To Decal or not to Decal this is the question!

What is your opinion on Car Decals!??
This is a mock up of something we were thinking of doing to my new car. I think the side of the car is a bit too much, I think it might be best to have less stuff on the side and more on the on the trunk like a picture.

What is your opinion?

Can you see past the Clutter?

Kitchen Before Staging


This kitchen's main function here not only is it to house kitchen items and cook but it also housed the child's frequently used toys. 90% of buyers can not envision the potential of a space. That means 90% of the people walking into this home to view it and decide if they want it will not see the clean, cleared out kitchen they will use but what they see in the above photo. Clutter and instantly think that there is not enough room for cooking, storing kitchen items or even eating.


Does this kitchen make you go WOW I want to cook here!?..........I bet you your answer is No! The point of home staging is to make the home appeal to the general home buyer, and the general buyer will not want a kitchen like this. What should be done to be ready for viewings!?



1) DECLUTTER: remove 100% of the children's toys. Toy's belong in the kids room only not all over the house.


2) Declutter Some More: go though your cabinetry and remove anything not used frequently this will free up space for your frequently used items kept on the counter top to be placed in the cabinets out of sight. If you have cabinets that do not go to the ceiling make sure you do not store anything on top of the cabinetry this will draw the buyers attention to that space and the attention is required to the kitchens actual space not on top.


3) Clear Your Countertops: On show days make sure your countertops are 100% cleared of items (even knives) place only accent pieces like a small plant or fresh fruit or fresh bread.


4) Clean Your Appliances & Kitchen: If there is one space I highly suggest spending some elbow grease is the kitchen. Everyone gauge of cleanliness is different so make this spot military clean, white glove everything especially your appliances if you are selling them with the home.
5) Turn on the Lights: Turning on the lights will show buyers how bright the space is, bright and clean are TOP selling features. People can live with a dated kitchen as long at its bright and clean.


6) Paint: If you have a dark or vibrant colour in your kitchen its worth your time and effort to paint it a neutral colour like ICI's Pillar. Buyers don't want to feel like they have to paint prior to moving in and 90% of the buyers may not like your colour selection. Play it safe stick to neutral colours.



Using those above steps in your kitchen will allow any space to be sought after. Check out the AFTER photo of the one above to see how it looks once those steps have been completed.

Kitchen After Staging

(Photo provided my Liam Swords Royal LePage's Professional Photographer)

Happy Staging!

-Kristy

Need to get organized? Use these tips!

It has been proven that clutter and disorganization causes stress, which leads to increased chances of sickness and poor relationships. Don't fall into the trap of being disorganized it's easy to get organized as well as stay organized. Try these simple tips to get any room or space started:

Once you have decided on a space to organize you can achieve order in 3 easy steps.
1) Cutback Clutter
We are in the middle of the green movement so let's use the 3 R's Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Now add the 3 D's Decide, Donate, Discard. I suggest having LOTS of clear garbage bags and boxes on hand for your donations and green garbage bags for garbage and recycling bins for paper you can recycle. Start in one spot and work your way out. Do not get distracted but take frequent breaks, when you break you allow yourself not to get overwhelmed. On your breaks take out what you have sorted out already this will free up your working space and show you your improvements you are making. Use our list of expiry dates and keep / toss log items (e-mail us to request those sheets)
2)Optimize Space
This is where a professional comes in handy but you can definitely try your self. Take a look at your newly "sorted" room it should look disorganized but yet a little bit more empty. Remember in a room you generally have 4 walls that go floor to ceiling, a closet and storage areas. Take a look at your left over items. Do you really need what is left? I always suggest taking another comb though once the initial purging has been done because you will see that once the initial purge is done you kept a few things that you really could part with. Discover your "hidden" space with in your room. can you bring in a floor to ceiling storage unit? do you have a wall where you can hang a cork board and filing racks? do you have a closet that you can optimize for your extra storage? instead of paper copies can you have electronic copies and back them up? Every room has a hidden space to help you with your organization. If you can not see it bring in an outside opinion for help.
3) Encourage Order
Once you have sorted & optimized your space you room should appear to be organized. To keep it this way you really have to "encourage" yourself to maintain this space on a daily basis. Do not let it slide because one day you'll walk back into that room and wonder what happened. Daily maintenance is the key to long term success.

If you have any organizing questions please do not hesitate to call we would be glad to help!

Chamber of Commerce NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR!?

The 2009 Ottawa Chamber of Commerce awards are here!
As you know we here at Capital Home Staging & Design pride ourselves in providing the best possible service to all of our clients. please click HERE to nominate us for "New Business of the Year" Entry form is at the end of the nomination.

If you believe that we provide the best possible service please nominate it us!

2010 IKEA Catalog out! Great items to buy!

YEAH! my favorite time of year is here, the 2010 IKEA catalog is out and it yet again has some great buy's!
FIRST PAGE: $99 dresser NOW $69.99 to go modern buy black, to be classic buy white!
Page 14-15: ECO friendly products from solar power lights and energy flow taps.
Page 51: Modern armless chairs very space friendly and sexy looking.

No matter what you need IKEA has it and for a good price! This comes in handy for staging homes, you need you home to appeal to the most amount of people in the least amount of time so buy colourful accessories to brighten up the room. They even have plants that are perfect for any small space that needs to add life.
IKEA is even eco friendly, did you know there chairs do not contain PBDE (Polybrominate diphenyl ethers) which is a flame retardant chemical on most mattresses, couches and cushions. PBDE becomes air born and can migrate to the lungs and blood stream causing serious medical issues. IKEA is the only store that provides this eco benefit at an affordable cost.

See you at IKEA!
-Kristy

July 2009 SOLD more homes than 2008

The numbers are in! you may or may not have seen the article in the Ottawa Citizen where it talks about the Ottawa housing market and how it has increased 11.5 % higher than July 2008. That is fantastic news! (CLICK HERE for article)

Just because homes are selling like hot cakes DOES NOT mean you do not need home staging! Having your home staged in a hot market will assist you in getting MORE money for your home. Since there are lots of buyers and less inventory this will put your home in a position to have a bidding war...BUT it has to be staged properly. Do your research and hire a professional who's gone to school and received an education on real estate and the art of staging, there is much more to know than what you see on TV.

Happy Staging
-Kristy

Improving our Profesionalism

At Capital Home Staging & Design we have invested in the 2009 Saturn VUE. This will allow us to better serve our clients by allowing us to transport staging inventory with ease. We are very excited to perform more jobs requiring inventory. Keep your eye out for the Capital Home Staging & Design VUE (to be decaled soon).

Happy Staging

-Kristy

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

August is Capital Home Staging & Designs 1 Year Anniversary, Congratulations!
In honor of our anniversary we are offering 20% off any service listed on our web page all you have to do is sign up for our Monthly e-Newsletter and we will send you a coupon for you to use! (To sign up for our newsletter e-mail us your e-mail info and we'll add you)

Through the past year we have accomplished so much. Not only have we assisted some great clients in selling their home for top dollar but we've assisted many of Ottawa's real estate agents sell their properties faster saving them lots of advertising costs in the end.
Let's reflect on great moments we've had in the past year......
-Oct 08 1/5 Live 88.5 "Pimp my Biz" Finalists, we appeared on the Radio talking about Home Staging.
-Nov 08 Participated in many local charities donating over $2000 in services to be won.
-Dec 08 RESA Rookie Stager of the Year Nominee. We were the ONLY Canadian in North America to be nominated for such an award!
-Feb 09 Ottawa Citizen Features Kristy Morrison on the Front page of "Real Deal" talking about home staging and tips.
-April 09 Suzanne Somers Event, Staging the media room for Suzanne at the Tudor Hall.
-May 09 Mattamy 1/2 moon bay block party participant & sponsor, we got to meet lots of new home owners & raffle off a colour consultant appointment.
-June 09 Offered a teaching position at Bell High Schools general interest course to teach:
-Home Staging, Colour Selection, & Professional Organizing. This coming September.

Because of you my valued clients Capital Home Staging & Design is becoming Ottawa's top Staging & Decorating company. I would like to take this time to Thank You for welcoming us into your life and business venture.
Here's to the coming years for us providing you with outstanding, quality service!
-Kristy Morrison