home staging: Blue, So Much More Than a State of Mind - 05/13/09 09:17 AM
I've been getting very excited about blue paint color for walls. Did you know blue is the number one paint colour in homes in North America?
When using blue paint be careful not to select drab or dated looking colours. Blues of today are warm (hint of red undertone) and fresh.
Here are a few photos for some inspiration for you!
image source, Real New York House Wives
… (21 comments)
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home staging: It IS The Staging Stupid...The Canadian Stagers Version - 09/19/08 03:58 PM
Durham Region, Municipality of Clarington, Courtice, Ontario Canada. Small town bedroom community real estate meets The Big City Toronto Home Stager.
When we put our house up for sale mid-July this summer we were confident it would sell and fast for our area. While a house like ours down the street was listed a month and a half before we listed ours...so they would have listed...end of May beginning of June; they just sold over these past 2 weeks so some time in September they finally sold. That is about 4 months! They have yet to move. No doubt they had hoped … (18 comments)
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home staging: Why Does Your Agent Want to Reduce the Price Rather than Stage? - 09/18/08 12:41 AM
Far too often, Realtor's with a listing will suggest reducing the price if it hasn't moved.
The Realtor's job is to sell the house. If they have priced it right for the neighbourhood and current market yet they are suggesting you take a price reduction it is time to ask them a very important question.
Why are you not suggesting a Professional Home Stager rather than telling me I need to drop the price?
There are a number of reasons why they might not suggest a Professional Home Stager.
They:
Don't know any stagers Don't know what a stager is or does Feels … (48 comments)
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home staging: Painting - Save Time & Money With Designer Paints? YES! - 08/22/08 03:24 PM
As you likely remember I prepared my house for sale. There were numerous upgrades we put in but the one job we did is the most time consuming as well as providing the most $ROI.
We painted the entire house...well I painted the entire house. Since we were selling I went the cheap route and colour matched a Benji colour using Behr.
What a disaster! The computers can never get the same formula even over 3 cans. Home Depot's paint manager gave me the low down:
After a product (ex. latex flat emulsion base white) goes on the big box shelf … (20 comments)
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home staging: SIF Roundtables...how about spilling the beans with those who participated in the first round? - 08/20/08 11:21 AM
I've been asked by participants from the first RT we held in Ontario and have come to wonder myself as well what has been done with the information we provided from the first round table?
It's nice to see Shell has gotten the ball rolling again to keep the initiative going BTW! Shell definitely gets things done.
As for the past RTs it seems there was no rhyme or reason for all the man hours that went in to documenting the meetings, and the many phone calls/questions etc.
The only information we were given as facilitators was that Craig had a … (9 comments)
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home staging: How Long Must We Educate Our Realtor Brother and Sisters AND Our Staging Peers? - 05/30/08 09:34 AM
I had an encounter the other day in my garage. My husband, father-in-law and myself were standing in the garage enjoying a cold MGD (Miller Genuine Draft) when a woman sauntered up our drive-way.
Turns out she is a newish local Realtor going around passing out a quarterly 'newsletter' and a large yearly calander magnet (I do love those; they hold lots of junk on the fridge!). She introduced herself and mentioned she lived in our area. She was friendly and had a quick smile.
Well, upon hearing she was a Realtor I immediately told her I had a business card for … (23 comments)
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home staging: I Don't Work Weekends...So Why Am I Always Working on The Weekends? - 05/01/08 11:52 AM
I don't work evenings either...theoretically.
I started out my first year, decorating and home staging in Downtown Toronto, with this policy firmly inplace. However, I have been heard as recently as today(!) saying 'I don't work weekends'.
I need to amend my 'Weekends and Evenings Policy' to include the one word it is missing obviously: 'but...'.
I have come to face a harsh reality. I 'don't work weekends or evenings, but I will see my new and existing clients on evenings and weekends.
Another truth about Home Staging. I'm swallowing the bitter pill.
My name is Dane Caldwell...and I work evenings and weekends to accomodate my clients.
… (33 comments)
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home staging: Slowly Building a Top Notch Inventory, Downtown Toronto's 2 Hounds Design + Home Staging - 04/20/08 09:27 PM
For the last big 2 Hounds Design home staging in Downtown Toronto I broke down and started purchasing large pieces of inventory. A beautiful soft gray transitional sectional as well as a Barcelona Chair & Ottoman (in white!) are the largest investments.
I thought I'd introduce you all to my new favorite chair...can you believe I'd never sat in a Barcelona before I got this?
Now I'm getting the Isamu Noguchi Coffee Table for a staging in Downtown Toronto. I'm so thrilled to be adding it to our inventory.
I don't know how I'll keep these pieces from entering my house. If I'm lucky, I'll … (15 comments)
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home staging: Staging is hard work? You better believe it is! - 04/16/08 09:09 PM
Now that I've gotten a moment to catch my breath I am realizing how drained I am.
I am so happy to have down time right now. With the renovation and then staging of one vacant out of the way I was right back in to staging another vacant on Monday.
I, mistakenly thought it would be an easy day...HA!
I started out on a role but as happens to many of us...I was not happy with the amount of decor items I had so what do I do? Back in the car driving around hunting for deals.
Silly me, I thought … (22 comments)
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home staging: Toronto Buyers Agent Suggests Stagers HIDE & TRICK - my response - 03/12/08 09:09 AM
As a decorator who offers staging I have to comment on Fraser Beach's blog post 'Calling Their Fluff':
I've been to view houses where it was the Listing Agent who put on the Jazz and put cookies in the oven.
I don't do any of that. Tricks, as you call them, are not something commonly happening...when you hire a professional.
I tell my clients if they need to update and what provides the best return on investment. The majority of my clients spend anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000 to bring their homes up to standards. I tell them if they are going to ask … (21 comments)
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home staging: Ten Questions To Ask a Decorator/Home Stager - Downtown Toronto Decorator/Home Staging Firm - 2 Hounds Design - 02/21/08 11:23 AM
As a consumer considering hiring an interior decorator or home stager you need to do a little homework also know as due diligence. Many of these questions are generic to any service provider. To help you I've provided a list of 10 Questions...and many follow-up questions:
How long have you been working professionally as a decorator/stager? This question is important to determine if you are speaking to a professional or a hobbyist. A hobbyist will tell you they've been 'staging' for years for themselves, friends and family. How nice for them, however, this does not tell you if the friends and family would feel … (44 comments)
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home staging: Downtown Toronto Real Estate Home Staging Decorating Firm - It's More Than A Business - It's A Philosophy - 02/06/08 05:57 AM
Downtown Toronto's 2 Hounds Design Believes In a Better World
At 2 Hounds Design we have a strong sense of responsibility to the well being of the Earth and our clients.
Energy + Environment
Our servers are 100% Powered by Certified Green Renewable Energy Sources on Toronto's Hostpapa Indoor Air Quality
Low VOC Paint by Canada's C2 Natural Stone Countertops CeasarStone Quartz Surfaces Charity Fundraising
Sick Kids Foundation Ganaraska Forest Centre … (1 comments)
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home staging: Downtown Toronto Real Estate Decorator + Home Stager - 2 Hounds Design - 01/31/08 03:08 PM
Even in the typically slower sales months, Downtown Toronto is anything but typical!
The 2008 spring rush to buy Real Estate in Downtown Toronto is on...and it's only January!
That's right, new MLS listings for Downtown Toronto are coming on line every hour. Spring comes early in Toronto's Downtown Real Estate Industry. If you are anticipating putting your property up for sale in the Downtown Toronto market you'd better get a move on.
There are plenty of business' out there to help you get your property ready for sale, from painters, cleaners, storage lockers and of course don't forget the decorator/home stager to … (2 comments)
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home staging: REALTORS: Why You Need A Decorator Stager For Your Sellers...No You Don't Already Do What I Do. - 01/01/08 12:48 PM
REALTORS:
a very good example of why a PROFESSIONAL stager/decorator/color consultant is necessary to help your sellers select paint colors. No, you don't already do what we do...lets work together for a win/win/win (your commission/your clients best price/my reputation) situation in 2008! to weed out the chaff from the wheat this is a good litmus test; a professional KNOWS color theory as well as DESIGN Theory. 3 Day training to be a 'stager' does not teach theory only a minuscule percentage of practical.
Practical:
does not make a professional is what most Realtors already know themselves A Professional Stager/Decorator is your best weapon in … (8 comments)
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home staging: BMO Will Pay Your Toronto The Land Transfer Tax...Sing With Me! - 12/05/07 03:28 PM
BMO so kindly offers to pay the new Toronto Land Transfer Tax. For this promotion you get the 'incentive' rate of 6.38% (fixed for 5+ years) while those opting to pay the tax themselves are getting rates below 6%.
The Toronto Land Transfer Tax takes effect for properties closing beginning February 1, 2008.
BMO is quick to point out if you get a 5+ year fixed mortgage on a Toronto property, and close by February 29, 2008, BMO will pay your land transfer tax (up to a maximum of 1.5% of your mortgage amount).
So as an example on a $400,000 house, BMO tells you they would save … (2 comments)
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home staging: Looking for integrity within the home staging industry. - 11/14/07 12:51 PM
I've just had a conversation with a very angry client today.
The client was upset because it was after she had contacted a number of different stagers that she learned there was no Certifications, no designations and no governing body for the industry. Did these 'stagers' she spoke with inform her of this?
*big sigh*
No.
In fact each one of them told her:
they were Certified as ASP's as ASP's they were 'the best of the best' in the staging industryabout their 'professional ethics' and their 'highest level of integrity'Two told her:
they'd also gotten their Canadian certification through CSPOne told her:
they had 'earned' the 'highest designation in … (23 comments)
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home staging: A couple of new inventory pictures! I'm so excited they are all mine! - 07/28/07 02:00 PM
Here are a couple of the purchases I made yesterday.
I picked up these Nautica bedding sets in Queen and Twin for an amazing price!
These were my big splurge. I didn't pay retail (couldn't afford to) but they were on sale so I had to have them. I was going to buy 3 but at the cash register I broke one (that was why I was buying 3). So I've come home with just 2. I will only place these in high-end vacant homes. (The picture is of the smooth silver, I bought the 'hammered' silver). They are sooooooo hot!
The focus of 2 … (16 comments)
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home staging: If You Ignore What Buyers Want You'll Be The Only One To Lose Out - 06/27/07 04:28 PM
Real estate prices are determined by the buyers and Realtors analyze their local markets to determine pricing for listings unfortunately many sellers are deciding their properties value 'be-damned' what the market and their Realtor is telling them.
The percentage of double income households hovers around 60% and personal savings rates are at record lows. As well single women are buying real estate at record numbers. There is a direct correlation between these numbers and residential real estate purchases which is being ignored by the majority of home-sellers and not stressed anywhere near enough by many listing Realtors.
See where this is going?
I'm not talking about the affect these numbers have on … (27 comments)
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home staging: The funniest agent's listings... - 06/21/07 09:51 AM
In a recent Blog I wrote, Hire a 'Naked Stager': Satisfaction Guaranteed!, Paul Viau wrote how we sould all use the word "Naked" more in our advertising.
Well, there is an agent in the U.K., Ralph Bending who does just that! You have to read his listings, they are hysterical. His tagline is 'the most fun you can have with an estate agent'.
Here are some of his current listings:
"Ground floor flat synonymous with the type of person who eats red kidney beans and exhudes certain aromatic gases. Bedroom at the front with en-suite shower room, small sitting room at the rear, brand new kitchen, … (27 comments)
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home staging: Hardware - A Little Bling Never Hurt! - 06/20/07 03:48 PM
If you want your house to stand out among the hundreds for sale, or just want to upscale the image of your house, look at the hardware you currently have.
Hardware includes:
door knobs cabinet/drawer pulls and knobs door bumpers levers faucets hinges push/kick plates hooks switch plates Determine the finish (e.g. bronze, chrome, brass, iron, stainless...) that best complements the house/condo. Ideally you want the finish to be consistent throughout, although some different finishes can complement each other if not overdone.
Old pieces can be restored or purchased at architectural salvage shops, or new hardware can be purchased, the point … (17 comments)
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