Speaking Up about Home Staging

"All of the homes that First Impressions has staged for my clients have received extremely positive feedback from buyers and their agents, certainly a plus in this market where you have to stand out from the crowd!!  First Impressions helped me with an owner-occupied home in Wescott Plantation. Prior to staging we received good feedback.  After staging, we have received much stronger, positive comments about the home and are consistently in the top two choices among buyers who see the home. At 396 Creole Place in Molasses Creek, after First Impressions staged the home, we now have two interested buyers. 266 River Oak in Grassy Creek went under contract in just 33 days after First Impressions staged the home.  Staging accentuates the positive features in the home and allows buyers to visualize how the floorplan would work for them.  With so many vacant homes on the market, a staged home really stands out from the crowd!"  

Sue Davis, Agent, Keller Williams Realty  

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Melissa Marro melissa@stagingandredesign.com 843.822.2622  

Bevin Harmon Googer bevin@stagingandredesign.com 843.425.0138  

Susan Hardin susan@stagingandredesign.com 843.609.7000  

David Moon david@stagingandredesign.com 843.367-7653  

Bonnie Mizell bonnie@stagingandredesign.com 843.406.0912

Never underestimate the power of small changes.  When  competing in the real estate market for listings or trying to sell a given property over any number of other similar properties in a neighborhood, sometimes it is the smallest of things that have the largest impact.  Here are some simple fixes that can help make a tremendous difference when showing off your next listing:  

Paint - If you were to take a look at high end homes these days, you'll notice that the paint is rarely builder beige.  These days buyers associate color with luxury and style.  Adding a warm, rich, neutral color can help enhance the visual value of a property.  Some great neutral colors include:  Sherwin William's Macadamia, Buff Beige and Behr's Toasted Wheat.  

Bedding & Linens - All too often we tend to live with comfortable (and worn) linens that are well past their lifespan.  Adding fresh bedding and fluffy towels & linens can make a master bedroom and bath feel like a luxury suite.  There is no reason to break the bank on these however.  TJMaxx, Ross and even a white sale at JCPenney can prove to be a real budget saver!  Changing out the entire bedding ensemble & bath set usually costs less than $250 and will bring back this money in higher perceived value of the home.  

Add texture and show off the positives - Hardwood floors and naked windows are two more common problems we are often faced with.  Too much wood showing, particularly in the dining or living room actually make a home feel less welcoming.  Naked windows can also make buyers feel on display and they can make the room feel cold.  Adding area rugs and single sheer curtain panels help show off these great selling features while adding texture.  Best of all, curtains typically help to visually increase the height of the room - adding visual square footage!   

 While many of the before and after photos many agents see and respond to are vacant homes, it is important to note that owner occupied homes are extremely important to appear their best as well.  Often owners of these properties are simply at a loss of where to begin and are so busy trying to keep the home in order that they don't know staging could save them time, money and a lot of stress!  

Often agents and homeowners are reluctant to hire stagers for owner occupied homes because they've seen TV shows where a stager comes in and blasts the homeowner for every little thing about their property.  Real life isn't quite so dramatic.  Professional stagers are very tactful in their approach and offer solutions, not condemnations to your clients!  

For owner occupied homes often only consultations are needed.  The professional stager will come into the property, asses the needs of the homeowner and provide a written summary of recommendations.  Other times the stager can actualy help line up contractors for larger jobs, loan art, rugs, furniture and/or accessories.  Most of the time, stagers are able to use exclusively or primarily the homeowners belongings and still create a dramatic and welcoming appeal.  This means that the costs are extremely reasonable and are nearly always covered in higher offers and quicker sales!