To Decorate or Not to Decorate?

People often ask if they should decorate their home while it is on the market. As a general rule, it is best to keep things neutral while your house is listed. That doesn't mean you have to have a stark-looking house, but you certainly don't want to go overboard. You can display some festive candles or pine cones by the hearth. Multiple lawn ornaments and an overabundance of lights are a no-no.

Also, you want to keep in mind that if pictures were taken with the decorations present, make sure NEW pictures are taken when the holidays are over. There's nothing like seeing a listing in June with pictures of a snowman and a Christmas tree....but it happens!!

Because selling your home is so stressful, it can actually be relaxing to decorate. When you're done, you can sit by a fire, enjoy hot coco and reminisce. Merry Christmas!

Confused Buyers Don't Make Offers

I had recently been in a million dollar home that had many lovely rooms, as you can imagine. It has been on the market for 6 months. It has a pleasing layout, is on a manicured lot and is nestled on a lake. Sounds perfect, right? Curious as to why it hasn't sold? One of the reasons I believe this is the case is because there are a few rooms that buyers are confused about - because there is no furniture in them.

Sellers - don't make the mistake of leaving rooms vacant - especially those that may not be obvious to a buyer. Think about it - if you were confused about a new product or service, did you purchase it? No! You either got more information so you could make an informed decision, or you said "no thanks," and moved onto another product/service. This is the case with buyers.

Give each room a PURPOSE, because when the house was built, the builder knew what each room was for. Staging helps buyers see the potential and purpose for each room. No confusion. Staging makes your house look amazing and the next thing you know - you have an offer!

So give yourself the best chance to wow buyers with staging and leave vacant rooms for the garage!

The Future Of Staging?

I have a fiscally conscientous client who wants me to stage his house using virtual / augmented reality. He also has a background in IT, so this technology is fitting for him. This is just like the technology that pokemon captivated the world with. It got me thinking about the future of my industry. While I can see both advantages and disadvantages, I wanted to ask my audience for their take on this technology. Please respond by saying that you would be 'for augmented reality staging' or 'against augmented reality staging,' and why you feel the way you do. Thanks for participating.

Some augmented reality advantages:
1.  it appeals to millennials and young, hip buyers.
2.  in most cases, it is less expensive than conventional staging.
3.  model homes are best staged with real furniture and accessories but virtual staging can be beneficial for the remaining homes in new neighborhoods.
4.  there are several design options that can be changed with a simple click, if needed.

Some augmented reality disadvantages:
1.  it appeals to millenials and young, hip buyers. Yes, I know I already said this and I am being sarcastic. :)  Not every generation is comfortable with technology. 
2.  It doesn't give the buyer the option of actually sitting in a space to 'take it all in.' How many times do you see buyers sit in a comfortable chair? Augmented reality means you cannot sit in a chair or sofa that isn't there.
3.  The decision to purchase a house is made primarily by females. What do women like to do? Touch things! We are very tactile. We can't touch a pretty pillow or bedspread if it's on a phone or computer screen.
4.  When the buyer looks at the house online, it is furnished and looks great but when they get to the house, it is vacant. This causes confusion because the whole idea behind staging is being able to experience the rooms with furniture and accessories.