Home Staging

Hmmm That Home Looks Good!

April 28th, 2008 categories: Home Staging, Real Estate Tips

Home Staging Today, I’d like to welcome one of Sacramento’s Best Home Stagers to Sacramento Real Estate Voice.

I am pleased to introduce Lori Kim Polk founder and Lead Designer of Artful Journey Designs and Staging.

I think you will see through her writing the importance of home staging now more than ever. Without further adieu…Here’s Lori…

Home Staging to Real Estate is like frosting on the cake. You dont have to have it, but the cake is OHHHH so much better with it. And the cake sells for more money and quicker too. Funny analogy sure, but actually pretty accurate.

Home staging has gone from a home based business, hobby for some, part time for others, to a legitimate industry. While it has done so, the savvy professional home stager who has a viable business has tools in their arsenal that will make the difference in that sale.

What do I mean? Well, first review the portfolio of the stager you are considering. Does their furniture and accessory package look the same in more than one of their home examples? Do they do the same style without regard for the architecture and style of your home? The professional home stager is fluent in home styles, architecture, decorating styles and demographics for your home before they choose a staging plan for your home.

The professional home stager would not send a bid without having seen your home, just like a Realtor should not give you a price without seeing the nuances of your home and how it compares to the comparable sales. When the professional home stager has done their work with the style, architecture and personality of your home in mind, then the buyer that is drawn to see more. They are not disappointed when they come inside as the interior is what they expect and FITS your home and its architecture.

There are subtle decisions made in the blink of an eye when things are congruent, those decisions are favorable to your sale, when they are off the staging could be nice, but it doesnt quite feel right to the buyer and they dont know why. Often they just dont buy it.

You wouldnt use a hobby dentist, a hobby Realtor as you want their professionalism, experience and marketing knowledge. It costs you no more to have those qualities in a professional home stager. In fact, youve probably seen those homes for sale that have not sold and were staged a second time and then sold? Well, the professional home stager that has studied and applied the tools of their profession knows what to do to make that difference. The home could have a great cake mix of structure but, Professional Home Staging is the icing on the cake for a SALE.

You heard it straight from a Professional Home Stager. Thank you, Lori.

Sellers, please remember that the home buyers are discriminating in their choices of homes. There are a lot of homes on the real estate market for sale, yours needs to be frosted.

If you would like to contact Lori Polk for an evaluation of your home to be staged, her information is below and I highly recommend Lori.

Lori Kim Polk is the Founder and Lead Designer of Artful Journey Designs and Staging, a full service Home Staging and Design company located in Roseville, California. We proudly service Granite Bay, Rocklin, Lincoln, Sacramento and surrounding areas. Call us today at 916-300-0402 for our premier services.

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice simply click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email.

Other Home Staging Articles:

Dress Your Home To Sell-Inside Home Seller Tips

Dress Your Home to Sell-Outside Home Seller Tips

What Every Home Seller Should Know

How To Sell Your House

Tips In Preparing Your Home For Sale

Authored by Gena Riede | Discussion: 9 Comments »

Dress Your Home to Sell-Inside Home Seller Tips

March 31st, 2008 categories: Home Staging, Real Estate Tips, Sacramento, Seller

Home SellerTips Home Sellers, here are a few home selling tips for dressing the inside of your home to sell.

For home selling tips on the outside, be sure to read, Dress Your Home to Sell-Outside Home Seller Tips.

In todays real estate market it is important for your home or condo to shine.

It doesnt matter if your house or condo is for sale in Sacramento, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Folsom, Wilton, Rancho Cordova, Rancho Murieta, Orangevale, Natomas, Greenhaven, Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Auburn, El Dorado Hills in CA or anywhere else for that matter.

The first step is to declutter your home. It is not unusual to have accumulated knick knacks over the years or have family photos lining the walls.

Those are things that individualize our houses and make it home. But when you are trying to sell your house, those things need to be packed away. This is a time to think positive that you are selling and moving. So, with that mind start packing away all those priceless breakable items. Make sure that the walls are clean and fresh with no personal items.

While packing, its important to sift through items that have been taking up room in your closets, drawers and cabinets. Only keep your this seasons clothing and pack away or give away the rest. Remember, that it is important to have your closet not look cluttered and small. Home buyers will get an impression that there is not enough room if everything is jammed in.

Get different colored bags

one color for throw away
one color for donation “ remember to keep the receipt for tax purposes

In order to keep yourself in a productive mood, put those donation bags into your car and drop off bags. This will give you a sense of accomplishment and spur you on to get even more accomplished.

Box items that are decorations, dishes used for entertaining, seasonal clothing, knick knacks, family photos, book collection etc. Anything that you personally will NOT need to use while selling your home should be packed away. Mark your boxes clearly for your move to your new home.

Its important to always keep in mind that the home buyer see your house, not your things.

If a piece of furniture is blocking a window, doorway or closet remove the furniture. Many times rooms are over crowded with furniture. Less is more. Set aside a place in the garage or better yet rent a pod or storage facility to store boxes and furniture.

Yes, I know it is a pain. I am the first to agree with you but if you want to sell and sell for the most amount of money in the least amount of time, this process is essential. Otherwise, the process will drag on longer and longer until you get with the program. Home buyers tend to offer less to Sellers whose homes are cluttered or look outdated.

Hire a licensed contractor to fix all those little things that you always meant to fix but just never got around to doing.
If a room needs painting, paint.
Replace hardware if outdated to give your home a fresh new look.

Paint and replacing hardware are two of the cheapest ways to refresh your home and give it a more up-to-date look along with replacing out-dated fixtures.

Buy some new towels for the bathrooms.
Take down all those magnets on the refrigerator
Pack away all the items on the kitchen counter.
Always remember, LESS IS MORE.

Obviously, make sure that you have hired a full time professional Realtor to get your house sold. Google the Realtor and see if they have a good Internet presence. The better Internet presence the more your house will be seen on the Internet. Which means, if priced correctly and if your home shines, then an offer will not be far behind.

Staging your house for sale is a sure fire winner for success. If you are interested in hiring a professional stager, Id be more than happy to refer you to one. If its merely a matter of helping to use the items that you currently have, no problem. There are different venues to Staging a house for sale.

Together with your Realtor, walk the around the house, go room to room and see if there is anything more that needs to be done. Look with home buyer eyes and youll see a lot better.

Have carpets professionally cleaned when you are ready to welcome home buyers.

Good Luck!

Tip: Remember to leave the house when the home buyer comes. Home Buyers do not feel comfortable with Sellers in the house.

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice simply click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email.

If you have a real estate question that you would like an answer to be sure to check out and read what other home buyers and home sellers have asked or feel free to ask your Real Estate question by email.

And of course if you are interested in buying a home or condo or selling your home or condo, feel free to contact me and lets talk.

Other Articles for Home Sellers:

Dress Your Home To Sell-Outside Home Seller Tips

What Every Home Seller Should Know

Tips in Preparing Your Home For Sale

Christmas in February

Fair Oaks California Sellers

Home Buyers and Sellers Talk About Realtor, Gena Riede

Selling Your Home?

How to Sell Your House

Homeowner Tip

Sellers Make Concessions

Should I Remodel How Much Do I Get Back?

Sellers, Do You Know What You Should Expect?

What Sellers Need To Know About Receiving Offers

Zillow for a Zestimate Yes or No?

Home Buyers and Sellers Talk About Realtor, Gena Riede

Location, Location, Location

Authored by Gena Riede | Discussion: Comments »

Dress Your Home to Sell-Outside Home Seller Tips

March 28th, 2008 categories: Home Staging, Real Estate Tips, Seller

Home Staging Are you thinking of selling your Sacramento home or condo?

In todays real estate market, its a MUST to prepare your home for sale and Dress it for Success in selling.

Spring is here, the daffodils are in bloom and home buyers are out looking for the best house for sale.

Doesnt matter if your home is for sale in

Sacramento, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Folsom, Wilton, Rancho Cordova, Rancho Murieta, Orangevale, Natomas, Greenhaven, Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Auburn, El Dorado Hills in CA or anywhere else for that matter.

So lets get started with some Spring selling tips on Dressing your Home for Success.

The outside of your home needs to scream out, look at me! This means, as a homeowner and future home seller you need to look at the outside of your house with a critical eye. The home buyers do.

Drive up to your house like a home buyer, look at your house from the sides and the front. Need to get that grass greener? Does the roof need repairing? Hows the paint on the exterior of your home? Do you see paint flaking? The home buyer will.

Power washing is a must just like cleaning carpets is a must when you are dressing your house for success to sell.

Repair the Roof (if you have a tile roof, hire a professional)
Scrape and Paint the Exterior of your Home
Power Wash your Home, the Sidewalk, Driveway, Patio
Clean the Gutters (the home inspector for the home buyer will be checking)
Trim trees and bushes, spruce things up
Plant flowers with color to attract the home buyer
Clean the porch
Clean/Paint front door
Replace if needed the Front Door hardware (home buyers dont like old and tarnished)

Remember, that what looks old, messy and screaming of repair tells the home buyer that you have not maintained your house. Why would the home buyer want to see the inside if the outside looks in disrepair?

Home buyers are looking for well maintained homes and condos. They are not looking to spend money on repairs.

The outside of your house tells the story of what the home looks like inside.

In order to sell, your house it must shine, be priced correctly for the neighborhood and dressed for success from the outside to the inside.

Monday, look for more home seller tips. The inside of your house will be the focus of Dressing Your Home for Success, part 2. Lets get your home ready for sale.

TIP: Call a Heating and Air company to service your heater and air conditioner. Keep the receipt for the home buyer.

If you like what you read here on Sacramento Real Estate Voice simply click and subscribe to get the latest articles sent to your email.

And of course if you are interested in buying a home or condo or selling your home or condo, feel free to contact me and lets talk.

Home Seller Articles:

What Every Home Seller Should Know

Tips in Preparing Your Home For Sale

Christmas in February

Fair Oaks California Sellers

Home Buyers and Sellers Talk About Realtor, Gena Riede

Selling Your Home?

How to Sell Your House

Homeowner Tip

Sellers Make Concessions

Should I Remodel How Much Do I Get Back?

Sellers, Do You Know What You Should Expect?

What Sellers Need To Know About Receiving Offers

Zillow for a Zestimate Yes or No?

Home Buyers and Sellers Talk About Realtor, Gena Riede

Location, Location, Location

Authored by Gena Riede | Discussion: Comments »

How to Sell Your House

February 2nd, 2007 categories: Home Staging, Real Estate Tips, Seller

Sellers, have you ever heard about Staging a home or wondered whether it was important to Stage a home?

It has become common place knowledge that homes which are Staged sell quicker and usually for more than the ones that are not Staged. Read what the 5 Keys are to Selling Your house…

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Authored by | Discussion: 6 Comments »

Happy New Year…2007!

December 31st, 2006 categories: Fun Things, Home Buyer, Home Staging, Real Estate, Realtor, Sacramento, Seller

Just cant wait till 2007! Happy New Year! It will be a great year and one I am looking forward to. Be sure to click on the photo for my little dance bringing in the New Year for you! Real Estate promises to be a great one for both Home Buyers and Sellers with prices that are affordable and obtainable in Sacramento County, El Dorado County and Placer County. There are some great homes out there just waiting. Lets get started finding just the right home for YOU in your price range, home buyers! And sellers, make your appointment with me so I can help stage your home for a quick sale. I love my job, I love my home buyers and I love my sellers! Its time to get started for 2007!!!

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Authored by | Discussion: Comments »

Location, Location, Location

November 3rd, 2006 categories: Fun Things, Home Buyer, Home Staging, Investor, Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Realtor, Seller

Want to know how to have a Successful Real Estate Transaction? Here are a few key points that will assist you in assuring your Seller’s house will have a successful closing. Make sure that you follow the following key points, as illustrated.

House On Cliff Location, location, location helps make for a successful sale. Love to have a home to sell that is one of a kind that will only fit the bill for ONE particular Home Buyer.

Hate to appeal to the masses! My seller’s homes are always the best! But, I’m sure you’ve heard that one before. Mine is the BEST!

It’s amazing how many bests there are… Here’s just a few of my bests that had successful endings especially when it comes to their fabulous locations. Everyone wants to have an ocean view and you must pay extra for that view! So, be sure to charge more for a good location. Just to illustrate my point ….

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Authored by | Discussion: 8 Comments »

Tips In Preparing Your Home For Sale

October 16th, 2006 categories: Home Staging, Real Estate, Real Estate Tips, Seller

Selling A Home Sellers, here is the very first step in preparing to Sale your house.

First, start boxing up all those little trinkets and family photos. No need to have everything you own in the closets. Only keep a few clothing items that are in the current season and box up the rest.

That way, your closets look spacious and inviting. Seasonal decorations are another item to pack away. Dishes and glassware that are not used daily should also be packed away. Remember, you’re moving, so now is a great time to start packing. If at all possible the best solution for all the boxes is to find a storage unit away from your house but if that is not feasible than neatly store the boxes and extras in the garage.

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Authored by | Discussion: 6 Comments »