure to impress your guests.
ENTRYWAY: Establish a landing area for your keys, wallet, purse, and shoes. A console table with a small bowl can hold keys, or a tiny hook in the wall will suffice if the space is small. If you don’t have a coat closet, install coat hooks along one wall and slide a shoe rack underneath it.
KITCHEN: Let the decanting begin! Choose some jars of various sizes to hold grains, nuts, seeds, pasta, and flour. To store smaller amounts, you can save money by soaking off the labels of pasta sauce or pickle jars. This will not only make your pantry look more cohesive but also make it much easier to know what you need at the grocery store to replenish your supplies.
LIVING ROOM: One word: curate. Pretend you are staging your living room as if it were an Airbnb. How do you want guests to feel in the space? What could you get rid of to make the room more livable and inviting? If you’re holding onto knickknacks solely out of guilt, give yourself permission to toss them.
BEDROOM: Are you overwhelmed by the amount of clothing in your closet? Consider a capsule wardrobe of thirty coordinated pieces that will make getting ready for the day much simpler. Try designating a “maybe” bin if you have trouble being decisive. If you don’t miss the items of clothing in the bin after a few days, you know it’s time to donate them.
BATHROOM: Change your habitat instead of your habits. If your dirty clothes always find their way onto the bathroom floor, move your laundry hamper into the bathroom. Do you have half-full bottles of shampoo that you used and didn’t like or face masks gifted to you by well-meaning friends? To paraphrase Elsa from Frozen, “Let them go!”
Think of decluttering as a journey and not a destination. It’s a constant process of assessing your habits and establishing systems, like taking out the trash every Tuesday or hanging up three shirts before going to bed. Instagram is a great resource if you are someone who likes to follow a plan. Search #declutterchallenge for weeklong, monthlong, or even yearlong strategies. Or commit to a “no-buy month” (other than essentials) and get to the root of your motivation to accumulate. Go forth and declutter!
My First Job Responsibility is to show and help the seller Enhance the Buyer Appeal & the Value of their property before it goes on the market … How to “PACKAGE” it for Profit so it sells for more money!
They’re not as hot as other outdoor projects, but these elements are among the most value-added improvements you can make to your home’s exterior. Year after year, new exterior doors, garage doors, siding, and roofing lead the pack in return on investment (ROI). Remember, these improvements don’t have to be strictly utilitarian— they can contribute to updating and upgrading your home’s curb appeal as well. Go for a different color, different material, and a different look, and enhance these updates with new exterior lighting and hardware for maximum impact.
One of the most cost-effective ways to add value, no matter what your plans are for selling your home, are trees. Offering a host of benefits, including improving your ecological footprint, savings on heating and cooling costs, and appreciation year after year, mature trees add beauty and value to your home and to your neighborhood.
In addition, consistently well-maintained landscaping can make a big difference in the way your home looks, without breaking the bank or requiring weekend warrior DIY credentials. Consider a lawn service or the installation of an irrigation system to help your lawn reach its full potential.
Patios and decks are always a popular upgrade, and they generally recoup much of their cost. Take a look at what your local market will bear before deciding on an over-the-top, elaborate patio or deck. In the South, where such spaces are used practically year-round, multiple levels, pergolas, and other bells and whistles may be a major selling point. In the North, they will probably seem like overkill and lose much of their ROI due to increased maintenance costs.
Geography is a major factor in determining the return on investment for a pool. In some markets, and in many luxury properties, a pool may be considered a must-have. In others, it is a liability and an unnecessary expense. In addition, positive ROI on a pool installation is difficult to create, since it’s an expensive upgrade with high ongoing expenses for maintenance and upkeep. A general rule of thumb is not to install a pool unless it’s something you and your family will enjoy, and is something that will enhance your quality of life during the years you are living in your home.
Also called a summer kitchen in some markets, an outdoor kitchen can provide a beautiful setting for outdoor lunches, dinners, and entertaining opportunities. The key to enhancing your ROI with an outdoor kitchen? Scale. While a luxury property might require extreme upgrades, for most homes, an inset grill, stainless steel ice chest and drawers, and sufficient counter space are all that’s required for a functional outdoor kitchen. Add an amply-sized table and chairs with a roof or pergola and you’re ready to party.
Though summer is warm for the majority of the country, the evenings can sometimes turn cooler in some places, especially at the beginning and end of the season. A large firepit or fire bowl with seating makes a perfect place to cozy up for a long evening of marshmallow roasting and storytelling with family and friends. As a bonus, fire features can range from elaborate gas-powered setups to simple, cost-effective DIY projects—meaning they’re a value-added update you can afford no matter your budget.
For many buyers, pets are a major consideration, so projects that appeal to pet parents are particularly popular selling features. These can include:
Since 67 percent of US households own a pet, a marketing plan that includes pets may make your home the top choice for even more buyers in your area.
Especially in a time of economic uncertainty, projects that offer additional financial stability are, perhaps, the best investments of all. If your property includes a carriage house, guest house, pool house, or garage, you may be able to create a desirable rental unit. For convertible spaces in your main home, like an attic or basement, a separate entrance, porch, and outdoor space may create even more impact and marketability. If you don’t want to rent the space out yourself, use it for guests or as an in-law suite now, then market its rental potential when you decide to sell.
Don’t forget to include additional features like outdoor lighting and audio to enhance your updated space. For upgraded landscaping, ensure that you have a plan in place to keep it healthy and optimally maintained, no matter the season.
Your real estate professional has the insights you need to help you determine which outdoor improvement will have the most impact at the closing table. This will depend on a variety of factors, including buyer demand, comparable properties, and market conditions in your area. In addition, your real estate agent or broker will know the best professionals in your area for helping you plan and install your upgraded outdoor spaces.
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It’s important to understand that some items inside and outside your house are part of your home sale. Many of these items are fixtures, meaning they’re physically and permanently attached to your home or property. Remember that you can choose not to include some of these items in the sale of your home. In this situation, you will need to work with the buyer and factor this exclusion into the sales agreement, which a real estate agent can assist with.
In-ground items
Any outdoor features secured into the ground, such as mailboxes, basketball hoops, and firepits, are part of the home sale. This also applies to landscaping elements, such as trees, plants, or shrubs.
Light fixtures
Even if you were the one who installed that expensive chandelier in the dining room, unless you list it as an exclusion in the sales agreement, it needs to stay. Remember, unless you let the buyer know about it, you should not replace a light fixture with a different one. If you want to replace a light fixture, be sure to do so before listing your home.
Mirrors
This determination comes down to an case-by-case basis. If a mirror is hanging on a wall like a painting, you can take it with you. However, if it is bolted to the wall, you’ll need to leave it with the house.
Window treatments, cabinet hardware, and doorknobs
You will be expected to leave behind curtain rods, curtain holdbacks, and blinds because they’re installed and attached to your home. However, you can remove and pack curtains and drapes.
Any hardware on your cabinets and doorknobs must stay in place. If you can’t part with a specific feature you’ve installed, you must get the buyer to agree to let you replace it before moving out. You can also change these items before listing the home.
Smoke detectors
You need to leave both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors behind when selling your home.
Paint
If you have extra paint or wallpaper you’ve used in the home, you might want to leave it behind for the new owners as a courtesy in case they need to perform any repairs or touch-ups.
Items that go
There are also items in your home that are not part of the sale. However, there may be exceptions depending on your specific situation.
Appliances
Most of your appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, and dryers, are not technically part of the sale of your home. However, this can vary from sale to sale, and it is typical for appliances to be left to the new homeowners. If you’re not planning to include appliances in the sale of your home, make sure to include this information in the sales contract.
Built-in appliances, like dishwashers and some microwaves and ovens, are fixtures and are therefore included in the sale. If you’re leaving appliances behind, make sure to also leave any manuals and warranty information.
Hot tubs and above-ground pools
A standalone hot tub or above-ground pool isn’t necessarily part of a home sale. However, you might want to include them anyway due to the expense and difficulty of moving these items.
Furniture
All your indoor and outdoor furniture will come along with you on your move. However, anything built-in, such as shelves, desks, or benches, will need to stay.
If you’re looking for more moving tips, check out these suggestions that can help you save time and money.
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