Has anyone seen my couch?

Somewhere out there in a neighborhood sits my ever-so-hip leather couch, hundreds of dollars of art work, very cool bedding, tables and tons more. All stolen out of a modern townhouse that Tara and I staged.

Under the cover of darkness the robbers-with-taste took as much as they could. But I should add that they were a bit discerning! Or perhaps they had some time constraints.

Off to do more shopping....

On the market? First Impressions are a must!

I live in a city neighborhood where homes do not languish on the market. But one home is and I can give you some ideas why.

The home has a For Sale sign out front that is leaning over. That hints to me that it has market fatigue- something must be wrong with it. Next, there is a plastic storage closet near the front door (not a good visual). That tells me there is not enough storage in the home or there is not much of a yard in back for things. And one day, driving by I got a glimpse of the entry as the front door was wide open. The entry has a huge book shelf overstuffed with books. What a visual disaster!

Oh, the power of first impressions...

The sale of your home will most likely be one of the largest transactions of your life. Dig in and commit to getting it on the market with its best foot forward.

Go on the market with a bang & a budget

Getting your house dialed in to sell can be an overwhelming task. Keep in mind that you'll need to pack up to move anyway so look at it as a head start. It all begins with you. What you put into it is what you will get out of it. This is one sale that is worth your time to get it right.

1. Street Appeal: I can always tell which home has been well cared for by simply looking at the yard. Clean it up! Your first impression is huge.

2. Lighten up your personal belongings. Start packing room by room.

3. The kitchen should be clear of any counter microwaves, toasters, and any other appliance that takes up room. (I seldom mind having a coffee maker on the counter.) We advise our clients to clear out and pack up a cupboard for appliances storage.

4.Clean, clean, clean. Wipe down walls, swith plates, moulding, clean windows inside & out, shampoo carpets and upholstery. This is also a sure sign of how well a home has been cared for.

5. Double check: Have a creative and forthright friend walk through the home pointing out what they see needs to be done.

6. Freshen up spaces with new & colorful throw pillows, shower curtain & towels. Simple and inexpensive changes that can add a nice touch. Perhaps a large nice looking mirror added to the dining room to create drama and dimension.

You will be off to a great start with this simple checklist and a step ahead of many homes on the market. It's a process with a big payoff.

A Roadtrip to Ignite Creativity

HOTEL
How cool is this photo?!

My business partner and sister extraordinaire is a former Hotel guru so when we travel we always start with a good hotel. This time, it was the brand new "The Nines" above Portland's Macy's store. It's the bomb! Hip and ever-so-laid-back cool. Thank you Tara and thank you "The Nines" $99.00 for 99 days. It was the perfect way to get the juices flowin' and the heart pumpin'!
SHOPPING
We begin at Fabric Depot. A visually painful fabric store. But once in the design zone we are lost with killer creative ideas. If you don't mind the occasional drip of water from the ceiling on your head it can be a fabulous place to brainstorm on furniture and room transformation. I bought some shimmer white crocodile vinyl to cover a boring petite bench and turn it into a fashionable side table. I will show you the before and after upon completion (we just returned yesterday). I also got some silver & white sparkle vinyl to create a cushion for a chair that's in my head and not yet in our warehouse. Sometimes the cart needs to be before the horse. I'll show you that when the look is complete. We finished off our purchases with a geometric print to bring a bench into 2009 and beyond. http://www.fabricdepot.com/
Target is always a nice go to place for easy, current pieces . Don't they knock if out of the ballpark? Talk about a store that is not burdened by a bunch of old dinosaurs unable to shift at a moments notice. Love the people in charge. Which brings me to purchasing a bottle of wine at Target to take back to the hotel and spend time thumbing through magazines. http://www.middlesisterwine.com/ "because we think middle sisters sometimes deserve a little extra attention". This middle sister will drink to that! Love the "Rebel Red". As the visual girls that we are we will forever fall for a cleverly designed label.

After the wine we move to dinner (and more wine). South Park Grill & Wine Bar. Into the wine bar we went for some simple fare. Only to be approached by 2 men wanting to settle a bet. I know, I know, it's bad but it happened. Then a call to our older sister to bring her in on the laughs. The food was great! Once again, many thanks to the people at The Nines who sent us over duck confit and creme brule. How cool is that?! http://www.southparkseafood.com/

Day 2 we are clearly running out of time. 5 kids and 2 over worked husbands mean we start our road trip with our hair on fire from the crazy planning we have to do to get out of town. And that's just to get away for 1 night-Yikes. Back to the morning: we start via the Internet and check up on our favorite blogs, our favorite clients and favorite design sites. On to West Elm. We are again in the zone. We have 2 employees helping to move our piles of purchases to the front desk ready for check out-it's out of control! We have 1 car that has to work as a truck so we measure and calculate what pieces of furniture are coming home with us. It was comical. After spending a fortune and saving even more (designer discount & no tax) we spread the entire contents of 2 days work on the sidewalk of Portland's Pearl District to be reviewed and repacked (or stuffed) into the car. Tara was thrilled that the West Elm warehouse guy did not look at the treasures and then to the car and comment that it won't fit. I am always in awe of what my sister can do when it comes to shopping and space. She works her magic. The car is full but Tara has kept a small area available for a few more bags that will hopefully be filled with clothing by the hours end. We have 45 minutes to power shop and get on the road. On to 23rd Avenue. My all time favorite shopping destination. Most treasured shop for me is 3 Monkeys. (They're too cool for a website). I mean it, they're really cool. Bought a few ever-so-cute pieces and moved on to Galore Department Store. Definitely not a department store and again, too cool for a website? We grabbed our purchases and flew out to door to begin the road trip home and recap the whirlwind inspirational buying extravaganza. I'm pumped!

Erin Quigley/www.openhousestaging.net
Middle Sister

First Impressions

Photo by Andreas Von Einsiede

Setting the Stage Sells Your Home

The age-old observation that "you never get a second chance to make a first impression" certainly applies when it comes to attracting buyers to a for-sale home.

Making a good first impression can mean the difference between receiving serious offers for your home or being subjected to months of lookie-loos dropping by but never buying. How can you ensure that your home will make the best impression possible? Here are six tips for savvy home sellers:

1. Focus on curb appeal. The outside of your house can be the source of a very good first impression. Keep the grass well-watered and mowed. Have your trees trimmed. Cut back overgrowth. Plant some blooming flowers. Store toys, bicycles, roller-skates, gardening equipment and the like out of sight. Have at least the front of your house and the trim painted, if necessary. Sweep the porch and the front walkway. After dark, turn on your front porch light and any other exterior lighting.
2. Clear out the clutter. Real estate agents say buyers won't purchase a home they can't see. If your home has too much furniture, overflowing closets, crowded kitchen and bathroom countertops or lots of family photos or collectibles on display, potential buyers won't be able to see your home. Get rid of anything you don't need or use. Fill up your garage or rent some off-site storage space if that's what it takes to clear out your home.
3. Use your nose. Many people are oblivious to scents, but others are extremely sensitive to offensive odors. To eliminate bad smells, bathe your pets, freshen the cat litter box frequently, shampoo your carpets, dry clean your drapes, and empty trash cans, recycling bins and ash trays. Place open boxes of baking soda in smell-prone areas, and refrain from cooking fish or strong-smelling foods. Introduce pleasing smells by placing flowers or potpourri in your home and using air fresheners. Baking a fresh or frozen pie or some other fragrant treat is another common tactic.
4. Make all necessary repairs. Buyers expect everything in their new home to operate safely and properly. Picky buyers definitely will notice-and likely magnify -- minor maintenance problems you've ignored for months or even years. Leaky faucets, burned-out light bulbs, painted-shut or broken windows, inoperable appliances and the like should be fixed before you put your home on the market. These repairs may seem small, but left undone they can lead buyers to question whether you've taken good care of your home.
5. Introduce lifestyle accessories and make your home as comfortable and attractive as possible. Set the dining room table with your best dishes. Put out your only-for-company towels. Make up the spare bed. Hang some fresh curtains. Put some logs in the fireplace. Use your imagination.
6. Get a buyer's-eye view. Walk up to your home and pretend you've never seen it before. What do you notice? How do you feel about what you see? Does the home seem inviting? Well-maintained? Would you want to buy this home? Your answer should be an enthusiastic yes!
Copyright © 2000 Marcie Geffner. All rights reserved.