Make a powerful first impression

Stageworks offers suggestions for making your home look its best whether it is for sale or for a graduation party

Make every room in your home a place you're proud of.
Consider restaging it.
Change the color on the wall, add a new window covering or even rearrange your furniture.
You might be amazed at how different the same room can look.
Deanna Haupert and Kimberly Colton of Stageworks redesign homes for a living, both for resale purposes and to make a home look its best before big events, like graduation parties.
"It's rewarding to change a room from something someone hates to a room they love being in," said Haupert.


For a seller
A home that has been staged will typically sell for more, observed Haupert, an average of 6.32% more. "That's enough to cover the realtor's fee."
She added, "It's cheaper to have your home staged than it is to reduce the price of your home.
"If we can get them to have their home staged before they come down on the price, they can usually get what they were asking."
To make a powerful first impression, Haupert and Colton advise folks to consider their curb appeal. Are the shrubs trimmed? Is the lawn well-manicured? In some cases the existing landscaping may need to be improved, and more plants added.
Pay attention to the number of toys outside and then remove clutter like RVs and boats.
Stageworks also advises homeowners to give their homes a thorough cleaning, both inside and out.
The main task inside is to remove clutter.
"The way people live in their homes and the way a home needs to be prepared to sell are two very different things," pointed out Haupert.
"There is a difference being a home owner and a home seller," added Colton.
Potential buyers don't need to see your collections – or even your personal pictures.
Advising someone to take down their personal family pictures is the hardest part, admitted Haupert. But it's necessary so that the potential buyer can see themselves in your home, rather than you there.
In evaluating homes, Stageworks asks, "Is it warm? Is it inviting?"
Sometimes furniture simply needs to be rearranged. Other times it needs to be removed or replaced.
Wall color is a huge component. For homes that are being sold, Stageworks advises using neutral tones. They use many warm browns and light sage greens. Haupert has even used chocolate a time or two.
Stageworks also advises against leaving pet boxes out in the open. And be careful about which scented candles you use. Many people have allergies to scents and will walk right out of a home if they're allergic to an animal or a smell.
Instead, use aromas that evoke wonderful memories, such as baked cookies or roast beef with carrots and potatoes.
When Haupert was shopping for a house she arrived at one just after dinner. Those smells combined with the fresh coffee convinced her it was the home for her.
"People are very sensitive to scents," said Colton.

For a party
Staging a home when you're staying is different than when you're leaving.
Of course, the personal pictures and collections can stay, although they may need to be moved around.
Clutter is just as important an issue, however.
A common mistake is to put too much furniture in one room. If the room is small, consider smaller pieces.
People tend to put many items in a room. "Pretty soon they don't see they stuff anymore," observed Haupert.
Stageworks begins by "shopping" within a person's home to discover pieces that aren't being used best.
When they move pieces from one room to another, it evokes comments from owners who didn't even remember they owned this or that.
Another common mistake is to ignore how an entire home flows. A color in one room needs to be reflected in the room next to it. For example if you have green walls in the living room, you need to have green in the dining room, whether it's in the wall coverings or a floral arrangements.


'Wow' makes it worthwhile
Haupert's biggest challenge was redoing the loft of a log home prior to a graduation party. One room functioned as a craft room, play area, computer room and TV room.
"I had to make that room flow and have a designated area for each use and still have it look great," noted Haupert.
She did it by relying on furniture the woman already had, such as a screen she found in the garage that was made new with a fresh coat of paint. In the play area, she added a lot of shelves to store the toys. She moved the large pieces of furniture in the room and replaced them with smaller pieces from downstairs to make it less crowded. She added several rugs to differentiate the areas. And she bought one chaise lounge for the lounge area.
"Basically, I moved all the furniture around," said Haupert.
The homeowner loved it, and asked Haupert to go through her entire house and redo it.
"It's fun to see the homeowner come come and go, 'Wow! I never would have thought of doing that,'" noted Haupert.

Move your stuff around and it will look new
Every room should have functionality, pointed out Colton. "If you don't use it, it's wasted space," added Haupert.
People often get stuck in a rut, leaving their furniture in the same room and in the same place. A new set of eyes can see beyond the way it has always been done, and the result can be outstanding.
In one case, by simply moving furnishings around, Stageworks created a home that felt so much better the homeowner decided to stay rather than move.
"When you stage your house it's almost like you're living in a new home because it's new colors and new arrangements," remarked Haupert.
Her own husband appreciates that instead of going out shopping for something new, Haupert merely rearranges her own home.

Contact Stageworks
Stageworks has advised people on homes valued from $150,000 to $500,000.
An initial consultation ranges from $100 to $200 depending on the square footage of the home. If you choose to use Stageworks, the consult is included in the price.
Following the consultation, Stageworks will offer suggestions for change. Stageworks will perform a variety of tasks, from "shopping" within your house to buying new items (if desired), to repainting and organizing.
They focus on creating a "visual experience and emotional warmth using existing artwork and furnishings," said Haupert.
Learn more by calling 651-277-2772 or 651-324-8045 or email mkcolton2@aol.com

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TIPS

• Consider your curb appeal.
Make sure shrubs are trimmed and grass is mowed. Dust away cobwebs and dirt. Re-paint if needed. Remove clutter such as boats and RVs.

• Remove personal decorations.
Take down family pictures so that the potential buyers can picture themselves in your home.

• Eliminate clutter.
Take out extra furniture.

• Update.
Consider new window treatments or paint.

• Use warm tones on your walls.
A coat of fresh paint will spruce up your walls. Consider warm, brown tones or light sage greens. If you're selling your home, lean towards neutral tones. If you're staying, let your personality shine through.

• Have colors flow from one room to the next.
If you have green in one room, it needs to be in the room next to it. You can do this by adding green wall coverings or furnishings.

•Get rid of pet odors.
This is particularly important if you're trying to sell a home. Many people have allergies and won't stay in a house long enough to see if they like it if they start sneezing.

• Use scents most people love.
Aromas like fresh cookies, coffee and roast, potatoes and carrots are smells that spark good memories for most people. Stay away from strongly scented candles. "People are very sensitive to scents," said Kimberly.

COMMON MISTAKES

• Trying to cram too much into one room.
"Pretty soon you don't see your stuff because there's so much there," remarked Haupert.

• Using really bright paints.
Stay away from florescent blues, pinks and yellows. Bring in color with your accent pieces (throw pillows, wall art, couch).