Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Brush?

As a professional home stager I observe the best and worst in people's homes. The one on thing I see most often is white walls-yuck! Countless home owners have told me they had intended to paint when the moved in but either they couldn't decide on a color, they ran out of time or....they were scared! I've always wondered how a can of colored liquid can be so terrifying but I guess it's not the actual paint they are afraid of, it is more likely the process and potential outcome. If you are one of the "fraidy cats" listen up, you can do it and it won't cause nightmares, I promise.

First, choose your inspiration. It may be a piece of art, a pillow or a picture from a magazine. Then ask yourself a few questions: Why am I drawn to this item? What am I going to use the space for? How do I want to feel in this room (relaxed, energized, happy)? Unless you plan to sell your home in the near future, don't limit yourself to something boring and neutral. Do something different, step outside your box and be daring! Once you've established these basics, grab your inspiration piece and head to the nearest paint counter.

Don't panic if you weren't' able to find inspiration on your own, the home improvement stores make it so easy nowadays. They have dozens of brochures illustrating complimentary color pallets and you can purchase tiny little "testers" for about $3, so go ahead, get a few samples (and a decent brush) and have some fun! I suggest painting a pretty good sized test area, at least 2 ft. square. Some colors can change dramatically depending on the light so you will want to live with it for a while to see how it looks at various times of the day. Also keep in mind that when the whole room is painted the color will seem much darker or brighter.

If you've never painted before here are a few words of advice:

• Start Small- Try painting an office or bathroom before taking on the entire house
• Invest in good tools- Quality brushes, rollers, etc will make the job easier and are crucial to your success
• Take your time- I think the reason many people are "bad" painters is because they get in a hurry. It is normal for the prep work to take as much time as the actual painting

For me painting is therapeutic, cleansing and renewing, I enjoy the entire process. Maybe you can enlist the help of a friend and then return the favor. Put on some music, grab a cold drink and enjoy the experience. You will be amazed at the transformation, and that my friends is nothing to be afraid of!

Next Step - The WOW Factor

Whew! That was easy, now for the hard part :)

I've heard it said a buyer makes the decision to purchase a home (or not) within the first 30 seconds. That means you need to impress them immediately! Try using a technique we like to call "shake it off." Step outside your front door, close it, take a deep breath and imagine you are a buyer walking in for the first time. What do you notice right away? If you see clutter, too much empty space or hand prints on the walls you've got some work to do.

When we stage a home, we like to create that "wow factor" as soon as the front door is open. We want buyers to be drawn into the house with smiles on their faces. Since every house is different, it would be impossible for me to tell you exactly how you are going to do this, but a few guidelines will help.

First, clean, clean, clean. The floors, the walls, the furniture, the light fixtures, the blinds, the....I think you get the picture. If it can't be cleaned, paint it, replace it, or remove it.

Next, pare down the "stuff". This is the hardest thing for most people. Everybody has stuff and everybody loves their stuff. The problem is, potential buyers will often focus on your stuff - family photo walls, doll collections, etc and forget to look at your house. They will leave talking about all the trophies you won in college or your elephant collection and not even realize those items were sitting on a beautiful mantle above a gorgeous stone fireplace.

Most people lack creativity when it comes to furniture arrangement and placement of artwork and accessories. This is where a professional home stager comes in handy. An experienced stager should be able to help you make the most of your exisiting possesions and if you just don't have much, they can bring in a few items to augment what you do have.

If you choose to "stage-it-yourself" try rearranging the furniture to showcase the room's greatest asset. It could be a fireplace, a large window, a beautiful view, an achitectural element or the size of the room. You may need to remove unnecessary furniture or bring a piece or two in from another room. We once consulted with a client who had about 8 small side tables (no joke) and 4 or 5 chairs in a very small living room. They never even noticed this fact until we pointed it out. A lot of times less is more. And please, please, please, replace those flat, dingy, outdated pillows on your sofa. You can purchase a few inexpensive throw pillows which is a great way to bring in color and make a room feel fresh (this goes for bedrooms as well).

Now start adding artwork. Keep it simple and cohesive. Too many small pieces give a cluttered look, don't be afraid to use one large piece instead. Framed mirrors are usally safe and can help a small room seem bigger. Try to create a "theme". Look around the rest of the house for inspiration. If you have a few paintings, large photos or other images of similar things - mountains or palm trees, birds or the ocean - use them to build your theme around. If you have more modern art, take inspiration from the colors and shapes. Add a large plant to an empty corner, a lamp or two for ambiance, and a few well-selected table accent pieces.

Viola! You've done it.

So, you want to sell your house?

I'm here to help you sell your house. Really! My daughter & I have been staging homes for many years and have seen our fair share of disasters. Look on any MLS and you will see more bad photos and poorly presented homes than you will see well-staged ones. It is up to you to make sure your realtor takes and uses professional looking photos to market your home. A potential buyer does not want to see a dirty dog bed in a living room with an empty beer bottle and a laptop sitting on the coffee table....we've seen this photo and trust me it WON'T sell your house. We will discuss the importance of photos and marketing later.

Before we started this crazy and wonderful business, we thought most people knew the importance of updating and cleaning their home prior to putting it on the market....how wrong we were!!! The prevailing theory seems to be "we like our house the way it is, why wouldn't someone else?" Do I really have to answer that?

So, without further ado, let's get started.

Two words: Curb Appeal

You only get one chance to make a first impression, right? It is vitally important to grab a buyers attention (in a good way) before they even step inside your front door. Here are a few often overlooked areas you should spend some time (and money) on:

• Wash. Rent a powerwasher if you have to, but get the stains off sidewalks, decks and driveways. Clear away the spider webs from exterior doors and windows (this will also look better from the inside).
• Whack. Trim the bushes, trees and lawn. If you can't see the front of the house for all the greenery, maybe it's time to call a professional.
• Weed. If you neglect the outside of your home buyers will think you didn't take care of the inside either.
• Water or replace. Make sure all outdoor plants are thriving (in the appropriate months) and replace them if they aren't. A lush yard, patio or garden is $$$ in your pocket plus some colorful posies make a house feel more homey.

Did you know a charming and comfortable patio, deck or outdoor seating area is thought of by potential buyers as another "room"? It's true. Make it sparkle and shine. Invest a few dollars in new cushions and pillows. A matching umbrella, blooming potted plants, tiki torches, or colorful table setting can set the stage for a buyer to linger & enjoy.

Are your house numbers or porch lights rusty? Paint or replace them. Is the paint peeling here & there? Touch it up. Has the dog scratched the door? Paint it. Remember, if you aren't selling your house as a "fixer-upper" you don't want it to look like one.