Assume that buyer doesn't speak English. - 02/26/12 08:37 AM
When you are preparing your home for sale, assume the buyer does not speak English.
The most direct way to communicate is with images. In Staging we call them vignettes.
Stagers use vignettes to highlight the features of the home. We use vignettes to show the lifestyle the house affords the buyer.
Stagers determine what type of buyer will probably be looking for a home like yours and tailor our work to that buyer.
We are merchandizing your home. It is similar to watching a TV commercial without the sound. If the commercial is well done, you still get … (14 comments)
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Nine Staging truisms for selling your home. - 02/24/12 04:40 PM
When I took my Staging course 6 yrs ago, I was given some Staging truisms.
Time and again I have seen these apply to homes in the Burlington area.
They apply to any style or type of home.
All homes deserve to be Staged. It doesn't matter what size or age or type of home, staging will help present an appealing product. The seller of that small condo wants their equity out of their home just as much as the seller of a mansion.
You are selling square footage not your lifestyle. That means that even if your home … (10 comments)
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You can't sell it if they can't see it - a Staging Truism - 02/23/12 07:13 PM
This phrase is very true when you are selling your home. As a Burlington Stager, I see this proven in many homes.
It starts with curb appeal:
Trees can block the view of the house from the street should be trimmed. Shrubs that are overgrown and block walks or windows make the house less appealing. Exterior lights that don't work show a lack of maintenance as well making evening viewings more difficult.
Once you are inside:
Remember that buyers like light.
Remove heavy window treatments to let in natural light. Buyers like rooms filled with natural light.
Rooms need … (20 comments)
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I've been learning from deaf clients this month. - 02/20/12 04:40 PM
For the second time this month, I have experienced working with deaf clients.
It was definitely a sharp learning curve for me. My job is so verbal in nature. I usually walk through the house with the client talking the whole time.
During the first consult one of the clients was hearing and translated for me using ASL.
Today's clients were both deaf. They used ASL and did not lip read. We communicated by writing and gesturing.
This is what I have learned about the their world:
when you have an interpreter, you do not have to wait … (20 comments)
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If you were interviewing a stager, what would you want to know? - 02/17/12 05:34 PM
I got a call from a Realty office that is looking for a Stager. They got my name from another Realtor.
I have been asked to their next meeting to talk about how I work. In other words, an interview.
If you were the Realtors around this table what would you want to know?
I'd like to be prepared.
I know what I do at presentations that I initiate but this is different.
So, what would you ask me?
What sort of information would you like left behind?
Any Stagers out there with any tips?
… (18 comments)
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Did you buy before you sold? Staging is there to help you. - 02/17/12 05:58 AM
You found the perfect home and couldn't resist buying. This means if you don't sell your home quickly, you will be carrying two mortgages. Not a pleasant thought.
So how do you go about getting your present home SOLD? You probably don't have time for trial and error. You need the help of Professionals.
First you need a good Realtor who will market your home getting it maximum expossure after pricing your home correctly.
Next, and before you go on the market, you need to call in a Stager to help you prepare your home for sale. The goal … (16 comments)
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Don't give the buyer the winter blahs. - 02/16/12 09:45 AM
If you are jumping on the early spring market there are ways to avoid giving the buyer the winter blahs when they view your home.
Let's face it there isn't too much appeal to snow, dormant grass or bare branches. This means you need to work harder at curb appeal.
Keep the driveway and walks clear of snow. Make sure the exterior lights are clean. Try to keep the lower windows sparkling. A planter of evergreen boughs and dogwood branches with apples can add color and texture to a boring winter exterior.
Use color, texture and sparkle to … (6 comments)
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Do you really want to wait for your double to come along? - 02/12/12 01:44 PM
You have made your house into your home. It reflects your life, your style and it's comfortable. You love the way it fits.
Now you are about to sell and you are sure that everyone else will feel the same way you do. Unfortunately that's not true. Buyers come with their own lifestyles and tastes.
Your home now has to appeal to the broadest section of the market or you could be waiting a long time for your double to come along. You will be waiting for that buyer who likes the same colors, enjoys the same things and … (48 comments)
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I had a new experience today. - 02/10/12 10:02 PM
Today I had my first consult with a deaf client. I've never experienced this before.
His wife could hear and was his interpreter through the whole consult. I wasn't sure how to proceed at first. After all I communicate my findings verbally.
This is what I learned.
A person that communicates by signing will be watching the interpreter most of the time not you.
You don't have to wait for the translator to finish to make your next point. They just sort of trail along behind you verbally. It was quite amazing.
The translation is not word for word. … (16 comments)
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No really, I'm not crazy. Staging will help you sell you home. - 02/10/12 09:40 PM
I have been staging in the Burlington area for 6 years now and still I meet people who look at the concept of Staging with a skeptical eye. On the whole clients have become much more aware of Staging and its benefits. We stagers have been working hard to educate the public on the benefits of preparing your home for sale.
It is important when we meet a skeptic to help them understand that Staging is a sound marketing tool. There is a whole selling psychology behind everything we do to a home. It is not just fluffing pillows.
Staging highlights … (12 comments)
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Another What were they thinking moment! - 02/08/12 04:01 PM
Even after 6yrs of staging consults, I still get surprised. This time it was over the location of an electrical breaker box. Do builders ever think past this is convenient to what might be?
I was going down the stairs to a finished basement. The seller had done a wonderful job of finishing off this area of the house with a recreation room, laundry room and storage space.
The problem was that right at the bottom of the stairs, the builder had installed the breaker box and a plumbing stack pipe on the wall. The seller had tried to box … (20 comments)
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The December Challenge Worked! - 02/06/12 02:52 PM
The December Challenge was all about doing things to improve your business in 2012.
One of the things I did was drop off cards attached to goodies at a few Realty offices. I really didn't hold out much hope of any great returns.
Well I got an e-mail from a Realtor and now I have a new Realtor client. It sounds like he is quite active, so if all works out, I should have another great client.
I hope that some of my other efforts pay off as well.
This just makes all the work I did in December … (20 comments)
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What works for living isn't going to fly for selling! - 02/02/12 02:21 PM
It can't be said often enough! What works for living isn't going to fly for selling!
What a seller has learned to walk by and ignore or modifications they have made to make the house fit their lifestyle may be huge red flags for buyers.
I was in a charming older home recently. On the plus side, the seller had renovated the kitchen and main bathroom. We all know that these are expensive areas that make a big difference to buyers.
Unfortunately they had other issues that were going to raise red flags. It was my job to point out that small … (54 comments)
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