A Dated Portland Home is Transformed (and $old) with Easy Cosmetics + Home Staging
Our Portland, Oregon home staging company was contacted by a seller whose vacant 1990 home had been on the market for four months without a sale. When I asked what kind of feedback the house had received, the seller said most comments were that the house appeared "dated." I checked the online listing photos and had to agree with those comments ... and soon visited the home so that I could provide a complimentary home staging proposal.
Once I'd seen the home in person and determined who the target buyer would be (getting input from the seller and listing agent), I advised the sellers that some selective cosmetic improvements should be taken care of prior to staging the house, to make the home more 'move-in ready' for buyers. As part of my consultation service, I emailed the sellers my list of Things To Do (many previous sellers have told me how helpful this detailed information has been to them). The sellers went about getting these cosmetic items done ... and then we staged the home.
This home had been on the market for 4 months ... and it sold just 2 weeks after staging! Selective updates and staging helped this home appeal to the target buyer. Here are some Before & After photos showing the transformation of this home:
The 'before' photo of the dining & living room has a dated brass chandelier, brass rods & dated curtains
We selected an updated chandelier online (only $99) and advised removal of the dated rods & curtains
Another angle of this space reveals replacement of the entry brass chandelier also (just $99) 
The living room got an instant update with furnishings plus removal of dated curtains & hardware 
The family room looked dark and too small for furniture in this 'Before' photo
We advised cleaning the fireplace brick and removing the blue pleated shades ($0 cost) 
The master bedroom had blue carpet & pink drapes; the carpet was replaced at minimal cost 
Removing the pastel colors gave this room instant appeal, and now the pretty garden view is featured
We also advised these sellers on instant curb appeal tips (topic for another post :-)
Sellers and their agents who take advantage of a home stager's consultation service will be happy with the tips they receive on easy cosmetic updates. These sellers had a sale in just 2 weeks, after 4 Months on the market. Contact your local professional home stager -- you'll be glad you did!
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Room Solutions Staging in Portland OR helps our clients maximize home equity by staging to sell. Join the Portland Oregon homeowners, real estate agents, builders, banks, and investors who turn to Room Solutions Staging for help preparing homes to sell faster. Our home staging clients love our service and our home staging statistics! Our home staging services in the Portland OR metro area include consultations, staging for both vacant and lived-in homes, and interior redesign projects. For a free home staging proposal, please contact us @ 503-246-1800.
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Maureen: This is really great. Just one more wonderful example of how a talented Home Stager can make all the difference in the world. Great Job ! And... great photos, as well.
Hi Maureen -
Talent.. pure and simple talent. You are quiet gifted and it shows in your outstanding work. Job well done.
Best regards from The Q
Maureen, I think the pictures pretty much tell the whole story of success. There is no comparison between the before and after photos. Good for you, and what a great story to include in your Portfolio, when meeting future prospects. Congratulations on a job well done, and best wishes always.
hi Karen Anne ~ Thank you for such a sweet comment .... and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
hi John ~ Your nice comment is very much appreciated ... thanks so much!
hi Richard ~ Why thank you -- very nice to hear from you! I agree that prospective clients like to see examples of our work, and for home stagers, Before & After photos can tell the story.
Maureen.....VERY impressive! The updates you suggested while cosmetic were VAST improvements....removing the dated drapes & changing the carpet in the Master & lighting in the Dining were spot on! ADD the staging and little wonder why it sold AFTER you put all the right moves on it!!!!
hi Kathy ~ those easy cosmetic improvements can make ALL the difference to buyers, and the point of this post is to show homeowners that they don't have to spend a fortune on staging. Thanks for your support my friend!!
Amazing results, Maureen! Looking forward to your follow up post on curb appeal!
Hi Ed ~ Thanks for your feedback -- stagers here on A/R love to hear from our colleagues in related industries. I'll get working on that other post :-)
Hi Maureen--I just can't wait to scroll down the post and see the after pictures. It's like Christmas morning--what miracle has Maureen worked with this one. Well, its gorgeous and no small wonder it sold so quickly. That vacant house with dates drapes, carpeting and light fixtures just wouldn't turn a buyer's head. One dose of Maureen Bray and it's sold. Nice work.
hi Janet ~ I'll tell you, reading YOUR comment is like Christmas morning for me!! Thanks for your enthusiastic response to my post ... I spoke with the seller and she said she's telling her friends and family to call me BEFORE they list, so they don't have to wait so long for a sale. That was nice to her, too.
Isn't it amazing what a difference it is when you can see the windows without those drapes! It looks wonderful Maureen. I see you got them to replace the carpet on the stairway as well! Way to go!!
Woot Woot! Awesome staging results and awesome stats that further prove you're one of the best! The changes are remarkable (as always). The look - incredible!
Congratulations. Your home staging is being featured in the group Staging Before and After Pictures.
Kathy
wow what an amazing job, love the staging and the result SOLD.
Thanks for the pics.
Shobh
Maureen - Your suggestions for updates, such as lighting and carpeting really set a more contemporary tone and foundation. Placing your tasteful furnishings, accessories and artwork was the crowning glory. I can see why this home sold so quickly once staged. Congratulations on another staging coup!
Maureen - you did all the things a professional home stager should be doing. Congratulations on a fabulous staging project. Great choices.
Ding Dong - Avon Maureen calling! After looking at these photos, I think I've got to get more plants to use. You really demonstrated how large those spaces truly are, Maureen!
hi Shar ~ Yes, the blue carpet on the stairs had to go, too. A neutral always sells better! Thanks for dropping by.
hi Kathy ~ Thanks for featuring it -- you are too kind :-)
hi Shobh ~ SOLD is the best outcome for everyone involved!
hi Sally ~ Thanks! Before, buyers just saw things they'd have to change (in their minds, costing them lots of money). Once a few things were changed out, and it was staged, they could see themselves living there. Easy, isn't it?
hi Wendy ~ You are right ... staging is only helpful if the rest of the house is in good, updated condition.
hi Julie ~ I find that trees and plants can help to fill large spaces and bring lightness into a home, too.
Hi Alison ~ The blue carpet was 20 years old and really prevented buyers from noticing the other great features this home has. Thanks for your feedback!
Great job Maureen-Barbara reblogged this-I love the pears and it is so clear you are a professional as the scale for each piece is perfect~!
Maureen,
You preformed magic transforming that dated listing into a sold home. And, you have a great story to go with it. Congratulations on a job very well done.
hi Joanna ~ Thanks very much -- scale is important so we have to get that right :-)
hi Lloyd ~ All good stagers have a magic wand in their toolkit! Thanks for your kind words.
Looks gorgeous Maureen! Love how you set each space - so welcoming and lovely!
Hi Heather -- how are you doing? Nice to hear from you -- thanks for commenting!
Blue carpet and pink curtains, oh my! You really helped these sellers update with just minor changes, but what a difference! And your staging is the icing on the cake, awesome!
hi Michelle ~ yes -- those were colors of yesteryear, weren't they? The sellers were motivated though after 4 months on the market, did what needed to be done, and were so happy with the outcome :-)
HI Maureen, the kitty corner by the fireplace really was awkward before you staged the area. Simple solutions by a professional home stager have changed the look of this property dramatically. Buyers can now see value in every room. Changing the light fixtures brought the home into the current decade.
Hi Michelle ~ it's all those things you mention that add up to make a difference in how buyers perceive a home. After the work and staging was done, no buyers said the house look "dated" any longer, and a pending sale happened so quickly. Thanks for your comment!
Maureen, what great artwork and I'm amazed by the difference taking down all those drapes made -- especially in the bedroom! Hard to believe that's the same room! Beautiful chagnes that really modernize this home!
hi Amy ~ Removing those formal drapes let in much more light and instantly updated the house; Before, it felt like you might be intruding in someone else's home because of all the personal color choices. Thanks for your kind words.
Maureen - I can't believe I missed this amazing transformation - I always check out your posts! Whenever I see your before and afters I take 5 minutes going back and forth looking at all the details of your amazing work. You can turn a so-so, vacant or even terrible room into a gorgeous oasis while highlighting the home's architectural features and size! Just removing the heavy drapery brings it up to date while letting more light shine in, highlighting those gorgeous windows. You are one of the most talented stagers in the country - when are we going to see you on HGTV? You should have your own show and I mean that!
Maureen - lovely work! what a transformation and the sellers must have been very happy to get those results - staging is such a wise investment and you set the standard! :)
Hi Maureen, wow, such a dramatic difference in each room with simple and inexpensive tips and fixes and of course your expert staging! Those dated brass fixtures are a pet peeve of mine..so love that you showed by just changing them to a more updated fixture (not expensive either) how it can change the look of the room. Nicely done!
hi Kristine ~ Removing heavy draperies is always on my list of suggestions.
Thanks for your kind words -- Let's do a show together for HGTV -- they won't know what hit them LOL :-)
hi Craig ~ The sellers were elated with the changes that brought about a quick sale -- yes! Thanks for stopping by.
hi Cindy ~ I'm with you on the brass light fixtures being a pet peeve ... buyers today just can't get past them, so changing out a few in key areas always shows buyers that it's easy to update the house.