Questions and Answers About How to Stage

<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060752_zps2b012a22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060752_zps2b012a22.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> I’m trying to stage an empty house. I have enough furniture and it’s looking good. My question is what do I do in the closets?<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>I would leave closets empty because they look bigger. But not entirely empty. I would add a few props to dress them up and give a little personality.<br /><br />In a bedroom closet I would place some pretty boxes on the shelves. In a linen closet I would stack a few fluffy towels, and perhaps a folded blanket. In a coat closet, I would add some wooden or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/07/make-your-closets-memorable-to-buyers.html" target="_blank">padded hangers.</a>     </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">These little things will help buyers on tour remember your house as the one with attractive closets, where people (that's you!) live clean, enviable lives. Buyers buy the lifestyle when they buy the house, and women particularly are interested in closets. So, stage them to look gal-friendly. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Remember to clean any light fixtures in the closets and to maximize the wattage.      </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> We’re planning to sell our home in a year. I know there are things I should be doing now, but I don’t know where to start. Any advice?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A:</span></b> Start by getting rid of things you don’t love or need. Second, it’s not too early to get a home inspection so you’ll know what needs repairs. Then, educate yourself about the local real estate market and maybe interview some realtors. You should also get current about about <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-to-make-your-home-look-new.html" target="_blank">decorating trends</a> and what not to do so when you’re ready to stage you’ll be up-to-date.<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060749_zpsc91a6cb0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060749_zpsc91a6cb0.jpg" width="516" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Yes or no to mini blinds? When you don't want to spring for the <br />the pricier versions, how can you make them work for staging?    </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> Should I leave mini blinds in my windows when staging? I know they aren’t super-stylish, but I still like them for light control and privacy.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A:</span></b> I’m with you on the mini blinds, because they are inexpensive and functional. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You could leave them up but layer a window treatment over them, one that lets you cover them to soften the look. Just sheers might look good, or draperies that you open every day when you want sunlight entering the room. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Remember that buyers respond well to bright rooms, so make sure both the blinds and any draperies are open wide when you expect a showing.<br /><br />And if your mini blinds are showing signs of age, replace them with new ones. <br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q: </span></b>The rooms on one side of my home are dark, even though they have enough windows. What can I do to make these rooms look brighter? I’ve already done what I can with lamps and overhead lights.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>If the walls aren’t a light color, can you repaint them? Can you add a large mirror to each room? Can you remove lower limbs from trees that might be creating too much shade? Can you make your <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-sew-window-treatments-why-stitch.html" target="_blank">window treatments</a> cover less of the window opening? Can you remove or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/painting-furniture-dont-make-these.html" target="_blank">paint any dark pieces of furniture</a> that might be soaking up light?<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-ancestraloilpainting_zps3edbc068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-ancestraloilpainting_zps3edbc068.jpg" width="496" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Make a portrait part of the room's decor instead of its <br />focal point. In this photo by Jeffrey Hirsch, costume designer <br />William Ivey Long, clustered attractive props and furniture near <br />the framed art instead of isolating it on a blank wall.   </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q: </span></b>I have your eBook so I know that when staging you suggest avoiding artwork with faces in favor of landscapes, abstracts, and still lifes. I have a large painting of my great, great grandmother. I think it looks cool. Should I store it away when I list my house? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>I agree, ancestral portraits <b><i>are</i></b> cool! Even ones that aren’t your own relatives add a certain dignity or importance to a room. I’d definitely leave it in place, as long as it isn’t the focal point of the room. How about somewhere unexpected, like in a hallway, bedroom, or on a stairwell?<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">That said, some old portraits look a little creepy or just too engaging to be used in a staged room. If your ancestor appears sad, mad, or stares out of the canvas in such a way that makes visitors talk about the art rather than your house, store the painting. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I hope your great, great grandmother brings you good luck selling your home!  </div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Any Questions?</span></b> Do you have any problems about your DIY home staging? If my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBooks</a> don't solve them, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/contact.html" target="_blank">email me your question</a> and I'll try to solve your home staging dilemma.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">  </div></div><a href="http://www.cubesmart.com/blog/weekly-roundup-best-content-on-the-web-3/"><img src="http://www.cubesmart.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/BestOf_Nov2013_horiz.png" /></a>

Questions and Answers About How to Stage

Q: I’m trying to stage an empty house. I have enough furniture and it’s looking good. My question is what do I do in the closets? A: I woul...

Read more »

Selling Your Home with Words: Writing A Real Estate Ad

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHQRKAvgGMa5xA6rclff5lqYX_OlO4ImI4exOjik-Ji5N8iKOfaDaYVSkbc9zc_o7Tad2izNbepdb0joJrlQpaidRJndVfjPeDhWXEQ4cuPUU4I41Q0nTwp3y1ICIS5CFV4US2mwobas/s400/smith+hawken+alpine+pine+garland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHQRKAvgGMa5xA6rclff5lqYX_OlO4ImI4exOjik-Ji5N8iKOfaDaYVSkbc9zc_o7Tad2izNbepdb0joJrlQpaidRJndVfjPeDhWXEQ4cuPUU4I41Q0nTwp3y1ICIS5CFV4US2mwobas/s400/smith+hawken+alpine+pine+garland.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">These are the kind of evocative images a Smith and <br />Hawken catalog featured, along with compelling copy.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Three very different men taught me about advertising and selling.<br /><br />The first was Joe McKertich.<br /><br />He owned an advertising agency and hired me when I was fresh out of college. It was way back in 1964, so think Peggy Olson. But instead of Don Draper, Joe was a paunchy, balding teetotaler who worked long days and expected me to do the same.<br /><br />But he was an excellent teacher.<br /><br />From Joe I learned the importance of mistake-free printed matter.<br /><br />Part of my job was to make sure every word in the catalogs and ads we produced was spelled correctly, spacing was consistent, and every number was correct. Tedious!<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Guy Number Two </span></b><br /><br />My next copywriting teacher was Paul Hawken.<br /><br />I knew Paul when he was president of Erewhon Natural Foods in Boston in 1970, before he went to California with another friend, Ty Smith, and started the company called Smith and Hawken. These guys revolutionized American gardening with their mail order catalog, originally written entirely by Paul, a really savvy entrepreneur.<br /><br />The Smith and Hawken catalog pre-dated and was more genuine that the J. Peterman catalog that premiered a few years later. Paul's catalogs transported you to a dreamy world where you tended your heirloom flowers growing in glazed pots, using your hand-crafted tools and wearing your French farmers hat. Up until that time, gardening was a hobby for penny-pinching oldsters and unwashed hippies.<br /><br />Paul's catalogs made gardening stylish, classy, hip, fun. His company was grossing $50 million annually by the early 1990's. He cashed out, and after a number of post-Hawken owners, it was bought by Scotts the chemical gardening people, who ran the company into the ground. But that's <a href="http://gardenrant.com/2009/07/xxa-loving-homage-to-the-beauty-of-functional-well-made-garden-tools-the-smith-hawke" target="_blank">another story</a>. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1010253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1010253.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Like home ownership, boat ownership is a dream for many people, and the same <br />selling techniques apply. Capture the imagination, be honest, and be specific.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Selling Yachts</span></b><br /><br />The third person who taught me about selling was Kevin Bush.<br /><br />Kevin was the owner of a yacht brokerage company where I worked as a yacht broker eight years ago. The most important thing Kevin taught me was to ignore the negatives. If a client touring a boat wondered aloud why some cushions were missing, or remarked that the galley was small, the best response was no response. Any comment from me would reinforce the fact that the boat had liabilities.<br /><br />At first I thought Kevin was hard of hearing, but I came to realize that his selling technique was a practiced  one, and an effective one.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Advertising and Real Estate</span></b><br /><br />Are you wondering what these men in my life have to do with selling your home?<br /><br />Let's say you have <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-going-beyond-curb-appeal-to.html" target="_blank">fabulous curb appeal.</a> You've <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/01/dozen-rules-for-organizing-your-home.html" target="_blank">decluttered </a>and <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-clean-like-professional.html" target="_blank">cleaned</a> every square inch. You've <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-dos-and-donts-of-whiz-bang-home.html" target="_blank">staged your rooms</a> beautifully. Your property is well-maintained, and priced right.<br /><br />But unless buyers know about your home, you're sunk. Whether you list with a licensed real estate agency, or decide to sell your home FSBO, advertising is essential if you want buyers to come and see for themselves. Advertising is what drives almost every American business.<br /><br />And if you are selling your home, you are in a business. <br /><br />You may think that an MLS listing is all formula, but just like a Facebook page or a <a href="http://www.rtpresumes.com/" target="_blank">LinkedIn profile</a>, there's plenty you can do to make your listing more interesting. You can turn it into a strong selling tool instead of just a list of specifications.<br /><br />Of course, photos of your home are what catch buyers' attention. Today, I'm concentrating on just the words you use to sell your home, because that's what buyers look at next.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1010949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1010949.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Yours truly as NYC copywriter in the mid 60's. <br />Where was Don Draper then? </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Be Correct</b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Work with your realtor to make sure your specs are correct in your listing. Your online data and your printed material need to be accurate.<br /><br />Is the square footage right? The age of the home? The types of flooring? The number of baths, the size of the garage, the school district. Humans make mistakes, and realtors are human. Double check the info because this is how buyers judge your home before they decide whether to visit it.<br /><br />Don't get sloppy about grammar, punctuation, consistency of style and spelling. Your advertising should look professional. By showing respect for your potential buyer in this way, you earn respect from your potential buyer.  <br /><br />That's the way Joe would have wanted it. (May he rest in peace.)<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Be Specific</span></b><br /><br />When Paul Hawken wrote about a shovel, he didn't tell you that it had a wooden handle. He told you it had a kiln dried ash handle from trees grown in Sweden specifically for shovel handles, and that it was attached using a method that had been perfected over the centuries by farmers.<br /><br />If your home has a new heating system, give the date, the manufacturer, and the capacity. If you installed new carpeting, specify Dupont Stainmaster or whatever. If your home is near restaurants and shops, name the big businesses and the number of restaurants.<br /><br />And this is important: Even if the brand name and the measurements aren't actually impressive or top of the line, the fact that you are citing them indicates transparency and even pride. Advertising is bragging. But you can't brag unless you're specific.<br /><br />Photos are a subtle way of bragging. The tantalizing photos in a Smith and Hawken catalog did their job of seducing mail order customers. Taking great photos of your home on the market is very important, and a subject for another post, one about <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-not-to-photograph-your-home.html" target="_blank">photographing your home</a>.<br /><br />Being specific is one way to interest buyers in your property without reverting to annoying "fluff" phrases such as, "Just bring your rocking chairs and enjoy the view." A smarter way to merchandise your porch would be with specifics: "Enjoy a 4-season view from the 12 x 40-foot front porch." <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.louisebeckproperties.com/web/cms/2008/04/mls-listing-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.louisebeckproperties.com/web/cms/2008/04/mls-listing-sm.jpg" width="323" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">You don't have much space on an<br />MLS listing form, so every word has to be<br />chosen to make your home look good.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Be Positive</b> </span><br /><br />My boating boss Kevin knew that every boat had some things that a buyer didn't love. Your house will have some things that a buyer wishes he could change. Focus on the best qualities, and you'll encourage him to do the same.<br /><br />If you are FSBO and showing your home, never call attention to unfinished projects, problem areas, or any shortcomings. Showcase what you love about your home.<br /><br />If you have a realtor, make sure she knows exactly what's special and unique about your property -- that the fireplace works, that the utilities are very low, that the windows are extra thick, that the roof is brand new...all that nitty gritty stuff.<br /><br />These are the qualities a buyer needs to focus on so that he's comfortable with the trade-offs, those things that are less than perfect in his mind.<br /><br />Don't think you are being deceptive by being positive. Anyone buying a home will need a home inspection, just the way people buying boats through me bought a marine survey of the vessel. There are no secrets.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Takeaway</span></b><br /><br />Staging your home to sell it is the beginning of the selling process. Getting the word out is the next step. Listen to the lessons I learned from my teachers and you'll have better success with advertising your home on the market.<br /><br />If you are selling your home, whether you have staged it already or not, my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar</i>, will teach you new tricks and techniques to make it inviting to buyers.<br /><br /><br /><br />

Selling Your Home with Words: Writing A Real Estate Ad

These are the kind of evocative images a Smith and Hawken catalog featured, along with compelling copy. Three very different men taught me a...

Read more »

Advice About Negotiations and Home Inspections

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div><br /></div><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Harborwalk/homeinspection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Harborwalk/homeinspection.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A home inspection is helpful whether </i></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i>you are selling a home or buying a home.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Any offer you get to buy your home on the market needs to be taken seriously.<br /><br />As a seller, you should <i>always </i>counter an offer. There's a couple of reasons why this makes sense.<br /><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reason One</b></span><br />The more times papers get passed back and forth, the more emotionally invested the buyer becomes to the offer going through.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Reason Two</b></span><br />Not many buyers will open with their top bid. We didn’t.        <br /><br />The good news is that our offer was accepted. The owner did not even counter-offer. That fact is fascinating to me. It makes me wonder if we could have bought it for less. Well, can’t get greedy, now, can we?<br /><br />My head is swimming with possibilities for this unit. My challenge will be to keep it under budget. However, for me, frugality is like an Olympic sport. It takes punishing practice and constant dedication, but I’m up for it! <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Official Inspection or Not? </b></span> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/frontdoor-home-inspection2-200x3001_zps51fbc49d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/frontdoor-home-inspection2-200x3001_zps51fbc49d.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Home inspectors are trained and licensed<br />so you know there are standards that<br />are understood by the real estate industry.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>We decided not to have a home inspection, even though we usually do. One reason is that both Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Lucky did a thorough examination of the property. The other reason is that the unit is part of a condominium that is well managed. <br /><br />However, a home inspection is valuable, especially if you are buying a home without knowledgeable advisers, or without much homeowner experience yourself. When buying a home, you can’t count on the seller or the realtor to educate you about every square inch. Even new homes can have surprises, especially when a builder tries to cut corners to increase profits.<br /><br />When selling a home, it can be worth the money to hire a home inspector so there are no surprises once you’re under contract. A home inspection will tell you what repairs ought to be made to keep a buyer and his financing people happy.  <br /><br />A home inspection report that shines a favorable light on your property can become part of the selling package that you or your realtor can show prospective buyers.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Taking Risks vs Taking Chances </b></span><br />Not having an official inspection when buying can be risky. Most realtors suggest it, and some insist on it.<br /><br />Any real estate investment is a risk. The difference between taking a risk and taking a chance is information. We chose to reduce the risk factor here by learning as much as we can about the property and having an experienced builder do a thorough study of the building, the electrical system, the roof, water heater, appliances, foundation, attic space, moisture content of walls and ceiling, heating and cooling systems, and plumbing. <br />  <br />Our closing is set for March 11. We have two weeks before the big push. I call it that because we need to get in and get out in four weeks, a self-imposed deadline. We set a deadline not just to make it more interesting (Ha!) but to keep costs low. The faster it sells, the lower our carrying costs are.<br /><br />Are you selling a home? Do you want advice on repairs, cleaning, and staging it? Then download my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook, </a><i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar</i>. I give you a money-back guarantee, so there's NO risk!<br /><br />

Advice About Negotiations and Home Inspections

A home inspection is helpful whether  you are selling a home or buying a home. Any offer you get to buy your home on the market needs to be ...

Read more »