Doggone It!

This t-shirt came with a beautiful embroidered dog image. However, even though the large dog in the before picture has the detail, the lettering and smaller dog compete with it because they are in colour. So I painted the large dog to make it stand out. This sharpened the focal point, and the embroidery remains to give texture and detail. Notice how the camera now identifies the white from the gray better in the second photograph, shot in the same location.

Before

After
 (My apologies to papillon breeders for not defining the 'butterfly' markings distinctly)

Get A Handle On Things

Changes don't need to be expensive to make a noticeable difference. The area around handles and knobs can become worn or dirty, and fixtures themselves can date a property due to the materials and styles used. Simply changing the handles, and cleaning up fingerprints can give cupboards and closets a refreshed look. Changes like these deliver a good return for a small investment.

Before

After

Thing Are Looking Up!

Ceilings can be damaged by a number of causes. Buyers will be wary of damage because water stains could reveal structural problems with the roof, and unsightly cracking means work to repair it. Therefore it is best to address ceiling problems yourself so they are not an issue when selling. Special primer may be required to seal and kill areas if mold has grown. Here are before and after photos that show ceiling improvements from various conditions.

Before: Cracked paint on ceiling tile and a dirty, rusty fan cover.

After: Ceiling sanded, fan cover cleaned, and both repainted.

Before: Ceiling discoloured where cupboards
were removed.

After: Holes filled and ceiling repainted.

Before: Signs of water damage on the ceiling.
The roof was repaired, but this damage
could concern a buyer.

After: Repainted ceiling conceals signs of past water damage.

Say Cheese!

Family photos are very meaningful, and people display them to personalize their homes. A common question when selling is whether to leave family photos displayed. Will they add a positive personal touch? Buyers need to imagine themselves living in your home, and photos of unfamiliar people may make them feel like visitors. So to help them picture themselves in your place, prepack the family photos to enjoy in your next home.

Family photos can be fun, but are not usually for staging.

Curb Appeal Draws Buyers

Curb appeal refers to the way your house looks when you first arrive and view it from the "curb". This first impression is important because buyers draw conclusions from the minute they arrive. Paint is one way to change the exterior of a house, but it is a big investment. To help select colours, Little City Staging uses photo technology to preview how various changes improve the curb appeal of your home. Simple changes can make a huge difference through the use of colour and focal points, resulting in a faster, more profitable sale.

Before: It can be difficult to picture how a change will look.

After: A color change updates the exterior and the focal appeal of the door is improved.
Little City Staging shows in advance how changes could improve your curb appeal. 

Counterpoints

Space to work in a kitchen is essential. Buyers also want kitchens that are attractive and up to date. In the one shown, old countertops were replaced with new ones in a dark laminate for a more sophisticated look. A hammered metallic backsplash was added to unify the space, reflect in light, and feature chrome fixtures and appliances. Items were removed and staged to make counter space inviting. This relatively small investment (approx. $1100) makes this kitchen more saleable to reduce time on the market and potential markdowns.

Before

After

A Pane in the Glass

Windows are meant to be clear. However, sometimes the seals break and moisture seeps between the panes, like in the photo. It can look like a steamy buildup, or worse like a rainy day, and the amount of moisture can vary with the seasons. This may be quite noticeable, and will spell "work" to a potential buyer, so it is therefore worth replacing if you plan to sell.

Sell...ebrate Christmas!

Many people decorate for occasions like Christmas. When staging an occupied home, consider which takes precedence for the owner: to maintain traditions, or to sell? Their answer may depend on the urgency to move. Decorations are not forced on those who don't use them, but generally one wants to create an inviting atmosphere for the buyer, and a home totally void of decorations might seem a bit stark. Use tasteful, well-placed items such as a wreath, tree or accessory in main areas. Avoid overuse of lights and decorations so they do not distract from the property itself, and keep it simple so it is easy to un-stage after the holiday ends.

For What It's Worth

Most people own a few valuables, whether they are irreplaceable keepsakes or expensive belongings. Staging, showing, and selling your home results in a lot more rearranging and traffic than usual, which is important to consider for keeping your valuables safe. To reduce the risk of breakage, theft or loss during the selling process consider the following:

1. Store or remove valuables prior to staging to avoid damage when rearranging furniture.
2. Prepack them for the move so they are not displayed during open houses.
3. Ensure they are adequately insured. Jewelry, for example, may only have limited coverage under your regular homeowners' insurance.

Mixing Old With New

Older items have different lines, materials, features and uses than modern goods. When staging, consider the design more than feelings of nostalgia, which buyers may not share. To avoid making a house look dated (like "grandma's house"), don't feature items from the same time period when the house was built if it is several years old. (For example, shag carpet in a house built before the 1970's could look outdated, even if it was new). However, quaint features in an older home (such as glass doorknobs) can be appreciated if the furniture and decor is modern and appealing, so buyers can see it is by choice that the features are preserved. Similarly, an antique item showcased in a brand new home can add depth and interest to a room because it is unexpected.

An antique lamp displayed with some newer items.

Jewelry from the past (a lady bowling in a dress) on a new sweater.

Blonded wood, an eye catching stain technique from the 1950's.

Torn But Not Forlorn

When staging, you might encounter small tears in fabric or seams in need of repair. Although the example shown is clothing, this could happen on drapery or a cushion. When you don't have the supplies or time to mend a seam by re-stitching it, fabric glue can be used to make the repair. Just apply the product lightly and hold the fabric together for about 3 minutes until the glue begins to set, then allow it to dry. (Test first on an inconspicuous area if you are uncertain whether the glue will work on the fabric).

Before: torn seam

After: seam is repaired without stitching 

Example of fabric glue. 

De-Coat That Entrance!

As seasons change in Canada, entryways get filled with a mix of summer and winter clothing. To keep things tidy and entryways functional, it helps to move clothing you will not use for the upcoming season into a separate closet or storage area. Reduce the amount of clothing so there is adequate space for everything you use.

Before: Many coats clutter an entryway as winter approaches.

After: Not "staged", but organized storage areas are more attractive to buyers, and more functional for homeowners.

Old Furniture May Not Be Vintage

Furniture can really influence the look of a room. Outdated furniture can draw attention to the age of an older home, and a vacant home is difficult for buyers to envision furnished. Empty rooms can also seem stark and uninviting. A quick way to bring modern furniture into a home temporarily is to rent it. Furniture rental companies look after delivery, set up and removal, and the opportunity to rent on a weekly basis makes this choice affordable. You also have the option to purchase the furniture if you like using it.

A living room can receive an updated or more upscale look with rented furniture.

Nice furnishings make vacant rooms more appealing.

Underpainting: It's Like Underwear for Art

This painting involved a technique called underpainting. Some benefits of underpainting are:

• base colors can peak through the brushstrokes of the upper coat, providing visual interest or enhancement of the top color.
• colors beneath can create visual shades and highlights in the top color.

Essentially, paint is applied as a ground, before the final product is applied over it.

This often occurs inadvertently when painting walls. Shades of paint on a wall beneath make brush or roller strokes more visible, and may reflect a different color through the topcoat. Unless you want to feature the brushstrokes and the color beneath, as some finishes do, most people use primer or extra coats of paint to make them less visible.

The underpainting in this picture was yellow beneath the green, green beneath the red, and orange beneath the blue.

Switch It Up

Often the light switch is the first thing you reach for when you enter a room. Most rooms have other focal points, and light switches just blend into the background. A bathroom may be one area where you feature a unique switchplate, because the room is small and fixtures are noticeable. For staging, however, remember that the contents of rooms leave when you move. So if the switchplate matches the decor/contents, consider replacing it with one that suits the room itself.

Before: Decor switchplates tend to match the current owners' belongings and taste.

After: A new one was chosen to match fixtures in the bathroom.