Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Can the homeowner stage the home?

Can the homeowner do the staging for the home? Absolutely!
We have a service called Ready-Set-Sell where we can give the homeowner all the ideas, layout and concepts for staging and prepping the home for sale. We charge by the hour for this service and you will find that most staging companies offer a similar service. If the homeowners are motivated they can most likely get the work done necessary to really make a difference in the appearance of the home.

In addition, there is so much information about staging on the Internet that really can make a difference in getting the home prepared without spending a lot of money. You just have to be willing to put your time into your project and it will really pay off.

I've worked with several homeowners that were able to create a new look for their home by just following our suggestions and others that needed our help. Call us if you need help with staging vacant or occupied homes and we will help you to get the SOLD sign posted!

9:55 am est

Monday, January 28, 2008

Have you ever bought a book by it's cover?

Have you ever bought a book just because you liked the book jacket? Marketing a product is all about creating the right packaging for a new product launch. All companies spend top dollar creating a unique and eye catching labels so that we will buy their products. and the same principles apply when selling a home.

Marketing a home takes strategy if you want to receive the best price and sell it in the least amount of time you have to start with the basics--

· Get the seller serious about getting the home ready for the first buyer

· Clean, repair, paint all outdoor areas

· Create a great curbside look

· Have home professionally cleaned

· Paint tired or bright walls to warm neutral colors

· Remove additional furniture to expand room size

· Invest in additional furniture if needed to show the room size

· Declutter, declutter, declutter

· Clean all windows, skylights, appliances, filters, closets, cupboards and pantries

· Repair all broken items

· Update any older light fixtures

· Update any older faucets

· Keep animal areas clean and free of odor

· Do not leave any tobacco products or ashtrays visible

· Avoid cooking strong odor foods or run fan and use odor eliminating products

· Clean carpets or if carpet is old-invest in moderate priced carpet

· Assure that all beds are made daily and replace old or tired bedding

· Apply the LESS is Best Rule -Store anything that is not going to be used in 60-90 days

CLEAN-CLEAN-CLEAN

These are the basics but if you can’t get the homeowner to do these things plan to sell it as a fixer upper. In this competitive market you want your home to stand apart from the crowd before you list it not after 15-30-60 days when the listing becomes old. Success comes from preparation – I hope this help you to start you in that direction.

2:02 am est

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Who can afford window treatments!?

Who can afford window treatments!

The answer is everyone!

If you’re not on a budget then don’t bother reading on however if your rooms still only have privacy blinds and your room looks plain and not finished then window treatments are what you need.

Look at patterns for window treatments at you nearest fabric store. Most patterns are very easy to understand and complete. Be prepared to buy a lot of yardage so if you’re on a budget use expensive fabric for banding or accent on a base fabric to create a custom look on a budget.

You don’t have to have a sewing machine for many treatments. There is a iron on hemming material called stitch witchery …just fold your hem and use a iron to melt this product and it really does work! In addition if you puddle the bottom of the drape there is no need to even hem if you don’t want to.

If you have had prior treatments try and repurpose your rods. These can be painted, or additional extensions can be added if necessary. Ask your family and friends if they have rods that they are not using.

Be creative with your tiebacks. Use tassels, fabric, rope, beads or any other items that will create an unique look.

If you have extra fabric leftover use them in pillows, lampshades and depending on the weight of the fabric even upholstering a chair or ottoman will help to pull the look throughout your room.

Ordering Fabric:

Panel Length x number of panels divided by 36 = Yardage

Window Width x fullness (custom fullness typically triple) divided by 54” = # of panels needed for
completed treatment for draw draperies

Finished length of panels + 20” = Panel Length

(If in doubt ask the fabric store associate to assist you)

Be creative and Have fun.

1:46 pm est

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Set Yourself Apart...Stage It!

Did you know that staging has been around since the early 90's? But back then it was used in limited settings and for more high-end homes. It's taken a lot of years to get where staging is a marketing tool that is used by savvy Realtors and homeowners to sell homes.

HGTV in the last few years have targeted the home improvement market. They have done a great job of educating the public what and how staging works. Staging can be done to both vacant and occupied homes however the staging for each is very different.

A home without furniture often lacks interest and shows every good and bad element that the home has. By adding beautiful furnishings and accessories the house changes into a home that the future homeowner will fall in love with.

An occupied home can also be staged. Sometimes the seller has too much or not enough furniture. Or maybe their furniture is tired or lacks interest. This type of staging used with occupied homes is sometimes called Redesign. With this type of staging we use the seller's items to reshape, relocate and re-create the space to make it fit the home and create a balanced, comfortable home. We can also bring additional furniture or accessories if needed to bring the WOW effect to the home.

The great thing about staging it usually only takes one day and the homeowner and Realtor are ready for the first open house. And advertising that the home has been staged will bring even more potential buyers because people know that the house will look great. Staging is here to stay so start using it and see the value of the home you're selling increase and best of all...sell faster.

9:48 pm est

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

A Good Picture Can Speak a 1000 Words!

Selling a home is all about getting the home ready to sell and making sure all the details are completed prior to listing the property. Even a good house can look better when you apply staging. Whether the home is occupied or vacant, staging will always improve the value of the home

After the home has been primped and prepped it's time to sell it. We have all seen pictures taken by Realtors or their staff that really don’t represent the home or the client well. So, if you are not using a professional service for your photos you should be! With SO many people searching for their new home using the Internet a good picture might be your first and last opportunity to sell the home.

In addition virtual tours are a wonderful way to show off the size of each room and the actual layout and a great way to show off what you and the homeowner have done to get the home ready to be sold!

Take time to get good pictures. A picture can speak a thousand words and will help to get the SOLD sign posted!

7:22 pm est

Look at this Color!

Look at this COLOR!

I'm sure you have heard from buyers that they hate the "color" of the room or house followed by “let’s see the next house.” Why can't they just see past the color? Why can't they see how great the house could be if they just painted it themselves? Why even try and figure it out...they just can't. So make sure you have your sellers get all the rooms painted that are dirty, tired, bright or odd colors to warm neutral colors.

A color expert is your best bet when making suggestions for color. The investment of fresh paint will pay off in more ways than one...how about more money and a quicker sell!

Hire a color expert, many stagers and redesigners provide this service. If you don't have a stager on your team now is the time to set yourself apart from other Realtors because they will help you to get the SOLD sign posted!

7:21 pm est

BIAS Yes or No? Stage It!

BIAS Yes or No? Stage It!

I always am surprised when I talk to Realtors that are not utilizing staging services during the listing process. Staging is an awesome marketing tool that can be used to set a higher standard of service by the listing realtor. And the service for giving staging estimates are usually free so how can you go wrong by encouraging the sellers to consider staging which totally prepares the home for a successful listing. Well I believe it usually comes down to Bias -Preconceived notion that the homeowner will not want to use the service for the following reasons:

Doesn't work
To Expensive
Don't understand the service
Have seen poorly staged homes
Contract issues
Who pays for it

And what about the Realtor having to present all the answers to the objections about staging!

So without even bringing up the staging concept both the seller and Realtor lose out on profit that could have been made by using staging. There are many stats out there that will tell you the value of staging but the one I found and use is by staging you can increase the value of your home on an average of 6.9%.

Now that should get you and the sellers attention and we have many times helped sellers to raise the sale price to reflect this percentage after they have staged with us and guess what...they sell! This won't work if you don't have a excellent stager but we own all of our products that we use in our staging projects and we are confident that the look we give to the house will attract buyers. However, if we don't think they can increase the value that high we tell them so.

Just remember you have to have a stager who does very good work and uses quality products. Staging works and it can help you to sell any house faster and often for more money.

Let go of your bias and get connected with a stager and let them do the staging presentation for you and get the SOLD sign Posted!

5:38 pm est

Monday, January 7, 2008

The INVASION of Family Photos

The INVASION of Family Photos

I often go into homes that have a lot of family pictures everywhere and they don’t even have space for artwork. So let’s talk about how and where to display family photographs.

Family photographs tell our family history and can be a great way to let others know about your family. So create one area in your home that is designated for displaying your photographs. The ideal place is a hallway or family room.

Group your pictures in themes like family, travel and photo art. Before you start try to have your frames in the same color and similar frame style. This will help to distract from the frames and draw attention to the picture.

When hanging a collection start in the center of the wall with the largest piece or four smaller ones that are similar. Then work around this collection, balancing both sides, above and below as you proceed.

As with any framed piece, always hang it with the distance of the largest mat between them. When there is no mat keep the distance between the photos close enough that there is a relationship between them.

Family photos can also be used on pianos, desks and bedside tables and really warm up and create interest in bookcases as well.

Lastly, as your life fills with great memories (photos) make sure you narrow your pictures regularly. I ask my clients often did you see your pictures when you came home today and they say no. If you trade out your pictures regularly you will see them because they are new and fresh and they can’t help but leave a smile on your face.

We help you to get the SOLD sign posted!

www.RealEstateStagingUnlimited.com

1:23 pm est

Draw the Eye to Something Wonderful

Draw the Eye to Something Wonderful

When you walk into a room, your eye automatically goes to a “focal point”. This is the “main feature” of the room and you and your guests will feel more comfortable if your eye can rest on this feature.

Some focal points are obvious like a beautiful picture window looking out to a serene garden or a fireplace; large or small is what will be noticed first when you enter the room. However, sometimes a room has no distinguishing feature built in and you have to create one. Some ideas of focal points that you can add to a room are here:

An armoire or other tall, large cabinet
A table with a collection of interesting pieces on it
A beautiful oriental or patterned rug
A dramatic mirror
A collection hung on the wall, such as family photos, artwork, photography or musical instruments
A large open storage shelf with collectibles interspersed with books, plants and small accessories

If the room doesn’t have an inherent focal point, one can be created. Draw the eye to something wonderful, linger and enjoy your space.

We help you to get the SOLD sign posted! www.RealEstateStagingUnlimited.com

12:29 pm est

Let there be LIGHT!

Most people do not have good lighting throughout their home. They rely on overhead lighting but most overhead lighting is too bright or is in an area of the room that does not give good lighting for the entire room. Or maybe a table lamp with the wrong shade or wattage for the bulb. Does this sound like your house?

Nothing will improve the look of a room as emphatically as lighting. Illumination dramatically affects the mood of a room. There are four different types of lighting that can be used, decorative, accent, ambient and task. Use as many types of lighting as you can in your room.

Ambient lighting illuminates an entire area fairly uniformly. This light source can be direct downward from a suspended or ceiling mounted fixture or from a recessed light. The light source can also be indirect when it is reflected from the cieling via wall sconces or up-lights.

Decorative lighting is supplementary like candles or lanterns.

Accent lighting such as track lighting is used to highlight artwork, objects or architectural details.

Task light is intense light used where people read, work or do hobbies.

It is important to have as many different types of light sources as possible. Have a minimum of three lighting sources in each room. Place these in a triangle which will create balance for the room.

Lighting can transform a dreary room to a room full of energy. It can take a room that has too much light to a room that has great ambiance. Make it bright or dim it down but light up your space and whatever mood your in your room can share it with you....

We help you to get the SOLD sign posted!

12:01 am est

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Float Your Furniture

No I'm not talking about a flood. If you have couches and furniture that are clinging to your walls, you're not alone. Most people believe this will create a larger room and be easier to use but this isn't the case. Instead if you "Float" furniture away from walls and reposition it into cosy conversational groups and place pieces so that the traffic flow in the room becomes obvious then the room will look balanced and larger in most cases.

Begin your project by envisioning your space like a figure eight or the letter H in the middle of your room with clear paths around it. Be sure to try things on an angle just because the walls are straight angles can give an amazing look to any room. Pay attention and play up to focal points in your room like fireplaces, views and architectural features of the home.

I say just try it you can always put things back the way they were. But chances are, you won't want to. Give your furniture some breathing room, it will make it look larger and more interesting.

We help you to get the SOLD sign posted!

www.RealEstateStagingUnlimited.com

11:17 pm est

Bookcases -Read between the shelves

Getting a home ready for the market there is a need to de-clutter and I have found very few bookcases that are not full with forgotten books read long ago. These bookcases displayed properly can really bring a lot of visual presence to the room.

When arranging bookcases start by removing books and things that look misplaced and are distracting. Bookcases are great places for small to medium accessories and items that are important to the client.

Start with the heaviest, largest books on the bottom shelf. Make visual breaks in the lines of books and intersperse them with photographs, art, vases, greenery or even a face of a single book.

All books should be stacked neatly with some placed on their side to break up the vertical lines. Make sure to bring the books to the middle or front of the shelf this will help to create a more dramatic appearance.

Books are more attractive without the paper cover so if possible always remove the cover. And finally less is best when it comes to creating an interesting and balanced appearance of a bookcase. Take some before and after pictures and you'll see clutter to WOW...We help you to get the SOLD sign posted!

10:37 pm est

Saturday, January 5, 2008

No Cost Decorating –Redesign your Home Interior

No Cost Decorating –Redesign your Home Interior

By Karel Rogers / Real Estate Staging Unlimited

Interior Redesign, what actually is this? Interior redesign makes the most out of your living space by using your existing furniture, artwork and home accessories in a totally new, fresh and innovative way. Interior Redesign is similar to a “personal makeover” for your home.

Wouldn’t it be refreshing not to spend any money or very little to give your home a completely new look! Well it is easy when you use the Redesign concepts. It just takes 10 easy steps and you could have the home you’ve dreamed of –so if you’re looking for a change let’s gets started.

1. Think New

To be successful you must first break the mold when it comes to using your things in the way you’ve always used them. This is more difficult than it seems. We can get very comfortable having things in certain areas of our home and in order not to spend additional money you will need to use your furniture and accessories in a completely NEW way.

2. Think Recycle

If you lack or maybe don’t have interesting “stuff” then ask your family and friends if they have extra “stuff” (accessories, artwork, silk plants, candles, pillows, furniture, etc.) that they are not using or are tired of. Or consider discount stores, thrift stores, flea markets and classified ads to acquire what you need.

3. Think Creative

If you get or have a gold candleholder and you like black then spray paint it black. If the furniture isn’t the right color then paint it and use slipcovers over fabric furniture to give it a totally new look. Fresh pillows can bring a sofa or chair back to life so be imaginative and put your personal stamp on the things you get from others.

4. Think Color

Color is pure magic. It can speak volumes about your personal style, without you saying a word. Just being around it should make you happy, and that is what home is all about. Color does not have to be bright, it can be soft but color is the foundation for a beautiful and comfortable home. Not to mention it is one of the least expensive design elements to your home and will help to bring interest and balance to your furniture and accessories. So pick your favorite three colors and use them throughout your home.

5. Think Friends

Your Redesign can be done in one day so get two to four friends and family together and make this a fun and interactive event. Or hire a professional to help you to formulate your plan. Sometimes furniture placement can be difficult and most decorators charge by the hour and are very reasonable. It can be money well spent for some great ideas.

6. Think like a decorator

If you feel you don’t have the knowledge or creativity to plan your Redesign call in a friend that does or go to the library or Internet and read up and look at pictures that illustrate a look that you like and then recreate the look for your room.

7. Think Action

Now that you have a plan remove all your accessories from all your rooms even rooms that are not going to be redesigned. If possible remove furniture too. Group all like products together, artwork, plants, books, lamps, pillows and tabletop accessories. This will help you choose by item, size and color when you are ready to put them back into your rooms. Examples: The bench that is always in your bedroom will now be under the window in the living room. Your picture in your bedroom will go above the fireplace. Review step 1 Think New and don’t fall into the comfort zone.

Designers/decorators decorate in odd numbers. Group your items in 1-3-5 examples: candle, plant and clock or lamp, two figurines and a stack of books. Remember to build interest when putting items together. Group collections together. This will help to put attention on them and help to delete clutter by spreading them out. Use lots of fresh or silk plants and trees throughout your home this will help to bring nature and life into each room.

8. Think Best to Least

The entry, living room, family room and dining room are your main living and entertaining areas. Use your “best pieces” in these areas and work your less favorable pieces to the bedrooms, office and bathrooms. As you acquire more things these areas can be decorated but for now use your “best” in your primary areas.

9. Think Fun

Start early and have fun. Make sure you have coffee available and have a plan for lunch. Stopping and going out to lunch can stop the creative flow so make a special lunch for all who are helping you and spend you time together talking about your project.

Begin to bring in your furniture and find the best placement for these pieces large to small that will bring balance to the room. Add rugs, artwork, then lighting and accessories. Move things around if you don’t like the look. Be open to suggestions from others but remember it’s your room so don’t quit till it feels like home.

10. Redesign

You’ve just experienced Redesign! By switching out your things you can present your home in a whole new way and at very little if any additional cost. Redesign is affordable and you can do it in one day. Enjoy!

8:07 pm est

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Staging Class for licensed Realtors in January

Real Estate Listing Agent Staging Training Spring is just around the corner... will you be ready?

Sign up today to become an Staging Professional. The next class will be January 17th & 18th Cost $350.00 (Must be a licensed Realtor to attend class)

What Will You Do? Learn to understand and communicate the purpose and benefits of real estate staging to your clients.

How? By learning easy-to-implement techniques that can be applied to any property regardless of size, condition, style of furnishings or price.

WOW! When we are done: You will be able to use real estate staging as a sales and marketing tool...to help you get more listings, sell them faster and for top dollar!

First day class work 2nd day stage a home

As an Accredited Staging Real Estate Professional (ASRP) you will have the successful formula, products and tools necessary to help your clients capture the interest of many more potential buyers.

Bottom line - As a Staging Real Estate Professional, you will stand out from other realtors! Sign up today! www.RealEstateStagingUnliimited.com Class has limited space and is available only to licensed Realtors For more information please go to our training tab on our website www.RealEstateStagingUnlimited.com or call 828-1133 . SEE YOU THERE!

12:37 pm est

Free Interior Redesign

Interior redesign makes the most out of your living space by using your existing furniture, artwork and home accessories in a totally new, fresh and creative way. Interior redesign is akin to a "personal makeover" for your home.

So call today to schedule to have a room in your home redesigned and get another room done for free. Offer only available until January 18th. 2007 so call 775-828-1133 for all the details on this offer.

Redesign is affordable so let us help you to have the home you have always dreamed about and we will do it all in one day!

Real Estate Staging Unlimited 775-828-1133

Visit our website at www.RealEstateStagingUnlimited.com

12:31 pm est

2008.02.01 | 2008.01.01 | 2007.12.01

Staging...is it here to stay?

Did you know that staging has been around since the early 90's. But back then it was used in limited settings and for more high-end homes. It's taken a lot of years to get where staging is a marketing tool that is used by savvy Realtors and homeowners to sell homes. .

HGTV in the last few years have targeted the home improvement market. They have done a great job of educating the public what and how staging works. Staging can be done to both vacant and occupied homes however the staging for each is very different.

A home without furniture often lacks interest and shows every good and bad element of the home. By adding beautiful furnishings and accessories the house changes into a home that the future homeowner will fall in love with.

An occupied home can also be staged. Sometimes the seller has too much or not enough furniture. Or maybe their furniture is tired or lacks interest. The type of staging used with occupied homes is sometimes called Redesign. With this type of staging we use the seller’s items to reshape, relocate and re-create the space to make it fit the home and create a balanced, comfortable home. We can also bring additional furniture or accessories if needed to bring the WOW effect to the home.

Whether you need staging for a vacant or occupied home the actual staging will only take one day. We arrive in the morning and we're done by late afternoon and we create the WOW effect every-time. Staging is here to stay so start using it and see the value of the home you're selling increase and best of all...sell faster.

For more information about staging visit our website www.RealEstateStagingUnlimited.com

We dress homes to sell!

Staging...ask some questions

Staging is all about creating a connection with the future homeowner. When you are hiring a staging company be sure to interview and find out what types of products and services they provide.

How long have they been staging

What is their background in design

What kind of staging(vacant, occupied) do they provide?

Do they own any furniture? or will you have to rent from a corporate leasing company, this can be very expensive

Do they have a website that you can see before and afters and learn about their company

Do they have homes that you can look at in person

Will they be able to provide insurance

We are the largest staging company in Reno and Sparks and we own all of the beautiful furnishings and unique accessories that will be used in your staging project. We have talented interior designers and decorators that will transform any vacant or occupied home from having no personality to one that will cause the future homeowner to fall in love with the home.

Ask questions and make sure your staging company can do what they say they can. When your staging in our area we hope you will let us help you get the SOLD sign posted!

We dress homes to SELL

Why isn't the home selling?

There are many factors to consider when a house is not selling. But before you reduce the price of the home the first time you should consider bringing in an expert to give a critique of the home from curbside, throughout the home and including the back yard.

Our company has such services, as do other staging companies. I can tell you from experience that 9 out 10 times there are things that can be done to help make a connection to the new homeowner. Don't underestimate the value of this service.

The reduction price for the property will be in the thousands of dollars the home preparation service will run a couple of hundred dollars. You can do the math.

Attention to the details will help you to get the SOLD sign posted!

We dress homes to sell......

What is home or Real Estate Staging?

Staging is not a new concept. It has been around since the early 90's but like everything it takes an idea to travel around awhile before everyone catches the concept and can see the value.

HGTV was the wild fire for establishing the staging concept. They informed their viewers about this innovative concept of presenting the home completing ready to the future homeowners. By de-cluttering, de-personalizing, reshaping the existing furniture or adding a complete home of furniture to fit the home it helps to establish an excitement and a connection to the new homeowner.

Staging is not going to go away any time soon, so get on board and use it in your marketing efforts. Whether you stage the primary living spaces or use small staging concepts in limited areas you will have better responses from buyers and that will help you to get the sold sign posted!

Stage it...and you may be able to increase the listing price up to 7%.... We Dress Homes To Sell!

How does staging work...let me count the ways!

1. It will help any home to show better the architectural features and attributes that the home has to offer

2. It will sell faster in any kind of market

3. It will often sell for more money

If you aren't using staging find a stager in your area and ask them to tell you about the services they offer...it will help you to get the SOLD sign posted.

We dress homes to sell!

Is staging really necessary?

Yes, but only if you want to sell the house for the best price and the least amount of time!

I really don't even need to write any more because that statement is absolutely true! We often can increase the selling price of the home up to 7% after we have staged or completed a staging redesign.

Storing your clutter

Getting a house ready to sell can be exhausting! The de-cluttering and removing the "stuff" to a storage area can be costly and time consuming. I often recommend to the seller to consider putting the extra furniture and accessories into a consignment store not a storage unit.

Often when you move your new home will not accommodate your furniture that you have anyway due to windows, room size just to mention a few. So instead of paying to have it stored turn it into cash for new items for the new home. Just a thought to help the seller not to feel so overwhelmed...and to help to get the SOLD sign posted!

Who pays for staging -Homeowner or Realtor?

We have the largest staging company in Reno so we provide a higher level of service and products than most other staging companies. We own all of the furnishings and accessories and we have a lot of them. And it's our product that always makes a house beautiful and unique.

So after you decide that you are going to stage who will pay for it? I would say that about 70% of the time the homeowner pays for the service. After we build a relationship with a Realtor we find that they want every house staged because they see the benefit and they pay for the staging or share the cost with the seller.

Why is that? The Realtors that use our services know that they save money on marketing and the time that the property stays on the market is less, which means they get paid faster. So for us I believe over time the percentage will change because of the services we offer really offer value and savvy Realtors understand that it really helps them to get the sold sign posted!

Staging is here to stay

The reason staging is here to stay is because it works! About 80% of our work is real estate staging for vacant houses. Yes houses not homes. There is a difference. A home is place where a family lives and a house is the opposite the family is gone and lacks interest and personality because the home is empty.

We change that when we stage. We are different than other staging companies because we do not lease any of our furniture or accessories...we own them. After we load in our unique home furnishings and accessories the home looks beautiful and captures the interest of the future homeowner. Because we are a large staging company our staging projects include more products which make our projects look more interesting but that doesn't mean it cost more money.

If you are considering to start using staging make sure you shop for the best staging company -not all are created equal. In staging it's all about the products that will be used in your project. Make sure you are asking to see some of their projects in person so you can see first hand how creative they are and the quality of the products they use.

Staging is here to stay so if you aren't using a staging company we hope you will consider Real Estate Staging Unlimited. Staging will help to sell the home faster and often more money. Stage it and get the sold sign posted!

Virtual Tour..After you've staged

I'm a real estate stager so of course I believe in virtual tours. The projects that we complete always look better when a virtual is done and why wouldn't you want to have your investment advertised in the best format.

Regular or still pictures just do not give the true dimensions of each room not to mention the quality of lighting, angles and general overall look of the room does not come across as exciting as a virtual tour will provide.

Why not consider virtual tours as part of your marketing strategy. More than ever people are shopping on the Internet and this format is very friendly to this experience. Digital cameras have there place in marketing real estate but when you have a website where you are featuring a home virtual tours should be used to get the WOW effect.

It's like the 35mm camera verses the digital camera.... how many 35mm cameras are people using today verses a couple of years ago. Be competitive in your marketing efforts...use staging and follow up with a virtual tour and both marketing strategies will help you to get the sold sign posted!

Adding SPARKLE to the home

Adding sparkle to any home is important. In this case I am talking about the lighting throughout the home. This not only includes the electrical lighting but also the light that comes from the windows.

Make sure that all the light bulbs are working and are the proper wattage so that the room is properly illuminated. In addition make sure all the windows throughout the home have been professionally cleaned inside and out. This will make a HUGE difference in allowing natural light to flood the room. Having natural light coming into the room will create a mood that cannot be recreated easily with electrical lighting so take advantage of clean windows!

Not all views are good so sometimes window dressings are important but if they are not necessary make sure that the window coverings are open so that people can see out of the windows. If any of the window coverings are broken or in poor condition have the homeowner remove them.

Bring in the sparkle and get the sold sign posted!

Pay day...Real estate staging are you using it?

Staging is what can help you stand out from other Realtors. There still are many Realtors that don't use staging services. What I don't understand about this choice is that advertising the home in many different ways is how the home is sold. Networking, word of mouth, print advertising, Internet, virtual tours- there are so many ways to invest in advertising when you are trying to sell the home so why not include real estate staging.

Staging can be one of the BEST investments before you start any marketing efforts. Without having the home in showcase form the rest can become very costly. The longer the property stays on the market the more you will have to invest in your advertising efforts. I know that in my area just a few print ads can be more than staging costs. Not to mention that after 30-6-90 days the only option you can offer the seller to get the home sold is to lower the selling price which effects your payday as well.

Bottom-line, staging provides a transformation of any home that takes it to the next level. Start with staging and let me know if you save money on your advertising efforts. Staging, if it done right can help your home to sell faster and often for money...so stage it and get the sold sign posted!

Curbside...Stage it!

Buyers begin to make decisions whether they will buy the house as soon as they drive up to it. We stage the front and the back of the house. Sometimes it can be as simple as putting pots with flowers by the entry area, which will add color and welcome the buyer. But often the homeowner has had no interest in gardening or yard work and the front of the home lacks interest.

Call in an expert to get and estimate. You'll be surprised that often it only takes a small investment that will make a huge difference in the look of the home and that can mean the value of the home increases and helps to sell the home faster.

Before you list make sure that the home is ready for the future homeowner. We believe you only have one chance to make a good impression. Stage the home inside and out and get the sold sign posted!

Spring has sprung...it's time to stage it!

Are you ready? Spring brings out buyers and having your home staged can make the difference in the amount of time it is on the market and how much you it will sell for. Don't wait for summer to realize that you should have taken that extra step to detail the home. Call us and ask us about the value that staging has to offer because staging will help you to get the sold sign sold!
The good bad and ugly...COLOR

Trying to sell a house with vibrate colors can really slow down the selling process. I recently went into a house that had an abundant amount of color. Blue, green, periwinkle, burgundy, teal green were in every room. I complimented my client that she had chosen colors that she loved but followed the statement that most likely the new homeowners would want to put there own stamp of color into their home. I recommended a neutral light color to cover her current colors. She agreed and made arrangements to get the rooms painted before she listed her home.

By painting her home she wants the new homeowners to make a connection to the home. No doubt the home will sell and probably for more money because of the changes she makes.

Call us today about our home preparation services. These services will help you to get the sold sign posted!

Real estate staging

Staging is not a new concept it has been around since the early 90's but like everything it takes an idea to travel around awhile before everyone catches the concept.

HGTV was the wild fire for staging. They informed their viewers about this innovative concept of presenting the home completing ready to the future homeowners. By de-cluttering, de-personalizing, reshaping the furniture to fit the home the buyer can see how the home will work for them.

Ready..Set..GO!

READY-Getting the seller to get Ready to Go....can be a difficult task sometimes. You would think that when they decide to list their home that they would be thinking that they would be moving soon. But I find that many are not ready to leave their home that they have built memories in not to mention that they have to often do a lot of work to get the home ready to be listed.

SET- The best way to get most sellers motivated is to talk about money. If they don't declutter... the chances of a full offer are less. If they don't fix broken items..the chances of a full offer are less. If they don't paint and clean up...the chances of a full offer are less. You get the picture. And usually when we are done explaining what a BIG opportunity they have for increasing the value of the home they listen.

GO- As a Realtor you can often tell them what you think needs to be done but sometimes they just are not motivated. That's when you pull in an expert to back up what you are saying and follow up with what needs to be done so that you can get a good offer presented by the future homeowner.

That expert can be a staging service. Many offer home preparation services to help get the home ready to be on the market. Our company provides such services and our Realtors are always amazed how we get the seller motivated to complete everything that needs to be done so that you can help them to get the sold sign posted!

Call us today and we will help you to successfully market your business.

Do you have a stager on your team?

We can all agree that selling a house is all about the marketing efforts that the Realtor puts into the selling process.

I often speak to Realtors that don't believe in staging or really pressing the seller to do much of anything to get the home ready to sell. I don't understand why. We have so much data that shows that preparing the home and staging sells the home faster and often for more money.

I think Realtors have a catch 22 situation- first they want to list the home so they tell the homeowner what a great home they have and after they have signed the listing they have to tell them the truth about what needs to be done to the property in order to get the property sold for the best price. That can be tough for some Realtors.

That's where the use of a stager or redesigner can really assist the Realtor. Our company provides detailed reports about color options, decluttering, cleaning, repairs, curb appeal and discussion on staging or redesign options and opportunities if needed.

By using experts to go over the details of getting the home ready it will help to keep in tact a good quality relationship between the seller and Realtor.

The Realtors we work with love the services we offer and the best part it only cost $150.00. They tell us it is the best money they spend because they don't have to be the "bad guys" and tell the truth about the good, bad and ugly that the house has and the work gets completed. If your not using a home preparation service call us today and let us help you to get the sold sign posted!

Color...it can make the difference in selling a house or not

I'm sure you have heard from buyers that they hate the "color" of the room or house. Why can't they just see past the color? Why can't they see how great the house could be if they just painted it themselves? Why even try and figure it out...they just can’t. So make sure you have your sellers paint all areas that are dirty, bright or odd colors to in a warm neutral color.

A color expert is your best bet when making color suggestions. The investment of fresh paint will pay off in more ways than one. How about more money and a quicker sell!

We have several color experts call us for more information about these services.

Stage it and get good pictures taken...

After the home has been primped and prepped it's time to sell it. If you are not using a professional service for your photos you should be! There really is a big difference and with many people using the Internet to search out for their new home good photos are VERY important. Virtual tours are a wonderful way to show off the size of each room and the actual layout and a great way to show off what you and the homeowner have done to get the home ready to be sold!

We have all seen pictures of homes that left us wondering why was the picture published. Take time to get good pictures. A picture speaks a thousand words and get the sold sign posted!

Stage it...sell it!

Has the real estate market in your area gone flat? In the Reno market it has really slowed down and Realtors are looking for creative ways to sell the home. Staging is a great way to get new interest in a home that has been on the market for over 30 days.

But why wait until the home has been on the market for 30-60-90 days. Get it staged and sell it! If you put staging as a part of your marketing strategy as you speak to your client on the listing if they decide against using staging at the beginning you will have a better chance to move forward before you do the first price reduction.

When selecting a stager make sure you go and see some of the homes that they currently have staged. See the quality and quantity of products that are used. Your stager will become a person that represents your business so make sure they can complete the job to your expectations.

Discover STAGING with Real Estate Staging Unlimited and get it SOLD!

Will the buyer see past a dirty house?

Answer: Probably not and the house will probably fall under the fixer up category.

When we are called to do a report for the realtor and homeowner on how to get the home ready for sale we often see a dirty home. This doesn’t mean necessarily that the house is cluttered it can just be dirty. We recommend that if you want to list this house you better plan to pay for an outside service to come into the home and put the sparkle back into the home. But don't stop there make sure just like a gardener for a yard be prepared to pay for additional cleanings. If the house has great possibilities it's worth this expense. No matter how much you advertise for the home if it's dirty it will bring less money.

Good luck with getting the sold sign posted!

Is it necessary to stage the entire house?

Good news the answer is NO...buyers are usually only interested in the areas that they will be spending the most time in. These areas will be the living room, family room, dining rooms, kitchen, bathrooms and master bedroom and it is not necessary to stage any other bedrooms.

We do recommend that you stage any areas that are not well defined and if you have an extra room include an office. With so many people running businesses out of their homes offices can help to sell a home. We stage on average 6-7 rooms making sure that when the future homeowner enters the home they experience the WOW effect!

Be sure to include in your presentation a great looking curb appeal for the home because without a good impression from the curb you might not even get them to go into see the beautiful staging that you have invested in.

Stage it and get the sold sign posted!

Do you have a house that is selling? STAGE IT!

I always am surprised when I talk to realtors that are not utilizing staging services during the listing process. Staging is an awesome marketing tool that can be used to set a higher standard of service by the listing realtor. And the service for giving staging estimates are usually free so how can you go wrong by encouraging the sellers to consider staging which totally prepares the home for a successful listing.

There are many stats out there that will tell you the value of staging but the one I found and use is by staging you can increase the value of your home on an average of 6.9%. Now that will get their attention and we have them raise the sale price to reflect this percentage after they have staged with us and guess what...they sell! This won't work if you don't have a excellent stager but we own all of our products that we use in our staging projects and we are confident that the look we give to the house will attract buyers and if we don't think they can increase the value that high we tell them so. Staging works and it can help you to sell any house faster and often for more money. Real Estate Staging Unlimited goal is to Dress Your Home To SELL!