Last time I checked, most buyers celebrate the same seasonal holidays as sellers.  While a seller should certainly tone-down religious or scary items in order to appeal to a broader demographic, most holiday's are fair game, and Halloween brings with it the excitement of a new season (especially here in Connecticut!).

The key to proper holiday decor in a staged home is to add enough to be warm and inviting, but not so much that it steals the show (afterall, your selling your house, not what's in it).  And avoid collections of small items or "too cutsie" items as they tend to look cluttered and get dusty very quickly.

Go with fewer displays of larger scale with clean lines. For example:

• Line your front steps with simple mums planted in terracotta pots. 
• Place a nicely shaped, large pumpkin next to the fireplace.  Or maybe 3 of differing sizes if room.
• Cave pumpkins with your street address (one number per pumpkin) and stack them on the porch.
• Tie a few faux fall tree branches together with twine and hang on the door in lieu of a traditional wreath.
• Put out a bowl of halloween candy (individually wrapped, of course) for buyers.

Now it probably goes without saying, but here are some no-no's if your home is for sale:

• Anything with fake spiders, including faux webs.  (Ewww)
• Nothing that startles or jumps out.
• No scary music soundtracks! 
• Nothing that involves fake blood.

So go ahead and have some fun this month, but do all things in moderation, especially if your home is for sale!

So what is the strangest halloween decor you've seen in a home for sale?

Boo!

Rooms That Work
Your home, only scarier. :)

 I know many stagers don't "do" basements...but there is great opportunity to improve basement laundry areas to be more inviting and serve as yet another reason for a buyer to fall in love with a house!  The following article was published on ezinearticles.com and was inspired by a client's basement I recently did a consultation for.

Does your basement laundry room feel like a dungeon?

The average person spends six hours a week doing laundry. That's the equivalent of 13 days straight of nothing but laundry! No wonder there is a trend towards upgrading laundry spaces.

While upstairs laundry is becoming the standard, many people still have to trudge down to the basement to get the job done. But you can make laundry more enjoyable (or at least less dreary) if you set up the room respecting both form and function.

Let's first address the function part of the equation. What activities do you need to accomplish in this space? In what order are these tasks completed? Here is a list to get your brain started:

• Transporting laundry
• Sorting laundry
• Pre-treating laundry
• Folding and hanging laundry
• Ironing laundry (yes, some people still do this!)
• Hand washing (and air drying) delicates
• Sewing and craft activities
• Gift-wrapping station
• Storing laundry supplies

Now that you know what needs to be accomplished in this space, think about form. After all, the laundry room is a space where you can really get creative! While lively décor may not necessarily make laundry fun to do, it will make the time seem to go by faster. And you'll be surprised at how little it costs!

1. Clean up! Before you get started, create a clean canvas. Clutter - if you've got it, you need to purge it. Next, clean it as if your Mom is coming for a visit and will sleep in the basement. If your basement is still in its original form, consider painting the walls and floor with a light, neutral color. Keep items off the floor as much as possible.
2. Chutes and Ladders! Consider adding a laundry chute to help with laundry transportation (albeit one way!). This is especially helpful if there are those (and they know who they are) who don't get their "dirties" where they belong on a regular basis.
3. Define the laundry space. Is your laundry area floating in the middle of the room, or tucked into a corner? Set some boundaries. Add colorful FLOR interlocking carpet tiles to define your laundry space. You can make it just the size you need, and in whatever colors you want. Not only is a great design element, but it's softer on your feet.
4. A place for everything, and everything its place. Create a movable cabinet with built-in storage by adding casters to the bottom of a vanity cabinet. Use this movable space divider to help define your space in an otherwise expansive room. Check irregulars or discontinued items at your local DIY store to get a good deal.
5. Sort it out. Buy three large laundry baskets for sorting your laundry in light, medium or dark. Make decorative signs to indicate which is which. Or just write on them with a sharpie - whatever gets the job done!
6. Know when to fold 'em! Pick up a discontinued kitchen island at a great price and use it as a folding table. Not only will it be a more comfortable height for your back, you'll also score additional storage underneath! And why not add a couple bar stools for doing crafts or just hanging out? Mini-fridge optional.
7. Hang out. Hang a pole over or near the "folding island" to hang items as you fold, or get a rolling garment rack. If you hang shirts while they're still slightly damp, you'll have a much easier time ironing them. Use hanging dividers to separate clothes by owner to keep items organized.
8. Bright Ideas. Don't skimp on lighting. Use a combination of ceiling and task lighting to make sure you can see what you are doing. If you have windows in the basement, clean them up and dress them up with light curtains that let the natural light in.
9. Make it fun! Add a whimsical element such as a colorful sign that says "Drop Your Dirties Here" with an arrow pointing down to the laundry sorting area. Find clever cabinet knobs with a laundry theme. Add a tip jar for loose change found in the wash. Use colorful containers to hold supplies. You can find many inexpensive plastic bins at dollar stores. Use your imagination! But avoid small chatchke items that collect dust (and spiders).
10. Think Green. Add an indoor tree to add life to the space. Perhaps a nice, durable rubber tree or faux ficus.

Still not excited about laundry? Add a stereo or TV to help pass the time. Chaka Khan's "I'm every woman" just might do the trick!

Copyright 2007, Rooms That Work.

So you are moving, and not sure if your home will not bring top dollar or sell quickly in its current state. Sure you could just run a vacuum and hope that potential buyers fall in love with your home. After all, you've enjoyed it just the way it is for some time now!

But here's the kicker - how you live in a home is very different than how you sell a home. Buyers need to see your home, not your lovely furnishings or family memorabilia. A stager's job is to feature the home itself and appeal to the widest range of buyers possible. It's not about your personal taste, it's about marketing.

Ok, so you realize you could use the help of a professional stager, but what where do you begin? What should you expect? How much does it cost? Is it just like on TV? Will you be uncomfortable? These are some of the questions I often hear from homeowners. Hopefully the following FAQ's will help put your mind at ease!

How do I find a stager? As your real estate agent for suggestions, try searching via http://www.activerain.com/, or Google for one in your area! And don't get hung up on "credentials" as they don't exist in this industry. Being "certified" means the stager attended a training class. Base your decision on the stager's portfolio, professionalism, and referrals.

How does the process work? If you hire a stager to do a consultation, you'll end up with a detailed report of findings with a "to do" list for you to complete the staging work yourself. The stager will tour your home and take lots of pictures and notes. Not sure you want to do the work yourself? The stager will always be happy to provide an estimate to do the staging work for you. Plus, you will be equipped with a customized list of "to-do's" to prepare for home showings.

Will the stager always rent furniture? Staging is effective for both vacant and occupied homes. A stager will rent furnishings for a vacant home and buy the appropriate accessories to finish the home. For an occupied home, the stager will work with the homeowner's furnishings, and supplement items where necessary.

Is it like on TV? Yes and no. Yes, stagers make a big difference in how a home is presented to buyers. But don't expect every stager to want to knock down walls, and bring their own construction crew who doesn't charge for their labor time. This is the real world!

Will I be uncomfortable? Any advice your home stager gives you is purely based on appealing to your target market, not your personal decorating style. And while living in a staged home can be uncomfortable, take comfort that it is only temporary, and will most likely save you money in terms of a faster sale and a higher asking price than if your home were not staged.

How much does it cost? A consultation typically costs $100 to $400, depending on the market and the size of the home. Actually hands-on staging is based on what is needed, and averages anywhere from $75 to $150/hour, depending on the market and the stager. You should always have a written estimate prior to any work being done.

What will I get out of it? Staging is an investment to help your home sell faster and for top dollar. While your qualified real estate agent will provide their expertise to price the home appropriately, the stager will make it help make it show better than other homes in that price range. A staged home typically sells 50% faster than an unstaged home. The faster a home sells the less chance you'll need to reduce your price! Staging expenses can be tax-deductible as well. Consult with your tax advisor for details.

Hopefully I've been able to put some of your "Home Stager" fears to rest. As the home market becomes more competitive, savvy homeowners are realizing the value of home staging. 

Rooms That Work offers home staging and interior redesign services in Connecticut.  Visit www.roomsthatwork.com or call Susan at 860.808.4171 for more information.  

That's the most common objection sellers have to staging. What is ironic is that the answer is in the question itself...money!

Staging is not an expense, but rather an investment to get the most possible for your home, and as quickly as you can. There are two sides to this money equation: Selling Price, and Speed of Sale.

Selling Price is pretty self-explanatory. More is better!

To evaluate the expense of carrying the home while it's for sale is a little trickier. And it's especially daunting when you've already found your next home.

Here are a few expenses to consider:

• Mortgage pmt
• Insurance
• Taxes
• Utilities
• Yard services (lawn, landscaping, pool, plowing)
• General Maintenance (cleaning, repairs, etc.). It sure adds up fast!

Now that you have an understanding of the economics, consider the emotional toll selling your home places on you and your family. Do you really want to keep your home in show condition and be prepared to flee at a moment's notice for very long? This is where Speed of Sale comes into play.

Staging can help your house sell much faster than the competition, and for more money. Do yourself a favor, stage your home before you list it, and get it over with. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how a little money can go a long way!

I'm happy to report that here in Connecticut, most of my clients come to me on their own, having heard about staging on TLC and HGTV and wanting help in selling their home.  It's wonderful to work with clients who understand what staging is!

Susan Smith
Rooms That Work
Your home, only better.
www.roomsthatwork.com