We answer Wednesday - Selling and Staging during the Holiday Season

"We are selling our home and our agents wants to book our photos.  Should we have them done before or after we decorate for Christmas? Our house looks so beautiful with the tree up and the stocking hung on the mantle. We love it and we think others will too!"

Christmas is right around the corner and it is such a wonderful time of year!  Decorating is one of our favourite parts of the season, too - it's festive and fun! But when it comes to selling your home, holiday decor presents more negatives than positives....and there are definitely buyers out there looking for their new home during the Christmas season, so you don't want to turn them off!



We love the welcoming exterior - it's seasonal but not over done.  But be sure not to leave it up too long....

What are the negatives of  seasonal decorating (for any holiday) while selling your home:

1. Distracting.  Yes, Christmas and other holiday decor is beautiful but it can really distract buyers from seeing the beauty and features of your home as they will be focused on the tree, wreath, lights, stockings and more.....and not the flooring, windows, layout....

2. Clutter.  Although we never really view or consider holiday decor pieces to be clutter when they are out on display they do take up room and can make a space look and feel cluttered and over stuffed.  Think about how much smaller a room looks with a 7 - 8 ft tree in it - it takes up space!

 

The most beautiful Christmas trees aren't necessarily the largest trees!  Consider a smaller tree - you still have a stunning Christmas tree to decorate but it visually (and physically) takes up less room.

 
3. Dating.  Holiday decor can really date your online photos and make your home look like it has been sitting on the market a lot longer than it has.  Let's say you have your photography done in early Dec with all of your decorating done.  By mid January these photos will already look dated and it will send the message to buyers (and their agent) that your home has been sitting even though it has only been 30-40 days. 

4. Personal. When you decorate for Christmas or really any holiday, it can be a very personalized touch to the space especially if you have family heirlooms, religious items and handmade ornaments and other crafts made by your children or grandchildren.  It personalizes the space and that can make buyers feel uncomfortable (or like they are just visiting) as they are trying to picture their lives and building memories of their own in this house.

So definitely have your photos take BEFORE you decorate.

When it comes to seasonal decorating before showings and open houses - really try to eliminate or at least limit the decor - for the same reasons listed above. But if you must decorate for Christmas while your home is on the resale market - here's what we suggest.

 

We love the simplicity of this room's Christmas decor.  It celebrates the season, it has a consistent colour scheme and style and it doesn't over power the room.

 
1.  Do NOT decorate BEFORE your photos.

2. Do keep it simple and tasteful with a consistent theme (for example: mixed metallics or traditional green, white and red; or country or modern).  This year keep it simple by only bringing out some decor - the house shouldn't look like Christmas town!

3. Do NOT keep the decorations up too long or too late. Or decorate too early either. Aim to have the decor packed up by Jan 4 (approx)

4. Do NOT hang up or display really personal decor such as family photos, religious items, handmade ornaments and crafts by children or grandchildren

5. Do keep it welcoming and inviting with a small vignette by the front entry and then some decor in main living areas (try to limit to a room to two, for example the family room as the main Christmas decorating space and maybe a few items in the dining room and/or formal living room - stay consistent with that theme)

Celebrate the season without going totally over board. Remember in your new home (the next one), you can decorate as early as you want and keep it up as long as you like and you can go all out! 
 
 

We Answer Wednesday - Curb Appeal

"My husband and I will be putting our home on the market but not for a few months.  By the time, it is listed for sale we will be in Sunny Florida. The interior of the home will be clean and tidy, plus it will be furnished but do we need to get regular outdoor maintenance taken care of?"

It's so great that you are planning ahead for the sale of your home.  The interior of the home being clean, tidy and staged is great but don't forget about the exterior!  Yes, everyone loves to see a beautifully manicured lawn, lush and colourful gardens and green trees in the summer months but that doesn't mean that curb appeal doesn't play a role in the other months, too.

Curb appeal isn't just a summer thing, it's important year round! The exterior of your home is the first thing buyers will see and if it is not well maintained that could be a bit of a red flag to buyers.  You also you want to make a good first impression and a welcoming one, too.  And in the winter months, not maintaining your exterior can also be a safety issue - those are equally important factors when it comes to selling your home.

The summer months are definitely the prettiest months for curb appeal but a well maintained exterior is noticeable all year long. So much of the monthly maintenance is dependent on your climate but here are some helpful tips.

 

In the fall months -
*sweep the porch and walkway, and driveway
*make sure all light bulbs are in working order (the days are getting shorter so lights will be very important)
*the grass is still growing so be sure to have it cut
*for some extra curb appeal some fall planters or a wreath maybe even some pumpkins to celebrate the fall season.

 

In the winter months-
*be sure to shovel the porch,driveway and walkways,
*salt or sand those areas too
*again be sure that the light bulbs are fully functional and set to turn on at dusk, this is great for showings but also anyone driving by
*to add some extra curb appeal you can add a winter wreath!

 

In the spring months-
*the grass isn't quite green yet but the flowers are starting to bloom (depending on the climate) but *give your lawn a bit of a rake to remove any winter debris,
*clear off the porch, walkways and driveways (debris, salt/sand and any garbage)
*for some extra impact bring out some colourful outdoor pillows to any bench or seating, add a spring floral wreath
*later in the spring add some planters with spring flowers to add some colour



Before you put your home on the market be sure to check that your exterior has the following:
- a clear address plate (you want buyers and agents to find your property)
- the paint on the front door isn't chipped or peeling
- the front steps are in good condition
- the mail box, grip set and door bell are in good working condition
- windows close and open easily
- the exterior materials (brick, siding etc...) are in good condition

Any buyer that comes to your home should be 'WOW'ed by it and it shouldn't matter if it is May or January.  Make that impression every time!

Home For Sale? Open House Tips

If your home is up for sale on the market - this is a busy and possibly stressful time for you.
On top of your everyday responsibilities you also have to deal with the showings and open houses at your home. You have your next property in mind and you have prepped and staged this house for sale.  Getting ready for every showing is work!

You want to sell your house and you know in order to do that buyers need to see it but prepping for a viewing can be very stressful and a bit hectic - so much to do!  You want your home to look it's best -  Here is what you don't want to happen. A showing is suddenly scheduled for that evening and you realize you have zero clean towels in your house. So now, not only do you have to pick up, wipe down surfaces, etc -- you also have a load of laundry to do as well.



 

Have an open house box!

Sounds easy, right? It is!

Here's what you need:

- a box, like a Banker's box is a perfect size and it has a lid
- a set of clean, fresh white towels (one set for each bathroom)
- small (cutlery size) baskets (one for each bathroom)
- clean tea towels
- a mason jar for counter clutter like coins, small pieces of paper, elastics etc...
- a large envelope to store papers from the counter like school news letters, mail etc...
- Clorox wipes or Lysol wipes for quick counter top cleaning


Before you begin showing your home, take an empty box and fill it with clean bath, hand and dish towels. When you have a showing scheduled, walk around to each bathroom and the kitchen grabbing all the dirty linens, and putting out the clean linens - get the kids involved and have them grab the 'dirty' towels. Just throw the dirty towels in this box to pull back out after the showing is over. So the clean towels in the Open House Box never actually get used, only shown.

Store the box in a closet that isn't a huge feature like a guest room closet - once the show is over.  Collect all of the 'showing props' like the clean towels, tea towels etc... and put it all back in the box.

So easy!

Here are some other easy tips for managing your personal items when living in the house that you are selling

1 - Containers.  Small and big are needed to just keep things tidy.  This is especially useful in the bathroom for make -up, tooth brushes, personal care items and toilet paper.  If leaving your items out, having them in containers looks much better but if you want to tuck them away, having them in containers makes it easy!











2 - Keep the office tidy with boxes for loose papers and other documents you don't want left out in the open. Keep pens and pencils in a holder too - a messy office can send the message that there isn't room for everything and leave a bad impression

 


3 - Keep the lights on!  Even on a sunny day but especially for evening showings - the light will make everything look bigger and brighter



4 - Big baskets are your best solution for showing a family home.  Just toss all of the toys in some baskets,try not to have too many just a few that are big enough to fit the kids' things.





5 -  Please take the pets out!  Not everyone loves your pets and even if they are friendly, the presence of pets can be distracting and uncomfortable.  So make arrangements for your pets - maybe during the day a neighbour could help out by taking them or maybe you can take them with you while the open house is happening.

Keeping It Realtor Ready!

3 ways to keep your home Realtor® ready

If you’re the type of person who can keep a house neat and spotless 24/7, hats off to you! For the rest of us, living in a home that’s on the market (and might be shown at a moment’s notice) can be a challenge. Luckily, once you’ve taken all the major steps to declutter, clean and repair your home for sale, there are a few simple strategies you can use to keep it looking its best for buyers.


1) Make a list of your hotspots—the parts of your home that are hardest to keep clean and most noticeable. Some examples might be dishes in the kitchen sink, wet towels in the bathrooms, unmade beds, pet messes, kids’ toys, or mail on the dinner table.
 
Each morning before you leave home, or any time you get a call to warn you of a showing, pull out your list and spend a few minutes tackling those problem areas. For super short-notice showings, be ready to bundle clutter into a laundry basket or storage tub and take it with you in your car.


At the end of the list, add these often-overlooked items if they apply to you:

• Take out the trash
• Close toilet lids (parents: flush if needed!)
• Open drapes/blinds to let in light
• Turn on lights (if showing will happen soon)
• Turn off TVs
• Open interior doors to invite exploration
• Make sure your key is in the lock box
• Take pets with you (or kennel them)
• Put away personal info, such as bills or statements
• Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature (especially if you’ve programmed it to save on heating or cooling when the home is unoccupied)

2) Build a quick-cleaning kit. Move from room to room faster with a portable kit of cleaning essentials, like:

• Rubber gloves
• A duster or dust cloth
• Stain-erasing pads
• Disinfectant wipes
• Wood and stainless-steel polishing wipes
• Glass wipes
• Spray mop
• Dustpan and whisk broom
• Lint brush (for pet hair on upholstery or drapes)

Why wipes? Besides the obvious advantage of a lighter, smaller cleaning kit, wipes could also help you minimize harsh chemical smells, since you’re not spraying the cleaner into the air and you won’t leave a fragrant pile of cleaning rags in the laundry. Alternatively, you could choose low-odor cleaners, or cleaners with a pleasing scent.

 3) Ask for help (and make it easy for people to help you). If you’re not the only person living in your home, you shouldn’t be the only person trying to keep it clean. Goodness knows, you’re not the only one creating the mess! Give your housemates, spouse and/or children helpful daily tasks and provide the tools they’ll need to get their jobs done. For example, set aside a basket for each child to fill with their toys or other clutter, a tasteful box for unsorted mail, ample hampers for linens, etc.

 

Your Curb Appeal Checklist

Many home sellers tend to neglect the appearance of their frontage when in fact the “curb appeal” is as important as the main living areas in the house. Spring is finally here and now it's time to really focus on making the exterior of your home look top notch!  Just because potential buyers scope out homes online and can really focus on the home's interior (and the inside of your home has been upgraded and maintained) doesn't mean that the exterior maintenance of your home is no longer important. When buyers come in for a showing, remember that it is the first thing that will greet them and you have to make a good impression.

 

So, before hitting the panic button, here’s a quick checklist of the things that you need to cover and get done before a showing.

FOLIAGE

- Make sure walk, porches and decks are swept clean
- Make sure the lawn is manicured and maintained
-  For highly visible areas, like the front garden you may want to consider some professional landscaping or at least planting some plants and flowers; and choose plants that work with the season
- Repair any broken steps, replacing missing paving stones...
- Clip shrubs, weed flower beds and remove any dead branches




LIGHTING

- Clean exterior light bulb
- Replace burnt out light bulbs
- Make sure your lighting matches and that is compliments the look of the home
- Make sure there is sufficient lighting at the front porch and driveway
- Keep your exterior lights on after dusk, you never know who might be driving by to look at your home



DOORMAT

- Pick a doormat that will help keep from dirt transferring into your home
- Stay away from a personalized doormat, remember this isn't your home anymore....
- Find a doormat that works with the decor of your home
- Buy a new new doormat, it's not expensive

 


COLOUR

- Spruce up the front door with a new coat of paint
- When planting or updating your garden looks for some colourful options
- A bright pop of colour can make an impact be sure to choose the right colour(s)
- Use colour at the entry (interior or exterior) a little bench with a colourful pillow is warm and welcoming
- Add some planters (ideally one taller than the other) and plant some seasonal flowers and plants 






Items like a great bench with pillows and planters can come with you to your next home so don't feel like you are 'wasting' money to sell your current home ...it's worth it to sell and you will have the benefit of enjoying those items later. 

Staging tips for Selling your Home in the Fall Months

It is now mid-October, we have had frost warnings, the leaves on trees are turning colour and falling, and fireplaces will soon find themselves useful. While most of us are excited for this amazing season, people in the real estate are preparing themselves because once the cold sets in, the number of buyers out there will start to sink.

While you still have time to prepare for the cold season, don’t waste these days and take advantage before the winter season sets in. Remember that no one would want to go home shopping when it’sfreezing cold and everything is covered in snow!

One of the essential strategies to get a sale before the holidays is home staging, regardless if you’re using the help of a real estate agent or selling the house by yourself.
Here are a few tips to make your home look perfect this fall.

Maintain your yard

Rake leaves, trim bushes, and use seasonal flowers. Keep it looking fresh! Always remember that the curb appeal is as important as the interior. It’s the first thing that your potential buyers will see. This about an inviting front door vignette with a wreath and maybe some pumpkins or a bench with some pillows

 

Control back to school clutter

Back to school season can create clutter in your entry. Make sure to have a place for your backpacks, shoes and other items the kids need to grab before catching the bus. This can even give the new homeowners some great ideas too

Keep it neat and simple

While Halloween and Thanksgiving are not religious specific, too much decorating can distract buyers. Remember less is more. This can be tough with children so don't eliminate it completely but keep it subtle and stay away from the gore,  keep it cute and have it is specific areas and not every square inch of the house

Use home decor that takes a cue from nature

Rather than ghosts, scary monsters or turkeys display pumpkins, hay and flowers. Nothing can scare away potential buyers like handmade scarecrows or frighteningly realistic gory Halloween decorations. A simple bowl of fresh apples or mini pumpkins as a dining centerpiece is simple but effective.  An empty corner that looks odd can easily be filled with a tall glass vases filled with tall sticks.  A door looks more welcoming when it is dressed up a bit too

Turn your fireplace on for showings to set the mood

A little warmth emanating from the fireplace evokes a welcoming atmosphere. A crackling fire says “welcome home”, as well as well-placed candles to complete that warm, snug room.  And in cooler months a fireplace will be on the minds of buyers, so make sure they can't help but notice it!

 

Add pillows

Use furry throws, pillows and texture in your home decor to create a cozy feel. Or, think about adding a splash of pillow with pillows in fall inspired colours, warm colours can make any space look and feel inviting. Pillows are inexpensive additions to your home and knowing how to use them will surely bring a big difference.

 

The cinnamon effect

Remember to use candles, incense and other oils to infuse fall scents, like vanilla or apple cinnamon. No, you don’t need to bake a bunch of sugar cookies before the showing, but investing in a tasteful, subtle scented autumn candle will do just fine in eliciting that cozy feeling buyers want to experience when they walk into their future house.

 

Hello, Colour!

Spring is here!  And if you are looking to give your home a little makeover, have you thought about something as easy as your front door colour?  Such any easy fix and now that the weather is getting warmer and drier (very soon) it's the perfect time!

So what colour to choose?  Here's a few great ideas...from Beauti-tone Paints

1- Beauti-Tone Wet Sands 3H2-7  a beautiful golden orange tone. 

2 - Beauti-Tone Green Conifer Hills 5141EC a classic and tradition colour but if you are a fan of green but want to stay understated this is mixed with black so it isn't too green

3 - Beauti-Tone Earthenware  3E1-8  I love a red door but finding the right red it tricky.  I also love an orange too but sometimes it can look too much like it's a Halloween decoration.  So this colour is perfect!

4 - Beauti-tone Direct Line 436  Purple is a great colour choice for an exterior door.  I've selected a variety of purple hues for condos and single family homes.  This purple is rich and regal but would also work well in contemporary design

5 - Beauti-Tone Grey Eyeshadow SC047  A great grey option, looks great in traditional or contemporary style door.  If you find black too intense this is a great alternative.

6 - Beauti-Tone Loving it 3C2-8  I love a red door, very classic and yet still fun!  This is the perfect red door shade.

7- Beauti-Tone Hidden Mountains 5135EC  Aubergine is a great alternative to Cranberry which was so popular.  this is rich, sophisticated but a bit different.

Other elements to consider when you are changing you door colour. 

- Think about your trim, if you really want the door to stand out go with a lighter trim like white or cream.  Keeping the trim darker is a more modern look and really look at the age/style of the home to see if modernizing it is the way you want to go.

-  Update your grip set too.  That should include the knocker, kick plate, numbers (address plate) and mail slot or mail box.

- a good cleaning maybe even power washing is a good idea too

- How about the exterior lighting?  It should match the grip set.  So if the grip set is black so should the other accessories be.

-  I love to see some greenery around an exterior entry.  Planters, natural wreath, there are so many possibilities

Stand out from the Crowd in the Spring Selling Market

So Spring is almost here!  Youpeee!  So are you thinking of selling your home?  Well, if you are one big factor you need to take into consideration is that there will be a lot of competition in the spring market.  Why the spring?  Well, the sun is out, the snow is gone (or at least on it's way out), the grass maybe out and so might the flowers.  Generally our homes show much better too. 

So why do you need to stand out?  Because there is so much out there, buyers have a huge selection and after a while the homes can all start to look the same.

So how can you stand out from the others?  Try staging.  Staging is a way to show your home in the best possible way.  Staging is best if it is done by a professional - they know what they are doing, they have experience, they work with Realtors and know what buyers are looking for but they are also an objective eye, they don't take things personally.  you want someone who can highlight the features of your home, make it attractive for your target buyers and make it look incredible in photos, open houses and showings.



Realtors know that a properly staged home will sell faster and for more money.  Why? Because any property that shows well will get a lot of showing requests, the more buyers through a home will likely results in quick offers and/or multiple offers.  when you are in a multiple offer situation, as a seller this means you will likely get above asking.

Some stats to consider:

“98% of the houses staged have sold over the asking price.”


HGTV's Designed to Sell


“87% of people said that home presentation makes a difference in most sales.”

AOL Money and Finance Poll

“Homes that sold after four weeks on the market sold for 6% less than ones within the first four weeks!”


Survey by the National Association of Realtors

“Buyers willing to spend the money for an 'ideal' home, but not the time to renovate. The poll showed that 63 per cent of buyers preferred a higher priced home that does not require any renovations over a lower priced fixer-upper.”


Maritz Research Staging Polls

“Elements that create 72% of the first impression inside the home are within the control of the seller – well–trained staging consultants know how to show these to their best advantage.”


1999 Proctor & Gamble Survey

So what can you do to present your home in the best light?

- start by decluttering the main areas like the bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, finished basement etc...Don't worry about spaces like the garage.



- give the entire home a top to bottom good cleaning think about getting a professional cleaning for the rugs

- pay attention to the details like cracked tiles, leaky faucets, touch up paint and this is where an objective eye really helps, we get so used to living in our own space that we overlook all of the little creaks and cracks that a buyer would see.

- remove the personalize items like family photos and collectibles, you'll be taking those with you to your next place so think of it as pre-packing

- updates, you don't need piles of money to make your home look and feel current, small fixes like replacing old brass or plastic knobs and handles with chrome will really make any space feel more current.  updating light fixtures and removing wallpaper boarders can make a huge difference



- think about getting a fresh coat of paint in the home.  On a tight budget? Paint the rooms that really need it



- other add-ons, try adding some fresh colour with flowers, or a fruit bowl, or some throw pillows on sofas and beds.

- make sure the home is well lit, pull back the drapes and let the light in and make sure the light bulbs are all working (replace the burn out ones).  If you have any dark corners in important rooms try adding a floor lamp.

Selling your home can be very stressful but if it is presented in the right way, you shouldn't be on the market long....

It's selling season!!

Well it's that time of year again, selling season, also known as spring! This time of year tends to be the most popular time to sell your house. But with so much competition on the market how can you set your listing apart from the others? Well, here are some great suggestions to make your home look the best it can. Home staging your property isn't just fluffing pillows, there is a lot of other elements, too.

1 -- Rake the front lawn. Sure, the grass isn't quite here yet but the left over debris can really make the front lawn look awful. So clean up!

2 -- Sweep the front porch or stoop. You might have some left over salt, sand or leaves, so clear the area it will make a good first impression. Also take the time to sweep the driveway and back porch too.

3 -- Add some colour. The flowers are not in bloom yet but you can add some colour with a spring themed wreath or perhaps a bench with some colourful outdoor pillows.

4 -- Pull back the curtains and pull up the blinds and let the light in! Your home will feel larger and brighter in an instant.

5 -- As long as it is not too cold, open up the windows before your open house and let some fresh air in. Over the winter the air in our homes tends to get stuffy. But don't keep the house too cool, it might feel drafty.

6 -- Clean your carpets either with a powerful vacuum or maybe contact a professional carpet cleaner. It's amazing how dirty our carpets get over winter (especially if there are pets in the home). A deep cleaning can even make the air feel crisper.

7 -- Clean you windows and screens. Again, the home will feel so much better and if you have a great view, don't block it.

8 -- Brighten and freshen up your home with some fresh cut bouquets or potted plants.

9 -- You can renew your spaces such as the bathrooms and bedrooms with some minor accessories. Add some new candles, new guest towels or decor pillows with some colour. Check out some inexpensive stores such as Bouclair, Loblaws and Wal-Mart for some great finds at great prices.

10 -- Take the time to check your light fixtures for dust, cobwebs and burnt out light bulbs. This is also a great time to clean your smoke alarms.

 

Your home should always look it's best but it is most important when there is a lot of competition on the market you need to really impress. To sell quickly and for top dollar, it is worth spending the time (and money) to make your home the best it can be.

The 5 F-words of home staging

In order to make sense of staging your home for sale, follow the 5 F-words of home staging.

1 - FLOORING

Hardwood flooring is the most popular and therefore the best option for your flooring choice. The floors are beautiful, they add warmth, value and are preferred especially with the increase of allergens in the home - hardwood is much easier to clean. Have as few types of flooring as possible in one home, as multiple materials can make a home look small and choppy.

2 - FOCAL POINT

Create a focal point in each room such as a fireplace, a bay window. Make sure the focal point in obvious and highlighted for the buyer to see. this is where staging and furniture placement really work in your favour. As the owner of the home, circulate and take notes of what you feel are the best features/focal points of each room - this can really help your stager, since you bought this home you probably fell in love with some of the features.

3 - FUNCTION

Make sure the function of each room is clear. If the space is not defined, buyers are left wondering what to do with a certain room. Doubling up functions of a room is not always recommended but in smaller spaces it is often necessary but again be clear, if the room is a sitting room plus an office make the room tidy and organized so the buyers can tell it apart from a catch-all space. For example, in a open concept place an area rug in the living room can help to define the living room apart from the dining room without building walls and blocking the flow

4 - FLOW

The house must have good flow in order to attract an offer. You can achieve this through paint (keep each room more or less in the same colour palette). Other tips - allow 3 feet for pathways in and out of a room; chairs and sofas should be no more than 8 feet apart and allow 18 inches between sofa and coffee table. These tips helps create a free flowing space with good energy and a space that feels large but still inviting.

5 - FURNITURE PLACEMENT

Make sure the furniture highlights the room's best features and doesn't obstruct or cramp a room. Look at the room and pay attention to features such as the dining room fixture, it will tell you where to place the table. Create conversation groupings no larger than 10-12 feet square. Create a focal point such as a tall vase by the fireplace or pillows in the window seat. An appointment with a home stager can help you put together a great furniture plan offering flow and presentation to buyers