Julie Martelo - Manatee County Real Estate Stager

When it comes time to prepare a home for sale, there are 5 easy ways to get started. It's as simple as using your 5 senses. Buyers will be using their senses to make a decision about whether a home they see is worthy of an offer. If a seller can put themselves in the buyer's shoes, they can evaluate how their 5 senses are affected. This scenario can help you understand this process.

AS THE BUYER DRIVES UP TO YOUR HOME - What do they SEE? Is your lawn manicured and are the flower beds weeded? Do they SEE the front door because that fresh coat of paint makes it stand out, inviting them inside. If they SEE a dirty stained driveway or sidewalk they may wonder if other areas haven't been taken care of. Let's hope they DON'T SEE toys in the yard or a dull, scratched door. You don't want them to SEE dirty windows or a dirty sidewalk and driveway.

AS THEY OPEN THE FRONT DOOR - they will use their sense of SMELL first. Every home has it's own "unique" fragrance. You don't want your home to SMELL like your animals. While we know they are part of your family, they can sometimes leave offensive odors in your home. It's important to ask friends, relatives or neighbors to be completely honest about how your home SMELLS. If the homeowners are smokers it is absolutely imperative they do NOT smoke in the home any longer. Sometimes it will require special cleaning techniques to get the smell out. Many people have a very sensitive sense of SMELL. Don't scare them away with offensive or strong odors. Too many plug-ins that smell like flowers can be a turn off too. If you want to freshen your home's fragrance, use soft scents like linen or rain. Remember, they are air fresheners, not odor maskers.

ENTERING THE FIRST LIVING AREA - can they SEE the beautiful fireplace? Is it covered with too much decor or blocked by furniture? Do they SEE the beautiful view through the sparkling clean windows? Can they SEE the true sizes of the rooms, or is there to much furniture? Are they SEEING small area rugs and runners all throughout the home? It's better for them to SEE the wood floors and how the uninterrupted flow opens up the space.

CONTINUING THE TOUR - what do they HEAR? - Is the toilet running? Do they HEAR a noisy air conditioner? Are they HEARING traffic noise from the adjacent street? Can they HEAR the blaring television? Is it possible they will HEAR your dog barking from the garage, where he/she might be caged? Noises can be very distracting. While some noises cannot be eliminated, you can give them something pleasant to HEAR. If they HEAR soft music in the background, it will give them a calm and relaxed feeling.

AS THEY WALK THROUGH THE REST OF THE HOME - how do they FEEL? Are the hot? Are they cold? If they FEEL hot, they might wonder if the air conditioner is working properly. If it's winter and the heat is on and they FEEL cold, they will be questioning whether the furnace is in good condition. Do they FEEL agitated or uncomfortable because there are too many personal items scattered throughout the entire home. Your goal should be for a potential buyer to FEEL calm, happy, relaxed, and stress free.

THE SHOWING IS ALMOST OVER - and before they leave you want them to take away something more than just the flyer that was left on the kitchen counter. Give them something to TASTE. We know how fresh baked chocolate chip cookies SMELL, but they TASTE even better. Most everyone has a sweet tooth, so leaving some candy in a bowl will be a great way to have them leave with a good TASTE in their mouth.

Every decision we make in life involves using our senses. What we see, feel, hear, touch and taste and how we respond to those things is a crucial part of our everyday life. We've all heard that buying a home is made on emotion and many of those emotions are heightened by one or more of our senses.

If this makes SENSE to you, then you will have a great start STAGING your home or helping your client's get started STAGING theirs.

Author, Julie Martelo, TIME TO REDESIGN- Offering Interior Redesign, Real Estate Staging, Decorating & Color Consultations in the Bradenton & Sarasota areas, including Parrish, Ellenton, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Longboat Key, Port Charlotte, Osprey, Brandon & Sun City. Serving all of Sarasota & Manatee Counties. Visit Julie's website at www.timetoredesign.com.

One of the best marketing tools available to Realtors is using a Professional Real Estate Stager. There are several organizations that certify Real Estate Stagers, so Realtors need to be sure they choose a stager that has been trained and certified. It seems you hear about a new Real Estate Stager almost every week, therefore it's important for Realtors to find a talented, knowledgeable Stager they can use in marketing their services.

If you find that it's difficult to approach the subject of "cleaning up" a property with your client without insulting them, finding the right Stager will take some of this pressure off you. Give the Stager personal information about your client's situation. They will then be able to tailor their suggestions so the homeowner will not be offended. For example, if the homeowner thinks their trophies and collections make their home look fabulous, a stager might start out by saying... "It's amazing how you've incorporated your personality into the feel of your home, but to be honest, it will feel like it's still your home. Many people won't be able to make a connection with your home if there is too much of your personality in it. My expertise has taught me that buyers need to visualize their own family and things in a home, therefore I would like to suggest that making your home more generic will attract more potential buyers." A Professional Stager is very careful not to insult your client, therefore Realtors need to develop a personal relationship with the Stager so they can feel confident in trusting their clients delicate emotions to the Stager.

Once the Stager convinces the homeowner that Staging is necessary, they can explain how they will work with them to edit and start to de-personalize the home, thus making it appeal to more buyers. They have entrusted the Realtor to sell their home so they will likely feel comfortable dealing with someone the Realtor has recommended.

Real Estate Staging is growing rapidly around the country and the Realtors who are utilizing this valuable service are really taking their business to another level. They are stepping it up a notch! Real Estate Staging can help increase the value of a property as well as reduce the time a property stays on the market. This should be a goal for every Realtor.

Author, Julie Martelo, TIME TO REDESIGN- Offering Interior Redesign, Real Estate Staging, Decorating & Color Consultations in the Bradenton & Sarasota areas, including Parrish, Ellenton, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Longboat Key, Port Charlotte, Osprey, Brandon & Sun City. Serving all of Sarasota & Manatee Counties. Visit Julie's website at www.timetoredesign.com.

The dilemmas you face when listing a vacant home are different from a home where your client is still living. Where the occupied home may feel too lived in and cluttered, the empty home may feel cold and uninviting, thus leaving the potential buyer feeling empty when they leave. In order for a vacant home to beckon that buyer to make it their own you should Stage the home. Staging is simply that! "Setting a stage" so you are accentuating the positive features of the home, while downplaying any negatives.

Picture an empty stage in a theatre. There is nothing that feels warm or inviting there, however, on opening night the curtains are opened and the stage has been transformed into a beautiful setting. The audience is awed at how "real" it looks. Your vacant home is the STAGE. Your buyer is the AUDIENCE. The front door is the CURTAIN. Open that door and give your audience an experience they will want to come back to.

A vacant home may have a floor plan that needs some defining. A buyer may be wondering if this is a dining room or a living room. Placing a table under the chandelier will show the buyer the purpose of the space. Give them ideas on how they can use a room. With the addition of home offices in almost every family there may be a small bedroom or area that could be used as an office. Placing a desk and chair in this area will show the buyer this option. Sometimes when a room is empty it's difficult to imagine how furniture will affect the space. By placing a bed in a master bedroom, a buyer can visualize if their furniture will fit and if there will be any extra space for a chair or television. Buyers cannot see what isn't there. The visual experience is the best way to bring them back for a second look and possibly an offer on a home.

Consider hiring a Real Estate Stager to help coordinate the rental of furniture and accessorizing a vacant home. A home can be completely furnished, partially furnished, or showcase small vignettes of accessories throughout. A few potted silk trees can really make a difference in the feel of a home. A cheerful mat at the front door and a nice plush rug in the foyer will make a buyer feel welcome from the moment they enter the home. A table in the dining room that is set for a romantic dinner is surely to catch the attention of a buyer. They can visualize themselves and spouse or significant other sitting at that table enjoying a glass of wine. Placing an overstuffed chair in a corner with a floor lamp and book will beckon a buyer to sit down and relax after a hard days work. When a vacant home is staged, a buyer will be more likely to make a connection with the home immediately.

So, don't lose out on a sale because a buyer cannot emotionally connect with that vacant listing. You have the tools available to you when you use a professional Real Estate Stager. Be one step ahead of your competition. Call a Stager today to help you with your vacant listings.

Author, Julie Martelo, TIME TO REDESIGN - Offering Interior Redesign, Real Estate Staging, Decorating & Color Consultations in the Bradenton & Sarasota areas, including Parrish, Ellenton, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Longboat Key, Port Charlotte, Osprey, Brandon & Sun City. Serving all of Sarasot & Manatee Counties. Visit Julie's website at www.timetoredesign.com.