Best “Design” Tips Ever!

Posted on by
Reply

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.

Do You Fear Choosing Color for Your Home?

Posted on by
Reply

Home Staging with Neon ColorWhether it’s apparel, home furnishings, wall paint or automobiles, a new palette of color for design, fashion or home, changes from year to year.

Home decor colors for 2012 remind me of the 1970′s with all the neon colors coming back into design. Your first-time-buyers will love the retro look of the clean and sleek lines in the furniture and clean bright rooms.

Painting your celingAccording to Benjamin Moore, the color of the year is Wythe Blue (HC-143). I’ve always loved the soft pewter-blues paired with sand colored tans to create a feeling of being near the ocean. A lot of earth and sky colors, purples, mustard yellow, tangerine and butterscotch are also here for 2012.

Wall color with tattoosThis room has an elegant feel with a new product from Benjamin Moore called Wall Tattoos – framed they create an interesting wall of images.

 

 

 

 

If you’re uncertain of the color to choose for your rooms, pull them out of your favorite piece of artwork or wall hanging. Or choose an accessory, piece of furniture or any collection you will not part with and make it your focal point of color – works every time. But also include black or white, these “colors” are actually neutrals, and will complete the design. Remember to use complimenting colors for additional rooms throughout your home to create a flow from room to room.

Create a flow from room to room of colorUsing the focal point of the room, (the fireplace in this instance) add a brighter color to make the room look interesting. Paint one wall and add pillows, candles or vases in this same wall color.

All of us feel happier when surrounded by color, and buyers pick houses that make them feel happy. Stage your home with color, price it right, and your listing agent will be happy too!

DC Redesign Home Staging and Conceptual Design works with home owners, Realtors, Investors and Property Management Companies to showcase your listings with Home Staging design and Color Consultations. As a RESA-PRO affiliate, we resolve problems professionally and educate our clients why it’s important to stage your home before listing. You can reach Diane Concialdi at (714) 815-3506, diane@dcredesign.com.

 

It’s Not as Hard as you Think

Posted on by
Reply

For all you D-I-Y’ers, here’s a list of what to do to get your home ready for listing with a Realtor! Staging is #3, along with Clean & De-clutter #1, and Lighten & Brighten #2. These really important three things is what Home Staging is all about.

If you’re thinking of calling a home stager to help you with a consultation, you could speed up the time the consultation takes by doing these things listed above. Then give us a call!  Our Consultations are $100 an hour. We let you know what YOU need to do giving you and showing you tips for your redesign, then you Do It Yourself. When we come back to see how you did, we’ll probably show you a few more things..it depends on how you did or if you want  more suggestions.

DC Redesign Home Staging and Conceptual Design Home Stages in Orange County, Huntington Beach, Westminster, Long Beach, Orange, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Fountain Valley, Lakewood, Cerritos, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar. Contact diane@dcredesign.com (714) 815-3506.

Do You Include These Principles in your Home Design?

Posted on by
Reply

Most Interior Designers know the Principles of Design, I’m not one, but I have an Interior Designer in my company and we talk about these principles now and then. We also use these principles in Home Staging design – or try to – and can make or break the design. These photos from other designers are right on in their Principles of Design!

Balance – a sense of visual weight of the elements. I like symmetrical – centered fireplace with two identical chairs facing each other, or this bedroom by Justin Lawson. Notice the side tables; it’s like a mirrored image. I just love this room.

Rhythm – a repetition of elements in a design scheme. Note the design by Kim Coleman where she repeats the squares in the bedpost onto the wall with the square mirror. Repetition can be done with color and visual interest, but the design must include a sense of unity.

 

 

 

 

Emphasis – elements in a design that are more significant than other features in a room. This is one of my favorites. In our home staging, we’ll take a favorite piece of art, furniture piece or wall covering and make it stand out from the other subordinate pieces. A room looks lifeless without emphasis from Interior Design Basics. The area rug pulls all of the other pieces together; could you imagine this room without the rug?

 

 

 

 

 

Scale – using an area rug, art or furniture selections that are too small. Very important in home staging too when there is no scale used in the overall room design. Your design will look weak. This look is complete.

 

 

 

 

Harmony – this is created by the design, itself. Unity and variety need to exist in a room to get harmony by using colors, textures, patterns and variety. All of these photos are excellent in a complete design feel.  Isn’t it a “feeling” when you find that perfect house on the market?

DC Redesign Home Staging and Conceptual Design helps home owners, realtors, investors, property management companies and builders with their designer needs. Contact Diane for pricing or to set up an appointment for a home staging quote or conceptual design questions.  diane@dcredesign.com, (714) 815-3506

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

Posted on by
Reply

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!

 

 

A Merchandiser or A Home Stager?

Posted on by
Reply

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?

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
Reply

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?

Posted on by
Reply

 

“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!

 

 

 

 

Home Staging is a Definite Yes!

Posted on by
Reply

Home staging projects are very exciting, fun and… a lot of work. You will agree viewing before and after photos that home staging is a definite for your home to create a feeling of warmth and bring some life into your property.

The location of your home can be very important when a beach location can add $25,000 and up to your listing price. It is one of the main components of home staging to spotlight any extraordinary view such as the ocean, lake, greenbelt or mountains and the backyard or patio.  These all add value to your listing price. Some homes have small backyards or no yard at all, so it is essential that the patio be set up, the gardens weeded and have newly planted flowers displayed in beds or pots.

A bad home staging job can actually take away from the sale of your home. You want the buyer to focus on the positive points inside and out of your home. Empty houses are “cold.” The layout of the furniture is extremely important, especially if the purpose of the room is unclear. Furniture placement pulls the rooms together, accentuates any specific architecture in your home and creates a wonderful “flow” plan throughout. This helps your buyers’ visualize the value of your home’s potential.

Home staging creates a place your buyer can see himself living in and a place to call “Home!” Contact DC Redesign for home staging or conceptual design – (714) 815-3506. We put the AHHHH into homes.  Does YOUR home have that AHHHH feeling?