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home staging: Stage That House for Higher Appraisals - 04/01/10 06:29 AM
From my page on www.mioaklandcounty.com (more "investigative" than "bloggy"!) ...
If you are still on the fence about the value of professionally staging a home for sale, here is another benefit to consider: staged properties command higher appraisals.
Certified Residential Appraiser Linda Shurtliff, owner of Troy, MI-based Reliable Residential Appraisals, LLC agrees. “A staged home has much more appeal than an unstaged home. A staged home has no clutter, very few personal items and appears clean and welcoming. A home that is well-maintained, has good functional utility including strategic staging of furniture, has fresh paint and is clean will appraise higher than one … (12 comments)
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home staging: HomeGain Announces Top 12 Home Improvements for Sellers ... STAGING IS #2 !! Or is it #1?? - 11/05/09 10:38 AM
HomeGain announced the results of their 2009 home improvement survey. These are the top 12 DIY projects that give the biggest ROI for home sellers. Here's the link to the article:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/homegain-real-estate/home-improvement/prweb3164374.htm
HERE ARE THE TOP 5:
1. Cleaning and de-cluttering ($200 cost / $1,700 price increase / 872% ROI) 2. Home staging ($300 cost / $1,780 price increase / 586% ROI) 3. Lightening and brightening ($230 cost / $1,300 price increase / 572% ROI) 4. Landscaping ($320 cost / $1,500 price increase / 473% ROI) 5. Repairing plumbing ($385 cost / $1,250 price increase / 327% ROI)
Home staging … (14 comments)
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home staging: Home Staging by a Professional - 09/24/09 04:39 AM
Via Irene Bilinski (Keller Williams Ottawa Realty):
Home Staging is an art - not something that everyone can do well. Let me explain. Last night I did a listing presentation and the sellers were wondering why their home did not sell when previously listed. There were several factors involved: (1) overpriced (2) no staging appeal and (3) errors on the feature sheet. Staging a home makes it more appealing to the buyers looking for a home in a certain area within a certain budget. Instead of hiring a professional home stager, the previous agent asked the sellers to declutter and they … (1 comments)
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home staging: Stage Rooms for Their Intended Purpose When Selling a House - 09/10/09 07:04 AM
Reblogged from my page on www.mioaklandcounty.com and http://mioaklandcounty.realestatetomato.com/
When potential buyers view a house for sale, they need to see rooms presented as they were intended. The master bedroom shouldn’t be an exercise room, the bathroom shouldn’t be a pet station, the garage shouldn’t be a storage unit, and unless you have more than 3 bedrooms, resist the urge to make one an office.
This is especially important when it comes to dining areas. People want to see where they will gather for meals and entertain their loved ones.
I recently staged a 900 sq. ft. house for a … (16 comments)
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home staging: Don't Underestimate "The Neighbor Factor" When Selling a House - 03/14/09 06:07 AM
Reblogged from my page on http://mioaklandcounty.com/blog/category/home-staging/
We know that the three most important factors for a successful real estate sale are location, price and condition. While the seller can make changes to the price and condition of a property to hasten a sale, no one can amend the location.
What happens when the location of the house itself is desirable, but the neighbors are not?
Everyone has a story. The neighbors who don’t mow their weed-infested yard. The RV parked in the driveway year-round. The garbage cans left out for days after pick-up. The home improvement project that was … (8 comments)
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home staging: Staging Rules for Selling Your Home During the Holidays - 12/19/08 09:03 AM
Reblogged from my page on http://mioaklandcounty.com :
While the holidays will be just a memory and an extra bag of garbage for pick-up in a couple of weeks, these weeks could be crucial for those who are actively listing and showing their houses. Buyers who are braving the elements and interrupting their holiday commitments to view houses are serious about finding their next home. Be sure your house is show-ready and tastefully decorated.
Maureen Francis gave some great advice in her earlier post Selling Your Oakland County Home During The Holidays. This home stager would like to expand on her words of … (3 comments)
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home staging: A Home Stager Gives Thanks - 11/27/08 05:05 AM
Thanks to Amber, whose post http://activerain.com/blogsview/806795/I-am-thankful-forGORILLA-GLUE inspired me.
Reblogged from my page on http://mioaklandcounty.com/blog/category/home-staging/
Today is Thanksgiving, a perfect time to pause, reflect and give thanks for all of the blessings we have in our lives.
As I reach 4 1/2 years of owning a home staging business, I realize I have much to be grateful for. I have met some incredible people along the way, many that I am proud to call "friend". I've made a few mistakes, but have learned so much. The real estate market has changed since 2004, but I see glimmers of hope daily. Maureen Francis … (4 comments)
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home staging: The Power of Decluttering - 11/05/08 05:49 AM
(Reblogged from my page on http://mioaklandcounty.com/blog/ )
Take a quick look at this photo:
What did you see?
Did you notice:
The beautiful bay window? The window seat? New high-grade carpet? A fireplace to the left? Plenty of room to put a proper desk? The incredible wooded view outside the windows? The french door? Neutral wall color? Probably not. Like most potential home buyers, you likely noticed only the clutter, disorganization and plethora of toys. And the flat-screen TV sitting in the window! If you were searching the internet for a new home, chances are you would not be in a big … (16 comments)
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home staging: Freebie Staging for a Friend......A Labor of Love! - 10/27/08 08:44 AM
One of my oldest and dearest friends is listing her home in South Lyon's Hidden Lakes for sale. I've known Marilyn since high school, which incredibly means that I've known her longer than I haven't (we don't need to do the math, do we?).
As she is a single mother to a 5 year old girl and has a busy schedule as a flight attendant, she needed help getting her home ready to sell. She asked if I would stage it for her, and I happily agreed without hesitation. Diane, another high school friend, made the hour-long drive with me to assist. … (18 comments)
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home staging: Coldwell Banker slashes prices by 10% during a 10-day sale...does this make sense? - 10/06/08 03:58 PM
This is one of the more perplexing things I've heard lately.
Coldwell Banker is holding a clearance sale! For 10 days this month, buyers can get 10% off any listing. No negotiating. 10%, right off the top of the asking price. UGH!! Wouldn't a grand or two invested in staging the property be way cheaper for everyone?
Here's the article: http://www.inman.com/news/2008/10/6/coldwell-banker-promotes-price-reductions
The seller loses, the agent loses, the neighborhood loses and the entire real estate market loses. And of course, we stagers lose potential clients.
I know they want to move properties, but isn't there a better way?
… (11 comments)
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home staging: Staged "Lite" and SOLD Within a Week - 09/14/08 08:09 PM
This gorgeous Franklin Village house sold in less time than it took to finish staging it!
Staged "Lite" with a small budget from a Relo company...meaning accessories (5 bathrooms!), an inflatable bed and 2 table/chairs sets only. No major furniture anywhere. The offer came in close to it's $675k asking price.
The Relo company is happy, the Realtor is happy, and I am ecstatic! Although this means I'll be destaging soon, and that's never fun.
Note: Photos taken with my phone and not great--the colors are all off. My camera had gone missing (darn teenagers!).
^This … (67 comments)
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home staging: I Wanted to Stage My Vacation House! - 07/30/08 03:10 PM
I spent last weekend in beautiful Lexington, Michigan on Lake Huron with my high school friends.
Two of my friends stayed in a camper, which is not my cup of tea. I stayed with my third friend in a mobile home which belonged to a friend of hers. It was the second house from the lake and afforded us a great view of the lake and the magnificent sunrises. The weather was perfect, the lake warm and the company delightful.
So what does this have to do with staging?
The home we stayed in was for sale, along with several … (16 comments)
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home staging: Don't Let Your Furry Friends S(p)oil a Sale! - 07/10/08 06:10 AM
Dogs are people too, right? Not when it comes to selling a house.
As hard as it may be to accept and implement, when a property is on the market all traces of your beloved pets should be out of sight. This includes the food dishes, toys, cages, pet beds, litter and yes, the pet itself.
Now before you label me anti-animal, let me assure you nothing is further from the truth. My household has included pets of all shapes and sizes for two decades. At one point, I was Zookeeper (and Proud Mama) to a dog, five cats, two guinea pigs and numerous … (19 comments)
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home staging: Dr. Phil Is In Your Bathtub?? - 06/24/08 06:40 AM
Tooling around the web this morning, I happened upon Home Inspection Nightmares on the This Old House website. Here's the link: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20206857_20470627,00.html
Well, now I've seen everything. This was #2 on the list:
As stagers, what would we say about this?
My first thought was that it might be a cool selling feature. But then I immediately wondered about the safety factor. Obviously, the home inspector did too, as it was considered a Home Inspection Nightmare!
Now, I just think it's creepy! I don't know about you, but I certainly don't want Dr. Phil in MY bathtub!
… (19 comments)
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home staging: It's Hard to Sell a House in the Dark! - 05/22/08 08:27 AM
Yesterday I wrote a lengthy post about how busy we've been at Home Sweet Home Staging the last couple of weeks, and outlined one of the projects nearing completion in Birmingham, MI (one of Detroit's most prestigious suburbs). I finished the text, clicked on the "insert image" button and POOF! My text completely disappeared! Aaaaack!!!
My post gave details about the house (1950, vacant, 4 baths, and full of exquisite dark wood walls and trim), the budget (not much), the fact that is is bank-owned (i.e. no rental furniture allowed, NO WATER), the cleaning involved (TONS, which ate up most of the budget … (12 comments)
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home staging: An "Expert" Says Staged Homes That Show Well Are BAD, BAD, BAD - 04/09/08 07:07 AM
Has anyone else seen this article "The Allure of the Fruit Bowl: Home Staging ‘Twiddles' With a Buyer's Mind"? Here's the link: http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2008/04/08/the-allure-of-the-fruit-bowl-home-staging-twiddles-with-a-buyers-mind/ .
The author quotes a "land consultant" (huh?) from Blue Grass, VA who states that a buyer should "imagine the house buck naked and completely empty". He also suggests that you tell your agent to NOT show you any staged homes, lest you be impressed by the home and pay too much.
Wow.
It floors me that there are still people out there that think home staging is The Devil's Work, and stagers are not to be trusted.
Apparently decluttering. … (18 comments)
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home staging: #1 Rule in Home Staging......NO Playboy Bunnies!! - 03/13/08 11:55 AM
I was asked to stage a vacant house which had been on the market for 6+ months with no offers. It definitely needed furniture in place to give it some "oomph" and show how lovely the property truly is.
As I toured the house to take measurements and devise a plan of action, I discovered this in the main floor bedroom:
Now, I don't know about you, but I'm not sure a potential home buyer would find that to be a positive feature. I suspect some would be quite turned off by it, in fact.
Upon further inspection of the house, I … (66 comments)
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home staging: A Bounty of Inspiration for Staging and Beyond! - 03/05/08 07:29 AM
Inspirational words can come from many different sources..........a self-help book, a philosopher, Dear Abby, movies with a message, a sage Grandmother, Oprah.
But a paper towel roll? Who knew?
"Why not go out on a limb? That's where the fruit is." Mark Twain
Everytime I rip a towel off the roll, I pause and read that saying to myself. It makes me really want to take a leap with my business this year. I'm going to be more proactive, assertive and visible. It has replaced losing weight as my New' Year's Resolution, which has gone by the wayside anyway!
A new "go get 'em" … (10 comments)
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home staging: Just who's the staging expert here, anyway? I have been rearranged! - 02/20/08 02:47 PM
So, I staged a house last week. Thought it looked great, considering it's a petite 1000 sq. ft. 2 bedroom ranch with nothing overly interesting going for it. I supplied accessories as they are newlyweds and didn't have alot to work with. I check out the new MLS listing for it today and discover.....horror of horrors......my staging has been rearranged.
My first reaction was "What the heck?". Then I started to wonder if I had overdone it a bit.
So I'll let y'all be the judge. Go ahead...........I can take it. Do the MLS photos look better than my photos?
STAGED: … (45 comments)
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home staging: How many stagers does it take to open a frozen lockbox?? - 01/24/08 09:45 AM
Yesterday I met Virginia at a house in Berkley that is in desperate need of staging. It's been on the market since October with no offers. We figured out why as soon as we got in.........bachelor pad/flop house-type feel, complete with crummy furniture, sports equipment in the dining room, and that unique bedroom "man odor" that we are all so familiar with.
But that's a whole other post.
Getting in to check out the property was quite a fiasco. The lockbox was located directly under the edge of the awning, on a rusting post (take notice REAs--not the best placement of a … (16 comments)
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Marianne Sweet, Home Sweet Home Staging, LLC Rochester Hills, MI
Rochester Hills,
MI
More about me…
Home Sweet Home Staging
Address: Rochester Hills, MI
Office Phone: (586) 212-8400
Cell Phone: (586) 212-8400
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