I have entered hundreds of properties where I have been
informed of upgrades installed or performed by home owners themselves. In many situations, these upgrades are easy
to distinguish between professional workmanship vs. DIY project.
Then there are homes
with extraordinary upgrades where the home owner implements their expert skills
and those of affiliated professional connections to create outstanding spaces.
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| Ultra Modern Features in Custom Home |
Credit should be given to those that attempt these tasks
themselves. However, in the real estate market, buyers are looking
for ‘move-in ready’ homes with little or no work to be performed prior to the
moving date or shortly thereafter, unless there are looking for a
fixer-upper. There are advantages to
building a ‘new’ home or a custom built home for this exact reason where no
work is required.
Let’s be honest. Over
a period of time, home owners become oblivious to everyday imperfections within
their homes. When selling, these imperfections become
distractions and may prevent your home from selling quickly, limit the number
of buyers looking at your home, or initiate a discussion with your listing
realtor to reduce your original list price.
This is a very short list of reasons.
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| Hydro Panel obscured with DIY project to transform this space into Hall Closet Photo Credit: Cheryl Trudell, Lead Property Stylist of Home Staging 4 Success |
Painting over a nail on an obvious wall surface is suggestive of a ‘lack of attention’. This is a small detail but may have implications and cause an immediate RED FLAG (psychology from a buyer’s standpoint) - what other obvious or ‘behind the scene’ items has the owner paid little to no attention to.
Staging Tip 101: For painting projects, use Frog tape for sharp lines and demarcation between walls, ceilings and trim. Lay plastic or painter’s drop clothes to avoid paint splatter or drips on floors and windows. Remove nails used for artwork and patch walls prior to painting. Choose warm neutral colours vs. bold colours to create spaciousness and distract from imperfections of wall surfaces. Use caulking to eliminate gaps or spaces between walls and trim.
Is there a professional service that can assist home buyers
prep their homes for sale prior to listing or if a listing is about to be
considered ‘stale’? A certified professionally
trained home stager is experienced to view homes as a potential home
buyer. We can point out distractions or areas that
require attention.
Generic to-do-lists
can be found almost anywhere today.
However, an on-site consultation ensures the recommendations are
customized and tailored to your specific home or listed property. Too,
more experienced stagers have affiliates that offer many of the services home
sellers may require, including renovators, handymen, painters, cleaners,
organizers, movers, home inspectors, electricians, plumbers, etc..
Unique to our staging company, we provide a complete project
management service for local or out-of-town home owners with properties to be
or are currently listed locally and where prep work needs to be accomplished.
Consult with your real estate agent or check in the yellow
pages (www.yp.ca) for the names of professional
home stagers best suited for your specific needs. Ensure the home stager will provide you with a
full written report detailing areas discussed and recommendations to refer to
as you prioritize the tasks, your budget and time-frame prior to the 1st
public viewing.
Have an awesome summer!
