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Cathy Hobbs Blog: Design Recipes (Do-It-Yourself Interior Design Solutions, Approachable Design and Home Staging Techniques) www.design-recipes.com

~ Hi there! On HGTV's Hit Reality TV Show DESIGN STAR, I sewed, painted & sawed my way through some pretty tough challenges, but design doesn't have to be hard! I believe in combining simple, timeless design ingredients to create what I call "Design Recipes". I hope you find this to be a truly awesome resource. www.design-recipes.com contains design tips, articles, podcasts, how-to videos and of course design recipes galore! I invented Design Recipes simply because I love sharing my ideas! For years I collected design magazines, tagged and clipped pages with inspirational images & did nothing! That's because I didn't have the resource information so I could purchase the beautiful furniture I was seeing on the pages of the magazines! With Design Recipes, I SHARE how the room was executed, giving you the basic design tools needed for you to recreate the same look on your own and best of all I give you all of the resource information! Enjoy!

Cathy Hobbs Blog: Design Recipes  (Do-It-Yourself Interior Design Solutions, Approachable Design and Home Staging Techniques) www.design-recipes.com

Tag Archives: home selling

Home Staging Secrets: Make Use of Every Last Space

15 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by cathyhobbs in Cathy Hobbs, decorating, home selling, Home Staging, Home Staging Before And After, home staging class, home staging course, home staging tips, Home Staging training, Interior Design

≈ Comments Off on Home Staging Secrets: Make Use of Every Last Space

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home selling, Home Staging, home staging courses, Interior Design

When you’re selling your home, we know how easy it is to overlook the seldom-used parts of your home. Foyers, landings and even empty space under stairs are too often designated to storing junk, or even left completely empty! But when staged correctly, they can be great added selling features.

The trick to using these spaces to your advantage is to make a buyer feel like they’d be getting an added bonus when they purchase your home. Turning that empty foyer into usable space instantly adds value in buyers’ eyes. We love how this one was turned into a full sitting area:

foyerafterPhoto Credit: Cathy Hobbs. Designed by a Cathy Hobbs Home Staging class.

Other small spaces can be used to your advantage as well! The landing below was turned from an obviously unused space (note the extra lamps being stored there!) to a cozy sitting nook.

BEFORE:

landingbeforePhoto Credit: Cathy Hobbs

AFTER:

landingafterPhoto Credit: Cathy Hobbs. Designed by a Cathy Hobbs Home Staging class.

So remember: Don’t forget about the little spaces! They just might make all the difference to a potential buyer.

Want to learn more about home staging? Check out Cathy’s Home Staging Class schedule. Upcoming classes are being held in Las Vegas on January 31st and in Atlanta on February 7th.

Are you on social media? I would love to connect with you! Feel free to reach out to me on any of these platforms!

Be sure to also LIKE Cathy Hobbs, Interior Designer on FACEBOOK

and Follow Design Recipes on TWITTER

As well as Cathy Hobbs on PINTEREST

And Design Recipes on INSTAGRAM

Plus enjoy our Design Recipes How-To-Videos on YOU TUBE

Home Staging Secrets: Turn Your Fireplace Into a Major Selling Feature

08 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by cathyhobbs in Cathy Hobbs, Do-It-Yourself, home selling, Home Staging, Interior Design, living room tips

≈ Comments Off on Home Staging Secrets: Turn Your Fireplace Into a Major Selling Feature

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fireplace, home selling, Home Staging, Interior Design

While fireplaces are a popular, in-demand home feature, they can work against you if they’re not in tip-top shape. A dirty or outdated fireplace can make a home look unkempt, when it should be bringing warmth and appeal! If you have a fireplace, be sure to spruce it up before you put your home on the market.

First, make sure it’s squeaky clean. This will require some elbow grease as you’ll need to remove all debris and thoroughly scrub the inside and out with soap and water.

Once it’s pristine, polish the bricks or stone with a stone color enhancer to let it really shine. If you have a wooden mantlepiece, consider re-painting or staining the wood. Either way, make sure nothing looks worn or outdated.

Now, on to the screen! If you have a brass screen, make sure to remove all signs of dirt and grime. You could even consider installing glass doors — we love their polished, modern look!

We love these great fireplaces:

fireplace3Photo Source

fireplacePhoto Source: Cathy Hobbs. Design by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes

fireplace2Photo Source

Voila! Now that your fireplace is spic and span, it can be a great feature to help market your property. Happy selling!

Are you on social media? I would love to connect with you! Feel free to reach out to me on any of these platforms!

Be sure to also LIKE Cathy Hobbs, Interior Designer on FACEBOOK

and Follow Design Recipes on TWITTER

As well as Cathy Hobbs on PINTEREST

And Design Recipes on INSTAGRAM

Plus enjoy our Design Recipes How-To-Videos on YOU TUBE

Home Staging Secrets: Use Contrast!

04 Wednesday Dec 2013

Posted by cathyhobbs in Certified Staging Professionals, decorating, home selling, Home Staging, Home Staging Before And After

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before and after, decorating, design, home selling, Home Staging

When staging a home, it’s easy to take the safest route and avoid any type of contrast in their décor. Staying relatively neutral is a great strategy, but a monochromatic room is dull! Don’t be afraid to add pops of contrasting color for a little flare.

BEFORE:

before living roomPhoto Credit: Cathy Hobbs

In this before photo, the beige color scheme overwhelms the room. The eye isn’t drawn anywhere in particular, so the room appears to be drab and dull.

AFTER:

after living roomPhoto Credit: Cathy Hobbs. Designed by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes

As you can see in the after photo, the room was given a fresh update by combining red and blue accents. The eye is drawn quickly to the teal vases on the table and then drawn outward to the red accent pieces along the perimeter of the room. A focal point is instantly made, and the room appears brighter and larger.

Learn tips like this one, and many more, at a hands-on CSP Home Staging Course! Upcoming classes are being held in Greenville, SC on December 7th and Boston, MA on December 14th. Receive a free information packet by calling 888-STAGING or visiting www.stagingtraining.com. View the full schedule of upcoming classes here: Cathy Hobbs Home Staging Classes

Be sure to also LIKE Cathy Hobbs, Interior Designer on FACEBOOK

and Follow Design Recipes on TWITTER

As well as Cathy Hobbs on PINTEREST

And Design Recipes on INSTAGRAM

Plus enjoy our Design Recipes How-To-Videos on YOU TUBE

SECRETS OF A HOME STAGER: HOSTING THE PERFECT OPEN HOUSE

06 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by cathyhobbs in affordable interior design, Cathy Hobbs, Home Staging

≈ Comments Off on SECRETS OF A HOME STAGER: HOSTING THE PERFECT OPEN HOUSE

Tags

Cathy Hobbs, home selling, Home Staging, home staging tips, open house ideas, Real Estate, REAL ESTATE STAGING, real estate styling, selling real estate

Hosting The Perfect Open House

 As an ASID interior designer and host of dozens of my own soirees and events, I am often called upon to create the décor for parties and events.  During this Summer real estate selling season, one of the most prominent opportunities that comes to mind is the all important “Open House”.  As much of my interior design work is geared toward the real estate industry I wanted to dedicate today’s blog to creative, enticing and affordable ideas for how to “Host The Perfect Open House.”

Creating An Atmosphere

First and foremost, an Open House is an entertaining opportunity and like any other event that one may host in their home, an Open House is an opportunity for the home seller to showcase and make a statement about their own style and taste.

Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

 First Impressions

It is important for a home seller at the all important Open House to create a “moment” for a potential buyer the second they walk in the door.  The reality is most buyers make a decision about a property within the first three minutes, whether positive or negative, so it is critical that the first impression is strong.

Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Design ideas for each room of the home

ENTRY

  • SMALL BOWL OF APPLES—fruit is not only affordable but creates instant color, other ideas include a bowl of artichokes, lemons or limes.
  • TALL VASE WITH STEMS – from a single stem in a tall slim face to a handful of fresh cut flowers, flowers instantly say “welcome” to potential buyers.
  • SHORT FLOWERS IN SMALL PITCHERS OR VASES –flowers don’t have to be in traditional vases, you can also place them in decorative water pitchers or apothecary jars.

 LIVING ROOM

  • AFFORDABLE TOSS PILLOWS – toss pillows are relatively affordable and the right pattern and or color can really add impact to a space. If you want a budget, craft friendly idea, why not make toss pillows from affordable scarves.
Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

CENTERPIECES/ACCENTS  (centerpieces for coffee and dining tables as well as accents throughout the home)

  • GLASS HURRICANE/CANDLE ON A BIRCH COIN—a simple birch coin can add an instant organic element to your décor and with a simple candle and glass hurricane on top can be an elegant centerpiece for a coffee or dining table.
  • CARVED OUT APPLE WITH A TAPER CANDLE- whether it’s an artichoke or apple, carving out fruits and vegetables and inserting a tall taper candle can add instant appeal.
  • SUCCULENTS IN MOSS AND SAND – tiny succulents are hearty enough to be around for lots of open houses! Pair them with sand, moss or river rocks in a glass jar or vessel and you have a beautiful accent piece.
  • PHOTO COASTERS WITH A PHOTO/THEME OR FLOOR PLAN—imagine how this will appeal to potential buyers! All a home seller needs to do is print their floor plan out on a piece of colored paper and then mount it onto a piece of cork or stiff cardboard in order to create beautiful floor plan coasters.
Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

 “Stage your home” for Sale for the Open House

When it comes time to sell your home it is important for home sellers to remember that it is no longer their home, but a product on the market that will be compared to other products.  “Staging” is a proven technique in which a home is “styled” and prepared for sale.  Here are some of Cathy’s tips for how one can “Stage for the Open House”.

Dining rooms – whether setting the table or using table top items, setting the table can go a long way, as does creating interesting vignettes.

    • WINE GLASSES
    • DECORATIVE TRAYS
    • INTERESTING COASTERS
    • CREATIVE CENTERPIECE
Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Bedrooms

I always say to my clients, if you don’t have attractive, appealing, bedding, purchase some! You don’t have to spend a lot of money, but a bedroom, especially a master bedroom should really look and feel like a sensuous retreat.

Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Kitchen

  • BOWL OF FRESH LEMONS OR LIMES
  • A CUTTING BOARD WITH A BEAUTIFUL COOKBOOK ON TOP
  • FILL BEAUTIFUL TALL CONTAINERS WITH COLORFUL PASTA
Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Bathrooms—don’t forget the bathrooms! Many potential buyers still buy property based on their impressions of the kitchen and bathrooms.

  • USE LOTS OF CANDLES (VERY AFFORDABLE)—candles are affordable and create instant glamour!
  • NAPKINS DRESSED WITH A SIMPLE SHELL  –if you choose to “stage” the dining area by setting the table, one idea is to place simple shell on the napkin as an elegant touch
  • USE ELEGANT TOUCHES LIKE FRAGRANT FRESH DECORATIVE SOAP
Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Property Staged by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes (www.cathyhobbs.com)

Remember an Open House is the perfect opportunity to entertain as well as entice potential buyers.

contact info:

interior designer cathy hobbs

Cathy Hobbs Design recipes http://www.cathyhobbs.com

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Working With A Professional Interior Designer Or Home Stager

28 Saturday Apr 2012

Posted by cathyhobbs in Home Stager, Home Staging, home staging services, interior design services, new york interior designer, small business

≈ Comments Off on Working With A Professional Interior Designer Or Home Stager

Tags

Cathy Hobbs, hiring a home stager, hiring an interior designer, home selling, Home Stager, HOW TO START, interior design services, interior designer, Real Estate, small business, working wth an interior designer

I’ve often heard it said there’s value in “getting a job done right the first time.” Whether it’s a home seller choosing to hire a professional real estate broker to sell their home or apartment or someone hiring a professional interior designer to design their home or a professional home stager to stage their residence to sell, there is a proven value and track record related to hiring a professional.

As a professional, ASID, NCIDQ certified interior designer and certified staging professional, the value I bring to a project beyond my own professional style and design aesthetic is experience and education. Professionals and those in specialized fields have distinct training that those who don’t simply do not possess. For example, when I renovate and re-design homes, would I purchase a do-it-yourself book on wiring and plumbing and attempt to do all of the electrical and plumbing work myself? Of course not! I would hire a professional electrician or plumber, an individual who has spent years honing his or her craft to perform the work. As ridiculous as it may sound for a lay person with no skills to possibly perform electrical or plumbing work, one may ask why would someone with no skill set or experience attempt to design or stage their home themselves. “Oh, THAT’S easy” you say? Wrong. Interior design is a specific and distinct profession in which interior designers are required to spend years in school, apprentice under licensed professionals and pass rigorous exams. Interior Design is also a profession that is licensed by the State of New York along with other professions like physicians. On the home staging side, most home stagers have taken a series of courses in order to earn a credential and have a certain level of experience.

Selecting the right Interior Designer

A lot of people don’t realize this, but there is actually a significant difference between someone being able to call themselves a “decorator” versus an “interior designer”. Essentially anyone can call themselves a decorator regardless of their education, training and experience. However, in order to be able to call oneself an interior designer, one must have completed a certain level of achievement in the areas known as the three “E’s”, education, experience and examination. Holding the distinction of ASID is often recognized as the industry standard, because in order to be able to use the ASID distinction one is required to complete a minimum standard of 2-4 years of college coursework through a FIDER accredited interior design program, have achieved a minimum level of experience in the field and successfully passed a rigorous examination known as the NCIDQ exam which measures a designers level of competency as it relates to health, welfare and safety in interior design.

When selecting the right interior designer for you. I would suggest interviewing approximately three different designers. Be sure to ask to see samples of their work, nearly all interior designers have websites with numerous portfolio photographs posted. You may also wish to call an interior designers’ references as well as see their work in person. Don’t be afraid to ask an interior designer specifics about their education and credentials. These credentials can also be confirmed through sites like http://www.asid.org and http://www.ncidq.org.

Beyond an interior designers credentials and work “on paper”, making your interior designer selection, may just come down to personality and whether or not you feel that you can trust and would enjoy working with this professional for what may be as long as a year or possibly longer.

How Interior Designers charge for their services

Most interior designers either charge a flat design fee or hourly. Hourly fees typically range from $100.00 to $300.00 per hour, based on the designers experience and years in business. In addition to a design fee, designers also charge a certain percentage for items that are sourced or purchased through them, typically between 10 and 35 percent. Expect a professional interior designer to also charge for such extras as drafting services such as creating construction drawings, renderings, shopping, phone calls and overseeing construction management.

Hiring a Professional Home Stager

Home staging is very different from interior design and the two professions and skill sets are quite separate and distinct. With home staging, it is solely and entirely about creating a marketing tool in order to sell real estate. Home staging is not about expensive fabrics, trims and kiln dried furniture frames. It is simply about creating an enticing environment in order to showcase a property in its best possible light so that potential buyers notice the true potential a property has to offer.

How Professional Home Stagers charge for their services

What is so wonderful about hiring a professional home stager to sell your home (if you are a home seller) or your listing (if you are a real estate broker) is that you can hire a professional home stager to do as little or as much as you would like. For example, you can hire a professional home stager for consultation purposes only. A consultation only service with a professional home stager typically consists of a service in which the home stager provides his or her analysis of the space providing a “blueprint” for the home seller to follow in order to properly prepare their property for sale. The cost is typically between $300 and $500. The other and more common way in which home sellers and real estate brokers typically hire stagers is to hire a stager to perform full staging services in which the stager creates and oversees the entire preparation and staging of a property for sale. Home stagers typically an average price of $1,000 to $1800 per day for such professional services.

Through my own interior design and home staging company, I have personally helped to sell almost $100 million dollars worth of real estate. Hiring a professional not only brings added value it should also bring peace of mind.

National Home Staging Expert Cathy Hobbs Weighs In On Virginia Home Real Estate Sales Figures

11 Saturday Feb 2012

Posted by cathyhobbs in become a home stager, Best Home Stager, budget design ideas, Cathy Hobbs, CERTIFIED STAGING PROFESSIONAL, Certified Staging Professionals, Home Stager, home stager ny, home stager nyc, Home Staging, home staging class, home staging tips

≈ Comments Off on National Home Staging Expert Cathy Hobbs Weighs In On Virginia Home Real Estate Sales Figures

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affordable decorating, Affordable Decorating Ideas, ARLINGTON, Cathy Hobbs, Certified Staging Professional, home sales, home selling, Home Stager, Home Staging, Home Staging Course, home staging tips, Home Staging Training, national association of realtors, Real Estate, selling a home, Sun Gazette, VIRGINIA, virginia real estate agent

As a National Trainer for Certified Staging Professionals the leading international home staging certification training academy. I have taught their 3-day certification course several times in Arlington, Virginia which is a suburb of Washington, D.C. The course is mostly attended by real estate agents, interior designers, professional organizers and interior designers interested in starting a home staging business.  What they all agree with and have shared with me is that when it comes to selling a home in the Northern Virginia market, with so much inventory available a property truly needs to have an “it” factor to stand out from the crowd.  In January I created a list of my “Top 10” Home Staging Tips for 2012. I wanted to share them again, as they are easy, affordable and will certainly help any home seller sell their home for the most amount of money in the shortest amount of time. Hope it helps! And Happy Selling!!

Cathy

Cathy’s Top Home Staging Tips

1. Clear the clutter–this sounds simple enough, but if your home is not free of excess furniture and clutter it will simply take longer to sell.

2. Check the price — most buyers make decisions in large part based on price.  It is critical that your home is priced correctly.

3. Shop the competition— I suggest to a lot of my sellers that they go to open houses and really see what their competition has to offer.

4. Neutralize and de-personalize — you want potential home buyers to feel that it could be their home, not your home.

5. Make minor repairs- now is not the time to skimp. Paint those steps that haven’t been painted in years or replace that front door. Your will be glad you did!

6. Hire a cleaning crew-it is imperative that your home is spic and span, especially kitchens and bathrooms.

7. Rent furniture or purchase accessories if necessary--sometimes it isn’t about the fact that your home is furnished, but what kind of furniture it is furnished with. When marketing your property you want to make sure that the furniture and accessories to not come across as outdated or inappropriate.

8. Paint--I have never seen a property that did not benefit from fresh coat of paint when it came time to sell.

9. Don’t forget curb appeal-– remember many potential buyers will judge the inside of a home by what they see on the outside. Make sure the landscaping is well kept as well as exterior elements such as shutters, front doors and driveways.

10. Hire a Certified Staging Professional (CSP) to stage your home–you wouldn’t perform surgery on yourself so why would you not trust your biggest asset your home to a professional.

Va. Home Sales Showing Possibility of Recovery

by SCOTT McCAFFREY, Staff Writer Sun Gazette Newspapers

When should a tie be counted as a win? In the case of Virginia’s real estate market, when sales from 2011 held up fairly well compared to transactions a year before.

A total of 83,748 residential properties changed hands across the Old Dominion last year, according to figures reported by the Virginia Association of Realtors (VAR), up slightly from the 83,561 sales recorded in 2010.

More importantly, the 2011 sales figures held up even without the federal tax credit for home-buyers that helped prop up the market a year before.

If overall economic conditions continue to improve – obviously a big “if” – then “there is reasonable hope for an improved housing market in 2012,” VAR officials said in remarks accompanying the sales data.

Sales across Virginia in the fourth quarter of 2011 totaled 18,715, up slightly from the 18,513 recorded a year. Sales were essentially flat, compared to a year before, in all three months: October, November and December.

For the fourth quarter, total sales were up in every geographic region across the commonwealth except the biggie: In Northern Virginia, sales were down 9.1 percent, to 8,221. (In VAR parlance, “Northern Virginia” includes a huge swath of territory, much larger than the more traditional inner and outer suburbs of Washington, D.C.)

Sales were up 12.9 percent in the Hampton Roads area, 9.8 percent in Roanoke/Lynchburg/Blacksburg, 9.6 percent in Greater Richmond, 9.4 percent in Southwest Virginia, 8.3 percent in the Central Valley and 2.4 percent in Southside.

The average sales price of all homes sold across Virginia in the fourth quarter was $220,000, down from $233,000 a year before.

But “given that Virginia has seen two quarters of consecutive increases in the pace of annualized home sales, we may see prices stabilize in 2012,” VAR official said.

Average prices were down in all seven reporting areas, from a low of 0.2 percent in Northern Virginia to a high of 8.5 percent in Greater Richmond. Average sales prices were $309,995 in Northern Virginia, $195,000 in the Central Valley, $194,000 in Hampton Roads, $171,548 in Central Richmond, $150,000 in Roanoke/Lynchburg/Blacksburg, $120,000 in Southwest Virginia and $84,000 in Southside Virginia.

The median sales price for all homes in Virginia continues well above the comparable national figure, standing at $220,200 in November vs. a national total (for existing homes) of $164,200.

Total sales volume for all Virginia residential properties sold in the fourth quarter was $5.18 billion, down from $5.43 billion a year before. The average number of days homes spent on the market before finding a buyer was 100 in the fourth quarter, up from 91 a year before.

 

NYC Celebrity Interior Designer Home Stager Cathy Hobbs Gives Her Top 10 Staging Tips For 2012!

03 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by cathyhobbs in become a home stager, Best Home Stager, budget design ideas, Cathy Hobbs, CERTIFIED STAGING PROFESSIONAL, Certified Staging Professionals, Home Stager, home stager ny, home stager nyc, Home Staging, home staging class, home staging tips

≈ Comments Off on NYC Celebrity Interior Designer Home Stager Cathy Hobbs Gives Her Top 10 Staging Tips For 2012!

Tags

affordable decorating, Affordable Decorating Ideas, Cathy Hobbs, Certified Staging Professional, home selling, Home Staging, home staging tips, Real Estate, selling a home

First of all Happy New Year! The New Year to me always brings a time to reflect and put a new set of goals in motion. If you are one of thousands of home owners with a home on the market that isn’t selling, home staging is not only an option for you but simply a necessity.  Here are some of my top tips to start the New Year with prosperity and hopefully a sale!

Cathy’s Top Home Staging Tips

1. Clear the clutter–this sounds simple enough, but if your home is not free of excess furniture and clutter it will simply take longer to sell.

2. Check the price — most buyers make decisions in large part based on price.  It is critical that your home is priced correctly.

3. Shop the competition— I suggest to a lot of my sellers that they go to open houses and really see what their competition has to offer.

4. Neutralize and de-personalize — you want potential home buyers to feel that it could be their home, not your home.

5. Make minor repairs- now is not the time to skimp. Paint those steps that haven’t been painted in years or replace that front door. Your will be glad you did!

6. Hire a cleaning crew-it is imperative that your home is spic and span, especially kitchens and bathrooms.

7. Rent furniture or purchase accessories if necessary--sometimes it isn’t about the fact that your home is furnished, but what kind of furniture it is furnished with. When marketing your property you want to make sure that the furniture and accessories to not come across as outdated or inappropriate.

8. Paint--I have never seen a property that did not benefit from fresh coat of paint when it came time to sell.

9. Don’t forget curb appeal-– remember many potential buyers will judge the inside of a home by what they see on the outside. Make sure the landscaping is well kept as well as exterior elements such as shutters, front doors and driveways.

10. Hire a Certified Staging Professional (CSP) to stage your home–you wouldn’t perform surgery on yourself so why would you not trust your biggest asset your home to a professional.

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