Staging makes a difference

My neighbors have put their house on the market. They moved out and into their new home before the first open house.

The one thing I told them to do was stage the house, but they chose not to. I had the opportunity to listen to people's comments and see their faces as they were leaving the first open house and it wasn't pretty. I popped into the house to see what people were unhappy about and it didn't take long to find the problem areas.

An unstaged house isn't a home. Unless your house is in perfect condition - every single flaw will show up when the house isn't staged. Every flaw will look like a giant obstacle for the new owner to have to overcome. A few simple fixes will seem like a total remodel to potential buyers.

Staging isn't for hiding problems. Staging allows people to fall in love with the place first, then deal with any minor issues that may need to be addressed. Staging warms a space up and gives people an idea of what life in the house could be like.

Remember what your mom used to tell you "you only get one opportunity to make a good first impression".

Before/After photos from stagers at StudioD. Call Susan Goldstein 510-339-9015

More staging 101

You've asked to see more staging photos and here they are...

BEFORE: This is the "extra" room, which the homeowner used as a library, exercise and office area.



AFTER: We moved the sofa away from the entry door and to the back of the room. We de-cluttered the bookcase and made this room much more inviting.



BEFORE: This master bedroom needed to be neutralized and "deflowered"...



AFTER: We removed the large and busy area rug from under the bed and added a plain white bedspread. We also chose other art work and de-cluttered the nightstands and dresser.

Staging 101 - update

SOLD - in less than a week!

Staging 101 - update

This week I was asked to stage this lovely home. The owner's wanted to use their own furniture and accessories rather than bring in rental pieces.

For purposes of staging, I want to give people a sense of what the home is like to live in, but not dictate how they should decorate when they move in. And I want to show off the homes best features. In the case of this living room, a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Mount Tam. Here's the BEFORE...



Here's the AFTER... I moved the sofa away from the wall and the chairs away from the window. I want people to be able to walk completely up to the window and look out at the incredible view. I took the room down to just the essential furniture and created a friendly sitting area. I pared down the accessories and found another piece of artwork for the fireplace. It won't be long before there is a "sold" sign on this house!

Seasonal staging

A Realtor called and asked my advice on staging a house for sale during the holiday season. My suggestion is to stage for the time of year, not for a specific holiday.

When you stage your home for sale you are creating an interesting but neutral palette. If it's winter you can use wools or velvets, darker colors or even winter whites, a fire in the fireplace (or a fireplace video on the TV), and a pot of warm apple cider on the stove to make the home feel cozy and comfortable, especially if it's raining or snowing during your open houses.

Remember, the idea of staging is not to interfere with the buyer's ability to see themselves in the house, but to give them a sense of what the house would be like to live in. Too much decorating and all they will see are the decorations and not the house and if the decoration is not to their taste, then they will be less inclined to feel good about your house. In this market, enticing and pleasing the buyer is more important than ever.

Tablecloths

Last week I was asked to visit a home going on the market to check on the staging which the homeowner had done themselves. The house looked quite nice until we got to the dining room. The large dining table was covered with a solid white lace table cloth and a small vase with flowers sat on top. I suggested that either the tablecloth be removed or the table be completely set. When a table is covered in a solid cloth it forces you to focus directly on it and completely stops the flow of the room.




The homeowner did not want to remove the cloth, which she had kept on that table for years, so we went about setting a very elegant table. It made a huge difference in the way the room looked and felt.

If given a choice, I would prefer a table runner to a full table cloth for everyday use. Table cloths work best for specific occasions, dinner parties and outdoor dining tables.