Selling your house? Should you stage your home?

Even in the cooler months, you can sell your house. With a few less buyers and still lots of homes for sale it is important to have your house stand out from the rest!
It is important to realize that when your house is for sale, it is no longer "your home". Before it goes up for sale, is the time to get your home ready. You want to have anyone walking in your home to feel at home and to picture themselves living in your home. 

A few ways to do that:

• De-clutter: You are getting ready to move, so now is a great time to get all of your extras packed up. Those clothes that only get worn seasonally can be stored (it might not be a bad idea to keep them accessible if you are about to change your clothing). Closets are a great feature, if you can make it look like there is more room than there actually might be. Clearing your closets out, not only helps you, it gives the impression of tons of storage! Storing your rarely used kitchen appliances helps to keep your counter tops clear to show off all of your kitchen work space and empties your cabinets, which again shows off all of your storage!
• Depersonalize: This one might be the hardest to do. Pack up the pictures of your kids, grand kids, pets, family and friends. Replace them with  art work. Art work can be pricey but you can also DIY some inexpensive artwork as well (we will work on some of that late). A great way to add the void from your old pictures is a mirror (or mirrors grouped together). A mirror adds a big impact, making the room feel larger and can let the potential buyers really SEE themselves in your home. 
• Furniture & Placement: Keeping your home feeling large is helped with the furniture that you have in it. Some rooms cannot support a large heavy couch, or china cabinet. While it works for you and your family, if it does not emphasize the amount of space in your home, it might be best to store it until you move into your new home. Furniture placement is very important. you don't want to show an empty home, but you don't want your home crammed with furniture. As you move your furniture, be aware to keep the walking areas, large enough that as a realtor is showing your home to 1 or 2 people, don't run into each other or "get stuck". Pulling your furniture off of the wall can help a room feel cozier and if you can keep it far enough off the wall, you can add a nice walking area to see the whole room without tripping over a chair.
• Maintenance: Even if you take care of your home, it is easy to miss small things (paint touch ups for the kids running toys into the walls) because while you are living in it you get used to it. It is helpful to have someone with no emotional attachment to your home (it could be a friend, your realtor, or a staging professional) walk thru your home and let you know what they notice.
• Color: If you have rooms that need more than paint touch ups, it might be best to re-paint. Use warm and soothing colors, that will help relax buyers when they walk in. Lighter shades help your home feel larger and are more attractive to the eyes and help potential buyers picture their own furnishings in the home.

Staging Stats:
1. You will make more money: A survey conducted by Coldwell Banker discovered that staged homes are usually sold 6% above the asking price and spend less time on the market when compared to an unstaged home.
2. You will get a good return on your investment: Another NAR survey reveled that a 1-3% investment on home staging yields 8-10% return.
3. Your photos will stand out. Most buyers start shopping online, so it is very important that your online pictures look great!

Are you getting ready to sell? Give Megan Jelsema Designs a call today! (616)240-7095

Kitchens!

Kitchens are the heart of many homes! It's where everyone gathers! It's important not only for a kitchen to be functional and practical, but it should also be stylish, comfortable and a place where you WANT to spend your time! Because there are better things to do in a kitchen than dishes!

 

The back splash in this kitchen turned out so cool! And complemented the laminate counter tops so nice. The raised bar area, gives a nice divide from the dining room (and hides the mess in the sink), but still keeps it open.

 This is a very pretty, classic kitchen. I love the light fixtures. The Oil Rubbed cabinet door hardware looks great without an overwhelming presence.

 This maybe one of my favorite kitchens! I love the dark crown on the light cabinets. Even with the the dark island (same as the crown) and the dark granite counter tops, this kitchen is bright and airy with the very light blue on the walls. The table (below) is made out of reclaimed wood, you can't see it in this picture, but it had a great matching bench too!

 I love the black and white in this kitchen! Black and white always looks classy. We added a black glaze to the white island cabinets, making a little more fun!

 

This is a warm and comfy kitchen. While the dining area was not big, it is still comfortable with the dining table and consul table. The taller upper cabinets in the corners, make a nice statement, and adds a custom touch without a crazy price.

This kitchen before was dark and boring. Adding the lighter cabinets, even with the darker tan on the walls, lighten the whole place. Adding a rolling island was not only functional, it became a great place eat. This home was lacking a eating area (until a later renovation added one). The under cabinet lighting, added great task lighting. 


How is your kitchen cooking? Does it need some spicing up? Maybe something as small as new cabinet hardware, or are you ready for a total kitchen make over? While it is not the most fun to live thru, having the right help and planning can make a world of difference! And before you know it, you'll be gathering in your new space!
Call me today and lets get planning!

MeganJelsemaDesigns@gmail.com
(616)240-7095

About Me

Hello, My name is Megan Jelsema. 
I have been working for RDI Homes for the past few years doing all of their selections for their new construction homes and remodels. I have done over 100 homes, including Parade of Homes, custom homes and spec homes. 
I have always been a creative person and very interested in home design. Before working for RDI Homes, I would help friends and family while they were remodeling/redesigning their homes. 
While working for RDI Homes, I was involved in the selections for everything, from the roof over your head to the flooring (and underlayment) under your feet & the paint all around you! It is an honor and pleasure to work with the home owners as they are building their new homes! I love helping people with the practical aspects of building a house, but it is almost more fun to help people make it their home. Adding the furniture, art work and accessories that make a home specifically yours, makes such a huge difference and is so much fun to do! 
I have also had the opportunity to stage homes that are for sale. When a home is for sale, it needs to be a home that ANYONE can see themselves in. I have read many stats about homes for sale (and one day I'll post some) but one thing that I have seen over and over again is that a staged home sells quicker and for more money than a non-staged home! Who wouldn't like that?
Look around your home, what needs a little boost? Give me a call today! I would love to help you freshen up a room or re-design a tired space in your home! 
Thanks for checking out my blog! I look forward to adding more to it! I will hopefully have more pictures on here for you soon! Until then you can check out my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/meganjelsemadesigns.
Megan