Working with a HOME STAGER - Q & A with Home Stager, Lori Howard of Hope Designs
By the time I was 18, I lived in 6 different homes. My parents continually bought homes that needed to be remodeled, fixed up and then sold. Hence, I am a house junkie, slowly remodeling and refurbishing our 1925 bungalow home in Northern California.
I am also the co-founder of Silicon Valley Moms Blog http://www.svmoms.com
By the time I was 18, I lived in 6 different homes. My parents continually... More »
Earlier this week, I met with a friend who just put her home on the market. She shared with me her experience finding a PROFESSIONAL HOME STAGER. What she learned really surprised me: the home staging industry is booming. The Professional Home Stagers she interviewed and eventually hired were ALL extremely busy and tight on inventory.
In this economy?
The Reality: Sellers are having to stage their homes to keep up with the competition, and of course, showcase their home in the best possible light.
With so many homes on the market, home staging is crucial.
... and this is where I went down the path to learn more about Home Staging from an expert and Professional Home Stager, Lori Howard of HOPE DESIGNS. http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/hopedesigns
Join me as we discuss and learn more about the the home staging profession. Lori also gave us tips for staging a home, on our own.
In this economy?
The Reality: Sellers are having to stage their homes to keep up with the competition, and of course, showcase their home in the best possible light.
With so many homes on the market, home staging is crucial.
... and this is where I went down the path to learn more about Home Staging from an expert and Professional Home Stager, Lori Howard of HOPE DESIGNS. http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/hopedesigns
Join me as we discuss and learn more about the the home staging profession. Lori also gave us tips for staging a home, on our own.
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| WHAT IS A HOME STAGER?
A home stager is a professional who has been trained to merchandise homes so that they are seen and shown in the best light by potential home buyers. Home Stagers expertly stage homes to achieve the highest return on investment in the shortest period of time. |
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DOES STAGING A HOME MAKE THAT MUCH A DIFFERENCE WHEN SELLING A HOME?
100% YES! Homes that are staged typically sell faster and for more money.
100% YES! Homes that are staged typically sell faster and for more money.
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WHY DOES A SELLER NEED TO USE A HOME STAGER?
Home Staging is an art!
Homes that are staged typically sell in half the time than homes that are not staged. Historically, home staging has proven successful when selling with faster and better results!
Home Staging is an art!
Homes that are staged typically sell in half the time than homes that are not staged. Historically, home staging has proven successful when selling with faster and better results!
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Lori Howard reminds clients; “The investment in staging is typically less than their first price reduction.”
In addition home buyers will likely make up their minds within minutes of viewing a home. It is important to gain buyers interest the moment they walk through the door!
In addition home buyers will likely make up their minds within minutes of viewing a home. It is important to gain buyers interest the moment they walk through the door!
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ARE THERE PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIAL'S HOME STAGERS?
There are many companies / organizations that provide home stager training. Lori Howard received her training through the Certified Staging Professionals - CSP because of their stellar reputation in the field of home staging and real estate.
There are many companies / organizations that provide home stager training. Lori Howard received her training through the Certified Staging Professionals - CSP because of their stellar reputation in the field of home staging and real estate.
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WHAT COSTS SHOULD A HOME OWNER CONSIDER, WHEN HIRING A PROFESSIONAL HOME STAGER?
Clients have many options open to them; typically Realtors pay to have a stager do a consultation in the clients home. The home owner is responsible for any other charges related to getting their house in “sellable” condition including “staging”
Clients have many options open to them; typically Realtors pay to have a stager do a consultation in the clients home. The home owner is responsible for any other charges related to getting their house in “sellable” condition including “staging”
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What ARE TYPICAL HOME STAGING OPTIONS:
This first would be a CONSULTATION: During the consultation, Home Stagers will give the home owner tips and suggestions on things to make the home more appealing to a wider variety of buyers. They may recommend paint colors, furniture placement, and if necessary refer contractors for minor repairs to help sell the home quickly.
After the consultation the Home Stager may provide the seller with a detailed written report.
This first would be a CONSULTATION: During the consultation, Home Stagers will give the home owner tips and suggestions on things to make the home more appealing to a wider variety of buyers. They may recommend paint colors, furniture placement, and if necessary refer contractors for minor repairs to help sell the home quickly.
After the consultation the Home Stager may provide the seller with a detailed written report.
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| Implementing the Recommendations:
The seller may choose to implement the recommendations on their own or have the Home Stager assist with the project. This may involve: rental of home furnishings and accessories, personal shopping as well as assistance with organizing and de-cluttering. Many Home Stagers warehouse a full selection of home accessories and available home furnishings to showcase the home to its fullest potential. |
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CAN A SELLER STAGE A HOME ON THEIR OWN?
Lori Howard of Hope Design believes that the seller can do many things “to prepare” their house for sale.
For example, paint, declutter and remove personal collections and photos.
However if they are looking to obtain the best results, Lori recommends hiring a professional.
Lori Howard of Hope Design believes that the seller can do many things “to prepare” their house for sale.
For example, paint, declutter and remove personal collections and photos.
However if they are looking to obtain the best results, Lori recommends hiring a professional.
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TIPS FOR THE EXTERIOR!
Increase the value of your home with CURB APPEAL!
For dynamic eye catching curb appeal paint the front door, choose a stunning red such as Benjamin Moore's cc-62 Sundried Tomato (my personal favorite) or cc-124 Louisiana Hot Sauce a similar colour that enhances the exterior paint of your house would also work
Increase the value of your home with CURB APPEAL!
For dynamic eye catching curb appeal paint the front door, choose a stunning red such as Benjamin Moore's cc-62 Sundried Tomato (my personal favorite) or cc-124 Louisiana Hot Sauce a similar colour that enhances the exterior paint of your house would also work
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Fill as many urns and planters as you can get your hands on with brightly coloured long lasting annuals such as gerber daisies, wave petunias, and geraniums. With the addition of accents such as sweet potato vine, vinca vine and licorice plants your planters will be sure to capture a potential buyer’s attention
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You would be amazed at the difference a few minor changes or additions can make in your homes overall FIRST IMPRESSION and curb appeal and how much more welcoming your home will appear to potential buyers; it is like putting out a "welcome mat” for buyers.
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TIPS FOR THE INTERIOR!
Use a fresh coat of paint throughout the home in a neutral color.
Have the house professionally cleaned, including all carpeting
Keep the house clutter free.
Use a fresh coat of paint throughout the home in a neutral color.
Have the house professionally cleaned, including all carpeting
Keep the house clutter free.
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| To learn more about Home Staging and Lori Howard, visit Hope Designs at http://www.hopedesigns.ca
Visit Lori Howard's profile on Houzz: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/hopedesigns |
by Kerrie L. Kelly
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The Houzz Community would LOVE to hear YOUR Home Staging Tips!
Please join in on the comment section below!
Please join in on the comment section below!
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I "staged" my own home - cleaned out all the clutter and excess furniture, put pots in the garden (you can take them with you when you move), put beds in all the bedrooms, changed the art from our style to a more neutral style and put fresh flowers everywhere... and my house sold to the first person who walked through it within a week of going on the market for teh asking price! Yay! I would really recommend giving it a shot. After going to an open house yesterday and seeing the home owners underwear on the line and dishes in the sink I now realise how important it was to create a good first impression!
PS I just moved from Palo Alto. Good friends with the founder of This Week For Dinner, who has been a guest on your site...
Being an artist and lover of art, furniture, homes, gardens, when we sold our home and had to do a lot of moving out of things, it wasn't too difficult for me to already picture how this would end up looking. That being said, my realtor recommended us to have her known and tried and true home stager do a consult, a walk-through in our case, for a minimal cost (in NC I consider $150 for an hour-2 hours good plus she said to call her for any kind of follow-up questions as well, included). Since we had already started, and she came for pretty reasonable price as I did the work and she guided me upfront of the new ideas, I got new great ideas.. Anyone not believing in the importance of this need only go online on the MLS and notice difference in homes that obviously are not appealing and why. Usually it is due to too many things, period. Add to that, too many personal things, and the owners may like what they have, but must adhere to some basic rules, found even in this article!
We also used pots to stage our garden, so we could leave behind the perennial garden developed yet take some expensive new plants and pots with us, which we did. AND leave just one single great container at the front door, change it seasonally, and it makes a true difference.
Thanks! Also discovered the new "thing" is not only the normal, all-over neutral color but pick a bedroom and perhaps the office to zing with a lovely color that brightens or cools the room, depending on the mood you want there. It was great, and worth the $$ to re-carpet the one carpeted room, and to re-finish the hardwood floors. It made the smallish home very attractive, connected, it flowed better, and no second-guessing repairs by leaving old carpet or paint. That just brings up questions about the home's general condition.
Thanks!