Phyllis's Blog

Five (5) SIMPLE Must Do's When Preparing to Sell Your Home!!

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:20:23 -0600

I have always said this in the past and it still holds true today. The worst thing a client can do when selling their home is NOTHING!! Even a little preparation can go a long way. Over the past several weeks we have had the opportunity to work with many sellers in the preparation and staging of their homes for sale. I want to take this time to share the TOP FIVE AREAS TO ADDRESS.

MUST DO # 1: DECLUTTER...Remember buyers are there to buy your home and they will get distracted by your items that may be blocking the selling features of your home. DECLUTTER, PACK, DISCARD and STORE. Make your HOME be THE STAR!!

LIVING ROOM BEFORE..Buyers cannot see the true size of the room and the large window and fireplace are being blocked by owners items

LIVING ROOM AFTER...Pack it, store it and discard it. Simple staging and painting the walls a warm color to compliment the fireplace now shows this room's true potential

MUST DO # 2: PANELING...PAINT OR NOT TO PAINT...that is the question!! This is the one simple way of updating the look of your home. Simple primer and paint can immediately take your room from the 70's to current times. Here are a few examples of homes we have worked on for your review. I think you will see that the transformation is well worth the investment in painting

BEDROOM BEFORE....Small, dark and dated

BEDROOM AFTER...Paint, decluttering and proper furniture arrangement completely transformed this room

MUST DO # 3 MASTER BEDROOMS SHOULD BECOME MASTER RETREATS, enticing Buyers to relax and unwind at the end of their long day!!

Master Bedroom Before...Too many items and personal photos create distractions to buyers

MASTER BEDROOM AFTER...By removing some heavier pieces of furniture and artwork and painting with a warmer color on walls the room becomes more inviting.

MASTER BEDROOM BEFORE...

MASTER BEDROOM AFTER..By adding a decorative element over the bed we created a headboard which adds presence to the space. We also swapped out the smaller scaled tables with larger bureaus from another room

MUST DO # 4..REMOVE RUGS AND EXPOSE THE BEAUTIFUL HARDWOOD FLOORING. This is one recommendation that I ALWAYS make to sellers. It is silly to keep old, worn carpeting and tell clients that you have hardwood flooring. TEAR IT OUT AND SHOW THEM THE FLOORS. If floors are worn, then I advise clients to have them refinished or AT LEAST get an estimate for same. This way you are equipped for any credits the buyers may ask for.

Which floors would you rather have?? Bedroom Before (again, dark paneling)

BEDROOM AFTER..rugs are removed and with simple furniture arrangement as well as the paneling painted, a buyer will choose this space over the before ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!!

MUST DO # 5...Update Kitchens and Bathrooms: Don't let this be a scary item as in most cases these rooms can be updated for a reasonable cost to seller.

Painting cabinetry and installing new countertops is a quick fix for most kitchens. Removing floral patterns in the bathroom and cleaning as well as painting can spruce bathrooms up as well. Here are some examples you can follow:

BATHROOM BEFORE...

BATHROOM AFTER...by simply adding warmer accessories you can completely update the look of your bathrooms

KITCHEN BEFORE AND AFTER...a new countertop, darker paint, and painting cabinets gave this room an updated look and brought in THREE FULL PRICE OFFERS within 24 hours!!

When staging your home to sell it is ALWAYS important to remember that with SIMPLE CHANGES and hard work you can transform your home from a home that sits on the market to a home that has buyers making offers in record time!!

The Team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts in NJ has been helping sellers pick and choose their battles as to where they need to make the investment into their home. Do not let the process of preparing your home for the real estate market overwhelm you to the point where you DO NOTHING! ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts DO THIS EVERYDAY and ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL!

Before you list your home, contact us at 732-995-3425 to schedule your in home staging consultation.

TOGETHER we are changing the way buyers view homes!

ARE YOU TRULY READY TO SELL YOUR HOUSE??

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:40:21 -0500

Seems like a simple question, right? As a professional home staging expert I ask this to many sellers because when it comes time to prepare your home for sale...MOST SELLERS ARE RESISTANT TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO SELL!!!

First, you must remember that the way you live in your home and the way you PRESENT YOUR HOME to sell are two very different things. There is alot of competition on the market today and it is important that your home stand out from the competition. Even the nicest of homes can benefit from staging.

Here is an example of home we staged this week. While the client had beautiful furniture and a home that had great selling features, the beauty of the home was being hidden by children's toys, too much furniture and poor layout.

By decluttering, repurposing and rearranging, we created a home that is much more appealing to a buyer.

Here is an example of the Dining Room prior to staging...The room was being used as a playroom for the children.

Dining Room AFTER....By removing the toys and using a large bureau and mirror from another room, we now created a DR that is fit for dining

The Family Room/Kitchen area before was filled with too many pieces of furniture which competed with the fireplace and breakfast nook

FAMILY ROOM/KITCHEN AFTER...By removing items to storage, the room shows off the size and selling features of the home

GUEST BEDROOM BEFORE...Once again, too many items combined with poor layout makes the room seem smaller than it is

GUEST BEDROOM AFTER...This is a how bedrooms should look when selling your home. RESTFUL RETREATS!!

Working with a professional home staging expert is a necessity when it comes time to sell your home.

If you are TRULY ready to sell your home, then it is important that you HAND YOUR HOME OVER TO A HOME STAGING EXPERT and that you allow them to make the appropriate, necessary changes that are needed. The Team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts will TAKE YOUR HOME and transform it INTO A FABULOUS PRODUCT that your agent would be THRILLED TO SHOW and....In no time at all, you will be moving onto your new home.

The Team of ReStyled to Sell has been assisting sellers and their agents throughout the NJ area in increasing the marketability of their homes. We would be happy to meet with you and evaluate your home. Call 732-995-3425 to schedule your in home consultation.

Together we are changing the way buyers view homes.

TO ALL BUILDERS I ASK, WHY ARE YOU NOT STAGING YOUR VACANT HOUSES PRIOR TO LISTING??

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:26:16 -0500

I ask you this question, because the builder I just finished working with is asking himself this question. He is kicking himself because he cannot believe the difference staging his home has made and he is sorry he did not stage months ago. Everytime your house is shown is an opportunity to sell it and if the buyer is not initially impressed with what they see, it is a missed opportunity you can never get back.

Prior to staging, buyers could not envision furniture in this home. Most thought the space was too small. Once staged, the house is warm, comfortable and inviting, a place anyone would love to call home.

Here are some of the changes...

LR BEFORE...The beautiful fireplace seems lost in this room

LR AFTER.....Now buyers can envision themselves enjoying the fireplace with family and friends.

BEDROOMS BEFORE...Buyers thought these rooms were small and they would not be able to fit their furniture. So they passed on a beautiful home that has more than ample space to raise a family

BEDROOM 1..great for a little girl, can you see that?? I thought so, neither could the buyers!

What about now?? What little girl would not want this as her room?

BEDROOM 2...You really can fit two boys or guests in this room, REALLY! But buyers thought there was not enough room for a full size bed!

So we staged it with a Queen instead..it fits and much more will also!!

The Master Bedroom provides that perfect retreat at the end of the evening for Mom and Dad!!

The kitchen and family room are always the heart of the home, but before being staged, this space left buyers confused on where to place their furnishings.

BUT ONCE STAGED THIS SPACE TRULY BECOMES THE HEART OF THE HOME

The Formal Dining adds to the beauty of this home and provides plenty of room to entertain guests..BUT BEFORE STAGING buyers could not see that

Leaving your vacant house up to the buyers imagination is NEVER a wise investment..STAGING YOUR HOUSE IS!!

Call on the Team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts of NJ @ 732-995-3425 PRIOR TO LISTING. Remember the cost to stage is ALWAYS LESS THAN YOUR FIRST PRICE REDUCTION!! how many price reductions and missed opportunities will it take before you make the investment to stage?

Buyers Comments Getting You Down? Don't Stress, Stage for Success!!

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:33:55 -0500

What do you do when buyers complain that your home does not offer enough living space? Do you think of knocking down walls and adding on?? I certainly hope not! Instead you should be seriously considering the services of a professional home stager...Enter the team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts!!

My job as a professional home staging expert is to clearly define your space so buyers can envision themselves living there. Sometimes that may mean swapping out rooms for better flow. Here is a home we staged in Westfield, NJ last week. The home was completely renovated but left buyers unimpressed with the layout of the home as IN THEIR EYES they felt it lacked adequate LIVING SPACE....NOT SO ONCE WE STAGED IT...first OPEN HOUSE...FIVE OFFERS AND SOLD FOR 6K OVER ASKING!!!

Here are just some of the transformations that we achieved in under 6 hours

LR BEFORE....This was the first room that buyers entered so it was important that this room be broken up into a warm and inviting living room and entry foyer. Most sellers, when faced with a long narrow room do not know how to properly arrange their furniture. As you can see, the furniture layout before was not condusive for conversation and enjoying the fireplace...BORING

LR AFTER...The seller had this furniture stored elsewhere, JUST LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE!! Now when a buyer enters this house the LR is to the left and furniture is arranged properly which is condusive to conversation and enjoyment of the beautiful frieplace which now a focal point. An entry foyer was created to the right of your room, highlighting a beautiful staircase... MAKES PERFECT SENSE!!

THE MASTER BEDROOM BEFORE LACKED WARMTH

MASTER BEDROOM SUITE AFTER...By rearranging the bed and dressing it, the room takes on a grander appearance. We now have room to place a chair and table in this corner which draws attention to the beautiful bay window

THE OLD DR BEFORE..It lacked pizazz and caused buyers to walk right into the table while moving onto the FR. This did not make sense to me so here is what we did..

The DR and FR were swapped out which gave the LR and NEW FR a connection, again offering more living space. Plus it just made sense to have the NEW DR off the kitchen.. Always remember this, you need to appeal to all senses and when entertaining it is ALWAYS best to have your DR off your kitchen..JUST A SIDE NOTE..the seller took the chandelier down after my pics were taken and moved it to the new DR!!

THIS NEW DR NOW TIES IN TO THE BEAUTIFULLY RENOVATED KITCHEN...We just punched the kitchen up a notch by adding accessories as well as PUTTING BACK the table that the seller removed. This table ties in beautifully to the NEW GRANITE COUNTERS, which is a HUGE SELLING FEATURE

KITCHEN BEFORE

KITCHEN AFTER...SO MUCH BETTER

THE THIRD FLOOR ATTIC WAS FINISHED BUT WAS BEING SHOWN VACANT...HUGE MISTAKE!!

HERE IT IS STAGED AND NOW SHOWS BUYERS THE BEAUTY OF THIS SPACE, OFFERING LOTS OF ADDITIONAL LIVING SPACE, DON'T YOU AGREE?

These were just SOME OF THE CHANGES we made which has helped buyers see the true potential of this home. THIS IS THE ROLE OF THE HOME STAGING EXPERT!

Is your home sitting on the market without any offers? What are you waiting for, another price reduction? Call today for your in home staging consultation at 732-995-3425...TOGETHER, WE ARE TRULY CHANGING THE WAY BUYERS VIEW HOMES AND HELPING SELLERS MOVE ON.

Tonight I Received Shocking News..

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:33:55 -0500

Awhile back I wrote a blog..STAGING FOR THE RICH AND FAMOUS, WILL YOU KNOW IT? I DIDN'T. I have repeated this blog below and you will notice that I never mentioned the client's name because I felt it was important to keep his private life, private. But tonight I heard the shocking news that this former client was found dead. I want the world to know who he was and let everyone know he was a kind man and that he will be missed. He loved his family and the realtor that hired me loved him like a son, I am sure she is shocked and heart broken...TONIGHT WE MOURN ARTURO GATTI! A young life cut down in his prime.

It was less than a year ago I wrote this blog and he was excited about selling his home in NJ and moving out of state.

This is a little humorous story that I thought I would share with my fellow AR's. I just finished staging a home for a client as of yesterday and it was quite an experience. Let me backtrack a few days...

I met with the realtor last Friday as usual for my initial consultation. The seller answered the door, I introduced myself and proceeded with my walk through. He was following me around the house and I was telling him we need to take down these curtains, paint this, bring in furniture for that....such an oblivious stager, huh?? Hey I was just doing my job!

As you all know, my husband is a KEY part of my business as he heads up my contracting team. He was lagging behind on the phone with someone while I went on ahead.

I was about half way through with my walkthrough when my husband came over to me and said ..."DO YOU KNOW WHO THAT IS?" I said WHO? To protect my client's privacy I cannot mention his name, but needless to say, my husband is a HUGE Boxing fan so he was thrilled to be in this gentleman's presence.

I WAS CLUELESS, DUH, What the heck do I know about boxing, well maybe I would have recognized Mike Tyson if he had answered the door. (it wasn't him).. My husband was like a little kid, it was quite amusing.

We got the job which involved lots of construction and then staging. When I placed the order at my rental company and they saw the lease agreement, the office began chatting. On the day of my furniture delivery, the delivery guys pulled up in the driveway and had smiles from ear to ear and could not wait to get inside to meet the "former champion of the world" (I did not say any names). It was amusing. BUT HE WAS NOT THERE, HE WAS AT THE AIRPORT. THESE GUYS WERE BUMMED. They wanted his autograph, I laughed and said to them...here I have it on the Lease Agreement, how much do you want to pay me for it?

The realtor called him and told them there were disappointed men here who wanted to meet him. He was very kind and said he would catch them when they picked up the furniture.

The following day my husband and I met with him to review his newly staged home (which he loved by the way) and to finalize some paperwork. When he heard about the delivery guys again he said he would love to meet with them and did autograph a dollar bill for them.

It was a fun job and NOW MY HUSBAND MAKES SURE HE COMES IN ALL THE TIME, GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW MANY OTHER FAMOUS PEOPLE I MAY HAVE MISSED

Staging Two Condos in Two Different Styles to Appeal to a Wider Range of Buyers

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:18:16 -0500

Here is a project we worked on in Linden, NJ. The units are beautifully done and when we asked what the demographics were, we were told young, first time buyers and older professionals. OKAY SO WE NEED TO APPEAL TO BUYERS WITH A LITTLE TRADITIONAL FLAIR AND A LITTLE MODERN EDGE...Here is what we did!

We chose a unit on the first floor and second floor. We staged the unit on the first floor a bit more traditional and then showed the buyer how the unit on the second floor, which had a "BONUS SPACE" would look decorated with a modern flair

LR/DR....UNIT 1

LR/DR UNIT 2..also notice the "BONUS SPACE OFF THE LR"

MASTER BEDROOM AND BATH UNIT 1 which is staged for the traditional buyer

MASTER BEDROOM AND BATH IN UNIT 2 which is staged for the young buyer with a modern edge

SECOND BEDROOM IN UNIT 1...This was staged with a twin bed and writing desk since Unit 2 had the bonus space for an office

SECOND BEDROOM IN UNIT 2...This was staged with a daybed to welcome guests

Kitchens in both units were fabulous!

BUT WHICHEVER STYLE SUITS YOU, YOU HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THEY BLOW AWAY THIS NEXT STYLE WHICH SO MANY BUILDERS AND SELLERS ARE STILL USING......VACANT!!! WHICH APPEALS TO NO ONE!!

DON'T SELL YOUR HOME WITHOUT STAGING IT FIRST...CALL TODAY FORY OUR IN HOME CONSULTATION WITH THE TEAM OF RESTYLED TO SELL HOME STAGING EXPERTS @ 732-995-3425

TOGETHER WE ARE CHANGING THE WAY BUYERS VIEW HOMES AND BUILDERS SELL HOMES!

Rescuing Your Home From the 1980's With the Help of WALLPAPER??

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:07:16 -0500

Okay, okay you have heard me say it thousands of times, REMOVE THE WALLPAPER, buyers don't want to deal with it...wallpaper is like getting a tatoo, it is a great idea at the time but a painful process to remove!! SO WHY DID I WALLPAPER THIS ROOM?? Let's take a look!

OFFICE SPACE BEFORE....Too many shelves, clutter and GOLD VEINED MIRRORS! What's the solution?? Lose the deal, take down and replace ALL walls, Paint and risk chipping or......

OFFICE SPACE AFTER...I had this product called Paper Illusions that mimics a faux finish and was specifically made to go over hard to cover surfaces. By matching the wall color in LR, you now have an updated look. JUST DON'T GO HANGING ANY PICTURES ON THE WALLS!

LIVING ROOM BEFORE...The fireplace is a bit dated but we needed to work with what we had...SOOOO, we removed the gold trim, matched the tile color by using a beautiful color called Cup of Cocoa on the walls and ceiling, removed the mirrored corners and tile on floor as well as ALL LEVELORS. Look at the results!

LR AFTER...Updated, fresh, clean and MOVE IN READY!

DINING ROOM BEFORE...same 80's Style

DINING ROOM AFTER...Carry the same carpet and paint colors throughout the space, remove the levelors and replace light fixture...ELECTRICIAN went after my pics were taken and you have a whole new space!

KITCHEN BEFORE...Look at those backsplashes, that is NOT TILE!

KITCHEN AFTER...Much better now that floor tiles have been removed from the backsplash

When selling your home it is sooooo important to update all your outdated features. The investment will be worth it when that buyer walks through the door and says THIS IS IT!!

Call on the team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts in NJ @ 732-995-3425, if you are ready to sell your home. TOGETHER, we are changing the way buyers view homes!

MAJOR TRANSFORMATION IN JUST ONE WEEK!!

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:42:59 -0500

I have to give a SHOUT OUT TO MY TEAM MEMBERS on this one! On Monday morning myself and my assistants Al and Andrew showed up at this home and began the tedious task of removing wallpaper. My fabulous moving company, All Jersey Movers, were there packing, decluttering and putting the many pieces of furniture I asked be removed, to their storage unit. Tuesday, my painters showed up and Sunday, the best flooring company around, headed up by Michael Vasko installed the hardwood flooring. Yes I said Sunday, and they stayed until it was COMPLETE and the house was ready for it's photo shoot on Monday afternoon. This meant them staying until 10:30 that evening. Now THAT'S A TEAM YOU CAN COUNT ON EVERYTIME...Here are the fabulous results

ENTRY FOYER BEFORE...Long, dark and dated. Not a very good first impression

ENTRY FOYER AFTER...WOW! The staircase is FABULOUS! Always was, but the busy hallway distracted buyers from seeing anything else

DINING ROOM BEFORE...The room seemed more like a library than a formal dining room.

DINING ROOM AFTER...SO MUCH LARGER AND CHEERFUL, YET ELEGANT

KITCHEN BEFORE...Too many things distracted buyers from seeing the granite counters

KITCHEN AFTER...Once the wallpaper, lighting, furniture and decorative items were removed, the granite counters now become the STAR of this kitchen

SMALL HALL BATH BEFORE...Okay it has gray fixtures, but the pink wallpaper DID NOT HELP!

SMALL BATH AFTER...still the gray fixtures, but fresh, clean and updated feel

THE MASTER BEDROOM WAS LARGE BUT TOO MANY DISTRACTIONS KEPT BUYERS FROM SEEING THE SPACE

MASTER BEDROOM AFTER...REMINDS YOU OF A RELAXING WEEKEND AWAY AT A FABULOUS BED AND BREAKFAST

THE GUEST ROOM WAS ACTUALLY MY FAVORITE TRANSFORMATION...BEFORE IT WAS JUST WAAAAY TOO BUSY

GUEST ROOM AFTER....BUYERS UNPACK YOUR BAGS YOU ARE HOME!

THE FAMILY ROOM APPEARED SMALL

FAMILY AFTER...Once the large entertainment center was removed along with replacing the rugs with hardwood flooring, the room is now large, welcoming and updated

THIS FABULOUS HOUSE WAS BEING HIDDEN BEHIND MY WONDERFUL CLIENTS (WHOM WE LOVED) PERSONAL BELONGINGS. BUYERS COULD NOT SEE THE BEAUTY THIS HOUSE HAD TO OFFER. PRIOR TO THE THE RENOVATIONS AND STAGINGS, THERE WERE ONLY TWO SHOWINGS ON THE HOUSE. THE REALTOR COULD NOT GET BUYERS THROUGH THE DOOR.

TO VIEW THIS BEAUTIFUL HOME IN SHREWSBURY, NJ CONTACT PEGGY KAELI @ 732-241-9298, MLS 20923764

WHY?? THE MLS PHOTOS. YOU SEE THE BEFORES, WOULD YOU HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE THIS HOUSE? NOW THIS LOVELY HOME IN SHREWSBURY, NJ IS BACK ON THE MARKET, READY TO COMPETE AND SURE TO WIN!!

CALL ON THE TEAM OF RESTYLED TO SELL HOME STAGING EXPERTS @732-995-3425 TO HELP UNLOCK YOUR HOME'S HIDDEN TREASURES! TOGETHER WE ARE CHANGING THE WAY BUYERS VIEW HOMES!!

ALOT OF DECLUTTERING AND ALOT OF SWEAT ADDS UP TO ONE PERFECTLY STAGED HOME

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:15:35 -0500

Okay this was a biggy both for my team and the client. As you can see the clients were pretty overwhelmed with the prospect of preparing their home for sale. Sometimes all it takes is someone to come along with a plan and alot of helping hands. ENTER THE TEAM OF RESTYLED TO SELL.....

LR BEFORE....The clients personal belongings combined with poor furniture arrangement did nothing to enhance the selling features of this home.

LR AFTER..Now this space welcomes buyers in

The Kitchen is opposite this open LR and together they now make a GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION! My team had been at the home one week prior to staging and painted the kitchen walls which were a dark green color. Now the cabinets are the STAR of the room!

Dressing up your Master Bedroom is as simple as crisp, white bedding with a punch of color carried throughout..OKAY maybe the dog should not be on the bed, but SHE REFUSED TO MOVE!

MBR BEFORE

MBR AFTER

Girl's Rooms are usually filled with posters and paraphernalia that screams THIS IS MY SPACE!

When selling your home you need to stage so that ANY LITTLE GIRL will want to call this HER SPACE

BASEMENTS SHOULD NOT BE FOR STORAGE ONLY. THEY ADD VALUABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE TO YOUR HOME AND NEED TO BE STAGED TO SHOW BUYERS HOW THE SPACE CAN BE USED.

WHO WOULDN'T LOVE HANGING OUT WITH THEIR FAMILY IN THIS BASEMENT?

When it is time to sell your home, call on the Team of ReStyled to Sell @ 732-995-32425, to lend a helping hand, you will be glad you did..Together we are changing the way buyers view homes!

HIRING A HOME STAGER MAY ACTUALLY SAVE YOU MONEY

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:45:30 -0500

Today we staged a lovely home in Newark, NJ. When the sellers first called me, they were in the middle of doing many extensive renovations of the home. My client thought that she may want to stage the property herself and she actually called rental companies and had received quotes based on the items she thought she would need.

When I did my consultation, I found many key items in her basement and then ONLY ORDERED pieces that would compliment their furnishings and home. I ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO SAVE THEM MONEY AND GET MORE ITEMS FOR THEM.

LR BEFORE: A long and narrow room leaves buyers wondering how to set up their furniture for intimate conversation

LR AFTER....I found this couch and area rug in their basement. The client had the fabulous piece of artwork which tied the whole color scheme together. I only needed to order accent chairs, table and lamps. My accessories mixed with the clients accessories completed the look

The KITCHEN BEFORE....The clients had done a beautiful job on renovating the kitchen, it just needed some pizazz..

Red will do it EVERYTIME..

The Parsons Chairs were also in their basement.

The Master Bedroom came to life when we found the beautiful wrought iron headboard and oriental screen. The client also had a great wicker rocker and decorative trunks in the basement, all we needed to bring in was bedding, nightstands, lamps and accessories to complete the master retreat.

If you think that you cannot afford the services of a Home Staging Professional, think again..by unlocking the HIDDEN TREASURES IN YOUR HOME, we will actually save you TIME AND MONEY.

Staging your house to sell is more affordable than you think. Call on The Team of ReStyled to Sell at 732-995-3425 to schedule your initial in home consultation. Together we are changing the way buyers view homes.

How to Stage Your Home On YOUR BUDGET!!

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:33:27 -0500

When the Team of ReStyled to Sell is called on a Home Staging Consultation the first thing that we look at is HOW CAN WE MAKE THEIR HOUSE COME ALIVE BY USING THEIR ITEMS...That is the most fun that we have as we search diligently through basements, closets and garages. Here is what we came up with on a house we staged this weekend.

The clients had some vacant rooms that they were looking to stage. They opted to purchase some of the larger items like couch and chairs for living room. The other items were either purchased by me for a minimal fee or we found them around their home.

The Living Room Before had no appeal to a buyer as they entered the front door. The client purchased the Sofa, Chair and Lamps, while the other items were taken from other parts of the house

The Dining Room Before lacked drama. The client purchased the tablecloth and centerpiece. Everything else was found throughout the house.

The white curtains were removed to showcase the beautiful windows. In the after angle you cannot see that but I wanted to show you the view now from entering the home.

The Kitchen was beautiful, but appeared cluttered and cold. By adding color, swapping out chairs, table and artwork (also found from around the house) the room appears much warmer and inviting.

KITCHEN AFTER...

The Family Room presented a challenge as the clients had a large TV and couch, winding staircase, and a curved wall of windows...

FR BEFORE did not highlight any of the home's selling features.....

FAMILY ROOM AFTER....Did you notice the fireplace before??

The first part to selling any home is getting people in the front door to see it. WHICH PHOTOS WOULD HAVE MADE YOU CURIOUS ENOUGH TO COME SEE THIS HOME??

Call on the Team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts @ 732-995-3425, before you list your house for sale. Together we are changing the way buyers view homes.

Can you Stage a Pre Construction Home??

Fri, 29 May 2009 10:50:45 -0500

Well when the walls are bare and flooring is not in you cannot stage the house. So how do you show buyers how beautiful the space can be?? SIMPLE, DRAW IT OUT FOR ALL TO SEE!

ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts are the only staging company in NJ that offers Design Illustration.

My assistant and design specialist, Al Iacono, was called in to consult on this home which was being sold PRE CONSTRUCTION. The builder has all his design elements chosen but to date none of them have been installed. He gave Al all the details and colors and Al put together the following for him.

This is what a buyer has been looking at. Would you buy this home?

From this picture it is clear to see that this house is going to be difficult to see because VERY FEW BUYERS will actually be able to envision what this space can be. CAN YOU??

Well maybe this will help? We are getting warmer....and YET...

LOOK AT THE FINAL ILLUSTRATION...This illustration LEAVES NOTHING UP TO BUYER, but clearly lays out the builders plan for all to see

From the tiniest detail, Al was able to bring the builders kitchen to life. Notice the mosaic tile behind the range. The pendant lighting and hardwood flooring are just some of the details that are displayed fabulously in this illustration. Granite countertops help buyers imagine the wonderful evenings of preparing meals for loved ones.

This fabulous drawing will now be displayed in the empty space for all to see. The realtor no longer has to explain to buyers that the counter will be here and the hardwood flooring and granite counters will be this color. The buyer can now see it all!

The Team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts has always advised builders NOT TO SELL THEIR HOMES WITHOUT STAGING THEM. We have helped many builders stage their vacant properties and saw them receive offers very quickly.

The worst thing a builder can do is to try to sell a vacant property. BUT NEVER SELL PRE-CONSTRUCTION HOMES without giving the buyer some kind of vision.

DESIGN ILLUSTRATIONS takes STAGING to the next level, by revealing your homes hidden potential. Please visit our website at www.restyledtosell.com and click on DESIGN ILLUSTRATIONS to view some additional projects that Al has helped clients with. Please note that DESIGN ILLUSTRATION is for the occupied home as well.

To schedule your in home staging consultation or Design Illustration consultation, please contact ReStyled to Sell @ 732-995-3425. Together we are changing the way buyers view homes.

Condo, Condo Once Considered Small, Has Proved it's Grandeur to One and All!

Fri, 22 May 2009 18:31:32 -0500

We had the best time staging this fabulous condo in Bayonne today. The weather was great, the boats were sailing by and the staging plan was coming together without a hitch. Not always the case as many of you may know.

This condo had an open floor plan, which for many buyers is almost impossible for them to imagine how to set up their furniture. Tying in the paint colors and white cabinets in kitchen may also have been presenting a problem to buyers.

The Team of ReStyled to Sell accepted the challenge and here are the results!

The LR/DR/Kitchen area Before. The Master Bedroom is in the back of this large room

LR/DR/Kitchen Area After.....

By using colors of light green, blues, white and brown the space looks clean, young and fresh. Spaces have been defined and now buyers can imagine themselves AND THEIR FURNITURE in the space.

The Master Bedroom before left buyers wondering if they could fit a full size bed in here.

The Master Bedroom appeared so much larger with furniture than it did without furniture. We were able to stage this room with a King Sized Bed.

The Second Bedroom off the Living Room seemed like a great place to have a home office. But what if you have a young child or need a guest room? Can you fit both??

Of course you can, simple staging shows off this rooms size and gives buyers a vision for both a bedroom and home office.

If you have a house that has been sitting on the market could it be that buyers just cannot imagine themselves living there??

Call on the Team of ReStyled to Sell at 732-995-3425 for your in home staging consultation.

Together we are changing the way buyers view homes!

Clean and Bright, Makes You Want to Come Home and Cook at Night

Thu, 14 May 2009 15:35:29 -0500

When staging a house to sell it is so important to dress the space to make it warm and appealing to buyers. Here is home we just staged for one of our builders. By placing furniture and accessories to highlight the features of the room, this kitchen comes alive and any buyer can imagine themselves cooking in this space or enjoying a quiet breakfast with their family.

Take note in both pictures of the kitchen we show the buyers that seating for 4 around the table is possible as well as seating at the island for that quick cup of coffee in the morning

After a meal, a buyer can imagine themselves retiring to the family room to enjoy their favorite TV show

Buyers will love to entertain in their formal living room which welcomes their guests as they enter the home

DOES YOUR VACANT HOUSE WELCOME HOME BUYERS OR ARE YOU LEAVING IT UP TO THEIR IMAGINATION?

Besides breathing life into a vacant home, the options offered to builders/investors for staging helps builders in this economy. HOW YOU MAY ASK?? You may recognize some of the furnishings from previous jobs. Yes, it is the same furniture and here is why. The original lease agreement that builder chose was a 6mth agreement. Did you know that during those 6mths furnishings can be transferred to another property if the previous one sold in that time frame?

This builder was thrilled with that agreement as this is the THIRD HOUSE that has been staged with furnishings from the original lease agreement and he still has ONE MONTH TO GO...3 SOLD HOUSES, 1 LEASE AGREEMENT, a deal that cannot beat!

Call on the Team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts @ 732-995-3425. Together we are changing the way buyers view homes!

Black Lacquer Furniture? No Problem!

Mon, 04 May 2009 07:55:02 -0500

When staging your house to sell, oftentimes sellers think they need to get rid of their OLD, OUTDATED furniture. I SAY, NOT SO! The Team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts will work with what you have by dressing it so that is appeals to a larger number of buyers.

In this master bedroom the furniture was black lacquer with a platform bed. The furniture arrangement was not right so the first thing we did was place the bed on the larger wall so it becomes more of a focal point.

I liked the wall color and the floors were nice as well. I recommended to the client that she purchase a white comforter with black and white accents and a touch of green to tie into the wall color. She did a fabulous shopping job and once it was all pulled together the seller now had a master retreat that she can enjoy while her house is on the market.

We found this great lamp in her living room and the rug, chair and ottomon were in her den. You will notice that the larger white comforter I had the client purchase now HIDES the platform making the bed more inviting as well as updating the look

The Team of ReStyled to Sell will save you time and money! If you are thinking of selling your home DO NOT DO A THING until the Home Staging Experts of ReStyled to Sell see your house first.

Together we are changing the way buyers (AND SELLERS) are viewing homes! Home Staging Expert Phyllis Pafumi is available for in home consultations, schedule yours today by calling 732-995-3425

HELP, I NEED A STAGER!!

Sat, 02 May 2009 08:25:51 -0500

This could be the biggest project that the Team of ReStyled to Sell has tackled over the past few years. A kitchen renovation that needed to be done quickly due to a burst pipe in the wall.

What started out as a simple kitchen renovation, became a major project. Walls were taken down to open up the space and then the ceilings were torn out to expand the height.

As you can see some members of my team are hard at work, for which I AM GRATEFUL. While I have always appreciated their hard work and dedication to my clients, THIS CLIENT REALLY LOVES THEM.

You guessed it! While I am hard at work making clients home beautful....THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN COMING HOME TO AT THE END OF EACH DAY!!!! THIS STAGERS HOME NEEDS TO BE STAGED!

The Team of ReStyled to Sell will tackle all projects, big or small, making your life easier! Call today for your in home consultation @ 732-995-3425..I will be happy to leave this clutter to come and help organize yours!!

KEEP YOUR EYE OUT FOR THE AFTERS! I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THEM, LOL!!

Showing Off Your Home's BEST FEATURES!!

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:21:04 -0500

I have said this over a millions times...the way that you live is NOT THE WAY THAT YOU SELL! When preparing to sell your home it is so important that the way you need to present your home to potential buyers is the complete opposite of the way you have lived in your home over the last several years.

People are there to BUY YOUR HOME, NOT YOUR ITEMS OR DECOR! Decluttering, packing and storing is always the first step to staging your home...but it is not the final step!. The home then needs to be staged to highlight the selling features of the home.

In this home we staged you will notice that while the client had beautiful furniture, there was just too much of it. The balance and scale of the room was off, therefore making the rooms seem smaller than they were. The beautiful hardwood floors were covered by large area rugs and the fireplace was hidden by too many ornaments.

LR BEFORE

The old furniture arrangement, while cozy, literally cut the room in half! Buyers want to see space

After some decluttering and furniture rearrangement, the room is now an open, inviting space that proudly displays the selling features of this home.

The furniture was arranged to take advantage of the long room and draw buyers eyes right to the fabulous backyard and built in pool

The dining room was decluttered as well and by removing a leaf from the table, exposing the hardwood flooring and a few minor additions this room now shows buyers that there is much space to entertain their guests

DR BEFORE

When selling your home you need to turn your home into a HOUSE THAT REALTORS CAN SELL AND MARKET! Giving realtors a BETTER PRODUCT to sell is what we do best. Helping you move on is our commitment!

Don't list your home until you have called on the Team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts. Call for your in home consultation today @ 732-995-3425..TOGETHER WE ARE CHANGING THE WAY BUYERS VIEW HOMES!

STAGING VACANT HOMES BRINGS THE HOME TO LIFE

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 09:53:10 -0500

I am amazed with all the success and popularity that Home Staging has brought to this economy, that SOME BUILDERS STILL DO NOT SEE THE VALUE IN STAGING THEIR VACANT HOMES!!!

Thankfully, this builder did. WHY?? I had the pleasure of staging his private home for sale and it sold QUICKLY. His realtor is also an advocate for home staging, believes in it and has used ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts on many of her listings.

When he built this home he was still not sure about the difference Home Staging would make in a vacant space. He himself was confused by the space and where you could place furniture. After I met with him, it was an easy fix.

FIRST, HE HAD TO ADD COLOR TO THE FR/KITCHEN to make the fireplace pop and highlight the beautiful wood tones in his cabinetry.

FAMILY ROOM/KITCHEN AFTER....The color on all walls is GOLDEN CHENILLE by Benjamin Moore!

THEN WE NEEDED TO MAKE THE DINING AREA A BIT MORE GRAND, SINCE THE ORIGINAL WALL SEPARATING THE KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM HAD BEEN REMOVED...

DINING ROOM AFTER....

Next, we had to define the LARGE ROOM off the kitchen.. COULD THIS BE A DINING ROOM? PERHAPS! But it was built as a 5th bedroom...hmmm, but off the kitchen?? "So, what would you do with this room?", was his question to me.

BY STAGING THIS ROOM AS A SITTING ROOM/GUEST BEDROOM and HOME OFFICE, IT NOW HAS A MULTIPLE FUNCTION SUITABLE FOR EVERY BUYER!!

When the builder returned to see the finished product he was blown away and thought..."Hmmm, now why would builders NOT USE STAGERS to stage their homes"?

Call on the Team of ReStyled to Sell today @ 732-995-3425...TOGETHER WE ARE CHANGING THE WAY BUYERS VIEW HOMES

BOX IT UP, SPRUCE IT UP AND REVEAL THE HIDDEN TREASURES

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 07:45:06 -0500

When selling your home it is SOOO IMPORTANT that each room be staged to show buyers just how large the room actually is. Poor furniture arrangement, too many items on the floors, misplaced pieces can all lend themselves to downsizing the rooms true potential.

Here are just two examples of bedrooms we staged yesterday. LOOK AT HOW THEY GREW!!

MASTER BEDROOM BEFORE - The room appears cluttered and small. Mismatched pieces of furniture and too many personal items are taking away from the rooms true potential

MASTER BEDROOM AFTER - Just look at the cozy seating area and reading nook this room now portrays. Who wouldn't want to retreat here at night?

By rearranging the room and adding a large area rug, curtains and throw pillows, you now have a room that has balance and color.

When staging a little girl's room it is important to remove SOME OF THE TOYS and still keep the room pretty and exciting for that same little girl to enjoy her room. Oftentimes children are very upset about the thought of moving and leaving their ROOMS and FRIENDS. So when I stage children's rooms, I try not to disrupt their lives too much!

LITTLE GIRLS ROOM BEFORE

LITTLE GIRLS ROOM AFTER

We were happy to take this room from cluttered and give the little girl a room she is EXCITED ABOUT living in while the house is for sale.

Selling does not have to be hard when you have the Team of ReStyled to Sell on your side. Call us today at 732-995-3425! Together we are changing the way buyers view homes!

A Little Bit of Yours,, Mixed with A Little Bit Of Ours, Makes for a Perfectly Staged Home

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:46:26 -0500

When selling your home it is important that each room shows beautifully. The room should welcome buyers into a space, making them feel welcomed. In this Master Bedroom, the bed seemed too large for the space because the rug and tables were not to scale. The room seemed empty and cold.

All we needed to do was to bring in some end tables and lamps, and when combined with client's rug from the family room, the master bedroom now becomes a MASTER RETREAT.

FAMILY ROOM BEFORE...The family room in this house had way too much furniture

LIVING ROOM BEFORE.....While the living room had none at all.

Don't leave buyers wondering how this space would look furnished

FAMILY ROOM AFTER..All we did was remove one couch and chair from this space. We then brought in tables, chair and accessories to complete the look.

LIVING ROOM AFTER

We used the extra chair and couch from the family to stage the VACANT living room. We then brought in tables, lamps and accessories to complete the look.

As you can see, the combination of your furniture combined with our know how and flair of placing it all, will always add up to one perfectly staged home!

Call on the team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts before you LIST YOUR HOUSE FOR SALE! You will be glad you did!

IT MAY BE BIG BUT IT WAS NOT INVITING!!

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:16:38 -0500

Buyers like SPACE!! But just because your home is big does not mean that the space will be warm and welcoming to a buyer. This LARGE FAMILY ROOM is the first room a buyer will see when entering this home. Is it welcoming you in??

This room has a beautiful stone fireplace and large windows that go two stories high. Another feature that is not obvious to buyers is the fact that this room is a sunken family room. These features are getting lost among the poor furniture arrangement and clutter. BUT, after simple furniture arrangement to create better conversation as well as lots of declutttering.....

YOU NOW HAVE A ROOM THAT HAS BEEN RESTYLED TO SELL!!

If you are thinking of selling your home, take the time to call on the Team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts of NJ @ 732-995-3425. Together we are changing the way buyers view home!

SIMPLE STAGING AND REDESIGN TECHNIQUES THAT WILL PREPARE YOUR HOME TO SELL

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:42:51 -0500

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE what I do as a Professional Home Staging Expert! Every home is a new adventure as we look to turn them into new creations. BUT, WHAT I LOVE MOST IS THAT, sometimes the staging can be as simple as switching out furniture from one room to another and WALLA, we have a room that will appeal to a larger number of buyers!

In this home that we staged, the Living Room furniture was very contemporary and low to the ground. It appeared dated and informal. First Impressions is everything and buyer will enter into this room first. Our challenge....we needed to show a room that was a bit more formal and welcoming.

Boy was I thrilled when I went to the downstairs family room and found this!!

By switching out the two sets of furniture we now made sense of the two rooms. The downstairs family room ceiling was low and the room was very long and narrow. This low, contemporary furniture fit PERFECTLY down there, making that room appear larger. The living room now welcomes buyers into this space.

The kitchen was a bit cold, so by adding color to the walls and some PIZAZZ to the table this space went from black and white to warm and inviting!

IT ALSO WENT FROM FOR SALE TO SOLD, VERY QUICKLY I MIGHT ADD!! Still think your home could not benefit from STAGING?? If you have not scheduled your in home staging consultation yet, think twice and call on the Team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts at 732-995-3425.

Together we are changing the way buyers view homes!

One Small Room, Three Functions!!

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:27:24 -0500

So what do you do when you have a lot of living to do, and very little living space to do it in?? Take that small room and give it three different functions....

Here is a picture of a condo we staged today! Buyers could not see the room for what it could be, they only saw what it was not! For instance, where do we eat?? Where can I put my computer?? My couch won't fit, what kind of furniture can I put in here??

Are these questions keeping your small condo from selling?? Take a look at this space once it was staged by the team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts!

By angling the loveseat and chair, the windows now define the living room area, leaving plenty of space for a small bistro table and computer area in the opposite side of the room.

The stainless steel bistro table draws buyers eyes into the kitchen which has been updated with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. The table can also be pulled away from the wall on those special occassions to fit seating for four!

Keep artwork LIGHT and AIRY! By using iron scroll work instead of heavy artwork, we kept the space appearing open and light. We also used glass top table to visually create more space.

This is a great condo that I am sure will now please any first time home buyer!

SO why haven't you scheduled your in home staging consultation with the Team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts?? Together we are changing the way buyers view homes!

For more information, contact Phyllis at 732-995-3425!

GOT CLUTTER???

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:39:52 -0500

Selling your home can be a daunting process. Emotions run high and stress can overtake you as you begin to prepare your home to sell. Too many times, children are left with the task of selling their parents home. As you begin to sort through the items that have accumulated over the years, the process can soon become tiresome and painful.

If this is a situation that you are in, have no fear...THE TEAM OF RESTYLED TO SELL IS HERE! We will help you begin to make sense of the process and walk you through each step of the way, so your home can be ready for it's debut!

Here is a home that was Staged by ReStyled to Sell. The client followed our detailed consult report and our team helped with painting and repairs. The process was long, but the end results were pretty dramatic! The house did SELL!!

LOOK AT THOSE FLOORS. NEVER KEEP STAINED CARPETING, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE HIDING BEAUTIFUL HARDWOOD FLOORS!

The clients that lived here were ill and they were not able to take care of the house. This happens so often. It is a tough time and the children don't know where to begin. The Team of ReStyled to Sell is there to help with all your needs!

Staging Homes is our passion, BUT OUR LOVE AND JOY COME FROM HELPING SELLERS MOVE ON!

Call on the Team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts @ 732-995-3425. Together, we are changing the way buyers view homes!

ROOM TOO SMALL??? SAY IT ISN'T SO!

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:03:10 -0500

Are buyers getting turned off because they feel they will not be able to fit their furniture in the space? In today's market it is an absolute necessity to stage vacant homes. WHY?? For the very reason I stated above!

Today, I had the pleasure of staging a bedroom for Pulte Home Builders in their River Pointe, Del Webb Community in Manchester, NJ. I thought it odd at first that they only needed ONE ROOM STAGED, but here is why!

Three contracts fell through on the home because buyers thought they would not be able to fit furniture in the master bedroom. So, let's take a look and see what you would think......

Yes I guess it does look kind of small! Now let's take a look at the same room after it was staged by ReStyled to Sell Home Staging Experts!

It looks to me that there is plenty of room for furniture and to unwind and get a GREAT NIGHT'S SLEEP!!

The Master Bathroom is pretty fabulous as well. Don't you agree??

Too bad the people that cancelled their contract did not see this room staged! Don't leave your vacant homes to the imagination of the buyers..you may be passing up many opportunities for A SALE!

Call on the team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging NJ @ 732-995-3425! Together we are changing the way buyers view homes!