A Solid Improvement

Statistics show most prospective buyers drive by a property before they call for an appointment to view it. So curb appeal makes that crucial 'first impression', and indoor upgrades will not matter if people never view them. The driveway pictured below extends from the front of the house, so cracks that developed over time aged the look of the property and were noticeable from the curb. The problem continued with the patio in the back. Removing and replacing this was not a do-it-yourself project as it required extensive work, and the fence between the houses was also replaced.  But the upgraded look to the property improves the curb appeal immensely and took years off the appearance of this yard.

Driveway: Before

Driveway: After

Patio: Before

Patio: After

Pillow Talk

Extra pillows are often used on beds when staging. This is done to add interest and create a focal point in a way that suggests comfort and luxury. My husband, who occasionally assists with staging projects, has become a bit of a pillow designer lately, arranging the pillows on our bed each day in unexpected patterns. Instead of relying on tried and true pillow arrangements, this reminds me to be imaginative. Here are a couple of his interesting creations.

Unexpected, yet interesting design.

Gives a 'tucked in' look.

Foiled Again

It can be difficult to keep everything shiny in your home for sale while you live there. Although most people only spend a short time at the initial viewing, you don't want their eye drawn to unsightly areas. Stove tops can be particularly noticeable when grimy, and are blackened at once when something spills over and burns. A quick way to brighten a stovetop is to use disposable foil liners over the regular ones. These protect the drip pans and can be quickly replaced. The drip pans and rings themselves can also be replaced, which is more attractive than liners, but liners are very inexpensive and provide a quick solution.

Before: disposable insert is blackened

After: new foil insert replaces old one

Solution: Foil Insert

Stager On Holidays, Sort Of...

We recently stayed with an older gentleman who lives alone. He loves to read and wanted to display his sports trophies, but his books were piling up and his trophies as displayed, were hard to dust. He consented for us to organize a little. The purpose was not to sell or stage, just to lighten the workload for him and make space for our visit.
A solution was to introduce shelves for his books, and also the trophies. Although a closed unit with glass doors would keep dust off, we used an open unit to make the books very accessible. He was pleased with the changes, and also that the shelves fit on top of his cabinet which he wanted to keep for extra storage.

Before

Before

After

After 

Check It "Out"

Outdoor buildings can become weathered over time. When you see them in your yard everyday you hardly notice, but they may detract from the appeal of your home and spell w-o-r-k to a potential buyer. Make your shed or garage a positive extra in the sale by keeping it in good repair.

Before

After

Birdhouse detail.

Natural Colour Palettes

Inspiration surrounds us in nature. People respond instinctively to the array of colours we see outside. For example, fall leaves have many popular shades used in homes: greys, light browns and tans, soft greens with bluish shades, muted reds, and bolder ones with violet as well. The proportions in nature also give clues about design, with bold colours adding highlights, different shapes for variety, small areas of black and white for contrast, and a unique item (speckled leaf) for a focal point. When choosing a paint colour, consider where it is found in nature, the proportions of it you normally see, and other colours typically found with it.

Photography For Staging

Once staged, great photography makes a huge difference in the quality of your online photos. Most buyers today begin their search online, and use the pictures to narrow down the homes they will visit in person. The photo to the left was taken after dark with a 'point and shoot camera', and the flash is unable illuminate the room enough to show off the colors and dimensions. The photo below was taken with a digital SLR camera during the day. The lighting is better, the details are sharper, and a wide angle lens shows off more of this beautiful home.

Timely Touch Ups

Sometimes it is not practical to make all the repairs needed to a property, such as replacing a scratched door. Scratches can be unsightly, and very noticeable when they are lighter than the original finish. To minimize their appearance, furniture touch up products are reasonably priced, and available in common colors. A filler may also be needed for deep scratches, but for light ones simply apply the product like a marker, starting with the lightest shades and blending to darken if needed. The scratch will still exist, but will be less noticeable.

Before

After

Example of furniture touch up product.

Analogous Vs. Complementary Color Scheme

Analogous Colors

 

Analogous colors are near each other on the color wheel. In the photos above the blues, blue/greens and greens used are analogous colors. They produce a harmonious, rich, monochromatic look.

Below, the same room is shown in complementary colors (red and green), which are opposites on the color wheel. They look bright when placed next to each other, and may produce a more lively look.

To influence the feel of a room, keep in mind the affect different color schemes will have.

Complementary Colors

A Space Transformed - WOW!

The before and after pictures in this example illustrate how decorating and staging can differ. The first photo has a decorative approach, incorporating lively color and special belongings into the decor. Many changes were made to arrive at the new look in the "after" photo.  From a staging perspective, the renovated look would appeal to more buyers because neutral colours are used, complemented by modern fixtures and accessories.

Before

After

If Plants Could Talk...

Before

After

...They might tell what goes on in the room! But this one would probably just say "Dust me." It's easy to overlook plants we see everyday as they gradually grow. And while they clean the air, like anything else they also accumulate dust. A spritz of water and soft cloth is all that's needed to gently clean the leaves, and the shine will be extra noticeable if the leaves are large.

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.