I know that I have talked before about the way staging helps a potential buyer not only gauge the layout and functionality of each room better, but also bond with the home. This isn’t about manipulating the viewer, or hiding a home’s flaws, it is about showing off the attributes, and making a house (or in this case condo) feel like a home.

Which brings me to an interesting situation that has been happening at the K-Station eco condos I’ve been staging for. As you can see from the example on the right, the condos have the same layout. Despite this, so far the buyers have only wanted to buy the staged unit. So, after a sale we have had to destage everything, and then move it all over to another condo (with the same layout).

It really goes to show how much staging can help personalize a home, and let the buyer bond with it.

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Just a quick post today, on a recent staging for Will Tucker; a Ranch style and had some really gorgeous hardwood floors and a lot of natural lighting.

And an update on the recent staging I blogged about (with this same agent)  -it sold on the first day, with multiple offers and for 50,000 over the asking price : )

Complementary Colors:  The two colors opposite each other on the color wheel; in light when the colors are combined together they produce white.

There’s been a contemporary trend of painting walls separate colors (treating each as its own canvas). It can create an incredibly playful modern feel to a room, but because it also bring such a specific personality with it, it’s not something a stager would recommend for a sale (in the same way we don’t tend to recommend vibrant colors). A bit back I blogged about a similar topic, and staging in homes with vibrant walls color vs. the classic neutral.

The recent home I staged had both vibrant colors, and in the kitchen separate walls painted complementary colors (a sort of salmon paired with spearmint). So, I decided to mirror this in the living room (yellow) by adding accents in the complimenting blue tone.

When staging a home that already has bright colors, using a complementary color as an accent can help neutralize the room. The blue of the pillows and accessories helped make the yellow wall color far more gentle then it had appeared when empty, and it also helped tie together the living room to the kitchen.

Response from the client: “oh my god … my house has never looked this good … NOT even close!”

You gotta love those OMG moments : )

Click Here to view listing (1301 SE 50TH Ave Portland, OR 97215)

As I mentioned in my last post, I recently staged a home in SE Portland… and it has already sold : )

After having sat on the market for 3 months, the staging did wonders : )

Also, an update on the quick selling home I blogged about in my  Craftsman Bungalow post,  Andrea Dufresne, the Realtor I worked with just sent me a wonderful testimonial:

“I recently had a vacant home with an unusual layout and some other space ‘obstacles’.  Michelle was sensitive to cost and was very thoughtful about which rooms really needed staging and which ones could do without.  Michelle’s suggestions were different from what I was anticipating but she really convinced me.  She and her team spent several hours installing the furniture and décor; the results were amazing.  My seller (now living out of state) even commented that her home had never looked so ‘appealing.’  Michelle’s work really paid off.  My decision to have Michelle stage that house was well worth the investment as we had an offer within 2 days on the market!”

These are the kind of days that make me really love my job : )

Recent staging:

More pictures of this lovely (and large) home, will be posted next week. 

Quick Tip #6

Last tip I recommended to clean and clean and clean again. This tip adds to that: clean away all those soaked in smells too. There are lots of things in the house that absorb odor, the fridge, the couch and carpet (especially for those of us with pets), the garbage disposal, etc. It is important to make sure your house smells as fresh and clean as it will look. So, open up some windows, air out that musty smell. Let your house breathe a little.

Bonus cleaning tip: Baking Soda

Boiling a little water with baking soda with cinnamon won’t just absorb odor, it will make an instant fresh-baked-cookie smelling air freshener.

An open container of baking soda will absorb odor in the fridge.

Baking soda mixed with vinegar will kill mold, and help remove stains.

Quick Tip #5

Perhaps I should say: “Clean Like You Want Your House To Sell” –but, while more accurate, that doesn’t have quite as nice of a ring to it.

I shouldn’t have to tell you a clean house will be more attractive to a potential buyer, but just to emphasize: a house can never be too clean. Deep clean every nook and cranny, rearrange furniture then scrub, vacuum, and mop again. This kind of cleaning can be tedious and time consuming, but it will make a huge difference in what a potential buyer thinks your home is worth.

When thinking about staging a home, a lot of people’s first mental image is something out of Staged to Sell or Flip this House. While these shows exist in a hyper high drama world, beyond the reality show melt downs there is some truth. The way a buyer views your home directly correlates to its value. A successfully staged home will guide the viewers gaze to the positive features, accentuating your homes beauty.

Over the next couple weeks I’ll be posting some quick tips to help you look at your home through the eyes of a potential buyer.

Quick Tip #1:

First impressions matter. The first thing a prospective buyer will see is the view of your home from the curb. It’s important to take a critical look. A positive impression as they walk up to your door will help them feel at ease inside.