Top 5 things to pack when moving to the U.S.A

Moving Day, 1856: "The Last Load: Can you take a few things more?"

1. Bring your “favorite” things
If you are planning to stay more than a year … bring your favorite things with you: books, recipes, paintings, clothes, music, movies and other memorabilia that you like to have around you. Whether you decide to buy or rent a house or an apartment, it will quickly feel like home if you have your ‘stuff’ with you. Sometimes overseas assignments can be extended or the next move is to another country. If you have the things that are important with you then you will be happy to be on the move and quick to settle. Sell everything else!

2. Medical records
Be sure to register with a doctor as soon as you arrive and have your medical insurance in place. The medical records should also include immunizations. This is especially important if you are enrolling students in a school or college as they will not accept students without up to date immunizations. It is also advisable to have a doctor in place before you really need one.

3. Financial records
For a foreigner, getting a credit card or a mortgage in this country was tricky before the global financial crisis. It is handy to have access to your last two tax returns and pay stubs so that you can build a credit history that doesn’t start when you arrive in USA.

4. A sense of humor
This is always a winner as one can always laugh at oneself! Be ready for people to laugh in a theater when no one else laughs or be the only person not laughing and wondering…what is so funny?! After a while you get used to it or something or maybe your sense of humor evolves…it is always fun to hang out with fellow country men for a good laugh! So dust off that sense of humor and lets go.

5. An accepting attitude
Things are different here in America and no one wants to hear that this is not the way things are done back home. Somehow it feels like it will all be the same as we all speak English ... but don’t be fooled. As Winston Churchill said about England and America…two countries divided by a common language.

To Stage, or Not to Stage?

In today’s real estate market, it’s critical that sellers take steps to be as prepared as possible when putting their homes on the market. This means they need to have homes staged so that the property shows at its absolute best.

What is staging? Home staging is the process of preparing a home for sale with special emphasis on presentation and appearance. It is more about the aesthetic than the mechanical. The goal of staging is to present the house in the best possible light to the largest pool of potential purchasers. So why stage your home?

First, a recent Maritz Research study found that 63% of buyers are willing to pay more for move-in ready homes. That means your investment in staging will be a sound one. Staging can accentuate the positive features of a home and accelerate your chances of a prompt and profitable sale. When paired with price and proper marketing, staging can make your home more attractive than its un-staged equivalent.

Second, staging helps your home appeal to the maximum number of potential buyers. A professional stager can help you present a house that is leaner, cleaner and more design-neutral than the home that reflects only your individual preference. Third, staging will generate traffic through your home. A staged home appeals to the potential buyer at the curb and continues throughout. Staged homes photograph and show better than unstaged homes, creating a superior marketing package that allows your home to stand out. And remember, 80% of buyers start their search on the Internet, which means your home’s photographs are critical to the first impression your home makes.

A neutral palate and comfortable furniture arrangement showcase the features of this light-filled and spacious Hinsdale, Illinois, living room: the spectacular picture window, the dramatic ceiling, the fireplace, and gleaming hardwood floors. Property: 824 S. County Line Rd., Hinsdale, IL - Presented by Karen W. Farley, Coldwell Banker

Call Karen Farley for more details on how home staging can and has made all the difference in the selling process.
Look for more tips on staging and selling your home in future posts.