Set Your Stage

Staging Props: Don’t Sell Your Property Without Them

December 21, 2016 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)

There’s no denying the power of suggestion. It’s a psychological phenomenon that has wide ranging implications. When it comes to selling property, staging props are key tools for suggesting the lifestyle that is possible for buyers. So use them to your advantage!

See the difference professional home staging makes!

After: Remind buyers this would be a great home!

Research summarized in a post by the Association for Psychological Science suggests that, “Once we anticipate a specific outcome will occur, our subsequent thoughts and behaviors will actually help to bring that outcome to fruition.”

In terms of selling a house or condo, the ideal outcome is that potential buyers enter the property and not only see themselves happily living there, but also believe that the ideal lifestyle they desire is actually possible for them. All this comes together to result in a sale.

That’s where staging props come in.

After: The oils, cookbook and salt & pepper shakers get buyers thinking about cooking in this kitchen.

It’s one way that science and art intertwine. Pablo Picasso once said that, “Everything you can imagine is real.” To me, that’s partly about the power of possibility. And it’s also about the power of suggestion.

As a professional home stager in Calgary, I understand that some people find it challenging to imagine possibilities when it comes to how to use a space. That goes for home sellers who want to earn the most from their investment, and for home buyers who are choosing their next ideal living environment.

That’s why working with a home staging professional is so powerful. Your stager understands how to use staging props effectively to assist in the imagining AND making the most of the power of suggestion. That benefits both the buyer and seller.

After: Imagine watching a movie in this family room after a long day.

Want to know how to use staging props to your advantage? Consult with a stager who has experience staging properties that sold in your neighbourhood! In Calgary, contact me to schedule your free, no pressure, personalized Home Staging Assessment today.

Still curious about the benefits of home staging? Read more about my work and reach out when you’re ready. Ask how the Set Your Stage team can help your Calgary detached house or condo become SOLD!

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Set Your Stage’s Seuss Inspired Holiday Season Greeting

December 15, 2016 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)

As soon as I hear the familiar music, I know the Holiday Season has started. I grew up with it, and after all these years, the spirited tune still brings a smile to my face.

Christmas set of design elements with fir branches, balls and cones. Watercolor illustration

It’s hard to believe that Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is celebrating 50 years. Watching it on television as part of my family’s annual holiday ritual, I always loved seeing the Whoville homes filled with colorful decorations and uniquely creative toys and furnishings. It certainly sparked my imagination.

Now, as a professional home stager in Calgary, that creative spark is still in me. But it’s always balanced with the practical business and marketing sense that my clients need from my work.

After all, it’s one thing to decorate with all the memorabilia that you grew up with and love. It’s another to stage in a way that quickly appeals to your buyers. And a Whoville-style staging approach wouldn’t be very practical!

On the surface, my work is about image and presentation. It’s about shopping sprees to buy staging furniture and accessories that will help my clients benefit from a quick sale. It’s about consciously creating an ideal image of the properties that I’m working on. Skeptics would even say it’s manipulation and trickery.

But underneath, my staging work is about more.

It’s about people and their hopes and dreams. It’s about relationships. If I want to get totally sentimental about it (the holiday season does that to me), it’s about love at its core. Because, to me, homes are where love lives.

And at this time of the year, when the holidays often get minimized to a focus on the pressure to buy, buy, buy, it’s important to remember that it’s also about more.

Just like in Seuss’ story:

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!”

To all my clients and colleagues who I have had the extreme honour and pleasure of working with over the past year (and sometimes more), I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your confidence in me and the Set Your Stage team.

Know that my heart is always in my work and I do it to make a difference for you, your family… and your buyers’ families.

If you will be selling a Calgary area property in 2017, I welcome the opportunity to contribute my heartfelt best to get results for you – and invite you to contact myself and/or my team.

In the meantime, here’s wishing you and your loves ones thejoyof sharing the “little bit more” that Seuss so creatively reminds us of this holiday season – and beyond! All my best for 2017!

Find out more about Jen Campbell Washenfelder of Set Your Stage in Calgary and contact her to schedule your free Home Staging Assessment in the New Year.

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Staging the Spa Bathroom

December 09, 2016 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)

It continues to be popular on buyers’ wish lists. The spa bathroom. Give buyers what they’re looking for with these home staging tips.

We hear about the dream spa bathroom all the time. But what is that exactly? Do a google search and you’ll find a range of definitions. Aesthetics and finishes also vary.

Before: Bathroom before professional home staging.

After: I love this soaker tub in the master ensuite. It would be so relaxing!

But what seems to be in common is this: water therapy, a sense of calm, and some pampering touches. When staging, highlight those three key components.

Of course budget will have a lot to do with the quality of finishings in a spa bathroom. When you’re staging prior to listing your home for sale, it is worth considering updating certain aspects of the bathroom in order to add a more quality feel. Just don’t overdo it by spending so much that you won’t see a return on your investment.

Things like lighting, faucets, and accent tiles can make a huge difference to the feel (and perceived value) of the bathroom.

And then there are the staging accessories that can turn a functional bathroom into one that feels more like a spa bathroom. These could include:

a small chair or bench for sitting (located near a tub or fabulous shower),
decorative mirrors,
a plush robe hanging on a decorative hook,
beautiful dispensers for your hand soap and shampoo,
art,
a healthy potted plant,
or a vase of fresh flowers.

Before: Bathroom before professional home staging.

After: How nice would it be to have the space to get ready in the morning in this bathroom!

After: A decorative mirror, lotion and perfume are organized on a decorative mirrored plate to add luxury to this bathroom.

There really is nothing like the fresh look of high quality white towels to make a bathroom feel like a spa. If the room is feeling too stark and cold, add hints of colour through the art, like we did with this one main piece to highlight the deluxe soaking tub. Keep the colours fairly monotone overall to reinforce the sense of calm that you’re aiming for.

If your potential buyers have a spa bathroom to retreat to on their wish list, invest the effort and some up front costs to offer it to them.

Want more of our home staging tips? Stay in touch. Follow Set Your Stage on Twitter.

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Today, Home Selling Takes MORE Than Cleaning and Packing

December 03, 2016 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)

Remember the good ole’ days when all it took to sell a house was to clean it up and pack your things? Well, in today’s market, buyers are looking for more. Effective home selling is about presentation. Hiring a professional home stager can be your best investment if you want to create a powerful first impression.

Some properties are already beautiful. Some need a little help. Regardless, when it’s time to sell, most properties could benefit from professional staging. That’s because home selling is about presenting an ideal lifestyle just as much as it is about checking off a list of “must-have’s”.

Before: Living room before home staging.

After: The perfect place to relax and watch TV after a long day.

Beyond the wish list items of number of bedrooms and bathrooms, desire for an open concept kitchen and living area, or a view, today’s buyers want to feel like they can live their ideal lifestyle and actually feel “at home” in the property. And they will know it pretty quickly. Or NOT.

That’s where the expertise of a professional home stager can make THE difference in your home selling experience. With an understanding of what buyers are looking for in your particular neighbourhood and taking into consideration the features and potential problem areas of your specific property, your stager will either guide you (with a DIY option) or do the work herself (with or without renting staging furniture and accessories) to make changes that speak to your buyer.

Before: Bedroom before home staging.

After: This master is luxurious & spacious after staging.

Removing your personal items and cleaning up the grime are a given in today’s real estate market. Buyers want MORE. They want to walk in and feel like this could be home. Your home selling success relies on making the first impression that gives them what they want.

So if you don’t know what that is, consult with real estate professionals who have proven results in your local area.

Want more of our home staging tips? Stay in touch. Follow Set Your Stage on Twitter.

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Staging Props: Don’t Sell Your Property Without Them

Set Your Stage’s Seuss Inspired Holiday Season Greeting

Staging the Spa Bathroom

Today, Home Selling Takes MORE Than Cleaning and Packing

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