RealEstateBuyMe.com: Illinois: Roselle

Happened to be home when Oprah was on this afternoon. The topic was Makeunders. Women who needed less not more. But this also applies to homes. Nate Berkus did a room Makeunder and it inspired me!

Every home that goes on sale needs a makeunder. The less of you, the quicker your home will sell. The bigger and more spacious your home looks the higher it's perceived value.

This means it's really important to edit your stuff so what's really important greets you (and your buyers) when you walk in the door. You want your homes' features to shine, you want buyers to say AH!

The trouble is we tend to keep adding stuff to our homes and don't stop to edit.
I compare it to getting dressed. You've got a great look going but then you keep adding accessories to your outfit. A scarf or two. All of a sudden your great look gets lost. No one will be able to focus on that perfect necklace or pair of shoes because there's too much to look at.

The best outfits are the ones with a simple color palette. A nice pair of jeans, a contrasting top and jacket and some great accent jewelry and shoes.

Your home is no different. It's an extension of who you are but it shouldn't be the catchall for everything you've ever wanted to bring home. Layering is wonderful but you have to know when to stop before your look gets lost.

Start with one room. Treat it like an extension of yourself. How would you dress it?

10 Easy Tips to "Make Under" Your Home

1. Keep in simple, Pick one or two main colors for your walls and floor. The fewer colors the more spacious your home will look.

2. Pick a third and fourth (if desired) accent color . Use these colors sparingly.

3. Keep your surfaces consistent.  Walls should be the same material if possible and painted or finished in the same color on all walls. Floors also. Keep flooring consistent throughout the house.

4. Group your family photos on one wall and use similar frames and mats to keep a unified look. Edit your photos first and keep only the ones you love.

5.  Group your plants also. Your plants will thrive and it reduces watering time. Toss out any that are unhealthy or dying.

6. If a room has more than one use make sure there's a dedicated space for each use. Screens or dividers can help separate living from office or exercise space.

7. Keep your window treatments clean and simple. Heavy window treatments that cut down on light can overpower a room. Invest in some light colored curtain panels instead hung on a simple pole. These look great over inexpensive 2" blinds.

8. Remove area rugs on carpet.  Visually they cut up the floor space and make the room feel smaller.

9. Edit your collections. Keep only pieces you love on display. Again grouping them will create impact and reduce visual busy-ness.

10. Keep it to 5. When in doubt, keep no more than 5 toys or 5 plants or 5 pillows or 5 frames or 5 lamps for example in a room at one time. If you want to add a new piece, take out an old one.

Remember keep it simple. Whether you are getting ready to sell your home or just want to live lighter, a professional home staging consultation can help you with your "makeunder".

Photos are not samples of Hampton Redesign staging but chosen to represent how a simplified color palette can makeunder a room.

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Hampton Redesign   817-891-9563   www.hamptonredesign.com

Tessa Skeens | Owner & Lead Staging Designer

Professional Home Staging and Redesign Services Serving Greater Fort Worth TX Including Aledo, Willow Park, Benbrook, Keller, Arlington, Southlake, Colleyville, Hurst, Mansfield, Burleson and Tarrant County

I was asked a question about the VA program called Vendee Financing and wanted to address the issue in a blog post or two. From the comments section:

“Are you familiar with the Vendee Program bank of America offers to buyers? It is a VA program offered on a listing I was showing a buyer and I am curious a person in your specialty has opinions on it.”

Vendee financing is a program the VA offers to help finance VA REO properties. The appeal of this is that it’s one of the rare times when a VA loan product or program is available to non-veterans.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are two terms available—a 15-year and 30 year fixed rate loan, with terms that include 0% down if the property is an owner occupied purchase. The loan can be increased to include closing costs, but the funding fee may NOT be financed.

For non-owner occupied purchases, at least 5% down is required and the VA states “Investors may use 75% of anticipated rent based on appraiser's estimate to offset against the subject property monthly payment.”

Regardless of whether the purchase is classified as an owner occupied or not, this type of home loan is not what the VA calls a “credit score driven product” but for non-owner occupied purchases, the Department of Veterans Affairs stipulates investors must prove they have experience in property management in order to include estimated rent amounts as income in the financing paperwork.

For qualified investors, a big part of vendee financing’s appeal is the fact that there are no limits on the number of properties you can buy under the program—if there’s a list of properties available under vendee financing, you can apply to buy as many as you’re able to invest in.

Again, this program applies to properties in the VA’s inventory of foreclosed homes only. The details sound great to many, but there are a few caveats to be aware of which I will include in my next blog post.

As U.S. consumers try to dig their way out of the worst recession in decades, many have sought help from their lender; but requesting a loan modification may be financial suicide. Unfortunately, many struggling homeowners often find the “cure” to be worse than the illness. An article in the SF Chronicle points out how a loan modification not only lowers credit scores, but often leaves the borrower owing thousands in fees in penalties if the modification is denied.

 

When a homeowner is accepted for a trial modification, their payment is lowered below the original contract amount, and their lender will report them as delinquent to credit reporting agencies. The negative credit reports, combined with a lowered FICO® score, bring additional problems. After enrollment in modification programs, many homeowners find themselves with lowered credit limits and higher payments on existing credit accounts due to a sometimes dramatic increase in interest rates. For many, it’s the proverbial “nail in the coffin,” that eventually drives them to foreclosure.

 

Additionally, both lenders and consumers seem confused about the “requirement” that homeowners be delinquent on their mortgage payments in order to be eligible for a modification. With a number of lenders advising homeowners to intentionally miss payments in order to increase their chance of approval, what they fail to tell the homeowner is that missed payments will result in an immediate lowering of credit scores. Although some lenders have denied making such suggestions, the number of reports to the contrary seems to indicate that many in the industry remain uncertain of the rules.

 

And while, the article doesn’t suggest that homeowners not apply for a modification, it does offer suggestions on how lessen the negative impact to credit scores and increase the benefit of modification. One suggestion is to keep paying the original payment amount during the trial period if possible, and to make certain that payments continue to be made as scheduled.

 

The current recession continues to create hardship for millions of homeowners; and consumers should be aware that requesting a loan modification may be financial suicide unless measures are taken to lessen the impact.

The Housing Guru: The expert source for all your housing questions

 

 

What is it about Model homes that make them so appealing?  Is it the freshness of all new; is it the sassy paint colors, the perfectly placed furniture, art and accessories or the beautiful groomed backyard that makes you want to plop right down on that comfy club chair, or light the grill on the patio?  Well.... Yes to all the above.  A builder hold hosts to an array of skilled professionals to make that Model beautiful.  From blue print to drawer pulls that Model home is meticulously planned.

Beyond the nicely placed furniture, Model homes are the current reflection of the home environment needs of the target market of the Builder.  They are a turn-key product, designed & packaged for the desires of perfect buyer.

Models homes are lovely because they have the latest and the greatest, are fresh and new and are meticulously detailed.  Psychology, more than decorating is applied to makes them look so fabulous.  From architecture to floral arrangements, Model homes are planned with "YOU" in mind.  

So how can you the Realtor make your next listing as appealing as a Model Home? - Here are 10 ways.

•1.)    Clean.  Those nice angled vacuum lines, gleaming windows, and perfectly manicured lawns in Model homes speak to a potential buyer - You don't have to do a thing.   A Realtor can translate that into - A little elbow grease goes a long way.  A super clean home says "turn-key" to the potential buyer.  Have every inch of the home, blind slats to porch light glass, super clean and perfectly coiffed.  According to a national 2009 survey done by Home Gain (www.homegain.com,) a $100-$200 cleaning investment gives an 872% return!

•2.)    Fresh & Smells Good.  People buy homes on emotion, and your 5 senses are a direct path to your brain.  If a home smells and looks "funky," "doggy," "smoky," or if the stove is coated with  cooking gone bad - The home is off their list.  Just like you would detail your car to sell, invest in clean and spotless carpets, patched, repaired and freshly painted walls and new appliances if the old have seen better days.  Be wary to skip this step and take the low road with room refreshers, candles and stove burner covers - Potential buyers are not fooled.

•3.)    Color.  Any advertising executive will tell you color is key to properly packaging a product; and a listed home is just that, a product.  Throw away the off-white manta of old school home staging rules - Welcome to the era of HGTV. Using color is a powerful and inexpensive way of making that home stand out from the rest, and with so many decorating TV shows boasting the benefits of color, you better get hip to hues.   From 1^st Web impressions to curb-appeal, color is a strong emotional tug for the potential buyer.  Update yourself on the latest color trends in wall color, appliance, fixtures, etc... and apply it to your target buyer.  For home staging, use earthy, calm tones for the bigger areas such as wall color and add pops of saturated colors in the details; such front doors, accessories or annuals.

•4.)    Make Space.  The joy of a Model home is the acres and acres of unused storage space & beautifully organized closets.  Reduce, organize, upscale and edit all the home's spaces when it comes to closets and storage areas.  If the home's price point dictates, upscale the closets with custom organizing options.

•5.)    Clear a Path.  Consider that many people with be walking through the home.  Make sure traffic patterns, entrances and exits are well established.  Too much furniture, undefined entrances and awkward walkways confuse and discourage buyers from moving about the property.  Follow a Model Home's lead and create a concise walking pattern for potential buyers starting a curbside to back fence.  

•6.)    Lovely Layouts. From the landscape to furniture placement, take a clue from Models homes that continuity and flow make for a good mix.  Create curb appeal with nicely maintained landscaping, added annuals and perennials, an inviting stoop and well groomed walk and driveways.  Inside, make sure each room depicts what its function is, enhances the highlights of the room (i.e. fireplaces or upgrades,) and allows the buyer to envision themselves in the space.

•7.)    Set the Mood. Create ambiance and character in the home with well thought out placement of sensory and lifestyle components.  Soft music, lighting on dimmers, candles lit, and fresh floral are all great ideas for Broker or Open houses. If you have concern about candles, battery operated candles that even have timers built in are now readily available.   Stage the dining room table tastefully, or set the stage in a back yard with a detailed patio retreat.  Offering helpful lifestyle hints has always been in the Model Home arsenal and always a huge hit.

•8.)    K.I.S.S. On the opposite note, don't over accessorize, go over-board with the lifestyle tips or create "store bought theme" rooms (i.e. Chef-with-a-Hat Kitchen or Anniversary Bathtub area complete with Champagne bottle.)

•9.)    Appeal to a Target Buyer.  Consider "WHO" the ideal buyer is that will be interested in the property, and market the property accordingly.  From advertising photos to furniture, consider who will find this appealing and desirable. 

•10.) Market, Market, Market.  Model Homes have great marketing incentives inside and out.  From clear address markers, great signs, to small exit giveaways, to survey - market that listing to the fullest.  

 

Julea Joseph of Reinventing Space has created her own recipe for success with her signature Interior Stylist Philosophy.  Always a few steps ahead, Julea launched her home design business in 1999 when interior redesign & home staging were just in their infancy.  Rather than offering just redesign and staging, she developed a menu of blended services that fully embraces and captures the lifestyle of a home - She Celebrates the Soul of a Home. 

Have you driven through your neighborhood lately an seen that neighbors house and said oh my god why don't they do something!! Well prior to listing your home take a good look at the outside of your home from your neighbors view. You might be surprised what you see. Can you see the windows through the over grown bushes? Have the flower beds taken over the sidewalk? When you look at the grass is it yellow or full of bare spots? How about the front door? Is it purple or a funny color green? There are so many homes on the market right now, shouldn't yours shine? Lets get out those hedge clippers, paint cans and grass seed. Let's make buyers pull up to the front of your home and say WOW! It won't take but a short time or if need be call me and I'll find a local handy man/lawn keeper and what a difference. Your market value will increase and days on the market will shorten, if you don't have "The Lazy Neighbors House".

Home staging should show off the great features of your listing and diminish the negative ones, not create a phony atmosphere. It's all about marketing that feeling of the good life and what is possible for the room without going overboard.

A home should never look like it's been staged.

20 Tacky Techniques:

1. Napkins stuffed in wine glasses (Creates a phony atmosphere.)
   
2. Place settings on a table or bar (Nothing says, "This home has been staged", more than dishes, stemware, silverware, and napkins.)
   
3. Old bath towels hanging on a bar with ribbon (Old towels will not give a buyer the spa feeling, even with a ribbon.)
   
4. Single piece of artwork on a wall with nothing else in the room (Buyers will only see the art and not the room, especially online.)
   
5. Furniture store tags on items that are for sale (Staging should be about the house and not what furniture is being sold by a store.)
   
6. Old, dirty rugs (Rugs should only be used to define space or add color. Buyers need to see the floors and what they are buying.)
   
7. Dusty, plastic trees with only a few branches (I don't mind trees, but they have to look nice.)
   
8. Cuttings from bushes and branches brought inside (Will wilt rapidly, and it will take the eyes away from the room.)
   
9. Accessories that have nothing to do with the style of the home (Example: You can't take a country look and put it in a contemporary house.)
   
10. A card table with a sheet covering it in a dining room (A cheap look and does not represent the room dimensions.)
    
11. Plants or greenery over window treatments (Shows off bad decorating, and again takes the buyer away from the overall room.)
    
12. Plastic patio furniture inside that is covered or not (Just don't!)
    
13. Cheesy old lamps (Get the granny lamps out.)
    
14. Cheap plastic flowers (What I like to call "forever flowers" usually found at dollar stores.)
    
15. Sofa covered with a sheet as a slipcover (Planning on painting anytime soon?)
    
16. Blow-up beds (From personal experience: blow up beds will only stay fully inflated for a short time no matter how expensive they are.)
    
17. Plastic fruit (Fruit can be done right, but the majority of the time it looks tacky, creating a phony atmosphere.)
    
18. Breakfast tray on a bed with tumbled wine glasses (Creates a phony atmosphere.)
    
19. Only two chairs in a living room (This will not give a buyer a sense of the space.)
    
20. Wine bottle sitting on the edge of a garden tub (Creates a phony atmosphere.)

Tacky staging can spell disaster for your listing. Why? Because we remember tacky! What you put in the home is the perception of what the value of the home is worth. Your poorly staged listing becomes, "That house with the saggy, deflated blow up bed," or "That place with the cheesy lamp like the one in my parents' house."

If the accessories and furniture looks like you got it out of grandma's attic or down the street at a yard sale, the buyer could expect a yard sale price tag on the house. It is better to leave a house empty then to use bad décor! Staging should enhance the architecture of the home, not show off poor decorating ideas. Bad staging draws attention to itself - and distracts your buyer from your listing!

Please understand the quality of a good home stager.  Know what services you are having your seller buy and who you are recommending. They will be worth their weight in gold.

Helping you get your listing SOLD,
Angela Voss
Designology Home Staging