Back to the Basics – Flow

We continue with our back to the home staging basics.  Today, we discuss Flow.

Flow generally refers to the even pace in which one moves from space-to-space and room-to-room in a house.  Flow can be a subtle characteristic of a house if done well -- but can be jarringly obvious if not done well.

·         Do the rooms and spaces feel connected? 

·         Is there a choppy and broken feeling as you move from room-to-room? 

·         Does the eye flow across a room?

·         Are there things like furniture placement, colors or clutter that get in the way? 

·         Are the colors consistent from room-to-room?

While poor flow is obvious, I believe that creating an even pace with movement from space-to-space takes the experience and expertise of a professional home stager. 

For some clients, I provide paint consultation and carpet selection assistance because the existing paint colors are inconsistent, dated or dirty and the same is usually true about the carpeting.  In other cases, the first phase of home staging involves major de-cluttering.  And in many instances, I advise with furniture places as both furniture placement and scale affect “Flow”.

Building subtle flow is a clear example of the art of home staging.

In summary, when attention has been paid to this concept of “Flow”, a house has a peaceful, easy feeling (Do you hear The Eagles singing in the background?).  Isn’t that what we all want in our home?

Home staging helps set each house apart from the competition for all of the right reasons.  When it is done well, home staging accentuates the home’s best features and provides a nice, easy and consistent use of space and movement.  Then buyers can experience the real possibilities of that home.

Dwell in possibilities!

Cindy

Back to the Basics – Focal Points

We continue with our Back to the Home Staging Basics series.  Today, we will examine Focal Points.

After examining the house’s curb appeal and entry area, I focus my attention on those factors that make this house unique and distinct from the other homes on the market in this price range.  Typically, a focal point is a permanent element of the house. 

In trying to identify the focal points, I ask myself these questions:

·         Does this house have a great view? 

·         Is there a fireplace and how can we draw the buyer’s attention to this unique feature of this house? 

·         Are there hardwood or marble floors that accentuate a dining room or master bath? 

·         What about the kitchen?  Does it have special cabinetry, granite countertops, or a unique layout?  Is the kitchen designed to be a gathering space as well as a place to cook?

·         Are there any other architectural features that we want to highlight?

Once the house’s focal points are identified, the home staging task is to show off the house’s potential by drawing the potential buyer’s attention to them.  And this is where my creativity, experience, resources and inventory can be invested in helping sell the house quicker and for the highest price possible.

Check out our Transitions website for examples of focal points in Kitchens, Living Rooms and Family Rooms that we staged - http://www.transitions-home-staging.com/Staging-by-Room-Type.html

Focal points provide a house’s emotions, dreams and possibilities.  As a Realtor partner shared with me, “If all we were buying are bricks and mortar, just about any house will do.  Instead, we are buying emotion, dreams, and possibilities.” 

Think about it - in buying emotion, dreams, and possibilities, we want to envision comfort and care; laughter and joy; simplicity and ease.  And we most often find those dreams in the flames of a fireplace, the warmth of a kitchen and the views out the window (all focal points to be shown off to their best advantage). 

With a professionally staged house, buyers do imagine living in that house and making it their home.   

Isn’t this why we staged the home in the first place? 

Remember to dwell in possibilities! 

Cindy