Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

This Home Only Looks Like a Million Bucks - But it's not.

There's a myth out there that home staging benefits the high-end homes only. This couldn't be farther from the truth. All homes, whether you're staging it yourself or using a professional, can reap the rewards.

Case in point - Guess how much this home is listed for. It's an after picture of a home staging project in Atlanta that I had completed a couple of weeks ago. You can see the before and after picture here.

What's the asking price? $89K. It doesn't look like it, does it?

So what's my point? The benefits of home staging applies to all price points because:

• Buyers lack vision
• Buyers rely on their emotional connection to the home. A vacant home just doesn't give out the same look and feel
• Buyers need to envision living in the home

Tips for Staging Your After Pictures

Ask any professional home stager and they're sure to tell you that their after photos of their home staging projects are perhaps one of the most critically important components in their marketing arsenal. They know and understand that prospective clients will be reviewing their photos and reviewing those of their competitors to make a decision as to whom they'll hire.

Fortunately, there are many opportunities to ensure you've captured the perfect picture.

I'll use the following picture, taken last week for a home staging project I completed in Atlanta, to show you some of things I should have done.

• Study what's in your view finder - Had I done this very thing, I would have noticed that the napkin on the right wasn't right. I likely would have moved the wine glasses as the one on the left is directly in front of the faucet. Sure, these are minor. However, picture those changes made.
  
• Check your lighting - Home stagers know the importance and benefits of bringing as much light as possible into the home. The same opportunity applies to your photos. Ensure all lights are on (including theoften-missed under cabinet lighting).
  
• Capture different angles - You're going to be amazed at just how big a difference capturing different angles can make in how the room appears. Try a variety; from getting on your knees to using a step-stool, chair or ladder.
  
• Sweat the small stuff - Ever return from a home staging project, upload your pictures only to find that the pillows on the sofa were askew or that bed skirt you spent hours ironing isn't laying right? These small things can be irritating and ruin a great shot. Study your room before you even grab the camera as these are simple things that can help create the perfect shot.

Perhaps the best advice I can provide is to give yourself ample time at the end of your home staging project. In doing so, you can be further ensured that the project you've just spent an incredible amount of time on will come out picture perfect.

Cheap and Easy Tips To Showcase Your Kitchen - Brought to you by your friendly Atlanta Home Stager!

How important is the kitchen when selling your home? Ask any buyer and you're bound to hear that the kitchen is one of the most important rooms. Why? Buyers know that they will be spending a considerable amount of time in the kitchen; whether it's cooking the meals or entertaining, the kitchen will no doubt get a lot of activity.

The good news is that there are some very affordable to no-cost solutions that any seller can implement.

Tip #1: If you don't use it, lose it. Counter top space is important to a buyer. As a result, you want to create as much 'visual real estate' as possible. An easy solution is to remove those items that are NOT used on a daily basis. Mixers are a great example.

Tip #2: Add some light.

Well sure, you could add a lamp shade to your head but... not quite sure how effective that will be. Instead, try placing a small lamp to your counter top as it will help warm up the space.

Tip #3: Clean. And then clean some more.

It's simply amazing how a little cleaning can go such a long way. Not only will the kitchen shine

it will smell clean as well. Yup, another simple tasks that anyone can implement.

P.S. Those are scouring pads and not pieces of coal. Just sayin (smile).

Tip #4: Organize your cupboards. Trust me, buyers will be opening your cupboards and with reason. A neat and organized cabinet will allow the prospective buyers to see how much space they'll have.

Tip #5: Give your cabinets an instant facelift with new knobs and drawer pulls. You're going to be amazed at how big a transformation this will have on your kitchen. Now... do yourself a favor and shop around for the best price. Check the internet, flyers, etc... to find any sales.

If you missed my previous post on How to Showcase Your Bathroom for Less than $100.00 just click on that link and you'll be taken directly there.

How to Showcase Your Bathroom For Less than $100

We're all looking for low-cost solutions and I have a few up my sleeve that can help tremendously. As a professional home stager serving the Atlanta, GA area, I've seen these tips implemented with great success.

A trip to a local home improvement store and a discount home decor store and for less than $100.00, you can easily help transform your bathroom and help turn it into a showcase of a room.

Here are a few low cost solutions:

• Re-caulk - One of the easiest and least costly items is to remove the old caulk and replace with new. A tube should cost approximately $6.00 and can be used to caulk around the sink and bathtub. You're going to be amazed at just how big of a difference it will make.
• Toilet Seats - Replacing the seat will create a fresh clean look. Replacement costs can vary greatly. A low cost solution would be approximately $12.00
  
• Cleaning Supplies - Removing the film from shower doors, bathtubs, sinks, etc... will help make the bathroom shine. Approximate cost $15.00. But don't stop there. Cleaning the faucets and mirrors will further make it shine.
• Replace Towels - showcasing a set of fresh and fluffy towels will make the room inviting and welcoming. Two bath towels and two hand towels can be purchased at discount home decor stores for less than $25.00.
• Store your personal hygiene items - a real simple solution is to purchase plastic bins that you can then store under the sink. Approximate cost - $4.00 per basket.
• Replace shower curtain and hooks - small change, big reward. Shower curtains (and nice ones at that) can be purchased for as low as $7.00. Hooks can range from $5.00 to $10.00
• Replace light switch covers - Another extremely low cost solution that can truly make a difference. Approximate cost $3.00 per switch.
• Paint - A simple, yet very effective solution is to paint the walls. The average bathroom should take no more than a gallon of paint. And while paint prices can vary greatly by product and by store, a real low-cost solution is to look in the oopsie section. The oopsie section contains paint that, for whatever reason, didn't turn out to the customer's satisfaction. A gallon of paint typically goes for $5.00 a gallon

In addition to the solutions above, there are some no-cost solutions that will also help. Here are a few tips to further help transform your bathroom:

• Remove toilet seat covers
• Toss all items under the sink that you no longer need or use.
• Wash floor rugs
• Shop within your own home for artwork that you can use in the bathroom

These tips on how to showcase your bathroom for less than $100.00 were brought to you by your friendly Atlanta Home Stager, Kathy Nielsen. In my next blog, I'll be sharing low-cost solutions for the kitchen. Stay tuned....