Home staging is not a new term, but for many homeowners and real estate agents the concept of professional home staging is shedding new light on how to promote a home in the real estate marketplace. In past years, homeowners were left to their own discretion as far as preparing for home showings. Though they could occasionally rely on an agent for instructions, more often than not real estate agents were just as perplexed at working out the details as the homeowner.

While agents are experts in the field of selling and closing, many are not design savvy. Agents usually know exactly what factors can help sell a home. It’s just not always easy to get a home into selling condition in a timely manner without some sort of experienced assistance.

Professional home stagers are practiced in the art of preparing a home for resale. They work with the “flow” of a home, eliminate clutter, edit and arrange furniture, and even assist in enhancing curb-appeal. With the aid of a professional home stager, your house can make a notable first impression on potential homebuyers.

 

First Impressions

As the real estate industry often stresses, the first impression is the key factor in selling your home. Typically, a potential buyer has made up their mind ten seconds after they step in the front door. They were already forming an opinion as they pulled into your driveway! That really doesn’t leave too much room for fault.

To achieve the greatest possible outcome a home should always be presented at its best the first time around.

Finding a Professional

You find and select a professional home stager much like you would find any other professional service. Ask around and get referrals. Check with your real estate agent. A number of larger real estate companies offer access to a listing of professional home services in your area. These individuals and companies have often already been pre-screened by the real estate agencies or their agents.

Agent Participation

In some instances, it makes sense for a real estate agent to contribute to the cost of professionally staging a home. As a real estate agent, says Tony Cirelli, a Re/Max agent, I have to look at profit margins. I analyze current market trends and what will be spent on advertising before dropping any cash into staging.

Pat Cirelli, Tony’s wife and partner, agrees. For the most part, an agent should be able to determine if a home is in need of this type of service, and if it would be of benefit or not. If you know it would be in the homeowner’s best interest and if you know that something will need to be done before the home is listed, it might be wise to set aside an amount of your marketing budget for staging. If it’s a reasonable fee, it is usually a worthwhile investment. It could certainly make all the difference in your showing.

© Copyright 2002 by RealEstate ABC - may not be reprinted without permission

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All of you in those much talked about real estate bubble markets can just skip this article. Go read the local paper (which will probably carry at least one article about housing bubble markets) or watch The Apprentice. Even reading about staging a home is a waste of your time. By all accounts, all you have to do to sell your home is open the door and stand there holding a bushel basket to collect the purchase offers.

But only a small part of the nation really has housing bubble status. There are large parts of the country where home prices have not appreciated much at all during this frantic time and other areas where prices have been rising at a measured pace but homes still average several months to find a buyer.

In areas where slower real estate sales equal a large inventory of homes in every price range it is still critical to put the best face on a house. Sometimes that is called making the beds, but real estate agents generally refer to it as "home staging."

Some professional stagers keep their basement or garage filled with props - everything from antique furniture to art to silk flowers. Others have that gift that allows them to walk into a room, look around and transform it with a few deft steps - moving furniture, clearing off the coffee table, rearranging the potted plants.

If your agent seems unwilling or unable to assist you in staging your home or if you plan to sell your own house, FSBO (for sale by owner), here are some tips and suggestions, starting with the cheapest and least labor intensive and working up to what might be prohibitive on either or both counts. But then, if you are clever, you might find a way to do even the most spectacular staging on the cheap. Tips on how to fix your house up to sell.

1. Open the drapes and blinds. Sunshine is the world's best decorator and nothing is more depressing than walking into a home where shades, curtains and drapes are closed. The buyer is likely not a character out of Wind in the Willows and will leave with the impression of a dark and claustrophobic property.

2. Wash the windows - inside and out. For the same reasons as above, no other small improvement will give you more bang than this.

3. Clean up the yard. You've heard of curb appeal? How about unseen from the curb? Cut back overgrown shrubs, particularly those that obscure windows or make it difficult to get to the front door. Mow the grass. Rake or pick up downed leaves and branches. Put away lawn tools, kids' toys and discard or store any outdoor furniture that is rusty or ragged. If season and funds permit, put down some colorful annuals or put a few nicely planted containers on or near the front porch.

4. Clutter Control. You have heard this a thousand times, but de-cluttering and organizing a home is very important and not just to make the place look neat. A cluttered home looks smaller and less airy. All of the pictures, knick-knacks, even an exquisite art collection are distracting to many buyers. The agent is trying to point out the gas log in the fireplace and the customer is studying your collection of old ink wells on the mantle.

Also, you want to make room for the buyers own things. If the living room is jammed with furniture the buyer might not be able to figure out where his own stuff will go. It does no good to explain that your stuff won't be there when he moves in. Some people just can't visualize. If you can't get rid of some of your home clutter- house plants for example - round them up and make a single display rather than have them in dribs and drabs through a room or the whole house. The rule of thumb: count every item in each room - furniture, books, vases, old birthday cards propped up on the shelf - and pack up or eliminate 50% of them. Then, if there is time and energy, get rid of 50% of the remainder.

5. Clean your kitchen and bathrooms - Scrub like crazy, particularly the kitchen and bath(s). The kitchen may be old but it can still sparkle. Clean the stovetop with a good degreaser and all countertops with whatever it takes to remove stains and discoloration. Wash the front of all cupboards and appliances and keep the floor swept and scrubbed for the life of the listing. De-clutter here too, especially the refrigerator door (death by a thousand knives for the inventor of the refrigerator magnet). Ditch countertop appliances, canisters, etc and keep cupboard doors and drawers closed if your hand is not actually in them. It is critical that the bathrooms sparkle. Old bathrooms can be charming and a new shower curtain or fresh flowers on the counter may be all you need. Put out your best towels and, if you have young children, please enforce the flush rule. Clean bathrooms are a must.

Now we are getting into the more expensive staging suggestions, but the next few things will really help you prepare your house to sell if they are needed and you can afford to do them.

6. Refinish hardwood floors. These are a major selling point when selling your home and sometimes a home's most compelling feature. Often they don't need complete refinishing, just to be roughed up and polyurethaned to obtain that killer shine. If yours are looking tough give a couple of pros a call and check out the price.

7. Paint / Repaint Your Home. If your taste in decorating is a bit, shall we say strong, it may pay you to hire a home staging professional to tone down some of the more dramatic color rooms. Many people love dark red dining rooms, but none of them may be looking at your house. Neutral colors are best for marketing your home for sale.

8. Buy, borrow or rent what you need. If your furniture shows the effect of raising five kids or if pets have ruined the rugs and upholstery think about storing or getting rid of your existing furniture and finding just enough more attractive stuff to get by. If your nest is empty and the kids' rooms are beaten up, throw out the furniture, give the walls a quick wash coat of paint .

If your house has a lot of competition in the market you need to measure up. Think of it as show biz.

All Content Copyright © 2003 - 2006 Brown House Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Let`s face it; many real estate markets are experiencing a slow down the likes of which we haven`t seen for years. For a home seller this means setting the price right. But equally important is the concept of home staging. The first step is back to the basics: unclutter, fix and clean!
But what is the second step and third? In the Twin Cities market buyers have on average 25-50 homes that will meet their needs. A typical showing day with buyers will mean visiting 7-10 homes and buyers do get confused.
As the day wears on, buyers start to distinguish homes by their characteristics. Some descriptions are not flattering. Recently I was with a buyer who was remembering homes as "the lizard home" and " one with the Nasty bathroom". That day there was also the house with "neon green room" and the ever, unpopular "retro house with the orange counters". So what can you do to make your home memorable for the right reasons?

Paint Properly

If adjoining rooms are painted in the same color palette, hour home will appear more spacious. Don`t take short cuts. If you don`t have time or patience to properly tape trim and ceilings, hire a professional. Painted woodwork and ceilings are noticed and sometimes worse than not painting at all.

Go Luxurious

Invest in accessories to accent your home. Big, fluffy coordinating bathroom towels and mats warm up the bath. Fresh flowers on a beautifully set dining room table look inviting. A color-coordinated rug in the foyer will make a wonderful first impression.

Cush-up the Carpeting

Don`t replace the carpet on the cheap. Invest in the BEST padding you can find. Buyers will in most cases have to remove their shoes when walking through your home. In their stocking-feet, they will feel the difference!

Make it Match

Slipcovers are a quick and inexpensive way to update and coordinate mismatched furniture. Put away the old blankets and cozy up the room with a beautiful accent throw and a few pillows.

Empty the Closets

Make certain the closets are neat and organized. Replace and paint any shelves and organizers that appear dingy.

Replace Handles, Knobs and Switchplates

Inexpensive yes; but often overlooked. Handles that are outdated or missing and switchplates that are dirty or worn send the wrong impression. If they are replaced to look new and shiny, it shows that you pay attention to the details of your home.

Pack the Personal Items

The Elvis collection has to be packed! Likewise, take down the annual school photos of Junior from age 5 to 18. Use the "3 in any direction" rule. No more than three accent pieces should be able to be seen in any direction. Anymore than three is a distraction. If your photos or collection was on the wall, remember to patch the holes and repaint.
It is in many cases your biggest financial investment. Consider it as a small investment for a big pay off or in this case, sale, in the end.

All Content Copyright © 2003 - 2006 Brown House Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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by Michele Dawson

Once your home is listed and the for-sale sign is firmly implanted in your front lawn, all is ready for would-be buyers to tour your home.
Or is it?

As anyone in the real estate industry will tell you, it's important to make your home look its best when it comes time to show it. That first impression is everything. Even if you're in a market where homes are selling quickly and for full asking price, it's still key to spruce up your home and prove that it's worth every penny you're asking. And it doesn't have to cost you a fortune.

In fact, a great first impression, coupled with the decreasing amount of time the typical home is on the market these days, is sometimes all it takes to see a speedy offer come your way.

"In 2001, the typical home was on the market for only four weeks," said David Lereah, the National Association of Realtor's chief economist. "In 1999 it was five weeks, but throughout most of the '90s the typical selling time was eight weeks."

Lereah attributes the reduction to the lean inventory.

So, if you're in a market with few available homes for sale, you're probably less likely to spend a lot of money on major aesthetic improvements. But there are a lot of simple, fairly inexpensive things you can do to make a good first impression and attract offers as quickly as possible.

Some things you can do to ensure your home's exterior lands favorable first impressions include:

• Stay on top of your lawn mowing and maintenance and tidy up your front landscaping;
• Plop a new, colorful welcome mat in front of the door;
• Embellish your door area with a nice, big potted plant to the side of the front door;
• Slap a fresh coat of paint on your door;
• Move all the toys, bicycles, and scooters away from the front of the house;
• Clean all your windows until they're sparkling;
• Invest in a new doorknob and lock - this will jazz up your door and provide greater security;
• Make sure your street numerals are polished and in place. Or, invest in a nice new set that stands out among your neighbors' standard numerals;
• Place a seasonal wreath or arrangement on your door;
• Repair any loose shingles - the last thing a potential buyer wants to worry about is the roof;
• Paint and repair your gutters.

Once the exterior wows your potential buyers, you'll need to continue to make an impact on them when they make their way inside. You can almost think of it as preparing for a formal dinner party. For starters, you can:

• Remove all the clutter - make sure kitchen and bathroom countertops are as clear as possible, try to keep toys organized in closets and shelves, temporarily remove any excess knickknacks or family photos if you tend to have a lot;
• Hang fresh clean towels in the bathrooms;
• Touch up your paint if your walls have a few rough spots. You probably already have the extra paint sitting in your garage;
• Vacuum your floor each morning. You may also want to think about getting your carpets clean before potential buyers view your house;
• Make sure all your faucets are drip-free;
• Replace any nonfunctioning bulbs in your light fixtures and vanities;
• Thoroughly clean all your appliances, including the inside of your oven and microwave;
• Place a beautiful centerpiece in the center of your dining room table;
• Eliminate odors as much as possible - place potpourri in the bathrooms, use air freshener and deodorizer, especially if you have indoor pets or there's a smoker in the house;
• Let the light in - open all your blinds and curtains. If your house's natural light leaves some rooms dark during certain portions of the day, turn on the lights if you know your house may be shown that day. If you have any decorative or track lighting, be sure it is on;
• Clean your fireplace;
• If you have too much furniture, place some of it in storage;
• Add some final touches, a couple of fresh bouquets of flowers and some nice potted plants in decorative containers can do wonders.

Copyright © 2002 Realty Times®. All Rights Reserved.

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