Staged 2 Perfection

UPDATE FIXTURES

Whether it be light fixture, faucet, ceiling fan, etc. If any fixture has bright polished brass….it has to go! Changing a fixture is much easier than you think, whether it be a light or a plumbing fixture, so just do it. Plus, they are also cheaper than you think! Get creative, shop ebay, craigslist or ust shopping your local home improvement store is a way to find things a lot cheaper than you would think. I find great deals all the time that save my clients a ton of money!

For example, take the picture below. New updated faucet. Nothing fancy just simple and sleeker than that old one! I paid $25 for this faucet at Home Depot and I put it in myself! Ladies…and gentlemen for that matter, it really is not that hard…you can do it!

Before - Bathroom Alternate View

After - Bathroom Alternate View

MAKE NECESSARY REPAIRS!!

From major repairs to the little ones, they need to be taken care of. Home buyers tend to over-exaggerate the cost of repairs, so IF they do make an offer, they will start deducting from their offer! They will low-ball you and you will not get what you want out of the home! If you need to replace a roof, I strongly suggest that you do! A roof is one of those repairs that people get a ridiculous number in their head and think that it will cost thousands of dollars more than it really will! If you do the roof yourself, or have someone that knows what they are doing on the side, you will save a TON of money in the long run. Plus you know that the home buyer will get a bid that is super high, and then do it themselves, so now they are actually profiting off of your bad roof! That was just one example of a major repair, but that goes for any major repair! If it is at all possible to make those repairs, it will benefit you greatly in the end!

This principle also goes for all small repairs! Squeaky doors, damaged drywall, a stain in the carpet, leaky faucets, etc! All of these thing buyers will find and either tally it up and subtract it from the offer, again, over-exaggerating the costs, or just think that this home has not been well maintained and just walk away! A lot of little repairs can detour a buyer more than a major repair. They assume that if you have let the little things go that are out in open, then what other hidden things are they missing! Fixing those repairs can seem tedious and time consuming, but it is well worth it in the end!!

REMOVE OLD, DATED AND HEAVY WINDOW TREATMENTS!

If you have valances, vertical blinds or plastic, cheap blinds…remove them altogether. Especially if they are in a 90’s or earlier floral print! Even if the valances were bought recently, they are a very taste-specific look and they need to come down! All that is really needed is a nice curtain rod and some sheers that contrast with the walls, yet in neutral, coordinating colors. Sheers are a really inexpensive alternative. They look great and let in lots of light, which is very important when staging a house!

Some more tips when hanging sheers is one, run the curtain rod about 6-8 inches past the top of the window so that the curtains hang straight down on the outside of the window. The second tip is to use the curtain rings with clips on them. Run the rings on the rod and then clip the curtain to the sheers so that they hang straight down, as the have a tendency to slide on the curtain rod on the inside, covering some of the window. This will guarantee to keep the curtains where you want them and move them more freely. The last tip is to buy the sheers that have the crinkle look! These add a bit more texture to the curtains which adds interest and a different element to the room. This also eliminates the need to iron the curtains as the wrinkles look a part of the sheers!

I also like to add a more elegant, yet simple curtain, to the master bedroom and the formal dining room when I can. It gives it a more formal and master look that those two rooms need. A curtain in a faux silk or suede, yet in a neutral, coordinating color. Again, make sure there is contrast between the curtain color and the wall. You can also add sheers behind them for an added layer of elegance!

For more assistance in staging your home, give me a call at 309-721-1892 and I will be happy to help you!

REPLACE DATED FURNITURE.

If you still have your moms sofa from 1970, get it out! Either sell it on craigslist, have a yard sale or donate it to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army. You have different options in getting new furniture, whether it be buying it or renting it. You don’t have to buy new either, get creative and check craigslist, ebay, your local classifieds or FSBO sites! Remember, if you buy it or even rent it, you can work it into the sales price so that it stays with your house which is a great negotiating tool or take it with you when you move. If new furniture isn’t an option financially, consider slip covers! They are very affordable and you can find one to fit almost everything these days. They look great and can inexpensively transform a space.

REARRANGE THE FURNITURE FOR BETTER FLOW

Furniture placement is vital to create more spacious rooms and better flow through and between rooms. It also may involve moving one piece of furniture to another room where it works better or just removing it altogether and putting it in storage. Check the scale and amount of your furniture compared to the size of the room. This is a great no cost and very effective way to show off the size of your rooms and overall home. Make sure there is always at least 3 feet of walk space in any walk way! Between furniture and between furniture and walls!

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be giving away the top most crucial staging tips when marketing and selling your home for a faster and more profitable sale. We will start with:

Staging Tip #10 – CHECK YOUR CURB APPEAL.

A few years ago curb appeal would have been number one, but now that 90% of people view your home first online it’s importance drops back a few. Curb appeal is still EXTREMELY vital, especially if you are selling FSBO or its on busy road! Plus, you never know how long a potential buyer may be waiting for an agent to let them in. They will have time to look around & nit-pick! If the front of your home isn’t clean, appealing and well maintained, potential buyers will assume that the rest of the home is that way and will automatically have negative expectations walking through the front door!

So I just got through the last couple of weeks of the Parade of Homes in the Quad Cities. The Parade of Homes 2010 was made up of 17 new construction home set up for a tour for the community. It is put on by the Quad Cities Home Builders Association every year.

Staged 2 Perfection had three homes staged in the Parade this year. The whole thing was crazy busy but yet fun and exciting. I got the pleasure of staging and decorating the Green Built Home directly for the QCHBA who contacted me directly. I was completely honored and grateful for getting the opportunity to stage this home for them.

I also had the pleasure of staging the most unique and wonderfully designed homes in the Parade. It was a home built by Pat Condon with JP Condon Builders. It turned out great…at the last minute, by the way! He was literally finishing up the completion of the construction at the very last second! We delivered the furniture on Friday, the day before the Parade, over electricians, painters, carpenters, finishers, siders, landscapers, tilers and guys installing flooring! I am probably forgetting someone, but you get the picture.

The last house was the first vacant stage home that I did that later one decided to get their home on the tour. I was so glad that decided to put it in at the last minute. We even had an offer on that house during the Parade, however, it didn’t finalize. Bummer!

All and all, Staged 2 Perfection got great exposure during the Parade! I have met a lot of people, especially now being a member of the Quad Cities Home Builder’s Association. I had a ton of great compliments on my work and my talents in staging. I love every second of being a part of the Parade of Homes and a special thanks goes out to Pat Condon of JP Condon Builders and Ryan Windmiller of Aspen Homes! Thank you both so much! You both have made it possible to show what Staged 2 Perfection can do and to get my name out all over the Quad Cities area!

I am offering all real estate agents and their listings, new and existing, a free consultation! If they use Staged 2 Perfection professional home staging services, you will receive a 5% referral fee of whatever amount they spend!

Take advantage of this Quad Cities market and get a step ahead of your competition! Use a professional certified home stager who is an expert in turning your ordinary listing into a buyers dream that will be selling faster than you can get your sign up!

Staged 2 Perfection has partnered up with a Quad Cities Realtor Dick Carr from Remax! Dick is offering a $250 worth of FREE professional home staging with Staged 2 Perfection and an expert, certified, professional home stager. Staging your home is a GREAT start to getting your home sold fast and for more money.

Check out the link below and just fill out the form to get started today!

http://www.dickcarr.com/professional7.shtml

When you think that no more can be done to your home, you may need another opinion! You have downloaded the top-twenty things to do before you sell and done them all! You followed all the staging tips to a tee, but yet no offers and the house still sits for sale.

We are coming into the fall season quicker than you think and you need your house to sell, and sell fast! Call in an expert, professional home stager! Staged 2 Perfection is the professional home staging company that can still help, even if you think that you have done all you can! Plus, since you have done most of the work already, it really won’t cost you much to have us re-evaluate the situation!

If you are in the Quad City area, give us a call! We will sell your home fast and for the most money possible!