Happy Holidays!

Seasonal Staging Tips

The holiday season is most everyone's favorite time of the year. It takes us back to traditions, family and shifts our focus totally toward home.

There is a myth that no one shops for a home during the holidays. I am here to tell you that just is not true. In my previous professional experience as an agent I have written a contract on Christmas Eve.

It is true that there are fewer buyers out but the ones that are out and shopping are serious. I had 2 of my staged homes sell during the Thanksgiving break. So don't make the fatal mistake of letting your home go during the holiday season unless you have the luxury of waiting for a sale.

Set the scene for celebration but take a light hand with decorations. In most homes all bets are off come Christmas time and the brighter and bolder are acceptable when they might ordinarily be deemed tacky. That won't work to your advantage when your home is on the market.

-Dress the mantle with evergreen

-Do a tree in white lights

-Hang a festive but understated wreath on the door and use uplights to illuminate it.

-Use a centerpiece with candles on the table.

-Do NOT clutter every surface and every room with Christmas scenes

-You will also want to be careful about the room arrangement. When we make room for our tree it usually displaces several large pieces of furniture. A room filled to overflowing with too much furniture is the kiss of death. Be sure to check the traffic flow through out your spaces.

I am wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a contract that will move you and yours forward to your next home.

Sold in 8 days

This property SOLD IN 8 days-

Sold In 17 Days!

I told you that things sell during the holidays, this contract was settled on Thanksgiving Day! Even after all of this time I am still amazed at the power of staging. There are 20 plus properties for sale in this area. Here is a tour of the property;

Who says houses aren't selling?

My staged properties sure are selling, almost too fast. You always hear how things slow down over the holidays but my experience has been that homes that are priced accurately and look great sell year round.

I only so 2 or 3 Signature Stagings a month, it is a lot of work to do a Signature Staging on a vacant property. I take the time I think each property needs to get it perfect. I have a warehouse full of furniture, art, lighting and accessories to choose furnishings from but the pack up, the move and then the unpacking and staging is arduous work.

I thought for sure I would have a relaxing December with multiple staged properties in place. Especially with all the bad news of late and the slowing economy. But such is not the case, several staged properties sold in the last 2 weeks so it looks like I will doing a few more moves in December. I have some happy sellers.

One property had been on the market for 14 months prior to Signature Staging and it sold in 44 days. The tour for that one is featured below. Another sold in 17 days. But I should not be surprised, I see it over and over. Staging works in any market!

Energy Saving Tips for the Home

Energy Saving Tips for the Home

(ARA) - Looking for ways to save money? According to The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), a good place to start is in the kitchen. Replacing older, inefficient appliances with more modern appliances is a leading way for consumers to reap tremendous energy savings.

That’s great advice considering the fact that the amount of energy consumed by home appliances has dropped sharply since 2000. Refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers combined account for a 43 percent decrease in energy consumption since 2000, and decreasing energy consumption in turn drops cost.

Replacing an 8- year-old refrigerator, dishwasher and clothes washer with new appliances of average efficiency will save consumers about $95 per year in energy bills. Replacing an 8- year-old clothes washer will save more than $60 in electricity costs and nearly 5,000 gallons of water per year.

Consumers can attain additional savings by purchasing Energy Star designated appliances. Here are some more energy savings tips:

* If you are replacing your refrigerator, do not use the old refrigerator as a second refrigerator. This will not yield energy savings. Properly recycle the appliance. To find recycling options in your area, call (800) YES-1-CAN.

* Allow hot foods to cool before placing them in the refrigerator; and always cover foods that may release moisture in the refrigerator.

* Limit opening the refrigerator and freezer doors. Label foods or use clear food storage bags to easily identify foods.

* Scrape, but do not pre-rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Dishwashers do a great job of cleaning soiled dishes.

* Take advantage of your dishwasher’s “eco” option that reduces water use, or use a no-heat air dry feature.

* Use load size settings on your washing machine. If you are washing a small load of clothing, be sure to change the load setting; and use cold water settings whenever possible.

* Don’t over-dry clothes. This causes shrinkage, generates static electricity, and shortens fabric life. If your dryer has a setting for auto-dry, use it instead of a timer to avoid wasting energy.

* Always clean the lint filter on the clothes dryer after each use. A clogged filter will reduce dryer performance.

For more information on energy savings and to purchase AHAM’s historical Energy Efficiency and Consumption Trends, log on to http://www.aham.org.

Before & Afters, First Buyer Bought It!

Everyone clamors for pictures, and since staging has alot to do with how homes are visually presented I have started working on some before and after shows. Here is the first one, this home sold to the first buyer who viewed it.

The take away is that simple changes can have a huge impact. We edited personal items, repositioned the furniture and I brought a van full of accessories and small things to make the space memorable. The end result was an updated looked that felt as good as it looked.

The listing agent brought me in as part of the marketing team, something he does on most of his listings.

How to Remove Stubborn Soap Scum from Glass Shower Doors

How to Remove Stubborn Scum from Glass Shower Doors

(ARA) - Vicki Lewis of Cottonwood, Calif., lived in her new home for less than three weeks when she first noticed it. Regardless of how hard she scrubbed her new glass shower doors, she could not get them as clean as they were when she had first moved in.

Stubborn soap scum and hard water stains on glass shower doors are a very common problem for homeowners. In communities where hard water is an issue, the build-up of mineral residue can begin clouding glass almost immediately. Simple, routine maintenance is the key to keeping shower glass sparkling. A light coating of wax or sealant every two or three weeks will prevent soap scum and hard water from staining your shower doors.

To determine if your shower build-up is soap scum or mineral deposits, mix one cup of liquid fabric softener with one quart of warm water. With a soft cloth, gently rub the mixture onto the glass in a small circular pattern. Most soap scum will disintegrate and rinse off using this technique. If the build-up fails to respond, fill a spray bottle with a mixture of 1 part mineral oil to 4 parts water. Spray the mixture onto the scum, let it soak for a minute, and then wipe with a clean sponge.

Scum that fails to respond to fabric softener or mineral oil is most likely caused by a build-up of minerals that are dissolved in your water. When the water evaporates the minerals are left behind leaving what cleaning experts refer to as "hard water" stains.

Before applying a treatment to prevent build-up of soap scum and minerals in hard water, you must remove any existing stains. A sponge dipped in vinegar will often work to dissolve lighter mineral deposits. Stubborn deposits will sometimes yield to a mixture of 1/2 cup vinegar, 1 cup ammonia, 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 gallon hot water. Wear rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area when using solutions containing vinegar or ammonia, and be prepared to use some elbow grease. Never use harsh chemicals or heavy abrasives on shower glass.

Lewis determined that the build-up on her shower doors was caused by high mineral content in her water. Sensitive skin led her to develop her own safe and simple home remedy to remove hard water stains. She found that a combination of powerful detergents, mild jewelers-grade abrasive and oxygen bleach provided the best results without the need for caustic chemicals, harsh odors or hard scrubbing. Friends and neighbors found that Lewis' formula was effective and Bring-It-ON Cleaner (www.BringItOnCleaner.com) was introduced to the public in 2007.

After cleaning your glass, seal the surface to prevent soap scum and mineral deposits. Lemon or orange oil will provide a temporary coating and a pleasant aroma. For a longer-term seal you can use an automotive or furniture paste wax. Lewis found that a silicone-based spray worked best in her shower. All of these treatments prevent the soap and minerals from clinging to glass. To extend the effectiveness of the sealant, squeegee the glass after each use. Installing a water softener to reduce mineral content in the water can also help.

For more information about Bring-It-ON Cleaner visit www.BringItOnCleaner.com or call (800) 867-2643.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

The Perfect Summer Place

I can't speak for the rest of the world but I am enjoying the blooming hedgerow intensely, it makes me feel like a kid again, playing out in the yard with nothing to do but enjoy the sweet scent and warm breezes. It's an incredible feeling.

This is the time of the year to make your outdoor spaces live like indoor spaces, creating outdoor living rooms and kitchens. I know I keep talking about this but in staging it is particularly important to accent all your spaces. An empty deck is just an empty deck until you dress it, then buyers will be able to envision enjoying the lifestyle. Just in case you've missed that message, the lifestyle is what buyers are seeking and you are selling.


I also want to bring a little of the outside in as well. Not so much as to be "themey" but just enough to evoke that "summer feeling". It helps us and our buyers connect to the slower pace of summer and easy living. Here are some ideas from Pottery Barn that may inspire you to get in touch with summer too.

Candles and firelight

Comfortable lounging

Hanging gardens

Entertainment

Casual living is what the summer is all about, make sure your home connects with buyers on this level and lets them see that your home can be their perfect summer place. Next post we will address bring the outside in.

Newsletter Archieve

If you want to read past issues of the "Snap, Crackle, Sold" newsletter you can find a link to them on my website at http://www.roomsbylaurag.com/newsletter.html

Click on the turquoise button.

Sold First Time Shown- Yeha!

I can't help but to get excited when I see multiple homes we staged in the last month sell to the first buyers that viewed them. So don't give up, even if your home has been on the market for a year as one of these properties had been. Once they close I will post before and afters as well as speak to the whats and whys, what we choose to showcase as well as problems that needed diffusing, and why. So stay tuned...

ROI on Staging

What is the return on my investment in home staging? Another question that I hear often. Here are some stats from research done by HomeGain when they surveyed 2,000 real estate agents in each of the U.S. regions in 2007.

In this chart HomeGain separates lighting and brightening the home, decluttering, and curb appeal from the staging process. I believe that most professional Stagers consider all of those to be a part of the staging process. Perhaps by "staging" Home Gain was calculating the impact of furniture placement, room definition, traffic flow, art and accessories and other style choices made by the Stager.


Lighten & Brighten- avg. return 355%
Clean & Declutter- avg. return 578%
Fix plumbing, electrical- avg. return 164%
Landscape & Trim- avg. return 319%
Staging- avg. return 343%
Kitchen/bath updates- avg. return 121%
Repair flooring- avg. return 145%
Paint exterior walls- avg. return 147%
Paint interior wall- avg. return 150%


The research also points out the improvements made in advance of and in preparation for the sale actually yield the highest returns. That supports my mantra, "Stage early to reap the largest rewards."

Spring Staging

The price on the property is just the first filter that a buyer uses, this is the reason they landed in your living room. They feel like your house is in their price range and they can afford it. The next filter is usually location. This deals with the livability quotient of the neighborhood. The schools, the neighbors, the style of homes, nearness to entertainment and shopping and last but not least safety. It does not matter how well priced or great looking the house is if the buyer is worried about their safety.

Once those boxes have been checked it is all about emotion, how the buyer feels in the property. That is the deal maker. When I was an active agent I would tell my buyers that they would know when we hit the right house, they would feel it. When the buyer finds a house that feels like home they will quickly begin drafting an offer.

Staging has a very seasonal aspect to it. If you want buyers to leave your house starry eyed and sold you have to appeal to more than their pocketbook, you have to appeal to all their senses.

That was the long path to what I wanted to say about the seasonal aspects. Always consider the season when setting the scene. Spring has sprung. I want my rooms to reflect new beginnings and be full of life and light. Fresh flowers, fruit bowls, flowering plants and a light hand with pops of vibrant color will bring the outdoors in.

Think about changing the art, lighten the floor coverings, and pay special attention to the outdoor spaces. Front porches, patios, and decks all become livable square footage when the weather is nice. An unstaged deck is a missed opportunity for both buyer and seller. Selling is stressful and chilling outdoors is one of the best ways to relieve that stress.

The Red Kitchen, Before & After

Before

After

Here is an example of how a little paint can completely change a room. It was a case of change everything or change nothing. There was not a budget for everything. We hardly spent any money on this space but the outcome was huge. The space went from worn out and tired, to crisp and on trend. The paint color is Sherwin Williams 6607, Tomato Red.

You can imagine the seller's raised eyebrows when we proposed it. Are you sure? In the end we all loved it so much we used red as the color thread that we pulled through the entire house. The results were stunning they got an offer the FIRST week it was on the market.

Just exactly what is curb appeal anyway?

I was in the grocery line having a conversation with someone who noticed I was a professional home stager. I gave him my card and told him to call me when he was ready and suggested that in the meantime he could start working on his home's curb appeal. He smiled and asked me, "Just exactly what is curb appeal anyway?" So let's talk curb appeal and how to turn it up.

At the start of every staging project is a well thought out staging plan based on the seller's budget. It is my job to guide the seller in making decisions as to how to divvy up the money, what to spend where to maximise the return. I always start with the curb appeal.

When my husband and I were in the market for a home we spent a great deal of time scoping out the areas we liked. We would ride though by day and by night trying to get a feel for the vibe of the neighborhood. On weekends we would frequent the local pub and coffee shop. Afterwards we would walk up and down the streets and imagine what it would be like to live there. I think all buyers are the same.

Then you see an adorable house that just draws you in from the street and you are intrigued enough to call for an appointment. That is what curb appeal is. Seducing a stranger from the street to want to see the inside of your house so they can decide if they would like to make it their home.

The view from the curb is the first chance you have to make a great impression. Here are some questions and suggestions to help you evaluate your own curb appeal; What does your yard look like? Are there weeds, does it need to be mowed, are the edges trimmed neatly? Is the house blocked from view by overgrown bushes and trees? Are the flower beds in need of mulch and some plantings?

What does the path to the front door look like? Maybe I should ask if there is a path to the front door? Is it well defined, well lit, and safe. I have seen homes with a cobble stone pathway so uneven and in need of leveling that you truly risk breaking an ankle to navigate it. I have seen homes with no pathway, nothing but a ditch stands between the front door and where you park. That is usually because the sellers use the back door, but showing a home via the back entrance can be a costly mistake.

If you are lucky enough to have curvy walkway, highlight it with flowers or lanterns. If your front elevation is all garage, try to guide buyer eyes into a well landscaped yard or paint your front door red to draw attention away from the garage.

Does the paint look good? Does the house need washing? Are the gutters falling off or full of dead and decaying leaves? Is the roof in good shape? And how about that driveway? When your home is on the market always park in the garage, if possible leave the driveway empty.

What are the steps like on the porch, the railings, and the front door itself. Buyers spend too much time at the front door while the agent opens the house to have it anything but pristine. A freshly painted front door tells the buyers that the house has been cared for. No spider webs, rotten wood, dead plants, peeling paint, rusty fixtures or soggy faded mats. No worn wreaths or tattered holiday flags. Make sure all glass sparkles, same goes for door handles and kick plates. Are the house numbers missing? What does the mailbox look like? Go out there and stand for a moment, you may be amazed at what you see if you can look through the buyers eyes.

Always have a flowering plant or evergreen bush in a pot at the front door, it makes for a nice welcome. Is there room for a rocking chair or two, a Adirondack chair and a small table? Set the scene, outdoor spaces are important and when they are defined buyers see it as additional living space that will garner your home extra points. Window boxes and shutters add tons of curb appeal. Install uplights to enhance the view at night, light the corners of the house, the front door and maybe even a nice tree in the yard. Keep the outside lights on while on the market, buyers will drive by at night.

Curb appeal is a biggie, don't overlook the value of the effort it takes to make yours great.

Color trends

Check it out, some excellent suggestions for paint colors courtesy of the Canadian Benjamin Moore site. If you are staging to sell then lean toward the lighter versions, it's all about the buyer. If you are staging to dwell then go for it, it's all about what you love.

Colours for Your Home 2008 Click to go to their site.
Modern Tranquility
Home is an oasis of renewal. Haven, sanctuary, refuge - home is a wellspring of replenishment, a soothing respite from modern day clamour. A gossamer palette of hushed neutral hues evokes a sense of spaciousness with its quiet suggestion of colour. Clean lines, sumptuous textures and translucent elements that capture and reflect light, bestow spaces a luminous weightlessness that is both calming and expansive.Colours:OC-87 capri coast • 2133-60 sidewalk gray • CC-518 escarpment • HC-78 litchfield gray

Organic Comfort
The repetitive cycle of nature comforts through its rhythmic essence. Environmentally astute, we seek to create spaces that shelter and integrate us within the environment, rather than from it. The tactile qualities of raw silk, linen, bamboo, and stone engage our senses with an organic aesthetic. The colour palette is a celebration of nature’s own; earthen hues with golden, sunlit undertones, deep, rich bark with fresh sprigs of green peppered throughout.Colours:thousand islands CC-308 • great plains CC-334 • sulfur yellow 2151-40 • metropolis CC-546

Pure Opulence
Deep within the earth’s core lay the elements for some of its most vibrant palettes. Rich, mineral hues polished to gem-like brilliance. These are colours that make a statement, whether tucked in a wall niche or announcing their presence in a grand entrance. Equally dramatic and playful, these colours seamlessly showcase stunning architecture and room accents as easily as they can perform as a design element in their own right; a daring vision of breathtaking colour splendour.Colours:rockport gray HC-105 • black raspberry 2072-20 • cork 2153-40 • lemon ice OC-114

10 Showings...

How many times should my house be shown before I see an offer? As a Stager I get this question often. I put on my Stager's hat and my Broker's hat when I answer. 10 times max. If your home has been shown 10 times to qualified buyers and you have not gotten an offer, there is a problem!

Problems fall into 2 categories in my book. Price and condition.

Location, road frontage, school districts, number of bedrooms and baths and all such as that will fall under pricing. Proper pricing will overcome all of those problems. For that matter, with a low enough price even poor conditioned properties will sell eventually.

Condition is where staging comes in. Staging will accent the positive and make sure the buyer sees it while simultaneously correcting and diffusing the negatives. Staging will "out" hidden square footage, define spaces that have no clear function, and in general speak to the buyer on an emotional level so he/she/they can connect with the property. A large portion of staging is about editing out the visual noise so that the buyer is not distracted from the actual house.

So the answer is 10. If your house has been shown 10 times and you do not have an offer, take the time to figure out which problem is stopping the sale. Or could it be both? Price and condition are definitely linked, so don't drop the price without being sure that is the problem.

Often the solution is to stage a home to support the sales price. Getting the positives out there front and center will impact the price. Sometimes it is a combination solution that will reclaim the marketing momentum, staging and a smaller price reduction.

There is a saying in the Staging industry that is so true, "Staging is always less than the first price reduction." Price reductions are of highest value to the buyer when they impact the monthly payment. In order to do that a price reduction will often be $10,000 or more. In more expensive homes it is not out of the ordinary to hear of price reductions of $40,000 or $50,000. Staging is a much more affordable option and offers the added value of the opportunity for a quicker sale to boot. Shorter days on the market mean much less hassle and headache for the agent and the seller. In my book that qualifies as a WIN-WIN!