Stumped by Staging? These People Were.

<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://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-Diningroom_zps9cd701fc.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-Diningroom_zps9cd701fc.jpg" width="370" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The blue walls of this dining room are the same<br />intensity as the brown walls in the neighboring rooms. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Did you have a teacher who said, “There are no stupid questions.” Yeah, I had her, too. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Asking questions is a smart thing to do. I love questions from readers. Here are some I’ve received lately. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span> </b>Our dining room is cherry red. I really like it. Do we have to change to color in order to attract a buyer? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A:</span></b> Staging is about removing as many obstacles as possible that will prevent a buyer from deciding your home is The One for him. You don't "have to" do anything, but you'd be wise to please as many people as possible with your wall colors.<br /><br />I doubt that rooms adjoining your dining room have walls as intense as cherry red. I’d say, yes, paint your dining room walls a color that will “talk to” surrounding rooms, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-choose-paint-color-easy-way.html" target="_blank">a color that's the same value,</a> a color anyone have a long term relationship with.    <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q: </span></b>I’m staging my house, and we just painted most of the walls. I don’t want bare walls, but I don’t want holes when I take the pictures down and move out. Do you have any advice?<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>There are a few things you can do. Very often you can hang lightweight art with regular push pins, which leave unnoticeable pinholes. Or you can use Command products that are removable and leave virtually no holes. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The people who buy your house might paint the walls or they may hang their own art that would cover nail holes, so don’t stress about some wall holes.  Leave some of your wall paint, labelled, for the new owners. The holes won’t be apparent until a walk-through just prior to closing, when you can tell them about the touch-up paint if it comes up in conversations or negotiations. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> My home has been on the market for 10 months. It’s uncluttered, clean and staged. People say it looks great. My realtor agrees. She shows it often. The feedback I get is all positive. But still no offers. Is this normal or am I missing something?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">A: </span>Find out what is typical for days on market in your area. That will tell you if you are just being impatient or there is a problem.<br /><br />If homes in your market sell in less than 10 months average, and if all that you say is accurate, I think you have to look at the price. When people tour a home and they think the price is too high for what they see, they often won’t say that, even to their own realtor. Instead, they will mention that the bedrooms are small, or they don’t like the view, or the bath needs remodeling – some deal-breaker. No one wants to look cheap. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’d recommend a review with your realtor of how you arrived at your price. You may have to adjust your expectations and ask less.     <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q: </span></b>What finish should walls have when painting them for staging? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>Flat everywhere except baths and kitchen where semigloss or satin is best.  <o:p></o:p><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-cpapmachine_zps629e50a8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-cpapmachine_zps629e50a8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This CPAP unit is unusually attractive. Most <br />are not this pretty. Photo Devilbiss. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> My husband uses a CPAP machine for his sleep apnea. The device sits on the bedside table. Now that our home is listed, should I be concerned about how this looks to people coming to look at the house? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>Yes, you should. These devices aren't ugly, but they raise questions. Keep a pretty, cover-up box handy for the CPAP machine, tuck in under the bed, or <a href="http://www.cpapholders.com/product/specs" target="_blank">buy a holder</a>. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s never a good idea to have anything on display that hints of problems people have. Even if the problems have nothing to do specifically with the house for sale, buyers don’t want to be reminded of hardships, illnesses or unpleasantness homesellers have. They want their next home to be a place where nothing uncomfortable ever happens. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I always encourage people to find hiding places for things like an oxygen tank, walkers, crutches, braces, and medicines. Prescription drugs need to be securely out of sight. Maybe it’s just me, but I think even a flesh-colored wrist support or some bottles of supplements look too intimate.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Do you have questions about selling your home? You can email me, or ask on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/100832113324140/" target="_blank">group Facebook page</a>. My <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBooks</a> also answer your DIY home staging questions.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Stumped by Staging? These People Were.

The blue walls of this dining room are the same intensity as the brown walls in the neighboring rooms.  Did you have a teacher who said, “Th...

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How Not to Photograph Your Home

<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-bloghouseinsnow_zps42193d86.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/1-bloghouseinsnow_zps42193d86.jpg" width="394" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">It's spring.  Does your home's profile photo <br />still show bare trees and snow on the roof?  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When people shop for a home, they usually begin their search online, either on their own or with a realtor. If your web photos don’t do your home justice, you could be out of the running before buyers even check out your <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-going-beyond-curb-appeal-to.html" target="_blank">curb appeal </a>with a drive-by. <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you looked at your web listing? <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You’ve worked hard to get your home in good shape, organized, cleaned, and staged. Do the photos capture all the major selling points of your home, or do they skip some of its best features? Do they show your home in the best way, or are there some slip-ups? <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here’s a checklist of what can go wrong when your home is photographed.</span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Out-of-season picture.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Although you may prefer the colors in your autumn profile photo, it’s springtime now. The message an off-season shot gives buyers is that the home has been on the market a long time. Buyers assume there must be something wrong with it. If your realtor won't take a new photo, perhaps you have or can take an image of your own that is current or season-less. <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Duplicate shots.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> This is a common mistake and I don’t know why. A listing will include three photos of the kitchen, or four photos of the backyard. Hello? Buyers don’t have to see a room from multiple angles. Choose the photo that flatters the room the most. Your photos should be complete, yet tease buyers to come and see more. <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2011/05/101483563.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2011/05/101483563.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Notice how the photographer shot this kitchen from the <br />height of the counters. This means you can see both<br />the floor and the ceiling. Photo: BHG</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Missing rooms.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Buyers want an overview. Give them a room-by-room sampling as best you can. Omitted rooms are a red flag to buyers. Some realtors have to pay extra for extra photos, so if you are forced to choose, choose the important rooms: kitchen, living room, dining room, baths and master bedroom.  Always include an exterior picture.</span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Flash.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>If a professional photographer takes your photos, he’ll have the camera to do the job with natural light, in-home lighting, or lights he brings to the job. If you or your realtor take photos, turn the flash off. A flash illuminates only a few feet in front of the camera, and it leaves harsh shadows. The flash is not your friend. If you are working with a point-and-shoot camera, you might need to do some simple photo editing to help the pictures along after uploading them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wrong angle.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Good lighting and the proper angle are the two most significant ways to make your home photos look better. Inside, the most common mistake amateurs make is to shoot from too high a level. Crouch down to get a more interesting view. Outside, move around your home’s front and shoot multiple times. Shoot high and shoot low. Shoot from the left side of the house and from the right, even at different times of the day, and then choose the picture that makes your home look the best.<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/1-P1020691_zpsbdfdc49e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1020691_zpsbdfdc49e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This split level home looks okay in the photo, but a little too boxy, small, and dull.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><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/1-1-P1020694_zps3c3a7f8a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-1-P1020694_zps3c3a7f8a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">But when I moved to one side to take another picture, the building looks more interesting.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">People or pets in room.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>The message buyers get when they see people relaxing in the home is that you were in such a rush to get your house photographed that there was no time to ask people to step aside. It’s an affront to the buyer. Home buyers do not want to see people in these rooms. Pets in photos are a distraction as well. This apartment listing on Craigslist went viral because the owner's <a href="http://laughingsquid.com/dog-photobombs-every-picture-in-craigslist-apartment-listing/" target="_blank">dog photobombed</a> every shot, but I can't recommend that approach to get people noticing your listing!   <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Empty room.</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;">Of course, this blog is about home staging, so I never recommend a home be shown with empty rooms. A photo of an empty room is sad. Usually, it’s all flooring and blank walls and widows, giving no indication of size or the possibilities. DIY home staging is not rocket science and does not need to cost you big bucks! Stage your rooms. <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><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://badrephotos.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/mirror.jpg?w=500&h=375" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://badrephotos.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/mirror.jpg?w=500&h=375" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">What's wrong with this picture? For starters, the photographer is reflected in <br />the mirror. Also, she's using a flash. The picture is crooked. It's not cropped. <br />The room's not staged, and the lid is up!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Signs of ordinary life.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> It’s appalling how many MLS photos show laundry, toiletries, stacks of paperwork, garbage cans, and cars parked in the driveway. Tweak your home for its photo op. It takes only a moment to stash the pool toys, hide the cosmetics, and put the lid down on the toilet! <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unprepared. </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">There is a <a href="http://hookedonhouses.net/category/bad-mls-photos/" target="_blank">website that features bad MLS photos</a>. It’s a primer for what not to do. I won’t insult your intelligence by telling you the basics of good home staging. Just be ready when your photo shooting takes place by reviewing the crimes I’ve listed here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;">How to Fix</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does a review of your online listing tell you that the photos fall short of what they could be? If so, you have a few options. <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Talk to your realtor about improving the images. If you are selling your own home FSBO, replace the offending photos with better ones. Whatever cost and effort it takes is worthwhile. Your photos are your front line salespeople. They can be deal breakers or what gets people excited to see your home.  <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Replacing poor photos could mean that you need to spring for the cost of a professional photographer. What that will cost depends on where you live, the experience of the photographer, and how many photos you need.<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or, you might have a friend who has the camera, the eye and the experience to do the job gratis. If you take the photos yourself, edit them. I use Picasa for all my photos and the simplest techniques always improve them. So straighten, crop, brighten the colors, and increase the contrast as necessary. It’s easy. Get help if this editing task is overwhelming.<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe your listing has enough photos of your home to whet the appetite of home buyers, and you still have the opportunity for additional photos. Great! Don’t be shy about adding photos from other online sources. If you can grab a photo of your charming downtown, or the community pool, the local golf course, an annual festival, or whatever makes your town or neighborhood special, go ahead. Stay within bounds, however, because too many generic shots will make it appear that your home itself has little to offer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photos speak louder than words. Make sure your photos tell buyers how desirable your home is. <o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For more tips on making your home attractive to buyers, download my $5 <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> It’s one sure way to be successful at staging your own home. </span></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>

How Not to Photograph Your Home

It's spring.  Does your home's profile photo still show bare trees and snow on the roof?   When people shop for a home, they usually...

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Should You Stage Your Own Home? Or Hire a Pro?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><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://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-selfstagefrontdoor_zps2e19e9de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-selfstagefrontdoor_zps2e19e9de.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">An inviting front entrance like this colorful one -- so important <br />for curb appeal --  is easy to stage by basic staging principles. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>So I was reading on this online forum for professional home stagers, when I stumbled across a comment that annoyed me at first and then amused me.<br /><br />Here's the quote:<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">“One can certainly tell the difference between real staging and self-staged. The latter range from bad to appalling. Anyone looking at self-staged listings has to look past the fuchsia/avocado green walls and swagged drapes and dark green wall-to-wall carpeting and flowered sofa and chair that don't match -- indeed, they don't match anything in the room.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">That’s pretty harsh. But not true.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I maintain that most homeowners can stage their own homes. </span></span><br /><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Many of them will need to bring themselves up to speed, but that process can be an enjoyable learning experience. And most certainly a smart financial experience. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">  <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">It’s no secret that most of us stage our own homes to stretch our budget. </span></span><br /><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Hiring a professional stager will cost some money, understandably. A trained and accredited stager is an entrepreneur in business to make money, and cranking up and running a home staging business demands capital investment. She’ll have to pay for her training, for furnishings and warehousing, insurance, website, cell phone, laptop, camera, transportation, day laborers, tradespeople, office expenses, and advertising. She has to </span></span>calculate these costs into the estimate she gives you. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Why Do It Yourself</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Besides the obvious economic advantages of staging your own home, let’s look at some other benefits.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><b>Pace.</b> You have the flexibility to do it on your schedule. Unless you have a tight deadline for moving, you can afford to make some mistakes and then fine tune things with time. Perhaps family and friends will give you feedback for what looks best. You’ll be educating your eye. You might even be making purchases for your next home and using them for staging this one. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><b>Safety.</b> Most people have a horror story about movers or other workers in their home. Something was broken or stolen. Private information was taken. Do you know the “helpers” a stager might bring in to move your antiques around? Only you know exactly what you have that is valuable, delicate, or private, and how things are packed, labeled, and stored. Staging your own home could mean no surprises down the road. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><b>Familiarity</b>. If you’ll be living in your home while it is listed, you have an understanding of exactly what you and your family can tolerate in the name of an uncluttered home. It’s unrealistic to stage a playroom all cutesy and expect it to stay that way when you have three boys who prefer the room with wall to wall Legos. Can you keep your countertops free of small appliances? (I can’t!) Put away hair styling equipment and cosmetics every day? You might as well stage your home so you can still function comfortably.  <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div><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-MC8014454_4_0_zps6b997006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-MC8014454_4_0_zps6b997006.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Julie, a reader of this blog, staged her home herself. This is her <br />dining area. I think she did everything right!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">On the Other Hand</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A professional brings advantages of her own to the home staging process. Here’s my list of the advantages I see, along with some tips for you if you are considering hiring one.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">She’s been schooled as a professional and knows what the market insists on, what the trends are in your area. You should ask to see her credentials and view her portfolio.  You can ask your real estate agent to recommend a stager. </div><div class="MsoNormal">    </div><div class="MsoNormal">She has the furnishings and manpower necessary for staging. Ask if she pays any furniture rental fees or if you do. How about the cost of tradespeople like an electrician or a plumber?  Ask about the total cost for staging, how it is determined, and how it might vary. </div><div class="MsoNormal">     </div><div class="MsoNormal">Professional staging can be done relatively quickly. Depending on the extent of the job, the stager will probably be in and out and have you photo-ready in less time than if you had to do everything yourself. Ask how long the work will take. Ask what your responsibilities will be during the project.  </div><div class="MsoNormal">     </div><div class="MsoNormal">A stager has an unbiased viewpoint and can evaluate what should stay and what should go in your home for showings. She’ll see problems and solutions you haven’t thought of because she has the fresh eye.  Do you sense a <i>sympatico</i> with the stager you’re interviewing, so that communications are likely to go smoothly?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/1-MC8014454_18_0_zps5781a37b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-MC8014454_18_0_zps5781a37b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Here's the bedroom Julie staged. Would a professional have done better? I don't think so. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">You Could Flip a Coin</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">What’s a homeowner to do when it’s time to sell? It’s possible that a compromise might deliver the best of all worlds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">You could pay for a plan, and do the labor yourself.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333;">Many stagers will work as consultants, touring your house and offering suggestions on how best to present it. For a fee that varies according to where you live and how experienced the stager is, she will tour the property completely and then present you with a printed report.  A more casual, more economical arrangement might be a walk-through when you can take notes or record or video what she suggests. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">Some stagers will offer an initial consultation and a follow-up visit to make suggestions about <span id="goog_469709624"></span><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/03/finishing-touches-department-where-to.html" target="_blank">finishing touches<span id="goog_469709625"></span> </a>or tweaks. </div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">A cooperative arrangement like this means that you do the cleaning, the decluttering, and make the necessary trips to Goodwill, the landfill, or storage facility. </div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><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/1-selfstsagekintyrelivingroom_zps66f87e9f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-selfstsagekintyrelivingroom_zps66f87e9f.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Celeste, another blog reader, sent me this photo of the living room she staged herself <br />after reading my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>.  Her house sold for close to asking price in two weeks, <br />and I think it was because she did such a good staging job.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Whether you hire a pro or not depends on -- </div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><ul><li><b>Schedule</b>. How much time you have to do the work yourself. </li><li><b>Market.</b> What the competition is like in your local real estate market, how other homes go to market. In larger cities, it’s more likely that staging is expected. </li><li><b>Specifics.</b> The price, size, and age of your home. More expensive homes, larger homes, newer homes benefit more from a professional’s touch. Even if you have had your home professionally decorated, a home stager has a different set of priorities than a decorator. </li><li><b>Nostalgia.</b> How much emotional detachment you can muster. An outsider will be more objective, and help you understand typical consumer reactions to your décor and belongings. You may adore your cherry red dining room walls, but a stager may see that they make the room look smaller and older. </li><li><b>Imagination</b>. How much vision you have. If you’ve never been one to pay much attention to home décor, if you haven’t redecorated in a couple decades, if home improvement bores you, and if you can’t even imagine alternative colors or furniture arrangements for your home, perhaps you need outside advice. </li><li><b>Money</b>. How much money you are able and willing to spend on staging. If you are underwater with your home, it’s understandable that investing more money is painful. But an investment is what it is. Done correctly, staging pays for itself, because staged houses sell faster and for more money. </li><li><b>Desire</b>. How motivated you are to sell. If you want to sell quickly and move on, staging with a pro can speed things up.  </li><li><b>Stress.</b> How able you are to cope with stress. Some people seem to thrive on chaos, drama, and deadlines. Others are easily overwhelmed. Even a simple <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/10/tips-for-cleaning-and-organizing-closet.html" target="_blank">closet cleaning</a> can be stressful for some, while someone else can take a complete kitchen remodel i<span style="color: #333333;">n stride.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span></li></ul><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Whether you do all your own staging, turn it over to an accredited home stager, or go with some combination, only you can decide. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">If you stage your own home and use 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>, as a guide, I guarantee your results won’t look anything like the way the online poster described self staging. You’ll be on our way to staging like a pro. I’ll give you your money back if you are not completely satisfied with your purchase. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Avocado walls and swagged drapes, indeed! </span></span><br /><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Top photo: Better Homes and Gardens</span></span><br /></div></div>

Should You Stage Your Own Home? Or Hire a Pro?

An inviting front entrance like this colorful one -- so important for curb appeal --  is easy to stage by basic staging principles.  So I wa...

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When Hubby Says No, and Other Home Staging Problems

<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;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyiAD9QL4fawfr7Oy_bNLCBFk3GaF7nbhlH-M0KMhXyIYK4EB7-fGTeu3H4_CD80sjuSdFskH7aKwGOlJ4GhW78t8sbph80Eabvz1IH0mLaig3clb3BJNA1yFnVkjwclPZ21AzBNnxll4/s400/backyard-vegetable-garden.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">To plot to not to plot? </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="clear: right; color: black; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></span><br />Your questions help me help you. Whether the questions come through email, blog comments, Facebook, or friends, they tell me what nitty-gritty dilemmas people face when they want to sell a house.<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Here are some of the questions I’ve received lately, and my answers.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Let Garden Grow?</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Q:</b> We have a 12- by 12-foot vegetable garden in our rather small backyard. Is a garden like this an asset or a liability when it’s time to sell?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>A:</b> Most people want an easy-care or no-maintenance yard. But the idea of a small vegetable plot is still appealing to many people, especially during the growing season. If you want to keep the garden while your home is on the market, keep it tidy during any off-season, and consider adding hardscape like stepping stones, attractive fencing, and birdhouses.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">During the growing season, keep it free of weeds, mulch it, and make it look abundant. "Staged" this way, it becomes a selling point. </div><div class="MsoNormal">  </div><div class="MsoNormal">If your buyers decide they don’t want a garden, they can always convert a reasonably-sized garden into lawn, or use the space as a basis for something else, like a patio, above ground pool, play area, or dog run. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Storm Door or Not?</span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0w-2IAr94tdwGe6Rr8tWdsQtSccGl6uK7ulH9Yh_Zj_sjJMlsK6l2BhswJTq1XLF1B0AK1pYyM4B5LTIzC2xdxBW6GyR0btky7lRbX55uFHo6WxpuSBjkIDr37IHtmvu2jQmvQw-78o/s1600/StormDoor_2_Pella_184x250_26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0w-2IAr94tdwGe6Rr8tWdsQtSccGl6uK7ulH9Yh_Zj_sjJMlsK6l2BhswJTq1XLF1B0AK1pYyM4B5LTIzC2xdxBW6GyR0btky7lRbX55uFHo6WxpuSBjkIDr37IHtmvu2jQmvQw-78o/s400/StormDoor_2_Pella_184x250_26.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A handsome storm door that functions well <br />will add value to your home.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Q: </b>Our house has a storm door over the front door. It keeps out the cold in winter, and converts to a screen door in summer, so we like it. But I don’t think it looks great. Should we remove it?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>A:</b> If the storm door hides a pretty front door and seriously detracts from curb appeal, I’d consider removing it. Or I’d remove it if it’s a dated style and your home is fairly up-to-date otherwise. If the door does become history, you’ll want to putty and paint over the screw holes in the trim around the door.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In the interest of curb appeal, some home sellers remove the storm door while the home is for sale, and store it so it can be replaced if the new buyers want it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The right storm and screen door won't be an eyesore. Can you replace the door with a new one that is contemporary and really helps with the way a home shows?<br /><br />If you do replace a storm door, make sure its character is in keeping with your home's innate style.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Make sure the glass stays clean, and that the darn thing doesn't bang the heels of people entering, one of my personal pet peeves. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Uncooperative Spouse</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Q:</b> My husband doesn’t believe we should spend money on staging. Any advice? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>A:</b> Instead of pleading or nagging, enlist the aid of your <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-not-to-hire-realtor.html" target="_blank">realtor</a>. Any realtor will be able to give statistics and stories about homes that didn’t sell because they were not staged, and success stories of homes that were effectively staged. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I give more tips on how to be deal with a partner who doesn’t see the value of staging, in 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></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Big Home Small Budget</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/1-P1020677_zpsa4e03d51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1020677_zpsa4e03d51.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Staging a large home after you've moved can be daunting, but there are a few alternatives. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Q:</b> I’m selling a large, vacant house. If I can’t spend money to “do it right,” should I skip it?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>A: </b>This is a common quandary. The best advice I can offer is to do what you can. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">One possibility is that you can omit an entire section of the house, such as the second floor, or a basement. Concentrate on making the necessary living quarters – at least one bedroom, one bath, the living room and the kitchen – as well-staged as possible. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The downside of the partial staging solution is that buyers may think you’ve moved to your next home, and are therefore even more desperate to sell and willing to entertain low ball offers. You can let your realtor know that you’ve staged the house the way some builders will stage a model home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you do decide to leave the <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/02/strategies-for-staging-vacant-house.html" target="_blank">home vacant</a>, be sure everything is spotless and in great condition. Paint the walls and trim if necessary and have the entire house smelling good.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Do you have a question about home staging? I'd love to hear from you!  </div></div>

When Hubby Says No, and Other Home Staging Problems

To plot to not to plot?  Your questions help me help you. Whether the questions come through email, blog comments, Facebook, or friends, the...

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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...

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A Simple Way to Get Feedback from People Who Tour Your Home

<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/tidyhouse3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/tidyhouse3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Do you know what people really think  of your home? <br />Here's how to get inside buyers' minds.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">Hey, homesellers. Are you sick of people coming to look at your house and then never hearing from them again?<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you wonder </span></b>why they didn't make an offer? Do you question what they liked? Do you want to know what bothered them? What they thought of the price? The neighborhood? The floor plan? Your decor?<br /><br />Whenever I have a house for sale, I want feedback. It’s never too late to tweak the staging, add a simple upgrade, get rid of a minor problem, or …dare I say it… lower the price.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Even when <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-help-your-realtor-sell-your-home.html">working with a realtor</a>and doing all the right homework (like reading <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebook_02.html">my eBooks</a>), without feedback, you’re guessing how the market sees your home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Not everyone who views your home will tell his realtor what he really thought about your home. If a client acts disinterested, a good realtor will probe for reasons, because a good realtor wants to know what’s important to a client. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But some people feel bad saying negative things, or they may not understand fully what made them react to your home the way they did. So, not all feedback is helpful or complete.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">If a potential home buyer says</span></b>, “The house is nice, <span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>but </b></i>…”</span><br /><ul><li>But they don’t like the carpeting. </li><li>But kitchen is too small. </li><li>But the appliances have to go. </li><li>But they’re not crazy about the neighborhood. </li></ul>What they are really saying is the house is overpriced.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">These comments mean they are seeing bigger kitchens, or better flooring, or newer appliances, or nicer neighborhoods for the same price. Without choosing the exact phrasing, they are saying that they know they can get more for their money. <br /><br /></div><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/homestaging/1-P1010129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1010129.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Buyers typically look at similar homes in similar neighborhoods, at a similar price point.<br />This means you need to know your competition to arrive at a fair asking price.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">It’s all about perceived value. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Staging is one way to increase the perceived value of your home. Another way is pricing it correctly. Getting feedback will help you in both cases.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you're going to <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-not-to-hire-realtor.html">hire a realtor</a>, she'll help you set your asking price. There are objective methods to arrive at fair market value, but fair market value also depends on how the market responds to your home. That's where feedback comes in handy.<br /><br />Here is how one realtor makes it easy to tune into what home buyers are saying about a listing. She simply sends this questionnaire out to every realtor who shows the property. She asks them to email or query the client, and get quick answers to these multiple choice questions.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">How would you rate the home's curb appeal?</span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>Excellent</li><li>Good</li><li>Fair</li><li>Poor</li></ul><o:p></o:p><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><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/homestaging/1-P1010030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="337" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1010030.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Some homes have curb appeal on two sides. This home for sale in Florida on the <br />Intracoastal Waterway needs to look good from front and back. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">How did the home's interior look?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>Very comfortable and stylish</li><li>Clean and organized</li><li>Average</li><li>Needs improvement </li></ul><b><span style="font-size: large;">Are there parts of the home that need improving or updating?</span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>No improvements needed</li><li>Some exterior improvements needed</li><li>Some interior improvements needed</li><li>Appliances need updating or upgrading</li></ul><o:p></o:p><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><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/DSC00002-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/DSC00002-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A home in a subdivision is bound to be compared to the other homes in the same <br />(and nearby) subdivisions. A seller needs to match or beat these competing homes  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">How is the home priced compared to other homes?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>Price is very appealing</li><li>Price seems fair</li><li>Home is somewhat overpriced</li><li>Home is substantially overpriced</li></ul><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/1-P1010009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="340" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1010009.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A charming entrance is the beginning of what could become a purchase offer. <br />Knowing how buyers respond to your home can help you fine tune your property. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are you considering making an offer on this home?</span></b><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>Undecided</li><li>No</li><li>Yes</li></ul><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Get the facts! </span></b></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">It takes less than a minute to get answers to these questions. I encourage you to share this idea with your realtor, so you’ll be on your way to knowing what’s good about your property and what might need some attention. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Fix your home to get the best grades possible from potential buyers. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Start by downloading my $5 <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar.</i></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>

A Simple Way to Get Feedback from People Who Tour Your Home

Do you know what people really think  of your home? Here's how to get inside buyers' minds. Hey, homesellers. Are you sick of people...

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The Pros and Cons of Renting Your Home on the Market

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tenantscreeningblog.com/wp-content/uploads/for-rent-sign-in-yard3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.tenantscreeningblog.com/wp-content/uploads/for-rent-sign-in-yard3.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;">When my friend Christina’s husband accepted a job out of state, they knew they’d be moving. Soon. With all their furniture. </span><span style="background-color: white;">One of the realtors they spoke with suggested renting out their 4-bedroom home instead of selling it.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">They talked to a property manager, worked the numbers, and discovered that the rent they could reasonably expect would cover the cost of the home’s mortgage, insurance, taxes, professional property management, and maintenance. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So, they became landlords, and made their move. For now, they’ve become renters themselves. Meanwhile, they’re saving up, and learning the “lay of the land” in their <st1:city w:st="on">new city</st1:city>, in preparation for the day when they can buy again. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Does this approach make sense? Yes, for some people. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The rental market is healthier than ever. The New York Times describes the <span id="goog_61149784"></span>rental market as <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/realestate/changing-midstream-to-rental-from-condo.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y" target="_blank">"white hot," and "torrid."</a><span id="goog_61149785"></span> According to a recent, nationwide <a href="http://www.dsnews.com/articles/rental-market-attracting-residents-despite-price-increases-survey-2012-06-28" target="_blank">survey of property managers</a>, more people are renting, and at prices higher than previous years.<br /><br />Why? Because people who have lost their homes to foreclosures, and people who have difficulty obtaining credit are now renting.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of renting your home while you wait for a better market to sell it? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">On the Plus Side...</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Get On With Your Life.</span></b> You’re able to move without waiting. In Christina's case, her husband’s company helped with moving expenses, and even paid the mortgage until a tenant moved in, which didn’t take long. Even if you don’t have such a sweet deal, you could collect a security deposit and one month’s rent as soon as you have a committed renter. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Just Pack and Clean.</span></b> You don’t have to keep your home picture perfect while you wait for a buyer. Tenants are more forgiving, and don’t expect to see a staged home. They aren’t plunking down a huge investment and going into debt. As long as your home is clean and everything works, you’re golden. <br /><br /></div><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://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k483/Mir_Haynes/IMG_16831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k483/Mir_Haynes/IMG_16831.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">You can leave an empty, unstaged house behind. If it's clean, and it's priced right, it will rent!  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Leave the Closing Table with Cash, Not Debt.</span></b> Rather than settle for less than what you want for your home, you can wait for the real estate market to improve. According to <a href="http://www.dsnews.com/articles/zillow-one-third-of-homeowners-underwater-9-out-10-current-2012-05-23" target="_blank">Zillow</a>, one third of American homeowners are upside down with their home mortgages -– owing more than they can expect to sell for. If that’s your situation, renting might make sense. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Test the Waters.</span></b> Have you ever moved into a new town and later wished you had moved into a different neighborhood? It takes time to learn a locale. Not every realtor knows the best schools, the politics, the perks and problems, and where your favorite haunts will be. Perhaps you’re moving and still don’t have an employer in your new town. It makes sense to know where you’ll work before you invest in a home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Vacant Homes Go Downhill.</span></b> With a renter in your home, the home can pay for itself and be cared for. A good lease stipulates that the tenant be responsible for things like lawn care. A tenant should also be required to pay utility bills. A home that has electricity, heating and cooling, and running water, is preferable to <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/08/staged-and-vacant.html" target="_blank">a shut down property</a>. Neighbors like it, and vandalism is less likely<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">You Have a Landlord to Call.</span></b> Being a homeowner is demanding. By comparison, being a tenant is easy. When the dishwasher malfunctions, when the chimney needs cleaning, when the garage door doesn’t close right, when shingles blow off the roof, you’re not the one to pay the repair person.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">On the Other Hand...</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Show Me The Money.</span></b> Moving takes cash in hand or cheap credit. Most American homeowners don’t have enough money in the bank to relocate without the profit that comes from a home sale. Especially if they are moving to look for work. This might be your situation.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">It Feels Like A Step Backwards.</span></b> True, being a renter can seem like financial backpedaling. Chances are your new rental home won’t be your dream home. But not always. In Christina’s case, she likes her rental better than the home she left behind!<br /><br /></div><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://www.zihuatanejocondos.net/photos/condo_complex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://www.zihuatanejocondos.net/photos/condo_complex.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Could it be that living in an apartment complex temporarily will feel like a vacation?  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Markets Turn Around Slowly.</span></b><span style="background-color: white;"> It may be years before your home reaches the point where you can command a decent selling price. Meanwhile, the property needs to be managed and maintained.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Good Tenants Are Scarce.</span></b> I’ve been a landlady for almost 20 years, so I can tell you that it’s almost impossible to tell what kind of tenant a person will be.<br /><br />I ask prospective tenants to bring me printouts of their credit reports. I telephone their employers and previous landlords. I assess their appearance, their language, their children’s behavior. <span style="background-color: white;">I casually glance in their cars to see if they are neat.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">I even search online (yes, even Facebook) for any information I can gather.</span><br /><br />In the end, it’s still a gamble. It’s rare that a renter takes care of a home the way a homeowner would. (My apologies to those of you who are perfect tenants and you probably know who you are.)<br /><br />Bank of America sees the value of keeping homeowners in their homes as renters <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-mortgage-to-rent-20120526,0,2758365.story?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">rather than foreclosing</a> on them. It's a win/win situation. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Costs Can Go Up.</span></b> When you have a good tenant, you don’t want to lose him by increasing his rent. But taxes and insurance costs can rise. You can get hit with heavy maintenance, like a furnace that floods in a hurricane, appliances that need replacing, or other costs not covered by insurance, security or your savings.<br /><br />It’s always a delicate balance deciding between the benefits of raising rent, and risking a vacancy that could cost you more than you’ll gain. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: right;"></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://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT5DMw4ToR7vazeUXT7c_ZVKrpD_joFrte4bRbb17mqzZakXyf0fA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT5DMw4ToR7vazeUXT7c_ZVKrpD_joFrte4bRbb17mqzZakXyf0fA" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Buy-It-Rent-Profit-Landlord/dp/1416589848/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341680401&sr=8-1&keywords=buy+it+rent+it+profit" target="_blank">Real estate investing books </a>like this one can <br />teach you how to be a successful landlord.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">Property Management Is Iffy.</span></b> Just like finding a good tenant, finding a property management team is difficult.<br /><br />My experience is that property managers like properties to run on their own, and are reluctant to hassle tenants who are not doing their share.<br /><br />Find me a company called Tough Love Property Management, and I might sign up, but meanwhile, I’ll manage my own properties because I’m a hands-on kind of gal. That’s difficult to do when you live elsewhere.<br /><br />If you live close enough to your rental property to <a href="http://www.tenantscreeningblog.com/landlord-tips/landlord-basics-tips-for-success/" target="_blank">manage it yourself</a>, you need to get up to speed on regulations and smart procedures. It's a business that needs to be run like a business, a profitable and lawful one.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Homes Age.</span></b> Just like like cars and unlike wines, homes get older and show signs of age. Those new appliances, the fluffy carpeting, the newly painted walls -- they don't look as perky as they did before a tenant spent a few years living in your home.<br /><br />Although the property itself may hold its value, when it's time to get serious about selling, you'll probably need to repair and update some features. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Tenants Have Rights.</span></b> Every landlord and former landlord has horror stories about tenants from hell who have done more damage than the security deposit can cover. Typically, the eviction process favors tenants. And it takes months. Months when you are not collecting rental income.<br /><br />Rather than a lease, I use a month-to-month rental agreement that can be terminated by either landlord or tenant with 30 days notice. Leases protect tenants more than they protect property owners.<br /><br />Some smart landlords I know have discovered that, rather than begin an eviction process, it's often faster and less costly to pay a problem tenant a few hundred dollars to get gone.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">It's Not For Sale.</span></b> Although some folks keep their real estate listing active, and put a renter in the house, I don't see this as a smart move. A renter doesn't have much motivation to maintain a staged home, keeping it show-ready, clean, organized, and decorated to please buyers. In fact, once the property sells, the renter gets booted.<br /><br />Taking down the for sale sign does mean that potential buyers won't know about your property.   <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Summary:</span></b> Whether you wait for a buyer, or decide to put a renter in your home depends on your circumstances. The criteria will include how rushed you are, how flush you are, how far away you're moving, what the local rental market is like, what your mortgage and other costs are, whether you already have employment, whether you can get financial assistance from an employer, and whether you have reliable home management people.<br /><br />And guess what. Christina's tenants are talking to her about buying the house. <br /><br /><br /><br /></div><center><a href="http://www.handymancraftywoman.com/"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/lars72/733blog%20design%20images/WAW_BUTTON.png" /></a></center>

The Pros and Cons of Renting Your Home on the Market

When my friend Christina’s husband accepted a job out of state, they knew they’d be moving. Soon. With all their furniture.  One of the real...

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Got Kids? Got a Home for Sale? Here's Seven Tips Especially for You.

<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/IMG_2268.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/IMG_2268.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Do your children really need a closet full of toys all the time? </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The only thing more difficult than <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/03/you-know-your-home-is-staged-when.html" target="_blank">living in a home that's for sale</a> is living in a home that's for sale when you have young children.<br /><br />If that's your situation, I feel your pain.<br /><br />I know how stressful it can be when you've just touched up your wall paint, and discover two days later small handprints all up and down the stairwell.<br /><br />I know how stressful it can be when your realtor calls from down the street, wanting to show your home in a few minutes, and the living room is draped in blanket forts that cover an intricate complex of  Lego villages and train tracks.<br /><br />With these things in mind, I've collected my favorite tips learned from PWHOM -- parents with a home on the market. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Systematize.</span></b> Have routines. Do the same procedures daily. For example, everyone makes his or her own bed as soon as he or she gets out of it, one child puts away dishes after every meal, and another sweeps the front steps each evening. Soon, you'll have these habits down pat. Life is simpler with simple rituals, and young ones learn new tasks faster when the tasks are repeated at short intervals, like daily, or even twice daily.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Simplify.</span></b> Put away the toys and games that are not essential. Most children will not miss the majority of their books, toys, games, dolls and stuffed animals. If storing all but their favorites creates a problem, rotate toys in and out of storage, and explain that the situation is just temporary. It's important for your own sanity that children understand -- as best they can -- the importance of all you are doing to help sell your home.   <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Squirrel-ize.</span></b> That's right, think like a squirrel, and <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/10/where-to-stash-un-sexy-stuff-in-staged.html" target="_blank">hide things</a>. People on a tour of your home don't need to see your basket of diaper changing essentials, the science project your son is in the middle of, the pile of sports equipment near the back door, or your daughter's doll collection. Think accessible, but still out of sight and in a place where home buyers don't look. Here are some hiding places I like for temporary stashing:<br /><ul><li>under the bed, in sliding boxes</li><li>an emptied, designated dresser drawer </li><li>pretty shoeboxes, hatboxes, or these <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/05/make-your-own-decorative-vases-for-free.html" target="_blank">DIY cardboard vases </a></li><li>an ottoman or bench with a storage compartment built in </li><li>the washer or dryer  </li><li>the trunk of your car </li><li>a vintage piece of luggage or wicker basket</li></ul><br /><table 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/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/photo.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Delegate tasks on your <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/01/do-you-have-pre-showing-checklist.html" target="_blank">pre-showing checklist</a> to everyone in the household.<br />This is my #3 grandson, and he actually likes to vacuum.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Supervise.</span></b> Once infrequently used rooms are decluttered and clean, don't let them become catch-all areas for stuff that has no home. If you can close off rooms like the guest room or powder room, placing them off-limits to family members, that's another possibility. Remind them that it's just temporary.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Schedule.</span></b> Make a checklist of what touchups need to be done just prior to a short-notice showing. If you leave the house for work in the morning, never knowing if a realtor will bring people through during the day, having a touchup checklist is even more important. I know it's asking a lot, but selling a home is like running a business. Children, even young ones, should have a designated role in touchups.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Secret-ize.</span></b> Put away things like schedules and calendars that show when you won't be home or where your children will be, any paperwork and decorations that show your children's names, or photographs of your children. You do not know who is coming into your home or what they want to know about you. I don't think I have to go into the details. It's all about keeping kids safe.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Synchronize.</span></b> Work with <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-help-your-realtor-sell-your-home.html" target="_blank">your realtor</a> on timing so that showings are not a problem. Most parents prefer showings during school hours. Ideally, you should never have to refuse a showing. Some buyers breeze into town for the day and don't have much scheduling flexibility. It's more important to let your home be shown with some toys scattered about, and some wet towels on the rods, than to let a possible buyer escape. Many buyers interpret a demand for 24-hour notice as "not serious sellers." Be show-ready! I know it can be a hassle, but stay focused on the prize.<br /><br />You'll drive yourself mad if you expect <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/01/how-to-get-it-all-done-and-still-stay.html" target="_blank">organized perfection.</a> It's a balancing act. On one hand, buyers know you don't live in a model home, but on the other hand, buyers watch HGTV and they know the market now is a buyers' market. Whatever leverage you can gain by making your home the one that looks better than the rest, gives you a clear advantage.<br /><br />I give other tips to help you navigate the waters toward a sale of your home in 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>For just $5, it will pay for itself over and over and over. Or I'll give you your money back.<br /><br />

Got Kids? Got a Home for Sale? Here's Seven Tips Especially for You.

Do your children really need a closet full of toys all the time?  The only thing more difficult than living in a home that's for sale i...

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How to Get Buyers to Fall in Love with Your Home

<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://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Romeo_and_juliet_brown.jpg/220px-Romeo_and_juliet_brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Romeo_and_juliet_brown.jpg/220px-Romeo_and_juliet_brown.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Romeo and  Juliet couldn't resist each other. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Love happens. Literature, poetry, songs, and movies insist that you can't get someone to love you, that the magic is there, or not.<br /><br />But when it comes to convincing home buyers that your house is the one that will make them happy, the story is different.<br /><br />There's lots you can do to get them interested, and even excited enough to make a commitment, which in real estate terms means to make an offer. Here are the most enticing ways to create that magic.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Seduce from a distance.</span></b> Your home has to look good -- very good -- even from afar. Yes, we're talking <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-going-beyond-curb-appeal-to.html">curb appeal</a>. Again.<br /><br />Is your landscaping tidy and appropriate for the season? Is the area around your front entrance unobstructed, clean, and colorful? Do your siding and roof look problem-free? Have you removed all distractions, like bikes, garbage cans, and gardening equipment, from the front of your home?<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Wow them from the start.</span></b> Make buyers feel that they have just opened a delightful Valentine's card when they open your front door. First impressions count, and most buyers make a judgement about a home during the first few minutes of a home tour.<br /><br />Is the first sensation one of being crowded into a foyer, or is it one of being welcomed to a spacious home? Are the <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/finally-simple-formula-to-help-you.html">paint colors</a> neutral enough that anyone could love them? Are your home's best features noticeable? Are its flaws de-emphasized? <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Appeal to the senses.</span></b> Buyers make decisions based on sensory input. No matter how perfect the floor plan or how new the cabinets, if your home smells like <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/01/cats-dont-have-to-stink.html">pets</a> or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/07/mildews-deal-breaker-for-home-buyers.html">mildew</a>, you're in trouble.<br /><br />Is the temperature right? Does your home smell good in every room -- closets and storage spaces included? Do doorknobs, countertops and other surfaces that will be felt, feel smooth and <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-clean-like-professional.html">clean</a>? Is the clutter gone? Is the artwork non-offensive? <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Create desire.</span></b> People like to believe the house they are buying is a step up the social ladder. Make them feel like winners by looking like a winner yourself.<br /><br />Are there some status touches, like thick towels, contemporary electronics, bedding that is <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/10/trends-that-can-update-your-home.html">on-trend</a>, and even name brand foods in a pantry? Buyers buy the lifestyle, so don't underestimate the <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-your-bathroom-staged-to-impress.html">details that make your the home look luxurious.</a><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don't them them forget you</span></b>. Prepare a takeaway. Work with your <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-not-to-hire-realtor.html">realtor</a> to have a printed single sheet that points out your home's best features. If your home is a larger one, consider a more extensive printout. Include at least one photo.<br /><br />Buyers might tour a handful of homes on one day, so make your home the one they'll remember. Have something memorable, like a big bouquet of bright flowers by the front door, a humorous sign by the back door, or mints on the kitchen island, to leave a friendly, lasting impression.<br /><br />I give specific advice for staging your own home in my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">$5 eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar</i>. If your home is on the market, or you are thinking about selling, I'll walk you through the important steps to help you stage to sell. It's easy when you know all the subtle but powerful tricks of the trade! Download now and start staging today. <br /><br />

How to Get Buyers to Fall in Love with Your Home

Romeo and  Juliet couldn't resist each other.  Love happens. Literature, poetry, songs, and movies insist that you can't get someone...

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A Dozen Rules for Organizing Your Home. Painlessly!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://common2.csnimages.com/lf/46/hash/7640/2773925/1/Windsor+Wardrobe+Valet+in+Mahogany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><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://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1090025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1090025.jpg" width="403" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Get organized. Stay organized. Here's tips. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>An organized home is one that calls out to buyers. In a good way.<br /><br />Since January's buzz word is "organization," you'll find plenty of products and tools in stores right now to help you get organized. And you'll find plenty of advice in the media and online.<br /><br />Here are my twelve best tips for tackling organizing projects when your home is for sale.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Location, Location.</b></span> If you don’t have a place to put it, you can’t keep it. <br />                                    <br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Think!</b></span> Get rid of junk before you organize. Don’t waste time organizing what you don’t want to keep. Declutter first. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Be Mean, and Mean It.</b></span> Declutter when you are in a serious, even nasty, frame of mind, not a leisurely, happy-go-lucky one. It's easier to get rid of things when you are mad, as in, "I'm sick and tired of this crap!" See my post on <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/10/tips-for-cleaning-and-organizing-closet.html">organizing a closet</a> for my plan of attack. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. Cluster by Function. </b></span>Think in terms of systems. Categorize by how and where you will use particular items. Examples: a shoe care kit in the closet, your bill paying box on the desk, a cabinet just for setting the table, a shoe box in the vanity for all first aid supplies, a tote in the bathroom with all bathroom cleaning supplies.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. Accessibility Counts.</b></span> Don’t waste prime real estate. Is the handiest space on your kitchen counter taken up with cookbooks you hardly use? Is the fancy china you use only for company on the most reachable cabinet shelf? Are your summer sandals front and center on your closet floor all winter? It's time to rotate seldom used or out of season items to less accessible places, and bring most-used items into prime spots. <br /><div style="text-align: right;"></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>6. Choose One Place Only.</b></span> Designate a central command spot in the house where one calendar is kept, and any notes to other family members, schedules, invitations, and important phone numbers, are posted. Remember to keep personal information invisible to people touring your home. <br /><div style="text-align: right;"></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>7. Break It Up.</b></span> When tackling a task you don’t enjoy, set a timer, and stop when time's up. Repeat the following day (or week) until the work is done.  <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>8. Tidy As You Go.</b></span> Make it easy to put things away when you are finished using them. Work to eliminate the habit of dropping clothes on the floor by keeping covered laundry baskets near dressing areas. And by having storage areas like closets, cabinets, dressers, and shelves uncrowded.  <br /><br /><table align="center" 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://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080947.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A pretty closet will encourage you to keep it organized and ready for a showing. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>10. Give the Day Structure.</b></span> Have routines. Take care of certain tasks in the morning. Run regular errands on the same day of the week. Have an end of day routine. A structured day frees your mind for important decisions, and empowers you.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>11. Name One Spot.</b></span> Establish a holding zone in the house, where items that need to go elsewhere are placed. Clear this spot on a daily basis. This habit makes those spontaneous calls from your realtor less reason for rushing around.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><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://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2010/11/101447243.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2010/11/101447243.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Make it easy for everyone to help </i></span><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">Photo: Better Homes and Gardens </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>12. Hide Stuff.</b></span> This tip breaks the rule most organizing experts tell you, but when your home is for sale, the rules change. Instead of storing small items in see-through containers, store in opaque containers, preferably all one color. You'll minimize the look of clutter, and cultivate a clean, seamless appearance.<br /><br />In the top photo, I've lined clear plastic shoe boxes with scrapbook paper to hide the contents and create a more uniform look. <br /><br />I wrote about <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/07/eight-thrifty-ideas-to-help-you-stage.html">thrifty fixes for closet organization</a>, and Alexis, the expert organizer and blogger at <a href="http://cleansmartsimple.blogspot.com/">Clean, Smart Simple</a>, guest-posted here about <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/11/you-can-make-your-closets-look-larger.html">how to make closets look larger</a>.<br /><br />Don't wait any longer to tackle the organizing projects your home needs to be the one buyers crave. With the right systems and the right attitude, you can have your entire home organized before February brings another buzz word.<br /><br />For more tips on making your home more desirable, download my $5 <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Make Your Home Sell Fast and For Top Dollar. </i>

A Dozen Rules for Organizing Your Home. Painlessly!

Get organized. Stay organized. Here's tips.  An organized home is one that calls out to buyers. In a good way. Since January's buzz ...

Read more »