Kate's Home Staging Blog

A Dining Room Success Story - Home Seller Implements My Home Staging Action Plan

Kate Case, RESA, ASHSR, Home Stager — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:25:00 GMT

Below is an exmaple of an After picture which is a result of a Home Staging Consultation and a customized Home Staging Action Report. The home sellers decided to implement my Home Staging Action Report on their own and called in some movers to help them move some of their heavy furniture out to their PODs container.

When you walk into the home's Entry Way, you are greeted by the Dining Room on the right side. The Dining Room was a great size, but as you can see from the "before" picture the entire room was being overpowered by extremely large furniture.

My suggestions were to removed the following items from this Dining Room:

The large china cabinet
The wine rack
All the additional table leaves
Two of the chairs without the arms
The area rug
All the items on the top of the side cabinet

Kate's Home Staging and Redesign further suggested the following changes:

The side cabinet be relocated to the longest wall.
A painting be hung over this cabinet (a painting was moved from another wall in this room).
Wine bottles could be placed on one side of the cabinet as an accessory.
A long thin accessory item should be placed under the picture (candles were taken from another room).
The tall faux plant was already in this room and it was recommended that it remain.
The red vase in this room could be used as a Dining Room table centerpiece with flowers.

Here are two "after" pictures, I think the home sellers really did a great job following through the suggestions...

The hard wood floors look amazing and this architectural detail was completely hidden before with all the furniture that was in the room. I also really like how much larger the room looks once the Dining Table additional leaves were removed. In my opinion, seating for 6 is plenty when you are showing your home. The home sellers did not do anything to their wood floors, the floors happen to be in perfect condition. This home was an exception and really did not need any work done besides the elimination of furniture from key rooms. The home sellers were very receptive and followed my advice exactly.

Kate

Kate's Home Staging and Redesign is an interior design and home staging company that serves the Rockland County and Orange County area of New York and Passaic County of New Jersey. We specialize in home decorating, color consultations, vacant home staging, home staging, Realtor educational seminars, interior redesign, and home decor discounts. Please contact Kate to schedule your design consultation at 845-538-3623 or visit www.kateshomestaging.com. Every Home Staging Consultation includes a complete Home Staging Action Report!

Does the Average Home Owner Know When To Call in a Home Stager?

Kate Case, RESA, ASHSR, Home Stager — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:10:00 GMT

With all the HGTV shows ~ such as Spice Kitchen, Get It Sold, The Stagers ~ does the average home owner know when to call in a professional home stager?

Or does the average home owner think home staging is nothing more than packing away some personal items, putting lemons down the garbage disposal, and lighting some candles?

Well, if home staging is done correctly it will be all the above and so much more! Home staging is a relatively new concept in many areas of the county and it is still misunderstood.

Home staging is the process of de-personalizing a home and making it "buyer ready" so it appeals to the largest potential buyer audience possible using proven design techniques that highlight the home's best architectural features. Home staging, also know as real estate staging, is not home decorating but rather an art that utilizes a home owners existing furniture, lighting, and art work to draw a potential buyers eye to the positive aspects of your home.

With the average home buyer being between the ages of 30 to 48 and expecting a "move-in" ready home, home staging is no longer a luxury and is a necessity in this economy. 94% of potential home buyers are turning to the Internet first to search for a home; here again home staging needs to be done prior to the home's digital pictures are posted online for everyone to see. 94% is an extremely high number and home staging really should be left to the professionals so an optimal result is achieved.

So, does a home owner know the right time to call in a professional home stager?

Well, the wrong time is when your home has been sitting on the real estate market for six months and your Realtor has suggested you lower your asking price.

The wrong time is after your home's pictures have been posted on the Internet MLS and you are not receiving any responses from potential buyers.

No one gets a second chance to make a first impression and when you are talking about real estate, the only way to generate new interest in your home is to drop your price to attract a different group of potential buyers.

The right time to call in a professional home stager is before you place your home's pictures online!

A professional home stager can perform a home staging consultation, create a customized Action Report, and then help you implement all the required changes to ensure your home will show well online and at its' current location. Your online presence is very critical in your home's real estate marketing.

Three things sell a home in today's real estate market:

1.) Price - the price of your home.

2.) Location

3.) Presentation - this is where professional home staging comes in.

Before you sell your home, a professional home stager can tell you how to invest your resources so your home shows well and stands out against the competition. The latest statistics show that over 80% of Realtors believe in or recommend home staging. This is a win-win for everyone.

-Kate, Kate's Home Staging and Redesign, serving Rockland County & Orange County of New York and Passaic County, New Jersey. www.kateshomestaging.com

Breaking Down the Benefits of Home Staging for the Buyer, Seller, and Realtor

Kate Case, RESA, ASHSR, Home Stager — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:45:00 GMT

The most buyer traffic will come through a home the first two weeks it is on the market than any other time period. No one gets a second chance to make a first impression and when you are talking about real estate, the only way to generate new interest in your home is to drop your price to attract a different group of potential buyers. With buyers expecting move-in ready homes and becoming more aware of what to expect in a home, more Realtors and sellers are turning to home staging to help them differentiate their homes from the competition.

The potential benefits of home staging for the sellers are:

Sellers who stage their properties first, also end up packing most of their belonging before the home goes on the market; this makes the move less stressful.
All the clutter is removed from your home prior to your first Open House.
The statistics show your home will sell faster because it will show better.

The potential benefits of home staging for potential home buyers are:

The buyers can see the architectural features of the home they want to buy rather than wading through clutter and family pictures.
Potential buyers are able to envision their belongings fitting in the space because all excess furniture and clutter has been removed.
A property that has been professionally staged has an optimal room layouts, which shows all potential buyers the best way to utilize the space in every room.

The potential benefits of home staging for real estate agents are:

A home seller who has paid for a home staging consultation will be more likely to listen to the advice of their Realtor regarding price and marketing of their home.
A professional home stager may be able to say things to a home sellers that a Realtor may not be able to without jeopardizing his/her relationship with their client. A home seller expects design advice from a home stager and usually welcomes it.
Having a professional home stager on a Realtor's team is a positive marketing tool to gain more home selling clients in today's competitive market.
A professionally staged property will present better on the MLS and will result in attracting a larger buyer audience.
The statistics show your home will sell faster because it will show better.

If you are still unsure about the benefits of having your properties professionally staged, contact your local home stager for a Realtor presentation on the benefits of staging. The proof will be in the before and after pictures and how fast the homes sold. Home stagers, Realtors, and Sellers all have the same goal - to sell your home quickly and for the highest dollar amount.

BEFORE AFTER

Kate, Kate's Home Staging and Redesign specializes in home staging, interior design, home decorating, color consultations, custom wood signs, semi-custom window coverings, and more. Call Kate to schedule your design consultation at 845-538-3623 or visit www.kateshomestaging.com. We serve the Rockland County, Orange County of New York and Passaic County, New Jersey

U.S. Home Sales Jump to 7.4% in November

Kate Case, RESA, ASHSR, Home Stager — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:49:00 GMT

According to the National Association of Realtors, existing U.S. home sales have jumped to 7.4% in November 2009. Exisitng home sales included single family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops, rose 7.45% up to 6.54 million units in November from 6.09 million units in October. These current sales are the highest since February 2007, when sales hit 6.55 million units. This current jump is a result of first time home buyers taking advantage of the $8,000 tax credits to buy a home before November 31, 2009, since the tax credit has been extended and expanded another 4.4 million homes are expected to take advantage of this tax credit. First time home buyer's purchased 51% of the homes in November and 50% in October. For the second consecutive month, sales have increased in all price classes from a year earlier.

To read the entire article, click here: http://rismedia.com/2009-12-22/as-buyers-respond-to-tax-credit-u-s-existing-home-sales-jump-7-4-in-november-2009/

With large amount of homes still on the real estate market, it looks like 2010 may still be a buyers market but it does look like the market is stablizing. With exisiting homes selling over newly built homes, the use of professional home staging certainly comes into play. According to the NAR's 2009 Profile of Buyers and Sellers, the average age of an existing home that sold within the past year was 18 years old and it was sold to a first time buyer age 39.

In this economy, there are three things that sell a home:

1. Price

2. Location

3. Presentation

An experienced Realtor will be able to help you determine the best price for your home and a professional home stager will be able to help you attract the largest buyer audience. Today, over 94% of potential home buyers are starting their search for a new home on the Internet. With the extension of the first time buyers tax credit, the first quarter of 2010 is the right time to sell your home and to attract a first time buyer.

Kate, Kate's Home Staging and Redesign, www.kateshomestaging.com, 845-538-3623, your home staging and interior design expert.

The 2009-10 Renovation Cost Vs. Value Report is Out - Did You Spend Your Remodeling Dollars Wisely?

Kate Case, RESA, ASHSR, Home Stager — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:00:00 GMT

The 22nd annual Remodeling Cost verus Value Report is here. The Remodeling Cost versus Value Report has been used as a guide for real estate and residential remodeling markets as it compares national and regional averages for 33 popular remodeling projects in eight U.S. cities.

The latest data shows the trend is still headed downward, last year's overall cost-value ratio was 67.3%, (down 2.7 points from the year before) this year's ratio is 63.8%, a larger 3.5-point drop. The drop in the number is not really a surprise considering the very volatile real estate year we just experienced, which was filled with foreclosures.

To view the article, click here: http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2009/costvsvalue/national.aspx

Exterior replacement projects seemed to rank the highest in this report and occupy 7 out of 10 of the highest spots. These results support the idea that curb appeal is king and that creating a first impression is very important for all potential buyers. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act tax credit may also have played a part in these external upgrades, let's face it a tax credit never hurts.

Here are some results of the 2009-10 Cost vs. Value Report:

Entry Door Replacement (steel) has a 128.9% cost recouped.
Attic Bedroom has a 83.1% cost recouped.
Basement Remodel has a 75.4% cost recouped.
Grand Entrance (fiberglass) has a 68.8% cost recouped.
Roofing Replacement has a 66.6% cost recouped.
Entry Door Replacement (fiberglass) has a 65.2% cost recouped.
Backup Power Generator has a 58.9% cost recouped.

For a home to sell in today's real estate market, the home needs to be turnkey ready and this may be another factor for all the external replacement projects dominating the report. An entry door replacement (steel) will cost under $1,200 but the cost/value ratio is 128.9%, this is a great investment no matter how you look at. The front door of your home is one of the items a potential buyer can see from the street and is very important when you are selling your home.

The last four year trends for renovation projects have been towards smaller, low maintenance projects with an emphasis on essentials rather than extras. If and when the economy starts to improve, home owners may start to focus on larger more glamorous renovations.

So, did you spend your remodeling dollars wisely in 2009?

Kate, your expert New York and New Jersey Home Stager, Kate's House Staging and Redesign, www.kateshomestaging.com, 845-538-3623.

Attention All Home Sellers - Home Staging Has a 586% Return on Your Investment!

Kate Case, RESA, ASHSR, Home Stager — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:05:00 GMT

If you are planning on selling your home or already have a home on the real estate market, you really need to reconsider all the positive benefits a professional home staging can offer. If your Realtor does not offer a home staging consultation as part of their marketing plan (a lot of Realtors are starting to offer this service to all their clients), you can contact expert house stagers directly for a full home consultation and itemized Action Report.

According to Home Gain's latest survey of 1,000 Realtors (November 2009), home staging has a 586% return on investment. Home staging was listed as the second home improvement item that Realtors recommend for home sellers.In other words, if a home sellers spends $300 - $400 on professional home staging, their home will sell for $1,500 - $2,000 more. Cleaning and de-cluttering was at the top of the Home Gain survey, to take a look at the survey please click here: http://blog.homegain.com/home-improvement/homegain-2009-top-12-home-improvements-survey-results/

The Home Gain survey results are fantastic. In 2007, the Home Gain home staging return on investment results were 343%, so it appears home staging's value has almost doubled in the past two years.

Would you remember this master bedroom?

In this economy there are three things that sell a home:

1. Price - This is set by your Realtor

2. Location - unfortunately there is little you can do about your location.

3. Presentation - This is where your professional home stager comes in.

Why take the risk with your most valuable possession? For a quicker sale and to make more money, call in a professional home stager today. A home that has been professionally staged will sell for up to 10% more money, and all you really need to invest is a few hundred dollar for a professional home staging consultation and a few hours of "hands-on" staging. An expert home stager has been specifically trained on what home improvements will attract the largest potential buyer audience. Home staging is much more than home decorating and interior design, it is a calculated marketing plan to sell your home quickly by focusing buyer's attention to your home's architectural details.

Home staging is still a relatively new concept in many areas of the East Coast. Most homes that I am called into lately are very beige and usually de-cluttered to the point of being unremarkable ~ which is also a huge problem if you are trying to sell. A large part of my time is spent educating Realtors and home sellers on the benefits of home staging.

A professional home stager is trained in using proven design techniques such as visual flow. Visual flow is created by using consistency in your design, repeating shapes, colors, textures, and patterns within a space and throughout a home to keep a potential buyer's eyes moving from one room to another. The use of accessories is also very important in home staging and proportion and scale come into play here. Accessories that are smaller may be placed together on a staging tray but a larger object may be able to stand on its own.

Color is also an important element in home staging. It is always better to use a more neutral color scheme on your walls ~ such as beiges, sage greens, warm whites ~ when you are trying to sell your home and use texture, layering, and lighting to enhance the room. Art and accessories are a great way to bring color trends into your home and it will help to create that WOW factor. A color scheme should be consistent throughout the home, this also includes the accessories and art. The addition of greenery is a must for almost every room, you can never go wrong with bringing the outside in.

By adding some simple jolts of color, this dining room and kitchen now POP!

With over 94% of all potential home buyers starting their search for a new home on the Internet, it is important that your online MLS pictures stand out against the competition. To ensure this occurs, your home needs to be staged prior to your online Internet pictures being taken. You only have one shot to make a first impression and for a few hundred dollars, a home staging consultation and "hands-on" staging day will make all the difference. My last home staging client was in Wayne, New Jersey and received an offer within 24 hours after their first Open House. The proof of home staging is in the amount of time a home spends on the market and a staged home will spend less time on the market.

Kate, your local New York and New Jersey Export Home Stager, please visit www.kateshomestaging.com or call 845-538-3623 for more information. A staged home can sell for up to 10% more money!

What Sold and Who Bought It in 2009 Real Estate

Kate Case, RESA, ASHSR, Home Stager — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:45:00 GMT

According to the National Association of Realtor's Profile of Home Buyers and Seller (2009), the median first-time home buyer was just 30 years old with a medium income of $61,6000. First time buyers comprised a 47% of the home sales in 2009; half of all first time home buyers are married. The typical repeat buyer was 48 years old with a salary of $88,000; two-thirds of repeat buyers are married. The average home buyer in 2009 was 39 years old.

New home purchases were at the lowest level in eight years. The typical home purchase was 1,800 square feet in size and is 18 years old. 78% of the homes purchases were single family homes.

The median home prices sold throughout the United States ranged from $158,000 (Midwest) all the way up to $240,000 (West Coast).

94% of potential home buyers used the Internet to search for a home in 2009.

85% of home sellers used a Realtor in 2009. 81% of these same sellers would probably/definitely use the same Realtor again to sell their home.

Our target potential home buyer is between 30 and 48 years old and apparently prefers a home that is almost 20 years old. For all the home stagers out there, these statistics should be screaming a record year for us. Homes, that are eightenn years old are definitely in need of some sprucing up prior to being placed on the market. The number of sellers using a Realtor is also encouraging; hopefully homeowners understand the value real estate professionals bring to the table.

Our target home buyer appears to prefer a smaller, less expensive single family home, which is most likely a sign of the times. The tax incentives have appeared to open up the market to first time home buyers and this year we have an unprecedented number of new homeowners buying real estate.

With home prices and interest rates being low (plus tax incentives), it is a great opportunity for first time home buyers. With the first time home buyers tax incentives being extended until April (and also the inclusion of current homeowners), hopefully the real estate market will continue to improve.

-Kate, your local expert New York House Stager, Kate's Home Staging and Redesign, serving Rockland County, Orange County of New York, Passaic County, and Bergen County of New Jersey.

Can You Still Put Out Your Holiday Decorations When You Are Selling Your Home?

Kate Case, RESA, ASHSR, Home Stager — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:08:00 GMT

Any professional home stager will tell you that even one piece of art can be a distraction in a home, so what about a six foot Christmas tree?

My motto during the holidays (and for home staging in general) is "KIES." In other words, Keep It Elegant and Simple. Your holiday decorating must be kept simple and nondenominational (no religious items). "KIES"also applies to your front yard. Under no circumstances should you setup a twelve foot nativity scene that spans your entire front yard or a six foot tall Chanukah menorah that lights up at night.

Outside Holiday Decorating Tips:

Using plain white lights on your trees and bushes look very festive and really do not scream any specific holiday. White lights can also help to illuminate your home at night and help potential buyers take a better look at your property. When you are decorating your home while it is on the market, think WINTER not Christmas or Chanukah. A seasonal pine wreath on your front door is another nice touch and smell great when a potential buyer enters your home. Please stay away from the new blow up holiday decorations that require a blower and constant power to look nice; if a potential home buyer drives by your home during the day all they will see are "deflated balloons" all over your front yard! That really does not scream fantastic curb appeal.

Inside Holiday Decorating Tips:

Your inside decorations need to be kept to a minimum. For Christmas, a six foot Christmas tree in the corner of one room with white lights and blue and silver balls is all you should setup. A taller, thin tree is ideally what you should use. Stick to two colors for your Christmas theme, such as blue and silver or even gold and silver. Remember, less is more when your home is on the market.

A few empty presents that are wrapped under the Christmas tree will finish your holiday look. Please only leave your Christmas tree up for about 10 days and it must be down before the New Year.

Vanilla candles with seasonal pine and pine cones are also great for centerpieces on tables and will leave your home smelling fantastic during this Holiday season. Glass jars filled with blue and silver holiday balls also make great centerpieces and you can find everything you need to decorate at the local dollar store.

If you cannot bear the though of not having your holiday religious items out, please buy a large plastic container to have on standby. If you receive a call to show your home during the holiday season, quickly pack away your religious items (e.g., menorahs and nativity sets) and store them out of sight.

Keeping Your Buyer's Comfortable:

New York winters can get pretty cold, so please keep the temperature in your home set between 68-70 degrees.

Please shovel any snow and ice off your walkways and driveways to make it easy for a buyer to get into your front door.

Make sure you have an extra large floor matt so buyers can wipe their feet after they enter your home.

Make sure you leave out both paper towels and tissues since cold winter weather causes noses and eyes to run. When a buyer is walking through your home, everything should be easy.

Please leave your outside lights on after 5:00 pm, if a buyer cannot locate your home how are you going to sell your home?

Final Thoughts:

Some house stagers will disagree and tell the homeowners not to put out one holiday decoration. In my opinion, this is not a realistic goal for a family that has celebrated every previous holiday in a home that they love. By explaining to the homeowner where to place their tree and the time-frame to keep the tree up, most homeowners are very receptive to the idea. Selling a home is a very stressful time in a person's life and having a small Christmas tree up for a week will most likely not delay the sale of their home. An exterior of a home decorated very well with white lights might even attract some additional positive buyer attention.

- Kate, your local New York home stager, we serve Rockland County and Orange County of New York, Bergen County and Passaic County of New York.

Important Home Selling Tips for Pet Owners

Kate Case, RESA, ASHSR, Home Stager — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:58:00 GMT

It all depends on which statistics you read, Home Staging for Dummies claims claims that about half of the potential buyers that tour your home will be pet lovers. Some other house staging books, have said up to 60% of home buyers have an aversion to pets due to simple dislike or a health reason.

In other words, your beloved pet(s) could be turning off up to 50%-60% of the potential home buyer traffic that is filtering through your home. In my opinion, these numbers are pretty high and really need to be considered BEFORE you place your home on the market for sale. To make this post easier, I will only focus on dogs (my favorite pet) but the advice is also good for cat owners.

Here are some tips for pet owners who are selling their homes:

1. Go out and purchase (2) large plastic containers with a lid. It should be large enough to fit all the dogs food and food bowls inside one of them. When there is an open house, one plastic container needs to go into the trunk of your car with the dog items mentioned here. Please do not leave your dog's food bowls out during an open house, a half eaten dog food bowl does not scream sparkling clean home.

2. Replace the dog beds. Throw out the old beds and buy new ones at Walmart for $20. These beds also need to be placed away during the open house inside the second plastic container. This container needs to be stored out of the way. Dog beds need to be washed every week when your home is on the market, this item is a real source of pet odor.

3. The outside yard needs to be cleared of dog toys and leashes. If you have an external dog house, please make sure it is in excellent shape. If it looks horrible and is falling down, please get rid of it. You do not want to send a message to a potential buyer that you did not care enough for your beloved pet, they may start to think about what else is not done or attended to in your home.

4. Use PureAyre Odor Eliminator. This is an all natural odor eliminator that can be purchased at Petco and will not harm your pets or children. This product should be sprayed on any cloth fabric or carpets to remove the pet odors prior to the open house.

5. Invest in an Air Purifier. This will also keep the inside air in your home smelling clean while your home is on the market.

6. Bath your dog more often (if possible). This may also cut down on the pet smell in your home.

7. Invest is a good vacuum with a hepaa filter that is able to pick up all the dog hair. Please make sure you vacuum before every open house. It is especially important that there is no pet hair on furniture, flooring, stairs, or carpets.

8. If the weather permits, air out your home before an open house. Fresh air blowing through a home always makes a home smell fantastic.

9. Have a friend or neighbor perform a house check for pet odor and pet identification items after you complete this list. Another set of eyes is always an excellent idea.

10. The pets need to be out of the house during the open house. There is nothing worse than a big dog jumping on a buyer trying to view your home. What do you think he will remember?

Good Luck with your home sale.

-Kate, your local New York home stager, http://www.kateshomestaging.com

Staging Secrets to Sell Your Home

Kate Case, RESA, ASHSR, Home Stager — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:38:00 GMT

Even wonder why some homes draw in tons of buyers, while other homes just sit on the market for months, even years? There are several factors that will sell a home in today's difficult market, the price of your home needs to be competitve, your home's location, and your home's appearance (the inside and the outside).

In order to make all your rooms appear large and inviting, all additional furniture and clutter must be removed from every room before you place your home on the market. A potential buyer will even look in your master bedroom closet, bathroom vanity, and kitchen pantry. Everything needs to be organized and anything you have not used in years should be thrown away.

Any dark window drapes or shades need to be removed before you take any pictures to be placed online to try and sell your home. You blinds need to be cleaned and all your windows need to be washed. A dirty window will prevent light from entering the rooms and the rooms can appear dark and uninviting.

You outside landscape needs to be kept up even during the winter months. If it snows, all walkways needs to cleared off immediately and all outside lights should be replaced with the highest wattage that is permitted so your home shines at night. In the Spring and Fall, new mulch should always be applied to any beds to make then pop. Also, when you place your home on the market for sale, always leave a light during the night hours to make sure any potential buyers can see your house number.

The wall colors need to flow from room to room and should compliment each other. When you are selling a home, it is best to stick with more neutral colors (e.g. sage green, light yellow) to appeal to a larger buyer audience.

All your room accessories need to be larger to show up nicely online. One rule most home stagers use when preparing a home for a real estate open house, is not to use any accessories that are smaller than a cantelope. I agree with this rule and apply it as well when staging homes for sale.

All of the above steps need to be done before any digital pictures are taken. Today, over 85% of potential home buyers are searching for a new home on the Internet. Your home's online MLS presence needs to show how great your home really is. Make sure all your pictures are bright and taken from correct angles. If you need help with this ask your Realtor or local home stager. Homes that have 20 or more pictures online tend to generate the most traffic, this is another important fact to consider.

Good luck with your home sale and remember to prepare your home before you take any digital pictures.

-Kate, your local home stager, www,kateshomestaging.com

2010 Paint Color Trends - Does This Change Anything for a Home Seller?

Kate Case, RESA, ASHSR, Home Stager — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:27:00 GMT

Well, according to www.decoratorsecrets.com, the color for 2010 is YELLOW. Yellow is the color that makes us think of warm sunshine and bright happy spring days. Yellow is a primary color, one of three primary colors and when mixed the primary colors will make up the basis for the other colors in the spectrum.

When I think of yellow, I can feel the sunshine warming my skin.

Light lavender is another color being recommended for bedrooms. Since purple is often associated with royalty this may be a "trick" to try and help all of us in this slow economy feel better when we go to sleep in our purple bedroom.

Gray has made it on the list again. I am pretty sure, I saw this mentioned last year somewhere also as a new neutral color to try and replace the beige color that has been around forever. Most people still prefer beige, it tends to blend better with wood furniture and greenery. I like gray as an accent color, but feel this color is not warm enough to be used to paint entire walls. A kitchen with stainless steel appliances has "gray" has an accent color but does not need more gray on the wall, this would seem too commercialized to me.

Another one of my favorite sites for color advice is MyPerfectColor.com and this site reports Benjamin Moore HC-35 Powell Buff as the top selling paint.

This color certainly looks like a beige to me!

The MyPerfectColor website will help you pick two or three colors that go together very well, one of the biggest mistakes in mixing colors is putting a color with a warm undertone together with a color with a cool undertone. Sometimes, it is very difficult to tell you have done this wrong, the room color(s) will just feel wrong. If you are planning on putting your home on the market very soon, the Benjamin Moore HC-35 color above is a warm neutral that would work very well is most entry ways.

Going with the latest color trend is never really the best advice when you are staging a home for sale. Since most home owners paint their walls every five to ten years (my opinion), you need to make sure when you suggest a wall paint color that your client (or you) can live with this color for the next 5 years.

Before you pick a wall paint color, there are a few thing to consider:

1.) The size of the room. In a smaller room, you will want to go with a lighter wall color to make the wall appear to recede. You would not paint a 1/2 bath a dark blue color, it would make the bathroom appear smaller and the wall would appear to close in on you but a very pale blue would work nicely in this situation.

2.) The amount of natural light in the room. Sunlight is reflective, so a room with six very large windows may need a paint color that is a little darker. I would also suggest a matt finish if you have many windows in the room to prevent the sun glare from bouncing around.

3.) The ceiling. I like to paint ceilings a lighter shade of paint as the walls as long as the room is large enough to support an added design element such as this.

4.) The style of the furniture in the room you are painting. The wall paint color needs to complement your decor.

5.) The adjoining rooms. The wall paint color needs to also complement the paint in the adjoining room, this is how you create a well put together home.

6.) The taste of your home owner (if this is an interior design job). If your home owner is planning on living in this home for the next 10 years, she/he can basically paint the walls any color they want to. Remember, an interior design job is completely different that a staging job and should be based on the home owner's unique taste's. If this is a house staging job preparing your home for sale, please consult a professional home stager for your best color selection. The rule is to go with a neutral color scheme like sage greens, beige, etc. based on your home's decor and details.

7.) Never follow the latest trends for trends sake.

When in doubt of the color you want to select, you should paint color boards and look at them during different times of the day and in different lights. I recommend NEVER to paint directly on a client's wall, why leave a mess on a client's wall when you can use a paint board. You can order small boards on the MyPerfectColor website, and use blue painters tape to secure it to the wall or ceiling.

I do not see beige going anywhere in the home staging world, it is such a nice neutral with so many shade options available and it is a better option than a stark white wall.

What are your thoughts?

-Kate

Kate's Home Staging and Redesign now sells semi-custom window coverings at discount prices. Our window coverings include roman shades, Levolor and Dynasty blinds, faux wood blinds, bamboo blinds, woven wood blinds, cornices, valances, sheers, and drapes. Our roman shades can be ordered in 100% pure silk, linen, cotton, or designer fabric. We also offer Benjamin Moore color consultations and test color boards, interior decorating, home staging, and redesign. Please visit http://www.kateshomestaging.com for more info or call 845-538-3623. All window covering appointments include a free 30 minute design consultation for the same room. We serve Passaic County and Bergen County of New Jersey and Rockland County and Orange County of New York, basically the lower Hudson Valley. We are an affiliate member of the Passaic County of Realtors, a member of RESA, ASHSR.

What is the Value of My Home?

Kate Case, RESA, ASHSR, Home Stager — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:43:00 GMT

If you are planning on selling your home, I am sure you want to make sure you receive top dollar for your home and draw the most amount of potential buyer traffic to your front door. For years, this was your cherished home, you have built memories here, made repairs, celebrated holidays and birthdays and really love your home.

If you price your home too high, you may risk not attracting any potential buyers those critical first 30 days your home is on the market. If you price your home too low, a buyer may think there is something wrong with your home and why are you trying to offload it for such a "cheap" price.

Here are a few tips to ensure you home's asking price is spot on for your neighborhood and the current real estate market:

1.) Contact a local Realtor for a complementary CMA, which is a Comparative Market Analysis. A CMA is a report prepared by a Realtor which compares what homes in your area are currently listed and competing with your home. The Realtor will also obtain data on comparable properties on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and may also compare it to properties that have already sold.

2.) Visit your local county court house and check in with the Tax Assessor. This will tell you what your home is currently valued at. The tax assessor will most likely over estimate your home for tax purposes. While you are at the court house, you can research how much similiar homes in your area were assessed for. I would also see if I could find out how many homes recently sold in my area while I was at the local county court house, you may be only an office away from this information.

3.) Use the Internet. Use sites like Trulia and Zillow to see what homes are currently for sale in your area. On the www.zillow.com website, you simply select the Zillow Real Estate Market Reports and type in your zip code and you can see what homes are currently on the market in your zip code and other market values, it is a great feature. You need to see what homes similiar to yours are selling for. I would also suggest you look at homes that are not selling and try to understand why. Are there any similarities between these unsold homes and my home? If the answer if yes, you may need to do some work before you place your home on the market.

4.) Drive By Homes in Your Neighborhood that Are For Sale. Do these houses have great external curb appeal? Do these yards have that "wow factor?" Does the front door really stand out and draw you in from the street?" If your competition has made the extra effort preparing their home for sale, it is a good idea that you do also.

5.) Go to Open Houses in your Neighborhood. This is a great idea to see how your competition is preparing their homes for sale. Internet pictures are very important but you really need to walk through an entire home to get a "feel" of the home. Does the home make me "feel" relaxed or anxious? When selling a home it is very important to create at least one area of the home that is seen as a calm place to relax. A home that does not have this will not sell.

You really need to take the above steps before you list your home for sale, this way you will have the correct listing price for your home. Remember, the price of your home and your online MLS pictures are two very important factors in selling your home. Good luck with your home sale.

-Kate

Kate is a certified home stager that servers the Rockland County, Orange County, Passaic County, and Bergen County Areas. If you are planning on selling your home, we offer a home staging consultation which starts at only $199 and includes a written, personalized Action Plan. We also offer Digital Services to sell your home faster, we will stage your home with our accessories, re-take your digital pictures, adjust your pictures to ensure they will show correctly online, and then load them into our Virtual Show. Our Virtual Shows are a Free Special to all our home staging clients. We also are a semi-custom Window Coverings reseller (roman shades, draped, valances, cornices, bamboo shades, woven wood blinds, faux wood blinds, etc.). Contact us for more information at 845-538-3623 or visit http://www.kateshomestaging.com

An Internet MLS Presence Will Help Sell Your Home

Kate Case, RESA, ASHSR, Home Stager — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:25:00 GMT

Homes for sale that have 20 or more pictures on the Internet get the most traffic from potential buyers. Virtual shows are also very attractive to potential buyers. The Internet is how we attract the buyers into your home in today's technology driven market.

It is extremely important the you prepare your home before you take your MLS pictures that will get posted on the Internet for everyone to see.

Here is a quick list of what you should do:

1. Clean each room. Get rid of any clutter and make sure all the counters sparkle and look fanstastic.

2. Bathroom. Please close the toilet lids and put in fresh towels please.

3. Outside your home. Pick up all your yard debris and remove the cars from your driveway, this will make the picture look even better.

4. Bring in some fresh flowers for your tables. I always love fresh flowers, besides the smell they also look great in pictures.

5. Garbage cans. Please remove them from the room prior to taking your picture, a potential buyer does not want to see your over-flowing kitchen garbage can or your bathroom garbage.

6. Lighting. Take picture with your lights turned on and off and with your blinds opened and closed. This way you can post the pictures that look the best online.

Preparing your home before you take your MLS pictures is very important since over 85% of potential home buyers are starting their home searches on the Internet. We cannot ignore the importance of technology when marketing your homes today!

If you need help with this process please contact a local Realtor or home stager for help. Remember, if a potential buyer does not like how your pictures look on the Internet chances are they will not come to your house to look at it.

If you are planning on selling you home also make sure you leave your light on during the evening hours and that your house number is clearly marked. A potential buyer may try to drive buy your home after work to take a look at your external curb appeal! This is why it is important to keep those yards clean and neat.

Good luck with your Home Sale.

-Kate

Contact Kate today to see how a home staging consultation can help sell your home, for more information please visit http://www.kateshomestaging.com or call 845-538-3623.

Kate's Home Staging and Redesign serves the Rockland County and Orange County area of New York, Bergen County and Passaic County of New Jersey. Kate is an affiliate member of the Passaic County of Realtors. Kate's Home Staging and Redesign is now offering Full Digital Styling Services to sell your home quickly. In other words, we will bring in the accessories, we will stage your home, we will re-take all the digital pictures, and then we will load these pictures into a virtual show to help sell your home. The virtual show is being offered to all our clients FREE of CHARGE to help SELL your home.