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2-Day Hands-On Home Staging Workshop - Austin TX

2-DAY HOME STAGING WORKSHOP COMING TO AUSTIN, TEXAS
11 CE Credits for Licensed TX Realtors
Taught by Certified HSE Trainer, Renee McCharen

May 15-16, 2024 - 2-Day Hands-On - Austin, Texas

Each Class Limited to 12 Students for Individual Benefit

REGISTER NOW

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WANT TOP DOLLAR FOR YOUR HOUSE? APPLY ELBOW GREASE!

Get Top Dollar for Your House

In recent months, Jon, a Madison, Wis., homeowner, has been looking at his house in a new way — not through the eyes of the guy who lives there, but from the perspective of a potential buyer.

That spurred him to paint the front door and stoop, wash windows inside and out, clean mildew off window frames, do some landscaping, and finish numerous other tasks in and around his home. All told, he spent about three months’ worth of weekends and lots of weeknights getting his house ready to sell — about twice as long as he’d figured it would take. And it was well worth it, he says.

“If you don’t give that kind of attention to your house, buyers are going to notice right away,” he said. “They’ll take a cursory look and be out of there in two minutes.”


Many real estate agents agree with Jon’s approach to preparing a house for sale. In a 2012 survey of agents, almost 90 percent said home improvements can help sell a home faster, and nearly 73 percent felt home improvements could boost the sales price — if those are the right improvements.

Given that most of us have a limited supply of time and money, how should you best invest yours to get your home ready to sell?

Some actions can have a big impact on a buyer’s perception of your home, and cost you no money at all. Start with decluttering your house, recommends Robin Vogel, a real estate agent and accredited staging professional in the Seattle area. “Clutter eats equity,” she said.

Descend on your bulging closets and storage rooms to sort through which items to keep, toss, recycle, or donate to charity. Then there are those knickknacks, family photos, souvenirs, and other items scattered throughout every room. Pack up the items you plan to keep and take with you to your new home.

“I have no problem with people packing things up and stacking boxes neatly in the garage,” Vogel said. “Just get it out of the main part of the house.”

The next step is a thorough cleaning of the whole house. Get into every nook, cranny, and corner of each room. “I’m talking Q-Tip clean,” Vogel said. “Buyers don’t like to buy other people’s dirt.”

Next on your to-do list would be basic, inexpensive improvements. Applying a fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference in a room’s appearance, said Lori Matzke, president of Home Staging Expert®, a home-staging business based in the Minneapolis area.

“If you have a peacock blue living room,” she said, “you may want to change that out to something that other people can live with, with their furniture.” That’s why neutral colors are best. Sure, the buyers may decide to repaint with their own choices of colors someday. But most buyers in today’s market, Matzke and Vogel agree, want to be able to move into a house without having to immediately tackle redecorating and repair projects.

For that reason, putting in new carpeting is another project to consider, especially if your current carpeting looks outdated and worn. Again, choose a neutral color that will work with whatever furnishings the new owner will bring into the house.

In some markets, wood floors may be a bigger sell than carpeting, especially on the main floor, Matzke points out. “Wood floors are easy to do now,” she said, “and can sometimes be done almost for the same price as carpeting.”

Go through your house and notice all the low-cost fixes or changes you could make that would appeal to a buyer: a new shower curtain, updated knobs on kitchen and bath cabinets, a new welcome mat by the front door, trimming or removing those overgrown shrubs along the front of the house, and so on.

As you survey your home inside and out, “look at it as a product,” Matzke said, “instead of as the home you live in. Emotionally detach yourself from it.”

In other words, use a buyer’s eyes. You may love that dining room wallpaper that you selected so carefully 20 years ago and paid a small fortune for, but now its peeling and dated. Get rid of it.

Likewise, think about replacing old kitchen appliances. “Nobody wants a 30-year-old harvest gold refrigerator anymore,” Matzke said.

Remember, “95 percent of buyers can’t see past what’s there,” she said. That means most don’t do well at envisioning a house’s “potential.” What buyers see in front of them is what will stick in their minds as they form an impression of your house and decide if they want to make an offer to buy it.

Sometimes sellers assume that a major remodel of the kitchen or bathroom is sure to boost a house’s sale price enough to be worth the cost. Not necessarily, Vogel cautions.

“I wish sellers would contact their agents before they do the kinds of projects that are going to cost a fair amount of money,” she said, “to make sure they’re going down the right path.”

The agent can tell you what’s going on in the marketplace. What are homes similar to yours selling for, and what level of finish do these homes have. For example, how much work has been done on other houses for sale in your market and what is the quality of that work? Then you can decide if you should undertake a more costly remodeling project before selling.

“You don’t want to be higher than the competition,” Vogel said, “and you don’t want to help the competition to sell, either. So you need to know what’s going on in the houses around you.”

Another piece of advice Vogel gives sellers — and she sees a growing number of agents doing so — is to get a professional home inspection before putting your house on the market. You’ll avoid nasty surprises that could torpedo a deal later.

You’ll get a list of jobs that need to be done; you can decide which to do and inform a buyer about remaining projects. Plus, you could get bids for those jobs you don’t do, so the buyer knows what to expect. It’s much easier to do all this before you put your house up for sale, rather than in the midst of buyer-seller negotiations with tight deadlines.

“You’ll have all the information and all your ducks in a row,” Vogel said. “And that is huge ammunition with many buyers.”

As for home-seller Jon, agents showing the house frequently remarked that it was immaculate and showed well. “Being told by the pros that we were on the right path for show-worthiness was big,” he said. The hard work and attention to detail before putting his home on the market paid off.

Jon reported, “We’ve sold our house! A young family that has been renting the house next to ours decided they loved the neighborhood and will be the new owners.”

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WARNING: ARE THESE 5 HOME STAGING NO-NO’S SABOTAGING THE SALE OF YOUR HOUSE?

Why Home Staging Is Worth It

Home staging should always be a positive thing that helps you sell your house. But sometimes, over-zealous, ill-informed staging ‘tips’ end up doing more harm than good. If you’re getting your home ready for market, avoid these 5 Home Staging No-No’s and save yourself a lot of grief!

1) Creating Theme Rooms - Yeah. Just don’t do it. The entire purpose of staging your property for market is to ensure anyone can picture themselves living there and all the positive features are what stand out. You want potential buyers to remember that inviting fireplace and those gorgeous hardwood floors! Not the Rock & Roll-theme going on around it.

2) Painting Non-Neutral Colors - You might not think it’s a big deal, but according to the experts, less than 95% of people can see whats beyond.

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“ASK THE HOME STAGING EXPERT®” – SHOULD I REPLACE MY KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS?

Replacing kitchen countertops to sell your house.

Dear Ms. Matzke,

I ran across your website and really liked what I saw so I thought I would write in to get your opinion. I’ll be getting married in the spring and want to sell my condo soon so we can start our new life together in a new house. I think I need to replace my old Formica countertops in the kitchen before listing with an agent because they are dated (silver and gold flecks) and do have some corner damage that can’t be repaired. My fiancé wants to save the money for the wedding and doesn’t think upgrading to granite would be worth it. My question is this; If I make the investment and spring for granite countertops, will I get my money back?

Thanks in advance for your reply!

Soon-to-be-Groom in Dallas

Dear Groom,

First of all, congratulations on your wedding plans! That must be very exciting and I wish you both the best!

As far as the countertop is concerned, I am going to have to give you a two-part answer here.

1) If the countertop is damaged, it definitely needs to be replaced. If not replaced, your condo would need to be priced accordingly. The problem with not replacing it however, is that most potential buyers don’t really want to do the work themselves and are typically in the market for move-in ready. So even if you lower the price to accommodate, you are more likely to still end up with low-ball offers and possibly losing some potential offers, altogether. I would definitely remove that hurdle upfront by having the countertops replaced.

2) In reference to updating to granite, you don’t really say anything about the asking price or condition of your property or the condition of other comparable properties in the area, so I would do a little research. If similar condos have granite, then it would be well worth it to keep up with the Jones’. And certainly if they don’t, granite countertops might ultimately give you an edge in that marketplace. In that case, I would again price accordingly by including the price of the new countertops in your bottom line. If the rest of the condo is in great condition and you are the only one in the area with granite, people are often looking for and/or willing to pay more for the upgrades, so I think you will definitely get your money back through both the listing price and shorter time on the market.

Regardless of what you decide, I do want to caution that when you replace and/or upgrade the countertops, please do make sure your cabinets are in excellent condition, as well. Shiny new counters…especially a higher-end countertop like granite…slapped on top of dated old cabinets makes those cabinets stick out like a sore thumb and just serves to highlight how awful they really are. So clean them up, replace the hardware, re-stain and/or paint the cabinetry for a little boost and those new countertops will fit right in!

Hope this helps, and congrats again on your upcoming nuptials!

If you have a question for “Ask The Home Staging Expert®”, please contact lori@homestagingexpert.com

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“ASK THE HOME STAGING EXPERT®” – WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH OUR CAT DURING SHOWINGS?

What to do with pets when your house is on the market.

Hi, Lori – Quick question for you! We are not sure what to do with our cat, Tuna Fish, during showings. We both work all day and don’t know if it’s acceptable to leave him home alone or not. He usually just hides around strangers and will probably just hide during showings. Is that ok? What do you think we should do?

Tuna Fish and Family in Cherry Hill, NJ

Hello there, Tuna Fish and Family!

Clients ask me this all the time, though the animal species in question may vary. But there are several things to consider in this scenario.

First and foremost in my animal-loving opinion, is the safety of your beloved pet! While your kitty might run and hide around strangers when you are on the premises, that might not be the case if strangers enter when he’s all alone. He might panic and run out the door, scratch or bite the intruders to guard his home territory, or just freak out in general. Because you are not there to see for yourself, you really can’t be certain exactly how he will react. So always better to be safe than sorry.

Secondly, you also don’t know how potential buyers might feel about your pet. Even the most passionate animal lovers often second guess the condition of a home with pets of any kind due to possible damage and/or lingering odors left behind. There too, some people might not care for animals in general, are allergic, or fear them. And you really don’t want your pet to be an automatic turn-off to potential buyers.

Last but not least, animals hanging around the house during showings can actually be quite a distraction. Most buyers walk through a home in 15-20 minutes or so, give or take. What you want them to notice and remember is the house itself and all the positive selling points, not your cat streaking through the living room at top speed and scrambling up the curtains!

The truth is, no animals, or even any trace of animals, should be left behind for showings. That means, removing eating dishes, bedding, treats and toys, and hiding the litter box. If you have a dog, don’t leave any ‘presents’ on the lawn and replace grass in spots that might be worn down/destroyed. And make sure your house doesn’t have any funky pet odors or window markings. Carpeting should be steam cleaned…and maybe the upholstery, too.

Ideally, if you can’t sweep your furry family member up at a moment’s notice to leave for showings yourself, consider farming them out while your house is on the market. Maybe a friend, family member, or even a friendly neighbor could keep them safe during the day while you are away. There is also kitty/doggie daycare to consider or talk to your local boarding facility and see if they might have some options for you.

Another idea that Realtors are not too crazy about because it does tend to limit showing opportunities a bit but would ensure your pet is secure, is to pre-set certain days and/or hours for showings. If you can assure your animal won’t be at home during specific time frames, that would be best. Perhaps scheduling your workdays to start a little later or end a little sooner would suffice. You might also consider working a few longer hours, for example Monday thru Thursday, so you can take Friday off specifically for showings. And of course, make sure the same applies to weekends.

If your pet absolutely must stay at home, make sure they are crated and/or kenneled. That does not mean locking them in a room and making that room unavailable to potential buyers. Potential buyers want to see every room of the house! What it does mean is providing a comfortable crate or kennel with enough ample room to move around and access to food or water, and for cats, a litter box. Tuck the crate/kennel in an out-of-the-way corner so they will not be disturbed or the center of attention. And make sure to have someone come in and check on them during the day for potty breaks and the like.

While it is true that selling a home with pets might take a bit of extra work, in the end, it is very doable and your pet can still feel secure during the process.

Thank you for writing in and wishing you and Tuna Fish all the best!

If you have a question for “ASK THE HOME STAGING EXPERT®”, please contact lori@homestagingexpert.com.

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HOME STAGING ROI: WHY HOME STAGING IS WORTH THE COST

Why Home Staging Is Worth It

by Krystina Maloney

In our first post in our Home Staging Series, guest blogger Lori Matzke offers her advice on why home staging is a good investment when selling your home and why it’s worth the cost to work with a professional home stager.

Read what she has to say and see for yourself:

“When I started professionally staging homes back in 1999, home staging was typically considered a ‘last resort’ for many people. After all other efforts had been exhausted, the price of the home had already dropped significantly or the agent was just days away from losing the listing, they’d finally cave in and give me a call. Many of my clients were unsure of what staging really was. Most of them were willing to try anything at that point and all of them were quite frantic. Home staging was a much tougher sell back then and I never understood why.

The concept of staging a house to sell creates a win-win situation for both the seller and the buyer. In turn, staging contributes toward the sale of the home. The goal for the seller is to gain as much interest in the property from as many potential buyers as possible. They also want to sell the house quickly for the best price. On the other hand, a potential buyer wants to find a house they truly love, would feel good about buying and would be proud to call home. Staging helps bridge the gap between the seller and the buyer, creating the perfect opportunity for both.

As any Realtor can attest, “A home that shows well, sells!”, which is why those first few weeks on the market are absolutely crucial! New listings always generate the most activity and typically see the most showings. For that reason, I am a huge advocate of staging the home first and promoting it to the marketplace second. Once a potential buyer has seen the house, they’ve seen it! And if they don’t like what they see, they won’t be back for a second look. But when a property shows well from the start, it creates a momentum and sense of urgency among buyers, giving the seller a marketable advantage over the competition.

Selling a house is one of the largest financial transactions most homeowners will ever be involved in. Ensuring the home is properly staged to make a positive first impression is the key to grabbing and maintaining a potential buyer’s attention to garner an offer. The last thing any seller wants is for their home to linger on the market, inviting price drops and bargain hunters. Finding the right home stager and making that initial investment not only saves time and ensures a home will show its best, but will be one less hurdle for sellers to overcome between putting a house on the market and actually selling a house.

After staging hundreds of homes, I cannot think of a single house that hasn’t seen the benefits of home staging and reaped the rewards. Most received offers within days or weeks, not months. Many frequently sell for more than the asking price when a bidding war erupts! As for those clients who’ve called me in as a last resort, their number one question has been, “Why didn’t we call you sooner?” Home staging gives sellers the best advantage possible when their home is on the market. Professional staging is a small investment to make considering the potential payback. It ranks right up there with finding a good Realtor® and pricing the house right. It should always be one of the first things anyone selling a home should consider.”

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“ASK THE HOME STAGING EXPERT®” – WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT DATED CARPETING?

Dear Home Staging Expert –

My wife and I are finally going to be living our dream after 35 years of life in the Midwest. We are anxious, excited, and ready to head to The Sunshine State, and plan to relocate as soon as the house sells. The problem is our Realtor has asked us to replace the carpeting before the house goes on the market. I agree it is definitely old carpeting, but I don’t want to dip into our retirement funds since the move will be expensive. I think it would be better to just give the new buyer a carpeting allowance and let them pick their own. I don’t want to spend anything out-of-pocket we won’t be getting back. What do you think?

Respectfully,

Don’t-Wanna-Spend-The-Money in Chicago

Dear Don’t-Wanna-Spend-The-Money –

I totally hear ya, and really…who wants to spend money on a home you will be leaving behind for an update you won’t get to enjoy yourself? But I’m afraid your Realtor is right. Buyers can’t see a carpeting allowance. They can only see what’s there right now. And unfortunately, more than 90% of potential buyers can’t seem to visualize anything beyond that. They also tend to think of an ‘allowance’ as an opening to make an even lower offer if they make an offer at all, over-estimate the cost to replace, and tend to think of it as a hassle, in general. ‘Move-in-ready’ condition is the key to enticing a solid offer on your property.

That being said, while I totally understand your dilemma, I have to disagree with you on one major point; You will definitely be seeing a return on your investment in the form of a quicker sale and higher offer! And that is the ultimate goal, right there. While it might not feel like it now, once the carpeting is replaced and the house is staged and looking fabulous, your house will suddenly appeal to a much larger market.

My best advice would be to listen to your real estate agent. I suggest you bite the bullet, shop around and look for a deal that offers interest-free financing or something similar and replace that carpeting upfront. If you can find a financing deal like that, and they do come around quite frequently, you can purchase the carpeting and have it installed without dipping into your retirement funds and simply pay it off the investment at closing.

Look for carpeting that is nice and neutral and goes with everything! New carpeting is a HUGE selling point and will positively influence how your house is perceived by potential buyers.

Thank you for writing in, and wishing you and your wife a world of happiness on your new adventure!

If you have a question for “ASK THE HOME STAGING EXPERT®” please contact lori@homestagingexpert.com.

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ARE YOU MAKING THESE 6 DIY HOME-STAGING MISTAKES?

ARE YOU MAKING THESE 6 DIY HOME-STAGING MISTAKES?

By Rachel M. Hartman


Lori Matzke of www.homestagingexpert.com is featured here. Reprinted with permission from www.selfstorage.com

Staging your home — spiffing it up to please the prying eyes of homebuyers — can help it sell faster and at a higher price.

HomeGain cites cleaning and decluttering as the top home improvements that real estate professionals recommend to home sellers, based on the average cost and the return on investment. If done incorrectly, however, home staging can be harmful. Potential buyers might be turned away, and the house could linger on the market for months.

Experts warn DIY home stagers about committing these six mistakes.

1. Overlooking curb appeal - “Homeowners frequently form an emotional attachment to their landscape,” said Lori Matzke, owner of Home Staging Expert®. This can make it hard to spot unappealing features such as overgrown trees and shrubs.

Bare patches of a lawn also can be a turnoff. “Not only does it make the home feel like it hasn’t been taken care of, but potential buyers fear they are going to have trouble growing grass where no grass is currently growing,” Matzke said.

To spruce up the home’s exterior, trim trees and shrubs, add healthy sod, and make sure the area around the front door is clear of dust and cobwebs.

2. Not dealing with odors properly - “The house should be odor-free,” said Michelle Minch, owner of Moving Mountains Design, a home-staging and interior design company.

If there’s a distinct smell in your home, avoid masking it with heavily perfumed scents. “It’s better to get rid of the source of the odor,” Minch said.

A fresh coat of paint might clear up some scents, such as aromas from cooking certain types of food. Other smells, such as smoke, will require deeper cleaning.


3. Making spotty improvements - “While updates are usually a positive selling point for any home, especially kitchen and bath remodels, make sure that any changes made are consistent with the rest of the house,” Matzke said. “Totally modern makeovers will stick out like a sore thumb if the rest of the space is dated.”

For a streamlined look, spread updates throughout the home. Replace dated carpeting, paint walls, and opt for a midlevel remodel in the kitchen or bathroom with more basic materials.

4. Failing to put away family-related décor - If personal items are filling up your living room, for instance, “buyers won’t be able to imagine themselves in the room,” said Jennifer Campbell, owner of Set Your Stage, a home-staging company.

To make a space more appealing, remove family pictures and personal decorations. Also, change any deeply colored walls. For instance, you might love a wall that’s bright red, but not everyone will. Go with a warm, neutral tone instead.

It can be tough to evaluate your own home when it comes to personal touches, Minch said. As a rule of thumb, she said, “you won’t go wrong by having less, but you will go wrong by having more.”

5. Taking everything out - At the other end of the spectrum, removing too many large items can make it hard for home shoppers to grasp the potential of your space.

“Buyers can’t picture what can fit in the room,” Campbell said.

Perhaps you have a bedroom that has enough room for a queen-size bed. If you leave the room empty, buyers might be inclined to think there isn’t enough space for a large bed. “If you display a queen bed, you can show that yes, you can fit that in there,” Campbell said.

6. Leaving clutter - Some clutter might be obvious, such as boxes or other items lining a hallway. Other forms of clutter might involve not-so-obvious belongings, such as collectibles.

“Collections tend to be large and take up a lot of space,” said Lori Howard, owner of Hope Designs, a home-staging and interior-decorating company.

If you post pictures of the house online, potential buyers likely will notice the clutter and be distracted by the collectibles. “It becomes chaotic to the eye,” Howard said.

To showcase the dimensions of your rooms, remove clutter and collections. If you don’t have ample space for storing extra belongings in a closet, the basement or the attic, look into stashing them in a self-storage unit.

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HOME STAGING TIPS FROM THE PROS

Home Staging Tips from the Pros

We were lucky enough to be asked to participate in the Re/Max of New Jersey Blog featuring some great home staging advice!

HOME STAGING TIPS FROM THE PROS

We have featured some excellent guest bloggers in our Home Staging Series over the past few months, and each has offered their own unique home staging advice. All of our guest bloggers have returned for one last post to provide you with their top home staging tips. Check out their answers to some of the most important home staging questions.

Q: What are some simple ways a seller can spruce up their home before staging and putting it on the market?

“Clean your house inside and out until it is spotless. Consider a professional cleaning service that offers a one-time deep cleaning, including carpets,” Cindy Bryant, Redesign Etc Home Staging

“Keep a couple of laundry baskets empty and handy. Use these to tidy the house for those showings when you have short notice. Put the loaded baskets in your car and away you go!” Barbara Pilcher, DIY Home Staging Tips

Q: What are the best recommendations in terms of paint color when staging a home?

“Paint using a neutral color, not white. It depends on the overall color of your floors and counters, but stick to neutrals in the beige and gray families,” Cindy Bryant, Redesign Etc. Home Staging

“This is not the time to get creative with your paint colors. Strong colors should be toned down. I stick with warm neutrals. Unless a home is modern, I steer clear of white walls. Painting walls a color will bring out the beauty of any architectural features such as moldings. This is a selling feature and should be highlighted,” Angela Gagauf, NJ Home Decorating and Staging

Q: Should homeowners focus on outdoor space when staging a home?

“Absolutely! Staging an area outdoors as a sitting or entertaining area is the next best thing to adding square footage to a house. Some possibilities: Make a patio from pavers or flagstone or pay to have a cement slab poured. Turn a side yard into a shade garden with plants and a bench. Make sure any porch looks like a destination spot. Set a picnic table under a tree. Add a fire pit surrounded by outdoor chairs. Place a bistro set on a small balcony. You get the idea,” Barbara Pilcher, DIY Home Staging Tips

“Absolutely! The outdoor space, called “curb appeal” is the first impression of the house. It sets the stage for what a prospective buyer will see inside the home. If the property is immaculate on the outside, it sends the message that the house has been well-cared for and will be easy to maintain. Some potential buyers will decline to view the interior of the house because of its exterior condition. It’s a fact, a home with good curb appeal will generate more interest than a home that does not have curb appeal,” Angela Gagauf, NJ Home Decorating and Staging

Q: How can homeowners enhance square footage when staging a home?

“Create as much visual square footage as possible! Even if a potential buyer is downsizing, they’re still looking for space. No one is ever really in the market for ‘cozy.’ To achieve this, remove as much unnecessary furniture as possible, edit excess and accessories, float major furnishings 8”- 12” off the wall and de-clutter everything from built-ins to glass cupboards, even if they aren’t being sold with the house. This creates a sense of openness throughout and leaves the buyer with the feeling that the home has plenty of space,” Lori Matzke, Home Staging Expert®

“By eliminating oversized furniture, not blocking entrances, de-cluttering and putting away items not in use. I find that most sellers have too much furniture. A professional stager will determine what should stay and how to arrange the furniture to create good traffic flow and appeal,” Angela Gagauf, NJ Home Decorating and Staging

Q: How can homeowners stage a home if they are on a budget?

“Implement as many cosmetic updates as you can within your budget. Of course, changing your hardware, light fixtures, flooring and counters will make a huge difference, but if you have to choose, pick the one with the greatest impact and R.O.I.,” Cindy Bryant, Redesign Etc. Home Staging

“Avoid offering a buyer’s allowance like the plague! Most buyers today are looking for ‘move-in ready’, may not want to put in the time and effort, typically over-estimate the cost and are more likely to make an even lower offer if they make an offer at all! It’s also difficult for buyers to imagine the house looking any other way than what they are currently seeing, so a seller will be ahead if they make the changes beforehand. Many home improvement and appliance stores offer zero-down financing, no interest/payments for a certain time period, etc., so the seller can take advantage and make the improvements without paying anything out-of-pocket and can pay it off at closing,” Lori Matzke, Home Staging Expert®

Q: What is the most unique or important piece of advice you can offer a homeowner when staging a home?

“Stage rooms from the viewpoint of the entry into the room! The entire purpose of staging is to draw the potential buyer into the space. By staging rooms from this perspective, buyers have a chance to immediately see the allure of the space, and once their interest is piqued, they are more apt to walk in for a closer look rather than just pass through,” Lori Matzke, Home Staging Expert®

“Pretend you are a tourist in your town to decide what’s unusual about your locale. Include touches in your staging that emphasize what’s special about your state, city, small town, or neighborhood. It could be a landscape painting, a book about the area, a posted schedule of community concerts, or just the flavor of your décor, because some buyers are relocating and are attracted to what’s unique,” Barbara Pilcher, DIY Home Staging Tips

“Home sellers can’t control 28 % of the home’s interior impressions (number of rooms and floor plan). But they are in control of the remaining 72%. And considering that home equity makes up approximately 60% of a homeowner’s wealth, home sellers should do whatever is in their control to preserve that equity by eliminating the need for price reductions. Frankly, their real estate agents can only do so much. An agent can’t get a good price if the seller is not committed to presenting the property in the best condition possible. The pre-market preparations that will help preserve the home’s equity include de-cluttering, cleaning, repairing, neutralizing and updating décor and last, but certainly not least, showcasing the property,” Angela Gagauf, NJ Home Decorating and Staging

“We live in a visual society, regardless of what people tell you. Many, if not all, will form an impression of what they immediately see. Corporations spend millions of dollars on marketing and packaging to make their products stand out from their competitors to successfully strike a chord with your emotions. When it comes to staging a home, it all comes down to appealing to a buyer visually and emotionally connecting. You want to have the home that buyers connect with, grabbing their attention, making an impression and then ultimately buying it. This can be created by using unique decorative items, wall art, throw pillows and colors by appealing to and knowing the market of potential buyers for your home. If you live near the water, add classy beach decor without making it a beach themed house. Don’t be afraid to bring some industrial and urban pieces into a family home to add interest. Use metal barstools or skyline cityscape wall art. You never know where potential buyers are moving from. Be creative. Your house will stand out from the competition and buyers will definitely connect!” Cindy Bryant, Redesign Etc. Home Staging

We hope that our guest bloggers have given you a little more insight into the world of home staging. Which tip was your favorite? Let us know by leaving a comment! And of course, don’t forget to check out all the awesome homes for sale in New Jersey at www.remax-nj.com.

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“ASK THE HOME STAGING EXPERT®” - HOW DO WE REPAIR A DAMAGED LAWN BEFORE OUR HOUSE GOES ON THE MARKET?

Need to green up your lawn for market fast? Use sod instead of trying to plant grass seed for quicker results!

Hi, Lori – My wife and I are about to put our house on the market and the Realtor is pushing for us to get it listed within the next two weeks. The problem is the lawn. We have a large hunting dog and he’s made a total mess of the backyard! We have a lot of patches of missing grass and even a few completely dead spots all over the place! How can we fix this before launch time? It looks like a war zone!

Sincerely,

Panicked in St. Louis, MO

Dear Panicked -

There really is nothing to panic about! I’m sure your puppy enjoyed the time he spent out back, so perhaps the long-term positives will outweigh the short-term negatives in this case, though I most certainly do understand your dilemma.

A well-maintained yard is a huge selling point for potential buyers, and a lawn in less-than-stellar condition can be a turn-off for many. While trying to re-seed the lawn from scratch might still be an option, with a two-week deadline looming overhead, my suggestion would be to go with sod for instant results! Buyers can only see what’s there right now, and in this case, you want to make sure they are definitely seeing green.

Check out the local home improvement stores and garden centers for a sod that matches the grass already in place. Then you will need to prepare the ground for planting. In the areas where the lawn has simply been dug up or stomped to death with all that chasing around your pup did, rake up the dead grass and roots, lightly till the ground beneath, then add a layer of topsoil to fill in the gaps and even out the trouble spots before laying the sod.

However, if the grass died due to an over concentration of dog urine, you will need to flush the nitrates that remain behind with the garden hose, allowing ample time between each watering for sufficient drainage. Then just follow the same steps as directed above. Once the sod is in place, make sure to give your new grass another watering and keep it moist, not drenched, during the next few weeks to give it a chance to take root.

Sod really is a fast and simple solution for a troubled lawn when your goal is to get your house on the market quickly and still appeal to the most buyers possible.

Hope this helps and wishing you all the best on the sale of your home!

If you have a question for “ASK THE HOME STAGING EXPERT®” please contact lori@homestagingexpert.com.

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