WELCOME!
Celebrating 15 years in Business!
Thank you everyone for all your amazing support. I am truly blessed to be doing what I love every day.
“The two most important days in your LIFE are the day you are BORN and the day you find out WHY.”
- Mark Twain
Don’t Miss Out on Listening to This Podcast!
The Broker Podcast: Home Staging Edition Staging your home prior to sale. We’re believers.
The Broker Loaded Podcast – Real Estate Q & A – Questions, Answers and Advice! Featuring Danny Grimes, Kurt Stoodley and Micheline Masson
As one of the regions most experienced home stagers, Micheline Masson dispels many myths including the more than reasonable cost involved. Focusing on the use of what you have Micheline shares her tips and most often suggestions. What you can get done in just 3 hours may result in a much higher sale price.
Open Your Mind to the Possibilities
Sometimes living in a home makes it difficult to view the property any other way. Listening to our professional advice and showing your home at its best can mean the difference between sitting on the market with no luck vs SOLD.
Are you selling a property and searching for quick staging tips on how to make the home more appealing without spending lots of money?
Most homes that I have staged invested $200-$400 for the staging. I provide my clients with specific tips that will truly make a difference in how the home is presented online and when potential buyers visit the property.
Staging needs to be looked at as an investment, because done right it will not only save you money, but it can potentially make you some. Did you know that I have yet to walk into a property and walk out because it was ready to go?
“Micheline’s vision was instrumental in the quick sale of our home. She helped stage every room and pointed out items that we never thought to remove. Our home was on the market 4 days. It sold just like that; because of Micheline.” Melanie L
In a time where most sellers are stressed, is it not beneficial for home owners to have some direction and specific hands on help?
When a stager isn’t involved in the selling process, sellers are often advised to “stage” their property by removing everything off the counters and taking down family photos. This actually isn’t staging, its decluttering, an important step in the staging process. The issue is every home is different, so each home will require different suggestions. Removing everything off the counters is the “easy” way out and in most cases simply makes the home feel cold and empty. The truth is in order for a staging job to get done properly, it is imperative that a professional stager sees the property in person. Attention to detail is the key and if the house is move-in ready, it means less work for the home buyers and a possibly a better offer for you.
I recently staged a couple properties – one is on their fourth Realtor, another is on their second. It is a competitive market and this is why generic advice isn’t really “good advice”. You might think you are saving some money by not investing in a stager, but you could actually be wasting it by missing this important step. You need to know what you are doing is beneficial and that it will get the property sold for a price you are happy with and in the time frame you need it to.
When properties sit on the market and are not attracting buyers – guess what happens? Generally the price is lowered, sometimes even a few times. And, in the end when it still hasn’t sold, I am the one that gets called in to find out WHY and fix it.
But I ask this – WHY let it get to that? WHY wait until after its listed?
“I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Property Staged. Micheline provided guidance on what would have the most impact, reducing the amount of work & money I spent, but the change was amazing. We also rearranged a few rooms, including changing their function in a couple cases. What an inspiration! Wish I had done those changes years ago. That is another thing about Micheline, she really knows how to make the most of what you have. She provides a concise list, including options, so your staging is within whatever budget you tell her. The house looks better than it did when new, with minimal cost. Thanks to Micheline, my house was conditionally sold two days after the first showing, and for over $10K more than the price the same model across the street with comparable features sold for two weeks earlier.” Rich Pierson
How I work: 3 steps!
Part 1: The Initial Consultation – the “what has to happen” stage where my suggestions and solutions are made to the seller to help create a more marketable property. We also discuss budget. I give my advice, move items around, and create a property specific checklist for both the interior and exterior of the home.
Part 2: “Roll up your Sleeves” this is the actual work to get the first step completed. To save money, this step is generally completed by the home owner. If time isn’t on your side, then we can help you with as much as you need us to.
After completing this step, your home is prepped for staging.
Part 3: “Final Touch Staging” – once the above is complete the I return to the property to complete the work to ensure the photos look their best and the home is welcoming to potential buyers who visit the property. (i.e. putting up existing artwork, adding any last touches, removing items that were missed etc…)
Just wanted to take some time and thank each and everyone for their amazing support. I truly couldn’t have done it without you. I am so blessed and thankful to be doing what I love everyday. Having the opportunity to help others is truly rewarding.
This post was inspired by my lastest clients children who weren’t exactly thrilled about moving so their parents had a fantastic idea – they turned the selling process into a scavenger hunt. I only found this out at the end, when my client said “you are going to cost me a lot of money.” I was a little confused because at this point I was only using what was already in the property. My client explained that her kids would receive money for every change they noticed I did in their home. I had a good laugh – what a great idea to get the kids more involved in the selling process. The home owners did a fantastic job following my recommendations from the first initial consultation to their “homework” I had left them. So when I went back to the property to complete the final touches before the listing photos, the kids would be coming home that afternoon to investigate what other changes I did.
“They found 48 changes! All your hard work :) My husband gave them each a nickel for everything they found that was different! Thanks again for your ideas and help, I will definitely call on you when we move into our new home.” JB, Barrhaven, Client
How to Get Kids More Involved and On Board with the Idea of Moving
Change is a touchy subject for some people, especially kids. Most children do well with routine, and since most moves are often caused by issues such as divorce, job loss, or death, it can be extremely tough and stressful on the family involved. When parents are stressed and upset, their parenting can suffer and the kids surely notice. To them this only life they have known and it has just been turned upside down which can make some kids very sad and or angry. So w
hether your family is moving for a job, to a larger house, or to be closer to loved ones, whether it’s just up the street or across the country, moving your family can involve some pretty big changes. And when children are involved, that transition can be even more stressful on everyone. Luckily kids are pretty resilient, so when you pack a positive attitude, most children will adapt to their new life fairly quickly.
This is a big reason why I generally do my best not to change too much in their rooms unless absolutely necessary. Some stagers go overboard saying “no toys, posters” etc… Yes there is a fine line in staging but there is also something more important in these situations, and that is trying to keep everyone happy. Sometimes it is just not worth it. Will painting over a child’s’ dream princess room or a picture of them with their friends or having a bunch of teddy bears in the room stop someone from buying a house, no. Kids rooms don’t sell homes. They are considered “bonus rooms” so as long as they are clean, in good shape and functional, I am more lenient and I focus my attention on what matters most, the areas that sell homes.
Children may feel left out when you tell them you are moving because they really don’t have much of a say – so try involving them in as many other decisions as you can. Here are a few more ways to get kids excited for your move:
1. House-hunt together. Make a family “wish list” of some of the things you all want to have in your new home.
2. Let them plan out their ideal dream room. Let them select the paint colours they would love to have, accents and furniture etc… If its in the budget, let them shop for a new item for their room.
3. Make and decorate a treasure box to store all their favorite items and so they are safe and close by. All kids have their favourite items, this way they will feel more comfortable and can be the first items to be brought into their new home.
4. Make a memory book. Say “goodbye” to your home by recalling some favorite memories of the old house. Talk about where you are going. Explain why it’s happening and why you’re excited. Encourage them to ask questions and express any anxieties. Let them help throughout the process, from packing boxes to organizing rooms.
Turn it onto a celebration by making it a fun family night in the house.
5. Discover the new stuff. If your new home is nearby, take the kids to see it and explore the nearby parks, playgrounds, shops, school etc… Set out on a bike ride or walk around the block. Moving far away? Visit special neighborhood spots one last time. Collect local magazines, newspapers, and guidebooks and show them pictures of the new house and town. If possible, beat the moving van by a day or two and stay in a hotel and use that time to discover the new neighborhood together. Look for places, and events that would be fun for the whole family. Choose one or two destinations that seem fun and take a break from unpacking to explore them.
6. See you Soon – rather than goodbye, let kids know they will see their friends soon. Have your children collect friends’ addresses so they can send postcards to their friends from their new home. Make plans for a future play date or visit with old friends, or even then invite them over for a “house warming party” so the kids can show of their new home.
7. Hmmm….What to do with all those empty boxes? There’s nothing more entertaining to children than a boring cardboard box paired with a lot of imagination! Let the kids decorate the boxes and create a playhouse or a pirate ship.
Why Our Staging Services are Valuable
I started this business because far too often I saw homes listed for sale before being properly prepared. Sadly, I still see quite a few. Staging is just one of those things that is now a must when selling a property.
Here are a few reasons why I feel my staging services are more valuable than using a generic staging list.
Number 1: Too “Generic”
If you have read these “lists”, they tend to say things like “de-clutter, organize and lighten and brighten.” Hmmmm thats fantastic but what does that actually mean though? Which rooms? How much should be packed away? What paint colours would work best? What should be kept out and what should go away?
These lists are just not specific enough. It’s way easier and cheaper to just say pack it all away but what happens is the home becomes cold and inviting to potential buyers, which actually can end up being more expensive. Often I deal with 2 kinds of properties: too much stuff and too little – both are very hard to sell.
There’s a fine line when it comes to staging. Leaving a home owner to guess which things should be changed while not dealing with other important issues is not a great idea. But, having myself come in and consult on the specific property will ensure that all potential issues are identified and addressed prior to selling so you have the opportunity to make any necessary changes first. Working with me also ensures you have the right furnishings in the space so it suits the style of the house and the most likely buyer for your home.
Generic Home Staging lists are simply not as effective as having my professional hands on help. Don’t be tricked into believing otherwise. These lists are always very similar and are just meant to help guide you when preparing a home for sale. In theory its certainly better than nothing, but the main issue is no home is exactly alike so these types of lists can both help and hinder sellers.
Preparing and staging a home for sale isn’t the same process it was years ago because todays’ home buyers are more picky and have more selection when purchasing a home – the good ones don’t stay on the market for long and the others linger around because they aren’t being shown properly or because there is actually something wrong with the home.
Selling a home can be quite stressful especially when you don’t know where to start and a generic list certainly won’t solve your problem. Make sure you do it right the first time and have an effective list that addresses as many wants or needs of your most likely buyer as possible. When you live in a property it’s setup for you and your family – but the important question now is, will it also work for the buyer…
Number 2: Missing the Final Touches
Staging the home is actually the final step after everything else has been completed. De-cluttering, painting, home improvements and repairs are part of the preparation process when selling but it is not considered “staging”. Home Staging deals with placement or rearranging of furniture, creating functional spaces with good traffic flow, highlighting architectural elements and giving it that WOW factor with décor, accents and furnishings that suit the space and make the home stand out in a good way against the competition. This is not an easy thing to do, especially when you are attached to the things in the home. This is why DIY stagings’ are rarely as effective as having a professional come in and stage your property.
I am trained to know how to properly showcase each area. Don’t take the risk. Make sure you prepare your property correctly the first time and I’m happy to help you as it is my goal to help you succeed.
I often get asked this question during staging consultations: Do I have to keep the house like this? Like this, meaning looking “Staged for the photos”. I always recommend keeping the house as close to the staging photos as possible. You are allowed to live in your house while selling, but it is extremely important to put away or remove those things that people coming to view your home don’t necessary want to, or need to see.
A few examples:
- Your shoes in the front entrance
- Your dirty laundry
- Dishes in the sink
- Your personal toiletries
- Garbage cans, especially full ones
Kids rooms are the one place buyers are a little more lenient – however, the room still needs to be clean. A staged home is a clean and functional space. It should also be welcoming, not cold and empty. There’s a fine line when staging so ensure you get the proper help when listing your home so it is shown at its best every time. You never know when the perfect buyer will walk through the door – so do your best!