Home Staging in Portland Oregon Blog

It's Not Graffiti ~ but Buyers May not Like that on the Bathroom Walls

Sun, 05 May 2013 19:13:37 -0700

When selling your home, it's important to remove your own personal "marks" on it ... things that you and your family members may love, but that may be seen as distracting by the majority of potential buyers.

In a Portland home that we staged recently, the homeowner walked me through the house and when we came to the hall bath with an extensive mural, she said "Please don't suggest that we repaint this bathroom ... although when we bought the house we hated it, we never got around to repainting it, and we've come to like it."

I smiled and reminded her that it took some time for them to "warm up" to it -- likely because their children thought it was a fun and colorful mural.

Presentation is one of most important factors factors that come into play when selling a house. They include:

Location
Price
Condition (includes Staging/Presentation)

With a great Realtor guiding you, remember that it's best to appeal to your target buyer, and even if that's a family, you're not sure what age their kids may be. Don't give buyers an excuse to overlook your home because there's "work to do" -- be proactive and fix, repair, or update those things that are easily changed to make your home more appealing.

Here's some Before & After photos of the bathroom "art" walls

Even the back of the door and the linen cupboard doors got the treatment!

*** What was the outcome? There were multiple full-price offers on the house within hours of listing and the seller sent me this wonderful note:

"I just wanted to thank you again for such a beautiful job staging our house; we had several full-price offers within hours and I am 100% positive that it was largely due to your gorgeous staging. Thanks again for your marvelous work!"

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Room Solutions Staging in Portland Oregon offers expert home staging services to homeowners, real estate agents, builders, banks, and investors. Our proven home staging techniques will help reduce your property's market time and maximize your equity. We prepare your property or listing to look appealing to your target buyer, for the online photos as well as in person. Our owner and principal stager Maureen Bray is a nationally-recognized expert in home staging and enjoys sharing her passion for staging with others. For a complimentary home staging proposal, please contact us @ 503-246-1800.

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

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How to Prepare your Home for MLS Photos

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:36:14 -0700

Margaret Woda, a Realtor based in Crofton, MD provides sellers with a terrifically helpful list of Tips to Prepare your home for the online photos, as well as for showings. Potential buyers love viewing homes that are so well prepared and are more likely to make an offer when the home looks "move in" ready.

Via Margaret Woda, Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation Services, Margaret Woda (Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Crofton, MD):

You've already prepared your home to sell, but do you know how to prepare it for MLS photos?

The photos of any listing are extremely important to its sale because most of today's buyers will first see the home online. Buyers are looking for a house with the potential to become their home... one where they can easily imagine living. We can't count on them to mentally remove clutter from photos so they can picture themselves and their families using the space. This must be done before the photos are taken.

Just spend 10 minutes looking at random MLS photos, and it's not hard to find examples of "what not to do."

The camera can only photograph what it sees, so I encourage my clients in the Crofton MD area to follow these suggestions for a photo-ready home.

EXTERIOR

Remove all vehicles from driveways, the street in front of your home, and your yard. (cars, trucks, RV's, and boats on trailers)

Close all exterior doors, including garage doors.

Remove all garbage and recycling containers from sight.

Turn on exterior lights to make the home look more inviting.

Remove bicycles and seasonal decorations.

Edge and mulch your beds.

Mow the lawn, remove or trim overgrown shrubs, and plant flowers (in season).

Remove old or broken outdoor furniture.

"Dress" the front door area with a wreath, flag, or potted flowers.

INTERIOR

General:

Minimize electric and phone cords by temporarily unplugging them and putting them out of sight.

Open all shades and blinds unless there is something unsightly in view or the window needs repair. (Heavy wood blinds can be left down, but open.) Make sure that open shades and blinds are parallel with the top of the window, and not hanging at weird levels.

Turn on all overhead lights and decorative lamps.

Minimize items on flat surfaces. Professional stagers often suggest this 3-items rule: one tall, medium, and small (Example: a lamp, plant, and a small dish or book on a bedside table.)

Minimize the contents on shelves, leaving plenty of open space.

Remove toys from sight or organize them neatly in containers.

Store valuables securely out of sight, including cameras, laptops, guns, coin collections and jewelry boxes.

Hide tissue boxes and piles of papers, magazines, laundry, etc.

Remove family photos, collections, and personal/professional memorabilia. (Repair walls, if necessary).

Put all trash cans out of sight.

Remove all pet equipment, including bowls, beds, litter boxes, crates etc.

Kitchen:

Remove magnets and other items on the refrigerator surface and items stored on top of the refrigerator.

Clear as much as possible off the kitchen counters, including toaster ovens, coffee makers, microwaves, and cutlery blocks (even if you return some of them to the counter for daily use while your home is on the market).

Follow the 3-items rule for counter tops.

Put the cleaning sponges, detergent, and garbage can out of sight.

Dining Area:

Set your dining table for company - an oversize centerpiece, place mats, napkins, utensils, and glasses.

Remove high chairs and booster seats.

Dress your breakfast bar - perhaps a place mat and simple table setting or a tray with a wine bottle and 2 glasses.

Put excess chairs out of sight.

Remove items from the top of china cabinet

Follow the 3-items rule for buffet or sideboard.

Living Room/Family Room:

Remove excess furniture.

Put photos, memorabilia, and collections out of sight.

Remove all toys, dog beds, etc.

Turn off the TV. If TV is located in acabinet, close the door.

Remove overgrown or dying plants.

Make sure your room has one focal point which is visible from the entry point into the room. (A focal point on every wall is simply overwhelming!) For example, it could be the view out the window, the fireplace, the seating area, or an armoire with a mirror above.

Bedrooms:

Make your beds and confirm that nothing shows under the bed (such as under bed storage containers or electric cords for bedside lamps).

Remove stuffed animals.

Remove your children's names from walls and other visible locations. (It's a matter of safety and security).

Follow the 3-items rule for bedside tables and dresser tops.

Bathrooms:

Remove all "fluff" - i.e., rugs, toilet tank covers, and seat covers.

Neatly fold your best towels on towel bars.

Make sure your tub area is sparkling clean and leave the shower curtain open.

Remove robes hanging on doors.

Follow the 3-items rule for vanity top and remove all items from top of the toilet tank.

Clean bathroom mirrors (toothpaste splashes show in photos).

Close the toilet lid.

Yes, preparing your home for sale and photos can be time-consuming, but there's probably nothing more important to a home sale except pricing.

Three of my last four Crofton area listings sold to buyers who saw the homes online within 24 hours of listing. I don't believe it's a coincidence that the sellers of these homes did everything I asked to make their homes photo-ready for these buyers.

Copyright 2006-13. All rights reserved.

DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice.

________________________________________

Margaret Woda, REALTOR & Associate Broker
Direct: (410) 451-6245 or click on EMAIL

FREE Maryland home search online (No registration required)
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FREE online relocation information
Check my reviews on Zillow

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. * 2191 Defense Hwy., #120, Crofton, MD 21114

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Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

The Top Things That Will Make It Hard For Your Agent to Sell Your House

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:56:08 -0700

Patricia Kennedy's post gives sellers something to think about before putting their home on the market. Condition is one of the important factors, and staging is part of condition. Sellers should take heed of Pat's great advice on making sure that your home is presented looking its very best, that pets are contained, and that smoke and other odors are banished!

Via Patricia Kennedy (Evers & Company Realtors):

Why do some houses sit around for ages while their neighbors fly off the shelf?

The sellers often think their home lingers because it's something their agent is doing or not doing. And sometimes they are right. But more often than not, unsuccessful sellers have a terrific agent whose advice they totally ignore.

They don't prepare the house for the market. They argue that buyers will be able to use their imagination. Buyers either won't notice the bathtub scum, the moldy leftovers in the fridge, or the clutter. They'll see the potential. Buyers have no imagination and they don't get potential unless they are potential renovators looking for a bargain.

They smoke in their house. If your house smells like an all night poker game, even buyers who smoke will probably pass on it.

They are annoyingly inflexible about letting in agents and buyers. What? You want to show my house in a half hour? Sorry, but I'm covering my gray. Go away! If I can't show it, I can't sell it. Sorry. If you're a pill about showings, you are sending the buyer's agent a message that you'll probably be a pill throughout the transaction!

When they do let people in, they "help" the buyers' agents do their jobs, following them around like they might steal the family silver. They point out all of the home's features that the agent might otherwise miss. Even though the buyer broker may never have been in the house in her life, she doesn't need your help. Really!

They tape little signs to the walls to point out all of the extra features they lovingly added to the house. Most of them are totally obvious things and they sort of annoy the showing agents. Many of the features they point out aren't even plusses to many of the buyers looking at the house.

The sellers stage their house with potpourri, scented candles, and those little "plug ins". Buyers hate those things - the only smell is no smell at all

Their adorable doggy enthusiastically greets buyers with a wag of the tail and a sniff to your, well, you know. Even if he's not a Realtor-eating dog, he needs to be gone. Now, I love dogs (one in particular), but they no matter how cute and friendly the dog, he needs to be out of the house or somehow confined when the house is being shown.

They price the house way above market, explaining to their agent, "Hey! It just takes one!" Actually, it doesn't work that way. While price isn't the only factor, it's probably the most important one.

In real estate school, they explain that there are 4 basic elements in a marketing plan: condition, access, price and marketing. The seller controls everything but the marketing, and even the most ambitious market plan won't work without the other three puzzle pieces fitting into place.

And yes, even in a sellers' market, it's completely possible for your house to sit unsold.

If you are planning a move to or from the Washington area, I can help. I am licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Please email me at Housepat@mac.com or call 202-549-5167.

Search all listings in the DC Metro area.

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*** *** *** ***

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

Don't Let the Cat out of the Bag! Home Staging Tips when you have pets

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:56:05 -0700

When your home is on the market in Portland Oregon or anywhere else, common sense dictates that pets should not be seen, smelled, or heard by potential buyers. Perhaps the buyers viewing your home may be allergic to cats, or afraid of dogs, or dislike pets in the house ... you never know how some people might react.

The online photos of your home in the MLS are so important, since most buyers preview a property before deciding whether or not to go see it in person. This cute black cat was in two photos of an old listing! However, showing a cat is not a good idea when marketing your home; potential buyers might stay away.

For tips to keep your home looking "move in ready" while it's on the market, contact your local professional home stager. We'll also provide you with advice on selling your home when you have pets.

*** *** *** ***

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

Is Your Home a Quick Change Artist? This Home was, and Sold in 2 Days

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:14:02 -0700

Sometimes when staging a home, having the ability to make a quick change is important. The real estate market in Portland Oregon has heated up, and homes in desired locations, in good condition and presented well to buyers can make the difference between a quick sale and one that might linger.

We were contacted by Portland homeowners whose home had previously been on the market without any offers. They said the feedback they'd heard was that their home appeared a little dated. They knew that buyers likely saw some dated furniture and just presumed the house was dated, too.

In reality, the house itself was in excellent condition and just needed a few updates in how it was presented for their target buyer. This is where consulting with a professional home stager can make a big difference!

Here's "Before" & "After" photos of this Portland home that was a Quick Change Artist & sold in 2 days:

The sellers requested that we bring in some updated furniture & accessories, and the house was transformed in just a few hours at a very reasonable cost. It received multiple offers and sold in just two days!

If you need help making your home a Quick Change Artist, call a Portland professional home stager for help!

*** *** *** ***

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

Portland Home Staging Q & A: Can you Stage just one room in my home?

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 11:36:24 -0800

As a home staging company in Portland OR, we are often called by homeowners and listing agents with questions about staging. In a recent example, homeowners were about to put their updated home on the market, and their formal living room (the first room you see upon entering) had been the "pool table" room. The sellers knew they should remove the pool table (they'd watched HGTV, after all) but they didn't have enough furniture to make the living room feel inviting to potential buyers.

Their smart listing agent suggested that they hire Room Solutions Staging to furnish this room appropriately so that buyers could see themselves enjoying this room with family and friends. It would also be the room that sets the tone for the rest of the house, and it's important that the spaces flow well together.

When I first viewed this home, here's what the living room looked like, before staging:

In the "Before" photo, you can see that there was only a leather chair, art above the mantle, and two small tables ... but the room had no warmth or personality. A system of wires held up two pendant lights that hung over the recently-removed pool table ... they'd have to go.

For a small expense, the sellers received a living room that lived up to the rest of their lovely home. Adding furniture and color warmed up the room quite a bit ... and the fireplace is now a properly- highlighted focal point. Take a look at the "After" photo:

For the rest of this home, I provided the sellers with a list of Things To Do before putting the house on the market; they worked hard to get everything done in 24 hours, and I returned to stage this living room.

~ This home SOLD just TWO DAYS after listing, and for OVER asking price ~

When you're selling your home, don't leave equity on the table ... make sure that every room is presented looking its very best for your target buyers. Do you have a home staging question that we can help you with? Just let us know!

~ Staging by Room Solutions Staging; living room "after" photo courtesy of Realty Imaging ~

*** *** *** ***

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

Portland Home Staging: Helping you "Tweak" your home for a faster sale

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 14:19:03 -0700

As an established home staging company based in Portland Oregon, we're often contacted by sellers to help them prepare their homes for sale.

Sometimes, all that's needed is a Home Staging Consultation and/or a couple of hours of our time to "tweak" the main rooms and make each one look more open, spacious, and appealing to that home's target buyers.

Here's an example of a recent project that shows the power of professional staging advice. In this photo of the family room "Before," the large TV blocked light from the window, and also detracted from the room's lovely focal point, the brick fireplace:

These few easy changes made this room look more open & updated to appeal to buyers:

Removed the large TV to let in more light as well as allow the fireplace to be highlighted
Replaced the small art on the mantle with something larger
Swapped out the 1990's lamp for a more updated one
Replaced the floral cushions on the sectional & removed the floral chair (which wasn't needed)

This home had 3 offers and a pending sale just 2 days after listing!

When you're putting your home on the market, make sure that it looks its very best. For a very reasonable investment under $200, a consultation with a professional home stager will give you an excellent return. Let us know how we can help you!

*** *** *** ***

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

Keep your Home Looking Good for Showings: Tips from a Portland Stager

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:19:05 -0800

When our Portland home staging company works with sellers and Realtors, we give them Tips to keep the house looking great for the Open House & showings. Before the house goes on the market, sellers are usually advised to clean their home like there's no tomorrow, remove excess furniture to create a great traffic flow, pack away all the personal photos, collectibles & "stuff" that everyone accumulates, clean up the yard, etc.

But how to KEEP the house looking ready for a showing with short notice?

Whether the sellers did the staging themselves or had a staging consultation with a professional stager, having a handy "check list" can help a busy household remember what to do – so that potential buyers fall in love with your home and want to move right in!

Open all window coverings to let in the light & allow buyers to see the views; Turn on lights & lamps in each room (even during the day)

To keep your home smelling fresh, use one of these safe products on carpets, drapes, & upholstered furniture: Pure Citrus spray or Pure Ayre spray (both are free of chemicals and are safe for people & pets). Air out the house often and don’t allow anyone to smoke inside.

If you have pets, keep their food & water dishes out of sight; remove the cat litter box to the garage (or outside) for showings. It’s best to take pets out of the house and yard during showings since some buyers may be allergic, afraid, or not fond of pets

Ensure that the kitchen & bathrooms are kept sparkling clean

Kitchen counters should have just a few items (a bowl of fresh fruit, plants, a pretty cookbook on a stand; limit small appliances to 1 or 2).

Kitchen Trash should be removed daily and hidden away out of sight

Dining tables should be staged with a simple centerpiece (plant or flowers)

Make beds daily, standing up all the pillows for a hotel look

Keep the "good" towels folded on towel bars (put your wet towels in the dryer as you leave the house)

Make sure that toilet seat lids are always down

Keep bathroom toiletries stored out of sight; wastebaskets & cleaning supplies should be out of sight, too

Replace burned-out light bulbs throughout the house & yard

For safety, remove family photos & items with a family member’s name; hide bills, bank statements, mail; hide valuables, prescription medicines, & firearms

The walkway to the front door should be swept & tidy; colorful pots of flowers are a welcoming touch; a new doormat makes a great first impression

Follow these tips and before you know it, your home will sport this sign:

*** *** *** ***

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

Does Home Staging Work? The Sunday Oregonian newspaper says it does ...

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 12:39:46 -0700

The real estate "season" is in full swing in Portland, Oregon and other markets across the country. Many areas are seeing increased activity and less inventory, a welcome change from the past few years. One of the marketing tools available to agents and homeowners is home staging, and savvy consumers are discovering how staging can help homes sell faster.

Home staging is one part of the winning formula, which also includes:

A listing agent with great marketing expertise

Sellers who listen to their agent's advice on the best listing price

A home that is in good condition and presented well (that's where home staging comes in)

The Oregonian newspaper interviewed several Realtors and also contacted me for information on how staging can help sellers in today's market get a faster sale. As it happened, during my interview they asked if I had a recent success story and they included it in this article: a Portland OR home I'd staged recently sold in 2 days -- and both the sellers and the listing agent credited the staging as an important factor in the sale.

Here's a link to the Oregonian story about home staging in Portland Oregon

If you're selling your home, contact a local professional home stager for advice on how to best present it for potential buyers. It's a lot more than "decluttering" and savvy stagers can steer you to easy cosmetic fixes for the best Return On your Investment, as well as staging tips to make sure your home appeals to your target buyer.

*** *** *** ***

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

Portland Oregon Home Stager Featured on HGTV's "My First Place" Thurs 4/26/12

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:15:31 -0700

On Thursday April 26 (10:30am Pacific/1:30pm Eastern) another episode featuring our home decorating and design work will air on HGTV. This particular episode, one of five that we did, highlights the home search of a newly-married young couple. They find a home in Sherwood, Oregon (a suburb south of Portland) that fits them perfectly ... but they need master bedroom furniture:

"Stephanie and Brett have been living with her parents since the wedding, but now they must find their first place before her mom and dad begin remodeling their home, leaving these first-time home buyers with no place to sleep. It looks like a short sale will be the answer to all their problems -- until the deadline looms before the short sale deal is done."

Here's how the master bedroom looked "Before" when they first saw this house before making an offer .... and photos of the "sneak preview After" shots. Be sure to watch for the "surprise" at the end!!

Brett has a big "surprise" named Pepper at the end of the show for Stephanie!!

*** *** *** ***

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

Home Staging Tips: Making Giant Strides with a Home Staging Consultation

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:04:52 -0700

Based on a recommendation from their listing agent, these smart homeowners hired our Portland Oregon home staging company for a Verbal Consultation recently. During the consultation, we provided cost-effective home staging tips including easy cosmetic fixes, the best furniture placement to create a good traffic flow, paint colors, curb appeal & landscaping ideas, updating cabinet hardware, etc.

The sellers followed our advice and staged the home themselves, then had a Pending Sale within 3 Days! How did they do it? The "Winning Formula" includes:

Selecting a great Realtor who guides you to the right listing price and provides excellent online marketing

Doing everything you can to make the house look appealing to your target buyer - including hiring a professional home stager to provide a Verbal Consultation

Make sure your online photos are the best quality

These Before & After photos tell the story .....

Kitchen before was dated and tired looking

Painting the cabinets*, replacing the dishwasher, adding an easy tile backsplash & new hardware updated the kitchen on a budget; no need to change the counter-tops or flooring

* The cabinets were updated with Rustoleum's "Cabinet Transformations," and the color is Bayleaf (no glaze was used).

The living room before was too crowded

Replacing the oversize chair and excess clutter, and painting the brass fireplace screen black opened up this room and made a huge improvement in its appeal

We are seeing the same amazing results over and over again ... sellers who use the "Winning Formula" are selling their homes quickly in the Portland Oregon area. You can, too! To get started, contact us for a home staging Verbal Consultation. At just $175, it's a smart investment that provides a great return on your investment!

~ After photos courtesy of Terry Iverson Photography ~

*** *** *** ***

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

Staged on Thursday ~ listed Friday ~ Under Contract Sunday! Home Staging in Portland OR

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 12:13:49 -0700

Staged on Thursday ~ listed Friday ~ Under Contract Sunday! Home Staging in Portland OR

As professional home stagers in Portland OR, we love helping our clients reach their goals of a quick home sale so that they can move on to the next phase of their lives. Recently we staged a Portland home that was listed on Friday, and had a pending sale on Sunday! Our staging services include helpful tips for easy cosmetic updates that help sell homes faster.

Here are some Before & After photos of this home staging project

The dining room accent wall color needed neutralizing

We suggested a paint color that would work with the gorgeous hardwood floor, a main selling feature

The living room just needed to show more space

Our furniture placement optimized the space, highlighted the hardwood floors and the fireplace

The bedroom accent wall needed painting

We suggested a paint color to work with the existing yellow walls, and opened up the blinds for more light

If your home is going on the market ~ remember that today's buyers want "move in ready" homes. Home staging is an effective marketing tool that will make sure your home appeals to your target buyer and provide an excellent return on your investment.

~ Home staging and photos by Room Solutions Staging LLC ~

*** *** *** ***

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

This Portland Home was Lived in by One Family for 50 Years ... Staging it was an Honor

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 21:55:25 -0700

We recently staged a 1962 home in Portland Oregon that has been owned and lived in by one family for 50 years! When the heirs decided to sell the property, their listing agent suggested that home staging would help buyers imagine themselves living in this home. Walls were painted and new carpeting was added, but no major remodeling was done. When the family hired our home staging company for this project, I could see the potential here, but knew we'd have to "show" buyers that this home was worth a second look. It's located in one of Portland's best school districts and the listing agent felt the buyers would be a younger family.

There's something to be said for walking through a home where one family has lived and raised their children for 50 years ... I was wondering how they might feel if they knew a "stranger" was about to present THEIR home to others in a way that was likely very different than how it looked in the past. When I work in a home like this, I find myself almost "talking" to the departed owners and asking their permission to do whatever is necessary. That may sound odd, but I found it usually works very well! One thing that amazed me was that the 1962 kitchen had the exact same Armstrong flooring and the same GE oven that my parents' home had when I was a child. Whenever I stage a home that's belonged to one family for many years I feel an obligation to make sure that my work reflects honor for the departed family as well as hope for the new family who will make it their home.

Here's a few Before & After photos of this 1962 vintage Portland OR home

The living room has a huge picture window

Staging added energy to this living room by using 'tangerine'-colored accents that echo the brick fireplace

The adjoining dining room has French doors to a deck

We selected a drum light fixture and carried over the colors from the living room to tie it all together

The kitchen is (mostly) vintage 1962!

Staging added warmth & lifestyle cues for buyers ... they'll be able to "imagine" how they'll remodel it

The large family room is original and very spacious

After staging, buyers can see themselves enjoying this family room

After the seller saw the home, he sent me the nicest note:

"I just had a chance to see the house. You are a very talented home stager. The change was dramatic and the appeal of the house was enhanced much more than I expected. We appreciate your tasteful and expert choices. I know it will help the sale of the home. Thanks again!"

*** *** *** ***

Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

Staging a 1960's Home to Look Current in 2012

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 18:44:18 -0700

You know the saying, "everything old is new again?" Well that applies to home design trends, too! As professionalhome stagers based in Portland Oregon, we see this all the time.

We recently staged a 1963-era home in Beaverton OR that had the clean, contemporary lines that today's buyers love. With staging techniques, we can make any home look current, too. It's amazing how art and accessories can update the feel of a home!

Here are some photos of this home that show how staging helped it become more appealing to potential buyers ...

The living & dining area shows big windows & wood floors

But once staged, a buyer can "see" the potential in this contemporary-styled home

This bedroom is small by today's standards

But staging gave it a fresh, updated feeling

Buyers would ask, will a kitchen table fit here?

Staging clearly shows them, No Problem!

The seller left this brick above the fireplace just as it was ... and it gave the house a fun vibe!

The kitchen needed a full facelift

And got a nice updated look, all from IKEA (cabinets, appliances, counters, hardware, sinks)

Remember that today's buyers want a "move in ready" home ... so make sure that yours looks like all the hard work has already been done. For help with making decisions on what items to update for your best return on investment, contact your local professional home stager for a Consultation ... you'll save a lot of time & money ... and likely you'll sell your home faster, too!

~ Staging and Photos by Room Solutions Staging ~

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Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.

Dog GONE It! Please Leave Canines Out of the Photos ~ Home Staging Tips

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:08:38 -0700

Don't misunderstand ... I come from a family of dog lovers and have had the good fortune to have had wonderful dogs most of my life. But if my house was on the market, there would be no online photos of my dog, and little evidence of them living in the house, once potential buyers came in person.

Why? Because potential buyers may be allergic to pets, or they may be afraid of dogs.

If a buyer sees dogs in the online photos, right away they imagine that the house may not be as clean as they'd like ... or that the house smells like a dog ... or that the yard might be dug up or messy. Any of these reasons may prevent a buyer from putting your home on their "must see" list.

A Portland home staging client of mine was shocked to find out that their agent put these photos of 3 of their dogs online (which have since been removed) -- it's likely that photos like this could discourage showings.

If you have a dog & your house is on the market, here's some tips for better showings:

Vacuum & Dust all surfaces often

Hide the dog beds, blankets & toys

Put the food & water dishes out of sight

Shampoo & brush your dog weekly

Air out the house before showings, if possible

Take the dog out of the house during showings

Keep the yard clean of dog debris

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Licensed • Insured • Accredited • Certified

2013 Top Ten Professional Home Stager of the Year - United States

2012 Professional Home Stager of the Year - Western U.S.

President of the Real Estate Staging Association

"Staging That Sells Portland Homes"

Content may not be reproduced without permission.