What areas are most important to stage? #4 Family/Great Rooms - 07/31/11 10:32 AM
Burlington home sellers should use their budget wisely and concentrate on the areas important to the buyers. So far in this series I have talked about:
Curb Appeal because that is what creates that great first impression. Kitchens because they have become the heart of the home and much more open to the rest of the house. Bathrooms because they hold many of the 'I wants' for buyers. Another area where buyers will see themselves spending a lot of time is the Family or Great Room. Today this room is usually open to the kitchen and part of the entertaining center … (12 comments)

Once again I say 'Call first'! - 07/31/11 10:28 AM

 
It can't be said often enough: Sellers call for a Staging consult before your strip your house.
By trying to get a head start at decluttering, you may remove the perfect piece for staging.
Your stager will arrive with fresh eyes to look at your home. That piece you packed or tossed may have come in handy when used in a whole new way.
You may remove the wrong piece of furniture from the room.
Don't empty rooms for buyers. 80% of buyers need furniture to visualize how their furnishings would fit. Each room should show a clear purpose.
Stagers … (11 comments)

What areas are most important to stage? #3 Bathrooms - 07/30/11 09:28 AM
If you are selling your Burlington home and have a tight budget for preparing it, where should you spend your staging money?
In part one I discussed Curb Appeal which draws the buyer out of the car and into the house.
In part two I talked about the kitchen. Kitchens hold many of the buyer's 'I wants'.
Now, in part three I want to look at bathrooms. Kitchens and bathrooms are big ticket items that buyers would like to see ready for them.
Today's buyers are looking for:
a home with a powder room. a home with a family bathroom. a home with an … (16 comments)

Sweet Success! - 07/29/11 10:45 AM
 Todd and I both wanted to thank you for helping us to stage our house properly.  We took your suggestions very seriously and did as many as we could within our budget and time frame.  The bathroom upgrade to white fixtures and tub, look great and are by far the most significant change.  Besides doing many updates and a massive declutter, people  really appreciated the house's cleanliness.  We are very happy with value we will receive for our house and I  am especially happy with the quick time frame it took to sell our house.

  Thanks again, your contribution … (14 comments)

What areas are the most important to stage? #2 Kitchens - 07/29/11 09:55 AM
Now that your Curb Appeal has drawn the buyer into your Burlington home, you need to keep them loving what they see.
One of the important areas of a home is the kitchen. Today we spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Not only do we prepare meals there, we entertain our guests. Kitchens are now open to the other parts of the home.
Buyers have lists of 'I wants' and the kitchen contains some of them:
granite or granite look counters under mounted sink tile or hardwood flooring island with pendant lights tile or granite back splash stainless appliances … (10 comments)

What areas are most important to stage? #1 Curb Appeal - 07/28/11 11:59 AM
You can't sell your Burlington home if the buyers won't get out of the car!
You can't sell a home if you can't see it.
That's why Curb Appeal is so important.
Your Curb Appeal is the 'first impression' the buyer gets when they arrive. It should appeal to them but also reassure them that your home is well maintained.
If your budget is tight, you can still up your Curb Appeal with sweat equity. Wash down the front of the house. Windows, lights, doors and porches all collect dirt from the air. Make sure the lawn is cut and weeded. If … (8 comments)

What areas are most important to stage? - 07/27/11 08:20 PM
If you are selling your home and have a very tight budget for preparing your home, where should the money go?
Start with curb appeal. You need that good first impression to draw the buyers inside.
There is an old saying, 'kitchens and bathrooms sell homes'. That 's because they are areas where we spend a lot of time and updating these areas are 'big ticket' items. So, I'd have to agree that staging these areas is important.
But, don't forget another area where you spend a lot of time living. The great room or family room also needs to look … (16 comments)

You're not just doing this to earn money are you. - 07/27/11 07:50 PM

 
That's what a Realtor client of mine asked me recently after we tweaked a condo of his client.
We were both trying to catch a breeze after being in the condo without the air on.
My answer?
NOPE! I JUST LOVE STAGING!
While I don't work for free LOL, I'm lucky enough to really enjoy what I do for a living. I consider myself lucky to have found my niche.
Playing with houses is in my genes. My grandfather was a builder in Hamilton & Burlington.
I'm sure I get some of my creativity from him.
I love … (14 comments)

A Tweaking I Will Go! - 07/25/11 03:20 PM

 
I did a consult for one of my Realtor clients on a man cave.
The seller listened to a certain extent but ignored some key elements.
The Realtor and I were discussing other successful projects and he mentioned he was having problems with the 'cave'.
In the end we decided to meet at the 'cave' and see if I could tweak it before he had new photos taken for the MLS.
I think with some accessories and lighting solutions we can give this 'cave' some more WOW.
I don't think anyone wants to wait for another 'cave man' to … (14 comments)

While Buyers vacation .... - 07/24/11 04:52 PM
While the Buyers are focusing on their summer vacation, sellers should be busy preparing their homes for sale.
Take this slower time in Real Estate to do those repairs and updates that your home will need to compete. When the market picks up again your home will be ready.
Now is the time to change out those dated light fixtures or kitchen hardware.
 Replace that damaged flooring and paint over those very personal color choices you made.
Do those small repairs that can raise red flags for buyers.
Make those changes to the curb appeal that will make a great first … (14 comments)

Pay now or pay later. - 07/24/11 11:17 AM
 
 
 Sellers who feel they can skip preparing their home from sale to save money are fooling themselves.
 The fact is that this seller will end up paying when the house sells.
 Buyers will adjust their offer to accommodate the 'fixes' they feel the house needs.
If the house is sitting on the market for a while, a price correction may be necessary. That price reduction will probably be greater than the cost of staging the home.
While the house sits on the market you are paying in time and aggravation from having your life disrupted by viewings.
If you … (12 comments)

It's time to walk the walk. - 07/23/11 01:41 PM
Now that you are selling your home it is time to walk the walk.
You need to walk that line between showing the buyers a 'model' home they can dream about owning and a home where someone is living comfortably.
The home has to be depersonalized so that the buyer can see past the seller's lifestyle and envision their lifestyle fitting into the house.
At the same time the house has to look like a home that is working for the owner and therefore it will work for the buyer.
That's why preparing your house for sale is so important.

… (14 comments)

Home Staging Tip For Sellers: Capitalize On Your Closets - 07/22/11 02:47 PM
Sharon makes a great point here. Storage is an important part of the equation when selling. Yes! Buyers will look in closets and cupboards. Get a head start on your packing and make sure they are show ready.
Via Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations):
 Home Staging Tip For Sellers:  Capitalize on Your Closets.  Every closet, cabinet and drawer in your home has the potential to impress a buyer.   Home Staging isn't just about furniture, paint color and fresh towels.
 Home staging is about creating a perception of value in the minds of potential buyers. 
Advertisers spend a lot of … (4 comments)

Much of the marketing of a home is done before listing. - 07/20/11 02:51 PM
I had a conversation with a Realtor client recently about how so much of the marketing of a home is done before the home goes on the market.
He gets it!
Step one - get a staging consult done so the home is prepared properly. Once the consult is done, the seller can follow through by doing the work themselves or having the Stager come in to do the work for them. If the seller decides to do the work themselves they can opt to have the Stager come back and tweak their work.
Step two - use a professional photographer … (15 comments)

There is always something to do. - 07/20/11 09:57 AM
As business slows down for the holidays, I don't have to wonder what to do with myself.
All I have to do is step outside and the projects await.
There's always a weed hiding among the flowers.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
The Hydrangea and Geranium are in full bloom right now.
I love the combination of the dark green, white and purple.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
The clematis has grown up through the wisteria and is in full bloom.
I think the wysteria is holding up … (15 comments)

Realtors and Stagers... This is NOT the Time to Worry About Being Nice! - 07/19/11 01:07 PM

We all need to be reminded about taking precautions. We see clients alone often and that can make us vulnerable.
Read Kathy's safety suggestions. They are a good reminder.
Via Kathy Streib-Home Stager-Palm Bch County South Florida - 561-914-6224 (Room Service Home Staging):
Realtors and Stagers... This is Not the Time to Worry About Being Nice!
Karen Monsour of Coldwell Banker in Fort Lauderdale wrote a post that was Featured today about a very upsetting story of a Realtor missing in Pembroke Pines Florida.  It is Members Only so I cannot reblog it but I encourage you to go to her post … (6 comments)

Price, Location, Terms and Condition All Influence Your Sale. - 07/19/11 10:54 AM

Many would maintain that Price is the most important factor when you are selling. After all no one wants to over pay for something.
If you price your home too high it is going to sit there while the competition sells all around you. In a Buyer's market they have lots of homes to choose from as they look for their new home.
Terms like mortgage rates, foreclosures etc. will also influence sales.
Another big one is location. Living in an exclusive area can raise your list price while living in a poor location will subtract value.
The condition of … (2 comments)

Home Staging Tips in Palm Beach County- Sellers... If You Want to Stage the House ... Do it BEFORE You List It! - 07/18/11 11:07 AM

Kathy says it so well! Her post about staging before you list is spot on.
Give yourself time to prepare your home before you list. Don't just hope your home can compete.
Via Kathy Streib-Home Stager-Palm Bch County South Florida - 561-914-6224 (Room Service Home Staging):
Home Staging Tips in Palm Beach County-  Sellers... If You Want to Stage Your House.. Do it Before You List It.
 
In the last 2 months I've received calls from both Realtors and Home owners with one common thread... they'd jumped the gun and put the cart before the horse.  Most recently a Realtor … (8 comments)

At least I can't be found redundant! - 07/17/11 03:52 PM

 
There is one good thing about being self employed.
I can't be found redundant!
I got an e-mail from a friend yesterday telling me not to send any messages to her work address anymore. Her job had been found redundant. Ya gotta love those Friday exit interviews ;).
I may have to go out there and go after jobs but no one can say my job is redundant. I can lose out to another stager's bid but I can move on to the next chance.
If I don't like something about the job I can pass.
I set up … (16 comments)

Let De-Cluttering Set You Free - 07/16/11 07:13 PM

Judy has a great idea. If we all sorted through our 'stuff' more often, it would be less of a job when we decide to move.
It's not always easy to make your self sort, donate, recycle and toss but we should.
Via Judy Klem, Home Staging, Senior Move Management, Fairfield/New Haven counties (Transition Stage LLC):
Let De-Cluttering Set You FreeWhenever I move house, or help others to do so, I am always struck by the point at which total "stuff" exhaustion sets in. There are so many tasks involved in moving, so many decisions to make, so much stuff to sort … (3 comments)

Yes, your spider has to go. - 07/16/11 10:02 AM
I've come across many pets during my 6yrs of staging. The one that bothered me the most was the big black SPIDER!
The client's son had one for a pet. He very kindly told me about it before I entered his room.
Even so it gave me the creeps ... no pun intended LOL.
The fact is that pets, whether they are loose or in a cage, should be removed from a home while it is on the market.
There are reasons for this:
they tend to distract the buyer's focus from the house. buyers who do not care for pets … (24 comments)

Three Myths in One Call! - 07/15/11 11:01 AM

 
I had a call from a new client and I heard three common myths about Staging while we talked.
Myth #1 came out when she said her friend had had her home staged but of course her home was bigger. In this case size doesn't matter. Why? Because every home benefits from staging. In fact, smaller homes need it more because of the smaller rooms, storage etc. You really need to show the prospective buyer how to live in the space and what fits. Secondly, sellers of smaller homes need the equity out of their home just as much … (43 comments)

Technology - the good and the bad of it. - 07/14/11 01:05 PM

 
Technology has certainly invaded our lives. It's enriched our world in many ways. We can contact others far and wide.
On the good side it makes doing business easier. Today I got a new client who found me on the Internet. I love that! Computers and the Internet also mean I can e-mail my reports to my clients quickly instead of snail mailing them.
Then there are the wonders of smart phones that make you accessible anywhere. That's a double edged sword of course.  
But we come to rely on them, at least I do LOL. So when my phone … (8 comments)

Tell me about .... - 07/11/11 09:25 AM
If you watch HGTV staging shows you would think stagers come into a home and bludgeon the seller over the head with frank discussions about their house.
I'm sure if they weren't getting a free ride the seller would tell the stager to take a hike.
I know that clients are waiting for it sometimes when I arrive. They make comments like "don't worry about our feelings, we can take it" or "are you like so and so on HGTV?" Clients often apologize for their home before we begin.
One client even said she thought I was going to be 'scary'.
… (15 comments)

Sellers and Buyers are symbiotic. - 07/10/11 11:17 AM
During the selling process you might say the seller and buyer become symbiotic.
The seller is processing the change from home to house while the buyer is processing the change from house to home.
As the seller prepares their home for sale, it becomes less like their home and starts to turn into the house they had on 'X' street. This separation process is necessary for them to be able to let go and move on with their life.
Treasures are put away in the process of de-cluttering. They may have to paint out their favorite color on the walls of … (13 comments)

Living Mode vs Selling Mode - 07/09/11 04:57 PM

 
When you are in Living Mode, your house is set up to facilitate your lifestyle.
There may be a room where the kids play that doesn't get tidied daily and that works for you.
It doesn't matter if there is good traffic flow through a room. You are only concerned that everyone has a good view of the TV.
That rack full of shoes by the front door is very convenient and saves a lot of running around looking for kids shoes.
When you want to store something in the basement, you can just plunk it anywhere and come … (10 comments)

When is a house not a home? - 07/06/11 03:43 PM

 
What is the answer to this riddle?
Quite simply it is when the house is put up for sale.
Once your home goes on the market it is no longer just your home. It is now a product. That product needs to be marketed like any other product.
I've posted about this before and probably will again. It's so important for a seller to accept this concept.
The Real Estate market is very competitive and you need to show the buyers your home is just as good if not better than similar homes in your area.
What works for … (14 comments)

Show them your home is ready. Did you update 10 years ago? Part V - 07/04/11 10:10 AM

 Will you be selling your Burlington home in the future? Is your home ready for the buyer that is downsizing, wants room to grow, wants their dream home or is being transferred here?
When is the last time you made changes to the decor of your home? If it is more than 5 years ago, I'll bet your home now looks dated.
Styles and colors change so quickly in the fashion industry and in decor. Your home can become a symbol of an era before you know it.
Those oh so chic Euro cabinets now date that renovation. Your favorite color … (15 comments)

Show them their new home(town). Part IV - 07/03/11 09:47 AM
Targeting your market when you sell your Burlington home is an important factor. By knowing what type of buyer will be looking at your home, you can prepare your home to meet their expectations. Whether they are downsizing, looking for room to grow, or for that dream home the house has to 'talk' to them to connect.
There is another type of buyer. The buyer that is being transferred from another city. This buyer has a limited time to find a new home for themselves. They may be hoping to move up but at the very least they want a home … (9 comments)

Show them they have 'arrived'. Part III - 07/02/11 10:35 AM
In this series I am discussing targeting your market when you are selling your Burlington home. Your home is a product and it needs to appeal to the buyers just like any other product.
I have talked about appealing to the downsizing couple.
I have talked about appealing to a young couple who need room to grow.
Now let's look at marketing a home to those buyers ready to move up in the market. The couple looking for their dream home.
This couple too has expectations. So what do you make sure you show them?
Show them:
your home has their … (15 comments)

Show them there is room to grow. Part II - 07/01/11 11:27 AM

 
When you put your Burlington home on the market it is important to know your target market. This allows you to prepare your home properly.
In my first post I covered selling to buyers who are downsizing. Today I'd like to talk about selling to a couple looking for their first home, a home where they may start their family.
Initially they are looking for a place to make their first home together. The future could hold pets, kids or a job transfer.
What should you show them?
Show them:
they can relax after a long day at work. there is … (8 comments)

 
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Janice Ankrett Burlington Ontario Accredited Staging Professional

Burlington, ON

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Janice Ankrett Home Staging

Cell Phone: (905) 467-5353

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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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