Providing Services to Prepare the Home for Sale

Is Your Home Overdressed? Maybe it needs a "Make Under"

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:49:25 -0400

When I find a post that says things better than I can (and this definitely does) I re-blog it.

Enjoy the simple facts about getting your home ready for living and for sale.

Via Tessa Skeens - Hampton Redesign (Hampton ReDesign, Home Staging and Redesign in Fort Worth TX):

Happened to be home when Oprah was on this afternoon. The topic was Makeunders. Women who needed less not more. But this also applies to homes. Nate Berkus did a room Makeunder and it inspired me!

Every home that goes on sale needs a makeunder. The less of you, the quicker your home will sell. The bigger and more spacious your home looks the higher it's perceived value.

This means it's really important to edit your stuff so what's really important greets you (and your buyers) when you walk in the door. You want your homes' features to shine, you want buyers to say AH!

The trouble is we tend to keep adding stuff to our homes and don't stop to edit.
I compare it to getting dressed. You've got a great look going but then you keep adding accessories to your outfit. A scarf or two. All of a sudden your great look gets lost. No one will be able to focus on that perfect necklace or pair of shoes because there's too much to look at.

The best outfits are the ones with a simple color palette. A nice pair of jeans, a contrasting top and jacket and some great accent jewelry and shoes.

Your home is no different. It's an extension of who you are but it shouldn't be the catchall for everything you've ever wanted to bring home. Layering is wonderful but you have to know when to stop before your look gets lost.

Start with one room. Treat it like an extension of yourself. How would you dress it?

10 Easy Tips to "Make Under" Your Home

1. Keep in simple, Pick one or two main colors for your walls and floor. The fewer colors the more spacious your home will look.

2. Pick a third and fourth (if desired) accent color . Use these colors sparingly.

3. Keep your surfaces consistent. Walls should be the same material if possible and painted or finished in the same color on all walls. Floors also. Keep flooring consistent throughout the house.

4. Group your family photos on one wall and use similar frames and mats to keep a unified look. Edit your photos first and keep only the ones you love.

5. Group your plants also. Your plants will thrive and it reduces watering time. Toss out any that are unhealthy or dying.

6. If a room has more than one use make sure there's a dedicated space for each use. Screens or dividers can help separate living from office or exercise space.

7. Keep your window treatments clean and simple. Heavy window treatments that cut down on light can overpower a room. Invest in some light colored curtain panels instead hung on a simple pole. These look great over inexpensive 2" blinds.

8. Remove area rugs on carpet. Visually they cut up the floor space and make the room feel smaller.

9. Edit your collections. Keep only pieces you love on display. Again grouping them will create impact and reduce visual busy-ness.

10. Keep it to 5. When in doubt, keep no more than 5 toys or 5 plants or 5 pillows or 5 frames or 5 lamps for example in a room at one time. If you want to add a new piece, take out an old one.

Remember keep it simple. Whether you are getting ready to sell your home or just want to live lighter, a professional home staging consultation can help you with your "makeunder".

Photos are not samples of Hampton Redesign staging but chosen to represent how a simplified color palette can makeunder a room.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Hampton Redesign 817-891-9563 www.hamptonredesign.com

Tessa Skeens | Owner & Lead Staging Designer

Professional Home Staging and Redesign Services Serving Greater Fort Worth TX Including Aledo, Willow Park, Benbrook, Keller, Arlington, Southlake, Colleyville, Hurst, Mansfield, Burleson and Tarrant County

Stage-Show-Sell, offers affordable home staging solutions in the Birmingham - Bloomfield and surrounding areas in getting your home ready for the market. We service both home sellers and realtors. We have the experience, our own rental furniture and accessories to stage many homes. We specialize in Estate work. The house can be put into our hands for the whole process of getting the house on the market

Smell of clothes as they come off the line in the yard

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:19:39 -0400

One of my favorite memories of smells is when I was living in my parents home. Many many years ago.

We didn't have a clothes drier for years so the linens, baby diapers (long before papmpers) were hung outside, summer and winter, to dry.

Funny thing about hanging clothes outside in the winter is that they would freeze first and then dry. They were so soft and smelled wonderful.

This memory came back to me when I was in Bed Bath and Beyond last week. They had a new product, to me, that's an Odor Neutralizing Gel Beads. I had to open one package to see what it was like. I hate the room sprays etc that smell worse than the odor that we are trying to get rid of.

The package that I picked up was called Sunwashed Linen. It has a very delicate smell.

Before I use it in any home that I stage I wanted to try it out in my own home.

It worked beautifully in my Laundry Room with a few artificial flowers. They look just like the jell beads that we use in our arrangements.

Next I tried the Apple Cinnamon and was pleased at the way it looks and smells.

Believe that I now have some new ways to freshen up some staged homes.

What do you mean that you are appealing to a more Artistic Client

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:08:36 -0400

I thought that I would beat my head against a wall last week and approached a realtor with my staging and photographic skills.

Our prices are very reasonable and we are very good at what we do. She was amazed at the job of a condo transformation that she has listed. She thought the photos and virtual tour were great. Yet she will not allow me to talk to any of her other clients.

She said that she likes her photos and the way the houses look. She is appealing to a more Artistic Client (buyer)

Why wouldn't she try to appeal almost everyone instead of the few who might find these artistic?

This is her photos on the MLS of a bathroom

This is the photo of the condo that I staged.

This is a similar style master that she has listed

One that I staged

The internet presence is so important. Why would a realtor not let me talk to their clients and explain what I can do for them and the internet presence that I can give them?

I use the furniture that the owner has and add a few of my own things to kick it up a notch. I take the photos, add them to the MLS if the agents allows me to and do a virtual tour.

The homes and condos that Stage-Show-Sell, LLC stage generally get offer in 2 to 3 weeks.

These homes have been on the market a long time AND have had price reductions. Staging is so much cheaper that the first price reductions.

Artistic or?

Sellers talk to a stager before you list your home OR if you have been on the market for awhile without an offer.

It really doesn't get better than this Does it.

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:19:27 -0400

Testimonials are what makes my business successful.

Referrals and word of mouth is almost the only marketing Stage-Show-Sell, LLC does.

I would love to share two of these with all of you

Thank you Virginia! You did a great job on this Grosse Pointe Woods house I listed! Patience, lots of hard work, an eye on how to bring the best out of this 30's house...a cooperative seller and, of course, a realtor who believed in you and was "in your court" (me!) - we did receive a great offer within 3 weeks of listing. I firmly believe it was due to you taking the time to prepare and not having us rush into listing.

Beth Pressler Realtor

I can’t begin to say enough for the magic that Virginia performed in preparing my parent’s home for sale! My parents had lived in the home for 61 years and, as you can imagine, there was quite a collection of “stuff”. I was overwhelmed and my agent put me in contact with Virginia. She went over and above what I expected of a stager. She organized everything, brought in contractors, hauled trash to the curb, and oversaw the entire project. Without any major updating, the home was finally ready for market in a little over a month from the start. I was amazed at the transformation! She had taken a tired little bungalow and turned it into a cute, charming home. In just under three weeks we had an offer! Thank you Virginia and I would definitely recommend your services to anyone.

Carolyn - Home owner

Please visit or revisit this posting to see the home that had an offer in 3 weeks

- Updated with testimonials A Friendly Wager with a Realtor on Home Staging Impact - I Won!"

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 10:20:19 -0400

Beth Pressler Realtor

Carolyn - Home owner

A few months ago an agent introduced me to her friend/client who's father passed away.

The house is set in a wonderful neighborhood of Grosse Pointe Woods. This is the first time that I've been called in by this realtor and really wanted to make a good impression on her and of course her client.

The kitchen hadn't been updated since, let's say,....day one.

Our challenge was to make it presentable to potential buyer without putting in a lot of money.

Our agenda was to make it feel more spacious

This is the kitchen before.

The kitchen felt small with 3 door ways. One led to the back door and basement, the 2nd one led to the hallway to bath and bedrooms and the third, which I'm standing in, led to the dining room.

This is the kitchen after

We removed the doors to the back door and hallway. This opened up the room right away. The doors have been left for the new owner to decide what to do.

Painting the yellow walls to a more soothing neutral color. We removed all the window treatment (there was a lot)

Now it's charming.

The dining room before

Removing the Draperies and all rods, painting out the yellow walls, updating the light fixture and removing the green tattered carpet made a big difference.

The dining room after

The family room before

The budget, again, was very tight.

We removed the tired green carpet to expose the hard wood floors. The big challenge was the padding was stuck to the floors with age.

We tried every product out there to remove it. The only thing that would remove it was scrapping with a very sharp putty knife. The floors are beautiful and the new owner can decide to sand them down, carpet or live with them being a little imperfect

carpet padding

The draperies were removed to open up the room. The walls were painted to make the fireplace pop.

It worked.

Family room after

99% of the staging was done with the sellers furniture. All we added was a few nick, knacks, bedding and talent.

We don't have to rent expensive furniture to stage a home.

1st bedroom had the hard wood floors exposed

1st Bedroom after

2nd bedroom before

I have to admit that this is the first time I've had to deal with indoor/outdoor carpet in the living area of the house.

It turned out very well

The bathroom I did a post on earlier. I truly think that this bathroom helped sell the house.

The master bed room is upstairs in the cute bungalow.

That's not green carpet up there. It's vinyl flooring.

Master after

I was so excited that the budget allowed for carpet

A Friendly Wager with a Realtor on Home Staging Impact - I Won!" The market conditions for the area showed the Realtor that the home should be on the market for 6 months.

My record is getting offers in two to three weeks.

We had an offer in 3 weeks and it's scheduled for closing in a few weeks. I won the wager and hopefully more jobs from the realtor

Exterior while working on it

After

Will she call me again for another job????????????????

1930's bathroom transformed - updated with realtors testimonial

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:07:55 -0400

Beth your realtor

A realtor that I've known for a long long time has given me a great challenge and I'm excited about it.

The home is a bungalow built in 1938 in the city of Grosse Pointe Woods

The bathroom has the most un-usual color tile that I've ever seen.

The color is between a Aubergine and Burgundy with black trim.

The budget for the home didn't allow more than paint and a few accoutrements (my clients verbage)

The walls were painted a very light lavender. All the Pink was removed and it was staged.

Railway Garden Tour in Bloomfield Township and Staging What do they have in Common

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:07:05 -0400

Now who could pass up a model train set up in a back yard? Hundreds of feet of track, dozens of buildings and all the towns people to go with it.

Take a tour of the set up with me and see how similar it is to staging.

Bloomfield Twp Railway Garden Tour This caught my attention in the local free newspaper that delivered to all residences in many cities. I love it for a quick review of what's going on.

My husband and I thought it was such an interesting thing to do, on a July (hot & muggy) Sunday morning, and we could walk to it and enjoy a few minutes.

To our surprise the few minutes turned into about an hour or more.

It similar to going into a Sunday Realtor Open House thinking that you'll have a quick walk through and then actually looking through every room, crook and cranny that it has.

The Dunn family: Sharron, Bob two sons, daughter in laws and grandkids were all participating in this event.

The Dunn family took days and weeks to prepare for the annual event. Very Similar to what sellers have to do to prepare for their day in the sun.

The Dunn family checks for winter damage to the tracks and landscaping.

Stage-Show-Sell, LLC gives the home street appeal.

They make sure that the tiniest details are taken care of. The tracks work, the trains work, the emergency helicopters are in place (you have to look at the photos to find them). The bathing pond is clean and fresh and all the models and show ready.

Stage-Show-Sell, LLC makes sure the windows are clean, outdated light fixtures replaced and the house clean and fresh and furniture shows off the rooms to their best use.

We have a lot in common. Grab a cup of coffee and Check the Photos of Dunn's Diversion

Is it that much different that what Stage-Show-Sell, LLC does? Click here to see

Those bathroom photos with mirrors...................updating photos on AR

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:48:47 -0400

Vote is in. I go back to the 2008 photo with the dog :-)

As stagers we have made many posts and comments about how to take bathroom photos. Don't shoot just the toilet. Make sure we shoot the room etc etc etc

Yesterday I thought I would do just the opposite and play with the mirrors and guess what I caught.

Myself.

A vote please.

Which one shall I use for my new AR mug shot?

I try to change my photo photo often because I'm changing everyday

This is my 2008 photo OLD photo going out

Which of these should be my 2010

IDX websites can I brand the virtual tour with my info

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:44:11 -0400

I'm curious for responses from both stagers and realtors.

As part of the service for owners and agents I take and edit the photos and create a tour.

Our MLS is IDX compliant which means that the realtors can't brand their tours with their infomation. Is there any reason that I can't brand the tour with my staging information??

Do you think it would benefit the realtor and or me? Has anyone tried doing this?

Watch this 6 second garage break in

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:33:26 -0400

I found this absolutely frightening. How many homes are not secured ? How many homes do we have staged and we don't know if the realtors are locking the door into the garage?

This message is for stagers, realtors and home owners.

Via Nevin Williams, Conventional,jumbo & FHA (First Priority Financial,specialize in jumbo & conventional):

Using this method a thief can make it look as if you were never broken into. They can get in, take what they want and reset the latch when they close the door.

How many of you leave your car unlocked in the garage? How many of you have a garage that leads into your home?

A garage break in may be more than petty theft. It could be someone wanting to cause you physical harm or wanting to take a child. It may sound extreme but if someone can get in to a home their reasons for doing so can be varied.

Next time you're in the market for a garage door get one without windows or at least spray window frost on them so a thief can't see the latch. Most home improvement stores carry this in the paint section.

Lock the door from your garage that leads into your home.

Set your car alarm even though it is parked in the garage.

You can't really stop a motivated thief but you can seriously inconvenience them!

Serving California since 1977

First Priority Financial is licensed by the California Department of Real Estate #00654852 Nevin#01366552

3110 Camino Del Rio #311 San Diego CA 92108

(888) 206-5781

Also licensed in Oregon, Washington & North Carolina

Nevin Williams NMLS #69651

Grosse Pointe Woods home with that Old World Charm

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:13:58 -0400

This home has been staged and placed on the market June 14, 2010. For information regarding this listing call the listing agent.

This home is being offered for sale by: Beth Pressler, Assoc. Broker, CRS, GRI, PMN Director, Michigan Assoc. of REALTORS Century 21 Town & Country of Grosse Pointe 20439 Mack Avenue Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan 48236 Office: 313.886.5040

This home is an estate and was prepared for sale by Stage-Show-Sell, LLC.

Old World Charm

1560 Brys, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 View Map

All the old world charm. LOVINGLY MAINTAINED BRICK BUNGALOW! COVE CEILINGS, HARDWOOD FLOORS, GAS LOG FIREPLACE IN LIVING ROOM, FORMAL DINING ROOM. REPLACEMENT VINYL WINDOWS THROUGHOUT. TEAR-OFF ROOF (2005). GAS FORCED AIR/CENTRAL AIR. BASEMENT GLASS BLOCK WINDOWS, WATER CLOSET IN BASEMENT. OVERSIZED GARAGE, BUT ONLY 1-CAR DOOR. READY FOR YOUR DECORATING TOUCHES! ONE YEAR HOME WARRANTY!

Details

Asking Price:

97,500

MLS:

210069205

Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

Subdivision:

Bry Sub

Property Amenities

- Range/Oven
- Sink Disposal
- Full Refrigerator
- Fireplace
- Hardwood floors

- Basement
- Fenced Yard
- Central A/C
- Central Heat

- Living room
- Dining Room
- Laundry area - inside
- Florida Room

Community Amenities

- Garage Parking

Contact Info

Virginia Tatseos

Dir 248-421-8201
Email | Website

All information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.

Convince My Clients to Stage Their Homes? What's In It for Me, the Agent?

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Thu, 13 May 2010 09:14:41 -0400

I couldn't say it any better.

Staging is important

Via Donna Dazzo Home Stager in the Hamptons & New York (Designed to Appeal, LLC):

As a real estate agent, you may be wondering why you should make the effort to convince the homeowner to stage their home.

Here are ten reasons why you should do so:

Gives You More Control - That's right. Here's a common scenario for you - the seller may desire a certain dollar amount for the home but you know that unless some changes are made, the seller won't get it. By incorporating the home staging process, you are controlling more of the outcome of the sale.

Gives You Credibility - When you bring in "experts" who do this for a living it adds to your own credibility. Would you seem credible if you also appraised and inspected the homes that you sold? No, it waters down your expertise because people know you can't be an expert in everything! When you're focused on your own field of interest and outsource to professionals it gives you added credibility in what you're good at - selling homes!

Listings That Show Well Reflect Well on You - Wouldn't you rather be the agent who's known to always have beautiful, attractive, updated, neat and clean homes to sell than the agent who always seems to get stuck with the unattractive homes to market?

Differentiates You from the Competition - You believe in doing everything possible to sell your clients' listings and you are one of the few agents who have a full team of professionals, including a home stager, to help you do so.

Protects Your Relationship and Listing - You have to have a strong client relationship that gets you through the entire escrow process. Home staging is a form of constructive criticism that sometimes addresses hard, personal issues like smell and cleanliness. Your clients EXPECT a professional stager to instruct them on these issues but are not completely comfortable with you as their real estate agent doing this.

Greatly Improves Your Outside Marketing Campaign - The time, effort and money you spend on marketing the home on the outside will be twice as effective when you have photos of beautifully staged rooms (with updated accessories) vs. empty rooms, or worse, unattractive furnishings. With over 84% (according to NAR) of home buyers searching the Internet FIRST, it's critical that your home marketing photos be outstanding and have impact.

Gives You More Money - Home staging is pure economics. When you improve upon a product, you increase the demand thus raise the price. Higher sales price = higher commission.

Makes You Sell Listings Faster - Buyers have MANY home choices in today's market and they want a home that is turnkey ready. Statistics show that staged homes sell faster than unstaged homes.

Less Time on the Market Improves Your Reputation - In a National Association of Realtor Profile of Sellers it was reported that over a quarter of seller's MOST IMPORTANT EXPECTATION is that their real estate agent will sell the home WITHIN a specific time frame. In today's market, that's not an easy task among the many homes available UNLESS your listings stand out. In a referral-based industry, happy clients mean more listings and the reward of a job well done.

10.Gives You MORE Listings - Happy clients talk and when over 40% of sellers find their agents through referrals, expect more listings! Incorporating home staging into your selling process makes you more value-added to potential clients.

© Designed to Appeal, LLC 2009-2010. All Rights Reserved.

When is a mirror not a mirror

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:01:29 -0500

It can be very expensive to have items that are only used for one thing.

Yes we do charge rent for our items when we stage but it takes a lot time to recuperate the expense and breakage.

Recently I purchased two mirrors to hang on a wall. One was to hide an ugly circuit breaker box on the left side of a window. The other was to balance the look and went on the other side of the window. I took marker pens and wrote cute things i.e. Call me when you get home, on one of them. The other had a grocery list.

They were purcahsed at Target and we horrible to hang. I think someone was drunk when they attached the hangers to the back. I could not get them to hand straight without poster putty on the corners.

I thought I'd never be able to use them again.

This week, the dinamic duo, used one for a bed table.

Clever we are

The home owner loved it.

Women's Council of REALTORS® Article: Home Staging As a Value-Added Bonus to Your Clients

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:06:05 -0500

I can't say it any better than this.

Please read the post below

Via Charlene Storozuk - Burlington Ontario Home Stager (Dezigner Digz):

Prior to leaving for Las Vegas to attend RESA's International Home Staging Conference, I was asked by the Women's Council of REALTORS® to write an article about home staging for their March newsletter. What better time to write it than upon my return from the Conference when I'm all pumped up about home staging and wanting to spread the word! The article was just released today on WCR's website.

If you've been thinking for some time about incorporating the services of a professional Home Stager as part of your marketing plan, give this article a read. You might find some helpful information to get you started in the right direction towards getting that edge against the competition.

Here's the link: Home Staging As a Value Added Bonus to Your Clients

-------

Dezigner Digz is a professional home staging and interior decorating company based in Burlington Ontario. The owner, Charlene Storozuk, is a member of the Real Estate Staging Association and currently serves on the Executive Committee as Regional Vice-President, Canada. Her work has been featured in the book FabJob Guide to Become a Home Stager, 2009 edition. Charlene has written several articles on home staging, some of which have been published by the International Business Times. She is also a Contributor to REALTOR® Magazine's blog Styled, Staged & Sold. For more information about us, visit our website at www.dezignerdigz.com.

Little Things mean a lot -- $35,000 price reduction - realtors loose

Virginia Tatseos (Stage-Show-Sell) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:37:13 -0500

The house that is our competition has been reduced $35,000. In my books that mean the realtor has lost $1050 in commissions. Wouldn't it have been cheaper and smarter to pay for a consultation with a stager?

The presentation of rooms is so important. Little things mean a lot. Fresh color on the walls. Bold colors in the rooms and the correct placement of furniture.

We can call it de-cluttering, re-designing or staging. What matters is that it's done.

Marianne and I finished staging a home this past week. The sellers know when they put it on the market that they wanted it sold.

They wanted to purchase a new home then put the old one on the market. The did not want to be living in it while is was on the market.

We realize that not everyone can do this esp. in this economy. They are lucky and smart.

I started working with them last June so they had the time to do all of my little "honey do" projects.

They painted and cleaned and tweaked here and there.

Yellow paint is now gone. Bed direction is changed.

Draperies are open and clutter removed.

We used their furniture and used our bedding and extras.

This is what their small bedroom looks like now. This will be their MLS photo

This is one of their competitions MLS photo.

This is the 2nd bedroom in the house we just staged.

Before

After

The walls were painted. It's difficult to see with the afternoon sun streaming in.

Exercise equipment was removed and the bed was moved to another wall.

Our competition MLS photo and they have just reduced their price by $35,000 and are going for a short sale.

I know that if they had called in a stager first the house would have sold and they wouldn't be in this short sale situation.

What do you think??

Our living room before

After. The walls were painted. The couch from the FR was moved to the LR and slip covered.

Competition Living Room

Why aren't the realtors working with a stager to have the homes sell faster and for more money?

Sellers. Don't wait for your agent to bring up staging. Call a stager today