New Hampshire Home Stager reveals secrets to selling.
If you currently have your house on the market or are planning on selling your house in the near future, then this seven-part series was written for you.
If you missed it, Tip #1 was Update Lighting Fixtures
Tip #2 Identify Red Flags
Do you know what a "red flag" is?
A signal of danger or a problem can be referred to as a red flag. In real estate, a red flag is something that gives potential buyers the impression that there is an existing problem, was a problem in the past, or could be a problem in the future.
I find red flags in most of the houses that I stage.
It is very important that you go on a "search and destroy" mission throughout your entire house and identify your red flags.
What are you looking for? Here are three examples:
1. Evidence of Past Damage
The most common red flag I see is water stains on ceilings or walls. Usually when I ask what the source of the stain is, I'm told "the roof was leaking, but it's fixed now." That's great that the problem is fixed now...that doesn't mean, however, that you don't need to paint the stained ceiling. It's really a simple choice:
One more point: Some sellers try to save money or time by painting only the stained area instead of the whole ceiling or wall. If it is obvious that a repair was made, it's really no different than having the stain still there.
2. Storage and Space Issues
Do you have added curio cabinets in your kitchen to make up for a lack of cabinets or an over-the-toilet storage unit in the bath because there is no vanity? Do you have a coat tree in the foyer because there is no coat closet?
These items tell buyers that there isn't enough storage or space to begin with. Remove them!
Adding the extra counter and 2 chairs to the end of this kitchen island only makes the kitchen appear to be smaller. It sends a message to buyers that there isn't enough workspace in the kitchen and more had to be added.
The sellers had a dresser in this bath because there was no medicine cabinet or vanity for storage. The dresser guarantees that buyers will be aware of the storage problem.
3. Furniture Placement Issues
Is your furniture positioned to give the impression there is a placement issue?
The way the nightstands were placed in these two bedrooms guaranteed a red flag would go up to potential buyers. If you remove the nightstands, you remove the giant arrow in the room pointing out the problem.
These are just three examples of red flags you should be looking for. Other things to look for include evidence of marital or medical problems, light switches to nowhere, protruding wiring, evidence of pets, and lack of light, to name a few.
No house is perfect. You know better than anybody else what the negative features are within your house. Maybe they are the reason you are moving. Do you want to highlight those issues for buyers or do you want to highlight all the positive features of the house?
Stay tuned for Tip #3
New Hampshire Home Stager reveals secrets to selling. Secrets to selling your house? Can there be any secrets left? It seems with all the home staging information out there and so many home staging shows popular on HGTV, all the secrets must be told by now.
And yet...take a look through your local MLS and see the pictures that people are using to represent their "product for sale." Home staging is still a fairly new concept in New Hampshire and most other parts of the country, and it is obvious that the secrets are not all out of the bag just yet.
Over the course of the next two weeks, I will be sharing some of the things I believe to be very important when preparing your house for sale, things that most sellers don't think of. Every other day, I will post a new "secret" strategy that you can use to make your house more appealing to buyers.
Tip #1 Update Light Fixtures
Probably my favorite improvement...updating the light fixtures. My experience has been that most sellers never even consider the impact that their light fixtures can make. Many Realtors are surprised when I suggest replacing the fixtures. It's one of those subtle, subconscious messages the house sends to buyers. Dated, cheap, or worn fixtures devalue the house.
This is an area where a little money spent can make a huge difference and add tremendous perceived value to the home. You can add thousands of dollars of value by only spending a few hundred dollars.
This bedroom ceiling fixture was updated for $17 - Ceiling fan purchased at Home Depot on clearance.
For under $50 this kitchen light was replaced and it instantly increased the home's perceived value.
This foyer light fixture was replaced for $54 and added tremendous impact to the entrance.
Home staging is more than decorating and it's more than just decluttering. it's a whole series of things that add up to strategic marketing. Updating your light fixtures is one of those things that will add perceived value to the product you are selling and make a far greater impression on buyers.
Another thing to remember: Be consistent throughout your house with the finish and style of lighting fixtures you choose. Consistency makes for a better flow and adds to the "perception of greater value" you are looking to achieve.
Stay Tuned for Tip #2
If you need new flooring, call my Dover New Hampshire flooring specialist, TJ Sprague, for a free consult. Whether you are preparing your house for sale or improving your home for your own comfort, new flooring will make a dramatic difference.
TJ Sprague is the President of Floor Coverings International, and he takes customer satisfaction very seriously. Their pledge is to exceed customer expectations. They are located in Dover, New Hampshire and they service customers from the Seacoast area all the way to Wolfboro.
TJ is a third generation flooring specialist. His grandfather, Herbert Sprague, opened Sprague Floor Covering in 1946. TJ's dad, Ted Sprague, has been running the business since the eighties and bought Floor Coverings International this past January to better service his customers.
Ted handles the commercial side of the business, while TJ handles the residential.
With so many flooring companies and home improvement stores to choose from, it can be confusing and difficult to find a company you can trust.
I have personally referred many of my clients, including my son, to TJ and have yet to be disappointed in his service. TJ goes above and beyond to make sure his customers are treated with respect and are satisfied with the final product.
Floor Coverings International's in-home design consultations are complimentary and installations come with a lifetime install warranty. In most cases they will even move the furniture and appliances out of the room for you. TJ and his design specialists are familiar with all types of flooring and they will help you decide which product is the best choice for you. Yes, they do have eco-friendly choices available.
Floor Coverings International offers a very special service...something I really find helpful to my clients. They use InspireNet, a computer graphic software that enables their customer to see photos of their actual room with different flooring choices. You can view an example of this awesome service on their website. Just click on the different floor samples and watch the floor change. Imagine how much easier it can be to decide between carpet and wood if you can see pictures of the room both ways.
97 New Rochester Road
Dover NH
603-742-3869
Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury, Massachusetts is my favorite farm. We found the farm about nine years ago, by accident, and we have been picking our own fruit there ever since.
We started out by making regular weekend trips in the Fall to pick apples, and then we discovered that we could pick our own peaches in the Summer. Now we pick the sweetest, juiciest peaches starting in August. A couple of weeks ago we picked our own blueberries.
All of the fruit at Cider Hill Farm is amazing, and we have never been disappointed.
For more information on when fruit is ready for picking...see the crop schedule.
The award winning apple cider, at Cider Hill Farm, is not only delicious... it is healthy, made with 100% cold pressed apple juice from tree picked apples. The cider is never heated, pasteurized, UV treated or chemically preserved or altered.
The most addictive item at the farm is their homemade apple cider donuts. The smell of the donuts is intoxicating as it greets you at the door and almost impossible to resist. They are made daily in the store and are usually still warm...absolutely fabulous!
Cider Hill Farm is a family business, with three generations of the Cook family dedicated to making their farm a place for other families to enjoy and visit. Glenn and Karen Cook, along with their two sons and Glenn's dad, Ed, all work together to grow and offer their customers the best quality food possible.
Children love watching the donuts get made, feeding the goats, riding the hayrides, choosing a pumpkin or two, eating the donuts and drinking the cider.
Children are fascinated by the live bee observatory, where they can watch the bees in action.
Bonus: Walking through the orchards and picking apples is a healthy way to spend quality time with the kids and a great way to tire them out!
The Cider Hill Farm store is housed in a beautifully restored 150-year old dairy barn. All their produce is available in the store, along with honey from their own bee hives, and their wonderful cider. They bake their own pies, breads and pastries. And the donuts...don't forget the donuts! Also stocked is Amesbury tapped maple syrup, and lots of crafts and gift items created by local artisans.
To quote the Cook family:
"Supporting your local farms is a vital way for you to save open space in your community, and preserve a lifestyle which is the backbone of this country. Your support also ensures that future generations of farm families will desire to follow in their parents footsteps to continue working the land in this very satisfying and meaningful way of life."
Cider Hill Farm 45 Fern Avenue Amesbury MA
978-388-5525
Need to unwind? Treat yourself to a spa treatment at Eight Winds in Hampton NH. When was the last time you felt relaxed? With all the stresses that you face on a daily basis, you have probably noticed that your body is paying the price. You need to rediscover relaxation and make your body's well being your number one priority and visiting my favorite spa in Hampton could do just that for you.
Do you make time for yourself each day? Do you set aside a small time slot to just sit and relax, listen to some music or read? We all say we will, but how often do we actually do it? Life takes over and before we know it...it's 10pm and we realize another day has gone by without so much as a ten minute "me" break.
You need to put "you" into your appointment schedule. I know a place that specializes in helping you relax. Eight Winds Spa & Hair Studio in Hampton NH is a wonderful place to rediscover the relaxed you. The atmosphere alone will calm you, with soothing music, candles and a tranquil waterfall.
The spa treatments at Eight Winds are beyond relaxing...
Spend some time in the hot stone saunas, or treat yourself to a relaxing facial.
The Warm Sea Stone Massage creates an intense feeling of deep relaxation and stress reduction while the Therapeutic Massage helps alleviate joint soreness and muscle aches.
The Deep Sea Wrap will envelope you in warmth while infusing your body with vitamins, minerals and vital elements such as oxygen.
Eight Winds provides you with the perfect environment to calm the senses and to decompress.
Manicures and pedicures are in a private room!
You don't have to listen to that lady telling her manicurist about her lazy boyfriend or the details of her upcoming surgery.
Eight Winds now offers Organic Artificial Nails!
The nails are created using a non-acrylic process with triple distilled surgical glue and a powdered mixture of vitamins, minerals and pulverized fish bone.
The founder and owner of Eight Winds Spa and Hair Studio is Julie Lewis, LMT, RMT. Julie has spent the last twelve years studying and practicing holistic health. Opening Eight Winds in February, 2005 was more than a professional goal, it was her personal dream.
Julie is very proud to offer her clients a retreat to escape the stress in their everyday lives and is devoted to educating the seacoast and surrounding communities on the holistic approach to living.
Eight Winds Wellness Center and Spa - Balance From Within
580 Lafayette Road
Hampton, NH 03842
603-929-2999
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 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 www.BeholdTheImage.com
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 Rush 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 Rush Realty
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