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Today’s seller is in need of staging now more than ever before. Stiff competition, hundreds of days on market, and savvy buyers make it necessary that a property show it’s absolute best. Yet, sellers are reluctant to make the dollar investment in staging because they feel they will not recoup these staging costs and believe they are already losing money by selling at this time. Nothing could be further from the truth. The well-informed and sophisticated seller and agent know that the statistics speak for themselves:

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1) Homes that are staged sell quicker and for more money than those that are not.

2) A buyer decides if the home will be a consideration within the first 8 seconds upon entering the property

3) Homes staged by DaVinci Designer Gallery brought in an average of 325% return on every staging dollar spent.

(Based on comparative evaluation where staging cost was under $4,000)

4) Staging, in most cases, costs less than the property’s first price reduction ($10,000 average reduction suggested by seller’s agent)

My Home Staging training began in the “Christmas windows” of Jordan Marsh.

In the early ‘90’s I began my visual merchandising career in down town Boston at Jordan Marsh Co. As I “fluffed” the Christmas trees, applied the specified amount of bulbs, dressed the sulky mannequin in the finest attire, and fussed over the mile high bed donning Ralph Lauren linens, I had no idea that this would be my initial training in home staging (and how could I know…there was no such thing as home staging back then).

The objective of a visual merchandiser, is to create an irresistible presentation of the product which then translates into a sale. In the case of staging, the product happens to be a property instead of furniture, bedding, towels, or jeans.

I am often asked if staging really works and the answer is a resounding YES! A home is simply a product for sale. A product will sell quickly and for more money if it is packaged and presented well.

A good example of this is when you see television commercial for the latest vehicle. Unlike most of our cars, the front seat is not littered with empty Starbucks cups, there are no petrified french fries to be seen, and gone are the faded parking tickets listing out of the glove compartment. What you will see is a beautiful model driving a pristine vehicle through a breathtaking forest. Not necessarily reality…but marketing and advertising. Advertisers are creating a desire. You want to be that beautiful model driving that pristine vehicle through the breathtaking forest.

The same thought goes into the staging of a home. When I remove the tv set that is conflicting with the stately fireplace, place the same colored books in the built-ins,
trim the bushes outside in order to gain more natural light, or place the perfect art work on the wall to highlight the moldings, I am creating a space that the buyer wants to be in, I am creating desire.

The formula of visual merchandising and home staging are the same. Create a desire that translates into a sale!

When you’re ready to put your home on the market follow DaVinci's 3D's for Home Staging.
Declutter- Innately humans long for maximum space and light. It is a wise decision to edit furnishings in the room, remove unnecessary furniture and highlight the homes best features. In order to add a sense of space to any area you must remove the clutter. Countertops, in kitchens and bath, should be clean and clear. Overstuffed bookcases should be emptied, boxed, and stored. Closets are best seen with minimal clothing hanging.

Depersonalize-A potential buyer needs to envision themselves as the owner of your home, this may become difficult if Uncle Horatio's portrait is hanging alongside 37 family photographs in the front hall and your Ukrainian stamp collection is on display in the dining area. Strip your home of family photographs and memorabilia. Replace it with non-descript and tasteful art.

Design-Through furniture placement, spatial design, painting, wallpapering, landscaping, etc., the homeowner or stager can transform a dated, worn home into a masterpiece.

If using a stager, the seller should be able to set the budget and decides what their "enhancement" investment will be. An experienced home stager will be able to recommend the best use of those investment dollars.

DaVinci Designer Gallery, a full service interior design firm, has been providing home staging, visual display, and interior design services for over a decade to the retail, residential, and commercial sect. Find out more at www.ddg-re.com

DaVinci Designer Gallery was featured in the Boston Sunday Globe Magazine's Real Estate Issue on Oct. 26, 2008.

Maureen Reddy, the owner of DaVinci Designer Gallery was asked to stage an area of a South Boston condo in order to show the benefits of home staging, along with the transfomation oppportunities that are available to each and every homeowner.

There were certain constraints that came along with this project in the form of budget and time, however, the end result was fantastic and the article...quite exciting.

To visit the online article, link to the following address...

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Maureen Reddy

Tel.: 617-539-0241

Cell Phone: 617-319-2837

Email: davinci29@verizon.net

Home Staging:

Original oil paintings “Set the Stage” in Boston’s Real Estate Market

HOME STAGER HANGS HER OWN ART TO CREATE A DESIRED ENVIRONMENT, ENTICE POTENTIAL BUYERS, AND MAKE THE SALE.

Boston, MA- May 21, 2008- In today’s slumped market, where single-family home and condominium sales are down 28.3 percent and 35.6 percent respectively from last year, sellers are looking for any angle to set their property apart from the competition, to wow the buyer, and to close the deal. On the flip side, buyers are looking for the best value for their dollar along with a well designed and aesthetically pleasing space.

Home stager/designer, Maureen Reddy, from DaVinci Designer Gallery is well aware of the needs on both sides and satisfied those needs by including her original artwork on the latest staging project. Reddy contends that “ When staging, we are appealing to potential buyers through the senses and creating an emotion. By adding these large format, oil paintings to our design we are evoking a feeling of sophistication and financial success. Home buyers want to see themselves in such an environment.”

Shira Steinberg of RE/Max Unlimited, who has used staging services for several years explains “Maureen's staging takes a property that looks below average for it's price range, and makes it look hot. The attention to detail and now the personal touch of using her art , certainly appeal to the buyer and ensures a quick sale. The original artwork brought this South Boston property up another notch and sets it apart from competitors in the area. Any property sells faster, and sells higher when it is staged in this way”.

Owner of the newly renovated South Boston condos, Rob Sheils, is sold on the staging process and impressed with the art that was used. “The design and staging of this condo conversion was fantastic, but the artwork was the icing on the cake. It feels as if I am looking at the pages of a high end, interior design magazine. We accepted an offer on the property within 10 days and I know that is a direct result of the visual impact that was created in these condos.”

DaVinci Designer Gallery of Winthrop, MA has over 15 years experience in interior design, home staging, and visual merchandising. This varied background and knowledge of the real estate industry allows for a dramatic home transformation that will ultimately translate into a speedy and gainful sale.

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For more information please contact

Maureen Reddy 617-319-2837

davinci29@verizon.net

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