Staging Ideas For the Bathroom

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 I am sure that you have heard this before, kitchen and bathrooms sell homes. If your one of the many that will be listing your home this spring. You might want to take a look at your bathroom or consider staging to prepare for the market.

Cleaning should be the first thing you do prepare, but don’t stop there. You need to get the buyers to envision using your bathroom everyday. Spending a little money on updating, things like taps, mirror, handles and lighting fixture will greatly appeal to buyers. Money spent in the bathroom is money you recover in the list price.

Add luxury entices your buyers into the spa in your home, fresh white towels and candles are great accents in the bathroom. Baskets, tray and canisters are a great way to hide the everyday clutter. Add a little sparkle with a tray that matches the finish on the faucet.

If you have a larger bathrooms add a table or bench seat which can store towels or accessories. It’s always nice to have extra towel at arms reach. The table or bench will give off a high end feel buyers love.

Bathrooms are supposed to fell calm and cozy so ditch that plastic shower curtain. A fabric curtain will bring soft touches to the room. You will be amazed at the difference.

Stick to natural colors this helps bring out that spa feel, colors like soft grey or white works great. Bright colors tend to add visual clutter making the space seem small and busy.

A little time, effort and money and your bathroom is a spa oasis that will wow buyers one at a time. Check out our blog for more tips on preparing your home for the spring market.

Simply Stylish Staging

Elysse Bulloch

The Foyer the Second Chance to make a First Impression

The foyer is the first place buyers see when entering the property and the last things they see when they leave. It’s your second chance to make a lasting impression. The foyer is also a great way to introduce color to your curb appeal by simply carrying the color outside.

 The best way to fresh any space especially high traffic areas like the foyer is always a fresh coat of neutral paint on the walls and baseboards. You would be surprised how much of a difference paint makes.

Think of the foyer as the table of contents, it’s a preview of what to come. If you don’t have a foyer, think about creating one by adding a bench or a coat tree. One thing all buyers have in common is the want for space, by keeping the floor clear it will give the illusion of more square footage. If you have limited space to work with consider a console table this way their is a place for items like keys and mail.

When staging the foyer, pre pack all seasonal items. Try to keep the hallways and closets empty to free up visual space. Buyer need to see that the space will work with their needs.  

 Mirrors are a great accent to the foyer giving a personal touch and adding light the space. Place the mirror across from the light source; this is a great way to reflect light brightening the darkest space.

Lighting is a great way to welcome buyers, update old fixtures. If you have room add a lamp to a console table. Remove window covering to allow lots of natural light to come through

Staging the foyer is a great way to make a first impression. Every home deserves a beautiful entrance follow these simple tips to “wow” buyers.

 Elysse Bulloch

Simply Stylish Staging

Turning Old Things New Again

I discovered a product today that I can’t keep to a secret. Frame your Mirror Inc is a Calgary based company that can transform your exiting plain mirror into to a high-end framed mirror.

John McCruden founder of Frame Your Mirror met with me this morning to show me his product. I fell in love on the spot. John has developed a frame that the customer can easily put together and place on their current mirror.The frames are designed to fit any mirror even if it has no clearance around the edge because the frame fits right on the glass.. He has also lined up installers to come out should the client feel uncomfortable with the DIY. The best part about the product is the existing ,mirror does not need to come down, the frame fit right on top.Frames are available in 10 choices  in a wide range of colors to match your decor. John can ship framed any where in Canada in about 6 - 10 days and will deliver within the city

John’s product is an inexpensive fix to updating any mirror in your home, the frames run from $50 to $250. John will also send out samples of his product to help the client with color choice. His website also let you put the dimensions in to a calculator that will tell you how much your frame choice will cost before tax and shipping.

If you have an outdate mirror in your home check out Frame your Mirror. A quick inexpensive fix for your dated mirror, that anyone can do. Still have questions check out the FAQ if you can't find the answer their  contact John.

If you have a staging or design dilemma I would love to help please direct you question to me . I will feature your question in my upcoming blog.

Elysse Bulloch

Simply Stylish Staging

To Stage or Not To Stage?

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Many people in Calgary have never heard of home staging. This is surprising considering home staging is an industry standard in many larger cities across Canada. Here in Calgary it seems that only homes that are priced over the $800k are staged.

A friend of mine wrote a blog in October about Calgary luxury homes sales Crystal Tost Realtor with Re max says "We continue to see the luxury home market in Calgary spread it’s wings" This got me thinking why are luxury home sales on the rise in Calgary? Could it be that people in this price bracket understand the importance of how their home shows? Or do sellers understand at that price buyers are going to be picky? Or is it that a seller’s budget for staging is a part of their marketing?

 I can't say for sure why luxury homes sell, but I do know that the importance of how your home shows will help your property sell. I also know that when selling a Million dollar home most Realtors would suggest a stager be called. If even just to tweak the home using the current furniture and accessories. 

Single family homes sales are down 31% from last year according to The Calgary Real Estate Board  inventory levels are higher than last year. Buyers have become spoiled with all the choices. Buying a home is one of the biggest investments most people will make in their lifetime, however, sellers need to understand that once you list your home it becomes a product on the market. Like any market, the home needs to appeal to the target audience.

 A home Staging professional can help you prepare your home for sale because Stagers understand what buyers expect. Many home owners that have lived in their home for years think if it was good enough for them, why wouldn’t it be good enough for everyone else. A common saying is “What is great for dwelling is not always great for the selling” These seller's often think if it’s not broke don't fix it, but this way of thinking does not appeal to the masses. Most buyers want to move in, sit down and are willing to pay a premium price to achieve this.

Staging may be an investment on the sellers side, but stats show that staged homes sell in 78% less time than homes that have not been staged. Kelley Skar  Realtor with Sutton group writes "the relatively small investment when considering the return, may be of huge benefit. You only have one chance to make a first impression think about staging before your list your home.

Selling your Calgary Home With Small Children

  When it comes to selling your house it can pose quite a problem for young families. When you have small children your furniture placement is geared towards  keeping your kids safe. How do young families prepare their home for sale while maintaining kid friendliness and normalcy in their family lives. Here are a few things you can do ensure your home shows its true potential.                                                                     
                                                                                          

• Store toys in baskets and decorative boxes, keeping toys well organized will help show off your square footage. This way toys are still easy to get to but neatly stored away.
• In the living room you can use an ottoman that has storage in it, all the toy in the living room can be stored away neatly in the ottoman for showing but still very easy for kids to access.
• Place high chairs,bounce chairs and baby gates neatly in the garage for showings.
• Do not stuff items in the closet buyers always look in the closet but you can place them under the bed no one looks their.
• Use an extra bedroom to set up a play space
• Stuffed animals take up allot of space have your children pick a few of their favorite and store the rest in a hanging net.

It might be difficult to stag your home with small children, just remember your hard work will pay and you soon will be movign to your dream home.

Elysse Bulloch
Simply Stylish Staging

There is an Alternative to Price Reductions and Home sitting on the Market

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 Home Staging is proven marketing techniques to prepare your property for sale, regardless of price and location. Selling your home in the shortest time for a largest return of investment, creating a warm inviting pulled together space to wow buyers within seconds. A potential buyer will connect emotional with the property within in three minutes; first impression is the key to capturing the buyer.

   A home staging professional will give you the buyer’s eyes, educating home owners on what buyer’s want. More and more home go on the market everyday but statistics show that sales are down 40 % from last year this time. Sellers whose homes sat on the market for over 30 days will be looking at a price reduction or have been offered less then asking – statistics show it is more than likely had the property been professional staged it could have sold faster and for more than the asking price.

  Staging is an investment on the home seller’s part, but big benefits come with your staging investment. Staged properties present and show better then the competition; selling faster and are move in ready. According to RESA (Real Estate Staging Association) staged properties spend 78% less time on the market compared to a not stage property.

 Calgary has over 12 000homes on the market; staging will highlight the features showcasing your homes full potential, creating more traffic and generating offers

If you would like more info on Home Staging please visit our

 www.simplystylishstaging.com or Please contact Elysse Bulloch 403.710.4229

Staging Tips

So Your Selling Your home?

Selling your home does not have to be stressful. You just need a few helpful tips to help you through the process.

1) Crub appeal . I know its Calgary, its difficult when we have winter for 6 months of the year. Just some simple things like a new lighting fixture, mailbox and a new welcome mat.Your could even add a urn with flowers for a punch of color.

2) Paint. A fresh coat of neutral paint will create clean look and make your space appear larger.

3) Repairs. Now is the time to get the handyman's list out. Minor repairs are cost effective investments that could pay of large in the sale of your home.

4) Packing. You have to pack sooner or later so why not start before your house is sold. Go through each room in your house choose stuff to keep , donate or trash.

5) Open the windows. Spring is here open the windows and let the fresh air in.

6) Clean Clean Clean. Make it sparkle it makes quite an impression don't forget to clean the windows this will let more light in

7) Organize. Potential buyers look everywhere in your home be sure to organize your closets and cupboards.

If your thinking of selling your home call us today

http://www.simplystylishstaging.com
Simply Stylish Staging
403.710.4229

Colour Trends For 2010

The Real Estate season is almost in full swing it has many home owners wondering what color trends 2010 will bring? Brown has been the color choice for the last few years among renovated homes and newly built home, but is being replaced by charcoal the new neutral. Many show homes have already switch from the brown beige to gray charcoal. Cool gray can be combined with almost any color to pull your space together.

Blues and turquoise accessories will really make your charcoal walls pop , blue is everywhere its replacing the greens we seen in the past. Turquoise, yellow and red are also on the come back. This retro color scheme is a big hit with the younger generation of buyers but it not appealing to all demographics since older buyer grew up with these colors.