How to Utilize Virtual Home Staging

One of the biggest misconceptions about virtual tours is that it is used to hide imperfections of the home through digital imaging and therefore deceive the potential buyer; this is not what virtual staging is about. In general, whether we are talking about traditional home staging or virtual home staging the overall goal is to add or take away furniture and decor in order to make the house as presentable as possible for new buyers to look at it and visualize themselves there. If you find you are dealing with companies who seem to be doing virtual remodeling to homes in order to make them sell, it is time to find a company who utilizes this form of marketing in the most creative and effective way.

Virtual home staging is most commonly used for vacant houses and the basic premise is the realtor or broker will have a professional photographer or a home stager with photographic experience to take pictures of each room in the house. A virtual home stager will then take these images and re-master them to include furniture layouts, art work on the walls, etc. to create a lived in and at home appeal to any prospective buyer. If you have looked at homes before than you no doubt know how hard it can be to imagine yourself in any given home, this is where virtual home staging can really be a major benefit.

As you begin to search for virtual home staging companies on the market today be aware that not all firms are equal. Just as with any business there are companies out there who are trying to make a quick dollar on experience they simply don't have. Many people have hired virtual home-stagers only to find their finished products to look more like a cartoon than a realistic approach to what their new home may look like. These companies utilize digital images of couches, tables, art work, etc. instead of using actual photos of these items. There is a major difference in quality here and as you begin to search through the many virtual home staging companies online and offline you will quickly learn this.

Don't allow one bad experience sway you from utilizing what could possibly be the most beneficial tool a seller has at their disposal besides their realtor! Buyers today are often already nervous to take the plunge into the ever-changing real estate market. If you can ease their mind and provide them with the unique opportunity to view this property they are interested in but with different furnishings and decor you may have a better chance at a sale.

Speak with your realtor or broker today if you are interested in utilizing virtual home staging. This new technology and way of enhancing a home for sale has really spread like wildfire through the real estate industry in the United States today; why not give it a try for yourself and see what all the talk is about? All the best to you in your adventures.

Home Staging Basics

Do you want your home to sell as quickly and for the most money as possible? Of course you do! We all want to make top dollar and be over the stress of selling a house as fast as we can, and one of the best ways to do that is to stage your home to sell. Here are some key tips to get your house ready so that you can pack up and move on at lightning speed.

De-clutter - this is the first and probably most important rule of home staging. Clutter looks messy and makes the rooms look smaller. Buyers may think that the house doesn't offer enough storage space to meet their needs. Pack up non-essentials such as extra toys, small kitchen appliances used twice a year, books, clothes, anything that is taking up valuable space and won't be needed for the next couple months. Attack the kitchen counter with a critical eye and clear the counters as much as possible to show off space and pack junior's artwork and colorful magnets that take up the refrigerator door. Aim for the clean, sleek look that most buyers are looking for.

De-personalize - personal items are clutter's first cousins but much harder to part with. Family photos should be wrapped carefully and put away. It's hard for a new family to see themselves living in the house if your face is staring at them from every tabletop and wall. Similarly, pack any 'stuff' that has an overwhelming theme. Your thirty cat statues or pug memorabilia may be adorable to you, but it can be hard to see the architectural detail of a home if the decor is too distracting. Keep in mind that you want to sell it, and that the goal is to make buyers comfortable enough that they can visualize themselves and their belongings in the house.

Clean (Closets included!) - Maintaining a clean home when it's for sale is critical. You never know when someone will want to do a walk through. Keep the floors swept, tables clear and dust free, and make the beds every morning. Closets should also be well organized and only 75% full. Closets and storage areas are part of the house and potential buyers do have a right to open them. Keeping closets only partially full shows that your home has more than enough storage space. Remember that a house shouldn't just look clean, it should also smell clean. For at least the time being, don't allow smoking in the home and do your very best to eliminate any pet odours.

Open your eyes - You know how if we keep looking at something we don't really see it anymore? Our vision can 'get used' to things we see all the time, so enter each room and take a good hard look at it. Buyers are going to notice the crayon on the walls, chipped paint, faded carpet stains, scratched doors and nail pops. It is well worth it to invest a little time and money into doing paint touch ups, washing the walls, shampooing carpets or anything else necessary to stop unsightly small problems from getting in the way of a great offer.

Decorate - This is really the heart of staging a house. The problem is that most of us actually live in our homes, and it shows. However, especially when your home is for sale, you want the rooms to all be as aesthetically pleasing as possible. During a showing or open house, keep some lamps on and open the curtains to keep the rooms bright. If you've already de-cluttered, it should already be pretty tidy, but adding a few finishing touches can really make a room stand out. Some lit candles add ambiance, moving furniture to better accent the room, and adding bursts of colour adds appeal because it is visually stimulating. A vase of fresh flowers in the entry way or a bowl of bright green granny smith apples on the kitchen table will work wonders for only a few dollars.

Remember curb appeal - the outside of your home is the first thing potential buyer's see and having a good curb appeal will increase the volume of showings or success at an open house Depending on the season, keep the lawn mowed and driveway clear of snow. If you have a bit of a green thumb, some simple plants and basic landscaping is always a plus. Keep the kid's toys put away and consider repainting railings or window frames if they are chipped or rusted.

Basics of Home Staging - Understand All Aspects

Want to get over the anxiety of selling your home as quickly as possible? If yes, then stage your house before jumping into the process of home selling. In simple words, home staging is about preparing your house or getting it ready for immediate sale. The process can help you doll up the interiors, as well as the exteriors of your house, so that the buyers find it appealing enough to purchase it right away. Some of the basics of home staging are as follows -

* De-personalize - Personal articles are the first cousin of clutter. Family photos must be carefully wrapped up to put away somewhere. It is difficult for the buyers to imagine themselves residing in your home, if your family photos are staring hard at them and that too from every wall or tabletop. Likewise, pack other stuff which has a personal touch. Your pug memorabilia or cat statues may be endearing to you however it may get difficult for the buyers to focus on the architectural detailing of your house, if the decoration is very distracting. You need to make sure that the buyers are comfortable enough to visualize themselves, as well as their possessions, in your house.

* De-clutter - This is yet another extremely critical rule of the home staging process. Clutter looks chaotic and can make your rooms appear smaller. Buyers might think that your home does not proffer sufficient storage space for their family needs. So, pack up all non-essentials, like books, clothes, extra toys or anything which you think is taking the valuable space.

* Clean - Keep your house clean, so that whenever someone wants to explore your house, they are not left disappointed. Keep the tables dust free, floors swept and closets well-organized. Storage areas are an essential part of a house and the potential buyers therefore do have the right to check. Keeping the closets partially-full would show that they have sufficient storage space. Apart from looking clean, your house should even smell clean. Well, for this make sure you do not smoke nor let others smoke inside the house. You can also use some special sprays, available in the market, to eliminate pet odors.

* Fix the damages - If you have scratched doors, nail pops, chipped paint, crayon on walls or carpet stains, do not hesitate to invest some money and time in shampooing carpets, washing walls, doing the paint touch-ups etc. It can help to stop the unsightly little problems that can keep you away from an amazing offer.

* Decorate - Now this is what you can call the heart and soul of home staging. When your house is actually for sale, it is important to make all your rooms as aesthetically appealing as possible. During the house viewing, to create an illusion of brighter rooms, you can keep the curtains open and the lamps on. De-cluttering can undoubtedly tidy up the place, but still adding some finishing touches might make your home stand out. For instance, a lovely vase of some fresh flowers or some nice lit candles can add ambience, as they are visually quite stimulating.