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All I did was... use artwork to make a house feel like home.

By Michelle Finnamore

Home Stager with Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket 416.928.2999

December 15, 2011 06:12 AM

Home staging in Vaughan Advantage Staging sees many very nice homes with beautiful large bathrooms but no artwork. Most people are afraid to commit to a piece of artwork so they never get around to hanging any.

I believe artwork and lighting are two things that show buyers the lifestyle they are looking for in a new home. It is a very important detail of staging and can make or break the feeling you are trying to create in a home.

The opposite can happen as well. The home owner will have totally inappropriate artwork hung in the most public spaces in their home. Ever see the dreaded nude in the dining room? I have several times. It is the first thing I put into storage when I do see it as buyers spend precious time discussing it instead of looking at the features in the property.

All I did in this home was place a large canvas of the morning fog lifting off the ocean to create a restful sanctuary for buyers who visit this property for sale. The artwork creates an ambience in the master ensuite that buyers will remember when they visit the many properties for sale.

advantage staging home staging in vaughan

This property sold in a 3 days for 98% of list. The buyers remarked that the home "felt" right to them.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Professional home staging is always less than the first price reduction.

Let Advantage Staging create a home that is staged to attract buyers, have less days on market and help you build a loyal client base who will refer you to others.

Michelle Finnamore CCSP Advantage Staging 416.928.2999

9100 Jane St. Ste. 77 Vaughan

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Sally Weatherley

EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Michelle - It's funny how many homeowners shy away from hanging art. Sometimes I wonder if there's no art because they actually don't know how to hang it. Either that, or they don't know what to hang, so they don't hang anything.

Love the art you chose over the bathtub. Very serene and relaxing.

Dec 15, 2011 06:17 AM

Michelle Finnamore

Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON

Preparing your property for sale

Hi Sally, I think the majority of people just can't commit to a piece. They ask others what they think of it, they don't like it, so then they decide to buy nothing. Art has to evoke a feeling to work. I agree that the next hurdle is that most people really don't understand how to hang art so they shy away from it again.

I offer a service to purchase artwork and hang it for my clients. After they see what I do with their place in a one day, they ask me to do their new home. A typical comment will be that they never would have bought anything that I did, but they love what I picked for them. The service is around 10 per cent of my business now.

Dec 15, 2011 06:25 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Funny...I have lived in my home for 8 years and hung very little artwork. I just listed my house and prior to pictures we hung something in almost every room. I was fine without the artwork, but for selling...I agree with you it makes a huge difference in warming up the home. The irony of it all was that every piece I used, I actually owned (had it stored away until I was ready to commit) and could have been using all along!

Dec 15, 2011 11:31 AM

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Michelle ~ Art really does add "emotional content" to a space and that's why it's so effectively used in staging. It sure makes a difference in your photo!

Dec 15, 2011 03:58 PM

Michelle Molinari

FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor - Lafayette, LA

Feature This Real, Estate Staging & Curb Appeal Concepts

Michelle, I concur with you and indeed, all the stagers who have commented. Lighting and art will sell almost any space.

Dec 15, 2011 06:38 PM

Lori Kim Polk

Premiere Home Staging : Home Staging Services - Roseville, CA

Home Stager - Roseville, Sacramento

I am finding that many of my occupied home stagings are deficiant of artwork. Love to show them how affordable it can be just by going to Homegoods... and lighting from Lowes or Home Depot... (ah, well... hello 21st Century)

Dec 16, 2011 05:40 PM

Janet Jones

Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI

Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Michelle--what a great post on this subject. I talked to a Realtor recently at an open house where there were two nudes in the bedroom and one prominently displayed on an easel in the living room. Not much else that the condo offered and it has had 4 price reductions. Suggested that she talk to the owners about removing those pieces, but apparently the owners will not consider it. Price reductions, yes--buyer distractions--no. Amazing.

Dec 16, 2011 06:14 PM

Michelle Finnamore

Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON

Preparing your property for sale

Hi Barb, I agree with you. Art is where you get your jumping off point to creating the right feel in a room. Gives a room a focal point and if used correctly can evoke the right response in buyers.

Hi Sharon, funny isn't it? We actually have the artwork and never hang it, afraid to commit. Glad you finally hauled it out. Hope you hang it in the new house and enjoy it everyday.

Hi Maureen, as you know buyers start out with a laundry list of things that they want in the new house. However, it is usually an emotional response that they have when in house that determines how much they want that particular house. It's our job to make that happen.

Hi Michelle, absolutely right on! I've written a few posts about the truly outstanding lighting that I find in my area. It was spot on trend 25 years ago, but dates a property in seconds when the buyers step into the foyer. New lighting and art wins the buyers heart every time.

Hi Lori, I use Homesense here for artwork mostly. Always less than $50 - $75 finds you the perfect piece. I have spent up to $150 when it is a very large canvas for the very large homes in my area. I actually bought one so large that it didn't fit in my Jeep. Now that was a problem as I had to hire a delivery company to get it to my job. It really didn't look that big in the store honest!

HI Janet, it really makes you shake your head when a client refuses to store the offending artwork when it could mean the difference in the time it takes to sell their house. They are moving anyway, it really is just packing up a little in advance. When I phrase it that way, most sellers will agree to pack it up. Hope your client changes their mind soon. You can give your best suggestions and let the sellers know that from your experience, it works!

Dec 17, 2011 01:45 PM

Wendy Tomm

Beyond the Walls - East St Paul, MB

CCSP, RESA-PRO, BBB - Wpg Realtors

Artwork is an accessory that makes the room complete and allows potential buyers to really connect with the spaces. I think you did a great job so thanks for sharing.

I try and give my clients a little lesson in hanging art as well as many have no idea how to hang or even what to hang.

Dec 20, 2011 06:23 AM

Tori Toth

Tori Toth, International - Howard Beach, NY

888.667.6643 NYC & Beyond, HSR, SAR, RESA, LIBOR

its amazing how simple a room can change with a piece of art. Happy holidays Michelle.

Dec 25, 2011 01:37 PM

Michelle Finnamore

Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON

Preparing your property for sale

Hi Wendy, iteaching clients the correct way to hang art is an excellent service to offer your clients. Most will still not have the confidence to do it, but they really appreciate you taking the time to show them. I find they still hire me to hang there are in the new home.

Hi Tori, good wishes to you as well. Isn't it amazing how even the most mundane room comes alive with the right piece of artwork hung in place. That's where we come in. With over 300 pieces of artwork in inventory it's easy for us as professionals to make it look easy when we do our work staging a home for sale. I buy are like other ladies buy shoes I think!

Dec 28, 2011 03:30 AM