The seller of this 1960 original beach house called me after trying unsuccessfully to sell his house in Redondo Beach.
We went through the house together and discussed the strategy for Staging for the best ROI. We decided it was best to concentrate on updated lighting and paint, scraping the popcorn ceilings, and removing old draperies to let in ligh.
The transformation took just a few weeks and the house sold and closed in 6 weeks.
Home Staging makes a big difference even with small updates!
We created a plan for updating and decorating that helped this house sell.
Home Staging provides many benefits, a designer's touch and inspiration, professional referrals, guidance and help with preparing your home for sale. Home Staging also provides one more key element: an objective eye.
Our homes are functionaly and comfortably suited to our lifestyles. We know where everything is and we're also strangely oblivious to where everything is. It makes sense to us that the kitchen counter is filled with items needed for everyday life- the toaster, knife block, can-opener, mixer, mail, canister of utensils, coffee, tea, flour, sugar..., look in your kitchen, I'm sure there are more things you can add to the list.
How's the bathroom counter looking? Your nightstands and dresser? How about the kids' toys- I could swear they really do walk around on their own and spread throughout the house when your not looking.
When your opening your house to buyers you need to see your house through their eyes. Imagine what impression buyers will have when they walk into your house for the first time.
Most times the first impression begins before they even step foot into your house- it begins with pictures on the internet. How does your house look in pictures? Do the pictures showcase a model home or your clutter?
By Staging your house properly you create a great first impression that attracts buyers to your property.
A Home Staging consultation will guide you through all of these issues and help you create a great first impression in pictures and in person. Home Staging is the first step in marketing your house for sale.
One of the key pieces of advice all Home Stagers impart on home-sellers is to pack early. A clean, clutter free house is the starting point for Home Staging.
By packing up seldom used items, cleaning out storage areas, closets, cabinets and garages you create open spaces that home buyers are seeking. By packing early, you are better prepared for your upcoming move. There is so much to do when buying and selling your home, it can be very stressful; but, you don't have to do it alone.
Home Sweet Home is a packing and unpacking service available throughout California and other states.
They offer professional and customized packing and unpacking services. They take the stress out of moving by doing the hard work for you.
Home Sweet Home "packs intelligently"- their staff is experienced, careful and caring. They efficiently organize, pack and label your belongings, making your move smooth and easy.
By hiring Home Sweet Home to pack and unpack for you, they know where everything is packed and how you had it placed before, making it easy to unpack and organize everything in your new home.
They offer "Jump Start" packages beginning for only $399.
I always recommend them in my Home Staging consultation reports and have worked with them several times with excellent results and satisfied customers.
Whether it's packing only some items as advised in the Home Staging Consultation, or packing and un-packing the whole house during re-location, they can help.
You can contact them directly at: 310-984-0543 or 877-UNPACKME or visit www.unpackme.com
In preparing for a Realtor office presentation, I created a handout for Realtors to help their clients understand how Home Staging works and what services we offer. Here is the flyer with some Home Staging basics for sellers.
SET THE STAGE TO SELL
You only have one chance to make a great first impression.
Staging creates a Show-Ready house that stands out from the competition.
The bottom line is houses that show better, sell for more money and quicker.
Top Home Staging Tips:
Look at your house objectively- see what buyers will see.
Work on Curb Appeal- clean-up, repair, weed, paint, trim, and plant.
Start packing early- make your upcoming move easier.
Clear clutter- Pack, store, donate, recycle or discard unused items.
Clean house- Hire a cleaning service to deep clean your Show-Piece.
Fill in the gaps- “set the stage” for buyers by decorating empty spaces.
A Home Stager gives you a clear plan to guide you through this often overwhelming process and makes sure your house shows at its best.
Professional Staging Services include:
· Create a Staging Plan · Color-Consultation · Sub-contractor referrals · Coordinating all aspects of rental furniture and accessories
Choosing paint colors can be a very tricky. Even tried and true colors you've used successfully before may not work on any given project due to lighting variations, different flooring or finishes, etc..
I and many others have written about paint colors before. Many of us have our favorite brands- mine being Benjamin Moore, Eggshell finish. But even with all Benjamin Moore's great choices and samples available it is difficult to narrow down just the right color until now... I have discovered a new favorite color palette selection at Restoration Hardware.
They have a small fandeck for $7.00 with 32 fabulous colors. There are 8 fabulous color groups with 4 colors in each. The colors are all soft and subtle, perfect for Staging (for brighter accent colors in reds and oranges the Ben Moore Pottery Barn Collection is a good place to start). My favorite group is the Flax collection, all beautiful browns in varying shades perfectly coordinated and balanced. Each color is available in a 4oz. sample for $3.95.
Silver Sage is an amazing, barely there green that feels more like a glow than a color. The Rose and Hyacinth groups are best suited for a nursery or little girl's room but still stunning.
Whatever colors you are looking for the Restoration Hardware collection is a great source!
Last week I arrived at a Staging consultation appointment and immediately encountered a new problem. The curb appeal for the home I was hired to consult on was AWFUL, but not because of the home itself, but because of the NEIGHBOR'S house. As I drove up to my clients house, the first thing I notice is the neighboring home looks like a junk yard or at the very least, an abandoned construction site.
I inquired with my clients on the neighbor situation and it is a touchy subject. Apparently , it has slowly deteriorated to this state of disrepair for the past year. My clients have spoken with them already and they say they are working on it but it never looks better, only worse.
This eyesore can be a deterrent to potential buyers as they don't want to "inherit" these problem neighbors! I've advised my clients to inquire with the city if anything can be done to encourage the neighbors to clean up their house, so we'll see if that helps.
Does anyone else have a similar experience and/or suggestions?
Thank you all for the advice on Staging the Steps. Here is a picture of the finished project. The rug is very well coordinated and although it doesn't look like much of a contrast in the picture, it really does the trick.
I first put the rug below the step, but it wasn't as effective. Moving it to the top step makes people take notice as they walk up and down the step. Whenever I walk in this house now I am extremely cautious!
Last week I met with an agent at a vacant spec house regarding Staging. Although the house was beautifully built, it has been on the market a while and needs furnishings to warm it up. One area that the agent was very concerned with was a sunken family room.
The room is off the hallway from the formal living room and connected to the kitchen and breakfast area. The family room is one step lower than the adjoining rooms but all of the flooring is the same dark hardwood. If buyers are busy looking at finishes they could easily miss the step as the floors blend from one level to the next.
I went back to the house today on my own, to pick up the key and take some pictures and prepare for Staging on Thursday.... and it's a little uncomfortable to type tonight as my shoulder is sore from- wait for it... the BIG HUGE HEADER I took down that step today!! I was on my way to the step when I was distracted by a niche in the island that I hadn't noticed before. I lifted my pad to jot it down as I continued walking and next thing I knew my pen and pad were in the air and I was hopping and skipping to regain my footing, but to no avail. I must have looked hilarious stumbling and squealing all the way down. But it WON'T be funny if anyone else trips and falls.
How can I Stage this step to help buyers notice it better and avoid falls? The only solution I have thought of is to place rugs just under the steps, in the family room. Any other suggestions?
Yesterday I bought a new floor mop at Target that is made by Real Simple magazine. I realize I'm more excited about this mop than any sane person should be, but I'm writing about it anyway.
It's a sponge mop with a microfiber cloth attached to it. The mop is for wet or dry mopping and the whole spongehead can be removed and washed in the washing machine. It is really easy to wring out and it has a hand-held scraper housed in the handle ready to be deployed when needed. What I love best about this mop is that it doesn't leave a wet residue behind once the floor dries, since the microfiber picks up most of the water- plus the floor dries much quicker.
This mop makes it easy to quickly clean floors and have them dry in no-time. This mop, along with the Swiffer Duster and Clorox wipes for the bath and kitchen are perfect for homeowners to ready their houses for a last minute showing.
I can't over emphasize how important Light and Lighting is when Staging your home for sale.
Natural light is always a first choice because it is a beautiful resource to be shown off in any home. Large, sunny windows are an asset. Curtains and blinds need to be opened when showing your house. Dark, heavy, outdated drapes are best removed altogether. Hopefully the windows open to a nice garden or scenic view, but this can't always be the case. If the views are less than optimal, sheer drapery panels in flattering colors add to the decor of the room. Natural woven shades are another smart choice because they provide cover while letting in natural light and adding a warm feeling to the room.
But even when there are plenty of windows and natural light, artificial lighting needs to be added as a back-up for gloomy days and evening showings. You cannot always rely on natural light or even on central lighting in the house. This is why lamps are a Stager's best tool. Floor lamps, table-top lamps and desk lamps are decorative and effective. They add ambiance, enhance natural lighting and brighten spaces when natural light is not available. Even when you think you don't need to add a lamp, you should. There needs to be a Staged lighting plan whether there is plenty of natural light or not.
Everyone enjoys a bright, light space- it lifts the mood, opens the room, and shows your house in, well, its best light.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Yesterday I bought a new floor mop at Target that is made by Real Simple magazine. I realize I'm more excited about this 
Picture from the MLS- a great lighting example. 
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