case study
real estate staging
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A recent client was frustrated with the response she was getting from potential buyers looking at her house. This is a story of how making more effective use of what you already have can make all the difference in the world.
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before
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| a wall in the way
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| The seller's house had been receiving negative comments about how awkward the entry and hallway felt when you first came in the front door, and how everyone hated having to "walk around" the living room wall to get to the rest of the house. The homeowner's old piano greeted buyers when they first walked in, doing nothing to help the entry feel more welcoming. |
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| if they don't walk in it doesn't count
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| The arrangement of the living room did nothing to draw buyers into the room. It felt like unused space that you glanced at, then walked right past to get to the "real" living space of the house. Not only are buyers disappointed, but when you discount an entire room, the rest of the house is going to feel that much smaller. |
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| first impressions weren't impressing
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| Negative comments are the last thing you want to hear from buyers, but especially when it's their first impression. They immediately begin lowering their hopes of liking the house. The stiff, formal and dated feel of this living room sets the tone for buyer expectations for the rest of their visit. And they just walked in the door! |
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after
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| welcoming buyers in a whole new way
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| What a difference it makes turning the once lifeless entry into an inviting space. We found the mirror in the basement, and used that as the inspiration to create the feel of a defined entrance area. Now when you come in the front door, you are walking into a space that says "Welcome". |
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| making an entrance
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By hanging the mirror vertically with wall sconces, and using one of the end tables with candles and flowers, the once-awkward wall now has a sense of purpose. You are no longer "walking around" it, but seeing it as a focal point that draws attention and interest. Now that we feel the newly defined space as an entry, the original entry area can feel like a spacious hallway instead of bare and unused space. |
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| same stuff, brand new look
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The furniture was re-arranged to give it a more updated look, and create a room that buyers would be drawn into. That makes the living room feel like real usable space, not just a room you glance at and walk right by. We replaced the old outdated lamps with ones found in other rooms in the house and opened the sheers to give the room a fresher look. |
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| new composition
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| While the piano is still in the room, it is no longer the center of attention. It now blends in with the room and creates a more decorative element when framed with a picture, candle and flowers. |
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| conclusion |
a better showing listing
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The entire perception of the room was changed by making better use of the home owner's existing furnishings within the space. By giving the room an updated feel and better definition, what was once a negative distraction was turned into a welcoming entrance, presenting a completely different first impression to buyers walking into the house. The only furniture that was removed from the room was the octagonal coffee table. While some decorative items were brought up from the basement, for the most part, the contents of the room really did not change. But the room itself most certainly did! |
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more info
about real estate enhancement
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For additional information about real estate enhancement, see also:
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