As many of you know, my husband and I recently bought a house, which we are currently transforming into our new home. When I first called my husband to tell him I had found "the one" he was surprised and happy to hear it needed NO WORK....
"We don't have to do a thing!" I told him.
However, on my second visit, to show hubby the house.... let's just say that I must have left my rose-colored glasses in the car.
The burgundy dining room was not going to work, and it really needed a more impressive light fixture.
The mint green powder room also needed a new color....new light fixtures and larger mirror would be in order.
Pink master bedroom??? I don't think so.
The huge mirrors covering the wall in the master bath were disturbing. New light fixtures needed here too.
We should upgrade the kitchen counter and add tile to the backsplash.
The rest of the house was so white....so very white.
As we left the house, my husband accused me of
BAIT AND SWITCH
He was right...I had misled him a tiny bit. But it wasn't intentional. I was an emotional buyer when I first saw the house, and I was all Home Stager the second time around.
I had looked at so many unacceptable houses previously to finding this one and I was so relieved, to find a house that I could call home, that I saw right past those minor details.
The house really was move-in ready for most people - just not move-in ready for a Home Stager!
No self respecting Home Stager and blogger would transform their new home without sharing, so stay tuned for plenty of "before" and "after" pics!
Being a professional Home Stager in Portsmouth, New Hampshire I'm no stranger to giving advice to sellers. Now that my house is on the market I can honestly say, I prefer giving the advice to actually living it.
Living in "sell mode" is not for the faint of heart! Keeping your house show ready is a lot of work!
When you list your house for sale, you are transported from the real world to an uncomfortable, inconvenient fantasy land where soap and towels aren't used and cabinets and closets now carry only a fraction of what you actually own and need to survive.
Your giant TV and excercise bike are banished from the bedroom and your favorite chair has gained a slipcover and pillow and lost it's ottoman. It's no fun having to make the beds, pick up laundry, and sweep the floors every day!
As stressful as it may be to live this way....I believe it beats the alternative.
I would rather suffer a bit more pain for the short term than suffer less pain but have it go on for eternity!
Once you decide to sell, your next decision is whether you want to sell the hard way or the easy way.
The hard way is living in show mode...very inconvenient, but much higher odds of selling sooner.
Higher pain - Shorter time period
The easy way is not giving up your conveniences. "You gotta live" right?
Less Pain - Longer time period
It's ultimately your decision as the seller.
Twas the week before Christmas
and all through the house
every room had been cleaned and prepared
by the Stager and her spouse.
The furniture had been placed...each accessory chosen with care,
in hopes that a buyer, very soon would be there.
The Home Stager has become the Seller!
It's the week before Christmas and my Portsmouth NH home is for sale.
One thing is for certain, I'm a woman of my word. I practice what I preach! All those times I said to a client "if it were my house I would..." have become a reality. This selling business is no fun....especially when you are as serious about preparation and presentation as I am. There has been no rest and will be no rest until a buyer is found.
Pray for us! LOL!
One very important thing I've learned....don't let Winter or the holidays scare you away from listing. We have seen a lot of action this past week. The people looking at houses the week before Christmas are very serious!
All I want for Christmas this year... is a BUYER!!
New Hampshire Home Staging Advice - You Don't Have To Go Down With The Ship
For most sellers, selling a house is a new experience. Selling your most valuable asset is not something you should attempt on your own.
When approaching unchartered waters... sellers, like sailors, should have at least one experienced deckhand on board.
It may appear initially to be smooth sailing, but you could find yourself in way over your head quite fast.
Instead of "For Sale By Owner"
fsbo could, in many cases, stand for
"Fast Sinking - Best Offer"
There are pirates out in those waters!
Without pricing and marketing knowledge or understanding of real estate law you could find yourself at their mercy.
Three words: Davy Jones Locker!
Warning: "over priced & under marketed" means crying S.O.S instead of S.O.L.D
Best case scenerio: Have some experienced sea legs, a Realtor and a Home Stager, on your crew.
If you insist your ship is unsinkable (one word..."Titanic"), and you don't want an agent as your first mate, at the very least:
Selling Your New Hampshire Home Will Require An Attitude Adjustment
For most people selling a house is not a common occurrence. If they do have any prior experience, it's from some years ago, and the market has changed significantly.
As a New Hampshire Home Stager, I've worked with a lot of sellers and one thing is for certain...an attitude adjustment is the first thing homeowners should consider when preparing to sell.
PRICE
It's not what you think that matters. It doesn't matter what you want for it, or what you need for it, or what you owe on it. The current market will determine the price.
Your house is worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it. A buyer's perception of worth is what really matters.
CONDITION
It's not what you think that matters. Your eyes have been clouded by emotional attachment. How your house is perceived by others is what matters. What is attractive, appealing, or comfortable to you may not be so appealing to the masses.
One man's idea of valuable collectables is another man's idea of clutter.
One man's idea of neutral is another man's idea of cold.
You may think the gold fixtures in your bathroom look rich, but to potential buyers the fixtures are dated and expensive to replace.
Today's buyer is looking for "move-in ready" condition.
One last thing...
The real estate agent, home stager, and home inspector are not the enemy.
Choose them wisely
Take their advice seriously
Work with them cooperatively
Selling Your New Hampshire Home Will Require An Attitude Adjustment
I am a professional home staging, redesign, and space organization specialist residing in the Seacoast city of Portsmouth, NH. I offer creative and unique solutions to both home owners and realtors.
My mission is to help New Hampshire sellers increase the emotional appeal of their property and sell for the best price in the shortest time. I am dedicated and committed to providing a professional, affordable, resourceful, creative and effective approach to each home I transform. My natural flair for organization and attention to detail are not only invaluable to clients listing their home for sale, but also to homeowners who have a design challenge or are looking for a fresh, updated look.
Making a Great First Impression
You only get that "just listed" buzz once...you want the house at it's ideal showing condition when traffic and the house's price are at their highest. It's all about first impression. Your best chance of getting closest to asking price is within the first two weeks.
A small investment in home staging can make a significant difference in the outcome of your sale.
I would love to assist you in the preparation of your house for sale.
To learn more, visit: sharontara.com
Sharon, thank you so much! We were thrilled with how quickly the house sold. It's being purchased by a young couple who really love it-and we couldn't be happier about that! The comments we received from potential buyers were great- "Does anyone live here?" "Do they really have dogs?" A lot of that was due to your advice and guidance so, thank you! When we were looking at houses for us, I was really amazed to see how some people were showing their houses. Some were great but, with others, I thought "wow, they really should have hired a stager!" Amy Richter
Sharon, I just want to thank you so much for helping me today with your awesome professional opinion. I love my new rooms so much that I keep going in and looking at them. And Paul likes them just as much; he can't believe how much bigger both bedrooms look. What a big improvement. I never thought we would move furniture, I just thought you were going to give me some ideas. It was a lot of fun and it really didn't seem like work. Again thanks so much! Rita Harrington, Nashua, NH Sharon Tara Transformations works! I sold my house in less than 90 days, and in today's market, that's great. Sharon's keen eye and creative organization skills made my home look like one you would see in a magazine. Many of the prospective buyers were surprised by the amount of space in my home once they entered. I continually got positive feedback from my realtor after showings. I have come to know Sharon through a business networking group that we both belong to. She is professional, trustworthy, and skilled. I highly recommend her, whether you are selling your home, preparing for a special event, or just need to get organized. She can make it happen! Marianne Metz Lipe If there was ever any doubt about the power of "Staging", Sharon Tara will make you a believer. She did a fabulous job for me...the house she staged sold in a month, after languishing on the market for six months with no offers. She is very professional, very accommodating, and a lot of fun to work with! I can highly recommend her. Linda Clapp, Tate and Foss, Inc. After an unsuccessful attempt at selling our house last year, I had Sharon stage my home. She gave me great advice and our house sold on the first showing! I was so impressed with her ideas, that I hired her to suggest colors for my new home. I get so many compliments on our colors, I just love it!! Thank you, Sharon, I'll surely pass your name on again, and again! Tracy Harmon, Barrington, NH Sharon Tara has worked her creative magic on several homes that I recently listed and all the homes had offers within a month's time! She is able to enhance any home with her design suggestions and works well in motivating the Seller into making the changes to get the home sold!!! Diane Boynton, Prudential Verani Realty Sharon Tara did the restaging of my entire 4000+ square foot house. The end result was absolutely spectacular. She made every room breathtaking. She put in what must have been 100's of hours shopping, picking out paint colors, etc. Even my teenage children were impressed-a testimonial unto itself! When she had finished, my home was a gorgeous showplace! I actually cannot think of a negative thing to say about the whole process. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sharon. I know that your work was instrumental in selling my home. Sherry Eldredge, Exeter, NH As a realtor, I have called upon Sharon Tara numerous times. I am always amazed at the difference she can make in the appearance of a home. She works with the homeowner to easily and very cost efficiently improve the look of the home which in turn improves the value of the home. The most amazing transformation I worked with her on is what my company calls the Cinderella house. She took a house that I thought would be stretching it to put it on the market for $800,000 and she transformed it. When she was done we put it on the market for $1,300,000. It was under agreement in 7 weeks. That never would have happened without her!!!! Donna Frederick, Prudential Verani Realty
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