Home Staging Blog

As I was browsing through some interesting blogs this evening, I came across one from Jennifer Sawday at California Estate Planning Blog.  While my focus is on Home Staging for both Real Estate and day to day life, I’ve been reminded that Staging for Life also means organizing your plans for your future.

 Jennifer has some great posts there talking about Estate Planning, life insurance and more.  She got me thinking about the importance of taking care of these things now.  So when in the process of Staging your life, remember that it is more than just your home and surroundings, but also planning for the future.  Planning for emergencies, planning for retirement, and planning for your families after you are gone.

Something for me to get working on too!

 Nickie, Get Staged 2 Sell

We have been getting ready to purchase a new van for Home Staging so I have been on the lookout to see what is working for other Home Stagers. 

I saw this article today about a Home Stager back east in Washington who has a really cool set up.  She has a custom-fitted van that is her office on wheels. But it’s not just her office, it is a great big rolling tool box.

I never thought I’d see the day I’d be excited about getting a van, but I must say, the anticipation is building.  Now that I’ve seen what she has done with her van, my mind is busy creating plans for customizing our new Home Staging vehicle. 

Apparently, the Home Stager’s Dream Car is not a car - it is a van.  Hmmm…. how to Stage a van…

 Nickie, Get Staged 2 Sell

I received a great question this morning from a homeowner that is Staging a home for sale.  He purchased new light beige carpets for this home and is wondering if he should use thin plastic runners to protect them.

 When Staging Real Estate, the focus is on creating an atmosphere that is inviting and welcoming to a wide range of buyers.  Having the home clean and in good condition is a crucial step in preparing a home for sale.  Using furniture to highlight the home’s best architectural features and to showcase the best traffic flow ensures buyers will focus on the pluses the home offers.  New carpets certainly reinforce the qualities of a clean and well maintained home.

 But having plastic runners gives buyers a feeling of limited access.  As though there are certain areas that are “out of bounds”.  Invite buyers to explore your home and to get involved with it emotionally.  The purpose of Home Staging is to create an environment that inspires buyers to visualize themselves living there. 

So when Staging your home for sale, make it inviting.  Encourage exploration.  Let the buyers get emotional about the idea of living in your house.  A successful Staging is one where buyers don’t want to leave - they want to live there!

Nickie, Get Staged 2 Sell

As the Real Estate market is slowing in many areas, Home Staging is in the news quite often now.

I saw this article at Marketwatch.com today talking about how Staging homes for sale can really make a difference to buyers.  I thought I would share the link with you:

“Houses need an advantage now

As market slows, here are budget conscious ways to spur sale”

By Rachel Koning Beals

“A slower U.S. housing market means sellers can no longer bank on having their pick of offers for properties showing age and wear and tear of everyday living.  Dressing up or staging, a home with a thorough cleaning and decorator touches may be vital to lure increasingly fussy buyers…”

Nickie, Get Staged 2 Sell

Home Staging for everyday life is a fun and effective way to create the environment that reflects you, your values and your lifestyle.  But it doesn’t end with the aesthetics of home decorating.  Home Staging for Life includes making your home safe and being prepared for emergencies.

My dear friend Terese sent me this email, which is copied below.  I feel this site is worth sharing.

“The city of San Francisco has put together a pretty cool site with instructions on how to put together and maintain an emergency plan/kit for earthquakes, etc.  The site will even send you email reminders every 6 months for updating the food and water in your kit. 

http://www.72hours.org/index.html

Thanks for sharing the info Terese.  We all need to be prepared for emergencies so we can be sure to enjoy the fun parts in life.  By being prepared for emergencies, we are definitely working to achieve our goals in Home Staging for Life!

Nickie, Get Staged 2 Sell