According to the October update on housing stats from the Calgary Real Estate Board, total sales and average sale price are up from this time last year and, overall, properties remained on the market for fewer days. Add to that the findings in Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2015 that, “Calgary and Edmonton are again the top two markets, scoring well for investment, development, and housing.” The report goes on to state,
 

“Looking ahead, what are the likely best bets in Canadian real estate? Western Canada will remain the place to be, buoyed by strong performance in Calgary and Edmonton.”
 

So it appears that if you own property in Calgary, you continue to be in an ideal situation. I wrote about staging in Calgary’s hot real estate market several months ago. My thoughts and observations remain unchanged.
 

In terms of the best return on your investment, staging, cleaning, decluttering, a fresh coat of paint, adequate storage, and current flooring (hardwood or neutral carpet are your best bets) top the list. Even a small investment can make your property more desirable and memorable for potential buyers, making it stand out from the competition.
 

If you’re preparing to sell and wondering, is staging worth it?, reach out. Contact Jen at Set Your Stage today to schedule your free Home Staging Assessment. Stand out in Calgary’s strong real estate market!
 

You don’t have to throw out those old strings of incandescent lights when switching to LED. Think green and get crafty. Upcycle Christmas lights to create ornaments or centrepieces for holiday home staging.
 

Over the holidays, I get asked whether it’s appropriate to put up holiday decorations if your property is listed for sale. My answer is yes – BUT – do it with potential buyers in mind. I’ve written about it in the past: Simplify Christmas Décor, and last year’s 12 Days of Home Staging posts offered some top tips for staging in general.
 

If you’re like me, this year you might be making an effort to go greener for the holidays by switching out your old incandescent lights for more eco-friendly LED. What I discovered in the process is that the City of Calgary (and maybe yours too) doesn’t recycle them. So instead of throwing them out in the trash, I’m choosing to get crafty this year.
 

When I was searching Pinterest for ideas of what to do with my old lights, several simple and staging-friendly projects came up. Here are a few of my favourites:
 

• Dip old bulbs in glue and cover them in glitter (colour of your choice). Place them in clear glass jars or in a bowl as a centrepiece and that’s it. Simple. Classy.
• Paint bulbs and attach to a foam craft ball until completely covered. Group them to display on a fireplace mantle, side table, or on a large platter.
• Don’t forget curb appeal. Create a welcoming wreath for your front door. I recommend that you keep it simple and choose mainly silver or gold.

It just goes to show that inspiration can come from anywhere. So go ahead and upcycle Christmas lights this year instead of throwing them out. Get creative and see what you can come up with.
 

For more staging inspiration, check out the Set Your Stage boards on Pinterest.
 

Neutrals are your best bet when staging your property for sale with paint colours that won’t offend potential buyers. Of course you can’t please everyone, but choosing the right paint colour continues to be one of the top tools for your biggest return on investment when you’re selling your home.

 
Neutrals are colours that will match well with a wide range of other colour options. This is important to potential buyers who are walking through a listed property because they are imagining how their own furniture and accessories will fit into the space.

Ideally, potential buyers don’t want to spend a lot of time or money trying to create this fit. So you can make their life easier by making it neutral for them with a coat of paint. In the picture of an office we staged, you can see that the neutral background would work for pretty much any coloured furniture, curtains, art, rugs etc. that the buyer would want to put in there.

 
Move in ready is the goal when possible. Keep it simple.

 
I’ve written on the topic before. While these exact colours may not be available in your area, it gives you a good sense of what can be effective in staging. Find the posts here:

• Warm staging colours
• Cool staging colours
• Hot colours for your front door

And for more inspiration on stage safe paint colours that won’t offend, take a look at the Set Your Stage Facebook albums of the various homes and condos that we’ve staged for sale.

The work at home buyer is alive and well in Calgary. So, if you’re preparing to sell your property, no matter what its size or layout, you must stage an office area – or at least a designated comfortable space for a desk.
 

When a potential buyer looks at your listing, they want to see a place where they can live the lifestyle they want PLUS take care of all their responsibilities.
 

For many buyers, that responsibility includes some form of work at home scenario. It could be what they do all day as an entrepreneur, or extra work they bring home from an office.
 

Maybe it is a lifestyle desire in that they want to buy a place that will allow them to comfortably shift out of the corporate office and into more time in their home office.
 

And don’t forget the kids who now seem to live and breathe online!

Regardless, some type of office set up is a must when staging. Read more about the topic in a previous blog post: One Room. One Function. Except for Offices.

Want more inspiration for staged office spaces to meet the needs of buyers who work at home? Check out the Set Your Stage ‘Offices After Home Staging’ board on Pinterest.