Staging Tips: Taking a Home from Dated to "Move-in Ready"
Our Portland Oregon home staging company is often hired by Realtors and homeowners to help a dated home look more appealing to potential buyers. When buyers first preview a home online, they're making mental notes as they scan through the photos. If they see what looks to them like "work" that needs to be done, then they usually keep looking, often not even adding the home to their "must see" list because they are like most of today's selective buyers: with so much inventory to choose from, they don't want to spend lots of time or money to turn the house into their dream home.
Here's an example of a home that was on the market for a year, and was showing as dated in the online listing photos. A new listing agent was selected who suggested that the sellers consider staging. We advised a few cosmetic changes be taken care of, and then we staged this home. Here's what we did:
Before, the Library had great views, but the dark green carpet was seen by buyers as dated 
Neutral carpet and just enough furniture highlights the useful space in this room 
The Kitchen had green walls and floral shades; we suggested a neutral paint & letting all the light in
In the Entry, buyers determine their First Impression ... be sure it's a good one! Before, this entry looks dark 
Adding a seating area and some accessories really brightened it up, don't you think? 
The Master bedroom lacked emotional appeal when it was vacant; not much there for buyers to see 
Adding furniture and accessories helps buyers imagine that THEY could live here! 
The Office wall color made the room seem dark ... we suggested a lighter color & removing the floral drapes 
If you're putting your home on the market -- consult with a professional home stager to increase your home's appeal to your target buyer. A consultation is very reasonable and pays for itself immediately. Staging your home with appropriate furnishings and accessories -- and having great photos of your staged home for the online listing -- is a cost-effective way to make sure buyers add YOUR home to their "must see" list.
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Room Solutions Staging in Portland OR helps our clients maximize home equity by staging to sell. Join the Portland Oregon homeowners, real estate agents, builders, banks, and investors who turn to Room Solutions Staging for help preparing homes to sell faster. 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.
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Maureen-The before/after photos show some great transformations. It is something to see the difference in the lighter wall colors and the effect the light has on making homes look more attractive. Nice job.
hi Wayne ~ I'm glad you liked the Before & After photos -- we think they're the most effective way to illustrate the powerful benefits of home staging. Thanks for your feedback!
Wow, your "after" pictures make it look like it's a completely different home! The difference in the library is just amazing and I especially like the way you brightened up the entry with the splash of color in the seating area. Love it!
Thanks, Susan for your enthusiastic comment! I know that you "get it" because you see homes from behind the lens ... and you know the importance of making sure it's camera-ready :-)
Maureen--beautifully done! I'm amazed to see how such simple changes can make such a huge difference.
Hi Ed ~ It's true that simple changes can make a home much more appealing. Thanks so much for stopping by to comment.
What a difference, Maureen. I esp lie the impact in the kitchen. What a diffeence that paint color makes. You are so right about having limited cash up front to make renovations That is a barrier for so many.
Ahhhh...like a breath of fresh air! That green in the kitchen was not working at all!
It is amazing what taking out that green carpet did....and your furnishings were perfect. Doesn't look like the same house!
Terrific staging photos Maureen. It really does look like a different ( and so much better) home. Well done.
Hi Maureen -
WOW - Bowing to the queen of staging! Great job and awesome before and after pics!
Make it a great day and best regards from the Q
Maureen- another excellent staging job. I love the look of the library now. Before it was so-so but what you added and especially changing the carpet made a huge difference. Now it's majestic.
Beautiful job, Maureen. The master bedroom, in particular, looks much larger with furniture. Lighter paint colors and carpet definitely made a big difference.
hi Debbie ~ Changing paint color is so easy and inexpensive, it's a wonder that more sellers don't do it to update the look of their home (whether they're selling or staying there).
hi Sharon ~ Agreed! The green made the kitchen dark -- homes need as much light as possible to look fresh.
hi Shar ~ since that room is seen soon after entering the home, the carpet had to be lighter -- the dark green set a dated tone and the lighter color just opened up the room.
Thanks Debb ~ seeing the transformation is what we stagers live for!
hi John ~ Thanks for your kind words!
hi Kathy ~ That room has the most beautiful views from the large windows facing Mt Hood! Now buyers can walk in and feel as though it could be their home, I think.
hi Michelle ~ People genuinely seemed surprised when they realize that adding furniture to a vacant room makes the room bigger. As stagers we know that it works every time!
Maureen, the rooms look great as always and I particularly love a sofa facing the fireplace.
Maureen.....Dated for SURE but full of potential that you pulled out with your expert staging! ANOTHER winner!!
Maureen,
Your staging really gave this tired property the WOW factor. Showing this way is dure to attract buyers. Love your work!
hi Joanna ~ Glad to hear you liked it - reading in front of a fire on a chilly day is so cozy!
hi Kathy ~ almost all homes have untapped potential that we can help with! Just today, a woman walked through a home I was just finishing up staging and she said "will you come to my house? I'm not selling but I sure like what you did to transform this place" -- music to my ears :-)
hi Barb ~ a dated home has very low energy. Changing a few things allows buyers to connect with it. Thanks for your comment.
Maureen. The library make-over is so good. With all of that wood, adding hardwood might have been too much but going neutral on the carpet was a perfect solution. I also like the paint colour change in the kitchen. Good work!
hi Valerie ~ the library does indeed have much wood in all the trims so neutral carpet was a plus for selling. Thanks for your feedback....I know that as a Realtor who believes in staging that you're helping to spread the word :-)
Great job, as always, Maureen. I just checked out your website and blog - very well done. I didn't realize you were a moderator for this group. Thanks so much!
Beth
Hi Beth ~ Thanks for your kind words. By the way there are 6 moderators for the Stage It Forward group -- everyone does their best to help promote Craig's original focus of "staging it forward." Thanks for being a member and helping get the word out!
Maureen, lighter paint, modern furniture and photos taken from the different angle change presentation dramatically. Espesially I like the entrance~very inviting.
Hi Anna ~ Thank you, I know that as a professional stager you believe in presentation being important. The Before & After photos were taken from the same angle, but the lens is a bit wider in the "afters" because I use a different camera :-)
Fabulous-certainly is move in ready~ NOW and WOW~~~
What an interesting house. So glad you were able to work with the owners to transform some of the color and curtain issues. Nice work!
Hi Maureen--Dated and dreary I would say. Now amazing and welcoming. The library just invites you to curl up in front of that fireplace and read a book, and I love the red chairs in the living room!
hi Cathy ~ today's buyers don't want to have to do the cosmetic changes so sellers have to make sure their home has that move-in ready look.
hi David ~ There were other rooms not included in this post ... the home is large! Removing heavy or dated window coverings is our standard advice in our area -- as you know, we need all the light inside the house that we can get :-)
hi Janet ~ Those red chairs in the entry did add a nice punch of color, didn't they? The views from that window are amazing.
Maureen: Thanks for this super presentation. It truly reinforces and showcases just WHY sellers should utilize staging services. The staging done by Room Solutions Home Staging in this home just made the rooms "pop" and so much more appealing to the eye and senses. I especially liked the addition of those red chairs! They changed the whole mood of the home!
Gene
Oops ... PS: Thank you for sharing this on my website! As always, you add greatly to my readers knowledge ... and motivate them to take action ...
Gene
Hi Gene ~ Thanks for stopping by, it's always nice to hear from you! Sellers who consider staging are known to be motivated to sell their property -- and we love to help them get there faster.
So simple and so effective! Re-blogging to those in my area thanks!
hi Michael ~ Thanks for reblogging this post for readers in your area! The best ideas are sometimes the simplest.
Great Staging Work, Maureen! Amazing how one little print curtain can date a whole room. Glad it is gone and the green paint too!
Maureen-Your after pictures are another example of the amazing work that you do to market your staged homes! Your photography is awesome-showcasing these beautiful transformations!
The library really demonstrates the importance of showing how furniture can work in a room (aka Staging) - so many people push their furniture against the walls and buyers would have been put off by all the built-ins!
Maureen - So glad the Realtor® who took the listing over after the house stood on the market for a year, had the sense to suggest home staging! What a difference you've made in all areas of the home. Suggesting a lighter, brighter, more neutral colour palate on the walls has made a huge difference. Of course, your tasteful furnishings and accents are what draw in the buyer's emotions. Fabulous!
Maureen, I think I meant not the angle but the level from the floor. The before pictures look like they were taken from the eye level and "after" little lower and this is where I see bigger impact and more dept.
Maureen - Great post! You can really tell the difference with the before/after pictures. "Having great pictures" like you said is also very important - a lot of those rooms would appear to be dark because of the photography when in reality they could look great to a potential buyer on the internet with the right photographer!
hi Beverly ~ So true, just one floral window covering can make a home look dated.
hi Marianne ~ you are too kind, but your words are much appreciated -- thanks!
hi Julie ~ you're right! Lining up the furniture on the edges of the room would produce the opposite effect that sellers want
hi Sally ~ Thanks so much! A year on the market is too long ,,,,,
hi Anna ~ We try to take photos from the best angle for online viewing, yes!
hi Ron ~ thanks for your positive feedback ... the right stager can often provide good photos too :-)
A world of difference!
Okay... how in the heck did this one get by me?
It's another beautiful staging by a master.
Congratulations. Your home staging is being featured in the group Staging Before and After Pictures.
Kathy
hi Russel ~ Thanks to you and your friend for stopping by!
hi Kathy ~ You are so nice to feature this in your Staging Before & After Pictures Group -- many thanks!
Hi Maureen, Very nice job with this interior. I see two types of lenses being used , one for prelim photos and the wide angle lens for the finished room. What type of camera ( s) are you using? I like your transitions very much. Nice Job!
Hi William ~ Thanks for stopping by. To answer your question, I use a Kodak V705 for the Before photos, and a Canon Digital Rebel xsi for the Afters. (I'd be happy for any advice, since I know you're an AR photography expert!)
Maureen - I love the library. The first picture makes it looks so narrow and small but with the staging it looks great. -Kasey
Maureen what a beautiful job done with each of these rooms. The difference is amazing!
hi Kasey ~ Thanks. Many people think that adding furniture in a room will make it appear smaller, when the opposite is true. Add the right scale of furniture for the space, and the room seems larger :-)
hi Debra ~ Thanks for your kind words!