Free Home Staging Consultation - Rockland County NY

Sounds too good to be true right???
Well it isn’t. Rockland Home Staging has partnered with local Rockland County real estate agents that are willing to pay the fee for a two hour home staging consultation.

What’s the catch?
No catch - the consultation is absolutely free. There are several agents in Rockland County NY that are willing to pay the fee for a home staging consultation as part of their listing process. When you list with one of Rockland Home Staging’s partner agents you are eligible for a free two hour consultation with a professional home stager.

What are the benefits?
There are thousands of homes on the market in Rockland County NY and the real estate market is slow. Having your home professionally staged will ensure that your home sell quickly and for more money. According to recent statistics, homes that have been staged sell for 6.3% more than the competition and in half the time.

What are the risks?
There are no risks to having a home staging consultation. A representative from Rockland Home Staging will visit your home and discuss inexpensive changes that can be made to the home to make it more appealing. Home Staging is point of sale marketing for your home. You can choose to implement all or some of the suggestions made by the stager according to your budget and time constraints.

How do I get started?
Contact Maureen Henry at Rockland Home Staging today (845)731-9510. She can help you navigate the often confusing and stressful real estate market. Rockland Home Staging can help you take the guesswork out of getting your home ready for sale.

Rockland Home Staging in the news…

Recently I was interviewed for an article in Hudson Valley Magazine. The article is entitled

What’s Your House Worth Now?

By Karen Maserjian Shan

The article focuses on housing trends in the Hudson Valley and how to complete a successful real estate transaction.

I was honored to be quoted in the article and hopefully this will bring some much needed awareness to staging in Rockland County and the surrounding areas in the Hudson Valley.  Here is an excerpt from the article:

 

Set the Stage for Success

Putting your home on the market? Before you do, you may want to consider hiring a professional home stager. Maureen Henry, of Rockland Home Staging shows home owners how to present their houses in the best possible light. Doing so, she says, draws serious buyers willing to pay top dollar. “The goal of staging is to make the home shine,” she says.  Read on…

 

If you are considering placing your Rockland County NY home on the market please contact Rockland Home Staging first.  We can help you take the guesswork out of getting your home ready for sale (845)731-9510.

Why It’s So Important To Stage A Vacant Home

People Don’t Buy Houses, They Buy Homes
The number one reason a buyer purchases a home is because it “felt home.” It was warm, inviting and the buyer made an emotional connection with the home. When have you ever heard of an empty room described as warm and inviting? Sterile, cold and uninviting are the three most popular words to describe an empty room.

Without Furniture, There Is No Frame Of Reference
How big is the room? Without furniture it’s incredibly difficult to tell the scale and size of a room. When the buyer does not have answers to their questions-they walk away. What is this room for? Many times a buyer can’t even tell if it’s the living room or dining room in an unfurnished home. Don’t keep them guessing, because it only distracts them from considering the home as a purchase.

When A Room Is Kept Empty, Buyers Focus On Negative Details
Can you imagine a brand new Mercedes without a paint job? Do you think people would notice the beautiful car or the missing paint? It’s so much easier to notice that crack in the wall, or the chip in the tile when there is nothing else to look at. Home Staging capitalizes on the positive aspects of a home, while de-emphasizing negative aspects in order to position a home that will make an emotional connection with buyers.

Few Home Buyers Can Actually Visualize the Potential of Home
Nine out of every ten people walking in your home can’t imaging the wonderful possibilities your home has to offer them. They just can’t picture it. Don’t let a simple thing like no furniture or limited furniture ruin your sale. Don’t take those odds; they will hurt you in the price significantly!

Vacancy Rate Is At All-Time High
According to the Census Bureau the vacancy rate of homes is at the highest level they have ever seen since they started tracking it 40 years ago! Your home needs be separated from all the empty homes on the market that will continue to stay there without considerable price decreases. Homes that have been professionally staged sell in 50% less time and for up to 6.3% more money.

A coat of paint, a bed and night stands and this bedroom is warm and welcoming. If you are thinking of selling your Rockland County NY home call Rockland Home Staging first. We will help take the guesswork out of getting your home ready for sale. (845)731-9510.

Rockland County NY Real Estate Tips

Pricing the house right
A perfectly targeted audience. Most buyers who come to your house are good prospects: they are actively shopping for the product you are selling and you’re house probably already meets their general criteria.

A Captive Audience - The buyer is in your house and will probably spend up to an hour studying it.

An Opportunity to Make Multiple Impressions - Each room gives us the perfect opportunity to make dozens of “first” impressions. With each detail we will move the buyers from looking at your house to evaluating their new home.

Homes are Purchased On Emotions … Love at First Sight
Only if buyers “feel” as if your house could be home can they determine it will be. - We will depersonalize the space and create “emotional connection points” to actively engage a buyer’s mind, allowing them to imaging how life can be in the house.

Within fifteen seconds buyers develop an attitude toward your home that is reinforced by everything else they encounter. - Let’s make those fifteen seconds and first impressions positive.

When a house feels as if it could be home, buyers will intuitively re-prioritize their list. - We’ll accentuate the positive and downplay the negatives in each room. We’ll create balance, warmth and cohesion by using a proven eight step process.

Buyers will “Profile” the Sellers in their Buying Decisions.
Neat and organized sellers take care of a home and visa versa. - We’ll
de-clutter and make suggestions for cleaning those areas buyers use to profile “neatness”.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the typical home buyer consists of a married couple under the age of 35. - We will target this specific demographic in our staging style and decor so our “profile” will match their style.

Buyers Will View Your Personal Things, Impersonally
If you can’t see objectively, you can’t package effectively - We’ll put on “Buyers Eyes” in each room of your house.

It is difficult for most buyers to envision what the home could look like. We need to give each room a purpose and make it as updated as possible.

Thinking of putting your Rockland County NY or Bergen County NJ home on the market? Call Rockland Home Staging first - we can help you take the guesswork out of getting your home ready for sale. (845)731-9510.

Five Key Strategies to SELL Your Home

1. Have Your Home PROFESSIONALLY Staged - According to the National Association of Realtors, the average staging investment is between 1 and 3 percent of the home’s asking price, which generates a return of 8 to 10 percent. For an average priced home of $250,000, spending $2500 to $7500 will generate a return of $20,000 to $25,000! In today’s much more competitive market, having your home staged by an expert who does this for a living is all the more imperative.

2. Invest in Cosmetic Improvements NOW! - According to a 2005/2006 Maritz Research Poll, 79% of sellers are willing to spend up to $5000 to get their house ready for sale. In this much more competitive market, it all the more critical for sellers to do this if they are serious about selling their home!

Don’t guess at where to spend these cosmetic investments and waste money. Use a trained professional who is experienced at stretching your dollar for maximum impact and return! According to that same Maritz Research Poll, reported that over 63% of buyers were willing to pay more money for a home that is “move-in ready”. Buyers don’t want to purchase a “To Do” list when they can buy a new home for the same price.

3. Price Right From the Start - It’s almost the end of summer so if you HAVE to put your home on the market, make sure you price it right instead of shooting high. When a home is newly listed, there is an introductory buzz among agents and home buyers, so take advantage of the new listing buzz by pricing accordingly. A National Association of Realtors survey found that the longer a home stays on the market, the further below list price it drops. Homes that sold in the first 4 weeks averaged 1% more than the list price; 4 to 12 weeks averaged 5% less; 13 to 24 weeks averaged 6.4% less than list price; and 24 weeks averaged more than 10% less than list price.

4. Strong Internet Presentation - According to the National Association of Realtors, over 85% of home buyers are ONLINE viewing listings BEFORE considering a visit to the home. To this day, it amazes me that there are still listings on Realtor.com that have only a single photo or no photo altogether! Home sellers need to wake-up to the outside marketing efforts put forth by their agents and insist on a strong Internet presentation if they expect ANY buyer traffic!

5. Consider An Increased Agent Incentive - Think about it, if a real estate agent has a buyer, where are they going to take them in this gluttonous housing market? Will they waste time going to an un-staged home offering the standard 3% incentive? Or will they take their buyers to a move-in ready, professionally staged, home offering 3 1/2%-4% incentive? There is A LOT of housing inventory available, and agents have many choices as to what they will show their clients.

All of these strategies take time, money and energy but no one said selling your home was easy especially in a buyers market. The housing market appears to be getting worse (not better), so don’t waste time “waiting” for the right buyer. Use these five intentional marketing strategies in order to sell your home TODAY for more then you’re going to get for your home.

Little changes have large impact

One question I am frequently asked is; Should every home be staged? The simple answer is YES! The way we live in our homes is different from the way we market them for sale. When decorating your home the goal is to create a space that is homey and personal. When you put your home on the market the goal is a home that is neutral, impersonal and updated.

It takes years to get your home just how you like it, all the family photos, bold color choices, custom made draperies etc. buy when selling these beautiful distractions take away from the architecture of the home. When staging your home making little changes can have a great impact and the payoffs are great. Homes that have been professionally staged sell for an average of 6.3% more and sell in 50% less time.

Here are a few examples of how small changes add value:

Adding a few accessories took this lackluster bathroom from drab to fab for about $50.

This kitchen is beautiful, but no one could see it through all the clutter. We decluttered the space to highlight the granite countertops and tiled backsplash. Total cost $0.00.

The real estate market in Rockland County NY is competitive. When you are considering listing your home with a Realtor@ or selling your home by owner call Rockland Home Staging (845)731-9510. We can help you take the guesswork out of getting your home ready for sale.

Tips for selling your Rockland County NY Home

The spring real estate season is just around the corner for Rockland County Homeowners.  It may seem like winter is afoot but before you know it the flowers will be in bloom and the real estate market will be in full swing. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about getting your home ready for sale.

Taking care of minor renovations early will ensure that your home is ready to be photographed and ready to be listed.   Here are some helpful home staging tips to consider before listing your home for sale.

• Declutter - Clutter eats equity!  It is important to get your home as streamlined as possible.  Potential buyers want to be able to view the floor plan and architecture, not your distracting treasures.  Take a few days and pack things that will detract from your home.
• Neutralize - Bold colored walls, floral wall paper, stylized rooms may be perfect for your personality but they do not have universal appeal.  You do not want buyers to remember your home for its quirky decorating - the house should be the star.  Neutral colors have a broader appeal.
• Sniff test - Your home should not have any identifiable odors from pets, food or mildew.  It is important to address these problems now, trying to cover them with deodorizers is never the answer.
• Emotional Connections - Now that your home is decluttered and neutral it is time to add those homey touches that will make buyers fall in love with the home.

It is often best to hire a professional home stager to assist you with this process.  It is hard to take and objective look at your home.  Buyers today are savvy and their expectations are high.  Staging your home will ensure that it is in show condition and that you get top dollar when selling.

Call Rockland Home Staging today to take the guesswork out of getting your home ready for sale.  (845)731-9510.  Which one of these homes would you rather buy?

 

A total home transformation.

In today’s completive market homeowners are faced with some unsettling choices. Homes are sitting for months without any interest. Homeowners can undercut the value of their home or choose a more proactive approach ~ Home Staging. Home Staging is the process of getting your Rockland County NY home ready for sale by a professional that has been trained in staging techniques.

Often homeowners know that something needs to be done but they are not sure where to start or how to proceed. Realtors will give the owners feedback that may not be positive, but offer no suggestions for enhancing the property. This leaves everyone feeling frustrated.

Rockland Home Staging offers easy and affordable staging solutions. Typically in Rockland County NY and Bergen County NJ the homes were built in the early 1960’s and remodeled in the late 70’s or early 80’s. These homes are stuck in decorating time warp of avocado appliances, dark paneling and shag carpet. The good news is that the fixes may not be as costly as you thing and the transformations are just the thing to get your home sold for top dollar.

At Rockland Home Staging we partner with local contractors to help homeowners complete their staging transformations as inexpensively as possible and in a timely manner. We work with electricians, painters, flooring contractors and cleaning services. We will help you plan out and complete the work necessary to update the look of your home.

Consider the following home transformation. The homeowners invested $5000 in renovations and will hopefully increase the value of their home by 6%. That is a large return on their initial investment.

Why not call Rockland Home Staging today to take the guesswork out of getting your home ready for sale. (845)731-9510

Staging a Vacant Home

Selling a vacant home in Rockland County NY can be a challenge. Vacant homes are difficult for several reasons:

• There is no furniture to give buyers a sense of scale. Vacant homes appear smaller because there is nothing in the room use as a reference point.
• When there is no furnishings in a home every tiny flaw and imperfection is magnified. Home stagers never cover flaws, but when the home is furnished the tiny dings in the sheet rock or minor flaws are not the only things that potential buyers will focus on.
• It is difficult to fall in love with a vacant home. They are cold and impersonal. Buying a home is an emotional decision and when the home is vacant it is harder to picture yourself living there.
• In a vacant home the rooms do not have a defined purpose - buyers are left to guess what is the intended purpose of each room. At Rockland Home Staging we ensure that each room has a clear purpose and is welcoming and inviting.

According to the National Association of Realtors the number of vacant homes is on the rise. Why not have your home professionally staged to ensure you get the highest price for your home. The cost of staging a vacant home is always less than the cost of the first price reduction.

Which home would you rather buy?

The in a leading national study on home staging it was reported that homes that have been staged sell for an average of 6.3% more money. Call Rockland Home Staging today to set up an appointment to have your vacant home in Rockland County staged today (845)731-9510.

We turn home browsers into home buyers.

Can home staging help you sell your home?

What is Home Staging?

• The act of preparing a private residence prior to going up for sale in the real estate marketplace.
• The goal of staging is to sell a home quickly and for the most money possible by attracting the greatest number of potential home buyers.
• De-cluttering, depersonalizing, and rearranging furnishings are just some of the changes implemented by home stagers to make a home more attractive to buyers.

What are the benefits of Staging?

• According to research homes that have been staged sell in 50% less time.
• Staged homes sell for 6.3% more money.
• Homes that have been staged look better online which leads to increased traffic.

When Should a home be staged?

• Ideally, homes should be staged prior to going on the market and before the MSL listing photos.
• Staging works best before the first open house - it is hard to recapture that “new to the market” buzz.
• Will home staging help an older listing? Absolutely - it is never too late to stage a home.

When you are thinking of putting your Rockland County NY or Bergen County NJ home on the market call Rockland Home Staging first, we can help you take the guesswork out of getting your home ready for sale.