I am so proud of the students from my recent home staging training class held in Vancouver. By putting into practice the skills and techniques learned during the 2 full days of previous classroom instruction they completely reconfigured and refreshed a property to better prepare it for sale.
Incredibly the talented group transformed the listing in a matter of hours but perhaps what is even more remarkable is that they used only what was already available in the home. After languishing on the market, the home received an offer the day after it was staged, in fact it received multiple … (20 comments)
jackson west: Home Staging Training - Online Courses are no "Field Day"
- 09/29/09 10:37 PM
With the influx of correspondence and online staging training programs available today, would-be home stagers are being mislead into believing that breaking into the industry is as simple as reading a book or studying a course manual. Several of these programs are offered by people who are not active in the industry or have not built a successful staging company from the ground up.
The reality is that while some people may have a "flair for decorating" they don't succeed as home stagers because they are not provided with the tools, support and perhaps most importantly, the hands on … (10 comments)
jackson west: It don't mean a thing if it aint got that bling!
- 07/23/09 10:50 PM
Many people think it is simple to stage a vacant property. We've all seen the television shows and all stagers do is bring in furniture to show the size and function of a room right? Perhaps after reading this you may re-evaluate what qualified home stagers do, for there is a definite "method to our madness".
Some time ago I viewed a small, vacant 1 bedroom condo and after submitting a proposal to merchandise the property for sale, the homeowners decided they could save money by doing it themselves. They were very nice people and when they called to let me … (33 comments)
jackson west: Another City, a Home Stager and a Camera...
- 04/01/09 11:01 AM
I never knew how enjoyable photography could be until I started my home staging company. Admittedly I am not the best photographer but I do have an eye for detail, and "shooting" interiors for the last 3 years has helped me learn some camera skills. During a recent business trip to Toronto I became enamored with the abundance of historical buildings juxtaposed against the soaring, modern skyline. Talk about curb appeal! I didn't have much time away from work however I did manage to take more than 300 architectural photos (mostly drive by). These are some of my favorites. I hope … (16 comments)
jackson west: Home Staging - Exceeding Buyer's Expectations
- 02/07/09 10:20 PM
As 2009 unfolds it's no secret that it is a buyer's market in most major cities. Vancouver is no exception. Now more than ever it is imperative that home sellers go the extra mile when presenting their property for sale. As buyers expectations escalate more people are turning to home stagers to help secure a sale. Even with the current economic downturn, well displayed homes continue to sell. Top home stagers bolster buyer confidence by paying close attention to detail. The experts at Reveal Estate Home Staging incorporate color, proportion, flow and style to create memorable spaces that sell. Purchasing a home is an … (23 comments)
Warning: the photos in this blog may cause you to feel a sense of hunger, thirst or the desire to stage your kitchen! We've all heard it said that "the kitchen is the heart of the home". If you've ever had guests over for dinner or thrown a cocktail party, you know that people tend to congregate in the kitchen. In my experience as a home stager, the kitchen is often the room most overlooked by home sellers. According to a poll conducted in 2006 by Maritz Research, 52% of buyers said the kitchen had the most … (34 comments)
When I was a kid, my cousins and I used to spend a lot of time in the big room of our grandparent's basement. It was called the rumpus room and it was our youthful domain. I am not sure if that is a common term or if it was unique to our family but I spent many hours of fun in that room well into my teenage years. For the most part we roamed unsupervised but since it was only an earshot away from the adults busy visiting upstairs, a "grown up" would be sure to … (21 comments)
It seems the Vancouver Real Estate boom is over. According to statistics released by the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board, home sales are down more than 50 % from this time last year. With an abundance of properties for sale, savvy sellers realize the benefits of having their properties professionally staged. The following is a testimony from one of our recent clients...
" The transformation of our apartment to a comfortable, spacious, and clean looking living space by Reveal Estate was remarkable. The colours, styles and spacing blended to create a smooth flow throughout. The sun room was particularly beautiful as an extension … (26 comments)
As I have not had much time to blog about our recent transformations, I thought I would take a different angle and post some shots of mirrors we have placed in properties for sale. First, I would like to mention a few points regarding the use of mirrors when selling (and living in) your home.
Mirrors visually expand interiors, create depth and can bounce light into a room. A well positioned mirror reflects an attractive point of view upon entering a room. Often people hang mirrors for the sole purpose of catching sight of themselves and do … (33 comments)
Red is often a favorite color choice for home stagers due to it's powerful ability to direct the eye. Successful stagers know how to incorporate red artwork and accessories to capture buyers attention without overwhelming a space. There is a fine line between highlighting the features of a room and creating a chaotic look by incorporating too many red accents.
Consider 2 vacant living rooms my company recently staged using strategically placed red accents to draw the eye and enhance the focal points.
Reveal Estate is a full service home staging company located … (29 comments)
jackson west: What would home staging expert Kathy Nielsen do?
- 04/30/08 02:54 PM
I took note of the superb staging skills of Kathy Nielsen, owner of Georgia Interior Solutions, when I first got into the staging business nearly 2 years ago. Kathy stages a great deal of beautiful houses and many of them are traditional in design. Here in Vancouver, our select service area consists primarily of downtown condos so we don't get the opportunity to stage an actual house very often. While selecting inventory and putting together a color story for the house we staged today, I asked myself "What would Kathy do?" Feeling inspired by her work, this was the result...
… (37 comments)
jackson west: Yes We "CAN" - Home Staging in Vancouver
- 04/09/08 09:46 PM
If you are preparing to sell your property, be sure to create a look buyers desire. Dated fixtures can be a deal breaker, especially in the bathroom. It pays to spend money when preparing the "can" for sale. Potential buyers will pay a premium for a bathroom that is fresh, clean and rejuvenated. Consider this bathroom recently staged by Reveal Estate.
Although clean, the homeowner new that this room was dated and called on us for help. We selected a new paint color, sourced new tiles and fixtures, and provided a company to resurface the tub. If it wasn't for the cabinet above … (34 comments)
jackson west: Vancouver Home Stager throws a punch...
- 03/25/08 07:58 PM
...of color into a bathroom. Here is an interesting bathroom. Although cold feeling, I generally liked it when I first saw it. The fixtures were modern and even though the green wall isn't my favorite shade, I appreciated how it played off the polished concrete floor.
Painting this room a warmer color was not an option. Also the wall that is white is covered with plexi-glass so hanging artwork was restricted to the green wall.
What accent color(s) would you have used to present this room for sale?Scroll down to see the Reveal Estate solution... … (52 comments)
They see that a room that is 10 feet wide and 16 feet long can function as both living room and a dining area. Have another look...
Appropriately scaled furniture and the strategic placement of artwork help create dimension and flow.
Reveal Estate is a full service Home Staging company located in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. Need your small space staged? Contact us!
… (55 comments)
jackson west: The Grizzly Facts about Bare Rooms
- 03/17/07 06:14 AM
The grizzly facts about bare rooms - observations of a wild Home Stager By Jackson West As a home stager, I secretly growl with frustration when I encounter vacant homes sitting on the market. Many of these listings lie dormant for extended and unnecessary lengths of time. Top Realtors and leading builders agree that selling an empty home is much more difficult than selling one that is furnished. Due to popular home design shows on television, today’s buyer has higher standards and wants a home that is "move in" ready. This has contributed to the success and popularity of home … (55 comments)
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