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After several blog postings of home staging tips, techniques, and examples, it was time to revisit WHY home staging helps houses to sell. So, put on your lab coats, we are dissecting the science behind the falling in love with a house.
 THE HUMAN BODY: Several chemical and physical reactions occur in the body when it encounters something it loves - pupils dilate, heart rate increases, and endorphins (happy hormones) flood the blood stream. Now, this may all seem very "unromantic," but these reactions trigger an emotional response which creates a memorable experience for buyers who are visiting your house.
THE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE: Studies indicate that buyers decide within 5 seconds of seeing a house if they like it or not. I believe that the emotional response when purchasing is instantaneous. Whether buyers like, dislike, or are indifferent about the property they are viewing, they have drawn a conclusion about the house from their immediate emotional reaction. This is exactly why home staging is essential.
THE HOME STAGING FACTOR: The purpose of home staging in the selling process is to create an environment in the house that buyers will (literally) love. Using stylish furnishing and design principles, home staging sets the scene for what life will be like when THIS house is purchased while re-enforcing the emotional connection for buyers.
Understanding the physical response to a positive experience restates the necessity of home staging in today's market. So stage your house, put it on the market, and let the love fest begin!
KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that creates "First Impressions that Sell" in the Twin Cites and Western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in vacant staging and staging consultations. Visit our website for staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation.
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KFM Staging & Design
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"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
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Staging a house during a recession may make sellers cringe at the thought of spending money just to "decorate" a house. Although some purchases may be beneficial, most homeowner can shop for free in their very own cupboards and closets. Take a look at some no-cost decorating/staging ideas below.
 BATHROOM COUNTER DECOR:
- Rolled hand towels
- Basket of mini soaps and lotions
- Decorative bottles
- Candles
- Vase and flowers
The photo to the right displays two hand towels arranged on the counter for added color and softness to this area.
 KITCHEN COUNTER DECOR:
- Large pepper mill and salt shaker
- Jars of flour, sugar, etc.
- Glass vase with various color beans
- Platters from China set
- Cookbooks
- Fresh fruit
This kitchen (pictured left) is staged using fruit and decorative dishes.
MASTER BEDROOM DECOR:
- Neutral photo frames
- Throw blankets
- Extra pillows
- Empty jewelry box
The master bedroom in the photograph to the right was given an instant headboard using photo frames.
Hard times may call for drastic measures, but when sellers use their imagination and shop in their own cupboards and closets, they may save themselves a lot of money when staging their home.
KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that creates "First Impressions that Sell" in the Twin Cites and Western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in vacant staging and staging consultations. Visit our website for staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation.
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KFM Staging & Design
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"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
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| Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this! |
Home staging has been identified as a key component to preparing houses for sale. Professional stagers have been known to beautifully redesign a living room within minutes of stepping into the space, leaving home owners scratching their heads and muttering, "Why didn't I think of this before?"
The truth is, there is a fine art (yes, art) to the act of rearranging furniture and setting home accents in "just the right place." More than having good taste in decorating, stagers follow proven design principles that show off the individual layout of a house and highlight the features of each room. To accomplish these tasks, stagers perform a "balancing act" that equally distributes visual weight around the room.
In the photo below, the buffet and glass cabinet AND art work AND lack of space on the opposite wall create an over-crowded and unbalanced room that weighs heavy to the right. Off-centered to the light fixture, the improper placement of the table adds to the uneven representation of this room.
Removing the buffet and cabinet allows the table to be centered under the light fixture and with the window. Eliminating the large furniture pieces also creates a "lighter feeling" on the right wall which results in balanced visual weight with the opposite wall.
Rearranging and/or eliminating furniture while staging serves a specific purpose when preparing your home for the market. When properly placed, your furniture will accentuate the positive characteristics of each room.
KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that creates "First Impressions that Sell" in the Twin Cites and Western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in vacant staging and staging consultations. Visit our website for staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation.
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KFM Staging & Design
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"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
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| Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this! |
2298 Amberwood Drive, Woodbury, MN MLS: 3643596 $219,900
Updated throughout, this Woodbury twin home is located in the Timberlea Estates development, minutes from retail establishments and down town St. Paul. This open floor plan allows for counter top seating and formal dining. With an abundance of natural lighting, this home is flooded with a cheery atmosphere.
The open floor plan continues into the formal living room that boasts freshly painted walls of a clean color palette. With plenty of space, this room is perfect for entertaining friends or just relaxing with family.
Adjacent to the living room is a sun-filled four season porch with French doors and gas fireplace. A walk-out to the deck over looks the beautiful fenced-in back yard.
Additional Features:
- Three bedrooms on upper level, two bathrooms
- Lower level family room with fireplace and brick surround
- Den with walk-out to paved patio
- Updated bathrooms including ceramic tile surround
- Freshly painted with a neutral color palette
For more information on this listing, visit Woodbury Real Estate
Realtor Contact Information: Jasminka Chan, a preferred Edina Realty Realtor
Home staging for this property was provided by KFM Staging & Design, "Creating First Impressions that Sell" in the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. For home staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation, visit our website at http://www.kfmstaging.com/.
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KFM Staging & Design
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"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
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674 Eben Court, Stillwater, MN MLS: 3622942 $379,900
Beautifully detailed, this single family home is located in the desirable Liberty on the Lake neighborhood of Stillwater, Minnesota.
Warm cherry cabinetry compliment the luster of granite counter tops in this exquisite kitchen, while the stainless steel appliances contribute to the upscale environment.
Built-in bookshelves highlight the gas fireplace in this main-level living room. Adjacent to this area is a walk-out to the deck, offering stunning views of backyard landscaping.
Additional Features:
- Three bedrooms with main-level master suite, three bathrooms
- Eat-in kitchen with hard wood flooring and formal dining room
- Lower level family room with built-in bar area
- Deck with nature views of wooded back yard
- Over 2,800 finished square feet of living space
- And much, much more!
For more information on this listing, visit Stillwater Real Estate.
Realtor Contact Information: Jasminka Chan, a preferred Edina Realty Realtor
Home staging for this property was provided by KFM Staging & Design, "Creating First Impressions that Sell" in the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. For home staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation, visit our website at http://www.kfmstaging.com/.
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KFM Staging & Design
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"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
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MLS: 3635659 $229,900 6841 4th Street Place North, Oakdale, MN
Located in the city of Oakdale, this spacious multi-level home is full of interior character while boasting a wooded lot for great exterior appeal!
This home features:
- Three bedrooms (two upper, one lower), two bathrooms
- New flooring and light fixtures on main level
- Open floor plan with vaulted ceilings
- Gas fire place with marble surround
For more information on the listing, click here --> Oakdale Real Estate
Realtor Contact Information: Steve Mollner, your Keller Williams Realtor
This house was staged by KFM Staging & Design, a Minnesota home staging company that creates "First Impressions that Sell" in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and western Wisconsin. For home staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation, visit our website at Minnesota Home Staging.
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KFM Staging & Design
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"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
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2155 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul - SOLD IN ONE WEEK!
This beautifully updated 1940's home features original architectural character with modern-day amenities! The upper level has been converted into a large master bedroom with two walk-in closets. Natural light pours in the windows, creating a relaxing retreat for the new owners!
The spacious kitchen features new appliances, counter top seating, and an attached dining area. With views to the front porch, this space is perfect for holiday gatherings and summertime barbecues!
Adjacent to the kitchen, the warm colors of the living room invite guests to make themselves at home. With an open layout, this floor plan is sure to please!
Additional Features:
- Three bedrooms, two bathrooms
- Finished lower level which includes a family room
- Storage room with built-in shelves
- Large deck with privacy fence
- Over-sized garage
- Three season front porch with new flooring
MORE LISTING INFORMATION TO BE POSTED SOON!
This house was staged by KFM Staging & Design, a Minnesota home staging company that creates "First Impressions that Sell" in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and western Wisconsin. For home staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation, visit our website at Minneapolis Home Staging.
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KFM Staging & Design
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"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
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For die-hard home stagers and staging fanatics around the world, home staging is believed to be linked to any profession, celebrity, or life event with-in six degrees. For our first attempt, let's start with an easy one...
Wayne Newton and Home Staging
- Wayne Newton is known as Mr. Vegas
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Vegas's long-running top show was Siegfried and Roy
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Siegfried and Roy are famous magicians
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Magicians are known for their sleight-of-hand tricks
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Sleight-of-hand uses misdirection to bring attention to a desired area
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Attracting attention to desired areas is a key component in home staging
The master bedroom shown the photo below has several angles with low ceiling points. Having no other point-of-interest, the eye is immediately drawn to these low-set roof lines. Buyer's (especially those over 4'10") may view this master bedroom as a series of obstacles.
The staged photo below shows how staging redirects the eye from negative features by creating a visual display that captures buyers' attention. Instead of focusing on the negatives, staging allows buyers to see how to work around less desired areas of a home.
Some critics of home staging accuse stagers of "covering up" flaws in the house; however, that is a uneducated or misunderstood concept of the profession. Home staging shows us how to optimize the unique characteristics of each house.
KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that creates "First Impressions that Sell" in the Twin Cites and Western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in vacant staging and staging consultations. Visit our website for staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation.
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KFM Staging & Design
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"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
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At a recent staging consultation, I inquired about a "Stage your House For Sale" book (not actual title) on the client's table. Naturally, I inquired about what tips the homeowner learned from the literature. Her reply, "Nothing, I didn't read it. A friend gave it to me." My wheels started turning, and a blog was born...
What is the purpose of a professional staging consultation?
In today's "Do-it-Yourself" world, there are dozens - no, thousands of "how to" books on home staging. Online searches yield pages of websites, articles, and advertisements stating, "You don't need to hire a professional stager. Stage your own home today for only $19.95...."
Have professional home stagers overstayed their welcome in the Real Estate community? Are they like your slightly, off-balanced uncle who won't go home when the party is done? After all, why would people pay $200 for a staging consultation when they can check out a book at the public library for free? Our fathers generation's work ethic was, "If you want something done right, do it yourself," and it worked for them.
Take a look at the analogy below...
Let's say you were given several 2 x 4's and were told to build a house. Don't worry, you won't need to do the plumbing or electric, just the framing. Easy. No problem. After all, there are books on the topic. You can just Google, "How to Frame a House." I'm sure Wikipedia has something on that topic.
The truth is, unless we have been taught about house framing, most of us would end up with just a nice pile of lumber, not having a clue on where to start. Then there are those who would be determined to have a go at it despite their lack of knowledge; their intentions may be honorable, but the end results would be less than perfect.
To get the job done correctly and in a timely manner, common sense would tell us to hire a professional who has experience with framing houses - someone who understands the process, who can prioritize the tasks, and utilize the tools in the correct manner.
 
Back to home staging... Even when sellers are given all the correct supplies to stage their house, they may still lack the understanding on how to apply those tools to their home. Books, online sources, and t.v. shows (our home staging lumber yard) offer great resources for professionals and amateurs alike but will only take Do-it-Yourself home staging so far. Consultations by a trained stager will give sellers the "blue prints" for staging, specialized for their own home.
Unlike the oblivious party guests, professional home stagers are asset to the Real Estate community, because they understand the staging process from hands-on experience; they prioritize tasks so sellers are not overwhelmed, and they utilize staging tools in the correct manner for maximum effectiveness.
Today's work ethic: If you want something done right, hire a professional. In the process, you will save yourself time, money, and a whole lot of frustration.
KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that creates "First Impressions that Sell" in the Twin Cites and Western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in vacant staging and staging consultations. Visit our website for staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation.
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"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
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