Staged to Sell: Tips for Staging Your Home to Sell for Top Dollar

Proper staging is essential to generating buyer interest when selling your home.   Therefore, Jigsaw reached out to local real estate expert John Corrales to inquire about how the professional staging trend has affected his marketplace.  “This period in the real estate luxury space is one of the most interesting markets, because the final sale price of homes has such a wide range.  Making the investment in high-end staging is vital, because we are seeing the emotional aspect for buyers translate to $100,000 or more for our sellers in many purchases,” states Corrales, realtor for Forbes Corrales in Manhattan Beach, California.  http://www.forbescorrales.com In this blog, the Jigsaw Designers will show you how to increase the selling price of your home through simple staging tips. 

Step one is obvious and that is to declutter your space.  Let’s be clear, this doesn’t mean just putting the stack of mail out of plain site, this is full court press…organizing under your cabinets, replacing 10 framed photos with a small grouping of images, and please no family photos.  This allows the potential buyer the ability to visualize themselves actually living in the space.  Meanwhile, hide the toaster, the ironing board, the kids finger paintings, and yes, do this in every room.  The key is to let each space express its individual function and be clearly defined. 

Another major component to selling a home is storage.  Decluttering your closets, especially in the master bedroom and kitchen are of the utmost importance. 

Before/After

Next, is maximizing space.  One easy way to show off or give the illusion of a larger space is to float furniture away from walls. Grouping furniture into conversation groups and creating an easy flow for traffic shows off how the room can easily function.  Some fun grouping ideas could be to create a space for drawing, wine tasting or playing a musical instrument.  In the following image a Jigsaw designer simply added a bar cart for a cocktail area to create the illusion of more designated space when staging this small condo. 

Meanwhile, lighting is another key component to staging your home to sell.  When placed properly, lighting can create a warm and inviting environment for your potential buyers.  Make easy updates by hanging pendant lamps or placing appropriate watt lamps on tables or in corners to enhance the mood for your shoppers.  Pairing table lamps on both sides of your bed in the master suite brings balance to this {often shared} space. 

Threes please…this tried and true design rule of placing accessories in groups of three are pleasing to the eye.  Dotting a table with three candelabras or vases make for a clean modern aesthetic, or placing different items in a triangle shape with the larger items in the back will make a balanced ensemble appealing to buyers.  Be mindful to vary the height and style of your items to keep the look more personal versus looking like a showroom floor.

Finally, kitchen and bath are always a top priority for buyers.  If budget allows, updating the drawer pulls and cabinet doors will increase the appeal of your home.  Other simple fixes like painting dated cabinets or tile in crisp white will leave a clean palette for the new buyer to visualize their ideas for the space.  Minimize visible tools like espresso machines and mixers in the kitchen, and add special spa-like touches to the bath with candles, cloth hand-towels and updated accessories.  And of course, clean out and declutter your bathroom cabinets.  Buyers like to see what they are buying so they will inevitably take a sneak pique. 

For more questions and tips about staging your home to sell, please leave a comment below or reach a Jigsaw designer on the Jigsaw website.  www.jigsawdesigngroup.com.  We love hearing from you.  Check us out on Facebook, Pinterest and Google+ for more fun ideas!  Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe to the blog for weekly blogposts. 

Sliding Barn Doors with a Fresh Perspective

The Westedge Design Fair is one of Southern California’s premier design shows which is held in Santa Monica.  Standing out among this winter’s many delightful design ideas were the steadfast sliding barn doors with quintessential exposed hardware.

While this is not a new trend per se, the style has however settled into a category that we’ll keep seeing long-term.  And why shouldn’t this unique touch be a perfect option to the traditional door?  Complements to it’s space saving benefits and fashionable twist, we believe, these doors will go the distance.

 

What caught the Jigsaw design team’s eyes were the fresh take on this typically more rustic style.  Modern sliders were seen in laquers and glass for the contemporary or transitional home.  Even clean lines paired with champagne or rose gold colored hardware were noteworthy combinations for the more contemporary space.

So…you’re sold on the idea, but does it make sense in your space?  Well, with the wide range of options, a sliding barn door can be worked into most spaces from a design stand-point.  Factor number one however, is there room for it in your space?  There must be enough space on both sides of the opening for the doors to slide over.  Next, one must consider the type of door being replaced, preferably one that doesn’t need to lock.  A few examples would be a closet,  kids playroom,  home gym or pantry.

Then, get creative with your door selections.  The possibilitites are endless, antique doors, reclaimed wood, chevron patterns, white or black lacquer, and even metal.  Balancing the look of the room will be important once the doors are selected.  If the doors are your focal point, then a neutral color palette will allow for that to remain the focus.  Or, the door can be painted the same or similar color to the walls if one prefers the doors to simply blend in, yet add interest to the space.

Whatever the case for your interior sliding barn doors, this style is highly functional and adds a special touch to any home.  For more information on how to select a sliding barn door for your home, office or place of business, then please leave a comment or visit the contact page at www.jigsawdesigngroup.com to speak to a designer.  Be sure to subscribe to the blog and like us on facebook!

Winter Wonderland-Blush and White Christmas Decor

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Nothings beats winter white decor at Christmas time.  It’s so pretty and pure.  This Christmas white gets a little update with the softest touch of blush.

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Compliment your snow colored spaces with fun decorations and baubles in soft pinks mixed with creams, silver and gold together.  These colors blend beautifully and bounce twinkly light for a shimmering snow effect.

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From West Elm to Coco Chanel, the color of blush is in the air.  Perfect for city or the beach the look is fresh and light hearted.

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Pair your white and blush decor with chandeliers and floral swags to create a look that fits your style.  Go glamazon with multiple white chandeliers for the ultimate lighting for your dinner party…we love the personal sheepskin for each guest’s comfort in the image below.

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Your table can be pretty as a petal with blush dinnerware, gold flatwear and dusty roses weaved throughout the space.

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Finally the details.  The Jigsaw Designers love wallpaper, so why not use that left over paper for your gift wrapping.  Add a hint of pink, cream, gold or silver ribbon and your look is complete.

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Match your ribbon with your natural swag and you’ll have a professional designer look for your holiday festivities.

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Happy Holidays and happy decorating from all of us at Jigsaw Design Group!  Be sure to subscribe to the blog and like us on Facebook.  For more information on holiday decorating, please leave a comment or visit our contact page at www.jigsawdesigngroup.com.