Home Staging Blog

For any of you who have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know I have a slightly different philosophy on home staging than most.  I believe staging goes way beyond getting homes sold fast and expands into how people live in their homes day to day.  Creating positive, nurturing environments that reflect lifestyles that support those that live, or who want to live in the home, is what staging is all about for me.

So it just comes natural that improving the materials and the environment within the home would be part of successfully staging your home for life.

Step one in creating a healthier home is an easy one.  Change your air filters regularly.  Use at least a MERV11 rated air filter.  Why? 

Your homes are your refuge.  They are where you come home to at the end of your days to relax and rejuvenate.  When you sleep, your bodies are at rest and repairing themselves.  Your minds are regenerating and preparing for the brand new day ahead of you.

The air inside your homes is full of dust, which is a combination of all sorts of elements, including bits of soil, pollens, mold spores, dust mites, animal dander, skin cells, particles from the fabrics in your homes, even heavy metals from car exhaust.  Without the use of an adequate air filter, these elements just keep getting recycled throughout your home and through your body.

Modern homes are made to be air tight.  They are designed to be energy efficient.  This prevents adequate ventilation unless you take the time to open your windows and give yourself some daily fresh air.  Be sure to open more than one window if possible so that the fresh air can circulate.  Even in hot or cold weather, give yourself at least 20 minutes of fresh air, your body and home will thank you.

For those of you here in Southern California where we are affected by the smoke from these fires, be aware that for the next two weeks we have been advised to keep our windows closed and to limit our outdoor exposure.  It is more important now than ever to change your air filters.  The fires have burned not only the forests but many homes, releasing all sorts of pollutants into the air including asbestos, chlorine and many other toxins that are dangerous for your health.  Protect your family and yourself by limiting your exposure. 

Take a little extra time this weekend while cleaning up around home and use a dampened cloth to do your dusting and clean all of the surfaces in your home to remove the ashes that are settling.  You don’t want to stir these up and have them floating around your home if you can avoid it.  And when the dust has settled outside, hose things off a bit before you start sweeping so the ashes don’t come up in your face.  Creating a healthier home starts with the air you breathe.

We staged a condo today in Los Angeles that is small on square footage but big on living space.  Part of the beauty of home staging is that you get to see results immediately.  Adding furniture just makes those small spaces feel so right.  No fake (i.e. miniature) furniture needed, just well placed, appropriately scaled pieces that work for real life living.

This home has an open floor plan in the main living area plus a powder room on this floor. The upstairs features a master suite, a second bedroom or office, another full bath and, what seems to be a luxury item these days, a laundry room with a side by side washer and dryer plus lots of cabinets.

The agent will be having an open house on this property this weekend, so if you’d like to check it out give her a call.  There is a lot of home in this small space, maybe it is just right for you.  Her info is on the details page of the real estate show.

I think Athol’s post says it all.

See it here.

No explanation required.

As you know, I am a strong advocate of combining home staging with a great marketing plan and a great agent who is knowledgeable and willing to do the work to educate the sellers and effectively market the property to buyers and other agents. 

Well one of the properties we staged this week is listed by just such an agent.  The sellers and she are offering this property through a “Seller’s Auction”, something somewhat more common in other areas, but pretty innovative here in Los Angeles.

Here’s the fine print, courtesy of Lynda McDonough, the listing agent:

FINE PRINT:

Tell me, what do you think of this strategy?

And of course, the agent’s complete contact information is on the details page of the real estate show.

We had a great time staging this ultra-cool cottage in West Hollywood today!  This home was built in 1924 and all of the charm has been left intact, yet the home has been updated to fit the lifestyle of today. 

I love the French doors and the open floorplan in the main living area.  The bathrooms have been updated and are very chic.  I have a thing about well done concrete floors and they did a great job on the floor in this master bath.

They will be having their Open House tomorrow and next weekend.  Give the real estate agent a call.  His information is on the details page of the real estate show.

Having a beautiful, comfortable and efficient home is important, but is your home a healthy home?  Well here are 10 steps that you can start taking right now to create a healthier, more positive, living home that will support both you and the environment.

1. Replace your air filters.  Use at least a MERV11 rated air filter.  The 3M Filtrete 1250 is readily available in many common sizes.  Remember to allow your home to breathe by allowing proper ventilation by opening your windows daily.  Lack of fresh air can create “sick buildings”.  Bring in that fresh air and breathe deeply!
2. Eliminate clutter.  Excessive clutter is stale, negative energy that collects dust, feels heavy, drags you down and holds you in the past.  Remember the 50% Space to Stuff Ratio.  By making room in your home, you are creating room for new opportunities to come in, and that includes great health.
3. As your cleaning products run out and you replenish your supplies, be sure to buy biodegradable, naturally derived and chemical free products.  As you replace personal cleansing products, toiletries and cosmetics, choose natural products that have been created without chemicals and preservatives.
4. Add a whole house water purification system.  When traveling, store your water in glass containers that do not out-gas.  Avoid plastics, think about all those water bottles that just aren’t necessary.  Choose better.
5. Eliminate using toxic herbicides and pesticides.  Find ecologically sound solutions of managing these issues.
6. When purchasing new clothing, choose natural fabrics.  Your clothing is your second skin, your home is your third skin.  Make them all natural, non-toxic and breathable.
7. When replacing home furnishings, linens, decorative items, and rugs, choose items made from natural materials, woods harvested from sustainable sources and that are not chemically treated.  Avoid synthetic materials and fabrics, plastics and all PVC’s.
8. When it comes time replace your carpet, eliminate it and use hardwood or natural stone.  Carpets harbor dust, dirt, mites, and all sorts of nasties, not to mention the out-gassing and VOC’s.  Keep your floors clean and fresh with natural surfaces that are easy to clean and beautiful to look at.  When repainting, use low VOC paints and stains. 
9. Bring a little nature into your home.  A few living plants in your home will do wonders for you.
10. Check the electrical and EMF levels in your home.  Hire a professional to evaluate whether or not you have any problem areas and if you need to have an expert come out to make any repairs.

See how easy it is?  With just a little forethought, research and guidance from those that share the desire to improve health of our planet and all those that live here, we can all make this earth a healthier, more vibrant place.  And it begins with each and every one of us.  We start with ourselves, our bodies, our clothes, our homes.  The choices we all make on a day to day basis can make a huge impact.  The steps we take to make our homes healthier will result in a healthier planet for all!

If you’d like further info, just let us know.  We’ll be happy to provide you further information and resources.

Other Bloggers for Action Related Reading: Build Real Estate Results, Lifehack, RE Revealed, St. Paul Real Estate Blog, Successful Blog, Technology for Real Estate, Zen Habits

There’s something strange in the air these past 24 hours, can’t quite figure it out, maybe it’s just me.  But it seems like I have been seeing some mighty odd things put on display and I thought I’d share and get some feedback.

I went out last night to meet a friend for a glass of wine at a local restaurant.  I’ve never been there before, and upon arrival it seemed normal enough, a nice place with an outdoor seating area and a view of the valley below. 

But once inside, it had this bizarre atmosphere.  Hostesses dressed in red gowns that I couldn’t quite place as gothic or Frederick’s of Hollywood.  We were seated at a little table next to mattress type seating and served Syrah in dirty glasses.  We were surrounded by 20-something year olds that were busy smoking while listening to trance and dance music.  I drove home thinking I must be either really spoiled or else I’m getting really old.

Read the rest of this entry »

The guys over at Sellsius are having Open Mike and the conversation is Home Staging.  They are discussing whether or not home staging makes a difference in how quickly a home sells and in the selling price. 

In fact, they have challenged home stagers to prove the value of home staging to them.

It’s likely to be lively conversation over there.  You might want to go check it out.  If you decide to comment, just be aware, you might get an error when you hit submit that says your comment didn’t go through. 

Trust me, it did. 

Mine went through three times.

Hopefully they’ve seen it by now and taken it off.  Otherwise they probably think I’ve gone off the deep end :).

Ever looked at the cover of a Sunset Magazine and admired the photo of a classic home with an amazing cottage garden, set along the side of a hill?  We had the opportunity to stage a home just like this in Beverly Hills a couple of weeks ago.  It is a beauty and it is now on the market and ready to sell!

The homeowners have done a great job of renovating this property.  The landscaping truly is gorgeous.  There is an amazing pool in the backyard.  The living room features a large picture window of the front gardens and the large master suite features a picture window of the rear gardens and pool.

If you would like to check this home out for yourself, give the agent a call.  His contact information is on the details page of the real estate show.  And if you are interested, there were some Open House signs there ready for this weekend if you want to go see this home for yourself.

While I am meeting with clients at home staging consultations, many ask if I think they should purchase new plantation shutters for the purpose of staging their homes for sale.  My answer is always the same and it is a question; “How do you know the new homeowners want plantation shutters?”

Almost always, I get the same response from my clients, “I thought everyone wants plantation shutters”.  Well not anymore.  Many homeowners prefer the softness and more luxurious feel that draperies and curtains offer. 

Purchasing new shutters, particularly for homes with lots of large windows, can be quite an investment and they are not to everyone’s taste.  Hanging simple curtains from decorative rods is a much more affordable and attractive alternative. 

Choose simple rods that are beautiful yet not overly ornate.  Your buyer will be grateful that the rods are in place and they can simply hang curtains of their own choosing as soon as they move in, regardless of whether or not their final choice will be to have shutters installed.

When staging a home for sale, keep things simple.  When purchasing new items like curtains, choose fabrics that are natural, like linen, silk or cotton, that complement your home and furnishings, and that are not so ornate as to distract from the home itself.  You can take your curtains with you if you like, so choose ones that you love.