Staging New Hampshire

I'll admit I love my flannel  jammie  pants, they are very comfy; but when I'm going out, they certainly stay at home and I am dressed.

Yesterday, when I went grocery shopping, I was amazed at how many people wear their flannel jammie pants to the store!  

There were jammie pants people in the cereal aisle and jammie pants in produce, in fact I probably saw 5 or 6 pair on my shopping excursion and the store was not that crowded.

There are two ways to look at this: "It's terrible, people should really learn to dress for success and look their best no matter where they are going" or the alternative: "Just be who you really are."

In real estate, sellers who are doing their very best to keep their housekeeping up and have their homes in show ready condition at a moments notice are dressed for success.

Sellers who cannot or will not do this are like jammie pants people - they just want the buyer to accept their house for who/what "it really is."

Jammie Pants People, if your home is on the market, you need to dress it for success, price it right and do your part to present it to buyers in the very best light.

I know it's not easy and it requires a lot more effort and time, but in the long run it will be worth it.   Just like jammie pants don't impress me in the grocery store, that same attitude won't impress a buyer seeing your house today.  I'm only telling you this to help you sell your home.

 

As for the grocery store, it's a free country!

Really, who am I to judge?

In my opinion there is no excuse to wear your flannel jammies to the store unless it's midnight and the baby is out of formula.

 

But then again, maybe I'm just jealous because I left my jammie pants at home.

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Mary Douglas, your Mountain Broker-Associate and REALTOR®

United Country  Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, CO

www.redfeatherlakes.com ---800-531-2195

"A Day in the Mountains will always soothe your city soul"

The information contained in Mary's blog is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed, and the opinions and    views expressed in these articles are solely those of the author.

_________________________________________

avoid foreclosure: call the Colorado Foreclosure Hotline 1-877-601-HOPE

HOTLINE WEBSITE: ColoradoForeclosureHotline.org

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I appreciate hearing from you!

When I do Pre-Market Consultations as a Home Stager, I often see -- and smell -- a variety of scented products throughout the home. There's the plug-in variety, the spray variety, the stash-in-a-corner-and-please-absorb-the-smell-in-here variety.

I often ask about their presence . . . is there an issue in this room? Are you worried about an odor problem? Most home owners shrug and say that they think it's just prudent. You know . . . just in case.

The problem is that these products designed to "add a pleasant scent", are themselves usually way too strong and generally unpleasant. I mean, I'm pretty sure "mountain breezes" don't usually smell like eau de toilet in real life! And I don't really want every cell in my olafactory glands hyper-stimulated with "Freesia Fantasy", thank you very much. (Plus, I have to wonder about the health implications of all these chemicals floating around in the air I breathe).

Worse yet, the presence of these products often alert a potential buyer that there may in fact be an odor causing issue that you are trying to hide. And besides, no product out there is going to hide wet dog. It'll just make for a hideous . . . and I believe, probably toxic . . . combination of scent molecules.

Okay, I exaggerate (slightly), but according to About.com, the number one turn off for a potential buyer is strong odors in the home. Um, so think pets, smoking, cooking, mold, mildew and anything basically musty, soggy, and otherwise stale or disgusting.

So instead of masking your home's odors, embrace them! Tell yourself -- as the home owner -- there is no such thing as a bad smell. It is your friend, and very useful information, telling you to take action!

First of all, get an objective opinion about your home and it's inherent smell (that you are totally incapable of detecting . . . trust me). And please, don't kill the messenger or kick this gift-horse in the mouth! Thank them for their honesty, because it will allow you to make your home more marketable.

Secondly, find the source of the smell and deal with it. By "deal with it", I mean, obliterate it. Spraying Febreeze on the sofa isn't going to do it. If this means calling in the professionals, or replacing carpet, you just have to do it. The cost before you go on the market will be far less than the discount a buyer will demand to remedy your smelly problem--if they are even willing to take it on.

And lastly, go on the market with confidence. Once you've addressed this huge deal breaker, not only will buyers respond much more favorably to your home, maybe . . . just maybe . . . you'll enjoy living there a little bit more yourself.

 

 

 

Deena Cottingham

GreenApple Staging & Images
Serving Calgary and Okotoks, Alberta

©GreenApple Staging & Images, 2010
All information is copyrighted and may not be used, borrowed or copied without written permission.

You've decided to put your house on the market and you're planning to do so in a month or two. Now you must decide how to prepare your home for sale. To make that task easier, here are six ways to begin the home staging process now.

1. Decide what needs to go

• Check each room and remove furniture and accessories that are not necessary, are visually distracting or block the views of architectural details. This includes family photos, collectibles, accent furniture or maybe even large pieces such as a buffet or TV. 
• Look for too much pattern in a space. When your home photos get posted online, pattern can be very distracting. You can slipcover upholstered furniture, remove a busy area rug or remove pillows or other accessories that add too much visual noise.
• How to decide? Rooms should appear as large as possible and traffic pathways should be free and clear. Take a photo if you're not sure and compare it to houses currently on the market that look appealing to you.
• Also remove anything that has a limited personal appeal such as dated window treatments, wallpaper, decade-specific colors like mauve or teal, your collections or very taste-specific styles. 
• When in doubt, take it out! Less is more here.

2. Decide where it will go

• Once you have identified the things you want to remove, figure out where they will go. An end table may get moved from the family room to the living room to flesh out a sparse space. 
• If you have storage space in the basement, excess items can go there if neatly stacked, preferably in a closet or along a wall. 
• What if you don't have any storage space available in your house? Consider asking a family member or friend if you can store items at their home. Rent a storage space or pod. But make the phone calls now and sort this out so your home is ready to show on listing day.

3. Cull excess items from closets and storage areas

• If you can reduce what's in your closet by one-fifth to one-third, it will make the space look larger and indicate to buyers that there is plenty of storage space. Donate apparel you haven't worn in the last year or the kids have outgrown. You'll have less to pack and unpack for the move. Box up out of season clothing that you won't need for a while.
• This strategy applies to gadgets and dishes in the kitchen and items in other areas of the house, too. Is there something you aren't using? Pack it up or take it to a thrift shop. 
• Do you have a graveyard of miscellaneous items you don't know what to do with? Things like electronics can be donated if working, or recycled at electronic recycling depots if not. In St. Louis, check http://www.ecyclestlouis.org/. You'll find locations where you can take electronics to be recycled and you'll help the environment.

4. Repair deferred maintenance

• Always repair those obvious things that really need fixing. Even addressing simple issues like jiggly doorknobs makes a house feel well-maintained.

5. Paint

• When walls or trim are dirty, marked or can't be cleaned, it's time to paint.
• Personal color choices with limited appeal will need attention. This can mean dated hues, like mauve and teal, or colors that may not appeal to the masses, like purple or neon green.
• Dark colors can be difficult to paint over and may make a room feel smaller. Along the same vein, dark paneling may make a room feel cave-like and dated. Consider painting these spaces in a light, neutral color that will feel brighter and larger. 
• Choosing neutral colors like light beige or neutral green will make the house feel fresh and appeal to the widest number of buyers possible. This can offer a big impact for a small investment.

6. Make simple updates

• Switch out light fixtures, faucets and even bathroom hardware such as towel racks, for an updated feel with a minimal investment.
• Pay attention to metal finishes that are currently in style. In most cases this means anything but brass. 
• Not handy? Call a handyman service. They are usually qualified for tasks such as replacing faucets and lighting and can be reasonably priced.

Make sure you apply these steps to the interior and the exterior of your house. Whatever you do to get your property ready for the market, give yourself plenty of time. This allows you to complete the tasks yourself or call in help if needed. Preparing your home for sale is like studying for a test or readying for a job interview--the investment of time now can really pay off in the future.

 

 

 

 

Cathy Brosius is the owner of Arranged Smartly, a home staging and organizing company.  Cathy and her team are working smartly for homeowners and real estate agents throughout the St. Louis region.  She has also been interviewed on KMOV's Great Day St. Louis, providing tips on staging a home for sale.