Staging Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home

I was contacted recently by Redfin (redfin.com/redfin.ca) to provide input on an article they were writing entitled ‘Staging Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home’. It was hard for me to narrow it down. I finally settled on one that they included in their blog article. Below is a snippet from the post with a link for you to the full article - enjoy!

“With such a competitive housing market, staging is a critical step in the home selling process. Not only does it make your home stand out in listing photos, but it also helps it appeal to a wide range of potential buyers. A well-staged home will mask years of wear and tear, and can help it sell faster and for more money.

However, the simplest mistakes can be deal-breaking. Which is why we asked home staging and design experts to share some of the biggest staging mistakes they’ve encountered that can turn potential buyers off.”
(note, images below are from the article) -

Read more ….

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 …

Furniture Measurements

Prior to staging vacants, I often find myself double and triple checking measurements (both furniture and room measurements) to make sure the layout will work. That said, I thought it may help to share some of the more common measurements and household details that you need when decorating.

Living Room

• 3-seat sofas and love seats are still the most common setup for living room areas. In terms of size, they are the same height and depth (33” high x 35” deep). The only difference is the length. Sofas can range from 74-84” long while love seats from 55-60” long

• Sectionals are great for maximizing couch space but can be difficult to place in a room. To make sure the sectional will fit, mark off the area on the floor with masking tape (and be sure to measure for delivery!). If you’re considering placing the sofa in front of windows, make sure to measure the height of the window sill (the sofa back typically should not extend higher than the sill).

I always encourage homeowners to keep their furniture away from the walls. By pulling your seating arrangement in, (even just a few inches), you can warm up the space and create a better traffic flow.

Dining Room

To dine comfortably, the table should not be too high. For that reason, most dining tables are 28 to 30 inches high. Make sure you allow a minimum of 36 inches of space around your dining room table to give your chairs enough room to pull back. A chandelier or a pendant lighting should hang 30-36 inches above the table.

Standard round table:            

• To seat 4 people: 36″-44″Diameter

• To seat 4-6 people: 44″-54″Diameter

• To seat 6-8 people: 54″-72″Diameter

Standard rectangular table:

• To seat 4 people: 36″W x 48″L

• To seat 4-6 people: 36″W x 60″L

• To seat 6-8 people: 36″W x 78″L

Round tables are great for small spaces. You can usually fit more people around it because it has no corners while rectangular-shaped dining tables work well in long, narrow rooms.

Bedroom

The bed will take much of the space in the bedroom. That’s why getting the right size bed, in proportion to the scale of the room, is important. The recommended mattress size for two adults to sleep on is a queen size bed. A bed should be at least 25 inches off the floor, for ease and comfort, and for optimal visual impact.

• Twin size bed – 39” W x 75” L (Regular)

• Twin size bed – 39” W x 80” L (Long)

• Double bed – 54” W x 80” L

• Queen size bed – 60” W x 80” L

Lighting Tips to Help Sell Your Home

Lighting is often overlooked during the staging process; however, it is a very important element. The right lighting can make a room look bigger, create ambience and draw attention to a room’s focal points (all of which are primary goals of staging).

While stagers can control some lighting issues in the space (floor and table lamps), they are at the mercy of working with existing (permanent) fixtures in the home. It’s important to evaluate each of these permanent fixtures to ensure you are using the proper light bulbs/wattage to elevate the space.

Different kinds of lighting to consider:

1. General lighting - the kind of light that makes your home functional

2. Natural lighting - any light coming in from the outside or reflected via mirrors

3. Accent lighting - this may include floor lamps or wall sconces or task lighting like vanity lighting or a desk lamp in the home office

4. Ambient lighting - anything from dimmer switches to the right chandelier to help set the tone of a room.

5. Exterior lighting - critical for that all important first impression! And, statistics suggest that potential buyers are most likely to drive by at night so make sure your home is shown in its best light!

Here’s a useful article that I found via realtor.ca to help shed some ‘light’ on the subject. Enjoy!

https://www.realtor.ca/blog/postpage/5375/1362/lighting-tips-to-help-sell-your-home

Sofas vs Sectionals

• 3-seat sofas and love seats are still the most common setup for living room areas even though they tend to be more formal than sectionals. In terms of size, sofas and love seats are the same height and width (33” high x 35” wide). The only difference is the length. Sofas can range from 74-84” long and love seats from 55-60” long.

• Sectionals are great for maximizing couch space and for creating a more casual feel; however, they can be difficult to place in a room (less design flexibility). To make sure the sectional will fit, mark off the area on the floor with masking or painter's tape (and be sure to measure for delivery!). If you’re considering placing the sofa in front of windows, make sure to measure the height of the window sill (the sofa back typically should not extend higher than the sill).

Did you also know?

Couch is from the French word ‘couche’ (meaning to lie down). They were originally referred to as fainting couches for women in tight corsets to rest on. Generally used in more informal settings.

Sofa is from the arabic word ‘suffah’ which refers a long bench covered with blankets and pillows. Sofas more commonly represent taste and style rather than functionality and are used in more formal settings.

A Chesterfield sofa is a British design classic. The term ‘chesterfield’ was first used to describe a piece of sofa-like furniture in the 1800’s typically made using leather or velvet with a deep-tufted design, high arms and a low back. It was commonly found in the homes of wealthy families and gentleman clubs and can still be found in decorative settings around the world.

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5 Signs That You Need a Stager

One of the best marketing strategies to sell your home faster and for top dollar is home staging. It puts your home in its best possible light and ensures that it has a strong first impression with a wide range of buyers.

While it’s possible to stage your own home, there are a few things to consider before doing so. Here are some signs you would be better offer hiring a professional stager to do the work.

1. It’s been hard to emotionally detach from your home

It’s difficult to look at the home you’ve lived in for years without having all of your memories and personal feelings attached to it. The fact is that, when a home goes on the market, it’s like any other product and it must appeal to a wide range of buyers. When we’re emotionally attached to our homes, it’s hard to see past what we love about it and look at it with a fresh set of eyes.

That’s where a home stager can help. We look at a home from the buyer’s perspective so we can see things as they will see it. We can then suggest the most effective changes that will ensure your home makes a great first impression when it hits the market.

2. You’re short on time

Staging a home takes a lot of time and energy. It includes learning about your target buyer, assessing your home, making necessary repairs, declutter, depersonalizing, space planning, and adding the finishing, decorative touches. If you are like many people, it may be hard to find time to do all that needs to be done to get the most out of the staging process.

A professional stager will relieve that burden so you can put all of your focus on the other important things in your life. We do all the research, assess your home, and then can carry out all of the tasks needed to make your home ready for the market. It’s one less thing for you to worry about!

3. You aren’t sure what the ‘psychology of a home buyer’ is

Home staging is all about appealing to the psychology of a home buyer. If you don’t know what that is, then you’re not going to get the best results from your staging efforts. Professional stagers have spent years researching and analyzing the buyer’s experience when they are house hunting. We know how to tap into their emotions and encourage them to feel at home when they tour a listing. It informs all of our decisions from the colours we pick to the way we arrange the furniture, as well as every small detail inbetween.

4. You don’t know anything about your target buyers or the market

Knowing your local market is key to staging your home effectively so that it appeals most to the buyers that will be considering it. The more you know about your target buyers, the more you can tailor your home to speak to them and evoke an emotional response.

5. You don’t know how to work with vignettes, colour schemes or furniture arrangement

A number of elements come together to make a home appealing to buyers. The right staging can make a home feel larger, inviting, and highlight all of its best attributes. Things like furniture arrangement, colour schemes, vignettes (small room settings) and other techniques are part of the staging process. If you don’t have a strong understanding of these techniques and how to use them effectively based on a home’s individual needs, then it’s best to leave it in the hands of a home stager to get the best possible results.

I can help! Contact me to learn more …

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The Best Paint Colours for Selling Your Home

Take a look at the best paint colours for selling your home and which ones you should avoid via the linked article (below) from Homestars.

Quick recap:

Bathroom - best colour is light blue - colour to avoid is white

Dining room - best colour is dark blue - colour to avoid is down

Kitchen - best colour is blue - colour to avoid is yellow

Living Room - best colour is beige or taupe - colour to avoid is blue

https://blog.homestars.com/the-best-paint-colours-for-selling-your-home/

10 Often Overlooked Tips to Getting Your Property Sold

This is a great article written for Home Staging Newswire by Christine Rae (www.stagingtraining.com).  

Christine Rae, is known as the leading expert, trendsetter and powerhouse authority on shaping the future through real estate staging industry vision, innovation and focused intensity.

The 10 tips quickly recapped:

1. Don't get personal

2. Pack and store/dispose of 2/3rds of every closet and cupboard

3. First Impressions are the only ones that count

4. Understand staging is about condition more than décor

5. Update the kitchen

6. Keep all bedrooms gender neutral

7. Bathrooms are the second most important room in the house

8. Odor and Allergens ALERT!

9. Lighting

10. 74% of prospect buyers will drive by your property before they even think about viewing it and half of them will do it at night

To view the full article click on the image above or here.  Enjoy!