When I give consultations occasionally the same verbage I use to describe the pre-sale preparations start to bore me. So I will change my synonyms a bit to make the consultation 'fresh' for myself.
One phrase I hear myself say over and over without a single change, 'If it is valuable or irreplaceable go ahead and pack it '.
The intention is not to frighten the seller but make them aware of the potential for theft.
In the past I have had sellers ask if people really steal while 'house-shopping'. My response is 'Let's keep honest people honest'. Then a few weeks ago after repeating my afore mentioned phrase, Mr. 'Seller' tells me that he had name brand garments missing from his closet, after a showing, while his house was previously listed. I would never have thought to recommend packing designer clothing!
The items that fall into the catagory of valuable or irreplaceable vary from listing to listing.
Jewelery is a big one on the list.
Most people want some baubles and bling to adorn themselves with during the sale of the home. To these individuals I say conceal the jewels, out-of-sight out-of-mind, right!
Other sellers are ready to pack them off to the safe deposit box, which is a great idea in my opinion.
Great-grandma's vase on top of the buffet is another piece that should be packed away for safe-keeping, there is nothing like a shattered memory. And this goes for anything that can never be replaced. Why leave it to chance?
In the children's rooms all of their little collectibles and even some toys are so special they should be pre-packed.
As a stager I cannot always identify the possessions that a seller considers valuable or irreplaceable, my goal is to make them think about those special items in the home and keep them safe.
So until I come up with a way to convey this message in a different phrase, I will repeat this one ....
'If it is valuable or irreplaceable, go ahead and pack it!'
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Let there be light!
Lighting your home for showing is a very important part of staging to sell.
Natural light is your best friend, so let the sun shine in, open all your curtains and blinds.
The exception to the rule comes when you create a 'hot spot' in a room or the view is less than stellar. In that case open the curtains but crack the blinds just enough to let some light in the room. Shield your buyers from the poor view or the heat.
Lamp light is warm and inviting. The down cast light from lamps encourages buyers to step in and cozy-up to your house. Remember how a moth is drawn to a flame, it's the same principle.
Overhead fixtures light the room so buyers can get a sense of your space. Pantries, closets and especially basements can seem stale to buyers without light.
Be sure to have plenty of extra light bulbs on hand. I do not recommend those energy-smart, coiled bulbs.
Sometimes they cast to much light that is almost to the point of blinding in rooms with mirrors.
It can feel like you have your 'high beams' on!
Choose the wattage recommended on the lighting fixture.
GE Reveal bulbs are good to reflect your truest colors in a room.
Turn your front porch light on during the evening, like 'guests' are expected, maybe buyers are having a second look at your house. However there is no need to leave them on all night.
All lights and lamps should be on for showings, even on a sunny day.
The power bill may go up just a bit while your house is on the market, but providing a well light view of your home can be priceless!
Natural light is your best friend, so let the sun shine in, open all your curtains and blinds.
The exception to the rule comes when you create a 'hot spot' in a room or the view is less than stellar. In that case open the curtains but crack the blinds just enough to let some light in the room. Shield your buyers from the poor view or the heat.
Lamp light is warm and inviting. The down cast light from lamps encourages buyers to step in and cozy-up to your house. Remember how a moth is drawn to a flame, it's the same principle.
Overhead fixtures light the room so buyers can get a sense of your space. Pantries, closets and especially basements can seem stale to buyers without light.
Be sure to have plenty of extra light bulbs on hand. I do not recommend those energy-smart, coiled bulbs.
Sometimes they cast to much light that is almost to the point of blinding in rooms with mirrors.
It can feel like you have your 'high beams' on!
Choose the wattage recommended on the lighting fixture.
GE Reveal bulbs are good to reflect your truest colors in a room.
Turn your front porch light on during the evening, like 'guests' are expected, maybe buyers are having a second look at your house. However there is no need to leave them on all night.
All lights and lamps should be on for showings, even on a sunny day.
The power bill may go up just a bit while your house is on the market, but providing a well light view of your home can be priceless!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Seller 'Stuff-ication'
We tend to accumulate 'stuff ' the longer we live in a house.
I remember thinking my current kitchen cabinets where more than ample for my needs.
Now, just five years after we moved in, those same cabinets are full and in need of constant neatening so they don't overflow!
If we were selling our house tomorrow 1/3 to 1/2 of that stuff would need to be stored during the sale.
Storage can be a big issue for sellers.
The last impression you want to give buyers is that you are moving due to lack of space!
So what do you do with all of it?
Can you put it in the garage?
How about the basement?
Off-site storage is always my first choice.
This means renting storage or borrowing storage. Renting a climate controlled unit was our choice for our last move.
Do you have family, a neighbor or friends who could store a few of your boxes while your house is for sale? If you don't think you can afford to pay for storage or you can't borrow storage what is your next option?
Is the basement finished? If the answer is no, I suggest boxes neatly stacked in the last corner to be seen by potential buyers. However, a finished basement is not the place to use as storage no matter how neatly you stack!
If the garage is a three car garage, that third stall is usually storage for lawn care or outside toys, so a few boxes neatly stacked is quite okay. Never gobble up space in your garage with boxes if it is already full to the brim. Make sure that visually a buyer can see two cars parking in that garage.
This is the perfect time to 'spring clean'.
Donate those seldom used items.
Many organizations will pick-up those donations.
My favorite is ARC.
1-800-CALL-JANE
Remember when selling your home you want to show your space not your stuff!
I remember thinking my current kitchen cabinets where more than ample for my needs.
Now, just five years after we moved in, those same cabinets are full and in need of constant neatening so they don't overflow!
If we were selling our house tomorrow 1/3 to 1/2 of that stuff would need to be stored during the sale.
Storage can be a big issue for sellers.
The last impression you want to give buyers is that you are moving due to lack of space!
So what do you do with all of it?
Can you put it in the garage?
How about the basement?
Off-site storage is always my first choice.
This means renting storage or borrowing storage. Renting a climate controlled unit was our choice for our last move.
Do you have family, a neighbor or friends who could store a few of your boxes while your house is for sale? If you don't think you can afford to pay for storage or you can't borrow storage what is your next option?
Is the basement finished? If the answer is no, I suggest boxes neatly stacked in the last corner to be seen by potential buyers. However, a finished basement is not the place to use as storage no matter how neatly you stack!
If the garage is a three car garage, that third stall is usually storage for lawn care or outside toys, so a few boxes neatly stacked is quite okay. Never gobble up space in your garage with boxes if it is already full to the brim. Make sure that visually a buyer can see two cars parking in that garage.
This is the perfect time to 'spring clean'.
Donate those seldom used items.
Many organizations will pick-up those donations.
My favorite is ARC.
1-800-CALL-JANE
Remember when selling your home you want to show your space not your stuff!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Over The Hedge...
This time of year it can be difficult to add value with curb appeal.
We can still get a ton of snow in the blink of an eye.
So how do you enhance the landscape without wasting money on flora that will only freeze?
First I would say, give all your shrubs and grasses a trim. Just a bit off the top, especially if you are concerned for the plants survival, there's no need for the full springtime haircut right now.
Edit yard art. Just like the knickknacks in your home yard art can be too 'themey' or appear like clutter for most buyers.
Next, freshen the flower beds with mulch. When the ground is clear of snow it will smell great and give a well maintained appearance.
Empty flower pots and planters should be put away for now. I would never recommend that faux flowers or greenery be substituted for the real deal. It can look a bit cheesy, especially with a foot of snow on the ground.
A well groomed landscape instantly tells buyers you have a well maintained property!
We can still get a ton of snow in the blink of an eye.
So how do you enhance the landscape without wasting money on flora that will only freeze?
First I would say, give all your shrubs and grasses a trim. Just a bit off the top, especially if you are concerned for the plants survival, there's no need for the full springtime haircut right now.
Edit yard art. Just like the knickknacks in your home yard art can be too 'themey' or appear like clutter for most buyers.
Next, freshen the flower beds with mulch. When the ground is clear of snow it will smell great and give a well maintained appearance.
Empty flower pots and planters should be put away for now. I would never recommend that faux flowers or greenery be substituted for the real deal. It can look a bit cheesy, especially with a foot of snow on the ground.
A well groomed landscape instantly tells buyers you have a well maintained property!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Smells Don't $ell
Odors in a home can be a big turn off for buyers.
Several things can cause odors in your home. Cooking, pets and smoking.
The cooking of certain foods should be to avoided while selling your home because the smell lingers in the air much longer than you think.
Here are a few foods that make my short list:
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Chili Powder
Cumin
Curry
Fish
Garlic
Weather permitting, grill your meats outside so the smell is not a "leftover" of last nights dinner for showings.
Empty all the trash cans daily to ensure that smells don't emit from these.
Dog beds and cat boxes and diaper pails are other areas that need attention. Wash dog bedding frequently and clean the cat box daily (even several times a day if possible!) And diapers should go to the outside garbage can ASAP!
Smokers must move their smoking area to the outside or at the very least to the garage. Even then the ashes should not be left in ashtrays, but wiped out daily.
Realtors have long-used the trick of baking cookies or yeast bread to make the house smell inviting.
Use this quick, calorie-free recipe for giving that fresh-baked aroma.
Place a cinnamon stick and a 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract on a piece of foil that you have turned the edges up to create a small tray and place in a warm oven.
Um, Um. Smells like homemade goodness!
Several things can cause odors in your home. Cooking, pets and smoking.
The cooking of certain foods should be to avoided while selling your home because the smell lingers in the air much longer than you think.
Here are a few foods that make my short list:
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Chili Powder
Cumin
Curry
Fish
Garlic
Weather permitting, grill your meats outside so the smell is not a "leftover" of last nights dinner for showings.
Empty all the trash cans daily to ensure that smells don't emit from these.
Dog beds and cat boxes and diaper pails are other areas that need attention. Wash dog bedding frequently and clean the cat box daily (even several times a day if possible!) And diapers should go to the outside garbage can ASAP!
Smokers must move their smoking area to the outside or at the very least to the garage. Even then the ashes should not be left in ashtrays, but wiped out daily.
Realtors have long-used the trick of baking cookies or yeast bread to make the house smell inviting.
Use this quick, calorie-free recipe for giving that fresh-baked aroma.
Place a cinnamon stick and a 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract on a piece of foil that you have turned the edges up to create a small tray and place in a warm oven.
Um, Um. Smells like homemade goodness!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Clean the Scene and the Unseen
When selling a home you must remember cleanliness is at the top of every buyers list.
The kitchen and the bathrooms are the two areas that must be beyond clean -they must sparkle!
In the kitchen don't forget to clean inside the cabinets.
This is a good place to edit the contents. If the cupboards are filled to the brim you are sending the message that the house lacks storage.
All appliances should be so clean you could eat off of them, wait.... you know what I mean. Buy new pans for the stove burners. The ones you wrapped in foil just won't do.
Remember to edit the contents of the refrigerator, too. Toss the out-of-date items and keep the leftovers tidy in containers with lids.
Conceal the kitchen trash can. How many model-homes have you seen with a trash can?
I tell clients the bathroom is a room everyone has and uses, but no one wants to think about it!
Make sure the bathroom is model home perfect. Dry out the sinks also make sure the fixtures and glass are spotless. Hide used bath towels in the washer or dryer. Rugs in the bathroom just seem germy to buyers, especially those contour toilet rugs, remove them all for showings. Please, please, pleasssssssssssssse close all toilet seats and lids for showings.
If housekeeping is so not your thing, now may be the time to invest in a housekeeper at least for these two rooms for the duration of the sale of your home.
Don't let cleanliness be the deal breaker with your home, clean the scene and the unseen...
The kitchen and the bathrooms are the two areas that must be beyond clean -they must sparkle!
In the kitchen don't forget to clean inside the cabinets.
This is a good place to edit the contents. If the cupboards are filled to the brim you are sending the message that the house lacks storage.
All appliances should be so clean you could eat off of them, wait.... you know what I mean. Buy new pans for the stove burners. The ones you wrapped in foil just won't do.
Remember to edit the contents of the refrigerator, too. Toss the out-of-date items and keep the leftovers tidy in containers with lids.
Conceal the kitchen trash can. How many model-homes have you seen with a trash can?
I tell clients the bathroom is a room everyone has and uses, but no one wants to think about it!
Make sure the bathroom is model home perfect. Dry out the sinks also make sure the fixtures and glass are spotless. Hide used bath towels in the washer or dryer. Rugs in the bathroom just seem germy to buyers, especially those contour toilet rugs, remove them all for showings. Please, please, pleasssssssssssssse close all toilet seats and lids for showings.
If housekeeping is so not your thing, now may be the time to invest in a housekeeper at least for these two rooms for the duration of the sale of your home.
Don't let cleanliness be the deal breaker with your home, clean the scene and the unseen...
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
ENTRE'E VOUS
The entry of your home is key when making a first impression.
Is the paint on your front door a bit faded? Freshen it for a low-cost update.
The front porch is no place to store outdoor toys or empty flowers pots. Clutter just eats at your valuable curb appeal.
Clear out any cobwebs in the corners, the light fixtures and sweep the steps often.
Speaking of lighting, update old fixtures for a quick and cost effective update.
Buy a new "Welcome" mat, subtle but effect! Keep all decorative items to a minimum.
Attention to these few details will go a long way when welcoming the buyer into "their" new home!
Is the paint on your front door a bit faded? Freshen it for a low-cost update.
The front porch is no place to store outdoor toys or empty flowers pots. Clutter just eats at your valuable curb appeal.
Clear out any cobwebs in the corners, the light fixtures and sweep the steps often.
Speaking of lighting, update old fixtures for a quick and cost effective update.
Buy a new "Welcome" mat, subtle but effect! Keep all decorative items to a minimum.
Attention to these few details will go a long way when welcoming the buyer into "their" new home!
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