Is your Home Market-Ready?
Impressing potential buyers is KEY: Do it RIGHT the FIRST time! You need to show buyers your homes’ potential, do not make them look for it. Your listing needs to attract buyers to book a viewing, so start with the basics. Only list your property when its market ready. Be sure your home compares to the competition. Not only, will this put your listing in a good position for a quicker sale, but it will help you get the price you want for it.
Do the Basics!
Reduce it -“stuff” easily gathers. Go through everything and get rid of anything you do not need. Get a head start and pack away any personal items. Don’t just toss it all in a closet either, the likelihood potential buyers will look in there is high. Be organized. People get uneasy when everything is cluttered. Start with one room at a time; otherwise it will start to get overwhelming. If you haven’t touched it in 3 months – box it up and store it away. If you have touched it in a few years- it’s time to get rid of it. …
Clean it – your home needs to shine from the inside to the out. Attract those “drive- by” buyers who are looking in specific neighbourhoods. Roll up those sleeves and clean from top to bottom. Smell is also very important! We tend to get used to certain smells, so don’t leave garbage anywhere or pet litter boxes unattainable. If possible, open the windows and get some fresh air flowing through your home.
Fix it – tackle any of those things on your “to do” list! If you are unable to do it properly, look into hiring a professional. If there are too many little are too many little things left to do, you might just lose out on a potential buyer!
Guiding you in the Right Direction
Low-cost but effective Staging is all about showing the space at its best. By rolling up your sleves and doing some work, it will pay off! Why drop your asking price by thousands of dollars when you can easily get it done right the first time. If you can’t do it, let us help you, it is worth it, trust us!
DECLUTTER: Remove personal items, extra furnishings and items you no longer use/need.
ORGANIZE: the remaining items
RE-ARRANGE: Maximize your space and show it at its best
UPDATE & REFRESH: Inside and outside! First impressions are everything!
FINAL TOUCHES: Combining it all and creating that warm and welcoming feeling for potential buyers.
Paint color is another low-cost but effective way of showcasing your home. Outdated wallpaper or one with a distracting design needs to be removed. Add a fresh coat of paint for a more current, updated look. You can also use color to highlight the architectural details and features of your home. The paint colours potential buyers see when they enter your home should be neutral so that the buyers are not distracted by someone else’s style. But “neutral” doesn’t necessarily mean plain old white or beige and it doesn’t have to be boring! Adding colour through accents is a great way to decorate a home without having to repaint; this is great especially if you are someone who gets bored quickly. Too much stuff on the walls or harsh colours can be a distraction if not done properly. The goal of staging is to show off the home, not your stuff. Artwork should be only placed where needed. Subtle colour can actually enhance the buyer’s experience, so repaint walls that have strong colors with rich neutral hues.
After – Only Staged the property with items in the home. Small changes make a BIG difference!
What to Expect when you Hire Property Staged
1. We are on your side: If you succeed, we succeed! Selling a property can be an overwhelming process. Your listing photos are the key to potential buyers – your chance to make a positive lasting impression and get people to book a viewing. There is nothing worse than rushing to get your home on the market without it being ready. Getting our professional staging advice on what to do and what not to do, can help save you from a lot of wasted time and useless headaches. The most important thing we bring to your home is a fresh pair of eyes. It is difficult to be objective about how your home looks because you live there. We see’s things you don’t and we know what works! From colours to furniture layout; we are here to help you create an inviting home for potential buyers.
2. Professional Advice: Property Staged is here to tell you what you need to hear; you might not like it but we know what sells and what doesn’t. We also understand who the most likely buyer of your house is and can help you stage your property to give those buyers what they are looking for. Our recommendations are never personal; we just want to help you sell your property. Property Staged can leave you knowing what to do and in what order to do it.
3. Get the Most for your Money: If you are confused as to what changes to make and where to spend your money before you sell, Property Staged can be of great help. Our suggestions and cost effective ways of achieving results are made in your best interest. Not only will Property Staged give you advice, but will show you how to do it properly.
At Property Staged, we can help you prepare your home by offering an exclusive home staging package that includes a Home Staging Consultation and a Final Touch Staging to ensure your home stands out from the competition! We make the effort to help you, even when you may not have the time. Our staging team can do as little or as much as you need us to do.
We do our best to work with what you have, so in most cases you don’t spend an extra penny, while sometimes a few key items are recommended that would complete/complement the space. Don’t believe us? Check out our Before & After Home Staging Gallery; most of those pictures are using the home owners items from all areas of the home. Helping people is such a great feeling and we have received some really great feedback since offering this package. Feel free to contact us with any questions, or see below for FAQ’s.
We had the pleasure of being on the Lunch Out Loud Podcast.
FREQUENT ASKED QUESTIONS
MY HOME IS VACANT AND I DON’T HAVE THE TIME OR MONEY TO WASTE ON STAGING IT.
When it comes to selling your home you shouldn’t see home staging as an expense but as an investment. We all want to save money. Home buying is a big step and buyers want to make sure they are not making the wrong decision. Most people have a hard time picturing a room complete and it can be quite overwhelming. Staging defines a space; it creates a purpose so home buyers aren’t guessing what they could use each room for. Sometimes to a buyer an empty space signifies that the home owner doesn’t care about the space or is anxious to sell; perhaps there is something wrong with the property. Buyers think they can strike up a deal and present a lower offer since it is just sitting there. By simply bringing in some rental furniture and accessories, the empty shell becomes a warm and inviting space. It is important to present your investment at its very best. Impress your buyers by showing you care.
I AM TRYING TO SAVE MONEY BY NOT USING A REAL ESTATE AGENT. SOMEONE SUGGESTED I SHOULD AT LEAST INVEST IN HOME STAGING. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Your decision to try and sell your home on your own is one that most home owners think about. An agent has access to a wide market that gets homes sold fast, but the money you can save if you sell on your home can help you out a great deal… Whatever decision you make is ultimately yours, but if you want to sell your home on your own, then I strongly suggest you make your home as competitive as possible and hire a professional stager who comes highly recommended. Most consultations range from $150- $300. If the list of negatives out ways the positives you might just end up having to list with a Realtor in the end anyways. Show your home at its best right from the start. Identify the competition and make your home look better than the others on the market. Attention to detail is the key. If the house is move-in ready, it means less work for them and a possible better offer for you. Whether you decide to use an agent or not, home staging is an essential part of selling a house and if we are using your furniture and accessories then you only have to worry about the hourly cost to stage your home. This is a small investment that may save you a lot of money in the long run.
WHY IS MY HOUSE NOT SELLING?
Do not take it personally! You need to stop and focus on the sale. Everyone has their own taste, what they love, are looking for and what they want. Sometimes we just don’t see things in our homes like a selective buyer does. You might not think so, but most of the time when the list of “to do’s” starts to become too long, or when rooms are distracting, it scares away potential buyers. Buyers typically make up their mind within seconds of seeing the home; this even refers to the pictures you have posted online. This is why it is crucial that the outside of your home look just as nice as the inside and why it is so important your home appeals to as many people as possible. This will be a home for someone else, so you need you to let go and do what it takes to maximize your profit by showing your home at its best. Compare it against the competition. Turn your home back into a house. Think of your home as a product that needs to be packaged and then marketed.
We want to help you reach your goal. It can be extremely difficult to be objective when you are surrounded by all the items you love. Together we can work within your budget to get your home sold and help you with the difficult task of deciding what needs to get packed away and what should remain.
HELP I’M FEELING OVERWHELMED AND UNINSPIRED!
Timing is crucial here. You want as many people interested in viewing your home as possible and it all starts with the visual – the photos. Make it look good and make it appeal to as many people as you can. The less work the home buyer has to do, the better. Impress your prospective buyers with a second opinion that can open your eyes to new ideas. Investing some time and money into small changes can make the difference between selling your home versus it sitting on the market. It can also get you a higher asking price for your home.
I’M FEELING THE PRESSURE OF MOVING AND OR SELLING. I HAVE NO TIME! HOW CAN I POSSIBILY DO ALL OF THIS BY MYSELF?
No doubt this can be a challenging process. Taking a step back and realizing that you need some help is the best thing you can do; money wise and time wise. Everything counts here. The longer your home sits on the market people will assume there is something wrong with it. From the moment potential buyers are pulling in your driveway they need to be impressed; “wowed” by the way your house looks on both the inside and the outside. Your home needs to show well from day one. Let us help you create a competitive listing, not one that sits.
ALL HOUSES SELL EVENTUALLY… SO WHY DO I NEED TO BOTHER WITH STAGING?
It basically comes down to what you want. There is no greater inconvenience than having your home sit on the market from showing after showing, open house after open house, while having to constantly maintain a tidy home. If your house sits on the market longer than necessary it will actually cost you more money. As I mentioned above, a staging consultation starts at $150… Why would you not invest in the staging service to ensure your home is prepared properly. It is a lot of work to keep your house looking model home ready while living in it each day. Also keep in mind that the longer your house sits on the market, the more likely your asking price will be reduced and people also may begin to think there is something wrong with the property. Selling a home can be a stressful situation. So don’t let it get to that! Contact us and let us help you!
AM I TOO LATE? DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF MY HOUSE IS ALREADY ON THE MARKET?
Properties are considered “HOT” within the first 2 weeks of listing and have a higher chance of selling within this time frame. So ideally, it is best to Stage your home before it goes on the market. However, if your home is already on the market, Staging can decrease any additional time it could sit with no interested buyers. Houses that don’t sell quickly are usually reduced in price. Staging your house with our company costs much less than a price reduction and we can potentially save you thousands of dollars that would be taken off the asking price due to no interest.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
If you are selling, this should be ideally done at least a month prior to listing your home for sale. Some areas of your home may only require a small amount of attention, while others may require more focus. A consultation with us will provide you with a personalized detailed report to review which includes a room-by-room checklist and our top recommendations of the most important items to work on. Issues such as curb appeal, furniture re-arrangement, lighting, cleanliness, clutter and repairs, as well as colour neutralizing will all be addressed to enhance and maximize the appeal of your home to potential buyers.Feel free to contact us when you are ready to begin or if you have any questions at all. Whether you are looking to sell or redesign your existing space we can set up a consultation your convenience.
DISCOVER HOW MUCH EASIER IT IS TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR SALE WITH PROPERTY STAGED.
Would you like a FREE OPEN HOUSE REMINDER CHECKLIST? Contact us today info@propertystaged.ca and ask for yours!
Questions to keep in mind…
How quickly would I like to sell my home?
Am I willing to have an open mind?What is my budget?
What are my goals?
Can I afford to drop my asking price and by how much?