Staging of a Home
Staging Your Home For Selling Purpose
The Staging of This Home was Professionally done by an Accredited Staging Professional 5 Easy, Inexpensive Ways to Add Value and Comfort to Your Home Staging tips for quick sales Staging Your Home For Purpose Homes are tougher to sell when vacant
Start Decluttering With PODS - Click Here
The Staging of This Home was Professionally done by an Accredited Staging Professional
The Staging of This Home was Professionally done by an Accredited Staging Professional
Tabula Rasa - Time For A New Beginning
Julia - ASP,IAHSP (505 304-5969)
Click this link: To View a Visual Tour of a Home For Sale, Pre and Post Staging
Staging Thoughts For A New Property
5801 Lowell Ave Albuquerque NM
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Julia - Tabula Rasa - Time For A New Beginning
This is a simple unit with a compact kitchen and a lay out that is a bit confusing. While it does show well and there is nothing wrong with the condo, there is really nothing great or eye catching either.
Looking closely I could see that some of the lighting had been up graded along with the carpet. The white walls washed out the carpet and left the lighting looking like tan spots in the room.
To change the focus, the entire fireplace was painted with a contrasting mantel which doubled the size and impact of this feature.
Painting the kitchen warmed it up and the yellow color added to the thought of food and energy. Pulling the color onto one wall in the dining area and the pony wall in the living room helped define these spaces and unify them at the same time.
The Master suite seemed a bit indifferent and uninviting. By adding a deeper tone to the wall it calls to buyers from the living room all the way down the hall. Since the bathroom sink is in a portion of the Master suite, framing the mirror makes it feel more like a piece of furniture and helps it to make sense with this set up.
A new, more substantial ceiling fan grounds the room and makes a statement. By changing the brass bath fixtures to chrome, the look is more updated and clean.
Last but not least the windows felt cold and naked. The rooms feel more comfy and cozy, less exposed and lost.
Julia
Tabula Rasa - Time For A New Beginning
Additional Thoughts:
As the listing agent for this property I had good feelings concerning this property and couldn't really understand why it hadn't sold in the 231 days it was previously listed.
When I took the listing of the Condo it was in good condition and in a very good area of Albuquerque. Desirable schools, Easy access to all major shopping, Fast, Easy and Direct access to major roads. I thought it would be a short listing in terms of Days on The Market.
After several open houses and each open house was well received by everyone and with a minimum of 5-6 showings. But, no offers were being presented in a prime period of time for people relocating and getting families established.
After viewing all the comparables that would be deemed as good comps we lowered the price to be the lowest in the area with the idea to attract additional showings.
After experiencing the same results with additional open houses (1-2 weekly) and no offers I decided we needed to re-focus on the Condo with thoughts of what it would take to make it more appealing.
"STAGING"
Staging was something I suggested to my clients and talked about as a beneficial concept but I wasn't totally sold on the full scope of staging. I did know we needed to make major changes to get the eye appeal needed to sell quickly and I knew that wasn't my field of expertise.
After meeting with Julia, owner of Tabula Rasa - Time For A New Beginning she suggested a number of areas to concentrate on and what to do with the areas to make them warm and inviting.
The photos above and Julie's remarks show the before and after of the project but most importantly the picture below shows the result after staging with 21 days of the same marketing.
From the time I listed the property to the time I received an offer was 77 days. Naturally hind sight will never be disputed but I wonder if I could have shortened the 77 days, hummmmm?
Sold: 21 Days After Staging Completion
Total Days on Market - 308
I hope this is helpful to those that may be considering staging or maybe you just don't know what your home needs.
Brad Bramer
RE/MAX Elite
5 Easy, Inexpensive Ways to Add Value and Comfort to Your Home
5 Easy, Inexpensive Ways to Add Value and Comfort to Your Home
When the housing market is hot, it seems like just about any project is a good investment for boosting your home's value and appeal. But when the market's tight, you want to be more selective about which projects you 
undertake and what you expect to gain in return. There's nothing worse than wasting time and money on a major project that barely raises the value of your house.
If you've been thinking about increasing your home's value or just making your living space more comfortable, these ideas can help you start off simple and prioritize your list. Before you start knocking out walls and renovating your roofline, consider these ways to make a difference...cost-effectively!
1. Spruce Up Your Curb Appeal
Buyers often decide whether to look at your house before they even get out of the car. So, before you spend a lot of time and money remodeling the inside, take a good look at the outside. Washing windows, repainting trim, planting flowers and small shrubs, trimming tree branches and overgrown bushes, fixing screens, resealing your driveway, and mowing the lawn can make a big difference. Start out by making a list of 4 to 7 simple projects and then set aside an hour or two each day. In just one week, you - and potential buyers - will be surprised how appealing and welcoming your house looks when driving up.
You may also want to consider larger projects, such as replacing the siding, adding a patio or deck, or even replacing a dilapidated driveway. But remember, although these bigger projects may help your house stand out, they probably won't yield as high of a qualitative return on investment in terms of your home's actual value. So, weigh your options and ask your Realtor® for advice before investing in any of these bigger projects.
2. Does Your Entryway Invite People In?
A cozy first impression is crucial. Now that you've boosted your curb appeal, it's time to turn your attention inside - starting just inside the front door. To make sure your entryway invites people to come in - rather than turnaround and run - try adding a wicker chair and table outside the door along with a fresh coat of paint to your foyer.
For even more impact, replace old light fixtures and update the floor in your entryway with a throw rug or easy-to-apply self-adhesive linoleum squares. These projects are inexpensive and easy enough to do yourself in just a few hours.
3. Spiff Up that Old Bathroom
Remodeling an old bathroom can make a big impact. You should start by simply de-cluttering the countertop. It's amazing how spacious even a small bathroom appears after the styling products, pictures and miscellaneous bathroom decorations are removed.
From there, you can freshen up the paint, replace that old shower curtain, add a new medicine cabinet on the wall, and even a upgrade your faucet and shower head for very little money. For a little more, you can also install a double sink or re-tile the floor.
4. Hot in the Kitchen
Renovating an outdated kitchen is practically a sure thing - as long as you don't splurge on extravagant items like hand-painted Italian tile or built-in espresso machines. Instead, focus on the basics: replacing the handles on your cabinets and drawers, freshening up the paint, installing new flooring, adding a backsplash, and painting or re-facing your existing cabinets. You can also make a dramatic impact by installing new countertops and even replacing your appliances. All of these projects will go a long way to making a new buyer feel at home.
5. Add a Second Bathroom
Perhaps no improvement makes a bigger impact on your family's comfort and your house's appeal than adding a second bathroom. The number of bathrooms is always a big sticking point for potential buyers, especially families with two or three children.
Although adding a bathroom costs more than simply fixing up your old one, it also increases the value of your house more. Plus, having that second bathroom may help you sell your house faster than if it only has one, which is an important point to consider in today's market. So, if you have a house with roughed-in plumbing just waiting for you to take the initiative, you may want to consider adding that second bathroom you've always wanted.
However, if your house doesn't have roughed-in plumbing or floor plans that called for a future bathroom, you'll definitely want to consult a professional Realtor® to discuss how much a second bathroom will add to your home's value. After all, if you have to start moving walls and re-plumbing your house just to add a bathroom, you may find that your time and money are better spent on a handful of smaller projects that will ultimately add more impact.
Plan Ahead and Avoid Headaches
Overall, the best advice about adding value to your home is to start small, work your way up, and always plan ahead. You don't want to get halfway into a renovation only to find that you have to update your entire electrical system or that your time and effort was wasted on a renovation that doesn't add as much value as you thought. With a little planning and prioritizing, you can make your house more comfortable and valuable with very little time and money. Happy renovating!
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Home staging
Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence prior to going up for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to sell a home quickly, and for the most money possible by attracting the highest amount of potential buyers. Staging focuses on improving a property to make it appeal to the largest number of buyers by transforming it into a welcoming, appealing, and attractive product for sale. Staging often raises the value of a property by way of reducing the home's flaws, depersonalizing, decluttering, cleaning, improving condition items, and landscaping. For vacant homes, rental furniture is used to create a living space the buyer could "see" themselves in. Properly executed staging leads the eye to attractive features while minimizing flaws.
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Homes are tougher to sell when vacant
Homes are tougher to sell when vacant
If immediate relocation is necessary, staging may be best bet
Thursday, February 21, 2008
By Ilyce R. Glink
Inman News
Q: I live on the eastern shore of Delaware and am located 10 miles from the beach. I have put my house up for sale. It is completely remodeled inside and out.
I intend to go back to Florida's west coast, which is where I lived for 25 years.
My questions are: Would it be a mistake to buy a house in Florida before I sell here? And, what are the downsides to showing an empty house as opposed to a furnished one?
A: I've written extensively on selling vacant homes and how difficult it is, especially now, when there are more than 2 million vacant homes for sale. Most of these houses are owned by investors who never lived in them and can't find anyone to rent them. It's tough competition for sellers like you.
The reason that vacant homes are more difficult to sell is that buyers have a hard time imagining what a vacant home will look like with their stuff in it. Vacant rooms lose all sense of proportion because there's nothing for your eye to use as a tool for comparison.
Even if you took a measuring tape and an outline of your pieces of living room furniture, and laid them out on the floor, you'd have a hard time imagining how they'd look in the room.
It's also easier for buyers to see all of the flaws of the house. Bottom line: I'd hate to see you try to sell a vacant house.
As for buying your new house first, it depends on how quickly homes are selling in your area and how much money you can afford to spend carrying two loans. If it were me, I'd sell first and then buy. In this market, it's the safer bet.
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Staging tips for quick sales
Stimulating buyers' taste buds, noses raises chances of purchase
BY BERNICE ROSS, FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2008.
Inman News
Today agents no longer sell just houses -- they sell "lifestyles." In fact, lifestyle marketing is all the rage now. If you want to sell your listings faster, today's column will show you how.Agents and sellers have always realized the importance of making a property look its best prior to putting it on the market. Properties that are in excellent condition normally sell faster and at a higher price than those that are in poor condition. Today, having your listings "look good" is not enough. When buyers decide to purchase, they are often unaware of the subconscious triggers that motivate them to take action. In fact, the strongest buying triggers are tied to our sense of taste and smell. Thus, when you stage a property, don't settle just for making it visually appealing. Instead, tap into all five senses using multisensory marketing. Here's how to do it.
1. Visual buying
Most real estate professionals do a good job in terms of visual marketing. We post virtual tours on our Web sites, create brochures with multiple pictures, and, in most cases, present the property in the best possible fashion. This is a solid approach, as approximately 40 percent of the population is visual. In most cases, visual buyers prefer houses that are light and bright. Open floor plans with high ceilings are also desirable. To best serve your visual buyers, make sure that the house is as bright and attractive as possible. Also, have the sellers clear out as much clutter as possible. This is one time when "less is more."
2. Auditory buying
Approximately 40 percent of the population is auditory. These people process information most easily when they hear it. Sounds are extremely important to them. When another agent contacts you about showing one of your listings, find out what type of music the buyers enjoy and have it playing when the buyers view the property. If the buyers value peace and quiet, do whatever is necessary to minimize any noise within the property. If there is background noise that you can't eliminate, you may want to consider installing a small fountain. Your goal is to create an auditory background that will be perceived favorably by auditory buyers.
3. Kinesthetic buying
For those who are kinesthetic, touch and other physical sensations are the most important. It's critical that your listings are always at a comfortable temperature, no matter what time of year it is. Kinesthetic individuals love to curl up in front of a warm fireplace. In terms of staging, it's usually great to have a fire going in the fireplace, provided it's not too hot outside. Also, pillows are extremely important in conveying a relaxed atmosphere. Place plenty of extra pillows and throws on the sofas, beds and any other relaxation areas.
4. Taste buying
Frank McKinney, the most luxurious spec builder in the country, defines the "Three C's of luxury marketing as being champagne, caviar and chocolate." McKinney's niche is building houses with price tags of $30 million and up. While most agents are not going to be serving champagne and caviar at their showings, using taste can be a strong motivator in making a favorable impression. For example, on a hot day, have a variety of cold drinks available for your open-house visitors as well as some fun snacks. Hot chocolate is excellent on a cold day. The only caveat is to be sure that your buyers do not walk around the house eating and leaving a trail of crumbs that stain the carpets.
5. Aroma buying
The most often neglected and yet perhaps most powerful motivator for purchasing is scent. Aromas are one of the quickest ways to tap into the brainstem areas (i.e., the reptilian brain) that controls most buying decisions. Use this powerful motivator by baking cinnamon rolls or chocolate chip cookies. (Put the oven on 150 degrees so that you get the aroma, but not a complete baking. One agent started talking to an open-house visitor while she was baking cookies and forgot about the cookies until the oven caught on fire!) Other pleasant aromas include freshly ground coffee, fresh bread and fresh flowers. Vanilla is also a very popular scent. Also, be especially diligent in removing offensive smells. Nothing will kill a sale more quickly than a musty, stale or dirty smell.
What constitutes "home" is more than just the sticks and bricks. It's the emotional appeal that the home has to the buyer. One of the best ways to make sure that your listings are as appealing as possible is to stage your houses using a multisensory approach.
Bernice Ross, national speaker and CEO of Realestatecoach.com, is the author of "Waging War on Real Estate's Discounters" and "Who's the Best Person to Sell My House?" Both are available online. She can be reached at bernice@realestatecoach.com or visit her blog at www.LuxuryClues.com.
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