Home Staging

Authentic Value
There was an article in the 10/25/09 edition of Parade Magazine called “Why Shopping is Good Again.” The article is talking about shopping for consumer products, not necessarily those that are interior design related. However, I took away three points from it that I think can be applied to interior design:

1) “No longer is bigger synonymous with better.”
Make your current house more beautiful and functional, and the size will be immaterial. “Trading up” doesn’t have to mean buying a larger house. If you like your neighborhood, your neighbors, and (if applicable) the school system your kids are in, this housing/economic mess could be a blessing in disguise. Sometimes, a larger home means nothing more than larger utility bills and more empty rooms.

2) “A $200 dress you’ll wear 20 times holds far greater value than a $50 dress you’ll wear twice.”
There is no shortage of big box furniture stores. There are plenty of places to go to purchase a $500 sofa. However, how long will that sofa last? How durable is the fabric? How many fabric options do you have? Can you double the wear by flipping over the cushions? When it starts to fall apart, will it end up in a landfill? In the long run, you’re much better off purchasing higher end furniture. It is repairable, recoverable, will hold it’s value and functionality longer. You can donate it, sell it or hand it down. That $500 sofa may feel like a bargain now, but 2 or 3 years from now where will it be? Remember, a bargain is not necessarily a good value.

3) “Think about how it feels when something you’ve become attached to is lost…
The item wasn’t all that expensive…but it mattered a great deal to you.” I’ve had clients tell me “we don’t have to use that (piece of art, plant stand, Grandma’s chair, etc.) in the room—after all, I only paid $25 for it (or it was inherited, or whatever).” But if you love it, or feel sentimental about it, or it tells an important story about your life, please keep it. We can reframe it, or refinish it or repurpose it. Sometimes, those odd pieces of art or accessories or that little cabinet are the pieces that great family stories are made of. Good interior design doesn’t ignore those stories—it supports and solidifies them.

Top 5 Dos

Spruce up your curb appeal. Potential buyers judge your home before they even enter it. Make this first impression count. Plant flowers, mow the lawn, put out a welcome mat and make small repairs that you have been putting off.

Clean, clean, clean. This simple tip is essential. Dust, vacuum, clean the windows and mop the floors. Make sure there are no odd odors floating around or major stains on the carpet or furniture. Do like your mother said and make your bed.

Declutter. Get rid of any superfluous items that detract from the rooms. Hide figurines; throw out or recycle junk mail, newspapers and magazines; file disheveled papers; and put clothes, shoes and the like out of sight.

Neutralize. Potential buyers need to imagine themselves living in your home. Make it easy for them by removing all personal items such as family pictures and/or religious statues. Also, get rid of any loud paint colors, offensive wall coverings or in-your-face accessories.
Remove all big clunky furniture. Oversize couches, chairs or coffee tables have to go. If you cannot replace them with smaller pieces, get rid of as much as you can — less is more.

Top 5 Don'ts.

Don't take it personally. As soon as you decide to make the commitment to sell your home, you need to think of it as a product, one that you want to sell fast and for top dollar. Don't take buyers' remarks personally. Instead, think of it as free advice on how to make your product live up to its highest potential. Emotionally detach yourself.

Don't do major renovations. Finishes and fixtures that you see as beautiful may not suit every buyer's tastes. It is best to limit the amount of time and investment you make on renovations to the essentials — replace old flooring, tackle small repairs, paint, change outdated fixtures. Save your renovation energy and dollars for your new home.

Don't think the house will sell itself. The real estate market is a game. You need to make your home the most appealing product on the block. Declutter, clean, do small repairs, repaint and, in general, make it feel fresh and welcoming.
The furniture in this room is too large and there's too much of it. Instead of replacing the pieces, it's a good idea to consider rearranging or even removing some of them.

Don't run out and purchase all new furniture. Chances are the furniture you have is not the reason your space is not selling. You may just have too much of it in one area. Or perhaps it needs to be cleaned or just neutralized with a simple throw. Remove before you completely redo.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. Call in a professional stager, whether they just spend a few hours giving you some helpful tips or they come in to completely redecorate your entire space. It is money well spent and will eventually end up back in your pocket when you sell your home for top dollar.