Category: Home Staging

Its pretty difficult for one home to stand out from others. In our neighborhood of rustic, mountain cottages paneled walls, worn country furniture and cheap quilted bedspreads abound.

But those houses are also slow to resale.

So if you want a quicker sale pay attention to dcor that attracts buyers.

Its sometimes difficult to create the perfectly inviting atmosphere that will bring people in to stay.

How can you do it?

Decorating magazines stage rooms for photos so the each vignette is beautiful in the eyes of the beholder. Its what sells the magazines and it can sell houses, too.

Each doorway to a room is the photo shot that can attract a buyer.

In your house do they see a bunch of electronics and a tangle of wires when they walk into your family room?

Is there a pile of muddy sneakers in the entry?

Is the kitchen disappearing under a lot of mail, dishes and appliances?

Are the kids rooms weird and scary?

So fix things. If you have no talent for decorating, you know someone who does. Get them to help you.

1.Stage your front yard. Make it look great. Have some flowers or hanging baskets. Does your grass look green? Is you house visible from the street? These things matter. Take care of the details of curb appeal.
2.Make your entry look great. Most entryways can be staged with a table or bench and a nice rug. Put the book bags, briefcases and sneakers away.
3.When you enter a family room or living room its ideal that the first thing the eyes spot is an inviting seating area for 4 people. You also need attractive lighting and end tables. A coffee table is OK if it does not impede traffic through the space. Dont fill the space with too much furniture. People have to have room to walk through and look.
4.Make the kitchen look uncluttered, clean and serene. A small wine rack and one appliance can stay out for showings. Dont leave a lot of stuff on the counters, especially mail. All mail and other valuable stuff needs to be locked away.
5.Make beds the star of all bedrooms. Stage them with beautiful cotton bed linens in light colors and 2 bedside tables with lamps. Put the bed directly across from the door. Other furniture may be unnecessary even in master bedrooms. If you have a big room create a seating area. Dressers may make the room look too crowded.
6.Try to put all clothing in closets instead of dressers. And stage the closets as beautifully as any other rooms. Store anything that does not look neat off site. Buyers look for lots of storage so closets matter. Make them look great and leave nothing on the floor.
7.If your furniture is old and dated you might get some new things. A loveseat and 2 matching chairs look great and you can take them with you. You might even find some things second hand. Skip the big sectionals and flower prints. Solid colors and some interesting throw pillows are easier.
8.Dont confuse buyers about a rooms purpose. For example having a shop area in what should be a bedroom is a big mistake that could cost you cash. Stage eating areas with tables and bedrooms with beds. If your house is for sale you wont have time for hobbies anyway.

Its hard to live in a house thats for sale. Everything has to be perfect and it all has to stay perfect until the house is sold.

Your house will have to look like a magazine or a model home.

Serenity and staging can sell homes faster. Make your place look like a magazine. Your kitchen, family room and master bedroom and bath are especially important. Make sure they look their best.

Memphis Home Staging extraordinaire Melissa Douglass took a few hours off recently to grant me an interview about home staging. Always on the look out for an interesting story, I became intrigued after being introduced to Mrs. Douglass at a local function. Together with her partner, Carmel Hopper, Home Stager Gals was formed nearly four years ago. Both have received accreditation after extensive training from the International Association of Home Staging Professionals. The IAHSP was founded by the famed West Coast Realtor and creator of home staging, Barb Schwarz.
What amazed me the most, other than her complete mastery of the subject, was to learn that ninety three percent of all homes that are staged sell within thirty days! That is an incredible statistic and if your are a real estate agent or a home seller, you are going to want to read of the many benefits that come with having Home Stager Gals expedite your sale. Home staging addresses the look and feel of your home, helping you make the best possible first impression on buyers. Whether you need furniture for a vacant home or need your home staged with existing furniture, they have you covered.

I need to sell my home now! That is a familiar song in many real estate offices. So let me ask you, how long do you want your home to sit vacant while you are living in another part of the country? You probably don’t want to be reminded of the horror stories about vacant homes when the owner is out of state. One month one of vacancy is a long time. First the grass and landscaping starts to look a little rough. Then it becomes obvious that the home is vacant, maybe some local teens decide to take an innocent peek and see? Other than a break in, the worst thing a vacant home can suffer is a broken window. Nothing says “keep looking” like a broken window. It certainly is not going to garner top offers is it?
Have you ever had the experience of walking in the front door of a house and having your nose assaulted by smoke or pet odors? You may think that some air freshener sprayed around while your on the way out the door is going to work just fine. And it probably will for a few minutes, but what is it going to smell like three days later, closed up with all the utilities off? The problem is that when people smell a strong fragrance, they automatically assume that you are trying to hide something. That is not the impression you want to give to prospective buyers. Their imagination is probably far worse than fact.
I asked Mrs. Douglass how Home Stager Gals dealt with the odor issue. “The answer,” she said, “Is to eliminate the odor.” Now that sounds logical I know, but I wasn’t making the connection until she told me about their ability to treat the entire home with the same technology that NASA uses to clean the air on the shuttle missions. It is beyond my capability to describe the science behind this but seeing is believing, or in the case here, smelling! I got the opportunity to use one of these machines in my home and I did not want to give it back. Seriously, I ended up purchasing one for my home. I was that impressed.

I know a few real estate investors and they will tell you that the Memphis real estate market is one of the hottest areas in the nation. They will also tell you that the last thing they want is to have a home sit vacant, simply because furnished homes sell faster than empty houses. Extensive surveys have shown us that buyers typically make a purchase decision within the first ten seconds of viewing a home. That is great but it really doesn’t help you once the mover has packed up all your furniture does it? Home Stager Gals takes care of this problem with a large inventory of furniture and accessories that can be used to stage a vacant house. They deliver and set it up for maximum impact and then after the sale, they come and move it out. It doesn’t get much easier that that. Fortunately, for those of us who aren’t moving we too can get a new look or a makeover on our home that would rival anything you see on cable television.

As a homeowner looking to move to another location there is a lot on your mind about what is going to happen once you get there. With all the pressures of moving, we typically are not in the right frame of mind to step back and take an honest look and ask if our home is ready to show. This is the major benefit that comes with enlisting Home Stager Gals, peace of mind!

copyright 2010 Greg Traver

Work from Home! Is it for me! 3 things to think of!

Many individuals find the thought of being able to work from home most appealing. When one wants to work online from home it offers many opportunities. However there are some things that you really need to think up when you are determining if you want to work online from home. Three points to think of:

Point 1The first thing that you need to consider aside from all of the benefits that work online from home will provide, is are you prepared to go into business for yourself? If you have an established business that you are able to work from home then you are not going to be in the same position as individuals that either have to work online from home for someone else or start their own business from home.

With an established business that you can operate from home you are already assured of having a steady income. However when you are working on line for other parties you may not have the same stability and security that you would have going out to a job. However nowadays there are many companies that are hiring full-time employees and allowing them to work online from home.

Point 2The other thing that you must realize when you work from home is, are you going to be able to stay focused? It is quite easy to be distracted when an individual works online from home by family members and with other distractions.

You want to consider if you are going to have a separate area that you can set up to work online. If your computer is located in your living room for example, this is going to become difficult for you do get yourself into a work mode. You must condition yourself to work online the same as you would if you were going out to a job. Working in your bathrobe has proven to be one of the biggest distraction.

This means setting a certain amount of hours aside that is going to be committed to the work that you are going to be taking on. The one advantage of course is that you can have staggered hours, if the type of work that you are doing online is going to allow that. If it’s a job where you have to keep contact with your employer then you will have to work the hours according to their schedule.

Point 3The other thing you’re going to have to consider is that there is a certain amount of investment involved if you want to work online from home. You are going to need a good computer that is going to allow you to work with the speed that most types of work on the Internet demands. This is probably going to be something that you would have to set aside as your business computer as opposed to your home computer or family computer. You’re going to find that you will have many files and important documents on your computer when you work online from home that you are probably not going to want to run the risk for the rest of the family to be able to tamper with accidentally.

One area to consider is finding a form of a mentor to guide through the stages of learning you may need to go through. Training from someone who has already walked the path of home business is of most importance. There are many mentor programs out there so be sure to go with one that is proven successful and that offers a real flesh & blood person who believes in you and will guide to being accountable and full-filling your work from home goals.

Bathrooms and kitchens sell homes, so staging the bathroom is one of the best ways to get your house sold and off the market. Staging this space does not have to involve spending too much money either. The key phrase to shoot for in preparing your bathroom is, “spa-like atmosphere. You want buyers to peek into any of your bathrooms and have the impression that they are luxurious places to rest. To achieve this look and feel, consider the home staging ideas below and remember to use lots of creativity when staging any room to sell.

Step 1
Paint warmly. When choosing a color, you want to avoid flashy colors because they are not too calming. A spa-like atmosphere involves warm colors. Jewel tones, deep browns, reds and whites will help you relax in your bathroom. Paint is an inexpensive way to drastically change the look and feel of a room.

Step 2
Light up a good smell. Candles in any room offer another sense of rest and relaxation. You want to choose complementary colors of candles that will help make the room appear more cohesive. Set the candles around the bathtub and sink. Candles come in several scents. Make sure to select one that isnt too strong. Something smooth and calming will do the trick.

Step 3
Mix and match soaps and other spa items. Buy an inexpensive wicker basket and put inside a nice selection of soaps, oils, pumice brushes, eye masks, bath pillows, face and foot scrubs. Place the basket on your bathroom counter next to a neatly-folded set of European cotton wash cloths. If you have limited counter space, purchase an inexpensive round table with foldable legs. Drape a white table cloth on it and set the basket and wash cloths on top.

Step 4
Egyptian softness and comfort. Egyptian cotton offers a superb blend of softness, strength and quality for years to come. Consider replacing your towels with Egyptian cotton towels that will match the rest of the bathroom. You want to purchase at least one set of bath towels and hand towels. Purchase a few sets of wash cloths. A few of the wash cloths will go in the wicker basket on the counter and the other towels can go on matching bathroom hardware. Purchase a set of matching bathroom rugs too. And lastly, include a big fluffy Egyptian cotton white robe, as this also adds to the feel of a spa.

Step 5
Bathroom accessories. Include a set of marble, metal or ceramic bathroom accessories for the bathroom. Make sure they match the overall theme and color of the bathroom. Include a toothbrush holder, soap dispenser and dish, cotton ball container and tumbler.

Step 6
Music to the ears. For the ultimate spa-like atmosphere, include relaxing music in the background when potential home buyers come by for a visit. This will surely add to the sense of a relaxing and luxurious spa.

If the bathroom is the next room in your home that needs to be staged for sell, consider the easy do-it yourself home staging ideas above to make it happen. The bathroom spa-like atmosphere ideas above will surely help you ensure a quick sale.

Increasing curb appeal does not always mean adding elements and sometimes necessitates removing them. Take pictures of your house and view them in color then black and white. Doing this helps to see things differently and spot problem areas. An element of home staging is creating curb appeal that makes a home stand out from the rest of the competition.

Step 1
Tackle all of the cleaning projects first, then repairs, and lastly, accessories. In this way you won’t end up working over problem areas and merely cover them up but will actually restore your home to the way it was meant to be.

Step 2
Let’s start at the street and walk in with our guests to see what they see. One of the first things that will catch the eye is a mailbox. If yours is shabby, fix it up. This can be done by simply getting a new one or by painting the old one, adding new house numbers, topping the post with a metal post cap or surrounding it with flowers.

Step 3
If you’re going for quaint, nothing does the trick better than a white picket fence. There are different styles that each have their own unique feel. Taller style fencing can be used to give more privacy in a neighborhood where one is very close to one’s neighbors. Wrought iron gates add majesty and grandeur to larger homes.

Step 4
As you walk up the path, how do you feel? Do you want to continue on or run away? Slate pavers, pebbles, tiles and bricks all make beautiful walkways in a range of prices. Lining your walkway with potted plants or flowers adds life and color. Rake and mow the lawn and clean up any overgrown weeds, etc. Trim dead tree limbs and any branches that could be hazardous to the roof.

Step 5
Gardens and landscaping can contribute greatly to curb appeal. Use plants that require the amount of sunlight and moisture that your yard naturally provides. Mulch and stones can add beautiful texture to your garden. Overflowing flower boxes, placed under windowsills, give a nice cottage feel. Be sure to water! Nothing says “GO AWAY!” better than a bunch of dead plants. If you have a balcony, this is another perfect place to utilize flowers. Have them spilling over the edge for an old Tuscan vibe. Who doesn’t want to live in Italy?

Step 6
As you near the house, do you see dirt and grime? Clean your windows and use a pressure washer on decks, patios and siding. Empty the gutters so the new residents don’t move in to do manual labor. This is just good karma!

Step 7
Don’t be afraid of color. Rich, warm tones invite people in. There is also the belief that painting a house yellow helps it sell but this philosophy has limited application. If your house is white, you might want to use accent colors, but first, consult a professional. You can go very right or very wrong here.

Step 8
Do you have a porch? Hanging wooden shades on either side sets it off as its own room and gives more privacy. Seating contributes to the ambiance and function of this outdoor space. Light your porch, or any front door area, with soft, yellow-white lighting. This romanticizes the home instantly. Lanterns are one of the best ways to do this and they come in all styles from quaint to modern.

Step 9
One of the most important things you can do to increase curb appeal is to make your front door welcoming. Repaint or re-stain it and maybe replace the old hardware with newer, unique pieces. If there is enough money in the bank, you may even consider adding some glasswork to your door.

Step 10
When viewing a house, most people will try to see into the back yard, so include this area in your preparations. Weed and mow the lawn and fix any broken fencing, etc. For a real bang, add some outdoor seating such as a garden bench. This is a beautiful and simple tool in outdoor staging.

In the Evening
For evening curb appeal, turn on that golden light by your front door. String low voltage lights along the driveway, walkway, etc. to lead the eye toward to house. Light your house numbers and make sure they’re clean and on straight. Ensure that any indoor lighting, visible from outside, is contributing to your home’s appeal. Decorative street lamps are a throwback to older times and can be a valuable addition.