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Don't Hide It! Fix It!

Reblogger Karen Hubert
Home Stager with Center Stage Design-real estate staging, Ancaster/Hamilton

 

This post about not hiding problems but fixing them or disclosing them goes well with Brian Madigan's blog about the Legal Liability of home stagers

Good for you Janice!!!!

 

Original content by Janice Ankrett

 

 

 If there is an issue with your home, don't hide it fix it.

 If you can't afford to fix it, disclose the problem.

Your Realtor can help you with this.

 

 

The home in the picture had a crack in the wall that was letting in moisture. That moisture had damaged the flooring.

The seller did the responsible thing and had a specialist come in and fix the wall. That gave them a certificate to show the buyers. The seller then replaced the damaged flooring.

As a Home Stager I see homes with varying issues.

 I always advise my client to take care of the issue before they go on the market. If they do not have the budget to fix the problem I advise them to at least get an estimate on the work to show the buyer.

The cost of dealing with the issue is probably less than the reduction the buyer will make to their offer.

Some think Staging is about hiding things - that we stage over problems.

NO!!

Staging is about highlighting the architectural features of a home.

During a consult we identify the features that should be highlighted and the negative features that may slow the sale of the home.

If there is a window that looks in a neighbor's window we do not hide the view. We show the buyer they can have light and privacy by, for example, tilting a blind or hanging a sheer. The window is still there and visible but the buyer knows how to deal with it.

We do not hang pictures to hide a dent in the wall. A picture is placed to accent a fireplace or sofa or table or just add colour to a room.

Staging shows off the great things about your house.

Staging shows how to live with the so so aspects of your house.

Staging does not hide things from the buyer!

 

 

 

Serving Burlington,Oakville, Milton, Hamilton & surrounding areas.     905-467-5353

Posted by

Karen Hubert

RESA Hamilton/Halton Chapter President

www.CenterStageDesign.ca

Center Stage Design full logo

Full Staging Company serving Ancaster, Hamilton, Burlington, Dundas, Niagara, Brantford and surrounding areas!

Home Staging, Redesign and Senior Move Management

 

 

Cindy Garruba
North Fork Home Staged to Sell - Riverhead, NY

Karen - you are absolutely right.  Stagers are not there to hide problems, but to enhance the positive features of a home and show buyers how they can live in it beautifully!

Oct 17, 2010 04:47 AM
Brian Madigan
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto) - Toronto, ON
LL.B., Broker

Karen,

 

Thanks for reposting.

Now, what we really need is for all the stagers to agree with you and Janice. This is certainly the correct approach.

 

Brian

Oct 18, 2010 01:05 AM
SHARON CHARBONEAU
UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - Sechelt, BC

Great reinforcement Karen.

As professional stagers, we advise sellers to correct the deficiencies or expect buyers to adjust any offer accordingly.

I have even gone so far as to fix minor problems that the seller was avoiding fixing to ensure they did not detract from my staging.

Oct 19, 2010 05:35 AM
Karen Hubert
Center Stage Design-real estate staging, Ancaster/Hamilton - Ancaster, ON
Home Stager

Brian:  Yes that would be good.  

Sharon:  I know I have done the same.  Nothing much though.

Thanks for the comments!

Oct 19, 2010 04:29 PM
Anonymous
Lexus
God, I feel like I sholud be takin notes! Great work
Aug 26, 2011 07:54 PM
#5