STAGING

Until a few years ago, when we took Buyers out to look at properties, out of ten listings, three homes would show poorly, six might be "okay", and two homes would be beautifully presented. With the shift in market combined with the more savvy Buyer, 9 out of 10 homes are in "Show Home" condition. It is not enough in this competitive market to just have a clean house.

         Your home must SHINE!

We understand exactly how important staging is when selling your home and in 2009, Both Claude & Christina received their certification from Home Stages Designs. This comprehensive training allows them to go beyond the standard suggestions of "clear off counter tops and pair down your furniture".
Sophisticated staging techniques encompass color, lighting and psychological aspects which are designed to invoke very specific reactions in a potential Buyer. Using this in depth knowledge, The Gaboury Team not only works to increase your odds for a successful and expedient sale, but a lucrative one as well.

Home staging is about illusions. It's beyond decorating and cleaning. It's about perfecting the art of creating moods. Staging makes your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, more loving and, best of all, it makes home buyers want to buy it.

Unfortunately, for many people, preparing their house for sale means only dusting, vacuuming and mopping. In other words, they are selling their house as-is.

A couple of things will almost certainly happen:
 

• The house languishes on the market for months and eventually the seller cuts the listing price, or worse, 
   it never gets sold.

• The offers, if any, reflect the as-is condition of the house, which is usually a lot lower than the listing price.

• The sellers get frustrated because they are getting calls from bargain hunters who are looking for a cheap
   house to fix them up themselves.

You don't want this to happen to you. Your goal is to sell your house as quickly and as profitably as possible. To do that you'll need to stage your house. Preparing the house for a showing can be a time consuming process, and research shows that the longer a house stays on the market the lower the selling price will be. Staging a house can mean the difference between weeks or months on the market.

When we list your home, the first thing we do is help to help you effectively stage your home for a productive sale. Until then, here are some general tips to help get you started!

Increase Curb Appeal: The buyer’s first impression starts here
- Look for chipped paint, especially around the doors and trim, and touch up where needed.
- Always keep the yard mowed and edged.
- Add touches of color with plants and flowers, and keep garden areas manicured.
- Rent a power washer and clean surfaces like brick, siding, sidewalks, and driveways.
- Clear spider webs from entry ways, and make sure there is plenty of light.

Kitchens: The heart of a house
- De-clutter counter tops; find a cabinet to hide appliances and everyday items.
- Keep cabinets organized to make them look as large as possible.
- Remove personal items from the refrigerator, like drawings and pictures.
- Consider updating a few appliances; this can add a lot of value to the home.
- Make sure there is plenty of light.
- Clean all surfaces including grout, sinks, corners, and floors.

Living Rooms: Help the buyer picture their family here
- Consider the flow of the room and arrange furniture in a way that is functional and inviting. If you have too much furniture you may want to consider renting a storage space.
- Remove pictures and personal items.
- Bring the outside in by adding a plant or fresh flowers.
- Bring attention to wood floors by polishing them, and rent a steam cleaner to make the carpet look as new as possible.

Bathrooms: Clean should be the first thing on the buyers mind
- Clean all surfaces, especially grout.
- De-clutter cabinets making them look as large as possible. Consider buying organizers to hide personal products.
- Replace old faucets and fixtures. This can be a relatively inexpensive way to update the room.
- Always neutralize bathroom smells before a buyer arrives.
- Add coordinating towels and bathmats to detract from dated counter tops and tile.
- Replace light bulbs to brighten the sink area.

Bedrooms: Should be uncluttered and relaxing
- Organize the bedroom by arranging furniture in a way that makes the room seem comfortable and spacious. Remove unnecessary furniture items and store them in a storage unit.
- Make the bed look like it is in a hotel. Linens should be coordinating and clean.
- Remove pictures and personal items.
- Store unnecessary closet items to make closets appear as large as possible. Make sure closets have plenty of light.
- Consider repainting the room to a neutral tone if the color is bright.