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HOME STAGING

Home Staging Techniques For Quick Real Estate Sales

September 20, 2023

The real estate market is a bustling space teeming with sellers aiming to make quick and profitable deals. However, to attract the right buyer, a house needs to be more than just four walls and a roof; it needs to feel like a home. One of the most effective ways to make your property desirable is through home staging. Home staging not only enhances the visual appeal of your space but also allows potential buyers to envision themselves living in it.

This guide will delve into seven proven home staging techniques that can help your property get snapped up in no time.

1. Curb Appeal Matters

First impressions matter, and the exterior of your house is the first thing potential buyers see. A well-maintained lawn, freshly painted walls, and inviting outdoor lighting can make your home look welcoming even before the buyer sets foot inside.

Companies like Great Colorado Homes emphasize the importance of curb appeal, as it can influence a buyer’s perception of the entire property. Simple steps like repainting the front door, installing new house numbers, or adding some potted plants can go a long way in making your house stand out.

2. Declutter, Declutter, Declutter!

A cluttered home can make the space look smaller and less inviting. Sort through your belongings and remove unnecessary items that can distract potential buyers.

Open spaces allow buyers to visualize their belongings in the home, making it easier for them to connect emotionally with the property. Utilize storage solutions to organize what remains, giving each room a clear function and identity.

3. Fresh Paint And Repairs

Never underestimate the power of a fresh coat of paint. Neutral colors create a sense of unity and can make your home look more spacious. Ensure that you patch up any visible cracks, holes, or dents before painting.

Small repairs like fixing leaky faucets or replacing broken tiles can also make a significant difference. These minor upgrades show buyers that the home has been well-maintained, adding to its market value.

4. Light It Up

A well-lit home is an inviting home. Consider replacing old, dim bulbs with brighter ones to liven up the space. You can also use strategically placed lamps to accentuate key areas and features of your home. Make sure to open the curtains and let natural light flood in during viewings. The brightness can evoke a sense of warmth and coziness that buyers find appealing.

5. Update Your Furniture

Outdated or worn furniture can make your home look less appealing. If your furniture has seen better days, it might be time for an update. You don’t necessarily need to splurge on brand new pieces; even adding new cushions or throws can freshen up the look. For a cohesive design, stick to a particular style or color scheme throughout the house.

6. Add Personal Touches (But Not Too Personal)

Personal touches like artwork or a well-placed book can make a home feel lived-in, but remember to keep it neutral. You want to strike a balance between making the house feel like a home and allowing prospective buyers to imagine their lives in it.

Replace family photos with generic but stylish art pieces to maintain a neutral yet inviting atmosphere.

7. Stage Important Rooms First

If you’re pressed for time or resources, focus on staging the rooms that make the most impact: the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom. These are the spaces where buyers tend to spend the most time and are crucial in forming their overall impression of the property.

Conclusion

Home staging is an investment that pays off when it comes to real estate sales. It’s not just about beautifying your space; it’s about highlighting the features that make your home unique.

By following these seven home staging techniques, you’re not just putting your property on the market; you’re setting the stage for it to be someone’s dream home. So go ahead, roll up those sleeves and let the transformation begin!

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HOME STAGING

Home Staging Tips for Selling Your Home Fast

October 13, 2020

When you’re at the store browsing for different things, do boring packages appeal to you? Of course not! Appealing packages that look like they contain excellent products draw your attention.

This tenet of buyer psychology also applies to people looking to buy a home.

Because of that, it’s essential that you make your home look as inviting as possible to encourage people to buy it. One way to do that is with home staging.

Keep reading to learn about five home staging tips for selling your home.

1. Focus on the Important Rooms

When you first begin the process of staging your home, it can be easy to go overboard. Although you should put a lot of detail into each room, understand that some rooms are more important than others.

Kitchens, living rooms, and master bedrooms are the most important rooms. These spaces will influence a buyer’s decision the most. Make sure that you go above and beyond in these rooms.

2. Remove Personal Items

One of the primary goals of staging a home is to make the buyer be able to visualize themselves living in that space. Charm and style can help you, but make sure to remove any signs that point to the fact that you live in the home.

Make an effort to put photographs of friends or family members, clothes, and toiletries out of sight.

3. Eliminate Clutter

When you want to sell your home, you want it to look as big as possible. Clutter not only makes your home look messy, but it also makes it appear smaller.

Tidy up your home until it looks as minimalistic as possible. You don’t need to get rid of the items forever, but storing them away should help your home sell.

4. Give Your Home a Deep Cleaning

Another staging tip is to clean your home like you’ve never done so before. When staging a home, you want every inch of your house to glisten, shine, and shout cleanliness.

A clean home shows the interested parties that you take the time to maintain the property. Make sure to clean everything, including those chores you always put off doing.

5. Create a Fresh Atmosphere

Aside from cleanliness, you also want your home to feel fresh and inviting. A bowl of fresh fruit on the counter, or a few flowers or plants can help your home feel new and alive.

Make sure to let the light in as well. Nobody wants to buy a home that feels dark and dingy. The right realtor can help you create an inviting atmosphere. Check out Jenjewell.ca to find a reputable real estate agent you can count on.

Try These Home Staging Tips for Selling Your Home

If you’re looking to sell your home, staging can help you do that. By following this guide and these five home staging tips for selling your home, you can be certain that someone will be interested in buying your house in no time.

Do you have any other home staging tips?

Make sure to share them with us in a comment down below.

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5 Things that instantly date your home

September 17, 2018

No one wants a dated home, but unfortunately, we sometimes get so stuck on the same décor that we don’t even realize what other people might perceive when they take a look around. Luckily, some of the things that most obviously and instantly date a home are also in many cases easy to remedy.

The following are some of those elements that can make people feel that your home is outdated at first glance and a few things you can do to alleviate the problem.

1. Window Coverings

Window coverings are one of the most obvious factors that date a room or an entire home. If you have very heavy, ornate panels or valances, or old miniblinds, it can ruin the look of the rest of the room.

If you want to focus on updating one area of your home, start with those window coverings. Choose modern window coverings that are streamlined and chic, and if possible opt for custom blinds because they create a very high-end look.

Choosing the right custom window coverings can even improve the resale value of your home.

2. Overwhelming Prints

Prints in your home décor aren’t inherently bad, and you’ll often see designers integrating prints. However, you might want to take stock of the prints you’re using in your home design elements. If they’re, as an example, large floral prints in shades of pink and green, it might be time for a change.

If you want a timeless, enduring home design style, it’s better to keep things a bit simpler. It not only stands the test of time, but it also feels sleek and luxe.

Rather than going with extreme prints and patterns, you might think about bringing in texture, richness, and depth through the use of different types of materials—such as natural and woven materials.

3. Light Fixtures

Replacing light fixtures can breathe new life into any space. People often think it’s difficult or expensive to replace light fixtures, and in reality, it doesn’t have to be either of those things.

You can choose inexpensive light fixtures in modern finishes, and it can be a DIY project.

4. Carpet

Carpet is a rarity in modern home design. If anywhere you might find some in bedrooms, but beyond that, you’re probably not going to see much of it.

If you have carpet in places like the dining room and living room, you might want to become a weekend warrior and take it out.

You could have some beautiful wood floors hiding under there, and even if you don’t, there are relatively inexpensive laminate options you can install.

Removing old carpet isn’t just good from an aesthetic perspective. It can also make your house cleaner and less prone to trapping allergens.

5. Cabinet Color

Finally, the color of your kitchen and even bathroom cabinets can make your house seem old—maybe even older than it really is. If you have something like cabinets in a golden wood color, you might want to think about taking on a refinishing or repainting project. You don’t have to get all new cabinets because that can be extremely expensive, but a paint job might do a world of good.

If you are considering resale in the near or even distant future, consider these 5 things and create a to-do list to keep your home current and not dated. You will enjoy the space and the future buyers will, too!

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OUR FAVOURITES

10 Most Popular Posts from 2017

January 1, 2018

Rounding up our most popular posts from 2017…

Thank you so much for joining us this year on our design, decorating and home staging adventures – the one year anniversary of this ‘new’ blog is coming up and to celebrate we are doing so with a round up of our most popular posts of the past year. We love and appreciate all of your comments, likes and feedback! We hope that our projects have inspired you in some way and we look forward to sharing even more in this coming year!

Here’s our 10 most popular posts from 2017

10. In July, we joined the $100 room challenge…Kristi designed a homework station just before her children headed back to school. The final results were super cute and we are so happy you liked them, too. Week 4: $100 Room challenge – Homework Station

9. In June, a project we had been working on since February was finally coming to a close. After all of the interior and exterior colour and material selections it was time to style this model townhome. The look was clean and fresh with lots of great textures and neutrals. a mix of modern and industrial – the final results were fabulous. Take the tour…Home Tour: Stittsville Walk

8. Home staging is a MUST (but if you have been reading our blog at all, you already know that). There are some simple ‘props’ that you can use to spruce up the look of your home and make it more attractive. We love to share home staging tips with you! 6 Best Props to Stage Your Home

7. What we are seeing every year is these new ‘hybrid’ styles of interior decor that are emerging each and every year. Scandinavian design has come back into fashion in a huge way but Industrial is still here – so what happened? The birth of Scandi-Industrial and it is a very popular look. Let us explain this ‘new’ look. What is Scandi-Industrial Home Decor Style?

6. Why is Farmhouse style so popular? Another look that was huge in 2017 and continues to be popular is Farmhouse style. We are both big fans but we still are able to put our own spin on the farmhouse look. If you ever wondered why this look was so popular – we did too!

5. We love home decor – it’s our passion but for some they just want a place that looks great and they don’t know quite where to start – that’s where we come in with our tips on what every living room needs….10 Things Every Living Room Needs

4. The kitchen is the heart of any home so it has to look good! We love the classic feel and the versatility of the white shaker kitchen – you can give this staple a farmhouse feel or a contemporary look it all depends on what you pair it with. Why the White Shaker Kitchen will Never be Out!

3. Millennial Pink had a big moment in 2017 and we sure loved it! Maddie certainly did – she certainly embraced the trend in her own home and we had to share some of our favourite rooms and decor pieces that celebrated the year of millennial pink. Millennial Pink Inspiration

2. You know that red and black checkered plaid that everyone seems to be rocking these days? Did you know it is called ‘Buffalo Check’? We love this winter inspired print in clothing but also in the home…make those cold and snowy winter days at home more inviting with this plaid. Decorating with Buffalo Check

and the number one post from 2017….The 8 Biggest Home Staging Mistakes to Avoid …home staging is a MUST (as you all know) but there are times when we can forget the basics of home staging and presentation. If you are selling your home – be sure to avoid these mistakes!

We hope you enjoy the little trip down memory lane with us and we will have even more to share in the up coming year. Cheers!

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HOME STAGING

Staging tips for Selling your Home in the Fall Months

September 19, 2017

It is now mid-September, soon we will have had frost warnings, the leaves on trees are turning colour and falling, and fireplaces will soon find themselves useful. While most of us are excited for this amazing season, people in the real estate are preparing themselves because once the cold sets in, the number of buyers out there will start to sink.

While you still have time to prepare for the cold season, don’t waste these days and take advantage before the winter season sets in. Remember that no one would want to go home shopping when it’s freezing cold and everything is covered in snow!

One of the essential strategies to get a sale before the holidays is home staging, regardless if you’re using the help of a real estate agent or selling the house by yourself.

Here are a few tips to make your home look perfect this fall –

Maintain your yard

Rake leaves, trim bushes, and use seasonal flowers -Keep the house looking fresh! Always remember that the curb appeal is as important as the interior. It’s the first thing that your potential buyers will see. This about an inviting front door vignette with a wreath and maybe some pumpkins or a bench with some pillows.

Control back to school clutter

Back to school season can create clutter in your entry. Make sure to have a place for your backpacks, shoes and other items the kids need to grab before catching the bus. This can even give the new homeowners some great ideas too!

Keep it neat and simple

While Halloween and Thanksgiving are not religious specific, too much decorating can distract buyers. Remember less is more. This can be tough with children so don’t eliminate it completely but keep it subtle and stay away from the gore, keep it cute and have it is specific areas and not every square inch of the house.

Use home decor that takes a cue from nature

Rather than ghosts, scary monsters or turkeys display pumpkins, hay and flowers. Nothing can scare away potential buyers like handmade scarecrows or frighteningly realistic gory Halloween decorations. A simple bowl of fresh apples or mini pumpkins as a dining centerpiece is simple but effective. An empty corner that looks odd can easily be filled with a tall glass vases filled with tall sticks. A door looks more welcoming when it is dressed up a bit too

Turn your fireplace on for showings to set the mood

A little warmth emanating from the fireplace evokes a welcoming atmosphere. A crackling fire says “welcome home”, as well as well-placed candles to complete that warm, snug room. And in cooler months a fireplace will be on the minds of buyers, so make sure they can’t help but notice it!

Add pillows

Use furry throws pillows and texture in your home decor to create a cozy feel. Or, think about adding a splash of colour with pillows in fall inspired colours, warm colours can make any space look and feel inviting. Pillows are inexpensive additions to your home and knowing how to use them will surely bring a big difference.

The cinnamon effect

Remember to use candles, incense and other oils to infuse fall scents, like vanilla or apple cinnamon. No, you don’t need to bake a bunch of sugar cookies before the showing, but investing in a tasteful, subtle scented autumn candle will do just fine in eliciting that cozy feeling buyers want to experience when they walk into their future house.

Some simple fall decor ideas to stage your home for the season:

This wreath from Wayfair is a lovely addition to a front door or a front entry vignette – adding some seasonal colour and texture but still very simple.

Add a simple sign with a big message to your kitchen or fireplace mantle – this handmade sign from Roman Valley Farm is perfect!

An instant fall refresh to your living room with a set of 4 orange pillows – add some the sofa and accent chair (maybe even one on your bed)

Adding a landscape art piece is one of our home staging recommendations – it is calm and soothing and adds decor to the space. This framed country side print from Minted is perfect for a living room or bedroom.

The fall is a beautiful time of year and buyers are still out there looking so be sure to take advantage of nature’s beauty and the feeling of the season to help sell your home!

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HOME DECOR, HOME STYLING, HOME TOUR

Home Tour : Stittsville Walk

July 24, 2017

Stittsville Walk is a community that is currently under construction. I recently sourced and styled the model home just last month. It is located in a great nook of the city and we love the quaint feel of main street mixed with the chic style of the finishes in this model.

Stittsville Walk – Take the Tour:

These newly built townhomes are perfectly located in this village like setting – the exteriors have a timeless colour pallete with a touch of a modern edge, take the tour inside to see the amazing features and finishes of Stittsville Walk.

I wanted the look to appeal to a younger demographic so I opted for some furniture pieces that suited a first time home buyers but also interior finishes that embraced what’s current without being too trendy.

I love a two toned kitchen but I wanted the look to be light an airy – so I stuck with a classic white shaker style cabinet in the main part of the kitchen.

I then decided on a ‘driftwood’ tone for the kitchen island – this cabinet has a grey-ish hue with a visible wood grain. The light fixture adds a bit of an industrial element with the metal ‘pipe’ look and vintage bulbs, along with the grey industrial style stools.

The living room is a blend of soft grey tones, cow hide, reclaimed wood and some knitted textures. I didn’t want to add too many bold colours in the space – so just a pop of bright yellow pillows is all you need! A series of three mirrors with wood frames fill the wall space by the sofa. This living room is cozy but also chic!

This designated dining space suits a mix of modern ad industrial styles. The Eiffel chairs in white echo the white kitchen cabinets – when I design I love to see common threads throughout an open space to make the connections throughout the entire look. These chairs are a classic modern element and I love the contrast with the table. I added some simple small storage with the glass console table and these accessories add some visual interest.

Stittsville Walk – Get the Look:

I found these amazing pieces for great prices…let me show you how to get this look!

I wanted some grey colour on the walls but nothing too deep, too dark or too blue….what did I pick? Benjamin Moore’s Stonington Gray. It is become one of my favourite paint colours to work with …

30″ Bar stools These come in a bunch of colours – neutrals to brights – I opted for the light grey to keep the space looking very light and clean.

This 12 bulb light fixture has a bit of a mid-century modern look but if you change out the bulbs to a vintage bulb (like I did) the look is much more industrial

A pouf is a great alternative for a traditional foot stool, it is also a good seating option if you are in need.

In smaller spaces, it can be challenging to find the right size furniture and we struggled with finding a coffee table so instead we used 2 of these wood accent tables instead.

SHOP THE LOOK…

This cinema light box from amazon is a fun accessory to any space – we love it in the dining room but it would be fun in a den, office, TV space, styled in a bookcase….so many possibilities!

I love the versatility of Eiffel chairs – they add that classic mid-century modern look to any space giving the whole room an updated look. I found these white Eiffel chairs with wood legs on Wayfair.

I added another great light fixture to the space – over the dining room. Because the fixture in the kitchen over the island was so visually interesting I knew the one over the table had to work with the industrial styling of the larger chandelier but it had to be simple. I found this one – on sale at Lowe’s – I love the simplicity of the pendant paired with the pieces in the room, it has a touch of a scandi-industrial look

I love how this model home at Stittsville Walk came together,

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HOME STAGING

5 Easy Fixes to Make your Home ‘Buyer-Ready’

July 18, 2017

A home buyer can be picky so when it comes to selling your home you always want to have your best foot forward and if it is a tough market you really cannot afford to be anything less than showcase perfect!

One of the secrets in catching the eye of potential buyers is to highlight the features of a home that are important to them. Showing buyers that you have what they need, will help sell your home fast and get the best price.

But of course, not every home is perfect. You might not have the best location, neighborhood, space and other factors that are important in choosing a home. But those imperfections, especially the ones you have control over, should not hinder you from having a great showing.

We listed 5 tips that will make your home appeal to a home buyer:

#1 Style according to location advantages:

There is little you can do about your property’s location. Instead of masking location disadvantages with adjectives in your listing, you can factor the location to your marketing plan. Is your address in a hip, urban location? You might want to stage your house in a way that it will appear attractive to young professionals. If your home is located near a high school, designing your home in a way that it will reflect the style that would appeal to a growing family is important. In short, visualize the needs and characteristics of a buyer and set up the property accordingly.

#2 Fix and repair before the showing

Before your first showing, make sure that everything is in working condition. Do you have leaking faucets or clogged pipes? Fix anything and everything that is broken because those become a major turn off. Prospective buyers wouldn’t want to figure out those repair needs on their own and they will just look at the listing down the road instead. If you are working with a realtor, ask them if they have a list of preferred professionals that they could recommend to fix those repairs around the home, or you can check out a recommendation website like Angie’s List

#3 Make scents!

First of all, if there’s unpleasant odor in the property, get to the root of the problem and fix it! No one wants to live in a smelly house. Secondly, don’t overdo it with air fresheners. Most people like the look and freshness of lemons, so a bowl of lemons pierced with a fork will do the trick. Lightly scented candles are good as well; scents like fresh linen or clean laundry are usually safe bets. For cooler months, try baked cookies or even just a bowl of water with cinnamon and sugar in the oven at a low temperature

#4 Sufficient lighting for every room

Buyers find bright rooms really attractive. Draw back the curtains, open the shades, and make use of artificial lighting if you need to.

A tried-and-tested technique to achieve the most balanced room lighting is to place three lighting sources in a triangular configuration. For example: a floor lamp, table lamp and ceiling light fixture are three sources of light in a room. Another tip is to replace dated lighting fixtures; an inexpensive and quick upgrade that can have significant impact on the look of a property. Remember when you are preparing for an open house have all of your lights turned on – the house will look and feel bigger and brighter!

#5 Declutter

When home buyers tour your house, you don’t want them to focus on the clutter. If you have personal belongings on display, like family pictures or collection, or just anything that will distract potential buyers, tuck these away. Think of it as a ‘pre-pack’, you will want to have those items with you at your next home, won’t you? A second benefit to a properly decluttered space is that is makes the place look larger. Bigger is always better for buyers. A bigger space encourages them to imagine how they will add their own personal touch to the property and without your personal belongings; they can start to mentally move in with their things.

Sometimes it’s hard to know where to start when it comes to prepping your home for the resale market. But we hope these 5 steps help you get it ready and sold!

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HOME STAGING

Home staging works !

July 10, 2017

Home staging is a must in any real estate market. We have been staging homes since 2003 and even though decor styles have changed the benefits of home staging have not.

Why have your home staged?

Hot or cool market home staging sets you apart from the competition. You want to stand out from the pack and with home staging you do just that. This is how it works – you have your home professionally staged and then photographed. Your home staging team will know what works on camera and what connects with buyers in your target group – the staging and styling team have those two important factors in mind. Now that your photos are taken and they are now online – that’s really when the viewings start. Buyers these days are looking online first – when they see something they like they then reach out to the agent. Now if your home looks good in photos – there will be lots of interest. Lots of interest means lots of showings which leads to an offer or possibly multiple offers.

Doesn’t a property look bigger when it’s empty?

You would think so but this is not the case. When a house is empty – it is very tough for buyers to visualize just how big the space is. Sure they could come with a tape measure and measure the rooms and measure out their furniture in the space but that’s pretty time consuming. Home staging not only demonstrates the size of the rooms but there is also an emotional connection that buyers get in a staged home. It is depersonalized enough that the buyers don’t feel like they are guests in someone else’s home but it is welcoming enough that buyers can visualize themselves in the space – living day to day but also for gatherings with friends and family.

See the difference home staging makes? These before and after photos are of a home we just staged. We chose furniture, art and accessories in colour tones that would make the space warm and inviting – we arranged the furniture in a functional way that also shows off the space and the decor selection appeals to the buying demographic, too!

Home staging works!

Home staging works because your home stager and your real estate agent are both working together to get your home sold – they are involved in the presentation of the home and the overall marketing of the home. When a property looks good in person and in photos – you will generate lots of interests which leads to showings and offers and that means you don’t have the stress of sitting on the market…Home staging works and is a must in every market!

Home staging is a sales tool to help buyers visualize themselves in the home and making it their own. We love to help real estate agents and their buyers sell their homes quickly, maximize their profit and with limited stress,

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HOME STAGING

Does Home Staging Really Make a Difference?

April 12, 2017

Home Staging ….we have all seen it on the TV shows and heard our realtor friends and family talk about home staging!

What is Home Staging and does it really work?

I’ve been staging homes for for about 10 years, and yes – it really does work!

The concept seems strange and I still have people ask for clarification….”So the furniture that was there is removed and then you move furniture back in?” In a nutshell, yes but there is much more involved than just furniture. Cleaning, de-cluttering, repairs, updates, de-personalizing and then the staging / styling – it’s all a part of the process!

Home Staging is all about the present the home in it’s best light and setting the scene to attract the buyer. Home staging involves a number of steps to get the property looking it’s best and every house has different needs. Many think that a vacant home allows buyers to see how big the space is, how they can use it and visualize how they want to paint, furnish etc…

When we stage homes, we also get some ideas from the realtor about the buying demographic and target group – this really help us find a focus for the decor style, colours and also staging the property with the lifestyle in mind. A young newlywed couple would live differently that a busy family of 4 or 5! So we take that into consideration.

But that’s not the case – an empty home looks cold and uninviting plus it doesn’t present well in photographs, which is how most buyers will see their home for the first time. Buying a home is an emotional experience – the buyers connect with the home and an empty one is just that, empty and you can’t connect with empty!

So this is what Home Staging does…

Home Staging is about setting the scene so buyers can visualize living in their dream home. They can see how you can live in the space. The furniture and styling add warmth and help plant ideas of lifestyle and usability of the space and layout. The proper scale and amount of furniture balance out the room and allow buyers to ‘mentally move-in’.

Can you believe this is the same room?

This before and after is incredible (photos above). We did a few things to make this home look it’s best. For starters, take a look at the drapery. That heavy espresso brown panel drapery was replaced with some much lighter – look at the difference in the room – it looks open, bright and airy! We also moved the fireplace (it was an electrical fireplace, so it could be moved). The original placement made the room look long and skinny (almost like a hallway). By moving the fireplace, we have created two spaces. A living room with fireplace and potentially a wall mount TV and the other end of the room, we staged as a seating area for reading and a small work space.We were careful to pick furniture that was of the correct size and scale. We kept the tones light and airy (see that pop of yellow, a staging favourite). We have some simple accessories that really complete the look and add warmth to the space. The art, pillows, plant…they all make a difference in the presentation.

Home staging sets you apart from the rest.

When your home looks good , buyers (and their agents) take notice! We had a recent property sell in under a week for more than asking (and they weren’t in a multiple offer situation). The agent said to the buyers “give them an offer they can’t refuse, or you will lose this house”. So they did! Good looking properties look great in photos, these photos are seeing online, then the showings start to happen, lots of showing traffic means good (some times many) strong offers and next thing you know – your house is sold.

Home staging is a MUST – Home staging gets properties SOLD!

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HOME STAGING, WE ANSWER WEDNESDAY

Home Staging Advice

March 29, 2017

“I’m in need of some Home Staging Advice. I know I need to stage my home but where do I start and what do I need to do?”

Home Staging Advice is my speciality! I love staging homes and I love helping sellers get their home ready for the resale market. It’s amazing to hear everyone’s Home Staging success stories!

When it comes to home staging every property has different needs but the basics that you need to address are the same. Your relationship with your real estate agent (if you are using one) is also really important. You want to make sure that your agent understands your competition in the market place and that your home is positioned in a competitive way.

My Home Staging Advice is to address theses 7 basics:

CLEAN AND DECLUTTER
MAINTAIN
REPAIR
DE-PERSONALIZE
NEUTRAL
UPDATE
STYLE

Start at the top of this list and work your way down.

Let’s start with Clean and Declutter –

Give the house a really good up and down thorough cleaning. This is a good start. A clean house feels amazing and everyone loves the feeling of a clean house. You can do this yourself or hire a professional. But this is a must! Go through all of your junk – old clothes, old boxes of random things, books and more….unload what you no longer need – this will lighten up the feeling in your space (and your mind, too – clutter is a source of stress), make moving easier and less expensive and the overall look of your home and storage spaces will improve (buyers are looking for storage so you don’t want the closets to be chaotic!)

Maintain

This is important because a maintained house is a house that has been cared for. When a house is cared for buyers sense that and they have some real peace of mind. So start with small things like leaky faucets, loose door knobs, burnt out light bulbs….Go through your house (or ask a close friend or a professional home stager) with a fine tooth comb and tackle those details!

Repair

So this falls under the same umbrella as ‘maintain’ but this is for larger issues like a broken appliance, a cracked floor tile, electrical outlets that don’t work. A home in disrepair tells buyers that this home is a mess and needs attention (and if there is an offer, it won’t be a good one). So be sure to take on those repairs before hitting the real estate market!

De-personalize

By removing your personal items, memorabilia and style from the house – this really allows buyers to ‘mentally move in’. You will be taking your personal items like family photos, religious pieces and collectables with you anyway…so think of this as a pre-pack. You don’t want buyers to feel like visitors during a private viewing or open house, you want them to feel at home.

Neutral

This is closely connected to De-personalizing the space. When we move into our home we get creative with colours, wall paper and other decorative elements but when it comes to home staging you really need to tone that all down and go neutral. Especially on the walls! Paint makes a huge impact on the look (and feel of a house) so a fresh paint job in a neutral tone is a great idea (and a good investment).

Update

Please don’t be thrown off by this….update doesn’t mean renovate. Small updates can make a whole home feel fresh and new again. How many updates and what you update- well that’s a conversation to have with your real estate agent. Remember what we said about being competitive? Your real estate agent can let you know what your competition is offering in the price point, so certain updates may or may not being worth it. Changing up light fixtures can make a huge difference in a home, new hardware in the kitchen and bathrooms, new carpet (or professionally cleaned carpet), stone counter tops….be sure to have a chat with your agent so you are competitive!

Style

This is a the pretty part and it makes a huge difference it how the house present in your photos. A house without any style or decoration just looks sad. You want your buyers to feel happy when they are walking in the property. So proper scale and positioning of furniture is important and then add a little something. For some of my favourite Home Staging props, Click here. But add some accent pillows to the sofa (new ones that you can use at your new place!), a few decor items on coffee tables and/ or fireplace mantle, art and fresh flowers and/ or bowl of fruit. And be sure to always make the bed. You don’t need all new furniture or decorative accents to make your home look it’s best, just follow our home staging advice.

Remember that home buying is an emotional experience so make buyers feel at home and at ease. Let them mentally move-in … Home Staging shows off the potential of the home and helps your property stand out from the rest. A staged home never sits for long!

Good luck,

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