Christine Bird (New View Home Staging)

So I don't often brag in my blog, but I've been told I need to learn to toot my own horn a bit louder sometimes.

I've just returned from 5 days in Las Vegas, where I attended the two day RESA Convention, plus the additional one-day Certified Staging Professionals Convention. Both were incredible learning experiences, and I've returned to chilly Ontario re-charged and motivated by the professional speakers and networking opportunities with so many successful stagers from Canada, the US and farther abroad.

A highlight for me personally came when I was awarded the 2011 RESA Canadian Rookie Stager of the Year, at the gala awards night on Monday evening. "Rookie" status means in business less than 24 months, and I'm currently at about 22.

It was truly exciting, and I thank Shell Brodnax, and the RESA membership for this recognition.

There are many differing opinions about whether or not you should attempt to sell during the Holidays. There will always be buyers that will assume if you're selling during the Holidays then you must be desperate, and their offers will reflect that. But sometimes it just turns out that this is the best time for you. Whatever the reason you are listing during the Holidays, you can still make the most of your sale by paying attention to the details and putting your best face forward.

Smell is always something that people notice immediately, whether consciously or not. So, why not take advantage of the Holiday season by playing into it? Go that extra mile and make the house smell inviting by baking cookies, or simmering cider or mulled wine before your open house. Then leave some baking out for your prospective buyers!

Decorating is very important, but never go over the top. The goal with decorating is to make your house feel welcoming, because it is after all the Holidays, but be careful not to run the risk of offending. Not everyone celebrates Christmas, although most do celebrate family. A few strings of lights and a wreath or pine bowes on the door are usually enough to make your house feel warm and inviting, but avoid large lawn displays while you're selling.

And inside the home, be careful not to consume too much space with your decorations. A smaller Christmas tree is probably best because we know that space sells houses, and try to maintain a more classic theme from room to room. If you've got excess furniture because of the tree, rather than crowding the room, please remove the out of place piece to another room or storage.

Many of our holiday decorations have been collected over the years, and passed down through the generations. Take great care this year when selecting what you display and where you do it. Unfortunately, things do get knocked over and accidents happen, so protect your precious or irreplaceable decorations by leaving them packed away for your next house.

The Holidays can be a wonderful time to sell, because you have the opportunity of touching people in a way that may help them imagine family traditions they'll soon be enjoying in their new home. Sometimes it takes a bit more work and extra planning, but don't be discouraged if this is when you happen to be selling. Put on your best face, and welcome prospective buyers into your home.

Christine Bird is owner and principle stager at New View Home Staging. She is a Certified Canadian Staging Professional, CSP Mentor, and CSP Elite^TM Stager & Instructor. New View Home Staging can be reached at 519-505-0892 or by email at christine@newviewhomestaging.ca. Please feel free to visit our website at www.newviewhomestaging.ca

I didn't coin the comparison but when I came across it recently in Christine Rae's book "HOME STAGING FOR DUMMIES" it made me chuckle. But think about it, just as first impressions are formed in speed dating, so they are formed by house-hunting buyers. In just a few moments, far less than we might expect, buyers are going to decide whether or not a property is worth getting to know better.

Studies have shown that most buyers are going to make a purchase after looking at fewer than 10 homes, and this all happens within a very condensed period of time. Just like in speed dating, they won't come back around if you failed to impress the first time.

So how do you know where to focus your efforts when getting ready for your date? Most often, a first impression is based on an emotional attraction (or lack of). Anything which speaks to our senses, whether positively or negatively is going to incite a response.

Questions to ask yourself are:

How does your house make the buyer feel? Are they going to feel comfortable while moving among your things or will they feel as if they are intruding? Personal items, improperly placed furniture, and clutter can all make a buyer feel uneasy or off-balance in your home.

How does your house look? Colours register in the mind immediately so neutrals are always safest and will appeal to the most potential buyers. Kitchens should be current and lighting should be on-trend. Floors and carpets should be in good shape. And don't overlook what drive-by's will be seeing from the street. That's a speed date in itself, and you don't even know is happening!

What smells are greeting the buyers? These could be cooking related, pets, air fresheners or heavy cologne and may be hard for you to identify on your own. Don't be too embarrassed to ask a friend or neighbour to lend an honest nose.

Just as people have stylists, so do houses in the form of home stagers. Calling on a professional home stager will help you maximize your efforts, time and financial resources as you prepare your home for sale. First impressions strongly influence a successful first date, particularly if you are being compared to several other potential connections. Home Stagers understand what buyers are looking for, and how your house should be styled for the unforgiving and competitive world of speed dating!

Christine Bird is owner and principle stager at New View Home Staging. She is a Certified Canadian Staging Professional, CSP Elite^TM Stager, and Instructor. New View Home Staging can be reached at 519-505-0892 or by email at christine@newviewhomestaging.ca. Please feel free to visit our website at www.newviewhomestaging.ca

What's the first thing that you notice when you look at a house? Most likely it's the area around the front door... and so this begs the question, why are so many front porches cluttered with things or overlooked entirely?

Most research suggests that a first impression is formed within 5 and 15 seconds upon arrival at a property for sale. Take a moment to think where the buyer is likely spending the majority of those 15 seconds... probably standing at the front door waiting for the realtor to fiddle with the lock box.

During those 15 seconds they are looking around, and noticing so many things that may have been overlooked when preparing a property for sale. Examples could be weeds coming through the stone walkway, a mailbox that is aged and rusted, living room window trim that is painted poorly or not at all, or simply really old and worn hardware on the door itself.

While preparing the interior is still the most important, overlooking the significance of the exterior, particularly the front door area is a risk you should not be taking. A professional home stager can help guide the buyer towards prioritizing where their money and efforts should be spent, and because we arrive at the home with "buyer's eyes", we notice things that buyers will and form the same first impressions.

A beautiful and welcoming front porch sets the tone for a positive visit once buyers get inside. So, let your sellers know... those doors that they walk through everyday without really seeing, are actually the portals to many opportunties that they could be missing out on.

Christine Bird operates New View Home Staging in the Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge ON market. For more information about our services visit www.newviewhomestaging.ca or call Chris at 519-505-0892.

One of the most common concerns I hear when I'm out speaking with realtors is that they don't know how to suggest staging without offending their clients. I hear this over and over... and it's unfortunate when the client doesn't get the benefit of a consultation because the realtor isn't comfortable raising the subject.

What it comes down to is an understanding that staging isn't decorating, so whether we're consulting in a beautifully decorated home or something furnished in "early parent", the focus is always the same. We're not selling their taste or style, or commenting on how they live... we're selling their house.

So, I'm offering up a few scripted lines that should open the conversation more delicately for you...

"Now that you've decided to sell your house, we need to make sure that everyone who comes through the door can picture themselves living there. As part of my services to all my clients, I provide a home staging consultation. My stager is very experienced and will be able to work with your beautiful things to help sell the house quickly."

Or

"I can tell that you've taken great care with your home over the years, it's beautiful and it reflects who you are. Unfortunately sometimes that doesn't help sell your house quickly because people really don't want to know who they are buying their new home from. As part of my services to all my clients, I provide a home staging consultation. My stager is very experienced and can help us make sure that whoever comes through your door can picture their own family living here too."

Or just the straightforward...

"The way that you live in your home is very different than the way we will sell your house. As part of my services to all my clients, I provide a consultation with a professional home stager. My stager will be able to make sure that when people come through your front door they can picture themselves living here and will want to make us an offer."

Staging is about selling, where decorating is about living... once you become comfortable conveying that message, you'll find that your clients will be receptive to our suggestions and many will surprise you in what they're prepared to tackle.

Christine Bird operates New View Home Staging in the Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge, Ontario markets. Visit www.newviewehomestaging.ca or call 519-505-0892 to speak with Chris directly.