Tori Lynn Ross - Omaha's Premier Home Stager

Typically the golden rule of Home Staging is to go neutral. Neutral paint, flooring, furniture, etc. This works most of the time but is not always the best strategy. Awhile back I received a call from a frustrated builder with a beautiful new construction home for sale on a newer lake development. The home was well done, nice and neutral finishes throughout. Neutral, neutral, neutral! One of the biggest attractions for this home was lake living but it was difficult for buyers to look past the sea of tan and builder beige to even notice the lake.

We decided to stage the entire main level and I made a bold move when selecting rental furniture. I went BlUE!! Blue is one of my least favorite colors when it comes to interiors, furniture and accessories (gag, gag, gag). However, I felt the blue sofa set would highlight the view of the lake from the living room and entry. I was a little nervous before install but lo and behold my daring choice was a huge success.

This home had been vacant and on the market for a full year. After I staged the main level, the home sold in three weeks. Three weeks!! Can you imagine how happy that builder was to finally have a buyer for this listing? And as usual, Home Staging fees were less than a price reduction would have been.

BEFORE AFTER

I was blessed with the birth of my second born son in January of this year (my first-born is ten, going on 16!). Before he was born I worried about how I would handle business during his early days but had hoped that since it was winter - not really a slower time of year here in Omaha but you would think it might be - and I had a good independent contractor with my firm that I would handle it all okay and enjoy at least 4-6 weeks at home with my beautiful baby.

Boy, was I wrong! My bundle of joy was indeed, bundled up and out with me on appointments at the ripe old age of 11 days. We had a vacant install and two vacant tear downs that day (with the assistance of my independent contractor). The next two days brought a couple of occupied home staging appointments in Omaha and neighboring communities and the following weeks were much the same. Every time one of my agent partners would call with an appointment request, I would mention that I was home with my (fill in the blank) week old baby and not leaving him with the sitter yet. The options were that either the seller could work with my independent contractor or I could come with the baby. Wouldn't you believe every one of them wanted me to do the appointment and everyone was happy to see the baby. They often thought of it as a bonus!

Though I was a little frustrated from time to time with my lack of sleep and juggling the care of a newborn with the rest of my family AND business, I continuously reminded myself how truly blessed I am to have a wonderful family and a great business that allows me to earn a decent living and care for my family.

We are considering possibly having another baby a year or two down the road ... I am thinking I might have to carefully plan conception so that he is born mid-December which tends to be the slowest time of year for me and perhaps I could have a solid two weeks at home. Any thoughts? How have other new mothers/home stagers handled this situation?

Couldn't resist popping in a photo of the little guy. Here's Preston at 2 months, enjoying a day off from work :-)

I co-host a radio show in Omaha, Nebraska on Saturday mornings called "The Real Estate Reality Hour". This morning's guest was Walt Slobotski, current President of the Metro Omaha Builder's Association, MOBA. Walt asked me an interesting question while we were on air; he was wondering what is the best color scheme with regard to interior paint in a home for sale.

My approach to Home Staging is the same as marketing any product or commodity. Once consumer demand has been established, competition in the marketplace further dictates price and quality standards. Therefore a successful seller must know what their direct competition looks like and how they match up against it. I have two philsophies with regard to what is the best color scheme/marketing strategy to use in homes for sale in Omaha.

Homes that are under the $275k price point and are generally competing against existing homes (both custom built and the cookie cutterhomes) will show best if the interior is painted professionally - or by a very good do-it-yourselfer with a steady hand - in a neutral, beige-ish color scheme. These homes are often competing against other homes with stark white walls or homes of first time home buyers that went a little crazy with color, particularly in the kids' bedrooms, and did the painting themselves and often did a sloppy job. A nice neutral home compared to these other listings will stand out above the competition and will receive offers sooner than the others.

Homes in the higher price ranges are often competing against new construction where the builder hired an interior designer or stager for assistance in selecting an updated color scheme, or existing homes where the homeowner hired a professional for assistance with color selection and to do the actual painting. Homes for sale with this type of competition in the higher price ranges will often show better with carefully selected color palettes that include mochas, sage greens, and rusty reds. The colors must be lighter and slightly more neutral than what some people would choose to use in a home they are lving in and not selling, but homes competing in this market usually show better with a little color.

Listen to "The Real Estate Reality Hour" Saturday mornings at 9am on 1290 KKAR if you are in the Omaha metro or online at www.1290kkar.com.