When you decide to sell your property, it just makes sense to stage for potential buyers. That means you have to know who they are most likely to be and what they are looking for. The more you can appeal to their ideal lifestyle by staging, the easier it is for your potential buyers to quickly say YES.
 

Here’s a different way to think of it. Let’s say that you were planning a beach getaway. You start looking online at various options. The first thing you see on one website is an amazing beach filled with shells that you can’t wait to collect.
 

You scroll down and see photo after photo of families with young children. However, your sole purpose is to have a quiet adult getaway. That beach is calling you, but the notion of hearing all those whining and crying kids is a turn off.
 

Many potential buyers naturally go to the worst case scenario in their mind before deciding to purchase. Regardless of whether it’s catastrophic thinking or simply being conservative with how they spend their hard earned money, it matters.
 

Still, you look through the rest of the website searching for some reassurance that this dream destination can actually be a good fit for what you’re looking for.

It takes time. It takes effort. It takes openness.
 

And ultimately, the fear of those whining kids might trump that beautiful beach. So you decide to move on and try to find a better fit.
 

The same process happens for your potential buyers when they’re viewing your listing online and in person. They’re looking for a sense of fit. That’s why, when you’re trying to sell your home, it’s critical that you stage for potential buyers. Help them to quickly and easily see themselves in your property.
 

For more examples of the power and impact of staging, take a look at the Set Your Stage Facebook albums featuring many before and after photos of the various homes and condos that we’ve successfully staged to sell. Let our experienced team stage for potential buyers in your Calgary neighbourhood!
 

A shift in the Calgary rental market has led a number of Calgary real estate investors to consider whether it’s time to sell their rental property. If you decide that it IS time, get the most from your investment by thoroughly cleaning, repairing, and professionally staging the unit prior to listing.
 

I’ve heard from more Calgary real estate investors recently who have lost their renters. Low rental pricing, high vacancy rates, and job losses that are leading renters to move back home (either to other provinces or back in with their parents) are creating a bit of a lull.
 

When you depend on that monthly rental cheque to cover the carrying costs on your investment condo, it’s no wonder investors are questioning whether it’s time to sell their rental property and move on to something else. As an investor, you’re always weighing your risks.
 

I love working with investors with rental properties because they are committed to doing what needs to be done in order to gain the highest return on their investment. They want results and they want them fast.
 

And I know that staging a vacant rental property (to rent or sell) does just that. Here are just a few Calgary condos that we staged for investors who lost their renters and decided that it was time to sell:
 

Garrison Green: This stylish and affordable townhouse already had quality finishings. Staging added the life it needed to get it SOLD.
 

Sunset Ridge: Amazing mountain views were the highlight of this condo in Cochrane. Staging added the classy and peaceful feel that got it SOLD.
 

Victoria Park: This downtown condo got a beautiful facelift. Staging highlighted those fresh features and added a trendy yet classy vibe that appealed to potential buyers in the area and got it SOLD.
 

If you’re considering selling your Calgary rental property, I invite you to contact me to schedule your free, no pressure, personalized Home Staging Assessment today.
 

Still curious? Read more about my work and reach out when you’re ready. Ask how the Set Your Stage team can help you meet YOUR Calgary real estate goals if it is indeed time to sell your rental property!
 

Sometimes the joy in my work comes from successfully finding a solution when I’m staging a difficult room. Of course “difficult” is subjective. But when you’re preparing your home to sell, you don’t want to leave anything to chance, allowing unresolved problems to stir in your potential buyer’s mind and become a deterrent. Instead, address the challenge head on in advance.
 

This Killarney Calgary property we staged offered multiple challenges. Most notably, it turned out that the built-in headboard niche in the master bedroom was too small to fit a queen bed AND two bedside tables.
 

Plus, I knew that the room was big enough to more appropriately fit a king size bed, which would also create a sense of added value to meet the desires of what potential buyers would be looking for in that neighbourhood.
 

So this became a perfect example of how important it is to think outside the box (or, in this case, niche) when staging a difficult room to sell.
 

After lots of creative brainstorming, it was the C table that solved this problem. It’s not what would come to mind first when you think of bedside tables, but it was the perfect solution for this difficult room. We chose chrome and glass tables to add some glamour to the bedroom which felt like a natural fit for the feeling we were trying to create.
 

To finish it off, we placed a large piece of artwork across from the bed to balance out the size of the headboard. Colours from the artwork wereechoed in our choices of side chair and accessories. It became a cohesive space that made sense and therefore flowed.
 

After, when the potential buyers walked in the master bedroom, they would notice how bright, spacious, and luxurious it was as they were drawn to the unique private balcony. They would not get distracted by trying to figure out what to do with that niche.
 

Difficult room challenge solved.
 

For more examples of the power and impact of staging, take a look at the Set Your Stage Facebook albums featuring many before and after photos of the various homes and condos that we’ve successfully staged to sell. Let our experienced team stage your difficult room for potential buyers in your Calgary neighbourhood!
 

An accent chair with personality is one of my favourite living room staging furniture pieces. If you’re listing a vacant property, it’s a no-brainer that staging furniture rental should include a great accent chair. But renting an accent chair for staging can also be a great way to create impact in a furnished listing.
 

This colourful photo on Pinterest inspired me to write about the power of accent chairs in staging a property to sell. After all, people can get a little hesitant about using bold furniture. Here are three ways to use accent chairs to your advantage in living room staging:

Pattern, Colour, Personality:

Keeping walls and larger furniture pieces fairly neutral and unobtrusive works well in staging. But you don’t want your staged listing to be void of any personality. The accent chair is a perfect way to add a pop of colour, pattern, and personality which can be further reinforced through staging accessories.
 

Traffic Flow:

Accent chairs can help to visually separate a larger, open concept space by creating a barrier which also serves to direct traffic flow (and show more seating area without making the room feel small). It’s a great way to create an experience for the potential buyer as they walk through the space.

Focal point:

It may be unconscious, but when you see a chair facing in a certain direction, you are drawn to look in that direction. Maybe it’s curiosity. Use an accent chair to encourage potential buyers to notice the focal point you are highlighting if they were to sit in that chair.
 

An accent chair can be a great tool in living room staging and is a perfect choice for your next staging furniture rental. Give one a try.
 

For more inspiration and home staging tips, take a look at Set Your Stage on Pinterest.