Have you ever struggled with accessorizing a room to make it feel inviting and to give it a finished look?  First start with a blank slate by removing all items from the room leaving only  the main furniture. Then add interest with lighting, pillows, a few favorite objects and a little something of the unexpected. LOVE the rustic hand-carved fish!

Find a color palette that you love and build upon it with texture and pattern. Mixing patterns adds interest and keeps the "model home look" at bay. 

Stageworks Design is available for consultations or complete room makeovers. 

Call us today! 904-309-1433

Staging Tips for Sellers

Staging is about appealing to a broad range of buyers. It's about creating an image of a lifestyle that buyers can't resist. They need to be able to imagine themselves living in your house.

Staging doesn't require a big budget either. Although, if you have the budget to make your home a showpiece, go for it! In general, though, successful staging means paying attention to the details.

Here are 10 secrets of staging that can help your home sell.

1. Declutter. Clutter can be one of the most distracting aspects of showing a house. Instead of a buyer focusing on the unique architectural details of your room, they focus in on your trinkets and trash. You don't have to toss your decor, just put it away for now.

2. Furniture: Large, oversized furniture can makes rooms look smaller than they are. The converse if true as well. Small furniture in large rooms looks disproportionate.

3. Room true to purpose: You may have your dining room set up as an office or a second bedroom set up as a craft room, but buyers need to see homes true to their purpose. They want to see the formal dining room that was advertised on the MLS. They want to see 2 bedrooms, not one and a craft room.

4. Proper lighting: Good lighting makes everything look better. CFL lights in "daylight" color makes rooms look light and bright even during the evening hours. Be sure all rooms are well lit, including laundry rooms, garages, and closets.

5. Repairs: Most buyers aren't interested in fixer-uppers. They want homes that have been well-maintained. You may have to spend a little time and money to fix broken doors, drawers, and windows. Buyers will notice every loose board and trim piece. Fix it before you start showings!

6. Keep it neutral: It is much easier to imagine putting your mark on a neutral room than it is to imagine yourself living in someone else's Moroccan paradise. Paint is relatively inexpensive. Play it safe and pick out neutral tones.

7. Fresh flowers: It's all about things smelling fresh and clean. Flowers add life and fragrance to a room!

8. Thorough Cleaning: Clean from top to bottom. The basics mean having dishes and laundry done. Deep cleaning means cleaning carpets, removing stains, and scrubbing that bathroom until it sparkles.

9. Staged Dining Area: You can really make a room pop by setting a formal place setting. Outdoor dining spaces also look great set with placemats, chargers, and proper plates and glasses.

10. Hotel Inspired Bedrooms. Boutique hotels do a great job of making bedrooms feel luxurious. You can do the same by updating your bedding and having a liberal use of pillows.

Staging can make your home stand our from your competition. It may mean the difference between selling and not in this tough market.

by Carla Hill

Stage It and Sell it Fast

Today's "Sunday Morning" Show on CBS featured Home Staging and how many Realtors won't even consider taking on a house that isn't staged.

Latest Stageworks News

It's been a busy month for the Stageworks team. We have been doing some redesign projects and a few staging projects as well.

News has reached us of some staging successes in the past few weeks. We are thrilled that our hard work has paid off for our clients.

Deerwood Estates Home - Jacksonville, FL
Offer accepted in 90 days!

Kingswood Residence - Gainesville, FL
Contract signed in 59 days!

Kingswood Charmer

This Charming 3BR/2BA Traditional Home in the popular neighborhood of Kingswood in Gainesville, FL was Stageworks' most recent project.

We chose transitional furnishings to appeal to the broadest range of buyers, making it warm and inviting. With it's lovely lush backyard, and bright & cheery interior, this home is a perfect choice for first time buyers or a growing family.

Freshly painted, new stainless steel appliances, and new tile floor in the family room, kitchen and laundry room make this house a MUST SEE!

See More Photos HERE

1525 NW 51ST Terrace Gainesville,32605 Price: $178,500 Claire Jacobson Realtor Direct Phone: (352) 264-2723 Cell Phone: (352) 214-4802 Office Phone: (352) 372-5375 Office: Northwest 39th Ave Contact Me View My Profile View My Listings Judy Boles Realtor Direct Phone: (352) 264-3074 Cell Phone: (352) 538-5108 Office Phone: (352) 372-5375 Office: Northwest 39th Ave Contact Me View My Profile View My Listings

See more samples of our work at

www.stageworksredesign.com

Another Home Sold After Being Staged by Stageworks

The owners of this lovely Jacksonville home were savvy enough to know that staging was necessary if they wanted it to catch the attention of buyers who were searching online. They were living in the home and had great furnishings, but the overall appeal needed a boost. By rearranging, simplifying, brightening and lightening, the house shined above the competition.

And because of their foresight,
they received a contract in only 53 days!

Remember.....your house doesn't have to be vacant in order to benefit from an experienced staging professional. Often a simple rearranging of furnishings will do the trick. If new items are needed for a finished look, the home owner has the new updated items to take along to their new home.

Staging and interior design are completely different. Design is very personal and specific to how a homeowner lives in their space. Home Staging is about depersonalizing your space, while keeping it warm and inviting.

In 2011, staged homes will have a huge advantage over homes that are cluttered and dark. You can't afford NOT to stage in this economic climate.

Our Most Recent Staged Home

Located on 5 acres of land and surrounded by majestic oaks, this English Tudor home has it all. the main home has 4 bedrooms, office, formal living room and dining room, family room with massive stone fireplace and library. The kitchen is designed to accommodate the best of all cooks. Professional 6 burner gas range, 3 ovens and warming drawer and sub zero refrigerator are just a few of the amenities that will allow you to prepare a meal for your family or guests. The kitchen has a large breakfast room overlooking the grounds. A lovely guest house remains under the same roof though adjacent to the main home via a covered walkway, which is a great home for guests, parents or teenagers. The main home has a 3 car garage and the guest house has a 1 car garage. A true English estate.

This beautiful home is listed through Keller Williams Realty - Team Generation. You may contact their office at 904-371-5908. Learn more about this house and see all photos here.

Ocala, FL Staging Success!

This house was vacant and on the market for almost one year. The owner was frustrated and confused. She kept hearing it was dirty and small and the living room was difficult to furnish. Often a furnished home can seem larger than if it were vacant, which is counter intuitive, but true. The house was in a great neighborhood, but one which had many homes for sale.

We staged the house with transitional furnishings, keeping it simple and stylish. And while EVERY other house in the neighborhood either went into foreclosure or remained on the market, this house SOLD. It took a few more weeks than our average of 37 days, but quite a success in our eyes, as well as, the happy homeowner.

Our One Day Redesign!

A recent redesign using a lot of what the home owner already had. We had a few new pillows and two chair slipcover made, and pulled items from around the house to make the room cozy and inviting. The two slipper chairs were dull and dated and by having them slipped and placed side by side with the illusion of a single skirt, we created a loveseat.

Later, if the homeowner decides to make a change, she can use them together or apart. Green design in its purest form!

Redesign Made Simple

Often, the thought of hiring an interior designer can be intimidating. How much will it cost? How does it work? I don't know what my style is! Stageworks' no nonsense approach to designing home interiors begins with basic good design elements. We then build upon those basics to create a specific style that expresses the soul of a house and it's inhabitants.

We start with a brief questionnaire to discover your style sensibilities. Then craft a plan to create a room you will love for as little cost as possible. We often can use much of what you already have with a bit of updating using fresh paint or fabric.

The Stageworks team, Nancy & Lauri, will redesign as many or few rooms as you wish. Just need a living room redo? No problem. We can do it in a day or two depending on the scope of the job. Shopping services are offered for a hourly fee. And we'll bring our tools for moving furniture, hanging pictures and we even may take on a small furniture refurbishing project....on site!

Redesigning your home's interior should be fun not stressful. Having two redesign experts at once makes the project move along quickly. And with very affordable fees, you won't find a more cost effective way to redesign your home.

Call us for an in-home analysis today. In Jacksonville call 904-309-1433, and Gainesville 352-384-3950

**Ask about our July Special **

Offer Accepted in 8 Days!

The owner of the lovely Gainesville Duck Pond house informed us that an offer was made within the first week on the market, but not by just one buyer, but three.

"I wanted to let you know that as of yesterday we are under contract.

Thanks so much, I know your work had everything to do with it! Everyone who saw the house thought it showed beautifully. Our realtor kept hearing that the property showed much better than competing properties on the market. I knew staging would help but I never thought anything would bring that kind of interest in this market. We will definitely recommend your services to anyone looking to sell in the area."

Very nice news indeed!

Vintage Duck Pond Bungalow

This 1930's vintage Duckpond home in Gainesville, Florida was a pleasure to stage. Not only were the owners great to work with, the home's charm made our job even more enjoyable.. It is located on a corner lot with a 2 car detached garage. The Craftsman style is accentuated with Cypress paneling, beams and mantel as well as a built in hutch and a bright, cracked tile, Florida Room. The three bedrooms are generously sized with one cedar closet and a built in desk. Home has been continuously updated and meticulously maintained by the loving owners over the years.

If you haven't had a chance to view it in person, make sure to go by and check it out. And view the virtual tour here.

Kitchen/Adjacent Dining and Den

Spacious Living Room

Master Bedroom

Bright and Cheery Sunroom

Bedroom

Amy Catledge & Rick Fowler
ERA Trend Realty
4141 NW 37th Place
Gainesville, FL 32606
(352) 359-0327 Amy Cell
(352) 262-0597 Rick Cell
(352) 378-2470 Fax
Email: acatledge@eratrend.com

An Evening With Candice Olson

Lauri, Candice Olson, Nancy and Betsy

The Stageworks team recently attended the High Point Market, the largest wholesale furniture show in the world. We had the opportunity to spend a little time with Candice Olson of Divine Design, who has designed a stunning line of furniture for Revco International.

Watch the Video With Candice at the Revco Showroom.

Aside from Revco International, the designers outdid themselves with cutting edge showroom designs. While the list of our favorites is long, two special awards honored the most creative and innovative exhibitors.


Best of Market Award
Four Hands

Known for providing an eclectic mix of products collected from a variety of different countries, expressing the aesthetic ideals of numerous cultures, Four Hands has established itself as trend-setting leader in the home furnishings industry. Judged as the very best at the Fall 2009 High Point Market, this showroom–designed by Stephen Cannato, Justin Hatch and Fran Weil–makes exceptional use of color, lighting and textures to create a visually rich and emotionally engaging experience.

People's Choice Award (New)
Global Views

Launched this year to honor the voice of market attendees, the High Point Market People’s Choice Award takes showroom competition to a whole, new level. Not only does the winning exhibitor have to present a spectacular display, they have to develop and implement a strategy to get their guests to vote.

Global Views, winner of the High Point Market’s 2009 People’s Choice Award, excelled in both aspects of the competition. Their showroom design was so creative and compelling that it earned Second Runner Up status in our juried Best of Market. On top of that fine performance, the Global Views team also did an exceptional job of promoting their display.

We're Full of It

Municipal waste, that is.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, furniture and furnishings make up 5.5% of the more than 169 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) that was discarded in 2007.*

Stageworks doesn't want to continue adding to this "disposable economy" mindset by buying furniture that lasts about as long as the football season.

So, along with new purchases, our warehouse is full of furnishings that we have purchased from estate sales, private owners, Craigslist, etc. With a discriminating eye, we buy only fine pieces of classic design that span many different styles and tastes.

From antiques to mid-century modern to contemporary, we try to keep as much fine furniture in circulation as possible. This means that when we stage your house, it won't look like the typical model home. Adding pieces with character makes a house feel more livable. It makes a house feel more like a home. And buyers will be more likely to fall in love with a home that feels good than one that has an expected, cookie cutter look.

So maybe you should rethink that new dining table or buffet. Using a piece with history can infuse your home with that little something different. It shows that you have a creative streak and that you care about the environment to boot.

*Source: 2007 MSW Characterization Report

An Offer in 7 Days!

Before we could get the photos together to post on our website, the Realtor informed us that the homeowners of our last staged home received an offer. We are crossing our fingers that an agreement will be met soon. Could it be the beautiful and stylish interiors helped them visualize their family making it a happy home?

This could be a record for us....7 Days!

Before & After

You can view more photos and the full profile of the home here.

$1,275,000 Home - Contract in 51 Days!

One of our recent staging projects has just received an offer and if all goes as expected, will close in a few weeks.

Look for our upcoming ad in the San Marco Magazine's September Issue


The owners were savvy enough to know that competing with the two homes directly adjacent to theirs would take some smart marketing. So they staged it BEFORE it was listed. Stageworks made the home a standout with simple furnishings, stylish updates and infused it with a sense of balance.

And the cost of staging was far less than what a monthly mortgage payment is for a house in this price range. By selling quickly, they saved thousands in carrying costs and now can move forward with their life. This is why we put that extra effort into all of the details. Happy sellers, happy buyers and money in the Realtor's pocket.

51 DAYS, that's worth celebrating!

I Don't Understand Why More Agents Don't Suggest Staging

Don Tepper of Fairfax, Va. recently answered that question on Trulia.

"I'm an agent in Virginia (and a real estate investor), and my wife is a home stager. So here's a double perspective, at least from the East Coast.

A couple of years ago, agents didn't see the need for stagers because the houses would sell without staging. Sure, the argument was that they'd sell for more, or (except during the peak, when anything would sell instantly) that they'd sell more quickly. But someone who'd bought at, say, $250,000 didn't much care whether that home'd sell for $600,000 or $625,000, or that it'd sell in 15 days rather than 30 days. So, some agents who began their careers then don't have the perspective to understand the benefits of staging.

But today is different. And the agent's mantra is "Price is everything" and "If it's not selling, lower the price." Well, sure, nearly anything will sell at some price. But not all agents (and homeowners) understand that it may be far more economical to stage a home for, say $5,000 than to cut the price by $15,000. That's especially true if the house doesn't show particularly well. It doesn't have to be a dump...and that's what agents don't understand.

In addition, not all agents are willing to be honest with their clients about their homes. You have someone who has lived in a home for 25 years and it's their pride and joy. There are the pictures of their three children on the walls...many of the walls. Plus hubby's diplomas and certificates of achievement. There's the artwork they bought in Peru, and the Chinese wall hangings they acquired over there. They're religious, so there are plenty of framed prayers and pictures on the wall. The last of their kids is at college now, but the kids' rooms were the way they left them--little Sally liked pink, so everything in the one bedroom is pink. Billy was a bit of a rebel and liked black. He wasn't really a goth, but that's the style of his room. The whole house is full of memories. It takes a good agent to talk reality to the owners. Many of them don't have the courage to do so.

I don't disagree with Phil that many clients don't want to pay for the service. Partially, it's because they don't understand the benefits, and their agents haven't informed them of the benefits. ("Well...we could stage it. It'll cost you some money up front and there's no guarantee it'll sell your house. You can do it if you want, but most of my other clients haven't. And, really, price is what's going to sell your house. Now, let's talk about a price readjustment. I can get that into the MLS this evening."

The agents out here who've tried it seem to see the value in it. And I've seen some agents who've taken the courses themselves and actually do a pretty good job themselves. It's not "real" staging, but it does declutter, organize, and better present the house. And I know some investors (rehabbers) who really see the value in staging. They're willing to spend some money to sell a house quickly for top dollar."

We agree, Don!

Recent Staging Project - Virtual Tour

2105 SALT MYRTLE LN, ORANGE PARK, FL

We posted some photos of the Pace Island Residence a few days back, and now the listing is active and the virtual tour of the house is up and running.

This prestigious Pace Island Estate is located in Northeast Florida on the St. Johns River. It has the most spectacular views. In fact, when taking our breaks during staging, we took advantage of the vista once or twice by strolling out onto the private dock. What gorgeous sunsets we have in Florida!


To view the entire house, visit Linda Hurlbert's (Watson Realty Corporation) listing here.

And if you know anyone who is looking for a wonderful Florida home on the water, that is convenient to downtown Jacksonville, the beaches and lots of great schools, museums and shopping, be sure send them a link to the listing.

It's Never Too Late to Stage

When presenting a staging proposal, we find that the biggest obstacle to overcome is convincing sellers that it really will save them money in the end. Considering carrying costs, monthly mortgage payments, insurance, etc., the cost to stage is very small.

Let's say your house is on the market for $300,000 and it hasn't sold in several months. You decide to reduce your price. If you lower you price by only 3%, it would be a $9,000 reduction. Staging cost vary, but a good rule of thumb is .5 - 2% of the selling price for an average sized home. If you Stage your property instead of reducing your price, you could gain $3,000-$7,500!

Often you can forgo costly renovations by staging. By lightly furnishing a home, your online photos will get the attention of online house hunters much quicker than boring, empty rooms. And it gives your Realtor an opportunity to re-list with the info that it has been professionally staged. Other Realtors will be much more likely to show a staged home than an empty one.

A majority of the homes we stage have been on the market for some time before we do our magic. One house was on the market for the better part of a year. It was furnished, but was cluttered and had no obvious traffic pattern or balanced room arrangements. After staging and some fresh paint, the home received two offers within two weeks. They accepted an offer 23 days after staging. And this is not an isolated incident.

Stageworks' average "days on the market" after staging is 37 days! That is right in line with national statistics.

See the most recent staging statistics here.

Common Mistakes Home Sellers Make

Stageworks recently staged a home on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville. Sadly, the home owner had past away, but the family understood the importance of making the best possible impression BEFORE listing it.

Often we hear, "Let's wait to see what happens, and if it doesn't sell, then we'll consider staging it". This is a big mistake many home sellers make.

There are several reasons why staging before listing the property is the best plan of action.

• Those house hunters who first view the property will not likely come back to see it again after staging if the first impression was ho-hum. So, the sellers have lost the opportunity to wow those first - and possibly most interested - buyers forever.
• Statistics are clear that staged homes sell faster and by selling faster, there's no need for a price reduction.
  
• The photos of a staged home will grab online lookers much quicker than houses with empty or cluttered rooms.

Using much of what the homeowner already had, we created a warm and inviting environment. The goal is to create a flow to the home, eliminate clutter and allow the buyer to see how rooms work when furnished with just the right amount of pieces.

After the staging was complete, we walked through with the V.P. of Wachovia Bank's Trust Department. Her first comment was "It's really amazing, what you did makes the house seem more like a home. What a difference - you guys really have the touch!"

Before and After

The next step is to have professional photos taken of the home and place it on the market! We're sure this one will go fast.