Home Staging With an Eco-Conscience - Have You Ever Considered Indoor Air Quality As A Selling Advantage? - A Toronto Home Staging Perspective.

Regardless of where you live, when staging a home we always want to appeal to the largest number of buyers, why not consider home staging with an eco-conscious?

You may be wondering why you should even consider taking on such a project, afterall don't you already have enough work to do without then trying to be "green"?

Well if we truly want to be appeal to the largest number of buyers, let's consider the additional markets we may appeal to such as:

• buyers who may have multiple chemical sensitivities
• buyers who are trying to live with a greener conscience

Do you have buyers who have expressed they suffer with asthmatic conditions or buyers who are seeking a greener home?

Well in light of the fact both Canadians and Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, it is no wonder people have sensitivities to poor Indoor Air Quality.

Here are some tips and pointers that you can easily incorporate into your listing checklist when preparing your home for sale and don't be afraid to let your buyers know!

 Products to Consider When Your Home Staging

 Use Low VOC (Volative Organic Compound) Paints and Stains - Of the 10,000 chemicals that you will find in paint, 300 of those chemicals are known toxins and 150 are linked to cancer. 

Many of these Chemicals can irritate some potential buyers like fresh cut grass and have been known to cause a host of health issues from breathing problems, headaches, and nausea, to burning watery eyes.  Low VOC paints and stains can be found in most retail chains who sell paint.

  If you need to install a new floor, why not consider wood With FSC Certification?  This means the wood is provided by a managed forest where trees are added as they are removed, they are not simply logging 1,000s without replenishing the forest.  Of the trees that are removed every year without consideration for the environmental ramifications, did you know a new species a week is being lost?

  Bamboo Floor - this product is questionable, bamboo is a highly renewable source yes, but the amount of resins that are needed to produce this type of flooring can be high in VOCs and the amount of energy required to bring bamboo to North America is also a problem - In this case is cost out-weighing the gain? 

Furniture With Natural Fibers - wool rugs and linen furnishings are both current and natural fibers.

Preparing Your Listing, Additional Things to Consider

1. Open the Windows Once A Day - the quality of outdoor air is much healthier than the quality of air you find indoors so when listing your property (in fact you should consider this everyday) open your windows to change the air.
2. Control the Humidity and Control the Growth of Harmful Bacteria and Mold - Some people are highly susceptible to mold and can detect it right away.  Moisture build up on walls, windows and other surfaces can lead to the growth of mold and mildew.  Be sure to ventilate the air, making use of exhaust fans such as in the bathroom and kitchens every day when showering or cooking.
3. Clean Moldy Surfaces With Detergent.
4. Repair Leaky Walls, Basement, and the Roof.
5. Clean and Disinfect Humidifiers, De-Humidifiers, and Air-Conditioners.
6. Make Sure All Your Filters Are Clean.

 

For more information on home staging in the Toronto area or furniture and accessory rental, contact me. 

Rachel

  

 

 

 

80 – 2700 Dufferin St.

Toronto, ON M6B 4J3

416 256-0088

www.cmstaging.com

www.cmfurniturerental.com