CM Staging Solutions Blog - A Toronto Home Staging Perspective

It has been a long time since I have come across a real estate agent today who says they don’t think home staging works… but believe it or not on Friday I did.  Forget that he and his clients booked an appointment with me in Lawrence Park because his buying clients were interested in purchasing the majority of my rental furniture and were eyeing the décor accessories and hanging pictures.  But no, my staging service "did nothing to enhance the sale of the home".. of course not!

As someone who once was a real estate agent, I cannot tell you how many countless times I have gone into a home with buyers and when that home was staged I could feel the buying energy from my buyers.

That is not to say every staged home sends every buyer into a purchasing frenzy, but it amazed me how many times I would start working with a buyer and they would say to me..  “I don’t want a finished home, I want a fixer-upper that way I can save some money and fix it up how I like it.”

Of course I would show them “fixer-uppers” but I would also show them “staged” homes to help them envision the full potential.  In my experience 75-80% of the time the buyers would change their decision and put in an offer on a staged home.

There is something so much more relaxing when you get into the thick of trying to buy a house and how exhausting and laborious it can become, especially when you set your original sights on buying a fixer-upper.

So I’m afraid when a real estate agent comes to me and says “home staging doesn’t work, it had nothing to do with selling THIS house” I’m sorry but you’re preaching to the already converted.

Saying home staging doesn’t help to sell homes faster is like saying the MLS (multiple listing service) doesn’t work with either.  If you click on the pictures you can view where to rent these items.

The Home Staging Basics

1. De-clutter: Buyers want to the home, not the stuff.
2. Clean: Oven, Fridge, Stove, Power-Wash Siding, Porches, Railings, Windows, Skylights, Drapery and Blinds
3. Eliminate Odors:  Keep windows open 10 minutes a day.

Make Your Investment More Spacious

1. Get rid of excess furniture or replace oversized/outdated pieces of furniture with newer, more appropriately scaled items.  Renting from a staging company will ensure you get the most appropriate pieces with minimum stress.
2. Brighter spaces appear more spacious.  Dark corners should be lit with accent lighting. Change bulbs to maximum illumination to achieve same effect.
3. Remove excess area rugs and mats.
4. Paint cement floors, walls and/or ceiling in your basement to give the illusion of more space in an often-neglected space.

Make Your Home "Move-In-Ready"

1. Don't underestimate a fresh coat of paint - in the right colour of course.
2. Make minor repairs (tend to dripping faucets, cracked tiles, moldy caulking or grout, loose hardware/handles, sticky drawers or unhinged closet doors)
3. Clean carpets or replace if necessary.

Make Your Investment Updated

1. Consider removing heavy drapery, swags or valances.
2. Update kitchen hardware and light fixtures
3. Don't neglect the furnace room, fuse box and electrical panel. If it looks clean, it looks newer!
4. Be 'MLS ready', rent contemporary art, furniture and accessories.

Make Your Home Welcoming

1. We want buyers to connect with the home and imagine themselves living in your home - put away anything connected with your family and personal interests, such as family photos, diplomas, trophies, etc.
2. Set lights to timers to ensure lights are on for evening showings.
3. Leave the heat and/or air conditioning on to keep temperatures comfortable and circulate air.
4. Keep the lawn mowed, and landscape tidy. Hide the garbage and recycling bins and consider placing 2 urns with season flowers at the entrance.
5. Add a touch of warmth:  a well-placed vase of flowers, a bowl of green apples, or a small candle can warm up a room and make the house seem cared for.

When staging a home for sale, choice of furniture can play a critical role in determining a successful sale.  Admittedly, not everyone will have the budget to put all their furniture away in an effort to style and re-design their home and in many cases they may not need to. 

Here are few simple tips that can help get you well on your way to a successful sale.

1.       First things first, determine the style of your home.  Before you think about staging your home determine the style of your home. Is it traditional or contemporary, etc? There is a good chance you are not going to be re-designing the architecture before you list so it is important to be able to work with what you have and build from there.

2.       Once you have determined the style of your home, ensure the style of your furniture compliments the architecture of the space.  Rooms can appear dysfunctional when there are too many styles in one space and “eclectic” can easily appear more “hectic” than eclectic, which is not stylish.  If you are going to introduce a second design style, keep it to a minimum.

3.       Size and proportion should not be overlooked.  Furniture should not dominate a room and overwhelm a buyer and at the same time furniture should also not be so small and insignificant that people feel uncomfortable.  The idea of home staging is connect with a potential buyer.  Ensure the size of your furnishings proportionately fit the size of the room.

4.       Be sure to fill the room with a healthy balance of the right amount of furnishings.  Too many pieces of furniture will make the room appear cluttered and too little will leave a room feeling impersonal.  If you have too much furniture, relocate it or store it. If you have too few, try relocating pieces from another room or rent it.  Renting is a much more affordable option than buying, especially if you are moving and not sure what you plan to use in your new home.

5.       Ensure your furniture is in good condition.  Avoid showcasing a home with furniture that is damaged, worn, or smells.  Remove it and replace it with something that not only compliments your space but is also in acceptable condition.  I guarantee you if your furniture is not in good condition your home will also appear it is not in good condition and it will be reflected in the offers you receive.

I hope you find these tips helpful when staging your home for sale, especially when home staging in Toronto.  If you are interested in learning more or would like to rent furniture click on the links and you will be directed to our website.