Top Ten Staging Tips from Dekora

Here's an interesting article from Dekora, a leading home staging company based in Vancouver, BC. Some interesting staging tips that may be of value to you if you may be thinking of selling your home, or know someone else who may be.

Your Home Is Your Product.
To maximize the value of your home and the speed of its sale, your home should be properly merchandised and displayed like any 'product' that is offfered for sale. Packaging and merchandising are critical factors in the world of sales - and you are now on the market.

First Impressions Count.
You never get a second chance at a first impression, so attempt to walk through your property in the shoes of your prospective buyer. Look at your entire home with an honest eye and discern what needs improvement and / or enhancements.

De-Clutter.
You're not hiring an agent to sell your personal things. Organize. Purge. If it's not in daily use does it really need to be here? It's okay to have storage for your "stuff," as we all have stuff. But try to keep it minimized, neat and organized. You will have to think 'show home' while you are de-cluttering and that less does mean more. Don't forget the cupboards, display cabinets and closets... It may be time for that garage sale.

De-Personalize.
Why take down the family reunion photo and the wedding pictures? Prospective buyers are walking through imagining themselves living in your home. They can easily become destracted by your personal photos and mementos, and they will start to focus on who you are and how you live rather than imaging themselves living there.

Clean, Clean, Clean.
Your home should be 'hotel' clean and odour free before you consider putting it on the market and showing it to prospective buyers. A lack of cleanliness says much more than words to those who are touring through, and it can literally cost you thousands at the bottom line. If you cannot do it yourself, spend a small amount to have the professionals come in. Ask them to tend to the areas that are time consuming for you, such as baseboards, window treatments, and other infrequent stops in your cleaning routine.

Repair.
If a door squeaks, a handle is wobbly or a drawer does not open or close smoothly; then git it fixed. Buyers will notice and they will make judgements on the maintenance level and upkeep of the rest of your property, based on that one small thing. A $500 repair to you means a $5000 reduction in the price to the prospective buyer.

Paint Colour and Condition.
Keep it neutral! Boring? To you maybe, but highly desirable to prospective buyers. Their thought process simply put is that they can move in without having to first spend time and money to paint over your favorite colours.All the decorating shows love to reveal "after" photos of dramatic, colourful rooms. That may help to sell a TV show to a viewer, but it will not help sell a home to a buyer. If it did, we would see more show suites at new developments painted flashy colours.

Reduce.
Reduct the amount of furnishings in your home. Are any rooms in your home filled with too much furniture? Are there furnishings too large for the room? Aim to give your room some breathing space for two immdiate reasons. First, it allows the prospective buyer to fully appreciate the space. Second, it allows an easy traffic flow. Pedestrian gridlock while viewers are walking through your home does not sell "spacious living"

Light.
Sunny and bright interiors are more appealing and therefore easier to sell. Clean your windows inside and out. Check for burnt out light bulbs. Replace low wattage with brighter bulbs. We may not want to live in such bright light all the time, but it does reinforce the fact that you have a bright interior to offer.

Decor Touches.
Pay very close attention to the small details that help in forming the overall impression of your property. Fresh cut flowers, a bowl of fresh fruit, a small potted plant... When your prospective buyer leaves after viewing, they will be discussing what they saw based on their overall impression of the home.

Dekora is located at 3498 Bridgeway Street, Vancouver BC
For more informative tips, visit dekora.com

Home Prices Down; Affordability Improves in BC

According to the latest British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) report, residential sales by dollar volume declined by 39 per cent to $2.1 billion in September, compared to September 2007. Residential unit sales were down 34 per cent to 5,107 units during the same period. The average MLS® residential price in the province was $412,149, down 7 per cent from September 2007.

“Weaker consumer demand and a large number of homes for sale are having an impact on home prices in the province,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “Despite relatively strong fundamentals, consumer confidence is low. The global liquidity crisis and volatile equity markets are intensifying this sentiment, causing many households to pull back spending on major purchases.”

“However, affordability is improving,” added Muir. “The carrying cost of the average home in the province is now lower than at any time since the end of 2006.”

The Million Dollar Question: Should you buy now or wait and see?

A client of mine, who is relocating to Vancouver, recently asked if she should wait a little longer to see if housing prices fall further before buying a home. Will the market hit bottom? Should she buy now or take the wait and see approach?

This is my feeling and this is what I told her:

I don't think there's any urgency at all, but I would definitely see this as an opportunity to find the perfect place that you're going to love living in for the next couple of years. The number of listings will decrease as Christmas approaches, at the same time there will also be less Buyers so the chances of getting a bit of a deal become greater if the right property comes on the market.

There's no rush to find you a place and we're happy to continue showing you properties for as long as it takes for you to feel like you're buying the right property at the right time. Seeing what's on the market with you is what keeps us up to date on pricing and values...

I think we have a pretty good idea of what you're looking for and we'll certainly make an extra effort to reach you if a great home come up... and in the meantime, we can send new listings along to keep you up-to-date but we certainly don't want you to feel like you have to see or respond to them at all.

My opinion is that there's always a reason to buy as well as not to buy... Personally, I've always felt more comfortable 'being in the market' and taking advantage of a good opportunity...

If you're buying something within a 10 miles radius of the city and you have a little piece of dirt under you, I don't think you can really go wrong.

The Vancouver Market: Spring 2008

The Real Estate industry is a key economic driver in British Columbia.

"We continue to see the market rebalance, particularly with detached properties, where listings climb and sales either hold or decline slightly," says REBGV president Brian Naphtali. "This shift increases buyer options and allows people more time to make decisions when purchasing a home."

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The Globe and Mail Reports: Dog Owners Find a Bone in Condo Developments

An interesting and welcome piece of news to many dog-owners is the inclusion of dog-friendly design in the development of condominiums in downtown Vancouver.

What exactly does this mean?

One developer has incorporated rooftop dog-runs into the design of the building. On the eight floor will be a 2000 square foot dog-run consisting mostly of bark mulch. This is a significant step to ease the life of dog-owners, providing more security, more convenience, and more thought for the urban dog-owner.

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Vancouver and Victoria Houses Prices to Soar Another 12%

Credit Union Central of B.C. expects housing prices to soar again this year and next. First time home-buyers are fast becoming extinct in this expensive market. The Credit Union Central of B.C. suggests another 12% increase this year alone.

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