Thursday, July 31, 2014

5 Considerations to Juggle When Pricing a Home

5 Considerations to Juggle When Pricing a Home 


by Karen F. Cormier, Realtor & Certified Staging Professional

Oftentimes coming up with a home’s price can feel subjective.  It can seem a bit of a juggling act as you measure one factor against another in order to come up with a competitive price that will benefit the Seller but will also quickly move the property. When deciding on a price, keep the following factors in mind:

Location – It’s the old saying in real estate, isn’t it? “Location! Location! Location!” The reason it’s an old saying, though, is because it’s true. Houses in great locations will go for more money than those that are not. While you can’t move your house, its pricing must accurately reflect the potential of its location. 

Condition – Upkeep and good condition are crucial factors in getting the highest value for a home. How someone has lived in and maintained a house will be apparent to a potential Buyer.  Fix what you can beforehand and price the property based on its overall condition and upkeep.

Terms – The more terms that are available on a property the more potential buyers you will reach.  Pricing must reflect the kinds of term available for purchase. 


Market – Interest rates, competition, and the economy all make up the state of the market. Any house’s price must reflect these economic conditions.

Staging – Let’s face it, homes that are staged for sale (de-cluttered, de-personalized, and updated) are going to be priced higher than those that are not. If the home is not already staged, consider having it done before the property even hits the market.

In the end, a property is really only worth what another person is willing to pay for it. However, by considering all of these factors during the pricing process, you will have a better, more informed opportunity to price the property competitively so that it moves it quickly off the market. 

To learn more about Karen, please visit www.kfcormierstagedhomes.com today! Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kcormierstaging

Saturday, February 8, 2014

What to Do with Your Electronics


by Karen F. Cormier, REALTOR &  
While you may find having a TV in every room or multiple computer screens at your workspace to be a bonus, prospective buyers may not be as impressed. As it is for everything else when you stage your home to sell, you want to leave the slate as clean as possible so that others can potentially project their lives into your living space.

Does this mean that you need to put all electronics away? Not at all but here are some things you can do to reduce the technology “clutter” and sense of being overwhelmed that may be detracting from your house’s image.
  • Clean all electronics – electrical devices tend to attract dust and fingerprints because of their electrical charge. Carefully clean each device and wipe each screen.This is especially true in the kitchen where you can make some old and tired appliances and electrical gadgets look many years newer with a good (factory approved) scrubbing.
  • Wrap up cords – while you’re cleaning those electronic devices, untangle and use plastic ties to contain all of those electrical cords and tuck away what you can. You want your house to look neat, not like an electrical snake pit. 
  • Reduce what you have – if you have gaming systems only keep out the ones that you are currently using (if you even need to do that.) It’s not necessary to have on display every gaming console your kids have ever gotten. Let the kids know that if they want to play with a particular system, to just give you a few minutes to set it up.Likewise, take a look around the kids’ rooms and play areas. Reduce and remove electronic games and toys that are not necessary. Once again, you don’t have to get rid of them, but putting them in a drawer or in a basket in the closet would make a big difference to the feel of the room.
  • Eliminate computers clutter – some work areas require multiple computers while others don’t. See what you can eliminate (do you really need multiple screens or is it that you simply like multiple screens) and clean up the clutter that usually surrounds home computers (extra mouse pads, USB drives, gadgets, etc)
  • Update TVs- now might be the time to put away some of your spare TVs. Sure you got the kids’ TV from your sister when she upgraded and it has worked out well in the kids’ room but do you really want prospective viewers to see convenient but old technology (and while you’re at it, get rid of that VCR machine.) You can either pack the TV away to use in your new home, donate it to others and get a newer updated one, or you might even decide that now would be a good time for the whole family to cut back on TV consumption. 
  • Upgrade devices - While we’re talking about old technology, if you were thinking about upgrading a computer or player, go ahead and do it now. You’ll be able to enjoy the device, get rid of your old one, and have your house look “smarter.” It’s a win-win situation for all. 
  • Want to sell your home today? Call Karen F. Cormier at 603-620-5002 or email her at kcormier@kw.com. Please visit our home staging website at www.kfcormierstagedhomes.com today!


Tuesday, February 4, 2014


8 Tips for Staging a Yard

by Karen F. Cormier, REALTOR & Accredited Staging Professional

In a recent post, I briefly mentioned tips for staging your yard, plant flowers near the walk-way, mow the lawn, and pick up old or stray toys. Because first impressions really do matter, I thought I’d give a few more tips on how to best present your yard when you are staging your home.
  • 1.      Mailbox – if you have a cute flag or decoration on your mailbox, take it down. Sure you may like puppies but a small flag hanging off of your mailbox with a picture of a puppy saying “Welcome” may not appeal to everyone.  This goes for house flags or cute decorations as well.
  • 2.      Invest in your lawn – if you have weeds, either hire a lawn service or apply weed killer yourself. Dandelions are pretty but not when they are in the middle of your lawn and of course, crabgrass is always a big turnoff. Likewise, a good dose of fertilizer followed by adequate watering can bring some inviting green life back into a lackluster lawn.
  • 3.      Trim – Take a good look at the shrubbery in your yard, does it overpower? Like a haircut long overdue, have you waited too long and now it’s nothing but annoying? If you can trim the bushes in your yard do it, if you’re not sure how to, then hire a service. Likewise inspect your walkways and garden edges, make the boundaries clean and crisp.
  • 4.      Rake – too often we neglect to rake certain areas of our yards; it might be near the woods, or behind a structure. Get out the rakes (have the kids help) and finally clean up those eyesores to your otherwise magnificent yard.
  • 5.      Take a look at your gardens – consider planting some pretty annuals or some plant cover that will fill in holes. Remove all of those little garden statues (or at least reduce the number) and store them to use in your new home.
  • 6.      Make it appealing – consider placing some outdoor furniture by a particularly shady and inviting tree. A hammock  in a quiet corner of a yard (you might even want to leave a book out there to really make a point) would make anyone yearn for your yard.
  • 7.      Corral the toys – while I’m not saying to take down the swing set or grass over the sandbox, you should make an effort to corral children’s toys. Line bikes up (better yet, keep them in the garage) and make sure that all outdoor toys have a home (box) to live in when not in use. Get rid of the toys that are no longer used or that your kids have outgrown.
  • 8.      Spiders – finally, with a critical eye, look around your yard for spider webs. Remove them from corners of equipment, furniture, and even fences or gates. I kid you not here, with so many people afraid of spiders, why even take the chance that a large web might turn someone off? 
  • If you have questions or need additional information about your next staging project, please call Karen at 603-620-5002 or email her at kcormier@kw.com. Visit her website at www.kfcormierstagedhomes.com today. A Staged Home Is A Sold Home!


Wednesday, January 29, 2014

What to do with the family pets when you are staging your house?

By Karen F. Cormier, REALTOR/Accredited Staging Professional

Believe me, I know the connection you have with your pets is important but when you are staging a house to sell, it’s not the time to show that relationship.  While you certainly don’t have to hide your family pets, you should try to reduce the impact of your pets on the household.


Before you put your house on the market, you need to deep clean all the carpets, chair and couches used by the pets. Animals can bring in a lot of smells from outdoors and while you might think that “musty dog smell” is comforting, others may not be so fond of it.

Consider putting neutral air fresheners in problem areas, especially near cages and beds.
All large pets (cats, dogs) should be outside when your house is being shown. Sometimes you can get away with having a cat in the house (especially if it is a shy one that will stay away from visitors) but all dogs should be outdoors or in a secure spot. Although I know they are just trying to introduce themselves, to some people there is nothing enchanting about having a dog jump up on you.

All pet food should be organized and tightly covered. Likewise for any other pet supplies like flea and tick sprays, medications, or cleaning supplies. Contain it all and keep it out of sight.
Cover litter trays. No matter how vigilant you are, your cat might need to use the litter tray at the last moment making an unsightly mess. Keep the litter tray in an inconspicuous spot and use a covered “Igloo” like tray if your cat will allow it. Have an air freshener or use deodorized litter to reduce any smells.
Small pets like mice, hamsters, guinea pigs and even reptiles need to be kept in immaculate cages. Always have a supply of fresh bedding on hand to make a quick change before a potential buyer arrives. Also, keep all feed and treats organized in covered, air tight containers preferably out of sight.

Birds will obviously need to stay in a house, but for the showing, consider moving the cage to an inconspicuous spot. Like the small pets, make sure that the cage is immaculate. If you have a larger bird, one that talks, or one that is used to having freedom in the home and may be agitated in a cage, make sure that the potential buyer is well aware of this before they enter the house so as not to be alarmed.

While your house is on the market, try to reduce the impact of your pets on the overall household image. Consider things like putting some of the pictures of them away (for now), only keeping one leash hung up, and containing all toys in a basket.


While no one wants to ignore what to some are clearly dear members of the family, when putting your house on the market, you need to show that yours is a house that includes pets and that it is not a house overrun by them. 

Do you have questions about selling your home or when you should consider embarking on a staging project? Contact Karen F. Cormier, REALTOR & Accredited Staging Professional at 603-620-5002 or at kcormier@kw.com. Visit her staging site at www.kfcormierstagedhomes.com today to get started!

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Home Staging on a Budget
By Karen F. Cormier, REALTOR/Accredited Staging Professional

What’s a person to do when money is tight and they want to stage their home as best they can by themselves? The answer is to start by using the basic techniques any proficient home staging professional would use -

Purge
Remove all of the clutter on floors, counters, shelves, and closets (yes people are going to peek inside.)  Pick up toys, make sure books are vertical on the shelves and in the kitchen, try to corral your pots and pans. If you can’t bear to part with your items then get some boxes or tubs and pack it all up. Try to get rid of absolutely everything that you don’t immediately need (including junk mail and magazines that may have piled up in a kitchen corner) and anything that might detract from your house’s potential.

Clean every thing
Clean everything.  Make sure rugs are cleaned and vacuumed and wipe down walls. Clean all appliance surfaces clear of hand-prints and kitchen grime. Get out your duster and take to every shelf and light fixture. In the bathrooms, scrub that grout and wipe down all shower doors and mirrors. Karen believes that if you think its' clean do it again! Also, don’t forget the laundry area, close up and throw away empty bottles and boxes and get rid of those socks that you will never find the mates to. When cleaning use a mild cleaner, but choose one that is guaranteed to leave behind that “clean smell.”

Remove all extra furniture
Over the years, you might be surprised at how much extra furniture you accumulate. Chairs are added for extra company, couches are fit in because they have been replaced but are still too good to get rid of. Using a critical eye, go through each room and remove those extra additions. Again, if you don’t want to part with them, put them in storage, but often you’ll find that the extra furniture that served a purpose in earlier years does nothing more than take up space now.

Bring the Outdoors in
A sunlit open house is a welcome house, get rid of old heavy window treatments and keep curtains open to allow the sun in (this of course assumes that you’ve already washed those windows from the inside and from outside.)  Consider having a few green plants strategically placed in open areas and if the season is right, arrange a few flowers from the garden in a strategically placed vase.

First Appearances
Don’t forget the exterior of your house.  Keep your lawn mowed and raked.  Contain the driveway and outdoor toys and get rid of any that are no longer used or are showing age (sandbox toys in particular come to mind here.)  Make sure that bushes are pruned back and that gardens are tended. Some bright flowers either in a garden or in pots on a porch always make a positive impression. Using these basic home staging techniques, you’ll find that even when on a budge you can still present your home in its very best light for others to view. 

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

What is an Accredited Staging Professional?

You hear stories all the time - people go to “professionals” for a service and then find out too late that the “professional” is anything but. How do you know who to trust?

When considering home staging, look for someone who is an Accredited Staging ® Professional® – these are professionals who have studied and learned the proven and powerful techniques of Staging® homes with two primary goals: Sell faster and for a higher price.

Those who have accreditation have:

  • ·        Successfully attended and graduated from the ASP® course 
Passed a detailed written examination in the ASP course on preparing homes for sale
Accredited Staging Professionals understand and are committed to the principals and practices of marketing properties as Staged Homes. By their membership and participation in the International Home Staging Association, IAHSP® ASPs®,  these professionals are held to professional ethical standards as they follow the IAHSP® Home Staging Code of Ethics.

Along with the training and examinations, Accredited Staging® Professionals® have a deep understanding of visual and organizational presentation. They can spot what looks out of place or what needs to be updated with the emotional distance needed when looking at what has been your home. That child’s piece of art that you’ve always loved (and still do?) let’s put it away until you move into your next home. That 1970’s green shag rug? It’s time to get rid of it, better to replace with with an more updated look.


Just as you would for anyone coming into your house, when considering having someone stage your home in preparation for its sale, make sure that person has the credentials and expertise needed to get the job done. 

Visit our website at kfcormierstagedhomes.com for more details.

Monday, September 23, 2013

You Can’t Sell Your House the Way You Live in it!

When you finally make the decision to move out of your house, you naturally want prospective buyers to appreciate all the wonderful memories you and your family have created in your home.
The wall where you measured each of the kids’ heights? Priceless.

Pictures from the kids’ art classes displayed on your fridge and framed in the den? Charming.
An exercise corner with your bike and tread master? Absolutely necessary.

To you, it all makes sense, but to others, your memories may not. What if a buyer doesn’t have children or has children who have all moved out? What you need to do is recognize that you absolutely can’t sell your house the way you lived in it. Your memories are yours. They are not going to be those of whoever buys your home. Instead you need to create a blank canvas onto which prospective buyers can project their very own lifestyle and needs.

This is where a professional Stager comes in handy. They have the trained eye to look at your house and can, using their professional distance, advise you on ways to not limit a buyer’s interest.
Maybe it’s a new coat of paint over that kids’ measuring wall (be sure to take a photo first.)
Or maybe it’s taking away as many reminders of kids in general as possible.

On the other hand, the professional stager also knows how to create possibility. That exercise corner in the second bedroom? If you replace the equipment with a beautiful bassinet, you’ve now planted the idea of your house being just perfect for a young couple.


It is the professional Stager’s job to make your house outshine the competition in as many ways as possible.  She will help you prepare your house by having it cleaned, de-cluttered, and most importantly of all, de-personalized. It is only when you present your home’s  maximum potential to the general public that you will succeed in finding the perfect buyer who will then begin making their own memories.

Visit our website at KFCormierStagedHomes.com for more details