Pittsburgh Staged Homes

Here are some quick decluttering ideas!!
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/10-decluttering-projects-you-can-do-in-15-minutes-or-less-stsetivw-vs~81853344?bsft_aaid=329e9826-7f03-489a-bf58-7ecadf452c0f&bsft_eid=aac5a109-4b63-43a7-a269-28d53512f8a0&bsft_pid=7be871e5-62af-4782-afe6-0fa222ae543c&utm_campaign=042323-us-homeowner-newsletter&
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10 Decluttering Projects You Can Do in 15 Minutes or Less Try these ideas to get organized at home one small step at a time

Adding fresh pillows can make your home for sale look welcoming and up to date. This blog post shows you how to mix and match different styles, colors and textures depending on your sofa!

How to Mix and Match Throw Pillows Instantly up your home decor game by learning just how easy it is to mix and match throw pillows with this simple formula!

The very first thing to do when getting your home ready to sell....DECLUTTERING!

I read that a major source of clutter is deferred decisions! Not sure what to do with something? Stick it in a closet.

That is why DECLUTTERING is hard--now you have to make all those decisions about what to do with things. Should it be sold /thrown away/or moved to another space?

A good idea is "Focus on visual clutter first".

That means anything you can see when you walk into a room. And visual clutter is what makes a space look smaller and makes you house less appealing to buyers.

Overcome Decluttering Fatigue: 10 Tips When Decluttering is Exhausting 10 tips for when decluttering is exhausting. Practical strategies to get back in your decluttering groove and making progress decluttering!

THE DOS AND DON'T OF DECORATING YOUR BOOKSHELF

There are a few simple guidelines to styling your bookshelves with the eye of a trained professional. Let’s lay down some important “dos and don’ts” and ideas for decorating a built-in bookshelf.

DOS
-Do group objects together in odd number amounts, typically groups of 3 per shelf.
- Do aim to include a variety of heights within your decor.
- Do incorporate metals and/or glass for some sparkle and shine.
- Do incorporate pitchers and decorative plates, if you’d like.
- Do stick to a color palette. Keep to 1-4 colors for a clean bookshelf decor look.
- Do incorporate sentimental or heirloom objects! This ensures your bookshelves are telling your personal story.
-Do focus on creating balance. Balance out warm earthy materials (like leather and suede) with cold shiny metals (like brass) and glass, because you want to balance out matte with shine. Go horizontal then vertical, tall then short, round then square, antique then new, and so forth.

DON'T
- Don’t be afraid of blank space! If you fill up every single corner of each bookshelf, it will look too cluttered and take away from the overall appearance. Stick to 1-3 objects per shelf, or 4 at the most.
- Don’t make your pair of bookcases too matchy-matchy. It may seem counterintuitive at first, but the beauty is in the imperfect balancing of things. Bookshelves that perfectly mirror each other don’t create as much visual interest, and it can actually cheapen the overall look.
- Don’t put anything on your shelves you’re not absolutely in love with. You’re the one that will be looking at it everyday, so make sure it’s a view that you’ll never grow tired of.

One of the key reasons people move is to get more closet space -so you know that they will be looking in ALL of your closets and storage spaces!

Stuffed closets create the impression that there isn't enough storage...and a closet that has "extra" room that isn't being used sends the message that there is lots of space.

One of the first things to do before you put your home on the market is --CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSETS!!

https://heartworkorg.com/2022/01/17/organize-closets-like-a-pro-organizer/?utm_source=missinglettr&utm_medium=social_link&utm_campaign=organize-closets-like-a-pro-organizer&
fbclid=IwAR1Ibg6U0E-nG7FIluI4nhj-bMR8mLQxGsg6OXB8cgYmb01bn-JWN9s-raw

Organize Closets Like a Pro Organizer organize closets like a pro organizer

January is a great time to declutter! To increase your chances of success you should make a game plan--what room to work on first, how to sort and organize after you declutter.
A key to being organized is getting rid of excess items-so there is a place to keep everything.
This plan has you doing a different area each month. But feel free to do one the plan over a few weeks!

Your Clutter-Clearing Plan for the New Year Tackle these tasks month by month for a decluttering strategy that will really pay off

When you are selling your house I always recommend neutral colors and removing any "personal decor"....but the Powder Room is one place that can have some personality. Because it is behind closed doors and a space that you are not in for a long time it almost doesn't matter how it is decorated.
Here are the most popular powder rooms on Houzz!

The Top 10 Powder Rooms of 2022 Get inspiration for moody color schemes, bold wallpaper and statement mirrors from these most-saved photos of the year

Today Pantone released it 2023 Color of the Year, and it another unusable color for staging...or anyone really! There was a nice photo of a coffee cup in this color and it looked nice, but for decorating -it is a hard pass!!!

A big part of Home Staging is removing all the items that keep a buyer from falling in love with your house....too many personal decorations make it hard for them to see how their family could live in the house.

When you sell your home you need to detach from it being "your family home" and start to think of it as "a property to be sold". That is not an easy thing to do....and the longer you have lived there the harder it becomes.

8 Smart Styling Tips to Help You Sell Your Home Quickly Follow this expert advice to help make your home irresistible to potential buyers

Decluttering is the very first step if you are selling you home....but there are also great benefits to decluttering even if you are not moving. With the amount of items we buy each week, month or year it is easy for our homes to get out of control.

And you know with the holidays coming up we will be adding to what we are keeping -so start today and spend 30 minutes going through one closet or cabinet each day!!

18 Great Benefits of a Decluttered Home Get motivated to create a decluttered home by reminding yourself of the benefits and exactly what you stand to gain by clearing the clutter!

WHAT HOME STAGING DOES TO YOUR LISTING PRICE!

Home staging helps even in a HOT MARKET.....so it is even MORE important with the slowing market that we have now!!!

"In a 2021 survey by the Real Estate Staging Association of 4,600 properties, homes that were staged sold on average $40,000 over list price. They also sold an average of nine days faster than unstaged homes—even in a hot housing market!

RESA also found that investing 1.3% in staging results in an average of 7.1% over-list returns."
https://www.nar.realtor/blogs/styled-staged-sold/why-home-staging-inspires-the-best-prices-in-any-housing-market?fbclid=IwAR06ZZWmJgTkMpJWmOPXBABYy59BSLQQeJs0JYsztI85-kaw6bCuSVLfVEo

Why Home Staging Inspires the Best Prices in Any Housing Market The Real Estate Staging Association shares why home staging is worth the investment for the home buyer, seller and real estate agent.

The crazy, crazy Real Estate Market is slowing down....and buyers are not jumping at any home for sale.

How can you get the most attention in this new market?
STAGING your home before it is listed!!

Staging can cost anywhere from $200 to as much as 1% of the cost of the home (depending on what need to be done!!).

But no matter the cost- staging always returns many times its cost in the final sale price of a staged home!!

DON"T leave money on the table!! STAGE BEFORE YOU LIST!!

https://www.moneysense.ca/spend/real-estate/what-home-sellers-should-know-about-staging/?fbclid=IwAR0NNlLwFXak1ylKi1yyPtGkRqjvl12VsXqZY14FvPafJfv7QFA67pPEcSc

Selling your house? Here’s what to know about staging - MoneySense Once considered a “nice to have,” staging by a design professional is now commonplace—and in competitive markets, it’s absolutely vital.

Here is the very first "2023 Color of the Year"

PPG announced Vining Ivy, a traditional yet contemporary blue-green tone, as its 2023 Color of the Year.

This darker color continues the trend toward warmer/darker colors.

https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/this-is-the-color-everyone-will-be-painting-their-home-next-year/?utm_source=second-street&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NEST+for+Tues.+Aug.+23

This is the Color Everyone Will Be Painting Their Home Next Year | Pittsburgh Magazine PPG announced Vining Ivy, a traditional yet contemporary blue-green tone, as its 2023 Color of the Year.

One of the best no-cost ways to add value to your home is by DECLUTTERING!

Remember that the buyers want to see ALL the space that they are buying, so having closets, cabinets, and your storage areas no more that 50% full shows more space and raised the value of your home. MORE SPACE= A HIGHER VALUE

Why is Decluttering So Hard? 11 of the biggest challenges of decluttering Why is decluttering so hard?? Check out these 11 reasons why decluttering can be challenging & what to do to overcome these common challenges!

FRESHEN UP FOR SPRING!

Even if you are not selling your home this spring -replacing your throw pillows is a inexpensive way to upgrade your home.

Try a new color combo or add pillows with texture-this article gives you a good guide for how to "mix and match" pillows along with some suggestions of where to buy cost effective pillows!

How to Style Throw Pillows How to style throw pillows. Living room decor, home decor and patio decor.

Staging used to be only for expensive homes or problem homes, now it is necessary.....if you want to get the maximum price for your home.

Staging can cost anywhere from $200 to as much as 1% of the cost of the home (depending on what need to be done!!).

But no matter the cost- staging always returns many times its cost in the final sale price of a staged home!!

DON"T leave money on the table!! STAGE BEFORE YOU LIST!!

Selling your house? Here’s what to know about staging - MoneySense Once considered a “nice to have,” staging by a design professional is now commonplace—and in competitive markets, it’s absolutely vital.

I am signing up for the "Spring into Simple Decluttering Challenge" today.

I have never done decluttering as part of a group so I am willing to give it a try!!
Like most people today I have TOO MUCH STUFF -so I am hoping this will help me get started on this LONG decluttering journey.

I am not planning on moving, but if you are, DECLUTTERING is the first thing you should do. Why? Because having a home that looks spacious will add $$ to the sale price.

Spring into Simple Decluttering Challenge: A free 14-day challenge! Join the Spring into Simple Decluttering Challenge: a FREE 14-day decluttering challenge to clear the clutter from your home and your life!

CURB APPEAL is a key to creating buyer interest. Many buyers drive by a house to decide if they want to visit!

Having a colorful FRESHLY PAINTED front door will create a good first impression and will make buyers want to see what is behind the door!!
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/what-color-should-i-paint-my-front-door-stsetivw-vs~88155105?share=clipboard

What Color Should I Paint My Front Door? Extend a standout greeting with a memorable hue at your home’s entry

The kitchen is considered the "heart" of the home and is a key room that will help you sell your home for more!!

A full remodel is not cost effective but there are many things you can do to make your kitchen appeal to buyers-the first is deep clean everything (and the cost is $0).

Here are other little updates that will help buyers connect to your home! https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-to-stage-your-kitchen-for-a-home-sale-stsetivw-vs~29912722?share=clipboard

How to Stage Your Kitchen for a Home Sale Attract buyers with a kitchen that’s clean, bright and welcoming — no expensive overhaul required

I love choosing paint colors for homes because paint can change the way your home looks!! And that is especially important when YOU ARE SELLING YOUR HOME! Fresh paint in the RIGHT COLOR can make the difference in a house sitting vs. sold!!

#1 PAINTING MISTAKE: Not testing the paint extensively in the room it’s going in, before painting. There are already existing colors in your home in the fixed elements (tile / countertops /wood) that must be taken into consideration. The paint has to coordinate with these items.
This article from one of my favorite designers, Laurel Bern tells you all the mistakes you can make!

https://laurelberninteriors.com/2020/08/11/14-common-home-painting-mistakes-you-might-be-making/

14 Common Home Painting Mistakes You Might Be Making Also, it made me feel better to learn that you also had a bad case of "pondering white." These home painting mistakes are ones I've made, too

2021 was better than 2020....so lets hope that 2022 is better than 2021! Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!!!!!

"Curb Appeal" is a key part of selling your home...but it is much harder to make your home look appealing in the winter. Here are a few tips to increase your curb appeal. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/9-ways-to-boost-winter-curb-appeal-stsetivw-vs~20340230?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u17399&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery7_10&newsletterId=17399

9 Ways to Boost Winter Curb Appeal No blossoms and a barren yard? You can still make your home attractive and inviting from the street

Here is a perfect photo of "The Power of Paint".
Now I know some of you are going to say that they like the before photo better--but it is all about knowing the demographic of the buyers in your area.

When you are preparing your home to sell...you want to make the home look as appealing as possible to the people that will be looking at your home. The key question is "what will the buyers be looking for "-not "what do I like".

In today's market -the home in the top photo will sell quicker and for more money💲 than the photo on the bottom!

Home Staging is for EVERY home because it will make your home for sale stand out from the competition!!!

Benjamin Moore just announced its choice for 2022's Color of the Year....and its GREEN!

The color is October Mist to be exact.

That makes 3 paint companies that picked GREEN:
Sherwin Williams picked Evergreen Fog
Behr picked Breezeway

Maybe ALL the paint companies will pick a shade of green this year
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/.../color-of-the-year-2022

Staging helps keep the focus on your home ...not your decor

MAYBE THE WORST ONLINE PHOTOS EVER!!
When the write up says "Truly a AMAZING FIND"...they are not kidding! It is amazing that someone would post photos that look this bad. I wonder if I should contact them about staging? 😂

https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/pa/pittsburgh/928-california-ave/pid_37470266/

928 California Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15202 - MLS 1461699 - Coldwell Banker For Sale - 928 California Ave, Pittsburgh, PA - $179,900. View details, map and photos of this single family property with 5 bedrooms and 4 total baths. MLS # 1461699.