Real Decorator Blog

Design to “SELL” Part 2

05/15/2012 11:24:00

Why it is worth it?

Why bother to clear out the clutter?

It has proven to have an average rate of return of 594% or $2000+.

A professional designer knows how to specifically arrange your home to make a premiere presentation. The national association of Realtors says that half of home sales can be linked to a house's appeal from the street. All buyers want a home that most closely suits their needs and makes them feel a sense of happiness.

• Realtors think its money well spent, potential buyers often can't see past existing furnishings or clutter.

• Your house becomes a product with features and benefits when you put it on the market for sale.

• Small but important changes will amount to a larger selling price.

• In a slow real estate market it’s important to set yourself apart.

• Creative strategies can move your property before the competition.

• A professional knows what improvements are necessary.

• Properties that have languished on the market, have sold within 10days after designing it to “SELL”.

• The first 2 weeks are when the majority of showings will occur

• You risk losing potential buyers if show your home before it is prepared.

• It’s not just about eliminating clutter.

• Homes designed to sell allow people to mentally move into the property.

• Homes designed to sell focus on the key features of a house.

• You want potential buyers to be able to walk into the house and visualize their own furnishings.

• It is difficult to look at our own homes objectively, the designer will help the homeowner make the hard choices.

Popular shows where designers help homeowners clear out their clutter and clean-up, making their houses more appealing to potential buyers show how positive impressions are exactly what potential buyers will have when they walk into a staged home.

Staged homes are clutter free, neutralized and depersonalized; having been redesigned by a professional to be open, inviting and spacious, making it easy for buyers to envision their things in the house and themselves living there.

Make "Less is more" your mantra, it will ease having to hear the words “remove” over and over again. Look at every box you fill and move to storage with $$ signs!

The act of decluttering can also be called “un”decorating. Moving out extra furniture, over stuffed book cases, cluttered walls and of course closets and cabinets will take your home from appearing to have a lack of storage space or not being large enough to presenting its best.

You will be prepared for home buyers to investigate every nook and cranny.

Make Sure it's Your House they come BACK to for a second look.

Design to "SELL" Part 1

04/24/2012 14:32:00

Design to“SELL” - philosophy and practice of a real estate marketing

· Focused on marketing the property to target buyers to enhance real estate sales.

· Emphasizes the architecture and attributes of the property, not the owner's tastes or preferences.

· A temporary design created for the purpose of selling the property; often performed quickly or under time constraints.

· Uses design principles, knowledge of buyer preferences and marketing techniques to achieve the best product for the market.

· Also known as: Real Estate/Home Showcasing or Enhancement, Real Estate Staging ,Home Sale Preparation, House Staging, Interior Styling, Home Merchandising.

Benefits of Designing to “Sell”

A common misconception is that Designing to "SELL" is simply decorating your home.

Decorating is very personal and suits your individual taste, while staging is done to create broad appeal. Staging is not as simple as adding some flowers and turning on lights. A professional uses “buyer’s eyes” to make your home attractive to a larger market. A potential buyer is more likely to make an offer on a home that they can envision themselves living in. Staging makes your home memorable and attractive to a larger percentage of buyers, giving your home the upper hand in the market.

Preparing a home for its best presentation has been prove that

designed to “Sell” homes sell faster and for more money.

A professional will always consider your target market and their emotional needs. First-time buyers want shelter and security, while move-up buyers desire prestige and peace. Encourage a prospective buyer's desired emotions happiness, joy, serenity, and security. Putting a little extra effort into the marketing your home will pay off. It can cost as little as $500 to spruce up a home.

“In today’s sluggish housing market, homeowners shouldn’t even consider putting their home on the market

without hiring a professional to give their house the “wow” factor”.

Color Your World in 2012

04/11/2012 00:50:00

Sherwin-Williams' color mix 2012 forecast highlights 40 hues,

in four earth-inspired, color-family groups: reds, blues, greens and neutrals.

Colors that are analogous, or adjacent on the color wheel,are a dominant trend.

The company says reds will be seen in many shades,specifically flowery tones like fuchsias, red-oranges, violets and delicate pinks. Two shades of blue that are expected to be popular are denim and water.

As we seek economic blue skies, we're rediscovering denim,the rugged fabric of the American worker. Clean water is another essential commodity, from oceans to tap. Our serene blue palette pays homage to both of these treasured resources.

Greens with a more yellow-tint will be seen less, in 2012 than previous years, as lush shades of green are paired with rustic tones and organic elements like algae, moss and seaweed. Raw materials continue to influence color trends, which will be seen in golden tones and subtle neutral shades inspired by linens, wood and unfired porcelain.

Design to “SELL” for the Senses

12/21/2011 11:44:00

Design to “SELL” for the Senses during the Holidays

Appeal to your buyer’s senses to make them feel at home.

1.Sight: Use amber-colored lights that give a rich warm golden glow to your rooms. Switchout your regular white light bulbs in a few table lamps with amber bulbs tomake your home feel toasty-warm and inviting.

2.Sound: Play gentle well-known music without words. This makes buyers feel like singingalong and picks up their step. Music helps buyers feel joyful in your home.

3.Smell: Use natural essential oils in a diffuser. Many people suffer from allergicreactions to artificial sprays. Simmer cider with orange slices, cinnamon and cloves.

4.Touch: Add silky and velvet fabrics to table tops that tempt the buyer to feel the softness. The brain interprets the sense of touch just by seeing softness.Also, use thick, fluffy hand towels in the bathroom and kitchen to soften the cold, hard surfaces of room typically filled with tile, granite, and porcelain.

5.Taste: Yes! The sense of smell contributes to the sense of taste. Make sure you're cooking something heavenly. Treat your prospective buyers like a guest. Invite them to share a warm drink and a sweet snack.

Happy Holidays!

HOLIDAY Designing to "SELL"

12/14/2011 09:41:00

HOLIDAY Designing to "SELL"

Besides the typical winter slowdown in sales, today’s market also makes selling your home more difficult. Tempt buyers with these strategies for the holidays. Taking a few extra steps during the frantic holiday season can make a big difference in your sale.

The Exterior

Door wreaths welcome all to your home and set the stage for celebrating. Make a simple wreath to hang on your front door with holiday colors that blend in with and dress up your home’s exterior colors. Group vines, mums or poinsettias for impact near the front entrance.

Holiday Décor and Your Target Buyers

If your neighborhood supports Christmas themes, then prospective buyers will appreciate your Christmas décor. If your neighborhood doesn't decorate, buyers may feel more comfortable without decorations. Play down Christmas if you live in an area that promotes "politically correct" holiday and seasons greetings instead of "Christmas Cheer."

Christmas Decorations

Use less of your ornament collection and don't over-crowd rooms. You want your buyers to see your home’s features. Rooms filled to the brim with decorations stop the buyer’s eyes from visualizing their own furnishings in your home. Plus, crowded spaces feel smaller. Do the reds clash? Examine your room colors and compare to your Christmas decorations.

If you you want to celebrate Christmas your way, go for it. Just understand that your home sale may take a little longer.

Happy Selling!

BEFORE & AFTER Bathroom

08/18/2011 15:15:00

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

The lighting has a more dramatic effect with the combination of darker and metallic colors.

AFTER

Adding a lamp on the vanity can be an excellent source of secondary lighing, even better if you add a dimmer for times when full lighting is not necessary and save on your electric bill!

QUESTION:

Is there a purpose for the box or is it just to raise the lamp?

ANSWER: To hide the cord.

Take a decorative box that is proportionate to the lamp size (a third of the lamp height, and large enough so the base of the lamp does not hang over the sides).
On the lower back side of the box, cut a notch large enough for the plug to fit through, store all the additional cord inside the box. Cut a hole in the top of the box to insert the cord in or wrap it over the lid.

BEFORE

Dated floral wallpaper, bland pastel paint create blah, dull and boring.

Use what you have!

A mis-match of frames can come together by creating continuity between different styles and sizes of frames by painting them the same color.

AFTER

Mirrors help the space feel larger and brighter.

Popcorn Ceilings

Removing popcorn is easily the messist and most rewarding project!

Ceiling

Dimension was added to this room
using a uniqe painting treatment.

AFTER

Dramatic changes can be had with a gallon of paint and a little creative thinking!

Design to "SELL" in Granbury

07/29/2011 13:47:00

3108 Walnut Creek Parkway

This Granbury home is NOW on the market! But it won't be for long, it is priced to sell and ready for new owners to move right in! What a perfect combination!

Altered Interiors Design to "SELL" put the finishing touches on this already great home!

A large spacious living room with views of the back patio

and back yard invite you go outdoors.

The formal dining room has enough wall space for a China Hutch and Buffet!

Plus elbow room around the table with space to spare!

Your family gatherings will not feel confined here!

The kitchen has been completely updated, no work needed here!

Granite counter tops compliment the cabinets perfectly!

What you need know about this home is that it is

wheelchair accessible!

Follow this link to see more pictures and details: http://ntreislistings.marketlinx.com/SearchDetail/Scripts/PrtBuyFul/PrtBuyFul.asp?emailGUID=42cb7c31-98dc-4620-a96c-e2dcbf459306&AgentId=0551333

Have fun checking out all the details and schedule your showing this weekend!

Color Trend Updates

07/28/2011 10:40:00

2011ColorTrend Updates for Inspiration

Earthy browns are the backdrop for milky whites and pale, buttery yellows. Hay and terra cotta mix with aubergine, pumpkin, tomato and, of course, green. Tints are warm colors are pure, used with fabrics that are textured.

A return to basic primary colors applied to a monochromatic scale of blacks, grays and whites. Pairing red with black. Blue, yellow, green - even pink are used with grays. Patterns are geometric with clean lines. Circles, triangles linear shapes are stacked and molded to create larger shapes.

Pearlescent and shimmery finishes applied to pastels paired with grounded colors, lavender with brown, and pale green with camel. Wispy fabrics are best compliments with these combinations.

As we see a return to the simpler things in life comes the use of bold colors rich berry tones, fire orange, saffron, cinnamon are all paired with browns, a bronze metallic and charcoal. Beaded elements are seen every where on almost anything and check out the new Tortoise shell texture.

Start at the Ceiling

07/08/2011 15:04:00

Ceilings are often the forgotten Fifth wall of a room. Color, sheen, pattern, and texture on the ceiling can transform the entire look and feel of a room.

A large room with high ceilings can can feel unbalanced with all the furnishing on the bottom half of the room. A deeper color on the ceiling balances the large open space and makes the room feel cozier.

Be creative!

If you have a low ceiling, make the room feel larger by minimizing the color contrast between the ceiling and the walls.

Flat paint will prevent light from reflecting and bouncing off the ceiling.

Watch for the next post and you will see using color to highlight architectural features!

Until then!

Decorating with "Black"

06/21/2011 14:02:00

Have you noticed its every where!

Black is making a huge decor statement, but don't say yuck yet! Check out these rooms!

Elegant sophistication

with clean soft lines.

Add a touch of fun and whimsy!

Or make a strongx

xxxx dramatic statement

with contrasting colors.

Why are yellows so hard to get right?

And which beige is theright beige for you?

Don't know how to add black with your existing colors?

Not sure black will work in your home?

Won't it make my rooms dark?

In this picture: Great use of mirrors to add reflection and additional light to the flat walls.

Dark walls will absorb light and light walls reflect it. Keeping this in mind will be important when designing the rooms lighting plan.

Schedule your personal color consultation and get ALL your questions answered!

BONUS: Receive large 8x11 color samples of your selected color choices!

Send me your questions and requests for your decorating challenges!

Stay cool and enjoy your summer!