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April 17, 2008
 
Issue 3
 Presented by                                 
Preferred Staging                          
Serving Virginia, Maryland and DC
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Preferred Staging
the art of home preparation 
The Art of Marketing Your Home
 
ps Major upgrades may not be worthwhile
 
ps 91% of agents recommend staging as a marketing tool
 
asp logo The psychology of pricing a home 
 
asp logo When neighbors keep a home from selling
 
asp logo What are your listing pictures actually saying
 
asp logo How to handle a low offer
Staging in Action
 
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What Our Clients are Saying
 
Monica was referred to me by my real estate agent (Sharon Peacock, REMax, Ashburn, VA) in order to help get my house ready to sell. I had never worked with a staging consultant before and I didn't really know what to expect. I knew that I had to spruce up my house in order to make it more appealing to potential buyers; however, I really had no idea how to think like a buyer.
 
Monica was extremely professional. She explained in detail the difference between staging and interior design. One point that she made that stuck with me was that staging is the opposite of interior design. An interior designer is trying to make a home more livable and comfortable for its inhabitants. Interior designers are working to personalize a space to its owners. A staging consultant is doing just the opposite - taking the personalization out of a house so that prospective buyers can see themselves in the house. I had to completely re-think how I viewed my house.
 
Monica went room by room, took pictures, and gave me a feel for what she would recommend. She painstakingly evaluated every room inside my house, including the garage, as well as the outside of the house. She used her pictures of the house and her extensive experience to recommend very specific, workable changes to make the house more appealing. Monica did a great job of using what I had to make the house work.
 
I was amazed at some of Monica's suggestions - they were things I would never have considered. I must say that Monica's report and recommendations far exceeded my expectations. Her service was a real value and worth every penny I spent with her.
 
Michelle Teel
Homeowner
Ashburn, Virginia
 
Home Preparation Guide
 
Staging for Advantage
 
It's Spring! Have You Got Your Curb Appeal On?    
 
Realtor Magazine has come out with some survey statistics.  
 
"According to the Real Estate Agent Community Trends survey, 82 percent of practitioners polled said buyers unimpressed with a home's exterior will not want to look inside."  
 
So, 82% of real estate agents believe that their clients will not even enter a home unless the curb appeal is, well, appealing. I am one of those that get caught up on the actual meaning of a word. What caught my attention in the first sentence above was the word "unimpressed". Maybe I am overstating things, but my reading is that 82% of agents believe that curb appeal must be above average for a buyer to seriously consider a property. How many Virginia, Maryland or DC homes have just average (or even below average) curb appeal? Now is the time to get moving.  
 
The Washington DC area has had a nice cool spring so far, which means that lawns are just coming out of dormancy. If you have a thin lawn due to the drought last year, there is still time to over-seed and fertilize. Over seed and spray your lawn then spray with a hard stream of water to ensure the seeds are off of the grass and down on the ground. Be sure that they use "starter" fertilizer and follow the directions on the packaging. I actually reduce the application rate on the package by about by 25% to 50%. Burning a lawn is just not worth it. Spray the lawn with water every morning. 
 
Mow the law twice a week during peak growing times. I know this is a lot of work, but the appearance of a well manicured lawn is well worth the effort!  
 
Now is the time you can begin to add color to the front of the home. Avoid planting until at least early May, as frost is still a concern. Instead, put flowers in pots. The pots can be moved into the garage or next to the home and covered if frost is forecasted.  
 
Curb appeal is a must! Most home buyers will create a lasting impression of a property within the first 15 seconds. Make the most of that time and let them walk away impressed and considering their new home.    
 
All the Best,  
 
Monica
703-851-2690 
the art of home preparation
 
Preferred Staging | 47837 Allegheny Circle | Potomac Falls | VA | 20165