5 Reasons to Stage Your Ventura County Home under $500,000

Something we often hear from Sellers, Realtors, Developers and "Flippers" is that it's not worth the small investment to Stage Homes under $500,000 in the Southern CA area. Here are five reasons why it IS a smart investment and ultimately why ALL homes can benefit from Professional Home Staging:


1) First-Time Buyers: The majority of the people looking to buy homes under $500,000 are First-Time Buyers. They are excited, they are scared, they want to make sure they get the MOST for their money because after all, it's a BIG investment and they want to make sure that they are making the right decision when buying their first house. Since the majority of the demographic coming to tour your home is going to be the First-Time Buyer your home needs to be marketed towards THEM. Staging your home to its fullest potential and highlighting selling points such as built ins, wood floors or a great garden view will help them remember YOUR home when they are visiting EVERY house in that market.



2) Size and Scale: Are there bedrooms in your house that contain two HUGE armoires, a dresser, two night stands and a Queen size bed? Typically homes that are listed under $500,000 have smaller bedrooms and rooms filled to the brim with large-scale furniture will actually make a large room feel claustrophobic. Professional Home Stagers can help alleviate the congestion and bring the room back to its original size and scale. In Vacant properties, Professional Home Staging can actually make a very small room feel large and roomy. The ENTIRE square footage of the bungalow shown above is LESS than 700 square feet ~ You would never know it or feel it looking at this picture or entering this living area.


3) Awkward Floor Plans: Often times Developers of smaller homes or condos are trying to maximize every square foot possible for marketing, while flippers may often times remove existing walls to create a more "open" feel; both resulting in awkward floor plans. Small rooms, "bump outs", lofts or oddly placed windows may leave Buyers guessing and confused. Staging can help define the area in question, while high-lighting other great features of the space ultimately making it feel cohesive, not awkward.



4) First Impressions are EVERYTHING: The NAR (National Association of Realtors) announced in 2009 that over 87% of all Buyers shop for homes on the Internet and will literally "write-off" your home with a simple click of a mouse if it does not catch their eye in how the home is presented in those few on-line pictures. Make sure that first impression is a memorable one and that they will WANT to come see your home personally.



5) "The right price will bring your home interest; Staging it will bring offers." - Gary Keller, Keller Williams. All things be equal: price, location, square footage, number of rooms and bedrooms, etc the price will bring interest to your home; but Staging is what will bring in offers. When touring houses, Buyers make a snap decision within the first ten seconds upon entering your home. "Is it clean?", "Is it inviting?", "Is it maintained?" but most importantly, "Can I see myself living here?" That FIRST impression is what will make your house stand out among the homes that Buyers are touring. You may very well be helping to sell the house down the street by NOT Staging your home.


If you are located in the Los Angeles or Ventura County areas and ready to sell your home or listing, contact Platinum Home Staging, Inc. for your free Home Staging estimate. (805) 553-9952

Sampling of Recent Home Staging Successes!

picture slideshow generated with Smilebox

Call Platinum Home Staging, Inc. today for your FREE Home Staging estimate

(805) 553~9952

http://www.PlatinumHomeStaging.com

Start the Process of Packing Sooner than Later « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

Start the Process of Packing Sooner than Later « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

There is a psychology behind selling your home, especially if you have been there for a long period of time. Suddenly you begin to realize that you can’t keep 50 boxes of files in the spare bedroom, that your prescription and vitamin collection probably shouldn’t be aired out like dirty laundry for all to see, or that you don’t realize that your home smells of wet dog. As a Seller you become “used to” these things because your eye sees it everyday; it almost becomes a comfort. Something that, as a Seller one needs to realize is, that you are going to need to go through this process sooner or later. (Click on the link for more)

Home Staging and the Generic Can of Beer « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

Marketing companies spend MILLIONS of dollars every year to convince you that their beer is the best beer. They spend MILLIONS of dollars, man hours and time on product development and placement. What colors will be most impactful and memorable to their target consumer and buyer. But we’re not talking about $2.00 bottles and cans of beer.
Home Staging and the Generic Can of Beer « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

If Your Home or Listing has been on the Market for “Too Long”, It’s Time to Mix Things Up a Bit! « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

If Your Home or Listing has been on the Market for “Too Long”, It’s Time to Mix Things Up a Bit! « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

Want Home Staging Results? We've GOT Results!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

http://www.platinumhomestaging.com

Are You Helping Sell the House Down the Street?

Your listing started off well. You held opened houses, there were even a few people who came by and saw the house - but no offers yet... You advertised, held a few more open houses, maybe even dropped the asking price; but there is little interest. Right now you are probably asking yourself, "Why aren't people coming to view the house?" OR you're trying to convince yourself that it's, "Just the market...."

Here are a few things to consider:
1) If your home had lots of activity to begin with, you're price may have been right - but if there are no offers, then they didn't like what they saw and moved onto the next house.

2) Even at the right price, how is the home viewed via the internet? The NAR released that OVER 87% of Home Buyers today, "shop" the internet and narrow down their list of "must see" homes simply by how the home is presented on the Internet.

3) The more pictures the better, the most appealing pictures always win out for the "must see" list.

For example: Which would you prefer? These two homes are in the same high end area, comparable number of bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage. The first home is actualy priced LOWER than the second home by almost $50,000! Yet the second home was professionally Staged by Platinum Home Staging, Inc. and SOLD just 3 weeks from the date of listing for full price!

SOLD in 3 weeks!

If you were a buyer, which would YOU prefer? Which home, when all things being comparable, would YOU want to "go see" in person?

By NOT Staging your home or listing, you may very well be helping sell the listing down the street. Call us today for your FREE Home Staging Estimate! (805) 553~9952
Platinum Home Staging, Inc.

Trust Your Most Valuable Asset to a Professional Home Stager

Make a Smilebox postcard

Home Staging for Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Hollywood, Hancock Park, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Canoga Park, Van Nuys, West Hills, Northridge, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Wood Ranch, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Oak Park, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara

Los Angeles ~ Ventura ~ Santa Barbara Home Stager

Make a Smilebox photobook

Home Staging Leads Buyers...

Upon entering this house as a Buyer looking for a home, where would you go from here? Human nature would say, "To the left, that's where the living spaces are." However in this home the floor plan is flipped. Guest bedrooms are on the 1st floor, the Kitchen, Living spaces and Master bedroom are actually located on the 2nd floor.


Following their instincts, Buyers and Realtors when looking for a huge kitchen and living room would immediately turn left to three empty bedrooms, and were a bit befuddled. Once Buyers and Realtors DID go up the stairs this is the area they would be "welcomed" by. Would you be interested in this home? Nobody else was.... So for seven months this house that is located just steps away from Ventura Beach sat on the market with little interest.


So after taking the home off of the market for a short period, partnered with a new Realtor and a grand marketing plan, the new Realtor suggested that the home should be Staged. She had worked with us on a prior property just a few blocks away, which sold in 3 weeks - so she was confident in the results Staging would be able to present.

Now after Staging, if you were a Buyer entering this home, THIS is what you be presented with. The eye is brought to the right where the entry table and marketing materials are located and spotlighted. The plants and artwork immediately bring your eye to LEAD you up the stairs, to be presented with THIS grand living space. Yes, Home Staging DOES lead the Buyer, but only in possative ways and to the right places and focal points when presenting your home for sale.
PLATINUM HOME STAGING, INC.

Platinum Home Staging, Inc is your Professional Home Stager serving the greater Los Angeles and Ventura County areas. From Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, and everything in between, call Platinum Home Staging, Inc. today for your FREE Home Staging Bid! (805) 553-9952

Think of it as a $100,000 Home Selling Stimulus Package!

Based on statistics of my company, we have injected OVER $100,000 into the economy and we didn't need the President, Senate or the House of Representatives to do it! How? Simple mathematics and smart partnerships.

Despite the fact that there is over a 10 month inventory of homes for sale in Southern California, our smart partnerships with Realtors, Home Owners and Developers, our homes are still selling within an average of 8 weeks (although some in just days) So for example purposes, today I'm going to use an average of 3 months.

Assisting a Developer get his remodeled, multi-million dollar home SOLD in 5 days, saved him over $20,000 in carrying costs.

A Home Owner first started with a Consultation, then decided to have us oversee the entire project of updating him home to be ready for sale. SOLD within 3 weeks for full price, saved him OVER $13,000 in carrying costs.

A Realtor enlisted our services on two of her listings for a TOTAL OUT OF POCKET COST OF JUST $300. One home went into multiple offers and closed escrow for $20,000 OVER ASKING PRICE, and saving the Home Owner $5,000 in carrying costs! The second home opened escrow in just 10 days for full price saved the home owner over $7,000 in carrying costs. The Realtor also told me she saved almost $3,000 between the two listing in adverting and marketing because the homes sold so quickly. For a total revenue injection of over $ 35,000 for the bargain basement price of $300!!!

Another Realtor enlisted our services on a vacant condo. The exact same floor plan was also for sale 2 doors down and also vacant (same asking price) After Staging the condo it SOLD in 1 month, while the vacant condo is STILL on the market to this day! This saved the Home Owner over $6,000 if it were to still be on the market today as the other unit is.

Another Home Owner did a Consultation on his multi-million dollar home for the bargain price of $550, and opened escrow in 6 weeks, saving him over $30,000 in carrying costs of the property had it been on the market for just 3 more months.

Consider it a Home Selling Stimulus Package courtesy of Platinum Home Staging, Inc. Call us today to receive YOUR portion of our stimulus package! (805) 553-9952

Platinum Home Staging - The Proof is in the Pudding!

What did these Home Sellers and Realtors do in 2008 to get results like these?

They hired Platinum Home Staging, Inc.


Greenbush Lane, Moorpark
Vacant home is Staged and opens escrow in 7 weeks!

Wiscasset Drive, West Hills
Sold for within 97% of asking price after Staging!
(Closed escrow March 5, 2008)

Arroyo Del Mar, Camarillo
Vacant home is one the market for 7 months, Staged and opens escrow in 10 days!

Saint Thomas, Oak Park
Received 5 offers and closed escrow for $ 20,000 over asking price!
(Closed escrow June 24, 2008)

Effingham Drive, Los Feliz
Vacant remodel, Staged and opened escrow in less than 1 week!
(Closed escrow July 31, 2008)

Wellworth Ave, Westwood
Owner Occupied home is Staged and opens escrow in 22 days!
(Closed escrow August 21, 2008)

Saint Croix, Oak Park
Staging Consultation helps get it sold in 2 weeks!

Seahorse Lane, Ventura
Owner Occupied opens escrow in 3 weeks after Staging!
(Closed escrow Sept. 9, 2008)

Bright Glen Court, Westlake Village
Vacant condo gets Staged and opens escrow in 6 weeks!
(closed escrow December 8, 2008)

Serving the greater Los Angeles and Ventura County areas

Call Platinum Home Staging, Inc.

today for all your Home Staging, Re-Deisgn and Interior Design needs.

(805) 553-9952

Platinum Home Staging, Inc.

Visit our extensive Home Staging portfolio of Owner Occupied homes, Vacant Homes, New Construction, Re-Designs and Re-Models. From paint colors to place settings, Platinum Home Staging, Inc. is your complete Home Staging and Interior Design Company. Call us today to begin your home's transformation.

(805) 553-9952

Things you need to know before hiring "any" Home Stager

Get informed before hiring "just any" home stager.

Currently there is not an independent or national oversight organization such as NAR for Realtors, that certifies or licenses home stagers, and no government oversight or licensing in most areas. There ARE member based organizations which enforce a strict Code of Ethics for its members and communities such as theReal Estate Staging Organization.

As in any industry, do your homework!

These are some tips to consider when selecting the right Home Stager:

1. Do they have a valid business license? Self explanatory

2. Are they insured? Stagers are in essence “independent contractors”, if the Stager is not insured, then the homeowner, property owner or Realtor, may be liable for any damages or injuries that may occur as a result of the staging.

3. Find a Stager with the most experience in actually Staging homes: There are many training, “certifying” and “accrediting” companies which, within just a few days, or a couple weeks, can turn anyone who takes their course into a “certified” or “accredited” home stager. Since there is not currently any government or oversight, ANYONE can “become a stager” almost overnight. Don't hire "just any" home stager; Experience and professionalism trumps "certification".

4. Does the Stager have a printed portfolio or website with before and after photography? If they don't have a current staging portfolio, they may have never done a staging job, or very few. How are they going to assist you in marketing your listing if they cannot market themselves?

5. More importantly, make sure that their portfolio contains photos that are of their own work. Not of stock photography supplied by the “certifying” training course or “shared” before and after photos in a centralized web-site. Does their website have current information on recently staged properties or successes intoday’s market and economy?

6. Do they offer a range of Staging options and Styles, or is it “one-style-fits-all”. Again, they are packaging and marketing your Listing. Stagers should be able to transition their staging to the style of the HOME and the market demographics in your area.

7. Ask for references, and then check those references. When did they work with the Stager? Were they pleased with the results? How soon did the property sell? Would they hire that stager again? And ask for more than just one professional reference: Home Owner, Realtor, Developer, etc.

8. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
The bitter taste of a poor job, lasts longer than the sweet taste of the low bid.

Wellworth Ave, Westwood

Owner Occupied home is Staged and opens escrow within 1 week!

Wiscasset Drive, West Hills

Sold for within 97% of asking price after Staging

Saint Thomas, Oak Park

Received 5 offers and closed escrow for $ 20,000 over asking price within 45 days of Staging!

Arroyo Del Mar, Camarillo

Vacant for over 7 months, Staged with PHS, Inc. and currently in Escrow in just 10 days!

Effingham, Los Feliz

Vacant remodel, Staged and opened escrow in less than 1 week!

These are not tales of lore from a Real Estate market in the past, where Sellers can only dream of full price offers and being able to sell their homes within the first weeks on the market. These are happening in today's volatile Real Estate market -

Just in the months of June and July 2008 alone!

What do they all have in common?

They all embraced the marketing tool of a Professional Home Stager.

Where a "price is king" mentality is running rampant in today's current Real Estate marketplace, there are some key things that home owners can utilize before they consider a price reduction. Yes, the home does need to be priced right to be competitive with comparable homes in their geographical areas. However, considering that some areas literally are competing with hundreds upon hundreds of homes in the same price range - Seller's and Realtors need to understand that there are ways to make their home stand out amongst the sea of properties that potential buyers will be looking at.

Today's market-place mantra is no longer,

"Location, Location, Location"

It is now,

"Location, Price, Condition"

What is Home Staging? Using another analogy; When you sell a car, the first thing you do is wash it, clean it inside and out, take pictures in bright sunlight and make sure everything is working under the hood. Why not then take the same approach when selling your most valuable asset; your home? The cost in comparison is usually less than a fraction of a % of your homes sale price, and will ALWAYS cost less than a price reduction.

Room-by-room, in doors and out, a Professional Home Stager will give you a thorough understanding of what a Buyer will see through their eyes as they tour your home or condo. Many times home owners can't "see" the clutter or realize the smells which will be left imprinted on the minds of potential buyers. A Professional Home Stager will alleviate the negatives which distract the buyer, and showcase your home - not all your personal belongings. Stagers will also make sense out of awkward floor plans, ensure better traffic flow and bring the buyers eye to great details of the home such as a terrific view, built-ins or crown molding.
Why Should Every Home Owner & Realtor Consider the Services of a Professional Home Stager?Simply because over 87% of today's potential buyers "shop" the internet for homes before they request a personal viewing of the property. If your home does not translate well via pictures on the internet, home owners will "write off" every property that does not appeal to them visually in that very first impression.

Here are some examples:

In this home, the first MLS photo shows how this home was represented via the internet two years ago when it was still considered to be a Seller's Market -

yet they received no offers.
The room looks huge and cavernous, and although there is a fireplace, it gets dwarfed by the overall size of the room.

The second picture was Staged by Platinum Home Staging, Inc. using all of the Home Owners own furniture, then adding a few accessories.

By bringing the room into scale with furniture and accenting the fireplace; the second picture brought a potential buyer, within the first few DAYS of being listed, from over 45 miles away to see the home and who ultimately made an offer.

(This home was Staged by PHS, Inc. on July 22, 2008 and opened escrow 22 days later)

Staging is not only for the million dollar listings, in fact it is the homes under $750,000 that would benefit the most from the services of a Professional Home Stager. Staging does not have to be expensive either. Seller's who are on a tight budget can benefit from a Staging Consultation, where for about the same price as it would cost to detail your car, a reputable Stager can present a room-by-room, indoors and out report of everything needed to prepare your home for sale. Repairs, cleaning, upgrades, furniture editing and placement, even paint colors and curb appeal suggestions : A Professional Home Stager will be able to give several different options that will fit each home owner's budget and get them the biggest "bang for their buck", without wasting valuable time.

If the Consultation Report seems too overwhelming for the Home Owner to do themselves, Professional Home Stagers can do all the work for an agreed upon fee, as well as be able to extend great rates from storage and moving companies, cleaning services, upgrades and repairs.
*********************************************************************************

Subscribe to my Blog
Platinum Home Staging, Inc. has been recognized and grown into a tremendous success built on customer service, integrity and best of all, customer referrals. Specializing in Home Staging, Interior Decorating and Model Home Interiors. Serving the greater Los Angeles & Ventura County areas. A home's first impression is the most important one. A home should be inviting and memorable; to stand out among the hundreds of homes that Buyer's may be looking at. Selling a home, is in fact, selling a product. Market the product, "package" it to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. After all, ...How you live in your home, and how you sell your home, are two completely different things. Call us today at (805) 553-9952