Does House Staging Work - YES it Does! -NAR 2015 Profile of Home Staging Report

The spring housing market has just started and there is good news when is comes to Realtors knowing that HOME STAGING services are an important factor in showcasing a home. 

The National Association of REALTORS, NAR recently released a report about Home Staging. The report, 2015 Profile of Home Staging surveys both seller and buyer's agents about the effectiveness of the Home Staging process. The 1st of its kind, the report shows that Realtors  see the value of the art and marketing of Home Staging.  96% of Buyer's agents said that Home Staging has an effect of how a buyer views the home.

The NAR's Infographic below is a summary some of the key statistics gathered from the survey. 

Whether your are a home seller or REALTOR, home staging is an essential factor when selling the most expensive investment a homeowner has ever made. 

For Chicago area Realtors interested in receiving more education on Home Staging,  Mainstreet Organization of Realtors offers a Home Staging course for Realtors. The Certified Staging Consultant (CSC) Course - is not only an IAR C.E., but also a MORe Certification. The course is very popular and is now offered at all 4 of MORE's Chicagoland offices. The course too can be hosted off-site by an office or brokerage.  For more information, visit my site's Home Staging Education page or call 708.448.7500.

Also, few more past posts on Home Staging. 

The Often Forgotten Pre-Photo Shoot Styling

10 Home Staging Tips to Make Your Listing Look Like a Model Home

Simple Lessons in Home Staging -Living Room Tips

2015 Fresh Colors in Home Design - That 70's Shade, ORANGE!

I posted on my Facebook page the other day Elle DECOR's take on PANATONE's Spring 2015 Colors. One of the colors in the mix is an orange, Tangerine, 15-1247.  

A friend responded with -" Having lived thru the 70's and seeing my mother in law's orange shag in the 'rec room' I never want to see anything remotely tangerine again." 

70's Orange Shag Carpet Contempt

One would guess seeing acres of orange carpet, especially while visiting your mother-in-law would result in contempt for the color.  But I would encourage my friend and everyone to find a renewed joy in this fantastic hue;  it seems to be trending in home design everywhere. According to Chicago Tribune Real Estate columnist Mary Umberger, who just returned from the 2015 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas "...orange is hot again, judging from the numerous kitchen displays that showed either accents of bright orange or whole slabs of the stuff."  Counter top company, Formica Corporation enlisted iconic designer Jonathan Adler to create a new line for them, which just won a BEST of KBIS.  His orange does not look like the Brady's kitchen.

Jonathan Alder for Formica Corporation

Orange in Living Room Photo (Source)

Orange is a bold color for most,  so maybe taken in smaller doses. Beside dipping into it in your kitchen, why not try some orange in the rest of home's spaces with accents?  Throw pillows, lamps or vases are easy choices since they are small and can add just a hint.  Move on up to an area rug with a bit of the hue to create an anchor to a new palette, or take a bolder step into a statement making accent chair.

Anyway you slice it, that old 70's orange seems to be back! Maybe it will replace Black?

1. Ikat Rug - Shades of Light

2. Hot Dog Happy Pillows - Naked Decor at Wayfair.com

3. Alpaca Throw  - Crate & Barrel

4. Mr. Smith Chair - Haute House at Horchow

5. Linhas Dinnerware - Anthropologie

Staging Tips: Styling for the Photo Shoot

You have worked tirelessly preparing your home for sale. Don’t let all your hard work fall short with the often forgotten, most overlooked step in a great home staging – The Pre-Photo Shoot Styling.  Before those photos are taken, your home needs one last interior makeover before making its grand debut on the internet.  I often compare it to going to the hair salon before a big event, getting a great color, cut and style, only to go home and wash it.  Don’t stop short right before you publicly introduce your home to potential buyers by not making it perfectly groomed for its Internet close-up. 

Home Stagers are experts in styling homes for photo shoots. In a few hours, we can whip and flip a home into a stunner.  Your on-line photos are the #1 advertising element of your for sale home. 

Here are a few of our tips and techniques.

-Remove all scatter rugs from floors.  Have cleared counters and make the space extra inviting with a bowl, vase or pot of something fresh.

HOME STAGING TIP: Room look bigger and spacious in photos without rugs or counter clutter breaking up the room's lines or distracting the eye.

-Set a spectacular bed. Perfectly tucked, primped and pampered - the bed is the trophy of every bedroom.

HOME STAGING TIP: Create added interest on a bed with a colorful accent pillows and textural throws.

-Every bath needs fresh, clean, fluffy towels, a seat down, glistening surfaces, and not a personal product present.

HOME STAGING TIP: Nothing says fresh and super clean than a stack of fluffy white towels.

-Light it right. Showcase rooms and the home by making sure the space is lit well by turning on light, opening shades and pulling back drapes. 

HOME STAGING TIP: Photograph the home at the time of day that allows just the right light in.

Getting your house ready for the market? Squeeze the most equity out of it by utilizing our design to sell -Home Staging services. From pre-photo styling to giving sage update advice when just starting - we help capture a home’s equity that would otherwise be overlooked.

There's Something About Marsala - PANTONE's 2015 Color of the Year

PANTONE Marsala (Photo gallery selections: Source)

PANTONE the leading authority on color has announced their color of the year. For most, you know PANTONE by seeing the PANTONE 'color and paint' display at home improvement store Lowes. But for design insiders they are the guru's of color marketing trends - From fashion and makeup to autos and appliances, their color collections are what we see transformed into new products all over the world.

PANTONE Color Studio

So this year they selected a mellow, red/brown color "Marsala".  They say: “PANTONE 18-1438 Marsala is a daringly inviting tone that nurtures; exuding confidence and stability while feeding the body, mind and soul. Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this robust shade incorporates the warmth and richness of a tastefully fulfilling meal, while its grounding red-brown roots point to a sophisticated, natural earthiness" I like it! There's something exciting and a bit daring about the color and such a refresh change. We've already seen it in high end fashion, but could we incorporate into our home interiors?

Marsala Color of the Year PANTONE - Fashion (Photo: Source)

Sure, it's the color of brick, wood tones or a rich berry paint color.  So if you want to warm it up or add a bit of spice to a space - incorporate away.  If you like a more neutral backdrop, try pairing the color with cooler tones, for juxtapose pairing of warm and cool.

Marsala can be translated into Home Decor options.

PANTONE also said to pair Marsala with two other 2015 trend colors - Aquamarine and Glacier Grey.  Both of these colors have a strong presence already in home decor and perhaps already in your home.  Why not add a pop up your place with easy purchased pillows, a rug or accent accessories to add a bit of Marsala to your mix?

SPRING 2015 PANTONE COLOR TRENDS

Looking to step up for more Marsala? It could be a option for creating a statement in a space. perhaps a piece of furniture, bold window treatments, or a wallpapered accent wall. Consider this new trend color and I think you too will see - there's something about Marsala.

Hooker Furniture - Bombay Chest (Photo: Hooker Furniture)

Marsala toned fabrics and textiles by Ralph Lauren (Photo: Source)

Holiday Home: Start You Amaryllis Bulbs Now For Christmas Blooms!

If you want to have some beautiful Amaryllis blooms for this year's Christmas season, start growing them now. I love having fresh or live floral in my home rather than silk or faux. These little wonders which are easy to grow - pack a huge decorative punch and create just the right ambiance for a beautifully dressed Holiday Home. 

Amaryllis Centerpiece (photo: Country Living)

You can buy Amaryllis bulbs in a nice little kit, complete with soil and a pot, or if you have just a bit of a green thumb - buy loose bulbs which you can plant collectively in a large vase or bowl.  You can purchase the kits at any home improvement store and bulbs at a garden center. A collection of bulbs will create a lovely centerpiece or entry statement maker. A single bloom is lovely on a counter, mantle or part of a tablescape. When to start? Below is a planting and bloom guide to help you determine when to get indoor gardening.

Amaryllis Bloom Chart (photo: Source)

I added a few more pictures to get you inspired to get a bit of dirt under your nails and celebrate the season with Amaryllis.

Amaryllis Tablescape (photo: Southern Living)

Amaryllis in Mercury Glass Vase (photo: BH&G)

I too started a Pin Board on Pinterest with more ideas: AMARYLLIS CHRISTMAS

Home Staging Tale: Wanna Be Stager vs. Professional Stager

A beautiful Victorian on an extraordinary property get's its just debut with some strategic updates and professional staging and styling. The home was on the market prior and had been staged by a non-professional or as the homeowner said... "The Other Stager"

With a new upgraded kitchen, effective changes, keen usage of what the owner already had, and resourceful accessory shopping - the home's transformation is remarkable. A team member of the new listing agent, exclaimed how amazing great staging showcases a home! And best of all, the homeowners, who had a bad previous staging experience, were just over the moon and thrilled with the results.

Reinventing Space's Diana Burt,  who helps clients in the Naperville/Aurora/Oswego/Plainfield area, lead this project.  She did a phenomenal job, didn't she?

BEFORE...

Kitchen AFTER Professional Home Staging

Family Room AFTER Professional Home Staging

Dining Room AFTER Professional Staging

Property details, location and showing information - Please contact The Anderson Team, 
John Greene Co.  

PROPERTY LINK: 3426 Stewart Road OSWEGO, Illinois 60543