BEFORES & AFTERS

It's all about using what you already have. And accessorizing! In today's economy, you may not be able to go out and buy that new couch or that new rug from ABC Carpet (even the one on sale!). But there are endless ways to use the items you already have in your homes by simply rearranging your surroundings. How? Accessories play a huge role when placed in the right spots. The idea is to use your existing pieces or go out and shop for a few more. These days, finding a bargain or two is an everyday occurrence.

Styling a space ranges from major to minor changes. The work incorporated in these snapshots shows how a simple de-cluttering, along with a few well-chosen accessories, can bring an easy elegance to any space.

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The Living Room Overall Look Afterwards

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HOME STAGING IN NEW YORK

Photo by Eric Laignel

HOME STAGING BASICS

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR):
The average staging investment is between 1 and 3 percent of the home's asking price, which generates a return of 8 to 10 percent.

A National Association of Realtors survey - found that "the longer a home stays on the market, the further below list price it drops. Homes that sold in the first 4 weeks averaged 1% more than the list price; 4 to 12 weeks averaged 5% less; 13 to 24 weeks averaged 6.4% less; than list price; and 24 weeks averaged more than 10% less than list price".

“The average staged home is selling at 7 days versus 87 to 107 days for an unstaged home” – Newsweek, April 2007

At VSP Design, Inc., we realized that some New Yorkers have not yet opened to the home refinement market, simply because they haven’t been exposed to it or have not learned about it until now. The traditional way to increase the potential sale of a house that is having problems selling has been to cut down the price of that property. As an Interior Design and Home Staging firm, we work very hard at educating our fellow New Yorkers to warm up to this intrepid market, especially now, as the Real Estate market remains volatile.

Photo by Sean

November 11, 2008

To Sell or Not to Sell
By: Pamela Mones

Do staged homes sell faster than non-staged homes?

According to the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP), www.iahsp.com, 94.6% of staged homes sell, on average, in 35 days, compared to non-staged homes, which remain on the market on average, 175 days. Home Gain, ww.homegain.com, also supports statistics that reflect the importance of staging a home in today's real estate market.

But just what is, 'staging?'

Simply said, staging is preparing a home so it shines in its best light, revealing the positive features of the home in the most pleasing way to prospective buyers. That doesn't mean you have to spend a lot of money. Staging may mean removing unnecessary items from the space that might otherwise distract would-be buyers from seeing the home's innate characteristics. For example, overstuffed bookshelves suggest a sense of disorder and chaos rather than a soothing, orderly space. Rooms overcrowded with furniture should be thinned out to create a more open and inviting living space. Visitors to your home will 'breathe' better without even being aware of it, and you will, too. Organizations like Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and Purple Heart often will pick-up your unwanted wares for free.

Sometimes, a simple thing like fresh flowers placed throughout the home can add a pleasing influence on buyers, and add color to a space easily and affordably. Displaying new towels, specialty soaps, and unlit candles with very little out-of-pocket expense can do freshening up a bathroom. And check out your lighting. While a dim light may create a certain ambiance in the bedroom, a dark living room can create a gloomy, uninviting feeling.

Often it is difficult for most of us to see the clutter that abounds in our home. Our eyes get used to seeing what's there so we manage to overlook the mess. And, we have developed habits and traffic patterns that make climbing over the sofa to get to whatever-it is a natural thing, while prospective homebuyers might look at the owners' ability to 'adapt' to such a living arrangement as totally unacceptable.

What about the cost of hiring a professional staging consultant?

Fees vary widely, but you can expect to pay as little as $200 for a consultation, which usually provides you with some suggestions as to ways to improve your space, to several hundred dollars, or a few thousands depending on how much the stager will do, from choosing the furniture if the house is vacant, to taking care of all the details of delivery, setting up, and removal of staged items when the house sells.

OPEN HOUSE

Open House Preparation
By Vyna St. Phard

We work hand in hand with Real Estate Agents and householders by making recommendations on what I noticed was overlooked in the property, in order to get it ready for viewing. Knowing that each house is different, those recommendations are put into play over a short period of time before the open house (i.e.: paying attention to the curb appeal, and having the house properly cleaned). This means that the place will be “de-personalized” to the limited time allotted for the preparations before the open house.

Making certain that the house has been “de-cluttered” to the extent, and time allowed.

Minor home staging may take place, based on the condition of the rooms.

Making certain the lighting on the house is perfect for viewing, leaving no room for dark corners.

We recommend open house preparations even for properties that have been staged or have been previously decorated. Experience have shown that homeowners usually like to “improve” on the staging, by moving, and /or adding objects to the space. As a result, the appearance of of the space has been altered and therefore ends up looking “unbalanced”.

As an additional service, a brief voluntary questionnaire is given to the open house attendees about their opinions on the presentation of the house (For Marketing Research Only).