Living in Contra Costa County

Staged on Monday ~ SOLD on Friday!  Home Staging Success in Portland OR

As a home staging company based in Portland Oregon, we love helping our clients sell their homes faster!  This week we staged a home in Happy Valley Oregon that had been on the market for two months;  the listing agent told us that buyers weren't excited about the property, even though they'd had a good number of showings.  She said that buyers often commented that they didn't like the backyard.   As professional home stagers, we knew that by making the house itself look amazing, buyers wouldn't be as worried about the un-landscaped backyard.

Room Solutions Staging staged this home on Monday and provided new photos for the online listing;  and by Friday the house was under contract!  The listing agent told me that after our staging, potential buyers no longer even mentioned that backyard! 

Here are some Before & After photos that illustrate how simple staging can help buyers see themselves living in the home ... it's no longer an empty,  colorless shell when it's transformed by Portland home staging experts.

First impressions Count! Living room Before

After staging, buyers can now imagine enjoying this room!

The Dining room is empty & lifeless Before

Simple staging makes it feels like a great place to entertain family & friends!

The Family Room Before cut off traffic flow

Staging opened up the space and welcomes buyers in!

The Master Bedroom Before was empty & cold

But Staging brought the bedroom to life and showed its purpose to buyers

Home sellers and their listing agents who add home staging to their marketing tools are discovering that it's often the  "secret ingredient" that helps homes sell faster.  Be sure to make YOUR property stand out in the sea of homes for sale in your area -- call your local home staging experts!

~ Staging and Photos by Room Solutions Staging ~

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Room Solutions Staging offers home staging services to Portland Oregon homeowners, real estate agents, builders, banks,  and investors to prepare homes for the market.  Our home staging clients love our customer service and our home staging statistics!  Our home staging services in the Portland OR metro area include consultations, staging for both vacant and lived-in homes, and interior restyling service.  For a free home staging proposal, please contact us @ 503-246-1800.

There is no shortage of opinions on what sells a house.

Before we start let's level the playing field. Let's say all houses you look at are in a price range that is adequate, nothing completely out of whack. Pricing of course plays a part but I have too often seen other components being much more important to fall in love.

Location is paramount but I see very often that 2 or 3 locations in Corvallis, OR can be of equal benefit to a client and therefore, again, other features are more important.

These 10 points (in no particular order) in my opinion sell a house:

1.     Light: When people enter a house and it is bright, they love it. If it has big windows that offset even a dreary Oregon winter day, that is a winner

2.     Cleanliness and order: A house that is well cared for and tidy, uncluttered, sells much better than hastily put together piles of paper and unruly shoes. Order signals a house has been well cared for.

3.     Staging: that can be done with or without seller's things and furniture, important is that furniture is well placed, not overwhelming a room, giving the buyer space to imagine his own things in the room. A fresh approach, slipcovers etc. avoid a dated impression.

4.     Neutral smell: If a house smells of the scent the seller loves, it easily backfires. Curry, fish and unmade bed smell do not do well either.

5.     Maintenance: dirt and rot visibly in the face when you enter, drippping gutters, a mossed over roof and dirty windows make the impression the seller does not care, so what else can lure...

6.     Landscaping: the grass is mowed, leafs are raked, flowers are in full bloom and not past their prime, trees are pruned, the water hose tidily hung up... that is a winning concept. And in winter, a groomed impression can still be easily achieved.

7.     Updated kitchen: With comparably small investments you can update your kitchen and make it shine. Consider color, countertops and lighting.

8.     Updated baths: a new backsplash, a fresh wall color and updated fixtures are a small investment and go a long way

9.     Updated floors and fixtures: new carpet or even better new wood (laminate not so much!!) and new tile/vinyl are winners. The chandelier from the 80s in the entrance should go! Show your buyer that the house was updated periodically and is not stuck in the building decade!

10. Purpose and floor plan: If you have spaces in your house that people are left to interpret their uses, show purpose, a desk, a Fussball Table, a reading nook up, eliminate "dead" space. Master suites or at least a bedroom on the first floor, a separate guest area, a family room and living room, all these can make or break a sale.

It is said that in the first 90 seconds a buyer falls in love. That might be. But my experience is that people narrow choices down and the second time they go, rationality takes over and the above listed points take over.

Off to a showing now...

 

 

Annette Sievert, Broker

Coldwell Banker Valley Brokers

541 207 5551

asievert@valleybrokers.com

The Flufftastic Fairy Says: Make the Most of Your Small Space - the Dining Room

We live in a small house, just over 1000 sq feet. It was built in the '40's and has a lot of character, that's why we love it!

Unfortunately there isn't always room for all my stuff...

Many people have the same problem and here are some ideas to make your small Dining Room more efficient! (Here are some tips for your Living Room & Kitchen)

Paint the walls and ceiling in the same shade, that way corners and boundaries disappear. Lighter shades are better for small rooms, but dining rooms can be intimate and moody with a darker shade. As long as everything (fabric, drapes, paint) is in the same tones the room will still appear larger. Midtone paints tend to change colours with the light creating different moods. If you use darker colours, don't paint trim white, it is an eyestopper and you want the eye to keep traveling to make the room seem larger.

Find a cushioned, banquet or bench, with storage, so the table can slide over it when not in use. Benches provide more seating and banquets can provide a lounging area.

Use glass topped tables if possible to let light flow and the space look larger.

The table is the centerpiece of the room, try to find a round or oval table with leaves that store under or have a drop leaf.

 

 

 

If you are changing flooring, lay it at an angle or place it parallel to the shortest wall to lengthen its appearance. Get an area rug that covers most of the floor. Large area rugs make the room look larger and won't catch the legs of chairs when pulled out.

Use chairs with a lower back and no arms. That way there is nothing to stop the eye.

Use one piece of large art as a focal point instead of a cluster of small prints. Lots of small pictures give a cluttered appearance.

Replace solid doors with glass paned or sliding doors to let in the light! More light makes a room look larger.

Pass-throughs adjoining kitchen walls can become a serving place if topped with granite.

Depending on the view, use draperies to either enhance (same shade as walls) or distract (bold colours, eye stopping).

Buffets are always a good idea for storage and display, or built ins painted the same colour as the wall will always add storage but not shorten the room. When adding accessories, make sure the wall behind can still be seen, then the room won't appear shorter. If you want to draw the eye to the back, line it with a bold wall paper!

Add a mirror, they will always make a room look larger!

Stripes also work on making a room longer (horizontal) or taller (vertical). Paintable wall paper can be used so you have tone one tone and just add texture to the room.

A crystal chandelier will add light but keep sight lines flowing. A fixture with a shade will block sight lines. narrow pendant lighting also keeps the flow.

A beautifully set table will draw the eye to the center of the room, not the tight quarters.

To find out where you can find these items, scroll over the pictures!

 

The Flufftastic Fairy Says:

Hope you're having a good day!

Peg Barcelo-Jackson

Home Staging in Edmonton, Alberta!

Call me for all of your Creative Home Staging needs in the Edmonton area!

780.710.6369

Fluff My House!

Home Staging Inc.

Edmonton, AB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 10 of My Fave posts:

The Flufftastic Fairy Says: Make the Most of Your Small Space - the Dining Room

The Flufftastic Fairy Says: Make the Most of Your Small Space - the Master Bed Room

The Flufftastic Fairy Says: Make the Most of Your Small Space - the Kitchen

The Flufftastic Fairy Says: Make the Most of Your Small Space - the Living Room

A Red Letter Day! Thanx to Active Rain, Fluff My House! is on the first page of Google!

My First Trade Show Experience! Positive Networking in Many Ways!

I Believe in the Magic of the Rain!

Attitude is Everything!

Are You Worthy of Love and Belonging? The Power of Vulnerability...

Understanding Human Behaviour,What Are Your Clients Really Feeling and Why?

 

Featured Posts! (It can happen...)

The Flufftastic Fairy Says: Make the Most of Your Small Space - the Dining Room

What's the Deal With Stik.com?

I Believe in the Magic of the Rain

Unlike the 7 Words From George Carlin,These Are 7 Words You Can Use!

Are You A Crayon, Or An Aspirin? Defining Your USP!

Ha! I got a gig from a presentation! AR people lit a fire...

 

 

 

 

 

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Selling a Brentwood Ca Home

When Selling a Home staging can be a powerful too. This is the first post (or at least the best) I have seen on curb appeal.  Well if you are considering Selling a Home read this post and let me know what you think.

For more information on the Selling a Home in Brentwood Ca or beyond and a Free Home Evaluation go to Home Point Real Estate.

 

The Importance of Curb Appeal…

This is one of the most important aspects in Selling your home.  You must draw that prospective buyer out of their car, unto the sidewalk, and up to the front door.  Landscaping, color, walkway, driveway, the neighbors… all give a feel to the home.  A potential buyer will look for the home that views pristine from the street to the doorknob on the front door.

There may be a good reason your home is taking longer to sell than average. What is the first thing you notice when you drive up to the home?  How does the outside of the home make you feel?  Do you want to get out and see it? How does it look compared to the other homes in the neighborhood?  These are questions you need to ask yourself when preparing your own home for sale.  Can you put on the “potential buyer” glasses and really look at your home.

Well, you can’t change the neighborhood, and you probably didn’t budget for a complete front yard makeover.  So what can you do?

***View your home from across the street or as far away as you can.  Take a look from at least 3 angles such as the right side, front and center and left side. Now take a really good look at it.

#1. Can you see it?  If you can’t see your home, you can’t sell it. Trees and shrubs are great and should be trimmed so that you can still see the house.  I usually suggest trimming trees up to the rain gutter line or the top of the highest window.  Shrubs should follow a same line as the bottom of a window trim. If a lot of trimming needs to be done, do it several weeks before you put the home on the market so that the plants have a chance to recover.

#2. How is the paint?  Is it a neutral color?  Does it flow with the rest of the homes on the street?  Painting your house bright Blue will attract attention for sure, but not when you are selling.  Remember, with potential buyers… neutral is still key.  Start with the trim if you can’t paint the whole house. Focus especially around the front door and front porch. It can also be as simple as painting the front door a different color.  That can be a quick and easy fix.

#3. How is the driveway?  Does it have cracks, oil stains, garbage cans?  Your driveway is the largest hard scape area near the home, the material and look of the driveway and garage have a huge impact on curb appeal.  Clean it up and clear everything off.

#4.  How is the landscaping? Make sure that the grass is well watered, edged, and mowed. Flowers, flowers and more flowers. These little pops of color make us happy and cheerful.  Add some pots near the garage and plant away. Rebark to also add a fresh feel.

#5.  Can prospective buyers find your front door? Is your walkway to the front door defined?  Does it lead buyers to the front door or front entry? Make sure people know where your front door is, and then work on drawing people toward the front door. If the front entry area has a patio, create an outdoor sitting area to show another living space.

Curb appeal is really only part of the whole package, which means the small details are as important as the big picture. A manicured front yard means a manicured home in a buyer’s eyes.

Finally, don’t forget to tidy up. Remove the garbage cans, hide the hose, pick up the paper, etc. Curb appeal means a place that looks neat and clean, the kind of place you’d like to live.

Now… how does the inside look? Call a professional home stager today for a consultation on curb appeal or for staging your entire property.

Lori Kim Polk is owner of Premiere Home Staging, a full service Home Staging and Design Corporation and nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry located in Roseville, California.  Lori Kim has a warehouse full of unique accessories and quality artwork to better serve their growing list of clients in the Sacramento areas. She has been featured in Staging Standard Magazine, Sacramento Magazine, Sacramento News and Review, KFBK radio and SMUD's Home of the Future.  Proudly serving realtors, homeowners and investors in Granite Bay, Rocklin, Lincoln, Sacramento, and surrounding areas with exceptional home staging.

Lori Kim has helped stage and market hundreds of homes in the Sacramento, Roseville, and surrounding areas since 2005. Our stats say it all.....current DOM with our staging is 18 days.  Call us today at 916-300-0402  for our premier services. "We are changing this market one home at a time!"

  

You may reblog this material if reblog tab is showing. Copywrite 2011 Premiere Home Staging

I specialize in vacant home staging. I own a warehouse full of inventory and arsenal of staging accents. Some of the most valuable ones are my accessories-quality silk plants, dried hydrangeas, and other accents that warm up the house in the cold darker months. A few well placed plants in a clean, well designed space go a long way.

Simple, tall plant in an uncluttered sunporch in winter.

Centerpieces for a formal dining room-silk red leaves (rather than flowers) add color and warmth.

In my humble opinion, if you have to use fake flowers, autumn colored hydrangeas are great.

Very simple red flowers.

Yes, all of the these listings were vacant, but the same approach can be tried in occupied listings.

Did I mention ALL of these listings pictured above are SOLD? Yep, here in Portland Maine....sold.

You may find yourself reading this blog because someone, either a real estate agent, or a friend has suggested you should stage your home.

The question is who should stage my home, a home stager? What is a Home Stager?

Good question and what distinguishes one home stager from another?  In fact with the popularity of the buzz words “home staging” it would appear everyone is staging homes today, home owners, real estate agents, etc.

In a nutshell, a home stager specialized in preparing residences for sale in the real estate market in such a way that your home appeals to the largest number of potential buyers which results in selling your home more quickly and for more money.

So how do you shop for a home stager?

1.       The first thing you should ask to see is a portfolio.  This will include a number of different pictures, including both before and after of different types of homes they have staged and their different successes.

2.       References or referrals are also a good sign and so are testimonials.  If someone suggests a particular home stager that is a good sign they have experienced a particular level of success with this individual.

3.       You should ask a potential home stager to discuss what home staging is and what to expect. It is important if someone is going to stage your home you should understand what they’re doing and why without going into too much detail.  A home stager will be able to give you an idea of how this transformation will impact you and your family if any and what the cost will be.

4.    It is important at this time to let a home stager know if you have any budget restrictions. Home stagers will make recommendations from adding a few pillows and pictures to painting, changing door hardware, changing your floor, etc.  The average home stager cannot quote and should not quote on behalf of a contract professional but the home stager needs to know if there are budget limitations.  In Toronto the average price a home owner is prepared to spend when getting their home ready for market is 1% of their list price.

5.       Time restrictions are also an important need to know.    If you are looking to have your home ready for pictures tomorrow you should let your home stager know that.  This will dictate what can be done with your home.

6.       Since the home staging industry is a fairly unregulated business, there are organizations that some home stagers will align themselves with such as RESA (Real Estate Staging Association).    This organization acts as a governing body of ethics among the home staging community.  It is not mandatory and on that note, I know home stagers who are excellent and not members of RESA, but if this is something that is important to you, this may be a question to ask.

7.       An important question to ask is if the home stager has any design knowledge, such as education or previous experience.    There are courses that individuals can take to get certification and often decorators and interior designers will get certification. They are private and independently operated. Ideally if you are looking to hire a home stager and having certification would be beneficial, but not a must.

8.      “The person who quotes the cheapest price is the home stager I’m going to hire.”    Buyer beware, you get what you pay for.  Remember the saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

I hope this was helpful and best wishes with the sale of your home, I hope it’s profitable.

For more information on home staging in the Toronto area or furniture and accessory rental, contact me. 

Rachel

  

 

 

 

80 – 2700 Dufferin St.

Toronto, ON M6B 4J3

416 256-0088

www.cmstaging.com

www.cmfurniturerental.com

 

Why stage a vacant house?  Many people think it’s a waste of money…..just leave it empty so that the buyers can see how spacious it is, etc.  But recent statistics show that vacant homes do not sell as fast as furnished/staged homes and they usually sell for less money.  Why is that?  There are a few reasons:

1.        I believe it is mainly because the vast majority of people buy a house on emotion. People like to buy a home not a house. They want to get that ‘Ahhh, I could so live here!” feeling. It is difficult, if not impossible, to get that homey, inviting feeling if the house is vacant.

    

 2.       In a vacant home, most  buyers have difficulty determining the actual size of the room and what would fit in it.  They think, “Will my sofa fit here”?  or “Can I fit my large dining table here”? Take all doubt from their minds….show them!  In reality small rooms look larger when properly furnished.

       

 3.        The first impression 94% of buyers will get of any house is from the MLS/online photos.  If the photos simply show a vacant room, it sure won’t stand out against a similar home that is beautifully furnished/staged.

      

 4.       The majority of people cannot envision themselves living in a vacant house.  They cannot imagine  their family sitting down to dinner at a non-exsistent table, or cuddled up on the couch watching TV if there is no couch and no TV.

         

 5.       A vacant house puts equal emphasis on the positives and negatives of a house.  Yes, buyers may be able to clearly see the architecture of a vacant house but they will also clearly see an oddly placed window/door, the not-so-neutral paint colors, etc. How much better to emphasize the architecture with beautiful staging techniques and play down the oddly placed window/door by showing how to actually place furniture and accessories to make it work.  Even odd paint colors can work so much better when incorporated into the overall plan of the stager.

        

        Cathy Tarrant, owner of HOMESTYLING BY CATHY, is a certified home stager, re-designer and interior decorator.  She specializes in staging vacant homes in and around the most easterly city in North America, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.   

HOMESTYLING BY CATHY

(709) 341-7115

www.homestylingbycathy.com

 What Could Be Better Than Home Staging "Before & After" Photos From New Hampshire?

Before & After photos are crucial to a Home Staging business.  They provide the "aha moment" that most sellers and many Realtors need to better understand what a professional home staging transformation can do for their property.

 

Before & After photos show a seller the difference between poor MLS photos and MLS photos that appeal to buyers who are searching the web.

 

Before & After photos show a homeowner who is frustrated with a challenging floor plan that help is available.

 

Before & After photos show a Realtor that all listings have potential for greatness.

 

Before & After photos are what we use to showcase our work...to prove ourselves as professionals...to justify our services.

 

Before & After photos are just plain FUN to look at!  Who doesn't love a good make-over? 

So back to the original question....

what could be better than home staging photos from New Hampshire?

How about home staging photos from all over the United States and Canada!

Just CLICK on these pictures of my fellow stagers to view their FABULOUS portfolios... 

 

 Roger Mucci  Kirtland Hills, OH

 

Kathy Streib  Palm Beach County, South Florida

 

Peg Barcelo-Jackson  Edmonton, AB

 

Janice Ankrett  Burlington, Ontario 

 

Laura S. Baker  Jefferson, WI

 

Ana Hitzel  Inland Empire and Palm Springs, CA

Sally Weatherley  Vancouver, BC

Shar Sitter  Minneapolis/ St. Paul, MN 

Ginger Foust  Oakhurst, CA

Judy Klem  Fairfield/New Haven counties, CT

Maureen Bray  Portland, OR 

Margaret Oscilia  Salem, Oregon

Anna Dovger  The Woodlands, TX

Birgit Anich  Fairfield county , CT

Cindy Bryant  Houston TX

Valerie Sagheddu  Poconos, PA

Karen Otto  Plano, TX

Donna Schoby  Fayetteville, AR

Kathy Nielsen   Atlanta, GA

 

Heather Cook  Kitchener Waterloo, ON

Michelle Molinari  Lafayette, LA

Julia Maher   Fairfield & New Haven Counties, CT

Cathy Lee  Danville, CA

Karen Dembsky  Atlanta, GA

Patsy Overton  Duluth, GA

Elaine Manes Gage  Lakewood, CO

Joanna Cohlan  Chappaqua, NY

Kathy Burke  Danville, CA

Connie Tebyani  Los Angeles and Ventura County, CA

I had some trouble with the following profile pics, but want to include these stagers:

Melissa Marro      Marianne Sweet 

    Jackson West      Michelle Finnamore      

Gary and Linda Barnett   

You can find more transformations at the group  Staging "Before" & "After" Pictures

______________________________________________________________________________

 

    

For More Information Visit My Website

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth   Rye   Greenland   Hampton   North Hampton   Exeter   Dover   Stratham  

603.661.8524

                                   

 

Inexpensive Kitchen Updates for Low End Homes - Home Staging Minneapolis MN

Yesterday I wrote a post "Is Home Staging A Good Investment for Low End Homes?". My focus was a home that was going to be listed for $80,000 including a brand new garage just being built. That price is well below the median price of a home in the Minneapolis Metro area.

So, is home staging a good return on the investment for low end homes?

Yesterday's post showed the living room and dining room as well as the selling results. Today I wanted to show you the difference specifically in the kitchen.

Remember this fact...."KITCHENS SELL HOMES".

That statement isn't qualified by "unless the home is under $200K" or whatever number you set. It applies to ALL homes regardless of price.

So in this tiny low end home in a tough area of Minneapolis, it has a further detriment in that it's front door opens right smack into the kitchen. See the front door on the right? Awkward? Aahhh....yes.

 

 

So, what do you need to do? Make the buyer's jaw drop and not have them thinking about the awkwardness.

I met with the investor and here were my suggestions:

1) Modernize - Replace the kitchen cabinet hardware with oil rubbed bronze hardware available at big box stores for 10 for $14.99. Install a ready-made composite wood blind on the window again from a big box store.

2) Create Drama - Find clearanced-out or discontinued Mosaic tile at a tile shop or big box store and install a back splash. Sheets of 12"x12" tile can sometimes be found for a couple bucks.

3) Get Rid of Wasted Space - There is a huge dance floor in the middle of this kitchen which is lacking counter space. My advice, pick up a portable island creating more counter space as well as a modern look. The black and stainless steel island shown below was found at Big Lots for $119,

4) Fun - Add a little fun for very little money by putting a glass pendant light above the sink again found at big box stores for under $20.

THE RESULTS:

 

 Note: no new appliances, no new cabinets.

Do you have a low end investment property, home or listing and think it's not worth putting in a little money or sweat equity? I would think again.

Take a look at the living room and dining room pictures on my Previous Post. This home sold in Four Days.

For professional advice on all price level homes call a Professional Certified Home Stager.

 

Originally posted at: Rooms With Style Blog

 

Premier Home Staging and Redesign Firm Serving the Entire Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN Area

Shar Sitter Website: http://roomswithstyle.com/ Portfolio:  Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis, MN Email: Shar@roomswithstyle.com Although each house is unique there is one common goal...using our expertise to get your home sold as quickly as possible.

   

Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder, Except When You Are Selling Your Home

It is sad but true, Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder, Except When You Are Selling Your Home. Here is why; there are some universal truths when you are trying to appeal to a large number of people and you must be mindful of this if you want to sell your home and pocket some serious cash.

In no particular order here are some pitfalls to avoid:
1) While you may love your porcelain dog collection, your target buyer may not.
2) That yard art you lovingly placed, will look like clutter to your target buyer.
3) The wall paper you meticulously chose 12 years ago will appear dated to your target buyer.
4) The family pet who resides in your home will give off a doggy smell to your target buyer. We dog lovers become habituated to their smell.
5) The spare bedroom used to house your "extras" for jewelry making, scrap booking, etc. will detract from the fact you have a nice sized spare bedroom. Your buyer will only see a home with a junk bedroom.
6) The overgrown shrubs you think add character to your exterior will make your home appear dowdy and unkempt to your target buyer.
7) Toys strewn across your living area will detract from your great floor plan and turn off your target buyer.
8) Tons of family photos may be heart warming to you but distracting to your target buyer.
9) A refrigerator plastered with magnets, beloved artwork from your child and schedules will detract from the amenities your kitchen has to offer your target buyer.
10) The garage used to house "the beloved hot rod" that is a work in progress with grease stains on the concrete, will send the buyers right out the front door.

Selling your home is a small snapshot in time and keeping your home in tip top, non-cluttered shape will garner you a higher asking price when your buyer comes a knocking. While it may be inconvenient to "live" a certain way for this time period, you will thank your Real Estate Professional at the closing table. So when your Real Estate Professional says; Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder, Except When You Are Selling Your Home, you now know why.