Challenges If Not Staging a Home

There are challenges in selling a home that is vacant compared to one which has been staged. For instance, the first thing buyers experience is empty, cold and unattractive rooms, areas of neglect are front and center, even if the rooms have been painted, there is nothing for buyers to connect with visually, and no perspective for the scale and size of the space. The home remains on the market for many months with little or no interest from buyers and their agents and ultimately frustrating the seller. Buyers do find ways to ask for a reduction in price because they see the duration of the listing period and assume that the seller is eager to sell. Empty homes also lose momentum when listed before they are staged. Many sellers think they will save money if they stage it later, however the listing period continues even after staging and each month results in big loses for their return on investment.

The benefits of staging an empty home are enormous! Using a trained home stager, they will work with the home and each room to create strategic placement of furniture, decor and artwork, the home says "welcome" to prospective buyers, and home staging provides intention while giving each room purpose, plus the features of the home are highlighted.

Vacant home before and after images of master bedroom and living room with dining room.

In this example, upon entering the house, in the living room is immediately off the front door,  the couch was placed against the wall to project a larger room size and draw focus to the kiva fireplace, rather than the odd shaped and small room.

Of course the major benefits to home staging is more money in your pocket and faster sales, incredible photos for on-line marketing, which do make a difference, and in most cases staging a home will increase the selling price.

As a trained and certified home stager, I encourage my clients to make the most of their listing and invest in the process of staging their home at the start. This means taking the time to fix and mend those neglected areas, freshen up the wall colors, replace outdated light fixtures, do a deep clean, and hire a trained home stager. Trained home stagers know how to maximize and position the home to sell, they focus on placement, furnishing arrangements and are trained to style the home to attract buyers. Some home stagers are able to use existing furnishings or they have an inventory you can rent.

These little tips will bring in faster offers in a shorter timeframe and the home will stand out against the competition. Buyers are savvy, they do not want to buy a house if it is dirty, unattractive, has a lot of repairs to do (unless of course the house is sold-as is for a lower price), looks a mess and is empty. Buyers want the perception they are getting move-in ready home and one that feels like a five-star hotel when they walk in.

All homes deserve to look their best and this can be achieved through home staging. If you want to sell your home quickly, first step hire a trained home stager, it's a wise investment that gets great results!

Debbie DeMarais is a trained and certified home stager at DeMarais home staging + design, and trained in the field of interior design. She provides full service solutions for occupied and vacant staging, color consultations, and interior design services. She can be reached at 505-699-4989 to schedule a personalized consultation to sell your home faster.

Invoking Happiness with Color

Color plays an important role in design whether we are trying to stimulate a joyful and happy place or creating a room for quiet reflection. When I think of what makes me happy and an associated color - orange makes me smile. In fact, as a teenager I insisted my bedroom be painted orange, it was uplifting compared to the dreary Seattle weather. As an home stager and designer, I fully understand the use of color and surround myself with pops of orange in my office, which makes for a stimulating and creative space.

Love this Orange Rockwell Arm Chair

Orange created by combining red (energy) and yellow (happiness) represents sunshine, warm weather and places like the tropics. Studies show that orange can stimulate the brain, increase the oxygen supply and is invigorating. Imagine the scent and taste of a slice of orange, how it felt peeling back the rind, releasing sprays of orange fragrance in the air and feeling bursts of juice explode as you bit into each segment, note how refreshing this was and happy you felt. One simple slice of an orange produces endorphin's stimulating your “happy” place. 

It is a powerful color representing happiness, strength and endurance. In Feng Shui and Interior Design applications important elements are often highlighted using the color orange, while commercially it is often used to help stimulate business success.

Quoting Oscar Levant, he said, “happiness isn’t something you experience, it is something you remember.” Isn’t it time to remember something that made you happy? Recall how you felt during the summer with the warmth of the sun on your face, did you feel happy? Let’s recreate this feeling in our home. I could suggest painting a wall or four in a warm orange palette, however doing so could invoke too much of a good thing. Instead paint a niche, accent wall, add a great accessory that pops of warm orange, or introduce a piece of furniture in a dark corner. You won't regret it.

Socially orange becomes a conversation starter, and has uplifting energy while creating a sense of warmth. Afraid of commitment then start small with a simple bowl of oranges or tangerines, as a centerpiece. It’s a perfect way to introduce happiness and prosperity, especially as we celebrate Lunar New Year on February 8^th. Interested in learning more contact me? I can be reached at www.homestagingsantafe.com.

The Wrong Wall Color and Other Common Decorating Mistakes

Have you made a decorating mistake that made you scratch your head wondering what possessed you to do it? This great article from Elle Decor addresses those 10 Home Decorating Mistakes Everybody Makes, you're not alone!

It's great to do a little window shopping and splurge when it comes to decorating our home, but if we don't really consider how _______ (fill in the blank) is going to work in our real life environment it can get us into trouble. While these mistakes are easy to do there are ways to remedy the errors of our decisions. Should you find you need help fixing the wrong or would like to avoid making a costly mistake while decorating your home, contact me I can help.
 
1) The Looks-Great, Feels-Uncomfortable Piece Of Furniture
The decor world equivalent of the Stiletto heel: Beautiful, but oh-so-impractical. It ultimately taught you that no matter how good-looking something is, if you can't sit/walk/relax on it, it's not for you.

2) The Overly-Trendy Piece
It looked amazing in the store window. And in the magazine. But in your house? It clashed with your favorite pieces and looked strange. Since then you only focus on trends that feel like you.

3) The Wall Color You Didn't Test...And It Promptly Looked Completely Off
There's nothing like painting an entire room moss green....before realizing that with your lighting and wall texture, it looks nothing like it did in the can. [It's always wise to] paint a swatch before any further commitments.

4) The "Dream Lifestyle" Purchase
The oversized table when you never actually entertain. Or the wall-sized TV when really all you want to do in your living room is read. After this, you buy for the lifestyle you have, not the one you think you might have one day.
5) The Quick Fix
Maybe at the time you were more fixated on spending on vacation rather than a new chair. But when your cheap chair broke a year later, you learned they weren't kidding when they say "Buy the best, only cry once."

6) The Too-Complicated Organization System
"Bills go in the green folder, unopened mail in the blue drawer, casual stationery on the top shelf...or is it top shelf stationery on the top shelf?" If it was too hard to remember, it was probably the time for you to downgrade. We applaud you for doing what's right for you.

7) The Un-Researched Flora
Similar to the too-trendy piece, this plant looked great somewhere else...but floundered in your home. Now you take stock of the lighting and space conditions you have to offer before heading to the nursery.

8) The Disastrous DIY
"But it looked so great on Pinterest..." And now you know if you're not crafty, it's time to go to the experts.

9) The Cliché Art
It got you used to the idea of having something special on your wall, but made you realize how important it is to make that piece meaningful.

10) The Ambitiously White Item
You didn't weigh all the things you love (chocolate, red wine) against this one purchase. But now you know not to even try...or if you're the type who doesn't mind being extra-careful (or spending the extra time cleaning.)

Trained in Interior Design and Home Staging, I apply design principles and staging techniques to achieve the perfect balance and look, either room-by-room or for the entire home. With the holidays approaching maybe it's time to get a little help in sprucing up your home or fixing the wrong before family and friends drop in. Let me know how I can help you.

Via ElleDecor.com