My mother always told me that 'a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar.'
I sure needed her advice to convince the homeowner next door to STAGE her house before she listed it. With stuffed road kill owls hanging from the entrance ceiling, poorly painted maroon walls in the kitchen ,a dark brown tunnel for a hall and a general air of cat , it screamed out for help.
After spending $4500 on painting, new floors and curb appeal the homeowner sold the home for $35, 000 over the first listing price. Now she is telling everyone she knows what STAGING can do. Who would have 'thunk' it? STAGING works!
Fixing up a property before you sell is not really a new concept. Listing Realtors have suggested, this idea for years. But today , buyers with their busy lifestyles expect a higher standard of presentation. If they are spending half a million dollars for a home they demand the illusion of luxury. And the wise home seller gives them what they want.
Obvious needs like removing the clutter, packing personal items and a through cleaning are necessary. But a professional STAGER goes even further by creating trend forward in a dated and drab home. STAGING works like a gardener pulling up the weeds to see the visual details. Remove the old and replace with colour, accessories and on-trend small furniture pieces. Rental furniture can replace worn or large pieces. Skilled tradespeople are part of a STAGERS' arsenal. Inside and out, they landscape, paint ,and lay tile and flooring. Together, they convince that buyer who spends 11 minutes in the home to make that offer at or above the asking price. A sold sign on the lawn and large equity in the homeowners' pocket is the STAGERS' job well done.
Little things make a huge impression as the STAGER trend-forwards the home. Buyers want character and sophistication. These ten trends should be in every STAGER'S inventory.( This information is gathered from personal experience and reasearch in my stacks of shelter magazines!)
*Clear glass lamps,vases , coffee tables, and small mirrors. Packets of small coloured stones.
*Bold area rugs and large bold art especially unframed. The return of wallpaper can be introduced by using wallpaper as art. Wrap it around artists' canvas.
*Introduce the flat screen TV into a family room or den--- faux or otherwise.
*In the master bedroom add a lounge and suggest a bar area if possible.
*While neutral colours dress the walls, add accents of berry , pale green , bronze and pale gold in more traditional homes , while lime green and burnt orange are more contemporary..Brown is the new black and cream is the new white. Black and white, blue and yellow and blue and white are classic. Live (carefully)on the wild side add zebra and/or leopard prints. Small pillows, vases, book covers all add this pop of colour.
*When replacing outdated lighting consider chandeliers --- in the bath, kitchen and bedroom,
*When using rental furniture, visually open up the room by using upholstery with clean, elegant lines or shape.
*When replacing flooring go green --- bamboo, laminate, cork or tile
*For the spa bathroom stacks of luxurious white towels and many white pillar candles.
*Every room should have fresh flowers or living plants.
STAGING has got to be the best job in the world---- you not only transform homes but lives as well.
Comments(1)