Property Staging with the Seasons to Connect with Buyers - A Toronto Home Staging Perspective

 Whether you live in Toronto or any other city it is never a bad idea to consider the season when staging a home for sale.  It is important to remember that you are not just de-cluttering your home so people can visit, your home must emotionally connect with a potential buyer in order for you to receive an offer – at the right price. One way to create that connection without blowing your budget is to think about the season you’re in and “Home Stage for the Season”. In Toronto, this is especially important in competitive neighbourhoods like Lawrence Park and Rosedale.

Incorporating seasonal home décor feeds the imagination and helps buyers to see themselves living in your home.

Remember, everyone can connect with a season. If you live in Toronto you know we have our favourite seasons and 4 great seasons to choose from, but there is a comfort in the seasonal changes that occur, especially in Canada, that can really have an impact on how we can relate to living in another home – doing what we enjoy in a new location.

One great example of someone who has been very successful preparing her home for the seasons is Martha Stewart - so why not think of her as an inspiration when staging your home. Since we have four seasons a year, you can have fun with this!

1.      Outdoor Seasonal Staging can include anything from a patio set to recreational games to barbeque utensils and apron etc. - when staging in the summer months in the Toronto area, why not give the buyer the feeling they can enjoy a barbeque with family and friends, showcase your backyard as a place of fun and recreation in the summer.

2.      2-chair bistro set - a 2-chair bistro set can be used in many situations and in many different places. It always helps a home buyer envision themselves sitting with a newspaper or a friend having a beverage and enjoying the scenery - much like you do at a cafe.

3.      Birdbath - for those nature lovers who enjoy bird watching and like to feel they have their own oasis. Make sure that the birdbath is easily viewed from the kitchen or living room for the most impact.

4.      Pictures that reflect the season - bring the outdoors in, showcasing autumn leaves during the fall can enhance a home that has a great backyard, or is located near great walking trails.

5.      Use a seasonal wreath - a seasonal wreath says to buyers this isn't just a house, its a home. Curb appeal is often under-rated and plays an equally important role to the sale of your home as well as the inside. A home stager can help you plan the small details of how to design a room to have the most impact, inside and out.

6.      Faux fur throws in winter/light throws in summer - this should be used when appropriate because not everyone is a fur fan. But a faux fur throw by the fireplace in the winter makes you want to curl up with a hot cup of cocoa by a warm fire…how inviting to a potential buyer.  Much like a light throw on a chair on the front porch can spark a vision of sitting on your porch with company during those cool summer nights. I had a client in Lawrence Park, Toronto who used this technique (along with other décor tips) to get top price for her home.

7.      Use pillows and throws with colours that reflect the season - does the house feel a little dark? Is it spring time? Brighten up a room with throws and pillows that bring in those seasonal colours. What colours do you associate with spring? Light green, pale yellow? An interior designer or home stager can help you choose a colour scheme that will brighten the day of prospective buyers without overwhelming them.

8.      Plant seasonal flowers outside - curb appeal.. curb appeal.. curb appeal.. If it's spring/summer, rake your garden beds and plant some seasonal flowers. Remember your buyer wants to buy a home not a just a house. Home owners often overlook the importance of a neat and tidy outdoors – make sure you walk your property with your home stager to get the best options for your home.

9.      Bring seasonal flowers inside - as we transition from a harsh winter, the weather has just begun to warm up and buyers are venturing out to look at the possibility of purchasing a new home, spring flowers can often lighten anyone's mood, especially if it's still a little gloomy outside.

10.  Some seasonal fruits/vegetables in the kitchen can speak to and connect with buyers - What do we do in kitchens? We eat and we cook... shouldn't a buyer feel they want to eat and cook in what could be their new kitchen… your kitchen?

As with all property staging, home staging for the seasons can make a home feel warmer and more like… well, home. Remember to avoid decorating with items that may suggest any religious connotations, such as a Christmas tree in order to maintain an open and airy feeling without limiting the number of buyers who might be connecting with your home, afterall not everyone celebrates Christmas and therefore they may not . Your home stager can help you create just the right balance.