All I did was...Home Staging Success Stories

Farm living is the life for me, land spreading out as far as I can see....Staging in the countryside!

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:57:39 -0500

Don't blame me if you can't get those lyrics out of your head after you see the house I staged in the country. When I pulled up the winding lane to the perfect country home, I couldn't help but start to hum the tune from that long ago show. I am a city girl through and through but I can tell you that once I staged this beauty I could see myself living here. Some lucky family will buy this home and will have found their own little piece of heaven on earth. Nothing to do but move right in and enjoy the horses, the indoor pool & sauna or relax in the spacious master and ensuite. Not to mention the lifestyle of horses in the country to ride along a winding trail.

All I did was highlight the existing focal points to draw attention to the lifestyle moment you could enjoy living in this property perched atop a ski hill looking out as far as the eye could see.

Watch the video and feel yourself relax, let the stress of the city melt away.........at 5833 Line 5 North, Moostone.

Winner of the Trailblazer Company of the Year Award 2009

What do Cheryl Tiegs, a Rolls Royce and City TV have to do with Staging a home?

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:59:56 -0500

United Way's 50th Anniversary Estate on the Bay Designer Showcase Home has wrapped up with the gala being held on a star lit night on Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie. Michelle Finnamore of Advantage Staging was among 10 designers that were asked to redesign the 10,000 sq. ft. lakeside home to raise funds for the United Way.

It was a privilege to be part of a project that brought together the talents of many designers for a good cause that benefitted the community in a far reaching way.

Cheryl Tiegs was in attendance as the rep for Cambria Quartz which was used in the kitchen.

It turns out that we were both involved with the Live Green, Live Smart green renovation of a 50's ranch bungalow in Minnesota last year. The ranch bungalow is the first home in the world to be renovated to a Platium level of LEEDS and exceed the requirements by 17%.

I always say......it is a small world isn't it?

Kevin Frankish, host of Breakfast Television and Mary Dobson, feature designer on Cityline were our chauffeurs for the evening. Mary designed the laundry room and garage space which will be featured on Cityline October 27th.

My neighbour and good friend John Elms of Ultimate Car Rental

supplied a classic Rolls Royce for the evening as well. Along with

a few of my favourite cars like a '67 Corvette, a Maseratti and a classic

Pontiac Judge.

Here are a few of the images of the grounds that I staged to highlight the focal points of the property.

Bradford Greenhouses supplied the large urns with fall florals for the front

entrance.

UCA Branding installed window film to the cabana sliding glass doors to highlight the bar area.

Martin House Art provided 5 pieces of exterior artwork made from 65% post consumer recycled steel.

Iris in the garden was beautiful to see in the rising morning sun.

The lime green bench brought a smile to everyone when they walked up the path to the front door.

The eliptical steel ball was created specifically for the top of the 55 foot boat slip.

Update on United Way Designer Showcase Home - Estate on the Bay Tour

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:20:39 -0500

Michelle Finnamore of Advantage Staging has been busy along with 10 other designers at the fabulous Estate on the Bay Designer showhome makeover for the upcoming United Way 50th Anniversary open house tour.

I chose to stage the exterior grounds including the front door area, the cabana, the top of the 55 foot boat slip and the fish pond. It has been a pleasure working with the many suppliers who have graciously contributed to the fund raising efforts for the United Way. Wander through the home and grounds and see the lifestyle of lakeside estate living first hand.

For ticket information and dates and times in September please visit estateonthebay.com

I would like to thank the following suppliers for their contributions to my design concept-

Martin House Art - exterior Artwork and mailbox at front door

Hiltz Marble & Granite - bar top on bar in the cabana

UCA Branding - glass door art and exterior signage

Bradford Greenhouses - urns and florals at front door

Nadia Painting. bar base in cabana

Ponds By Design - fish pond and water garden

All I did was....take the RE/MAX Premier office lobby from the doldrums to welcome in!

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:22:00 -0500

In this example I would like to show the importance to Realty companies of their lobby reception area to the public. Whether it is a potential home buyer or an agent looking to join the sales team, first impressions count.

Gabe Bianchi of RE/MAX Premier opened the new location at 9100 Jane Street in Vaughan situated beside the Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre . His concept for the new building was to create a main street atmosphere within the building. Two mortgage brokers, two lawyers, a home staging company amongst others are right in the building to serve the agents needs and to provide immediate answers to the buyers questions.

Part of the vision was to have the lobby staged by Advantage Staging. My suggestion was to change the look of the lobby every three months. Easy Decor rental furniture has provided the furniture for the first vignette. I chose warm coloured, abstract artwork from a local art supplier and the props and accessories are from my rental inventory. Every three months the look will change to keep interest high and create a positive energy in the building. Now the agents are looking forward to meeting their clients at the office as they have a story to tell that is unique to their location. And who wouldn't want that Advantage?

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Winner of the Trailblazer of the Year Award 2009

All I did was...tidy up and rearrange the furniture, who knew it would look so good for so little!

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:13:36 -0500

In this example of home staging I would like to show Realtors and home owners the value in the buyers perception of a property when you take the time to tidy up and create a home that is ready to be shown.

Buyers spend less than 5 minutes viewing your home so it is wise to paint the picture for them to see how they would live in your home. It is in your best interest as a seller to present your home as "move in ready".

65% of buyers have stated that they will pay more for a move in ready home.

All I did in this home staging was tidy up, rearrange the furniture from other rooms in the house and place a few rental accessories and props throughout the home. By doing this I was able to market the home to potential buyers that were looking for their new dream home. One that they could live and entertain in with ease.

The investment for these two rooms was $300.00.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Winner of the Trailblazer Company of the Year Award 2009

All I did was....give the client a plan to stage and look what they did!

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:07:17 -0500

In this example I wanted to show Realtors and home owners what can be accomplished with Home Staging when you have a detailed plan to prepare a home for sale. There is so much to think about when you list your home. It can be overwhelming trying to decide what to do first.Whether you are short on time or ideas calling in Advantage Staging is the first step in getting a plan together to move forward.

Whether you need painters, moving boxes, window cleaning services or just a calm voice in the whirlwind of activity Advantage Staging will guide you in the right direction in a clear and concise way to get you ready for listing photos and open houses.

After the home owner completed the decluttering process all I did was...

provide 4 lamps,1 duvet set and two pictures.

Everything else the home owner already had in the house.I returned for a follow up visit to make sure everything was in place for the listing photos and the agent open house.

This house at 53 Woodlands Heights in Everett now shows how a family can live and entertain in the country with style and elegance. And who wouldn't love that?

For an investment of $500, now this house says "buy me" and "move in ready".

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Winner of the Trailblazer Company of the Year Award 2009

All I did was... take a ho hum master bedroom and create a fantasy getaway.

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:10:22 -0500

In this home staging in Brampton I took a ho hum master bedroom and created a bedroom that you could see yourself living with for a long time.

All I did was start with a colour palette of chocolate brown and woodlawn blue. White furniture with chrome hardware along with mirrored night tables added balance to the room.

Chrome accessories and of course, a fabulous piece of artwork placed opposite the bed. By placing the artwork opposite the bed, a buyer could envision themselves waking up to what looked like the perfect getaway place. Buyers tend to buy the way they want to live and this room completed everyone's fantasy of getting away from it all without ever leaving their bedroom.

This room was specifically created so that a buyer would connect emotionally with this property and put it at the top of their list.

Investment,minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Winner of the Trailblazer Company of the Year 2009.

All I did was... suggest the master bedroom be decluttered, buy new lamps and hang a picture.

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:05:29 -0500

In this home staging in Mississauga I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners the importance of showing the master bedroom as place to retreat to after a long day at work. In a condo where space is at a premium it is best to market the master bedroom in a cool, sophistacated hotel like appearance. A place where buyers can see themselves living in.

All I did was suggest to the client that they declutter, buy two new lamps and hang a romantic picture above their bed. Total outlay $90.00.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Winner of the Trailblazer of the Year Award 2009.

All I did was... suggest that they delcutter and get a bed and look what happened!

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:49:51 -0500

In this home staging in Mississuaga, I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners the importance of showing a bedroom as a bedroom when you are marketing a home for sale. Buyers cannot seem to envision what you do not show them.

In this condo where space is at a premium, it was important to show an office/work space as well as a second bedroom as a place to sleep.

All I did was suggest to the client that it would be in their best interest to declutter and borrow a bed and linens to market their home as a two bedroom condo instead of a one bedroom with a very cluttered office.

In real estate you are always selling useable space and square footage. It is always smart to show and market how a buyer could live in your property when your competition is just down the hall or on the next floor.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Winner of the Trailblazer Company of the Year Award 2009.

All I did was... suggest that the bathroom needed decluttering to appeal to buyers.

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:26:19 -0500

In this home staging in Mississuaga I would like to show the importance of showing how much space you are selling. When every single one of your belongings is out on view it is very hard for a buyer to see what you are offering for sale.

In a condo situation you typically have bathrooms on the smaller side. If you take the time to declutter you allow the two most important features to stand out. Useable space and square footage. When you have competition just down the hall or on the next floor it is necessary to do everything possible to make your unit to appear larger.

All I did was suggest that the client buy some baskets to place their belongings in under the cabinet. That way they could access them easily each morning and when done with the morning routine, they are neatly stowed away and out of sight.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Winner of Trailblazer Company of the Year 2009.

All I did was.... suggest the client declutter and look what happened!

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:07:10 -0500

In this home staging in Mississauga I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners the importance of decluttering a home to prepare it for sale. Living in your home is one thing, however, when it is a product for sale you must make every effort to present your home in it's best possible light. You have competition so don't give buyers an opportunity to low ball their offer on your home based on it's lacklustre condition.

All I did was suggest to the client at 3405 Hurontario that they declutter the kitchen so that the beautiful upgraded cabinets were highlighted and the dining area looked like you could entertain your friends and family in comfort. I also suggested that a dining room fixture be installed to complete the sofisticated, urban look to the condo. Look at these outstanding results.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Winner of the Trailblazer Company of the Year Award 2009.

United Way Designer Showcase - Estate on the Bay

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:09:33 -0500

Michelle Finnamore, owner of Advantage Staging has been invited

to participate in the

United Way 5oth Anniversary Estate on the Bay Designer Showcase.

Arch and Helen Brown, well known local philanthropists, have generously donated the use of their beautiful home on Kempenfelt Bay for a complete design transformation!

The Estate on the Bay, located at 1 Barrie Terrace, Barrie, Ontario, sits on 1.3 spectacular acres, with 250 feet of frontage on the north side of beautiful Kempenfelt Bay. The home is approximately 10,000 square feet with a covered boat slip that can house a 55’ boat.

Advantage staging will be highlighting the focal

points of the extensive landscaped grounds

as well as the top of the 55 foot boat slip that overlooks the bay.

This unique occasion includes a silent auction, a tour of the Brown home decorated and furnished by area designers with entertainment throughout the evening.

The home will be open to the public to tour September 18-20, 2009. Stay tuned for updated photos of the finished design concept.

All proceeds will support United Way of Greater Simcoe County.

Winner of Trailblazer Company of the Year 2009.

All I did was... take it from student digs to master with grown up appeal.

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:15:19 -0500

In this example I would like to show Realtors and homeowners the importance of staging a master bedroom to have the appeal of being a room to retreat to after a long day. The master bedroom is the prestige room for the buyer. A private retreat that says this is my castle and this is where I come to relax and rejuvenate.

All I did was add items to give the room a grown up appeal, a feeling that the person that sleeps here is important. This property is for sale at 39 Tecumseth Heights, Tottenham.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Winner of Trailblazer Company of the Year 2009

All I did was... take it from empty bedrooms to inviting spaces.

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:59:20 -0500

In this example at 39 Tecumseth Heights in Tottenham, I would like to show Realtors and homeowners the importance of staging a vacant home. Buyers spend less than 5 seconds in an empty room. On the other hand, if the room has been staged to invite the buyer to come in and envision themselves or their child in the room then you increase your chances of getting an offer on the property.

The grounds keeper who had been taking care of the property for over 15 years came in to see what the "stager" was up to. He commented to me how lovely the little girls rooms were and that now he could see someone getting excited about living at the home. I explained all I did was add a few things that would appeal to a little girl so that she would say to her parents...."I want this room!"

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Winner of Trailblazer Company of the Year 2009

2248 Richard Street Innisfil... taking rooms from vibrant colours to neutral.

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:20:38 -0500

This is a recent example of how taking a home with very vibrant lime green and yellow walls and painting in a more neutral colour along with some decluttering makes for a very inviting home.

In doing this, you can now see the size of the rooms and the focal points/selling features of the home much better. The house shows very well online and allows the buyers to see that they want to put this property on their "must see list".

This property sold in just 39 days in a slow market for the highest price the neighbourhood had seen in the last year.

Advantage Staging will market your home to stand out from the competition every time.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Winner of the Trailblazer Company of the Year Award 2009

RED WALLS.... design darling or staging faux pas?

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:38:46 -0500

People love red in the dining room and the master bedroom. Which when you think it about it, seems like polar opposites in thinking.

Red is often used to stimulate the appetite in the dining room. While in a bedroom you are trying to create a calm oasis to sleep in. A place to rejuvenate your self for the next day by using calm, neautral colours. Red really doesn't fit the bill to achieve that end.

I prefer to market homes with calm colours in all rooms including the dining room and master bedroom. However, some homeowners decide they will not paint in neutral colours even though they are trying to appeal to the most people who are out looking to buy a house.

Remember when selling a home...

Staging is marketing your home for sale not decorating to suit your design desires.

When you are selling a home you are selling space and light. Whether you have 1500 sq. ft. or 4500 sq. ft. you are always trying to make it look bigger to increase the perceived value of a property.

Dark colours equal smaller perceived space and light, light colours equal more space and light.

Dark/bright colours do not show well online. With over 80% of buyers looking online to buy, doesn't it makes sense to let buyers see the features of your home while viewing listings online. Buyers click through to the next listing when they see dark/bright paint colours instead of the focal point in the room or the features they will be getting with your property.

You decide... should the red walls stay or go?

Wall graphic designed for shopping mall-Memorial to fallen soldiers

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:01:58 -0500

Recently I was commissioned by the Rainbow Mall to design a wall graphic memorial to the fallen Canadian soldiers who have served in United Nations Peace Keeping efforts.

It was a month in planning and execution and on Monday March 16th the dedication took place.

CFB Borden Base Commander Colonel Hamel, The Minister of Foreign Affairs Office representative Valerie Knight and veterans from the Angus and Barrie Legion along with the Army, Navy, Air Force Club were on hand to witness the solemn event. As four soldiers had been repatriated home to Canada in the previous days it was a poignant reminder that reflected the efforts of our peace keepers in Afghanistan.

The wall graphic shows a field of red poppies reaching up to a blue sky. There are 225 names of fallen soldiers written on the wall and sadly, four more to be added this past week.

Advantage Staging was proud to be part of this community event to show our support to the troops and their efforts to keep peace in the world.

Can a homeowner Stage their own house? With a plan they can!

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 09:15:57 -0500

Lately I have been finding that the smart Realtors are calling for a professional Home Staging consultation on every listing.

Why the change?

A few reasons.

With so much competition on the market right now, they realize that to make their listing stand out from the crowd online they need to get their clients motivated to prepare their properties for sale.

Realtors know that if they list properties not ready to show they will see their marketing expense balloon out of control.Properties that have not been prepared do not show well online. Bright paint colours and vibrant patterns do not allow buyers online to see the features of a home.

Plus clients are letting their Realtors know that they do not want to languish on the market like they see so many other listings in their neighbourhood.

With over 80% of buyers looking online for their next house, clients that decide to follow the suggestions that I make end up with a property that shows well online resulting in traffic to their listings.

6 White Elm in Barrie listed with Dianne Beauchesne with RE/MAX is an example of the suggestions that I made to market a home being carried out by the homeowner.

The main floor is very inviting and a family could see easily how this could be their new dream home.

In the perfect scenario, the vibrant colours in the children's rooms should have been neutralized to show better online. Overall the house shows very well and you can now see the features in each room of the house.

This property sold in 30 days for 98% of the list price. Another Staging success story.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceles.

3 things you need to know when selling your home

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:44:08 -0500

This month has seen the number of listings jump dramatically mostly due to the break in the weather. Once the sun comes out and the snow melts away, people love to dream about their next move.

The difference this year is that more and more Realtors and homeowners are realizing they need three things when listing their house for sale.

1. A detailed marketing plan to sell their property including using new advertising avenues like social media sites and home staging services

2. To spend less money advertising a property not ready for sale

3. To find a professional home stager to provide a written action plan to stay focused on what is important to do to get the most pay back from money and effort put into preparing the property for sale.

Homeowners and Realtors are realizing they need a plan and that a Professional Home Staging consultation is the first step to get the most equity out of their property and to have less days on market.

I consulted on this property at 7 Apple Valley in Adjala. The suggestions that I made were carried out by the homeowners.

Is it Staged the way I would I have done it? Not exactly.

But the point is, the property shows well online now.
They are getting traffic to their listing and not wasting their marketing dollars on a property that wasn't ready to show. Plus the homeowner will be able to get back to their regular life sooner with less days on market.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Guess who is giving away a house?

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:57:15 -0500

Our local radio stations in Barrie, KOOL 107.5 and ROCK 95 are giving away a house with Zancor Homes. All you have to do is phone in and be caller number seven. You get a golden key and are invited to attend a party with all the key winners. One lucky person will find that their key opens the lock on the prize house and the dream prize house is theirs to call home. How easy is that!

Advantage Staging can be heard during this prize house give away contest at 8:30 a.m. each morning on KOOL 107.5 encouraging homeowners to have an advantage in the marketplace by Staging their homes for sale.

After all, when you win a dream home you still have to sell your old one and get the most equity out of it to buy the plasma TV with surround sound movie room, new furniture, landscaping, inground pool with cabana, hot tub...........ooops! I was dreaming of winning the prize house again!

Want to know how to get traffic to your listings?

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:12:16 -0600

There is one sure way to get attention in the marketplace. Do something that no one else is doing and you have a story to relate. The media will pick up your story and you can further the reach of the story through online blogging.

This idea is open to all Realtors and Home Staging companies in North America. I will provide the template to you so you can organize your own version of the event in your area.

Last year I was able to be featured on CBC Radio One ( a major radio station in our area), get TV coverage and several newspapers and the Habitat newsletter to cover the story.

It drew attention to all the participants and with the advantage of repeating the event yearly, you gain good public exposure in your area for a very worthwhile cause.

So what is the idea? How can you participate and be noticed in your marketplace?

Last year I organized an Art for Humanity Open House Tour for a Saturday in Barrie with 3 Realty companies providing the homes that were listed for sale and Staged by my company.

I also had the local Georgian College Fine Arts Program provide me with graduating students that would place their artwork in the homes. Each student was given a house in which to place their artwork as their own gallery. The students each donated one piece of artwork to be auctioned off to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.

The day of the tour the Realtor was there to show the house. The artist was there for the public to meet and greet. A representative from Habitat for Humanity was there to take donations, let people know how to volunteer with Habitat and to supervise the bids on the artwork.

I have branded the event so that you don't have to think of anything- all the work has been done for you.

Just send your info to me to be inserted into the flyer and it will be sent back to you ready for print ads, online etc. There is a very small fee for this service as the idea is to raise money and awareness for Habitat. I did co-op advertising with the Realtors in the pull out Real Estate section to keep the cost of print advertising low.

What is your next step?

Realtors - Organize an open house tour with 4 -5 houses on the tour. You need permission from your client for the possiblilty that a TV crew or print media may be there to promote the event.

Home Stagers - Approach Realty offices to participate in the open house tour. I worked with 3 Realty firms to have enough houses to participate in the tour. Everything went very smoothly with all the participants.

Approach your local Habitat for Humanity to arrange reps for the tour day.

Approach your local college or any other organization that you think will be a good fit for this event.

The end result - one house sold from the tour, the Realtors were happy as they were featured in a new and attention getting way, Habitat was very pleased with all the exposure, the College Fine Arts Director and students were ecstatic with the opportunity to showcase their work and get experience in the real world and I gained the exposure in the marketplace I was looking for to grow my business.

If you would like to find out more, send an email to michelle@advantagestaging.ca with your questions and I will be glad to help you get your event organized.

You will smile until you realize you had to sell or Stage a house just like this

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:56:47 -0600

Thought everyone could use a mini lesson in colour today.

This website has stories about interior indiscretions that will make you wonder what the homeowners were thinking when they put their home on the market.

We have all been there-either as a Realtor or as a Home Stager.

Trying to market a house that has been painted entirely in burnt orange.

Or every surface has been painted shades of green or blue or purple.

When you are selling your home, loud vibrant colours will not market your property to the most people.

How many homes have you seen with bright orange walls everywhere?

That's exactly the same number of buyers you will attract to your property for sale.

I tactfully suggest to my clients that a neutral colour will attract more buyers when they are looking online at listing photos.

Not to mention shorten the number of days on market.

When buyers leave a property painted like this, all they are talking about is the bright orange paint throughout the main floor living area. They miss the features of the property entirely. Advantage Staging will motivate your client to make the necessary changes to get the property on the "must see list" of buyers.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, Priceless.

Advantage Staging will give your property an advantage in the marketplace everytime.

All I did was... take it from an anything goes bachelor pad to a cool urban lifestyle condo.

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:33:09 -0600

In this example I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners that when you own a piece of the waterfront and want to list at the top of the market comparables you would do well to invest in a consultation by a Professional Home Stager.

This two bedroom condo facing Kempenfelt Bay on Lake Simcoe in Barrie had terrific home furnishings to start with. The challenge was taking it from a swinging bachelor pad to an image of a cool urban lifestyle that either a single person or a couple would be attracted to. Nightlife, art galleries, shopping and the harbour at your doorstep are all fabulous selling features. But to stand out from the many other units for sale in the towers along the bay, you have to market the lifestyle aspect inside as well if you want to top dollar.

All I did in this condo was add artwork, props and accessories and declutter. It was the last 20% that was missing in the marketing of this condo.

When buyers were looking at the listing photos for this property they could see the lifestyle that they were dreaming of and quickly put this listing on their must see list. This property sold in short order for near list in a very saturated market.

Advantage Staging will market your property to stand out from the competition every time.

It's your money... don't leave it behind!

HGTV phoned me...would you like to provide Staged properties for our show?

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:32:35 -0600

The call came out of the blue. I was driving in heavy traffic, gearing up and down, cursing the downtown core traffic and my phone rang. Someone saying they were from HGTV, The Unsellables.

They were looking at my website, liked my style and wondered if I would like to provide the benchmark property in the neighbourhood for their show. I figured that this had to be a Staging friend of mine that was pulling a prank on me so I calmly said... "I'll have to think about it, could I call them back?"

Turns out it's for real. The properties were filmed last June and July and are just appearing now on HGTV. Last weeks episode entitled "Carmelina" and the episode coming up entitled "Steve".

The premise of the show is that they have a property that has been on the market for months, lots of viewings but no offers. What could be wrong? They visit another property in the neighbourhood with the property owner in tow and then they visit a second one which has been Staged and has sold very recently or is for sale to show them what their competition looks like. It doesn't take long for the homeowner to see why their home is not getting offers. There is truth in the saying... seeing is believing.

The hosts then do what is necessary to get their property up to the neighbourhood expectation. This all comes back to why Professional Staging is not decorating or designing. Professional Home Staging is the marketing of your property for sale. There is only one reason to Stage it. To get the most equity possible out of the property to move on with your life and to have fewer days on market.

It doesn't matter what the market is, slow or fast- Staging is the one investment that you can make that will speed up the whole process. Investing in Home Staging is always less than the first price reduction.

Here are a couple of photos from the first property. It was a simple war time, red brick bungalow about 1,200 square feet backing onto a ravine. This property sold for the highest price the neighbourhood had seen, $20,000 over list.

I Staged it with unique features that no other comparable listing in the neighbourhood had. It's own tee off box out to the ravine in the rear - who could resist that? Even the videographer from HGTV put down his camera to take a few practice shots over the rear fence. A Pilates area in a wide basement hallway that was only being used as a pass through to the family room. The Realtor said 4 or 5 buyers actually sat down and tried out the exercise area. Even the laundry room which had the same 1960's dark, wood panelling as the basement hallway was given a face lift with up to date baskets to hold the soap supplies.

So if you are you still wondering, if Advantage Staging is worth the investment to save time on the market and get the most equity out of your property. The answer is plain to see... YES, EVERY TIME!

I am as guilty as the next person....not using my reuseable shopping bags.

Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Preparing your property for sale.) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:51:20 -0600

We all have them- at least I hope we do! Reuseable shopping bags. I am now the owner of 27. That's right 27.

I forget to take them with me when I go shopping, so I buy some more and they end up in the front hall closet too. And now to top it all off, our local grocery chain store is now charging 5 cents for each plastic bag if you want one of those. How to break this guilt inducing cycle?

You see I am a Live Green, Live Smart Trainer. Someone who is supposed to be setting an example when it comes to living in a sustainable way. Someone who is supposed to be trying to create a smaller carbon foot print on this earth. It seems so simple. Why do I forget to take the reuseable bags when I only shop once per week. I know I am going to the store to buy a week's worth of groceries. It never dawns on me until I actually start to bag the food.

I'll tell you why. Because I am human just like everyone else. I have things on my mind. I am busy. I am on a timeline to get this and that done before I need to be somewhere else.

But I was given a solution today when I attended a meeting at the local Barrie radio station, Rock 95 & Kool FM 107.5.

I noticed cases of canvas reuseable bags sitting in the meeting room. I remarked that I try to use them and always forget to take them with me to the store. The person sitting there said he found a simple way to remember was to change where I stored them. Instead of the front hall, put them all in the trunk of the car. Use them up, say 6 or so each week. Those get put in the hall to pile up again, and then when the pile looks big enough, put them all in the trunk again.So simple, I busted out in a big laugh. Why didn't I think of that?

It's what I always say. Don't raise the bridge, lower the river. Most solutions in life are right under your nose if you care to see with new eyes. Look for the simple solution, the low cost solution, the solution that will become a habit and you have solved your problem.

I'm off to put all my reuseable shopping bags in the trunk now. I can shop with confidence now that I can make one more simple effort to make my carbon footprint smaller.