Diana's Blog

How to Avoid the #1 Mistake Homesellers Make

2008-11-17T13:11:17Z

Have you heard the news?

HGTV has declared "Failing to Showase Your Home and Making Small Cosmetic Changes" as the #1 mistake homesellers make. Don't let this happen to you!

With so many homes on the market today, homesellers really need to make their property stand out from the competition. As professional home stagers, SISTERS Interior Redesign specializes in making your home appeal to potential buyers. Whether you plan on living in your home while it's on the market or you have a vacant house that needs to be staged, we can help.

SISTERS Interior Redesign offers pre-sale consultations, giving you specific recommendations to make your home more marketable. We also offer staging for occupied and vacant homes. Give us a call today or visit our website for more details and to see examples of our work.

Don't just list your home, showcase it! In today's market you cannot affort NOT to stage.

Staging provided by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA www.sistersredesign.com

Contact us today for a complimentary staging quote. 425.776.7890, sisters@sistersredesign.com

Redmond Cottage is Show Ready

2008-10-29T14:41:22Z

Ever wanted to own a cabin in the woods? Well, this cute little cottage set atop a hill in Redmond, Washington (near the famous Microsoft campus) will make you feel like you've left the city far behind. With a huge deck off the living room to enjoy the fall colors and the terratorial view this home exudes calm and tranquility.

Thank you to the homeowners and Windermere agent Carol Junglov for the opportunity to stage this cozy cottage!

Staging provided by SISTERS Interior Redesign, 425.776.7890

Give all your listings the advantage of professional home staging. Give us a call today for a complimentary staging quote.

Diana Young, SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA. www.sistersredesign.com, sisters@sistersredesign.com

Show and Sell an Inviting Living Space

2008-10-15T15:16:16Z

Here are photos of a starter home we recently staged in Shoreline, Washington. The living room had old carpeting which the sellers removed to reveal beautful and valuable hardwood floors.

Warming this space up with an area rug, soft fabrics and well placed lighting really shows potential buyers how they can enjoy this home. Who wouldn't rather walk into a home that looks cozy and warm instead of cold, dark and empty?

Give your listing the advantage of professional home staging. Contact us today for a complimentary quote.

SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Light the Way (but don't let your cords show!)

2008-06-30T12:06:53Z

We are always looking for ways to improve the overall look of homes we stage for our clients. Here is an example of just one more of those details that make a difference.

Lighting: In each room we add at least one, usually two or three, lamps. This lighting may be left on 24/7 using 40 or 60 watt bulbs. Especially in the darker fall and winter months this makes a big difference to a buyer's first impression and welcoming atmosphere when each room is warmly surrounding in light. Also when potential buyers drive by at night, the home looks inviting.

One small detail that does make a difference is to hide the cords as much as possible. Hiding the cords presents a more pulled-together and polished looking room.

Extention cords are great to have on hand and give you more flexibility when deciding where to place lighting in the room. They come in many lengths and styles. Be sure to match the color of the extension cord to the cord on the lighting fixture.

Here are some examples of how something as simple as hiding the cords can make a big difference in the overall look of a room.

Whoops - the cord is showing!!!

Cords on these sofa table lamps were taped (using masking tape) to the back of the console table and down the leg of the table. The plant hides the electrical outlet.

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Give your listings the advantage of professional home staging.

Contact us today for a complimentary staging quote.

Do I Have to go Home? Can't I Just Live Here?

2008-06-19T21:24:03Z

Okay, it's happened again. After staging an absolutely beautiful view home (new construction, too!) I didn't want to leave and go to my "real" home, which is in the process of a long-overdue remodeling project and pretty messy at the moment.

One day my home will be finished, furnished and "staged" to live! But for now, I'll just create comfortable, warm and inviting living spaces for people like me to dream of owning and enjoying with friends and family.

Enjoy this photo gallery of what my home might look like someday!

Living Room - Wall of windows has a wonderful water view (Puget Sound) and territorial view.

Dining Room - The views from this room are of the charming older home and well kept garden of the neighbor.

Kitchen - Stainless steel Viking appliances, granite counters, tile backsplash, undercounter lighting, I could go on...this is a great kitchen!

Master Bedroom - There is also a water view from this large room, plus a fireplace.

Master Bath - Love those special touches like the lighting at the toe-kick.

Den - Who wouldn't feel important sitting at the desk in this warm wood wrapped room?

Family Room - Love the t.v. niche with doors to conceal the screen. Okay, kids, time for a party! This room is on the lower level, and has french doors in case things get to noisy for the guests at the party upstairs.

This home says, "Welcome Home" to all who enter!

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, www.sistersredesign.com, 425.776.7890

Give your listing the advantage of professional home staging. Contact us today for a complimentary quote.

Got Glare? Canvas Art to the Rescue!

2008-06-13T20:48:09Z

We've recently staged several homes with lots of windows (a good thing) which creates lots of wonderful natural light in a room (another good thing). What is not so good is the glare or reflection that is created from this natural light onto the artwork we have so thoughtfully selected and placed in a space.

That is where canvas art can be a fabulous solution. Lightweight to transport and hang, relatively inexpensive (you can even paint your own abstract in colors to coordintate with a room) and a non-glare surface to boot. It's the perfect art for those sunny spaces. No more glare in the MLS photo gallery! Also, this type of art often has a textured surface, which makes it look similar to an original work of art.

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Give your listing the advantage of professional home staging. Contact us today for a complimentary quote.

Staging in Full Color

2008-06-11T08:10:15Z

A consistent color palette used throughout a home are key to creating a cohesive, applealing space. Warm terra cotta, sage green, mustard yellow and tan accented with black were the colors selected for this home in the Broadview area of Seattle.

As my real estate agent friend would say, "Just move in and relax!"

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Contact us today for a complimentary staging quote.

Small Ballard Condo "Lives Large!"

2008-05-07T12:30:33Z

Believe it or not, this 1 bedroom, 1 bath condo is only 600 square feet! Prior to staging, potential buyers could not picture themselves living in such a small space. Now the staged condo shows them how comfortable and roomy this petite in-city dwelling really is.

Here are a few staging techniques that were used to make this space "live large":

In the living/dining room:

We created a focal point for the living room with a sofa table, art and lighting.
The coffee table and sofa table are glass and iron, which take up little "visual space" in this tiny room.
The furniture is appropriately sized for the space.
The area rug grounds the conversation area.
The color palette throughout this condo was kept light and airy with creams, blues and beige.
A separate dining area is centered on the window and defined with the help of artwork and a plant.
Accessories were kept to a minimum.

In the bedroom:

That's a queen bed! Show buyers the size of bed they will be able to fit in the space.
The window treatments let in loads of light, but not the view of the building next door, which is close by.
There is even room for a comfortable seating area with a beach inspired canvas chair and woven ottoman.

In the bathroom:

The fresh, breezy color palette is continued, making the spaces in the condo feel cohesive and calm.
The shower curtain rod is hung close to the ceiling, making the ceiling appear higher.

In the kitchen:

The compact kitchen gets some greenery, a tray of coffee and some decorative accessories. These items make this kitchen more visually appealing without overwhelming the space

Do you have a petite space that needs to show potential buyers how to "live large"?

Professional home staging gives your home the competitive advantage needed in today's real estate market.

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Contact us today for a complimentary staging quote.

A Link to the Remaining 24 HGTV "Biggest Real Estate Mistakes"

2008-04-15T11:41:46Z

Many of you have asked, "What are the other 24 biggest real estate mistakes?" as featured on the recent HGTV special presentation "25 Biggest Real Estate Mistakes". Here is the link so you can view all 25:

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/real_estate/article/0,3120,HGTV_27356_5846325,00.html

There are tips for home sellers and for home buyers. Thank you, HGTV!

HGTV's "25 Biggest Real Estate Mistakes"

2008-04-13T22:42:31Z

Do you know what they are? According to the real estate experts on HGTV's "25 Biggest Real Estate Mistakes"

the Number 1 mistake sellers make is:

"Failing to Showcase Your Home and Make Small Cosmetic Changes"

"When you are selling your house, you have to really look at it objectively and think about it from the viewpoint of the house hunter. Make minor enhancements to the house and maybe hire a professional stager to come and arrange your furniture. Staging is about decorating your house for the buyers' taste, not yours. A great place to start is with the front of the home and the main entryway. Home staging is designed to increase the potential selling price and reduce the amount of time the house stays on the market."

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, www.sistersredesign.com, 425.776.7890

Give your listing the competitive advantage of professional home staging.

Contact us today for a complimentary staging quote.

Creating Elegance in the Smallest Room in the House

2008-04-04T11:16:31Z

The bathroom is usually the smallest room in the house, but one of the most important to potential buyers. Make this space a relaxing retreat by creating an elegant ambiance. Fluffy towels, artwork, potpourri in a decorative container, plants and a luxurious shower curtain can transform this relatively small area into a beautiful space.

Tip: Instead of hanging a traditional shower curtain, hang a longer fabric curtain panel mounted close to the ceiling on a shower curtain rod. Make certain that the rod coordinates with the finishes in the bathroom. In this example, the rod is a dark bronze to coordinate with the bathroom fixtures. The chocolate brown velvet curtain is dramatic and makes the ceiling seem taller.

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, www.sistersredesign.com, 425.776.7890

Contact us today for a complimentary staging quote.

Color: A Powerful Real Estate Marketing Tool

2008-03-18T17:05:26Z

Color makes all the difference when showing a home for sale. Color can draw a person into a space and create a warm, welcoming feeling. The color palate should be consistent throughout the house for good flow. As professional stagers, it is our goal to keep the focus on the home, not the "stuff" we have brought in to enhance the space.

In this example, warm paint colors highlight the white trim in the dining room and accent the media wall in the family room. The colors used to stage this home are warm yellow/gold, cream, black, cranberry and sage green. As you can see, these colors photograph wonderfully and the paint just adds the finishing touch of sophistication often lacking in new construction.

These paint colors were chosen for the builder by Diana Young of SISTERS Interior Redesign.

Staging and color by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Give all your listings the advantage of professional home staging!

Contact us today for a complimentary staging quote.

Staging Sells a Lifestyle

2008-03-11T13:53:49Z

Staging is more than providing furniture for a vacant property. When staging is done well, it sells a lifestyle that today's buyers are looking for. Professional stagers know how to maximize the space to create warm and inviting spaces that say "Welcome Home!" to all who enter.

Here are two Edmonds condos, both in the same building, both for sale in a large resort style condo community with sweeping views of Puget Sound. As a potential buyer, which condo would you decide to view in person?

Condo One:

Condo Two:

As you might have figured out, the same condo is in both photos! The first photo is "before" staging and the second photo is "after" staging.

When selling, don't just sell the house, sell potential buyers on the lifestyle that can be theirs when they purchase your home.

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA. Contact us today for a complimentary staging quote. 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Edmonds New Construction says "Welcome Home!"

2008-03-03T22:08:11Z

Staging is all about creating a welcoming atmosphere and creating buyer interest in a home. Recent studies have shown that greater than 75% of home buyers use the Internet to search for homes prior to viewing them in person. Staging highlights the home, not the "stuff".

This just completed Edmonds home, built by Craig Reimer of Eaglewood Construction, was recently staged by SISTERS Interior Redesign. The craftsman style home features breathtaking views of Puget Sound from almost every room and is a wonderful home for entertaining. If you are in the neighborhood, stop by and take a look! The listing agents are John Bishoff and John Reich of Windermere Real Estate, Edmonds. The home is open on weekends, and they look forward to meeting you! 901 Cedar Street, Edmonds, WA 98020

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Contact us today for a complimentary staging quote.

Wake up and Smell the Coffee! Why I Love the Breakfast Bar

2008-02-25T00:23:51Z

One of my favorite spaces to stage is the kitchen breakfast bar. The kitchen is truly the "heart of the home" and these breakfast bars are a great place for socializing with the chef, doing homework, enjoying a cup of coffee while perusing the morning paper, or for serving breakfast to the kids before they head out the door for school.

I have fond memories of sitting at my grandmother's breakfast bar with my sisters, visiting with "Granny" as we affectionately called her, as she fried up some chicken for dinner (with lard she saved in a tin can), made coffee in the old percolator, rolled out pie crust and told us about her growing up years as the eldest of 13 children.

Staging the "heart of the home" is more that just adding a few items to the counter tops. It's creating a space that welcomes people to sit down, have a cup of coffee and stay awhile!

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Contact us for a complimentary staging quote.

It's Almost Magic: Staging Makes a Room Feel Larger

2008-02-23T11:15:39Z

Yes, this is the same room! This lower level family room really is a great space, but you'd never know it if you looked at the MLS photo online prior to staging. With the addition of color, lighting, greenery, artwork and properly scaled furniture, this room is now warm and inviting.

Give your listing the advantage of professional home staging. Contact us for a complimentary staging quote.

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Home Staging is a Powerful Marketing Tool and Here is the Proof

2008-02-20T19:00:03Z

Today I received this email from one of our clients:

"Diana and Alisa,

Thank you SO much for your staging services. As you know we were relocating rather quickly and so we needed to have a completely vacant house staged so we could sell our home quickly. The time of year (December) and the slowing market were very concerning to us, yet I'm convinced that your staging was a critical factor in showing off our home in the best possible light! Our agent was very impressed and told us that our home received far more showings and sold much faster than anything comparable in our area.

We believe your staging was a critical factor in wowing the buyers so much that it allowed us to negotiate a more than full price offer with our house on the market far less than the average home in a slowing market. I'm sure the buyers also recived the benefit seeing possible ways to take great advantage of the rooms in their new home.

Thank you once again!"

- Nate & Traci

Give your home the competitive advantage of professional home staging.

Contact us today for a complimentary quote.

SISTERS Interior Redesign

425.776.7890

sisters@sistersredesign.com

Starter Home Sells in Less than 30 Days Market Time!

2008-02-18T23:45:04Z

This Seattle area starter home recently sold in fewer than 30 days on the market. The home was well prepared by the owners (freshly painted and clean) and the vacant property was professionally staged. As I reviewed these photos, here are some reasons why I think the staging helped in the quick sale of this home:

The home was the star, not the "stuff". The furniture and accessories selected were properly sized for the rooms. The furniture arrangement showed potential buyers how they could live comfortably in the space. The spaces actually felt larger after staging than they did when empty.

Color was consistent throughout, creating a feeling of cohesion. Orange, blue, yellow and green with accents of cream and and black worked with the architectural elements of the home. These colors also photograph very well. Studies have shown that over 80% of people look at homes online prior to deciding whether or not to tour them in person.

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Staging the Perceived "Wasted Spaces"

2008-02-17T18:51:38Z

The phrase "seeing is believing" is true when it comes to staging a home for sale. Showing the function of a room to potential buyers is important, but so is creating an atmosphere of relaxation.

From the "before" picture, would you have believed that this room is a great place to entertain? After staging, it's a great party room or a nice spot for some solitude away from the main living spaces. This room could have been perceived as wasted space, but after staging it's viewed as a wonderful addition to this home. AHHH! Soak your troubles away!!!

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Staging a Master Bedroom: Why it's Important

2008-02-16T20:07:53Z

When buyers are shopping for a home, they want to be able to picture themselves living comfortably. A well staged master bedroom provides the feeling of a welcoming retreat, relaxation and comfort. It's especially important to stage a master bedroom if it's a bit small. Properly placed furniture and accessories will actually make the space feel larger. Folks want to know they'll be able to put their queen sized bed in the room!

SISTERS Interior Redesign recently staged this resale home in Edmonds, WA.

Here is the master bedroom before and after staging.

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Contact us for a complimentary staging quote today!

Selling a "Starter Home"? Stage it to Sell!

2008-02-14T21:23:00Z

In today's real estate market it's important to have your listings stand out from the crowd. Even in the "starter home" price points, today's buyers want their new home to be move in ready. Staging a vacant home can make it feel instantly welcoming and cozy. Especially in the winter months it's important to have adequate lighting throughout the house and to remember to keep the heat at a comfortable level. Adding color to compliment the existing elements in the home, showing buyers how they can live comfortably in the space, and setting the stage for a positive emotional reaction to the home is what a good home stager can provide.

Staging provided by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Contact us today for a complimentary staging quote.

Snohomish/Mill Creek Area Home is Staged to Sell

2008-02-11T11:09:05Z

Creating a cozy, welcoming environment for potential buyers from the moment they walk through the front door is the goal of home staging. Consider staging your home prior to listing to gain a competitive advantage in today's crowded real estate market. A well staged home presented online with professional photographs will set your home apart from the competition. Give us a call today for a complimentary staging quote for your home. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Home Staging Creates an Inviting Ambience in New Construction

2008-02-03T19:25:31Z

With all the new construction on the market today, it really makes sense to pull out all the stops and make YOUR LISTINGS stand out from the crowd of "builder beige" and cold feeing, empty spaces. Warm things up with some well selected paint colors, cozy furniture, area rugs, artwork, greenery...in a word STAGING!!! With more and more savvy buyers searching the internet for their next home, staging can help sell those folks on a lifestyle they want to own, just by looking a the photos on-line.

So, consider staging when marketing those newly constructed homes. You'll be glad you did!

Staged by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA 425.776.7890, sisters@sistersredesign.com, www.sistersredesign.com

Add a Touch of Black when Staging a Home, Everett, WA

2008-02-01T11:44:03Z

Adding some black pieces in a home, whether it be furniture, an area rug, artwork frames or candlesticks can add a sense of sophistication and elegance to any room. This photo is a perfect example of how black adds these qualities to a room. The Everett, Washington, newly constructed staged home has been getting rave reviews from potential buyers who love the "great room" concept and the affordable sophistication that this home offers. After staging, several homes within this new community have sold to buyers who feel in love with the comfortable yet upscale presentation provided by this staged.

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Contact us today for a complimentary staging quote.

Staged Condo in Edmonds, WA with Beautiful Paint Color Selections

2008-02-01T11:22:32Z

SISTERS Interior Redesign recently had the opportunity to partner with Evie Jenner, Windermere Real Estate, Edmonds, to present a downtown Edmonds condo for sale. What made our job of staging easy was the beautiful paint colors that had been selected by a previous owner. As you can see from the photos, the colors selected photograph very well and in person these colors create a warm, cozy, welcoming atmosphere. This condo listing generated lots of interest from real estate agents and potential buyers. The condo received multiple offers in the first week on the market. So...before you decide to sell or list, be aware of how color can affect how your home feels to potential buyers and make good color choices.