How to hire a realtor? Home Staging Cost part 3 of 4

Okay, now that you have cleaned, prepped and had your home staged.  You have had a appraisal from an independent appraiser so you know what your home is worth and you have checked out the comparable in your neighborhood.  Now its time to put the for sale sign in front of the house.   What do you look for in a Real Estate Agent?  I have bought 7 and sold 6 homes and have lots of stories about various agents.   You want an agent that dresses properly, call me old fashion but it tell me a lot about their dedication to their business.  You are hiring them, they should respect you and what you want done.  Hire a professional photographer, gosh I can not tell you how important that is. Open Houses insist on it!   Contact us for our picks of realtors  http://harmonizehomes.com/contact/

If you missed part one and part two click on links.

Talk with recent clients

Ask the real estate person that you are interviewing for a list of their clients that you can call to check on their references.   Ask them what their listing price was and what their selling price was.    Another good question to ask is how long was your house on the market?

Look up the licensing

States will have boards that license and discipline real estate agents.. Check with your state's regulatory body to find out if a prospective agent is licensed and if there have been any disciplinary actions or complaints. The information may be posted online.

Pick a winner

Peer given awards such as the Realtor of the Year Award.  Agents are best at judging their peers.

Select an agent with the right credentials

Doctors have specialties, and so do real estate agents. Even generalists will get additional training in some areas. So, the alphabet soup after an agent's name can be an indication that the person has taken additional classes in a certain category of real estate sales. Here's what some of the designations mean:

• CRS (Certified Residential Specialist): Completed additional training in handling residential real estate.
• ABR (Accredited Buyer's Representative): Completed additional education in representing buyers in transactions.
• SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist): Completed training aimed at helping buyers and sellers in the 50-plus age range.

Research how long the agent has been in business

Ultimately, what you're looking for is someone who is actively engaged in a particular area and price range. You'll want an agent to demonstrate knowledge of the area and homes in your range and show what kind of market presence they have. 

Look at their current listings

Check out an agent's listings online.  Make sure that their listings are using professional photographers.  You don't want agents using their cell phones or I pads which happen to me at one of my homes.   Places to look include the agency's own website and sites such as Realtor.com, which offer a searchable online database of properties in the Multiple Listing Service.
Most buyers start their search on the internet, and you want an agent who uses that tool effectively One important key is what their own website looks like and their agencies.
Look at how closely the agent's listings mirror the property you want to buy or sell. Are they in the same area? Is the price range similar? And does the agent have enough listings to indicate a healthy business but not so many that you'd just be a number?

Ask about other houses for sale nearby

A good agent should know about other area properties that are available off the top of his head.  Mention a house in your area that's sold recently or is for sale. If the agent knows the property and can give you a few details, that means he or she really knows your area, he says. You want someone like that, who's on top of the market.

References:

National Association of Realtors
How to vet a Real Estate Agent

Harmonizing Homes for our realtor picks

Do I need to use a Home Stager? Home Staging Costs and Types Part 2 of 4

YOUR HOUSE IS NEVER MORE VALUABLE THAN THE FIRST DAY IT HITS THE MARKET!  SO IT NEEDS TO LOOK ITS BEST ON DAY 1 !

In today's Digital Media Marketing you are in visual competition instantly as soon as your home hits the MLS. 

As you can see at a click of a button everyone can see your home and what it looks like compared to others.  They can see if it is neat clean and updated, and also if it is cluttered and needs TLC. 

So what can a home stager do for you the home owner.  Staging make you money, it creates a strong marketing image.  Stagers work in both occupied and vacant situation. The first step with staging starts with a consultation.  These consultations can range anywhere from 150.00 - 300.00 per hour, usually with a two hour minimum.  After the consultation  the stager  gives you all of the suggestion on what to do to improve your home or they can do it all for you.   Some stagers have their own furniture along with accessories.  Other stagers use furniture rental companies for their projects and rent you their own accessories.  Furniture rental is usually for a three month period of time and than can be rented one month at a time. 

Hiring a stager actually frees up your realtor to market your home and negotiate the offers that come in...they don't have to worry about getting your home presentable for the market.

The cost of staging varies for region to region.  You can get a ball park figure on the actual cost of staging by multiplying 1.25 per square foot of the rooms that you are going to stage.  You have to add in delivery fees, furniture and accessory fees and floor plan fees. 

Home Stagers are  visual marketers and they market your home according to the demographic that the realtor is focusing on. 

As recent as last week we were asked to view a vacant property for sale by owner.  We went to the property prepared our proposal according to the homeowners recommendations; which was living area, dining area, master bedroom and all bathrooms.  Our proposal included all the furnishings, rugs, accessories and art work staging and delivery. Are all in cost for the staging was $3,635. He declined and decided to do it himself.  Realtors had advised him it was not necessary to do a full staging.  See link of home staged by homeowner.  The home has four bedrooms but showing only dining seating for 4, entertainment seating for 3.  It is not portraying the homes potential, instead it is showing the potential buyer that there is very little living space.  So be mindful in taking recommendations from no professional home stagers. 

Showing a home  vacant is like showing off your naked body it better be perfect!

Here are some photo's of what staging can produce. With working with the home owner stagers are able to make the best use of the space and highlight notable features.  If you are going to hire a home stager make sure the staging company has insurance and is certified.  A good reference to find a stager in your area is RESA, Real Estate Stating Association.  Follow link for a listing in your area.

Lastly use a good real estate photographer . 

Here are some before and after photo's of work we did this past year!

 

I hope this was helpful to you...remember first impressions count.  For more information you can contact me  by following this link send me your questions.  If you didn't read part one of the four part series I have attached the link to part one.

Corinne

  

What do I need to do to prepare my home before it hits the market.

We are approaching the golden months where homeowner want/need to get their homes on the market. So for first time home sellers, whether you have been in your home for 3 years or 30 years.... there are a lot of questions.  What do I need to do to prepare my home?  Do I need a home stager? How much does it cost?  How do I find a realtor with great marketing skills?  I will be addressing these questions and other questions pertaining to selling your home.  As one of the top 10 2017 winner of Real Estate Staging Association Occupied Home Staging we know a little bit about getting your home ready for market.

  What do I need to do to prepare my home? 

The very first thing that you need to do is to de-personalize your self from your home and look at it as a product that needs to be sold.  What do you have to do to sell this product? Set a time line and schedule to complete all of the items that I have listed below. 

1.  First thing is to go through the closets, garage basement and attic and declutter.  Donate, Sell, Dump.  The more you get rid of the less you will need to move.

2. Second is to go through your main living area of your home and weed through your books, knickknacks, and person items.  If you have a lot of items that you want to bring with you to your new location - rent a storage unit off site.  

3.  Make minor repairs such as caulking around the bath tub(s) and showers.  Fix leaky faucets and/or replace them for a sleeker new design.  Fix all holes and cracks in walls.  A fresh coat of paint is highly recommended in all cases, but especially if you have darker color walls.   Change all burned out light bulbs. 

My recommended paint colors from Benjamin Moore:  

Neutral Beiges

Manchester Tan HC81

Carrington Beige HC93

Grant Beige HC83

Hazy Skies OC48

Neutral Gray

Stonington GrayHC170

Seattle Mist 1535

Gray Owl OC52

Colors

Paris Rain 1501

Grey Cashmere 2138-60

Dunmore Cream HC29

Gray Wisp 1570

4. CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN !!! Bleach grout, power spray the outside of your house and walk ways, wash all windows inside and out.   Clean and wax floors, don't forget the moldings in your home.  Replace all worn entry rugs with new ones. Have all your rugs steamed cleaned.   Oh, and if you have drip pans in on your stove, replace them with new ones.   Change all burned out light bulbs. 

5.  You want to make sure that all of your safety equipment is in working order and you have fire extinguishers.

After all of this is completed you will be ready for an appraisal of your home.   Your home will appraise higher  if all of the above is completed prior to the appraisal.  I have attached this article regarding appraisals. http://www.maxrealestateexposure.com/appraisers-look-real-estate-appraisal/

  

Some Great Staging Pieces for the Spring Market

Call us today to set up a consultation for your home.  We are running a special through February $250.00 for a staging consultation.

917-699-1262 

#HomeStaging, #Harmonizing Homes#Spring Market

Real Estate Off Season

As Home Stagers and Designers we have our  slower months.  In home Staging it is January and February.  During this time of year I like to shop at various markets for new and exciting ideas for Interior Designing and Home Staging . 

A stagers job as most of you know is to create the right mood for the home buyer.   Here are some of my winter picks for accessories and furnishings all of these can be found on LuxeDecor  

Accent Table by Hooker

Rug by Allyah

Coffee table by Armen

Bench by Uttermost

Clock by Sterling

Lamp by Curry and Company

Florals by John Richards

Hamper by Colonial Mills

Throw by Jaipur

Tray by Johnathan Charles

Pillow by Lobi

Chair by NYE Koncept

Art work by Pargon Art

Pendant by Bromi Design

Pillows by Kas

Rug by Nourison

Lamps by Safavieh

Mirror by Sterling

Ghost Chair by Stilnovo

Floral Art by Uttermost

Vase by Cyan Designs

How Much Does it Cost to Stage a Home?

Happy New Years!

HGTV has been a great way for many people to understand the benefits of staging.  What it doesn't do is tell you how much it is going to cost.

I run an interior design and home staging company in New Jersey.  I receive telephone calls all the time from folks that start out like this.  " I have a house that I want you to stage, how much will it costs?"

Here is another one:
"Can you give me an idea on pricing for   a 2400 SQ foot house and is it monthly?" Me: is it vacant or occupied?"
"Vacant"
Me:
Typically for a Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen,  Master bedroom  and bathrooms its between 3,000 - 4,000.  Its hard to give you a price, without knowing what furnishings, accessories and artwork we will be needing.  The rental contract is for 90 days.  If the home is not in escrow after 90 days, we do a rental from month to month.  Price is adjustable depending on how many rooms we do.    Once we come out to the property  and see what we need, I will work up a proposal and you can decide on what rooms you want to stage.  I will also provide you with photographs of the furnishings. 

"ok thanks that is far more than I am willing to spend.  Thank you "

I found this article on Fixr that I thought would be helpful for those of you that are thinking of staging your home for the Spring Market.


https://www.fixr.com/costs/home-staging

Call me if you have any other questions

Corinne
917-699-1262