What will a Home Stager ask you to spend money on? In a prior post, I outlined some of the questions a Home Stager will ask a seller. One of the questions involved setting a budget to prepare the house for the market. This post will flesh out some of the things a professional Home Stager may ask you to pay for. These items are not frivolous; most will stay with the house. Keep in mind this is an investment in selling your house quickly!
In the past, I have asked sellers to invest in:
Most important:
A professional Home Stager can work with any budget to help sell a house quickly. Be prepared.
A Stager's questions for You, Mr./Ms. Home Seller, after you've asked some first. Savvy sellers are calling Home Stagers directly to inquire about their services. Frequently (and smartly!), they are contacting a Stager prior to a listing agent. Sellers ask many questions about the process and the costs incurred.
Cape Cod Fence
If you're considering selling your home, be ready for some questions too. Stagers need some information to evaluate how to best proceed.
And most importantly:
You know you need help if you've called a Stager. Plan to put aside some funds for things like paint, landscaping materials, new bed linens and towels, storage, and perhaps a cleaning service or pet sitter as well as the Staging fees. Professional Home Staging does not need to be expensive. Talented Stagers can work with a seller's own furnishings or provide rentals; it all depends on the needs and budget, so have one ready!
Fast sale: one very happy Fairfield County, CT, Home Staging client! This post is a follow-up on my very unhappy client. She was not happy because of the sudden changes made to her home. However, she realized that she really needed to sell her house as quickly as possible to be able to move on.
We worked with what furnishings she had, and really made the best of it. Some of the Staging was done with my help, the rest they completed on their own. Frankly, by editing out most of the accessories and unnecessary furniture, we gave her Fairfield County, CT, home a fresh, updated look. It would be sure to appeal to the target buyers: young families.
Living Room Before 
After
There were some great items to work with: the two white storage units were pushed together (removed the desk to the master bedroom); fab glass coffee table, two cool mid-century wood chairs...we got the rattan sofa from the family room...the rug is a little small, but provides just the right touch and texture. The focus is on the space and hardwood floors.
Master Bedroom Before: the bed should be on the wall where the mirror is, so it's the first thing you see upon entering and is the focal point.
After
We flipped the bed to the proper wall, found matching lamps and used two similar cabinets as nightstands. Overall, the aesthetic was clean-lined, cool and modern. Reflected well on this immaculate house waiting for a new family.
Results: Solid offer within five (5!) days AND one very happy client!
This is an example of extremely economical Home Staging: consult with a Home Staging professional and use what you have. Allow the house and its features to shine by providing good flow, function and a little flavor. The results speak for themselves!
My Fairfield County, CT, Staging client was NOT happy; nope, not happy at all. Here's what happened.
I arrived for a Staging Consultation, where I spend an hour going through the property with "buyers' eyes", making notes and taking pictures. Before leaving, I usually give the sellers my overall impression of what needs to be done to the house to make it as appealing as possible to a wide pool of buyers. Within 48 hours the client receives a detailed Staging Report, which is a DIY list with my recommendations.
The listing agreement had been signed, the agent was there, and suddenly there was a huge sense of urgency. The listing agent wanted to get a few pictures for the MLS - NOW. So with the seller's daughter to help, we executed the Staging plan for the dining room. Then we staged a first floor room as a fourth bedroom. The family room also got a quick makeover. Many, many small accessories and art pieces that the seller had collected from around the world were removed for packing and storage.
We were all flush with excitement and joy at the transformations. Look how well all the hardwood floors show! Look how spacious this dining room really is! Here's a great bedroom for a teenager, with a defined study area! We were all very pleased with the results...all except one person.
The seller was in tears. In our rush and excitement, the seller did not have sufficient time to adjust the mindset from "home" to "house". The family treasures, photos and memories had just been stripped away.
I felt horribly guilty. The next day, I returned to hand-deliver the report, as the seller did not have email. A small note of apology was attached. I was met with beaming smiles; all was forgiven and forgotten. The seller is actually eager to move on, and understood what it would take to sell the house quickly: following the advice of a Fairfield County, CT professional Home Stager. Can't wait to see the rest of the photos; the agent is taking them today.
(Note: Photos are not of subject property.) Happy Staging!
Windows are the eyes of the house - so treat them right! Window treatments can have a huge impact on a room. They can modulate light, accent architectural features, add softness or textural contrast. Window treatments in Connecticut run the gamut from very traditional, historically correct styles to stuck-in-the-80s colored vertical blinds to minimal contemporary. They are available in all sorts of configurations: blinds, shutters, wovens, drapes, valances, jabots, swags, and curtains. So, home staging in Fairfield County, CT, can present some challenges when it comes to dealing with the windows.
When your house is on the market, pay close attention to your windows. If you have window treatments, you want to be sure they allow plenty of light to come in. Buyers love bright, sunny rooms. All treatments should be updated and clean. Consider removing any vertical or mini blinds.
If you choose to replace or add teatments, they should allow the room's architecture to stand out. Best of all, they can appear to add height to a room.
Open the drapes! Let in the light.
(Frankly, they'd be better off without these; they're much too short. Drapery should fall to the floor.)
Be very careful with colored sheers. While they do allow light in, that light will be shaded with the fabric color. You don't want a wash of dark green across your room, nor do you want a pale blue to spoil the look of the neutral wall paint.
This combination is overwhelming the window. The dark color, heavy valance, and narrow silhouette don't let any light in - except brown light.
The valance should be removed; the drapes set outside the window frame and up higher. (These clients followed my advice and went with white bedding and drapery.)
Here, the valances make the ceiling appear lower than it actually is. They're also outdated. Inexpensive drapes, mounted almost to the ceiling, and pulled all the way open, let in the light and make the ceiling seem higher. It's a much airier, updated look.
If you're in doubt about how your window treatments present themselves, call a professional home stager. Remember, for Open House and show times, be sure your windows are clean inside and out, the blinds up and drapery open.
Happy Staging! Julie
 |
|
|
Julia Maher of Nestings provides high-quality, value-added Home Staging and award-winning Model Home design in Fairfield & New Haven Counties and Connecticut. On time, on buget and on target! RESA
Call today for a quote! Staging can be as simple as a Consultation or involve a whole-house renovation.
Here are some photos of my work; you'll find more posted on my blog: www.activerain.com/blogs/nestings
SOLD in three weeks! After scaling down the furniture and defining some spaces, this Fairfield, CT, house was ready for the market and sold quickly. We used some rental furniture as well as the clients'.
Before: Poorly-defined living room.
After: Relaxing spot for book club or cocktails!
Before: Family room with over-sized sectional and entertainment center.
After: Appropriately-sized furniture was brought in. Now the focal point of the room, the fireplace, is highlighted.
This Fairfield County, CT, Staged Home Sold in Five (5!) Days. Nestings provided affordable rentals and used some of the seller's furniture for this traditional, yet modest, home:
Before: Bedding, walls, furniture and floor all blend. After: New ceiling fixture and rented accessories from Nestings add drama and character to the Master Bedroom.
A new white carpet to highlight the hardwood floors, updated coffee table, additional seating and lighting, plus splashes of vibrant turquoise blue give this Living Room memorable character.
A new, updated chandelier, white table cloth and black accents provided by Nestings eliminate the "oak-on-oak" feel to the Dining Room (Before, on left).
Easy updates for this Bathroom included full-length drapery in a bold damask pattern, larger art and a beautiful orchid. Over-sized scale adds drama.
Need to sell your Fairfield County, Connecticut, vacant or spec house quickly? These houses were staged with rentals; lighting, art and accessories rented from Nestings Home Staging:
Award-Winning Connecticut Model Home Design:
First Place Winner, 2008 ADE Conference
First Place Winner, 2007 ADE Conference
Home Staging: Transitional design that highlights architectural features.
Home Staging: Designed to appeal to the target buyer.
Home Staging: Designed to define open spaces.
Home Staging: Designed to define spatial functions.
Home Staging: Color can be neutral or bold to amp up the "WOW!" factor.
Nestings Home Staging helped a classic family room get model home appeal.
Organizations:
Education:
With a transitional approach to decorating, Home Staging by Nestings establishes good flow, function and flavor to any property at affordable prices. Specializing in builders' Model Homes throughout Fairfield County, New Haven County and Connecticut, Nestings provides award-winning Staging.
My success as a Connecticut Home Stager hinges on my ability to appeal to the target home buyer. Whether the target buyers are professionals moving out from New York City, single men, or growing families, I can subtly interpret what kind of functions and furnishings will attract and maintain their interest in a property.
Working within any budget, Staged vacant and model homes are fully appointed and look rich.
For Staging occupied homes, I have a "use what you have" mentality that can make any home look and feel better for the market.
I work with several furniture rental companies to provide just the right selections. Accessories rentals are also available through Nestings Home Staging.
My work is on time, on budget, and on target!
"Dear Julie: I have sold many homes in my 24 years in real estate and have done a lot of staging for my clients, but it doesn't compare to having a professional stager like you. You are truly talented in adding the emotional touch to a home with your decorative accents and artistic flair. I truly believe that your exceptional abilities were one of the main reasons why my clients were able to sell their home within 1 week and at a premium price. My clients also strongly agree that you were worth the investment." Joan Hainsworth, CRS, ABR
"Hi there - Just wanted to thank you for your help and let you know that the first people that looked at our house bought it for the asking price! I did most everything you said. It looks beautiful. Thanks again..." Kirsten G.
"Hi Julie! Hope you are well. We sold our home and have moved to St. Johns Florida. We sold rather quickly with some definite thanks to you. I am recommending you highly to anyone who inquires about the sale. Hope you get some referrals. Thanks again!" Carol R.
"Julie - I wanted to thank you so much for helping me with our home. I loved everything you did in the house. Everyone that came in said how beautiful everything looked. They kept saying, "Why do you want to move, your home is so beautiful." We lived there for nine years and it never looked better than after you came in. The best part was you were able to use things I already had. I loved working with you. I want you to come to help me decorate our new home. Thanks again for all your help." Chris C.
"Many thanks to Nestings for doing such a great job Staging the Model unit at The Birches! The original Model had been installed for some time, but the condos were not selling. Julie Maher determined the correct target audience and designed a new Model. Since the installation, half the condos have sold. Julie's work was on time, on budget, and on target." Anthony Maggiore, Maggiore Construction Inc.
"My mother's house looks so cute! It doesn't look like an old lady lived here!" Kim V.
"Wow, you did a great job in a short period of time. You're going to do very well!." Leslie B., Realtor
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2013 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
