Monthly Archives: December 2011

A Merchandiser or A Home Stager?

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Staged by DC Redesign - Sold in 38 days!

Both! Marketing your home is just as a merchandiser would market a product using special packaging. You wouldn’t buy a product that doesn’t look good, so why would you buy a house that is disorganized and dirty? Try to look at your house through your buyer’s eyes.

Physical clutter can create mental and spiritual blocks to success, health and selling your home. Have you ever needed to pick up your rooms, make your bed, and put away the dirty dishes in the sink before you leave on a vacation?  That’s because space cleaning is good to lighten your mind and leaves you with a feeling of balance.

First Impressions Sell

Some unacceptable first impressions buyers have can be corrected with the list below. Always remember first impressions and how it is important in any part of your life and in selling your home.

1. Clean up the walkway to your home removing any dead plants, adding new ones, and sweeping and hosing off the driveway and garage doors. It may even be necessary to paint the front door if washing it doesn’t help. Also keep the entrance well lighted at night.

2. Remove any personal stuff, old newspapers and magazines, clothes lying around and religious artifacts. Make sure countertops and dresser tops are clean and clear.

3. Move out any unused or extra furniture so that your rooms are more spacious and not crowded with a lot of stuff.

4. All cupboards and closets should be clean and orderly.  Get rid of old unused clothing.  Kitchen and bathroom cupboards should be extra clean and neat.

5. Remove from sight any cat litter boxes, garbage cans and pet dishes and check the odor in your home. Most homeowners don’t realize that odor plays a big part in the sale of their home.

6. Replace any old rugs and carpets, paint the walls or remove any old wallpaper. Buyers love when everything is done before they move in.

7. Keep your rooms light and bright with clean windows and window coverings. Open up the blinds and curtains and let in the sunshine. If it’s a nice day, open up the windows and let in the fresh air.

8. Add real flowers around your home inside and out. Flowers will also freshen up the scent of your rooms.

9. Keep your rooms painted in a color that appeals to all. It doesn’t necessarily have to be neutral but don’t use hot pinks, lime greens, or themed kids rooms.

10. Make sure your garage is very clean and organized. It you have time, try and have a garage sale before you list your home with a Realtor.

If you live in an area where all of the houses are somewhat the same, with similar features, floor plans and neighborhoods, make your home the best looking house on the block. A Home Stager will help you achieve the look of a perfectly staged home but not look artificial.  Your buyer needs to think,  “I could live here.”  Your home will be remembered!

Frustrated When Searching for a Home Stager?

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Everyone has their opinions about something – this includes home staging.  I can understand how homeowners and Realtors alike may be a little confused why each home stager is different in price and expertise from the next. Can a home stager REALLY help sell my home?  This list will help you decide.

Keep your home clean and neat

 

1.  Realtors know their market – the area, what their clients are looking for and their price range.  First step, get the selling price from your agent. If you don’t agree, ask questions. I had a buyer’s agent tell me my house was worth “so much” and said I wanted more for it. We got exactly what I wanted plus a 60 day escrow.

2. Make sure your home is clean, neat and up to date on any repairs. Most buyers do not want a fixer-upper these days, and if so, you’ll get a lowball offer.

3. Update your home with paint; it’s the best upgrade for the least amount of money.

4. If you want a consultation from a home stager, prices range from $50 to $350 depending on if it’s just an oral report or an extensive layout of furniture, suggestions and ideas all in a written portfolio for you to keep. Some home stagers offer free consultations for Realtors or deduct the consultation fee from their home staging if you choose them.

5. Some home stagers have their own full inventory including furniture and accessories, and other home stagers rent the selected furniture from a furniture rental company plus offer their inventory of accessories only in the staging fee. There are pros and cons to both.  Renting furniture gives you more options – fitting your house’s style and architecture. When a home stager has their own inventory this may limit the style and may not have the means to update their furniture as often as possible. When using a home stager who rents furniture, new pieces and styles are constantly being added to inventory.

6. Find a Realtor who has paired up with a home stager which could mean a complete marketing package. Some Realtors may even split the cost with you or offer a free consultation from their exclusive home stager.  You and the Realtor will benefit with a better offer for your home.

7. Using rental furniture allows your payments to be split up monthly at the time of the rental contract and you can use a credit card. This includes delivery, pickup, and insurance.  One, two or three month plans are available with the stager’s fee usually being separate from the rental furniture costs and a one time fee, not monthly.

8. Look for a home stager who will offer services to tidy up the staging from month to month or before an open house or broker’s preview.

9. Keep up on your technical skills – use text, twitter, and the Internet to compare what sells. The way your home is shown through photos on the Internet tells the buyer your home has been well taken care of.

10. Please keep in mind when calling for estimates that the more clear you are about how many rooms you want staged and your budget bottom line,  the more exact the price will be to home stage. It also helps to send photos by email of the rooms you want staged.

Contact DC Redesign, servicing Orange County, CA, and some surrounding areas for your staging needs or to get an estimate.  We’re located in the Huntington Beach/Westminster area offering home staging or conceptual design – (714) 815-3506

 

 

Home Staging with Rental Furniture

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I’m sure many of you have some confusion on whether or not to use a home staging company that uses a furniture rental company and why.  Having the choice of many furniture pieces gives us the flexibility to stay within the homeowner’s or investor’s price range.  Consider these 5 points:

1.  There are many collections of furniture to choose from -  traditional to contemporary.

DC Redesign creates that Ahhh feeling for your buyer using a collection of coordinated, comfortable packages and we have the choice of an extensive inventory of high-caliber furniture and accessories.

2.  Renting provides a wide array of accessories, rugs, lamps, and floor plants.

DC Redesign uses pieces from our collection, but when a it seems right we also choose from rental accessories, lamps, plants/trees and that perfect color of rug to tie your design altogether.

3.  After each use in a home staging the fabrics are cleaned and the wood is polished and well taken care of.

At the time of delivery each piece is in excellent condition. After every staging the pieces are cleaned, repaired (if needed) or taken out of stock and replaced. You never have to worry about the furniture not being up to par.

4.  Deliveries are on time and keep you in mind.

From the time of contract delivery can be up to as fast as 24 to 48 hours on business days.  You won’t have to worry about the our team nicking up any doors or walls, and scratched or dirty floors; all furniture pieces have felt pads on legs using our five-star installation team.

5.  Pricing is always within your budget!

Our estimates are based on the rooms YOU want staged. DC Redesign suggest staging the main rooms – Living Room (sofa, chair, cocktail table, end table and lamp), Dining Room (dining table and 4 chairs),  and Master Suite (queen bed, dresser, mirror, nightstand and lamp) – PLUS all rooms include art, accessories, and plants. Choose from 1 month, 2 month or 3 month packages.

DC Redesign is committed to making the sale of your home stress-free and effortless for you each and every time!  Call for pricing; we work with you!  (714) 815-3506.

What is Home Staging?

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“HOME STAGING is the act of preparing a private residence prior to going up for sale in the real estate marketplace.  The goal of staging is to sell the home quickly and for the most money possible by attracting the highest amount of potential buyers.  Staging focuses on improving a property to make it appeal to the largest number of buyers by transforming it into a welcoming, appealing, and attractive product for sale.  Staging often raises the value of a property by way of reducing the home’s flaws, depersonalizing, de-cluttering, cleaning, improving condition items, and landscaping.  For vacant homes, rental furniture is used to create a living space the buyer can “see” themselves living in.  Properly executed staging leads the eye to attractive features while minimizing flaws. “  Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You may know already that Home Staging is a necessary step in selling your home in today’s market.  The importance is equal to the Realtor, Home Inspector, Title and Loan Company.

A buyer knows if they are interested in your home in the first 8 seconds of seeing it, and this is just from the outside, called curb appeal: a term used by all home stagers.  The appearance of the landscape, the walkway and the front door all play an important part in wanting to see your home. Realtors are using the Internet to show their listings, and 95% of all buyers use the Internet to find a home.

Home Staging not only increases the value of your property but also reduces the time your home stays on the market.  Make your home stand out from the competition using Home Staging and market-ready photos.  Contact a Home Stager in your area or contact Diane Concialdi, DC Redesign.  I’ll answer any questions, or refer you to a Home Stager in another area!