When it comes to working on our homes, the one thing no book of household management can ever tell you is how to begin. - Katharine Whitehorn

De-cluttering.

It is one of the most crucial steps prior to putting your home on the market, and an essential element of Home Staging. For home owners, however, it is often easier said than done. What is clutter really, but the by-product of the way we live in a home? It is the accumulation of life's daily activities, creeping into the corners of our home, creating a never ending "to do" list.

Realtors, use these guidelines for assisting those clients who simply do not know where to begin.

Preparing your home for sale can be a daunting task. The following are tips to help you gain perspective and assist you in achieving your goal of selling your home quickly. Remember that a house well lived-in reflects a house well-loved. Begin now to transform it so that your buyers will love it as much as you do.

1. Begin with the end in mind. Visualize the look on a perspective buyers face when they walk into your fabulous home once it is Staged and ready to show.

2. When prioritizing your "to do's", always begin with the task that will take the least amount of time.

3. Only tackle one room, or section at a time.

4. If necessary, break large tasks into smaller ones by setting a time limit, and complete all that you can in 15 or 30 minute increments.

5. Think seasonally when packing items for storage. This goes not only for clothing, but décor, kitchen wares, etc. If you’re not wearing it or planning on using it in the next few months, pack it.

6. Instead of putting items in closets or behind closed doors, pack them up and label them well. You will need to pack before moving anyway! Be specific in your labeling, just in case you should need an item that is already packed, prior to moving.

7. When downsizing, de-cluttering, or moving, ask yourself the following qualifying questions:

• Is it worth it to pay the additional cost to move these items?

• When was the last time it was used?

• Do you have multiple items that serve the same purpose?

• If so, what is the benefit of having multiple items?

• Is it worth potentially losing equity in my home to keep it?

8. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Call in the professionals to take on a project that turns out to be larger than you anticipated. Staged by Design can assist you with this process every step of the way, either by providing additional manpower to help you accomplish your Staging goals, or by recommending professionals best suited to your specific needs.

www.staged-by-design.com

I have spent the last year inching my way into Active Rain. I started by reading as many posts as possible, then moved on to contacting Brad Andersohn for a little hand holding as I navigated my first post. (Thanks, Brad!) Along the way, I have come to admire the knowledge and talent of so many creative individuals, some of whom are here in the D.C. area where I live.

I spent this morning as a vendor at a Re/Max Allegiance meeting in Springfield, VA. As I'm handing out information, and talking to the attendees about my company and Staging, I see a familiar face walking toward me. I'm thinking, "I KNOW HIM! I've read a zillion of his blogs." So what do I do? I proceed to act like a complete and utter idiot. I babbled, and stuttered, and said something along the lines of, "You're from Active Rain! You're Brian Block, OMG". There I was, all decked out in my professional best, proudly representing my company, and suddenly I turned back into a star struck 12 year old, complete with a resounding Oh My Gosh!!! Give me some big hair and braces and it would have been middle school all over again. Lord help me.

Brian was so very polite and didn't even seem put off by my bizarre behavior, for which I will be eternally grateful.  The reason I chose to share my most embarrassing moment is that AR is such a valuable tool for sharing knowledge, insight, and a bit of ourselves that when we do have that opportunity to meet face to face, we feel like we know a lot about the person, not just the business.

So...should you ever come across a tongue tied AR admirer, just smile and nod, and consider it to be the very highest compliment.

Color affects us in many ways. Our responses to color range from subliminal, physiological to emotional. It impacts how we feel when we enter a room, what products we purchase, and even what foods we choose to eat.

Have you ever been shopping and suddenly noticed that every store seems to be carrying the same color options? All of a sudden everything from salad tongs to skirts is that “new trendy color”? If you ever wondered how a color trend began, then read on.

Every year, a company called Pantone selects what they consider to be the “Color of the Year”. While the name may be unfamiliar to you, Pantone is the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries. Their choice of colors influences everything from graphics to fashion, to home décor. They set the stage, and the rest of the world follows, right? Well, sort of. We all don’t necessarily need to run out and re-paint our walls and update our wardrobe just because a world authority on color predicts a trend, gives it a name, and proclaims it to the world.

First of all, not every color of the year translates to everyone’s taste. Take this year’s choice, Mimosa. This is a strong, vibrant, yellow with orange undertones. I’m not sure I could pull it off either in my house, or in my wardrobe. Michelle Obama certainly did, though. The dress she wore to the Inauguration Ceremony was a retro take on the upbeat yellow tone. By the way, it’s no surprise that Mimosa is a vibrant, optimistic color, which is what we all need right now, given the current state of the economy.

As for Home Staging or Interior Design, you may see this color as an accent; a pop here and there, such as in pillows or artwork. Should you decide, however, that the bold optimism of Mimosa is perfect for your home, Benjamin Moore translates its interior color trend as St. Elmo’s Fire 362, from its newest Aura paint line. In addition, Benjamin Moore publishes a yearly color report title “Color Pulse” that offers several neutral hues appropriate for Home Staging from their “Urban Silence” category: Rattan AF-375 and Wasabi AF-430, both from the Affinity collection. Try them out if you’re feeling trendy. If not, rely on a tried and true standby such as Lenox Tan, HC-44, or Toasted Pine Nut, from Sherwin Williams.

And lastly, if you are ever attempting to find out what color goes with what and happen find yourself without your handy-dandy color wheel, try this little parlor trick: Take a sheet of black paper or cardboard, and cut out a two to four inch square. Look at the color of your outfit, or item in question through this “window” for about 30 seconds and then look at a blank sheet of white paper. The color that appears on the paper will be the after-image; a complement of the original color. It really works!

Leigh Newport is Owner and Principal Designer for Staged by Design, a Home Staging and Interior Redesign company serving all of Northern Virginia. Visit us online at www.staged-by-design.com

I had this experience recently with a new client, referred to me by their Realtor.

I met the client, completed the Staging consultation, and then proceeded to go over the results of the report, including the Top 10 list and action plan, when she said...

‘Wow, you can really tell you do this for a living!’

I was a little taken aback, but smiled and said thank you, and continued on with our discussion. As it turns out, she has a friend who stages as a “hobby”.

Since this is my passion AND my business, I was certainly glad that it came across that I take Staging seriously, because I DO. Staging is not decorating. It’s not about simply filling empty rooms with furnishings from a friend’s home. Although there are many components to the philosophy of Staging, and why it works, here is how it directly affects your customers:

You are making recommendations for changes or improvements that affect the equity of someone’s home.

There are so many factors that go into making the appropriate plan for Staging a home. Here are just a few:

• What are the demographics of potential buyers?
  
• What about the other listings in the competitive set? How can your home best compete with them?
  
• What are the current trends in real estate and design? How do you best incorporate them into the home?

Consider other services that typically require a professional. Would you feel comfortable if you knew that an Auto Mechanic, Contractor, Chiropractor, etc. were pursuing those endeavors as a hobby?

So yes, I do this for a living, and I’m glad that it shows.

Leigh Newport is an Accredited Staging Professional, Owner and Principal Designer for Staged by Design, a Home Staging and Interior Redesign company serving Northern Virginia.

www.staged-by-design.com

571-291-0614

I love Fall. However, cool weather and afternoon light are just the beginning of what quickly turns into the chaos of back to back holidays. If you can't believe I'm even mentioning the holiday season in October, just take a whirl in any of your local retail stores. You'll find skeleton costumes right next to the turkey decorations that are a mere aisle away from the Christmas lights.

If you find that you need to list or sell a home during the holidays.....

-How do you Stage your home, live in it while keeping it on the market, yet observe holiday rituals?

-Should homes that are vacant be Staged using Holiday decor?

First let me state that I'm the last one to talk about moderation when it comes to personal Holiday Decor. I have 16 boxes of assorted holiday decorations alone in my basement. (Seriously, 16. Just ask my husband.) However, since I'm not selling my home, I can deck my halls any way I like without it affecting the value of my home.

When Staging a home, your goal is to appeal to the broadest group of individuals. This goal does not change with the calendar. The following are suggestions for observing the season without alienating potential buyers.

Halloween: Seasonal décor vs. Holiday specific is always preferred. Tablescapes could include mini-pumpkins or mums instead of draping your front porch with faux spider webs and a graveyard along your front drive. (Just a tip: that cute little pumpkin tastefully placed on your buffet will continue to look fresh for well over a month until you pick it to reveal its rotten bottom. I learned that one the hard way.)

Thanksgiving: Put away the crepe paper turkeys prior to a showing. Consider incorporating warm colors into table settings or accents instead.

Christmas: A simple fresh evergreen wreath on the front door is always welcoming. A partially deflated Santa on your lawn? Not so much. Does this mean that I wouldn’t put up a Christmas tree if my occupied home were on the market in December? No, that’s not practical for me. But I would only use 1 box of décor of my personal stash, as moderation is key.

Vacant Homes: Beware of using any fresh seasonal options in vacant homes. That lovely bouquet will be rotted and unappealing in a few days. A tasteful, seasonally appropriate wreath on the door may be all you need to observe the holidays while still maximizing your home’s appeal to the masses.

Leigh Newport

Staged by Design

www.staged-by-design.com