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Basics of Home Staging

July 29, 2011 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)
New York Luxury Real Estate

Photo compliments of Elliman,
New York Luxury Real Estate.

When it’s time for any homeowner to prep their home to be put on the market, staging your home properly can make or break a sale. The Basics of Home staging: it’s a short-term marketing tool used to entice potential buyers to want to make an offer on your property. Staging can seem daunting to a homeowner who feels that they have no interior design experience, but staging does not require a homeowner to have design experience, just knowledge of the house and the market.

Before you put a for-sale sign in your front yard, follow these 5 simple steps to have your house sell almost as soon as it hits the market.

De-clutter & Depersonalize: As a seller, you want your potential buyers to envision their belongings in the space, so the first step is to get rid of all of the personal items throughout your space. Take down your family photos, grocery lists on the fridge and anything else you wouldn’t find decorating an upscale hotel. De-cluttering and cleaning is a common chore that many sellers overlook. Clutter only makes your room look smaller and a dirty house entices no one. So clean away the grime in your house as well as remove excess clutter to give a room a bigger look and feel.

Layout & Condition: To help create the look of a bigger room and better flow throughout your home, remove bulky furniture and rearrange the layout if necessary. If you are faced with an awkward or unused space, get creative and create a purpose for it so buyers can see there is potential in every square inch of the home. Fix any minor problems around the house, a leaky faucet or a damaged wall, so the buyer can only remember positive points about your place.

Color & Style: Think of all of your rooms through the eyes of a buyer. Would everyone like your style? You may find that your decorating techniques are not exactly main stream. Giving rooms a fresh coat of neutral paint and removing some unique décor is a simple way to freshen up a room and allow it to appeal to many more buyers.

Stage Every Room: You may think that you can de-clutter your home for staging by putting everything into boxes and stowing them away in closets or your basement. However, potential buyers will be interested in closet sizes and bonus rooms, such as attics and basements. By shoving your belongings in there, you lose an opportunity to showcase another feature of your home.

A Little Help: Following all of these steps and still not having any luck with getting your home sold? Maybe it’s time to seek help of professional home stagers and real estate agents. Both professions are trained to know about the market that you are in and what buyers are looking for in your area. They could be the key to getting offers on the table.

Compliments of Elliman, New York Luxury Real Estate.


Calgary Home In Panorama Hills For Sale

July 27, 2011 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)

Check out this custom-built two storey in Panorama Hills Estates, we provided a home staging consultation for. Nestled on a quiet family-friendly crescent within minutes to the golf course, schools & shopping, this fully finished 4 bedroom home boasts a traditional floorplan showcased by hardwood & tile floors.

For more information on this lovingly maintained home, contact Kirby Cox, Royal LePage 403-288-1554. (MLS#C3484496).


Renting Furniture To Sell Your Vacant Home

July 25, 2011 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)
Airdrie Living Room Before Staging

Before: It’s difficult for potential buyers to
envision a living room with no furniture.

Why are vacant homes so tough to sell? Not only do buyers have difficulty envisioning where they can place their belongings, but vacant spaces seem cold, empty and life-less. Most home sellers with vacant properties either already have a new home, live in another city or “flip” homes for a living. Often, they don’t have the time or budget to invest in a whole set of furniture, artwork and accessories to stage their property and give it some life.


Airdrie Living Room After Staging

After: The red chairs, accessories and artwork draw
your eyes to the features in this living room: the
fireplace and the large backyard window.

This is what makes renting furniture so appealing. The investment for rental furniture is a fraction of the retail price tag and it looks like it’s from a showhome (that’s the point). The best way to find rental furniture is to contact a local home stager. Not only do they often have relationships with more than one rental company, they also carry their own supply of artwork, accessories and greenery to finish the look that buyers love!

Chestermere Home in Westmere For Sale

July 22, 2011 (posted by Jennifer Campbell, Home Staging Calgary)

Welcome to this beautiful family home in Chestermere we provided a home staging consultation for. Located across from a park as well as close to schools, shopping and Chestermere lake, this home is ideally situated and meticulously maintained!

For more information on this air conditioned home, contact Lina Horner, Smart Calgary Homes 403-923-7237. (MLS#C3485218).