On the Market: Priciest homes in the regionThe Realtor called me several weeks before my clients were to move out of state. Their home was small but charming. It had some architectural details that are not found in most homes of today, like hardwood doors and trim, curved archways and original hardwood flooring from the ‘20s. The home was well-worn and needed some sprucing up before I returned to do the staging.
I made a list with the Realtor of the deferred maintenance that needed to be done, minor updates that would give them a big return and suggestions for curb appeal. I also let the homeowner know what furnishings to leave and selected art and accessories from amongst her treasures to use in the staging.
The longer I stage homes, the more I admire the hard work Realtors put in for their clients. The family moved out, and the Realtor coordinated and supervised all the work in their absence: fixing the fencing, coating the asphalt driveway, installing lighting and appliances, painting, refinishing the hardwood floor, removing clutter and prepping for various inspections. It was a lot of work! But the Realtor knew that every dime the family spent would make their home more marketable and increase their selling price.
After several weeks of intense work, the house was ready for the final staging. I showed up with my tool kit and found the Realtor with his sleeves rolled up, ready to help me move furniture while supervising the last of the garden work. I couldn’t believe the transformation! The house was in “turnkey” condition. All it needed was some finishing touches.
• The living room of this cottage had a difficult floor plan. You had to walk through the conversation area to get to the back of the house and to the adjoining den. And, there was no place for a TV.
• The chair looked lonely all by itself. We needed to make it look friendlier.
• After stripping the house down to basics, we needed to accessorize.
•Sometimes it is what it is! There was really no other way to fit furniture in the room. We were able to create a more congenial conversation area by scooting the armchair and the couch closer together. This family did not watch TV, so we couldn’t show where one might go. Fortunately, when most people tour an open home, they don’t notice that the TV is missing! A living or family room actually looks simpler and prettier without one.
•During my first visit I spotted odds and ends of furniture and art we could use to create a vignette by the armchair. The end table shows how you could sit with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and read or talk, and the mirror added sparkle and light to the dark corner. My client had a great collection of interesting baskets, and one fit snuggly under the table. An antique ashtray added a nice flourish over the mirror.
•A few simple pieces of art on either side of the couch, a stack of leather-bound antique books and a brass tray were all we needed to accessorize the sofa area.
The Realtor sent digital photos to his clients, and they were delighted with the house. The Realtor’s efforts really paid off. The house sold in a matter of days – over the asking price.
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