Home Staging TNT

Keeping the debate on; whether home staging is an art form or not, one thing is for sure that it needs a certain amount of skill, a little experience and the quest for perfection, just like an artist. As opposed to an art form, home staging in London is done with a fixed and one and only motive, which is the sale of the house, at the quickest time and at the highest price achievable. Hence, it can be defined as the process or the art of decorating and preparing a second hand private home, for its sale in the real estate sector. The technique of home staging in London is to basically change the look of a used house to that of a plush newly furnished house, making it not only attractive but also welcoming.

In the United Kingdom, especially in London, the term -home staging’ is also called property presentation and sometimes as property styling. The other terms are more specific in nature, and are very commercially useful, as they do not leave the reader with a vague term like -home staging’. However, this technique of raising property value by restoring its old charm back by using scientific and professional methods have become very popular in London. As a matter of fact there have been T.V. shows of Ann Maurice, a well known home stylist, called the House Doctor at Five, where the rudimentary steps of home staging in London have been televised.

But this does not mean that staging a property for sale is a new phenomenon. People have always done that. It is a very useful procedure as it gives the seller the confidence to push for the price he is demanding. Beautiful and decorated interiors as well as outdoors always attract people, and the seller can also be confident about his quotation. But it was never considered as a special skill, which can be treated as a full time profession. It was not until the 1990s that home staging in London became a full time profession, where people would hire skilled professionals for upgrading the look of the house, for the purpose of making the sale.

There are some aspects of home staging in London which are very elementary and should not be missed when we present the home to a potential customer. Little negligence can cost more than it may seem to. Incomplete and unclean places always distract people from the whole house, and you may end up losing the client. So, here are very basic tips which one must consider before staging the home for sale.

1. Completion
Take care of all the things that are broken, do the little paint jobs required here and there and make sure that there are no ugly patches left.

2. Cleaning
Every thing should be spick and span. The potential customer should not get grossed out at anything; assume your potential buyer to be a hypochondriac.

3. Kitchen
Keep the kitchen clean and uncluttered. It would be the best that they are left empty and the counters have no stain marks on them.

4. Bathroom
Make sure that it is the cleanest part of the house, and nothing of your personal toiletries is left behind.

5. Furniture
It would be best to remove all the furniture if possible, because it gives the house a spacious look.

5. Plants
Make sure that the plants look fresh and tidy. It would be better to remove them if they are not in good condition.

The basic objective of home staging London is to gather the attention of as many people, by its appearance, so that the home can be sold out as fast as possible at the maximum possible price. If you want to have a fair idea on the entire affair then visit http://emblemfurniture.co.uk

Home staging is also known as property presentation and property styling. It is the art of preparing a private property for sale, making it as appealing as possible to the highest number of potential buyers, with the goal of achieving quicker sales at higher prices. The art is to make a property attractive and welcoming – the sort of place that anyone might want.

Home staging involves looking at the whole property and improving accessories and style. The decor that appeals to the current occupiers may be too quirky for the general population and so will need changing so as to not put people off. People usually decide whether they like a house within the first few seconds, so first impressions matter.

There are many things you can do to home stage a property. Cleaning is really important as a dirty house is very off-putting. A neutral colour scheme on the walls is also good as it allows a buyer to imagine themselves in the house. Neutral colours also reflect light better than dark colours.

Buyers usually don’t want to have to do much wok on a house so getting the garden tidy and any broken things fixed is a good idea. Make sure the lawn is neat and hedges and trees pruned. Gravel driveways should look neat and tidy with any loose gravel brushed away, and if the gravel is getting low it should be topped up.

If your driveway is looking shabby, it might be worth getting some resin bound surfacing. A resin bound driveway or path looks fantastic because it has no loose aggregate and it has the added bonus of being permeable so will avoid puddles building up. This is therefore good for avoiding flooding and can be a positive selling point. You can have it in any colour you want, but try and choose something that will appeal to the next owner of your property.

Having a de-clutter is great. The house will look bigger and you can get rid of things you don’t need at the same time. If you really want to keep your ‘clutter’ you can store it off site until you sell.

The lighting is important. Harsh lights don’t create a cosy mood and so you may need to invest in a few uplights. Storage is also important as the new home owners will want somewhere to put their things.

Any tired and dated items should be revamped – especially in the bathroom and kitchen areas.

Uplifting smells are good when people are coming to see your property. Coffee and fresh bread are always popular. Make sure the house doesn’t smell of the food you had the night before. Fresh flowers also smell great and look welcoming too.

Make sure that at the point you get anyone in to help you that they are reputable. This includes workman and consultants.

Home staging is a worthwhile activity that can make a real difference to how quickly you can sell your house, whether you are trying private house sales or using an agency.

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Many people think that home warranties are exclusive to new homes. This is not accurate, although for many years home warranties were primarily marketed for newly constructed houses. Today, many people are becoming more aware of home warranties for older homes.

Home warranties can either be purchased for the home by the buyer or the seller of the property. A seller usually purchases a home warranty to solidify a sale, increase the saleability and increase the sale price of the home. Buyers usually purchase a home warranty when they buy an older home to cover the cost of any unexpected, major repairs.

Regardless of why you are purchasing a home warranty, it is important to look at the coverage that is offered by the company. Coverage varies from company to company and state to state. When you talk to a home warranty agent, be sure to ask what is and is not covered on your home warranty specifically.

Most home warranties will cover:
Air conditioning system
Built in dishwasher
Built in microwave
Built in trash compactor
Ceiling fans
Central heating unit
Duct work
Electrical systems
Garbage disposal unit
Plumbing systems
Refrigerator
The oven or range
Washer and dryer
Water heater Most of everything else is not covered. This includes:
Outdoor sprinkler systems
Outdoor water systems
Faucet repairs (unless otherwise stated in the policy)
Spas (you can request/add this coverage in some cases)
Pools (you can request/add this coverage in some cases)
Hot tubs (you can request/add this coverage in some cases)
Permit fees
Hauling away debris
Hauling away old appliancesIt is important to remember that some, or all, of these following are not covered on a few select plans, so if you are looking for this coverage, be sure to ask for these items to be included:
Washers (because they are not built in to the home and are not always included with a home.)
Dryers (because they are not built in to the home and are not always included with a home.)
Garbage disposals
Garage door openers
RefrigeratorsThere are also several things that could cause your home warranty to be invalid for a claim, which is another thing you need to check on before you sign on the dotted line and pay for your home warranty. Improper maintenance of the items covered by your home warranty tops the list for reasons your claim may be denied from the warranty company. Code violations and improper installation are also included in reasons why your request for a claim could be denied. It’s important that you check that your appliances are installed correctly and that your home meets the building codes. Before you purchase a home with a home warranty, have an inspection done and be sure to find out if the electrical and plumbing systems are up to code. Unusual wear and tear on an appliance is also a cause for non-allowance of a claim with a home warranty company. It is best that you ask your home warranty agent what will deny coverage for a claim and have that put in writing with your home warranty policy.

Radon is a radioactive, tasteless, odorless, and colorless gas that occurs naturally. It is considered to be hazardous to health because of its radioactivity. This element can accumulate inside structures, particularly in confined spaces, such as basements and attics. Because of its dangerous nature, it is crucial to hire a specialist to take care of this matter before you purchase a home in Arlington real estate.

Levels of radon gas can be reduced by means if mitigation, which is a process that moderates or makes the gas less critical. There are various methods of radon mitigation; some keep the gas from going inside the house, while the other techniques lower the levels once it is inside.

According to the recommendation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, radon mitigation techniques are required to be utilized if the level of the gas in the home reached more than 4 pCi/L or 0.02 working levels (WL).

Some of the most commonly used radon mitigation techniques include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Soil Suction – This technique is carried out by means of extracting radon gas from underneath the house and then venting it out through pipes.

2. Sealing Openings and Cracks – In general, if this method is used alone, it cannot reduce the levels of radon. Sealing is usually utilized to support the other types of methods and make them more efficient, since it only restricts the flow of the radon gas inside a home and lowers the loss of air that has already been conditioned.

3. House Pressurization – This type of mitigation method makes use of a fan to create differences in pressure that assist in preventing the gas from going in the house.

4. Heat Recovery Ventilator or HRV – A method that uses this system increases ventilation by making use of the cooled or heated air being utilized to cool or warm the air entering inside. This heat recovery ventilator system is most efficient when it is utilized to circulate the air in the basement only. The expenses of cooling and heating will most probably increase if this is used.

It is possible that the radon gas in the homes comes from the water supply. If this is the case, you do not need to worry because there are means to fix this problem. There are available treatments that get rid of radon from the water before it goes into the home; such remedies use aeration devices or charcoal filters. The other techniques utilize point-of-use devices in which the gas is eliminated at the valve, so it would not be consumed. However, such tools do not reduce radon in unfiltered valves, such as tubs, laundry areas, and showers. This may possibly make the levels of radon gas remain high in the air inside the house.

If you are purchasing a property among the available Arlington homes for sale, its advisable to get a mitigation contractor to inspect for radon in the home. Once it is detected, as well as how it enters, the contractor will give a recommendation on the radon reduction system that will best suit the house. Installing such systems may cost from $1,000 up to $2,500.

Youve been staging your home for sale for the past few months. Youve done the bathrooms, both in the home and the guest house, replaced old furniture with new, eco-friendly choices and youve even added new cherry wood flooring throughout the whole house. You stand back and look at the final product from the outside of the property and still feel a bit unsatisfied with how it looks. As you stand outside, you realize the outside of the home could also use some updating. It dawns on you; its time to make outdoor improvements.

Believe it or not, the second best return comes from outside the house – landscaping. With an average return rate of 100 percent, fixing up the outdoors can make a big difference in luring in home buyers. Creating an interesting landscape won’t require a huge bundle of cash either. Adding fresh flowers that are bright and beautiful will make a big impact for little money as well. And with a resale rate of 100 percent, that’s a project that would be well worth your effort. The following are handy home staging ideas and tips that will help with landscaping improvements.

Do it Yourself (DIY)

You drive by someone’s house and admire the bustling flowers, trees, or other foliage. You want to know how to make your yard look like this but you don’t have a fortune to spend. Is Hiring a gardener is also out of the question? Here’s how to landscape your front yard for less than $300

Step 1
Plant grass seed in your front yard instead of using sod. This costs far less, about $150 for 6250 square feet, and grass seed will take in a matter of just a few weeks.

Step 2
Edge & Trim: As in, edge and/or trim driveways, around mailboxes, around flower beds, etc. While mowing a lawn to make it look neat is a given basic, the trimming/edging is what gives it that “finished” show room look.

Cost: $0 (this assuming that you have an edgier/trimmer).

Step 3
Add Color: This can be done very inexpensively with cost-effective flowers like annuals and perennials. They usually come in trays of 6 and cost anywhere from $1-$3/per tray.

Add as much yellow as possible. Yellow has been proven through research that it envokes buyers emotions. A study in 2004 reported that 7 out of 10 buyers bought houses that had more yellow colors in the front yard.
Landscape tip: Plant flowers close to the dwelling itself and around the edge of beds that contain shrubs to really make them pop.

Cost: $50. This amount will get you a good many of these gorgeous plants to liven up existing greenery.

Step 4
Mulch: Add fresh mulch to the flowers beds to make them pop and to give it a fresh cut look. Mulch is the icing on the cake and adds the finishing touch for a well manicured yard.

Cost: $125 for about 3,200 square feet.
These are just a few of the many home staging ideas and tips for landscaping improvements that you can apply to your home staging efforts. For more information and tips, visit The Home Staging Channel.