5 Ways to Bless Your New Home

October 19, 2022/in Organization /by Cara Chatellier

Whether you are about to move into a new home, recently moved, or have lived somewhere for a long time, a home blessing can bring positive energy into your space. Though most religions have some form of a home blessing, there are spiritual rituals that can serve the same purpose without the need for prayer or theology. By setting intentions for each room, you can help yourself better organize your life, avoid stress, and prevent feelings of confusion or distraction. Here are some tips to bless your home and help you make the most of your new space!

Declutter

Cleaning up your space is an essential first step in blessing a home. If you have not yet moved in and the space is empty- that is even better! Having an open space makes it easy for you to get familiar with every room in the house and its potential uses. Many people choose to burn sage at this point, as it is thought to clear out the energy of the previous owners and make room for you to set new intentions.

Look at a Floorplan

One of the main aspects of blessing a home is for the owner to familiarize themselves with all the space available to them and make the best use of it. It can be hard to reset the purposes of each room if they are already decorated or cluttered, so looking at a floor plan can help you think logically about the best way to use your space. You can even print it out and write down the ideal purpose of each room, including what it needs to contain and what type of energy you would like it to elicit. This may also be a good time to think about rearranging your furniture and implementing some feng shui!

Invite Friends or Family

Bringing loved ones to perform a home blessing with you can further solidify your good intentions for the space and the times you hope to share within it. It is also a spectacular excuse to show off your new home! You may consider asking your loved ones to say a few words about their hopes for your time in the home and what it will bring to you.

Set intentions for each room

Designating a purpose for each room ensures that you will make the most of your home and spend your time there comfortably and successfully. Oftentimes, homeowners will light a pink candle during this stage, as pink is thought to bring the energy of love and kindness. You may choose to walk into each room with the candle and state your intentions for them aloud. For instance: “May this dining room be a place to celebrate with loved ones, enjoy homecooked meals, and come together as a family.” If you work from home, this step can be especially beneficial to mentally separate your office space from the spaces in which you relax, eat, or sleep.

Personalize your Home Blessing

After you have set the intentions of each room, many sources say that you should open all east-facing doors and windows to invite in the energy of the sun! If that doesn’t work for you, maybe you will choose to sit down for a meal and share all of the things you hope to do and accomplish while you live in the home. If you are religious, look into the specific rituals that your religion uses for a home blessing and try to incorporate them into this process. No matter how you perform your home blessing, the most important thing is to take time to appreciate the space that you have and open it up to positive energy.

At the end of the day, your home is your sanctuary and you should feel happy and calm when you are there. Contact me today if you have questions or would like to start the process of buying or selling a house!

Spring Cleaning Tips to Declutter Your Space and Mind

April 21, 2021/2 Comments/in Housing, Organization /by Cara Chatellier

Spring is in full swing which brings about a sense of change, renewal, and anticipation for a season of warmth, togetherness, and sunshine. Spring leaves the winter season behind allowing us to pack up our snow gear and dreary decor replacing it with bright, happy, and welcoming designs in our home. There is just something so refreshing about annual spring cleaning that resets our minds and our homes for the better. Allow decluttering to set the tone for the whole season this year.

Here are some of my favorite spring cleaning tips to rid yourself of the clutter and ease into spring.

Plan it out

Every successful event begins with proper planning. The same is true when it comes to the upkeep of your home. Before you begin spring cleaning, which may feel like an overwhelming and mundane task, create a checklist for yourself. Consider organizing your list by room and make note of the things you need to clean, update and get rid of. As you go, your list may change slightly based on what you decide to tackle. To stay extra organized add dates you plan to take care of each space on the list. If you live with others make it a group effort and assign tasks based on abilities and specific needs. The more organized you are, the easier the tasks will become. Plus, there is just something so rewarding about checking tasks off of your list as you complete them.

Don’t forget the windows and walls

During our normal cleaning time we are quick to mop the kitchen or vacuum the upstairs rugs, but what about cleaning the walls and windows? These simple tasks are often forgotten amongst the list of necessary tasks on our weekly checklists. Spring cleaning is the perfect time to tackle these tasks. When creating your checklist by room include wall and window cleanings as well. Don’t forget the baseboards, trim, and window sills. When cleaning the windows ensure you are spraying down both the interior and exterior glass and panels and deep cleaning the screens. When cleaning the walls make sure to use a cleaner and cloth that won’t affect your wall paint, wallpaper, or any particular wall decor. Window and wall cleanings should be done, at least, every few months so it’s a perfect seasonal chore to check off on your list.

Pay special attention to rooms that need some extra love

When’s the last time you deep cleaned your laundry room? Or even your washer and dryer for that matter? Spring cleaning requires an unconventional approach to your to-do list. This season focus your efforts on rooms that haven’t been cleaned from the ceiling to the floor.

Some must-clean areas include:

Laundry room
Pantry
Mudroom
Porch or patio area
Garage
Bonus room
Guest bedroom and bath
Basement
Outdoor workspace or shed
Storage room

Replace the staple pieces

Now is the perfect time to go out with the old and in with the new. Replace things like shower curtains, entryway mats, outdoor mats, tablecloths, placemats, bathroom towels and bathroom rugs. These items are typically in high-traffic areas and wear down more quickly than other must-have items in your home. Aside from the cleaning aspect of, well, spring cleaning, it’s also a nice time to create a fully refreshed look in your space.

Here are some of my favorite ways to refresh spaces in your home:

Change out darker and heavier curtains for light and airy.
Opt for floral or pastel-colored throws in your living room in place of heavy winter blanket options.
Add vases of fresh, in-season flowers to focal tables throughout your home.
Replace any winter-themed decorative items for one that match the season.
Swap out winter photos with some of your favorite memories from springtime past.

Reorganize your junk drawer

Yes, even the junk drawer can have junk in it that you no longer need. Almost everyone has that one drawer or space in their house where they keep random junk (think: pens, notebooks, batteries, hand sanitizer, tape, flashlights) that is easily accessible when needed. Take time each season to dump out the junk in your drawer and toss items you no longer need. Make sure the pens still work and the batteries are within their use-by date. Consider adding a drawer organizer in your drawer to keep the space more organized year around. You may be surprised by how much you toss out.

Spring cleaning is a wonderful and fulfilling opportunity to refresh our living space. Take time to create a curated list of must-dos this season and begin with top priority items. Once you start checking off your list you will be filled with a sense of accomplishment and pride in your work. The bonus? Your space will feel and tidy, ready to take on all the events of the current season.

Buying Real Estate for Senior Citizens

October 2, 2019/in Community, For Sale, Housing /by Maura Allard

Buying or selling a residence at any stage of life can be both exciting – and daunting. As we get older, there are more residence types to consider, finite resources to work with, and often emotional hurdles to overcome.

As much as I love working with people of all ages, there is something special about working with seniors!

Whether you want to downsize, head south, or move into a retirement community, I am trained to help. I hold the Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) designation and can help with selling, buying, relocating, or refinancing residential or investment properties.

I also belong to the National Association of Senior Advocates, a network for professionals offering unbiased advice and advocacy for seniors.

I’ll sit down with you to discuss your needs, outline your options and help you determine the best option for you. I’m happy to include your family if you would like. Then, working within the parameters you provide, I can locate a property that fits your needs.

When needed, I can leverage my network of experts, including home inspectors, movers, real estate and elder lawyers, and CPAs, to ensure that the purchase of your new residence, and your move, proceed smoothly.

Get in touch by filling out the below form, calling me directly (978) 835-8954, or emailing me at [email protected].