Market Pulse

5 ‘Affordable’ Ways to Make a Home Look Expensive

By Stephanie Decker, Staged Marin Homes

In home staging it is vital to make a home look high fashion without paying the cost of high fashion. Home stagers are always increasing their staging inventory and can’t pay full price for furniture and accessories, or their business won’t be successful.

Unfortunately, there is not just one place to find home staging supplies so being creative is important — not only in what you use but what you buy.

Here are my top five ways to make a home’s interior look expensive and in fashion, but not at the cost of your bottom line.

1. Use one expensive piece in each room. In order to make a room look high fashion, you have to believe that it is, even when it isn’t. The way to do this is to incorporate one expensive, well-positioned piece in each room.

It can be a piece of art, a table or piece of china. I will position it where the focal point is so that when the buyer first walks into the room this is what they see first. Then, they just assume that everything else is expensive too.

2. Use white. White will always be a staple that home stagers use. It gives the look of light, cleanliness, and an open space. I love white moldings, cabinets, and doors. I also love white lamps, accessories, and linens.

White is easy to clean and can also be bought very cheaply but made to look expensive. One of my favorite stores to find inexpensive white accessories is Z Gallery.

Using inexpensive white pieces on an expensive table is my favorite trick. It highlights the table while filling the space.

3. Look at what can be recycled. To bring fashion back into your home, you might see if you can re-cover your old upholstered furniture.

Recently, I had a club chair that had just lost its will to live. The fabric was worn and the cushions no longer were able to hold their shape. To replace it would cost more than $4,000 for a comparable chair. But this old chair still had great lines, and I didn’t want to part with it so I decided to recover it instead.

The cheapest way is to have it slip-covered. You can buy one at stores like Bed Bath & Beyond or have one made.

I decided to have it re-upholstered. I needed 10 yards of fabric, and I found a local shop to do the work (driving the piece myself to and from the shop) for less than $1,500 total. The key is to buy a good chair. Then, it will only need a little maintenance over the years. Plus, remember: It’s better for the environment to recycle rather than throw away an old chair.

4. Rotate color. Each season the design world changes the “it” color. This spring is turquoise and champagne; last year it was lavender and fuchsia. A good way to make a home look in-style is to have that in-style color. This can be in a pillow, a throw, a candle, or a vase. Whatever your budget, you always can find something with the fashion “it” color. (Read: Add Some Punch With This Year’s Hot Hue or Pillow Power)

To stay abreast of the latest “in” colors you can look online at Web sites like Pantone.com or home sites like Williams Sonoma Home. I like to walk into a store to get the feel and touch. Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel are good places since they rotate their floor so quickly that it is easy to catch up on the new color.

Then, I go to Cost Plus or Pier One to find accent pieces cheaply. You don’t want to pay full price for these items since this year’s “it” color will be next year’s color.

5. Buy one month after the season starts. It is important to not get lured into buying new things as soon as the new season starts. You can window-shop to get your seasons plan but if you wait 4-6 weeks, it will likely go on sale. I know this can be difficult when you get that first beautiful summer day and you are biting at the bit to set up your garden for that summer BBQ. But in reality, that summer BBQ won’t start for another month.

In Marin, we had a gorgeous few weeks of warmth in March. The flowers started to bloom, the kids started to play outside, and I was excited to let the outdoor games begin. I brought out the outdoor cushions and cleaned the BBQ. But we are still having rain showers and 50 degrees nights. So I had to bring the cushions back in and out numerous times.

If I had bought all of my new outdoor accessories, at full price, they wouldn’t have even been put to use yet. If I wait until school is out for the children and the forecast is clear for the considerable future, I know I will find the same accessories on sale.

Stephanie Decker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Stephanie Decker of Staged Marin Homes in Mill Valley, Calif., has more than 20 years in the interior design industry and has her California Real Estate license. She combines her interior design experience with her real estate knowledge to successfully stage properties, ranging from under a $1 million to over $5 million. Decker is an advocate of home staging, speaking and writing about its value in the real estate community.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/g0zKqSm1eVo/

Show Sellers How to be ‘Weekend Warriors’

By G. M. Filisko, contributing writer, HouseLogic

When it comes to making sure a home looks perfect before the sale, don’t overlook the exterior details. A sagging gutter here, a gutter with plants sprouting out of it there, and the sellers’ first impression is nothing but a missed opportunity.

Encourage sellers to tackle minor but money-saving or big-impact home upgrades over the Memorial Day weekend—like making fast gutter fixes. Show them how with the May “Weekend Warrior” bundle now available at the REALTOR^® Content Resource, the new tool brought to you by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®, where your NAR membership entitles you to download free homeownership content in your consumer Web site, blog, or e-newsletter.

The “Weekend Warrior” bundle includes tips on projects sellers can conquer in just a weekend like saving energy on water heaters. Here are just a few of the tips available now at the REALTOR^® Content Resource:

Clear clogged gutters: Sellers can tackle the most common problem of all if they’re comfortable on a ladder, don’t mind getting wet and dirty, and don’t have an extremely tall house. It’s a matter of clearing the muck in gutters and then flushing them with a garden hose to make sure the water drains properly. To really impress potential buyers, sellers can even arrange for installation of gutter covers.

Straighten sagging gutters: Replacing faulty or missing hangers, which secure gutters to a home, is an inexpensive fix. Hangers can deteriorate over time or they can be spaced too far apart to support the gutters’ weight. Sellers can pick up hangers for $10 or less and fasteners for about $1 each.

If sellers’ gutters are gorgeous, share tips on exterior lighting, inspecting and maintaining their garage, and saving money on their water heater, all of which are also part of the “Weekend Warrior” bundle.

The REALTOR^® Content Resource, the new tool brought to you by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®, is an exclusive, free benefit for NAR members. HouseLogic is the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS’^®
no-topic-left-uncovered consumer Web site geared to helping home owners make smart decisions to maintain, protect, and increase the value of their home.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/4dHAvEuHzbA/

7 Ways To Go Digital in the Kitchen and Bath

By Barbara Ballinger, Architecture Coach columnist

The increased use of digital applications to ensure consistency, safety, speed-cooking, and make bathing and kitchen work more enjoyable continued this year at the annual National Kitchen & Bath Association industry show.

Bathroom and kitchen products have gotten so smart, in fact, that home owners soon may have little to do but sit back while the power of water swooshing from a rainhead turns on its lights, or a laundry “cabinet” steams wet clothing dry while making it smell as fresh as the outdoors.

Here are other favorites seen at this year’s show:

1. Aquatic’s tubs look inviting, and the 60-inch by 32-inch models that fit a standard-size alcove offer a plus — they’re accessible and don’t convey an institutional aesthetic. The touch of a button causes a tempered, double-pane glass front to drop down. Other benefits: a 30-second quick drain, unobtrusive grab bars, and optional air jets.

2. Delta’s “Touch20” technology lets users tap a faucet to turn on water, thereby eliminating twisting a lever for those with arthritis or simply up to their elbows in flour or other cooking messes; it also times-out after a few minutes, so water stops flowing; good for conservation.

3. Moen’s “io” has added a hand-held spray for Roman-style tubs for home owners to use when bathing (or showering). The digital device allows users to pre-set favorite temperatures and flow rates, akin to having a personal butler. An optional remote control is available.

4. Lutron, known for providing the right amount of artificial light in a room through sleek switches and dimmers, now is helping home owners control natural light, too. With its drapery and Roman shade systems, home owners touch a button and window treatments in a choice of fabrics descend or rise. Wireless hand-held options are available.

5. Blum’s “Aventos” lift-up, lift system comes equipped with a button so bi-fold cabinet doors open and close without home owners having to reach up and lift, good for aging Boomers or anyone with physical disabilities or health challenges.

6. Most burners generate plenty of high heat, but keeping a flame at a low simmer is a tougher challenge. DCS Range’s models melt chocolate and other foods without burning them at a very low 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. BreezeDry’s recessed or freestanding eco-friendly clothes-dryer cabinet eliminates trips to a drycleaner, shrinkage, damage of delicates, and fading from sunlight if clothing is placed outdoors. Home owners hang or lay wet items inside the cabinet, choose whether they want to simulate outdoor or indoor air, push a button—and the system senses when drying is done. Favorite settings can be programmed, and less energy is used than with a standard dryer.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/sMGqs-aXgD4/

Staging Secrets: How Do You Enlarge a Space?

Oversized furniture and too much clutter can instantly make a small space seem even smaller. But buyers often say they want a spacious, cozy home — not a small, cramped one. So how do you show off a home’s space in your listings or staged properties?

I’m looking for your best staging tip for capturing a room’s space. How do you make it look roomier, longer, or wider? Send your tip, along with any photo illustrating your tip, to Melissa Tracey at mtracey@realtors.org. Please include your name, company, and city and state.

Some of your best examples will be featured in an upcoming slideshow at REALTOR® Magazine online.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/nB1XaV8wgAQ/

For Your Blog, Web site: Free Consumer Content Updated in Real-Time

Looking for a steady stream of tips you can share with sellers to get their home ship-shape for showings? Take advantage of the just-released, free customizable content widgets available at the REALTOR^® Content Resource, which let you easily incorporate homeownership content into your Web site or blog.

Customize the size and shape of the widgets, and take advantage of hundreds of articles written by premier journalists on such topics as home improvement and maintenance, landscaping, pest control, energy efficiency, tax credits and deductions, finance, insurance, and building a community.

The widget content updates automatically in real time, so there’s no need to refresh or re-import it.

Choose from three widget sizes and display up to four articles at a time. With just a few keystrokes, you’ll have imported the content you need to show clients your mission is to help them protect their most important investment.

The REALTOR^® Content Resource, powered by HouseLogic, is an exclusive, free benefit for NAR members. HouseLogic is the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS’^® no-topic-left-uncovered consumer Web site geared to helping homeowners make smart decisions to maintain, protect, and increase the value of their home.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/Xou8ttJqoFA/

Staging Strategies for What Buyers Want

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

A few weeks ago we featured a list of top home buyer preferences in home design on Styled, Staged & Sold, based on survey results from Avid Ratings Co. Large kitchens with an island, a home office or study, and an outdoor living room were among the items that buyers ranked high on their preference list (see the top 10 list).

The Interiority Complex is featuring a series of blog entries, “What Home Buyers Want and How You Can Make It Happen,” taking a deeper look at each of these 10 buyer preferences and practical ways you can integrate these “wants” when staging a property to sell.

The blog series, written by Ashley Whittenberger, the Chief Decorating Officer at The Interiority Complex, is more than half-way through the list (currently on No. 6: ceiling fans). Here are just three of the practical tips the blog has offered through its series so far on how you can integrate these buyer preferences into your staging.

• Large kitchens with islands. No kitchen island in the home you’re trying to sell? Bring one in. The Interiority Complex blog features some affordable solutions for movable kitchen islands.

• Create outdoor living room. Look for inexpensive bistro tables and chairs, as well as try hanging lanterns and festive lighting in nearby trees to give your outside a more welcoming feel.
• Home office or study. If the home has a fitness area or play room, you might want to transform it by staging it as a home office, since more buyers say they want a work or study area. If there’s no separate space for a home office, then look for ways to incorporate a computer armoire and chair into a room. Just be sure to hide wires and keep the clutter away!

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/9d2zDOwEMHI/

From NKBA: 7 Design Trends Buyers May Ask For

By Barbara Ballinger, Architecture Coach columnist

After being much more cautious about selling, buying, building, and remodeling, home owners are eager now to dip their toes into the residential market. A host of new design trends await them, which could be seen in exhibitions at this year’s National Kitchen & Bath Association industry show, held in Chicago.

What’s cooking? Seven favorites to follow:

Robern vanity

1. More “jewelry” for the home. A decorative faucet or handle can easily—and affordably–add a fashionable touch to a room, the design impetus for Brizo’s “Virage” line with its sleek, arching twist, inspired by old wrought-iron European gates. Daltile’s “Stone a la Mod” tiles offer a similar decorative accent with a mix of depths—from recessed to raised—in one tile pattern.

2. Light, action, cameras! Light equals drama, and it showed up in Toto’s “Luminist” integrated vessel sinks made from a proprietary epoxy resin that appears translucent and is integrated with LED lighting. Robern’s vanities come with an illuminated light rim, handy for a night visit.

3. Faster meals. Instant gratification doesn’t mean just fast food outside the home. Home cooks, too, look for ways to speed the process and enjoy other pursuits. TurboChef, which introduced super-speed cooking to get a 22-pound turkey done in 1 hour and 7 minutes, has improved on the oven’s consistency and quality through updated software and additional cook settings. Its 30” double wall oven design now also features a bottom convection oven cavity and top speedy cooker.

Tob Knob's Ultra Contemporary Collection.

4. Asian influence. Though traditional styles may still reflect the biggest share of the design market, the Asian look is making inroads in every category, from cabinetry to toilets, sinks, knobs and handles, says Chicago designer Leslie Markman-Stern. Top Knobs’ Eastern-style knobs and handles come in a range of sizes and finishes and mix well with contemporary and traditional designs.

5. Glamorous metalics. Corian, known for offering solid, dependable solid-colored surfaces or those with a few colorful flecks, debuted a line of 10 boldly fashionable metallic colors such as striking turquoise blue Azurite.

6. Universally appealing. Good design can be used by all, whether an aging Baby Boomer, homeowner with a disability, or young child not tall enough to reach a high-up cabinet. In Jenn-Air’s kitchen vignette, designed for multiple cooks, designer Ellen Cheever placed wall ovens side by side rather than on top of one another, so they’re easier for everyone at any stage of life to reach.

7. Smaller equipment. With more homeowners rethinking the amount of square footage they need, manufacturers are offering efficient, smaller, and less expensive product options. GE’s new Café line, its first new brand in 17 years, has the design look of a commercial, chef’s line yet it’s been slimmed down to fit smaller spaces and appeal to shoppers with smaller budgets. Bathroom manufacturers offered comparable small-scaled toilets and vanities. In contrast, some tubs looked like they were on steroids, much bigger in size and shape.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/YSMwQJyUMwc/

From NKBA: Green Gains Kitchen Fans

By Barbara Ballinger, Architecture Coach columnist

Interest in going green and making homes sustainable continues to gain interest among manufacturers, vendors, design professionals, and home owners, as evidenced by the exhibits at the 47^th annual National Kitchen & Bath Association’s industry show, held April 16-18 in Chicago.

Brian M. Johnson's design won best sustainable kitchen at the 2010 National Kitchen & Bath Association’s industry show.

Brian M. Johnson, an architect and designer with Collaborative Design Architects in Billings, Montana, won for “Best Sustainable Kitchen” in the NKBA’s annual Design Competition, where winners were announced Friday, April 16. Johnson’s design paired warm woods (mahogany not sustainable but bamboo is), soft stone (soapstone in the radiant fireplace), natural light, stained concrete, and steel ductwork.

Though going green can cost 10 percent to 20 percent more on the front end than a traditional design, the payback can be worthwhile and occur within a relatively fast time frame, depending on choices, Johnson says. “It can occur within five years if it’s a green system such as radiant floor heating,” he says. Johnson recommends cutting costs to afford sustainability by taking advantage of some free green strategies and then spending judiciously; here’s the game plan:

Utilize free green strategies. It costs nothing more to give a house and kitchen a solar orientation, says Johnson. “Take advantage of passive cooling and heating by including enough doors and windows to allow in morning sun and afternoon cross-ventilation winds when weather permits,” he says.

The winning kitchen design features bamboo cabinets and quartz countertops.

Spend judiciously on features that make a difference, but still are affordable. In this category, Johnson lumps switches that allow awnings to open when it’s hot outside or floors to heat up when it’s cold indoors; materials that are renewable and readily available like bamboo for cabinets, countertops, or floors; recycled products such as glass and metal tiles; low-flow and dual-flush toilets; low- or no VOC paints; items manufactured locally such as concrete; and energy-efficient LED lighting.

Include the priciest green features only when other alternatives for green aren’t available and these represent a cost benefit.

Brian M. Johnson

In the highest-cost group, photovoltaic cells, energy-efficient mechanical systems, and wind energy systems like windmills are included. For his winning design, Johnson didn’t include photovoltaic cells, but will add them in five years when the homeowners’ budget permits, he says.

The good news for those following his advice, he says, is that finding green products is much easier today. “I don’t think there are any manufacturers that haven’t joined the green bandwagon,” he says.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/kViTWqfrdOU/

A Nighttime Showing to Remember

By G. M. Filisko, contributing writer, HouseLogic

Showings typically take place during the day, but you can help sellers make their home stand out by suggesting exterior lighting that will not only improve security but also highlight the elegance of their home and its landscaping in the twilight.

For tips on boosting outdoor lighting for safety and curb appeal, head to the REALTOR^® Content Resource, the new tool powered by HouseLogic, where your NAR membership entitles you to download free homeownership content for your consumer Web site, blog, or e-newsletter. Here are just a few of the tips available now:

Strive for a “moonlight effect.” This naturalistic look features light no more intense than that of a full moon, but strong enough to make beautiful shadows and intense highlights.

Highlight trees. Whether illumined from below or given presence by a light mounted in the tree itself, trees make stunning features.

Use uplights. Uplighting is dramatic because we expect light to shine downward. Used in moderation, it’s a great way to highlight architectural and landscaping features.

Have a focus. The entryway is often center stage, a way of saying, “Welcome, this way in.”

Want more information to help sellers show that their home has been maintained with tender loving care? Check out the new “Weekend Warrior” bundle at REALTOR^® Content Resource. Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, the bundle includes tips on outdoor lighting and other home-value-building projects sellers can tackle in just a weekend, including saving energy on water heaters, repairing common gutter problems, and inspecting and maintaining a garage.

The REALTOR® Content Resource, powered by HouseLogic, is an exclusive, free benefit for NAR members. HouseLogic is the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS’^® no-topic-left-uncovered consumer Web site geared to helping homeowners make smart decisions to maintain, protect, and increase the value of their home.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/47pk9C8B0tM/

Orange You Glad You Removed the Carpet?

By Charlene Storozuk

BEFORE

Something that I always stress to my clients is the importance of removing outdated, worn or non-neutral carpeting when selling your home.

Many home owners make the mistake of providing for a carpet allowance in their asking price. They believe that the future home owner will want to choose their own carpeting.

There is something to be said for the future home owner having that choice. However, in many cases carpeting can be the deal breaker that will make a potential buyer move on to the next listing.

Many of today’s buyers are looking for move-in ready homes and others may not have additional funds available for the upgrade.

This issue came up close to home recently. We are in the process of preparing a family member’s home for sale. The carpet was in excellent condition; not a wear mark or stain in sight. You couldn’t kill that carpet if you tried. It makes me wonder how the carpets of today will look 40 years from now. Many of them won’t stand up like this if I had to guess.

The only negative about the carpet was the color: orange. While that was the color of the day when it was installed, it’s just not that high up on the carpet color wish list now.

There was hardwood underneath, which was a big bonus, so I went into Home Stager mode and went through my spiel about how it would be best to remove the carpet. I got the usual responses that I receive from other home owners: Is it worth the time, money, etc.?

In this case it would just be time involved (mine) because I’m doing this job pro bono. That aside, there was apprehension about the condition of the wood underneath. No one could recall what shape the floor was in when it was covered up. This was definitely a valid concern, but I explained that even if some repairs were needed to the floor, we’d still be ahead of the game.

That being said, it was left up to me to decide what was best.

I’m sure you can guess what happened next. Leave me in a room with orange carpeting and a carpet knife (I came prepared!) and look out. It was removed that afternoon with the help of hubby and a neighbor. They moved all of the heavy furniture out of my way as necessary.

It’s certainly a doable project, especially if you cut the carpet into manageable pieces and roll and tie them up as you go along. We were done in a couple of hours.

AFTER

And the best part? The wood underneath was in mint condition. I had very happy “clients” on my hands when I was finished. They couldn’t believe the difference. (Thank goodness or I’d have been in big trouble!)

Not convinced that it’s worth it? Take a look at the before and after pictures of the living room (of course a little staging was done as well).

Charlene Storozuk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Charlene Storozuk is the owner of Dezigner Digz, a professional home staging and interior decorating company based in Burlington, Ontario. Her work is featured in the book FabJob Guide To Become A Home Stager, 2009 edition. She serves as regional vice-president, Canada for the Real Estate Staging Association and is a past recipient of the North American Leadership Award for her work as founder and president of the Halton & Hamilton-Wentworth RESA Chapter.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/mRPkzcE-ByM/