11.06.08
Home Staging 101: Frequently Asked Questions
Even though Home Staging is in the news almost daily, and HGTV is inundated with Real Estate shows about Staging, I find that I’m still asked some of the same questions again and again. I thought I would post the most frequently asked questions, along with my responses to help shed some light on the philosophy behind Staging, and help you to better understand how I work.
1. Why do I need to remove or replace some of my existing décor? I LIKE my things, and I like the way my house looks!
The way you live in a home, and the way you market and sell your home are two completely different things. Most of us decorate our homes with our personal, specific taste in mind, and our home becomes an extension of our personality. When Staging your home to sell, the primary goal is to provide a warm, inviting environment that appeals to the broadest range of potential buyers, so that anyone walking into your house can envision themselves living there, regardless of their personal taste or style. Remember, as soon as that “For Sale” sign goes up, your home is now a house; it is a product to sell as a whole, not a showcase for your belongings, and Staging is the best strategy for marketing it.
2. Why should I remove all my personal photos?
One very important element of Home Staging is the process of de-personalizing your home. Removing personal photos keeps potential home buyers from feeling as if they are invading someone else’s home. It is also a safety measure for you, the homeowner.
3. Why should I paint some or all of my home? I’ve put enough money in it already.
Painting your home is the biggest impact you can make for the smallest amount of money, particularly if the current colors are strong or overly bright, and even more so if they are stark white. Often for as little as $40 or less, you are changing the look and feel of each room. Creating a neutral palette is another step in making your home appealing.
4. Do I really need to replace items or make updates? Can’t I just put an allowance in so the new owners can do that themselves?
With so many homes currently on the market, your best option for a full price offer and quick sale is to set yourself apart from the competition.
The homes that are the most updated, and in the best condition, do stand out. Not updating your home can make the difference between your house selling in 30 days or 6 months. The decision is up to you. We can help you prioritize what might need to be changed, and provide cost effective options to meet your budget as part of the Consultation and Staging process.
5. Why would I want to rent furniture for my vacant home? It’s clean and in good condition.
Buyers only know what they see, not the way it’s going to be. A vacant home is an empty shell. Without something to focus on, it is natural for the eye to focus on the flaws of each room, such as lack of decorative molding, not enough windows, cracks, etc. Staging uses furniture, accessories, and lighting to create a warm, inviting feel, and welcome potential buyers into each room. It also helps to highlight desirable features of the home, and downplay challenging areas, such as small room dimensions, or an odd shaped room.
So now what do you do?
You may find that one or more of the above items apply to your home. If so, It is understandable to be concerned about the prospect of making more improvements or changes than you had planned.
Something to help you keep things in perspective:
· Staging is an investment in the sale of your home.
· 95.1% of all Staged Homes sell in 33 days or less. The average Days on Market for Northern Virginia is 83, as of August, 2008.
· The cost for Staging is dramatically less than your first price reduction, which is typically $10,000-$20,000 or more.
- If your home is sold as a gain, the Staging costs may be tax deductible. (consult your tax preparer)
· Staging costs on average, less than .05% of the selling price of your home. (based on a $500,000 home)
Leigh Newport is Owner and Principal Designer for Staged by Design, an interior redesign company based in Northern Virginia. Visit us online at: www.staged-by-design.com
10.09.08
A Home for the Holidays: Staging for every Season
I love Fall. However, cool weather and afternoon light are just the beginning of what quickly turns into the chaos of back to back holidays. If you can’t believe I’m even mentioning the holiday season in October, just take a whirl in any of your local retail stores. You’ll find skeleton costumes right next to the turkey decorations that are a mere aisle away from the Christmas lights.
If you find that you need to list or sell a home during the holidays…..
-How do you Stage your home, live in it while keeping it on the market, yet observe holiday rituals?
-Should homes that are vacant be Staged using Holiday decor?
First let me state that I’m the last one to talk about moderation when it comes to personal Holiday Decor. I have 16 boxes of assorted holiday decorations alone in my basement. (Seriously, 16. Just ask my husband.) However, since I’m not selling my home, I can deck my halls any way I like without it affecting the value of my home.
When Staging a home, your goal is to appeal to the broadest group of individuals. This goal does not change with the calendar. The following are suggestions for observing the season without alienating potential buyers.
Halloween: Seasonal décor vs. Holiday specific is always preferred. Tablescapes could include mini-pumpkins or mums instead of draping your front porch with faux spider webs and a graveyard along your front drive. (Just a tip: that cute little pumpkin tastefully placed on your buffet will continue to look fresh for well over a month until you pick it to reveal its rotten bottom. I learned that one the hard way.)
Thanksgiving: Put away the crepe paper turkeys prior to a showing. Consider incorporating warm colors into table settings or accents instead.
Christmas: A simple fresh evergreen wreath on the front door is always welcoming. A partially deflated Santa on your lawn? Not so much. Does this mean that I wouldn’t put up a Christmas tree if my occupied home were on the market in December? No, that’s not practical for me. But I would only use 1 box of décor of my personal stash, as moderation is key.
Vacant Homes: Beware of using any fresh seasonal options in vacant homes. That lovely bouquet will be rotted and unappealing in a few days. A tasteful, seasonally appropriate wreath on the door may be all you need to observe the holidays while still maximizing your home’s appeal to the masses.
Leigh Newport
Staged by Design
03.22.09
Test Your Home Staging Skills
I recently discovered a “Staging Savvy” quiz on the National Association of Realtors website. The quiz was created by Barb Schwarz, the founder and owner of www.StagedHomes.com, the leader in industry for Home Staging training.
If you are a Realtor, a current Home Stager, or maybe just watch too much HGTV, feel free to take the quiz, and see how you rank.
http://www.realtor.org/RMOQuiz2.nsf/StagingSavvyQuiz?OpenForm
Courtesy of Staged by Design
Home Staging and Interior Redesign
Serving all of Northern Virginia
www.staged-by-design.com
03.04.09
Home Staging: The process of de-cluttering
Kitchen Counter Before Staging
De-cluttering.
It is one of the most crucial steps prior to putting your home on the market, and an essential element of Home Staging. For home owners, however, it is often easier said than done. What is clutter really, but the by-product of the way we live in a home? It is the accumulation of life’s daily activities, creeping into the corners of our home, creating a never ending “to do” list.
Preparing your home for sale can be a daunting task. The following are tips to help you gain perspective and assist you in achieving your goal of selling your home quickly. Remember that a house well lived-in reflects a house well-loved. De-cluttering is the beginning of the transformation that allows your buyers to love your home as much as you do.
1. Begin with the end in mind. Visualize the look on a perspective buyers face when they walk into your fabulous home once it is Staged and ready to show.
2. When tackling your priority list, always begin with the task that will take the least amount of time.
3. Only tackle one room, or section at a time.
4. If necessary, break large tasks into smaller ones by setting a time limit, and complete all that you can in 15 or 30 minute increments.
5. Think seasonally when packing items for storage. This goes not only for clothing, but décor, kitchen wares, etc. If you’re not wearing it or planning on using it in the next few months, pack it.
6. Instead of putting items in closets or behind closed doors, pack them up and label them well. You will need to pack before moving anyway! Be specific in your labeling, just in case you should need an item that is already packed, prior to moving.
7. When downsizing, de-cluttering, or moving, ask yourself the following qualifying questions:
· Is it worth it to pay the additional cost to move these items?
· When was the last time it was used?
· Do you have multiple items that serve the same purpose?
· If so, what is the benefit of having multiple items?
· Is it worth potentially losing equity in my home to keep it?
8. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Call in the professionals to take on a project that turns out to be larger than you anticipated. Staged by Design, based in Northern Virginia, can assist you with this process every step of the way, either by providing additional manpower to help you accomplish your Staging goals, or by recommending professionals best suited to your specific needs. We can do as much or as little as you like!
Visit us online at www.staged-by-design.com.
01.22.09
New Color Trends for 2009
Photo courtesy of Jerine
Color affects us in many ways. Our responses to color range from subliminal, physiological to emotional. It impacts how we feel when we enter a room, what products we purchase, and even what foods we choose to eat.
Have you ever been shopping and suddenly noticed that every store seems to be carrying the same color options? All of a sudden everything from salad tongs to skirts is that “new trendy color”? If you ever wondered how a color trend began, then read on.
Every year, a company called Pantone selects what they consider to be the “Color of the Year”. While the name may be unfamiliar to you, Pantone is the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries. Their choice of colors influences everything from graphics to fashion, to home décor. They set the stage, and the rest of the world follows, right? Well, sort of. We all don’t necessarily need to run out and re-paint our walls and update our wardrobe just because a world authority on color predicts a trend, gives it a name, and proclaims it to the world.
Pantone Color of the Year 2009 Mimosa
First of all, not every color of the year translates to everyone’s taste. Take this year’s choice, Mimosa. This is a strong, vibrant, yellow with orange undertones. I’m not sure I could pull it off either in my house, or in my wardrobe. Michelle Obama certainly did, though. The dress she wore to the Inauguration Ceremony was a retro take on the upbeat yellow tone. By the way, it’s no surprise that Mimosa is a vibrant, optimistic color, which is what we all need right now, given the current state of the economy.
As for Home Staging or Interior Design, you may see this color as an accent; a pop here and there, such as in pillows or artwork.
Should you decide, however, that the bold optimism of Mimosa is perfect for your home, Benjamin Moore translates its interior color trend as St. Elmo’s Fire 362, from its newest Aura paint line.
In addition, Benjamin Moore publishes a yearly color report title “Color Pulse” that offers several neutral hues appropriate for Home Staging from their “Urban Silence” category: Rattan AF-375 and Wasabi AF-430, both from the Affinity collection.
Try them out if you’re feeling trendy. If not, rely on a tried and true standby such as Lenox Tan, HC-44, or Toasted Pine Nut, from Sherwin Williams.
And lastly, if you are ever attempting to find out what color goes with what and happen find yourself without your handy-dandy color wheel, try this little parlor trick:
Take a sheet of black paper or cardboard, and cut out a two to four inch square.
Look at the color of your outfit, or item in question through this “window” for about 30 seconds and then look at a blank sheet of white paper.
The color that appears on the paper will be the after-image; a complement of the original color.
It really works!
Leigh Newport is Owner and Principal Designer for Staged by Design, providing Home Staging and Interior Redesign services for all of Northern Virginia. If you want to sell your home quickly, Stage it! Visit us online at www.staged-by-design.com, or leigh@staged-by-design.com. 571-291-0614.
10.30.08
Blending Styles in Your Home: What are the rules, and do you need to follow them?
Do you find yourself secretly longing for the sleek, clean lines of modern furniture, while surrounded by flea market vintage and Shabby Chic? How do you deal with combining your antiques with your future husband’s love of leather sectionals? Now that the children have moved out, you can finally purchase furniture without having to attest to its stain fighting abilities, but where do you begin, and what are the rules when combining widely disparate looks?
A change in style need not be cause for a crisis, whether it’s brought on by the evolution of our own personal taste, or a change in lifestyle.
Here are a few guidelines that allow for an easy transition when coordinating the look of your home:
Scale of furniture-Consider scale as well as the shape. Be wary of paring an overstuffed chair with a petite end table, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a sitting area in a corner that combines a smaller scale table and chair in the same room. Breaking up the grouping allows for diversity in scale.
Color- If it’s your eclectic accessories, not furniture that need to be integrated, create groupings by color to help create a harmonious look. On tabletops, use groupings of three to add visual interest.
Unifying element-These can be colors, patterns or textures. Repeating these in pillows, window treatments and fabrics will help to pull a space together, even if the pieces of furniture are very different.
Remember, this is your home after all. Modern, Eclectic, Traditional-the only style it needs to fit is your own.
Leigh Newport is owner of Staged by Design Home Staging and Interior Redesign. www.staged-by-design.com.
Originally published in the Loudoun Independent, October 29, written by Leigh Newport
09.30.08
World Wide Staging Services Day
I recently had the privilege of working with the Washington DC chapter of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals on our World Wide Staging Services Day project. Each year, all active Accredited Staging Professionals (ASPs) dedicate a day during the week of September 12-17 to community service. We were so pleased to work with Homestretch Inc., a local organization whose “mission is to empower homeless families with children under age 18 in northern Virginia to return to stable housing and self-sufficiency by giving them the skills, knowledge and hope they need to become productive participants in the community”
This was the first year I’d had the chance to be part of this great event. Our team of 15 ASPs and ASP Realtors converged at the small apartment early on the morning of the 17th, ready to transform the home through Staging. The tiny, three bedroom was home to a single mother, a teenage boy, and two teenage girls, the youngest of whom shared a room with her mother. There was no kitchen table, as it had been broken some time ago, with the remains of the top propped up so that one end could be used. The family had no place to have a meal together! We were about to change all that! Armed with artwork, new kitchen accessories, and bedding, our team got to work.
Furniture was graciously donated by Brook and AFR furniture rentals. Finally, the family could eat together. The team put their creativity to work, moving furniture, accessorizing and changing the entire look of their home!
The family was so thrilled and overwhelmed with the results. We were really able to impact a family in a way that allows them to feel more comfortable in their surroundings. For those of you who have experience being displaced, or having to live in a place that you weren’t at all comfortable, you have then the smallest idea of what it might have been like for this family.
I am so very proud as an ASP to be part of the Staged Homes family, and fortunate to have such outstanding and generous members of our local IAHSP chapter. I have learned so much from my fellow stagers, and continue to be thankful for the opportunity to be part of that community. Owning your own staging business can be a solitary endeavor if you are going it alone. It’s not like owning a franchise, or starting a partnership. It’s YOU and just YOU. Having these relationships to share our successes and learn from our mistakes is invaluable, and I just thought I’d take a moment to express it.
Leigh Newport
Staged by Design
Looking for love in all the wrong spaces: How to fall in love with your home all over again.
If your home were to write a personal ad, would it look something like this?
“Charming, but lived-in SFH (Single Family Home) craving adventure. Prefers urban lofts, but open to new experiences. No Victorian, Country or Shabby Chic, please”.
Is your home crying out for a new look, but you find yourself struggling with where to begin? Don’t waste your time hoping your perfect décor match will magically appear. You’ve got to get yourself out there, jump in feet first and make it happen! Start with home magazines, model homes, and design centers to help you identify your desired style.
-Use fabric or artwork as inspiration for your color palette, choosing no more than three shades. You can then select furniture to coordinate and contrast the look.
-Does your current furniture reflect the style you crave? If the pattern or color is the biggest factor, consider re-upholstering or a slipcover for an easy update. Pre-made slipcovers are also an option for an interim fix, until your budget can accommodate furniture replacement or the hiring of a professional.
-Is the wallpaper or wall color contributing to the outdated look? Paint is the least expensive method of transforming a room with the highest impact. Select the color for your furnishings first, though. It’s much easier to find a paint color to blend with your sofa than it is to find a sofa in the right style AND color to blend with your walls. Your local paint store can also create custom blends if you are having a difficult time finding just the right shade.
-Accessories are often the easiest way to inexpensively bring a room together. Look for items that complement your color palette. When it comes to artwork, you may even be able to use your existing frames with your new art.
When all else fails, consult an Interior Redesigner. They are the matchmakers of home décor, carefully screening your options and taking your own furnishings into consideration to find your true design match.
Leigh Newport is owner of Staged by Design Home Staging and Interior Redesign. www.Staged-by-Design.com, serving Northern Virginia.
*Originally published in the Loudoun Independent, October 2008, written by Leigh Newport
08.26.08
Home Staging and Dating: It’s more similar than you think
This is my very first blog post and I hope you enjoy it.
First off, let me say that I am happily married, and it’s been quite a few years since I’ve been on the dating “scene”. My idea of great date now constitutes a quiet dinner with my husband, sitting at the kitchen table after the kids are asleep. Although my dating years are far behind me, it’s the anxiety that I clearly remember, and led me to parallel the experience with the effort of selling your home.
When selling your home, you are essentially courting your buyers. Imagine it as the most expensive first date you can imagine. Blow this first impression and you’ll have more than unreturned phone calls; it will be price reductions in the tens of thousands.
How do you channel that first date anxiety into preparing your home for sale?
- Pull out the proverbial full length mirror and be honest. You must scrutinize your home with a buyer’s eye. Stand in the doorway of each room and take pictures. This is what buyers will see online, where you have 3 seconds to grab their attention. Is there more furniture than open space? Does it look inviting?
- Just as you would be selective with your fashion accessories, the same applies to your home. Pack up the nick-nacks and personal photos and breakables. You are planning on moving anyway! Your goal is for the buyer to envision themselves in your home. De-personalizing and de-cluttering is key.
-When selecting the look for your big night, determine your best feature and highlight it. Do the same in your home by creating a focal point in each room. Create a conversation area around it, or use it as inspiration for what colors or furnishings should remain in the room.
If you find that you’re still not sure where to begin, your Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) takes on the role of the trusted girlfriend; sharing your goals, being supportive yet brutally honest when a complete makeover is needed. ASPs can do as much or as little as you like. If it’s your furnishings that could prevent your home from looking its best, they offer accessories and furniture for rent, and provide much needed direction for what it will take to sell your home for more money in less time.
Leigh Newport is the owner of Staged by Design, a Home Staging and Interior Redesign company based in Loudoun County, Northern Virginia. Visit us online at www.staged-by-design.com.
*Originally published in the Loudoun Independent, September, 2008, written by Leigh Newport
