An Easy Way to Dress Up the Ordinary Office Chair

Wednesday, March 30, 2011
A home office is a selling feature when you stage to sell.

If you want your home to look more contemporary, and more accommodating in general, look for where you can tuck a home office into your house.

It needn't be large, just somewhere a person can sit and take care of business, a spot that’s not the dining table or the kitchen counter. Really, a home office can be staged in just one corner of a bedroom, family room, or living room.

Often there is a place for a small office on a stair landing, in a wide foyer, or in the unused space under a staircase. A table or desk, maybe some shelving or bookcase, and you’re there.

Choose a  Chair

Ever since we brought home this ugly, hunter green office chair from Staples about 12 years ago, I’ve hated it. The  manufacturers may have spent money when they studied the ergonomics of the chair, but they sure ignored the glamour-omics.

Today, I decided to do something about it. I’m not the first one to pretty up an executive chair. Teresa at Cozy Cottage Slipcovers is a pro, and so is Kristi at Pink and Polka Dot. I covered my ugly chair in a couple of hours, doing very little actual sewing.

I have a glue gun, and I'm not afraid to use it.

Here’s how I beautified my chair and how you can quickly and easily do the same to your ugly chair.

Get Fabric

One of my favorite activities is shopping for fabrics.
This chair makeover takes less than two yards, so remnants often work.
I found a piece of upholstery fabric in my fabric stash. I made sure there was enough to cover both sides of the back and generously wrap around the seat.

You should use something heavier than drapery weight or “dress weight,” to make sure you don’t end up with a mess o’ wrinkles after you’ve been sitting on it.

An upholstered look rather than a slipcovered look, will stay neater, which is better for home staging.

Make a Pattern

I laid ugly chair on its back on a flattened sheet of newspaper. I traced a line about two inches out from the edge of the entire backrest, to allow for seaming and for the thickness. I set the chair upright again. I cut out the paper pattern.

Cut Your Fabric

I cut two layers of fabric using the newspaper pattern. Then I laid a square of fabric over the seat and cut a few inches out from the seat, so I could wrap it all the way to the bottom of the seat.

Pin the Back Cover Pieces

I still didn’t know I was going to blog about this project, so I didn’t take pictures of these steps. I wrapped the backrest with the two back fabric pieces, inside out, and pinned them together, adjusting the seams so the new cover would fit snug, but loose enough for me to pull it off. I pulled it off, and sewed the front to back, turned it right side out, and pulled it back over the chair.

Stitch the Back Cover Closed

I pinned the bottom edges of the back cover, and slip stitched the opening at the bottom closed. I didn’t fuss with this stitching because it won’t really be visible.

      This is the lower edge of the backrest, and I have pinned front to back, ready for slip stitching. 

Wrap the Bottom Piece

I laid the other square of fabric on the seat, smoothed it, and pinned it  around the edges to hold it in place.

I flipped the chair over and started hot glueing the fabric to the bottom of the seat.

I set the seat of the chair on a tall, lidded kitchen garbage can to make it easier to work on. A stool would also serve. You can't put it on a large work surface because the arms and back get in the way.

You can see I have stuck pins around the seat edge to hold the fabric in place when I flip the chair.

To make the seat fit smoothly,  I first glued the seat in four places -- the center of each side. Then I glued small sections at a time, easing the fabric so there were no big puckers. 

Gradually, all the raw edges will be glued down. The edges can remain raw as long as the glue keeps loose threads out of sight. We're not talking heirloom quality here.


I set the chair upright, and I was done. Goodbye ugly, hello floral.

With a chair this pretty, that little home office you’re creating for staging looks inviting, and gets your message to buyers that this is a home that is loved and where they can be comfortable.

If each of these chairs didn’t cost about $100 and up at Staples, I would recommend buying and covering a set of four or six for a dining room staging. They would be comfortable and stylish. Usually by the time an office chair makes it to the thrift store, it's shot. And chances of finding more than one matching office chair second hand are slim.

But one for a home office? Perfect!

Get the look. Get the book. 

There are so many was I can think of to fluff up your home when you are ready to sell, that I put them into one place -- a book. You can download my eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar.

I’ll take you from start to finish of home staging. Why go it alone when I can hold your hand, encourage you, save you from mistakes, and show you how to save money? Downloading takes just a few clicks and you can begin preparing your own home for the real estate market today.                           

How to Clean Your House Like a Professional

Monday, March 28, 2011
The pros use only what works.  What do they use? 
Home buyers love a clean home.

Yes, location. Yes, price. Yes, view. Yes, square footage.

Yes, uncluttered closets and staged rooms!

But unless clean is in the mix, they won’t fall in love with your home on the market.

Expert Advice

To discover what tricks I could learn about cleaning, I went to the pros. I went to the Cleaning Tips Forum on That Home Site. That's where I gathered up for this post the best professional tips to make cleaning your home easier. Because you already have enough (more fun) stuff to do to get your home staged to sell.

Stainless

To clean stainless steel surfaces the  pros say to use either Stainless Steel Magic or Zep foam. They like that Zep clings to vertical surfaces and has a nice, citrus scent. Some people commented that Stainless Steel Magic helps repel fingerprints. That's welcome news.

Shower doors

To clean the area where glass shower doors overlap use a small disposable, sponge paint brush. Almost any cleaning solution will work with the sponge. Rinse and store the brush where it can dry out between uses. Glass shower doors that ride in a track are easily removable if you have some muscle. Just lift up, and out. Even I can do it. Just make sure you have a handy place to set the door before you go yanking it.

Tubs

To clean non-slip strips on the floor of a tub or shower use WD-40 and a stiff scrub brush. Also recommended is a product called TRR, which stands for toilet ring remover. You can find TRR in most drug stores or WalMart.
Choose spray, aerosol, or wipes.

Microfiber fabric

To clean microfiber upholstered furniture pieces mix a 1/4 cup powdered oxygen cleaner in a bucket of very warm water. Wring out a cloth in this solution, and wipe the microfiber fabric with the cloth. As the cloth gets dirty, use a new one. Allow the fabric to dry thoroughly, then take a soft brush, and brush the material to revive the nap.

Grout

To clean grout borrow or buy a steamer, also called a pressure steamer. There are no chemical fumes, it’s quick, and you don't need to lug a variety of solvents from room to room. I've used a steamer and can vouch for this tool's being a work-saver.

Floors

To clean asbestos floor tiles. Cover with a layer of commercial 3M floor stripper, available at janitorial supply stores, and let it work according to directions. Or you can apply straight 409 cleaner with a long-handled scrub brush, and let it sit until the dirt is loosened. Make sure you have adequate ventilation. Use a wet /dry shop vac to pick it up. All the old grime and wax will come up.  Wax it with a wax made for vinyl flooring.

Glue

To remove sticky residue after peeling away self-sticking shelf liner  apply rubbing alcohol on a cotton cloth to dissolve the glue. WD-40 also works on glues.

Bowl ring

To get rid of a persistent ring around inside the toilet bowl use a pumice stone, but be sure to keep it wet and rub gently to avoid scratching the porcelain surface. A black emery board or drywall sanding paper work the same way. Bar Keeper’s Friend is a good stain remover because it contains oxalic acid. Disinfect the bowl first with bleach or Lysol, and use rubber gloves.

Best Tips 

Best cleaning procedure tip is to start from the top when cleaning any room, and work down, whether dusting, vacuuming, or wiping.

The best cleaning technique tip is to always wipe surfaces first with a dry microfiber cloth. Then, clean them with the correct solution, sometimes water, sometimes degreasers, sometimes solutions that polish. Wetting a surface just turns whatever is there to mud. Loose dirt is easier to remove than mud.

The winner of the favorite products and tools of professional cleaners? Microfiber cloths that catch and trap dirt and other loose particles. Steam cleaners that sanitize hard surfaces. Bar Keepers Friend because it removes difficult organic stains. Ordinary baking soda because it's only mildly abrasive and it deodorizes as well. Dawn dishwashing liquid because it cuts grease so well. Magic Eraser for cleaning smooth surfaces of almost anything. Bona floor cleaner to clean wood floors. And WD-40 for all kinds of tasks, as evidenced here.

Connect  with the pros

The Cleaning Tips Forum is part of the Garden Web, an easy-to-use website that's part of  Houzz. You can search for particular answers, share information, or ask questions. Be sure to check out the Buying and Selling Homes Forum at That Home Site also. You can connect with other homeowners who are selling their homes, get encouragement, and research just about any topic related to real estate.

At these forums, you'll see what other sellers are saying about clean homes. Clean homes feel good and they sell better. The best part is that cleaning is one of the least expensive DIY home improvement projects out there.

Do you want to make quick and easy work of giving your home that "open house sparkle" from top to bottom? Do you want In my eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar, I outline a simple, efficient and effective method to get your home clean and keep it that way. You can download the book now with just a few clicks. You'll find that it's packed with advice about DIY staging, it starts paying for itself immediately. I guarantee it!

Staging Styles That Work: Scandinavian

Thursday, March 24, 2011

If you want to stage your home to sel it fast profitably, then steal some ideas from Scandinavia. These Nordic people know how to make a house look spacious, clean and charming.

Must-haves 

Here is your list of the winning elements they use to get that effect:

Leggy furniture that shows off square footage.

A sophisticated, but friendly, color palette.

Simple or strong graphics that offend no one.

Smooth and natural wood finishes. Often pieces are painted and distressed, creating rooms that feel lived in.

Crystals and mirrors that capture precious the light -- a real bonus for homestagers who want spaces to feel larger, brighter, and cleaner.

Textiles like smooth cottons, thick woolens, and nubby linens that lend a homey, touchable element -- that warm quality the Swedes call "hyyge." 

Accessories where form follows function.

It's no wonder that Danish modern, Swedish, and other Scandinavian furniture pieces are ideal for home staging. Their lines and colors blend well with other decor styles. They are often affordable and they lend themselves to DIY projects.

I doubt that anyone will purchase all new furniture for staging, but if you own pieces that are Scandinavian-influenced, definitely keep them in the mix! If you are shopping for additional elements to stage your home, here's a look to imitate because it's a timeless, elegant and fresh look that makes people feel welcome and at home. That's exactly the look of a well-staged home.

Stylish nations

Scandinavian furniture and fabrics have a valid reputation for beautiful style. The countries of  Scandinavia -- Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Greenland-- share those honors.

From Sweden we get IKEA, Saab and Volvo, and the popular Gustavian style furniture (not to mention meatballs and Absolut vodka!).

From Denmark comes Danish modern furniture -- a style that's especially suitable for staging because it's handsome, lightweight, economical, and coincidentally scaled for most American homes.

Finland is home to famous Marimekko fabrics, loved by women from Jackie Kennedy's day to Carrie Bradshaw's time.

Are there any new ideas you can incorporate into your own home from the following collection of Scandinavian-influenced interiors?

Because there is scant natural lighting in winter months, Scandinavian design always welcomes sunshine. Surfaces are often reflective, windows are not covered in heavy treatments, and paint colors are light. Photo: TheSwedishFurniture.Com
Although it can look sparse, Scandinavian design is also charming because of its subtle combination of curves and straight lines. There is always a well-scrubbed feel to these classic rooms, a look worth aiming for in home staging. Photo: TheSwedishFurniture.com 

Never have neutrals looked so inviting. What this kind of bedroom lacks in razzle-dazzle, it makes up for in serenity. Decorating with subtle variations of one color, such as this bedding, wallcovering, and Gustavian styled headboard, contribute to a seamless look. Photo: Country Swedish.
No discussion of Swedish design would be complete without mentioning the unique Gustavian clock. Although this photo shows a brick floor, I know there are homes out there with embossed brick vinyl floors that could be staged like this. Photo: Jon Monson and L. Langdon Ergmann.

The universal appeal of Scandinavian style makes it worth copying when you stage your home. If you just paint some of your dressers and tables soft gry or blue, hang some breezy white curtains, find some leggy seating to upholster in pastel checks, add a gilded mirror, and leave any wood floors bare, you've nailed it.

Get the look, get the book

For more ideas and inspiration to help you prepare your home for the real estate market, download my eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar. You'll get more than 150 pages of sound advice, including window treatments, pillows, mantel staging, budget baths, landscaping, organizing, furniture arranging, lighting, rugs, artwork, and so much more.


Negotiating 101: How to Get What You Want

Monday, March 21, 2011
Real estate negotiations: 
Make them an offer they can't refuse. 
Your listing agent calls and says the words that make your heart beat faster. "We have an offer."

Knowing how to respond to an offer to purchase your home makes a difference. In dollars. 

To quote the Turbo Tax software, "We want to make sure you get all the money that's coming to you."

It's interesting, at least to me, that plenty of guidance is available online, in the media, and in books about buying smart.

But about selling smart, not so much. Let's balance that scale a bit, right here and now.

Here are my tips based on what I have learned from buying and selling homes, and on what I have learned from others, and from my studies.

Always counter

Opening offers are just that. Most buyers expect they will have to increase their initial figure. To not come back with your offer -- any offer --  makes you a greedy bad guy. You never know where the talks will wind up if you don't counter.

If you accept an offer without discussing other figures or contingencies, your buyers will always wonder how low they could have gone and walked away with your property. A prime principle of successful negotiating is that when it's over, all parties feel they got what they wanted.

In fact, the more times initialed papers go back and forth, the more committed emotionally the buyer is to having the deal go through. It doesn't take long for buyers to begin planning on where they will set up their big plasma screen, and how many people they will invite to their housewarming party, even though the negotiating ball is still in the air. Keep the ball in the air.

I wrote here about how staging helped us to not act too quickly when we received an opening, low offer on the condo we sold last year.

Know your bottom line 

Have you done your homework? You should know how much it costs each month you stay in your home and maintain it.

Know the realistic value of your home in today's market, not based on what you paid for it, what you have to get to pay off credit cards, or how much you love your home.

Spring for an appraisal. The bank won't loan Mr. Buyer any more than appraised value. Note: A real estate broker's market analysis is not as accurate as a full-fledged appraisal and holds no weight with banks. Having a recent, professional appraisal is a powerful tool to have in your hands.

Your bottom line will be influenced by deadlines in your life. Your Realtor will be able to give you typical days on market figures for comparable properties in your locale. If you need or want to relocate fast, your price can reflect that.

Have backup options

It's not fun to think about, but it will strengthen your position during negotiations to have some plans in case you are on the market longer than you like. Patience is an asset when it comes to dealing. Not only do you not want to feel desperate, you don't want the buyer to think you are desperate.

If your carrying costs are really high, you may choose to vacate your prettily staged home and become a renter in a smaller, more economical place. Some creative sellers live in an RV, or with relatives until they get a price they like. It's just temporary.

Staging your home helps convey the message to buyers that you are comfortable and not ready to accept whatever comes along. Don't have piles of packed boxes in the garage, shed, or guest room. Get them off-site, even if it means your dad's garage.

Be the mystery seller

The more a buyer knows about you, the more leverage he has. This is especially true if you are near foreclosure or bankruptcy, if one spouse has already relocated, if you are selling an inherited property, if you are a professional house flipper, or if you have not had any offers.

At the same time, it's just smart negotiating to learn as much as you can about the prospective buyer. If he is relocating from a state where property values are high, your place may seem like a bargain, and you can anticipate an easier road to an agreed-upon price. If he has been house hunting for two years, he is either very choosy or not a serious buyer, and you can let the drama just play out without getting yourself in knots. If he is a professional rehabber, he'll be giving you bottom-feeder prices. If he is shopping for a second home, money is probably not as big a problem as with a young, first-time home buyer, and you shouldn't have to compromise.

If you are an FSBO seller, the rules change, and sitting face-to-face with a buyer calls for a different set of tactics. I'll blog about negotiating as an FSBO at another time.

In her first movie, The Group, Candice Bergman (right) plays a mysterious woman
who turns out to be the strongest character in the dynamic plot.

Fiddle with contingencies

Be imaginative. You can say, "I won't come down another $20,000, but I will leave the piano for you,"(the one you didn't want to move anyway). Let them keep some of your staging furniture. Throw in the patio furniture and the riding mower.

If you can't give in on the big things -- the money -- negotiate minor points. Delay the closing to meet their schedule, or move the closing up to make them happy. This tactic makes buyers feel like they are getting things for nothing.

Offering to pay the buyer's closing costs doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is. Most buyers are stretched and need to finance most of their purchase. If they don't have to roll in the closing costs to their mortgage, it means more to them than the actual closing costs amount. You have saved them a boatload of interest money.

Offer to finance part of their down payment for them if you can. You'll make money instead of the banks making it. A lawyer can draft the paperwork.

All these things indicate that you want the deal to go through. The buyer feels like you are on his side rather than fighting him.

In their roles in Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere come to an agreement about their relationship by 
discussing contingencies, but each maintains his or her own sense of integrity. 

Build a relationship on integrity

Always take the high road. The usual vibe of real estate negotiating is adversarial. Buyers and sellers always assume it is a competition. That's wrong.

Assume the best of your buyer, and behave in a way that shows you are willing to work with him. Working with a Realtor, especially an experienced, hard-nosed negotiator (not necessarily Ms Nice Gal), will assure that you are not taken advantage of. In an FSBO transaction, it's even more important for buyers and sellers to trust each other.

One false step and you've destroyed credibility and trust. Examples of missteps might be: speaking negatively to your listing agent about the buyer, withholding facts about the condition of your property, or attempting to skirt the laws or ethics of real estate sales.

One of the earliest homes Mr. Lucky and I bought we bought from a man who, when he arrived at the closing, asked the lawyer to transfer the money to his brother rather than himself. He was either avoiding taxes or avoiding having to pay his estranged wife her share. The lawyer closed his book and said, "Come back when you want to do this right." It made the seller look like a snake in the grass, didn't endear him to us, and clued us to be extra vigilant in the deal.

Get outside support

Whenever negotiating seems to be deadlocked, refer to a third party. It's like referring to the umpire or referee to make a call. A third party can justify your position with facts and figures. An impartial third party can diffuse an emotional situation or clear up a deadlock.

Take your lessons from the Big Boys. International peace talks and labor union disputes are usually conducted with help from an arbitrator. If you are FSBO, you can pay a real estate agent to represent you.

Your third party could be a home inspector or an appraiser. Or it could be paperwork that substantiates your position, like documentation for things like repairs or warranties. Specifics like tax statements, electric bills, and co-op or homeowner association records, can build your case for why you are firm on your last offer.

Let Realtors be buffers

But let your own Realtor convey the image of you as a regular guy, not a fast-talking wheeler-dealer. Take your time considering the offers. A written offer usually has a 24-hour shelf life, meaning you must respond or the offer becomes void. People like to do business with people who are like them, and likable, so give all offers the courteous attention and time they deserve.

Your Realtor is here to run interference for you and keep the business of negotiating businesslike, not personal. She will shield you from giving away too much information about your position, and too much money. A good Realtor will offer constructive advice on how to proceed.

Tom Cruise and his team of military lawyers pursued a vigorous defense for the men 
they represented in court, in A Few Good Men. You want a realtor with that kind of tenacity.

Be flexible

Don't walk away over a small difference. Keep the big picture in mind. If you and your prospective buyer are just 2% of your asking price apart, examine how much it could cost you to reject the offer. Review your negotiating options. Or, stick to your price, but ask them for additional favors or contingencies.

At the same time, know when to hold. We once signed with a Realtor to sell a house, and had an offer as soon as a neighbor told some friends about it, even before the MLS listing went live. We settled on a price just a token amount below our asking price because the house was so new to the market and we knew there would be other interested buyers.

Sometimes holding to a predetermined price point lets buyers know you're in a strong position. It all depends on how motivated you are to sell fast.

Follow your Realtor's advice. You're paying her for it. Real estate brokers are working for both parties and they want to see a deal happen, so they will continue to negotiate until it's obvious nothing is going to happen, or else there is agreement, and a sale!

Get the look, get the book

Do you need staging suggestions to make your home irresistible? A staged home sells faster and for more money, so there's less chance that buyers will try to grind away at your selling price. My eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar, helps you do all the right things to attract buyers and keep them interested. You can go to my eBook page and download your copy now.



You Know Your Home Is Staged When ...

Thursday, March 17, 2011
Once your home is staged, you begin to sense the change.

And sometimes the results are surprising. Yes, all your hard work is paying off even before you get to the closing table.

Need examples of the hidden perks of home staging?

Like a different house!

You've discovered -- surprise!--that making your bed takes just 60 seconds.

Your friends come by and say, "Wow, the place looks terrific." (You wonder what they thought of it before.)

The default answer to most of your children's questions is, "It's in the storage unit."

Neighbors slow down when they drive by, just to admire your spruced up curb appeal. You hope they are motivated to spruce up their own, especially...well, never mind...

You love coming home after being away. Sometimes you go outside, just to come back in!

Cleaning the house is SO much easier. You're kicking yourself for waiting to declutter.

You never knew how gorgeous -- and convincing -- silk flowers could be.

Every so often you actually rethink the whole selling and moving decision.

Your Realtor can't stop thanking you enough for making her job easy.


Your dog doesn't understand why you sometimes hustle him into the car and then leisurely ride around the neighborhood. But he doesn't care why.

You feel like your house has 50% more square footage than before.

Whenever the phone rings, the first thing you ask yourself is, "How many stacks of unsorted laundry do I have to find hiding places for? Fast."

Your husband says about the bathroom, "I feel like we've just checked into a high-end hotel." But he also asks every day, "Do I really need to hide my toothbrush and razor?" Answer: yes.

You promise yourself you'll never bring thin towels back to the bath. Ever. You'll recycle them for drying the dog's paws.

You've stopped cooking with garlic because you want the house to smell like gardenias until it sells.

Paint is your new best friend. Better, your new lover.

You kind of miss the refrigerator art show, but you're loving the kid art you've framed as expensive Soho gallery abstracts.

You know your deceased ancestors are looking kindly at your fluffed up home, instead of asking, from heaven, "Why did she pack our photos away?"


You have at least one chair that no one is allowed to sit in. Until after the closing.

You realize that the furniture you've recovered and painted is going to look beautiful in your new home too. If it's not a perfect match, you know now how easy it is to recover and repaint.

You're entertaining more because you're proud of your house. And you like making people jealous. And because your guests might know someone shopping for a home like yours.

Your mother says, "It's about time you fixed your place up." Bless her heart.

    Get the look, get the book 

    If you want to make your dog happy, impress your friends, and learn the techniques that make your home look more spacious, download my eBook DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar. 

    If you have a home on the market, I promise my book will easily pay for itself over and over. I guarantee it.


    Top Photo: Edyta and Company Interior Design; Dog Photo: The News Wheel; Interior Photo:
    Amy Berry Design


      Seven Essentials for Home Staging

      Sunday, March 13, 2011
      If you're staging your home, the sooner you get your ducks in a row, the better. Here's my shortlist of what those ducks should look like. These are the tools and techniques that work best for me.

      Your binder is command central. It will give you a sense of control and confidence.

      A basic binder

      I don't care if it's old school. For me, nothing beats a no-frills binder for organizing a project from start to finish. I love a good ole looseleaf notebook with some pockets to hold receipts that will help with record-keeping and at tax time, and in case I have returns. I usually set up one section for my initial budget, adding update pages as the project progresses. 

      I keep a ledger-like section for itemizing actual expenses. I like a section of blank pages for sketching ideas whenever they come to me, and for taping pieces of fabric, color samples, catalog pages, and tear sheets from magazines. Finally, I keep plenty of lined paper for to-do lists.

      Acetate sheets to protect some papers, and tabbed dividers with pockets are frills you might like adding to your big binder. But, even a simple, small notebook will do if you are a true minimalist or prefer to keep everything on your phone.  

      As your collection of staging supplies grows, you'll get new ideas and be inspired. 

      Some indoor space

      Never has the phrase "staging area seemed more fitting. You'll need someplace to keep your staging stuff all together. I like to be able to see samples and acquisitions at a glance. You can call it a life-size sample board. Sometimes it seems there isn't room for storing all that's necessary until the time is right to begin actual staging. I always try to make room. It's only a temporary mess.
      You never know when you'll need to measure a bargain or see if it's the right color. 

      Your shopping kit 

      Doesn't that sound like fun? I always keep a small notebook in my purse for shopping lists as the project moves along, and I keep a thrifting list of what I need to look for when I am at second-hand stores. 

      The notebook includes measurements of rooms and windows. The kit should always contain small bills and coins. When you show up at an early morning tag sale with just a checkbook and credit card, you are not making friends with the seller. Second-hand sales often require cash. 

      A tape measure is also an essential in your shopping kit. That's the best way to determine if those curtains on sale are long enough, that lampshade is the perfect height, or a table is going to crowd your dining room.

      Fabric stash

      Textiles are an important element of successful home staging. They should be coordinated so rooms easily "cross pollinate" each other. One of the reasons I like to paint a house on the market all one color on interior walls is that furnishings are interchangeable from room to room. 

      Sometimes a shower curtain becomes fabric for pillow covers, or a blanket morphs into draperies. 
      Placing fabric remnants, towels, curtains and other soft furnishings in one place keeps me on track, reminds me what's missing, and spurs creative uses for them. Keeping the fabrics near the staging area is ideal.
      When your fabric is visible as a group, you'll get a sense of your overall colorway. 

      Keeping all your color chips handy will save you from making purchasing oops.  

      Color chips 

      Whatever your palette is, you need to keep it handy. Color chips from your chosen paint supplier are the only reliable way to go. You cannot count on a fabric swatch or a phone photo or magazine clipping to be the exact color that is going to translate into a paint color. No one can remember colors exactly. Carry those chips. 

      These paint samples are my references when I'm out in the world. If you match a color chip to a countertop or flooring material, you will then have a portable sample of these immovable items with you at all times.

        

      Large frames

      Many a room's staging has begun with the artwork on the wall. It could be the one thing that sets the mood, or defines the focal point, or even determines the furniture arrangement. Large picture frames solve many problems. They fill space and can make small art, matted or enlarged, look important. 

      I keep these frames all in one place. They wait there for the day when they can be matched with the right artwork. I always have a selection of simple and ornate frames.  

      Your phone/camera

      Where would we be without our smartphones? Of course we need to communicate away from a  landline. Everyone you work with on your home staging expects to have immediate access to you by phone conversation or text.  

      Sometimes inspiration strikes when I see a particular retail display or someone's garden. I might see an idea worth hacking in a store or home. Photographing a room helps you see what needs tweaking. And taking photos will help you see how your home will appear in your MLS listing. 

      Your photos might be better than your Realtor's, in which case you can ask that they be used in your listing. But, it's best to convince your listing agent that a professional photographer needs to be part of your team. 

      Get the look, get the book

      Arm yourself
      with the appropriate tools and you'll not only do a more creative and thorough job of staging your home, but you're more likely to be on schedule and within budget. You might even have fun!

      To make the task of staging your own home more rewarding and less stressful, download my $4.99 eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips To Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar. It comes with my money-back guarantee.



      Seduce Home Buyers with Springtime Staging

      Thursday, March 10, 2011
      Springtime means we're coming into prime house hunting season.

      After what has been for many folks a winter buried in snow, spring seems even more delightful than usual this year. You may still have snow on the ground around your house, but that should not stop you from staging your home to render home buyers silly with spring fever. Here are my tips to give your home a breath of fresh air.

      If you have outdoor furniture hiding in the garage or shed, go ahead and bring it out, clean it off, arrange it, and add colorful accents. Make it easy for buyers to envision themselves kicking back in their new home, even though it's still cold outside.

      Introduce the colors of spring -- pastel greens, pale yellows, 
      lilac, light blues, and white. Cover your existing toss pillows 
      with DIY covers in these colors. Maybe paint some lamps 
      or end tables =a lighter hue. Switch your 
      lampshades for white ones. Design: Ann Grafton.

      If you have a front porch, make sure it is "company ready." 
      Are the snow shovels, rock salt, and boots hidden? Cobwebs swept away? 
      When it's time to put the fireplace to sleep for the year, 
      stage it for spring. Clean it, and stack it with attractive logs, or else cover it 
      completely to avoid the black hole effect. A decorative 
      screen, or a large, colorful 
      fan are all great choices. Botanical prints drive 
      the message home as well. Photo: Maria Kellam    
      .
      Add some floral fabrics. Pack up the flannel sheets and 
      bring in the crisp cottons. Animal prints, tapestries, and 
      dark textiles might be cozy, but now's the time for a 
      light and breezy look. Buying a home signifies 
      a new beginning. Photo: Meredith Corp.
       

      These are just some of the ways that you can welcome the new season, the best time of year to have a home on the market. Staged to make buyers swoon, you'll soon see that purchase offer. 

      I write about other ways to give buyers what they want by staging your home yourself, in my eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar. Don't let prime selling season pass you by. Download today and start staging today to set your property apart from the comparables.

      Finishing Touches Department: Where to Look for Cheap Staging Props

      Monday, March 07, 2011


      Staging your home can cost major bucks.

      Or not.

      One way to stretch the home staging budget is to accessorize on the cheap. Without it looking cheap.

      Here are some suggestions for where to go when you want props that cost almost nothing.

      Salvage Your Junk

      Everyone has stuff just a little too good to get rid of. Maybe nostalgia gets in the way, it was a gift, or you overpaid and can't bear to discard it.

      Things like a clunker bike, an orphan boot, and clothing that's seen better days can be put to use while you are staging your home.

      The tray pictured here was made from such castoffs. An unused cookie sheet, a shirt that somehow got too small for Mr. Lucky, and some white glue, are all it took to make a stylish tray that could add a touch of color to any room where the colors are going to be repeated elsewhere in the room.

      Here's the thing about re-purposing cheap objects when you are staging: They can't look inexpensive. That's important. Frugal-looking accessories will cheapen your home. And the whole point of home staging is to add perceived value to your home.

      Two tricks

      There are a couple of ways to make sure that frugal props don't look tacky. One is to keep them to a minimum. You can't stage a whole room with rejects and junk.

      But you can start with rejects and junk, and turn them into beauties.

      Make your crafting stylish.

      Make it neat.

      Practice, and have a finished product in mind.

      To avoid the look that you've decorated with crafts made in summer camp by eight-year-olds, surround your re-purposed props with more finished objects and accessories with pedigree. If your salvaged objet d'art has some class, feel free to combine it with more casual or quirky materials.  Like rubber ducks.


      What looks like a sterling silver compote in this bathroom setup is really two thrifted silverplate items glued together. The top piece is from an old juicer and has a hole in the bottom for attaching to an electric mixer.

      The bottom piece is a trophy cup I inverted. Alone, they aren't much. But, together, they make a nest for bath toys. That's what staging with junk is all about.

      Why not make a garden planter, or even an indoor vase, of shoes or boots that you would otherwise toss? Give it a drainage hole in the bottom of the plants are real.

      I've planted and arranged flowers in old workboots, cowboy boots, snow galoshes, fishing boots, and children's wellies. This is not the look to go for if your house tends to be traditional, but suitable if you are selling a cottage, ranch, or rural home. Of course, you'll use moderation, one pair of boots or shoes at the most. 

       
      Old toys can be an excellent source of items to re-purpose as staging props. I'm thinking of a display of old-fashioned alphabet blocks, a classic teddy bear in a child's room, or a metal wagon used as a planter in the garden.

      Pages from illustrated children's books are ideal for framed artwork, even in a sophisticated loft, where they can contribute to the eclecticism.


      Trick #2

      Another way to keep thrifty props from looking sad is to stay on trend and stay with the seasons.

      Avoid colors like hunter green and burgundy popular in the 80s.

      Change your accessories when the seasons change if they are obviously seasonal.

      On impulse, I grabbed a derelict Christmas decoration, and then spray-painted it yellow. With a fresh bow, it took on a new life as a springtime outdoor wreath, one that greets home buyers and gives them the message that this house is loved by its attentive owners.

      Get out of doors

      Shop Mother Nature for free decor.

      There are rocks, branches, fresh greenery, shells, bird nests, pinecones, moss, and other goodies, depending on where you live.

      Granted, it's tough if you live in a big city, but, hey, big city people can get more things curbside, so let's not have any jealousies.

      One of the thriftiest ways to bring a dose of the outdoors inside is with tree branches. Paint them or leave them natural, and set them in a generously sized vase or tub.

      Hunt for whatever nature has designed, and you can't go wrong. I have a thing for rocks, and I've been known to bring them home from my travels. If there are rocks where you live, make them part of your decorating. I think these smooth river rocks add a handsome touch to a tabletop vignette. 


      Except for the hot glue and the spray paints, this wreath is made from what was brought home from the woods and beach. I cut the bottoms off pine cones with wire snips to make the flowers.

      I encourage you to try your hand at embellishing a vine wreath with found objects. The out of doors is the ultimate free warehouse of arts and craft supplies.

      Check your recycle bin 

      Look again at what you are throwing away, and use your imagination. Enlist items like tin cans, bottles, paper, and cardboard to become part of your home staging.  


      A gift-wrapped box is a perfect staging prop. Who doesn't have a positive reaction to a present? The empty box is free. I used a wallpaper sample to wrap this box and tied it with leftover Christmas ribbon.

      Did you know that the wallpaper sample books at paint stores have to be recycled at some point? Ask nicely and you're likely to score your choice of these fat and handy packs of paper.

      I use wallpaper samples to cover lampshades, boxes, trays, tin cans, jars, vases, and mats for framing.


      Sometimes a can is just a can. They can be so darn decorative, why not put them to work as containers for whatever you want to display to capture the imagination of a buyer?


      I made this paper mache bowl made from tissue paper. After painting it, I decorated it with a marking pen. If you make your bowl pretty enough, it can remain empty, but I added something most of us have on hand.


      Sure, they've just funky, tissue paper flowers, but they are sitting in a crystal decanter. Some staging props are one step away from the wastebasket, but pairing them with items of provenance makes them legitimate.

      There's no shortage of DIY projects that improve the look, the feel, and the value of your home, in my eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar. Download now and let the fun begin!




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