First Thing Each Morning

When I get to my desk in the morning, I have a routine. The first thing that I do is check in with “my friends” to keep up with what’s happening in the world of beautiful things. By that I mean that I have a few blogs and websites that I read and look at to get inspired and educated. 

Here are a few of my favorite blogs and first thing friends:

·         Habitually Chic (www.habituallychic.blogspot.com)  a daily post of glamorous lives and stylish places

·         Absolutely Beautiful Things (www.absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com) an Australian post,

·         Cote de Texas (www.cotedetexas.blogspot.com) French design on the Texas coast, (the post on 2-26-2011 features the REAL “It’s Complicated” house.

·         How To Make Love To Your House (www.howtomakelovetoyourhouse.blogspot.com ) posted by my Lori Matzke, mentor – see my post on March 3 for more information

So, after you check in with me at “to be continued” for information, education and inspiration, check out these sites…….

Remember to dwell in possibilities!

Cindy

COMPETING WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION – PART II – RESTYLING YOUR KITCHEN

Within the last 8 months, I have convinced (with the help of an experienced and trusted realtor) two separate homeowners to take a leap of faith and invest in the restyling of their kitchens.  Think of restyling as somewhere between “staging” and “remodeling”.

We started out with a design plan that included new paint, granite countertops, backsplash, an under mount sink, plumbing fixtures and cabinet hardware.  Fortunately, the flow of the kitchen was good as were the cabinets.  We weren’t crazy about the dated floor tile, but it just wasn’t feasible to replace it. 

After we estimated the cost (I have a wonderful and reasonable granite resource) we looked at the pre- restyling listing price, the cost of restyling and the post-restyling listing price.  Very logical!  Even after taking into consideration that the listing price and the eventual selling price are usually not the same, we liked what the numbers told us.  We also believed that the home would sell quicker with the restyling.

Well, the restyling occurred, the house sold immediately and for a price that made the sellers very happy.

Take a look for yourself at the pictures of the Camelot Court project.

Dwell in possibilities!

Cindy

Competing with New Construction

For many sellers considering home staging, their competition in that price range includes new construction – and that can be really tough competition depending on the market. 

There are a number of advantages to new construction. 

·         The house is fresh and modern. 

·         It has the newest and latest appliances, counters, paint and fixtures. 

·         The wiring is new.  The heating and air condition systems are new.  The plumbing is new.

And the biggest advantage of new construction is that it is move-in ready without any remodeling required.  Many buyers have very busy lives and do not want to face major projects, kitchen upgrades or extensive painting.  It is enough to unpack their boxes, arrange their furniture and settle into the new home and neighborhood.

If any updating is required, then a buyer willing to consider that house will expect a deep discount in the selling price to make up for the “sweat” and hassle required to turn that house into their new home.

In a tough, competitive real estate market, sellers and their realtors have to become creative and proactive in preparing their house for sale.  They need to seriously consider restyling and updating their house with new paint, carpeting and maybe even kitchen upgrades.

Check out today’s pictures for a dramatic example of the before and after pictures of a living room for home restyling and updating project.  This house sold rather quickly and for a premium price.

I will use tomorrow’s blog post to discuss restyling and updating a kitchen with before and after pictures as well.

Dwell in possibilities!

Cindy

Dwell in possibilities! With Thanks to Emily Dickinson

Since creating the “to be continued” blog, I’ve been closing each post with the words “dwell in possibilities.”  I must confess that I borrowed this phrase from the great poet, Emily Dickinson.  I saw her quote and realized that it summed up what I am doing as a professional home stager and interior designer. 

I am most grateful to Ms. Dickinson for her insightful and inspiring phrase.

Regardless of the size or price range of a house, my objective is to find the possibilities in that house.  I am looking for those unique features of that house and finding possible ways to accentuate them for the potential buyer.  I am analyzing those unusual spaces that buyers find difficult to understand upon first glance and finding possible functional uses for those spaces.  In the end, my mission is to help the potential buyer see how they could dwell in the possibilities of this house!

In some cases, the possibilities are obvious and the complementary staging falls easily into place.  In many other cases, my training, expertise and experiences as a stager are really needed to find and highlight that house’s possibilities. 

There is often a point in the staging process when I am not sure that can pull it off.  It has become a joke with my husband when I tell him this may be the one that defeats me.  He laughs because he knows that I will find that one hook or stage that one room which makes everything else fall into place.  And so far, I always do!!!

Those times remind me that home staging is always more art than science. 

So, remember what Emily says and . . .

Dwell in possibilities!

Cindy

When It Has a For Sale Sign in Front, Your House Is Not Your Home

For most people, we furnish and arrange our homes to serve our likes, needs and desires.  We create a Smith-friendly environment or a Jones- friendly environment that works for us.  When it comes time to sell the house, the unique nature of that Smith or Jones friendly home can become a liability. 

When a house goes on the market for sale, it becomes a product for sale that needs to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. 

The dramatic shift from home to a product can be tough for many sellers.  They may want the buyers to like their home and their stuff as much as they do.  The problem is that the buyers need to see themselves and their stuff in this house. 

The savvy seller knows that when their house has a For Sale sign in the front lawn, the house is no longer their home.  Savvy sellers and realtors know the many benefits gained from having professionals help them transform their Smith-friendly home into a buyer-friendly environment.

There is a completely different impression if the home has been staged to accentuate the best features and provide a nice, easy and consistent use of space and movement.    

When a house is professionally staged, it is more likely that buyers will make an offer and buy that house.  And in the end, selling the house is why there was a For Sale sign in the front yard.

Dwell in possibilities!

Cindy