Does Your House Suck?

In Real Estate, a residential listing should possess a suck factor in three key areas that will draw buyers off the MLS and into your house.

-THREE KEY AREAS WHERE YOUR HOUSE SHOULD SUCK-

1) ONLINE: Contrary to popular belief, the buyers' first impression of your property does NOT begin at the curb but on the screen. Studies indicate that over 90% of buyers will look online first before personally viewing a property. I believe that percentage is closer to 100% (with exceptions in Amish communities and federal prisons, of course).

A house may look like a model in person, but if it does not show like one through online representation (a.k.a. photos), it may be difficult to suck in any buyer interest. Therefore, it is imperative that not only are houses staged for sale, but that they are photographed in such a way that it shows well on the internet.

2) EXTERIOR: Curb appeal. People love to use that phrase to describe how good the property looks from the moment the car pulls into the driveway. The outside of your home gives buyers an idea of how well you took care of the inside of the house. Loose shingles, broken fences, and neglected yards will deflate buyers hopes of finding their dream home, unless they are looking for an investment property. Keep the exterior looking fresh and clean to suck buyers out of their cars and into the front door.

3) ENTRANCE: OK, now you've got the buyers out of the comforts of their own house with their internet connections and playoff games; they drove through rush-hour traffic to find your listing in the middle of a busy work week; and they are now turning the key in your front door. When that door opens, what will be their immediate reaction? Will they want to turn away? Or, will they be sucked into the house, anxious to see more?

The entrance of your home dictates the atmosphere of the house. Stir up buyer excitement as they are stepping into the house by creating a "Wow-Factor" through decor and furniture. Set up the life-style they want to own.

Preparing your house for sale is a necessary step in the selling process. Today's buyer's market introduces new inventory everyday. Staging your house for sale will help create a suck factor that buyers cannot resist!

TESTIMONIAL: The first and third photo in this blog is from a KFM vacant staging project in Minneapolis that sold in five days (January 2010). This middle photo was a KFM vacant staging project in St. Paul (August 2009). Prior to staging, this house was on the market for over a year. After staging by KFM, it sold within weeks!

>KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that creates "First Impressions that Sell" in the Twin Cites and Western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in vacant staging and staging consultations. Visit our website for staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation.

KFM Staging & Design
"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
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A Balancing Act... of Sorts

Home staging has been identified as a key component to preparing houses for sale. Professional stagers have been known to beautifully redesign a living room within minutes of stepping into the space, leaving home owners scratching their heads and muttering, "Why didn't I think of this before?"

The truth is, there is a fine art (yes, art) to the act of rearranging furniture and setting home accents in "just the right place." More than having good taste in decorating, stagers follow proven design principles that show off the individual layout of a house and highlight the features of each room. To accomplish these tasks, stagers perform a "balancing act" that equally distributes visual weight around the room.

In the photo below, the buffet and glass cabinet AND art work AND lack of space on the opposite wall create an over-crowded and unbalanced room that weighs heavy to the right. Off-centered to the light fixture, the improper placement of the table adds to the uneven representation of this room.

Removing the buffet and cabinet allows the table to be centered under the light fixture and with the window. Eliminating the large furniture pieces also creates a "lighter feeling" on the right wall which results in balanced visual weight with the opposite wall.

Rearranging and/or eliminating furniture while staging serves a specific purpose when preparing your home for the market. When properly placed, your furniture will accentuate the positive characteristics of each room.

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that creates "First Impressions that Sell" in the Twin Cites and Western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in vacant staging and staging consultations. Visit our website for staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation.

KFM Staging & Design
"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this!

The Holidays Are Over... Now What?!

Once the presents have been opened and the guests have gone home, your house may need extra attention to return it to prime showing condition.

• REMOVE HOLIDAY/SEASONAL DECOR: Pine garland, snowman decorations, and ornamental lights should be packed up no later than the second day in January.


• CLEAN UP: Paper scraps, champagne bottles, and expired leftovers should be tossed to keep your house looking tidy.


• REDUCE OLD INVENTORY: As your children collect new toys from Santa, pack away some older items to reduce the amount of clutter in their bedrooms. *This tip may be applied to the adult children of the house as well!


• REMAIN POSITIVE: Even though the selling process can be quite stressful, retaining a positive attitude will help to decompress the pressure in your home. Instead of complaining about the showings or the lack thereof, use your energy to be proactive in the sale of your house.

Let the New Year bring in a fresh perspective on selling your house! Clean, reduce, and pack are the keys to post-holiday celebrations.

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that creates "First Impressions that Sell" in the Twin Cites and Western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in vacant staging and staging consultations. Visit our website for staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation.

"Your Kids Aren't THAT Cute" and Other Things Realtors Won't Tell You

In the real estate world, a seller has control over two things: the price of their property and condition of their home. While Realtors help sellers determine a price, many agents count on home stagers to deliver the "bad news" to their clients about the appearance of their house.

TOP TEN THINGS (some) REALTORS WON'T TELL YOU

1. "Your kids aren't that cute... pack the photos."
2. "Multi-colored carpet does not include stains."
3. "Hummel collections are not considered focal points."
4. "Toilet seat covers do not qualify as 'spa-like' accessories."
5. "Mint green is not a neutral color."
6. "Your dining table should never be used as long-term storage space."
7. "Most buyers are not looking for Jeff Gordon themed houses."
8. "No amount of scented candles are going to remove that odor."
9. "Lack of lighting does not 'set the mood."
10. "Crotch-sniffing dogs rarely make good hosts."

There is a lot of work that goes into properly preparing a house for the real estate market. This task is made easier by getting a professional evaluation from a trained home stager. Stagers will identify the "red flags" that could hinder a sale as well as develop a plan that will make your listing stand out from the competition.

The photos below show a "before and after" example of a KFM Staging consultation.

Before Consulting After Consulting

Home staging has been a secret weapon in the real estate wars, and it continues to win victories in the current makret. Even though some Realtors may not want to deliver the bad news to their clients; they can rely on professional stagers who will respectfully help sellers through the staging process.

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that creates "First Impressions that Sell" in the Twin Cites and Western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in vacant staging and staging consultations. Visit our website for staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation.

KFM Staging & Design
"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this!

Holiday Home Staging 101

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa Tidings, and Festivus Greetings to all!

No matter what holiday you are celebrating, staging your home during the holidays can be hassle-free by following these simple guidelines:

• DO NOT OVER-DECORATE: Too many decorations create unwanted effects on your home. 1) Buyers will not remember the house's features, 2) The house will appear small and cluttered, 3) Overwhelming religious holiday decor may be offensive to hardcore PC buyers.
• DO, MINIMAL SEASONAL DECOR: Keep seasonal decor to localized areas such as the fireplace mantle, table center pieces, and vanities. Having just a few pieces will give the "flavor" of the season without "overwhelming the taste buds."
• DO NOT SET UP A TREE IN SMALL SPACES: If you are selling a house under 2000 square feet, every inch of space needs to be seen. It is more important that buyers see all the corners in the living room instead of a 7-foot spruce.
• DO USE OUTDOOR LIGHTING: Without going Clark Griswold on your roof, tastefully use exterior Christmas lights to stir up warm feelings in your buyers. Now that our days are shorter, it is important to use artificial lighting to set the mood.
• DO NOT USE LARGE YARD DISPLAYS: The same theory for interior decorating applies to the exterior as well. Inflated snow globes may look neat, but buyers will have a hard time looking past it and may miss your landscaping and other exterior features.
• DO KEEP DECOR TIMELY: Once your holiday is done, pack the decor ASAP. A house that retains holiday or seasonal decor past its due date has a neglected atmosphere.
• DO NOT USE STRONG FRAGRANCES: Although tempting, using candles, potpourri, and room fresheners may irritate sensitive buyers. Instead, use natural fragrances such a baked cookies and simmering cider to boost the aromas in your home.
• DO ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS: Reduce the stress by reducing the amount of commitments you make during this time of the year. Remember, your holiday is about your faith, your family, and your friends. Keep it simple and remain positive towards the marketing of your home!

One final thought... when listing your home over the holidays, DO NOT decorate your home to suit the current season or holiday unless you are going to update the photos when the season/holiday is past. Photos on the MLS of Christmas stockings hanging on the mantle is not appealing when it is the middle of March.

Happy HanuRamaKwanzMas, Everyone!

KFM Staging & Design is a Minnesota home staging company that creates "First Impressions that Sell" in the Twin Cites and Western Wisconsin. KFM specializes in vacant staging and staging consultations. Visit our website for staging tips or to schedule your in-home or online consultation.

KFM Staging & Design
"Creating First Impressions That Sell!"
Visit MyBlogLog and get a signature like this!