Grab 'em at the Curb

If you're thinking of selling your home, it goes without saying that curb appeal is CRITICAL and is always factored into the overall staging plan.  It doesn't need to be complicated ... just stick to the basics and your property will stand out, especially during the upcoming summer months:

• make sure potential buyers can find your home! ... that means attractive house numbers that are visible from the road OR, for rural properties, ensuring the fire # is easily visible.

• if your home is not visible from the road (long laneway), make sure there's a display of flowers, planters, decor or lighting at the end of your driveway. Little touches go a long way.

• invest in a new mailbox (again, rural properties especially !!)

• add a fresh coat of paint to the front door. Make it complement the house and trim along with a 'wow' colour to stand out. If you are unsure, there are online apps that will help you to visualize the look.

• invest in a new doormat.

• make sure door handles, locks, and your doorbell are working properly. If they are standard 'brass' consider painting them.

• ensure your walkway is clear by trimming tree branches, shrubs, etc.

• ensure that all yard equipment, trash cans, kids toys and pet 'stuff' is out of sight.

• depersonalize if necessary - ie. remove family name signs, flags, etc.

• show off how fun your yard can be by adding in lifestyle items like a hammock, raised fire pit or outdoor games.

• weed or scale back your gardens, keep the grass cut and add in a few nice floral touches (hanging plants or containers).

• consider pressure washing your home and decks if needed (very satisfying!)

• have your outdoor lights on at night with sufficient wattage ... most people will drive by after hours. Consider spotlights to showcase it even more!

• repair any porch bannisters and railings and add a new coat of paint if needed.

• don't forget your outdoor living space. Very popular these days to bring the indoors out with fashionable cushions, outdoor rugs, etc.

Remember, these are all great investments that you are making towards ensuring your home sells quickly and for more money ... it will be worth it!

Why Home Staging Works

Staging is done to show a home in its best light.

I love using the analogy of selling your car when trying to explain the importance of staging. If you want to sell your car for the most money possible (and in the quickest amount of time) you will detail it (wash it, wax it, vacuum it, etc). The same goes for your home just on a much larger (and more important) scale.

Here are some of the key reasons why home staging works:

• It suggests to buyers that you take excellent care of your home.

• 90% of people can’t envision the potential of a home beyond what they see in front of them - hence the reason why showcasing a clean, neutral, attractive space is so important (along with showing the intended function of each room!)

• Buyers want to do as little work as possible when buying a home. If if looks like it needs any amount of work, all they will see is the money, effort, and time that will be needed to get the home the way they want it (and will probably walk away at that point). By doing the work for buyers, they feel they can just move right in and relax and enjoy their new home.

• Many buyers assume if you can’t bother making your home look good while selling it, then perhaps you’ve neglected routine maintenance or repairs. It’s both a red flag and a turn-off.

• When you show buyers how to use each space, buyers are able to envision themselves moving right in. They won’t question which rooms work best for different purposes. When they have to think about how to use each room, they wonder whether there are enough rooms in the home. You don’t want any second guessing.

• Finally, seeing the home in excellent condition justifies the price you’re asking and removes all reasons for them to offer you less than your asking price.

Here’s one of my recent stages showing the power of staging to help visualize a space:

Incorporating Black into Staging & Design

Black has always been a good building block for interior design and the same holds true when it comes to staging.  Black helps to ground the space, provide dimension in a room and adds a touch of elegance.   I most often incorporate black into my staging projects via:

• pillows

• mirrors

• clocks

• prints (black frames and images)

• lampshades

• baskets

• vases

Most homes now have black flat screen TVs (in at least one room) so using black accent pieces to balance the TV out works well.  The same goes for fireplaces which are most often black (and a strong focal point).  Bottom line is that you can never go wrong with adding in some black!  Here are a few of the black accents that I have used in staging:

When designing for living, there are so many ways to use black:

• sinks, faucets

• lighting

• accent walls in any room

• windows and doors

• rugs

• furniture (large or small pieces)

• curtains and curtain rods

• backsplashes

• and so much more ...

Black sofas can be difficult (sofas are big and heavy looking to begin with so a black one has the potential to really drag a room down).  Here are some general design pics with black that I found online:

Wall & Ceiling Woes

A well-staged home …

will draw attention away from the home's flaws & weaknesses and focus on its positive elements.  Since walls are one of the most prominent features in any home, they are vital to staging and their condition and colour need to be addressed prior to showings.  The good news is that, for minimal cost, a big impact can be made.  Here are some quick tips for addressing your wall and ceiling 'woes':

Paint with staging safe colours (neutrals)

This is important when it comes to selling since these colours neutralize the space, lighten the room(s), de-personalize the space and create a perfect backdrop for showcasing/decorating.

Paint with low-sheen finish

This will reflect less light which makes it harder to notice surface imperfections.  Although flat paint does a great job of this, it's not durable (or often aesthetically appealing which makes it perfect for ceilings); therefore, the better choice for walls would be an eggshell finish.

Paint over wallpaper?

Yes, you can!   However … there are varying opinions about how (and even if) this should be done.  That said, you will want to research techniques and cost prior to embarking on this task (if done correctly, covering the seams is even possible).

You don’t need to be a pro. There are simple and inexpensive ways to create the effect by combining trim and narrow crown molding.  Installing crown molding can provide an instant element of luxury and create a great visual impact for showings. 

Cover popcorn ceilings

Popcorn ceilings instantly date a home and scraping them can be costly (and very messy).  Applying a coat of paint will brighten them up; however, it doesn’t change the design itself.  Covering with tiles, decorative planks, or even fabric are possibilities.

Decorating with Faux Plants

Since staging with real plants is impractical, I use different types of fake (‘faux’) plants to add colour, texture and warmth instantly to any room. They are one of my most important staging accessories. My go-to favourite are orchids since they add glam to any room; however, there are many different options for both staging and full-time living.

Faux plants are no just great for staging, they are also perfect for:

• those who love the look of plants but travel often (and maintenance is a problem)

• those who aren’t blessed with a green thumb or simply lack the interest

Buy high-quality faux plants

Thankfully, faux plants have come a long way. They look much more realistic and impressive than grandma’s versions but there are still cheap versions. Purchasing more expensive ones will be well worth it since there can be some key differences. Some things to look for that will make them stand out:

• textured/realistic trunk or stem

• imperfect leaves

• something that simulates the look of dirt (or stones) in the base

• colours that match as close as possible to the real versions

Don’t forget faux stems

I put fake plants in just about every size and type of container. Weather it be glass vases, terra-cotta planters, baskets, or buckets…chances are I’ve got some fake stems in it. If you’ve got an empty container in your house, stick some greenery in it, and BAM:  instant decoration!

Stems are effective in clear or coloured vases …