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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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HOME STAGING

A Guide to Decorating Your Home for the Housing Market

March 2, 2019

Are you looking to sell your home in the foreseeable future? If so, then it’s time you started taking the current housing market into consideration. Regardless of its location or its size, most of the time, your home will not be able to sell itself, which is why you need to decorate it in a way that appeals to the potential buyers of today.

If you’re not a professional in the field of interior design, then this could prove to be quite a difficult task for you to undertake. Fortunately, you can read below to get a better idea of how you can prep your home for a viewing.

Declutter, but don’t depersonalize

When it comes to decorating your home with the housing market in mind, you must take one all-important factor into consideration: potential buyers need to be able to envisage themselves living there. They need to be able to instantly see themselves and their family spending time together in your living room, and they need to see their children growing up and developing in their individual bedrooms. They’re not going to be able to do this, though, if your home is cluttered or lacking in a personal touch.

There’s a fine line between decluttering and depersonalizing, but you can tow it. To do this, you should get rid of everything that is of no use to anybody — all of those documents that are just lying around on your dining table, for instance — but you shouldn’t get rid of the dining table itself. Potential buyers need things to stimulate their ideas when it comes to making the home their own, and something like a dining table (more to the point, the potential of family dinners) could do just that.

When it comes to personalization specifically, it’s a good idea to leave your family photographs and portraits hanging up on the wall. As long as they aren’t inappropriate, they will prove to potential buyers that yours is a home that has the potential to be lived in.

Go green wherever you can

You should make your home as sustainable and as eco-friendly as you can, as this is a home trend that many of today’s buyers are now looking out for.

There are plenty of ways for you to go green in your home, some of which include:

Having engineered oak flooring fitted — you can find highly-sustainable Kährs flooring at Kensyard.co.uk.

Having solar panels fitted to your roof — the panels will act as an advertisement to passing buyers of the fact that your home utilizes the sun to create its own energy, which can be a money-saving addition in the long run.

Only ever using high appliances with high energy-efficiency ratings — this will help your potential buyers save on their energy bills going forward, which is, in itself, an attraction.

For your home to be able to reach its full potential on the housing market, you need to spruce it up a bit. Taking the above advice will help you to do just that.

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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 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 DECOR, INTERIOR DECORATING TIPS

Paint Colour Concept for the Whole Home

July 13, 2017

When it comes to a paint colour concept you really need to think about the whole home. We just finished meeting with some clients earlier today to put together their paint colour concept – they have hired a painter to start later in the week and during our paint consultation we discussed the idea of a paint colour concept for the whole home – even though they aren’t thinking of paitning the entire home at this stage.

Photo credit : HomeBunch – This mudroom is painted in ‘Stonington Gray’ by Benjamin Moore

What is a paint colour concept?

Basically it is a plan with a series of colours for the whole home. The colours all work together even though they may be different – there is a fluidity to the whole look, so as you walk through the home room by room the colours will work in a cohesive manner.

You may not be ready right now (for a variety of reasons) to paint the entire home now but if you have a plan you can focus on the rooms to paint now and still know what the overall look and feel of the space will be. Be sure to record and file all of the paint info – so brand, name and code – you can refer to it when you are ready to paint the next set of rooms.

What to know when making your paint colour concept?

You really need to understand the lighting in your home. Which rooms have a lot of light (natural or otherwise) and at what time of day. Paint looks different in different lights – natural vs artificial, it also looks different depending on the amount of light and time of day. So we always suggest to clients to paint test swatches on the wall and take a look at them at various points in the day. Be sure you like the colour at all times of day before fully committing.

Our clients wanted a light and airy look with some ‘beachy’ inspiration without going too literal – their furniture is most neutral (think light warm grey sofas and coffee hardwood floors). the home is an older home with original interior doors and baseboards, they wanted to maintain that character but give the home a fresher and more current feel.

Here is the paint colour concept we put together for our clients:

Benjamin Moore ‘Balboa Mist’ OC-27 is perfect for their hallways and guest bedroom – it is a soft and warm grey tone and it is one of our favourites to work with.

Benjamin Moore ‘Stonington Gray’ HC-170 is another favourite of ours – it is a true gray that adds some really pigmentation on the wall without being too deep and it has a great freshness about it too. This is for the dining room (and will be paired with a farmhouse inspired table)

‘Silver Half Dollar’ 2121-40 by Benjamin Moore is a colour that’s really inspired by the beach (not just in name). We chose this for the living room – it is one of the brighter rooms in the house and they wanted a bit more colour in the room that they spend the most time in.

There master bedroom is on the top floor in an attic space – so the sloped ceilings add architectural detail to their master but the ceilings are also a bit lower – so we opted for a light and airy white. This is a clean and calming tone for the room and offers with great contrast to the dark coffee floors plus this means they have a lot of options for accent colours in bedding and more – We selected ‘White Heron’ OC-57 by Benjamin Moore.

The homeowners are happy with some of the existing colours in the home – such as the kitchen and bathrooms (so previous owners must have really focused on where to spend their money when prepping the home for the resale market as the bathrooms and kitchens all had a fresh coat of paint). So we worked with those tones along with their own tastes to create a a whole home paint colour concept.

A paint colour conept is a great way to stay focused on your style and have a designer look in your home…

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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, 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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HOME STAGING, WE ANSWER WEDNESDAY

We Answer Wednesday – 7 Low cost Home Staging Tips

January 9, 2017

we-answer-wednesday-low-cost-home-staging-tips

“We are selling our home and moving to a new city due to a job transfer. I know home staging sets you apart from the competition. We want to sell quickly and make the move to the new city easy. We are on a tight budget, do you have any quick, easy and low budget home staging tips to share?”

You are absolutely right! Home staging sets you apart from the other homes on the market and you want to stand out in the crowd especially if you are in a market with lots of competition. Every style of home can benefit from home staging. Home staging can get you more money and help you sell faster, so the extra work to get the home prepared for the market will be worth it in the end. Less time on the market means you can move forward with your new chapter in life without the extra stress and worry.

There are lots of quick and easy, low cost (and no-cost) staging tips.

Here’s what we suggest:

– Clean.

I’m sure your home is clean but is it spit shine clean? Really get in there and clean that house. Give it a good scrub down. Buyers will notice and the home will feel great. There is nothing like a super clean home. Having said that, pay attention to the scent of the home. You don’t want it to smell like harsh chemicals of bleach – that can be a turn off. Stick with scents like clean laundry, vanilla or cotton.

– Repair.

This may cost a bit, it depends on what needs to be repaired and how handy you are. Any burnt out light bulbs? leaky faucets? cracked tiles? chipped paint? You need to spend a bit of money here to tend to these issues. Has it been a while since you painted the house? You might want to consider a paint job – a fresh paint job goes a long way and make a huge difference! Over look these repairs or just leave it? Buyers will think you maybe left other issues unresolved, bigger issues. If there are too many repairs to pay for and maybe you don’t have the time, consider that when pricing your home with your agent.

– De-clutter.

We all have junk. Since you are moving anyway this is a great opportunity to lose some weight. Go through your stuff and get rid of what you don’t want/need you will be surprised how much you can accumulate in a short period of time. Go through everything – drawers, closets, cabinets etc. Don’t spend the time, money and energy moving to the new place to just to toss it – get rid of it now. The house will feel lighter. Plus when buyers see clutter it is a stresser and it sends a message that there isn’t enough storage (one of the top things buyers are looking for is storage). One area to really pay attention to is above the kitchen cabinets – don’t store anything up there, it’s distracting and looks messy (even decorative items) and bathroom counter tops, we tend to ‘collect’ soap, lotions and more. Clear off surface spaces – kitchen counters, your coffee table, end tables, kitchen table, desk etc…Clear out the clutter!

– Pre-pack and depersonalize.

You know you are moving , so pre-pack certain items that you know are going to come with you. For instance family photos and collections – we don’t want them in the space because they personalize the space – you don’t want buyers to feel like they are visiting, you want them to mentally move in – your memories will block that from happening. Collectibles should also be packed up – again they are personal plus they can clutter up the space depending on the size of the collection. Have a lot of art or books? A few are fine but if you have too many they can add bulk to the room making the space feel cramped, so pre-pack some of those pieces (at least the ones coming with you)

– Let there be light!

Pull back the drapes, clean those windows and be sure to replace burnt out bulbs or up the wattage. Light makes a huge difference in a space. If you have a dark room, add some table or floor lamps. When it is time for your photos, be sure to have your lights on – over head, task lights all of your lights – it looks so much better in photos! Take a look at the two images below – image 1 has all of the lights on – even though they have beautiful natural light streaming in from the patio doors and window. Look how bright the room is. Image 2 – no lights on at all. The light from the window just isn’t enough. Yes, it is a beautiful room but it looks a bit dull without the lights on.

– Curb appeal.

Make sure the exterior is maintained, it’s your home’s first impression. So trim the grass and hedges. Make sure exterior lights are in working order. Is the address plate visible and in good condition? Does the door bell work? Shovel or sweep the porch and walkway/driveway. These details are important.

– Set the scene.

This is the fun part and the creative part. Use magazines as your inspiration -make the bed and make it look inviting like you would see in a chic hotel. Have a great dining room space? Set the table to help buyers visualize entertaining in the space. Add a touch of colour in the kitchen. Some flowers or a fruit bowl on the island or kitchen table make the room look fresh. Take a look at your furniture or better yet get a friend to help – is there too much? Is there flow? You may need to re-arrange some pieces, so try to find a way to create a comfortable set up that encourages conversation but also shows off the space.

Be sure to keep the ‘creative’ stuff last and follow these steps in this order. Remember, home staging isn’t just about fluffing pillows – it’s a step by step process to make the home look it’s best. Buyers are looking for their new home not your old home, so follow these steps and your house will shine!

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HOME STAGING

5 Home Staging Tricks

January 6, 2017

We have some home staging tricks to share with you! Home staging is a MUST in any real estate market! We have been staging homes for the resale (and new home market) for a number of years now and while styles and trends change there are definitely some tried and true home staging tricks that work every time!

Here are 5 Home Staging Tricks that work (every time)!

1. Inviting entry with potted plants or flowers –

This little trick makes everyone feel welcome, it adds a splash of colour and a ‘breath of fresh air’. The front door is the first impression so you want to start off on the right foot! Be sure to maintain these plants/flowers and keep it seasonal for maximum effect.

Photo from entrop.com

2. Extra pillows on the bed and the sofa –

Fluffy pillows have a real warmth to them and they certainly add that element to a living room, family room and bedroom. Throw pillows also allow you to add an extra design touch to a space – a pop of colour and some pattern make a space look instantly fresh and with a designer’s touch.

Photo from 2ladiesandachair.com

3. Clean white towels –

Ever notice that in boutique and luxury hotels you always see these plush, clean white towels and robes? Well, take that cue and stage your bathroom with some fresh and clean pure white towels, buyers will immediately think of luxury, relaxation or a spa experience – play into that feeling and use it to your advantage. This simple addition will make buyers associate that feeling with your bathroom.

Photo from flickr.com

4. Setting the table –

Staging is all about presenting the home in it’s best light, but we want to be sure to make buyers feel like this is their next home not like they are just visiting. By setting the table you are ‘setting the scene’, buyers will be able to better picture themselves hosting a dinner party, entertaining for the holidays or having Sunday family dinner. It’s another emotional connection made with staging that helps the buyers feel more at home.

Photo from rjkhomesolutions.com

5. Add a pop of colour in the kitchen –

The kitchen is one the hot spots when it comes to selling your home. Buyers want a clean and current looking kitchen, and they are willing to pay more for a home that has updated kitchens and bathrooms. But even the most stunning kitchen can look a little flat in the listing photos – try adding a fresh pop of colour, we love a bowl of lemons, yellow always photographs well and it really attracts the eye. But fresh flowers, fruit bowl, a tray with wine, a colourful tea kettle are all great ideas to add just a little accent to the kitchen without distracting or over powering the space.

Photo from ZDesign at Home

We all know that cleaning, decluttering and repairs are needed plus we know that updates in paint, flooring and lighting make great returns and great impressions on buyers. Current finishes in bathrooms and kitchens are also a hot commodity but there are certain staging tricks that really connect with buyers.

I hope these tips help you sell that house quickly and for top dollar!

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