Barker and Hedges Real Estate Blog

One of the goals to preparing a house for sale is to highlight the features in your home, such as a fireplace, granite counter tops, bay windows, or a jet tub. Placing decor by these areas can help draw the eye so buyers will remember the features.

Home owners do not need to run to the nearest home decor store and spend hundreds of dollars to make their home look great; they can shop for decor in their very own house. I don’t mean online shopping, either. Using accessories from other rooms in a new and interesting way can give focal points the emphasis that it needs.

This photo to the left shows a jet tub with no accessories. Although nice, there is nothing memorable about this area. The lack of decor leaves this area feeling cold and uninviting.

Buyers who may view several house in one day may not remember anything special about this master bathroom.

This photo to the right displays a pedestal and vase with flowers taken from the living room. This decorative feature helps to emphasize the elegance of this space. The height of the arrangement brings drama into this master bathroom. Rolled towels on the opposite corner softens the room while bringing a spa-like feel.

The total cost of decorating this space was $0.00!

So whether you are selling your home or just want a new look for your space, using items from around your home can help you achieve an updated look without spending a lot of money!

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that has been creating “First Impressions That Sell” for homeowners and Realtors across the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in home staging consultations and vacant stagings. For more information on home staging visit our website: www.kfmstaging.com.

No, this isn’t the latest California weight loss program… However, eliminating furniture pieces from your room may be beneficial to the sale of your home!

Rooms hosting extra large furniture items or too many furniture pieces will create two negative side-effects: 1) the room will appear cluttered and chaotic, and 2) the room will appear smaller than it should.

BEFORE STAGING

This large living room appears crowded due to the over-sized furniture and the numerous pieces. Buyers will appreciate the spaciousness of this room since the furniture is over-powering the space.

This layout also cuts off the natural traffic pattern from the living room to the family room. Although functional, buyers are left to navigate around the far side furniture making for an akward transition between rooms.

AFTER STAGING

Removing the love seat and adding a small-scale chair, space is visible around the furniture pieces which creates a more spacious feeling in the room.

Rugs are great to section off areas; however, in this case, removing the rug instantly increases the visual floor space resulting (again) in a spacious feeling.

With the new arrangement, easy pathways are created in and out of the room.

Even though buyers are not purchasing your furnishings, these items will set the atmosphere in your home that buyers will remember. Removing unneeded furniture will help to create an open layout that is stylish and inviting.

So, forget about counting calories and carbohydrates. Put on your spandex and headband, and get your exercise by following the Furniture Diet!

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that has been creating “First Impressions That Sell” for homeowners and Realtors across the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in home staging consultations and vacant stagings. For more information on home staging visit our website: www.kfmstaging.com.

No, you do not need to go get your glasses, you read the title right the first time!

Staging your kitchen appliances may sound ridiculous, but it has its place within the staging process. After your priority areas have been staged, it is important to remember the “sometimes forgotten” spaces in your home.

Whether sellers realize it or not, buyers will look inside the appliances they are purchasing. You have been officially warned… there is no more hiding the breakfast dishes in the oven or the dirty laundry in the dishwasher.

To properly stage your appliances, think “minimum,” “clean,” and “organized.”

1. Remove all items and wash out the inside walls, drawers, and shelves.
2. Throw out all expired or odorous food.
3. Replace the remaining items in an organized fashion.

Not only will you enjoy freshly cleaned appliances, but the buyers will equate these well-cared for areas into a well-cared for home.  When selling your home, small details can make a huge impact to buyers!  Be proactive with your listing, and use all the available staging tools to make a positive impression on buyers.

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that has been creating “First Impressions That Sell” for homeowners and Realtors across the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in home staging consultations and vacant stagings. For more information on home staging visit our website: www.kfmstaging.com.

Home Staging Fact: Not everyone will love your pets as much as you do.

When staging, it is always recommended to remove all signs of pets from your house. Although some buyers may not mind seeing a pet or two roaming around your listing, other buyers may be bothered by the idea of living in a space previously occupied by animals. In this tough seller’s market, it is important to NOT alienate any segment of the buying population.

If you are a seller with pets, don’t be discouraged - there are techniques you can use to stage your house without giving up the pooch.

• Keep it Clean: Vacuum and/or wash pet areas including any space in your house that your pet is free to access. Cleaning removes hair, odors, and other evidence left by your pet.
• Condense Pet Items: Keep all pet toys, food, and leashes in one basket. If a short-notice showing is scheduled, you will only need to remove one large container that holds your pet items. If you are unable to remove the basket for weekday showings, using the one basket method will reduce the amount of pet clutter in your home.
• Litter Location: Litter boxes should be placed in lower priority rooms such as the basement, laundry room, or a storage space. Remember to clean the box on a daily basis to reduce odor build up.
• Ditch the Dish: Like the litter box, pet dishes should be kept out of the kitchen, bathrooms, and main living spaces. If, however, if you need to keep the feeding area in the kitchen, it should be placed in a corner that is not visible from the entrance of the room.
• Beds, Towers, and Carriers: Large pet items such as these should be removed out of the main living areas for two reasons 1) these items trap odors that may be offensive to non-pet owners, and 2) these items use up valuable floor space.
• Contain the Critter: If at all possible, you should attempt to contain your pet to a specific area during showings. Over-friendly cats and dogs may be a nuisance when trying to view a house.
• Immediate Removal: As a pet owner, you are responsible for the actions of your animals. If your pet shows any kind of aggressive behavior to strangers, it MUST be removed for showings. You may be liable for more than a lost sale should an accident happen to a buyer while in your home.

Marketing a house with pets takes extra time, but the results will be worth the effort!

*The middle picture is a long-haired guinea pig, not a 1980’s mullet.

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that has been creating “First Impressions That Sell” for homeowners and Realtors across the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in home staging consultations and vacant stagings. For more information on home staging visit our website: www.kfmstaging.com.

Having your kids at home while selling does not need to drive you crazy. Sellers can retain their sanity by getting their children involved with the selling and staging process.

Once your house has been initially staged, it is necessary to retain your staging standards for last minute showings. A daily checklist can be used to keep your house in peek condition. By using a list, your staging chores will be structured and time will be used efficiently.

To further ease your daily duties, make a separate checklist for your children to follow. Little ones as young as two years old can learn about personal responsibility by cleaning up their own toys. The children’s chore list should be easy to follow and age appropriate.

Although seemingly impossible, keep a positive attitude during the selling process. Children easily sense when their parents are stressed. If you stay calm and remain positive your children will reflect that behavior. Finally, be sure to give your little helpers plenty of praise for a job well done!

Staging your home will give you the best chance of selling your house. Maintaining your staging during the non-school months will further ensure a favorable response from buyers!

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that has been creating “First Impressions That Sell” for homeowners and Realtors across the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in home staging consultations and vacant stagings. For more information on home staging visit our website: www.kfmstaging.com.

Home staging is increasing in popularity across the United States as homeowners compete this buyer’s market. Unfortunately, some sellers are missing the mark by practicing some common staging faux pas. These mistakes may cost them time on the market and could hinder the sale of their home.

1) Faux Painting: Walls that are overly accessorized with decor or paint detract from the room itself. Instead of buyers focusing on the features of the house, they are distracted by the swirling colors of paint.

Specialized painting finishes are a personal preference that may turn off some buyers. Thus, these techniques should be reserved for your new home. When selling, your walls should have a fresh coat of paint with a single color.

2) Faux Foliage: There is a time and a place to use fake greenery when selling your home. When tastefully done, faux plants add a beautiful decorative element. However, fake foliage should never, EVER be used outside! Like a bad toupee, they don’t fool anyone. Buyers may love the house, but will immediately give a teenage-girl-eyeroll at the first site of these plastic plants growing from the ground.

Instead, use REAL perennials in the warm months and tree top arrangements in the winter. Making the extra effort will keep your exterior looking fresh while reducing the “cheese factor” when showing your home.

3) Faux Windows: Also including in this category are faux landscapes, faux baseball stadiums, faux tree scenes, and faux any-room-sized-mural.

As with faux paint, these murals do not highlight the features of the home. Instead, buyers are left questioning how the faux scene will fit in with their decor. Properly staged homes should be neutral enough so many styles of home accents can fit with the room. Remember, we want to appeal to the most amount of buyers to get the fastest offer.

4) Faux Fireplaces: Fireplaces are a great selling feature… when they are real. Buyers, including those with poor eyesight, are not easily fooled by these faux creations.

Not every family room has a fireplace. Sure, they are a great focal point, but if your home lacks this natural feature, other areas of interests may be highlighted. For example, an entertainment can be centered on a wall for an immediate focal point, or a sofa with hanging artwork adds an interest point to any sized room.

Portable electric fireplaces have made vast improvements in the recent past; some are very convincing as (almost) real fireplaces. These items, though very similar to the real thing, are still NOT the real thing. It is better to remove the fake altogether rather than trying to convince buyers that something is there when it really isn’t.

Although these examples may be extreme, they prove their points. When selling your home, “the faux has got to go.” Homeowners have the right to decorate their homes in any style that suits their tastes, but when you are marketing your home, we need to appeal the general public’s taste (and not our own) to get the best offers.

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that has been creating “First Impressions That Sell” for homeowners and Realtors across the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in home staging consultations and vacant stagings. For more information on home staging visit our website: www.kfmstaging.com.

Buyers first impressions of your house begins at the curb.

The white blanket of snow is a ghost of winter’s past; the dead grass sits over the green sprouts like a brown mat; early-blooming flowers are mere nubs from the softening earth; and tired-looking Christmas lights sway from the roof top in the gentle southern breeze. (Poetic liberties exercised.)

As many sellers are waiting for their bulbs to bloom, they are wasting precious time as their house sits on the market with little activity. Proactive steps can be taken to make your exterior look inviting while your lawn slowly sheds its winter coat.

1) Seasonal Decor: Before any other exterior projects are tackled, seasonal decor including plastic Santas and deflated jumbo snow globes should be placed into deep storage. Holiday lawn ornaments that linger into April and May detracts from the freshness of springtime.

2) Lawn Care: Dead grass looks tired and poorly maintained. As soon as the weather permits, rake away the unappealing brown layer. This will allow the new growth to emerge more quickly. Add rich soil and grass seed to damaged areas, fertilize, and water frequently to retain a lush looking yard.

3) Garden Areas: Remove the remnants of last year’s growth. While the new plants are peeking up through the ground, hearty cold-weather perennials such as pansies can be added for instant color. New mulch quickly updates a brown, tired flower garden. Don’t limit adding flowers to just specified garden areas. Planters with robust flowers adds a punch of color to any corner!

4) Critter Control: Warm weather is accompanied by the emergence of hibernating insects. Buyers can be turned off by any swarming pests. A safe way to eliminate these pests is to spray them with soapy water. Check with your local university’s expansion center for other safe alternatives for insect removal.

5) Clean Your House: Combine step 4 with a power washer to spray away the dull residue left by the winter winds. Nothing freshens up your siding, patios, sidewalks, and garage doors faster than a quick dowsing from this powerful machine. Your local hardware store such as Ace Hardware usually rent out these time-saving contraptions.

Home staging begins with an attractive exterior. Many great homes have been overlooked because the yards do not reflect the character and charm that is found within the house. Draw-in the buyers by creating an exterior space that is well maintained with great curb appeal.

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that has been creating “First Impressions That Sell” for homeowners and Realtors across the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in home staging consultations and vacant stagings. For more information on home staging visit our website: www.kfmstaging.com.

What do the 2008 Presidential election, the Iraq War, and religion have in common?

All these issues provoke a strong reaction in people and should be avoided when staging your home. The purpose of home staging is to transform your house into a product that is pleasing to a wide variety of buyers. For example, how many consumers boycotted Heinz ketchup when John Kerry was a presidential contender? That condiment was banned by some when associated with a political figure whom they opposed. Similarly, sellers may unintentionally sabotage a sale if they insist on showing their support to one cause or another.

Obama, Hilary, McCain, and Ron Paul will not help you sell your home. When you are preparing to sell your house, be sure to remove all political signs and other propaganda from your residence. A die-hard liberal may reject a house solely based on the extensive library of conservative material. Other liberal vs. conservative topics should be avoided as well. “Pro-life” or “Right to Choose” instantly generates strong opinions and can cause the most sincere buyer to abruptly end the showing; likewise, gay right issues are sure to stir up some form of controversial opinions no matter which side buyers are on. When advertising your home, it is best to remain neutral in all areas.

The Iraq War has been an issue of debate since the day it started. A yard sign that states “End the War” may discourage for buyers whose son is in the midst of battle. Whether you want to “Support the Troops” or “Bring Them Home,” keep your yard free from advertising your views until your house is sold. There will be room in your new lawn for these signs to be displayed.

Religious beliefs may be shared through signs and symbols, but the truth is your religion is within you. Removing the physical representation of your convictions does not change how or what you believe, it simply opens your home to more potential buyers. For example, Buddhist shrines may offend Roman Catholics while crosses may turn off Jewish buyers. Your house should represent a neutral religious territory, so buyers can imagine their own belief system in the home.

This post does not disregard the importance of free speech. Within legal limits, homeowners should have the right to voice their support or objection to current events. However, when you sell your home, you are selling a place of peace and comfort. If buyers see highly charged propaganda, their differing opinion may cause a strong emotional reaction that could immediately ruin the sale. You will receive maximum results if you are sensitive to the opinions of others and keep your signs and symbols reserved for your new home.

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that has been creating “First Impressions That Sell” for homeowners and Realtors across the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in home staging consultations and vacant stagings. For more information on home staging visit our website: www.kfmstaging.com.

This blog entry was originally posted by KFM Staging & Design on Active Rain, a Real Estate Network Website.

Before you prepare your home for sale, you need to prepare yourself!

This post (a.k.a. “It’s Not You… It’s Me,” “Cutting the Cord,” and “I Thought I Couldn’t Live Without You, But I Was Wrong”) is dedicated to homeowners who have poured their hearts into their beloved homes and have decided that it is now time to move on.

It is natural to develop an emotional attachment to things that we spend a lot of time using. Chefs rely on their favorite knives when preparing special dishes, carpenters cherish their best hammer for all their special projects, and Grandma’s prized knitting needles have a place of honor in her basket. We develop feelings for the items that have brought us enjoyment and comfort over the years.

When you decide to sell your home, an emotional separation needs to occur before you can adequately stage your house. In today’s tough market, it is essential that sellers take advantage of home staging techniques; however, owners who are overly-attached to their house may have a difficult time following necessary staging directions. The result may be a residence that is highly personalized to the seller’s tastes, turning off buyers whose styles may not match.

Stripping away all emotions, a house is essentially wood, wires, glass, and steel. It is the family that turns those raw materials into a home. Disconnecting from your house emotionally will help you to efficiently market your home as a product in the world of real estate. Breaking up from your house may be hard to do, but it is a necessary part of the home staging process!

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that has been creating “First Impressions That Sell” for homeowners and Realtors across the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in home staging consultations and vacant stagings. For more information on home staging visit our website: www.kfmstaging.com.

If your home is currently on the market but you really do NOT want to move, follow these guaranteed Sale-Killer Tactics:

1. Show Off Your Stuff: Display all of your knick-knacks, Star War collectibles, and beer steins on every available shelf. Buyers will be discouraged if they cannot see the actual room.
2. Dual-, Tri-, and Quad- Purpose Rooms: Keep your computer, exercise bike, and newborn’s crib in your master bedroom. A luxury retreat should be reserved for homeowners who actually want their house to sell.
3. Fire the Cleaning Company: Bathroom vanities that feature dried toothpaste, hairy brushes, and empty toilet paper rolls cause buyers to run from your property.
4. Pamper Your Pet: Man’s best friend is a buyer’s worst nightmare. Pet food, pet beds, pet hair, pet odors, and pets themselves can be a huge hindrance to the sale of your home. A large barking dog will keep the most interested buyers on the outside of your door.
5. Curb (Lack-of) Appeal: Let the weeds grow, turn off the sprinkler system, and forget about collecting the morning paper. Buyers will not even bother to get out of their car.

If, however, you are a serious seller and do not want to scare off interested buyers, carefully read all the Sale-Killing Tactics, and do the complete opposite! Buyers love a house that is clean and clutter-free with great curb appeal.

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that has been creating “First Impressions That Sell” for homeowners and Realtors across the Twin Cities and western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in home staging consultations and vacant stagings. For more information on home staging visit our website: www.kfmstaging.com.