They say a picture is worth a thousand words. When you are listing your photos in MLS, maybe that should be a thousand dollars!
The before photos are from a home that was 'completely renovated' and listed by an investor. The home was just completed and the investor was looking for an 'edge' in this market. The first thing we noted was that the cabinets still felt dated. The rest of the home looked fresh and new, but this area was still a sizable problem. Paint was the cure....
The cost for this makeover? Less than $1500 (and included the master & powder room cabinets as well). The change will more than make up for the cost.
While most of those of you who know me realize that I work primarily in vacant homes (as this one was) I think it is important to note that these are the kinds of changes that we should be making when staging homes. Just adding furniture is not enough. Our job is to create equity and value for our clients..... give the most bang for their buck!
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Melissa Marro, a published artist, now turned staging advocet and national speaker speaks her mind about real estate and the home staging industry. In her 'no holds barred' approach, audience members find real answers to the industries pitfalls and learn how to overcome them with tried and true information and guidance. With marketing as her passion, she turned a small home based business into one of the nation's largest home staging and training facilities. She now operates as the CEO of First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign as well as the Executive Director of Certified Staging Professionals International Training Academy (CSPI) - the world's largest Staging Training Organization, and regularly speaks at the StagerList Expos and Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)'s trade events.
For more information on having Marro speak at one of your real estate functions, please contact her at 843.822.2622 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com
If you would like Marro's team to provide information on staging a property in the state of South Carolina, or the Greater Charleston Area, please visit www.WeStageSC.com, email marro.melissa@gmail.com or call 843.822.2622.
For more information on Marro's CSP Staging Training, please visit www.StagingAndRedesign.com, visit the CSP Calendar for dates or email marro.melissa@gmail.com. Below is a list of Marro's current CSP Certification class dates:
February 6-8 Charleston, SC
February 16-18 Austin, TX
March 6-8 Atlanta, GA
March 13-15 Raleigh, NC
March 20-22 St. Petersburg, FL
April 10-12 Knoxville, TN
May 4-6 Covington, KY
May 18-20 Charlotte, NC
July 5-7 Memphis, TN
July 10-12 Charleston, SC
Melissa,
I love, love, love this! The key is proper prep and a really good paint job. This looks very professional.
Wow, the paint really lightened up the kitchen! Looks a lot more contemporary, nice visual improvement.
Vincent - Thank you! It was great working with an investor who actually listened! What a difference it made....
Tony & Darcy - This is why it is important to bring in someone who knows which little things will add the most bang for the buck!
Lisa - What a true statement. Paint IS POWER!
Maria - Now if we can get a quick sale... open house tomorrow!
Elaine - it was such a shame when they did such a good job updating the rest of the home. I was so glad they agreed!
Susan - Thank you! I'm sure my assistant (who did the painting work) will be happy to hear that!
Deborah - It is amazing when you are actually in the kitchen how much larger it feels! (Cleaner too!) I hope it gets a lot more activity for the seller.
Melissa, I love your blogs and how easily your pictures make the point for staging. It is remarkable! You are the most successful blogger in SC, and I am nr. 2, right after you.
I've enjoyed your blogs for a long time; I have no idea why I did not subscribe to your blog until now.
Keep up the great work! You are a pillar of your industry!
Melissa...this is a fabulous post! I just had a painter on the radio show with me yesterday and this was one of the things we discussed...how easily and affordably you can wake up tired interiors with paint. She shared a really great tip about primers. For cabinets that are a pine finish...she suggested that you use a shilac based primer. She said that the shilac will seal the wood so that you don't end up with any leakage from the sap that will eventually show through any applied paint. I hadn't even given this a consideration. The timing was perfect however since I am getting ready to paint over my own kitchen table. I will be using her tip for sure!
Thanks for another great post! Loved the photos!
Cheers!
Mirela - Thank you for the wonderful compliment! I hope you continue to enjoy my blogs!
Janis - I agree completely. It is clearly an older neighborhood, but a great one. The little bit of money in paint will definately set this home apart from the competition - and it is much less than a full kitchen remodel!
Audrey - Thank you!
Judy - It feels mroe like 'detail work' painted - before it was a little wagon wheel.....
Becky & Nicole - The grease on the doors was actually far worse than the dust! My assistant spent one full day doing nothing but scrubbing them clean! Thank you for the wonderful compliments also!
Gina - YES! We find that BIN has a great shellac based primer that we usually use. It makes the work so much easier and ends up having a better finished look. Good point!
Fernando - Thank you!
Hi Melissa-
This looks much brighter, newer, and even the illusion of more cabinet space! Cabinets really require professional painters to get the proper hard finish that will wear well and look good. These look so much better, and kitchens are so important.
Kathy
Kathy - I am fortunate that my assistant is great at being a perfectionist with this type of work! That's why I let her do it!
Sharon - I think I actually got that from Lisa Laporta..... but it works, doesn't it?
Julianna - I'm hoping the home will sell quickly! This is an investor property and we might be picking up another great constant business opportunity. He definately agreed with what we were saying & feels we provided a good value.
I am glad to hear the discussion about priming and proper preparation. Too often, people just slap on some paint/any paint, and end up doing more harm than good.
It is wonderful how a little well applied paint can change everything.
John - GREAT! I think it is important that when so much is right on the home to leave that 'one big thing' is just like leaving a stack of money on the table.....
Cindy - Thank you! I just love the power of paint!
Laurie - Creating a quality job is very important to my company. We spend very little money on marketing so we rely on word of mouth & referrals. That only happens when you provide a quality job on a reasonable budget.
Diana - My assistant did the painting. There are jobs that we hire outside painters to do - one this week actually, but most jobs my assistant can do for me. She does a great job & I would usually rather pay her extra than an outside source....