From hire to sold, this project lasted a total of seven days and sold for $30k over asking. Had it not been Staged I can all but guarantee it would not have sold this fast. Here’s why.

The third floor problem: The third floor at this property made no sense. It was huge and cavernous and open and beautiful, but also choppy and intimidating and not intuitive to the vast majority of people.

Heck, it took me a while to figure out how to make the most effective use of the amazing space and I am a professional! I could just imagine what the average home buyer would think. Is it a bedroom? Is it a playroom? Is it a home office/bedroom?

In fact, a family took a quick walk through while it was empty and they could not understand the space at all.. So much so that they specifically requested to came back after the property was staged in order to see what could be done up there….and then they put in their offer. “Voila!”

This is why I love Staging New Construction and Vacant Properties. Sure, it makes a space look better, that’s a given, but on a deeper level, it has a personal impact on how people connect emotionally and helps them to resolve how a space can function specifically for their individual needs. That’s the good stuff, right there, am I right? There’s nothing better than a smile on the face of someone who just made a huge decision that they feel great about and knowing behind the scenes that my worked helped get them there.

Go make a stranger smile today!

The way the homeowner's arranged their son's room makes perfect sense. They maximized the floor space so that he can play on the carpet. However, even though this layout sort of works...it definitely does not for Staging. Allow me to elaborate.

Close your eyes for a second. When you open them I want you to look at the photo to the left. Tell me the first thing you notice in the room? I am willing to bet that most of you will say the area rug! It's geometric and bright and fun....but unfortunately not what I want buyers to notice first thing. My desire is for them to notice the quality/function of room itself first and foremost.

My second issue is the bed location. The entry wall makes total sense and I understand the reasoning. There is no other long wall without a window - and a bed can not be placed in front of a window...or can it? I argue that in certain situations  "Yes, indeed it can" - and so I did.

The other reason to support moving the bed is that the strong bead-board sides fight with my desired open, airy entrance to the room. Not to mention the fact that sleeping with your feet aligned with the door is the one feng shui principle that really freaks me out -so I adhere to it!

"Traditional Chinese feng shui school masters say that a bed aligned with the door resembles a coffin that is always taken away feet-first."

  Rodika Tchi - Feng Shui Consultant 

Yikes!

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Below: Lots of changes that, when put together, add up to an inviting space for both daily and guest use.  We didn't have to compromise style or color in order to make this bedroom A+

Get used to reading this phrase because you are going to read it often here- Styling to STAGE is different than Styling to LIVE. Case and point the little girl's room below. The space is functioning exactly correctly for the adorable five year old who lives here.  However, this space does not function well for an upscale, single family home going on the market for over $900k with the potential for multiple offers.

My task, as is often the case when not working with a vacant property, is to keep in mind that a family is "living through" the sale. {I.e. "living in the home during the selling process." } Some Home Stagers may not consider this aspect, but it is actually quite important to me. Sure, the goal is to sell right away, but what if it doesn't?  In my opinion, the homeowner still needs to be able to do just that...LIVE! {albeit without some amenities and comforts- I do make significant adjustments when necessary}

It was necessary in this little girl's room to make significant changes, but it was not necessary to create a space where she could not still enjoy her room for a few more weeks. Incidentally, she gave me two thumbs up for the space so I feel great.

Below: Major change, but way stronger for selling the home. The neutral wall color matches the decor of the house much better and the more sophisticated styling allows buyers to feel calm and notice the room itself.