Once again, Hillhurst and Sunnyside rank as the best inner-city communities in Calgary by Avenue Magazine.
 

I first wrote about my love for the area last year around the time that I moved to a condo in Sunnyside. Since then, I’ve not only lived in the area but staged multiple properties for sale. There’s so much to love, it’s no wonder the community continues to be popular for home and condo buyers.
 

In Avenue’s 50 Best Things in 50 Neighbourhoods, retail therapy in Sunnyside Kensington makes the list with a special mention for Purr Petite children’s clothing and Kismet Clothing & Jewellery. In Hillhurst, Avenue highlights the Riley Park cricket patch.
 

I’m not much of a cricket player, so here are some of my favourites (in case you missed them in previous posts) to check out when you’re in Hillhurst, Sunnyside or Kensington: Vendome Café, F.A.T.S. Bar & Grill, Cupcakes, flowers & more, farmer’s market and parks.
 

If you live in Calgary and are planning to sell your furnished or vacant property, contact me (Jen at Set Your Stage) to find out the benefits of my home staging services. Schedule your free personalized Home Staging Assessment today.
 

In the meantime, share this post! Pass on the many reasons why Hillhurst and Sunnyside Calgary are ideal communities to live.
 

Calgary artists will be stepping out from behind their canvases to share their work at the Calgary Abstract Collective Art Show & Sale in November. As a professional home stager, I know the power that the perfect piece of art can have in a space. So I’m looking forward to this local event.
 

If you’ve been following my posts, you are well aware of how much I love the Hillhurst Sunnyside and Kensington areas of Calgary. I love to support my community and share the various locations, shops and activities that are within walking distance of my home.
 

And you have seen many pictures of my staging work where I include art to create spaces that are appealing to potential buyers. I even use art to stage bathrooms!
 

Abstract art, like the paintings available through the Calgary Abstract Collective, are helpful for use in staging for two reasons:
 

• It avoids the potential negative response that could occur with figurative art – for example, you decide to display artwork of people or animals (figurative) and it triggers potential buyers to react negatively due to their personal emotional or memory response to those specific images;

 

• It allows you to focus on the colour palette of the space, creating a feeling of unity and making a space feel more like a home

Whether you’re using art for personal pleasure or for staging, make sure you check out this art show and sale at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Center,
1320 5 Ave NW in Calgary on Saturday, November 8, 2014 from 11-4. For more information, visit www.calgaryabstractcollective.com
 

If you live in Calgary and are planning to sell your furnished or vacant property, contact me (Jen at Set Your Stage) to find out the benefits of my home staging services. Schedule your free personalized Home Staging Assessment today.
 

In the meantime, share this post with the art lovers in your life (and support Calgary artists)! Pass on the many reasons why Hillhurst and Sunnyside Calgary are ideal communities to live.
 

If you’re in Calgary’s resale condo market, you’ve probably been pretty happy with strength of your investment. Attractive to local buyers and investors alike, more people are seeking the benefits that condo ownership has to offer. Preparing to sell? Make the most of your investment by hiring a professional home stager who has a strong background in styling condos for great results.
 

The Calgary condo market has been (and is predicted to remain) strong in 2014. Aside from the convenience, security and easy access to downtown, professionals are re-locating from larger cities to purchase more affordable condos in Calgary. Locals want in too. So, when comparing condos of similar size, location, and price, how will they choose?
 

Usually the final decision comes down to how they feel in the space. Does it meet their ideal lifestyle? That’s hard to convey if the condo is left empty. Professionally staging the vacant space with rental furniture is an up-front investment that can provide excellent returns. Read more in “How much does vacant condo staging cost in Calgary?”
 

On the other hand, if you are living in the condo while it’s listed for sale, it’s worth staging it to meet the potential buyers’ needs (versus yours). Among other things, a professional home stager will understand how to create a space that appeals to both male and female buyers.
 

Not only am I a condo owner in the Sunnyside neighbourhood of Calgary, I have staged multiple condos (vacant and furnished) to meet the lifestyle needs of buyers in this area. As a professional home stager, I believe that every property deserves to be shown at its best – and every seller deserves to make the most of one of their largest investments.
 

My staged properties sell fast! Ask me about it.
 

Our calendar is getting full! Contact Jen at Set Your Stage today to schedule your free Home Staging Assessment so that you can make the most of Calgary’s resale condo market too!
 

This dining area was part of a full staging and furniture rental project for a vacant home in Calgary’s Collingwood neighbourhood. Flip through the mansion images and you’ll see a similar approach (slide 7): Minimal art work, rectangular table with high back chairs, and a single low platter in the middle of the table.

In this Parkhill Stanley Park property we staged, you can see how inspiration could come from the mansion bedroom (slide 10): Light bedding, tall headboard, and matching wood tones in a clean lined side table. We chose to add more accessories because of the style of the home and the potential buyers who would be viewing it.
 
It just goes to show that inspiration can come from anywhere. Potential buyers want the best that they can afford. Why not use a multi-million dollar staging example as a guide? Out-do the competition. Stage your property for maximum appeal and maximum results.
 
To see more examples of rooms from properties I staged, check out the Set Your Stage boards on Pinterest.