A real estate agent was sued in Ontario, Canada by his client after selling the home. The client actually sued his agent because he never told the homeowner about staging (because he did not know it existed). The court ruled that the agent should not only have known what a home stager was, but the agent should have offered the service to his client. THe following article comes from http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pauline_Stevens:

“Here’s the nitty gritty: Man (Let’s call him Mr. Jordan) puts home on market with real estate agent. Many months later, the house is still for sale, has had no offers and few visitors. Real estate agent suggested lowering the price. Mr. Jordan wanted to sell, so followed the expert advice of his agent and lowered the price thousands of dollars. The house finally sold UNDER the asking price that had already been reduced. On the same street, just a couple of doors down, another man (Let’s call him Mr. Wills) put his house up for sale with another real estate agent. Within just a few weeks, Mr. Wills house sold ABOVE the asking price. 

Since Mr. Jordan and Mr. Wills live in townhouses EXACTLY ALIKE except for the decorating, Mr. Jordan just couldn’t figure it out. Until Mr. Wills explained that his real estate agent suggested hiring a home staging expert to get top dollar for the home in the shortest amount of time possible. It worked.  Mr. Jordan was furious (justifiably so, if you ask me) and took his real estate agent to court. And won! So beware all you real estate agents. Your job is to sell people’s homes quickly and for profit. So get out your contacts, hit the internet or consult your yellow pages but make sure you offer your client the services of a home stager and protect your profits. And if you actually stop and think about it for a moment, hiring a home stager is a great thing for you too. A home stager will have absolutely no qualms about telling your client that while selling his/her home, the smelly kitty litter has to go and by the way, the cat has to go too. And do you really have time to make sure the client gets their home spic and span for selling or open house visits? Isn’t your job to get listings and sell? Let a good home stager do their job and remember, it’s an investment on a high return. Sure, 10k lower for the sale of a home doesn’t really affect your bottom line. But if you have 16 homes listed for sale, 10k on all 16 of the homes makes a major difference to your bottom line! And keep in mind that a home that has been staged sells higher, on average in 15 days and the trend is that staged homes are so nice, multiple offers come in on a home and then you can just sit back and advise your client to take the highest bid… Much better than telling your client to lower the price. Hire a home stager, let the client pay for it and you get to take all the credit for selling high and selling fast…”

What do you think of this article? Is this true?

It is a very good idea to hire a home inspector before purchasing a home. Typically it only costs a couple hundred dollars but can save you money by pointing out repairs that need made before you are stuck with them.

Here are some questions to ask before hiring the home inspector:
   1. How long have you been practicing?
   2. Are you specifically experienced in residential inspection?
   3. How long does the typical inspection take you?
   4. How much do you charge?
   5. Can I be present during the inspection?
   6. Are you a member of any professional associations?

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) suggests asking at least the following questions during the inspection:
   1. Is the house well insulated?
   2. What is the condition of the foundation? Is it sinking?
   3. Are the roof and all of its components in good shape?
   4. Are the joists, beams, and other structural elements in good condition?
   5. Is there any termite damage?
   6. Are the pipes and plumbing systems in good condition?
   7. What is the condition of the wiring?
   8. Is the furnace efficient, clean and running properly?
   9. Is there a mold or a moisture problem in the house?

Once you have these questions answered, it will give you a better idea of if you really want the house. From there you can draw up a purchase agreement that states which repairs must be made and the amount of reductions in asking price to fix problems.

From the Akron Beacon Journal’s Article “Area home sales freeze, down 29% in January”

According to figures provided by the Akron Area Board of Realtors, number of home sales in the area dropped a whopping 29% compared to January of last year. In total for 2007, the annual decline was 12% and things don’t look much better for 2008. The total value of home sales from 2007 dropped 28%. Not that it is good, but one number did go up, the average number of days on the market went from 91 days to 94 days. Well I guess there is some good news…the average sales price in January 2008 was $128,799 compared to $127,360 in January 2007. Don’t get too excited, that’s only 1% and there is more bad news. The National Association of Realtors announced Monday that national sales dropped last month to the lowest level in nearly a decade and is the fifth consecutive decline. Home values in Akron are reported to have dropped 3.8% over the past year according to the Zillow Home Value report. Can we say, “housing slump?”

…and that’s a good thing!

Why? Because winter is an excellent time to showcase one of your home’s selling features… the fireplace! A staged home will highlight the fireplace by making it a focal point (it already should be one) and keeping it free of obstructions. During a showing have the fire going to heat up the sale’s potential.

For another hot winter selling tip, click here.

In fashion we always hear, “this color is the new black.” Now black is becoming the new wood. Think about the last time you looked through a Pottery Barn catalog. Black painted furniture can look so chic and upscale, or in another setting it looks so relaxed and traditional. Black is a great accent color. It provides contrast. It is the darkest of neutrals and works with everything.

The 23rd Annual Kitchen and Bath Business Market Forecaster revealed its expectations for the industry in this rough economy based on consumer expectations from the last quarter of 2007. Both kitchen and bath remodeling project spending are expected to drop 14% which amounts to over a $118 billion drop. Parallel to this decrease in spending is the decrease in jobs in the bath sector of the industry, which is predicted to decrease around 14%. The kitchen industry expects only a 1% gain in jobs. With the threat of recession, lowered housing starts, and the weak real estate market, it is no surprise that consumers are spending less on interior design and home remodeling. In home staging we often see how reluctant homeowners are to remodel bathrooms, but notice that they are more likely to remodel kitchens. Bathrooms are private spaces and get little attention when it comes to home improvement. Kitchens on the other hand have become showy social places and the key selling feature of homes.

Figures from K+BB January 2008 issue

Looking for a piece of art for your home but want something unique, not out of a chain store? Consider buying from an artists’ guild online catalog like The Artful Home. The gift of art is an original Valentine’s Day present for the art lover, new home owner, or person who has everything. Art vendors carry everything from handcrafted jewelry to one-of-a-kind furnishings that are sure to be conversation pieces. Try a sculptural wood bench like Mark Levin’s Nymph Stool in your foyer for instant art impact. The Artful Home makes searching easy by breaking each category into a refined search using art terms (not just typical filters) such as color, discipline, medium, new items, price, technique, and theme.

Easy. Free. Here’s how you can start doing your part today to make the earth a greener place.

1. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Not only do you squeeze in a workout, but you save energy.
2. Bring your own travel coffee mug to your favorite coffee spot. People do it everyday, so the workers won’t even question your positive action.
3. Carry a reusable tote to the store and avoid wasting plastic bags. I just got a great one for $1.49 at Target, who is just one of many stores that have started carrying them. The impact will amaze you… see Rachel’s rant.
4. According to Rachel who put herself through college by working at a bank, online banking is the greatest thing since sliced bread. It’s free, doesn’t require envelopes or stamps, and gets your payments there on time.
5. Get a library card. Free entertainment. Free knowledge. Free from piles of books and clutter. (Had to throw that in…after all, we are home stagers).
6. Don’t litter. Come on! Do we really need to tell you?
7. Recycle.
8. Free your life from junk mail by removing yourself from mailing lists. It will change your life. Visit www.directmail.com/directory/mail_preference/ or read IdealBite’s Stopping Junk Mail article (a favorite site and great newsletter).
9. Turn your computer, printer, dvd player, stereo, etc. off when not using it. Even the little green (or whatever color) light takes energy in stand-by mode whether your are using the device or not.
10. Turn off the lights when you leave the room.

We’ve got plenty more tips up our green sleeves. Guess you’ll just have to come back for more!

“Can you help me choose colors and furniture?” is one of the most common requests that we get from clients, friends, and family seeking interior design advice. Our response is to find pictures of rooms that they like in magazines. Another option on how to select colors, furniture, fabrics, and flooring is to check out Adrienne Chinn’s Home Decorator’s Color & Texture Bible. Chinn believe’s in starting from the ground up, which we agree with considering most people would rather work with the floor that they have than reinstall brand new hardwood, tile, or carpet. This lovely reference showcases 180 different decorating and color schemes so you will be sure to find inspiration.

The wirebound hardcovered book is published by Firefly Books and sells for $29.95.

Benjamin Moore introduced a new interior paint line in 2007 called Aura. The promise is truer colors with a washable finish. Touch-ups blend invisibly into the existing paint because of ColorLock technology, which embeds the pigments. The surface resists water, stains, and fading. The paint is low VOC and quick drying. The price is about $54.95 a gallon. An exterior version may become available within the next year.