I absolutely love preparing the Home Consultation Report; it is such a simple and effective tool to employ when selling a house. The best news is that our Staged 2 Sell NY report is completely affordable for anyone who might be putting their house on the market in Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens, Brooklyn or Manhattan, NY. When the suggestions/directions are followed properly, the result can be the same as if you hired a Home Stager to do the work for you.
So, you may ask, what exactly is this report and what will a Home Consultation Report cover?
The Staged 2 Sell NY Comprehensive Home Staging Report begins curbside where it addresses the overall ‘curb appeal' of the property. Special attention is given to the exterior appearance and entry. Aside from flower beds being weed-free, bushes trimmed, the lawn mowed and any debris (leaves, twigs, litter) removed, the front door should have a fresh coat of paint, shiny hardware and a welcoming wreath. Seasonal flowers (that are planted in containers) at the entry help to infuse some color and warmth. A new ‘welcome' mat will add to the appeal. The driveway might benefit from a top-coat of asphalt or fresh stones. In addition, we make sure that there is adequate outdoor lighting and that light fixtures are updated, shiny and clean.
Once inside, each room is assessed for color, focal points and/or architectural features, furniture placement, traffic flow, flooring and lighting. Just a word about lighting here: natural light is best and all windows need to be super-clean and free from heavy window treatments. The assessment includes every area of the home and special attention is paid to closets, attics, garages and basements because those are places where clutter tends to accumulate. Prospective buyers want to see that there is ample storage for all of their 'stuff'!
Many times while giving the consultation, and always with the seller's permission, we might begin to move some furniture and/or remove some of the accessories. By doing this, the homeowner can begin to see how small changes can result in a completely different look - one that enhances the room's positive qualities. It is usually at this point that the client "gets it" and becomes excited about the changes that we are making. It is always gratifying to watch their excitement build. We often hear the seller remark "I never would have thought to do that...the room looks so much better!"
Depending on the size of the house, the walk-through generally lasts 1 ½ to 2 hours. At Staged 2 Sell NY the cost for the Consultation is purposely kept low so that the service can be affordable to all. Many times the Realtor will "gift" the report to their client as part of their service and we always give the agent a 20% discount when they pay for the Report. As one realtor recently told me, "I would rather invest money in a comprehensive report that will help the seller to prepare the house for sale than spend money on newspaper ads".
Within 24 hours of the Home Consultation, we e-mail the client and realtor a detailed report that is broken down by room/area and addresses each necessary change in priority order. Think of it as a ‘blueprint' for the seller with which they can do all, or part, of the staging themselves, or we can do some of all of the work for them.
I can tell you that this report is extremely effective in helping the house to sell more quickly and for a higher price than if left ‘unstaged'. We have had amazing results from homes that have been prepared for market by this method. When the seller understands and follows the Consultation Report, the results are truly amazing!
Val Allocco, a certified (HSE), professional Home Stager, is the founder & owner of Staged 2 Sell NY which was established in early 2006 and serves all of Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk Counties) as well as the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. She is also the Metro New York Chapter President of ASHSR (American Society of Home Stagers and Redesigners).
Val has taught Adult Education courses on "Staging Your Home To Sell" and has also been a featured speaker at numerous Home Selling Seminars on, and around, Long Island. She is available for seminars and other real estate related presentations and can be reached at 516-982-2671.
Please visit www.staged2sellny.com for more information and examples of our work.
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