It’s well known that a fresh coat of paint is one of the most cost effective ways to update your property when you’re preparing it to sell. How do you know what colour to choose? Here are some of my picks for best paint colours to use in home staging.
 

I’ve written about staging-safe paint colours that won’t offend before. On Twitter, one of the feeds that crossed my path was this one from Real Simple Magazine: Experts Reveal How to Choose the Perfect Paint Colour for your Home. Of course, being a professional home stager in Calgary and working in condos/houses every day, I had to take a look.

Of the 24 expert picks mentioned, here are my suggestions for the best paint colours for use in home staging:
 

• Wool Skein (Sherwin-Williams)
• Precious Pearls (Dunn-Edwards)
• Amazing Gray (Sherwin-Williams)
• Shaker Beige (Benjamin Moore)
• Revere Pewter (Benjamin Moore)
• Simply White (Benjamin Moore)

And here’s a tip that’s good for your budget. Buy an inexpensive brand of paint at your local home improvement store and ask them to colour match one of these higher-end brand name paint colours.
 

How to find the colour code? Go to the brand website, for example Benjamin Moore, and do a search for the paint colour by name. It will show you a swatch with the description and code (here’s what comes up for Revere Pewter). That’s the information you need when you go to the home improvement store (although some of them will be able to look it up on their computer for you – note that not every colour can be matched so have a couple backups in mind when you go in).
 

What are your best paint colours for home staging?
 

Want to stay in touch and read more of our home staging tips? Follow Set Your Stage on Twitter.
 

When I came across this infographic, I immediately pinned it to the Selling Tips board for Set Your Stage on Pinterest.
“Terms that reek of desperation, such as “motivated seller”, actually prolong time on the market by 10%.”
As a professional home stager in Calgary, I know that the words don’t actually have to show up on a listing to imply desperation. The way your property is presented speaks volumes.

• homes that have overgrown & unkept lawns, no curtains, and a “nobody lives here” feel to them (Creative Real Estate Online)
• vacant properties, since owners are likely making payments on another home while waiting for the vacant home to sell, making them very motivated (The Nest)
• “For Sale by Owner” and “For Rent by Owner”, estate, pre-foreclosure, or moving situation (WikiHow)
• same owner for 10 years or longer, adding to the likelihood that they fully own (or have a small mortgage remaining) and have more freedom to sell at a discount

• Work with a realtor who collaborates with a professional stager.
• Pay attention to curb appeal.
• Furnish your vacant property.
• Update the look and feel of an older property.
• Make it feel move-in ready and welcoming (like somebody has cared for it) with these staging checklists: Kitchen, Living Room, Bathroom.
• Keep more of your money!

Don’t be perceived as a motivated seller. Stage your property and keep your money! For more staging inspiration, check out the various boards we have at Set Your Stage on Pinterest.

You already know I love the Hillhurst, Sunnyside, and Kensington neighbourhoods of Calgary. You already know that I live and work here. And here’s the newest reason why I LOVE this place: Calgary is one of the Canadian cities where Slide the City will be offering a unique and fun 2-day event in August.
 

On August 1-2, a 1000ft slip and slide will pass right in front of my place next to Riley Park. Described as “the biggest water party of the summer”, this Slide the City event will include music, dancing, food, drinks and all round fun in the sun. What’s better? They’re partnering with the Canadian Cancer Society and Ronald McDonald House, adding to the feel-good factor of the event.
 

Plus, because environmental awareness is important to me, I appreciate the water conservation component of this event. “We are asking participants to pledge to reduce shower time, forego frequent car washes, update shower/faucet heads, fix leaking sinks, reduce watering of lawns and take other steps to decrease water usage.” Water will be re-circulated through the day to operate the slide and, after the event, water is recycled back into the community.
 

The Slide the City event is sold out, but that doesn’t mean you can’t come by and take a look.
 

While you’re in the area, check out some of my other favourites: The Beehive, The Vendome Café, Gastro Pub (previously known as F.A.T.S Bar and Grill), and the Dairy Lane Café.
 

And if you are a home owner living nearby who is going to be selling, find out how your Calgary property can benefit from professional staging and discuss the results Set Your Stage clients have achieved. Schedule your personalized Home Staging Assessment by contacting Jen at Set Your Stage today.
 

In the meantime, enjoy Slide the City and share the love for Hillhurst, Sunnyside & Kensington Calgary!
 

Home staging continues to grow in popularity with home owners and realtors alike. But some people are still sitting on the fence because they assume that home staging design is unaffordable. It doesn’t have to be. There are many options when it comes to professional home staging services.
 

Part of my job in providing professional home staging design services in Calgary is to meet my clients where their wallet is at. Ultimately, I work to accentuate the positives in a property to make it easier for potential buyers to fall in love ~ which usually leads to a listing selling faster and at a higher price than its competition. But there are many ways to accentuate the positive. And this is where your budget comes into the decision making process.
 

For the DIY seller who is willing to do the staging work on his/her own, a Home Staging Consultation is an extremely cost-effective way to ensure that you focus your time, energy, and money where it counts most. The consultation includes a complete walkthrough of your home with a detailed step by step guide on how to prepare your home for staging.
 

If DIY makes you cringe (or you simply don’t have time), you can pay a home staging design company to Prepare Your Property for you. This can look different for different situations. For example, Set Your Stage has done full staging for rental properties, added rental furniture to update the look of a dining room, and re-arranged existing furniture while adding new art to refresh the rooms. These are some of the creative ways to benefit from home staging design beyond the full home, full furniture rental option.
 

Still sitting on the fence? Find out how your Calgary property can benefit from professional home staging design and discuss the results Set Your Stage clients have achieved. Schedule your personalized Home Staging Assessment by contacting Jen at Set Your Stage today.