Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
Somewhere in western New York, I have been hard at work helping to get a house ready for the market. I have been selecting paint colors, new carpeting, new flooring and new light fixtures. It is looking so GOOD!
Except for one thing….the curb appeal
Try as I might, I cannot convince the owners to cut those bushes down. One long stroke of the chainsaw would improve that curb appeal by 100%. I just don’t get it. Listen to your home stager – we provide an objective point of view.
Now that this photo is posted, I have either convinced them or I’ll be fired – one or the other.
Julie
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
This video from Jon Steward’s The Daily Show.
It made me laugh so hard. I hope you too can have a sense of humor about the current housing crisis.
Home Crisis Intervention
Julie
Monday, August 3rd, 2009
Did you put your house on the market this spring but it has not sold? You definitely need to stage it. It should be decluttered, cleaned and staged to sell.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Staging Your Home to Sell is the best do-it-yourself resource for this project. (yeah, I am bias ’cause I am the author)
Don’t make the mistake of thinking: "I know what to do" or "Everyone will like my house just the way it is".
Competition in the housing market is tough. Staging Your Home to sell helps you beat the competition and get the most out of your biggest asset.
Get this book today to help get the most money for your home in the quickest time possible.
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
Last week I was called in to consult on a very nice home in desirable area. It had been for sale by owner for a month or so then the real estate agent came on board.
He realized right away that even though it was nicely decorated, he knew with a few changes it could be great.
I came in and made several simple suggestions: Move furniture for better traffic flow, removed small area scatter rugs to make the room less choppy, and we even talked about painting over a small mural in the kitchen.
I met the homeowners on a Thursday night. They did much of the work themselves including painting over their beloved mural. On that Saturday’s open house, the house SOLD!
Prepping a house for sale is decluttering but it is also depersonalization (the mural) and making the house appear as large as possible (traffic flow). The hardest part of this for homeowners is depersonalization because there is not objectivity – the exact reason to bring in a professional home stager.
The homeowners and real estate agent are thrilled! and so am I.
Julie
Saturday, July 18th, 2009
I have been very busy these last couple weeks. Who said there is a recession. The housing market is hot.
The last three houses I have done a home staging consultation for have had one thing in common: doilies.
In my most professional manner I kindly explain that the house they are selling is aimed at a certain demographic – young upper mobile professionals.
The doily is not a decor object that normally appeals to that age group.
What I really want to say is doilies reminds that generation of their grandma and they do not want to buy a "little old lady house" – there I have said it.
If you are putting your house on the market – do a doily check. Please remove them from all horizontal surfaces including your end tables, toilet tanks and plant stands.
It is easy to do and costs no money – no excuses. And yes, that means you.
Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
I recently got this sweet note from a client:
I just wanted to write to you and thank you for all your helpful advice you gave to me when I was staging my home in West Seneca for a sale. I believe you may have come over sometime before summer 2008. I made the recommended changes you suggested, i.e. new front concrete steps, laminate floors in dining and living room, removal of border in kitchen, and painting of many rooms.
My house sold in 3 1/2 weeks!
Jean P.
Do you want results like this? Contact me at (716) 912-1581. I can help you!
