Don't Forget The Curb Appeal!

Christina Thurston from The Staging Group is back again for our staging series. Last time she visited, Christina discussed how to keep your home staged, in case you missed this post, just click here. Today she will be reminding us about our home's curb appeal, which is very important, so take it away Christina.....

Last time I discussed a few tips to help you keep your house staged while potential buyers are viewing your property.  Here is a quick recap:

·         Daily tasks: open all blinds, tuck away any dirty laundry and make sure that there are no dirty dishes in the sink.

·         Every couple of days: general tidy (picking up any odds and ends that may be starting to accumulate).

·         Weekly tasks: dust, sweep and vacuum.

·         When staging with me, I will provide you with many more tips and loads of hints as to how to you can keep the model look! 

So now that the inside of your house is looking picture perfect…..what about the outside?  Curb appeal is the very first thing that potential buyers see.  The exterior photo of your house needs to look great to draw buyers in but this is also the first thing that greets them when they arrive to view your property.  If the outside doesn’t look as good as the inside, the buyers are already walking through the door with negative feelings.  Why set yourself up for an uphill battle to win them over?  Here are a few things to keep in mind:

·         If you have dogs there should absolutely NO evidence of them on your front lawn (if you know what I mean).  Keeping with that thought, if you smoke, there should not be any cigarette butts on your lawn, walkway or entryway.  Please ensure all of this is cleaned.

·         Keep your grass cut/garden free of weeds OR sidewalks/driveway cleared of snow….depending on the time of year of course. J

·         Make sure your welcome mat is clean and not tattered looking.

·         Add some colour by adding flowers to the garden or adding planters to the entryway. 

·         Don’t forget the backyard.  A nice sitting area can be very welcoming and create the feeling of a relaxing little getaway spot.

Most of all, remember, you want buyers at the end of their day to say “do you remember the house with the”…amazing gardens, beautiful hardwood floors, fabulous fireplace, etc.  You do NOT want them referring to your house as the one with the messy kitchen or the one with the awful paint in the family room or any other things that distract them from the great features of the home.

As always, thanks for reading!

Christina Thurston

For more information about what The Staging Group can do for you, please visit them at http://www.thestaginggroup.ca/ or email Christina at christina@thestaginggroup.ca. You can also follow The Staging Group on Twitter @thestaging group and like them on Facebook.

Don't forget Christina is offering a FREE consultation to all my clients, provided that you use her service, how amazing?

In the meantime, do you practice the art of curb appeal at your home? How important is it to YOU? Christina and I would love to hear your feedback!

Keeping Your Home Staged

Christina Thurston, owner of The Staging Group is back again for our staging series. This will be Christina's 4th blog post here. Just in case you missed her other posts, here they are all in order:

• What The Staging Group can do for you, click here
• Why Should You Stage, click here
• Staging: Now What, click here

I know, I make things pretty easy around here. Anyway, now that you're up to speed, take it away Christina........

Hello Again,

In my last blog I explained what the first steps after you have decided to stage your house.  Here are a few things as a reminder to consider when hiring a Stager:

·         You are going to want to do some research to make sure that you are working with a qualified stager, someone professionally trained in the area of staging.  Remember, staging isn’t just decorating and de-cluttering, so it’s important to ensure that the person you are working with understands real estate and the basics of home renovations as well.  Be sure to ask for photos of their previous work as well as references.

·         Once you have decided on who you would like to work with, schedule a consultation.  My consultations take approximately 2 hours.  We discuss your timeline, your goals and your budget.  After doing a thorough walk through of the property, you will receive a detailed list of items that need to be addressed prior to staging.  I will then put together 2 to 3 quotes for staging that address all necessary items and keeps in line with your goals and budget.

Ok, so now your house is staged and looks awesome!  How on earth to do you keep up the look of a model home and live at the same time?  Well, I have to say, the best part about staging is that it can help you sell your house much faster than unstaged.  Therefore, you may not need to keep up this look for long at all.  But in the meantime while you do have people coming to view your property, here are couple of tips to help you out.

Daily tasks: open all blinds, tuck away any dirty laundry (no one and I mean NO ONE wants to see dirty laundry at your house if they are considering buying it) and make sure that there are no dirty dishes in the sink.

Every couple of days: general tidy (picking up any odds and ends that may be starting to accumulate).

Weekly tasks: dust, sweep and vacuum. 

When staging with me, I will provide you with many more tips and loads of hints as to how you can keep the model look!  In addition to this, I will also provide you with tips for preparing to move.

As always, thanks for reading!

Christina Thurston

For more information about what The Staging Group can do for you, please visit them at http://www.thestaginggroup.ca/ or email Christina at christina@thestaginggroup.ca. You can also follow The Staging Group on Twitter @thestaging group and like them on Facebook.

Don't forget Christina is offering a FREE consultation to all my clients, provided that you use her service, how amazing?

In the meantime, what do you think about this staging series? Christina and I would love to hear your feedback!

Staging: Now What?

You've probably noticed I've been a bit MIA last week, it was the final push on my home renovation and there was a lot to do before the house goes up for sale on Wednesday. Anyway, Venture Homes is coming tomorrow to take pictures and do a virtual tour and I couldn't be more excited that it's finally coming to an end.

In the meantime, Christina from The Staging Group is back to do her next post in our staging series, the floor is all yours Christina.........

Hello Again,

In my last blog I addressed the question of “Why should I stage my house?”  As a brief re-cap I have added a few points below:

Staging works!

·         Buyers are looking for move-in-ready homes NOT projects and to do lists.  Staging shows buyers exactly what the benefits are of a property.

·         Staged homes look better in MLS pictures and therefore draw a larger group of potential buyers to view the home.

·         Homes that have not been staged take 67% more time to sell than homes that have been staged.

·         Staged homes sell for more money than non-staged homes. 

·         Staging can make you money, not cost you money.

Now that we are all up to speed on why staging works, let’s address the question of “I have decided to stage my house.  Now what?” 

First of all, congratulations!  You have just made a great decision and taken the first step towards selling your home faster and for more money.

Now you need to hire a Stager.  You are going to want to do some research to make sure that you are working with a qualified stager, someone professionally trained in the area of staging.  Remember, staging isn’t just decorating and de-cluttering, so it’s important to ensure that the person you are working with knows real estate and the basics of home renovations as well.  Be sure to ask for photos of their previous work as well as references.

Once you have decided on who you would like to work with, schedule a consultation.  My consultations take approximately 2 hours.  We discuss your timeline, your goals and your budget.  After doing a thorough walk through of the property, you will receive a detailed list of items that need to be addressed prior to staging.  I will then put together 2 to 3 quotes for staging that address all necessary items and keeps in line with your goals and budget.

After you have chosen which option works best for you, we can schedule your staging day! 

This leads me to the next question I’d like to address…"How do I live in my house after it has been staged?"  This is a great question and a big concern for anyone that has children and/or pets.  But I think it’s a question better addressed next time.

As always, thanks for reading!

Christina Thurston

For more information about what The Staging Group can do for you, please visit them at  http://www.thestaginggroup.ca/ or email Christina at christina@thestaginggroup.ca. You can also follow The Staging Group on Twitter @thestaginggroup and like them on Facebook.

Don't forget that Christina is offering a FREE consultation to all my clients, provided they use her services, which is awesome!

Would you use a staging company to sell your home? Has this series made you more informed about staging and the whole process? Christina and I would love to hear your feedback!

Why Should You Stage?

Christina is back from The Staging Group to do her next blog post in our staging series, take it away.....

Hello Again,

In my last blog I addressed the question of "What is staging anyway?" As a brief re-cap I have added a few points below:

• Staging is not just de-cluttering, de-personalizing and re-decorating. Staging is your #1 marketing tool when selling your home.
• We help determine the target market, evaluate your property "from the buyers' eyes" and analyze where to invest in the property to provide you the highest return on investment.
• Develop a plan specific to you, your timeline, budget and goals in order to get your property ready to stage
• Staging or showcasing transforms a home into a "model suite" using techniques such as space optimization, lighting, accessories and art to highlight focal points, optimize the traffic flow and help buyers become emotionally connected.

Now that we are all up to speed on how many different elements are involved with staging, let's address the question of "Why should I stage my house?" Here are a few things to consider:

Why Do I Need A Stager?

Homes that have not been staged take 67% more time to sell then homes that have been staged. Staged homes sell for more money then non-staged homes. Buyers are looking for a move in ready home NOT projects and to do lists.
Staged homes look better in MLS pictures and therefore draw a larger group of potential buyers to view the home.

Can't Buyers Use Their Imagination?

Some buyers can't or don't want to use their imagination. some people find it difficult to see beyond what's in front of them and see the potential that a property has to offer. Staging shows them exactly what the benefits are of a property and allows them to develop an emotional connection.

I Love My Decor, Why Change It?

The way you have decorated your home works well for the way you live. However, this may not work for selling your home. Staging takes away the personal elements of the home's decor and allows the buyers to see their belongings in the space and really see themselves living there.

Can't I Do It Myself?

You have an emotional, vested interest in your home and your belongings. A professional home stager can walk through your property and quickly make suggestions that are completely objective and that will give you the best return on investment.

In summary....staging works! Numerous studies have been conducted by organizations such as Home Gain and The Maritz Research Group, that have proven staged properties sell faster and for more money then properties that have not been staged.

My next blog post will address the questions, "I have decided to stage my house. Now what?" along with "How do I live in my house after it has been staged?"

Thanks for reading!

Christina Thurston

Thanks again Christina for a very informative post, can't wait to read your next one!

For more information about what The Staging Group can do for you, please visit them at http://www.thestaginggroup.ca/ or email Christina at christina@thestaginggroup.ca You can also follow The Staging Group on Twitter @thestaginggroup and like them on Facebook.

What are your thoughts on staging? Would you ever using a staging company to sell your home?

Guest Post: The Staging Group

I'm super excited to announce that the owner, Christina Thurston, of the Staging Group will be doing a series of blog post, right here, yay!!! She has also agreed to offer my clients and all of Realty Royalty's clients a free staging consultation, provided that you use her great service, how amazing! The floor is yours Christina......

Hi Everyone!

My name is Christina Thurston and I am the very proud owner of The Staging Group!  After recognizing the incredibly fast growing need for Stagers, along with my passion for the industry, I decided to get myself professionally certified in staging and start my own business, leaving behind the corporate world of human resources with NO regrets.  J

This is the first in a series of blogs intended to provide you with details about The Staging Group, what we can offer and I’d also like to address 3 huge questions:

·         What is staging anyway?

·         Why should I stage my house?

·         How do I continue to live in my house after it’s been staged??

Staging is not just de-cluttering, de-personalizing and re-decorating.  Staging is much more than that.  It is the #1 marketing tool for selling your home.

There are several steps involved in staging:

1.     Determine the demographic of the target market. 

So in other words, “who is most likely to buy your property”?  Are we targeting young professionals, growing families, retirees that are downsizing, etc?

2.     Evaluate your property “from the buyers’ eyes”. 

We walk through the property and view it from the prospective target market to be able to determine how to most effectively stage the property.

3.     Analyze where to invest in the property. 

We can identify exactly which areas of the property will provide you the highest return on investment from painting the master bedroom to updating the kitchen counters or touching up your curb appeal.

4.     Develop a plan specific to you, your timeline, budget and goals in order to get your property ready to stage.

5.     Showcasing Day! 

This is the day in which we arrive at your home with any needed accessories and/or furniture and get to work making sure that your photos are ready!

For more information about what The Staging Group can do for you, please go to www.thestaginggroup.ca or email Christina at christina@thestaginggroup.ca. You can also follow The Staging Group on twitter and facebook.

What are your thoughts on staging? Would you ever use a staging company to sell your home?

Mission: Clutter Free

We all strive to keep a clean home, but sometimes life gets in the way and things start to pile up! It's always good to take inventory of what's actually in your home and practice the art of declutter our homes from things we don't need or use anymore. This is not just another staging technique for when you're thinking of selling your home, if you declutter a few times a year, perhaps the beginning of every new season, the mission doesn't seem as daunting. Also when you are actually ready to list your home, the task of decluttering won't be so bad and overwhelming.

Lucky Matt Schexnayder from SpareFoot has agreed to share some tips on how to declutter effectively, take it away Matt.....

Everyone has lofty ambitions of home organization, but not many can accomplish it. We all say that one day we will get organized, and then before you know it ten years has gone by and everything is still a mess. And what happens if all of the sudden you decide to move? How will you approach this situation now that the clock is ticking? Bring on the migraines.

People who manage to stay organized have never experienced this sense of panic, and they are lucky. But how do they do it? What is their secret? Well, a select few are just naturally good at keeping things in order, but most require the helping hand of a self-storage facility. Renting a self-storage unit is by far the best way to keep your home clutter-free.

It always seems as though there is never enough room to put all your belongings, probably due to the fact that people don’t have the heart to throw away items that were once precious to them even if they serve no purpose now. Even if you are living in a mess, you still can’t find it in you to throw anything out. That being the case, most people’s best scenario is a clutter-less home with an overstuffed garage.

Instead of spreading the mess of a renovation all over your house, or in your garage, rent a small unit from one of your local self-storage companies. Keep all of the things you can't get everyday use of out of the way until you have found a purpose for them. Placing your unused items in cheap storage units can help cut down on the visual chaos of a messy house, and it also gives you an opportunity to take a mental break from the stress.

Listed below are a few tips for achieving home and garage organization, the divide and conquer way.

• First, before you can conquer, you must divide. This means separating the “keepables” from the “unkeepables” and using a judicious eye to identify belongings that should be given or thrown away.
• Second, conquer. Identify what you need and segregate what you don’t need. These are the items you’ll be putting into storage.
• Finally, pack things logically. Don’t just throw everything into a box. By packing things in an organized manner and labeling boxes, you’ll make it much easier to find something.

Putting the home you're living in in order can be one of the most stressful things you do as an adult. However, you can minimize the chaos and relieve some of the tension in your home by taking advantage of cheap storage units.

This article was written by Matt Schexnayder. Matt is on the SpareFoot marketing team and writes for the SpareFoot blog. SpareFoot is the largest online marketplace for self-storage with more than 5,000 self-storage facilities listed nationwide.

Have these tips inspired you to declutter?