Q. Why is "Preparing your Home for Sale'' so important?

A. Today's buyer is busy. They need to find a suitable home quickly and get on with their lives. The buyer is interested in moving into a home that does not require any "move in" repairs. They do not want to patch or paint the inside or do landscaping on the outside. They want to walk into a house and say, "I can live here without doing a thing". Furthermore, most people are visually oriented and cannot mentally remodel a home in their heads. They want to see homes that are ready to move into - now.

Sometimes all it takes is a few small changes, which may not transform your home, but can make a dramatic impact on buyers. The ultimate goal is to place the home in its best showcase condition - your home should be displayed like a model home. The intention is to create a visual impression that is instantly appealing and presents a lifestyle that captures prospective buyers' hearts. A series of first impressions that showcase your home's best features help the buyer emotionally connect with the home and in turn able to visualize living there.

Q. What is Staging®?

A. Staging® is the process of preparing a home for sale. Applying our basic prescription of clean/ de-clutter/ repair or replace and re-arrange, Room Remedy will create your home's best first impression. Effective staging® makes your home stand out from the competition as we enhance and re-arrange your décor and furnishings to get your home in its best showcase condition.

Q. What is the difference between Staging® and Interior Design/Decorating?

A. In Interior design and decorating, the focus is on creating a home that suits the personality and lifestyle of the family living in the home. Staging® focuses on creating a home that will appeal to all potential buyers by highlighting the desired features of the home and drawing the attention away from the home-owner's personal style. The idea is not to impress buyers with your home but to help them see it as their home.

Q. Why should I spend money on a home I'm planning to sell?

A. Buyers are often willing to pay a premium for homes they don't have to work on after they move in. They may simply not have the vision to see past areas that require repair or updating and unfortunately tend to over-estimate the cost of any changes. Buyers will also question why the homeowners didn't take care of the repairs themselves. The perception of a well maintained property can be a real asset to your home and increases the feeling of value. Real Estate agents will tell you that the listings that sell the fastest and for the most money are generally the ones that are the best in appearance and condition.

Whether you hire a Stager® or take on the job yourself (with the help of a few brutally honest and talented friends), there is a payoff. Because the house is a pleasure to show, it sells faster and for more money.

Homes that don't show well…. don't get shown.

Q. What does a Room Remedy Stager® do?

A. In general, a Stager® uses interior design principles such as color, scale and balance to enhance a home, creatively re-designing the interior using the home-owners, borrowed or rented furnishings.

At Room Remedy, we work to reduce clutter, improve traffic flow, edit and arrange furniture and assist in enhancing curb appeal. The intended result is a spacious, light filled, neutral interior with an impeccable sense of order and a welcoming exterior that beckons buyers in. We recommend and schedule household repairs, cleaning and home improvement services, as needed. We can also provide furnishings and accessories from our tasteful inventory or shop for that perfect accessory if the home-owner prefers.

Q. Can Room Remedy use my furnishings when Staging® my home for sale?

A. We prefer to work with the home-owners furnishings when ever possible. However, as part of the Staging® process we will often reduce the number of items in a room or exchange pieces between rooms. If absolutely necessary, we can bring in a few accessories from our extensive selection to complete the final look.

Q. What if a house is vacant? Should it be staged®?

A. A vacant house gives the impression that the owner could be anxious to sell and might encourage less than fair market offers. It is equally important to have a vacant home looking comfortable and welcoming with the addition of furnishings and accessories to help showcase the homes best features, and to allow potential home buyers the opportunity to see the rooms for their intended use.

Q. When should you call Room Remedy?

A. We all know the importance of making a good first impression. To achieve the greatest possible outcome, a home should always be presented at its best the first time around. It's best that all improvements be completed before your home is listed, as the first two to three weeks your home is on the market is usually the busiest time. Buyers can determine in a few seconds whether a home appeals to them or not. Ideally, Room Remedy should be contacted as soon as you decide to sell your home. This means before anyone sees the home…. before the sign goes in the ground, before any showings or open houses.

Very rarely is a home ready to be marketed on a moments notice. Preparing your home for sale takes planning and time. Your home is likely your largest single asset and, as such, deserves special attention when you decide to sell. Because it's your home, you might find it difficult to be objective about what is pleasing to potential buyers. That's where Room Remedy can provide a valuable service.

Q. My home has been on the market for several months now. Is it too late to have Room Remedy stage my home at this point?

A. This is truly a case where the old adage "better late than never" applies. We recommend that the staged® home be re-introduced to realtors with an Agent Open House to generate renewed interest in the property. Our clients tell us they have had great success after these events.