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The Undefined Room

By
Home Stager with EXIT STAGE RIGHT

WHAT TO DO WITH AN UNDEFINED ROOM?

Undefined rooms confuse buyers.  They don't exactly know what the room is supposed to be, or how they should employ the room, should they purchase the property. The potential buyer just leaves, shaking their head, more at a loss than when they arrived at the house.  We, as stagers, need to spell these rooms out for potential buyers.  We need to keep it simple.  Here are a few rooms that needed defining:

THIS ROOM WAS CONFUSING.  THERE WAS A PIANO, CHESS BOARD, FIRST NATIONS PADDLES, AND TWO ARMCHAIRS.  IT WAS TOO SMALL FOR A LIVING ROOM.  WE TRANSFORMED THIS ROOM INTO A FORMAL DINING ROOM.

BEFORE

THIS AREA OFF THE KITCHEN SEEMED LIKE AN AFTER THOUGHT.  THERE WAS NO PROPER BALANCE, AND EVERYTHING WAS NOT TO SCALE.  THE HUTCH GOBBLED UP PRECIOUS SPACE.  WE MOVED THESE TWO CHAIRS FROM THE NOW DINING ROOM, AND SET UP A WARM, COZY READING NOOK.  

BEFORE

EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Home Staging and Redesign, located in Vancouver, B.C.  "Set the Stage for a lasting first impression".

www.exitstageright.ca

Sonja Patterson
Keller Williams - BV - College Station, TX
Texas Monthly 5-Star Realtor Recipient for the Hou

Sally,

Bravo!!  Great job!!  We have a "sunroom" that has been used as a craft room and home for the guinea pig.  Of course, when it comes time to sell...we will turn it back into a cozy sunroom with some Pier I furniture and a nice area rug. :)

Jan 13, 2010 12:27 PM
Pangaea Interior Design Kitchen & Bath Design, Remodeling
Portland Oregon - Portland, OR

Very nice job of working with things they had and moving them into better positions! I'm all for using rooms for whatever you want while you're living there, but when it comes time to sell, the purpose of the room needs to be clear and make sense in the floor plan.

Jan 13, 2010 12:38 PM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Nice job Sally! I always tell clients that buyers see so many houses in a day that you want them to remember your house and what it had to offer, not the house with the weird craft or exercise room in what should be the dining room.  Show them what they're getting, don't confuse them!

Jan 13, 2010 01:52 PM
Michelle Pimentel
Empire Home Staging Solutions - Upland, CA
ASP, IAHSP Empire Home Staging

Sally,

 Buyers won't be confused anymore..you have defined these spaces so beautifully with your magical touches! 

Jan 13, 2010 05:10 PM
Mary Lou Teague
HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC - Knoxville, TN
Home Style and Staging Knoxville. TN

Great Job, love what you did with this small space...you gave the buyer an idea of what it could be used for..Nice job

Jan 13, 2010 10:58 PM
Kim Dillon
Creative Eye Home Staging - West Chester, PA

Undefined spaces are definitely obstacles and often challenges!  Nice job.

Jan 13, 2010 11:39 PM
Julia Maher
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager

Good for you for defining these spaces' functions!  Now buyers won't be asking "Where is the dining room?"  Happy Staging - Julie

Jan 14, 2010 01:27 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Thank you all for your kind comments.  It's so encouraging.

Jan 14, 2010 03:22 AM
Liz Gallagher
LG Home Harmony - Home Stagers & Organizers - Montreal, QC
Montreal Quebec RESA member

You are so right ... you did a wonderful job of defining the spaces in this home.

It really is confusing to see what they have going on in there ... I could see how it would throw a buyer off.

Jan 14, 2010 03:10 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Sally ~ One of the most important benefits a professional home stager brings to the client is to define the function of each room and space in the home.  The other is to make it appealing to the targe buyer of that particular property.  Looks like you hit a home run on both of these!

Jan 14, 2010 04:31 PM
Kathy Nielsen
http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

Sally - you did a wonderful job!!  

Congratulations. Your home staging is being featured in the group Staging Before & After Pictures.

Kathy

Jan 15, 2010 11:15 AM
Linda D. Pufford
Stage with Divine Style - Home Staging - Novato, CA
ASPM, Marin/Sonoma Home Stager

Sally,

The rooms before looked bla!  You made them come to life!  Both spaces looked fabulous after your Staging.  The house looks much more appealing.  Great job!

Jan 15, 2010 03:36 PM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Kathy, thank you so much for the feature!  I feel honoured.  And thanks all for your wonderful comments.

Jan 15, 2010 05:42 PM
Lori Donegan
Ready 2 Stage - Cleveland, TN

Nice work.  The home sellers have a difficult time seeing things objectively.  You spelled it out perfectly for them.  Thanks for sharing.

Jan 16, 2010 10:41 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

It never ceases to amaze me how many people have these catch all rooms in their homes. Nice work Sally.

Jan 17, 2010 10:43 AM
Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

The Dining Room is fantastic....love those white (leather?) chairs!  Very Chic!!

Jan 17, 2010 04:29 PM
Deena Cottingham
GreenApple Staging & Images, Calgary Staging & Photography - Calgary, AB
Home Stager & Photographer

It's all about lifestyle merchandising! Good job on the staging, Sally, by bringing function and your creativity instead of leaving it up to the buyer!

Jan 20, 2010 02:10 PM
Deena Cottingham
GreenApple Staging & Images, Calgary Staging & Photography - Calgary, AB
Home Stager & Photographer

Back again for a visit! I never noticed the chess table first time around -- cute idea!

All the best to you, Sally, in your upcoming tradeshow! My thoughts are with you, and you'll do great! Let us know how it went. :-)

Feb 01, 2010 11:48 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Thanks for the return visit, Deena!  Actually, the chess board is the "before" photo...  the "after" is the dining table.  Apparently, the trade show is sold out!  Hurray - so many realtors, so little time - LOL!

Feb 01, 2010 11:55 AM