SHARON CHARBONEAU's Blog

Kitchener-Waterloo Vacant Homes: Why They are a Tough Sell

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 09:57:32 -0700

This is one of the best posts I have read on why sellers & realtors should not put a vacant house on the market.

Excellent read!

Via Heather Cook (Rooms in Bloom Staging & Design ~ www.homestagingdesign.ca):

Vacant homes are some of the toughest properties to sell. A national survey done by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) in 2009 found that vacant homes which were staged spent 78% less time on the market.

Below are the reasons why Kitchener-Waterloo vacant homes are so hard to sell:

1) Buyers are inherently visual - only 10% of buyers can actually see past what is right in front of them. If they can't see it, they won't buy it.

Living Room "Before"

Living Room "After"

2) Rooms always appear smaller than what they actually are without furnishings in them.

3) Buyers can't imagine how their furniture will fit in a room without any frame of reference.

4) In a vacant property, dated or extreme decor dominates what a buyer sees - and remembers - which results in the overwhelming impression that "the house needs too much work."

Ensuite "Before"

Ensuite "After"

5) Without furnishings, buyers are often confused as to the function or purpose of a room. Rooms without purpose detract from the overall value of a home, making the property less desirable.

6) Without furniture or accessories, buyers cannot imagine living in the home.

7) Because the property is vacant, buyers can form the opinion that the home owners are desperate to sell and then figure that the seller will accept any offer just to get the property sold.

8) Vacant properties have no warmth and buyers have a tough time connecting emotionally to them.

9) Without furnishings, all flaws or defects in a room are magnified for buyers. So instead of focusing on the potential of a space, buyers will simply see how much work and money is required to fix it.

10) The sheer emptiness of the home can be overwhelming to buyers. To them it will seem as if there are too many windows and too much expansive wall space. This is true especially in large, luxury homes.

Master Bedroom "Before"

Master Bedroom "After"

Unfortunately, vacant homes will statistically sit on the market for 190 days before either selling at a much lower price or being taken off the market, staged, and then re-listed. By comparison, vacant homes which have been staged have been shown to sell in a mere 33 days according to RESA's 2009 survey. That is a staggering 85% difference!

Rooms in Bloom Home Staging & Design specializes in staging vacant and model homes. If you have a vacant listing which is sitting on the market and getting little interest, or if you will be selling a vacant home, we hope you will give us a call. Our staging designs will turn your property from forgettable to memorable!

Heather Cook ~ Rooms in Bloom Home Staging & Design

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

Sellers ! I did not show your home to my clients because .......

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 10:10:26 -0700

Being available to your realtor when trying to sell your house is a given. If your realtor cannot get a hold of you to arrange a viewing, there won't be one!

However, #4 is key. Over 90% of home buyers choose the houses they want to view from MLS photos they view, from realtor referrals via e-mail or from driving by and checking out homes for sale in the location of interest to them.

Whether realtor or seller, ask yourself:

If a property has ZIP CURB APPEAL, what is going to draw a potential buyer's interest? What is going to entice them to stop their car and want a viewing of your property?

if the posted photos of the property are not clear; interesting, i.e. have a focal point; labelled so potential buyers do not have to guess @ what they are looking at; without the daily clutter of everyday living, which they have to work to look past, etc., then don't be surprised if there are few or no requests for viewings.

LOCATION, PRICE & PRESENTATION SELL HOUSES

The location cannot be changed; the market dictates the range of selling price, based on location and presentation

Poor Presentation can result in loss sales, regardless of location or price, as the majority of home buyers want move-in ready

Home Staging ensures your property meets all 3 criteria: it's a NO BRAINER!

Via GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR BUCKS COUNTY, PA HOMES (RE/MAX Centre Realtors):

Sellers sometimes list with an agent and do not ask questions about how showings will be scheduled , sometimes they make it difficult to show and sometimes it is the tenants who make it difficult.

When an agent has many homes to choose from when scheduling appointments they first ask the buyers which homes they prefer to see but if the buyer leaves it up to the agent then the agent will schedule appointments that are easy to set up, provided the homes meet all the criteria that the buyer is looking for in their home.

Here are some reasons that I may have not shown your home:

1. I call the telephone number listed for appointments and if there is no answer I leave a message. If I do not receive a return phone call I do not show your home.

2. If the instructions for appointments requires 24 hours notice and we have someone who wants to see on short notice, we do not show the home.

3.If the home is priced too high compared to other similar homes on the market , we show other homes first and if the buyer likes the community, then we show all homes in there the second time.

4.We email listings to buyers and buyers tell us what they want to see. They may base it on pictures of the house or they may drive by first on their own. If the home shows well from outside and if the pictures are good , there is a better chance that your home will be shown.

5.If the seller has to be there for all appointments and we are showing many homes we may be reluctant to put the home on the list of homes because we never know if we will be running late . We show the home if the buyer wants to see it and then try to put it first on the list.

Gita Bantwal is a Realtor with RE/MAX Centre Realtors in Bucks County, a Northern suburb of Philadelphia. You can view 1000s of listings on her web site www.GitaBantwal.com

She can be reached at 215-343-8200x124 or direct 215-275-8491 or via email gita01@aol.com

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

Decorating/Home Staging Class, Flowery Branch, GA

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:36:19 -0700

Unfortunately, I don't live in the USA, let alone Georgia! However for those of U nearby - homeowners, thinking of selling, & realtors, this would be a great class to join.

Nothing like learning from the BEST!

Via Patsy Overton (Stage, Show & SELL Home Staging Co. Atlanta, Georgia):

Decorating/Home Staging Class, Flowery Branch, GA

Did you hear the school bell ring? If not, you're late! Last Wednesday Blackshear Place Baptist Church in Flowery Branch, GA kicked off the fall premier of "Life Groups," which are individual classes on various topics such as "Balance for Mothers," "Biking," Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University" and "Shopping on a Budget."  In addition, I am teaching a class on Decorating & Home Staging.

Last week we introduced the 8-week session by discussing the similarities and differences between decorating and home staging. In addition, we touched on the following material which will be taught in greater depth in the weeks to come:

It All Begins With Color (hue, value, intensity)

The Elements of Design (line, form, space, pattern)

The Principles of Design (balance, proportion, scale, unity)

Room Elements (walls & ceilings, room shapes, flooring, furniture, accessories and soft furnishings, lighting)

Decorating Styles (country, traditional/formal, eclectic, casual, contemporary)

Decorating with Color (color, color schemes, paint, wallcoverings)

Each class with begin with a 5-10 minute devotional, then we will delve into the lesson. Questions and sharing are encouraged! In addition, we will look at pictures of personal home decorating or staging dilemmas which class members have emailed me during the week. We will discuss the challenges and solutions.

Each class begins at 6:30PM and ends promptly at 8:00PM. Please join us for the remaining sessions on August 18 & 25 and Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29. I hope to see you there!

Blackshear Place Baptist Church

3428 Atlanta Hwy., Flowery Branch, GA 30542

770-534-7058

www.blackshearplace.com

Patsy Overton, ASP, CNRCP

Accredited Staging Professional * Certified Color Consultant

Patsy@SSSHomeStaging.com    770-843-2307    www.SSSHomeStaging.com

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

What Will a Home Stager Ask You to Spend Money On?

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:21:51 -0700

Julie,

This post is also worthy of a re-blog.

Via Julia Maher, Home Stager: Home Staging Fairfield County CT (Nestings: Fairfield County, CT Home Staging and Model Homes):

What will a Home Stager ask you to spend money on? In a prior post, I outlined some of the questions a Home Stager will ask a seller. One of the questions involved setting a budget to prepare the house for the market. This post will flesh out some of the things a professional Home Stager may ask you to pay for. These items are not frivolous; most will stay with the house. Keep in mind this is an investment in selling your house quickly!

In the past, I have asked sellers to invest in:

Storage unit or pod

Paint/professional painters

Wallpaper removal

Carpet removal/replacement/cleaning

New kitchen flooring/counters

New bed linens for the Master Bedroom

New towels (usually white, and only for show)

Mulch

Shrubs, flowers

New mailbox

House numbers

Updated light fixtures

Simple drapery panels

Regular, brighter light bulbs (not CFLs)

Large, neutral art

Tall indoor tree

White 8x10' shag rug (Hey - $89 from Home Depot - can't beat it! And it ROCKED!)

Rental furniture

Accessories rental from Nestings

Slipcovers

Cabinet hardware

Most important:

New "Welcome" mat!

A professional Home Stager can work with any budget to help sell a house quickly. Be prepared.

Julia Vigneron Maher, Nestings Home Staging & Model Home Design: Award-Winning Staging for Model, Vacant and Occupied Homes in Fairfield County, CT (including Fairfield, Southport, Westport, Trumbull, Monroe, Newtown, Stratford, Easton, Weston, Wilton, Norwalk, Darien, Stamford, Greenwich) and Connecticut.

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Buttons courtesy of www.brianyerkes.com

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

More IS Less

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:04:44 -0700

I have chosen to re-post this blog for two reasons: 1) Allegra is offering top notch training for those of you out there who have been thinking of becoming a home stager; and 2) I am thrilled to have been chosen to be one of her experts.

Although I am still a 'rookie" stager compared to the very talented & more experienced home stagers who blog on AR, I have made some great strides to-date and know it will just get better with time & my passion for staging & re-design.

Thank You Allegra for this honour. And now, those of you reading this who have yet to find the right staging course for you, take a look at Allegra's training plan.

She is making a valuable contribution to keeping the standards up in this fabulous profession.

Via Allegra Dioguardi -Home Staging Training & Home Staging, Suffolk Co. Long Island (Styled and Sold Home Staging and Staging Training):

Established in 2009 Home Staging Training by Design, is a Home Staging course that teaches you step by step everything you need to know to start your own home staging business.

We are pleased to announce the addition of "guest experts" to our home staging training program.

Participants in the home staging classes will benefit from the expertise of professional Home Stagers from all over North America who are now contributing to the training program. We bring you More for Less!

We already bring you:

16 hours of live teleseminar classes that include everything from the design principles involved, to marketing your business, how to work with clients, accessorizing, artwork, furniture and space planning as well as numerous resources.

One on one mentoring from Allegra Dioguardi

An invitation for hands on experience at real home staging job with Allegra

A home staging e-book, Styled by Design, A Guide to the Design Principles of Home Staging ($35 value)

And much, much more all for an unheard of, reasonable rate.

Without further ado, please let me introduce to you our Guest Experts!

From Portland Oregon, Pangea Interior Design.

Pangea is a an award winning designer and a creative visionary. Her company is a featured business on Luxury Oregon and she

is a contributing writer on Ava Living. Her speciality is modern, timeless design with an emphasis on sustainability.

From Elizabeth Town, Kentucky, Sheila O'Mara of Staged So Right.

Sheila concentrates on Staging to Sell, Redesign and small business staging/marketing assistance. She is an accomplished

speaker and trainer, a published columnist for The News Enterprise, internet radio show host for The Value Pages Group,

"Get More Business" show and a blogger on Active Rain.

From Little Rock AR, David Dorbin of Dixie Land Home Design

The Staging Agent” is co-founder and CEO of Dixieland Home Design, LLC. Dorbin is a licensed Realtor and former retail-furniture

marketing executive. His passion for real estate marketing and keen eye for functional space design enabled him to develop

Dixieland Home Design’s revolutionary staging concept and services. He specializes in staging and selling vacant luxury homes and

condominiums in Central and North West Arkansas. In addition to staging and selling real estate, Dorbin frequently conducts

Home Staging Workshops where he educates real estate agents and builders on basic skills and techniques for staging their listings for quick sell.

From British Columbia, Canada, Sharon Charboneau of Upstaging Your Homes

A creative soul, Sharon explored ways to get into the field and discovered home staging. She is a graduate of the Staging Diva program & PRES (Professional Real Estate Staging - 2009): the result is UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES, staging & re-designing the Sunshine Coast of B.C. in Canada. She is owner of "Ooh-la-la!" in Mosaic Market in Davis Bay, where she displays unique items from her travels, along with the art work of local artists.

And to educate you on SEO, websites, blogging and how to get your new clients to find you, Earl Netwal Home Staging Business Tips

Earl seeks out resources to help businesses to focus on what they do best. His primary focus is assisting micro businesses to

use internet tools more effectively to build their businesses. His niche market is Home Stagers and in 2008 he conducted an

extensive survey of Home Stagers nationwide.

Because she is so inspiring, I am also including a recent graduate of Staging Training by Design, Cindy Garruba of North Fork Home Staging

After staging her own home and quickly selling it, Cindy became intriqued with Home Staging. She found Staging Training by Design and graduated in early July 2010. Following the steps outlined in the course, she landed her first Home Staging job in less than a month. "Staging Training by Design was the exact class I needed for my Home Staging business. Allegra Dioguardis expertise and clear interactive teaching style are engaging. I am grateful to have a mentor in Allegra." Cindy is a natural but the classes gave her the confidence and the tools she needed to start her business.

Finally, principle instructor and owner, Allegra Dioguardi with a degree from Parsons School of Design. Allegra is owner of a successful

home staging business, Styled and Sold Home Staging. She has 28 years of experience as an award winning designer

merchandising homes to sell for national builders. Allegra is a published author, editor at Homes of the Hamptons Magazine,

accomplished speaker and teacher.

Classes are limited and they are now forming now for September. Please visit Staging Training by Design to sign up or call Allegra at 631-899-3305.

Allegra Dioguardi

Styled and Sold Home Staging

Staging Training by Design

Styled by Design E Book

631-899-3305

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

newest staged property for sale

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:20:20 -0700

This is the latest property staged by UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES, with an open house scheduled for this weekend with realtor Patricia Hetherington and her associate Lynn Masters.

If you are on or around the Sunshine Coast, this is a must see.

http://patriciahetherington.com/400-STEWART-Road-Gibsons-mylistings-11052507.property#-

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

STAGING IS FUN; HOWEVER WHEN THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE VIEW......!

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 23:46:22 -0700

Staging creates the proverbial swan from an ugly duckling, and this was no exception. The main thing this house had going for it was the spectacular view; it needed more and staging gave it that. Decide for yourselves.

The entry was non-descript. The grass needed mowing; the garden needed weeding & the paint was peeling on the side of house where the entrance is. There was no budget for the garden or painting; however we were able to persuade the owner to paint a little bit so we could create some curb appeal. Don't you love the BM stem green door and the flowers for more colour.

The vacant LR is ok, but.......how much nicer staged

kept the look simple & elegant; artwork works with the view outside of the sailboats in Howe Sound.

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

ANOTHER REALTOR CONVERTED TO REAL ESTATE STAGING!

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:32:15 -0700

After two months on the market, the realtor for this property decided to try staging, after a nudge from my photographer colleague who was called in to take photos and said, this house needs staging! Thank you Linda!! She is well aware how hard it is to make a vacant property appealing to buyers.

The back of this property, i.e. street entry, does not do this house justice at all. There is no curb appeal: potential buyers have no idea what awaits them inside.

This is the view from inside the house - from the living & dining room & kitchen - which all open onto an enormous deck.

I have a limited budget; however I plan to make this property a "hot" product with the money & skill I have available to me, my creativity and my talented assistant Aleisha. Some of the changes we have created so far:

vignette shot from kitchen
The beginning of crating an attractive living room which will enhance the view, not distract from it
Rather than looking at an empty deck, we moved the patio furniture upstairs to the large deck & added colourful cushions and an umbrella. We will be adding greenery and lots of colour with beautiful pots and flowers as well, to create an inviting outdoor space for buyers to enjoy the expanded living space.

Stay tuned for the final staging photos coming soon!

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

There may be something to this staging thing...

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:40:42 -0700

This blog by Michelle from New Jersey deserves to be re-blogged. It is so great to see realtors agreeing that staging does make a positive difference to real estate listings!!!!

Yeah Michelle & Yeah realtors who get it!!

Via Michelle S. Brixius-Kasich (Crossroads Realty, Brick, New Jersey):

So, I went to a wonderful Open House a couple of weeks ago. It was for a another agent in the office and I have to say I was very impressed. I never really knew what to make of the "hire a person and they make your home look nice" idea. I mean, really? A person spends all this time and money not just cleaning your home, but making it look like a showroom? People do this for a living? I didn't buy it at all. I can barely put together the words to tell the client to clean the bathroom, now how am I going to get them to understand this? I can relate with the listing on this one. I mean, I clean, sort of, and decorate. OK, I wipe down with bleach and put things away, then I hope no one looks in the closet. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it don't , but no one is perfect all the time. OK, maybe my mom. She has more animals then a zoo, but you wouldn't know it to walk in her home. No smells, no hairballs, you can tell I'm not her. I don't even think I carry her genes, although my daughter can put together a great closet.

Anyway, I go through life thinking most people are kinda like me. You know, keep it all nice, close the junk drawer, and get on with your day, but every now and then I get proven wrong. Now, the agent at the office strikes me as one of those people that keeps a VERY good house. Someone who keeps the sink clear, folds her clothes perfectly, she couldn't possibly need help in the designing department. She has my mom's good genes. So you can't imagine how surprised I was to find out the home she was showing had been "Staged". Take one look at her and you just thought that she lived this way. Did she really just hide all her junk in the garage? I had to find out more.

Turns out that all the sutle things you didn't think about were what made the home so welcoming, and great staging wont just make the home look nice, it will make you think about that home as one you could see yourself living in!

First, the colors. Each room was painted slightly different, it was the stagers idea. It gave the home a very natural feel and almost moved your eyes from room to hallway, down the stairs... The house was just soothing to be in. It felt warm. The illusion was done using just color and texture. I was glad for the bold hues, nothing says, "You don't want to live here" more then white walls. An hour in her house and I wanted to check out the Sherwin-Williams selection at Home Depot.

Second, the borrowed paintings. The professional who staged the home received some of the paintings on the walls on loan, and, if you liked them you could buy them. The paintings filled the walls, but you didn't find yourself staring at personal photos or blank egg white emptiness.

And Third, the home still looked like someone lived there, not like the model homes you see to often in a new development. I'm not a big fan of the model home, the beds are make of cardboard and the fake microwave isn't fooling anyone. Model homes never have soda in the fridge.

The thing that I found most surprising in the way that objects in the home were set up. I remember the feeling of the house, how everything was in its place, the paint, the rooms in the home, but what I didn't remember was the personal property. It was almost like the staging left you feeling like you could imagine living there because the distraction of someone else's furniture wasn't what left the impression on you.

I'm going to spend some more time getting to know more about the people who do this type of work. This will be great tool to pass on to my soon-to-be clients. I just wanna know, did they really just stuff everything in the kitchen drawers?

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

MAKE YOUR PROPERTY THE 'ONE TO BE SEEN' - A MUST READ FOR SELLERS AND REALTORS

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:43:47 -0700

The real estate market in Vancouver is hopping, and has been since before the Olympics began. Realtors and Stagers are busy and offers are being made. Not so on the Sunshine Coast, unfortunately.

Currently, we have lots of properties for sale & the sales are not keeping up: this is called a Buyer's market. Buyer's can take their time viewing properties and making offers, and they can make lower offers as they have no competition bidding against them.

This situation is not unique to the Sunshine Coast or B.C. or even Canada. I know from Active Rain blogs that many parts of the USA are experiencing similar real estate markets.

Traditionally, what happens in Vancouver moves to the Coast:we are patiently waiting. Sellers are getting lots of viewings; however the offers are not being made. It is a discouraging time for Sellers and their Realtors.

However, it is also the opportune time for Sellers and Realtors to look around their properties and ask: if I was a buyer would I like what I see? What does my property have that other similarly priced properties don't have? Where is it lacking? What can I reasonably do to improve the presentation to make it more appealing to Buyers?

In a Buyer's market, a property needs to stand out from the crowd -in a good way - to be noticed by Buyers who are looking but remaining on the fence.

LOCATION, PRICE & PRESENTATION SELL HOUSES

THE LOCATION OF THE PROPERTY IS FIXED. It is either in a desirable location, or it's not: which means you have to try harder to capture buyer's interest. On the Coast, a view or waterfront is prime; however even these locations are not being scooped up at the moment.

PRICING IS KEY IN A BUYER'S MARKET. The Seller & the Realtor have to get it right! So, Sellers if you & your Realtor cannot agree on the price point, call in an appraiser; get another Realtor's opinion. Nobody can fault you for wanting the best ROI you can get.

On two separate occasions, my husband & I rejected our Realtor's advice with respect to the listing price for our homes on the Lower Mainland and on the Coast. In both instances, our homes sold quickly for the higher price we wanted, not the price recommended by the realtors on the mainland and on the Coast, which were as well backed up by the Realtors who came through on tour.

In the first instance, our Realtor received competing offers before the FOR SALE sign was on our lawn. In the second instance, the Buyers had been keeping a eye on our neighbourhood and our house in particular.

We knew our homes showed well due to the work we had put into them and the many compliments we received from friends, relatives and even passers by.

Realtors, helping your sellers set the right price is an important part of your job: this is not the time to pull numbers out of the air, or agree to list for a price that you know is not realistic or practical, in either direction. Do the homework necessary to establish the correct price in the current market, so it can be justified during they buyer-seller negotiations.

Realtors please - NEW PRICE is just another name for reduced price and a loss for your clients. Before you approach your Sellers with the recommendation that they lower their selling price, you have a responsibility to explore other viable options on their behalf

ASK YOURSELF THE HARD QUESTIONS: Is the property in good viewing condition? Are there a few more/a lot more repairs that really should be done to get your Sellers the price they want? Do the pictures listed on MLS present the property at its best?

There are many surveys on the value of renovations prior to listing a property which confirm the seller will realize a significant ROI, especially on major rooms like kitchens & bathrooms.

If the photos are lacking, either take better pictures or bring in aReal Estate Photographer who will do the property justice. UPSTAGING works with a professional Real Estate Photographer and some Realtors already understand the value of great photos.

Is the write-up catching buyer's interest? If not, why not? Either re-write it or get someone else with a knack for writing to edit your copy and add some punch to it.

Do your Sellers agree that some work is required; however don't know where to start or how much money to invest? If you don't have access to this information, then bring in a professional who does. A Real Estate Stager can provide factual information from their portfolio of work, as well as studies confirming the ROI on renovations completed before listing.

The important thing is for you to be able to conclude that you have met your fiduciary responsibility to your client.

PRESENTATION IS THE BIGGY

THE PRESENTATION OF THE HOUSE ON MLS AND IN PERSON ARE WHAT DRAWS THE BUYERS

It starts on the internet with the MLS listing. If the pictures are poor quality, or show poor maintenance, cluttered counters, unmade beds, piles of magazines & newspapers, the toilet seat up, no curb appeal - nobody is impressed.

TIME IS MONEY - THIS MAJOR FAUX PAS MUST BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY.

These pictures are going out world-wide: that is what www stands for. Do you really want other Realtors to see such poor quality presentations by you? Do your clients realize the pictures of their property are being seen world-wide, and that there are now blog sites which mock poor MLS photos? This is not good advertising for either the Realtor or the Realty company.

As a professional, Realtors should not be posting poor quality photos: and Sellers you need to follow up on the MLS listing to ensure your property looks its best and the description of the property is complete & correct.

On one occasion, an out-dated photo of our house was posted; on a second, the MLS listing was not loading properly. Both situations were caught by us the same day and reported back to our realtors, who ensured the necessary corrections were made immediately.

While meeting with a client during a staging consultation, the realtor wanted to post the For Sale sign that day, well before the renovations being discussed would be completed. Her response to that was that she was going to post an out-of-date photo which showed the property in better condition outside. Can we all say FALSE ADVERTISING!

What faster way to turn buyers off than to post photos that have nothing in common with the actual condition of the property when listed. Or to lose professional credibility.

GREAT MLS PHOTOS and CURB APPEAL ARE THE TWO FACTORS which will draw potential buyers to your property, after LOCATION & PRICE

Today's Buyers are reviewing real estate listings on-line before they even contact a realtor. Properties that do not present well within mere seconds have already been rejected by the time potential Buyers contact a Realtor.

Buyers want to see clean, uncluttered & well maintained properties. As a Buyer, I have often refused to even go inside a property that had no curb appeal or even the appearance of any attempt by the Seller to keep up the property. It was a major clue to what I would likely see inside.

Buyers do not want to inherit or take on the Seller's problems. Unless they are specifically looking for a "fixer-upper", they want the problems fixed before they view.

BUYERS WANT MOVE- IN READY: THEY WILL PASS OVER PICTURES THAT SHOW MESSY, UNKEMPT PROPERTIES or a listing that has TOO FEW PHOTOS OR PHOTOS THAT DON'T GIVE THEM A GOOD IDEA OF THE LAYOUT & CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY

POOR QUALITY PHOTOS SHOULD NEVER MAKE IT ONTO THE MLS IN THE FIRST PLACE

I continually hear realtors say, "I don't want to hurt my client's feelings"; my clients can't afford staging (this before they even know the cost of staging!);or sellers say, "I don't want to hurt my realtor's feelings". One realtor even told me I was out of touch with our real estate market and refused my recommendation to review AR blogs because they were all about USA real estate, not Canadian and certainly not B.C. Wrong! We Canadians are out there and our voices are being heard.

PULEEEEEZ PEOPLE - THIS IS A BUSINESS TRANSACTION - TIME TO PUT PERSONAL BIASES ASIDE!!!!

SELLERS - Ignorance is not bliss

When you are likely dealing with the largest financial investment you will ever have in your lives, you need to be sure you have explored all reasonable options.

The ROI you receive from the sale is likely to be the main source of funding for buying another property; part or all of your retirement income; part or all of the inheritance you will pass onto your children; or money to spend on a vacation. Whatever the money will be used for, you have a personal responsibility for protecting your investment - no one else knows what your needs are as well as you do. You can turn to specialists for advice; however you also need to consider they may have their own agendas - which may come before yours. BE ALERT!

Do not put the responsibility for your financial gains & losses solely in the hands of someone else. Be actively involved in the action plan & the decision-making.

If you are not satisfied with your Realltor's performance, discuss your concerns with them. If they won't listen to you, get another Realtor's opinion.

The Realtor is providing a service to you - not the other way around. You have the right to know you are putting your largest financial investment into the hands of a Realtor who has the knowledge and expertise to market your property aggressively (which involves far more than just putting up the FOR SALE sign!), and who will provide you with all relevant, professionally-based facts and opinions with the primary goal of getting you the best ROI possible.

REALTORS - Sticking the FOR SALE sign in the lawn, planning an open house and waiting for offers is not the best that you can do: which is what you owe your clients. You have a professional responsibility to provide your Client with all relevant information so they can make informed decisions.

When you are reviewing comparables, ensure you are reviewing true comparables, not just other properties in the same neighbourhood: there may not be any others of similar value in the same neighbourhood or nearby; you may have to consider possible comparables further afield.

For comparison sake, Lawyers are not permitted to reject any means of settling a legal matter without discussing it with their Client, and they have an obligation to reveal all related discussions with their Cient, and to advise them when pursuing a legal matter is not practical economically. The Client, not the Lawyer makes the decision, either following or ignoring the professional advice received.

Realtors should follow suit. This is a business deal you are part of, not a popularity contest. If your Client needs to hear some hard truths about how their property looks, then YOU are the person to do that. Then they live with the consequences of their own decision.

It is unprofessional and cruel to list their property as is and subject them to ridicule, no showings, low ball offers or no offers....if they won't listen, provide them with feedback from viewers, keep putting the facts before them. Myself and other Stagers have clients who have told us they were not properly informed by their Realtor and/or were not aware of real estate staging and how useful it could be to them. They will not soon forget the time wasted and possible sales lost due to the first Realtors lack of professionalism.

Involve a professional Real Estate Stager who can show them a portfolio of 'before & after photos' and statistics on how the property moved from 'FOR SALE' to 'SOLD' as a result of staging recommendations, which were either done by the Stager or by the client.

AUTOMATICALLY DISCOUNTING REAL ESTATE STAGING IS NOT THE REALTOR'S CALL TO MAKE. REALTORS HAVE A PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THEIR CLIENTS HAVE ALL AVAILABLE OPTIONS TO REVIEW WHICH MAY GET THEM A FASTER SALE AT A BETTER PRICE.

TOO MANY REALTORS ARE STILL UNDER THE ILLUSION THAT STAGING IS EXPENSIVE AND AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME THEIR CLIENTS CANNOT AFFORD IT.

THAT IS A DECISION FOR THE SELLER TO MAKE, NOT THE REALTOR

THE FACT IS THAT REAL ESTATE STAGING COSTS LESS THAN THE FIRST PRICE REDUCTION AND CONSISTENTLY IMPROVES THE ROI

AND IN MANY INSTANCES, A REAL ESTATE STAGING CONSULTATION (which costs only $150 for a 2 hour consult with me) MAY BE ALL YOUR CLIENTS NEED TO GET THE MESSAGE AND DO THE WORK THAT WILL ENSURE THEIR PROPERTY IS PRESENTED AT ITS BEST

THE SELLERS ARE THE ONES WHO WILL LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DECISIONS MADE, SO THEY SHOULD BE THE ONES MAKING THE DECISIONS - INFORMED DECISIONS!

IN THE END, THIS IS THE GOAL OF THE REALTOR, THE REAL ESTATE STAGER & THE SELLER - WHICH HAPPENS TO BE A MUTUAL GOAL!

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES IS THE GO-TO REAL ESTATE STAGING COMPANY ON THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

We create FAB from drab and ensure your property is "OPEN HOUSE READY"

Call 604-885-6680 to arrange a staging consult for your property or your client's property today

www.upstagingyourhomes.com

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

5 Simple Staging Tips Any Agent Can Master

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:09:49 -0700

As a professional real estate stager, I am very troubled by this blog and the low standards it sets for realtors who want to offer staging services to their clients.

These tips are like putting icing on a burned cake. A weak analogy but the only one I can think of at the moment.

Any body else concerned?

Via Barbara Jennings | Academy of Staging and Redesign (Decorate-Redecorate.Com | Academy of Staging and Redesign):

If you've never taken any staging training, you might feel a little overwhelmed and inadequate when it comes to making recommendations to sellers. While a truly staged home is more complicated and involved than one might expect, there are some simple solutions that will greatly help no matter what. After all, some staging is better than no staging at all.

Take down heavy drapes and advise seller to put up sheers instead (or even nothing at all if there is a great view). Heaviness on the windows makes the home feel weighted down instead of spacious and airy. And you never want to obstruct a great view.

Bring in large plants. Live plants bring oxygen into the room and help to soften the hard surfaces. Most people faile to have plants or they are half dead and look terrible. A few well placed plants can obscure some of the more ugly things like lamp cords, electrical plugs and so forth.

Plump up the pillows. Most people have some throw pillows but they tend to scatter them everywhere. If the colors blend in the room, arrange them together neatly on the sofa or bed and plump them up.

Paint the electrical cover plates the same color as the wall. This will make them virtually unnoticeable in the room.

Put out a new welcome mat and make sure all brush that hides the front door is removed.

From the author of A Real Estate Agent's Guide to Offering Free Home Staging Consultations (or Advice), 232 pages, published by Ahava Press.

Barbara Jennings, Author/Director

THE ACADEMY OF STAGING AND REDESIGN

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

AR WORKS!

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:21:00 -0700

My favourite staging instructor, DANA SMITHERS of PRES, is doing a training course in Victoria, BC, so I think, she is going to need some houses for the hands on part of the training on re-design and real estate staging.

This is DANA taking a shot in the house we staged in North Vancouver for another lucky realtor a few weeks ago.

I wonder if she knows FRED CARVER of REMAX on the island? So, I send off a quick email to her. DANA follows up with FRED - et voila!!!!

Another job well done by a PRES real estate stager!!

I am thrilled with the results of 3 AR members working together to reach our mutual goal - get the house to look as great as possible and get it SOLD!!

This will be FRED when he sees DANA's staging and sees how much easier the house will be to show & sell because of REAL ESTATE STAGING. And best of all, his clients will love him for taking advantage of this great opportunity.

And this will be the result of another successful team effort of AR members!!!!!

Don't we all just love happy endings!!!!!!!!!

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES can do the same for the Realtors on the Sunshine Coast of BC. Real Estate staging costs less than the 1st price reduction.

Sellers invest in your house with staging - it makes your house stand out from the competition and nets you a great ROI

Contact UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - SHARON CHARBONEAU - 604-885-6680 before you list

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

AVA's CHOICE IN MY FIRST YEAR OF BEING A STAGER

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:44:33 -0800

Today is the first year anniversary for UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES.

I was thinking about writing a blog re: the accomplishments in my first year of business:

renovating and staging a home which drew lots of compliments and sold in our slow market on the Coast within 2 months
renovating and staging a condo, which had been on the market unstaged for over 6 months with no interest. Staged, it had an offer in 6 days
re-designs that thrilled the home owners in BC and California
opening Ooh-La-La! - my retail outlet in Davis Bay - to showcase decor items and have the opportunity to meet and talk to customers, i.e. potential clients
gaining attention from local realtors, choosing to stage their listings for the first time

I am sure there is more that I am not recalling at the moment.....as I got a very pleasant surprise when I opened my email this morning to find out my kitchen design had been chosen as AVA LIViNG's Choice for the week of March 1st.

www.avaliving.com

I am so glad I have pursued a career as a home stager. It is a huge thrill for me to see what I can do to get properties sold faster and to help people enjoy their homes more.

Here's to an even more interesting 2nd year of UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES!

STAGING IS FOR SELLING - RE-DESIGN IS FOR LIVING

LET UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS

SHARON CHARBONEAU - AVA'S CHOICE DESIGNER IN 2010

WWW.UPSTAGINGYOURHOMES.COM

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

UPDATING BATH TILES - QUICK FIX

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:36:44 -0800

When the staging budget is tight, we really have to put our minds to creative thinking and find inexpensive ways to improve dated & tired looks.

This bathroom was a prime example of a room needing a fresher, less dated look. I was able to find inexpensive replacements for the vanity, sink, mirror & bath hardware but ran out of money when it came to improving the tub.

I took off the sad doors, cleaned up the tub and tiles, and added new grout; however there was no $$ to replace the dated floral tiles.

I knew once the bright clean shower curtain was up, the tiles would be hidden; however i wanted something more. I didn't want buyers to pull back the shower curtain and go YUKK!

I found these plastic/rubber tiles at Home Depot that apply over existing tiles. What an amazing difference eh?

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

Top 5 Vibes Given Off By Homes For Sale-Which One Brings in the Sale and Money?

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:55:36 -0800

This is a realtor post well worth re-blogging.

A must read for sellers, realtors and even buyers.

Via Kristi DeFazio Colorado Springs Real Estate 719-459-5468 (RE/MAX Advantage):

I have been a buyer's agent in Colorado Springs for awhile now and each time I take a buyer into a home, they usually make a comment within the first 5 seconds of entering the home.

I have a theory that each home has a "Vibe" to it and that vibe is noticed immediately.

The questions is- If your home is for sale, which Vibe do you want to portray?

Here they are from the point of view of the buyer looking at your home.

Vibe #1- Home has been neglected and may be bank owned. This vibe shows through the curb appeal (or lack thereof) with the weeds and trashy yard. When you walk inside this home, you usually see immediate repairs that need to be tended to. Often times the heat and lights are off in this home and it gives off a really bad vibe. This home could also be a divorce situation where they just want OUT. This type of home has one hope for getting sold- PRICE. It must be lower than the comps in the area.

Vibe #2- I like to call this home vibe The Outdated Vibe. When you walk in this home, the first thing the buyer will comment about is the ugly color carpet or the old style fixtures. When you walk around this home, it may be clean, but it could have been built in 1970, 1980 or any other time that you FEEL when walking through the home. It may have window treatments that are nice, but in mauve and baby blue. Also, this home could have some really tacky wallpaper in the kitchen and bathrooms. There is really nothing WRONG with this home except the fact that it is living in a time warp. Some buyers can see past this and picture updates, but only if the PRICE is right. By RIGHT, I mean lower than the comps in the area.

Vibe #3- This home is what I call the "Weird Layout" Vibe. When you walk in this house you feel it immediately. It may even start from outside the home where you have to take a path to the door that is on the side of the house in a weird location. You may see a coat closet in the dining room or a weird shaped kitchen that doesn't allow any space for standing- much less eating. This home could have a huge formal living room and teeny tiny bedrooms. You wonder what the person was thinking who designed this home. The layout is not practical for most of the population. Unfortunately, the ONLY hope for selling this one is PRICE. Again, it must be lower than the comps in the area.

Vibe #4- "Old People" Vibe. Now, I am not being mean here, I promise! I have older parents, and many elderly clients that I dearly love, but buyers have commented to me on this vibe more than some of the others. They say "You can tell that elderly people live here." When you walk around this home it is usually similar to the outdated vibe. Usually you see TONS of pictures on every inch of the walls and on every table imaginable. The grandkids are cute. However, the house smells a bit like Ponds Cream and usually is decorated with lace and doilies. There is some serious oldantique furniture throughout the home. I think this home is usually a very easy fix if you get a stager involved. It is sometimes hard to convince these sellers that you sell a house differently than you live in it. A stager will help these sellers appeal to all types and ages of buyers and possibly get them as much money as Vibe #5.

Vibe #5- "Smiley Face Vibe" When my buyers walk into this type of home I have seen a visceral reaction from them. They fall in love. They make comments like "OOOHHH, AHHHHH, This is SOOOO Nice." Now, this vibe often comes from brand new homes, completely remodeled homes or a home that has been staged to perfection. It is spotless and clutter-free. When I walk in a home and feel this vibe, usually my buyer does, too. This home is the one you see when it is sold that brought the higher price. If I take my buyer to look at 5 homes, guess which one they want to put an offer on usually?

If you are asking yourself, "How do I make sure I give off that special VIBE to buyers?" I have your answer. Hire a Realtor that can help you by either suggesting improvements or pointing you in the right direction with a great stager. If the home needs TLC, it is easier to do it as it needs it, but an experienced Realtor can help before you put it on the market.

It is all about making a great first impression and presenting a winning VIBE!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you are looking for Real Estate in Colorado Springs call Kristi DeFazio at 719-459-5468

Kristi helps buyers find their dream home in Colorado Springs with that winning VIBE!

Kristi DeFazio

Realtor

RE/MAX Advantage

More about Kristi

Search for your Dream Home

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

REALTORS - WHICH ONE IS THE RESTFUL BEDROOM AT 21-696 Trueman Road, Gibsons, BC

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:38:33 -0800

OK, so here's the skill testing question - which room would you rather sleep in?

Oh all right, there is furniture in the second bedroom, but which room is more restful?

Which room do you think potential buyers would find more appealing?

YES, THIS IS THE SAME ROOM - BEFORE & AFTER STAGING BY UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES

IS IT REALLY THAT DIFFICULT TO RECOGNIZE WHY HOME STAGING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROCESS OF SELLING A HOUSE?

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

A COMMUNITY EFFORT ON THE SUNSHINE COAST

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:26:11 -0800

It is 2 days before deadline and it is going to be tight. The kitchen was the biggest mess and needed the most work, which is on-going & hopefully completed late today or early tomorrow morning.

I am staging a vacant 1 bedroom condo for a gentleman who turned 100 in September. As his eyesight has failed, he finally had to move into assisted living nearby. He has actually come over a few times wanting to help with the renos, and has been wanting to choose the paint colours. NOT!!!

The funnest (have always wanted to use that word, altho not great english) part of this job is the contributions from our retail and artistic communities KERNS FURNITURE BOUTIQUE is sending over a queen bed, a dresser and night stand; KISS HOME & GARDEN BOUTIQUE has loaned me a lovely table and a gilt edged mirror as welll as decor items; ARBUTUS TREE INTERIOR has provided decor items; and one of the Coast's most renowned artists Anita Lundbloom has graciously loaned me 4 pieces of her art.

The realtor, Russ Qureshi of Remax, sold my services to the owner/seller and he is totally OK with notices that all of these lovely pieces are for sale.

I am going to have a draw for a free re-design or staging consultation in exchange for a minimum $5 donation to Habitat for Humanity.

Other members of this condo community have been dropping in, anxious to see what we are doing in Stan's suite, so we are having a special reveal for them and the owner. I have invited our local newspaper, the COAST REPORTER and hopefully they will follow up.

So, to refresh your memory, this condo had dated wallpaper in every room. I was asking for paint colour suggestions for a beach theme in a condo near the marina. I went with a lovely beach sand colour in the LR/DR/entry area; gossimer blue in the bedroom and ocean air in the bathroom and walk-in which connect from the bedroom.

The kitchen & laundry room are being painted Paie Moon and will have new terracotta tiles on floor. I have taken out the upper cupboards which were in very bad shape and due to budget, going with open shelving. The counter and bottom cupboards will be done in melamine paint to make up for defects and will all be Black Bean Soup.

I will be sorry to see this project come to an end.

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES WILL ENSURE YOUR PROPERTY IS OPEN - HOUSE READY

www.upstagingyourhomes.com

604-885-6680

CANADA'S BEAUTIFUL WEST COAST - HOME OF THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS STARTING FEBRUARY 12TH

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

A RAINY DAY ON THE SUNSHINE COAST - STAYING WARM & DRY

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:14:41 -0800

We don't usually get snow on the Lower Mainland or the Sunshine Coast of BC; we get rain. However the best part of the rain is that it means snow in our mountains.

We definitely want lots of snow for the Winter Olympics being held here in February, so that our athletes can get all the gold medals in competition. YEAH CANADA!!!!

Today, I have a lot of writing and editing to do and it is a perfect day to get at it. I never did get into the habit of using a desk when working at home; so I am snuggled up on the leather couch in my office with Gracie glued to my right side and my laptop on my lap. Yup, it is a cozy way to work and not worry about cold weather and rain outside. My husband did the bank deposit for me on his way to swimming.

Here is Gracie ready to play in the kitchen, on the director chair my husband uses when he is cooking. One of her favourite games is playing on chairs: you stick your fingers thru the back of chair and she attacks your fingers. She is getting warmed up in this pic and will soon be on the seat and reaching out with her paw as we walk by, inviting us to play with her.

And here she is sound asleep in my lap. Today she is lying on her stomach, with her paw across my stomach, snuggled against my abdomen. Hmmmm, nice and warm. She loves to snuggle and can't get close enough.

As the saying goes: "If you want the best seat in the house, you have to move the cat!" Luckily she is willing to share with me.

Can you think of a more pleasant way to get work done?! I can't. Oops, she just realized I have yoghurt so she is now wide awake, on the coffee table & helping herself to my yoghurt. Ya gotta love the little fur balls!

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

WINTER - A GREAT TIME FOR A 1 DAY RE-DESIGN

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:36:34 -0800

During the summer, we are out of our homes more than in them, enjoying the sun and sand and our gardens. However in the winter, we need a cozy, inviting place to cuddle up and ignore the rain and gloom outside for those of us on the West Coast, or the snow storm outside for the rest of you in the East and the mid-West.

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”

―Edith Sitwell

If your home isn't inviting & cozy, it is time for you to experience a one day Re-Design by UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES.

A Re-Design is a fun and inexpensive way to experience your home in a whole new way. We shop your home, so there is no additional shopping costs - unless you want us to shop for you. With your permission, we find new locations for artwork, furniture, decor, lamps which may be languishing where they are currently located.

See for yourself how our professional re-design team made this West Vancouver home more of a HOME!

This client told us she loved to sit and read in this room in the morning with her cup of tea; yet there was no light to read by and no side table for her to place her tea! We addressed those issues by moving the chairs she loved to sit in, creating a sitting area by her front window. She now has a light to read by on those gloomy mornings with no sun, as well as a table where she can place her tea.

BEFORE............................................................................................................................................................... AFTER

The fireplace was non-descript, lacking balance and interest. A piece of art found elsewhere in her home was hung above the mantel and the mantel was cleared, as were the adjoining pieces of artwork. The fireplace is now the focal point of the room, which it was meant to be.

We found the bright red cushions in her bedroom, as well as the side table lamps which deserved to be in a space where they could be admired.

The living room was one of 3 rooms which were re-designed while she was at work. She was thrilled when she she walked in her front door and didn't know where to look first. She even came home a bit early from work as she could not wait to see her new home.

We listened to her and achieved the look she wanted, but couldn't find on her own.

AFTER

It's a New Year and a time for new beginnings with a Re-Design by UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES!

604-885-6680

sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES is a home staging and re-design service which services the Sunshine Coast as well as North and West Vancouver, BC

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

WHY A HOME STAGER?

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:05:38 -0800

This is the question we hear from sellers, realtors, while we are marketing our services & networking the public or at a friend's party. I think this quote sums it up nicely:

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”

―Confucius

Home Stagers see what homeowners, realtors and potential buyers cannot see in an un-staged property for sale, especially a vacant one!

We bring out the design features of the property which make it unique, but are hidden by clutter, tired wallpaper or paint & poor furniture arrangement.

When there are no design features, we create them.

Our goal is the same as the homeowner and the realtor - to get the property viewed by as many potential homebuyers as possible, sold quickly and at list price or higher.

Home Staging is not an expense: it is an investment which ensures ROI!

2010 is the year to put aside old thought patterns which are probably not working and embrace ones that will ensure more positive results.

LET UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES BRING OUT THE BEAUTY IN YOUR PROPERTY THRU UP-STAGING OR RE-DESIGN

WWW.UPSTAGINGYOURHOMES.COM

604-885-6680

taking drab to FAB!

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

AULD LANG SYNE

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:48:08 -0800

A friend introduced me to this group's music a few days ago and I am hooked. They are fabulous. Their version of Auld Lang Syne is the best I have heard.

AULD LANG SYNE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ujzd2STgfU&feature=channel

I could not get link for the song i want to work; so, if this link works, it will take you to video background info and from there you can play the video I am referring to.

This is my gift to all of you who have not heard of this incredible group up to now, STRAIGHT NO CHASER.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. HAVE FUN BRINGING IN 2010 WHEREVER YOU ARE AND GET HOME SAFELY.

ON THE SUNSHINE COAST OF BC, MY HUSBAND & I ARE JOINING OUR FRIENDS IN SENDING FIREWORKS INTO OUR COASTAL SKY AND SENDING OUR WISHES FOR 2010 AFLOAT IN THE OCEAN OUTSIDE OUR FRIEND'S DOOR. WE WILL BE HAVING A NAP THIS AFTERNOON TO ENSURE WE CAN STAY AWAKE UNTIL MIDNITE!!

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

Luv Those Faces!

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 09:46:02 -0800

Each morning I wake up to these adorable little furballs and they help start the day off on the right foot!

Gracie & Gigi, in the top photos, were sent to our local SPCA from an overcrowded one elsewhere in our province. They apparently never knew their Mom. One of our Vet's assistants took them home and cared for them until they were old enough to be neutered.

That is when my husband & I entered the picture.....we had just lost the Mother cat to cancer and Groucho was devastated, as we were.

Grouchie was one of a litter of 3 that his Mommy gave birth to under our bed side table 16 years ago this January. She welcomed us home one night, sitting under a bush in our parking area, soaked and hungry. I was a dog lover and had never had a cat; my husband-to-be was a cat lover. We brought her inside and he discovered she was pretty preggers. We kept her inside and she gave birth to Groucho and his two sisters the next day.

I became a cat fan from that day on.

We kept Mommy, as she was not being cared for by her owner, so she could continue being a great mother to her babies and be taken care of properly. We found a home for one and were in the process of finding a home for another kitten which fell through. I gave in and we kept Mommy, aka Her Myness, her daughter Zoe and her son, Groucho.

When Groucho lost his sister Zoe 2 years ago, he didn't appear to notice. However, when he lost his Mommy last October he was devastated. He walked around the house inside and out, yowling: he could not understand where his Mommy had gone. We knew we had to do something and two new additions seemed like the right move.

We saw the two sisters at our Vet's and fell madly in love with them. It took Grouchie a while to warm up to them; however now they play together and these two are keeping him young.

Gigi is a groupie and follows him around giving him kisses; while Gracie swipes at him & begins a puddin' boxing match, which is pretty funny to watch.

I am now a dog lover and a pussy cat lover!!

Contrary to what I used to think, pussy cats are a riot and just as playful as puppies. I rough house with them in the same manner, chase them and throw things for them to fetch just as I used to do with our dogs. They love it. And they do come when called, just not as quickly as a dog would!!!

Waking up to these adorable faces every day is the BEST!

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

you know you are married to the right person when......

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:08:23 -0800

My husband has a great sense of humour which is one of the main reasons I married him. He is also more forgiving than I am at times, which is another quality I love about him - especially now when I have been procrastinating about laundry.

One of my favourite things is waking up early together and lying in bed talking while our pussy cats snooze away.

He cracked me up this morning by asking if I was trying to gather enough coins to do the laundry:did I not realize it didn't require coins? Yup I got his message and also a good laugh. Great way to start the day!

He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1999, only 4 years after we married. It was a major shock, like Michael J. Fox, he only had a minor twitch in his left hand. He told me he was afraid to tell me as he thought I would leave him. NOT!!!

Last year we were in Puerto Vallarta in January. We meet up with friends from CA each year. This year we can't go as his Parkinson's disease has made his ability to walk so difficult he would really be struggling on cobblestones and sand. His sense of ha ha is getting us thru the trying times that PD throws at the people it affects - the sufferers and the caregivers. He has a great attitude and is off today volunteering at Habitat Re-store.

I have grown to recognize he is my best friend and we have fun wherever we are. We will miss this years jaunt to PV and our friends; however the laughs will continue on the Sunshine Coast of BC.

“A great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.”

―Dave Meurer

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

Price Reduced-What Do Buyers Think When they See the Sign?

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:11:11 -0800

This is a great post dealing with a pet peeve of mine as a home stager. It is beyond me why a realtor would not offer his client the option of home staging BEFORE recommending a price reduction.

When I drive around my area and see "price reduced" or "new price" signs of realtors who have discounted the value of staging my blood boils and I feel concern for the home owner.

It's one thing if a realtor makes a sincere pitch about home staging and their client rejects the idea; however the comments I get back from realtors make no sense:

For eg

my clients don't have a spare hour for a staging consult
my clients can't afford it
my clients don't want to stage
my client's house doesn't need staging
I can stage it for them
I don't want to insult them

What is ridiculous is that those remarks were made to me by realtors who had already reduced the price of the listing 2z; were the 3rd or 4th realtors on the property; claimed to know what staging was; had free gift certificates for my services which they chose not to pass onto their clients

To the realtor who told me her client did not want staging, I replied so he is ok with a fully decorated Christmas tree in his living room for showings in April?

To the realtor who had a few of my free gift certificates to pass onto her clients and chose not to, and proceeded to tell me I was out of touch with the market and her clients could not afford staging, I merely shook my head. DUH! You have free certificates to pass onto your clients, that covers my staging consult fee and during the consult I am hands-on with the client's permission. The client has the option of accepting or rejecting my recommendations, so where is the cost?

To the realtor who told me her clients had no time for a staging consult: well really how on earth does one respond to that? Many of her clients had already had their selling price reduced 1x, if not 2x. I guess if they don't want to make the time for a staging consult which could result in their home selling rather than remaining unsold, that is their right!

Via Cindy Jones-Northern Virginia Real Estate & Military Relocation Services (RE/MAX Allegiance #1 RE/MAX Company in the World):

Today will driving through a couple of local neighborhoods the “PRICE REDUCED” sign riders caught my attention. In an area where some houses seem to fly off the market and others languish it made me wonder what do buyers think when they pull up in front of a house with the “PRICE REDUCED” rider front and center.

The first questions that popped into my mind were:

Was the house originally overpriced?
Wonder if the seller is desperate?
Is the house in poor condition?
What is the listing agent doing?

If a buyer has been casing a neighborhood for months they may know the reason why the house is sporting the “PRICE REDUCED” sign. However if they are just arriving in the area or starting their house hunt the sign screams there might be a problem. There are buyers who would look at a “PRICE REDUCED” sign as a open invitation to make a lowball offer whether one is warranted or not.

It seems announcing the positive “MUST SEE INSIDE”, “GREAT PRICE”, “SEE ME ON THE WEB” or many others are better sign riders to encourage a buyer to want to learn more about the property.

Personally my listings aren’t ever going to sport a “PRICE REDUCED” sign rider even if the top of the sign post has to remain empty.

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680

NEW Project - Ready Set Stage's "3rd Time Is A Charm"

SHARON CHARBONEAU (UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:32:53 -0800

These photos are so good, they look like art to me. WOW! The staging ain't so bad either what a team.

This is what staging and great photos can do for your properties for sale.

When a house has mere seconds to make a strong impression on a home buyer which photos are going to catch their eye - blurry ones, poorly lit, with clutter and unmade beds or photos like this stager and photographer team up to present for their clients.

This service is available where you live, TRY IT

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES ON THE SUNSHINE COAST OF BC

604-885-6680

Via Andrew Mayon (Triad Real Estate Photography):

Hey Rainmakers, just wanted to give you an update on Chrissie Sutherland's latest and greatest project, "3rd Time Is A Charm."

To see the FULL SCREEN slideshow, click here:
http://triadrealestatephotography.com/viewing/?slideshowID=1223

As always, it's a great pleasure following up behind Chrissie's work and capturing what an amazing job she does. She is a great partner to have and we look forward to an even more successful year of projects and fun in 2010.

Greensboro Real Estate Photography | Andrew Jay Mayon

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - STAGING THE SUNSHINE COAST OF B.C.

Real Estate Staging costs less than the 1st price reduction - contact us before listing your property

Sharon@upstagingyourhomes.com

604 - 885 - 6680