The Importance of Staging Your Home

The market is flooded with housing inventory and if you want to sell your home you want to make your home stand out. Staging or redesigning might be the answer.
More often than not, effective staging can be achieved by decluttering and relocating existing furniture and accessories throughout the house to achieve elegant simplicity. Removing heavy curtains can let in more light and make the home seem larger and brighter. Cleaning up the yard and adding some "curb appeal" can make a big difference.
Just like a car needs certain preparation before selling (a good cleaning, removal of trash and personal belongings, or a tune-up), a house is very similar.
Staging is crucial. A home has to be perfect from the start, because we only have one shot to make a good first impression. Your home reflects your personal style and taste, staging does just the opposite. Staging depersonalizes a room. Often personal photos or collections are removed so they don't distract prospective buyers. Buyers need to be able to admire the architectural features of the home, instead of what's in it.
If you're trying to sell a house in today's market, and it has something buyers see as a challenge or defect, you may be stuck with a house that won't move. If improvements and changes are done properly, before a house goes on the market, 'problem homes' may not be problems at all.
Buyers have so much to choose from and negatives of any kind will not be overlooked by today's discriminating shoppers. Sellers must work harder to attract buyers and that's where home staging comes in. Generally staged homes, on average, sold in half the time that the non-staged homes.
Staging is quickly gaining consumer awareness. It has shows dedicated to it like HGTV's "Designed To Sell" and other popular shows have dedicated segments to staging - ABC's Nightline and The Oprah Winfrey Show to name a few. Stories have been published in USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Money magazine, Business Week, and aired on CBS Market Watch and CNN Radio.
Some of the staging shows on cable have done a disservice by giving the idea that lots of money must be spent in order to change the look of a room. That is just not the case.
The most common problems are that most homes have too much "stuff" in them. Editing and depersonalizing is the first and most important task. Another challenge in today's market is the empty home. With properties sitting on the market longer, it's more likely that the homeowner will need to move - with the furniture. Furnished homes show better. The solution lies in planning long before the move. I can recommend what to leave in the house and what to move to the new location. Professional staging is becoming an indispensable part of the home-selling process.
Since I am a Certified Interior Redesigner and Real Estate Stager myself I can help you set up your home for maximum profit and exposure.

Helpful Cleaning Solutions & Mixtures

*Stove: Cream of tartar & vinegar paste
*Weeds: Vinegar & lemon juice
*Carpet stains: 3 tablespoons dish soap, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon ammonia, 3/4 cup water, mix to foamy consistancy and use only the foam on carpet
*Clothing stains: automotive hand cleaner (white)
*Silver: 1 tablespoon water softner, 1 tablespoon salt. Mix in hot water in either a foil pan or place in glass pan with foil on the bottom. (Foil must touch the silver)
*Flies outside: Mint oil, chewing gum or crushed mint leaves
*Ink on clothes: Spray heavy with hair spray (soak) then rub with bar soap and rinse in cold water
*Scuff marks on the floor: Toothpaste
*Markers: Spray with hair spray heavily and wipe up
*Sneakers: Ammonia in spray bottle, spray on sneakers and wipe off
*Grass stains on clothes: Spray ammonia then rub with toothbrush and rinse in cold water
*Pet Hair: Rub with rubber glove
*Faucets: Wet cloth with vinegar
*White patio furniture: Bleach and dish soap
*Storage: Fill black trash bag, wrap end tight around vacuum and suck out air
*Tubs: Make a paste of cream of tartar with hydrogen peroxide and clean stains out of tubs and sinks

Tips to Help Sell Your Home This Fall

Make a good first impression
Your entryway sets the tone, so clean the front door and polish the brass door knocker. If your welcome mat has lost its luster, replace it with a new one.

Wash the windows
On sunny days, the strong southern light can reveal dirt and grime you might not have noticed. Sparkling clean windows suggest to potential buyers that your home is well maintained.

Warm it up
Give your home that “cozy” feel by keeping the room temperature warm and comfortable during showings. Build a fire or turn on the gas logs – but only if you plan on returning home right after the showing.

Add seasonal touches like warm throws and fall floral arrangements. Update your planters
with fall favorites such as pansies and mums.

Give your home a nice aroma with a cinnamon candle, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies or a faint pine scent. But don’t overdo it, as buyers might wonder what you’re trying to cover up.

Turn on the music
Create a relaxed atmosphere by playing classical music or soft jazz, but keep the volume low.

See the light

Shorter days means less natural light, so make the most of your indoor and outdoor living spaces with lighting solutions like accent lamps and installed indoor and outdoor lighting.

Clean gutters

After the leaves have fallen, clean your gutters before freezing rain set in. Clogged drains can cause back ups, resulting in visible water damage that could scare buyers away.

Keep walkways clear

Make sure your home is easy to show by keeping walkways and driveways free of debris. A treacherous path to your front door can keep potential buyers inside their cars!

Paint works wonders

If your walls need a fresh coat, try a fall color trend. Remember that neutrals work best when selling a home, but you can use throw pillows and small area rugs to bring the autumn colors to life.

Lawn Tonic for a Greener Lawn

This formula was created for areas with water restrictions and water shortages, but lawns anywhere will love it. It's just another way to get the nutrients to your lawn and keep it growing strong and green. The secret formula is actually just a mix of common household ingredients. All mixed into a 10-gallon hose-end sprayer. Each ingredient does something different, it feeds the lawn, penetrates the roots and promotes growth, and even kills bugs and grubs.

Recipe

• One can of soda - not diet


• One can of beer - not light
  
• 1/2 cup liquid dish washing soap (don't use anti-bacterial soap!)
  
• 1/2 cup mouthwash
  
• 1/2 cup household ammonia
  
• Mixed in a 10 gallon hose end sprayer
  
• *Apply every 3 weeks
  
• Mow lawn in evening then make application

NOTE: A ten gallon hose end sprayer does not contain ten gallons of liquid. It is a sprayer with a reservoir that attaches to your garden hose, and when the reservoir is full, mixes evenly with ten gallons of water that flows through the hose.

Easy Ways to Add Curb Appeal

Create an instant garden
Container gardens add a welcoming feel and colorful appeal to any home exterior -- quickly and affordably. Window boxes offer a fast, easy way to bring color and charm to your home exterior. Choose boxes made from copper or iron for a traditional look, or painted wood for a cottage feel. Mix and match flowers and plants to suit your lighting conditions and color scheme.

Replace old hardware
House numbers, the entry door lock set, a wall-mounted mailbox, and an overhead light fixture are all elements that can add style and interest to your home's exterior.

Renew planter beds
Get garden beds into shape by pruning growth, pulling weeds, planting flowers, and adding new mulch to restore color that was taken away by sunlight and harsh weather. If stone or brick borders your bed, consider cleaning and resetting any pieces that are soiled or dislodged. If your border is old or tired-looking, try upgrading to stone or a decorative cast-concrete edging system.

Install outdoor lighting
Low-voltage landscape lighting makes a huge impact on your home's curb appeal while also providing safety and security. Fixtures can add accent lighting to trees or the house or can illuminate a walking path. If you aren't able to use lights that require wiring, install solar fixtures.

Dress up the front door
Your home's front entry is the focal point of its curb appeal. Make a statement by giving your front door a blast of color with paint or by installing a custom wood door. Clean off any dirty spots around the knob, and use metal polish on the door fixtures. Your entry should also reflect the home's interior, so choose a wreath or door ornament that reflects your personal style.

Add shutters or accent trim
Shutters and trim add a welcoming layer of beauty to your home's exterior. Shutters also control light and ventilation, and provide additional security. Exterior shutters can be made out of wood, aluminum, vinyl, composite, or fiberglass. New composite materials, such as PVC resins or polyurethane, make trim details durable and low maintenance.

Create a new planting bed
Add contrast and color to your home exterior with a new planting bed. Prime spots are at the front corners of the yard, along driveways or walkways, and immediately in front of the house. When creating a new bed, choose features that will frame your home rather than obscure it. Opt for stone or precast-concrete blocks to edge the bed. Include a mix of plant size, color, and texture for optimal results.

Renew paint, siding, and trim
An exterior face lift (new paint, siding, or trim details) automatically transforms the look of a home. Periodic maintenance of that exterior surface is the surest way to keep your house looking its best. Any obvious defects, such as cracked or rotting material, can downgrade the aesthetic and quickly turn away potential home buyers. Once defects are repaired, look for ways to add personality with color, trim, or shingles.

My Navy Background

I am proud to tell you I served 20 years in the United States Navy. 10 years active duty and 10 years Reserves. I recently retired on August 1, 2007. I was in the electronics and administrative fields. I have been stationed overseas as well as the east coast of the US. My husband is retired Navy also. I love being a realtor and believe my Navy experience really helped me in becoming one of the top ranking realtors in Jacksonville. I am definitely very familiar with the challenges of moving and packing every couple of years!