Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Staging your Vacant Condo will INCREASE your Investment!



Staged homes sell 2–3 times faster and for up to 6% more than unstaged ones.  People perceive staged units that are well decorated as being worth more.
 

Professional stagers know how to highlight the features of the unit and distract from any ‘not so desirable’ features.

• It’s extremely important to show people how they can use the space, and this is especially so in properties that are small or have unique layouts.

• It’s all about the marketing! Marketing is not just how the realtor describes the unit on the MLS, it’s how a property looks and feels to your potential buyer/tenant.


• If your budget is limited, consider focusing on the main living areas and at least one bedroom.
 

• There are a lot of resources available for tips on how to stage your own home. If you can’t borrow furniture and artwork, rental companies carry everything from furniture to linens for not a lot of outlay. Just keep in mind that the goal is to show people how to use the space most effectively.


Return on your investment for staging : 299%

1 Avondale - Vacant condo that was staged


Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Do you believe your flooring can cost you money?

We know that when you are selling, you are trying to watch your budget.  You have to decide what fix ups you need to do and what can be left to the new owners.  There are certain things though, that will actually bring you MORE money, if you invest a little now.  Your flooring is a main area that always increases the value of a home!

Prospect Buyers don't want to see this .... when they walk into 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.


Doing the work yourself will cost you a fraction of that amount.



Return on investment: 107%**


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 at 416-829-9298 or info@torontocondostaging.com

 

**HomeGain Survey 2011

Thursday, January 17, 2013

New colours in design! Here is the info ....

We all have our preferred colour palette that makes us feel warm, and comfortable.  Here is an excerpt from HGTV's article on some bright new colours that seem to be drawing us in!

"Have you heard that emerald green is Pantone's new colour of the year? Green has a truly multi-faceted personality. It runs the gamut from extremely warm to crisp and cool—so it is easy to find one that you love and that will work in your home. Interestingly, the human eye can see more variations of green than of any other colour. Perhaps this is one of the reasons it is so popular and has been so through the decades. It is a comfort colour ...." - HGTV


At Toronto Condo Staging and Design, we strive to be on the cutting edge for what is trending in the design and colour world.  Call us today to see how we can help you sell your home for more and faster by using these latest trends in our stagings.

Don't forget too, our Designers can use these new trends to update your current look .... either with pops of colour here and there or with a total face lift, if you are feeling like a complete change.

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 at 416-829-9298 or info@torontocondostaging.com

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Happy Holidays and ....



Wishing you a Wonderful Holiday Season and all the best for 2013 from all of us here, at Toronto Condo Staging and Design Inc!

And remember ....

Many people think that staging in December isn't worth the time and money.  Most people seem to feel that everyone is busy thinking about getting ready for the holidays - not looking for the new condo.  We think it is still important to get your condo listed and shown the best it can be!

We believe so strongly that we quite often do winter promotions, like our newly launched DEFERRED RENEWALS PROGRAM.  We want to take the risk out of staging for you, so if your property doesn't sell in 90 days, the renewals are on us!  If it does sell, all accrued renewals will not be due until your closing date!  Please call us today for more info.

The proof is in the pudding ... figgy pudding!  A recent client, who is a realtor, was feeling nervous about staging in December.  They sat down with us and talked about the benefits of staging  and how we could help them with costs.  They decided to go ahead and we staged December 12th, at 1202 Dundas Street East.

On Monday we arrived at the office to learn that the unit has been sold!  Here are the stats of the sale and our clients thoughts:

"Our unit sold in 1 day, at 97% of asking.  I have used Toronto Condo Staging before and would highly recommend Darren & Lucie.  They are professional and the results are always amazing!  Thanks for another successful transaction!"  Sincerely, Wobize



Let us work for you, the same way we did for them and sell your unit for more money and faster!

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 at 416-829-9298 or info@torontocondostaging.com







Friday, November 30, 2012

What's happening? ....

It seems like everyone we are talking to lately are saying the same thing, "People are waiting till the new year to list."  It does not seem though, we are heading for scary times.  It seems that people started talking about prices falling, so they held off buying and now that has trickled down to sellers holding off on listing their condos.

We are finding that, while this is true, the premise for staging still remains.  You need to have your condo stand out above the rest.  You need to fill a vacant suite to make it soft and appealing.  You need to detract from the negatives and emphasize the positives!    

TCSD are here to help you with selling faster and for more money!  We have some great new plans to help with the financial strain of holding a mortgage, and still staging to get that condo sold.

Here is a small excerpt from an article on the Toronto Condo website.  The market hasn't seemed to be saturated with condos and there is still the demand .... so you need to rise above the norm!

"In today's economic climate, it is quite essential to be prudent and pragmatic when it comes to investing your hard earned money. One of the most promising areas to invest, especially if you do your homework right, is real estate. In the Greater Toronto Area, there is a market boom in condominiums. The GTA region is one of the largest condo markets in North America. In fact, Toronto has the highest number of ongoing condo projects in North America.

Though the construction of condos seems to be growing at a frenetic pace, many industry experts feel that there will be no lessening of the demand. This is due to several projects failing due to various reasons like lack of financing and the state of the economy. So the industry consensus is that even though there is a lot of construction going on, the demand for condos will be sustained.

Many industry watchers feel that the inventory levels of new condos is still quite low when compared to the levels from the past. In fact, Toronto has been witnessing a steadily increasing demand for rental condos; the national average for rental condos is 20%, whereas it is 30% in Toronto."


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 at 416-829-9298 or info@torontocondostaging.com

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Top 10 Reasons People Walk ...

There could be a reason why it seems that no one likes your home and you can't understand why.  Some things potential buyers can't ignore and they don't have anything to do with your home!

I was browsing on line and found an article about the "Top 10 Ways to make Home Buyers Hate Your House".  It was an interesting read but unfortunately, not that uncommon.  We run by quite a few of these "turn offs" regularly, when consulting on homes and condos for stagings.

Here are a few of the Top 10 ...

Odours

We all have heard that there is a strong connection between scents and our minds.  A sweet scent can remind you of a loved one, a yummy scent can make you feel warm and comfortable ... reminding you of Grandma in the kitchen.

The same is true for bad scents.  They can make us feel uncomfortable, unhappy and even sick!  If you have pets, or smoke or even a lot of perfume type air freshers, you can be risking the sale of your home.

Dirty Bathrooms and Kitchens

Leaving these rooms dirty, is an instant turn off.  "If these rooms are dirty or moldy, what is the rest of the house like?" people can think.

These areas need extra attention.  Paint, hire a cleaner even a handy man to update tiles and fix grout.  It will be worth it in the end.

Busy Wall Paper (and crazy paint colours)

We have talked about this one before!  Prints and colours that you love, can turn off many people coming to see your home.  Bite the bullet.  Get over the fact that every one doesn't share your sense of style and re paint in a neutral colour that is inviting.

People want to see themselves in your home, not see YOU in your home.

Thankfully, all of the Top 10 reasons potential buyers will walk away from your home (and a few others too) are fixable.  Here at Toronto Condo Staging and Design Inc. we have come across all of these issues and are fully able to help you overcome them!  Call us today and we can help you get a better look ... and smell, of your space!



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 at 416-829-9298 or info@torontocondostaging.com

Monday, November 5, 2012

Testimonial : 16 Yonge Street ...



"Toronto Condo Staging was instrumental in helping me sell my condo quickly and at a very competitive price!


16 Yonge Street, Toronto

Lucie and her team did an amazing job getting my condo ready to sell. I hadn't done any renovations or upgrades since I moved in over 6 years ago.  So, in order to be competitive and to increase my chances of a quick sale, I knew I needed some help.  Lucie was able to assess my apartment and recommend the most cost-effective improvements that would optimize my return on investment.  Lucie also made use of a lot of my existing furniture, and complement it with some nice upgrades and designer touches to really set the place off. 


The results were incredible!  My plain, cluttered bachelor apartment had been transformed into a beautiful, chic model suite!  The first time I saw the fully staged apartment, I actually thought to myself,  "Wow, if I was a potential buyer I would definitely make an offer on this place!"


Toronto Condo Staging was very professional, courteous and reliable. They managed the entire staging/renovating process from start to finish: coordinating with the Contractors, the Real Estate Agent, and even the Concierge to book the elevator.  They took care of everything!  I have nothing but good things to say about their services and I would highly recommend Toronto Condo Staging to anyone.  Having your condo staged with Toronto Condo Staging is definitely worth it, because it works!


Bottom line: if I hadn't contacted them, my condo would likely still be on the market today."


Shawn Kehoe
Montreal

If you need help like Shawn did, call today for your free estimate!  We are happy to help you!


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 at 416-829-9298 or info@torontocondostaging.com