You have heard about all of the benefits of staging your home before selling and have decided that you are all in and want to get the best return on investment for your home sale. Congrats, your listening skills are about to pay off big time! The next decision is which is the best staging method for you?
It is March and the Northern Virginia Real Estate season is heating up along with the Spring temperatures outside! Today’s market can be challenging to navigate, but never fear, we have consulted the experts and are ready to share with you what we have learned and why home staging matters in 2024 more than ever before.
Many paint companies have a tradition of forecasting a color each year. These colors are a prediction of what will shape our home in the coming year. Sometimes they hit the mark and other years, well, we wonder what they were thinking. For 2023 we are seeing a lot of, (gasp), red undertones! Our job as home stagers is to find colors that work well in most homes and are pleasing to most people. So as much as we love a good hot pink (we see you Pantone Viva Magenta!), we decided to share some of our own 2023 paint colors. They represent more of a classic, tried and true aesthetic, rather than a prediction of may or may not materialize with design trends.
Photo credit: DVD Interior Design
Moderne White, SW 6168, is a color that is neither gray NOR white. With an LRV of 62, it's soft, and unobtrusive, while still feeling fresh and bright. It does have a green undertone, which causes the color to show blue/green in certain light. It’s a great, neutral color for any room and can be a great main area color for a home. If you’ve been wanting white in your home but afraid the color will be stark and cold, this timeless color will give you that style you want but add a touch of warmth and sophistication.
Benjamin Moore Hale Navy is the truest navy paint color you can get. With an LRV of 8, it’s on the dark end of the scale and you will not see a shift in color with lighting. In other words, what you see is what you get. If you’ve wanted color but are scared to try color in your home, this dark blue is a timeless dark neutral that will last for years. Kim recently used in her own home for cabinetry and doesn’t regret it one bit. It’s the perfect color to add a pop but also keeping your home neutral, timeless and appealing to others.
Photo credit: Studio McGee
Benjamin Moore White Dove is a classic white that provides a little bit of warmth to any space. With an LRV of 83, it’s not a crisp, stark white. This makes it a perfect candidate for trim in any home. Some colors don’t play well with a stark white trim, so this is where White Dove shines because it looks bright and clean without being overly bright white. White Dove works in all homes and looks amazing with grays, beiges, blacks, blues, greens, and more. It also plays well with all types of woods and metals. It’s also the perfect white for painting furniture.
Greens are so calming. Saybrook Sage by Benjamin Moore is no exception. With it’s gray green hue, it provides a little bit of neutral to a room. This color is great for exteriors, and when used inside, can bring a little of the outside indoors. It brings an organic feel to any space or surface when paired with warm wood tones. This color would be beautiful as a kitchen island accent color as well.
If you like Marlo’s green but want a deeper contrast, Green Smoke by Farrow and Ball is a timeless shade that can really go in any room and blend with any style! It adds a natural warmth and sense of calm to a space. If you aren’t afraid of color this is for you. It’s a bold timeless color that has been used in homes since the early 19th century. With it’s neutral tones, its not wonder it keeps on showing up. This color will allow natural wood and brushed gold to pop!
Photo credit: Nicola’s Home
Greek Villa by Sherwin Williams ia a fresh neutral option for almost any home. It can be used to brighten a space or make other colors pop. It’s a soft, warm white with an LRV of 84 and is extremely universal. This is very similar to the above mentioned White Dove. If you want to brighten your home but don’t want the stark white walls, Greek Villa is your best choice. It does have a slight yellow undertone so if you have a south facing room just note it will be quite a bit warmer color as opposed to a north facing room. However, it pairs beautifully with natural wood tones for a warm, organic feel.
Evergreen Fog, Sherwin William’s 2022 Color of the Year, is still holding on strong with its neutral earthy tone. It’s beautiful for that pop of color or for that neutral backdrop. It’s got an LRV of 30, which means it will tend to hold onto its green meets gray with a slight hint of blue undertone. Wendy recently used on part of the exterior of her new mountain home because of its organic nature. The best part about this color is its versatility with styles. This color could be used for a coastal feel or when paired with darker colors it looks great with your mid-century vibes.
There you have it-our paint color picks for 2023 - or any year for that matter. These timeless classics will be a safe win for any homeowner. (However, we always advise homeowners to sample colors in their own homes as light plays a huge role in how a color shows in a home.). If you are looking for a refresh in your home, but don’t know where to begin, we offer color consultations for selling AND living! Just go online and book your appointment today.
Let us shine a spotlight on your home!
If you haven’t stayed in a short-term rental type of home, you have probably at least heard of them. The industry has been around for years; however, the pandemic drove a huge increase in demand for smaller, lower risk accommodations for families and individuals. Everyone is obsessed with short term rentals….and so are we!
COVID brought on a myriad of shortages for 2021. The shortage of homes for sale has caused the real estate market to just go a little crazy, to say the least. It’s definitely a sellers’ market with little inventory and over the top bidding wars. Many are scoffing at the idea of home staging in this market because they think buyers are desperate to find homes. While this is true, we have many examples and statistics as to why you may want to consider the small investment in home staging before listing your home in today’s market. There may be money left on the table if you don’t…
The shortage of inventory is causing record multiple offers above asking price on homes. But just because it’s a seller’s market, does that mean any home will sell for multiple offers above asking price? The short answer - no. If a home has not been updated in over a decade, do not expect it to compete in today’s “crazy over listing price” market. Yes, it may sell but it won’t bring in top dollar due to the sheer fact the buyer will calculate in all those updates that need to be done.
Pictures say a thousand words and in the real estate world it is the buyers’ first impression of any home. If your pictures don’t “wow” the client, it’s unlikely they will schedule a showing. If your pictures show years of neglect on updates, then you won’t see that high offer on day one. The buyer will simply move on to another home online.
Home sold in 2 days after staging!
According to the new 2021 survey from the National Association of Realtors®, eighty-two percent (82%) of buyer’s agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. If the buyer feels like it’s home, their desire for the house will drive their offer. This report also revealed that staging increased the sum buyers were willing to spend for a property. Twenty-three percent (23%) of buyers' agents said that home staging raised the dollar value offered between 1% and 5%, compared to similar homes on the market that hadn't been staged. Coincidentally, the same percentage of seller’s agents (23%) stated they received between 1% and 5% higher offers on home that had been staged. Let’s do the math on that, shall we:
Amounts are approximate depending on area you reside, size of home, and value of home. Home consultations are a service that provides you with a list of needed updates/repairs that the homeowner should consider. Full service staging is bringing in furniture for a vacant home. Both avenues give a nice return on investment.
So based on the math, you don’t lose money. You make back your investment plus gain an extra profit - the amount depends on your list price, and whether the home has been properly prepared.
Don’t sacrifice your proven, repeatable systems even in this strong sellers’ market. That includes professional photography AND staging. This sellers’ market will not last forever, and it’s important to show how you differentiate yourself and your listings from other Real Estate Agents.
Don’t forget that a home that sells for more also increases YOUR commission, in addition to adding to the equity in your sellers’ home.
If you are a homeowner and/or realtor in the Northern Virginia area, take a look at this video that Owner, Leigh Newport, made in February. She makes great points to support the reasons behind staging in a sellers’ market.
It stands to say that the small investment in home staging can bring in a nice return on investment (ROI). In the past we’ve always referred to home staging being less than your first price reduction. In today’s market, you’ve got to consider the amount of money you are leaving at the table by NOT staging. Go ahead - be the best house on the block!
Interested in more tips and advice about home staging? Porch.com has a great Q&A article from home stagers around the country (including our very own Leigh Newport!). Check it out here: Real Estate Photography, Home & Virtual Staging Q & A: Tips & Advice
If you need help being the best, book an online appointment with us and allow us to shine a spotlight on your home!
The Spring selling season is almost upon us. Are you ready? With limited inventory on the market, the home selling/buying process is moving very quickly. If you are needing to put your house on the market in a quick time-frame, we have come up with 5 things you need to do before listing. These are all very economical tasks you, as the homeowner, can do in a short time frame that will increase the salability of your home.
Our home revolves around our lives. Life gets messy - especially with kids. But when selling a home, let's edit some of the items we use on a daily basis. We don’t really need buyers seeing our every day lives spilled out on the countertops of our kitchens and bathrooms. AND buyers don’t really want to see evidence of someone else living in the home.
If you can't see it, you can't sell it. Draw attention to the focal points of the room and make sure you have have ample walking space from room to room. This may mean moving some furniture out into storage while your house is on the market.
We are talking Spring cleaning on steroids. Make sure to take into consideration things you don't normally think about on a regular basis like air vents, light fixtures and grout. Sometimes buyers can see past clutter but they can’t see past the cleanliness and condition of the home.
Adding a few inexpensive light touches makes a huge difference. New pillows always freshen up an old sofa. New white crisp bedding and towels give off that clean hotel appeal while adding style to a space.
Realtors spend several minutes at each home trying to open the lock box and get the key to the home. During this time buyers are analyzing ALL the details of the front exterior. First impressions are huge! Items you can tackle in this area include trimming those overgrown bushes, adding a fresh coat of paint to the front door, giving the flower beds a fresh appearance with new mulch, and planting seasonal flowers.
The market is definitely crazy right now and things are moving at a fast pace. These 5 things will put you in the right direction toward a quick listing date. If you are feeling overwhelmed or your house needs a little TLC before hitting the market, book a home staging consultation with us. We will give you a room by room priority list of what you can do to spruce up your space within your budget. We can shine a spotlight on your home!
Working from home and distance learning has slowly transformed to a more permanent situation for families across the country. Can you believe it’s been almost a year since our temporary anecdote of self-quarantine began? (GASP!) As time has gone on, so has life. Homebuyers today are showing tremendous grace to the makeshift dining room offices and the random desks in the living room. However, what if you could enhance your home by transforming under-utilized spaces into functional work spaces? Not only could you move your office out of your dining room, but you could wow homebuyers AND show off the functionality of your home. We have rounded up some brilliant ideas for creative work spaces in any home that are inexpensive and can be completed in a weekend.
First off – The “Cloffice”. This is the 2021 trendy term for an office in a closet. Closets make great work spaces. They already have plenty of storage solutions available and they allow you to close the door to work when 5 o’clock hits (which is a must for mental health). There’s two ways a “cloffice” can be achieved. First off, if you have a large walk-in you can simply add a desk like this:
If you don’t have that large walk-in (which let’s face it - many of us don’t), you may have a closet in a guest room or a basement that you could completely transform into your new “cloffice”.
Photo by: Nesting With Grace
If you have stairs in your home, there’s probably a large likelihood you have some dead space underneath that could be utilized. This makes a great nook to create your home office area. Just a simple trip to the home improvement store is all it takes to transform this space into a functional work space.
Photo by: Adore Magazine
If you’ve got an empty wall in your home, you can create a functional work space. Whether it’s a big space or a little space we’ve got you covered.
Floating shelves are a great way to utilize a small space. You can easily create one with a board and shelf brackets.
Photo by: DIYHairpinLegs.com
If you have a larger wall space, this option is both temporary and inexpensive for creating multiple work spaces in one place. AND you can take it all with you when you sale your home. It’s a win-win!
Photo by: Jones Design Company
This “Murphy Desk” is a great solution to a tight space. It simply can be closed up when not in use. The functionality and the inexpensive price tag makes this a winner in our books.
Photo by World Market.com. Similar product - here
If you simply do not have anywhere else to go in your home, there are ways to make your dining room functional for an office space while still keeping it true to its original purpose. These ideas will help minimize the office clutter and allow you to still have that family meal on occasion.
If you have a china cabinet/hutch in your dining room, this is a functional option to store office supplies and files out of sight. This may mean packing up Grandma’s china for this temporary solution BUT Grandma will be proud of you for reimagining the space for these unprecedented times.
Photo by: iheartorganizing
Don’t have a hutch? Consider using rolling carts or file boxes and create a rolling office. When at work you have your supplies and when 5 o’clock comes you simply roll your office under the table. Out of sight out of mind.
If you have an old hope chest/toy box, you can create an office in a box. Martha Stewart has a great tutorial on how to convert this empty chest into functional office storage. AND it can double as a cute bench when you’re off the clock.
Photo by: Martha Stewart.com
Get creative, start re-evaluating the spaces in your home to become more productive both in school and work. And when it’s time to put your house on the market, you will have creative, intentional spaces to show off to buyers. If you need some assistance, we are here to help! Feel free to contact us for a redesign consultation. We also provide online consultations if you live out of the area or feel more comfortable with the virtual format. We would love to help you re-imagine your work/home life spaces!
*Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links which means Staged by Design® may earn commission if you use links provided
It’s February and love is in the air. Did you know that when selling your home, you are essentially courting your buyers? Think about it as the most expensive first date you can imagine. Blow this first impression and you’ll have more than unreturned phone calls to deal with! So, how do you channel that first date anxiety into preparing your home for sale?
Pull out the proverbial full length mirror and prepare to be honest. You must scrutinize your home with a buyer’s eye. Stand in the doorway of each room and take pictures. This is what buyers will see online, where you have less than 3 seconds to grab their attention. Is there more furniture than open space? Does it look inviting? Your online presence is the first step to curb appeal.
Just as you would be selective with your fashion accessories, the same idea applies to your home. Pack up the knick-knacks, personal photos and breakables. Your goal is for the buyer to be able to envision themselves in your home, and de-personalizing and de-cluttering is key.
When selecting the look for your big night, determine your best feature and highlight it. Do the same in your home by creating a focal point in each room. Create a conversation area around it, or use it as inspiration for what colors or furnishings should remain in the room.
If you find that you’re still not sure where to begin, Professional Home Stager takes on the role of the trusted girlfriend; sharing your goals, being supportive, yet brutally honest when a complete makeover is needed. They can do as much or as little as you like. If it’s your furnishings that could prevent your home from looking it’s best, they offer accessories and furniture for rent, and provide much needed direction for what it will take to sell your home for more money in less time.
Have you ever wondered what is the difference between a model home and staged home? Aside from cost and turnaround time, there’s really very little difference. The goal is the same for both - to promote the home in such a way the buyer can visualize living there and fall in love with the space. However, the process in which the end result is achieved is different between the two. We want to give builders the insight on the advantages of using luxury home stagers for their next model home.
Builders can pay up to $100,000 for a one-of-a-kind look for their model homes. Everything in the home is custom curated and designed for the home’s aesthetics, from the window treatments down to the soaps in the bathrooms . In the end, the builder either has to sell the home completely furnished or try to liquidate the furnishings. We as luxury home stagers have the ability to create that same customized look at a fraction of the cost.
Partnering with a luxury home staging company to market your next spec or model home allows you to utilize the furnishings on a rental basis, vs. purchasing. This will cost you far less than the upfront costs of a design company, AND you would not need to liquidate the furnishings once the home sold, recouping only pennies on the dollar. We offer customized options based upon your desired rental term, or even month to month.
Even though you will be in a rental contract you can be assured you will STILL receive a customized look appropriate for your demographic and price point. As a luxury home stager we know the design trends that sell homes. With enough lead time, we can provide new inventory that will fit the style of the home and provide you with the look you are wanting to achieve, although for us it would be a matter of a few weeks. Quality, attention to detail and the volume of furniture provided, differentiates us as luxury home stagers.
Staging packages are customized to meet your needs, and flexible timing regarding installations are offered. The staging itself takes place in only one day, allowing you to market the property or community sooner.
Partnering with luxury home stagers versus interior design/model home specialist companies provides economical choices with faster turnaround time. The end goal is mutual - selling the home and/or community. Feel free to browse through our portfolio to see previous projects. If you are a builder, we would love to partner with you for your next model home. Contact us today and LET US SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON YOUR HOME!
Let’s face it, 2020 was not the year we all hoped it would be. It brought many unpredictable situations for us all and caused us to rethink how we do business. HOWEVER it also gave us the time to look at our company and improve our look, our vision, our services and our processes. In the end, 2020 turned out to be a busy year for us in which our confidence grew despite the many obstacles. And as a team we really had fun along the way!
It's been a privilege to partner with our clients and help them sell their homes faster and for top dollar. The numbers don't lie - home staging is definitely an investment that gives a return! Here’s some of our stats for the year:
The average number of days on the market for our homes was 12 days!
90 homes staged
320 home and virtual consultations
22 redesigns
National Award - HSRA’s Top 10 Home Staging Company
Local Awards - Best Home Staging company of Loudoun 2020 and LoudounNow’s Best Interior Designer 2020
and if that wasn’t enough - take a look at our year in video:
Let us shine a spotlight on your home in 2021! Give us a call or go online to set up a consultation. It's worth the investment!
What a year 2020 has been! It will forever be in the history books as that unprecedented year in which a coronavirus pandemic, Presidential election, unusually active hurricane season and so many more strange happenings have taken place. Paint companies and color experts know all these occurrences play an important role in design. Every year a different shade of color is forecasted that predicts the year ahead in design. The color is then incorporated into many facets of life such as fashion, lifestyle, technology, pop culture, architecture to name a few. We decided to give you our take on these color choices with a shoppable design board for each. And even better news – you purchase the items in our designs by using the link provided!
*Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links which means Staged by Design® may earn commission if you use links provided. Please note items may not currently be in stock through vendors associated in this blog.
Aegean Teal 2136-40
Benjamin Moore selected a soft, soothing blue-green for its 2021 color of the year. Aegean Teal 2136-40 creates natural harmony with its balanced and soothing hue. This warmth of this shade signifies ones wellbeing. It makes your home feel even more like home.
We took this paint color and its coordinating 2021 color palette to new heights with this transitional style dining space. We added texture through the sideboard and chairs while giving a sense of sophistication with the light fixture.
Sherwin Williams chose Urbane Bronze for their 2021 color of the year. This color signifies the warmth and simplicity of nature. This year more than ever we are feeling the need to bring that tranquility inside our homes. Urbane Bronze provides the perfect backdrop for warmth with its deep rooted hue but also works to tone down a space through accent features such as trim and doors.
We created a warm and cozy family room using elements of Urbane Bronze. This family room brings a feeling of relaxation and serenity through its warm roots. The leather chairs and the unique dark wood coffee table ground the room with organic appeal.
Just recently Pantone released its 2021 color of the year. This year they chose two colors to represent the new year - lluminating and Ultimate Gray. These two independent colors come together to provide an optimistic outlook. Such a wonderful representation of what this past year has forced us to do - to work together to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and help those in need due to the pandemic while providing a sense of hope for things to come!
We chose to represent Pantone’s colors with a vibrant contemporary home office space. This space explodes with energy from the touches of Illuminating in the fun desk chair while the warmth from Ultimate Gray calms the space. It’s a happy space to excite you and give you an optimistic work day from home.
We hope 2021 will bring a sense of tranquility to all your homes no matter what color palette you bring into your space. If you want to update your space but need direction, we would be happy to assist you. Book your redesign consultation online and our staff will create the tranquil look you are looking for in 2021.
Let us shine a spotlight on your home!
“Don’t trust everything you see, even salt looks like sugar.”
Remember when you were a kid and you would pull a prank on a friend by filling the sugar container with salt, or vice versa? Upon first look, the poor friend couldn’t tell the difference. It was once he poured it on something and took a bite to realize it wasn’t what he thought.
Virtual staging is a lot like salt. It looks like sugar and is so enticing but once a buyer goes into the home it turns into salt. It’s simply not as inviting as the pictures online promised. (Feel free to take a look at one of our previous posts, Can’t Beat the Real Thing Baby, to read more of our thoughts between virtual and professional home staging).
Recently, we had the opportunity to stage a home that was previously listed on the market using virtual staging. This home showed well online virtually staged (though not to scale) but buyers were disappointed once they walked in the door to this country home. They were anticipating sugar but got a spoonful of salt instead.
This home had been on the market for over 6 months vacant. Then they paid to have it virtually staged. It still did not result in a contract. They reached out to us and we staged the entire main floor plus basement. The home then sold in less than a month. Proof is in the pudding folks – professional home staging allows the buyer to FEEL like they could live in a space once they walk in the door.
For example, take a look at the comparison between the virtual and professional staging of the living room:
The virtual living room was not staged to scale. The plant in the niche by the stairs touches the chandelier. The ceiling height is also depicted as very low due to the placement of the sofa and art. Our professional staging photo (though at a slightly different angle) shows the ceiling being much higher due to the vertical art above the sofa. It also shows the space is larger by allowing a sofa and two end tables. The niche is also more to scale showcasing the beautiful chandelier with a small ottoman placed in that nook.
The bedroom that was virtually staged looked great online. But once you entered the room you probably would not feel like you were in the same space. It seems much larger online due to the virtual placement of furniture. The render makes the window behind the bed seem centered on the wall. In reality the window is not centered. In addition, roman shades were added as part of the virtual staging. Window treatments typically convey with the home, but these don’t even exist. Talk about bait and switch! We actually staged this bedroom with a different layout since the windows were not centered on the walls. We felt this opened up the space more in the room. If we would have placed the bed in the same spot as the virtual render, there would be no room for an end table beside it.
The basement virtual stage was a bit more realistic, however, the main flaw was the scale of the room. The virtual furniture created a much smaller space than in reality. Take a look at the comparison below and see how much space the sectional and ottoman take up compared to our sofa and large coffee table. This basement probably did not wow the buyer once they walked in and saw it empty and cold. Furniture breathes life in the basement!
This home is just one example of many out there who choose to virtual stage. Yes, it’s less expensive. Yes, it’s quicker. BUT salt does not make the chocolate chip cookie amazing – it’s the sugar.
Next time, skip the virtual staging and spend less time on the market by choosing professional home staging prior to listing. Give us a call or book online for a home staging consultation and learn how we can make your house into a home that will sell. Let us shine the spotlight on your listing.
First impressions never get a second chance! According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 93% of home buyers use online websites to search for their ideal new home. This means photography play a huge role in whether or not a buyer likes the home. And what is the first photo in a listing? Generally, it’s the exterior of the home. We have created a list of the best curb appeal ideas for any budget to ensure your home is picture perfect and generates a profitable first impression!
One of the first steps to a great first impression is cleaning the outside of the house. This can be done very simply with a good pressure wash. If you don’t own a pressure washer, you can easily rent one or hire a professional. Not only does the siding need to be cleaned all the way around the home but also the front porch area, deck and any walkways around the home. And don’t forget to clean those windows. And while you are at it, remove those screens altogether!
Plant some nice colorful flowers in your flower beds, front porch containers and/or window boxes. If it isn’t springtime, there are some great options that can last through tougher conditions like pansies and fresh greenery. To show off those new beautiful flowers and to present a clean landscape, we would also suggest a nice new layer of mulch in your beds around the front of the home.
As we have mentioned before, paint is money in a can! Consider sprucing up the front of the home by painting your front door, trim and/or shutters. This presents a clean finished look to the house and tells the buyer you take pride in the appearance of our home.
Make sure your house numbers are clearly visible and easy to read. This may seem silly but when a buyer is looking for your home you don’t want them to accidentally pass you buy because they simply can’t see your house numbers. If your numbers are in good condition, consider cleaning and/or giving them a spray paint to make them stand out. Otherwise, consider purchasing a new set of numbers to install.
If your porch lighting is outdated or rusted, replace it. Below are some very affordable options on Amazon. Before purchasing anything, make sure to pay attention to the size and shape of the base plate of your existing light fixture and buy accordingly. Another source of light that should be addressed are any lamp posts that may be in your front yard. Make sure the glass is clean, the bulb is bright and the paint is refreshed. Before addressing these lighting concerns, check with your HOA to make sure they do not have any stipulations as to what kind of light can be used on the exterior of the home or if they can repair lamp post if needed.
Adding a new doormat is an easy way to make your home inviting. Buyers spend quite a few minutes standing on the front porch waiting for the realtor to get the lockbox to open for the key. For these few minutes the only thing the buyer has to do is study your front door. Seeing a clean entry with a clean welcoming door mat is appealing to any buyer. You may also want to consider another rug just inside the home for buyers to step onto when entering the home and a place to take off their shoes.
If your mailbox has seen better days, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint. If it’s beyond the paint cover-up, just replace it with a new one. Once again, you will need to check with your HOA if there are restrictions to what kind of mailbox can be used.
These quick updates can do wonders for your curb appeal. The goal is to draw buyers inside your home. Showing them you care enough about the outside tells them you care enough about the inside too. Remember, first impressions never get a second chance. Take that first step and book a home consultation online with us - we would love to shine the spotlight on your home and get it market ready!
*Disclaimer: This page contains Amazon affiliate links which means Staged by Design® may earn commission if you use links provided
