A fellow Stager sent me this article today and I had to post it. I receive calls weekly from people wanting to become a Home Stager and looking for work. So I dedicate this article to all of you, before you change careers or for those of you that think Home Staging is too expensive, read this article. It is perfect – this is a typical “day in the life of a Stager”. Enjoy!
General
16
Jan 10
Stagedhomes.com Releases Survey Results: Staged® Homes Sell Almost Six Times Faster Than Non-Staged® Homes
Statistics gathered by Stagedhomes.com shows that 95.6% of homes Staged® by an Accredited Staging Professional, ASP®, sell within 37 days compared to an average of 212 days for non-Staged® homes. ASP® Staged® homes are on the market 83% less time than a non-Staged® home.
“Home Staging is a statistically proven method that typically sells homes faster and for more money,” said Barb Schwarz, CEO of Stagedhomes.com. “The results are further proof that the investment of Staging® a home is less than the first price reduction,” she added.
Schwarz developed the concept of Home Staging® in the early 1970’s and has since trained over one million Real Estate Agents in her professional training and speaking career about the concepts of Home Staging®. She is a nationally known and award-winning speaker, author and trainer. Schwarz developed the Accredited Staging Professional® designation and course program and she is the Founder of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, IAHSP®.
The statistics report is based on survey results gathered from over 1,000 Accredited Staging Professionals® across the US and Canada from July, 2009 through December, 2009. Please click here to view a complete statistics report at Stagedhomes.com
Professional Home Staging is the fastest growing new career opportunity in the real estate industry. Recommended by top real estate agents and as seen on television, Home Staging is professionally preparing homes for sale, so that they appeal to the most amount of buyers and generate the highest price in the least amount of time on market. In today’s market conditions, Staging sells homes. Home Staging is NOT decorating, fluffing, interior design or redesign! Instead, Home Staging is detailing, de-cluttering, depersonalizing and preparing a seller’s home to give it a “model home” appearance so that the potential buyer can “see” themselves living in the home.
For additional information, please visit Stagedhomes.com and the Stagedhomes.com blog.
19
Dec 09
Virtual Staging
Defining the Differences between ASP Home Staging and Virtual Staging
Monday, August 3rd, 2009
In recent weeks I’ve come across a couple of online articles discussing what’s being referred to as Virtual Staging. Because I invented the concept of Home Staging, I was asked about my thoughts on Virtual Staging. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share my response.
Virtual Staging is most often described as a service where consultants receive photos from sellers which they then manipulate to show various improvements. A picture of an empty living room may be enhanced by the addition of images of a sofa, coffee table, and other furniture and accessories. An empty bedroom may look as if there’s a bed in the room once a Virtual Staging rendition is completed. It is Important to note and know that there’s never an actual client meeting or physical consultation involved with Virtual Staging. Instead, knowledge about a property is only gained through images and it is really important to know that no physical Staging to the home was actually done. This is really important to understand for if the pictures are changed and yet the house is not actually Staged to reflect the changes made to the pictures then the buyers coming through will not see in person in the house what was changed in the virtual Staging when they come to see the actual house. That means that pictures used to market the property have been changed or even altered but the house was not changed to match the pictures and the house itself was NOT Staged. I believe that is risky business and this is a real challenge in possible misrepresentation at best.
True Staging sets the scene IN the house in real time, throughout the house, to create immediate buyer interest in the property so that when buyers come to see the house it looks like what marketing materials were used to market the house in the first place as a Staged home. This means that pictures and marketing materials used to market the house are actually the pictures of what the house truly looks like Staged. Our statistics show that this will then lead to a home selling for the highest possible price in any market in the quickest amount of time and this is true in every price range. True Staging sets a scene in the actual house. This is how I invented Staging to be and how Staging works and why it works. One of my Staging phrases I developed along the way is, “Buyers ONLY know what they See, not the way it’s going to be!” And that means in the house for real, not just in pictures that are not actually what they will end up seeing if the house only had virtual Staging and not real Staging! I invented Home Staging in the first place because buyers cannot imagine in most cases what a property would look like unless the real scene is set when they actually see the house in person. You see you can give them all the pictures all you want of what it could look like, but when they stand in a vacant or a cluttered property they cannot imagine what it ‘could’ look like. That is too tough for most buyers to visualize in person when they are standing in a house that looks different than pictures used to get them there by Virtual Staging. That is just one of the big risks of Virtual Staging instead of the house really being Staged ahead of time for the potential buyer to see when they come to the house. True Staging works because it sets the scene for the buyer to actually see for themselves for real in the actual house.
It is absolutely essential to understand the impact that Virtual Staging could have on everyone involved, including REALTORS® and consumers.
One of my concerns with what is being called Virtual Staging is the fact that if the manipulated images are shown to home buyers they’ll be sorely disappointed if and when they visit the home. While the enhanced images might entice them to visit, they’ll find a home they will not recognize from the images they saw, and probably they will just walk away. Such a scenario certainly doesn’t benefit the seller nor does it help the REALTOR® working to sell the home. Talk about a let down. This is a concern for sure but I have an even bigger concern in what I share with you below.
I have been a real estate broker now for over thirty years, providing accurate representation of a home has always been absolutely essential to me. This should be true for us all as REATLORS® and It is a part of the pledge we make as we work to adhere to the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics. As a Broker and as The Creator of Home Staging® I am concerned with Virtual Staging because of the potential misrepresentation such services may lead to. If a consumer sees an image of a home in a way it’s not, that may be considered misrepresentation of property. Where does Virtual Staging start and stop so what is to keep a Virtual Staging from changing the color of the real walls or the color of the bricks on the fireplace in the pictures used to market the property. Nothing at all, yet when the buyer sees the house and it is NOT what was portrayed in the Virtual Staging all kinds of questions can arise about representation. You see it is one thing to show a seller how their home could look if they Staged it in a Home Staging Consultation through pictures, and I did say seller, ahead of time if they Staged it, but quite another to market it that way if it has NOT been actually Staged for the buyer to see in person. Again, my concern is misrepresentation and where it starts and stops as well. Too many things could be manipulated through Virtual Staging by some people and that could lead to big challenges for all, including the person who did that as well as the REALTOR® who listed the house and the REALTOR® who sold the house too.
To represent a property one way in marketing materials and then in another way in the house for real is a huge challenge and it could be called misrepresentation in my opinion. REALTORS® might even be in violation of our Code of Ethics if they in fact use altered images, without the physical changes being made in homes they represent, in their marketing materials. It concerns me a great deal about the pit falls that could occur from what is being called Virtual Staging the way it is currently being described. This does not meet my criteria for Home Staging and the many benefits that actual Home Staging brings to sellers, buyers, and REALTORS® alike. If I felt it was good to do I would tell you so. Therefore, I certainly want to caution REALTORS® from using what is being called Virtual Staging. I would highly recommend that any REALTOR® not put themselves in that situation nor represent a property in that way.
Real Staging is the way to go when selling a home. And it is not actually Staging until the house itself is actually Staged! Real Staging in the actual house comes first then the pictures should be taken and only then. Then it becomes real Staging and not just virtual Staging. And in that way the house is then marketed the way it really is Staged for the buyer to see in person. This is a huge real crucial difference and this is why true Home Staging works! Staged marketing materials must match the actual Staged home and the Staged home must match the Staged marketing materials. I’ve always taught and worked hard to represent sellers in the best way possible and that means representation of what is actually is in the house including Staging. True Staging does not cover things up nor does it just set the scene in a picture but in fact True Staging actually sets the scene for real in the actual house itself. Do not do Virtual Staging, the risks are too high. Stage® for real with a Accredited Staging Professional® and get the house sold by doing so.
I just came across an article that confirms that my concern about Virtual Staging is shared. Click here to read Virtual Staging: Brilliant but Maybe Dangerous?, published at the website of Realtor® Magazine.
Barb Schwarz
The Creator of Home Staging®
CEO Stagedhomes.com
The Creator of the ASP Designation and Course
Founder and Chairwoman The International Association of Home Staging Professionals®, IAHSP
8
Dec 09
30 Can’t-Miss Staging Tips
Designed to Sell designer Lisa LaPorta shares some of her best staging tips.
Grimy bathroom walls are a major red flag to buyers.
Here is an easy way to get rid of surface mold: Mix a spray bottle with one part water and one part bleach. Just spray it on the wall, and watch the mold disappear. Give it a fresh coat of paint, and your grimy bathroom will go from red flag to red-hot.
Don’t replace a yucky shower door: Just scour it.
A grimy glass shower door can really wash out your sale. Instead of replacing it, clean it with a mixture of one part muriatic acid and about 10 parts water. Scrub with steel wool. After wiping it down, reinstall the door and you’ll have a shower that’ll help you clean up at the open house.
Avoid dated tile by painting.
Bathrooms sell houses, but dated tile in a bathroom doesn’t. A low-cost alternative to replacing the tile is to use paint. First coat the tiles with a high-adhesion primer. Next, brush on a special ceramic epoxy covering. For a fraction of the cost of new tile, you will have an up-to-date bathroom that brings in big bucks.
Pedestal sinks are a big hit with buyers.
They show off square footage in small bathrooms beautifully. First, your old vanity has to go. Next, just hook up your new sink, and your bathroom will have dramatic appeal that brings in big bucks. Plus, buyers will see how much floor space your bathroom has.
A master bedroom should appeal to both sexes.
When you are selling, your master bedroom should appeal to buyers of both sexes. Get rid of features that seem too gender-specific. Paint the walls a neutral color, and choose bedding that matches. Then accessorize with items that complement the overall color scheme.
Do you have an overpowering brick fireplace that sticks out like a sore thumb?
Here’s an easy way to tone it down with paint. Use a rag or brush to rub a light coat of paint on the bricks, one at a time. This will give them a new tone without covering them completely. And, if you use a paint color that matches the walls, your fireplace will go from sticking out to standing out.
Updating an old fireplace screen is a cheap (and quick) fix.
After removing the screen and wiping it down to get rid of the dust, mask off the windows so you won’t get paint on them. Then, using a can of heat-resistant spray paint, give the screen a facelift. Hold the can about 18 inches away, and use long, even strokes. For less than $5, you will have a fireplace screen that’ll keep your sale from going up in smoke.
Turn an unattractive fireplace into a selling feature.
Need to turn an unattractive fireplace into a selling feature? First, that dated brass screen has got to go. Next, give the fireplace a good cleaning, scrubbing it with soap and water. Then, using a stone color enhancer, polish the bricks to make them shine. In no time you will have a fireplace that will turn your house into the hottest property on the block.
Stain dated kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them.
Dated kitchen cabinets can be a big turnoff to potential buyers. Instead of paying big bucks to replace them, just stain them. First, apply the stain in even strokes, going with the grain of the wood. Add some stylish hardware, and your kitchen will have the up-to-date look that buyers love, for less than $200.
Stainless-steel appliances are definitely in with buyers.
Instead of buying a new dishwasher, here is a low-cost way to resurface an old one: First, remove the front panels, and clean them. Next, apply a stainless-steel stick-on covering, and cut it to size. For just $20 your dishwasher will go from outdated to ultra-modern.
Fill existing hardware holes instead of making new, unsightly ones.
Removing old kitchen hardware can leave your cabinets with stripped-out holes. Here is a trick to reusing the existing ones.
First, dip a toothpick in glue and place it in the stripped hole. Cut off the excess piece. Once the glue dries, you’ll be ready to put in the hardware that buyers love.
Save money on granite countertops.
Granite countertops are a huge selling feature, but they can be expensive. Here are a few ways to save on this investment:
First, do the demo yourself. Also, ask the vendor for remnants from previous projects. Remember, any money you spend will definitely be returned in the value these beautiful counters add to your kitchen.
New kitchen appliances bring high returns from sellers.
Studies show that new kitchen appliances bring high returns from sellers, so get rid of old appliances that make the rest of the kitchen look dated. Once you install the new equipment, it will scream “new kitchen,” and you will see that spending a little money will make you even more.
Need to dress up a window but don’t want to shell out big bucks for window treatments?
Here’s a trick: Use place mats. First, apply a hook-and-loop fastener to the place mats and attach them in a row to a basic curtain rod. Now that the place mats are attached to the curtain rods, pin them together at the bottom, and you’ll have a stylish valance that costs about $12.
Adding drama to old hardwood flooring is easier than you might think.
First, isolate damaged boards, cut them out and replace them with new pieces. Rent a sander from a local hardware store, and give the floor a good sanding. The last step is to stain the boards with a rich color, and watch your floor go from drab to dramatic in no time.
Buyers love built-in bookshelves.
There’s a fine line between filling them with clutter and staging them to sell. The trick is to arrange neutral items in clusters. Make sure that no single accessory stands out too much. That way, you’ll show off your attractive built-ins, and not your personal belongings. Curb appeal is vital to attracting buyers.
Here is how to stop traffic using color. First, with two tones of paint, add a faux finish to any corner keystones. Next, bring out the color of walkway pavers using a stone sealer. Plant flowers in bloom, and you’ll have buyers swarming like bees to your front door.
A nice outdoor deck can be a big selling feature, but an old one is a major liability.
To give your outdoor space new life, first sand the wood. Cover it with a light-colored stain instead of paint to give it a rustic, grainy look. Furnish it for entertaining, and watch your open house turn into a party.
Breathe new life into a worn patio.
Do you have a red-brick patio surface that needs to be freshened up? Here is an easy way to give it new life with paint. First, roll a light coat of paint onto the bricks. Next, lightly spray them with water and then dab them before they dry to give them an outdoor look. When you are done, you will have a patio that looks fresh and reels in buyers.
Staging rooms to show off their true potential is essential when selling your home.
Clear out clutter or other personal items that will distract buyers. Paint the walls a neutral tone, and furnish the space to show off how functional it is. When buyers come through and imagine themselves there, you can bet an offer isn’t far behind.
A shabby wood-panel wall is not a strong selling point.
Instead of ripping it out, cover it up. Use wood filler to carefully fill in all the cracks between the panels. Then, use a sponge to wipe away the excess filler. Once it’s dry, paint the room. You’ll see an unattractive wall go from standing out to blending in.
Use tape outlines on the floor instead of actually moving furniture around.
Rearranging a room to stage it for your open house? Here is a tip to save time and effort: Instead of lugging the heavy furniture around the room to see what feels best, put outlines on the floor with painter’s tape. Arrange the room according to your outlines, and save your energy for counting offers.
Vinyl tile is an inexpensive way to update your home.
Laying vinyl tile is an inexpensive way to update your home, but there’s a right way and a wrong way to do it. You need to avoid laying patterns that look too perfect. Instead, make sure to switch up the direction and placement of the tiles to mix the tones. That way, you end up with a floor that has a natural feel. Let the sun shine in.
Buyers love light and airy living rooms, but dark and dingy isn’t on their list. Open up your window shades to let some light in. Cheat some sunshine with a light-colored paint and lots of artificial lighting. You can never have too many lamps. Last, arrange the space with lightly colored furniture, and you’ll have a living room that brightens your chances of a sale.
Stage rooms with one purpose so buyers will know what it is.
Potential buyers are confused by extra rooms that have a mishmash of uses. To avoid this problem, first clear away clutter and excess furniture. Paint the walls a neutral tone and then furnish the room with a desk to stage it as a home office in which buyers will want to get down to business.
Unpleasant pet odors won’t win over buyers.
We all love our pets, but unpleasant pet odors can make a negative first impression. Be sure to get rid of old carpet that can trap offensive smells. Replace it with fresh new carpet in a neutral color. Plus, if you paint the walls to match, your living room will look bigger. It’ll go from designed to smell to designed to sell.
Pack up unnecessary items and furniture before you show the house.
An overpacked living room is a red flag to buyers that your home lacks storage space. Pack up unneccesary items and furniture, and move items to your garage or a nearby storage facility. Clear the way for a sale by letting buyers see your square footage, not your personal belongings.
Storage space sells!
Potential buyers love homes that have lots of storage space. Since they will open your closets, it’s a good idea to clear out unnecessary clutter, and organize your shelves to show off how much storage you really have. Plus, it gives you a chance to start packing, as you will definitely be moving once buyers see all that closet space.
Create a nice flow in your rooms.
Buyers are attracted to homes that have a good flow. You can create circulation by replacing square or rectangular dining tables with round ones. Cutting the corners adds room to this maneuver and creates a spinoff effect that adds flow to your home — cash flow, that is.
Create a better flow in the house by starting with the floor.
Want to create better flow in your house? Start with the floor. Join two rooms together by using the most cost-efficient material in the book: vinyl tile. First, use a snap-line to create a center point between the two rooms. Next, the fun part: Peel and stick the new vinyl tile down, and watch your kitchen and dining room go from old to sold!
30
Nov 09
10 Tips to Increase Your Home’s Value
Source: HGTV.com
1. Plan your remodel.
Whether you just bought a house or you have lived there for a while, the fastest way to increase your home’s value is by making a plan.
You will fare better if upgrades are made intentionally and not on impulse. Home improvement projects cost about 20 to 25 cents on the dollar. The other 75 to 80 cents spent go directly back into the home through increased value.
Start slowly. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. If your home is new, get to know it. If you have already been there a while, get started. List the things you want to change and the updates you would like to make. Don’t worry about organization, just write it all down. Take a guess on how long you may want to live in the house. If you’re planning on selling, talk to your realtor and make a selling plan.
Take the list and categorize by how much it may cost, including your time and money. Be realistic. It’s OK to list an outdoor pool with a waterfall, but keep your financial picture in mind.
Once you have a categorized list, take a look and prioritize what is a real “must have” and what is more of a dream. See if you can come away with a reasonable balance.
Once you have made a plan, do research or talk to a realtor to see what sort of return those improvements may bring. Some improvements will add considerably more value to your home than others.
2. Tackle one room at a time.
How can you harness the energy that comes from new ideas and still be smart when you make those improvements? Make the commitment to tackle one room at a time. Whether it’s a simple coat of paint or knocking down a wall, by tackling one room at a time you keep projects achievable.
Make a list of all the things you dream about doing, break your list down into categories based on cost and write down how much time each project may take. What this does is help you get results. If you only have a day or a weekend, choose a project that fits within your timeframe, comfort level and financial commitment.
If you set out to paint a living room wall on Saturday and you know what it will cost in time and money, it gets done. By the end of the day, you have a stylish upgrade that will add value to your home. By strategizing, you will see your dreams take shape as you transform each room before moving on to the next.
3. Small improvements can really pay off.
Are you torn between improving your home’s decor, versus making upgrades you know will increase your home’s resale value? Many homeowners are surprised to hear that doing a little bit of both will actually pay off.
Start by making two lists — upgrades for your home value and upgrades just for you. Upgrades for your home may consist of replacing old faucets, permanent lighting and doors. Upgrades for you are furniture, artwork and window treatments. Gone is the dartboard approach to picking projects and wondering if what you are doing is really making a difference. With this plan, you will see real progress.
If you have spent a bundle on making an upgrade you can make small changes for the next couple of months. Upgrade a couple of electric plugs or buy a small lamp. Stick to one upgrade per month and you will be happy with what you see.
4. Clean your house now for profits later.
If your house is on the market, a bright and sparkly home can attract buyers like a magnet. A house can never be too clean. If you were a buyer, would you choose the house that is slightly dingy or the home down the street that is clean and welcoming?
By making a clean house a priority, you do several things at once. First, you stay on top of maintenance issues, spotting potential problems before they become expensive ones. Secondly, you don’t allow dirt and junk to build up over time. Things like mold can become a nuisance if allowed to spread unchecked. Finally, a clean house is healthier for you and your family.
Remember, de-cluttering is a form of cleaning. Just as dirt builds up, so does clutter. Don’t waste money moving your junk around. Get rid of it now. When it’s time to sell you will feel confident about what you are presenting to the buyer.
5. Curb appeal counts.
Want a fresh perspective on the value of your home? Walk across the street, turn around and ask yourself, “Does my house have curb appeal?” Does your home look attractive, welcoming and structurally sound at first glance?
Make a list of ways to enhance the positive and eliminate the negative. If you have a nice curvy walkway, accentuate it with flowers or lanterns. If the first thing a visitor sees is your big wide garage, try to guide their eyes into a beautiful front yard, or paint your front door red to guide the eye there. These things add value.
Take a digital photo and look at your home in black and white. When the color is removed, the truth comes out. That is where you see the cracks in the walls and the glaring flaws.
Keep things clean and tidy. Talk to your neighbors because this affects them too. Curb appeal doesn’t stop at your property line. Your home will be more valuable if you live in a place where everyone pays attention to appearance.
Host a neighborhood cleanup party. Team up with neighbors to mow lawns and trim hedges. See who wants to go in on a few flats of border flowers. By adding curb appeal to your entire neighborhood, you will all boost your home values.
When you’re looking at your curb appeal, don’t forget the side and rear views. Buyers walk around and peek over fences.
6. Upgrade the kitchen.
Ask any real estate expert what the No. 1 upgrade with the greatest return is, and the answer will be the kitchen.
Do a mini-remodel. Change the paint. It sounds simple, but it works. You can also paint a faux-wood finish onto your cabinets. This looks just like cherry.
Add a splash of color with a new backsplash. New tile is attractive. Home improvement stores teach classes on this.
Home buyers are often attracted to stainless steel appliances.
Go stainless steel. The cold feel of steel is a hot ticket item for buyers. Transition your appliances as they wear out and go with a similar metallic look in your light switches.
Make your kitchen rock with a rolling island.
Hang a pot rack with fresh new pots, pans and a hanging wine bottle holder. With the rolling island, your kitchen will catch every buyer’s eye. You can take some of these things with you to your new home.
Beautify your bathroom.
Of all the rooms in your house, the bathroom is the workhorse. There is lots of wear and tear, so you want to keep it functioning well and make good looking upgrades along the way.
Focus on your faucet. Bathrooms are not utilitarian anymore. People like to feel relaxed, like they are in a spa. Drop-sinks are old news, people want the under-mount sinks.
Go granite or marble with your countertops. If you are toying with the granite idea, your bathroom counter is most likely smaller than your kitchen counter and less expensive. This is a great place to start your first granite project.
Nix the overhead lighting in favor of wall mounts to add warmth and value to your bathroom. Make sure that around your mirror you have even lighting with no side shadows.
Heated floors attract buyers like bees to honey.
Upgrade your bath area. With an 85 percent return, install a shower with body sprays and stone surround tile. If you are not selling right away, you will feel like you are in a Zen garden every time you step into your bathroom.
Keep it clean. Dirt and grime can become embedded in bathroom surfaces very quickly. Freshen it up with new grout.
7. Weigh the benefits of upgrading versus selling.
Should I stay or should I go? It’s a question staring many homeowners in the face. Here is how to tell if there is more value for you in fixing up, or moving on.
First, estimate your costs to buy a new home. Add up the realtor and home selling costs (packing, moving and the new loan financing). Don’t forget hidden items. The buyer may ask you to replace the carpet before you sell. Or, what if you have to replace appliances? Make your best effort to include everything it will cost in time and money to sell your home and buy a new place. Then, estimate what you may get for your house and how much cash you will leave with to put down on a new home.
If you like your neighbors and your school district, consider remodeling. You can get exactly the home you want and you won’t risk any buyer’s remorse. Estimate the cost of making the most crucial renovations needed for you to stay. Decide what you would like to do and go price shopping at your home improvement store. Call contractors and get estimates. This is especially important if you need to add on extra square footage.
Look at what it would cost to move, then what it would cost to remodel. Add in the X-factors such as friends, schools and neighbors. When all is said and done, you may find you get more equity by staying in your home and remodeling.
8. Hire a certified home inspector.
You go to the doctor for physical exams and take your car in for checkups. Why not do the same for your house? A home inspection can be a valuable thing, whether you are selling or not.
If you are selling, get your own inspector before you put your home on the market. The last thing you want is to have a contract on the table, only to hear the inspector has found dry rot. If you know in advance, you can take care of it. If a home inspection turns out well, it is likely the buyers will feel good about their purchase and not ask for costly fixes or concessions.
Why bother having an inspection if you’re not worried about selling? Keep those records to show buyers you have maintained your house all along. Also, time is on your side. You can fix problems on your terms for far less than you will likely spend if you wait. Think of it like a physical that will only keep your home healthy and more valuable.
If you get a clean bill of health, it helps you make decisions. You can pick your home projects and spend your money with confidence.
9. Pay down the principal on your loan.
As you make all those home improvements, don’t forget the cash. Your financial strategy can boost your home value in a big way. Many different loan features can be added together to give someone a loan that is comfortable for them; give them an opportunity to do home improvements and to invest in their future.
Don’t overdo your down payment. If you spend all your money in a down payment, you may not have enough to do the improvements you want. The rule of thumb is if you are moving into a fixer upper, go for 10 percent down.
Don’t rush into your home loan, as there are dozens of types. The strategy that you develop for the type of loan you want depends on where you see yourself in five or 10 years. Managing your debt payment with an interest-only payment will give you an opportunity to save that money for retirement or save it for a college fund.
10. Refinancing is a chance to switch up your loan and try something new. Avoid using refinancing as a financial crutch. Are you doing it to lower your interest rate, or are you doing it because you want cash? If you are moving in a year, refinancing probably isn’t a good idea, as it costs between $1,900 and $2,600.
16
Nov 09
HomeGain release 2009 updated study on highest ROSI for Sellers – Staging is now #2!
HomeGain updated study – first done in 2003, then updated in 2007, and now new stats for 2009 – show that Staging has steadily climbed as a necessary improvement that yields a high rate of return. Out of 12 activities on the list, Staging ranks now as #2 – jumping from #3 just 2 years ago.
HomeGain 2009 Stats1
Nov 09
Return on Staging Investment (ROSI)
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30
Oct 09
Why you should hire a staging professional
Sell Property for More Profit
Staged homes sell on a National average for 5%-7% more than the nonstaged competition because:
*The combination of Competitive Price plus “WOW” presentation equals the value that today’s buyers are willing to pay
*Staged homes make the best first impression on potential buyers when they visit
*Staged homes attract a broader range of qualified buyers
*When comparing apples to apples: Buyers show more interest in the professionally staged listing when comparing similar priced properties
*Staging demonstrates the “hidden potential” of a property: showcasing creative possibilities and the best usage of a space