RE:STYLE Home Staging and Redesign Just Celebrated Its 3rd Anniversary!
And we did it by de-staging one house yesterday, and we'll continue the celebration by de-staging a second one tomorrow! Again, proof that staging works!
Here are some Before and After photos:
House #1--Ann Arbor, MI
This house was lived-in when I first went for the consultation. But after discussion with the client, we all realized that they would have a difficult time living in it in a staged condition. So, they agreed to temporarily move into an apartment, as they were on their way from Michigan to Washington, D.C. anyway. This house would have sold in the first 2 months, as the client got multiple offers. However, they declined and waited to see if they could do better...we won't go there!
By using a lot of their furniture, repositioning it and mixing in some from RE:STYLE's inventory, we were able to provide a cost-effective solution.
We painted most of the house in warm, golden tones to compliment the wood floor (that you can see, now) and to make the white fireplace mantle and surround, and the crown molding, stand out as the features they are!
We transformed the Master, as well, using an inflatable bed and a free-standing screen. Now it looks warm and inviting!
House #2--Dexter, MI
This was a unique house, and it had some unusual spaces. The Living Room looked very long and narrow, and the kitchen had some custom tile that may not appeal to everyone. We staged "around" the tile, and even found matching flowers!
Here's a couple close up views:
The Kitchen and Breakfast Nook:
Some "detail" afters;
The bedroom also ended up looking very serene ("after" only--we all know what an empty bedroom looks like, right?)
Here's what the buyer's agent had to say:
"I wanted to let you know that we wrote an offer and got it accepted on the home you so BEAUTIFULLY !!!!!!
Staged on Mast road for (agent's name)! You did such a great job that my client wants to take pictures today during the inspection so she can remember how great it looks.
Thanks! It soooooo works! "
Good Isn’t Good Enough in Today’s Housing Market
Too often when I question Realtors about their listings, they say, “All of mine look good!” and then they blame lack of sales on improper pricing—meaning, homeowners won’t list at a saleable price.
While of course pricing is key, the condition of the home is equally as important. And a good house that’s well priced isn’t going to be the one that sells if there’s an equally well-priced GREAT home in the neighborhood. Buyers today don’t have to settle for GOOD—they can, and they do, demand GREAT!
This house looked "good" enough to be listed...
But finally SOLD! in 5 days when it became “GREAT” after RE:STYLE’s staging:
This vacant house spent two years looking “good enough” on the MLS:
Then sold in 30 days after it was staged by RE:STYLE to become “GREAT”!
If your Realtor hasn’t suggested home staging, maybe that means they think your house is “good enough”; but wouldn’t you rather be “great”?
How to Go From Good To Great To SOLD!
Home staging is the key. As professional home stagers, we use “buyers’ eyes” to see the house the way prospective buyers do. Then, we let you know anything we observe that will inhibit a sale, or give a buyer an opportunity to knock down the price. A professional home stager will provide recommendations of how to correct these issues, and offer hands-on help as well as the names of trusted sources who will provide services they don’t, such as painting, countertop installation, etc.
You Don’t Want To Paint or Remove Wallpaper? Neither Do Buyers!
Today, the less work a buyer needs to do , the better. That’s why we recommend removal of all wallpaper, and neutralizing wall colors. These kinds of finishes are personal expressions of taste, and limit your buyer pool. “Why purchase the house with the dark red walls and blue wallpapered bath, when the one just up the street is neutralized, so that what I have now will go in it easily?” Today’s buyers are also often buying at the top of their budget—they don’t have money left over for purchasing new items to color coordinate with your leftover décor; they also don’t have the funds to do a lot of fix-up or deferred maintenance. Home staging companies, like RE:STYLE, will be able to give you many cost-effective solutions to help you update your house with minimal expense, and get it SOLD!
RE:STYLE, and many home staging companies, offer Project Management as a service to their clients. We have arranged for painters, carpenters, remodelers, and overseen their work stripping wallpaper, painting walls and ceilings, and installing cabinets, tile, granite, etc. We also select all the colors and materials, making it very easy for our clients who are busy with jobs, or those who live out of town, out of state, or even out of the country!
This “good” house sat on the market for 9 months before it became “GREAT” and was leased in 2 weeks after staging by RE:STYLE.
But You’re Short on Funds, Too…
Many sellers are bringing money to the closing table these days, We realize this, so as professional home stagers, we use our expertise to work with what you have, and turn liabilities into assets (or at least minimize their negative impact).
Blue countertops are not a desirable feature…but were considered “good enough” when the house was put on the market…and sat for 7 months. RE:STYLE staged them so that they became part of a fashionable color scheme, and now they look “GREAT”! Color this house SOLD—in 60 days!
We offer a very affordable “Walkthough Consultation” for those of you who have the time, the “eye”, and want a “Stage-It-Yourself” guide. We also offer a written consultation, if you prefer that option.
Home staging is all about showcasing the features of your home. It’s about the space, not the stuff. But when your "stuff" distracts buyers from experiencing the space—that’s where our knowledge and talent comes in. We rearrange the furniture, and will re-accessorize to add the “WOW” elements that your houses needs so that buyers become emotionally engaged.
This house went form “Granny” to “Great” with the help of RE:STYLE. It SOLD! in just 40 days—after already having been on the market for many months in “unstaged” condition:
It’s GREAT to Be SOLD!
Take matters into your own hands!
The best time to stage your house is before it ever gets on the market. You want your photos to be the best they can be, as looking at the pictures on the Internet listing sites is how 85% of the buyers choose what houses to visit. Look for yourself—and you you’ll notice what looks good, and what looks great!
About RE:STYLE LLC
RE:STYLE LLC is located in Brighton, Michigan, and helps homeowners &
realtors sell homes more quickly and more profitably by using proven staging
methods to ensure that listings appeal to a broad range of buyers. For more
information, please contact RE:STYLE at 810.333.5240 or visit
http://www.restylestaging.com.
Just Staged by RE:STYLE
This house has lots of potential, even though it hasn't been updated. Fortunately, after a year on the market, the homeowners decided to take advantage of my Inventory Reduction Sale (2 months for the price of of 1!) and stage the house. We have already received positive comments from Realtors who had shown the house before the staging, so let's hope it moves quickly!
For less than one month's mortgage payment (not to mention all the carrying costs), we got this house staged to sell!
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RE:STYLE, a leading home staging company, staged $10.9 million in SOLD! real estate in 2007. RE:STYLE's work has been seen on HGTV's National Open House & the Today Show.
Get The Selling Advantage From Michigan's Premiere Staging Resource
Kathi Presutti is the owner of RE:STYLE LLC, and an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP). With a design degree from the University of Michigan, and a successful career as an advertising executive (she was an Executive Creative Director) behind her, she looks at home staging from a marketing point of view. To Kathi, every home for sale is actually a house that is a product on the market, in competition with every other house, including new-builds. RE:STYLE has many success stories, which can be found at www.ReStyleStaging.com
RE:STYLE works with Realtors and their clients, and also directly with homeowners. But RE:STYLE has a special affinity for staging vacant properties, drawing on its extensive inventory of accessories, artwork and smaller pieces of furniture. Vacant properties are particularly prone to staying on the market longer, as buyers are often unable to visualize how their furnishings will fit into the space. Vacant properties also leave buyers cold because they aren't as warm and inviting as lived-in properties, lacking that WOW factor that makes buyers remember them, and fall in love at first sight.
RE:STYLE's statistics mirror the national ones; houses that are staged by RE:STYLE sell twice as quickly as un-staged homes. What a difference that can make in this challenging buyers' market!
Investment Considerations
Remember, the investment in staging is always less than that first price reduction! The cost of staging doesn't need to be expensive. In lived-in houses, the idea is to use as much of the homeowners' possessions as possible. And when staging a vacant house, it's important to remember all the money that'll be saved by selling the house just one or two months more quickly: mortgage payment, heat, electricity, taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc.
There are many ways to cover the investment in staging
RE:STYLE offers one-hour verbal consultations at a nominal cost, often paid for by Realtors as a way to give added value to their clients. Some Realtors (often top producers--does that tell you something?) will pay for several hours of staging, or even share the cost of staging a vacant property. By asking homeowners to pay upfront, and then reimbursing them at closing, a Realtor can help ensure that the listing stays with him/her.
Our work is designed to sell...
RE:STYLE your house and restyle your life. Staging with RE:STYLE helps homeowners to move on with their lives. Living in a staged house can be a very freeing feeling. When the clutter is gone, so is the stress. Even if you aren't selling, you may enjoy staging your house to live!
Our clients say the nicest things! Below you will find comments from homeowners, Realtors, and others, including Barb Schwarz, the founder of Home Staging!
Quotes about RE:STYLE from Barb Schwarz, founder of Home Staging® and CEO of StagedHomes.com: Girl, look what you have done…these are some of the best I have ever seen and I mean it…I am putting you into the newsletter and I want to know if it is alright with you to put your pics on the home page of SHC? Also, can I add them to our photos in class with full credit to you and also on the before and after section of pics in the university with full credit to you…? Please let me know as it would be my honor to ‘brag’ on you and toot your horn…Fabulous…fabulous…you did such a wonderful job…”
“This is fabulous and I’m so proud of you for all you are accomplishing. You are doing wonderful!! Please be sure to let us know when to watch National Open House. I’m putting the pics in the newsletter too. If you have any before shots and please send your press coverage for the newsletter piece. Thank you for telling me and keep up the great work!!! Hugs!” Barb Schwarz, when informed that RE:STYLE has 2 houses that will appear on HGTV’s National Open House
Before After “I have had the distinct pleasure of meeting Kathi and having her stage my home. She took an ordinary, datedhouse into one of a modern, fresh look. People who have seen the house have said that it didn't look like the same house.
“I am pleased to announce that we signed a sales contract on the house today. After 17 months on the market, we finally sold it. Judy said the buyers were impressed with the staging. Thanks for helping us get this done! We should have engaged you one year ago!” Lloyd J., Homeowner
“Wow…Wow…Wow…I am so, so, so proud of YOU!!!!!
Barb Schwarz, after seeing Before and After photos from RE:STYLE’s first vacant home staging project
Kathi was a pleasure to work with, and was very conscientious about sticking to my budget. She would always consult me before buying anything that she thought I would have concerns with.
We were in Florida during the renovation, and she served as project manager for us. She interviewed and foundbuilders, carpet cleaners, house cleaners, window washers. She selected the paint and carpeting that we had replaced, and she had exquisite taste.
Her staging was incredible. She did things that were simple, but took into account the look I was trying to achieve,and did things that I would never had thought of. The house is for sale, and I have high hopes that it will sell in short order.
If you are looking for a stager, contact Kathi. You won't be disappointed.”
Jan H., Homeowner
Whitmore Lake, MI
House SOLD! within 2 months of being staged, despite having been on the market, vacant, for 15 months prior to staging
Troy, MI 
House SOLD! to the 3rd person through (after being staged)
"I’m convinced now on the value of staging. I had a vacant house that had over 65 showings, but no offers. After having the house staged, I received an offer on it from the 3rd showing. Kathi’s ‘artist’s eye’ and marketing background, in addition to her staging training, makes all the difference in the world. I offer her service to all my clients now.”
Debbi D., Coldwell Banker Schweitzer, Ann Arbor, MI
“You should see the house!!! They moved the TV, painted, bought new light fixtures…Wow! The difference (your suggestions made) is unbelievable! Very dramatic, especially the family room and the dining room! Wait till you see…”
Christine T., RE/MAX Platinum, Hartland
“Thank you again for your wonderful work, stamina and professionalism! As I turned out the lights last night, I couldn’t help but admire, one more time, the life and beauty you helped to bring to 100 Underdown.” Shiela D., Realtor 
Luxury Home SOLD! for over $2 million in just 6 months
Ann Arbor, MI
“What can I say but a ‘thank you’ for your consultation. I really believe that the changes we made, based on your suggestion, were a big factor in making the home appealing in a dismal market. The house looked great, especially for being almost 13 years old. I know the new owners will appreciate a truly move-in condition home. I would highly recommend your services to anyone!"
Lori A., HomeownerBrighton, Michigan
“Since you staged my listing, the way the home shows is the difference between night and day! Being that the home was vacant and very dark, I wasn’t sure how much it would help without repainting the entire interior. But, wow! What a difference it made—the home now shows great!”
Randy M., The Michigan Group, Brighton, MI
“Kathi was a true professional in the way she interacted with us as the homeowners. Her ideas for laying out our home look great and make sense for every day living as well as for our feature on HGTV.”
Drew and Hilary Chorney, HomeownersAnn Arbor, MI House featured on HGTV’s “National Open House”
The pictures of the house look great! I’m especially impressed with the way Kathi made the blue countertops in the upstairs bathrooms seem like they made sense there.” Vicki C., Homeowner
Brighton, MI
House SOLD! in 62 days for 97.8% of list
“Kathi and RE:STYLE have helped many of our clients transform their homes into showplaces. We’ve found R:STYLE staged homes sell faster and for more money. Our sellers love working with Kathi.”
Todd B., LCAR 2006 Realtor of the Year, The Buckley Jolley Real Estate Team, Brighton, MI
“Kathi's staging skills are superior. But what I really like is how thoughtful and empathetic she is with my clients. She is careful to honor their possessions, and she has a nice way of being gentle yet persuasive all at the same time. I trust her implicitly to work with my clients, whether I'm present or not!"
Linda P., Keller WilliamsBrighton, MI
"After RE:STYLE staged my Pine Creek listing, I never again heard what had been a deal-breaking complaint--that the house was 'too cold.' The staging definitely influenced the sale of this house, and did so in a relatively short period of time. Kathi has demonstrated that she has the high taste level necessary to stage these upper-end listings. And she made it fun!"
Sheryl M., Coldwell Banker Schweitzer, South Lyon, MI
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