Saturday, July 31, 2010

Daily Tweet Breakdown

Daily Tweet Rehash

You know you need a Home Stager if...

Your 'style' looks anything like homes in TV reruns from the '60's, '70's, '80's.....

This should be self-explanatory, but by the homes I've seen and the listing pictures I see......well, it's not. Your decor really needs to match, first of all the current style, and secondly, your price point. That may be going out on a limb, but I have seen more million dollar homes with trailer-park furnishings. If your home is listed above 3-4 hundred thousand dollars, then I say it should look that way. When I see older furnishings inside a home listed above $300,000.00, the home just doesn't feel like it's worth it. Dated furnishings can ruin a sale, if you ask me.

Now, I'm not advocating buying new furnishings. But, I am asking to update what you can with slip covers, fresh bedding, etc. And I am definitely advocating removing all the spoon collections, wooden magazine holders, lacy valences, and all items that look like they belong in your grandmothers house.... Less is more. I see this in a lot of homes owned by elderly folks. When we are trying to help elderly people sell their homes, it's really best to bring in that third party (read, Home Stager). Stagers can make those delicate suggestions that the listing agent might be wary of making. Now, don't think just the elderly folks are the only ones with dated furnishings, because they are not... Many, many other homes suffer the same fate.

Buying a home is an emotional purchase. How can you connect with a home when it is looking dated and frumpy? Most buyers are buying up, right? Well, that high-end listing doesn't look like a step up if it's looking like grandma's house....! Just saying.

 

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Coeur d'Alene how do your pictures hang?

Daily Tweet Rehash

Home staging tip - The middle of your hanging wall art should be 60" - 70" from the floor.

That is a general rule of thumb in the industry. I personally feel that 70" is a wee bit high. I tend to keep the middle of all my pictures at about 60" - 65" from the floor, I feel that is a better height.
Having said all that, I tend to bend rules when it come to the size or shape of my wall art. Another rule bender is when hanging anything behind a couch that is up against a wall. If your picture is not very tall, hanging it at the 60" mark might be too high. You don't want a lot of wall space between the top of your couch and the bottom of your picture. It's like having "high-water" pants.....You know, waiting for a flood....
If any of your art is tall and narrow, then try the rule out and if it doesn't feel right, move your art accordingly. And remember, when selling your house, take down all your family pictures. Only neutral artwork should be displayed. Nothing too religious, ethnic, culture specific, ultra modern, or "travel" art (art bought while on vacation - it tends to be too taste specific). A good question to ask yourself about your art, "would I see this same art in a nice, chic hotel?". If your answer is "no", then you might need to think about updating....

Monday, July 19, 2010

Coeur d'Alene homes with stuffed animals?

Daily Tweet Rehash

You know you need a home stager if....your master bedroom is displaying stuffed animals as decorative accessories....

REALLY? Yes, REALLY!
I have been seeing stuffed animals in mature, adult bedrooms being used as accessories. Okay people, as soon as you moved out of mom's house your stuffed animals were supposed to be left behind. Along with the gun safes that I have mentioned in previous blogs, the stuffed animals are not considered decorative items. Guns and stuffed animals are like this yin-yang thing, but it doesn't work while trying to sell a house. Depersonalize your master bedroom.
Buyers are trying to see themselves in your house. How can they if YOU are written all over it? Highly personal items, like stuffed animals, should be the first items pre-packed when selling a house. When your buyers walk into your master bedroom, they shouldn't feel uncomfortable, as if they are intruding on your privacy. If they do feel that way, you can guarantee they won't be making an offer on your house.
If anything in your master bedroom identifies your emotional personality in that space, that is exactly what needs pre-packing. Home Stagers are experts in identifying exactly those "taste specific" or "personality specific" items that need to be packed up.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Dated wall-paper Coeur d'Alene?

Daily Tweet Rehash

Home staging tip-Have wallpaper? Remove it - most buyers don't want a project to do upon move in.

If you have unfinished "honey-do's" your buyers will either a.) be turned off, b.) over estimate the cost of repairs, c.) undercut your listing price, or d.) none of the above because it's just too much work.

Most buyers are looking to make a lifestyle upgrade. With that in mind your house shouldn't feel like a step backwards for them. Update what you can and finish all those projects that you never got around to while you were living in your house.

Buying a home is a major life transition. Most buyers don't want to make a huge move and then have to make repairs or repaint before they can get settled in and enjoy their new purchase. How many times have you made a big purchase and then had to fix it before you could use it? When you bought that new 72" big screen TV did you have to paint, patch, or repair it first? Did you have to reupholster your new car before you could drive it?

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Daily Tweet Rehash

Coeur d'Alene...you know you need a home stager if...you use a gun safe as a TV stand IN YOUR BEDROOM..

Not sure if it's just our location in the Northwest..... But gun racks, gun cases, or gun safes are not considered furniture. Please do not use them as such! The first time I saw a gun safe being used as a TV stand, in the bedroom, I thought it was an anomaly. Guess not so much! Thus, my need to Tweet and write a follow up Blog about the subject.
I realize hunting is big up here. But let's remember that the master bedroom, in particular, is supposed to be a retreat. Remove any distractions in the master bedroom. Make sure your bedroom sets the mood for it's intended use. I go so far as asking all my stagings to remove TV's from the master bedroom as well.
Buyers want to 'buy in' to a certain life style that needs to be in effect in your house. Most buyers are moving up with a new purchase. Make your home appear as the next step up for them.
Do your spouse a favor and get the guns out of the bedroom!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Daily Tweet rehash

Here's the daily Tweet rehash.

Coeur d'Alene-home staging tip-after that Open House, follow up w/ your Realtor to hear about comments made about your house.

Do you really want to know? YES! it's the only way you are going to get an idea of what your market is looking for.
Did they love the granite counter-tops? Will you be leaving the stainless refrigerator?
On the flip side....they might not have liked the wall color you have chosen in the kitchen. Or they think the house needs too many fixes.
Okay, deep breath. Now you have something to work on before your next Open House, right? And you thought you were finished getting the house ready for the market before you went live with a Realtor....
Now you can take those comments and chose to do something about them to help your listing or you can wait for a lower offer to come in.
If your comments from the Open House (or the Listing Walk-through) include updating or fixing ANYTHING, I recommend doing whatever you possibly (read, financially) can. Important factoid - buyers WILL overestimate the cost of repairs. What does that mean to you...? An offer below your asking price. If you are not okay with that, then stop reading this blog and get to work on those fixes!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! I hope to inform and educate you on all things Staging while blogging in an fun and informal way. I hope you enjoy yourself and learn a little along the way - I know I will.
I am passionate about home staging and hope that my passion will translate to your success in selling your house or helping your listing sell faster than the competition. I stage occupied and vacant homes in and around the Coeur d'Alene, Idaho area. Call or email me and I would love to talk staging with you!
Or visit my website www.cdastager.jimdo.com
Betsy Shellman
208.771.0661
cdahomestagingsvcs@yahoo.com