Realtors Let's Have Some Fun- an invitation- your photo, my thoughts - 07/25/10 09:46 PM

 
 
 
 
Stagers have a weakness for rooms.
We can't resist tweaking a room no matter where we see it.
So, here's my invitation to post a photo of a room in your comment.
It can be one you think is perfect.
OR
 It can be one you think needs help.
 
 
 
 
Come one come all and let's see what happens!
 
 
… (20 comments)

The Heaviest Traffic Will Be In The First 2 Or 3 Weeks - 07/25/10 02:37 PM

 
 
 
The sale of your home will be influenced by Price, Location, Terms and Condition.
Staging deals with Condition.
 
When your home goes on the market those first 2 or 3 weeks are very important.
That is when interest is high and lots of people will be taking off their shoes to view your home.
That is when your home is labeled with things like 'a dream to show' or 'needs work'.
To get the good labels that will help sell your home, you need to Stage it. Staging simply means preparing it for sale.
Staging sets … (21 comments)

Staging Helps You Move On With Your Life - 07/24/10 10:04 AM

 
 
 
 
 
  There is no doubt about it Selling your home disrupts your lifestyle.
That's why getting the job done will be high on your wish list.
SOLD means you can relax. SOLD means you will soon be moving on to life in a new home.
Preparing your home for sale / Staging  will speed up this process.
A properly Staged home shows well to even the pickiest buyer.
The features of your home are highlighted so that the buyer will see them right away.
Your personal 'stuff' will not distract the buyer's focus.
There will be no deferred … (14 comments)

Red Flags Could Sideline Your Sale - 07/23/10 08:28 PM

 
 
 
 
 
Red means Stop, Danger, Go no further.
Red flags when you are selling your house are negative signals that your home is sending out to potential buyers.
As a Stager it is my job to recognize these red flags and point them out to the seller. You see, we all learn to live with small things that are not perfect. But we don't have time right now so we walk by.
When it comes time to sell you can no longer ignore these issues.
One area that sends up red flags is deferred maintenance issues.
… (2 comments)

You Are Not Selling A House, You Are Selling A Future - 07/20/10 07:35 PM
Sharon Tara has hit the nail on the head ;). Sellers need to show their buyers how to live in the house in a positive way if they want their house to become part of a buyer's future.

Via Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations):
Here is something important to consider if you are planning to list your house for sale.  You are not just selling a house, you are selling a future.  Each time you show your house to potential buyers, you are showing them a glimpse of their possible future.

 
 
 
BEFORE you list your … (8 comments)

Open Concept Living - 07/18/10 01:52 PM

 
Open concept living has become more popular in home design.
This can pose problems when dealing with the decor.
Houses need to flow to feel comfortable.
This means that the colour scheme needs to run throughout the house.
 
 
 
When your house goes on the market it is best to show all the features of your home to the buyers.
If the builder's plan calls for a living and dining room you should show the buyer these features clearly.
Buyers can have a difficult time trying to see the available space if you are using the whole room as a … (17 comments)

Rooms Full Of Sweet Dreams - 07/17/10 10:42 AM
When you put your home on the market you are selling not only the home but what the buyer perceives as the lifestyle that goes with it.
This means your home needs to show the buyer how wonderful it is to live in various zones of your home.
Let's look at the bedrooms.
If you are selling a family home, show it as a family home.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
You are a young couple selling your home. You have no children and you have a spare room with a bed. Is that enough? Let's … (10 comments)

Honor the Client and their possessions. - 07/16/10 09:59 AM

 
 
 
 
When I took my Staging course I was given a credo.
THE HIGHEST FORM OF SALESMANSHIP IS SIMPLY SERVICE
A STAGER IS A SOLUTION PROVIDER
HONOR THE CLIENT AND THEIR POSSESSIONS
DO WHAT IS BEST FOR STAGING
As the market fluctuates and people face harder times this credo is even more important.
Sellers and Realtors that believe Staging is an expensive 'nice to have' rather than a 'need to have' are misguided.
A Staging consult is about more than recommending replacing the client's furnishings with rentals.
It is about Honoring the client and their possessions:
We … (9 comments)

The epidemic of the unfinished project and the unsold house. - 07/15/10 12:08 PM
As a Stager I also see homes that have projects left incomplete even though the client is planning on or is already selling their home. Unfinished projects can be viewed as deferred maintenance. They raise red flags for buyers. The buyer may wonder if they didn't finish this project what else is half done in this house. Buyers will take a 'glass half empty' approach and move on to a home where there is nothing for them to do but move in and live.

Via Richard Weisser Coweta Fayette Real Estate:
As a real estate agent, I look at a … (6 comments)

Clutter Eats Equity - 07/14/10 10:15 AM

 
 
 
  Clutter is a dirty word when you are selling your home.
It cannot be said often enough.
Clutter eats equity!
Everyone wants to free up as much equity as possible when they sell their home. You need that money to put into your next home. As an investor you want your profit.
Why do Stagers tell sellers to de-clutter? Because we want the buyer to see the features of your home not your 'stuff'.

 
 
We don't want the buyer to remember how cluttered your desk was during their visit.
We don't want the buyer to … (11 comments)

Kitchens are the hearth of the home. - 07/13/10 02:57 PM

 
 
 
When you are selling your home kitchens matter.
Kitchens are an expensive area to renovate.
This makes them high on the 'I want' list for buyers.
 
 
 

 
It is to your advantage to show the kitchen area at its best.
Having an 'eat-in' feature should be shown clearly so that families can see space.
Update the lighting to add appeal.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
With updated lighting and the futon removed the buyers can see this area is large enough for a family to eat or entertaining.
… (12 comments)

Options, Life is full of them. - 07/09/10 11:38 AM
  
 
 
In life we often have to look at our options and choose.
One of those options was to sell your home and you have chosen to do just that.
You have chosen a Realtor that you feel meets your needs.
It is time to prepare your home for sale.
You have looked at the options and chosen a Home Stager to advise you.
It is the Stager's job to present you with more options.
During the consult your Stager will look at each area of your home and advise you on how to prepare your home for sale.
If … (12 comments)

Perception is Reality or so they say - 07/07/10 08:12 PM

 
 
 Staging is all about how the buyer perceives a property.
  In this photo one sees the family room as small and hard to place furniture.
  Buyers only know what they see, not the way it's going to be.
 
 
 
 

 
 
After Staging the buyer can see one possible arrangement that allows good traffic flow to the kitchen and the window seat.
The room has been decluttered enough to open up the feel of the room while leaving some warmth in the room.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 How would … (11 comments)

A Realtor's Best Friend - 07/04/10 02:24 PM
       
                THE DOG
       They say that a dog is man's best friend.
                  Being a dog lover, I tend to agree.
                             However the dog is not a Realtor's best friend.
                                     The dog can complicate a Realtor's sale.
 
 
In the world of Real Estate a Realtor's best friend is a Stager.
           A Stager makes a great addition to your team.
A Stager can help a  home sell faster in a slow market and for more money in a hot market.
Your homes will stand up to the competition.
A Staged home is clean and … (12 comments)

 
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Janice Ankrett Burlington Ontario Accredited Staging Professional

Burlington, ON

More about me…

Janice Ankrett Home Staging

Cell Phone: (905) 467-5353

Email Me

Home Staging tips and advice offered to help sellers. Working in Burlington Ont. and surrounding areas Janice Ankrett ASP helps sellers prepare their homes for sale. Janice works with real estate agents and owners to help the home sell as quickly as possible for the best possible price.


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