Stage Like a Pro, Even When You're Not

Friday, September 22, 2017

If you are staging your own home you face some challenges that professional stagers don't face.

You probably haven't taken an extended online course in home staging, or even attended a weekend crash-course in staging.

And you probably don't own a warehouse full of spiffy furniture and accessories to tap into.

But when you are a DIY home stager you have advantages the professional ones don't have.

You can use your own furnishings.

You can work with your own timeline.

And you can save money.

You might even have fun and learn some new tricks to make your next home look and function better.

The benefits the pros have don't have to be obstacles to you doing a successful staging of your own property. There are ways you can imitate the results that good professional stagers get.

Imitate the training 

I frequently see photos of professionally staged rooms that miss the mark. I don't want to bash the industry as a whole, but I think that just because someone is accredited by a staging school or organization doesn't mean that she or he has the imagination, experience, talent, energy, connections, or resources to make your home as handsome and sell-able as you could.

Using your own belongings, selectively chosen, to stage your home will save money 
and let you enjoy your home while it's on the market. Photo: Alice Lane 

Having lived in your own home, you know what's both unique and less-than-ideal about it. Most of us know what everyday traffic patterns function best with our floor plans. You probably know from rearranging your own furniture over time what looks best. You know the rooms that get the most compliments from visitors. You know what you like about your home, inside and out.

By reading my homestaging eBooks and my blog, you can zero in on what gaps you see in your staging education. If there are certain rooms that seem problematic, you can do a search right here to read in the archives about how to stage them to sell. Look in the sidebar labels to see what topics interest you.

You can also study my Pinterest Boards, where I've carefully curated images and stories specifically targeted to help DIY stagers. These Pins are not just pretty pictures and impractical or obvious advice. They give you the guidance and encouragement you want, whether inspirational or hands-on tutorials.

Imitate the inventory

So you don't have stacks of dining chairs, rows of dressers, and shelves full of fluffy pillows to dress your home on the market. You have what's worked for you. It probably just needs some editing and some refreshing.

These are the four steps to take to when you are staging with your own furniture.

New slipcovers  and some paint can pull 
together a mismatched dining set. 
Photo: Pink & Polka Designs, where
Kristi makes custom slipcovers in 
Wilmington, North Carolina 

STEP ONE 

Decide what pieces are the best looking. Most of us have too much furniture.

Choose the pieces that make your home look like it is lived in by prosperous people, not down-and-outers.

Anything that looks like its best days are over needs to go into storage or repaired or repainted or cleaned or sold or donated.

STEP TWO

Decide into which rooms these best pieces will go. Don't assume that furniture needs to stay in its present location.

Sometimes a love seat will work better in the master bedroom than on the sunporch. Sometimes a bookcase will look better staged in the front entrance than it does in the already-crowded home office. Think outside the box.

STEP THREE

Decide which accessories are the most flattering. Once you have located the major pieces, you can add the minor pieces like end tables, coffee tables, side chairs and rugs. Then choose the wall art, tabletop[ props, lamps, and  window treatments that help that help sell your home by making it look newer, cleaner, prettier, and more stylish.

STEP FOUR

Decide if you need to supplement any furniture or accessories by buying, making, or borrowing. Here's where a friend with a fresh eye and maybe a  talent for decorating comes in handy. Lacking that, train your eye by studying professionally designed rooms in shelter magazines and decorators' portfolios on their websites. Just by browsing these images you will become a better judge of what needs tweaking or embellishing in your own home. Trust me on this.

Get the look, get the book

Don't let the lack of professional experience or training deter you from staging your own home. Start planning your staging projects and you'll get the results you want -- a home that sells quickly for a price you like. Begin your planning by downloading my eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar. 

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The Magic Words That Turn Buyers On

Monday, July 10, 2017

Most people looking for a home to buy start their search online.

Yes, they drive neighborhoods, but they start their research on the Internet. If they don't see what they want in a listing, you're swiped left.

You can educate your Realtor about what's special about your home-- the things that make you love it. These qualities will help her know best how to describe your property so it attracts buyers.

I'm going to make it easy. Here is my list of seven words that are what buyers want to see and hear.

Turnkey

This term tops the list. Most buyers are impatient to get settled into their new homes. Many of them lack the skills or budget to manage the upgrades they'd love. Give them what they want and you're golden.

If you have unfinished projects -- the garage shelving you bought and never installed, the window treatments you started and didn't quite finish, those closets you've been meaning to organize -- start by making a list. When buyers see a home that needs fine-tuning or repairs, they fall out of love with it.

Spacious

Everyone wants more room. You can't claim spacious if your whole property is tiny, but if the closets or the yard or something else is large, use the magic word "spacious."

If you get unnecessary furniture and personal  belongings off-site, it's gonna go a long way to letting you claim "spacious." It may inconvenience you. It may cost you, but no one ever said that selling a home isn't like running a business, and you may have to spend money to make money.

Immaculate

It isn't just the neatniks out there who get turned on by the word "immaculate." Buyers expect clean. They might have just come from touring a home that was cleaned professionally, or a model home, or a new home, or one tidied up by a professional organizer and then staged to impress. These homes could be your competition.

No home on the market is too clean. I know it takes work and constant attention if you are living in your staged home. Tell yourself it's only temporary. Tell yourself you can do it. It helps if you have a routine cleaning schedule and some help from whoever lives with you.

Remember, declutter first, then clean. Why bother cleaning what is leaving the property? 

Well-maintained

Who doesn't want a place of their own that isn't going to drag down their weekends or bust their budget with repairs? The expression "well-maintained" is over-used, so if you're going to claim your home is well-maintained, make it genuine. When you clean your home, do it the way you would detail your car. Better, yet, the way a pro would detail your car. Get into every corner. Polish what should be shiny. Dump the junk.

You can't advertise "well-maintained" if your roof is 30 years old, your wood-burning fireplace has never been cleaned, your faucets are crusty, and your siding sports a layer of mildew.

Low-maintenance

Not every buyer thinks ahead to what it will take to keep a home in tip-top shape. But more experienced homeowners can spot a maintenance nightmare. The list might include white carpeting, an expansive lawn, a pool, wooden windows, siding, and porch railings that will need painting, and yes, even stainless appliances (not everyone loves 'em, so don't hate yourself for not upgrading).

Sometimes installing a fancy new 
countertop and faucet, plus a fresh coat of 
paint on surfaces can let you claim
"recently updated" in your 
description. Photo: Martha O'Hara

Most low-maintenance features are part of a house's original design. There's not much you can do on a shoestring about not having a brick exterior, solar heating, and a 100-year metal roof, but you can add some visible, low-maintenance features.

You can reduce the size of your turf by increasing the mulched areas. You can have wood windows replaced (or do it yourself if you have some muscle and basic tools.) Look for other after-market features that will make sense for your price point, your region of the country, and your market of buyers.

New

In your home's MLS description, "new" is a word that stands out. Its definition can be a little loosey-goosey.

Is a year-old refrigerator "new?" Can you call the bath remodel you did two years ago "new?" When is a "new" deck considered old?

If you hired a good listing agent, she will filter the fluff out of your list of amenities. The last reaction you want from people coming to view your home is disappointment after you have set them up to expect what doesn't exist.

One alternative is to simply list the year of the purchase or when the work was done. There are other words that can stand in for the word new. In some cases, "recent" or "fresh" can describe things like paint jobs and carpeting that wasn't exactly done yesterday but still looks great.

Recently updated

When you describe your home in literature, online listings, or conversations, one word to avoid is "repaired" or "replaced." These words indicate a problem existed. The better words are "upgraded"  or "updated." They sound more like the decision was based on trends, cosmetics or simply a boost in quality.

The word "recent" carries some serious weight. Buyers prefer to imagine they are among the first to use the feature, whether it's the shower stall, flooring, or media room.

Unless they are FSBO, most home sellers are not writing their own real estate listings, but you can still feed your listing agent the facts. I've blogged already about how to write a home-for-sale listing that sells.

I've written three homestaging eBooks to help you prepare your home so it will sell fast for a price you like. Download them now to get a headstart on your home staging today.

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Staging Diagonally: A Way to Fool the Eye

Monday, June 26, 2017

The larger your home on the market appears the more money it commands.

Yes, buyers will study the square footage stats, and appraisals will be based on numbers, but buyers will also respond to how your home feels, how they experience it.

Of course, removing clutter and excess furniture goes a long way to making a house look spacious. But what else?

One trick decorators have up their sleeves is employing the magic of diagonal lines.

If you think about a square, and then visualize the line that goes diagonally from corner to corner, you'll realize that the line that goes from corner to corner is longer than the line that goes from side to side.

A diagonal arrangement forces the eye to wander back and forth across the space, and makes the walls of a room appear "pushed out."

Tables, chairs, and couches are the obvious choices for diagonal furniture placement, but a bed can be set kitty-corner as well, even in a small bedroom. Don't overlook the possibilities of setting case pieces like bookcases, benches, armoires, chests or dressers the same way.

This kitty-cornered loveseat rounds out the room while it directs attention to
the outdoor space, a selling point in this home. Photo: BHG

A simple twist of the four chairs so their lines don't parallel the walls of this
narrow patio, make the space more fluid and interesting. Photo: Suk Design Group 

  This approach is a big improvement over the traditional 
arrangement of a major piece of 
furniture facing the opposite wall straight on. Photo: Homedit

Everything in this room that could be moved was 
re-arranged to sit at 45 degrees to the wall.
Doing so makes the room look more friendly, 
less formal. Photo: One Kings Lane   

Furniture groupings such as conversation areas and dining rooms often take on a cozier look when they are placed off the square grid. One caveat: Make certain the angle is pronounced enough to make the placement look intentional, not as though someone has simply been careless about shoving furniture around. To be safe, keep angled furniture at 45 degrees to the wall. And make sure there is still adequate room to move about easily.

Floors can handle it, too

I laid peel-and-stick tiles in two rooms
 of this 1920s home to unify the 
rooms and make them look wider.  

I love the jazzy look of floor tiles set diagonally, no matter what the pattern or size.

If you are laying flooring like pre-finished or engineered wood, running the boards diagonally will create the illusion of a bigger room.

A square or rectangular rug will do the same thing if placed 45 degrees off the wall.

Tiles on the floor or wall, in a herringbone pattern or otherwise, are widening as well.

Anytime you can show off the longest line in the room, do it, either by what you put on the floor or walls or how you arrange furniture.

So, even if your home's measurements aren't all that impressive, when buyers step inside your home, you can still make them feel like it's roomy. 
To test this method yourself, move some pieces of furniture to be 45 degrees off the wall, and see if you haven't increased the visual dimensions of your space.

Have you staged your home like a square or a diamond?

I give many more pointers on how to arrange furniture in my eBooks written especially for people staging a home. You can download it now and start your home staging today.

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Summer Style: You've Got This!

Friday, June 16, 2017

As soon as summer starts, home buyers get serious. New listings pop up, people take vacations, they're out and about, and the mood is upbeat.

For families with school-age children, the hunt is even more serious, since they want to move before school starts up again.

Most people would rather move during the summer than when the weather isn't so iffy, and they may have vacation days to use for moving.

It's a great time to have your home on the market. But it's also a  time that your home needs to be "summer-ized." The summer buyer has special needs, and the sooner and more closely you match those needs, the sooner you'll see a purchase offer.

But how to deliver a savory summer home on the market?  What's important? And how much money and effort will this take?

Let's take it one step at a time.

Go breezy

Forget the warm and cozy vibes your property exuded all winter. A fresh, colorful look will lure in more of summer's house hunters.

Inside, stage your home's interior with warmer weather in mind. Switch out your accessories. If you haven't already, put away the animal print and earth-tone pillows and bring on the pastel ones. If your window treatments are a dark color, replace them with sheers. Use white when in doubt. It's your default color whether you're painting furniture or adding slipcovers.

Even if your home isn't in a perfect summer destination, like the mountains, lake, or seaside, ask yourself if you can play up the way your home is a treat to live in during the summer. If it's close to any summer attractions, make sure buyers know. Don't assume everyone knows your town and its amenities, and you can't assume the real estate agent will think to talk up all that your surroundings have to offer.

Keep the house cool so folks on tour feel refreshed when they enter. It doesn't have to be ultra chilly, but you can't underestimate the impact the immediate impression of comfort has on someone entering from the toasty outside.

Outside has to shine

The best exterior home staging for summer advice I can give is to dress up those outside living areas. 

Make them look like the perfect places for relaxing, entertaining, and playing. If you don't have a patio or deck or porch, chances are you can still imitate the experience no matter what your property is like.

Put a bistro table and chairs on the balcony if that's your outdoor space. Add some comfy seats if you have a front or back porch. Make a simple, economical firepit, or add a hammock out on the lawn if space allows.

Colorful plants in containers create killer curb appeal. Bright colors are the rule here. Cash outlay is minimal for the ROI.

Make sure your lawn is tidy, and areas around shrubs are mulched. This project should not cost you much either.

Of course, your home's basic exterior maintenance needs to impress buyers. Check for red flags that might worry them  -- things like paint that is faded, peeling, or mildewed, windows that are cracked or fogged, gutters that are clogged, or walkways that are uneven.

Does your siding, driveway or any other surfaces need pressure washing? Power washers are rentable for a low fee and are easy to use. Has your driveway been patched? It can be painted with a good quality paint used for concrete. Do you have a pool? Make sure it's in great condition, clean and staged with some tempting lounge chairs.

Elbow grease is free and bleach is economical.

Add seasonal touches inside

The thought of summer calls up happy images for most of us -- road trips, pools, beaches, picnics, baseball games, outdoor meals, light reading, sleeping late, and a relaxed state of mind (unless you're a mom of little ones).

I like to let people on a house tour reflect, even momentarily, of what kind of life they will live once they move into a house. For that reason, I like to add some thrifty items that will trigger those thoughts -- furniture that looks relaxing instead of just impressive, sports equipment that anyone could love, lots of refreshingly cool colors, entertaining essentials that look like fun, and props that capture the spirit of the season.

Even if you don't own furniture that itself speaks to 
casual comfort,you can still stage it to say, 
"Relax! It's summer!" Rattan, bamboo, 
wicker, metal, pine, teak,and painted furniture
are some  of the most  
common materials for leisure furnishings. 
Let's not forget slipcovers for converting a 
formal space to look more relaxed and
low maintenance. Photo: Sunbrella on Coastal Living.

Okay, maybe your family doesn't play baseball, 
hockey, football, basketball,
and volleyball, but if you can show the 
possibilities for local recreation in your area,
 it is going to impress some people. 
If there is a pool nearby, have noodles 
in your garage . If there is a tennis court in your 
complex, display rackets in your hall closet.
Photo: The Land of Nod
  

The coastal decor pillow is the icing on the cake here,
surrounded by bright whites and colors of the beach and water.
Doesn't everyone wish for a house at the shore? You can stage
to create the illusion of that fantasy come true. Photo: Completely Coastal

This collection of summery hats and bags, all in one place,
function like a piece of wall art. It's an easy look to engineer with
a visit to a second-hand shop and maybe your closet.
The plant also lends a seasonal touch. Photo: One Kings Lane  

When in doubt, go white. Get out the paint and give furniture,
fixtures, frames and other accessories a fresh, new look.
The white treatment is especially appealing to buyers in spaces that
call for cleanliness, the kitchen and baths. Photo: Jules Duffy 

If you need more tips on how to get your home ready for market, download my home staging eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar. I guarantee you'll get staging ideas. And results that matter to buyers.

. 

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Your Cheat Sheet for Staging the Bar Cart:

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Once your home-for-sale is decluttered, cleaned, staged, and ready for showings, it may look a little too generic.

That's the time to introduce some personality, some minor focal points to keep people on a home tour interested.

Enter the bar cart.

It's one of the simplest devices to add the glamor and detail every staged home needs. It's easy to pull it all together once you know the elements that make for an appealing display.

The cart itself

Most carts have an upper and lower shelf. Some have an additional shelf or a drawer or closed cabinet as part of their design. Most have wheels. A cart without wheels is considered a beverage bar, and can be just as functional and stylish.

Choose a cart that suits the room. If you need to fill an empty corner of your homey kitchen, you'll want something different than if you're dressing up an alcove in a formal dining room or that space under the stairs in the basement family room, or even the boring wall in a home office.

A room that lacks some glitz or shine will benefit from a traditional metal and glass beverage cart. A room that needs some weight needs a more solid model, a real piece of furniture. And a room that just needs an end table is a candidate for a small, round bar cart.

Whatever style you choose -- and there are many -- anchor the cart visually to its surroundings if it is against a bare wall. A wall-hung work of art or a mirror is a great background.

Can you pull together a makeshift bar cart from a bookshelf or oversized tray on legs? Probably, but it won't have the same vibe as a sexy chrome model with big wheels, or a vintage bamboo beverage stand on copper casters. Depending on your needs and the style of your home, you can find new, good-looking, new carts for as little as $40, and less if you shop thrift stores or garage sales. 

A cart can be packed tight and organized, 
or sparsely equipped and
loosely arranged, like this one from West Elm. 

But even if you decide to spend more, don't feel guilty. This is one piece of furniture that's small, versatile and always in style. In other words, it's an investment piece.

Start with a tray

Just like styling a coffee table or a bedside table, styling a bar cart gets a whole lot easier when you begin with a tray. Don't play matchy with the bar cart. Instead, choose a tray that contrasts in shape and material -- a round Lucite one on a square wooden cart, or a rectangular metal one on a round glass cart, for example.

If you go with more than one tray, they don't necessarily have to be a set. Also, a decorative box or basket with low sides can stand in for a tray.

The tray will make an assortment of items read as one unit, and that's always easy on the eyes and makes sense for home stagers. You get to choose the props that go on your staged bar cart because a cart is never a substitute for a liquor cabinet. Technically, it's a station for entertaining and in the case of home staging, it's a device to set the mood for home buyers on tour. It helps them picture themselves relaxing and entertaining friends and family in style.

Duplicate bottles give some order to your assorted
collection of bar cart essentials. Photo: One Kings Lane. 

Add some big bottles

You'll need an assortment of bottles to make your display striking and all Hollywood. These can be commercially- or DIY-labeled bottles of beverages like scotch, vodka, rum, gin and whiskey. Or they can be partially filled pretty decanters, or bottles of wine. Some bottles of mixers like colas, ginger ale, and tonic water are always good fillers. Of course, a few large bottles of a status brand spring water or mineral water are always smart additions.

Don't feel that you need to actually create a functioning beverage center as though Don Draper and his office mates were going to visit. Your cart can be a simple wine bar, or a selection of juices and soft drinks, fun glasses, straws, coasters, and an ice bucket. Another possibility is to stage your cart as a coffee station.

I never recommend using anything but water in bottles on display in a staged home on the market. It's just too tempting to people on tour of your home. Add plain or appropriately colored water to empty bottles according to their labels. Keep your expensive liquor out of sight.

Glassware should be special

This is not the time for dull or random glasses. This is the time for a sparkling, new set of highball glasses or champagne flutes. A few goblets or pilsner glasses can be part of the mix, but you don't have to set out an entire collection of different types of glassware. The keywords are clear, pretty and shiny.

Since real estate agents can't be expected to police your valuables when showing your home, fine crystal is too valuable for staging, so pack it for your move.

To keep your display from looking too scattered and distracting, have multiples of each glass type you choose. For example, a row of identical tumblers will help pull together a cluster of assorted bottles, giving unity to your staged cart.

This set-up from Target has some attitude!
The black and white palette gives it an uptown look. 

You'll need an objet d'art

Every display needs something unique. Hunt your house or second-hand stores for a filler piece with some heft and whimsy. Some possibilities: a vintage lamp, an unusual ice bucket, an animal sculpture, a one-of-a-kind basket, a bartender's manual, or book of toasts.

Don't make your bar cart accessories anything precious or small, like an heirloom corkscrew or cute shot glasses. These are the kinds of things that can too easily disappear into people's pockets. Crazy, but true.

Add greenery or seasonal flair

Depending on the time of year, you may want to dress up your staged cart with a seasonal touch or two. In spring, some flowers (even silk ones) are a refreshing touch. In summer, a plant or some flowers are perfect. Autumn's cozy accessories are candles, books, and hints of the harvest. Add a winter topiary or poinsettia during the winter holidays. A home that shows seasonal touches is a home that looks lived in and loved.

You may even decide to select your beverage choices to reflect the season -- spritzer makings in July, and festive drink mixes in December.

Just the look of a stack of beautifully gift-wrapped packages can make people happy. And always in season is some greenery. It doesn't have to be complicated. 

Coordinated colors and the absence of small stuff
help this arrangement look tidy. 

Lemons and/or limes complete the picture

Since lemons are one of my favorite staging props, I'm not going to ignore them here. They're made for the bar cart! No matter what kind of container you put lemons or limes in, you can't go wrong. I'm going to suggest faux fruit because over time it never needs to be checked for mold the way fresh fruit would. Today's fake fruit is absolutely convincing.

There's something welcoming and yet sophisticated about even a modest bar cart. I think you'll have fun styling it if you decide there is a role for one in your home staging.

Get the look, get the book

If you are planning a homestage, you need my eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar.  I guarantee you won't be disappointed with all the insights, formulas, tips, ideas, and advice I've learned working in real estate -- experience I am happy to share with you. You can download it now and start your smart-staging today.

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How to Sell Your Home Faster

Sunday, March 05, 2017

People buy homes for different reasons.

If you are putting your home on the market, you'll want to appeal to as many of those reasons as you can. The result will be a speedier home sale.

It’s easier than you might think to make your home appealing to more people. That’s because there are certain qualities most home buyers want.

Here is a list. If these features don’t already exist in your home, it’s sometimes possible to add them economically or else stage your home to create the same impression. 

Less formality

The trend is toward more open spaces. Create the look with less clutter. Matched floor coverings and seamless color schemes help, too, as does casual furnishings.

Move-in ready

More than anything else, most buyers want a no-hassle move. They should not have to make immediate repairs. Have a home inspection done and take care of deferred maintenance before listing.

Primary bedroom

Because who doesn’t want a special room off-limits to the rest of the world? If you don’t have a bedroom ensuite as part of your floor plan, be sure to make the primary bedroom and one bath feel like a private retreat for grownups.

This bedroom exhibits the luxurious look of a master bedroom. 
The horizontal lines of furnishings and window treatments create the 
illusion of spaciousness. Photo: Shea McGee Design.

Light-filled spaces 

As long as privacy is assured and the view is pleasant, the more windows a home has, the better. Create the feeling by staging with minimal window dressings that make openings look large. Paint with pale colors. Use more-than-adequate lighting. 

Modern kitchen 

Buyers fall for spacious kitchens that boast upscale appliances. Here is one place to make some investments if your kitchen is out of date. You don’t need a remodel to buy a new fridge or stove. A spotless, bright, uncluttered kitchen feels more modern, too.

Not everyone demands a huge kitchen.
Up-to-date appliances
and cleanliness go a long way.
Photo: Pamela Dailey Design.

Storage solutions

No one has too much storage space because most of us have too much stuff. Clean out your closets and stage them to look roomy. Make smart use of all your storage areas by compacting and organizing your things.

Technology

Ideally, your home has wireless compatibility throughout. Upgrade the electrical system up to today’s needs. Stage a space as a charging station. Remove outdated entertainment systems (looking at you, jumbo dish, roof antenna, and bulky TV armoire!).

Energy efficiency

HVAC systems and energy-efficient windows are important but expensive. Keep your home at a comfortable temperature while it’s on the market. Yes, ceiling fans are still okay.

Outdoor spaces

Usable areas for entertaining and relaxing outdoors are priorities for most buyers. It’s economical to create these spaces on even the smallest lots, even if your outdoor space is just a balcony. If you have a side yard, or a front porch or deck, make it look like a place that is useable as a spot to spend time. Some outdoor wicker or metal furnishings add that casual vibe buyers like. 

Stage and promote

Create closet envy with an arrangement anyone
would love. Pack your non-essentials up and
stage it glam. Photo: Akin Design Studio.    

Your buyer is out there and ready to be educated about your home.

Therefore, it’s important to be specific about the desirable features your home has. Make these specifics part of your MLS listing, your Realtor’s promotional info and online descriptions.

When you talk to neighbors, family, colleagues, and friends about your home for sale, let them know what makes your place special.

If the heating and cooling devices are new, document it. If the patio is shaded in summer, make sure buyers know. If there is additional storage space in the attic, mention that in the online specs. If your HOA maintains outdoor spaces, be sure to include that in the listing. If you’ve done major repairs that might not be obvious, make sure your Realtor knows about these. (Tip: Don’t call them repairs. Call them upgrades.)

I encourage you to consider the ways you can add or imitate the features that people want in a property. The sooner you meet these needs and market your home around what today’s home buyers expect, the sooner you’ll sell your home.

And when your home is missing some of these key ingredients, home staging can make up for the shortcomings. Download my home staging eBook to learn more about how you can make your home more appealing to more people.

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Six Common Mistakes Novice Homestagers Make

Saturday, February 04, 2017

Staged homes sell faster and for more money than unstaged homes.

But, what if you can’t afford a professional home stager to come to your place, create a plan, and supply what’s necessary to have your house look like a model home?

Answer: You do the work yourself of course. The problem is you may not be able to detach yourself from how your home usually looks.

Let’s review the common mistakes that homeowners make when they stage their own homes, and how to avoid these pitfalls.

1. Pushing all furniture to the walls

When pieces of furniture line the perimeter of the room, the room looks uninviting and boring, a little like your doctor’s waiting area.

It may seem to be an approach that makes the best use of square footage, but instead, you’ve created a space that looks strangely uncomfortable.

No matter how small the room, there is always a way to cluster some of the pieces in groupings that look friendly.

If you can’t think of a different way to place furniture than around the edges of the space, it’s time to remove some furniture.

Put your largest and heaviest pieces of furniture on sliders and start playing around until the room looks balanced. Then fill in with the smaller and lightweight pieces until you get a look that’s interesting and functional. Try diagonal furniture placement, and pulling pieces away from walls.

Remember that a traffic pattern does not necessarily have to run through the center of a room. Download my eBook on furniture arranging to help you solve these kinds of problems.

This room suffers from an unimaginative arrangement
of furniture. The two couches could
have been placed at right angles
to create a conversation area. 

2. Too many DIY projects

Sure, they save money, personalize your home, and are (usually) fun to do, but an excess of homemade crafts in your home can cheapen the property. 

Of course, it all depends on your level of skill and your vision, but prime examples of common DIY fails are handmade seasonal decorations like wreaths, chandelier makeovers, an excess of glitter or Mason jar projects, and skimpy window treatments.

I suggest sticking to what you do well, perhaps sewing, painting, or refinishing furniture, then find the items you need elsewhere. My favorite sources for those things that dress up your staging are Overstock, Tuesday Morning, T.J. Maxx, garage sales, and thrift stores. And this is important: Train your eye to what looks high-end.

You can always resume your crafting projects when you move to your next home that you can decorate to please only you and yours.

I know Country Living meant well when it
suggested spray painting a collection of
beer bottles,  but it's probably not the kind
of decorations that will enhance a staged home. 

3. Lack of color

In our rush to make a home-staged house look clean and cohesive, it’s common to see rooms decorated in boring color schemes – all grey or all beige, or even all white.

Best bet: Base your color scheme on three colors – a neutral background color, a second color that is adjacent to the first on the color wheel, and a third color as an accent. The third color can be a deeper shade of one of the first two colors, or a color that appears either opposite them or near them on the color wheel. 

The top photo from Shea McGee Design shows that a palette centered around grey and white looks beautiful with accents of blue.

A color scheme can be harmonious without being monotonous. Here’s more help from me on choosing paint colors for your home the easy way.

4. No budget

Every successful project starts with a plan about how money will be spent. Knowing what you can afford and what products and services actually cost is a start. A budget will reduce emotional stress because it gives you a spending framework and you’ll receive the satisfaction of knowing you’re making smart financial decisions.

The amount of money you spend to stage your home depends on the size, condition, and style of your property.

In a hot real estate market, you can probably use more of what you already have, saving money. And if you can do most of the work yourself, you’ll spend less.

But if homes are selling slowly where you live, you may have to spend something in order to rent or buy some furnishings so you can stand above the competition. That’s just business!

Start your home staging with a list of what needs to be done or purchased and then estimate the costs. Prioritize the list, and look for cost-cutting methods.

5. Art that doesn’t help

A large abstract like this painting by
Lindsey Meyer adds the right amount of
punch to the space. Notice that it is
hung at convenient eye level and 
doesn't float far above the table. 

I can’t stress enough the value that art adds to a staged space. But often pieces of wall art are hung either too high or (less commonly) too low.

Art used for home staging needs to be non-distracting and non-controversial. There are certain subjects that make people feel good, and these are the subjects experienced stagers rely on – things like landscapes, still lifes, and abstracts. For more tips on using art to help sell your home, see my linked 30-day blog series about that topic.

6. Not enough detail

We’re all working to minimize clutter. We’re told to get organized and to simplify our surroundings. But many new stagers will remove the very things that add interest to a space, the accessories that add decor layers and invite people touring a home to slow down.

These are the details that make a home look loved and lovable. I’m talking about things like plants, artwork, books, boxes, trays, bowls, and pillows. Focus on generously sized objects because they “read” well and because they won’t be stolen.

I hope you find these tips and reminders helpful when it’s time to stage your own home for the real estate market. For more advice to make your home competitive in the marketplace, download my easy-to-follow home staging eBooks and start staging today.

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7 Ways to Jump Start Your Homestaging

Monday, January 16, 2017

When it's prime time to list a home,
will your property be ready? 

Most real estate agents agree that spring is the busiest home-buying period. Families with children want to move as soon as school ends and others want to make a purchase early in the year for income tax reasons.

By March they say the home-buying market cools. These stats mean that if you want to get your home listed in a friendly market, you want to get staging it now!

Don’t be overwhelmed. When you take home staging step by step, you won’t waste time, you’ll keep the stress level in check, and you’ll sell your home soon at a price you like.

One: Dump the junk

Getting rid of what doesn’t flatter your home should kick off your plans. It’s a great place to start because you won’t be spinning your wheels organizing and cleaning what we can consider clutter. 

Give yourself a deadline for having your home excess-free. Setting milestones along the way makes the process smoother. “By Thursday I’ll have the bedroom closets scaled down to essentials.”

If you need to store belongings off-site, now’s the time to locate a place.

Two: Give rooms names

Buyers get confused when a room doesn’t appear to have a singular purpose. Each room in your home needs to shout its function. “I’m the master bedroom!” “I’m the home office.” “I’m the family room.”

So, if you are currently using your dining room as homework central, or your guest room as a crafting place, now’s the time to scale back and make it easy for buyers to see rooms for what they are.

At the same time, you might want to tuck a home management desk into a corner of the kitchen if there is space for it, or a reading spot in a large bedroom. Just make sure you aren’t crowding the space or going in too many directions with multi-purpose rooms. 

Comfort and practicality are selling features
that don't require much furniture. 

Three: Check the traffic flow

How you move through your home on a daily basis may be different from the way home buyers tour your home. Try this: enter from the front door. Look around. In what direction would a guest go first? Is the traffic pattern obvious and unobstructed? Does each room appear spacious? Do doors open wide? Are the selling points of the home sure to be part of even a quick tour?

If you need tips on rating your floor plan and traffic path, you’ll find them in my eBook, How to Arrange Furniture. The placement of furniture in your rooms will point people in the right direction and make your spaces feel both friendly and functional. 

Four: Choose your furnishings

Now that you know how you want your rooms to function and how you want people to walk through them, you can decide which major pieces of furniture should stay and which have to go. Most of us own too much furniture. The pieces that need to be removed can be placed in storage (off-site is best), loaned to friends and family, or sold.

Choose the furnishings that convey the lifestyle most people aspire to – one of success and comfort. Ask yourself, “Does the furniture look like it belongs to a rich and happy person?” Sounds silly, I know, but isn’t this what most people aspire to?

Repair, recover, repaint or replace… Do whatever it takes to make your home look polished and desirable. For inspiration, thumb through shelter magazines and scan popular Pinterest rooms.

Five: Schedule tasks

Put rehab money where it matters --
baths, master suite, kitchen.  

No plan would be complete with a timeline. Now that you know what you want your rooms to look like, you can determine what needs to be done and give yourself some deadlines.

Make a schedule however you like – on paper, your phone, a whiteboard, a spreadsheet, or in your mind -- whatever works for you.

You may prefer to tackle your tasks room by room, or cluster your work by the tools they require. For example, I like to save all my spray painting projects for the perfect day. And I will clean all the ceiling light fixtures when I have a step ladder out. Plan ahead and think like an efficiency expert.

Six: Give yourself a budget

This can be tough. When you’re selling a home, your mind is often fixed on saving for a down payment and for the money to personalize your next home.

Homestaging can require a big chunk of money or it can be done on a shoestring. It depends on the condition of your home, the market for your home, and how it will be priced. Now would be a good time, if you haven’t already, to lock in a real estate agent who can estimate selling price.

Like many other projects, whether a vacation or wardrobe makeover, you might plan to splurge on a couple of major luxuries, and then let other homestaging “needs” stay as “good enough.” The golden rule here is that infrastructure comes first and cosmetics second. In other words, make sure roofing, plumbing, electrical, and structural systems are sound before you buy a new living room sofa.

With a rough budget in mind, you can plan what needs to be purchased and what could be borrowed or rented. Factor in costs for necessary contractors such as a carpet cleaning service, handyman, plumber, landscaper, house painter, handyman or electrician.

Seven: Make it fun

At this point, you can turn your attention to nitty-gritty staging. I like to have a “staging area,” where I can collect what items I know will stay, where I can keep tools, fabric swatches, paint chips, lists, props and other accessories.

It’s time to plan your color scheme -- one that will unify the whole house. If you are unsure about some decisions, ask a friend whose taste you trust or seek advice at a paint store.

Your home is bound to continue to look increasingly like a model home as you fine-tune your furnishings and maybe continue to pare down your belongings. Before you know it, you’ll be ready for that initial showing. Next step: a purchase offer!

There’s much more advice on how to stage your own home in my eBook, DIY Homestaging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar. a 155-page PDF that you can download now and view on any device.

All above photos: Better Homes and Gardens 

  

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Houseplants Even You Can't Kill

Monday, January 02, 2017

Plants breathe life into a room. I’m pretty sure most of us already know that greenery adds style to any décor. 

Their natural good looks add believability and freshness to a room.

As a bonus to home stagers, living plants are natural mood elevators, a fact that home sellers can use to make buyers feel good when they are touring a home on the market.

Not only do houseplants make a room look and feel fresher, they actually clean the air because they take in carbon dioxide and process it into oxygen. Meanwhile, they absorb harmful, common air pollutants that outgas from synthetic finishes and cleaning products.

And yet, some of us are resistant to make houseplants part of our home staging package. With valid reason. You have to take care of them!

The good news is that there are plants that don’t ask much in the way of care. They are the goof-proof house plants that seem to thrive on neglect. Here is my list of favorites.

Snake plant tops the list

It's also known as mother-in-law's tongue, but technically it's called Sansevieria trifasciata, and that's a mouthful of Latin! 

You say you have a brown thumb?
Not a problem if you stage 
with a snake plant like this. 

The beauty of these plants is that, well, they are beautiful, with their strong upright structure and bands of dark greens.

The snake plant lets you get away with minimal watering. It doesn’t ask for much sunlight, so it can sit in a low-light corner and still be happy.

Add fluff with ferns

Ferns are one of my favorite plants, an opinion shared by many. They are graceful and versatile. Because they are tropical plants they want more water than a snake plant, so keep them where they will not damage any surface in case your container sweats or could leak. Ferns are happiest in bright or filtered or indirect sun.

Whatever your personal taste or decor style, you'll find a fern variety that fits the bill.

I like to give fern plants a cleaning in the shower to provide the humidity they prefer and to get any dust off the fronds. Let them soak up the water and then drain well before putting them back in place. Rotating a fern occasionally will keep the growth balanced for a better appearance.

Ferns are perfect space fillers for almost any room in the house – a home office, kitchen, bedroom, bath, or communal living areas. If kept watered, they will not shed, wither or discolor. When a home is staged to sell, a plant making a mess or looking unhealthy can hint that the home itself has not been cared for. Tidy wins the day.

My aglaonema plant grows slowly and never gets bugs or diseases. Perfect!

Chinese evergreen asks for almost nothing

I have an aglaonema plant, also called Chinese evergreen, that I admit to forgetting about for a couple weeks at a stretch. And it forgives me every time, bouncing back after a soak in the sink and a little pruning of any yellowed leaves.

This ability to live without much attention makes the Chinese evergreen plant a good one to place in an unoccupied, staged home.

Chinese evergreens are content with indirect light so they can sit in an unsunny room. One of the worst places you can put any plant is next to a window because light enters the window but light rays do not bend to reach sideways.

Don't sneer at philodendron

We've all seen these rangy plants in stores and offices, with their heart-shaped leaves spaced along dangling stems. However, a philodendron that is well cared for is compact and handsome. Its glossy leaves and tolerant manner make it one of the most common indoor plants, one that is currently enjoying a return to popularity.

Philodendron plants are at home in almost 
any setting and unlike some houseplants, 
don't mind if you move them 
from one place to another. 

There are many varieties of philodendrons. Some fruit or flower. Some vine and need a support and some are content to stay in their pot. Some have huge leaves and others appear less jungle-like. They all prefer medium light but will tolerate low light. You can't go wrong with a philodendron!

Dracaena looks architectural

Called the corn plant, this one could be the easiest one on our list to grow. Shown in the top photo, dracaena look like a small tree with sword-shaped dark green leaves accented with a creamy middle stripe. They prefer bright light but will tolerate low light.

The corn plant can add an upright form to a room that lacks architectural interest. They are good space-fillers useful for staging a home that doesn’t have quite enough furniture. Because they don’t require bright light, they could be the right plant for an entry or hall that doesn’t receive much natural light.

Big or small, alone or in groupings, prickly 
or smooth, cactus plants love you back.

When in doubt, grow cactus 

I’ve written before about how handy faux cacti and other succulents can be when you are staging a home. All the real ones ask for is bright light and dry conditions.

The easiest to tend -- if you can call it that -- are the desert cacti. An added bonus to these varieties is that they usually have interesting shapes and textures. They especially look good clustered in an interesting planter. Even in winter, while all cacti are dormant and require even less water and feeding, they still add some pizazz to the home staging environment.

Basic care for these fuss-free plants

All these easy-care plants benefit from a mild fertilizer in spring and summer and less water in the winter than the rest of the year. They need to be kept away from drafts and direct heat. Use a good potting soil that lets their roots spread out and that drains well.

None of the plants described here are expensive to buy or difficult to find. Big box home improvement centers stock them year-round. If you want to leave them in a plastic pot it’s easy to place that pot in a larger, more impressive container as long as the plastic one doesn’t show because that just looks amateurish. You can use sphagnum moss or rocks to cover the soil surface and disguise the gap between the two pots.

Make sure your plants are not root bound. Just press them or pop them out of their containers to check for signs that the roots are crowded.

Some houseplants are fussy. But the economical and forgiving ones I've described here are no-brainers. And they really liven up a room. Why not put their almost magical powers to use in your home staging?

Get the look, get the book

Want more tips on how to sell your home faster for more money? Download my homestaging eBooks today and start staging your own home!

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