1) Remove any wallpaper and repaint walls in a great color that will complement existing tile and fixtures (neutral colors are best if selling your home).
2) Sand, prime and paint the vanity with a matte black paint then add modern and updated hardware.
3) Remove floating glass mirror and replace with a framed mirror (Target and Home Goods carry inexpensive alternatives).
4) Update the faucets.

Add white fluffy towels and a piece of framed art to punch up the color and contrast.  A few small changes can turn a small powder room from boring to beautiful!

The seasons are changing…Autumn ahead!

Get ready for the most colorful season of the year!  Autumn with it’s falling leaves and shorter, cooler days will require a little attention if you’re planning on listing your home (or if it’s already on the market)!  It’s time to do a little maintenance to spiff up your property to allow potential buyers to see it at it’s colorful best.

Fall Staging Tips

• Clean windows inside and out if needed

• Put away any summer outdoor items like patio furniture or outdoor game items for the winter

• Drain and put away hoses for the season

• Rake and remove all leaves and dead or tired outdoor plantings

• Refresh outdoor flower pots with mums or other hardy fall flowers

• Make sure driveway, patio, decks and stairs are swept, clean and free from debris

• Remove leaves from gutters and roofline as necessary

• Make sure all outdoor lighting is in good repair. Clean glass and put in fresh light bulbs if necessary.

• Check yard for safety and attractiveness. Fill in all dead grass patches and holes from rabbits/chipmunks etc.

• Trim overgrown shrubs, especially those in need of shaping or those in front of windows. Let in as much light as possible!

• Trim trees and dispose of branches as necessary

Let the fabulous colors of Autumn help sell your home!

The days are bright and warm and we are heading into fabulous summer!  If you are planning on listing your home (or if it’s already on the market), pay extra special attention to your exterior. Buyers are out and about and look at your landscaping, roof, windows, and siding to see if it’s well kept and maintained.  Put your best foot forward with these tips:

Summer Staging Tips

• Turn up air conditioning to comfortable levels in vacant homes for showings

• Open blinds and other window coverings to let light in

• Clean windows inside and out if needed

• Remove dead or tired plantings in pots or landscaping and replace with fresh plants or flowers

• Make sure driveway, patio, decks and stairs are swept, clean and free from debris

• Remove any branches that may have fallen in yard or on roof from summer storms
• Before showings store all summer gear, kids yard toys, bikes etc. so curb appeal is at it’s prime

• If your yard has a pool or hot tub, make sure the area is clean and appears  ready for use.  This area should be staged with chairs, tables lighting etc. to show it’s appeal to buyers.

• Make sure all outdoor lighting is in good repair. Clean glass and put in fresh light bulbs if necessary

• Check yard for safety and attractiveness. Fill in all dead grass patches and holes from rabbits/chipmunks etc.

• Trim back seasonal foliage and dead flowers when blooms are done

• Make certain any outdoor hoses are safely and neatly stored.

• Trim overgrown shrubs, especially those in need of shaping or those in front of windows. Let in as much light as possible!

• Add mulch to outdoor landscaping areas as needed to freshen the look of the yard

• Trim trees and dispose of branches as necessary

Minor maintenance can mean a lot to your potential buyers….let the natural beauty of Summer help sell your property!

• Family photos, cherished as they are, are not ART. Neither are diplomas, certificates of course completion or posters from concerts you attended in 1978.  Those are personal mementos and should be taken off the walls when your house is on the market.
• The size of your art should roughly match the scale  of your wall. Large art on a large wall. Medium sized art on a medium sized wall. Small art on a small wall.
• Most people hang their art too high on the wall.  A good rule of thumb is that the CENTER of the piece should be no higher than 65 inches (5 1/2 feet)  from the floor.
• When choosing a picture for over your sofa remember that it should be no longer than 75% to 80% the length of your sofa and when hung, the bottom of the piece of art should not be higher than 8-12 inches above the back of the sofa.
• A group of smaller pictures can be put together to work as one larger piece. Space groupings of pictures approximately 3 inches apart
• While the same “rules” apply as framed art, hanging interesting and neutral items on the wall such as a large, flat basket or an interesting metal sculpture is both acceptable and appreciated when staging your home.  Items such as these should be used occasionally mixed in with other framed art.

Important:   If you have valuable art (including originals or numbered prints, sculptures, statues or other decorative pieces you should remove them and pack them for your move when listing your home. Replacing valuable items with less expensive artwork is an important safety measure.  Remember, strangers will be walking through your home viewing and reviewing everything in it. Stagers will be happy to rent updated artwork and wall art accessories for a fraction of your cost to buy.

Having updated and well placed art can make your home warm, memorable and the one that buyers choose!

Vacant, Not Previously Listed Homes

These vacant homes were not on the market previously.  The properties were Professionally Staged and then listed.  These homes sold on Average in 42 Days

Vacant, Previously Listed Homes

Vacant Homes in this study were on the market an average of 277 days without selling and had never been staged.  After pulling these houses off the market, professionally staging them and re-listing, on average the properties sold after 63 days on the market. Which represents  78% Less Time on the Market!

Occupied Home, Not Previously on the Market

These occupied homes were not on the market previously.  After professional staging, they were listed. They sold on average in 39 Days

Occupied, Previously Listed Homes

Occupied Homes in this study were previously on the market, but had never been staged. After an average of 233 days without selling, they were taken off the market and professionally staged then re-listed.  These properties on average sold after 53 days on market.  Which represents  78% Less Time on the Market

Whether your property has been on the market for awhile with no action or you are just starting to think about selling, call us at Astute Transformations for a consultation. The proof is in the numbers….STAGING WORKS!

Source: The Real Estate Staging Association’s Home Staging Statistics – Released February, 2010