Home Staging
Questions & Answers
Send Jeanette
Fisher your home staging questions and look for your
home staging answers here.
Because many emails do not get
past SPAM filters, we'll answer questions
here. (Words in italics are considered SPAM.--Yes,
even question!)
Question from Allen:
Most of my rooms have only a central ceiling
fan/light. Should I add more recessed lights? What are
some other inexpensive things I can do to make the
home more inviting?
Answer: Lighting is the
most important interior design element. See more about
lighting your home for sale:
Light Up Your Home for Sale. You don't have to add
recessed lights. People actually love table lamps
because these lamps remind us of "home" instead of
work. If you add light with lamps, you can move them
with you and keep down the expenses of getting your
home ready for sale.
Scroll down and read how to
add Zing for little cost in the "Question from
Destiny." Also, read the rest of the
Home Staging Articles.
Question from Pam:
My kitchen looks like its for an apartment and my home
is worth 700K. What do I do with melamine cabinets
without putting in a new kitchen?
Answer: We had the same
problem with one of our homes in Newport Beach. It's
almost impossible to get rid of that plastic look. You
can try sanding it with 80 grit sand paper, prime it
with Kilz primer sealer, and then paint it with a
high-quality paint. If you're handy, you can add
molding to your cabinets for an updated look, fill any
gaps with silicone glue, prime, and paint.
Because the current trend is
unmatching kitchen cabinets, you could remove just the
top cabinets and replace with ready-made cabinets.
This is what we're doing in our kitchen remodel
pictured below.
The top cabinets were stacked
on the side to add storage all the way to the ceiling.
A side piece will "skin "the side and amber-yellow
paint will complement the countertop. The old bottom
cabinets will be painted moss green.
New hardware can also change
the look of your stark melamine cabinets.
Question from Leah: What
are staging "mistakes?"
Answer: The biggest
staging mistake is to bring in unnecessary furniture.
Your goal, to give ideas and suggestions to home
buyers of your home's possibilities, doesn't require
rooms full of furniture. Rooms with few furnishings
leave room for the buyer's imagination to fill the
space with their personal possessions. On the other
hand, vacant rooms feel sterile and give little
emotional support for the buyer to connect to.
Another mistake, setting the
dining room table with china and glassware sometimes
makes the dining room look cluttered. Also, tables set
for dinner look too staged on Saturday morning
showings.
Over-staged homes make buyers
feel that the home owner may be hiding something or is
desperate; both situations generate lower offers.
Email Subject: Pinchin' Pennies
Good Afternoon Jeanette,
I have a cute little condo in a hot resale market in
the Northwest Las Vegas area. I'm going to be putting
it on the market the first of June. Every wall in my
condo is faux painted very nicely, and are
coordinating colors, but each color is different. I've
been told by people not in the industry, I must paint
my walls again, a white or a beige for it to sell
well. In the hot market I'm in, must I use my time and
money to do this? I'm a single mom with not a lot of
money or time to work with, and trying to get the most
out of this sale as I can. I know certain things do
pay off, but just wondering if I do need to do this?
I'm already going to have to lay some sod down in my
small private back yard. Also, for a condo, will I get
a good return on upgrading (slightly) my kitchen and
bath faucets?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and
have a great day!
Lorraine
Answer
Hi Lorraine,
Remember, it only takes ONE buyer to fall in love with
your home! Attract that buyer who is into design. All
you need is a great flyer and ad for your target
buyer. Pick up the target buyer report and the flyer
report on
Sell Home Fast
For great new bargain-priced faucets, look at
"Restore," Habitat for Humanities thrift store. The
link to their main website for locations is on the
real estate investor's site investor resources.
You might want to sign up for the "21 Action Steps for
Home Sellers" on
Prepare Home for Sale. The book isn't available yet,
but you'll get some great home selling ideas.
Joy to you in your move,
Jeanette Fisher
Question from Destiny:
When a house only needs cosmetic touch up...
paint, carpet, cabinet hardware, door handles.... what
additional things can we do to the property to give it
... ZING?
A. Start at the street viewpoint. You
can't sell your home if you can't motivate home
shoppers to get out of their car to see the inside.
Flowers and plants near the front door make the best
impact. Choose yellow flowers because our eyes see
yellow first. Balance with white flowers because they
show up best at night. Even though home buyers try to
look during daylight hours, they still drive by houses
after dark, especially to check out the home at night.
If your selling during winter and can't grow color
flowers, use color pots or boxes for evergreen foliage
that tolerates your climate.
Use home staging techniques for curb appeal, too.
Rocking chairs and porch swings make buyers believe
that they will visit with friendly neighbors. A
colorful blanket and a squishy pillow complete the
scene. We live in wine country and use an ice bucket
filled with a bottle of wine and wine glasses to add
ZING.
Inside, after you take out your personality from
the home (personal pictures, trophies, diplomas,
etc.), add in lifestyle enhancements. Home staging
with Design Psychology means that you take out items
that don't enchant buyers and add in suggestions of
activities--for you target buyers. An example would be
a game table set with chess for upscale buyers or a
child's game for first-time home buyers.
Afternoon tea, perfect for inviting home shoppers
to spend more time in your home.
Make your main bedroom a sexy retreat. If sex sells
on TV, it also sells houses! Get rid of the TV.
Add mood lighting and scented candles. Play romantic
music. Make sure the bed linens entice you to touch
them so you play on the buyers' sense of touch.
Fill your home with fresh greenery. You can cut
branches from trees and plants growing in your garden.
Q. Where can I find the best design
labor at the most reasonable prices?
A. We make our own design plan and you
can, too. Save money by hiring professional
painters who complete jobs faster than day laborers.
We have used day laborers for painting but they got
paint on the carpeting and woodwork. However, we have
had great results with unskilled workers helping us in
the garden and with deconstruction--tearing out walls,
taking out cabinets, and ripping out tile. The
best way to find labor is to ask real estate investors
in your area for recommended tradesmen. If you
want to redesign many houses, you can teach a helper
the way you want work finished. My husband has workers
who have helped him on house after house. He pays them
$10 per hour plus lunch and bonuses. The workers
get to learn about painting, carpentry, concrete and
rock work, tile installation, sprinklers, and more.
And Brian gets the help he needs to create my design
plans.
Ask your home staging question and join our real
estate news service. Jeanette will get back to you
soon--unless she's at her mountain cabin writing.