What is your buyer’s reaction really worth?

Home Staging – Cost versus Benefit

The price of Home Staging….is it worth it? That is always a question on the minds of home owners especially if their home is vacant.

It isn’t cheap to bring in furniture and have it staged. There is of course the rental fee for furniture but it is also all the labor. The movers, the truck, the staging time to pack everything, stage the home and then come back and pack it all up when it sells.

So is it really worth it?

I recently staged a 1904 three story home that sat vacant for many months. Let’s look at the cost versus the benefit of Home Staging for this architectural jewel in a classic neighborhood of St. Paul, MN

Cost…

1) The old cliché  is true….Home Staging almost always costs less than the first price reduction.

2) In addition, Home Staging is usually less than the carrying costs for one month. Let’s look at the costs involved in maintaining a vacant home:

Mortgage, interest, real estate taxes, insurance, water, heat, air conditioning, electricity, shoveling or lawn maintenance services, cleaning services, and maintenance upkeep.

Buyer after: “Wow, look at the vintage subway tile on the fireplace, check out those bay windows.”

Buyer Before: “What the heck am I going to do with this small room right off the Living Room?”

Buyer After: “What a great room for the kids to watch TV!”

Buyer Before: “This is kind of dark and dreary.”

Buyer After: “Look at this stunning wood and original lead glass windows. And that built-in hutch that is 109 years old – Incredible!”

Buyer Before: “The kitchen is nice.”

Buyer After: “I want this kitchen! The kids will love this bench for eating breakfast every morning.”

Buyer Before: “Huff…ah, ah…after climbing three flights of stairs it better be worth it. This is it?”

Buyer After: “I can’t wait to run up those stairs to get up here every night. I am heading off to soak in the tub and then curl up with a book on that window seat by the fire.”

“Oh….that’s right, give me the papers to sign and make it snappy.”

So…which statements are your buyers saying? What is their reaction worth?

If the difference is getting your home sold in days versus months, may the benefits of Home Staging outweigh the costs?

If you would like to discuss the cost versus benefits of Home Staging for your property, please give us a call at 952-567-1124 or visit our website at www.RoomsWithStyle.com.

Do Buyers Think It Is Halloween When They Approach Your Home?

Home Staging Minneapolis, MN

What do buyers see as they are approaching your home?

Is it dark? Poor lighting or maybe even no lighting? Are they slowing their pace thinking they mistakenly are at the Halloween Haunted House?

Does it creep them out to walk up the sidewalk and approach your dark porch or overhang?

What about when they unlock the front door and step inside? Are they worried they are entering…………….

“The Twilight Zone”

Is the entryway cold…..cavernous and making them think the Halloween Monsters are going to pop out?

Are they wondering what in the world they would even do with the cold space?

Well, if the buyers are asking these questions, wondering if it is Halloween and looking for the Snack Size Snickers and the spooky music to start, let’s just say you have a problem.

Bring in color…..bring in warmth. Use the colors of the season.

Fall is a great time to bring in the brilliant oranges and rusts that are everywhere outside. Extend the warmth of green past the front door.

Highlight any focal point they see from the front door and draw them in. Make them want to keep coming in.

And don’t forget to keep the character of the home when staging your entry. If you have a beautiful stately mansion, then show it off in a beautiful stately manor.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR BUYERS ARE NOT THINKING IT IS HALLOWEEN EVERY DAY WHEN THEY ENTER YOUR HOME, THEN CONTACT “ROOMS WITH STYLE” FOR EXPERT HOME STAGING ADVICE.

www.RoomsWithStyle.com

952-567-1124

My Madmen House. Home Staging St. Paul, MN

Yup….I got to stage a Madmen house. Well…that’s what I called it anyway.

Do you watch the TV program “Madmen” set in the 50s and 60s?  

Well I got to stage a Mid-Century Modern Home and had a blast!

The home was built by the home owner who was an Interior Designer. She raised her family in the home and died at age 93.

Everything was original and many things outdated so the children had to decide what to update and what to leave as is. Where was the best place to spend money to get it sold?

They decided staging the home was one of the best places to spend the money rather than on major updates.

Clean lines…..beautiful views…..but it was tired.

Below, do you see the swinging door on the right of the dining room going into the kitchen? When I was a kid I used to watch ‘Family Affair’ and every time Mr. French came through that door I thought “How Hip”! I wanted one.

Yes….the kitchen is dated.

Yes….the tile in the informal eating area and sun-room is dark and dated.

But oh what potential! Let’s show the buyer what it can look like! The fireplace is stunning and the dated washed paneling got a warm coat of paint.

Keeping true to the straight lines but making it warm and cozy were important. I incorporated one of the original mid-century console tables in the living room to keep the character.

Fresh paint in the Dining Room….but still loving the swinging door.

Again….just fresh lime green paint on the walls to brighten up the look of the original cabinets and refinishing of the original butcher block made a huge difference. (I am standing in the swinging door, ha….yes, I LOVE that door).

I don’t think the dated dark tile is as obvious now!

I staged the home on a Friday. It was ‘officially’ going to be on the market on Monday with a Realtor Open on Tuesday. But….someone came through the property on Sunday and made an offer. SOLD! IN ONE DAY!

If you don’t have Tens of Thousands of dollars to update your home make sure to ask an expert where you should spend the money to get the most bang for your buck.

These sellers knew where to spend their money to get the home sold. Make sure Home Staging is an important part of your budget when putting your home on the market!

www.roomswithstyle.com

952-567-1124

Nobody Puts Baby In the Corner….well except for me. Home Staging Minneapolis MN.

Patrick Swayze said ‘No one Puts Baby in the Corner” and I have always believed that but hey…..sometimes Baby just needs to be put in the corner.

Well fine….technically she isn’t a Baby. She is Full Sized but she is still my Baby to deal with.

When the owners moved out of their stunning St. Paul home they chose to leave the Grand Piano until a later date. They kept her straight inside the doorway to the Living Room which wasn’t the best place for Baby for Staging purposes.

Baby was cutting off the living area…..

Baby was hiding the beautiful architectural detailing of the columns……

Baby was hiding the stunning views…….

Baby had to go to the corner……..sorry Patrick.

Now the living area flows better……

Check out the architectural detail that Baby was hiding!!

Now that’s a stunning room Baby…..

See Baby, there are now chairs for people to gather to enjoy your sound while sipping a glass of wine.

Sorry Baby but the corner is where you need to be for now.

And for what it’s worth…I THINK YOU ARE STUNNING BACK THERE!!

Yes….the little things do matter! Home Staging Minneapolis, MN.

Home Stagers talk about the little things all the time – get rid of the little things and de-clutter! BUT…many times the opposite is true.

The little things make a room cozy, warm and inviting. They make a house a home. Without the little things a house is just plain blah.

Blah, blah, blah….

Take this sun room, there isn’t anything wrong with it. It is okay. But just okay.

With a little tweaking, it can be cozier. First the furniture arrangement needed a small adjustment. Yes a little thing but it matters.

Second, a few throw pillows and pictures with a little sparkle make it better.

Let’s look at this family room. Clean and crisp and plenty of room. Isn’t that good for selling?

No. It doesn’t grab a buyer’s attention and make them want to sit down and relax in the space. It actually allows them to dismiss the space and this is way too much square footage to dismiss.

The little things matter. Throw pillows, lamps, vases, and candles make a room come to life and makes the buyer take note.

So if someone tells you the little things don’t matter tell them pish-posh. They do matter!

This house under contract in 5 days with multiply offers.

Inexpensive Kitchen Updates for Low End Homes – Home Staging Minneapolis MN

Yesterday I wrote a post “Is Home Staging A Good Investment for Low End Homes?”. My focus was a home that was going to be listed for $80,000 including a brand new garage just being built. That price is well below the median price of a home in the Minneapolis Metro area.

So, is home staging a good return on the investment for low end homes?

Yesterday’s post showed the living room and dining room as well as the selling results. Today I wanted to show you the difference specifically in the kitchen.

Remember this fact….”KITCHENS SELL HOMES”.

That statement isn’t qualified by “unless the home is under $200K” or whatever number you set. It applies to ALL homes regardless of price.

So in this tiny low end home in a tough area of Minneapolis, it has a further detriment in that it’s front door opens right smack into the kitchen. See the front door on the right? Awkward? Aahhh….yes.

So, what do you need to do? Make the buyer’s jaw drop and not have them thinking about the awkwardness.

I met with the investor and here were my suggestions:

1) Modernize – Replace the kitchen cabinet hardware with oil rubbed bronze hardware available at big box stores for 10 for $14.99. Install a ready-made composite wood blind on the window again from a big box store.

2) Create Drama – Find clearanced-out or discontinued Mosaic tile at a tile shop or big box store and install a back splash. Sheets of 12″x12″ tile can sometimes be found for a couple bucks.

3) Get Rid of Wasted Space – There is a huge dance floor in the middle of this kitchen which is lacking counter space. My advice, pick up a portable island creating more counter space as well as a modern look. The black and stainless steel island shown below was found at Big Lots for $119,

4) Fun – Add a little fun for very little money by putting a glass pendant light above the sink again found at big box stores for under $20.

THE RESULTS:

Note: no new appliances, no new cabinets.

Do you have a low end investment property, home or listing and think it’s not worth putting in a little money or sweat equity? I would think again.

Take a look at the living room and dining room pictures on my Previous Post. This home sold in Four Days.

For professional advice on all price level homes call a Professional Certified Home Stager.

Don’t Forget to Stage the Office!

Home Offices are important square footage. Most buyers want a  home office as many now telecommute or have their own businesses that are run from their homes.

If it is important to a buyer it should be important to you! Set the stage, show them how great the space can be!

This??

Or This??

Many new construction homes or homes built within the last decade have the office right inside the front door. Even MORE important for Home Staging.

Sometimes the office is self explanatory with built in desks and shelving but it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be staged. Here is a perfect example of a high end rehabbed home we staged for an investor. If you walk in, take your shoes off and see this it may not leave much of an impression.

But this might:

When it comes to staging your home for sale don’t forget the office. It is space wanted by the buyer and that means money to you!

Your home is  your biggest asset. Make all the square footage count by calling a Professional Certified Home Stager.

Rooms With Style Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/St Paul MN

www.roomswithstyle.com

952-567-1124

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.

Diary of a Home Stager – Home Staging in New Brighton, MN

Day 1: Receive email for a vacant staging job. Home has been on the market 191 Days. Complete bid and email it.

Day 2: Receive email accepting bid, email contract. Receive signed contract and payment, book truck and movers.

Day 3: Pack for job.

Day 4: Stage the home.

Day 10: Six Days after Staging – Receive an offer.

Day 12: Offer is final.

Let’s take a look at the Buyer’s Thoughts “Before” and How Staging Helped.

“This is the first room…..kind of boring, nothing special. I hope it gets better”.

“Eat-In Area is a Great Bonus but will it really fit a table?”

“Hmmm….not crazy about that wallpaper. Can I live with it short-term?”

“Wow! That fireplace is just like a  northwood’s cabin. How will I decorate it and make it look modern?”

“This is such a big area how will I arrange the furniture to make it work?”

191 Days on the Market Before Home Staging….An Offer Just Over a Week After Staging.

If your house isn’t selling stop and ask yourself what thoughts the buyer may be having.

Then call a professional Home Stager.