Design Rewind

Design Rewind

The concept of Home Staging has taken off over the last couple of years.  Many Realtors and Real Estate companies have welcomed the concept of professionals (Stagers) preparing homes for sale.  By neutralizing colors and furniture in the home, sellers are able to appeal to the broadest range of potential buyers.  A win-win situation for all, as houses get sold quicker, and in many cases, for more money.

But what if you aren’t selling your home, but your home could use a fresh look?  And you don’t have a massive budget that can accomodate an entire overhaul of your space?

That’s where having your home staged to live can be a solution.  We take what the owner has and arrange it to work well with the flow of their particular home.  We suggest paint colors that complement your personal taste, and recommend appropriate accessories to complete your look.

Staging to live has many different names, like Redesign or Interior Arranging.  But whatever you call it, consider hiring a stager next time you need decorating advice.  It just may be the best decision you’ve ever made!

In today’s tough economy, where every penny counts, is having your home ”staged to sell” worth the money?  That’s a question asked by many home sellers and real estate agents alike.  Aside from the fact that Home Staging shows your home’s best features, greatly improves your MLS pictures and thereby increases buyer traffic through your home, what’s the bottom line for the seller?

In response, consider this:  staged homes sell faster, as noted in the February 2010 RESA Real Estate Staging Statistics Report (www.realestatestagingassociation.com).  If you consider that a staged occupied home spends 78% less time on the market than a non-staged home, that translates to more money left in your wallet.  Less months of mortgage and utility payments.  More money to put towards your new home and future endeavours.

Design Rewind

We’ve all seen the credit card commercials that describe certain things in life being “priceless”.  The same goes for the value of professional Home Staging.  Not having the headache of preparing your home for sale………priceless.  Having your MLS pictures stand out from the rest………..priceless.  Having your home sell faster and for more money…………priceless!

Considering putting your home on the market?  Two people can be your best sources of help when it comes to home selling:  the Realtor and the Home Stager.  Real Estate Professionals know their markets and how to price your house right to attract potential buyers.  They’re experts at marketing your biggest asset, your home, to the broadest range of buyers.

Home Stagers then take marketing your home one step further by arranging your house and its contents to show off its attributes.  Neutral colors, pleasing furniture arrangements and decluttered spaces all contribute to a sense of spaciousness when home staging.   Buyers want a home to feel light, bright and welcoming, and a staged home provides those qualities.

Visit the website www.energizedseller.com to find Real Estate Agents and Home Stagers in your area, who can help you mazimize the profitability of your home when it’s time to sell.  And for your local home staging needs, remember Design Rewind (www.MyDesignRewind.com) can professionally prepare your home to meet buyers’ demands.

Don’t leave any money on the table when it comes to selling your home.  A Realtor and Home Stager are your best “bet” in today’s competitive Real Estate market.

So you’ve sold your current home and  purchased a new one .  You may have chosen to upsize to accomodate your growing family, or you may have downsized to reflect your new status as “empty nesters”.   You’re faced with a new space to arrange and make a personal reflection of your family, but you haven’t a clue where to start.  All of your furnishings worked perfectly in your old home, but you can’t seem to achieve the same look in your new place.  What now??

Design Rewind

Interior Redesign (sometimes known as Staging to Live or Interior Arranging) is an excellent solution to your quandary:

Interior Redesign is relatively inexpensive.  Many people live in their homes, dissatisfied with their interiors but afraid of what the cost will be to update it.  That’s why Staging to Live is such a great solution:  As a professional Home Stager and Redesigner, I work with what you already own as much as possible, to avoid a big furniture expenditure. And Interior Redesign is about arranging your possessions in your home, not changing the architectural design of your home.  Stagers are not remodelers or architects, and we work with what’s already in place in your home.

Interior Redesigners look at your house as a whole.  It can be hard to look at your furniture and accessories and picture them being used in any other way than they are now.   But a Redesigner can view your entire house from the perspective of what items work best where, and how to make them all flow together.  We can “shop” other rooms to create a cohesive look throughout, and avoid the dreaded “empty room/overcrowded room” scenario.

Well chosen accessories are the “bling” that make a home stand out and tie all the loose ends together.  A beautiful sofa and coffee table set can look stunning, but if there’s nothing else in the room besides that, it’s going to feel cold and unwelcoming.  Adding greenery, lamps, pictures/artwork, etc. is the finishing touch to a look.  They define your style and, in a way, tell the story of your life.  And accessories do not have to be expensive………..a $20.00 lamp and a $5.00 picture frame can make a side table a display piece.

When you love your home, it becomes your respite from the world.  Our lives today are unendingly busy and sometimes chaotic.  Modern society demands our total attention and energy every day of the week.  So when you finally get to go home, you want a place that refreshes you and just makes you feel……….good.  If your house has furniture that doesn’t fit, colors you can’t stand, and clutter that threatens to drown you, you are not being refreshed!  Hiring an Interior Redesigner to come in and give you a fresh perspective on your home, as well as help you define your needs and wants,  is time and money well spent.

So the next time you walk through your front door and think for the thousandth time, “I’ve really got to do something about this place”, consider calling a Home Stager or Redesigner.  Like the old saying goes………….you’ve got questions, and we’ve got answers.  Call Design Rewind today at (512)417-2876 to schedule your Redesign Appointment today!

It is typically the most overlooked, overcluttered area of your home.  The kind of place you want to slam the door on and not have to deal with.  It’s your garage, and like it or not, it is part of the package when selling your home.  So here are a few tips to keep in mind to appeal to potential buyers:

Relax…..a garage does not typically break the sale of a home.  As a professional Home Stager, I get asked all the time about garages and their impact when selling a home.  A garage does not have to be pristine, but it should be somewhat organized and orderly.  Otherwise, your buyers will think your home is not large enough for all their “stuff.”

Decluttering goes a long way.  Is your garage stuffed to the doors with everything you don’t want in the house?  Now is the time to get a head start on your packing and sort through all those items.  Make three piles: Charity, Garbage and Must Keep.  Be diligent and put all items in your garage into one of those three piles.  Once you’ve donated to charity and disposed of the garbage items, you’re ready to organize what’s staying.

Organize your possessions.  Now is the time to invest in storage for your garage possessions.  Large, lidded containers are excellent for storing a multitude of items, and they can be stacked for neatness.  If you want to hide the contents, purchase opaque containers.  Alternatively, clear containers allow you to see what is in each bin for easy access.  If you have shelves, use them to store items off the floor.  Buyers want to see lots of floor space in which to park their cars.  Garden tools are easily hung on the wall, and stackable plastic baskets work great as sports equipment organizers.

If need be, store your prized possessions somewhere else.  If you just can’t part with your stuff, but you’d like potential buyers to be able to see the garage, consider renting a storage unit or movable storage pod.  These can be invaluable for getting items out of sight and out of mind.  And who knows?  You may find you really can live without some of those items.

Remember what belongs in your garage–your vehicles!  With your garage tidied up and cleaned out, consider parking at least one of your cars in the garage.  Too many vehicles in the driveway blocks the view of your wonderful home, and you want your buyers focused on its many attributes…….not on what car you drive!

Following these simple steps can make your garage another positive element of your home.  And remember:  in today’s competitive housing market, every attribute of your home counts.  Call the experts at Design Rewind today at (512)417-2876 for your Initial Consultation Home Analysis.

Design Rewind-Bedroom Before

A well-dressed window can be the finishing touch to a gorgeous room.  When it comes to preparing your home for sale, though, the motto of “less is more” is appropriate.

Today’s buyer loves bright, open homes with plenty of windows.  If those windows are hidden with closed blinds or decorative draperies, buyers cannot see each window’s potential.  Unopened blinds or curtains can make an otherwise wonderful room feel too dark and cave-like.

As a professional Home Stager, I always advise my clients to open every blind in the house before showings, allowing light to stream in and show off their home’s best attributes.

For the homeowner, you need to remember that not every buyer will share your taste in window coverings.  Your decorative draperies may not appeal to potential buyers, so I often recommend toning down the draperies, or removing them entirely.  Like jewelry is an accessory to an outfit, decorative window coverings are often a reflection of personal taste.

My Home Staging advice?  Don’t let personal taste narrow the potential market for your home.  Open those blinds, simplify your decorative draperies, and let the sun shine in!

Design Rewind-Bedroom After

In today’s competitive Real Estate market, everyone wants to know what features really “sell” a home.  As a professional Home Stager with Design Rewind(www.mydesignrewind.com), I’m witness to what appeals most to buyers.

With summer in full swing and most people outside enjoying longer days and beautiful weather, you can probably guess a popular feature for buyers: the Outdoor Living Area.

Gone are the days of a simple grill and table set.  Today’s families crave an outdoor arrangement that rivals their interior living.  Outdoor kitchens complete with grills, counters, fridges, sinks and more are very popular.  Multiple seating arrangements and multi-level deck areas appeal to buyers’ desires  for easy entertaining.

Outdoor fireplaces/firepits can create a welcoming gathering spot, and having at least one section of your Outdoor Living Area protectively covered from the elements ranks high on buyer’s wish lists.  Sofa sets, easy chairs and decorative pillows in specially-treated outdoor fabrics bring the comfort of inside to your back yard.  Accessories, water features, pizza ovens, and of course, the ever-popular pool, frequently complement these Outdoor Living Areas.

If you are considering selling your home, don’t overlook your backyard potential.  The line between indoor and outdoor living is blurring in today’s relaxed lifestyle, so remember to showcase your exterior selling points. And as always, consider hiring a Professional Home Stager who can properly prepare your home for potential buyers.

We’ve all heard about the importance of “curb appeal” when selling our homes.  What potential buyers see from the street can decide whether they’ll even cross your threshold.

Tidy yards, trimmed bushes and clean driveways are all positive assets.  But it doesn’t stop there.  If you really want to make a good impression on your buyers, don’t forget the impact of your front entrance.

Many homes have some sort of front porch area.  Even a tiny covered area above your front door can qualify as one.  First impressions are everything, and as buyers stand waiting for their agent to open the door, you have only one opportunity to make one.  As a Professional Home Stager with Design Rewind (www.MyDesignRewind), here are my must-do’s:

Clean, Clean, Clean:  Even the exterior of your home can sparkle!  Powerwash your front path/driveway to remove any stains.  Clean any windows around the door area until they sparkle; think of your windows as the “eyes” of your home.  Remove any spiderwebs you see, and sweep away any lingering debris. 

Declutter the area:  If it doesn’t have to do with the entrance of your home, it shouldn’t be there!  Clear away all toys, dead plants, chemicals, etc. to give a clear view of your house.

Refresh your door:  Does your door look like it’s seen better days?  Buyers love sharp-looking doors, so it’s worth the investment of time to clean yours up.  Consider painting it a fresh new color, or restaining a wooden door that’s become faded.  If your hardware is dated, new sets can be purchased reasonably at home improvement stores.

Add welcoming furniture:  If your porch has space, a chair or two set out with a side table can be very inviting.  Just make sure the furniture looks clean and fresh, as shabby, dated furniture can send out the wrong message.  Clean or paint existing chairs if you have them, and add a colorful cushion or two.  Buyers like to picture themselves relaxing on their front porch enjoying their neighborhood, so help paint that picture for them with a welcoming sitting area.

Add a pot of color:  Front door area kind of bland?  A colorful, potted plant may be your solution.  Choose easy-care, drought tolerant flowers to perk up the entrance.  Remember to water/fertilize them occasionally, though, as leggy or dead plants are unappealing.

Remember the doormat:  Don’t forget what your buyers will stand on at the front door!  Wash off a gently used mat, or invest in a new one if yours no longer looks fresh. 

Doing all these things tells a potential buyer, “Come in!  See what this house has to offer!”  And when your front porch is appealing, buyers will be curious to see if the rest of your home is, too.

Clients that are motivated to get their homes sold know to work with a great Realtor and have their homes staged. 

Staged by Design Rewind, LLC

This home in the Austin, Texas suburb of Round Rock recently sold in 15 days, thanks to the efforts of a great team: the homesellers, Realtor David Durham of Keller Williams and Design Rewind’s professional Home Staging services.

For $249 and a little elbow grease, these homesellers received several hours of home staging advice and assistance.  Staging does not have to be expensive, and these clients realized the value it offered them in the sale of their home, especially in today’s competitive Real Estate market.

Contact Design Rewind today at 512-417-2876 to schedule your consultation today.  Why let your home sit on the market unnoticed?  Call Design Rewind and get your home SOLD!

The Home Staging Industry is continually evolving to meet the needs of today’s buyers, sellers and Realtors.  Having attended in January  the 2nd Annual RESA Conference (Real Estate Staging Association) in Las Vegas, I can say unequivocally that this industry is current, relevant and necessary in today’s competitive Real Estate Market.

Today’s savvy,  HGTV-raised buyer wants that model-home, move-in ready house.  They want (and dare I say, even expect) picture perfect homes that can accommodate their lifestyle.  In Austin Texas, Home Staging company Deign Rewind stages homes to appeal to today’s buyers. 

Call 512-417-2876 today to schedule a consultation, and make your home a buyer’s first choice in their property search!