Simple and Affordable Home Staging
Home staging can and does make all the difference. The simple truth is that many home buyers lack the imagination necessary to picture themselves happily ensconced in a new home without a little help. That’s where the staging comes in. I always advise my clients to decorate to their own taste while living in the home. Once they decide to sell, it’s time to decorate to the public taste and make changes that will appeal to the greatest number of potential buyers.
As part of my listing contract, I offer basic home staging services to my clients. Depending on the circumstances, I may call in a staging expert or opt to just do it own my own. Either way, my client’s budget considerations are always kept in mind.
Often, we start by re-arranging existing furniture, re-hanging pictures and clearing clutter in the house and basement. The objective is to de-clutter and de-personalize the space so that buyers can envision their dream home upon a blank slate.
The next thing I do is to take a look at paint and wall coverings. While my client may adore her orange bedroom, that’s not a color that will appeal to the largest number of buyers. I once visited a home that was painted throughout in shades of red and green – a Christmas house! A freshly-painted room in neutral tones presents a clean palate and virtually beckons to buyers to come decorate. If painting is needed, that cost falls to the seller, but painting is a relatively inexpensive solution to a problem and one that almost always pays for itself at closing.
In instances such as the Christmas house, I sometimes bring in a professional home stager to deliver the tough love advice to the homeowner. It’s much easier to accept criticism from a professional decorator and I avoid being the bad guy. For some homes, I’ve assisted my client in procuring an entire home staging package, including rented furniture. Even in those cases, we were able to keep the budget at a reasonable number.
The best thing about home staging is that it works – both in promoting speedy sales and earning sellers top dollar. It is worth the investment of time and money because it makes a difference.
Do you need to move to celebrate the changes that are happening in your life? Let me serve you in helping you make the move to the place or home that reflects where you are in life’s journey! I will listen to your needs and use my knowledge and expertise to make this a smooth transition to the right place for you to call home in Calgary. Contact me at 403-708-5873, ajames16@gmail.com, or www.allisonjames.com and let’s get on with your journey!
About Allison James
Allison James has been a realtor® since 1999 with Century 21 Bamber Realty Ltd. in the changing Calgary real estate market. A Century 21 Centurion Award 2007 recipient and a member of CREA and AREA, she specializes in residential real estate and has her designations as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist and a Certified Condominium Specialist. These designations testify that she has the expertise and resources to help her clients make a smooth transition to the next step in their life journey. She enjoys helping her clients as they move through many of the same stages of life that she, too, has experienced. The fact that the majority of her business comes from past clients and/or referrals from satisfied clients speaks volumes about her dedication to the high quality of service that she offers her clients to meet their Calgary and surrounding area real estate needs. She is a mother of four who are all on their own now, and a grandmother of eight. Besides helping people buy or sell real estate, she loves spending time with her family, being active outdoors, traveling and meeting new people, photography, playing the drums, reading, scuba diving, listening to music, learning new things, and nurturing her spiritual growth.
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