Occupied Property Staging

When an occupied home is staged, the staging process changes as compared to the process for a vacant home.  A couple of steps are added to best prepare the home for sale.

Here is how we get your occupied home ready to sell!

1.       A visit from Tilt

I arrive at the home and take a very careful look at both the interior and exterior of the home. I make notes on the things that need to be changed, de-cluttered, rearranged, organized, painted, cleaned, repaired, etc.

I snap a few photos for my own reference.

The planning process begins here. I begin mentally staging the home--what furniture we will use, where we will place it, how we will create focal points, etc.

2.       Written List of Recommendations

Shortly after the visit I send homeowners a detailed list of recommendations. These are tasks for the homeowner to complete before the staging day.

3.       More Planning

I write a list of items (accessories, linens, art, mirrors, furniture, greenery, etc.) that I will need to give the home its final look.

A staging day is then chosen that will work for Tilt, the homeowners and the movers.

4.       Inventory Selection

I go to the warehouse and select the inventory to be used.

5.       Staging Day
                  The stagers (myself and an assistant or two) arrive on site to begin prepping the home before the movers arrive with inventory. Once the inventory has arrived we begin unpacking and get to work!

After a full day of moving furniture, accessorizing, hanging art, changing out linens and more--the home is ready to be photographed for the listing. 

For the homeowner the transformation happens in two phases:

                 Phase 1: after they have completed their homework

                Phase 2: after we have had our staging day

                    *Phase 2 is the most rewarding part!

For Tilt the process takes:

A homeowner visit

Hours of planning

A couple of hours for inventory selection

Occasional shopping trips if inventory is low or if something special is needed

A few hours of administrative tasks (dealing with contracts, payments, scheduling movers and assistants if needed, etc)

And a full staging day

(It is also necessary to go back once the home is sold to take everything apart, wrap it, pack it and return it to the warehouse--this is the de-staging process.)

In the end--the process is an amazing transformation that is well worth it! Staged properties, of course, spend less time on the market and sell for more money!

These are some photos of a recent staging job. This occupied home received the accepted offer after just 10 days on the market! We staged almost every room in the home but I will just share a few photos today.

Note: the original photos are the ones that I quickly snapped for my own memory-- I decided to post them today because of the content of this post. Normally they are not shared but used as a planning tool.

Dining Room

Originally:

Phase 1:

 



Phase 2:

Living Room
Originally:

Phase 1:

Phase 2:

Kitchen

Originally:                                           Phase 1:

Phase 2:

Bonus Room

Originally:                                            Phase 1:

Phase 2:

Little Girls Room

Originally:                                    Phase 1:

Phase 2:

So that is a little bit about how we stage occupied homes!

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Jill

More Modern Home Staging

Staging a house has nothing to do with personal style and everything to do with the style of the home and with the potential buyer demographic. It is all about marketing! Attract the right potential buyers, wow them, and sell the house for top dollar!

Lately many of my client's homes have more modern finishes and I have been staging them accordingly!!! 

Have a look at the modern style of the home recently staged in the Ravines of Richford (to view the listing click *here*). The clean and simple finishings in this home are relected in the way in which it has been staged.

What do you think?

Have a wonderful sunny Saturday!

Jill

Modern Home Staging

UPDATE: Sold in 10 days with multiple offers.

Recently Tilt staged a beautiful new duplex in the fabulous neighborhood of Riverdale.
I went for a modern look in a very neutral color pallet. The space turned out looking spacious, clean, simple and fabulous!

Check out the virtual tour here.
Please note: the cord for the one lamp in the master suite, was hidden when I left.
Also the silver coral piece in the master bathroom, was placed on the other sink that now appears empty. They must have had to move a few things when the shower glass got installed. It's hard for a perfectionist to see things changed after they leave! :)

You can view the full listing on Dawn Fargey's website aswell.

Have a wonderful day!
Jill

Edmonton Reno Show 2012

I have been extremely busy lately with business and with planning our wedding! In 16 days I will be a Mrs.   Though it’s rather delayed I thought I would share the little booth I staged for Wall 2 Wall Media for the Edmonton Reno Show that took place in January.

Wall to Wall Media Inc. is the creator of the Home Decor and Renovations magazines you can pick up for free at the exits of many grocery stores.  They have a number of other publications including New Home Buyers Guide and Renters Guide.

I had a couple of the Renovations magazine covers enlarged to use as the art work--so it was obvious who the booth was hosted by.  I used the colors that were in the magazine cover as inspiration for the booth. Although red is not my favourite color, it is the best attention grabber. The zebra print chair, of course, is great for attention-grabbing as well!

Here’s a shot of the print ad that Wall 2 Wall created for the New Home Buyers Guide for Tilt. 

I will be doing their booth for the Home and Garden show this March as well. If you’re heading to the show keep an eye out for it...or don’t and tell me if you noticed it anyway!

I have been busy meeting with lots of re-design clients. It seems this nice warm weather has people motivated to make some changes.  It’s not quite the spring rush but it seems like people are ready for winter to be over (if it has even happened yet). I hope to have some time this weekend and next week to edit some photos and share more staging pictures soon!

 Have a wondeful day!

Jill

Redesign: Editing and enhancing what you already have!

Beautifying spaces is my true passion. I love transforming homes for sale, homes for living and stores for selling. There are various ways to change the look of  homes as I see it...

Staging is the art and science of preparing a home for sale

Redesign is using what clients have and editing it to make it even better.

Interior decorating involves creating total looks--from furniture to accessories.

Interior design is designing the whole space--from the floors, to the windows, to the walls and everything in-between.

My focus, passion and experience is really with staging, redesign and interior decorating.

I find that many people have a difficult time with the finishing touches that really pull a room together. For me, it is important to see where the homeowner wants to go and then to take it to the next level. I recently worked with an amazing client, Cindy, to accessorize her space. Cindy wanted me to “finish off” her entryway, great room, master bedroom and master bathroom. Her main pieces, including most art and furniture, were already purchased. Much of her art had purple in it so we used that as our jumping- off point!

(The before pictures were, unfortunately, snapped with my iphone for my own reference so they are not taken from the right angles, etc. Only later did I decide I wanted to show some before photos.  I can’t tell you how often I get started on a job before taking the before pictures-- happens all the time! I just get too excited.)

Entryway Before:

Entryway After: This wallpaper was purchased from Home Depot believe it or not! It gives the entryway some serious interest and really draws the eye to the 9 foot ceilings.

Sitting Area Before:

Sitting Area After:

New purple drapery, dark pillows and a beautiful grey shag rug add texture and dimension. The chrome side table is one of my favourites from Urban Barn. The ottoman was another great find at Bouclair. It’s functional and looks good too.  The blingly chandelier lamp was also a Bouclair Purchase.

Dining Area Before:

Dining Area After: These custom, upholstered cornice boxes are a modern shape, helping  to bring more color into the room.  (Note: the vases will be finished with some modern twigs.)

Living Room Before:

Living Room After:

Custom drapery on the main large window makes a statement here! Another modern area shag rug grounds the space and defines it.  Purple pillows from Urban Barn add more texture and color.  The fireplace wall was painted a darker shade to draw more attention to it. Two new side lamps, found by the client, add much needed lower level lighting.

Master Bedroom Before:

Master Bedroom After:

Cindy purchased a King sized bed and new bedding which is why the space looks so much different! I found these two awesome lamps (only one showing here- they are flanking the bed) with light purple shades at Home Sense. I purchased the framed art at Chintz and Co (ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE STORES!). The drapery was another great find at Bouclair!

Master Bathroom Before: (I think this is my favourite part!)

Master Bathroom After:

The towels, chrome vase, towel bar, candle and stand and soap dispenser, were all great finds at Home Sense--all on one lucky afternoon.  The art with all the right colors and the perfect size was another Bouclair find. I found the dramatic damask backed velvet chair at Pier One.

One more time…Master Bathroom Before:

Master Bathroom After:

What do you think?

Enjoy the rest of the week!

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you and your family a happy and safe new year!

(Our blingy Christmas dinner table)

All the best,

Jill

The Post-Staging Feeling!

It is funny how I fall in love with a property after I have staged it.

I am rarely drawn to a vacant property when I first walk through the door.  I visit vacant properties to calculate a staging cost; going from room to room, taking measurements and scribbling down what furniture and art is necessary. I have never thought to myself that I would want to buy the property, pre-staging....

After we have worked our magic and staged the property- I suddenly want it! Even though I can picture what a room would look like before it is staged, I don’t get that urge to buy the property until it is staged. It works on me every time! It is the post-staging feeling- and it is why I love my job and why I know staging works!

Here is a shot of a room we staged recently. Unfortunately the movers beat me there. When I arrived this room was filled with boxes of accessories and all sorts of furniture for different rooms- so there is no before picture. Still I think you can imagine what this very panelled room looked like before.

By adding the light rug and dark furniture, the wash of wood tones is broken up. Wood panelling suddenly looks cool! Even I changed my mind about it!

The chaise lounge and the starburst mirror have an updated retro-feel that really works in the space.

If only this property were still on the market- I could be loving and living in this wood panelled roomJ.