Gene Mundt - Let's Talk Mortgages & Real Estate! : Oregon: Beaverton

Tip for Sellers: Dark Cluttered Office Transformed with Paint & Staging Help

This is one of the rooms in a Portland OR home we staged last week ... but the transformation is quite dramatic!  Not only that, it was quick and easy, too ~ something anyone could do before putting your home on the market.

The main floor bedroom was being used by the sellers as a home office -- perfect use for the space.  It was painted about 8 years ago when dark red was a very popular color.  It was also overstuffed with furniture, making the space look much smaller than it really was.

Here's how the office looked BEFORE

We recommended a lighter paint color to brighten up the room, and removal of the existing furniture.  We then staged it lightly, letting buyers see the function of this space as an office.

And here's how it looked AFTER 

For a minimal investment, buyers don't have to "see past" a dark, cave-like room to imagine how they might use it.  EASY!

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Room Solutions Staging offers home staging services to Portland Oregon homeowners, real estate agents, builders, banks,  and investors to prepare homes for the market.  Our home staging clients love our customer service and our home staging statistics!  Our home staging services in the Portland OR metro area include consultations, staging for both vacant and lived-in homes, and interior restyling service.  For a free home staging proposal, please contact us @ 503-246-1800.

~ Staging and Photos by Room Solutions Staging LLC ~

   Skeptical about Home Staging?  This Home Sold 12 Hours after Staging & Listing

As a professional home stager in Portland OR I've had many clients who know that staging is an effective marketing tool to help their home sell faster.  Once in a while though, we come across "staging skeptics" who aren't convinced that staging can really make a difference.   Sometimes 'seeing is believing' so for any staging skeptics out there, here's a true staging success story for your consideration.

We were contacted by homeowners in Beaverton OR who asked for a home staging consultation to help determine what cost-effective improvements would make their home more appealing to the target buyer in their neighborhood.  I met with this lovely, enthusiastic couple and gave them a list of Things To Do before putting their home on the market.  Since they planned to relocate out of state, they also requested a proposal for staging their home after they moved out.  Here are some Before & After photos of this home:

We gave the homeowners our suggestions for neutral paint colors that buyers love; tips on new kitchen cabinet hardware and paint for the dated oak cabinets; updated light fixtures in brushed nickel finish; & other easy, cost-effective advice.

Since the sellers were relocating due to a job, they wanted the house to sell quickly so that they could buy a home in their new state.  They were motivated and eager to do whatever it took to get the best return on their staging investment.

Buyers love a master bedroom that feels like an inviting retreat ~ here it's transformed from blah to wow

This home had a pending sale only 12 hours after it was staged and listed! The listing agent, Deborah Jackson of Re/Max Equity Group in Beaverton OR had this to say:   "One of my recent clients did everything on Maureen's list of  staging suggestions.  After the home was vacant,  Maureen then staged the important rooms of the home, and it was gorgeous!  Needless to say, we got an offer on the home within the first 12 hours that it went on the market!  That was a record, especially in this real estate market of 2011."

The homeowners, who had moved out of state, emailed me after seeing my photos of the staging:  "WOW! Is that our house? It looks amazing! Thank you so much! It was great working with you and if you need a reference just send them our way!" 

So don't be a staging skeptic!  Instead, contact your local professional home stager.  Ask to see Before & After photos of their work, and ask about their Days on Market statistics.  (Year to Date for 2011, Room Solutions Staging's DOM is just 24!)

~ Staging and Photos by Room Solutions Staging ~

Related Post: Home Staging Tip: Dated Oak Cabinets? Update them with Paint!

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Room Solutions Staging offers home staging services to Portland Oregon homeowners, real estate agents, builders, banks,  and investors to prepare homes for the market.  Our home staging clients love our service and our home staging statistics!  Our home staging services in the Portland OR metro area include consultations, staging for both vacant and lived-in homes, and interior redesign  projects.  For a free home staging proposal, please contact us @ 503-246-1800.

Home Staging Tip:  Dated Oak Cabinets?  Update them with Paint!

As a professional home stager based in Portland, Oregon I often see dated oak cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms. This was the height of style back in the '70's & '80's but today's buyers want a more modern, fresh look.  Here's an easy fix that you can do yourself (or hire someone to do it for you).

My homeowner clients in Beaverton OR were planning to put their home on the market and asked me to provide a home staging consultation.  Because the target buyer for this home was younger, one of my recommendations was that they update their kitchen cabinets -- but I told them that they didn't need to spend a lot of money replacing them, or even refacing them.  Paint and new hardware can do wonders!  We recommended an excellent Portland general contractor and this kitchen was updated for under $1,000:

Here's how the kitchen looked Before ... 

And here's how it looked After painting ... 

Before -- potential buyers would have walked in and thought, "Since we'll have to replace those dated oak cabinets, we'll have to make a lower offer for this house."   Once the cabinets were primed, painted, and had new hardware added, this house was viewed as move-in ready.  It was listed and had a pending sale in just 12 HOURS!

The products used for this project were:

Primer:  Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Water Base for Interior or Exterior

Paint:     Behr Ultra Semi-gloss Espresso Beans (paint and primer in one)

Hardware:  IKEA Vinna handles

Before you list your home for sale, contact a professional home stager for a cost-effective consultation.  Our verbal staging consultation service provides lots of cost-effective tips and advice for a very reasonable $175.

Related post:  Home Staging Tip:  Sometimes just a few Props are all you Need