Kitchener Waterloo, ON

All too often homeowners are in a scramble to get their house on the market, so that they don't miss the perceived "window of opportunity". No doubt, that actually does exist in some markets at different times of the year, but is taking an extra couple of days going to make such a huge difference that a home should be photographed and presented while not yet looking it's best?

Actually, rushing to get on the market can work against you.

Buyers make decisions for a number of reasons, not the least of which is an emotional connection to the house. They also need to see the "space" without an overwhelming sense of the people that live there, before they can picture themselves moving in. Both of these connections can best be achieved by putting some extra effort into getting the home ready, and turning it into the "marketable product" that it needs to be.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when preparing to sell:

• Is the curb appeal welcoming and inviting so that prospective buyer's will get out of their cars, or are they going to drive right by?
• When they enter, are they greated with a warm, neutral environment that invites them to linger?
• Are the colours and decor on-trend or outdated?
• Is the home clutter-free? Have you reduced items and objects by pre-packing?
• Can buyer's see beyond your personality and taste to truly feel the space you are selling?

A professional stager will guide the homeowner through the process of identifying priorities and the order in which they should be addressed, to ensure your house hits the market looking it's best.

New View Home Staging is a professional staging and property styling company providing services to both Realtors and Homeowners. We offer effective and affordable solutions to properly prepare your home for a quick and profitable sale, by creating winning first impressions that appeal to the broadest base of buyers. Christine Bird, owner and lead stager is a Certified Canadian Staging Professional.

To ensure you are "list ready" call for a consultation! It takes a couple of hours, and could be the difference between a profitable transaction or a so-so sale. 519-505-0892.

www.newviewhomestaging.ca

We work with several realtors in Stratford and we got called in to stage at a home where the home owner had done a lot in the way of renovations. It was actually the mirror image of a vacant home we had staged in the area with the exception that our client had blown out the back of the home to add a gourmet kitchen, a great room, another bathroom and office. The realtor we work with said the home had great bones, it just needed some "tarting up" as the occupants were men and there was very little in the way of cohesive and modern design elements.

So - here are a few pics of the home. We think it looks great!

This room had a sofa, loveseat, 2 large armchairs, coffee and end table set plus floor lamp. We took out the loveseat, floor lamp and re-positioned the chairs so that we created a cozy conversation area. We also found matching table lamps within the house and re-united them in this room. End result? Space looks larger, more contemporary and very inviting.

Below is the Great Room:

Again, lots of furniture. We had a fireplace which should be the focal point but which was overwhelmed by furniture and competing with the TV for attention. Below is our solution:

By removing extra furniture pieces, shifting the TV into the far left corner and moving the chaise across from the sofa, we create a cohesive and inviting room. In addition, the fireplace is now "the" focal point in the room with the addition of a great tiled mirror and some contemporary accessories. What's not to appreciate here?

Another "Before" shot ...

And here is the "After" ...

Below is a picture of the fab kitchen - we just LOVE it!

1,2,3 SOLD! Showcasing isn't just for vacant homes. An occupied home will benefit from showcasing as much as a vacant, we just approach it differently. It's the third step of a three step process -- Consultation; Improvements; Showcasing. Showcasing creates and promotes the positive feelings and emotions that we want the potential buyer to experience when they view the home, and it's done economically, using primarily items already owned by the homeowner.

While staging consultations may identify literally dozens of projects and enhancements that the homeowner should take advantage of, there still needs to be a plan to present, aka showcase, the home once the work is done. Some homeowners can do this themselves, but many will end up with the home looking exactly as it had before, which is only natural because because they live in it, and are used to the way it looks and feels. Bringing in a professional home stager to showcase, the final act of staging, ensures maximum appeal with the least amount of wiggle room in the resulting OFFERS. ~ A professional stager understands about lighting the space and improving traffic flow, plus can create focal points and vignettes that pull on the heartstrings ~

It's all about creating winning first impressions, and showcasing is a huge part of that. Great on-line photos and curb appeal will give a buyer incentive to get out of the car and enter the home, while showcasing invites them to stay. If they can't picture themselves living there, it's going to be reflected in the offer and this is where a professional stager can help!

Consultation + Improvements + Showcasing = MAXIMUM APPEAL or 1 +2 + 3 = SOLD!

New View Home Staging
www.newviewhomestaging.ca

360 Lexington Road, Waterloo, Ontario

$213,000

MLS #0927249

Click picture to see listing info and additional pictures

Most realtors agree that it's easier to sell a furnished home than a vacant home, and RESA numbers from February 2009 fully support this. Unfortunately, not all home sellers can deal with the upfront cost of staging, particularly if there are rentals involved, and opt for a lower listing price. Either that, or they list for a few months, and eventually take a price reduction. The price reduction is probably still far more than the cost that staging would have been.

This spring I've had the pleasure of dealing with some great clients, but one story stands out as a true success for everyone involved.

When I initially viewed the home, I found it to be really outdated. It required wallpaper stripping, new vinyl flooring, carpeting, paint throughout, and had dark wood paneling from the 70's. It was also in slight disrepair, with plaster issues in the bathroom, stained bathroom vanities, and old boards on the deck.

These clients were a home stagers dream though and were prepared to tackle everything on my list. Together we selected paint and trim colours for the entire home, and flooring for the kitchen, foyer and bathrooms, we decided on a budget for staging and I left them to their work.

Three weeks later I returned with my staging crew and the changes were extraordinary. We furnished and accessorized the living room, dining room, kitchen, master bedroom, family room, 2 smaller bedrooms and 2 baths.

Before and after shots of of the living room and family room are posted below.

The end result was a list price $12,000 more than originally planned, and an accepted offer of 101% of ask within 48 hours. $3000 spent on upgrades and staging, and 3 weeks of work reaped HUGE rewards for the sellers, not to mention the realtor who avoided the expense of advertising and didn't host a single open house.

It's been said before, but I'll say it again... STAGING WORKS!

My name is Christine Bird, and my company is New View Home Staging located in Kitchener-Waterloo. We're here to help.

www.newviewhomestaging.ca