The Edna Project--Part I

    As a stager, I come in contact with many people from all stages of life. One of the most rewarding, yet challenging situations, is assisting with a senior move. While all moves are stressful, senior moves have their own set of complications. Many times, they are moving due to failing health or the need of additional care. Often their family is out of state or aging themselves, and both parties can be overwhelmed by the amount of work involved. For example, there is a collection of furniture and personal belongings that has been building for decades. Just tackling the “stuff” alone can be stressful, and emotional. In addition, there is often a fair amount of updating and renovation that needs to be done before putting the house on the market. Deciding to do the work themselves is often out of the question and finding contractors for these jobs is just one more thing to add onto the list. And let's not overlook the importance of organizing the move into the new apartment and making the client feel that they are in a familiar place, surrounded by the things they love. There are so many facets to this event that it's no wonder that there is an increasing number of senior move managers available to assist families as they navigate this chapter in their lives. Check out the The National Association of Senior Move Managers^® to find a certified senior move manager in your own state.

Clutter and an excess of furniture is the main problem in this room.

Welcome now to Edna's place. All of the above are factors in this particular job. On top of all of that, Edna is working on a very limited budget, as are most seniors. But she wants to move on and sell her house as quickly as possible. While I turn to the family and other willing helpers to assist with the elements mentioned earlier, I have a very clear role and duty. It is my job to get the house ready for the market. Our mission: create a space that appeals to a younger buyer without breaking the bank. Here are some pictures so you can get an idea of what we are working with. 

It's hard for the average person to imagine how great a space can be if it's full to the brim with stuff. However, a trained eye can immediately pick out the features of the room and begin a design plan on the spot. For instance, this room has a beautiful fireplace and large windows! We need to buyer to see those as well! Here's a sneak peak at what a little clearing out can do:

Check back soon to see the final product!

This bathroom has the potential to be a spa-like oasis, but a buyer will never be able to look beyond the paper. Task number one--paper removal! Click here to see my tutorial on stripping paper:

Here are some more of the spaces that we will need to update and stage:

We've got our work cut out for us! Make sure to check back in the following days for updates on the project. I'll include tips and lessons learned along the way.

SELLING WITH ALL THE SENSES—LOVE AT FIRST SMELL?

When you think about getting your house ready for sale, hopefully you are thinking about how the house will look to buyers. You’re probably thinking about what colors to paint, what repairs to do and what items to keep or pack. While all this is well and good, so many homeowners forget that buying a house is an emotional experience that happens as soon as the potential buyers walk through the front door—their first impression is a strong and important one.  Those first ten seconds will determine whether they stay to really look at the house or mentally check out and move on. And first impressions are not all about sight. Even though we may not be completely aware of it, our first impressions are built from a collaboration of all our senses working together. The way a house looks, smells and feels (we will talk about taste and sound another time) will influence whether they choose to stick around to fall in love or start dreaming of house number 2, or 3, or 4…yikes! And believe it or not, scent plays a huge role in how that can happen.

So how I can I utilize my house’s scent to set it above the competition?

Do:

·         Take care of any pet or smoke odors by having your carpets professionally cleaned and renting a professional grade air purification system. (NOTE: As we all become accustomed to the ‘ahem’ scent of our homes, it may be necessary to ask a friend to tell you if your house smells ok. Or, if you value your friendships, consider having a professional stager give you the honest truth—it’s our specialtyJ)

·         Consider having the house professionally cleaned prior to an open house. Many companies provide one time cleanings for special events. I highly recommend Clean Day because not only do they use safe cleaners, they smell amazing (more on that below).

·         Have at least one fresh flower arrangement for an open house—flowers are appealing on so many levels.

·         Warning—this tip is only for people who have extra time on their hands, and if you are selling your house, that’s not you. If you like to bake, consider whipping up a fresh batch of cookies or a loaf of bread and letting the aroma linger for the open house. They’ll be dreaming of home cooked meals in no time.

Don’t:

·         Use harsh cleaners that have a strong scent. If buyers walk in and the first  thing they smell is pine-sol, they subconsciously think of cleaning—which is work—which is something we don’t want them to associate with your house.

·         Use strongly scented candles or air fresheners. Those fabricated smells make the buyer think that you’re trying to cover something up. Essential oils used in moderation are a great alternative and can be used for cleaning or air freshening. Make sure to do your research or go with a cleaning company that is educated in essential oil properties/uses. Check out Clean Day for innovative cleaning ideas.

Learn About the Hottest Career in Real Estate, Home Staging

Learn About the Hottest Career in Real Estate, Home Staging

There's a huge demand for PSC Stagers in every city. "Just as home inspections and appraisals have become a standard practice in real estate, PSC® Home Staging services are in high demand and Stagers are needed everywhere!"

-Jackie Riggins, Authority in REAL Home Staging!

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/moving-and-relocating-articles/learn-about-the-hottest-career-in-real-estate-home-staging-595236.html#ixzz1RG8KrSav
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives

Hiring a Home Stager

Preparing to sell your home is a very stressful time

As with any major life change, preparing and selling your home can be very stressful. The right home stager can help you address the many questions that will likely come up for you. For example:

• Will the house be ready on time?
• What colors should we paint?
• There is too much to do. Where do I start?
• Does it matter if we don’t have a dining room?
• Where can I put all this stuff?
• What should I do about that carpet?
• How should I show this room?
• When should I have my garage sale?
• Which real estate agent should I list with?
• Who can I get for repairs, gardening, painting and cleaning?
• Do all my rooms need to be furnished?
• How will I cope with real estate showings?

For more information, visit Six Elements.

JM Staging, headquartered in   Minneapolis, Minnesota is available to exceed your expectations in the area of Home Staging and  real estate consulting. Contact Joelle for more information.

Bang for Your Buck Experts Discuss the Best and Worst in Remodeling Investments and Home Staging

Designer Monica Pedersen gives advice on what to do when selling your home. Real estate expert Elizabeth Sincox weighs in on Monica's advice – sometimes the two agree, and sometimes they don’t.

 Read the full story here.

15 Secrets of Home Staging

Highlight your home's strengths, downplay its weaknesses and appeal to the greatest possible pool of prospective buyers with these home-staging tips.

By Leah Hennen, re-posted by Arrange for Change

Contact JM Staging Solutions

Read the full story here.

Home Staging & Staging a House - What is Home Staging Dressing a House for Success - STAGING A HOME

By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide

JM Staging - Minneapolis

Home staging is about illusions. It's how David Copperfield would sell a house. It's beyond decorating and cleaning. It's about perfecting the art of creating moods. Staging makes your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, more loving and, best of all, it makes home buyers want to buy it.
Contrary to what you might think, it's about more than preparing the house for sale. Staging is what you do after you've cleaned, decluttered, painted, made minor repairs; it's all about dressing the house for sale.
It's about adding the small details: the lipstick, mascara and, for simplicity, a stunning, single strand of Tahitian pearls.
What is a Professional Home Stager?
Professional stagers are highly skilled artists. They can take a blank canvas and paint a sensuous portrait without ever lifting a paint brush. Stagers possess the skills of a top-level designer and they create dramatic scenery that appeals to all five senses. Here are some of their secrets:

• Arrange sparse pieces of furniture in an appealing grouping known as a vignette
• Showcase a generous usage of soft fabrics such as silk, lambswool, satin
• Display unusual knickknacks in units of 1, 3 or 5
• Drape window coverings with simple lines
• Add unique elements to shelving, bookcases and fireplace mantels, which draw attention to predetermined areas

What Accessories Does a Stager Use?

Read the full story here.

JM Staging Solutions provides innovative thinking to assist in selling your home

Minneapolis, MN (JM Staging Solutions/July 2, 2011)...Here were the rules: You have no budget, six hours and you can't bring anything in with you. That was all I was told about the house we were about to stage as a part of the CSP Staging program. I did know that the 4200 square-foot home was about to be put on the market, and we were being called in to make it market ready.

Was it possible? I sure didn't think so.

But after a long day of innovative thinking and furniture moving, we had great results. Take a look at one of the biggest transformations! This was the entry sitting room before:

With too much furniture, it's hard to see how big the space actually is. And with a hutch, TV and couch all in the same room, it's hard to know what the room is—a big “no no” when trying to sell—or live for that matter!

First things first—decide what you want the room to be and how you want to feel. We wanted this room to feel open and inviting. By removing some pieces and rearranging what we had, we got this!

By bringing some new pieces from other places in the home and adding light, we've made this space feel much bigger. With this new arrangement, the gorgeous windows—a major feature in this room--were now clear and able to allow in more natural light.

This fireplace was such a unique and beautiful architectural piece but wasn't being highlighted as it should. Here's what a little editing and repurposing can do—and remember for ZERO dollars!