November 2007

Sensational Home Staging: What you CAN’T see

by Susan on November 22, 2007

in Staging/Organizing

Much has been written about the power of home staging to visually present a home at its best for purpose of a quicker and more profitable sale. What a buyer sees when they tour the home makes an incredible impact on the buyer’s impression of the property. But let’s not neglect the other senses.

  • Hearing – Road noise? Eerie silence? Both can be a distraction. Playing appropriate music during showings and open houses can help. Need ideas? Visit a Pottery Barn and view their compilation CD’s. Jazz and classical are good contenders as well. Base your selection on your target buyers’ demographic. Be sure to play it at a background noise level. After all, there is no need to rock the house, just sell it!

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  • Touch/Feel – Is the home too cold? Too warm? Either way the buyer will feel a negative sense about the home and not want to stay long. Keep the home at a comfortable temperature at all times. Resist the temptation to set your programmable thermostat to save on heating or cooling costs. Home showings can happen at any time!

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  • Smell – If you can smell it, you can’t sell it (sorry for the over-used cliché!). This includes pets, cooking spices, fish, laundry, mold, bathroom “issues”, fireplace soot, and so on. What to do about it? First step – ask trusted friends to sniff your home and give you honest feedback. Then, eliminate the source(s), at least while your home is on the market. For example, ship poochie off to grandmas, do laundry more frequently, throw wet towels in the dryer when you leave in the morning, clean out the fireplace, and use this as a good excuse to eat out more often! Don’t try to cover up smells with sprays or air fresheners. They can be just as offensive.

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  • Taste – I don’t imagine anyone is out there taking a bite out your drywall…but do have some wrapped candy or cookies available during an open house. It has been said that the best way to the heart can be through the stomach! Can’t hurt to try!
  • “Sixth” Sense – This is the cumulative effect of all the other fives senses. This is the “big one” that will keep your home in the buyer’s memory as they continue their tour of homes. In a competitive market, you need all the senses working for you!

If your home is for sale, be sure to pay attention to all your senses. What you can’t see CAN hurt when it comes to selling your home!

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How will the real estate market affect you?

by Susan on November 15, 2007

in Staging/Organizing

There are many statistics and opinions floating around about the state of the real estate industry. They may differ by region, but there are some common threads throughout these discussions. If your house is for sale, or you’re considering a move, here are a few things to think about…

  • Buyers are waiting for an overall price collapse of the market – all the more reason to give a buyer a reason to act NOW.
  • The homes with the best perceived value will sell – it will become even more competitive for a seller to stand out from the crowd.
  • Overpriced homes will not sell – this is especially true now, no matter how nicely a home is staged.

 

Bottom line – Home Staging is becoming more important than ever. It costs less than a price reduction, and often a monthly house payment. It’s just good business!

 

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What it Home Staging? How about what it is NOT!

by Susan on November 9, 2007

in Staging/Organizing

Home Staging is NOT:

…Decorating – Anyone can make a home look decorated. Staging is about marketing your home to your target buyer. In fact, personal taste has nothing to do with it. It’s about making a great first impression that creates an emotional connection with buyers and helps them imagine themselves living there.

…Just for high-end homes – Every home deserves its best chance at selling quickly and for top dollar whether a starter home or a mansion. Remember, you are competing with other homes within your price range!

…Expensive – A Stager is creative and resourceful professional who can work with just about any budget. A stager can be hired to do the actual staging, or prepare a detailed staging plan that the homeowner can do themselves. Remember, the cost of staging is always less than a price reduction, and typically less than a mortgage payment.

…Only for vacant homes – While critical for vacant homes, staging is equally as effective in occupied homes. How you live in your home is different than how you sell it. A stager can work with your existing belongings to bring out your home’s best assets and appeal to buyers. Another perk…you’ll be a step ahead in packing for your move!

…Intrusive – Yes, you can live comfortably in your staged home (even with kids)! Ok, it may be a little inconvenient, but not as inconvenient as not selling your home quickly. Remember, it’s only temporary! And who knows…maybe your family will learn some good habits in the process!

…Something your Real Estate Agent should do – They have enough to do just marketing your home (yes, they do far more than most homeowners know!). A professional stager has specialized skills plus passion for creating that fantastic first impression that will appeal to your target buyer. After all, you wouldn’t hire a roofer to do your plumbing, right?

…Something you can easily do yourself – Tempting? Yes. Practical? No. It is just too difficult to see your home from a buyer’s eye when you’ve been living in it (remember the “forest for the trees” quote?). It’s not a matter of having great design taste; it’s about showcasing the home sans your personal touches and belongings. Anyway, aren’t you pretty busy getting ready for a move? If you really want to do it yourself, hire a stager to prepare a detailed plan for you to follow. You’ll be glad you did!

…Major renovation – It’s not like you see on TV. Not every home needs a brand new kitchen or a wall knocked down. While some painting or fixture upgrades may be recommended, it’s typically it’s the minor, inexpensive enhancements that make the biggest difference.

…A “Last Resort” effort – Timing is important. Ideally, you should stage your home before listing it to best capitalize on the early fresh traffic. Already listed and not yet sold? All is not lost…get your home staged, and then re-introduce it to the market. You’ll be amazed!

…Optional – unless, of course, you don’t really want to sell fast and make more money. Your home is competing with other homes and new construction. O.K. is just not good enough when you’re selling in a competitive market.

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Have you ever met someone who wasn’t busy?

by Susan on November 7, 2007

in Chit Chat

It seems like everyone is “swamped” these days. Between work, kids, holidays, school, soccer, and maybe even a social life, every hour is accounted for.

I read (somewhere) recently that if every hour is accounted for, you lose the ability for creative thought. Hmmmm. Could this be true?

I recently spent a week at a beach house in St. Augustine with my family. I did not bring my laptop, and did not speak on the phone the entire week. Yea, it was strange! Part of me was expecting a great creative revelation since I was purposely allowing free time in my life. Well, that didn’t happen. But I did relax and clear my head.

Lesson learned? You can’t batch up your time for creative thought in one big event….it has to be part of your daily life. Sort of a creative trickle of inspiration.

My solution? I stopped turning on the news in my car and use that time to let my mind wander. I still listen to music at times, but rather than “rockin’ out” to songs I know…I got a relaxing CD from Pier I of french music. I have no idea what they are saying, but it sounds nice and still lets my mind wander.

I now look forward to errands involving car trips…its my little corner of the world to day dream!

Have a great and creative day!

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