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Get Rid of Smell to Sell

March 10, 2014 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)

Let’s face it. With these cold Calgary winter days, we’re not keeping our doors and windows open much to let the fresh air in. But odours are a real deterrent to potential buyers. So, if you’re selling your property, you need to get rid of smell that may be lingering. These resources can help.
 
Part of staging your property to appeal to potential buyers is making it smell as good as it looks. To achieve that, sometimes you’ll need to give your entire space a good coat of primer and paint or to remove all the carpeting to get rid of tough odours. That’s time and expense that you may want to avoid.
 
Try these smaller steps to get rid of smell:
 
Air purifying machine: Whether it’s a portable model or one that’s attached to your HVAC system, circulating your home’s air through an air purifier will help to eliminate odours. Stop in to your home improvement store to find an inexpensive option that works best for you. Also consider products like “Gonzo” and the like for a more temporary fix.
 
Common kitchen ingredients: You probably won’t be cooking as much while your property is listed for sale, but these tips, using basic ingredients and everyday products you probably already have, will help to remove kitchen odour.
 
Hydrogen peroxide: Dilute hydrogen peroxide with water and spray to get rid of smell. Be careful to test this first to ensure it doesn’t bleach your fabrics and surfaces. It’s surprisingly simple and cost effective and won’t leave an odour behind like vinegar can do.
 
“No smell” is a good smell. Don’t add a scented product to mask odours in your home. Use one of the resources mentioned above to get rid of smell so you can sell. For more professional home staging resources and tips, follow Set Your Stage on Twitter.


Staging for Real Estate Investors

February 28, 2014 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)
Builders and real estate investors know that sometimes you have to spend money to make money. That’s why they make sure to use finishes in houses and condos that appeal to potential buyers. Professionally staging the property to highlight those features adds value, making good business sense.
 
This older home in Westgate got a stunning renovation from top to bottom before it was listed for sale. As you can see in the photos, it was a quality renovation with modern finishes and details.
 
See the difference home staging makes?

Before: Kitchen before home staging.


 
See the difference home staging makes.

After: The green pears on the table and green Perrier water bottles help to showcase an active healthy lifestyle in this kitchen.

But left empty and with no signs of life, the space would not have the same appeal to potential buyers as it would if it was made to feel like a dream home. That’s the power of home staging. It helps potential buyers get the feel of living their ideal lifestyle in the space. They don’t have to try to imagine it.
 
See the difference home staging makes?

Before: Media room before home staging.

See the difference home staging makes.

After: Relax/entertain family/friends in your own personal media room.


 
I’ve written about the value of staging for real estate investors before:

 
Home Staging: Is it Worth the Effort When Flipping Houses? Yes, “You sell the sizzle, not the steak. Sell benefits, not features.” Plus, selling faster means that you will have less to pay in mortgage, tax, and other carrying fees.
 
Take a look at the photo album of this Westgate staging project on the Set Your Stage Facebook page to see all the before and after photos. Read my testimonials.
 
Then contact me to get the most out of your Calgary investment property so you can move on to your next project.


Realtors and Home Stagers: What’s the Connection?

February 22, 2014 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)
Realtors and Home Stagers can join forces to offer home owners a powerful service. Together, they work to market and sell your property as quickly as possible and at the highest price. The more successful the relationship, the better the results can be for you. In the end, that means more money in your pockets.
 
In some cases, the home owner will hire (and pay) the home stager directly. In other cases, the realtor will hire the stager as part of the service they offer to the seller. If you’re selling your home, every dollar counts. So working with a realtor who includes the home staging consultation in their real estate commission is an obvious benefit to you.
 
How do you find the right realtor and home stager team? Well, you could start approaching realtors and ask them if they include home staging in their services.
 
Does this room look familiar?

Before: Master bedroom before home staging.

Another option is that I will refer clients to Calgary realtors who hire stagers. Several realtors hire me to consult with their clients about how to stage their property to appeal to buyers. After chatting with you, I would refer a realtor based on where you’re located, the demographics of your potential buyer (you want a realtor who has success with that target group), and someone who I think you would like to work with.
 
See the difference home staging makes?

After: This simple, yet stylish bedroom is the perfect retreat for any homeowner.

Sometimes it’s nice to go with what’s easy. Realtors and Home Stagers make a perfect team. Whether you’re already working with a realtor in Calgary and want to add a home stager to the marketing team, or whether you want a referral for a great realtor who works with stagers, contact Jen at Set Your Stage.
 
I’m more than happy to help. Showcasing stunning listings that appeal to buyers is what I love to do.

Organize Your Calgary Home Selling Team Now to List in Spring

February 16, 2014 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)
Spring tends to be the most popular time to list and sell a home. As you know, time flies. So give yourself time to get organized by starting now. Most people immediately think of finding a realtor when it’s time to sell. Increasingly, home stagers are included as an important part of any Calgary home selling team.
 
If you’re selling your home during the most popular time, you’ll have plenty of competition in terms of similar sized properties on the market. How will you make sure your home stands out?
 
Does this room look familiar?

Before: Dining room before home staging.

That’s where home staging comes in. Home stagers are not decorators. They are marketers on your home selling team. And their job is to present your home in the best way to market it to your potential buyer. A home stager will select and arrange furniture and accessories in a way that speaks to the potential buyer’s ideal lifestyle. It’s about making a positive first impression and leaving nothing to the imagination.
 
See the difference home staging makes.

After: This dining space is perfect for enjoying family meals or entertaining guests.

Take these rooms I staged in two different houses in Calgary. In one photo, the dining room was set up as just that; a spacious, bright and modern dining area for entertaining guests. This was in an area where young families would likely be buying.
 
Does this room look familiar?

Before: Office before home staging.

In the other photo, we staged a large room with a fireplace as an office space. Would you have thought of doing that?
 
See the difference home staging makes.

After: This office space feels organized and spacious – a great place to work.

It may seem like a bold move. But the reason we did it was to market the property to the lifestyle needs of the most likely potential buyer. In this case, the very large house in an affluent area would likely be sold to professionals (entrepreneurs or flexible work situations) who tend to work often from home.
 
Hiring a professional home stager just makes sense when organizing your home selling team. In Calgary, Set Your Stage gets proven results for sellers.
 
Read our testimonials, and contact Jennifer Campbell to arrange a free Home Staging Assessment today.