Last week I showed you "before" pictures of an empty house we were staging. It turned out so well! This is a great home and a little furniture really helped.....the home sold 5 days after staging!
Here are the before and after pictures:
You can see what a difference furniture and accessories make. Rooms typically look larger and the whole house is more inviting. So whether you hire a stager or do it yourself, make sure you show your home furnished! It WILL sell faster!
This is a pretty impressive staging story about a house that had been on the market about a month with tons of showings but no offers. It's a really cute house in great move-in condition... first-time homebuyer price range. The seller had moved out and left it in super clean, move-in condition. Feedback was very positive... but everyone said it was just too small to be liveable.
The current owner lived there with 3 kids... cozy, yes... but comfortable. We decided it was time to bring in Jeri to do some staging to show how furniture could fit. It's amazing how much bigger it looks with furniture! As counter-intuitive as it seems, rooms tend to look smaller when empty.
Who would have thought a sofa and a bed (plus...) could have made such a difference. It transformed this house from a clean property in good condition, but too small to live in... into a cozy home with multiple interested buyers. (Check back tomorrow for Jeri's post with more before and after photos.)
This happy seller just accepted an offer... only five days after staging!
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - HomesMSP.com
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We got a call this week about a home that needs staging. It's had a lot of showings, but no one has made an offer. I know why........it's empty.......no furniture.
This house is so cute! And very clean. But, it's hard for buyers to visualize themselves living in a home that's empty. So, I'm pretty excited, because by the end of today, you will be able to see this adorable house full of furniture.
Here are some "before" pictures:
Next week, I'll post the "after" pictures. Can't wait to see how this one turns out!
Our First Grandchild has arrived!!!! My bet was for Feb 10th, but she was a week late and was born on Feb 16th. But....I did predict the EXACT weight!! Sophia Pischke weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces and was 21 inches long. What a beautiful girl!
Mom and baby are great and everyone is home.
We love her so much already and are so blessed!
Every year, the Company that I took my Staging training from publishes new statistics about Staging a home. So I like to publish those and compare how the market is doing. They also compare statistics of small improvement projects that can increase the value of your home without spending a lot. Here's the stats:
Comparing to last year, 94.9% of staged homes sold in 33.6 days or less. Non staged homes were on the market 171.2 days last year.
The Home improvements for Sellers stats are really interesting too:
Just some interesting facts that prove how important staging is and where to spend a few dollars to get a great return on that investment.
I think it's going to be a great week! Our first grandchild is due any day! For the past 8 months, I've been saying that she (I knew it was a girl all along) would be born on February 10th (because I thought a birthdate of 2/10/2010 was kind of cool) and that she would be 7 pounds 12 ounces....so I'm officially putting this down in writing.........we'll see!!!
Last week I wrote about a pumpkin colored bath I needed to stage. While I wouldn't have picked it for staging purposes, it was there and I didn't have a choice. So, I staged the master bedroom with the same color scheme and it turned out really well!
This same house has a very nice family room in the lower level:
Adjoining that room is a bathroom that has an emerald green vanity and floor. It was decorated with a matching green rug and shower curtain. Since this color is a little dated, I did not want to draw attention to it. So I pulled out all of the current towels etc and replaced them with brown and tan accessories.
The new accessories really diffused the green color and updated the entire room.
So when you can't change a color, you can decorate around it making the house flow. And if you have a dated color, take the focus away from it with a neutral color. It works and the house will be ready to sell!
I looked at a home yesterday that a Realtor owns in Maple Grove. The house is empty and definitely needs staging!
It was built in 1988 and there hadn't been many updates. But the Realtor had done exactly what I would have done.....some simple fixes to make the home more attractive. He installed new carpet, new vinyl floors, light fixtures and painted. Wow , what a difference!
So, I'm running around taking measurements and I entered the main bath. Through out the house, every wall is painted off white. Then I saw this:
Holy cow! It's a great color, but there isn't one room in the house that has any color at all. I said, "are you going to paint this room?". He said "I just did!!"
Oops! I then explained to him that I will always be honest about staging.....brutally honest if necessary. My goal is to gain the most $$ for a home and have it sell quickly.
There was a Contractor there as well, who spoke up and said "why don't you sponge paint some tan color over it to diffuse it?". To which I replied "NOOOOOOOO!!!".
After a few chuckles, the Realtor is keeping the colored bath. I agree with him that it probably won't be a deal breaker for someone deciding to buy the home or not. BUT, I always preach that the house must flow.
And even though this bathroom color doesn't fit the rest of the house, as I visualize the staging, I have decided to take the color through out the house with accessories, to make it seem like it was planned.
I guess the lesson today is that you can't always have everything perfect in a home when you stage. But there are ways to make everything pull together and work. Here's the comforter that I'm using in the attached bedroom!
I think this Realtor will be impressed when it's done and I'm confident the house will sell fast.
Of course, on my way out, I couldn't resist asking him to remove the oak and brass coat hooks that are on the wall :)
Merry Christmas to Everyone!
We've just spent a couple of weeks helping some Clients with their moves. One of them is verydistraught about having to move right now and the other lost a loved one suddenly and is selling his home. What these 2 weeks have done for me is remind me how blessed I really am.
I have a wonderful Husband of 35 years, great Sons that are 31 and 28, a fabulous Daughter In Law who's having our first Grandchild in about 6 weeks, Wonderful Parents who are 88 and 86, and the best Sister and Brother In Law you could have. What more could anyone want?
So, I look forward to 2010 and the birth of our little Sophia :)
We all know that life has it's ups and downs. And it's so easy to get caught up in the negatives........but reflecting about 2009, it really was a pretty good year and 2010 is going to be better!
Happy New Year to All !!!
Ps. A VERY special Happy Anniversary to my Sister Judy and her Husband Ed on their 25th Wedding Anniversary today!
A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about the emotions of moving. When you are moving with Children, you need to prepare them too. So I thought I would share an article I read in Kids Health:
Sooner or later, many families face the prospect of moving. Disruptive as moving can be for parents, the experience can be even more traumatic for kids, who may not be a part of the decision to move and may not understand it.
Kids may need some time and special attention during the transition. You can take steps to make the entire process less stressful for everyone.
Many kids thrive on familiarity and routine. So as you consider a move, weigh the benefits of that change against the comfort that established surroundings, school, and social life give your kids.
If your family has recently dealt with a major life change, such as divorce or death, you may want to postpone a move, if possible, to give your child time to adjust.
The decision to move may be out of your hands, perhaps due to a job transfer or financial issues. Even if you're not happy about the move, try to maintain a positive attitude about it. During times of transition, a parent's moods and attitudes can greatly affect kids, who may be looking for reassurance.
No matter what the circumstances, the most important way to prepare kids to move is to talk about it.
Try to give your child as much information about the move as soon as possible. Answer questions completely and truthfully, and be receptive to both positive and negative reactions. Even if the move means an improvement in family life, kids don't always understand that and may be focused on the frightening aspects of the change.
Involving kids in the planning as much as possible makes them feel like participants in the house-hunting process or the search for a new school. This can make the change feel less like it's being forced on them.
If you're moving across town, try to take your child to visit the new house (or see it being built) and explore the new neighborhood.
For distant moves, provide as much information as you can about the new home, city, and state (or country). Learn where kids can participate in favorite activities. See if a relative, friend, or even a real estate agent can take pictures of the new house and new school for your child.
Kids younger than 6 may be the easiest to move, as they have a limited capacity to understand the changes involved. Still, your guidance is crucial.
Here are ways to ease the transition for young kids:
Kids in elementary school may be relatively open to a move, but still need serious consideration and help throughout the transition.
There are two schools of thought about "the right time to move." Some experts say that summer is the best time because it avoids disrupting the school year. Others say that midyear is better because a child can meet other kids right away.
To avoid glitches that would add stress, gather any information the new school will need to process the transfer. That may include the most recent report card or transcript, birth certificate, and medical records.
It's common for teens to actively rebel against a move. Your teen has probably invested considerable energy in a particular social group and may be involved in a romantic relationship. A move may mean that your teen will miss a long-awaited event, like a prom.
It's particularly important to let teens know that you want to hear their concerns and that you respect them. While blanket assurances may sound dismissive, it's legitimate to suggest that the move can serve as rehearsal for future changes, like college or a new job. After the move, consider planning a visit back to the old neighborhood, if it's feasible. Also, see if if the teen can return for events like prom or homecoming.
If you're moving midway through a school year, you might want to consider letting an older teen stay in the old location with a friend or relative, if that's an option.
After the move, try to get your child's room in order before turning your attention to the rest of the house. Also, try to maintain your regular schedule for meals and bedtime to give kids a sense of familiarity.
When your child does start school, you may want to go along to meet as many teachers as possible or to introduce your child to the principal.
Set realistic expectations about the transition. Generally, teachers expect new kids to feel somewhat comfortable in their classes in about 6 weeks. Some kids need less time; others might need more.
After the move, if you're still concerned about your child's transition, a family therapist might provide some helpful guidance.
A move can present many challenges, but good things also come from this kind of change. Your family might grow closer and you may learn more about each other by going through it together.
Common offensive odors include cigarette smoke, pets, urine, mildew, mold, cooking. Don't try masking odors with deodorizers...they can make the smell even worse, and if the smell of potpourri or air fresheners is too strong buyers may wonder what the seller is trying to hide.
Not all smells are deal killers, but they can make buyers concerned about potential problems. For buyers with pet or other allergies smells can be even greater cause for concern. Eradicate odors to present a clean, fresh atmosphere.
Here are some ideas to make your home smell sweet...
If you own or are considering buying a property with severe odor issues...such as smoke, urine, dander, mold, mildew...you may consider an odor removal service that uses ozone to neutralize smells. It doesn't just mask the odors, it is guaranteed to oxidize any odor problem. However, you cannot live in the property while the treatment is taking place...which may take weeks, depending on the severity of the odor. I have had clients use the services of Odor Man...it works!
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results - Email - HomesMSP.com
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