Potential buyers may be surprised by how much preparation goes into a house from the time a homeowner moves out to the first open-house. Most homes don’t undergo an entire remodel, but a cosmetic face-lift can pique a buyer’s interest and even raise the property value.
The first step we take when beginning a new staging project is a site visit of the property. As we walk through the house, we take pictures, plan room layouts, and make notes about potential turn offs from a buyers perspective. Factors such as paint color, wallpaper, outdated light fixtures, and dirty carpet can easily prevent a potential buyer from imagining their new life in this home.
BEFORE Spade and Archer Home Staging
AFTER Spade and Archer Home Staging
More than a year ago, the Portland Spade and Archer team visited a gorgeous 3-story house just outside of Portland with stunning views of the mountains, river, and city. With such a great location and views, the team was confident that the house would get snatched up immediately once listed. Design manager Chanel met with the listing agent Alicia Selliken (a recent guest on Behind the Yard Sign!) and discussed “Priority Preparations” that would need to be completed for the project to be a Guaranteed Stage. This included re-painting the interiors and replacing the carpet throughout, replacing light plates, door knobs, and kitchen appliances.
A couple weeks later, the realtor came back and asked to do Guaranteed Home Staging® Price but had not completed the above list. The Spade and Archer team made an exception since the wallpaper and non-neutrals walls had been painted out. However, the current neutral colors were there were pretty dark and dated the home a bit, but we were all so enamored with the views that we thought if we staged it correctly a potential home buyer may not fixate on the wall colors.
BEFORE Spade and Archer Home Staging
1st Spade and Archer Home Stage
FINAL Spade and Archer Home Staging
Once staged, the was listed from March through September without any serious interest, which was surprising given the home’s beautiful views and unique architecture. In September, the homeowner’s daughter decided to do a “mini-flip”, which entailed replacing deck-railings, repainting the interiors, and eliminating brass fixtures. The Spade and Archer team re-staged in mid-December and it looked like a completely different listing!
In the original staging, Chanel chose art and accessories that would draw attention away from the dijon mustard color of the walls and more towards the view. When a home was non-neutral wall colors, it impacts how each room can be decorated which end up accentuating the paint. A potential buyer doesn’t want to consider what changes will have to be made to their future home before they are able to move in.
BEFORE Spade and Archer Home Staging
AFTER Spade and Archer Home Staging
However, once it had been painted white throughout, Chanel was able to bring in color and more eye-catching furniture to make the space feel more homey. She was no longer just staging for the views, but for the property itself.
Just three days (!) after the house was listed for the second time, it went pending. This was the 4th round of marketing for this property: it went on occupied at first, then vacant, staged with some alterations and then finally completely painted and staged. This almost year-long process really affirmed the success of the “Priority Preparations” system. A freshly painted and updated home invites a potential buyer to image their life there in the future, rather than adapt to the previous owner’s color and design choices.
BEFORE Spade and Archer Home Staging
AFTER Spade and Archer Home Staging
