Staging Uses Many Skills You Already Have!

Monday, January 31, 2011
Are you selling a home? Not sure you have what it takes to sell it quickly at a price you like? 

What most people don't realize is that even if they have never done anything like selling a property, they already possess multiple skills to make it happen.

The trick is to treat staging and selling like a job, even if you think you never had a job like this before.

I've had a winding career path, and at the time, the different positions I've held didn't seem all that connected. But looking back, I can see how each one built on the previous one.

I'm reminded of some career advice I've heard. Simply stated, it is, "If you change fields, bring all the skills you’ve learned with you."

This means seeing your career as a flow, where one experience adds to the following. Everyone has transferable skills.

Most Americans change jobs every four years on average. So, it's possible you'll have 10 or more jobs in your career, each one with built-in lessons. You're bound to have learned from those jobs,  from books you've read, people you've known, and hobbies you've enjoyed. Bring all this to the project of staging and selling your present home.

It's easy. To start, ask yourself these questions. What jobs have you worked? What were the requirements of each job? What are your special skills, the things at which you excel? What do you really love doing? What have you studied?

For example, let's take a look at some different personalities and how they can help you stage your own home. 
Are you a reader who enjoys studying data? 

Numbers gal

If you have an accountant's training, you already know how to track expenses and project costs and profits. If numbers don't confuse or intimidate you, you've got what it takes to "run the business" of staging your own home.

Extrovert

If you've been praised for your exceptional people skills, you will know how to negotiate with suppliers for good prices, find prospective home buyers, and build a good relationship with a real estate agent. These are the "soft skills" that not everyone has but will come in handy when you decide to stage your home. 

Geek

If you have current and quick computer skills, you’ll be able to use the Internet for locating bargains as well as information. Perhaps you can help your Realtor style a good listing page and photos. When you won't let iPhones and Instagram and Pinterest and eBay intimidate you, you'll be ahead of older people and others who shun the Internet. 

Intellectual

If you would rather read than do anything else, you can study the local real estate market to make better staging and selling decisions. Like any business, the business of staging and selling has lots to do with gathering opinions, data, and information about trends. 

Artist or Crafter

If you are a collector or a skilled craftsperson, put your trained eye to work selecting or creating the best decor items to display. Even if you don't produce your own wall art or sew your own pillow covers, your experience will steer you right whether you are arranging furniture, choosing a paint color, or staging bookshelves.   

Manager

If you are accustomed to overseeing a staff, you’ll be good at setting goals, delegating and scheduling. If your home is large, if you are in a rush to get staged, if you have a full-time job, or if you are staging a vacant property, you'll probably be hiring help or getting friends or family to assist you. That's when your managerial experience will come in handy.

Buyer

A passionate shopper can put her skills to work finding good buys for staging. People I know who are known for scoring deals are patient people. They don't shy away from doing the homework, whether it's reading labels, researching customer reviews, or visiting different websites or brick-and-mortar stores. They don't make impulse purchases and they get creative about sourcing. Is that you?

Get the look, get the book 

Have some fun defining your present skillset  -- all the experience you've gained along the way to where you are today. This personal profile you define will be an indispensable beginning of your home staging and selling projects.

Use your list to determine how best to use your time, and when you need to introduce a professional or expert to help. I promise the list will boost your confidence and be an indispensable beginning to your home selling and staging projects.

And don't begin your home-selling adventure until you have read my home staging eBook.   


How to Use Shabby Chic Art

Thursday, January 27, 2011
Art in your staged home should emphasize the best qualities your home has.

Do you feel that your home is charming and cozy, old fashioned and maybe a little bit country? If so,  shabby chic art can be your go-to art style.

While too much shabby chic style decor can make a staged home look too girly, too crowded, or too tattered, a little goes a long way.

There's nothing like an old, framed oil painting of roses or a painted tray to make a room feel homey.

It won't work in all settings, but here are some tips for using these pretty paintings.

Bathrooms and bedrooms especially lend themselves to these pretty pastel renderings. Small ones can be tucked into a corner of the bath, and larger ones can hang over a dresser or bed.

On the other hand, contemporary rooms look more pulled together if the art is modern. Posters, photographs and abstract paintings are going to work better than what I am calling shabby chic art. So, if you're going for a more polished, modern, uptown look, skip the vintage florals in chippy frames.

There's nothing wrong with clustering a group of small floral paintings on one wall. In fact, it's preferable to scattering them around the room.

Shabby or cottage style art doesn't always have to be paintings. Boxes, tabletops, trays and lamps that pick up the vintage look have the same charming effect on a room.

A lamp like this one from Lamps Plus is ornate
enough to carry a room that's too simple. You don't 
have to spend big bucks for a new lamp 
because any plain lamp base can be dressed up with a rose decoupage or decal to comnvert it to something similar in mood to this sample.
The pastel colors -- like the
ones in the p[hoto of the tray from
Such Pretty Things -make shabby chic
so appealing are the same
colors that make home staging work well.
They are non-offensive and familiar.



There's nothing wrong with mixing new with vintage. One of the principles of shabby chic is combining elements that don't usually appear together, like fine crystal and wrinkled linens.

Art doesn't have to be graphic art. A mirror can qualify as wall art, especially if it reflects aspects of your room you want to make sure buyers notice.

Mirrors with elaborately carved frames are easier to find second hand than art with frames that lend themselves to a distressed finish. Here, the contemporary lamp fits in perfectly. Photo: HGTV.com

You can find shabby chic and cottage style artwork suitable for staging at flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores and eBay. I've found that a search of "vintage rose paintings" gets you better results than "shabby chic art," on eBay.

I wrote about the good and not-so-good points of decorating shabby chic style if you are selling a home in this post.


Top photo: Country Living

Cats Don't Have to Stink

Monday, January 17, 2011
  
I'm spending a few days babysitting my two young grandsons where they live. We're "home alone," while my daughter and her husband take a well deserved vacation. I'm also sitting for Skippy and and Jenga, their two tiger cats.

Cats in the staged home

Since I have never owned a cat, having to feed and clean up after one is new to me. Kids, yes. Kitties, no. What else is new to me is that a cat box doesn't have to smell up the whole room.

Have kitty litter formulas changed over the past few years, or have I visited only cat owners who never scooped poop?


I have the kind of nose that, if I walk my dog on a summer evening, I can tell you what each neighbor is cooking for dinner, and what is blooming in their yard. And I will be triple bagging what I have to pick up after Misty. I have a sensitive nose, and if I can't detect any nasty cat bathroom scents, no one can.

Animal smells are a turn-off

Home sellers with pets -- there is no reason for any unpleasant animal aromas in your home. The product that Skippy and Jenga use is Fresh Step brand, Premium Multiple Cat Scoopable (not a paid endoresement). It contains carbon for odor absorption. It's lightly scented. It makes easy work of what could be a stinky chore.   

This post is short because I'm scheduled for a reading of Goodnight, Moon. 

Jenga likes a bedtime story, too.

Do You Have a Pre-Showing Checklist?

Thursday, January 13, 2011
The cleaner your home is, the more buyers will love it.
 But you have to live there, too!
Having a checklist on your phone or else printed (but not left out for home buyers to see!) will come to your rescue when your Realtor calls to ask if she can bring buyers by...now.

Keeping clutter under control and creating the illusion of a spic and span home are two of the best ways to win a buyer.

This list was originally created by my friend Laurie when she had a house on the market. She has four children. 

You can label her list compulsive if you like, but I love the way she balances her preference for cleanliness with sane living.

She knew it was important to keep her home show-ready until it sold if she wanted a fast and profitable sale. And sell it did! Here's Laurie's list:

Baths

Cover any laundry in hampers.
Put toiletries away in vanities.
Check shower and tub for toys, stray hairs, and facecloths.
Wipe counters, sinks and faucets with microfiber cloth.
Bring out the good towels.
Pour some scented cleaner in toilets and put lids down.
Collect prescription medicines and throw in go-bag to take to car.

Kitchen

Relocate anything in sink to dishwasher. Quickly once-over sink, faucet, counter, and stovetop with microfiber cloth.
Empty kitchen garbage, and take outside.
Swiffer the floor.

Bedrooms

Stash small rugs under beds.
Put magazines, etc, under bed.
Fluff pillows, pull bedspreads tight.
Close closet doors.

Living Room, Family Room, Dining Room 

Swiffer floors, check carpet for bits of debris.
Plump pillows and seat cushions.
Hide newspapers and remote under seat cushions.
Gather all toys and toss into chest and baskets.

Whole House

Walk through house and throw any stray, embarrassing, personal or small items into designated clean laundry basket. Put laundry basket in car.
Double check desk top, refrigerator front and all tables to be sure all personal stuff like credit cards, mail, calendars and valuables are securely out of sight. When in doubt, stuff into go-bag.  
Turn on ceiling fans and lights.
Open all blinds, drapes and curtains. 

Outside

Sweep steps and walkway.
Check for cobwebs near entrance. Hit them with broom.
Move bikes, toys garden house, etc. to side of house.

Use Laurie's list. When you get a short notice call, ask the broker to stall for 30 minutes, so you can run down your list. A checklist helps you focus, gives you peace of mind, and simplifies your tasks when you have to pick up on the fly. Find other ways to be prepared for home buyers in my $4.99 eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar.    

Details that Make the Difference

Thursday, January 06, 2011


When you stage your own home to sell it, you might be thinking in broad strokes. Should I paint the walls? Change the window treatments? Get new carpeting?

Once you've made some major decisions and tackled the jobs of removing clutter and deep cleaning, it can be the little things that make the difference between a beautiful homestaging job and a fail.

The details -- both large and small -- that you'll add to your staged rooms are important pieces of the homestaging package. Once you make them part of your decor, they will work their magic on buyers.

Adding killer details is easy. The truth about details is that they don't need to be expensive or time-consuming to add. They are like the jewelry you add once you are all dressed to go.

Let's look at how to add these flourishes and what they can do.

Create that high-end look 

Some details are small. But little things make a big difference.

There is a whole category of finishing touches that decorators and fashion designers know about. These are the dressmaker details that get added or incorporated into a garment or accessory. These are the tassels and tiebacks on draperies, the piping or fringe on a pillow, the edging or trim on a lampshade, or the nailheads on an upholstered chair seat.

These touches create the layered look that gives distinction to a room, making it look interesting without being arresting. They are what make a generic piece of furniture look custom or expensive. They give your ordinary rooms a quality appearance.

Examine your rooms to see if there are some tantalizing touches here and there, some details that convey the impression that someone took the time to add something special. Here are samples.
  • Finials on top of lamps
  • Bobeches on candlesticks
  • Cabinet knobs and furniture pulls
  • Drapery rods and rings
  • Crown molding and chair rails
  • Napkin rings on oversized cloth napkins
  • Ribbon on a front door wreath
  • Slight distressing on a vintage piece of furniture
  • Soaps piled in an apothecary jar
  • Sphagnum moss covering the soil in potted plants
  • Matting around a framed print

Plants and flowers like these hydrangeas, real 
or silk ones, are examples of powerful details. 

Books on display, as well as whimsical ceramics 
like this frog, give a home personality. 

Bathrooms cry out for details like these. 
It's easy to add pretty grooming supplies.
  
Don't ignore your dining table as an opportunity to 
add details like these simple but interesting place settings.   

These curtains were added for their 
old-fashioned charm, but they
didn't hide the view of the water outside. 

The floats above add authenticity.

I discuss in my eBook, DIY Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar, how crucial it is in a staged home to avoid tiny stuff. Tiny stuff distracts, looks disjointed, and can be stolen. The trick to using details in a staged home is to make them part of something large.

Surprise potential home buyers 

Other decorative elements are considered details because they aren't obvious at first glance.

Examples might be a clean and organized area under the kitchen sink. Or a lovely little bistro table and chairs in a hidden corner of the backyard.
Or a full-length mirror in the master closet.

These kinds of extra added attractions are considered details because not everyone would have thought to put seating way out there, prettied up a utilitarian area hidden behind cabinet doors, or bothered to tuck a mirror where you really need it.

Good professional stagers know quality doesn't have to do with fancy furniture, elaborate chandeliers, and overblown fountains. It has to do with exceeding expectations. How can you surprise -- in the best way -- people who come touring your home?

These larger details are what will make the difference between an ordinary home and a memorable one.

A closet is a perfect place to deliver a nice surprise a person on a home tour. I once staged a farmhouse pantry by lining the shelves with home preserves and pickled this and that. I know exactly the reaction the buyer would have when she spied it: "When I live here, I can put up my own jams and jellies!"

This photo from Rosa Beltran Design shows what a 
delightful surprise a pattered backdrop is in a cabinet. 
It's not what you expect, and makes you smile. 

A barren corner of this yard easily became a sunny 
herb bed when it was time to sell the property. 
Outdoor spaces are also areas that can be staged with large, unexpected details. I like to see outdoor solar lights that turn on when the sun goes down. Buyers often check out neighborhoods at different times of the day.

Another outdoor treat to tuck away is a small garden of container shade plants alongside the house or garage.

Sometimes a spic-and-span garage can be the bonus surprise on a home tour, when it is stripped down and empty, ready for the next man of the house to use and enjoy.

What neglected or empty area of your home can be turned into a surprise? Is it a closet or a staircase landing or a dormer area?

Once your home is decluttered and depersonalized, it may slide into that no-man's Land of Bland. Look over your rooms with a critical eye and ask yourself if there are enough details to capture the imagination and love of a potential buyer.

Whether you believe that God is in the details, or the devil's in the details, it boils down to the same thing. They're powerful, so give them the attention they deserve.


Top photo: Rachel Halvorson

How January Is Good To Home Stagers

Monday, January 03, 2011
Are you ready for the adventures a new year brings?

This could be the start of the year you sell your house and make more money than you thought you could.

Because you staged it! Starting now.

Now, January, is the time of fresh starts. People are beginning new regimens, new habits, new plans to achieve new goals.

Many people have postponed plans to move until after the holidays. Now, the search begins in earnest.

Families want to settle in before school starts in the fall, and no one prefers moving in the heat of summer or in the fickle weather of winter, but that's not to say many people aren't shopping for a home.

Even now,  in mid-winter, the market is ready for your home!

Don't worry. You can still be ready for buyers when you have an organized plan.

Here are three steps that take advantage of new beginnings.

Do Your Homework

It's never too early to begin researching the market. While others might be still just considering a sale, and businesses are relaxing after the end of year bustle, you can be moving full steam ahead.

Research how houses similar to yours are priced. What do they look like? Decide what will be your least acceptable offer.

Some of these facts you can glean online yourself. Other data you can get from a Realtor. Now's a good time to research real estate agencies and choose your agent.

If you schedule a home inspector now, you'll have a better idea what needs to be done prior to listing. Next step is to draft a tentative budget for improvements, staging and moving.

Decide on a timeline and get recommendations for contractors if necessary. Depending on where you live, tradespeople might not be busy now and likely to give you full attention for quotes and suggestions. I find that the more tradespeople people I talk to, the more I learn about approaches to repairs and upgrades, so don't be shy about getting multiple quotes.

Plan Your Staging

Educate yourself about what styles will work for your home and what your typical buyer expects.

Investigate off-site storage facilities or other options for storing excess furniture and belongings.

Begin listing what furnishings you already own that make your home look valuable -- the furnishings you'll use to help to stage your property to maximize its potential. Think about how you will rearrange furniture to improve traffic flow and make your interior spaces appear larger.

Download my eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar, to learn everything you need to know.

Look for Deals

Shop thrift stores and estate sales to find steals on accessories.

At the beginning of the year, many people go on organizing binges, discarding what doesn't work for them but might be perfect for staging your home.

At the same time, you can begin decluttering your own home of whatever doesn't do your home justice.

And don't forget to get some good photos of your home's exterior in the clear light of winter.

Use January to kick-start your campaign to get your home sold. You will be ready when homebuyers are ready, and before your competition is ready.


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