Ana's Blog: October 2009

BEHIND THE SCENES

Stagers wear many hats and one of them is as close to being a relationship counselor as it gets. Of course I am speaking about the relationship between a seller, their house and their "stuff".

We all know moving and selling a home can be very stressful and overwhelming. It's a letting go process for many. I have seen the look of relief on more than one face in the past as I arrived to do a consultation. 

Stress is a lot of little tiny things that eventually add up to a mountain.  That mountain is really just a little pile if you look at things in a simpler way. Sellers need a little help letting go, it's normal. We can speed up the letting go process and this has both emotional and financial benefits.

The polish and bling of a fully completed Staging job is the public face but what about what goes on behind the scenes?

One of the most important questions we should ask a client; "How much do you really need?"

This linen closet is one of 3 in a home with 3 bathrooms. Each bathroom had its own closet.

After some discussion and listening and understanding, this was the answer to the question.

We even found sets of sheets never opened ready for use when the seller sets up their new place! 

This behind the scenes example won't make the MLS and it won't be on a brochure but it will impress a potential buyer.  It's an important part of the selling package. What's backstage at your place?

AccentPositives provides effective and economical Home Staging consultations on sight and online.  We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.  Call 951 833 8529.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

It's funny as you get on in years, the things that you would roll your eyes about when younger start making sense.  Have you ever caught yourself sounding like your mother?  Something many of us swore would never happen right?

I have four very great kids, healthy, happy and yes deprived.  Some of their friends have every known electronic, toy or gadget known to exist.  The latest, greatest and newest.  They wear the latest, greatest and newest. We are way behind in our neighborhood.  Why just last year we purchased a play station! No we don't have a Wi!

Just like the kids in our neighborhood, the real estate landscape around my area became inundated with every bell and whistle a homeowner could want.  Unchecked refinancing, low interest rates and inflated property values fueled this consumption to excess.  Hummers and spanking new RVs became visible on every block for a time.  Boats, new pool construction and loft room addtitions were the rage.  You couldn't pay a contractor enough to answer your calls, show up for appointments on time or treat you semi respectfully on a job.

So I have a friend who is a buyer's agent.  She has allowed me to tag along with her as an "assistant" when showing homes to clients.  I felt this would be another education in seeing what buyer's expectations are out there, especially now in this market.  What an education!

High expectations they are, even for first time home buyers.  In an era of HGTV and FLN, many people absolutely believe a house is a dump unless it has certain amenities that were once considered high end. Hardwoods, granite, fancy moldings and high end appliances.  Yes they want it all. They want it all and now they want if for nothing...because they can.

The cycle of a buyer's market and a seller's market has always been a given.  But now it has become an especially vicious buyer's market in my opinion. 

In Staging this has created many high expectations also.  Recommending ROI improvements and advice on correcting "design" flaws are a large part of Staging Consultations.  It isn't just about presenting a pleasing livable space, it has to WOW the folks.  The wowier the better.

What ever happened to the the good old buyer that was looking for maintained, clean, spacious and in a good school district?  Big yard not good enough, must have BBQ from heaven and rock pool.

This may sound like a rant longing for the good ole days but it's not really.  What it is is a lament on how spoiled, superficial and materialistic we are and why things are headed down the economic roads they are.

 I don't mean we shouldn't want better things or more things but it's like people now view it as a right, a given and they are being cheated or deprived if they don't get what they want right now. Like children.

So I am back where I started this.  With my children.  My kids have offered to sell their play station and other stuff if mommy and daddy don't have money to pay for their house.  Everyday they walk past houses in our neighborhood, houses where their friends lived, that have bank owned notices in the windows.

Maybe just maybe we can teach them that there is a better form of high expectations; human kindness, empathy and responsiblility.

AccentPositives provides effective and economical Home Staging consultations on site and online.  We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire area of Southern California. Call 951 833 8529.

DOES THE HOUSE COME WITH THE TV?

Today the average American home has more TVs than people.  Over half of all homes have at least 3 or more sets.  Even in homes of families considered below the poverty line, televisions are plentiful. 

Big screen, flat screen, everywhere a screen screen.  Those dang outlets are everywhere and such an eyesore when trying to present a property for sale.  Not to mention the sets themselves. 

Not everyone who buys a set takes into consideration how it looks and where it will look and fit best.  They wing it and many times end up with something too large for the space or too awkwardly shaped to fit against the wall leaving an eyesore of exposed cables and wires.

TVs are even being substituted for or presented as art.  I guess that's ok, I am not really of that mind but they certainly are more stylish than they used to be. 

You will see them over fireplaces like this.  Many times they are placed too high, a common mistake made with art pieces also.  You need to crane your neck to view the screen.  I am not a fan of this placement, as in this photo, I think it takes away from the lovely fireplace.  

I think the TV would look nicer in the big empty hole to the left.  If a TV is to be wall mounted, mount it as art at eye level. As a seller, I would want to have the prospective buyer notice the beautiful stonework that stays with the house, not the cool TV.

How many homes have you been in where the very first thing you see is the TV?   Funny how house hunters are put off by this but have the same going on in their own homes most likely. I always tell sellers to pack em up, all but one.  The horrified expressions are mind boggling.  It's like you may have told someone to pack grandma off to the old folks home. TVs in bedrooms and bathrooms detract and are huge dust collectors.

Buyers do like to be able to visualize where their set or sets will go though. If the spot where the set sits is awkward and cumbersome, consider moving the outlet to an area that makes more sense.  Builders choices and prior owners choices don't always make sense.  Moving an outlet is not a huge cost. 

The local cable company charges $19.95 to move an outlet to another wall or room and will put it on the regular cable bill.   A small price to pay for better flow and function.   The whole look and balance of a room could change on simply moving one outlet. this applys to lighting as well.

Many times it is hard to talk a client into these small but effective changes but it is worth the effort and result.  As a seller, you don't want the buyer wondering if the house or your TVs are for sale!

AccentPositives provides effective and economical Home Staging consultations on sight and online.  We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.  Call 951 833 8529.

THE COLOR PURPLE

The color purple is really hot now days.  Yes it is.  It's splashed all over the design magazines and TV  shows, it's the "it" color at this very moment. Purple has always been by oldest daughter's favorite color.

Now I am not afraid of color and never have been.  Bright reds, greens of all shades I can work with and it will not look like a Christmas scheme.  I love the challenge of making bold colors work in spaces.  I never feel the urge to plaster or cover everything in whites, tans and beiges, never have.  When I enter a home on a Consult I make every possible effort to work with the existing color scheme unless it is very dirty or dingy and not salvagable.

I must confess that Purple and Pink scare the living daylights out of me. They take me back to many former house hunts where I ran across the purple and mauve color scheme.  This color would cower me in fright and indecision.  I absolutely hated it and was very vocal about it to anyone who would listen. When I think purple, I think Barney The Dinosaur.....yea let's not go there!

Recently though, I have seen some really exceptional use of the color purple in Staging.  It gives me pause and makes me think there is hope for me yet.  I just need to get over it and take the plunge. So I thought it would be really great to see some examples from any fellow Stagers out there who are using this color and how.  I recently saw a blog where the color purple was worked in through dining room chairs.  Absolutely beautiful. 

So it is my hope that any of you fine Stagers out there that are using this very trendy color will post some of your examples to inspire those like me who are chicken.  Either Redesign or Staging examples would be great.  Also, I would like to know if this color is getting good reviews from clients both Redesign and Staging.

Happy fun and safe Halloween!

AccentPositives provides economical and effective Home Staging Consultations.  We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire Area of Southern California. Call 951 833 8529.