July 11, 2008
Home Staging Basics
Even the smaller changes can make a big difference in selling your home.
1. CURB APPEAL – Paint the door and window trim – Mow the lawn, prune the hedges, and buy gorgeous potted flowers in nice containers to place at the entrance – Replace old door hardware, knockers and welcome mats – Wash the windows, brickwork, railings, driveway and sidewalk
2. DECLUTTER – Create space by clearing kitchen and bathroom countertops of appliances, beauty products and knick-knacks – Store excess furniture off-site – Closets should be immaculate and organized – Personal photos should be packed away or relegated to one small area
3. FIXER UP – Missing tiles, broken light fixtures and wonky door hinges should be dealt with – Regrout the bathroom – Hire a handyman if need be
4. IT’S IN THE DETAILS – Purchase new light fixtures, cabinet handles and faucets for an inexpensive kitchen or bathroom facelift – Replace dingy bed linens, threadbare towels and dated window coverings with clean and classic upgrades – Fresh flowers, attractive lighting, and even a little soft background music can help create an appealing environment – Brighten rooms with a fresh coat of paint. Stick to a fairly neutral palette. Include all trim and doors.
5. BE A CLEAN FREAK – Sounds obvious but the house should be spotless – Appliances and countertops should gleam – Don’t neglect walls, ceilings and blinds. All should be dust-and cobweb-free – Hire a professional if you want to avoid the grunt work.
June 27, 2008
House not selling?
New design shows can help distract you
The real-estate market has turned medium-cool lately. The mortgage crisis south of the border, a slowdown in new-home sales and general North American economic malaise have expectedly reduced the volume of buyers and sellers in the housing market. With daily reports of a semi-recession and gasoline prices reaching new highs, fewer people are looking to change their address.
The market value of home and design TV shows, meanwhile, booms away. The renovation and design genre does not require permits to make additions; most often the new shows simply appear on television and immediately connect with some segment of the viewing audience, whether on a mainstream scale (Trading Spaces, various Martha Stewart incarnations) or to a more select viewership (World’s Greenest Homes or the curiously popular Colin and Justin’s Home Heist).
The niche category expands slightly for the launch of four new shows on HGTV, the cable mother ship of home and design television. And in a very rare occurrence, each new arrival is of Canadian origin.
The hottest new listing: The Stagers (Tuesday, HGTV at 10 p.m.) focuses on a handful of experts who transform average-looking homes into posh showroom spaces, with the express intent of driving up the price, of course. Even in the fussy TV design field, home staging is an extremely specialized craft.