Home Sweet Home Staging

Most Home Stagers agree, however, that Staging encompasses all 12 of these improvement projects, as a good Stager will advise if, and to what extent, these improvements should be undertaken to increase the marketability of the property.

The article can be viewed here:
http://blog.homegain.com/home-improvement/homegain-2009-top-12-home-improvements-survey-results/
I have already had an agent ask if $300 for Home Staging is realistic.  [...]

{ 1 comment }

From my staging colleague Cindy Bryant, owner of Redesign, Etc. in Houston, TX:
Helping home sellers achieve their goal.
Offers will come faster.
Marketing strategy.
Effective selling technique.
Selling a home for all it’s worth.
Taking a tried and true approach.
Always looking better than the competition.
Get better appraisal values.
Internet photos will show a must see property.
Never giving you a bad first impression.
Gain more exposure with [...]

{ 0 comments }

After owning a Home Staging business for over 5 years, I think I have heard every possible objection to hiring a Stager, from “I know what needs to be done” to “I don’t want someone touching my stuff”.  The biggest objection by far, however, is the cost.  In this economy, people just don’t have a [...]

{ 1 comment }

When potential buyers view a house for sale, they need to see rooms presented as they were intended.  The master bedroom shouldn’t be an exercise room, the bathroom shouldn’t be a pet station, the garage shouldn’t be a storage unit, and unless you have more than 3 bedrooms, resist the urge to make one an [...]

{ 1 comment }

A link to a “virtual home staging” site was sent to me recently, and naturally, I had to investigate. 
Ahhh … the wonders of Photoshop.  The owners of this site will take uploaded photos of your vacant rooms and plug in furniture to make it appear furnished.  The “after” photos actually look pretty good, although some [...]

{ 1 comment }

I received a call recently from a client to whom I had provided a Home Staging consultation report.
For those not familiar, a consultation involves touring an occupied house for sale, assessing it’s flaws and possible buyer turn-offs, and providing a complete DIY to-do list to the seller. For sellers who have the [...]

{ 2 comments }

This week, five fellow Home Stagers and I donated our talents and furnishings to stage the vacant property at 159 Highland in Clawson. We will be holding a preview Open House tomorrow, April 24th, from 4-6pm for real estate agents and press. A $5 donation at the door includes a tour of the [...]

{ 2 comments }

As I head to Florida for a much-needed vacation and annual Spring Training game (Go Tigers!!!), I leave you with an excellent Q & A reblogged with permission from my staging colleague Cindy Bryant of Redesign Etc, Inc. in Houston, TX.  Her post on Active Rain is spot-on and truly reflects the most common questions [...]

{ 0 comments }

We know that the three most important factors for a successful real estate sale are location, price and condition.  While the seller can make changes to the price and condition of a property to hasten a sale,  no one can amend the location.
What happens when the location of the house itself is desirable, but the [...]

{ 3 comments }

With the brief glimpse of spring that we experienced over the weekend, thoughts turn to buying and selling houses.  “The Real Estate Season” is fast approaching, although maybe not fast enough for some of us!
Sellers?  Be prepared.  If your house has good curb appeal and is priced appropriately, your showings will increase.  Put your best [...]

{ 2 comments }

Realty Times recently published an article titled “What’s In, What’s Out With Home Buyers in 2009?” . Author Mark Nash gives a rundown of how the real estate market may look this year and what he feels buyers are looking for.
While Mr. Nash makes some very valid observations, I must take issue with a few [...]

{ 1 comment }