staging in burlington: Do I need to Stage in this Seller's Market? Staging in Burlington
- 03/30/17 09:21 AM
Right now we have what is called a Seller's Market in Burlington. There are fewer homes on the market and lots of buyers. Prices are rising and buyers are competing for homes.
This may lull Sellers into the old 'I don't need to do anything' attitude. But that would be a mistake.
No matter what type of market it is, Buyers want value for their money.
Make sure your home says I'm worth that higher price you have to pay.
Make sure your home says I'm in good shape and a safe buy to the Buyer who may have to remove all conditions, … (19 comments)
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staging in burlington: That Controlled Panic Stage. Staging in Burlington
- 03/05/17 02:06 PM
Often, my clients are nervous about having a stranger come and assess their home. They worry that their home is not clean enough, needs work, is too cluttered etc.
I try to reassure them that I see all my clients at the same stage of the selling process. I call it the
ControlledPanic stage. They have decided to sell and are just realizing the amount of work involved.
I have no set expectations. I prefer to see the home before any work is done. This allows me to see everything I have to work with. I like to use the clients possessions but in … (5 comments)
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staging in burlington: The Big Three,Space, Light & Storage. Staging in Burlington
- 02/28/17 11:06 AM
Last night I did a consult on a charming older home. It was built in the knob and tube era.
The home was small but charming. Walking through it showed me once again how important the Big Three of Staging are when selling.
Space
No matter what size of home, a buyer needs to feel that the rooms are spacious for that size of home. To do this we make sure that traffic flow is good and that there are no 'extras' being stored in the room. Remember, less is more on surfaces and shelving. Entry areas to each room should not be crowded … (6 comments)
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staging in burlington: Remember, you need the cash! Staging in Burlington
- 01/31/17 01:31 PM
Over the last 11 years I have worked with couples going through a divorce. It's not easy.
It's not easy for the couples or the Stager if there is a lot of animosity.
I feel for these people. The couples are hurting so much that they would rather score a shot off of their 'partner' than work together one last time.
I recommend that you take a breath, step back and remember that you both need the money from the sale of your home to move on with your life.
To make sure that you get the maximum amount, your home needs to be presented … (4 comments)
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staging in burlington: Is your home just 'too much' for buyers? Staging in Burlington
- 01/23/17 09:35 AM
Is your house just 'too much' for buyers to identify with?
Is your home 'too cluttered' to appeal? That lived in look keeps buyers from seeing the features of the space.
Is your decor 'too taste specific'? Will that wallpaper or strong paint color have broad appeal?
Are the bathrooms 'too retro'? Those colored fixtures may only suggest replacement costs to a buyer.
Are you a 'minimalist'? Does your home look cold because of it?
Try to remember that the more types of buyers that your home appeals to the faster your sale will go. Don't sit there waiting for someone just like you to come … (4 comments)
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staging in burlington: A wrinkled nose is not what you want. Staging in Burlington
- 12/08/16 02:00 PM
You do not want a wrinkled nose and the comment 'What is that smell?!' from a Buyer when they step into your home.
Buyers use all their senses when they view homes. They rely heavily on 'Sight' but don't forget about their sense of 'Smell'.
Cooking Odors are the most common one that Realtors ask me to address with their clients. Those spices that add flavor hang around long after the meal. Cabbage products and fish are also common culprits. If you cook with oils a lot they cling to surfaces.
Mold and … (8 comments)
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staging in burlington: Christmas is coming & your on the market! Staging in Burlington
- 11/23/16 05:00 PM
The Holiday Season is approaching fast and your house is on the market.
Do you have to forget decorating this year? After all, the Staging shows say the house has to be neutral and decluttered.
The answer is definitely NOT!
Help the Buyers imagine spending Christmas in your home next year. The secret is to follow the basics of Staging while you decorate.
Keep it simple Seller!
Avoid Clutter > Take away a piece of your normal decor before adding a piece of Christmas decor.
Use fewer pieces than last year. If the … (1 comments)
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staging in burlington: That sense of space. Staging in Burlington
- 10/26/16 06:33 AM
No matter what size of home you are selling, a sense of space is a must. Buyers should feel that your home has spacious rooms for its size.
A room should open up for the Buyer as they step through the entry. This is particularly important for homes that are not open concept.
So, how do you create that sense of space?
Make sure the door opens completely. It should not bump into a piece of furniture. Clear the entry area. The further it is before your eye … (6 comments)
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staging in burlington: BRR should not be your reaction to a Staged home. Staging in Burlington
- 10/19/16 02:09 AM
Walking into a Staged home should not make you want to protect yourself from the chill. It should be warm and welcoming.
At a recent social function, an acquaintance said she would never use Staging because the pictures she had seen of Staged houses looked so cold.
Stagers walk a fine line while Staging a home. We remove enough of the Seller to give the home a broad appeal while leaving just enough of the Seller to show that the home is comfortable/livable.
A Stager … (4 comments)
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staging in burlington: Sometimes they don't want to peel that onion. Staging in Burlington
- 09/26/16 01:25 AM
Staging a home can be something like peeling an onion layer by layer.
If the sellers have been in the home for a number of years the decor and features of the home may be out of date. It may need a fair amount of work to get it sale ready.
Some sellers are eager to do the work to reap the rewards but some are not.
If a client is elderly or one of them is unfit and they have no help it is my job to work within their restrictions.
I explain to them that their home will be aimed at the buyer … (2 comments)
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staging in burlington: There is such a thing as too Open Concept. Staging in Burlington
- 09/12/16 06:24 AM
One of my clients said they had feedback that their home was too open concept.
That surprised me as open concept is so popular right now. Buyers are removing walls from the older more traditional homes.
However, when I got to the master suite, I understood the comment.
The en suite bath was wide open to the master bedroom.
This type of bathroom is very taste specific. I have seen newer ones with lovely pillars separating the two rooms but they are still wide open to each other.
The majority of buyers want a wall and a door to shut.
Why?
The noise factor - even if … (5 comments)
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staging in burlington: Will you sell to your clone? Staging in Burlington
- 08/31/16 12:59 AM
Are you waiting for your clone to come along?
If you wait for someone just like you to come along and buy your home, you could be waiting a long time. That means carrying your home longer and keeping it set up for viewings longer.
This is why your home should appeal to many types of buyers ... empty nesters, couples, families ... and their tastes.
Help them see themselves living in your home. We Stagers advise our clients to remove personal items. We want the buyer focusing on how their lifestyle will fit into your home and not on your lifestyle.
Neutral colors on … (2 comments)
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staging in burlington: Is your house flying a big Red Flag? Staging in Burlington
- 08/18/16 05:34 AM
When I meet a Seller who doesn't want to invest any more money into their home, I always advise them that all those little things can equal one big Red Flag for Buyers.
Buyers will choose the house in their price range that is move-in ready over one that needs work.
Here are some things not to ignore:
The cabinet with the finish lifting off. Replace it or sand it down and paint it. The cultured marble sink/top with the stain. Install a new one or replace it with a laminate top and sink. Update the taps while you are at it. Broken … (6 comments)
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staging in burlington: Man Caves are important too. Staging in Burlington
- 07/15/16 08:55 AM
I've written before about the importance of your home 'speaking' to the buyer as they view it.
Today let's talk about the male buyers out there.
I was just consulting on a home with a very feminine feel to it. Every room was beautifully accessorized with throw pillows, flowers, art etc. When we got to the final area ... the finished basement ... even it read somewhat feminine. I pointed out to the seller that the home might not reach the male buyers.
My client said 'oh, you mean create a man cave'. So that's basically what we did. The vases of flowers, floral … (19 comments)
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staging in burlington: Will your home reach out and touch the Buyer? Staging in Burlington
- 07/07/16 02:22 AM
Will your home reach out and touch the Buyer?
So much of choosing a home is visual. It's that emotional response to what you see that gives you that feeling of 'home'.
Preparing your home for sale means you walk a fine line between looking like a show home and looking like a home where someone is living comfortably. You must remove enough of yourself to allow the Buyer to imagine living there without making the home feel cold.
The Buyer should be focusing on themselves not your lifestyle during a viewing. Remove those family photos and any large collection.
Make sure the traffic flow … (2 comments)
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staging in burlington: What are you going to do about Dad's house? Staging in Burlington
- 07/04/16 05:09 AM
What are you going to do about Dad's house? He can't live alone in it anymore.
It's not easy when this happens. Dad will be living with you or in a facility. Will you move into his house or will he move in to yours? Lots of changes for everyone.
Dad probably hasn't updated his home for years and now you have to decide if you will sell 'as is' or do some updating. Dad may need the funds to live on.
From a Staging point of view, if you are selling, updating as much as you can within your budget is the way … (3 comments)
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staging in burlington: 20 Ways To Improve Your Home's Appearance Before You List It
- 07/01/16 04:01 AM
Sharon Tara has put together a list of suggestions that every seller should take to heart. No matter what size of home or where you live this list applies.
As a professional Home Stager it's my job to improve appearance, to create appeal, to highlight potential. Most people are living busy and stressful lives and their homes reflect it. Our homes are set up for our convenience and for our comfort....not to impress others.
Maybe it's been several years since you made any changes and your home needs some updating.
Maybe your hobbies and collections have gotten out of hand and … (3 comments)
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staging in burlington: Have you taken aim at the right Buyer? Staging in Burlington
- 06/05/16 06:07 AM
Staging is all about Marketing your home. We want your home to appeal to the type of Buyer that fits your category.
So, step outside and look at the houses around you and who is living in them.
Is your neighborhood full of young families, first time home buyers, empty nesters, seniors? This is a vital piece of information you can give your Stager and Realtor.
I have a client whose elderly father is selling his home. The Realtor is concerned that the home may look like it belongs to a senior citizen. When I do the consult I will be asking about the … (3 comments)
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staging in burlington: Tick this box & stay sane! Staging in Burlington
- 05/30/16 01:35 AM
Selling your home can be very stressful. Keeping your home show ready disrupts your daily routines.
This is why I always encourage my clients to create a Last Minute List and put it in their Last Minute Box.
If you have a cat or a dog with a big swishing tail or a small child that loves to climb and touch things, you need this box.
If everyone in your family is up and out early in the morning, you need this box.
First, create a list of duties that must be done just before a showing or leaving the house.
Then, fill the box with … (16 comments)
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staging in burlington: Will your Buyer have the 'Vision'? Staging in Burlington
- 05/18/16 09:53 AM
Whenever I work with a client that has 'the Vision', I get the same reaction. They assume that because they can envision how a house will be for them that all the buyers have the same ability.
They expect Buyers to be able to size a room, see past their possessions and tell where they will sit their furniture.
Unfortunately for them, the majority of Buyers do not have 'the Vision'.
Most Buyers need to experience good traffic flow. They need a room to open up for them as they enter. Buyers need to compare the size of their furniture to the pieces in … (2 comments)
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Right now we have what is called a Seller's Market in Burlington. There are fewer homes on the market and lots of buyers. Prices are rising and buyers are competing for homes. 
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