All I did was....Home Staging Success Stories

Michelle Finnamore, owner of Advantage Staging has been nominated for the Ontario Home Builders SAM Award for best decorated model under 2200 sq. ft.

This model home was designed for the site in Alliston by Devonleigh Homes.

Features include using eco friendly finishes to market the homes to buyers that are concerned about indoor air quality.

Quartz counter tops, low VOC carpet and paint and natural stone were used to improve the indoor air quality.

This home's design focus was to make the kitchen the backdrop for the cook in the family to entertain family and friends. The open concept kitchen looks out to the dining room/ living room as well as having the option to have guests sit at the counter while the cook demonstrates their cooking skills.

The master bedroom and ensuite is one of pure indulgence. More than once I heard myself saying.... and why doesn't my house look like this?

Take a look and see what a professional home stager can do to build public awareness for your new home construction site.

Remember the four golden rules that home staging strives to produce-

* Attract attention

* Gain interest

* Create demand and desire

* Initiate action on the part of the buyer

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Advantage Staging serving Toronto, Vaughan, Woodbridge, Maple, King City, Richmond Hill, Barrie, Alliston and area.

416.928.2999

705.720.0113

In this home staging in Vaughan I wanted to show sellers and agents the importance of their listing photos. This condo had a beautiful kitchen but it was difficult to see in photos with the accumulation of day to day living. Hectic lifestyles leave little time to get your home ready for sale.

Fortunately, this seller listened to the suggestions I made to stage their home for sale and the results were dramatic.

All I did in this home staging was put everything away and pack up the items that weren't required for the next 60 days. The 60 day rule allows sellers to figure out very quickly which items to keep and which items to pack away for the move.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Advantage Staging, preparing your home for sale in Vaughan.

Listing clients ask me all the time.... do I really have to do all this work to prepare my home for sale?

The short answer is yes if you want to ask top dollar and sell your home in the shortest amount of time possible.

Buyers are busy people just like you and me.

They book 5, 6 or 10 houses to look at in one day. They spend less than 5 minutes in your home if you have not given them something to capture their attention.

Give buyers what they are looking for- clean, modern decor and rooms arranged for good flow that show how you can live in a home.

Your home is a product for sale. It is up to you to market it by having it professionally staged. 

Advantage Staging creates desire in the buyers mind and helps to initiate action on the part of the buyer to make an offer.

In this home staging  the bedroom went from "use your imagination here" to "move right in to your new master bedroom".

Investiment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Winner of the Trailblazer Company of the Year Award   2009

In this example of home staging I would like to show Realtors and home owners the value in the buyers perception of a property when you take the time to tidy up and create a home that is ready to be shown.

Buyers spend less than 5 minutes viewing your home so it is wise to paint the picture for them to see how they would live in your home. It is in your best interest as a seller to present your home as "move in ready".

65% of buyers have stated that they will pay more for a move in ready home.

All I did in this home staging was tidy up, rearrange the furniture from other rooms in the house and place a few rental accessories and props throughout the home.  By doing this I was able to market the home to potential buyers that were looking for their new dream home. One that they could live and entertain in with ease.     

The investment for these two rooms was $300.00.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Winner of the Trailblazer Company of the Year Award  2009

In this example I wanted to show Realtors and home owners what can be accomplished with Home Staging when you have a detailed plan to prepare a home for sale. There is so much to think about when you list your home. It can be overwhelming trying to decide what to do first.Whether you are short on time or ideas calling in Advantage Staging is the first step in getting a plan together to move forward.

Whether you need painters, moving boxes, window cleaning services or just a calm voice in the whirlwind of activity Advantage Staging will guide you in the right direction in a clear and concise way to get you ready for listing photos and open houses.

After the home owner completed the decluttering process all I did was...

provide 4 lamps,1 duvet set and two pictures.

Everything else the home owner already had in the house.I returned for a follow up visit to make sure everything was in place for the listing photos and the agent open house.

This house at 53 Woodlands Heights in Everett now shows how a family can live and entertain in the country with style and elegance. And who wouldn't love that?

For an investment of $500, now this house says "buy me"  and "move in ready".

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

Winner of the Trailblazer Company of the Year Award  2009

This month has seen the number of listings jump dramatically mostly due to the break in the weather.         Once the sun comes out and the snow melts away, people love to dream about their next move.

The difference this year is that more and more Realtors and homeowners are realizing they need three things when listing their house for sale.

1. A detailed marketing plan to sell their property including using new advertising avenues like social media sites and home staging services

2.  To spend less money advertising a property not ready for sale

3. To find a professional home stager to provide a written action plan to stay focused on what is important to do to get the most pay back from money and effort put into preparing the property for sale.

Homeowners and Realtors are realizing they need a plan and that  a Professional Home Staging consultation is the first step to get the most equity out of their property and to have less days on market.

I consulted on this property at 7 Apple Valley in Adjala. The suggestions that I made were carried out by the homeowners.

Is it Staged the way I would I have done it? Not exactly.

But the point is, the property shows well online now.
They are getting traffic to their listing and not wasting their marketing dollars on a property that wasn't ready to show. Plus the homeowner will be able to get back to their regular life sooner with less days on market.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

In this example I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners the importance of showing the purpose of a room. This room was immediately off the front foyer and was being used as a catch all instead of as it's intended purpose, a dining room.

All I did was remove the piano and chair, declutter and add a dining room set and new lighting. Now potential buyers come into the home and immediately see how they could be enjoying dinner with family and friends in this home. The fireplace and bookcase are now the focal points of the room instead of more clutter in the room.

The Realtors job of marketing this home in Barrie is much easier now that Advantage Staging has returned the room to it's intended purpose.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

In this example I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners that buyers want to be able to see the intended purpose of the room and not be distracted by your personal belongings. A Master Bedroom should be marketed and Staged as a retreat from a busy day, a place to rejuvenate and be ready for a new day.

In this property in Barrie, all I did was add neutral bedding and curtains, two lamps of an appropriate size, romantic artwork and decluttered.

Advantage Staging will market your property to stand out from the competition every time.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

In this example I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners how to create a "gift wrapping room" where none existed before.  To create more perceived value and space in a property, I suggested to the homeowner that a "gift wrapping" room was created. Everyone wants one, but hardly anyone has one.

I suggested that an unused portion of the basement be Staged into a gift wrapping centre.

Using an existing table and chair from Ikea  and gift wrapping materials, this is the result. The homeowner purchased the peg board for under  $ 10.00. 

My client is the star here. I gave her a suggestion during the consultation and this is what she came up with.

Advantage Staging will market your property to stand out from the  competition every time.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.

In this example I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners that Staging can create "rooms" within rooms to increase the perceived value of a property.

All I did was Stage the fireplace and writing desk by adding props and accessories and then did a declutter of the room. Now the master bedroom in this property in Barrie is not just a place to sleep. It is now seen as a retreat destination from a busy day. Cuddling up in front of a romantic fireplace or writing notes at the desk.

Advantage Staging will market your property to stand out from the competition every time.

Investment, minimal.

Impact, priceless.