I
am so proud of the students from my recent home staging
training class held in Vancouver. By putting into practice
the
skills and techniques learned during the 2 full days of
previous
classroom
instruction they completely reconfigured and refreshed a property to
better prepare it for sale.
Incredibly the talented group transformed the listing in
a matter of hours but perhaps what is even more remarkable
is that they used
only what was already available in the home.
After
languishing
on the market, the home received
an
offer the day after it was staged, in fact it received
multiple offers! The result was
a sale above the
asking price within a week.
I
received the following email from the listing agent.
" ...
I just wanted to let you know that we have officially sold the listing.
It went into multiples last week and sold for over asking for $650,000.
Once again, I want to thank you all so much for doing such a great job
with the home staging. It was very well done, really opened and
brightened up the home, and definitely helped with generating so much
interest."
Here are a few of
photos of the transformation....
He is also featured
on a television
series for the W Network. His
interior redesign work can be seen in the book "Home Staging For
Dummies" as well as multiple editions of the "Staging Standard"
magazine.
To request
your free
information package about staging training please click here.
With
the influx of correspondence and
online staging training programs available today, would-be home stagers
are being mislead into believing that breaking into the
industry is as simple as reading a book or studying a course manual. Several of these programs are
offered by people who are not active in the industry or have not built
a successful staging company from the ground up.
The
reality is that while some people may have a "flair for decorating"
they don't succeed as home
stagers
because
they are not
provided with the tools,
support and
perhaps most
importantly, the hands on learning or "field work"
needed to jump start their
venture.
Unfortunately home staging
training it seems, is becoming a gimmick for an easy buck. Too often
I seepeople
believe the promise of guaranteed employment. Over
the years I have received countless inquiries from
people wondering which staging
training program is the best. Many of them complaining that
the training they took did not prepare them to run a successful
business. To be honest (even though I am a staging
instructor) I cannot definitively answer the question
regarding the best training since people learn in
different ways and unlike myself, some don't actually need to generate
an income from staging homes.
I
do know that the hands on training offered by Certified
Staging Professionals was instrumental in launching and
growing
my
staging company in 2006. I
was serious about breaking into the industry and I
had a limited time frame before I needed to make a profit.
I knew that
just reading
about how
to stage a property and looking at photos would not be an effective way
to learn for me.
The unopened manuals for my cellphone, camera and laptop are testament
to that.
I
clearly remember the first home I staged. It was under the
direct guidance of staging guru Christine Rae.
I was overwhelmed with information from the previous 2 days of learning
but it all started to make sense to me once I rolled up my sleeves and
actually staged a listing. The photos provided to me from that
day were the start of my staging
portfolio and helped me get my first client within days of
taking the program.
Fast forward a few years and now I am the one taking new stagers to
actual Real Estate listings to transform the entire property. I see first hand that
students learn better and
retain more by participating on the job. The
on site training is a day full of
"ah ha" moments, bolsters the confidence of the students and provides them with
a necessary and well deserved sense of accomplishment.
I invite you to have a
look at a few photos of recent class projects I have facilitated. Not
only did the students learn the principles of home staging and how
to run a business, they were given a jump start on their
portfolio and did indeed have a field day!
He is also featured
on a television
series for the W Network. His
interior redesign work can be seen in the book "Home Staging For
Dummies" as well as multiple editions of the "Staging Standard"
magazine.
Many people think it is simple to stage a vacant property.
We've all seen the television
shows and all stagers do is bring in furniture to show the
size and
function of a room right? Perhaps after reading this you may
re-evaluate what qualified home
stagers do, for there is a definite "method to our madness".
Some time ago I viewed a small, vacant 1 bedroom condo and after
submitting a proposal to merchandise the property for sale, the
homeowners decided they could save money by doing it themselves. They
were very nice people and when they called to let me know their plan I
sincerely wished them a speedy, profitable sale.
They purchased some furniture, set it in place, had it
photographed and waited for the offers to start rolling in. It didn't
take them long (only a couple of additional mortgage payments) to
realize that their listing wasn't capturing the attention of potential
buyers. Have a look... can you see why?
You will notice it is a small, fairly narrow living room
(not uncommon for a 1 bedroom, downtown condo these days). To the right
of the sofa is a door leading out to a patio.
From this home stager's point of view, what they did isn't all bad.
They used an area rug to anchor the seating and they chose light,
somewhat "airy" furniture. What they didn't realize is....
Heavily patterned rugs make small spaces seem
even smaller and pull potential buyer's eyes down.
Positioning furniture right up against the walls
does not make rooms feel more spacious.
Perhaps they also didn't know that...
Flow is as important as function.
Color is crucial for setting a mood and creating
interest.
Greenery provides an element of "life".
Angled flooring and furniture can visually widen
a room.
Artwork keeps buyers eyes up and moving
throughout a room.
Accessories enhance and help soften
furniture.
Good
photos are crucial for generating buyer traffic.
Something tells me that they now have a better understanding
of the points I mentioned above. As of today this is what the room
looks like and they have renewed hope that a sale is indeed forthcoming!
Jackson West is the founder of Reveal Estate
Home Staging and a Certified
Staging ProfessionalInstructor.
His interior redesign work can be seen in the book "Home Staging For
Dummies" as well as magazines including multiple editions of the "Staging Standard".
He is also featured on a television
series for the W Network.
While his niche has long been downtown properties in a higher price
range, the principles of design, functionality and flow he implements
are
equally effective in every home.
I
never knew how enjoyable photography could be until I started my
home staging company.
Admittedly I am not the best photographer but I do have an eye for
detail, and "shooting" interiors for the last 3 years has
helped me learn some camera skills.
During a recent
business trip to Toronto
I became enamored with the abundance
of historical buildings juxtaposed against the soaring,
modern skyline. Talk about curb appeal! I didn't have much time away
from work however I did manage to take more than 300 architectural photos
(mostly drive by).
These are some of my
favorites. I hope you enjoy them. My apologies if they require an extra
minute to load but I think it will be worth the wait!
Jackson West is the lead designer for Reveal
Estate Home Staging in Vancouver, BC. When he is not busy
staging properties, teaching or filming he can be found out and about
with his trusty Kodak in hand.
As 2009 unfolds it's no secret that it is a buyer's market in most major cities. Vancouver is no exception. Now more than ever it is imperative that home sellers go the extra mile when presenting their property for sale. As buyers expectations escalate more people are turning to home stagers to help secure a sale. Even with the current economic downturn, well displayed homes continue to sell.
Top home stagers bolster buyer confidence by paying close attention to detail. The experts at Reveal Estate Home Staging incorporatecolor, proportion, flow and styleto create memorable spaces that sell.
Purchasing a home is an emotional decision. Are you doing all you can to create maximum appeal for today's discerning buyers?
Reveal Estate is a full service home staging company located in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia.
For more photos of our work please visit our portfolio.
Warning:
the photos in this
blog may cause you to feel a sense of hunger, thirst or the desire to
stage your kitchen!
We've all heard it said that "the kitchen is the heart of the home". If
you've ever had guests over for dinner or thrown a cocktail party, you
know that people tend to congregate in the kitchen. In my experience as
a home stager, the
kitchen is often the room most overlooked by home sellers.
According to a poll conducted
in 2006 by Maritz Research, 52% of buyers said the kitchen
had the most significant impact on their purchasing decision.While a beautiful kitchen
significantly increases the value of a home, a poorly presented kitchen
can be a deal breaker.Ironically, with the kitchen
having perhaps the highest impact on potential buyers, it
is often the most simple and least expensive area to stage.
In
this blog I will focus on staging kitchen counter
tops.
Buyers love clean
and ample counter space so begin by clearing everything (yes
everything) from your counter tops.
Excess items on counters stop the eye
from moving freely around the room.
Microwaves and large appliances "eat
up" (pun intended) valuable space.
Blocks of knives pose a potential
risk to anyone showing the home.
With the counters vacant
you can thoroughly clean the surfaces.
Don't forget the back splash, sink
and faucet.
Once
clean, strategically place colorful items and/or small appliances to create focal
points.
Take
into consideration the amount of counter space available and select
appropriately sized items.
Unless
you have truly expansive counter space, limit items (or groups
of items) to 2 or 3 areas.
Place
the selected items where you want the eye to stop.
Greenery
and bottles of water help convey a feeling of freshness.
Fruit
and vegetables stimulate appetite. Due to their bright colors, these
will also be great items for directing the eye.
A cook book propped open on a
stand or laying flat is also great for setting the scene.
Now
the full potential of your kitchen will be visible and buyers will be
able to imagine themselves preparing meals or entertaining guests.
Still unsure, perhaps these photos of our
work will be of inspiration...
Jackson
West is the owner and lead designer for Reveal Estate, a full service home
staging company located in Vancouver, BC.
When I was a kid, my cousins and I used to spend a lot of time in the
big room of our grandparent's basement. It was called the rumpus room and
it was our youthful domain. I am not sure if that is a common term or
if it was unique to our family but I spent many hours of fun in that
room well into my teenage years. For the most part we roamed
unsupervised but since it was only an earshot away from the adults busy
visiting upstairs, a "grown up" would be sure to appear if there was an
outburst of children's tears or the basement became suspiciously quiet.
I had forgotten the term "rumpus room" until recently when I toured one
of our vacant projects to prepare a staging bid. The home was brand new
and the main floor had a formal living room and a family room already
but the owners were keen to have the basement staged as well.
Upon descending the stairs I was instantly reminded of the times I
spent in my grandparent's basement. When I was designing the room I
wanted it to have a modern yet comfortably playful
feel. Incorporating bright pillows, a large comfy sectional
and transitional occasional tables was key to creating my version of a
modern rumpus room. Call it nostalgia but for once I won't be upset if
the pillows end up all over the floor and there is popcorn in the couch!
Reveal
Estate is a full service home staging company located in
Vancouver, British Columbia
It seems
the Vancouver Real Estate boom is over. According to statistics
released by the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board,home sales are down more than
50 % from this time last year. With an abundance
of properties for sale, savvy sellers realize the benefits of
having their properties professionally staged. The following is a
testimony from one of our recent clients...
" The transformation of
our apartment to a comfortable, spacious, and clean looking
living space by Reveal Estate was remarkable. The colours,
styles and spacing blended to create a smooth flow throughout. The sun
room was particularly beautiful as an extension of the master bedroom.
Everyone was impressed how a fifteen year old apartment could look new.
Even though there are multiple units for sale in our building, we had
no difficulty getting
two offers for the full asking price within five days of listing the
property. The new owners loved it so much, they wanted the furniture as
well! "
If you are considering
selling in a sluggish market, protect your investment. Contact
a qualified home staging company to
help expedite a speedy, profitable sale!
As I have not had much time to blog about our recent
transformations, I thought I would take a different angle and post some
shots of mirrors we have placed in properties for sale. First, I would
like to mention a few points regarding the use of mirrors when selling
(and living in) your home.
Mirrors visually expand interiors, create depth
and can bounce light into a room.
A well positioned mirror reflects an attractive
point of view upon entering a room.
Often people hang mirrors for the sole purpose
of catching sight of themselves and do not take full advantage of the
benefits a strategically placed mirror provides.
When
viewing properties I frequently encounter 4 problems with the placement
of mirrors.
1. They reflect an unappealing area or
view.
Consider this mirror hung in
the
entrance of a home. I'm sure it was handy for checking
your appearance before heading out the door but people don't
want to see the reflection of a bathroom as they enter a home.
2. They are placed too high on the wall.
For some reason, most
people hang artwork too high as well. I have never understood this.
3. They reflect a bare wall.
This is particularly common
in bathrooms. Usually there is a large mirror above the vanity. By
hanging artwork on the opposite wall, you can increase the visual depth
of the room as shown here.
4. They are positioned directly across the room
from a window.
Doing this reflects light and
energy (a.k.a. chi) back out the window and not into the room. Instead
hang mirrors on the wall adjacent to a window.
And now some more mirror shots
...
Reveal Estate
is a full service home staging company with lots of mirrors and furnishings to show your home at its best.
Red is
often a favorite color choice for home stagers due to it's powerful
ability to direct
the eye. Successful stagers know how to
incorporate red
artwork and accessories to capture
buyers attention without
overwhelming a space. There is a fine line between highlighting the features
of a room and creating a chaotic look by incorporating too many red accents.
Consider 2 vacant living rooms my company
recently staged using strategically placed red accents to
draw the eye and enhance
the focal points.
Reveal
Estate
is a full service home staging company
located in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
;)
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