Do you have any idea what the dollar value is of a buyer’s first impression?

Home Stagers talk about first impressions all the time. We talk until we are blue in the face and sometimes we are still dismissed with “it’s not that important, I have a great kitchen.”

That may be true but the first gut reaction never goes away. I heard Real Estate Agent and Mogul Barbara Corcoran put an actual dollar value on first impressions and I sat up straight in my chair. I had never heard it expressed in actual $$$ before.

If you are not aware of who Barbara Corcoran is, she is a Real Estate Contributor on NBC’s Today show, part of ABC’s reality hit Shark Tank, as well as a frequent guess on one of my favorite shows “The Nate Berkus Show”.

It was on Nate’s program that I heard this discussion*. A young couple had their home for sale for six months with almost 100 showings and without receiving a single offer.

Nate asked Barbara if Home Staging is really needed and worth it in this depressed economy and Real Estate Market. Barbara’s reply and I paraphrase:

“Home Staging is no longer an option. It makes a difference of a house selling or not. Homeowners do the heavy work of upgrading kitchens and baths but Home Staging makes the biggest difference on first impressions. People walk in and feel like ‘I want to live here. It feels like I could see myself living here’.”

With Designer Nate Berkus’s expertise they assisted this couple with their living room, the first room the buyer walked into. They took down blinds, painted the dated brick, rearranged the furniture which was pushed against the walls, deleted bulky over-sized furniture and a wall unit blocking the view of the fireplace and added some new items.

Do you know what Barbara said was the dollar value to the bottom line for this change?

5% – 7% of the value of what the home is worth!!

Now do you understand how important a first impression is?

With a $400,000 listing that is $20,000 – $28,000.

If you think you can’t afford Home Staging you may want to think again. You may be leaving money on the table.

If you don’t want to leave money on the table call a certified Home Staging Professional at 952-567-1124.

www.roomswithstyle.com

*Watch the complete segment of the Nate Berkus Show by clicking on This Link.

When Staging a Home it is important to keep the targeted buyer in mind. Doing so is extremely important and can determine success or failure with the Home Staging.

Staging a downtown loft is different than a home in the suburbs and each suburb is different.  Who lives in the neighborhood?

Point in fact: When I went to do the bid for this condo I was told by the Property Manager that the average age of the owners was 72.

However, the condo was located on an Exclusive Private Golf Course and could attract a young professional who loves the game and wants to entertain his/her clients.

In home staging you must keep your most likely buyer in mind. I wanted to play to that demographic but also keep it some what modern in case a young professional walked through.

I think I found that balance. The condo had been vacant and on the market over a year without an offer. They pulled it off the market for a few months, had it staged and then re-listed.

IT SOLD IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS WITH MULTIPLE OFFERS!!

What did I do? I made the home feel more traditional but with a hint of modern elements.

The artwork is more formal and traditional but the furniture is cozy and neutral and the colors of dark brown and light blue are fresh and modern.

The bathroom was blah. It needed some life and vibrant cranberry did the trick.

The porch: Antique wicker in modern black with lime green and hot pink accents made it refreshing for any generation.

The office: Well of course it needed a Golf theme being on an exclusive private golf course.

The bedroom: Aahhh….tranquil for any age.

Staging a home for the most likely buyer is important but a balance is needed so anyone can fall in love with it. You never know who may walk through the door.

For Home Staging and Redesign Services in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN area ….. Rooms With Style has the experience you need and will ask the necessary questions to stage it correctly.

330 Days on the Market then…….Home Staging in St. Paul MN sells it 5 Days later!!

Yes, approximately 330 days on the market and then a home stager was brought in. What a transformation. This house is magnificent and because of that the owner thought the bones of the home alone would sell it.

As you can see it had very dated gray carpet and very cold gray paint. It did nothing for the architectural features of this 1928 house. The owner listened to the advise and pulled up the carpet, refinished the floors (STUNNING) and repainted the cold walls. As you can see this alone was a HUGE improvement.

The owner also listened to the home stager’s advice and brought in fresh furnishings to replace the very tired limited furniture. This really created a “WOW” factor and showed the home at its full potential.

Yes, the owner did invest some money to do this but it paid off. Not only were they thrilled with the results but they got an offer 5 days later.

Home Staging is important any time in the process but before the home is ever listed is the best. This home is almost 6000 sq. ft so although they spent some money to update it, if they had done it from the beginning they may have saved 11 months of carrying costs such as heat, electricity, and insurance ; not to mention the daily trips to the home to check on it.

At the second Realtor Open for the ‘unveiling’ of the new and improved home , Realtor’s mouths literally dropped for those that had seen it before. The purchase agreement says it all.

Rooms With Style Can Assist you with All your Home Staging and Redesign needs.

When I first viewed this house to provide a vacant home staging bid before the homeowners moved out, I noticed the wasted square footage right inside the front door. First impressions are key and I was left a little confused when entering this beautiful home.

The homeowner admitted they never knew what to do with the space so they just kind of left it. If a potential buyer liked to dance it would be perfect! There was even space for a few chairs against the wall to take a rest from dancing. It was a huge space.

It is important to show the buyer how they can use all the spaces in a home.

A cozy hearth area was a perfect solution. A wonderful place to gather with friends for a glass of wine while dinner is cooking right next door in the kitchen. Or a wonderful area for the neighbors to have a cup of coffee and chat when they drop by.

Don’t leave valuable square footage without a purpose. Show the buyer what it can be……..a professional home stager can assist with those tough and awkward spaces.

Attract More Tenants – First Impressions are key. If you are a property manager of an apartment complex the most important thing is keeping the apartments full. 100% occupancy is your goal.

What if your property is in a very young and hip area but what the potential tenant sees upon entry is this:

A tired and worn out entry may not set the tone of who your target market is for the area which is young professionals. The first impression is important so this may attract more tenants to your property:

Here are more before and after pictures of the apartment entryway and sitting area:

Rooms With Style can assist you in updating any office, common area or property. Set the tone from the minute the potential tenant enters the front door.

Rooms With Style was recently called to complete a vacant home staging in this newly refurbished and updated home in Golden Valley, MN. The home is stunning with beautiful detailing.

The problem was the buyer could not differentiate between the living area and the dining area. Although the wiring had been completed, the builder chose to not add a dining room light fixture so the new home owner could place it exactly where they wanted it. Great idea but it did leave some confusion.

The dining space is small but appears so much smaller when it is vacant. The living area is also small making it difficult for the buyer to imagine how the furniture will be place in this open room floor plan. In addition, the room echoed and was cold and sterile. 

The rooms are now well defined and cozy. Home Staging can make a HUGE difference! Which do you think the buyer can visualize themselves living in?

Don’t let your listings be cold and stark. Have a Professional Home Stager turn them into a charming and cozy home that anyone would want to move into.  

Something a Home Stager knows is that Master Bedrooms are extremely important square footage and should be treated as valuable property!

In my opinion if someone has narrowed it down to two homes to buy the deciding factor will be the Kitchen and Master Bedroom. Everyone knows “kitchens sell homes”. I don’t disagree. But, I think the Master Bedroom is a close second and so many sellers ignore that room. Check out this difference:

  Which speaks of a Master Retreat to you? Which do you think the buyer can see themselves relaxing in?

If you have ever watched the TV Program on HGTV called “House Hunters”, it is almost without a doubt one of the comments will be “this master bedroom is too small” or “this master bedroom is so boring”. Both these negative comments can be overcome.

A small appearing bedroom probably needs the right size furniture and the boring bedroom needs a few dollars to provide luxury. On “House Hunters” the buyers went against their better judgement and bought a home with a “too small” master bedroom because of the incredible views. They were shocked that a queen bed and two night stands fit no problem. The bedroom had been vacant and they had no sense of size, many buyers probably passed on the home for the same reason.

A Master Bedroom should look simple and elegant. Many buyers have put huge upgrades into the rest of their home and never got around to doing anything with their private space since no one sees it. Get some inexpensive bedding, buy some lamps, rent a bed frame or headboard if needed, just MAKE IT SHINE!

Positioning of the bed is also important. The bed should always be placed to make a statement when entering the room and try to avoid putting it in front of a window if possible.

Don’t overlook some of the most valuable square footage in your home. Ask Rooms With Style to assist you in making a lasting impression with the buyer OR how to achieve that special retreat for you to enjoy before you move.

Rooms With Style was called to do a Vacant Home Staging at this great home in South Minneapolis, MN. A wonderful older two story with tons of charm and character.

Rooms With Style has their own warehouse of furniture and accessories. We pick out each furniture piece down to the smallest accessory specifically for your home to suit the style, size of room as well as the targeted buyer. No two homes are the same and your staging shouldn’t be either.

Living Room Before and After:

 Dining Room Before and After:

I was thrilled when I received a call from the home owner saying he received an offer within seven days and the closing date was already set!

This is the most Successful Home Staging in MN that I have done, in terms of quick results. I was called by a Realtor and told they had a listing for this beautiful high end rambler in Plymouth, MN.

Unfortunately the home had been listed for a year! This beautiful home in Plymouth, MN had been standing vacant the entire year and getting horrible comments about how it needed updating. Yes, there were a few things that need to be updated but all in all the bones of this home were fabulous and on a wonderful wooded lot.

This home was a prime candidate for Home Staging. It was so drab, so cold and uninviting that you really wanted to leave as soon as you walked in.

The dated light fixtures screamed in your face as there was nothing else to look at. Light fixtures are an easy change to make and I advised the owner to do so but it was not something they were willing to do. Even with the updates not completed, this is one of those Successful Home Staging Stories. 

I showed up with my moving truck and movers that same week with the furniture and accessories I had hand selected from my 4,800 sq. foot warehouse. The formal dining room and formal living room were the first rooms you saw when you walked in and they were blah.

As we were moving the furniture into the home I got a call from the Realtor telling me there was going to be a showing that afternoon. What?? I wouldn’t be done by then.

I was assured it was okay, the potential buyer and his agent were told I was there with my crew staging the property and that it would probably be a mess. I did not want the buyer to see a mess so I worked extra hard and fast to get as much staged as possible.

When the agent and potential buyer walked in I was hanging the last picture in the hearth area. I had made sure most of the packing boxes and bins were already back in the truck. I packed up the remaining bins and headed out while the potential buyer was still downstairs.

I got a call from the Realtor the next day. They had received a CASH OFFER from that buyer!! It closed in two weeks! Now is that a Successful Home Staging Story for this Plymouth, MN listing or what?

This latest Home Staging Project in St. Paul, MN was one of my favorites to stage. It is an adorable home and would be a perfect first home for someone. It has so much character, great details, and new upgrades. Check out the details in this living room and dining room……

When you walk in the door you walk into this wonderful enclosed porch!

If you want to know more about this great home in St. Paul, MN, it is MLS #3909422. 

I love what I do and really have fun with each and every home staging project I encounter. But there are some homes I stage that I fall in love with, this one in St. Paul, MN is one of those.