This total isolation in place situation has caused a lot of people to rethink their homes — and I bet you’re no exception. In one location, we’re now having to eat, sleep, work, be entertained, and do everything in between. 

But to be honest, this isn’t so different from the way housing trends have been going lately. In the last year especially, we’ve seen buyers gravitating toward amenity-rich homes that “do it all.” After the current situation passes, I predict we’re going to see this even more.

How Does a Home Deeply Support its Inhabitants?

I think we are all realizing just how much a supportive, comfortable home can change how we feel and live, and in the last month, I have personally found this to be incredibly true. Knowing it is one thing. Experiencing it yourself is another. 

For about a year, I have lived in a 1300 square foot apartment waiting for my new house to be built. It felt like my family and I were practically on top of each other.  And I’ll be honest with you… it was affecting me in a negative way. 

Being crowded was part of it, but I’m a person who gets peace and joy from order and beautiful aesthetics — and it was not either of those things. (You know that sort of stretched, irritated feeling you get when you’re cramped and the situation is out of your control? That’s the one.) Safe to say, I was so looking forward to getting out of there.

I  finally made the move at the end of February. I had a couple of weeks to decorate, get furniture in there, and make it both pretty and functional… and not a day too soon! 

supportive home design and staging dallas tx living room built-ins with television
By Design by KETI

When the “shelter in place” order came in for Dallas, we were ready to go. And by go, I mean STAY, of course!

Since then, we’ve been so, so grateful to have our home during this time. One of my family members  has the office on the 1st floor, and my workspace is on the second. We both have our privacy, ability to focus on work, and if we need some alone time (as all humans do), the option is there. 

Overall, the house is supportive and functional. Peaceful and relaxing. And lets us do anything and everything we could dream up to do with this extended time in isolation. 

THIS is the experience that buyers want these days when they purchase a home!

For this month’s blog post, I want to share some of the features and amenities that are making our home supportive and a place we love to be, even when under order. And it’s not just about beauty. Beauty and function should ALWAYS work together!

1. Home Office

I bet this one doesn’t surprise you. Two allocated home office/work spaces have been revolutionary. In this day, having at least ONE home office is very important to buyers, two is even better. So many of us work from home (or will in the future), even if it’s just once per week.

design by keti home office bulit in shelving desk chair work from home dallas supportive home

2. Natural Light

It is not an understatement to say that natural light sells homes. Sure, your home buyer might not say that the natural light was the motivator of their purchase, but I guarantee that it contributed. Natural light promotes mental health, creates a feeling of being able to breathe, and makes the home look more spacious. In other words: windows.

supportive home design and staging dallas tx kitchen and dining room and living room
By Design by KETI

3. Outdoor Living Space

In this blog post, I mentioned that many millennial buyers have pets and are looking for homes with outdoor spaces. But whether your ideal buyers are millennials or not, an outdoor living space is essential, and it doesn’t have to be fancy. Add a table, chairs, and inviting landscaping (if possible) and potential buyers are sure to be impressed.

outdoor living space home amenities that sell dallas pillows sofa

4. Ensuite Bathrooms

Yes, ensuite bathrooms, and not just in the master bedroom. Can you imagine all of the families stuck at home right now with multiple children sharing one bathroom space in the hallway? Trust me, harmony at home starts with personal space. 

design by keti timeless classic bedroom ensuite bathroom dallas amenities supportive home
By Design by KETI

5. Super Spacious & Large Kitchens

Spacious kitchens are another amenity that sells homes. The kitchen is the hub of the home in today’s age, not just for cooking. Families gather in the kitchen, people entertain in the kitchen, and it’s become a place to enjoy, create, and connect. (See timeless and sellable kitchen styles here.)

design by keti home kitchen spacious blue cabinets fresh elegant
By Design by KETI

6. Built-ins

Built-ins are important as they address the storage issue. It doesn’t matter who your ideal buyer is, they will NEED storage, and I’ve never met a person who said they had too much of it. It helps a house look well put together and in order… and an orderly house and environment translate to tranquility and peace of mind!

supportive home design and staging dallas tx dining room with lots of cabinetry
By Design by KETI

7. Fireplace

We get all the seasons in Dallas, and having a fireplace has made such a huge difference in how comfortable and supported we feel at home. I have really enjoyed it on the days when the temperatures have gone down. It’s a small thing that has such great mental health benefits!

design by keti fireplace art classic cool fresh aesthetic supportive home
By Design by KETI

8. Calming Colors and Patterns 

Our homes are our escape from the busy world outside, and design is one way to bring those feelings of peace and calm into the home. Whether in the fixed elements of the home or in the decor, opt for soothing colors and patterns, such as nudes, warm grays, blues, and even greens.

spacious living area built in wine fridge beverage center large windows dallas tx

9. Thoughtful Amenities

LARGE FRIDGE 

Along with that large kitchen, for move-up to high-end homes, I also highly suggest having a large refrigerator or a freezer somewhere in the house. In a large home, the appliances should match. Otherwise, you’re not creating a space that supports the people who live there. And as we’ve all found out these past couple weeks — we need our homes’ support!

REVERSE OSMOSIS WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM

Another simple and completely satisfying amenity. For move-up to high-end homes, a reverse osmosis water filtration system is yet another way to elevate your offering (and sale price) and create a home that truly does everything your clients could want.

WINE ROOM OR BEVERAGE FRIDGE

This one is less of a staple and more of a simple way to elevate your offering. Yes, I’m talking about a wine room or beverage fridge. As a wine lover (give me a Malbec any day), I can tell you that having a room/fridge feels luxurious and was worth every penny. 

dallas tx wine room inspiration design by keti designers dallas supportive home

If you’re flipping or renovating a home for sale, it’s important to consider WHO will be buying the home and WHAT they are looking to get from it. Then you can design for those amenities and make it a property they won’t be able to resist. (And yes, this is where an experienced property designer is worth their weight in gold!)

If you have a property to design and renovate, and you need to hit the ground running as soon as the current situation passes, let’s talk.
— Keti

Do you know which design trends are going to boost your bottom line, and which are going to sink it? 

In my last post, we talked about some of the features that today’s buyers want most in a home. These were mainly related to spatial desires, such as a sociable kitchen, designs for joy, smart homes, etc.

Today, I’m going to talk about the MATERIALS that are on-trend, timeless, and going to support a great bottom line for your renovation. 

Note, this post is hot on the heels of my trip to the International Builders’ Show (IBS) and Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), where experts meet to talk trends, market shifts, and the latest in home design. 

Timely vs. Timeless Trends

It’s important to note that just because a beautiful slab of stone or oversized modern lighting are on display at KBIS doesn’t necessarily make them a prime candidate for a profitable renovation. 

Not everyone is designing to sell. Some are designing to live. So it’s important that I use my experience and judgment to assess the trends that everyone is gushing over.

Some trends are timely but will have a short lifespan. Others are timely as well as TIMELESS (Meaning future buyers aren’t going to be worried about their interiors having an expiration date.)

The trick to profit-driven interior design is that it is equal parts timely AND timeless.

Knowing which trends are profitable (and which aren’t) is an area where I excel. So, what’s the verdict?

design trends design by keti dallas kitchen renovation classic traditional modern lighting chandelier pendants bar stools dallas

(Design by KETI)

1. Choose Kitchen Cabinets in White or Warm Wood

White kitchens are incredibly on-trend right now, but I wouldn’t call them “trendy.” White is timeless and can make well-lit spaces look larger. Another tip is to take those cabinets all the way up to the ceiling. They make the room seem taller, in addition to adding more, desirable storage space.

If you’re selecting wood cabinets, go with a warm tone. It makes the space feel more inviting, social, and comfortable.

classic modern kitchen renovation design by keti dallas investor flip smart design trends

(Design by KETI)

2. Black is Back in Home Design

Black is another timely and timeless color that can be used to create elegant impact in a home. It’s best used as an accent color, either in some of the furniture used in a home staging, or as part of the hardware of a home, such as an elegantly slim curtain rod, light fixtures, or window frames.

design by keti staging renovation lighting selections design plan dallas real estate investors design trends

(Design by KETI)

3. Green is Taking Over Interiors

Much like blue did in 2019, green is taking over homes in 2020. Color is always timely and timeless, but should be used tastefully when selling a home. I like to add pops of color with pillows and decor, or in the case of this year’s color, fresh greenery. 

design trends classic modern traditional interior master bedroom bathroom staged for sale profit dallas white

Spring green accents are tasteful and inviting. (Design by KETI)

4. Light fixtures are the jewels of the home

Light fixtures are incredibly underrated – they are the jewels of the home, and you shouldn’t sell a home without great-looking ones! 

Below are a few that we’ve chosen for dramatic impact. And yes, they sold quickly!

luxe white furniture walls dark woods chandelier lighting staging dallas keti design trendsbathroom remodel design by keti dallas modern classic white exciting lighting stone flooring marble veins
Living room or bathroom, lighting matters! (Design by KETI)

5. Bringing the outside in

This trend applies more to the home staging than the renovation, but is equally important. A home without some semblance of the outdoors will feel cold and lifeless. With today’s shift toward design for joy, bringing the outdoors in is ESSENTIAL!

staged living room lighting bed plants outdoors indoors design by keti dallas

I like to use flowers, small potted plants, indoor trees, or succulents. (Design by KETI)

6. Mixing patterns (timely, NOT timeless!)

This is the only trend on our list that is timely but NOT timeless. You might be tempted to install a backsplash of beautiful patterned tiles that are completely on-trend right now… but not only are you taking the risk of the homeowner not liking the pattern, it may go out of style quickly.

This is why I suggest pattern mixing in the home staging, not in the renovation itself. Keep your backsplashes and tiles more neutral.

design trends white living room classic traditional modern built in bookshelf flip home profit

Mixing patterns with the area rug and pillows are timely and tasteful. (Design by KETI)

In my next post, I’m going to break down what a kitchen renovation costs and how to budget for it. 

Until then, download our free guide to profitable staging or contact us here for help with your project!

— Keti

Every year, I see large and small shifts in the Dallas home features that buyers want most. This is true of aesthetics — such as color, material, and style  — but also functionality, HOW people are using their homes.

As someone who designs homes to sell (for homeowners, builders, investors and flippers), it’s extremely important for me to stay in-the-know about these housing trends and give my clients the upper hand.

Part of staying educated includes attending conferences and industry events, and I recently returned from two that were held in January in Las Vegas:

So, what features are Dallas homebuyers loving most in 2020?

dallas home staging features selling profit smart ROI design by ketiStaged by Design by KETI

1. Millennials are the largest population of home buyers

Today’s market buyers are mostly millennials, and gone are the days of the big mansions. It’s challenging to sell a 5000 square foot home to a millennial, even if they have the cash to buy it. In fact, the ideal home in 2019 was about 2,500 sq-ft with 3 bedrooms.

Home features millennials love:

Allow me to elaborate…

bathroom design dallas keti remodeling materials selection luxury smart ROIDesigned by KETI

2. Homes are no longer about having a roof over your head

It’s sad but true that people are lonelier than ever before. Nearly 80% of Americans say they are unhappy. There is rising emotional anxiety. 

Naturally, a trend to design for joy has taken root and flourished in the housing market. Health and quality of life has taken precedence amongst the builder community because that’s what their buyers are asking for. 

How can you capitalize on this housing trend?

Design the home to be a safe haven, a place for people to take time to decompress. This can be achieved in how you stage the home (creating restful spaces), as well as the attention given to materials in private areas, such as a master bathroom in cool, soothing colors designed for relaxing. 

As I said before,  when you design a home that appeals to the senses, millennials are not the only buyers who will be impressed.

dallas mid-range home staged for profit fast sale bedding art master bedroomDesigned by KETI

3. Home features that follow social trends

Another aspect of housing trends is the way we use the different spaces in our homes. Here’s a quick room-by-room breakdown of the changes that are happening in the 2020 market:

KITCHEN

Along the lines of Americans feeling lonely, the kitchen has made a 180-degree turn in how it’s being used day to day. No longer a place for the chef to retreat, kitchens have become a place for gathering, socializing, and entertaining. 

The most desirable kitchens are spacious, have islands, and offer a variety of seating conducive to gatherings and socializing. 

DINING ROOM

For a period, it was not trendy to have a formal dining room. Now it’s a comeback! 

MUDROOMS

We’re seeing mudrooms becoming a highly desirable feature, even more so than the entryway. Why? Because today’s homeowners rarely get into the house via the front door. 

FLEX SPACE

These days, buyers are eating up “flex spaces,” a room or area that is left up to the buyer to decide what to do with it. That said, you should always STAGE a flex space with a design that appeals to your target buyer. Leaving it vacant won’t inspire anyone’s imagination.

design by keti dallas home staged office space target buyer entrepreneurs business couplesWe styled this flex space as an office, since buyers in the area are mainly business professionals who often work from home.

4. Home features that are getting more intelligent

Today’s consumers (mostly millennials) are all about the smart home and the home’s role in battling time poverty. Now, you can talk to a faucet to start it, start dinner while in your car driving home, take a therapeutic bath in a free standing jetted tub, and the bath mat will weigh you each morning. 

How can you capitalize on this housing trend?

Regardless of how you feel about technology in the home (or seeing your weight first thing in the morning), today’s consumers are interested in tech. Yet, the volume builders are not providing it in homes!!

Adding smart features to your property will put you above the competition, help your home appeal to the largest population of buyers, and usher you even faster to the closing table.

design by keti kitchen selections lighting countertop white cabinets bar stools dallas new buildDesigned by KETI

5. Luxury design is lighter than ever

This one can include millennials but also branches out into the Gen X’ers. I’m talking about billionaires. More billionaires have cash than ever before, but we’re not seeing a trend toward opulence or heavy luxury in homes. 

These days, luxury is light and livable. Luxury is classic and timeless. Luxury doesn’t need to be loud because it speaks for itself.  

How can you capitalize on this housing trend?

If you’re designing for a luxury client, focus on materiality. For example, an incredible piece of marble around the fireplace speaks volumes.

dallas home staging luxury millennials profit tips flex space casualDesigned by KETI

Since we talked about the most desirable housing trends in this post, my next post is going to share some of the best TIMELY and TIMELESS materials for your bottom line.

Until then, download our free guide to profitable staging!

— Keti

You might think a great floor plan, location, or square-footage will sell a property, but trust me, important as that might be, great real estate design is what sells homes. Buyers care what the home looks like, and if it doesn’t meet their criteria, they won’t be headed to the closing table any time soon. 

I know because we’ve encountered many situations where homes with great bones and floor plans sat on the market indefinitely until we came in and helped with some much-needed improvements. Design MATTERS. 

Here’s what great design can do to sell your property:

If you don’t believe me, here’s the proof!

dallas renovations professional design flipping investors timeless clean aesthetic real estate design

Who should you hire to get a professional real estate design for your flip or reno?

If you’re serious about your ROI, you’ll want to hire a professional in the field. Your first instinct might be to hire an interior designer, but I would caution you against it.  Interior designers, while extremely talented, are experts at creating spaces that are highly personal and specific to the people already living in the home. 

Designing a flip or renovation to sell requires a very different approach. 

Instead of asking the homeowners how they use the space and want to live in it, we have to consider the design from a profit-driven perspective:

Once these questions have been answered, a real estate design and staging professional will create the right aesthetic AND prioritize your bottom line. 

It’s design, but it’s also expert business strategy. Your pocket book and future will thank you! 

real estate design soft color palette on trend classic keti dallas

How do you ensure you have a real estate design that addresses these selling priorities?

If you work with a design and real estate staging professional, they should take you through three steps: a consultation, a design plan, and the final staging to bring everything together. 

1. Renovation & Real Estate Design Consultation

The renovation and design consultation is a strategy session. It’s the first step to a successful project and is not to be taken lightly! During this on-site meeting, we’ll…

real estate design dining room impress home flip smart investment

2. Real Estate Design Plan

During this phase we get into all the design-related specifics, or the HOW of our renovations plan. We’ll make all the selections for any new or updated features such as paint, flooring, counter tops, tile, back splash, lighting, hardware, plumbing, etc. 

We will present you with all the specifics of the renovations design plan at which time, we can either source all the material selections for you, or you can do so in collaboration with your GC. During the renovation process we can also make ourselves available to your crew for any installation and design specific inquiries.

Extra step: If desired, our trusted team of subcontractors can carry out the agreed-upon updates and renovations with speed and professionalism. Relax and enjoy letting experts take the wheel!

home staging design keti dallas timeless home flipping

3. Home Staging

The design of the home doesn’t stop with hardware, flooring, and countertops — what’s inside your home matters too. To complete the transformation, you will definitely want to stage the home. (Whether you choose us or not, we still suggest it! It is SO worth it.)

With us, while the minor improvements and renovations are underway, we’ll present you with a vacant home staging proposal that highlights the home’s selling features and is worthy of its listing price. 

Once the renovations have been finalized, we will begin staging your investment property. This is the moment when the magic happens… the home is transformed and ready to steal the hearts of potential buyers!

classic timeless luxury home staging living room neutrals dallas real estate design

For the best results, we recommend bringing in a design professional from the very beginning, before any updates are made, and taking your project step by step. (This is our Complete Concierge service for investors or homeowners.) 

But if you’re looking for design help somewhere in the middle of your project, you can still find any of these as a stand-alone service and see drastic impact. 

Next month, I’ll be back here to share a bit more about what really goes on at a home staging consultation. Spoiler… more than you think!

Until then, sign up HERE to grab our free download, How to Prepare for a Remodel!

— Keti

Hardwood has long since been synonymous with high-end, quality homes. The rich, earthy texture and natural beauty have made it an obvious choice for many. Because hardwood has a long life, this choice has resulted in people refinishing their floors, instead of replacing, whenever possible. (This has also helped people avoid the high cost of replacement).

However, hardwood flooring has also caused considerable anxiety in homeowners with children and pets. Because hardwood floors can be warped by excess moisture or noticeably scratched, they aren't always the best option for busy households.

So, what is hardwood-loving homeowner to do? Meet Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP)...

Dallas Home Renovations Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Design by Keti

Luxury Vinyl Planks Mean No More Moisture or Water Damage

Luxury vinyl planks make for excellent flooring in every room. This is especially true of high-moisture areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Their wood-like appearance adds warmth and character. But their durability keeps them from succumbing to spilled liquids, heavy use, or frequent cleanings.

Quality vinyl planks will last anywhere from 10-15 years. (Though they could last even longer, depending on how they are treated.) This flooring doesn't need to be refinished EVER! It is available in a variety of faux wood finishes: maple, oak, walnut, and hickory. Both wide and narrow planks are available, making it easy to create a truly custom floor.

Dallas Home Remodeling Kitchen Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Design by Keti

Luxury Vinyl Planks are Quick and Easy to Install

The ease of installation matters, even if you're hiring a company to handle it all. The more convenient installation is for the installers, the faster they will work. Quick work means a more pleasing final invoice. Plus, happy installers make for good projects...trust us!

Luxury vinyl planks snap together effortlessly, but do require some pre-planning. Measuring and cutting to ensure the joints don't end up all in a row is essential (just like hardwood). For best results, use a professional installer who works with LVP and hardwood frequently.

Dallas Luxury Home Staging Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Design by Keti

Luxury Vinyl Planks Play Nice with Your Budget

We never suggest that you cut corners when it comes to more permanent home materials, like flooring. But, we also have to admit that vinyl planks are a significantly smaller investment than hardwood. A happy accident? Not really.

Luxury vinyl planks were developed to be an aesthetically-pleasing, durable, and affordable alternative to hardwood. This material ranges from $2-5 per square foot. Hardwood costs $8-25 per square foot, comparatively. Homeowners who opt for vinyl planks often end up having more funds leftover in their budgets. These can then be used for other luxuries, such as a curbless shower or elaborate backsplash tile.

DESIGN TREND

Durability

Faux wood and waterproof flooring are trending. Luxury vinyl planks often contain recycled PVC, which adds to its durability.

DESIGN TIP

Chemical Sensitivities

If someone in your home suffers from chemical sensitivities, be sure to treat your new vinyl planks as you would any other building material. This means allowing it to off-gas in a climate controlled space.

Cheers,
Keti

O: (469) 210– 1067

Website: https://designbyketi.com/

I have seen this trend recently where some stagers are advertising and claiming that they will stage your home - and because they own their own inventory - they will not charge you any rental fees.

As a professional home stager myself and as someone who is dedicated to running a successful staging and design business whose services will benefit many clients for many years to come, I wanted to write about this trend and clarify some things.

My goal and desire is that all you who are seeking staging services - where the stager claims they will use their props and inventory and not charge you for it - will be better educated in making the right decision that best addresses your staging needs.

First I would like to make you all aware of the fact that Home Staging is not a regulated business. What that means to you as a consumer and as a seeker of staging services is that anyone can put a shingle out there and claim to be a “professional home stager”, but that does not necessarily make them so.

For anyone to achieve the highly sought “professional” status in any field a few things need to take place. I read once that it takes an average of three years or about 6,000 working hours for someone to hone in their skill set in the profession of their choice.

It is a known fact that a lot of people who claim to be home stagers, stage on the side, and on the weekends mostly. Staging is not their full time profession.

Secondly, like with any other profession, on-going training and education is a must. There is absolutely no way around it, if anyone as a professional is set on providing stellar service and products to all their clients 100% of the time.

As an example of this I have committed to investing up to $5,000 a year towards on-going training as it relates to what I am engaged with on a daily basis and that is, staging, design, and renovations.

Since Staging is not a regulated business, on-going continued education is not required. That is not to say, it is not needed however.

Thirdly results always speak for themselves. Check out their on-line reputation, portfolio and results. Reading reviews  from clients who have actually worked with them in the past would be a great thing to check out.

And as always be weary of stock photos used on ads and websites, as they are not reflective of what  the stager can actually do or accomplish; rather they only speak to the fact that those stagers can pick a pretty picture, no problem.

A professional home stager, one who has done the time so to speak and on an on-going basis hones their professional skills is very well versed in things like, fundamental design elements, what makes a staging design stand out, what does not, scale, balance and symmetry, how the style of the home and the fixed elements in the home dictate how the home is staged etc. For those reasons I am also against verbal staging quotes, but I will have to write another blog on that and why you as a consumer should not fall for it.

Please realize that all those items I listed above dictate how the buyers will respond to your home. Why would you want to risk having the potential buyers focus on bad staging when they should actually focus on your beautiful home?

You are making the buyers experience of touring your home memorable o’right but it is not your  sellable home they will be remembering I can assure you of that.

Case in point, check out these two homes below.

One belongs to the Tuscany brown trend which is no longer trendy now btw. This property was located in Prestonwood in Dallas and it sold in one week once it was professionally staged by Design by KETI and it relisted as such.

Prestonwood-Luxury-Home-Staging-Rental-Fees-Design-by-Keti-Dallas-TX

This other home which is located in Preston Hollow in Dallas  belongs to the current Parisian gray trend. This home sold in two weeks after it relisted as a professionally staged home by Design by KETI.

Preston-Hollow-Luxury-Vacant-Home-Staging-Rental-Fees-Design-by-Keti-Dallas-TX

Here are some other examples...

This condo sold and de-staged in less then 30 days...

East-Village-Vacant-Home-Staging-Rental-Fees-Design-by-Keti-Dallas-TX

This luxury Home in Lake Highlands sold in three days from being listed as a professionally staged home. It de-staged in less than two months.

Lake-Highlands-Luxury-Home-Staging-Rental-Fees-Design-by-Keti-Dallas-TX

This renovated home in Preston Hollow sold and de-staged in two and a half months...

Renovations-Home-Staging-Rental-Fees-Design-by-Keti-Dallas-TX

Different type of props, inventory and color schemes were used to stage those homes as the fixed elements and the color scheme  in the home dictate how the home should be staged.

For those reasons – so that you ensure that you hire the right stager for you, whose staging will add value to your home and not take away from it – some good questions to ask would be along the lines of their professional staging background and how much actual time do they dedicate to staging homes on a weekly basis and for how long have they done so.

Some people might excitedly say “staging is my passion”. Please understand Passion Is Not Enough.

Although there is nothing wrong with being passionate about staging, having the skill set to also deliver a top staging and design plan that will yield results and that is  to sell your home swiftly and at a desirable price point, is of utmost importance.

Passion does not make you a professional!

For example, I love dancing. I am very passionate about it.  Everybody who knows me on a personal level knows this fun fact about me.

And I exercise this passion of mine by social dancing on a regular basis. On occasion and when my schedule permits it, I will take a group class but that is about it. But IF I want to become a professional dancer however, I would need to dedicate a lot of time and money to it. I would need to allocate time in my schedule to take a lot of private lessons so I can hone my dancing skills, and be really good at it. I also need to practice what I learn during those private lessons, so that one day in the near future I would be able to call myself a professional dancer and make a living out of my dancing.

My point is having passion about something – even staging - is not enough!

Cultivating your passion by dedicating time and resources to it, will elevate you to a professional status in the field of your choice!

Now that you have a little bit of a background on what distinguishes a pro stager from an amateur stager, let me tell you the reasons why we charge rental fees when we use our own props and inventory to stage your home.

Reason 1: The Law of Diminishing Return

  1. We charge rental fees when we use our own props and inventory to stage your home because as professionals we understand the law of diminishing return. This is an economics concept. It states that if one factor of production is increased, while other factors are held constant, the output will eventually diminish. This is otherwise known as negative returns.

Let’s apply this to hiring a stager to stage your vacant home and you need not pay rental fees for props and inventory.

Although it appears you may be getting a good deal, in actuality you may be getting a really bad one.

 It pays to invest more in the front end. When you pay a rental fee for props and inventory  to stage your home, you are ensuring you are getting top of the line items that are on-trend, are  ispirational to the buyers and in line with the architecture of your home. Since staging is nothing but packaging and merchandising, it is of utmost importance that the right props and inventory are used to  package and merchandise your home in other words stage your home.

Please understand each added input/benefit (in other words, "free props and inventory") will lead to a decrease in the quality of what you thought the outcome of staging was going to be.

So you find yourself six to eight months down the road and not only do you not get the return on your initial staging investment, you suddenly find yourself losing money because of it. Those losses come in the form of several price reductions, and on-going mortgage, tax, insurance and upkeep payments and fees.

Reason 2: Cheap Costs Too Much

  1. We charge rental fees when we use our own props and inventory to stage your home because cheap will end up costing our staging clients too much.

The quote from John Ruskin comes to mind:

“It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money - that's all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot - it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.”

So I encourage you to pay for something better, all the time.

Reason 3: We Have the End Result in Mind

  1. We charge rental fees when we use our own props and inventory to stage your home because as professionals we have the end result in mind. And that is selling at a stellar time, at the most desirable price point.

Reason 3.1: Rental Fees for Staging Means a Sustainable Business

3.1 We charge rental fees when we use our own props and inventory to stage your home because not charging accurately for services provided is not a sustainable business model. Specifically such type of business model will drive the business and the business owner into bankruptcy in no time at all.

Let me explain this a bit further. The three basic components that make up a vacant staging price quote are: 1. Staging Design Fee, 2. Moving and Logistics/Packing/Unpacking Fee and 3. Furniture and Accessories Rental Fee.

The staging fee covers things such as putting together a staging design concept, selecting all the props needed to stage the home (things like furniture, accessories, artwork, and soft good, lighting),  and packing and wrapping all such props and inventory, and then setting up on site as well as styling.

The moving fee covers the cost of moving all packed and wrapped props and inventory from the warehouse all the way to your house. And then from your house all the way back to the warehouse when your house sells and it needs to be de-staged.

If you have moved recently you know from experience that it is expensive to hire movers in Dallas. Our experience has been that when staging vacant homes – based on the scope of the project, the rooms we have staged and the distance of the house from our warehouse– moving costs can go anywhere from $700 and up to $2,000 on any vacant staging project.

And then there is the Furniture and Accessories rental fee. Please understand that there is a lot of money that goes into purchasing new inventory items on a regular basis. Inventory purchase and warehousing are two of the largest expenses any staging business has on their books.

We have a special formula in place when it comes to pricing out the rental fee for all items that are needed to stage your home.

What those other stagers are doing when they say “they don’t charge rental fees” is no different that you reaching out to some of the furniture rental companies out there and have them let you lease their stuff for free. I can assure  you that will never ever happen. Why because they are a for profit business. An exchange of products (staging props and inventory) for dollars ( inventory rental fee) needs to happen.

That makes a lot of logical, business and financial sense.

Red flags should go up when someone claims they do not bill rental fees. Some valued questions to ask would be, where did they get their props and inventory, how much money they spent towards it, will they bring cardboard furniture to stage your home, are they bringing stuff they got on garage sales to stage your home, or is it their parents oversized peanut butter color leather sofa from the 80’s  that will make its debut in the formal living room of your $900K home.

I am mentioning all those things because I have seen them actually happen over and over.

And last but not least do they have insurance for their inventory. And do they have insurance to be working at your home.  Unforeseen/unexpected things happen all the time. And the smart and savvy business owners plan accordingly for such things.

At the end of the day – as a consumer myself – I would be reluctant to hire someone who appears to not understand the intricacies of basic pricing. In my head that is something that would raise flags related to their professionalism, knowledge of real estate and their skill set.

Since they are not capable of doing such elementary thing – meaning pricing their services correctly - I would wonder if they are capable of being a top notch professional who will provide top notch staging designs so that your home is packaged and merchandised the correct way, so that your home sells fast and for top dollar and so that you get your money’s worth and return in staging it the professional way by a professional stager.

…those are all my thoughts. What are yours? Please feel free to share your opinion on this. I would love to hear it.

And if you are set on working with a professional home stager to help stage your home the right way, we would welcome the opportunity to be of service. And because we care for results and we care that YOU turn a profit, we will bill you rental fees, not because we are greedy, but because it's a win-win for all parties involved, we are fair, and we are really good at what we do. 🙂

Cheers,

Keti

O: (469) 210 – 1067

Website: https://designbyketi.com/

The smart and savvy Real Estate sellers realize that putting their home on the market is a two-step process.

First Step of the Home Selling Process: Preparation

It includes things like, painting, changing or cleaning carpets, updating hardware and light fixtures, attending to the curb appeal of the home etc.

Second Step of the Home Selling Process: Presentation

Otherwise known as Styling and Staging of the home to appeal to the demographic of the neighborhood where the home is located.

Only then your home will outshine the completion in your neighborhood and sell for more and in less time.

Let the experts at Design by KETI help with the entire process and sit back and relax. No need for you to chase after the painter and the carpet guy and the handyman and the professional cleaning crew,  in addition to also finding the right stager for you.

We got it all covered for you!

Our goal is to make your life EASY and make your home selling venture enjoyable and delightful especially once you look back and realize all the extra money you made at the sale of your home, with minimum investment and effort on your part.

Cheers,
Keti

 

I would like to share with you an interesting thing that has happened to me during these past few months... On a few instances, I have been brought in as a Dallas home stager by a Realtor “because the seller asked to work with a Professional Stager”. That’s right, the Seller asked the Realtor to get them in touch with their preferred Professional Property Stager as they prepare their house for the market.

It is truly amazing to see the shift in people’s mentalities when it comes to Property Staging. I am thankful for all the smart sellers out there who truly understand that Property Staging is not just about “bringing some furniture into a vacant space”, and it’s not just about “fluffing their home”.

Smart Sellers understand that Property Staging is a powerful marketing tool that when used correctly it has tremendous FINANCIAL benefits associated with it.

We are stepping into a Sellers’ market these days and there is a lot of talk about how the sellers are benefiting and how “offers will practically just drop on their lap”, because the demand for homes is high and the supply is low.

Although, as a Dallas home stager, I understand the concept of supply and demand really well, I also do understand that REGARDLESS of what the market is, buyers are smart and savvy these days; they want the Best Product that meets their needs and wants at a dollar amount they are willing to part with.

Let’s take this example:

You go to a 5 star restaurant for dinner. You have the most decadent appetizers and entrees one can possibly have in their life. You enjoyed every bite of it…now it is time for dessert. You happen to love Cheesecake and you really want to order some. You talk to your waiter and he gives you your options:

You can have their “Regular Cheesecake”,

Dallas home stager design by keti texas plain cheesecakePlain Cheesecake

or for $1.50 more you can have their “Special Strawberry Cheesecake”

Dallas home stager design by keti texas luxurious strawberry cheesecake

Strawberry Cheesecake

I don’t know about you but for only a $1.50 more I definitely want the Strawberry Cheesecake which comes with drizzled chocolate caramel and strawberry sauces topped with whip cream and a glazed strawberry. Yum.

(Oh and btw, I guarantee you; it did not cost the restaurant $1.50 for the toppings).

The strawberry cheesecake creates a feeling within you and it eludes a vision of the reality of having that cheesecake vs. the plain one and you just can't resist it, plain and simple.

That’s exactly what Staging does to a property. It presents the buyer with the opportunity to emotionally connect with a property. It also sets your property apart in presentation and value from all the other “cheesecakes” in your neighborhood that are up for sale.

UNLESS you don’t want to make more money when it is readily available to you for a minimal investment of time and money (perhaps even some sweat equity on your part) than Property Staging might not be for you!

…therefore you need not read further.

But if you want to make more money when it is readily available to you than read on…

Here are 4.1 reasons why you should enlist a Dallas home stager for your property in a Seller’s market:

1. Property Staging is a Practical Real Estate Marketing Tool.

Once your property is listed on the MLS your job is basically done. All you have to do now is sit back and wait for the buyers to come by, tour it and make an offer on it.

We need to understand that the internet has changed the way we do business in every area of our life – and that includes selling a home. Did you know that 42% of buyers used You Tube to look up houses for sale last year? That means, pictures may no longer be all that valuable. The video and the virtual tours will be! I can only imagine how a home that is not staged would look on video, especially if it is not done by a professional. I read this expression a while back I thought it was so true and also so funny at the same time.

“If you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait till you hire an amateur”!

Using a Dallas home stager is an essential and irreplaceable marketing tool, like we have never seen before because we live in a day and age where people are taking care of all their social, private and business needs on the internet.

2. A Dallas Home Stager is a Solid Investment.

Did you know that for every dollar you put towards preparing and staging your home for sale, the buyer will most likely ask that you pay them $10. I don’t know about you, but I would rather pay a $1 now so I can keep $9 in my pocket later.

3. Property Staging is a Win-Win Transaction.

All parties involved in a Property Staging project are winners. It can’t get any better than that.

a- Sellers win because they are able to maximize their return on their investment and preserve the equity of their home. Sellers also win because by Staging their property they will drastically reduce their time on market, which will directly reflect on their pocket book.

Less time on market = less mortgage expenses and all the other costs that go along with having a mortgage, such as tax and insurance payments, maintenance cost, etc.

b- Real Estate Agents win because a higher sales price translates into a higher commission payment for them. Real Estate Agents also win referral business if they sell faster and for top dollar. If a Realtor has sold my neighbors house in two weeks, who do you think will be the realtor I will most likely be inclined to do business with when I am ready to put my home on the market?

c- Buyers win because you give them the opportunity to gain their confidence in the property they are buying from you and because you also give them the opportunity to fall in love with the house/property of their dreams.

d-Professional Stagers win because they are given the opportunity to exercise their creativity and gift of knowing how to merchandise a property for sale by Staging it while at the same time being able to financially support themselves and their families. Most Professional Home Staging Businesses are run and operated as a local small business and when you hire a Professional Local Home Stager, you are supporting small local businesses.

4. Staging a Property = Deal Done Quickly and for More Money.

You would want to Stage because you will get the deal done quickly and for more money. Did you know that Staged homes sell 2 to 2.5 times quicker and for 17% more than the non-staged homes?

4.1 Property Staging may also increase the appraisal value of the property which in turn naturally would allow some buyers to qualify for a mortgage easier.

It would make sense to me that you hire a Dallas home stager for your property 100% of the time, regardless of what the price of the property is and what neighborhood you live in.

These are my thoughts, what are yours?

Cheers,

Keti

When it comes to selling Real Estate, there is a tremendous difference between being In The Market, vs. being on the market.

You would want to be “in the market”and not “on the market”.

Here is how you know you are “on the market”. By the way, this is NOT a place you want to be if you want to sell your house fast: Your house has been listed for at least two months now, you have had less than 10 private showings and you have had Absolutely No Offers!

If that’s the case you need to sit down and re-evaluate your selling strategy. What is causing the lack of traffic and interest? Is it because the house is overpriced or is it because it does not show well. As experts in Property Staging, we can help guide you on some things that you can take specific action on, to assure that your home Shows Well, Sells Fast and for Top Dollar.

Houses that are professionally Staged and photographed Show Well. Because they show well, a lot more potential buyers will be inclined to schedule an appointment to come by and tour it.

The more interest you generate in your home, the more showings you will have. The more showings you have, the more offers you will have. It's how the market works.

Selling your home - like with every thing else in life - is basically a “numbers” game. Once you have priced your house well and you have professionally Staged it -once it hits the market - you should have at least 10 showings within the first week of listing. For every 10 showings that you have, there should also be at least 1 acceptable offer.

design by keti dallas texas home staging home on the market real estate top dollar

So how do you guarantee your home is IN THE MARKET?

All you got to do is focus on those 2 things:

1. That your home is Priced Well (Your Real Estate Agent is a great source for this). Check out my blog titled “3.1 Things You Should Do When Choosing a Realtor! for more details on how to select a Realtor that will represent your financial interests the best when selling your home.

2. That your Home Shows Well: that means it is professionally Staged and photographed (call Design by KETI or another Professional Property Stager in your area for assistance with this).

Once those 2 conditions are fulfilled you are on your way to selling Very Fast and for TOP Dollar regardless of what the Real Estate market is.

The reason being, by ensuring that your home is Priced Well and that it Shows Well, you are fulfilling the demand that the buyers have: they want the best product (1) that meets their needs (2) at a great price (3).

Truthfully Yours,

Keti Abazi, MBA, ASP, IAHSP

Owner and Creative Director of Design by KETI

You took the plunge. You decided it was time for you to move to bigger and better things. One of the things that you need to take care of now is sell your home. You hired a realtor and the house has been on the market for almost 6 months with  only 3 or 4 showings. Something is wrong with that picture.

Suddenly you are presented with a challenge and you have to tackle it. But what do you do? Ask yourself and your realtor if your House has the PSP Factor…yes, I said the PSP factor, kinda’ like the X Factor.

IF the house has the PSP factor, you should be able to have at least 10 showings in the first 1 to 2 weeks of being on the market. For every 10 showings that take place, you should also have an acceptable offer.

If you are not seeing that kind of activity, than most likely your home lacks the PSP Factor.

dallas texas home staging design by keti interior redesign university park living room fireplace home for sale   

What is the PSP Factor you might ask?

Here it is:

P is for PRICE.

Is the house priced to sell? I know we all take pride in our ownership and a lot of times our idea of what our house is worth might be a bit unrealistic. I hear,  some realtors so as not to lose you – their client - will go along and list your house for what you think is worth and not what research of past sold homes reflects.

Well,   this strategy backfires because for every month that passes by, you still  have that expense of carrying your mortgage payment, tax payment, insurance  and all the other carrying cost that go along with owning a home.

dallas texas home staging design by keti highland park bedroom home for sale

S is for STAGED.

The questions you need to answer are: How does your house show? Does it appeal to   the BROAD target buyer? Yes, I know, that sounds like an oxymoron, (broad, and target) but really it is not. Did your Realtor bring in a Professional Stager to help you prepare your home for Sale? Did you do what you were  advised to do?

Why is this so important? Because once you have decided to sell your home; it  becomes a product; therefore it needs to be merchandised so that it appeals  to a broad range of target buyers. So again, is your house Professionally Staged?

Well you could say: I had a decorator friend help me with my home. Or I have   immaculate taste and my home is perfectly designed or decorated.

I will tell you this: that is not good enough because where as Staging is Attention Directing, Decorating is Attention getting. The last thing you  want is for the potential buyers to “wow” and “wow”, after your personal   belongings and not the precious square footage you are trying to sell.

dallas texas home staging design by keti formal living room home for sale 

P is for PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY.

Did your realtor bring in a professional photographer to photograph and produce a   virtul tour of your home so they can start marketing it? Now this can go to two different extremes.

There are some homes I see listed on the MLS (go and do a search on Realtor.com and   you will know what I am talking about) where the realtor took their own  pictures with their cell phone and put them on the MLS to market your home -   which is worth a LOT OF Money, I am sure – and then there are some other   photographs that I see, which are otherwise “professional” but those pictures  are taken from an extra wide angle, or they are photo-shopped, and sometimes   they even look “fuzzy”to me cause they are stretched so much horizontally...sometimes they even look so "exotic"... either way. This could be a  bit of false advertising if you ask me.

SO make sure that the pictures used to advertise your property are professional as   well as an accurate representation of what your home looks like and what the  flow of your home feels like.

        

Generally  because the properties that Design by KETI Staged, have had the PSP Factor, they have gone under contract within the first week of being on the market.

What have been some of your experiences when you decided to sell your house in the past? Do you feel the above three points accurately capture why a home does  not sell FAST and for TOP Dollar? Would you like to find out if your house  has the PSP Factor? Call us today for a Free Evaluation.

Cheers,

Keti

I would like to start by saying I am a big advocate of always using a Realtor when it comes to buying and selling Real Estate. I would not recommend you go “FSBO” (For Sale by Owner) on me, because you might be doing yourself a huge disservice, if you do. Realtors have a wealth of knowledge and expertise that unless you hire them, you won’t have access to and benefit from.  With that said however, like with any profession, not all Realtors are created equal.

For example, in my trade – which is Real Estate Staging - I have seen some staging jobs out and about that I don’t care for; they are poorly done, out of scale and on the cheap side.

On the other hand, I have also had the opportunity to experience firsthand and get to know in person some wonderful professional Stagers in the area who over time and because of their superb Staging jobs and expertise, have gained my professional and personal respect.

dallas texas home staging design by keti choosing a realtor bedroom

When deciding to put your house on the market - so that you can get the most out of your sale - there are certain things that I highly recommend that you do when choosing your Realtor.

Your "Choosing a Realtor" To-Do List:

1.    Don’t just go with that one Realtor someone at the office or at your child’s school recommended to you. Drive around the neighborhood and see whose name you see consistently on those “For sale” or “Just Sold” signs.  Interview at least three of them. Find out what sets them apart from the rest of the Realtors in your area.  As the saying goes, past performance is a great indicator of future results.

2. What is their Distinguishing Client Benefit and what is their Competitive Marketing Advantage; what will they do for you that will help YOU sell your house Fast and for Top Dollar. Ask them, how will they Market your property, to whom will they market it.

Selling a home is not just about sticking a sign in the front yard (I have seen this happen many a times) and for sure selling a home is NOT going to be achieved by posting ugly pictures on the MLS (I see this happen more than I care to), that they might take with their I-phone or Android. This is totally unacceptable in my opinion.

And as a Seller if you agree to this, just know, you are doing nothing but selling the house down the road, that Design by KETI or one of the  other Professional Stagers - that I highly regard - Staged  and a Professional Photographer photographed it.

Before & After Home Staging Photos

Check out some pictures I have seen on the MLS and compare it to some of the pictures from the properties that Design by KETI Staged.

Being that 96% of the potential buyers resort to the internet and on-line representation before they decide which house they want to tour, which one do you think they will be more inclined to go see?

The one represented by the ugly MLS pictures or the one that is Professionally Staged and Professionally photographed?

Ugly MLS Kitchen Pic

Picture of Kitchen in MLS

dallas texas home staging design by keti choosing a realtor modern white kitchen

Picture of Kitchen in MLS, Staged by Design by KETI and Professionally Photographed

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Picture of Dining in MLS

Picture of Dining in MLS, Staged by Design by KETI and Professionally Photographed!

dallas texas home staging design by keti choosing a realtor highland park dining room

Ugly MLS Bedroom Pic

Picture of Bedroom in MLS

dallas texas home staging design by keti choosing a realtor master bedroom with large windows

Picture of Bedroom in MLS, Staged by Design by KETI and Professionally Photographed

3.    When choosing your Realtor, ask what is their average DOM (Days on Market). The lower their DOM, the better.  If I find out a Realtor’s DOM is 175  (that means it has taken them on average 175 days to sell a home) and the other Realtor’s DOM is 23, then for sure I will go with the one whose DOM (Days on Market) average is 23.

On the other hand, if they tell you, they don’t know what their DOM is or that they have not tracked it, than count that response as a Red Flag.

3.1.     And Last but not Least. Always, always Stage and De-personalize your home (Staging is nothing but packaging and merchandising your home). You see, when you decide to sell your home, it becomes a product – it turns into a house - therefore it needs to be “merchandised” so it appeals to the broad buyer, and Always Always, insist on professional photography.

If your potential Realtor does not want to pay $130 or so in professional photography for you, to ensure superb representation on the internet, than that Realtor does not deserve to get paid $3,000 to $5,000 - or whatever it might be - in commission from the sale of your home, in my opinion.

What's yours?

Cheers,

Keti

Hi everyone.  I have not had much time to do any blogging recently - thanks to all of you who have kept me busy – but wanted to take some time and write on the cost, or what I like to call the Investment in Home Staging.

From my discussions with many a Realtor, I have heard it mentioned more than once that although Staging a listing might sound like a great idea, their Seller just can’t afford to do so.

In response to that, I always say, the seller cannot afford to not Stage their home for the following reasons:

  1. Once a house goes to market, it becomes a product, therefore in order for it to sell Fast and for TOP Dollar it needs to be Merchandised ( i.e. Stage it)  so it appeals to the broadest buyers;
  2. The way you live in a home and the way you sell your home are two different things. That means, among other things, vacant properties are not going to sell fast either, simply because they have no “soul” about them, and the buyer is unable to make an emotional connection with them. No Emotional Connection = No Offers;
  3. The cost of Staging a home is ALWAYS less than the first price reduction. It’s all about showing the numbers to the Sellers and doing the math so to speak. I have yet to talk to a Client/Seller that refused to have the property Staged, after I went over the numbers with them. And the fact that they have gotten offers after being on the market for 3 days or so is proof that Staging works. When working in collaboration with REAs and Sellers I always ask these two things: a-) what price range they perceive the property to be at or list at; b-) who the target buyer is.

investment in home staging design by keti dallas texas lakewood kitchen

I then Stage the property (package it, merchandise it) in such a way that the Staging design does and will appeal to that specific target buyer, in that specific price range. By Staging the property, the Realtor/Seller are confident on determining where in that range, the property will fall; which 100% of the time, it’s on the higher end of that spectrum as it should be. Staging does add on average 5%-20% perceived value to the property.

Investment in Home Staging

Now back to my point about showing the numbers and doing the math:

For example purposes will look at a property with a Listing Price of $250,000.

investment in home staging design by keti dallas texas uptown living room

Cost to Seller when the property is NOT Staged:

-         Since Un-Staged properties stay on the market an average of 9 months or so and assuming monthly mortgage carrying costs of about $2,300/month, that would cost the Seller an additional $20,700 ($2,300 x 9 = $20,700)

-         Average price reduction is about 1% per month so, $2,500 x 9 = $22,500

Cost to Seller when property is NOT Staged: $43,200 ($20,700+$22,500)

Cost to Realtor when the property is NOT Staged:

-         Commission before Price Reductions: $250,000 x 3% = $7,500

-         Commission after price reduction: $227,500 x 3% = $6,825

-         Cost to Realtor: $7,500-$6,825 = $675

-         Add to it the opportunity cost and another $250 or so a month ($250 x 9 = $2,250) in Marketing Cost

Total average Cost to the Realtor is $2,925 ($675+$2,250)

Savings to Seller and Realtor when the property is Staged:

And now for the Savings that both the Seller and the Realtor realize and how Staging is an Upfront Investment worth making:

-         Knowing that Staged homes sell in about 29 to 45 days in the current market - translates into about two months of mortgage carrying cost to the Seller ($2,300 x 2 = $4,600)

-         Staging Investment of $175 to $3,000  (consultations start at about $175, and Vacant Staging projects  for properties in the $250K  price could go up to $3,000)

Total Cost to Seller if Property is Staged = $7,600.

So, when it is all said and done, is Staging worth it? Absolutely, enthusiastically “Yes”. The net savings in this example is likely to be around $35,600 for the Seller and about $3,000 in additional commission money to the Realtor. Eventually, with or without Staging, money will be spent.  The question is how much and for what? Will it be spent in additional mortgage costs, price reductions, money brought to the closing table, continuous monthly Marketing cost, or Staging it and actually selling it now, so you EARN MORE MONEY?

Cheers,

Keti

I have been going on a lot of MLS tours lately. I have seen many a listings and here is what I have discovered:  Savvy Realtors, who consistently use Stagers to Stage their listings, are seeing far more SOLD signs than their competition who don’t. If you’re not staging all of your listings, occupied and vacant, you’re not doing yourself or your sellers justice. Stage your listings and leave the competition behind.

I am sure you would all agree that Buying and Selling Real Estate is such an emotional transaction. I have yet to hear someone tell me the reason they bought a house was because it had three bathrooms, two and a half baths and a pool. Every time I ask someone why they bought the house they live in, the answer is “I fell in love with that house”. It’s funny how many people make an emotional decision about buying and selling Real Estate and then they go back and logically walk you thru why they made their emotional decision. Makes me smile each time!

I have lived in the Uptown/Downtown are of Dallas at least for twenty years now. I know exactly what the urban sophisticated and quirky buyer is looking for when they decide to buy Real Estate in the area. Unfortunately I can’t say that I see that portrayed on 100% of the listings. I really have not seen the properties being Staged to where the property appeals to the “lifestyle” of the urban dweller.

Luxury Home Staging in Preston Hollow, Dallas

Appropriate Staging creates that lifestyle - that visual and emotional appeal - so that the buyers can emotionally move in. Staging is not decorating or fluffing a house. Rather it is a basic marketing tool that every Realtor who wants to sell fast and for top dollar should use. Thousands of Realtors across the country have discovered the “Magic” of Staging their properties for top dollar sales.

W.I.I.F.M (What’s In It For Me) - in other words “What’s in it for YOU - the Realtor”?

Staging is a Market Differentiator – you will win listings over non-staging agents because you are offering Staging as a Standard Service

Staging is a Value Added Service – Your listing will sell for more than comparable un-staged homes, AND you will make more money (and so will your sellers) if you Stage

You Get more business – you will get repeat and referral business because Sellers will appreciate the extra effort and the fact that the REA did MORE to Get Them MORE!

The Essential Realtor / Seller Conversation About Staging a Listing to Sell

Here is my two cents on how to have a “Must Stage” conversation with your sellers so that the property gets packaged, merchandised, i.e. Staged before it goes to market:

-         The way you live in a home and the way you sell your home are two different things

-         Once you have decided to put your home on the market, it immediately becomes a product, therefore it needs to be “packaged” – turned into a home - merchandised ( that’s what Staging does – it’s the only thing that you can do to  “package” and “merchandise” your listing)

-         Buyers don’t like the lived-in look. They only know what they see, not the way it is going to be

-         Buyers need to feel they are AT HOME, not in YOUR Home

-         Staging creates a serious of great impressions throughout the home motivating the buyer to linger; when buyers are browsing for homes in the neighborhood, one of two things will happen; they will either move in or move on!

-         The cost of Home Staging is always less than the 1st price reduction.  On Average, the cost would be anywhere from $250 for a Staging Consultation, to $400 - $1,400 for an Occupied Staging project and up to $5,000 for a Vacant Staging project (which includes rental fees for furniture and accessories).

And for those of you who are all about the numbers, which I think all of us should be, than please click on the link below to be directed to the RESA (Real Estate Staging Association) Staging Calculator. http://www.stagingsavings.com/stagingSavings.html

Stay tuned, next time I will be discussing some pointers on Home Staging that I hope you find beneficial as you list your properties for sale!

Cheers,

Keti

Many a people have a hard time understanding home staging essentials. “What is Home Staging anyhow”, you may ask?

According to Barb Schwarz, “Home Staging is the act of preparing a home for sale so the buyer can mentally move in.” I could not come up with a better definition of what Home Staging is!

design by keti home staging essentials dallas texas luxury living room

Another question that I hear all the time is: “Do all houses need to be Staged?

All houses need to be staged prior to sale, if you want to sell for top dollar and be in the market for a short time. Secondly 90% of the population can not visualize or imagine spaces. That means 90% of buyers can not visualize spaces or imagine themselves in the house you wish they buy from you.

Home Staging is equivalent to car detailing (the male reader can totally identify with this); you never try to sell your car, whether it is a Kia or a Ferrari, without detailing it first. If we are willing and open to spending money on something that is a liability, (our vehicle), why are we so closed to the idea of investing on maximizing the return on something that for most of us is our most valuable asset (our house)?

“But my Seller has great taste and therefore Staging is not necessary”, is something else I hear quite often from Realtors.

Staging has nothing to do with a Seller's taste and a lot to do with the buyer’s wants. So the Seller and the Real Estate Agent/Realtor would need to answer the question- who the buyers are and what they want and look for in the specific area or neighborhood- and package and merchandise the house (i.e. stage the home), accordingly.

I went to an open house a few days ago in THE most desirable and affluent neighborhood in my city. The architecture of the house is very traditional-Mediterranean as a matter of fact- and the interior decorating and furnishings are very modern which makes the house very eclectic. First thing you notice as you walk thru the main entrance, are the beautiful expensive art work and furnishings. What happened to highlighting Real Estate (almost 7, 000 sq. feet of Real Estate?). And that is what Staging would do-highlight Real Estate. After all that is what the buyer wants to buy, the house and not the Seller’s possessions.

This particular house has been on the market twice in the last two years and did not sell, and now it has been on the market a third time for over 60 days and they have yet to have an offer. Never mind the price reductions of the 7 figure type…The architecture of the house is beautiful (traditional Mediterranean), the interior design and art work are beautiful (ultra modern, minimalist). Spaces “speak” to us and this property speaks “single bachelor who has a very incredible eclectic taste”. There is nothing wrong with ultra modern, minimalist design. Personally I love it, as a mater of fact…but I highly doubt that house appeals to the young family who wants to make it a home so they are able to raise their children in the most desirable, affluent neighborhood in the city.

So yes, Staging is needed, if you want to sell quick and for top dollar!

design by keti home staging essentials dallas texas luxury dining room and living room

As a seller you can not afford to not Stage because your online photos will stand out (which means more showings/traffic-therefore more offers), your house will sell faster, you will make more money therefore you will get your Return on your Staging investment back-at least a 200% return and up to 576% of it. And did you know Home Staging cost may be deductible in the State of Texas?

Cheers,

Keti

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