Addressing the "clean up the house before the Cleaning Lady comes" syndrome

I'm sure that you've all heard the saying "Oh, I have to clean up the house before the Cleaning Lady comes".  As a Home Stager, I meet with a variation on this theme all the time.   Referrals and potential referrals often are thinking, "Oh the stager can't come to see me for a consultation cuz we haven't painted, cleaned, decluttered, packed away. . .  etc. yet.  Well this is where I need to educate.  I like to get working with a referral before they embark on their house preparation trek.  This way I can help homeowners looking to sell with a priority list of what needs to be done and this may save them a lot of guess work and stress in the long run.  As a home stager, I know what would best suit their situation to highlight the unique selling features of their house and what might be the most cost effective changes.  For instance, I keep up to date on the latest trends that appeal to home buyers.  I have my Staging Safe Colors(TM). that help sellers use colour to the the best advantage to show off their house.  I can suggest simple tricks and tips that make the house look newer and more modern.  As well, too often prospective home sellers in their zealousness, wholeheartedly embrace the notion of decluttering and pack away everything not nailed down resulting in a bare and bland decor.    Then we have to go searching through all their boxes looking for those pieces of this or that to add to the lifestyle and ambiance they are hoping to create to get buyers interested. 
Spending more money than needed is thus sometimes the problem.  An interlock walkway is expensive, where a more simple flagstone and pebble one would do.  Ceramic counters are nice, but look at what is selling in your neighbourhood.  Hardwood versus laminate, ceramic versus vinyl.  These are the things that a home stager can help the homeowner with long before their house is ready to be Show Cased.  So this is why I like to see prospective sellers right at the beginning of the house preparation process.  Home Staging is more than just arranging the furniture and accessories nicely.  A home stager can help with the whole house selling preparation process.   So take a risk; contact HomeReady Home Staging now before you pick up a screwdriver or paint brush; before you spend more money than you may need to.  I can advise you right at the beginning what is the best way to prepare. 
homeready@homereadyhomestaging.ca,  http://www.homereadyhomestaging.ca/
613-894-4155

What's in Your closet? A place to hide or a place to organize and store?

Most houses have a coat closet fairly close to the front door.  What it looks like inside can give the prospective buyer a clue about the storage capacity of your house whether this perception is realistic or not.  As with most things, perception is everything!  So what's in your closet?  When selling your house it just won't do to lop all sorts of odds and ends into the closet.  The old adage "out of sight - out of mind" just doesn't hold up when when your house is listed for sale.  Why?  Because prospective buyers will look into your closet to see if their "stuff" will fit in.  If there are coats hung from all seasons willy-nilly on hangers  and shoes and sporting equipment thrown into the bottom of the closet and hats, scarves, gloves and mittens thrown up on the shelves, and that box of things meant to go to the Sally Ann, toys that were lying about on the floor, a bag of clothes meant for the dry cleaners. . . I think you get the picture.  Yikes, there is no room for anything!  What a great first impression buyers have of the storage in your house.  Wonder what other closets and cupboards have to offer?  Are they big enough to hold everything?  So you can see that this negative first impression can carry over into buyers thinking about all the storage within the house.  This negative psychological snowball effect can have a detrimental effect on the saleability of your house.  Of course all of this can be eliminated by applying the principles of organization offered by your Home Stager who has specific training in effective organizing and storage techniques.  Your Home Stager can help you decide what needs to stay and what needs to be stored elsewhere or given away.  She (he) can suggest containers and systems to organize sports equipment and hats and gloves and shoes so that the coat closet is neat and organized and has the look of lots of space for a prospective buyer's things.  Now I wonder what the other closets look like?  If you would like to find out more about organizing your closets for your house sale, contact HomeReady Home Staging.  We would be pleased to give you a free quote for our consultation services! Call 613-894-4155.