Columbus Ohio real estate

Tips for Selling Success: Eliminate Bold Colors & Show the Room's Original Purpose (Before & Afters)

This updated home in Portland Oregon's trendy Beaumont Village neighborhood needed more neutral paint colors as well as the original function of each room clearly shown to potential buyers.  Although this staging budget was very limited, the end result is a much more buyer-friendly home that shows as spacious and move-in ready.

When selling your home, stage the dining room to allow buyers to imagine entertaining here ...

Living rooms should have the furniture in an open, welcoming configuration that highlights the space ...

When selling, kitchens need to look spacious -- put that clutter out of sight ...

The Master bedroom should look like a calm, peaceful retreat (not an office) ...

When selling, bold colors from the last century should be neutralized ...

For more home staging tips, contact your local home staging professional ~ you'll be amazed how a few  cost-effective changes can make a big difference in how potential buyers view your home.

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Room Solutions Staging offers help to Portland-area homeowners, real estate professionals, builders, banks and investors in preparing homes for the market.  Our home staging clients love our service and our staging statistics!  Our home staging services in the Portland OR metro area include consultation reports, staging for both vacant and occupied homes, and interior redesign projects.  For a free home staging proposal, contact us @ 503-246-1800. 

~ Room Solutions offers interior photos as part of our home staging services ~

Staging That Sells Portland Homes!

Room Solutions Staging was selected to do the design work for multiple episodes of HGTV's popular show "My First Place" 

  Copyright © Room Solutions Staging LLC

~ content may not be reproduced without permission ~

Yes I get it, you've got a great sense of whimsy! Maybe you're a bit loony too but your potential buyers don't need to know. In fact the signs you've hung on your walls will conjure up all kinds negative thoughts in the minds of potential buyers viewing your home.

Please resist the urge to keep those witty signs up after I've advised you to take them down and pack 'em away. Now I'm no kill-joy, I'm just looking at your property though the buyer's eyes.

When you put your home on the market it is now a product that must appeal to the masses. You must disconnect emotionally from your home now and think toward the future!

Don't plead with me that these signs add to the charm of your home. That ain't gonna fly! These gems need to go and pronto.

 

On the Welcome Matt:

• Go Away! ~ Goodness gracious what a way to entice buyers.
  
• We Serve only the Finest Wines...Did you Bring any? ~ I enjoy the finest wines too but do you want your buyer's knowing you have to beg for booze?
  

In the Kitchen:

• Coffee & Buns Make the World a Better Place ~ I guess it depends on how fresh those buns really are.
  
• I use the Smoke Alarm for a Timer ~ Home inspection pronto!
  
• If We are what We Eat then I'm Fast, Easy and Cheap ~ Does your buyer need to know these intimate details about you?
  

In the Living Areas:

• Bless this Mess ~ Really? No buyer wants to buy a previous mess and now that it's tidy, what was that mess?
  
• Old Fishermen Never Die they Just Lose their Bobbers ~ Again with personal details!

In the Bathrooms:

• The Camera is for Research Purposes only ~ Can you say creeeepy?
• The 'If you sprinkle when you tinkle' sign..... ~ No one wants to have images of your messy potty habits.
• Hazardous Waste Area ~ No comment needed here, frat house alert!
  

Leading to the Bedroom:

• Stairway to Heaven ~ Yowsa, I have visions of an investigative news show inspecting just how clean those hotel rooms are, it ain't pretty folks!
  

 

So you still think potential buyers will appreciate your loony signs? Think again, your sense of whimsy will  send them negative subliminal messages. So save the funny signs for the new home where they'll be loved and appreciated! Need more tips when sprucing up your home? Check out the links below.

Curb Appeal Tips

Tips for Replacing Family Photos

Tips for Making Quick & Easy Faux Succulent Arrangements

Tips for Reupholstering a Chair Seat

 

Redesigned Spaces     www.redesigned-spaces.net

Specializing in Owner Occupied Homes, Floral Design, Custom Art Work, Display Work

Cynthia Bartch ~ cell: 404.509.6046

Alpharetta, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Gainesville, Lawrenceville, Sugar Hill & Suwanee, Georgia

Don't see your area listed...give me a call

 

if you want to use a photo or some copy just email me... more than likely we can work it out

 

Bed placement is critical to how future home buyers perceive a home. As much as possible bedding should be rich, comfortable, clean and even luxurious. Apart from the bedding and even the furniture style the placement of the bed needs to be considered. Each of these examples show what a difference simply moving the bed can make. 

 

Homeowners should think about bed placement as much for their own use as for the selling process. Space around a bed can make the room feel lighter, happier and with more breathing room...and therefore making it a much happier bedroom to live in.

 

    

 

This Master bedroom didn't look very masterly. Admitedly the bedding and furniture didn't help however the bed placement blocked off the back of the room making it feel smaller with inferior movement.

 

         

 

 

For this master bedroom the bed blocked the entrance to the room. Of course you can see we changed the bedding and painted the room but the most significant impact was made by moving the bed. Now when you walk into the room you can get right in.

       

 

Again here it is obvious the camera lense is very different from the before to the after but it also shows just how small and crampt the room was in the before. We couldn't see the floor and we literally walked right into the bed. By moving the bed to the opposite wall we gained lots of room around the bed making the room feel bigger and much more interesting to a home buyer. No-one wants a bedroom they can't fit a bed into.

 

 

        

 

Not everyone would want to have the head of the bed under a window especially if it is drafty. On the other hand the after room looks much bigger with plenty of space around the bed instead of being physically and emotionally blocked from the room. Is this only a concern in cold areas like ours here in Quebec ? When living in warmer climes is it okay to put a bed under the window ? I am wondering if having beds under windows is more of a construction issue (avoiding cold drafts) or a comfort (like feng shui inspired) issue. Any thoughts fellow home stagers ?

 

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I do know at least one reason why so many people here in Montreal put their beds in awkward positions...many houses have the baseboard heaters or forced air vents on the same spot the bed would best be placed.  Is this is the case consider moving the heater or finding a work around when you are going to live in the house. You might as well enjoy all the square footage of the bedroom. If you haven't done it before selling your home chances are you shouldn't now. Try to find a work around and put the bed in the right place. It will make a difference.

My partner Liz Gallagher is always telling me that people love pictures. Give them pictures. So I hope you liked the pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

Michelle King

follow me :                      www.twitter.com/michelleking

visit my blog                    www.home-stagingmontreal.com

visit my staging website     www.HomeHarmony.ca for English and www.HarmonieAuFoyer.com for French

Myth 1:  Staging is Decorating...

FACT:  Staging is NOT Decorating or Design!  Decorating or Design is personalizing and Staging is De-Personalizing and preparing a house for the unknown buyer.  That is why it's Key that you hire Prima Facie Home Staging because we have been trained specifically on how to prepare a house for sale.

 

Myth 2:  Staging Costs Too Much...

Fact:  Staging is an INVESTMENT in getting a house sold and the investment in Staging is always less that a price reduction.  As an ASP Stager, we at Prima Facie Home Staging have been trained to work with a Sellers' budget and time frame to properly Stage a house.  We like to ask our clients, "Can you Afford NOT to Stage?"Fact:  The shows on HGTV and similar channels give Sellers the idea that they need to do something to their house to prepare it for sale.  Sellers cannot truly be objective in a house they have been living in and need a 3rd party independent opinion to get it properly staged.  ASP's at Prima Facie Home Staging have the experience and ideas to help Sellers get their houses ready and we honor our client, and work closely with Realtors to help get a house sold.

 

Myth 4:  All I Need Are Light, Flowers & Music...

Fact:  Light, flowers and music are great for Showing a house, but that is not Staging.  Staging requires an objective and professional assessment of a house's strengths and challenge areas, and solutions to help Buyers fall in love with what they see.  We at Prima Facie Home Staging can help you get you house STAGED and SOLD!

from StagedHomes.com

It's likely that most sellers know of the importance of the three C's (clutter, clean and curb appeal) when preparing their home for the market.  These three things will always play an important role when it comes to getting a house show-ready.

However, there are three R's (re-arrange, resist and refresh) that you can help take your efforts a notch up and truly help set your home apart from the others on the market.

As a professional home stager in Atlanta, here are a few things I share with my occupied homeowners I work with:

• Rearrange - Showcase the features as well as the "real estate" the room has to offer. Arrange the furniture so that it helps draw the buyers eye to the features. When rearranging, consider what pieces could either be removed entirely or moved so that it creates more visual real estate.

• Resist - Resist the urge to show-off the collectibles. When selling a home, it's not about the treasures you've collected. In fact, leaving collectibles can actually be a distraction.

• Refresh - Minor changes with big rewards. Here are a few: change the knobs in the kitchen; change the faucets in the bathroom, recaulk around the bathtubs and change out the toilet seat.

The biggest challenge most homeowners have to contend with is figuring out how best to re-arrange the furniture. My advice, try a bunch of different scenarios, but keep in mind that you want to open up as much space as possible without looking too minimal.

If you need the advice of a professional home staging company in Atlanta, feel free to contact us to arrange an appointment.

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About the Author: Kathy Nielsen, a RESA 2010 Home Stager of the Year Finalists is  a nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry, offers affordable home staging solutions to help sell your home more quickly.  Kathy can be reached via email at info@homestagingatlanta.com or by phone at 678 522 8392.  Their Atlanta Home Staging services offer a variety of options to accommodate all budgets. To view examples of their before and after pictures, visit their portfolio at Home Staging Atlanta Gallery.

 

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PR: wait...  I: wait...  L: wait...  LD: wait...  I: wait... wait...  Rank: wait...  Traffic: wait...  Price: wait...  C: wait...

We were caught red handed while staging these homes in the Portland, Oregon area

We love to use red as an accent color while staging ... it has the ability to draw the buyer's eye around a room, causing it to stop and then move on to the next spot we want to feature.  Sometimes we use red to emphasize a focal point, sometimes to highlight an architectural feature, and sometimes just to add interest to an otherwise "blah" type of space.  Give potential buyers something to look at ... a well-presented home.

Whenever we use red in our staging, the homes sell quickly!  There must be something to this theory .... here are 4 homes where we used red as an accent color ...

Don't be afraid to use red ~ it's an effective technique when staging your home for sale. Your online photos and in-person viewings will attract and excite potential buyers to want to see more!

For more tips and help from a professional home stager, just give us a call @ 503-246-1800.  Our cost-effective home staging services help homeowners, investors, builders and real estate agents prepare homes for the market. 

Staging That Sells Portland Homes!

  Copyright © Room Solutions Staging LLC

~ content may not be reproduced without permission ~

During these cold, dark winter months in the Seattle area, it is important to welcome prospective buyers to your vacant home.  The exterior lights should be on timers so they are on at dusk and off at day break. 

Interior lamps (not overhead lights) should also be on when it gets dark outside.  We suggest leaving the lamps on 24/7 or put them on timers to go on around 3 p.m. and off about 10 p.m.

Buyers will often drive by your listing prior to scheduling a tour.  If your house looks warm and inviting, a positive first impression has been made.

And remember...keep the temperature comfortable, no lower than 66 degrees.  A cold house will send buyers fleeing back to their warm car!

Staging by SISTERS Interior Redesign, Edmonds, WA, 425.776.7890, www.sistersredesign.com

Give your listing the advantage of professional home staging.  Contact us today for a complimentary quote.

We look forward to working with you!

 

 

 

A gallon of paint is one of the least expensive staging tools and the quickest way to change a room, it is staging magic in a can. One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is to paint everything white, which will make the interior of the home look clean, but does nothing to create emotions. The Goal: Make potential buyers feel and look great in your home.

Bring in some of the year's neutral color trends with a coat of paint. Your walls will look fresh and buyers will get the impression your home has been updated. Using trendy NEUTRAL colors makes finding staging accessories much easier.

Please avoid: Painting your kitchen the red you've always wanted.

Red is the first color the human eye sees in the spectrum so place a red accessory near a room's best feature to draw attention to it. For example, if you want to ensure that potential buyers notice your marble surround on your fireplace, put a pair of red candles on the mantel. This also works in reverse, if you have a view you'd like to de-emphasize place a red accessory on the other side of the room.

Want to learn more about color trends, please click on link below:
Color Trends: What's New, What's Next?

 

Feel free to subscribe to my blog to keep up to date with my latest posts for Design2Sell Home Staging and Re-Design Tips. If you would like, you can sign up to receive updates via email directly in your inbox. Also, lets connect on these great social networks:

  

 

 

 

Home staging (or property styling as it's commonly known as on the Australian property scene) is really an art, not a science. One of the many things a professional home stager understands is that it's the house that's up for sale, not the home owner's bread baking ability or taste in music. So, from the sublime to the rediculous - here's 8 myths of staging to sell - busted!

1. Buyers can see past my stuff
No - they can't. 95% of house hunters shop with a 'what you see is what you get' eye. You'll be maximising your chances of a better and quicker sale if you take the time to clean out, clean up and keep your look simple.

2. Baking bread, brewing fresh coffee and playing soft music will make a buyer fall in love with my house.
Maybe once upon a time this was true - but most would-be buyers are onto that old trick. It's more likely to trigger alarm bells, with many wondering what it is you're trying to hide. Your buyers will be happy with a place that looks and smells clean.

3. I'll need to clear everything out to help buyers see themselves living here.
This is only partly true. Wall to wall family photos are distracting, as is your porcelain rooster collection. These things are best put away. But don't go overboard, otherwise you'll end up with a look that feels cold and sterile.

4. If it's an original feature - it adds value.
Sometimes yes - but often no. Generally a property built less than 50 years ago without being updated is more likely to appear dated, rather than classic.

5. My place isn't worth staging.
All homes are worth taking the time to present in a positive light to buyers. The trick to knowing where to start and what to do is in having a good idea of what buyers in your target market will expect, along with learning more about what competing properties in your area are offering.

6. Empty rooms look bigger.                                                      

This is rarely the case. Buyers will always prefer to see how a room is used and what will fit in it, rather than be left to guess. Very large rooms can also be too intimidating for some. Even borrowed furniture can help buyers get an idea of scale and give the eye something of interest to focus on.

7. Converting a bedroom into a home gym won't be a problem.
Bedrooms are one of the most valuable commodities of the 'for sale' property. Having a home gym set up in a bedroom will prompt buyers to wonder why that is. I remember once looking at a house where this was the case. When I came across the bedroom with the gym in it, I immediately began to question if a bed would even fit. Always give the rooms in your house a purpose.

8. No need to worry about wardrobes and cupboards.
Home storage is a big deal to most buyers and is surprisingly valuable. Prospective buyers will open storage cupboards in kitchens and bathrooms, so keep them tidy. Keep only what you're using on a daily or weekly basis, and pack the rest away ready for the move.

Have you got a staging myth you'd like busted? Share them with me here.

 

Room Remedy Interiors

"Ready, Set, Redecorate in a Day"

Sydney, Central Coast, & Newcastle

Find out more about us at www.roomremedy.com.au