Steps to Lake Ontario,
Steps to Lake Ontario with spectacular views!
Relax and take a break with your favorite book and a glass of wine. This is la Bella vita…
Does the “Counter” affect the “Offer”?
One common question I hear from clients when offering consultation is, ”Should I replace my countertops?”
If your countertops are damaged, no matter the price point of your home, they should be replaced. No one will purchase a home that is not well cared for. If they do, they expect a much lower purchase price. It would cost less to replace the countertops.
Another downside to not replacing them is that most potential buyers are in the market for move-in ready. So even if you lower the price to accommodate, you are more likely to lose some potential offers altogether.
So the next question is, “What do I replace the counter with?”
Will updated Formica do? There is granite, quartz, Butcher block, and so many, many choices. The answer is based on a few questions about the property.
What is the condition of your home?
What are the comparables in the area?
If your home is in good shape and has had many upgrades throughout then having updated counters will give you the edge to show your home as move in ready.
There are many grades of granite at different price points, so your choice should depend on the price point of your home. In $200 and $300-thousand and under, stone countertops are not typically expected but would give you the edge over your competition. If your price point is more than $300.000 plus then most buyers are looking for granite and are willing to pay extra.
Last consideration when replacing countertops is the condition of your kitchen cabinets. They should be solid and in good condition. Shiny new counters, especially a higher-end countertop like granite, added on top of dated old cabinets makes those cabinets stick out like a sore thumb and just serves to highlight how awful they really are.
So clean them up, replace the hardware, re-stain and/or paint the cabinetry and it will compliment those beautiful new stone countertops and make your investment shine.
If you have a question for “Ask The Home Staging Expert”, please contact
Images Staged with Flair
905-980-4962
www.imagesstagedwithflair.ca
Staging the Bathroom: The Most Important Room per Square Foot in Everyone’s Home.
Staging the Bathroom: The Most Important Room per Square Foot in Everyone’s Home.
Major renovations usually include plans for updating the bathroom, so it makes sense when you’re home staging to pay careful attention to these areas. Even though they are utilitarian in nature, these rooms will have special appeal to prospective buyers and winning here can make a big difference in your sale.
Some definite no-no’s when staging your bathroom include, getting rid of the matching toilet covers and rug. Those items scream, “20 years ago” so loud that the neighbours will be able to hear. Replacing old socket covers, pitted
faucets and outdated light fixtures. Your prospective buyer will only be thinking of how much they are going to cost to replace and getting rid of the plastic shower curtain and all the water stains with it, should top your to do list.
You may love the ruffled crochet toilet paper cover with a doll’s figurine that has been in your family for years and you are welcome to take it with you when you move, but please pack it away now before the first walk through.
Check out “Unique Towel Folding” by curbnotes.com on YouTube. The almost half a million views are a testament to how important this exercise can be. Since your buyer will be checking out the linen closet, we spend some time here folding, rolling and otherwise organizing the shelves, uncluttering them to make the closet look as spacious as possible.
Since the old plastic shower curtain is now a drop cloth for painting, hang a new cloth shower curtain with a liner. Like all things in the bathroom, choose neutral colors and match them or select the occasional complementary colour for a bright, but subtle “pop”. Leave the shower curtain open a little if it makes the room look larger.
A quick wipe-down of the bathroom before anyone enters is required; and replacing old slivered, soap bars with fresh ones is a matter of good housekeeping, but making sure that everyone in the house is obeying the golden rule of bathroom etiquette is a crucial step for preparing your home for showing and that one truly universal step is to always, always keep the lid down!
Images Stage with Flair
905-980-4962
The Big Move for Images Staged with Flair
The Big Move for Images Staged with Flair.
By Anna Topolinsky, Owner of Images Staged with Flair
We needed to make the big move!It is no secret that the housing market in the Golden Horseshoe has been hot! Hotter than most people can remember it ever being. Prices are up and it has been a busy year for Real Estate Brokers, Home Builders, Property Investors, Stagers like us, and Movers too!
Don’t Look under the Rug and Other Practical Tips for Staging your Home.
Here are a few practical tips for staging your home. There are some big issues, like the oxblood feature wall, that are best handled through an extensive consultation (if not through a sound psychological examination), but today I’d like to address some short tips I have for you on some niggling little issues you might find when staging your home for sale.
Continue reading Don’t Look under the Rug and Other Practical Tips for Staging your Home.
Six costly staging mistakes in preparing your home for a quick sale and high profit.
Written by Anna Topolinsky
De-cluttering and cleaning jobs are high on the list that real estate professionals recommend to home and property sellers.
Staging 21 Creekside Niagara on the Lake
Staging 21 Creekside Niagara on the Lake
Staging 21 Creekside, Niagara on the Lake. Nearly 3000sq ft of finished home! Beautifully designed and built new bungalow with full walkout basement!
Model home staging, 29 Hawland road, St.Catharines
Model home staging,
Model Home Staging, 29 Hawland rd.
This beautiful 2 bedroom model home is built by Eric Wiens Construction. With quality finishes, granite countertops, hardwood flooring throughout, 2 full 4 piece bathrooms. Large master bedroom adjacent to an oversized master bath with separate glass shower and soaker tub.
Continue reading Model home staging, 29 Hawland road, St.Catharines
Does Staging work? You bet it is!!
Does staging work? Yes it does!!!
Does staging work and does it help to sell your home faster? You bet it does!
I was asked to stage a row of townhomes back a few months ago. There were 8 units and they were listed for almost 6 months without any offers while they were vacant. Upon entering the condo I realized what part of the problem was! The condo had a very nice open concept feeling, you walk in the front door and you had a straight sight line directly from front, through to living room/dining room/ kitchen and then to the back yard. We did recommend to the builder that they add a raised deck off the back patio doors, which they did for the model home, this gave the buyers extra living space outdoors.
The open concept was terrific and it is what buyers are looking for, but the main problem of the condo was the narrow and long living room/dining room area, which created an almost bowling alley effect. Buyers were having a hard time envisioning where and how they were going to set up their furniture, and how they were going to use the function of each space.
We staged the model using the furniture to create the function of each separate space as shown in the picture below. First area was the living room, second area was the dining room, but in between both spaces we added a buffet side cabinet , and when placing it in between both rooms, it told the buyers where the living started and ended and where the dining room started and ended, thus giving each space its own function.
The townhomes were built very well, with beautiful hardwood floors throughout, granite counter tops, beautiful backsplash and very nice kitchen….
Once staged they sold two units, one was the staged unit one was the vacant unit. Great!! I was so thrilled and I was hoping for the quick sale of the other 6 units. Since the staged unit was sold we had to move our furniture and accessories down to another vacant unit, which we did and then we had a new model condo to show to potential buyers!
Does staging work? What happened in the next two months is why staging does work!!!!
I am happy to say that all are now sold except for one!!! Fantastic right? Well every single townhome that sold was a staged model unit!! We moved our furniture and accessories 5 times !!! The home buyers had the opportunity to purchase a vacant unit and not a staged model, but in every case, every unit that was purchased ,the buyers choice was always the staged unit over the vacant unit!
Images Staged with Flair
66 Facer Street
St..Catharines, Ontario