Staying or Going - Some Advice Stays the Same By Ann A Anderson

If you've read our blog much at all, you know we sometimes give advice that works whether you are moving or not. Most of the time this advice relates to decorating tips - and this time is no exception!

As I was looking at photographs I took of a house I recently staged, I noticed some of the things I had done that were appropriate for selling - or living. So I decided to share them with you.

For starters, an area rug is a wonderful addition to a room, even if the flooring is beautiful. It doesn't have to be large - just large enough to ground the main seating area (which usually means the sofa and loveseat or sofa and chair). It adds softness and warmth, even if it's a natural fiber like a sisal. Just make certain the rug is large enough to come to the edge of the furniture. It's not even necessary it go under the furniture as long as it connects the main seating area.

A pop of color is a great way to move the eye around a room. Neutral furniture is a very good idea, then accent with pops of color to keep the eye moving through the space. Pillows are a great way to do that, as well as artwork, items on the coffee table, items on bookshelves. It doesn't have to be much color, but just enough to keep the eye moving. Even if your furnishings have more color, that pop of color (the 10% of the 60-30-10 color rule) is important.

Lamps are important, even if a room gets lots of natural light. They add a warmth (there's that word again) to a room and can also work much as the color does by drawing your eye around the room. And if you're selling, it's important to have plenty of light so the potential buyers can see the rooms. Overhead light tends to be jarring and can show way too many flaws, so lamps are a better alternative.

Paring down belongings helps a room feel spacious. And that includes bookshelves. If you're living in the house, fewer items on the bookshelves makes those items stand out more, enabling you and your family to enjoy them more. And if you're selling, the potential buyers are able to see the bookshelves, which are a selling feature. (Just make sure if you're selling that the items on the shelf aren't of a personal nature.)

And finally, a green plant is a nice addition to almost any room. If you don't have a green thumb, there are beautiful faux silk plants available at very reasonable prices. Just keep them dusted, then enjoy that organic element they bring to a room.

Ann Anderson is the owner of Rooms Reborn ( http://www.roomsreborn.com ), a decorating, staging, and redesign business serving Connecticut. She is also the founder and Director of the School of Interior Redesign ( http://www.schoolofinteriorredesign.com ). A private occupational school teaching staging, decorating, redesign, feng shui, and working with relocating seniors. She is also the co-creator of the Ready2Sellin30Days system which is designed to help do-it-yourself home sellers prepare their homes for sale with less stress.

What You Should Remove From the Home When Home Staging By Jennifer Perdicaris Kennedy

So you are selling your home and you are at a loss for what to do. You've heard of Home Staging - but not sure of how to prepare for it. Following are some basic rules - for clearing up and out - before you sell and certainly before a Home Stager comes in to work their magic.

1. Get a bin: rent a bin for a couple hundred dollars - you can 'thin' out at an alarming pace when you've got a bin to toss to. Bins are great for old furniture, bikes, garden furniture, odds and sods that the garbage man will not take.

2. Thin out an extra furniture:living and family rooms: one couch and two side chairs is plenty

3. No chachkies on the fridge!Take down all fridge magnets (not of course your Realtor calendar magnet!), waste disposal schedules; write on calendars, pictures, artwork. Be sure that all items on TOP of the fridge are cleared away as well.

4. Kitchen counters:clear up and out. Leaving only a few items such as a kettle, cooking utensils vessel, and maybe one other kitchen countertop appliance like a coffee maker. Put away any dish towels, sponges, dish brushes and dish soap.

5. Absolutely NO pet food bowls out - not even the water bowl. I have seen too many buyers trip over these bowls - not expecting to find them in those locations. And besides have you taken a really good whiff of that kibble - yeassshh. Not a home scent I want to fill my house with - much less my kitchen!!

6.On this theme... no cat scratching posts - NONE! No matter how intricate they are - they are not a site for sore eyes in the minds of buyers. To this extent - no pet toys - a stuffed toy mouse - really - really? No. Bye bye.

7. Clear out the old fireplace ashes in wood burning fireplaces. This leaves a lingering scent - that you may already be used to - but fresh nostrils coming through the door may think otherwise (hence the kibble above too ).

8. Clear out any furniture, appliances that do not fit the desired function of that room: desks in dining rooms, sewing tables in kitchens or family rooms, gym equipment in bedrooms or family rooms.

9. Dead Plants!! (inside and outside)Yuck!

10. Put away all seasonal clothes and shoes - especially the shoes - don't want them spilling out of front closets.

11. Ensure that all hallways and pathways are free and clear and not encumbered by any objects or clutter.

12. Bathrooms: no toothbrushes, hair brushes/tools, makeup, bath toys, bath mats (pee collectors - yuck - toss!) or air fresheners.

13. In general: you can live more with less - really you can. And when you follow the rules set out above - it puts you well on your way to a great sale - AND a head start on packing - two birds with one sale... gotta love it!!

Happy clearing up and out!!

Jennifer Kennedy is Broker /Owner of KENNEDY Real Estate in Edmonton, Alberta. After nine successful years with RE/MAX, Jennifer founded KENNEDY Real Estate in October 2010. Jennifer's experience in residential and new home sales, home staging combined with her thirst for marketing, and negotiating win win situations makes her a gifted Broker to her Realtors (Team Members) and clients alike

Tips For Selling Your Home By Mike Catherall

Preparing for a home staging is like creating a resume. The goal of resume writing is to create a concise document that highlights all your skills, previous accomplishments and references. You do not want it filled with useless information that does not pertain to the position you are applying for. You want the reader to be impressed by the first scan and satisfied with a deeper read.

The same characteristics apply to home staging. You want your house to look its best when it is shown. You want your home's best architectural features to shine. When a potential buyer wanders through your home, you want them to focus on the rooms themselves, not the items in them (they have their own furniture). You want the buyer to be impressed with the details and excited with the larger view.

To create that personal excitement, it is important to format your home for public viewing.

Here are a few quick tips for home staging preparation:

1. Paint

Fill all picture holes, scratches and cracks with putty. Then paint your entire wall. If you only have a budget for touch-ups, have a professional match your wall colours.

2. Hire a handyman/woman

Have them fix all those small issues you have been neglecting. Have the faucet fixed and the step repaired.

3. Improve the Lighting

Install modern fixtures and increase the wattage in your bulbs.

4. Spruce the Exterior

Have the grass mowed, the leaves raked and the bushes trimmed.

5. Clean Everywhere

Vacuum, dust, polish, wash and scrub every corner of your house. You need it to shine! Appliances often get overlooked. Stainless steel looks great on the counter-tops, so put your old coffee maker away and bring out the stainless steel food processor you never use.

Make all of the beds with fresh, clean sheets. Try to eliminate all offensive odours. Lightly scented candles are an easy quick fix.

Maintain this atmosphere.

6. Neutralize Your Home

Remove all religious or political symbols. Borrow or buy some neutral pieces of art. Put your family pictures in storage.

7. De-clutter

Remove all unnecessary items and put them in storage. Do not stuff them in your closet. Every nook, closet and crawl space is fair game; so if you need to, rent a storage locker to hide all your excess clutter.

8. Open the Windows

No one enjoys walking through a stuffy house, open up windows to make clear air routes.

9. Have a Friend Do a Walk-Through

Ask them where their eyes naturally travel. Use this information to re-organize your space.

10. Flowers

It's an oldie, but a goodie. Fresh flowers are a sign of vitality and growth. Place a large bouquet on the living room table. Make sure to replace them every few days.

Top 5 Mistakes Home Sellers Make By Aram Arakelyan

Mistake 1. Overvalued home.
The selling price of a house depends on many factors, including some that are simply beyond seller's control. These include the location, the prices of nearby homes, economic conditions, and more. Of course, there are factors within the control of sellers, such as the condition of the house (inside and out), if improvements have been made in recent years, and so on. Ultimately, however, the price that a property is "worth" is determined by what the buyer will pay. It is not what a buyer must pay (in the mind of the seller). But what a buyer will pay. This is something that owner should consider, or they may overprice the home and keep away potential buyers.

Every seller obviously wants to get the most money for the home. Ironically, the best way to do this is not to list a home at a high price. High list price will cause some prospective buyers to lose interest before even seeing the property. In addition, it may lead other buyers to expect more than it has to offer. As a result, overpriced properties tend to take an unusually long time to sell, and they end up being sold at a lower price. The bottom line is that sellers who test the market loose. No matter what the seller wants, the price is determined by the black and white market reality. Real estate agents are here to help sellers understand what houses have sold in the recent past and most likely will be sold in current market conditions. Owner needs to get a market valuation from real estate agent and understand what is the fair price for the home in today's market. It is one of several areas where the assistance of a qualified real estate agent will pay for itself compared to trying to sell for sale by owner.

Mistake 2. Assuming the "curb appeal" of the home
When owner is preparing to sell a home, he needs to remember the importance of first impressions. The first impression of the buyer can make or break the sale. With this in mind, owner needs to take a realistic "fresh look" and then ask what can be done to improve the "curb appeal" of the house. Fix the the house from the street, lawn, shrubs, shutters, windows, door, mailbox. Add potted flowers on the front, a wreath on the door, brass fittings, whatever outdoor lighting home improvement "buy me" look.. That could make a big difference in the final sales price.

Mistake 3. Big mistake is not to stage the home. Owners love their stuff, and think home is comfortable, and will not change... but guess what? Potential buyers visiting the home will most likely think it's messy, dirty and unattractive. Buyers want to see a home in the "perfect model" condition and be able to imagine themselves in the home. "Staging" is simply a term to prepare the home to look better, inside and out. First impressions are important. Create a clean environment, bright and welcoming to a potential buyer can imagine living in. For example, remove all the clutter inside and out, including the garage, and completely clean and polish appliances, countertops, showers, sinks, cabinets, windows, sliding glass doors, etc. A fresh coat of paint will brighten the overall look of the house. Make the necessary repairs to leaky faucets, crumbling caulk or stained, have professionally cleaned carpets and so on. Outside, the landscape must have an eye for detail, shrubs trimmed, neatly cut lawns, etc. Owners need to give the buyers a reason to see the house as their home.

Mistake 4. "Over-improving" the home! Seller can enjoy top-of-the-line kitchen if they really want, but they can not get the money in the resale.
It's easy to get caught in a project of home improvement, especially if owner thinks that will add value to the home.

For example, if owner lives in a neighborhood where every house has a modest kitchen, he will not get money back on resale if puts in granite countertops and Viking appliances.

In other words, just keep up with the neighbors. Do not try to make the home the most expensive house on the block with significant improvements. Instead, stick to the improvements that you put the home on a par with other homes in the neighborhood. In this way, bring out the best in the home, without going overboard.

Mistake 5: Emotionally involved in the sale of the house. This is one of the challenges home sellers face when putting their house on the market. Once the house is for sale it is a commodity. Owner must be prepared to treat it as a commodity, and sell as a commodity, and priced as a commodity. Does not matter what you "want", just what the market can bear on pricing. People will come and kick the tires, so to speak, and owner can not get emotional about how they can or can not appreciate the nuances of the home.