Contact:  705.789.6680

Email: Annette

These tips on staging your home are originally published in our newsletters.  Make sure that you receive the latest tips and more by signing up for the newsletter and stay up to date with what’s happening in home staging.  You can also send a copy of the newsletter to a friend or colleague

Fresh Paint
The pay back from freshly painting a property can be as much as 300%. Choosing the right colours can ensure positive results and Staged by Design will pick the appropriate colours for each and every consultation.
 
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Canadian Staging Professionals™ Designation
Home staging is an unregulated field.  Ensure whomever you hire for your staging requirements is a trained expert belonging to a leading edge organization in both professionalism and standards.  Annette Donald is proud to have graduated, in 2005, from the Canadian Staging Professionals™ program and learned the best procedures to stage a property to showcase it correctly.
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Before and After
We all know the old phrase about pictures, so so take a look at our Photo Gallery for before and after shots of properties that have been staged.  Showcasing your properties gives you great photographs for your listings.  Let your picture be worth a thousand words - or should that read dollars.   Staged properties can bring in thousands of dollars more than upstaged properties.  See for yourself.
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Counter Tops & Paint Splashes
If you have chips out of the countertop or paint splashes on the floor do not try to cover them up.  When potential purchasers notice these items needing repaired, they are going to wonder what else has been hidden from them.
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Decks & Patios
Decks and patios are always a great selling feature.  To maximize the space and appeal to potential purchasers, reduce the items of furniture in this area to make the space seems larger.
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Window Treatments
Nothing screams "this house is outdated" more than the window treatments.  Do the windows have fussy, floral toppers; are there kinks and breaks in the mini blinds; or are there rips in the drapes?  Replacing or removing any of these problems can update the look of the room.
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Switch Plates
A cheap fix, but sometimes overlooked, are the switch plates on the walls.  If they are cracked, dingy or discoloured, replace them.  For very little cost, this change can really freshen up a room.
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Fresh Air
There is no scent nicer than the natural outdoors.  However, do not try to mask cooking, smoking and pet odours by using store bought fragrances, or boiling cinnamon on the stove.  Even in winter, it is better to open up a window and let the fresh air in.  Just remember to close the window and turn up the thermostat before any potential purchasers walk through the door.
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Repairs
Potential purchasers do not want to deal with leaky faucets, cracked walls or missing door knobs.  Although these all seem like minor complaints they add up to buyers moving on to view the next listing.
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Storage
Have your clients organize their closets and utility spaces.   Although they may think these spaces are hidden away, potential purchasers still look into all nooks and crannies.  If these areas are overflowing or cluttered, potential purchasers think "not enough storage" and move on to the next listing.
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Staging at Christmas
At this time of year many people go overboard with Christmas decorations.  Your recommendation to your clients should be that their decorations don't overpower their rooms.  Prospective purchasers still need to see the size and flow of the rooms and not the fabulous tree and ornaments.
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Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is vital to get prospective purchasers through the front door.  Ensure the outside of the property is clean, clutter free and in good condition.   Remove cobwebs, power wash where necessary, and clean windows.  If paint is peeling, paint the door. Lastly, consider investing in a new welcome mat and some fresh plants.
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Hanging Artwork
I'm 5'2" and my husband is 6'1".  When hanging artwork at eye level whose do we pick?  We actually go between the two of us.  A general rule in this instance is to hang artwork between 60" and 66".  Although if you are hanging artwork in the dining room or office, where you are generally sitting down, you may want to have the art lower so you are not constantly looking up.
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Dealing with Valuables
Have the homeowners pack away valuable property such as figurines, plate collections, jewellery and art objects.  This helps safeguard the valuables, declutter the home, and starts the homeowner packing for their move.
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