Category Archives: selling your home

Best “Design” Tips Ever!

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Home Gain 2012 Top 10 DIY Home Improvements for Sellers-NationalEven though Home Staging has dropped in ROI to 196%, the top home improvement for selling your home is Clean & De-Clutter 403% ROI, followed by Lighten & Brighten 299% ROI. These two suggestions are actually part of the Home Staging process!  The Benefit for both of these is still LESS than the benefit for Home Staging.

“Clean and declutter your house. “Buyers can be picky, and, if you have a home that doesn’t have that great first impression, they’ll go elsewhere,” says interior designer Jill Vegas. “In some markets, a lot of real estate agents won’t take a listing unless the home’s been staged.”

Buyers need to be able to visualize living in a home. “People don’t want to buy into a lifestyle where it’s messy, cluttered, or chaotic,” says Vegas . “They want to buy into a lifestyle that’s better—clean, organized, sophisticated, and neat—regardless of whether that’s their actual lifestyle.”

Updating Kitchens and Bathrooms has the biggest benefit at $3,254 however is way down on the list and has the lowest recommendation.

Contact a Home Stagerin your area to create a selling property showing the best in your neighborhood and price range.

At DC Redesign Home Staging and as a qualified RESA-PRO home stager we know what it takes to sell your home quickly and for the most money.  Who would you rather work with?  Call (714) 815-3506 or email me diane@dcredesign.com.  THANKS!

The RESA-PRO designation is earned by the Home Stager and holds the home stager to a higher business ethics and integrity standards in the industry. RESA-PRO home stagers are prohibited from using any stock photos on their Website, and required to a continuing education program to stay up-to-date with all requirements, ethical practices and professionalism in the home staging field.

Home Staging services provided in the cities of Westminster, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Lakewood, Santa Ana, Cerritos, Cypress, Costa Mesa, Corona Del Mar, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Mission Viejo, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, and Aliso Viejo.

Before You List Your Home, Do You Do These Things?

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Did you know that homes listed on the Internet looking great from the outside in, get on the buyer’s list of homes to see?

While staged front door view??  After Staging the home was painted??

The above photos show how backwards home owners can be when deciding to get their homes ready to sell. The white front door is the way the home looked while the inside was staged. After the home owners decided to cancel the contract for staging, it was decided to paint the home. Looks a lot better, doesn’t it?  Why it was done AFTER the staging contract was cancelled is confusing to me.

Taking care of your home is  a lot of work. I’m guilty, even as a home stager, of not keeping up. I’m sure you’ve seen a list like this before, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded.

  • Get rid of rubbish, dead plants and broken or beat up patio furniture
  • Clean up the pool area and make sure the water is clean
  • Paint the front door and trim a great color – DC Redesign can help you with a color choice
  • Don’t get rid of your gardener just yet, or if it’s you (like me) – prune, feed plants, mow the lawn and remove any dead plants or flowers
  • Driveway, walkways and patios should be free of leaves and dirt

Once you feel your home is ready for staging, call DC Redesign Home Staging for a free design consultation to stand out from other houses on the market in your price range and neighborhood.  Contact Rachel Yehiel, 714-335-2413 to inquire about pricing and appointments. Rachel@dcredesign.com or Diane Concialdi, 714-815-3506, diane@dcredesign.com   We would love to meet with you and offer a couple of suggestions.  We also offer Conceptual Staging!

 

 

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