Nina Doiron

Award-winning Certified UltimateStager, redesigner and owner Nina Doiron is the principal at iSO Design. She provides an objective and experienced eye to attract more buyers and help sell for top dollar. She will also help you declutter and get organized. She says she will “inspire redesign ideas so that you’ll fall in love with your home again.” Call 416-993-0131.

isodesign.ca/

The post Living in a staged home: 7 easy tips for sellers to maintain a show-ready home with ease and comfort appeared first on REM.

Nina Doiron

Award-winning Certified UltimateStager, redesigner and owner Nina Doiron is the principal at iSO Design. She provides an objective and experienced eye to attract more buyers and help sell for top dollar. She will also help you declutter and get organized. She says she will “inspire redesign ideas so that you’ll fall in love with your home again.” Call 416-993-0131.

isodesign.ca/

The post Ask a Stager: How early should sellers prep their homes for sale? A guide to maximize property appeal appeared first on REM.

One of the most frequently asked questions in my Staging To Sell, What Every Agent Should Know class is “When should you stage?”

The answer is:

• In a buyer’s market, you stage to sell more quickly
• In a seller’s market, you stage to sell for more money

In either scenario, it is a marketing strategy that helps properties stand out and helps buyers form an emotional connection to the property.

I have encountered many Realtors who assumed that the staging industry has been slow because we are in a seller’s market. It is far from the truth. If you speak to Realtors who value and employ the use of staging in their marketing efforts, they will tell you that stagers are a hot commodity right now because we are in high demand.

So, back to the question of why do some Realtors stage while others don’t? What do Realtors who stage know that Realtors who don’t stage don’t know?

It also begs the question when homeowners contact us directly for staging services because their Realtor doesn’t believe in the need for it. What do these homeowners think of the value of the services that they receive from their agent?

Ignoring a strategy that has become one of the greatest marketing tactics that leading successful Realtors use will not set you apart for the better.

If you are still on the fence about the value and benefits of home staging, speak to a colleague who employs staging or speak to us directly. We would love to share some data and stats with you.

Real estate marketing is evolving. Are you?

Nina Doiron

Award-winning Certified UltimateStager, redesigner and owner Nina Doiron is the principal at iSO Design. She provides an objective and experienced eye to attract more buyers and help sell for top dollar. She will also help you declutter and get organized. She says she will “inspire redesign ideas so that you’ll fall in love with your home again.” Call 416-993-0131.

isodesign.ca/

The post Why do some Realtors employ staging while others don’t? appeared first on REM.

Even so, the cost of staging investment continues to be questioned and is often considered to be too expensive. I want to share with you what goes into the cost of professional staging services.

Our average vacant staging project for an entire three-bedroom house with a family room, living room, dining room and breakfast area can cost $5,000 to $6,000 before tax. Whoa! What exactly goes into this fee?

• Approximately 50 per cent of the fee is the rental items. This includes furniture, artwork, rugs, bedding, soft goods and all the small accents. Whether some stagers own their own furniture or rent it, they still have costs associated with them – the cost of renting and purchasing, maintaining and warehousing.
• Depending on the size of the house and project:

Two to three hours of prep time to plan and design each room so that we can pack for them accordingly;

Four to six hours to stage a project with a team of two stagers;

Two to three hours for a team of two to return once the property is sold to de-stage; and

One to two hours to unpack and return the products back into inventory. In total, nine to 14 hours to complete a three-bedroom vacant project, not including inventory maintenance and travel time.

• Warehousing costs. The more inventory we carry, the larger the warehouse space required, the more costly the insurance, utilities and maintenance.
• Transportation. Some stagers lease vehicles, some own as needed in order to transport the staging inventory to and from each project. Not to mention the current high cost of fuel.
• Last but not least, the everyday cost of running a business including insurance, taxes, dues and fees to belong to various industry associations, office expenses, phone, marketing, inventory and client management systems and a whole host of other expenses.

We all aim to make a 30 per cent gross profit, but it’s challenging. So when you say that home staging is too expensive, is it really considering everything that goes into running a professional home staging business?

Those who offer rock bottom fees will not have the financial resources to stay in business long. Hobbyist are unlikely to carry quality inventory and have all the necessary insurance to protect themselves and the property.

When you consider that home staging can potentially generate thousands in ROI and all that goes into a staging project, is it really expensive?

Nina Doiron

Award-winning Certified UltimateStager, redesigner and owner Nina Doiron is the principal at iSO Design. She provides an objective and experienced eye to attract more buyers and help sell for top dollar. She will also help you declutter and get organized. She says she will “inspire redesign ideas so that you’ll fall in love with your home again.” Call 416-993-0131.

isodesign.ca/

The post Why is home staging so expensive? appeared first on REM.

The key problem remains that when potential buyers view the property in person, it looks nothing like it does online. If your buyers have great visualization ability, then this may not be a problem.

The second issue is scale. It’s easy to pick from a menu of stylish digital furniture pieces but understanding the scale of each piece relative to the overall size of the room is critical. Without this understanding, it can cause potential buyers to question their ability to actually fit real furniture into the space when they view it in person.

One key objective of home staging is to get buyers to fall in love with the space the minute they walk through the door. The second is to make it easier for potential buyers to visualize themselves living in the space with their furniture, especially in small or irregular-shaped rooms. If virtual home staging causes more questions and confusion, has it done its job?

If you plan to incorporate virtual staging as part of your marketing tactic, be sure that your target buyers are among the 10 per cent of the population who have great visualization ability. You may also want to consider the type of virtual furniture selected is appropriately scaled for the actual space. Don’t just go for style.

Virtual home staging has its benefits: it is cheap and it is easy. But the question remains – is it right for your clients and their potential buyers?

What’s your opinion on virtual staging? Please comment below.

Nina Doiron

Award-winning Certified UltimateStager, redesigner and owner Nina Doiron is the principal at iSO Design. She provides an objective and experienced eye to attract more buyers and help sell for top dollar. She will also help you declutter and get organized. She says she will “inspire redesign ideas so that you’ll fall in love with your home again.” Call 416-993-0131.

isodesign.ca/

The post The pros and cons of virtual home staging appeared first on REM.

To be honest, when I’m hired for staging consultations on some of these properties, I sometimes think, “I’m not sure they need me!” But these are the very homeowners who understand that even a beautifully designed luxury property will shine brighter with proper staging.

To be completely transparent, I do get a little nervous working on already beautiful properties because it’s more challenging to “wow” people who have great style. Yet, without fail, I have always been able to impress even those with the most discerning taste.

With these homes, it is sometimes the small things that matter: such as removing a few pieces of furniture in order to better highlight the space, or repositioning some pieces to create a focal point or adding a few finishing touches that update the look and feel of a room. The point is, there is always room for improvement in any space. What professionals like me have is the ability to look at any space from the perspective of the buyer and know how best to impress them in how we showcase the property.

These high-end sellers also know you sometimes have to spend money to make money. They fully understand that whatever they invest in to market their house, they will easily make back. I don’t even have to convince them… they seek me out.

In our current market, which is still very much a sellers’ market, you still find Realtors and clients who don’t think professional staging is necessary. I’ve even had some people comment that my business must be slow because houses sell so easily.

Actually the opposite is true. I am having one of the best years yet. This is because those who invest in professional home staging understand the true magic of marketing, positioning and differentiating. Home staging is not an inexpensive investment, but these people understand the significant financial benefit that it can offer.

If you are still questioning whether a professional home staging service is a wise investment for your property, just look at comparable listings. These homes are your competition. Are their owners throwing away their money on beautiful staging, or do they know something you don’t?

Let me be clear: properties of all types benefit from home staging – not just the ones that have flaws or are dated. Home staging is about making the property appealing to as many potential buyers as possible in order to generate the most interest, sell quickly and earn top dollar. For luxury properties, it’s about appealing to a pool of buyers with discerning taste. They want the best.

Here are a couple of examples from my portfolio:

The property in the photo at the top of this story is in a highly desirable area of North York, Ont. The interior has all high-end finishes and is beautifully designed and styled. The homeowner just needed help with organizing and styling using their existing furnishing and accessories and polishing with a few of our finishing touches. Total investment $1,800 (before tax). Listed for $1,299,900, Estimated value $1,357,000, Sold for $1,600,000, Days on market: seven.

This property is located in a Newmarket estate community. It is a large, newer home and has many high-end upgrades. It is vacant and move-in ready. The homeowner engaged us to stage the large main floor, the primary suite and the bonus space.

Total investment $5,600 (before tax). Listed for $1,588,888, Estimated value $1,629,000, Sold for $1,700,00, Days on market: seven.

When a property is well-prepared, makes a great first impression to many potential buyers, is priced appropriately and marketed well, the result shows in the sale.

Remember: Follow the breadcrumbs to success.

Nina Doiron

Award-winning Certified UltimateStager, redesigner and owner Nina Doiron is the principal at iSO Design. She provides an objective and experienced eye to attract more buyers and help sell for top dollar. She will also help you declutter and get organized. She says she will “inspire redesign ideas so that you’ll fall in love with your home again.” Call 416-993-0131.

isodesign.ca/

The post It’s already nice. Why do I need staging? appeared first on REM.

1. Art makes everything better

Art pieces can significantly contribute to the value of an apartment. If your clients are objecting to staging and making significant changes, you should advise them to get a few eye-catching pieces and framing them in gorgeous frames. These don’t have to be paintings from famous artists; instead, they can find local artists they like and support them. Other great ideas are thrift stores and flea markets.

Some of the larger art pieces don’t even have to be framed and hung. One of the latest interior design trends is paintings that lean on the wall or shelves. This is perfect for owners who don’t want to drill their walls but still want to include fabulous art. When potential buyers see that the apartment is decorated with art, they’ll instantly feel like they’re in a high-end gallery. Buying art is an excellent tip for all rooms and will ideally upgrade any minimalist interior décor.

2. Carefully selected window treatments

Many apartment owners forget how important windows and window treatments are, so remind them. Large windows, decorated with suitable curtains, drapes and hardware, can instantly hook buyers. Curtains and drapes can elevate the luxury in the home, so carefully selecting the length and type can make rooms appear more spacious and enhance the entire appearance. First, the length should be from ceiling to floor to visually increase the height. Second, although thick fabrics are luxurious, it’s a good idea to combine them with sheer materials that allow enough natural sunlight to enter.

Since the beauty is in the details, the owners should also pay a lot of attention to choosing hardware that will fit with the rest of the décor. Before purchasing curtain rods, measure the length of the window frame. One of our secret pro tips is to always opt for long drapery rods, because they will make the windows appear larger, and give the clients more space to open their curtains whenever they need to. This lets more natural light into the apartment, creating an illusion of more spacious rooms.

3. Change old doors

Old doors are not a good look for an apartment. Your clients can try and give them a new look with a fresh coat of paint, but that won’t always do the job. When they want to increase the value of their home, it’s a good idea to get new doors. Many affordable options look luxurious and will really boost the price of the property.

New doors can be installed within days, which makes it an easy, fast fix. If the rest of the décor is minimalist, the doors can be a little extra, and they’ll become a centrepiece in the apartment.

4. Upgrade the cabinets

If a complete kitchen renovation is not in your client’s budget, recommend that they spice up the cabinets. A gorgeous kitchen is an undeniable hook for potential buyers. If your clients have the budget, advise them to change the countertops and all the kitchen hardware. When it comes to the cabinets, one way to amp them up is to replace the doors, and another way is a fresh coat of paint.

5. Get creative with lighting

Great lighting makes everything appear better, larger and more expensive. The owners can use various lighting fixtures to accent the best parts of their home and hide the points they don’t love as much. Aside from gorgeous chandeliers, you should think about statement pendant lights in rooms such as the kitchen and the bedroom.

Table lamps and wall sconces are another way to make an apartment look deluxe. Luckily, these fixtures come at many prices, so the owners can choose what fits best for their budget. Mixing and layering lighting will create a cosy ambiance that any potential buyer will enjoy and find homey.

6. Fresh paint

The first impression matters, so enhancing the walls with a fresh coat of paint will definitely bring you bonus points. However, if the owners experimented with vivid colours, you have to let them know that not everyone is a fan of eye-catching hues. Opting for neutrals will not only make the home appear bigger, but it will also make it look more high-end.

When buyers first visit a property, they try to imagine it as their own. Soft, bright shades provide a clean appearance and a luxury feel. Although wallpaper is not a good idea for apartments for sale, if the owners want it, they should be careful with the placement. One of the best rooms for wallpaper is the bedroom or a single wall in the living room.

Each apartment can be taken to a whole new level thanks to these six simple tips. Doing the work will pay off when your clients have a home that appears more expensive and will sell for a value higher than they expected. Painting the walls with a fresh coat of paint, adding art, new lighting fixtures, choosing the right window treatments, investing in new doors and upgrading the cabinets won’t cost a fortune – but will entirely change a home’s appearance for the better. This will score you bonus points and recommendations to new potential clients.

Zana Dodig

Zana Dodig is the owner of Prestige Décor in Mississauga, Ont. and a window treatments consultant with more than 20 years of experience. She says she loves interiors and everything related, from decorating to organizing and remodeling.

The post 6 ways to make an apartment look expensive appeared first on REM.

The reason home staging works is because people make purchase decisions based on their emotions, and they justify the purchase with logic. When done well, home staging can help potential buyers emotionally connect to the home and want to make it their own.

This being said, there are still many commonly asked questions about home staging services and its effectiveness. Here are the top four.

What is a home staging consultation?

This is a comprehensive process where the seller is offered a room-by-room assessment of the entire home to help get it show-ready and get top dollar for the sale. Typically, the seller is given an action list of items to tackle and helpful resources to make the process easier for them and their family.

The home staging consultation is an invaluable service and is recommended for sellers. They will get expert advice on what to do to get the most from the sale. The home staging consultation should be the first step taken when it comes time to sell.

It is important to remember that the more the seller does to prepare the house, the better it will show in order to attract the right buyers.

Do I really need to stage my home to sell?

The success of any product requires it to be properly merchandised and marketed. A house is a product that should be merchandised and marketed no different than a hamburger or a car or a boat. These days, home staging is necessary for a successful sale because only 10 per cent of buyers can visualize a house’s potential for themselves when it is not properly staged. The purpose of home staging is to accentuate the positives of the house and minimize the negative aspects to help more buyers see themselves living there.

Research has shown that buyers view professionally staged listings as “well-maintained”. Professionally staged listings also stand out in prospective buyers’ minds. Staged properties sell faster than un-staged houses.

From the date of listing until the day that an offer firms up, home staging shortens this time frame, even in a slow real estate market.

How much will professional home staging cost?

Home staging is an investment. The cost of staging varies by scope of work and size of the property. If the seller has the resources, time and know-how to stage the house, a consultation may be the only service they need.  A consultation with a written action plan can range from $200 to $500.

Full-service staging is highly dependent on the size of the property and how much furniture and accessories will be required. Remember that professional home staging is an investment with a proven track record of producing positive returns on the investment. If knowing that the investment can help the seller make money, does it matter how much this initial investment is?

Will I recover my staging investment when my home sells?

Absolutely! Not only will the seller be able to recover their investment, according to the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) home staging can help to reduce a property’s listing time on the market by 30 per cent to 50 per cent and could deliver a better price than a vacant house or a house that is not properly staged.

Your house is likely the sellers’ greatest financial investment. It may be more worthwhile to consider, “Can I afford not to stage?”

Nina Doiron

Award-winning Certified UltimateStager, redesigner and owner Nina Doiron is the principal at iSO Design. She provides an objective and experienced eye to attract more buyers and help sell for top dollar. She will also help you declutter and get organized. She says she will “inspire redesign ideas so that you’ll fall in love with your home again.” Call 416-993-0131.

isodesign.ca/

The post 4 frequently asked questions about home staging appeared first on REM.

Great staging should show off the home’s best assets, making it appealing for a wide range of prospective buyers. Creating a visually pleasing space where every single buyer can imagine their future should be your goal. Here are five ideas that will make a big difference.

1. Depersonalize it:

Potential buyers need to enter a house that will boost their creativity and one they can imagine as their own. The property shouldn’t feature personal items, and your job is to depersonalize it. Once the buyers come inside, they will have a vision about how they want to decorate the space and create new memories there. Items from the owners can be too overwhelming and sway them away from the idea. If there are any objections from the owners, you have to explain why this is a smart move.

Removing all personal items is a professional tip that you have to do right from the start. This includes personal hygiene products, framed photos, decorations, toys, travel souvenirs and even clothes, if possible. Try to put away religious items if the client agrees.

2. Work on the windows:

Guests should be impressed with the house you’re selling right away, and one of the factors that most real estate professionals forget about is the windows. Everyone knows that floors and walls should be clean, but did you remember the windows? They should be squeaky clean and sparkling because it’s one of the first things clients will notice when they arrive at the property.

Next, don’t forget about quality window treatments. Everyone wants a room filled with light during the day and privacy at night. Also, a bright room will appear more spacious. Keep in mind that window treatments for condominiums will be different than for houses and townhouses, and often can make or break the deal. Many condos have lots of windows, often floor to ceiling. A great investment is blackout window coverings. This can be a great selling feature as it provides privacy and adds a beautiful esthetic.

Another smart idea is to make the ceilings appear taller with curtains and drapes that start from the ceiling and reach the floor.

3. Remove the clutter and clean the gutter:

Decluttering should be your next step. When a prospective buyer sees a home that is too cluttered, they simply can’t imagine living in a space like that. They also won’t be able to paint a picture of a potential home because they will be overwhelmed with everything that’s going on around them. Clutter makes the entire space appear smaller, and that’s the last thing you want. Advise the owners to remove all the items they don’t need and to store them in boxes.

Taking care of the gutter means preventing roof, foundation, wood damage, pest infestation, basement flooding and interior damage. Gutter cleaning and ensuring that the gutter system works properly will also enhance the appearance of the home. Who knows, maybe this will lead the clients having a “love at first sight” moment. Remember, the outer appearance is just as important as the inside of the property you’re selling.

4. Opt for neutral:

Not everyone is a fan of bold, striking colours. That’s why it’s recommended that the space you’re selling features neutral tones. This is the most appealing palette for potential buyers because it makes the rooms appear larger, gives a fresh look and helps the space look sophisticated.

Neutral shouldn’t mean boring. Although the home shouldn’t be personalized and feature bold colours, it should still have cool accessories that make it stand out. You and the owners can implement bold hues via flowers, vases, pillows, throw blankets, towels and other decorations.

5. Furniture placement:

The way furniture is placed in the rooms is quite important. Each room should have a purpose. The space shouldn’t be too cramped with furniture, and it shouldn’t be too empty. Remove all pieces that are too big and limit the moving space around the home.

If the furniture in the house won’t do the job, rent some furniture. Talk with the owners and let them know why you are recommending this. Educating the owners on what’s best and what will sell their house faster should be your priority.

Once you’re on the same page, you can declutter the home, work on the windows and window treatments, implement neutral colours as the basic palette, choose the best furniture placement and depersonalize the space. These five tips might sound simple, but you’ll soon see how beneficial they are.

Zana Dodig

Zana Dodig is the owner of Prestige Décor in Mississauga, Ont. and a window treatments consultant with more than 20 years of experience. She says she loves interiors and everything related, from decorating to organizing and remodeling.

The post Staging: Simple ideas that will make a difference appeared first on REM.

Let’s talk about some of the primary objections we hear about most often.

My client can’t afford home staging:

Money talks! Money is the international language that everyone understands.

Use the Staging Savings Calculator from the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) and take your client through the formula to determine how much money they will save by investing in staging versus the long-term cost of upkeeping a property. This formula is highly valuable for vacant properties.

You can also share local stats to show them the performance of a professionally staged property versus a few that were not staged and did not perform quite as well. Education is key. Help clients understand how much they stand to gain when the house is properly packaged to sell.

Your clients look to you for solutions. If cost is the primary concern, provide them with resources to sort through the financial objection. Your mortgage specialist partner will more than likely have a solution.

I don’t recommend that you take on the staging investment. However, I am seeing more agents doing it in different form, such as crediting the staging investment at closing or contributing to a portion of it. If this is your strategy, be sure that your commission structure is built so that you can take this on and still remain profitable.

My client does not understand the value in staging:

Explain to them that with the number of homes on the market there is an absolute need to differentiate your property from all the other listings in the neighbourhood. Yes, especially in a sellers’ market. The value lies with how the buyers perceive the home. An un-staged home won’t have the same perceived value as homes that are staged.

Use before and after examples to demonstrate the value of staging. Ask your clients which photo is more visually appealing. Better yet, take them to a few competitive properties and let them see it for themselves. Ask them how they feel when they walk into a house that shows well versus those that don’t show as well.

If you are dealing with an elderly client, sometimes it helps to engage their children in the discussion. There is definitely a generation gap when it comes to understanding the value of staging.

My client doesn’t think they need to stage:

This objection is very personal and emotional. This is a balancing act and most agents are fearful of offending the client. But remember that you are the professional and you know better.

Explain to the client that the home must be treated as a product and all products must be packaged, merchandised and marketed properly to appeal to potential buyers. Relate back to a recent purchase that they made and ask them why they chose one brand versus another.

With this objection, it may be helpful to lean on your professional staging partner to help you. A RESA study reports that 89 per cent of sellers were willing to address the repairs and recommendations provided by a professional home stager.

My client can’t live in a staged home:

With the pandemic, some of my agent partners have cleverly convinced their clients to move out of the house while it is listed. No doubt, it is safer for everyone involved and is definitely less taxing for the client to have to keep the house show-ready at all times.

However, beyond the pandemic, once the house has been well prepared, let your clients know it’s actually easier to live in a staged home for sale than not, because all of the hard work is done and the maintenance is quite easy to manage. Feel free to share my blog, How to live in a house while it’s on the market.

This objection is purely mindset and can generally be overcome with a little encouragement.

Nina Doiron

Award-winning Certified UltimateStager, redesigner and owner Nina Doiron is the principal at iSO Design. She provides an objective and experienced eye to attract more buyers and help sell for top dollar. She will also help you declutter and get organized. She says she will “inspire redesign ideas so that you’ll fall in love with your home again.” Call 416-993-0131.

isodesign.ca/

The post How to handle client objections to staging appeared first on REM.