I attended the RESA (Real Estate Staging Association) earlier this week and I must admit my mind was wandering when, suddenly I heard  Mathew Finlason, from the HGTV Show "The Stagers"  say "And get rid of those BEIGE walls!  That's so yesterday!"  It hit me right between the eyes like a wet Salmon thrown at the Pike Street Market, has beige become the new white?  

I remember when I first started remodelling homes to sell and the rule was ..you guessed it, paint all the walls white!  You always painted the walls white my dears because you wouldn't want to offend anyone with color, and everyone's furniture goes with white!    Today, of course we head for those designer neutrals, you know..beige!  I think the last 3 out of 4 homes that we staged were some shade of beige.  Of course there are at least as many if not more shades of beige than there are white, and if one isn't careful you can end up with a pink beige.  If thats the case it's critical to stage carefully or instead of neutralizing the pink tone, you'll accent it. 

All is not lost in a beige world though, here's a picture of a fantastic and fun black and white Bathroom that we did in a home last fall.  The home had color and character and SOLD in under 20 days!

 

What are the experts saying about color for 2010 and how do you make sure you don’t fall into the olive green and harvest gold trap of the ‘70’s?  Before I tell you what the national experts are saying, my advice is always to keep your walls neutral and use accessories to tie in sunny bright new trends.   It seems that Pantone agrees with that advice as well.  "Historically, when money is tight and there is a concern for the longevity of a given color, people have a tendency to play it safe with neutrals," said Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone Color Institute's executive director.   “Slate and charcoal gray will be the hot new neutrals, taking over from the browns and beiges that had been so popular. Cool gray can be paired with almost any color for a winning combination. “

The “hot” color next year is yellow.  “The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance,” says Eiseman. “Yellow also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation.” 

Yellows are great color choices for throw pillows, artwork, bedding and kitchen accents.  I particularly like to use yellow in our dark winter months to add inside warmth and sunshine to offset our otherwise dreary Northwest weather.

Greens are a close second to yellow for 2010.  Going green is not just for building.  One impact of the recession is that simpler, organic living is no longer a trend for a few, but is becoming a must to keep costs down.  I’ve read that gardening is emerging as America’s most popular hobby and almost every small community offers a farmers market.  This has had an impact on the color choices for 2010.  Pantone's Greenmarket palette includes colors such as Tomato Puree, Vanilla Ice, Chutney, Paprika, Dijon, Apple Green, Super Lemon, Peach Blossom and Beaujolais.

In bedrooms we are looking for a little luxury.  According to Benjamin Moore, lavender will be the winner to bring luxury into the bedroom.  Another trend resulting from the recession is going with campy or “glampy” metallics.  Pairing soft gray or silver walls with lavender bedding and tarnished silver lamps creates an elegant yet affordable look.

Aqua, always one of my favorites, has been a recommended color by cutting-edge decorators for a couple of years and will continue to be strong next year.   I like to use aqua in more contemporary downtown or Capitol Hill homes and condo’s.  It was also my choice for a re-habbed mobile we staged last summer, that sold in less than 40 days! 

Trends are helpful when choosing colors but choosing the right paint color can be challenging.  My rules of thumb are:

1.        Keep it simple and walls neutral.

2.       Buy small samples and paint swatches on the walls before finalizing your color choice. 

3.       Don’t be afraid to experiment a little with color.  It’s only paint, if you hate it you can paint over it!

 

And of course keep in mind that if you need help choosing paint colors or other finishes, I offer low cost color consultation services, and would be happy to help you select the colors that will show case your home!

I often hear from agents and investors “I’m going to wholesale this one so I’m not going to bother to stage it”, “it’s a short sale I can’t afford to stage it” or “I’m not going to rehab it, so it’s not worth staging”. 

I bet you know what I’m going to say,  staging always makes a difference.  If you want to sell quickly and change that house from a money sucker into a money maker, then CHANGE THE HOUSE!

Everyone has emotions, and as humans our emotions affect our decisions we just can’t help it.   Keep in mind that over 90% of the population can’t imagine how empty rooms will look with furniture.  Vacant homes feel cold and drab, especially if they are in need of some work.  The goal is to help the rehab/flipper/buy and hold buyer see how great the home looks and if it appeals to them now, how much more will it appealing will it be to buyers after they have added new carpet, paint, or whatever other improvements they need to make to increase the value of the home.   Staging warms up the house immediately.  I find the house feels better as soon as we bring in furniture and greenery, even before we arrange the furnishings.

But even if you decide not to do any staging, at a minimum there are three things that will get you a faster sale and therefore a higher return on your investment:

1.        Mow the lawn.  If the lawn is dead because of our higher than normal temperatures remove any garbage and debris and make it look as good as possible.  Adding a potted plant on the front porch will detract from the dead energy of the lawn for a better first impression, and add a positive impression as the walk out of the home.

2.       Have the house cleaned if possible.   In all probability the home has been sitting vacant for some time and at the least it smells musty and at the worst?  Well let’s not even go there.  Having the home cleaned is a low investment and a clean house feels better even if it needs work.

3.       Have music playing when you show the house.  Music can set the stage even if you opt not to add furniture.  Select light jazz or soft rock.

These three tips really apply whether you are wholesaling, have a short sale or selling without investing in any changes to the home.   The way the home looks, smells and feels really makes a difference, which is why I say unstaged homes sell staged homes every time!

Here are a few more low cost ideas for staging when working  with a short sale or when there is a very limited staging budget.

1.        Use vignette staging.  Vignette staging is the art of using three pieces to create a vignette to dress up a room and spark the imagination.    In the sample below I used a tall plant, a comfy chair and an ottoman to create a scene that invoked an image of comfort and warmth in an otherwise empty living room.  The bouquet of flowers on the tray on the ottoman was added as this home was on a 5 acre parcel and had a large garden through the French doors.

2.       Use low cost furnishings covered with sheets to create an elegant eating area.  I often use a plastic table draped in sheets and table clothes when I am working with a tight budget. 

3.       Look for bargain furniture and artwork on Craigslist, furniture liquidators, and consignment stores.  I can’t tell you how much of my furniture inventory I have found on Craigslist.  Almost all of the furniture I find there is brand new or very slightly used. 

4.       Fill coffee cups with flavored coffee beans to add an aroma of coffee to the kitchen.  I also use vanilla scented candles which creates a delightfully homey smell of coffee with cream.

5.       Work with an Accredited Staging Professional, ASP or Accredited Staging Professional Master to create staging scenes that sell.  Sit down with your stager in advance and discuss your budget, we will work with you to create a staging plan that will help your home to show well and stay within your budget.  Keep in mind that the investment in staging is always less than your first price reduction, and almost always less than your holding costs.

 

If you have any questions on a property you are preparing for market, please feel free to email me at pam@stagingforcharisma.com.   I also would love suggestions for topics that you would like to hear more about in future newsletters or classes, and I’d be honored if you check out my facebook page and become a fan!

http://www.facebook.com/stagingforcharisma/

 

 

Yesterday our family was blessed with a new little girl, our new grand daughter at 7 lbs 12 ounces is perfect in every way!  While mommy is in the hospital, our 3 year old grandson is staying with us and luckily we have a large enough home that I could stage a room just for him!  His new room has a place for all the trucks and cars a 3 year old needs, a trundle bed dressed in fish and race cars (I know not what I would stage in a home for sale)  but as Barb Schwartz says "the way we live in our home and the way we prepare our homes for sale are two different things!" 

 

Often a new baby is time for a growing family to look for a new home, and in todays market with the low interest rates and prices it's such a great time to look for a larger home!   We will be staging several new homes in the next few weeks and I am very  grateful to be part of helping families see the potential of the homes and how to create a beautiful living space for their growing families!