Staging your property for sale or to rent is what separates you from the competition!

The power of a well-presented home translates to money in investors’ pockets. That really is the bottom
line when it comes to investing in staging your property. A Maritz* survey says that 63% of buyers will pay more for move-in ready homes. Renters are also willing to pay more for a property that is well-cared for. Staging is no longer a luxury; it is mandatory to maximize your equity and it makes good business sense for investors, like you!

We have worked with numerous investors over the years and it always surprises me how little thought is given to staging.  From house flippers to new construction investments, we consistently come across people who fail to work staging into their marketing budget. So, after all the money is spent on purchasing costs and renovations, there is next to nothing left for staging.

What happens if the property doesn’t sell immediately?

The only leverage you have is to lower your asking price, and typically we’re talking a minimum of $5,000–
$10,000, which is almost always more than the cost of staging! Add in carrying costs for another month and the profits shrink at a rapid rate.

Top Staging Tips:

1. Paiting - This is the cheapest renovation with the highest return!
   • More often than not, ceilings and trim don’t need painting – just the walls – which will save on painting costs.
   • Bold colours are great for living, but not for selling.
   • Stick with a warm, neutral palette like tans, taupes and greys.
   • Rule of thumb: if the walls haven’t been painted in over two years, now is the time! 
2. Lighting - Light and bright always sells!
   •  Consider changing existing light fixtures to ensure all hallways and bedrooms have 2-bulb, flush-mount fixtures.
   • Getting rid of dated fixtures can help modernize a property instantly.
   • Compact fluorescent bulbs are great for saving energy, but we recommend changing them to the old-fashioned incandescent bulbs while on the market. They are brighter and give off a much
   warmer light (it’s only for a short term!).
3.  Kitchen and Bathroom Upgrades - Kitchens and bathrooms sell houses!
   • If your budget is limited, changing cabinetry hardware to brushed nickel or silver knobs and handles will give it an immediate appeal.
   • Consider painting dated cabinetry instead of replacing them and, yes, you can even paint over melamine!
   • Depending on the price point of your property, it is often worthwhile to install stone counters. This immediately adds value and is very durable for long-term use. The added touch of luxury greatly increases the appeal for renters.
   • If stone is not in the budget, consider a ‘stone-like’ laminate counter. There are some great products on the market that will save your reno dollars but increase your kitchen’s marketability.
4. Flooring - Another area that always increases the value of your home!
   • It will ALWAYS cost you less to replace worn carpet or add new flooring than to leave it to the new homeowners. Most purchasers are looking for reasons to discount their offers. Flooring is one of the first things buyers see when they walk in. If their first thought is “I will need to replace these floors”, I guarantee they will discount their offers by $5,000–$10,000 for condos and $7,000–$15,000 for houses.

To read a staging case study on investing and staging, please read our post Investors and Staging ... Do they Mix?

Staging your property for sale or to rent is what separates you from the competition, and garners the top end value your property is worth. Whether you’re attracting premium tenants or looking for a quick sale, investing in these key areas will get you results. So is it worth it? Absolutely.

Follow us on Twitter and on Facebook!  There you will find great info, links and quotes from our clients.  We are continually posting new pictures of our staging jobs on our Facebook page too.

Contact us for a free estimate at 416-829-9298 or info@torontocondostaging.com

*Maritz Research 2006

Why Stage, Won't My Home Sell Anyway?

This is a common question we get quite a bit ... as I am sure Realtors, trying to explain the benefits of staging to their clients, do too!  Here are a few answers to the above question.

Overall, staged homes sell faster and for more money. So, your home may sell without staging, but why risk leaving money on the table?  Also, keep in mind that the cost of staging your home is less than what your first price reduction will be. Staging works!

Home Staging Stats:

•  A staged home sells 2-3 times faster than a non-staged home.*  

• A staged home sells for up to 6% more than a non-staged home.*

* Statistics taken from a survey of 2772 properties, done by Joy Valentine, Coldwell Banker Realty, Los Altos, California

``Recent statistics gathered by Stagedhomes.com shows that 94 percent of homes staged by an Accredited Staging Professional sold in 29 days or less, compared to an average of 145 days for homes that were not staged. What’s more, homes staged by Accredited Staging Professionals stay on the market 83 percent less than a home that has not been staged.``by Barb Schwarz

Darren Brand, CSP, ASP co-owner of Toronto Condo Staging and Design Inc. is our lead stager and designer who has been in the staging business for 10 years.  Contact us today for a consultation and over the phone estimate on your staging needs.

 

Follow us on Twitter and on Facebook!  There you will find great info, links and quotes from our clients.  We are continually posting new pictures of our staging jobs on our Facebook page too.

Contact us for a free estimate at 416-829-9298 or info@torontocondostaging.com

Your Free Realtor Package!

For you Realtors out there (and those whom you now) we have a great Free Realtor Package available on our website. 

SIGN UP TODAY! 

You will have a physical booklet sent to you, that will help you talk about the benefits of staging to your future clients. Filled with great stats about how staging helps you sell your properties FOR MORE and FASTER! 

There are also great BEFORE and AFTERS of Toronto Condo Staging and Design's work.  See how filling a vacant condo brings life and a spark that was missing before .... and how wonderful artwork can tie together a dull space!  

Furnished units, being edited and decluttered, become open and spacious.  Adding a little sparkle and shine to a dark unit will bounce light all around and future buyers will be dazzled!

Remember .... ITS FREE!

The Marilyn Monroe Buildings ...

The call came and we jumped at the chance!  It was a challenge and a thrill for Darren and team to design the staging of a suite at 60 Absolute, in Mississauga.  The buildings, stylishly called The Marilyn Monroe Buildings, are breath-taking from the outside.  We equally wanted to make this unit, breath-taking on the inside!

We feel we accomplished our goal by thinking outside the box; like using only the center piece of a large sectional as the sofa in the living room.  We also used punches of colour and texture to create a luxurious feel but keeping the space open and airy, by using glass and reflective pieces throughout.  A hint of teal on an ottoman, grabs your eye, as you walk into the unit!

 

Architectural wall pieces add depth and interest to a otherwise dull wall.  

 

Continuing the same colour throughout the space brings unity and flow.

We loved our time at Absolute.

Photos Taken by Rodrigo Fernandez from RF-Media/www.rf-media.com

Investors and Staging ... Do they mix?

We have worked with numerous investors over the years and it always surprises us how little thought is given to staging. From house flippers to new construction investments, we consistently come across people who fail to work staging into their marketing budgeting. So, after all the money is spent on finishes, closing costs etc… there is next to nothing left for staging.

What happens if the property doesn’t sell immediately? The only leverage you, as the investor have is to lower your asking price and typically that’s a minimum of $5,000 - $10,000. Almost always less than the cost of staging!

Usually what happens next is … another month of carrying costs goes by and then we get a call from a desperate realtor or investor trying staging as a last resort. The property often gets taken off the market, we stage, new pictures are uploaded and on average the unit sells in less than two weeks for full asking price!

Here’s an example: we were contacted by a realtor with a new property in a condo building, downtown Toronto. The condo had stiff competition in that area, being that it had many new developments and ample vacant units to choose from. This particular unit had a unique layout which also made it difficult for buyers to see how they could layout their furniture.

After we staged the unit, it SOLD in under 3 weeks for full asking price! Here is what the owner said:

“We had the property on the market for 7 months with no offers. After your staging, we had an offer and sale within 3 weeks. You were worth every penny.” B. Patel

Here at Toronto Condo Staging and Design, we will work with you for a stress free staging, that will best suit your condo, loft or town home. The small investment in staging can gain you thousands of dollars when you sell!
Contact us for a free estimate at 416-829-9298 or info@torontocondostaging.com

Park Place .... Model Suites

It has been wonderful working with Concord Adex Investments. The people are very friendly and the location is great .... no down town traffic!

We have already staged 3 units with them, as they are selling like hot cakes! Each town home has been slightly different from the last, which means changing our design layout and moving items around.

That is never a problem though for our Lead Designer and Owner Darren Brand. He is always up for the task. Commenting that, "we always want to give our clients the best. We want there condos to look as good as they can, even if that means we have to change items we had in mind...until it works."

Toronto Condo Staging and Design, one of the leading condo and town home staging companies, offers a wide range of services to fit your budget. Contact us to book your consultation at 416-829-9298 or info@torontocondostaging.com.

Bigger and Brighter!

"Thank you so much for everything you and the Toronto Condo Staging and Design team did yesterday! When Marc and I came home last night, we could not even believe this was our place. Somehow, you made it look much bigger and brighter than it ever has before .... we might just buy it ourselves!"

Emily Waugh, Toronto