Worthington Ohio real estate

Decorating, Updating & Staging:  What's the Difference?

A week or so ago I wrote a post titled "Please Don't Tell My Husband, But We're Moving."  In short form, it speaks of the fact that we began updating our home in December of 2008 to put it on the market in the spring of 2011 (only I'm still keeping this a secret from my husband, so don't tell).  In case you missed tip #1, here it is again:  START EARLY!  This is actually the 2nd in that series and is specifically regarding the dining room, but I'm also using it as an opportunity to discuss the differences in decorating, updating and staging. 

First, please take a look at my "former" dining room:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, this room is not quite ready for prime time.  (No, it isn't normally this junky, but the photo was taken whiile we were doing work elsewhere in the house.)  While it was decorated to my liking, it is in need of updating.  I still enjoy the fabric I chose for the window treatments and the floral arrangement, but they are not ideal for selling.  In other words, these things were placed in the home because they suited my tastes.  That's fine while I'm living there, but when we put the home on the market, they have to go.  This pinpoints the basic difference between decorating and staging.  A living space is decorated (customized) to suit the homeowner's tastes.  A selling space is staged (neutralized) to give it a wide appeal to the general public.  But in addition to this space needing staging, the immediate need is for updating.  While I loved the red when it was first painted, today it is too strong and is "so yesterday."  Also, nothing screams "dated" like a bound glass light fixture.  It had to go.  And while we are at it, why not rip up the carpet and put down hardwoods -- a great selling feature!  Here is a photo of the same room once it was updated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Here's what we did:

• painted
• replaced the chandelier w/ a bronze & crystal fixture
• removed a leaf from the table to create more space
• spray painted the (formerly) brass planters
• replaced the carpet with hardwoods

While this room has now been nicely updated, it is still not staged.  Please note that updating and staging are not the same thing.  Updating is certainly part of the staging process, but not the end result.  One thing that needs to be done for staging is to remove the greenery.  See below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a difference removing the corner trees makes!  I will call this room "semi-staged."  Here is what must be done to complete the process:

• Remove the window treatments.  They are much too custom and many people will not like them.
• Remove the additional greenery from atop the china cabinet.
• Remove the floral arrangement and replace it with something calmer.
• Remove the rug.

Did you happen to notice the word "remove" listed four times above?  Yes, staging is much more about removing furniture and decorative items from the room than it is about adding them.  With the window treatments down and the rug gone, the dining room will look twice the size it does now.  This room is actually open to the living room which also has a busy rug.  I like the look for living, but it won't work for staging. 

Today's tip:  always remember that rugs take up a lot of visual space.  Use them sparingly.

So, to reiterate, decorating is personalizing a space for living, updating is bringing a room up to current standards, and staging is neutralizing and streamlining for mass appeal.  Any questions?  Call Stage, Show & Sell. 

 

Patsy Overton, ASP, IAHSP

Accredited Staging Professional

Patsy@SSSHomeStaging.com    770-843-2307    www.SSSHomeStaging.com

                   

Home Staging does not mean deceiving the buyer. There are times during a home staging consultation that I have been asked how to hide something. Don't hide it, fix it!!

Home Staging can get a bad rap as many buyers, as well as Realtors, think things have been covered up, painted over, or a chair conveniently placed in front of an eye sore. Home Staging does NOT mean deceiving the buyer.

A prime example of covering up is placing an area rug over a stain on the carpet or hard wood floor. Have I ever placed a rug over these stains? Yes, but only when it made sense to do so.

For example, in a quaint 1930's vacant home I staged had the original hardwood floors. Charming. Naturally I wanted to warm up the living room by placing an area rug in the conversation area between the sofa and chairs. I immediately pointed out to the seller and the Realtor that I was going to do so but to disclose the stain that was in the middle of the floor. Remember, Home Staging does not mean deceiving the buyer.

Another example is small rugs in front of the sinks in the bathrooms and kitchen. They are not needed in a tiny area and buyers are not buying the rugs. Pick them up and show off the tile or linoleum. If there is a discoloration or chipped grout, fix it whenever possible.

Sure, placing a rug in a location that most home owners will have a rug anyway is acceptable, showing that the stain will probably never be noticed to their guests. However, disclose it and be truthful.  

Hanging a picture over a hole in the wall, never. Fix it.

If there is bad caulking in the kitchen or bath, don't cover it up with towels or decorative canisters. Make the necessary repairs to show that the house has been well cared for and no detail overlooked in making it the best property to buy.

I have seen TV shows about Home Staging that actually give ideas on how to deceive the buyer. Are you kidding? This is so totally wrong in so many ways and gives Home Staging such a bad reputation. Home Staging is about enhancing the property, not deceiving the buyer!

Shar Sitter

Rooms With Style

A Home Staging and Redesign Firm serving the entire Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area.

www.roomswithstyle.com  

      952-567-1124

Any realtor will tell you that kitchens play a huge part in the buyer making a decision about a house. 

A kitchen needs to shine!

Some tips to make your kitchen show the best it can..

• Declutter the fridge!  Remove anything attached to the fridge. Your kids pictures, shopping list, EVERYTHING.
• Make the kitchen counters look spaious.  You should have no more than 5 items on the kitchen counters. If there are things you need to use daily you should keep them in a box neatly tucked in the pantry. Something you can access easily but will allow you to keep the counters clutter free.  The kitchen will instantly feel larger!
• Clean out the fridge.   You don't want your fridge overstuffed but you don't want it barren either.  Remove all food kept in plastic containers, clean the shevles and walls, and add baking soda to make sure the inside smells fresh and clean.  Remember, even if the fridge doesn't convey the buyer will look inside..
• Organize your pantry.  Space is important to a buyer so organize the items in your pantry and don't have too many items stored there.  You want the pantry to look big. 
• The oven.  No one I know likes to clean the oven but you must make it spotless before you show you home.  This is one more thing a buyer will open.  Take a few hours and clean it so it shines. 
• CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN  Every surface of your kitchen must be spotless and shine.  Wipe down the cabninets and counter tops, mop the floor, clean the windows, clean out the diswasher, and no dirty dishes in the sink.  Nothing will turn a buyer off faster than a dirty kitchen.  This is the place they will be preparing their family's meals and even if their own kitchen is a disaster, they expect the home they are looking at to be spotless!

The kitchen is just one room that needs to be staged.  Every room needs the same attention and care.  Contact a Home Stager in your area today to get the help you need.  It just makes sense to get an objective look at your home.  

It's likely that most sellers know of the importance of the three C's (clutter, clean and curb appeal) when preparing their home for the market.  These three things will always play an important role when it comes to getting a house show-ready.

However, there are three R's (re-arrange, resist and refresh) that you can help take your efforts a notch up and truly help set your home apart from the others on the market.

As a professional home stager in Atlanta, here are a few things I share with my occupied homeowners I work with:

• Rearrange - Showcase the features as well as the "real estate" the room has to offer. Arrange the furniture so that it helps draw the buyers eye to the features. When rearranging, consider what pieces could either be removed entirely or moved so that it creates more visual real estate.

• Resist - Resist the urge to show-off the collectibles. When selling a home, it's not about the treasures you've collected. In fact, leaving collectibles can actually be a distraction.

• Refresh - Minor changes with big rewards. Here are a few: change the knobs in the kitchen; change the faucets in the bathroom, recaulk around the bathtubs and change out the toilet seat.

The biggest challenge most homeowners have to contend with is figuring out how best to re-arrange the furniture. My advice, try a bunch of different scenarios, but keep in mind that you want to open up as much space as possible without looking too minimal.

If you need the advice of a professional home staging company in Atlanta, feel free to contact us to arrange an appointment.

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About the Author: Kathy Nielsen, a RESA 2010 Home Stager of the Year Finalists is  a nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry, offers affordable home staging solutions to help sell your home more quickly.  Kathy can be reached via email at info@homestagingatlanta.com or by phone at 678 522 8392.  Their Atlanta Home Staging services offer a variety of options to accommodate all budgets. To view examples of their before and after pictures, visit their portfolio at Home Staging Atlanta Gallery.

 

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Home staging (or property styling as it's commonly known as on the Australian property scene) is really an art, not a science. One of the many things a professional home stager understands is that it's the house that's up for sale, not the home owner's bread baking ability or taste in music. So, from the sublime to the rediculous - here's 8 myths of staging to sell - busted!

1. Buyers can see past my stuff
No - they can't. 95% of house hunters shop with a 'what you see is what you get' eye. You'll be maximising your chances of a better and quicker sale if you take the time to clean out, clean up and keep your look simple.

2. Baking bread, brewing fresh coffee and playing soft music will make a buyer fall in love with my house.
Maybe once upon a time this was true - but most would-be buyers are onto that old trick. It's more likely to trigger alarm bells, with many wondering what it is you're trying to hide. Your buyers will be happy with a place that looks and smells clean.

3. I'll need to clear everything out to help buyers see themselves living here.
This is only partly true. Wall to wall family photos are distracting, as is your porcelain rooster collection. These things are best put away. But don't go overboard, otherwise you'll end up with a look that feels cold and sterile.

4. If it's an original feature - it adds value.
Sometimes yes - but often no. Generally a property built less than 50 years ago without being updated is more likely to appear dated, rather than classic.

5. My place isn't worth staging.
All homes are worth taking the time to present in a positive light to buyers. The trick to knowing where to start and what to do is in having a good idea of what buyers in your target market will expect, along with learning more about what competing properties in your area are offering.

6. Empty rooms look bigger.                                                      

This is rarely the case. Buyers will always prefer to see how a room is used and what will fit in it, rather than be left to guess. Very large rooms can also be too intimidating for some. Even borrowed furniture can help buyers get an idea of scale and give the eye something of interest to focus on.

7. Converting a bedroom into a home gym won't be a problem.
Bedrooms are one of the most valuable commodities of the 'for sale' property. Having a home gym set up in a bedroom will prompt buyers to wonder why that is. I remember once looking at a house where this was the case. When I came across the bedroom with the gym in it, I immediately began to question if a bed would even fit. Always give the rooms in your house a purpose.

8. No need to worry about wardrobes and cupboards.
Home storage is a big deal to most buyers and is surprisingly valuable. Prospective buyers will open storage cupboards in kitchens and bathrooms, so keep them tidy. Keep only what you're using on a daily or weekly basis, and pack the rest away ready for the move.

Have you got a staging myth you'd like busted? Share them with me here.

 

Room Remedy Interiors

"Ready, Set, Redecorate in a Day"

Sydney, Central Coast, & Newcastle

Find out more about us at www.roomremedy.com.au

Why Beautiful Kitchens Help Sell Homes

 

Kitchens are like magnets; they simply have this way of drawing everyone in and are viewed by many as the heart-of-the-home.  Buyers know and understand that they'll be spending a great deal of time in the kitchen and therefore, pay close attention to this particular room.  As a seller, it's important to further engage the buyer by creating a space that welcomes them.

Here's a before and after picture of a home we staged this week in Atlanta. Oh, and the comment from the homeowner: "I should have done this 10 months ago."

Before:  

 

Here's the after picture: By design, we simplified the amount of accessories used.  My objective is to compliment what the builder has created and not to overwhelm the space.

 

Here's a close-up picture of one of the florals and apples (my signature staging accessory):

Floral:

For more tips and information on having your home professionally staged, visit our Atlanta Home Staging Information blog at AtlantaHomeStagerInfo.com

 

Georgia Interior Solutions (GIS), LLC is Atlanta Georgia's Premier Home Staging Provider.  Owner and Real Estate Staging Expert, Kathy Nielsen has appeared on the pages of Atlanta Magazine, Atlanta Home Improvement; Atlanta Business Chronicle and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.  You can also see one of her staged homes on HGTV's hit show Sleep On It.

With their extensive home staging portfolio, you'll quickly learn that they have the experience and knowledge on what it takes to make your home and/or listing appeal to the prospective buyers.  Contact them today for your free no-obligation appointment:  678 522 8392.

 

 

Home Staging Atlanta - Kathy Nielsen - 678 522 8392

RESA Professional Stager of the Year - Southern Region 2011

Whether your home is vacant or occupied, this Atlanta Georgia Home Stager, Kathy Nielsen, understands what it takes to sell a home quickly. Her homes have graced the pages of several publications, appeared in TV commercials as well as on HGTV's hit program Sleep On it.

With years of experience and a massive inventory - Kathy makes the perfect choice.

 

 

 

 

Home Staging Website:  Home Staging Atlanta

Before and After Pictures: Atlanta Home Staging Portfolio:

Email:  Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com  

Blog: Atlanta Home Staging

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Kitchen Transformations
• Short on Space? Keep it Simple
• Tips on Selling Your Home From a Professional Stager
• Curtains. Should they stay or go?
• How to dress up your coffee table and end tables when selling
• Quick tips for table settings
• How will buyers remember your home?
• Atlanta Home Staging Consultations - Check out what the homeowner did
• Atlanta Loft Gets Home Staged
• How to ensure your home appeals to a broad base of prospective buyers

 

 

 

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Home Staging - Solutions for Decorating A Small Living Room

One of the distinct advantages sellers have when staging their vacant home is that not only will the home be visually more appealing, it also provide solutions to the prospective buyers on how to decorate.

 

This is the living room of a home we staged this week:

 

Here's the after picture:

Solutions for decorating a small living room:

• Start with the scale of the furniture - In this example, we chose a smaller size sofa so that we could accommodate an end table.
  
• Choose the right colors - By design, we chose light colors for both the sofa and the throw pillows as bolder colors typically have a way visually consuming the space.
• Light it Up - Ample lighting will help also help expand the space.  Floor lamps are a great solution for small living rooms
• Keep it Simple - Be selective in the accessories you bring in.  For small rooms, you want to ensure the scale of the accessories are appropriate for the space.

These solutions were brought to you by HomeStagingAtlanta, Atlanta's Premier Home Staging Provider.  For more examples of our work, visit our Home Staging Atlanta Portfolio.

For additional tips on selling your home, visit our blog at Atlanta Home Stager Info.

 

 

 

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About the Author: Kathy Nielsen, a RESA 2010 Home Stager of the Year Finalists is  a nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry, offers affordable home staging solutions to help sell your home more quickly.  Kathy can be reached via email at info@homestagingatlanta.com or by phone at 678 522 8392.  Their Atlanta Home Staging services offer a variety of options to accommodate all budgets. To view examples of their before and after pictures, visit their portfolio at Home Staging Atlanta Gallery.

 

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When a home stager is hired one of our primary jobs responsibilities is to stage the property in a manner that best solves any problem or perceived issues buyers may have with it.

But what happens if the buyer disagrees with what was done by the hired stager?

CASE IN POINT: Recently I received an Email from A. M. in Chicago asking for advice over a dispute he was having with his stager regarding the worked she had preformed.

A. M. writes…

Hello Craig,

My name is A.M. and I am having a disagreement with a stager I hired.

I am trying to sell a 2-bedroom condo in Chicago and recently hired a professional to stage the empty condo.

The property is unique in that the living room is very long and narrow, which is why my realtor and I thought it was important to stage it to show its potential. This is the only living area of the property so it has to look like a living room.

We've since (the staging) had ten showings without an offer.

I had two friends over… both of them said is "this room looks like a hallway".

They also said that the way it's staged does not show the potential of the living room.

I called the stager… and she maintains that the room is properly staged and that I need to respect her professional opinion.She discounts these opinions because she says she's the professional.

Do you have any tips on how I could deal with my stager?

Thank you very much,

A.M.

In the interst of "full disclosure" I have created a quick video show that should give you a complete overview of all that was done and how Adam's $1,000 was used to stage his property. Link: $1,000 Staging. Done RIGHT or Done WRONG. (Or you can just view a smaller version of the show at the bottom of this page.)

So... now that you have a complete picture, I have a few final questions for you to consider.

1. Given the budget, A.M.’s instruction, and the style of the home, did the stager stage the home correctly?

2. Did the stager provide a good solution for the problematic living room?

3. If A.M. feels the solution provided does not solve the living rooms problem, what should he do?

4. What actions do you suggest the stager take to solve the problem?

Whether you are a seller, stager or realtor... I am curious to know what you think about those $1,000's.

Thanks,

Craig ("Me" back playing Actively in the Rain)