Tag Archives: Vacant Home Staging

A Peek Behind the Curtain

I’m sure you’ve wondered, how does staging actually work? Is it just moving a bunch of furniture in and out of homes all day every day? Does staging make that much of a difference? People don’t reaaaaalllly care how a home looks when they’re in the market for a new one, right? They can see the potential and know my couch won’t be here when they move in, of course. Today, we’re going to give you a sneak peek into just how exciting and effective staging a home can be!

Preparing for a stage is a multi-week process. We hear from a realtor that a client is looking for our support. We begin the process with a staging consult — up to two hours walking through a client’s home and prioritizing together the work that should be done and that changes to be made for the seller to receive the maximum price for the sale of their home. We take pictures so we can get to work designing and packing all the furniture and décor needed to impress buyers. After the consult, the seller gets to work cleaning, repairing and packing.

While the buyers are working hard at home, we are busy buzzing around our warehouse selecting furniture, bedding, lighting, art and décor that we strategically pack and ready for staging day!

Once the home is vacant, the selling family moved out, and everything spick and span, it’s time for us to bring our design to life with the help of our very beloved movers! We bring a big moving truck, full of beautiful items, and two amazing movers who help us thoughtfully and carefully curate homes. We place furniture, hang artwork, toss throws and do our absolute best to highlight the home’s best features and greatest potential. Again, our goal is to help you gross the most profit.

Here’s the best part — the final product! There is no higher compliment that a seller returning to their staged home and saying, “gosh, it’s so beautiful I’m not sure I want to leave anymore. I wish I had you come design our home years ago!” Check out these before and after photos from a recent stage!

Dining room before

Dining room after

Eat-in Kitchen Before

Eat-in kitchen after

Office before

Office after

Primary bedroom before

Primary bedroom after

Livingroom before

Livingroom after

A little paint, some updated, neutral décor, and voila! You have yourself a top-notch home for sale! Check out this beautiful home’s listing photos, and who knows, maybe its your next dream home!

Speaking of dream homes, you don’t have to wait until you’re moving to have us come to your home for design help! We offer design services, in addition to staging. We love helping clients fall in love with their homes all over again, so don’t hesitate to reach out, we are here to support you!

Guest Blogger: Katya Larsen, Stager, A Home Revival

Parade of Homes is On! Sept 11-Oct 2

It has been a very busy time for home builders as new construction homes are in big demand. If you are thinking about building or renovating, you must take in the Parade of Homes. It’s the perfect time to get ideas, see what is on trend, what you like and don’t like.

The Parade is running from Noon to 6:00 pm Thursday – Sunday through October 2nd.

We are partial to Parade Models #252, #257 and #262. We love staging Parade of Homes models and find it a great honor to do so.

There may not be a marching band at this Parade but it is one to enjoy on a beautiful Fall day. Check out paint colors, light fixtures, flooring, and of course the staging!

Traffic Flow When Selling Your Home

I know it may sound a bit crazy to consider traffic when you are selling your home….like you need a traffic cop to assist you, but in a way you do. I guess I am that traffic cop! 🙂

When you are putting your home on the market you really need to consider that you may have 5 to 6 people all together walking through your home. Potentially the Realtor, husband, wife and 2-3 kids. That is a lot of people getting through a space and yes, most tend to walk together through the house, at least at first.

I entered a home this week to do a home staging consultation and 4 feet inside the door was an extremely large easy chair that also blocked over half the hallway straight ahead into the rest of the home. Yes it was a great placement for watching TV but it was not a great placement for selling. Some short term inconveniences may need to be made.

You need to leave all hallways, walkways, stairways and landings completely open. In addition, any major traffic pattern through a room should have 4 feet of clearance. If it is a not a key walkway, then a 3 foot space is sufficient. In some cases 2 feet is fine, like the back side of a dining room table.

You don’t need to walk through your home with a tape measure but if it helps than by all means! When I do a Home Staging Consultation I literally stand at the front door and determine which way the buyer is going to walk through a home. A well trained Home Stager can even direct the traffic flow in a direction you may want them to go in order to highlight a key feature of the home.

JJP-0170-1-2

In addition, traffic flow through a living room for example is best if it isn’t cutting through the middle of a furniture grouping. There are times in can not be helped but many times re-arranging of furniture can create a much better flow. In the picture above not only is there a direct line to the stunning and cozy sun porch, the buyer is not walking through the living room sitting area. That was grouped up towards the fireplace with ample space behind it.

So when you are getting your home ready for sale…stand back, look at the traffic flow and walkways in your home and determine where adjustments may need to be made. Or call your Certified Home Stager for assistance!