The Uninvited Stager Series...Continues

Hi everyone.  Sorry that I've missed a post or two.  I was busy with a long staging project and also babysitting for my 2 year old grandson.  But - today I found a house that's for sale that I feel could use a lot of help, if the owners would like to sell it.  Use my suggestions if you feel that maybe your house might have some of the same non-attributes.  And, if you are a realtor, you can use these ideas to steer your clients toward a better outcome, if they have similar problems with their houses.

First Impressions:  A buyer's first impression of your home is so important, so make sure that your entry (outside and inside) looks warm and welcoming.

Why is the garden hose still out?

Home Depot sells nice garden benches and Pier 1 has beautiful outdoor pillows that would have looked better than these cheap and cold plastic jobs!

A little too cold, don't you think?  Too much stone! Maybe a warmer color on the walls, a more welcoming print (rather than this abstract deal) and a warm sisal rug would warm this entry up.

Here's a better look at the entry. Why are there 4 pendants?  This looks tacky and it gives the impression that there's not enough light in this entry

Kitchens sell a home: If you are going to spend any money improving your home - spend it in the kitchen.  You don't have to gut a kitchen to make it warm and beautiful.  A lot can be done cosmetically that can really make your kitchen a magnet for buyers.

How confusing (and 70s-esque) are all the lines in this kitchen - the angular wallpaper (on the ceiling too?) The angular slats on the cabinet faces also make the kitchen too busy and dated. Removing the wallpaper and painting the cabinets an off white or a pale, light gray would really help this kitchen a lot. 

So - just a few suggestions from me this week.  Let me know what you think.  If you need some help making your home buyer-ready, please call me at 631 793-1315

The Uninvited Stager Saturday Series

It's Saturday...and while all you realtors and homesellers are getting your listings and homes ready for the Spring Selling Season, I'm here with another "What not to do when you're selling you home!"

While perusing the listings this morning, I chose a city in the US that had an amazing amount of really great looking homes.  There were a lot of new construction and recently built homes that were for sale.  So - what does this mean for a seller?  If your home isn't up to snuff against these other beautiful homes - then any poor (or zero) attempts at staging or a higher listing price will only be making it real easy for a buyer to choose the better condition and more fairly priced home.  Lack of attention to what buyers want will only help sell your competition.


So - in this city it was a bit difficult to find some badly done homes (very smart sellers and realtors in this bunch, I must say).  But I found several homes that could use some additional help.  Hopefully my suggestions for this home will help you to assess what's possibly wrong with yours.  That's the whole point of this blog...and this blog post (and series!).  Here it goes...

Love this room and the viewpoint...hate the wallpaper and the clutter on the top of the cabinetry and the excess plants and clutter on island etc!

The kitchen would have looked much better without the cluttery look of the wallpaper. It's a 70s look in a modern kitchen. Also, I would have taken the placemats off the table - they look kind of silly...all lined up looking like plaid kneepads. Maybe some place settings with nice plates, glasses and beautiful napkins on top held by beautiful napkin rings - would have looked much better.

Next - the dining room, below.  It's just too dark.  The green (don't know whether it's wallpaper or just paint) doesn't make this room appealing.  A warmer, neutral paint color - even a lighter green hue - would have been a better choice.  The chandelier could be lower as well.  It would make the dining experience much more intimate.  Most people make this mistake - hanging their light fixtures a bit too high. 

Not wild about the mirror lining an entire wall.  This room is large enough.  It doesn't need a mirror. If it was in the budget, I'd remove it and paint the wall. I'd rather see a beautiful painting in the middle above the server. 

The Great Room:  This is a great space but I'd remove all the photos and the larger portraits above the console.  You want buyers to mentally move in and this personalization is an impediment to that. Also, it seems to be very difficult to watch TV in this room.  Just that little TV in the left side of the built in is how the family watches TV?  I'd change that, if possible.  I'd have the TV above the fireplace (and then you could use the artwork in the dining room or place it above the console instead of the portraits). I have faux Plasma TVs that look pretty authentic - so you wouldn't have to do any re-wiring.  

The Master Bedroom: It's overgrown with plants.  Remove these and it will be a huge improvement. The bedding could look more appealing also.  An off white bedskirt and shams would look so much nicer. Don't line pillows up on an angle like this.  Just add two colorful pillows in front of the shams and add a nice, colorful throw at the end of the bed. Also, I'd lessen the number of books in the bookcase and just add some interesting accessories within it to give it some interest.

The Master Bath: This is very chaotic and busy looking - mostly because of the crazy wallpaper - which should be removed. I wouldn't want to get ready here each morning. There's too much clutter (all personal toiletries should be put away). Again - not wild about the mirror - it should be removed. Two hanging mirrors over each sink on either side would look so much better, The lighting is very dated also - sconces on either side of the mirror would be so much nicer.

I'd also make the bathtub look as appealing as possible.  There's no sex appeal in this bathroom at all. A beautiful orchid, candles and some bath salts in a glass container could be added to give the buyer an idea of how wonderful it would be to take a bath here. (And what's with the table with the ottomans? They should go!)

Some people might say I am a bit harsh and unrealistic in my assessment of this home.  But - it's a very pricey home and the competition around this home is very stiff. Why would a buyer choose this home over another home in the area that was in better condition and priced lower or even the same?  Buyers start deducting heavily when they see major things that need to be done (removing the wallpaper, the mirrors, repainting!) So - don't let a buyer pass your home by just because you don't want to update it to the standards of your competition.  The market, as it is today, just doesn't work that way!

So - repair what needs to be repaired...remove wallpaper and mirrors and other relics of the 70s etc.  Get your home sold quickly.

Happy selling!  If you need some assistance in getting your home buyer-ready, just give me a call at 631 793-1315.

Fot more information about fixing your home for sale Click Here

What Not to do When Selling Your Home

The "Uninvited Stager" Saturday Series

This morning I happened upon a home for sale where with every picture a potential buyer would be increasingly turned off - and would not have even gone through the entire set.  I could have swooped in and changed the entire look of the home in 4 hours.  But, sadly, I was not consulted!

Same old story - remove the clutter! This is actually a nice kitchen but it's so uninviting. I always tell realtors that if they want to sell a homeseller on the concept of staging and how it improves the saleability and the look of the home - I tell them to 1) Take a picture of the kitchen "as is" and then 2) bring a box (or 2 or 3!) and, with the owners permission, remove the magnets and the clutter. 3) Take a picture of the kitchen uncluttered.  Show the seller both pics on your laptop and ask them which one looks better.  It really works - try it.

To add insult to injury, there is another picture of the kitchen!  More clutter. You can also see the realtor's camera case on the table.  Oh boy.

Nothing appealing here.  Love the mini moose heads! And that light fixture!  Looks like it is coming to attack the photographer!

In case you didn't see the mini moose heads and the light fixture...here's another view! Oh - and take your shoes off.  We may have clutter, but we keep our floors clean - except for maybe the dog hair.

We're so busy praying for a buyer that we didn't have enough time to make the bed.  Oh - and there's no room for nightstands...sorry.



We're really praying - two crosses. What day is today?  Oh maybe the day to put the old sofa on craigslist to make the Master bedroom seem a lot roomier.

No - we did't make any of beds...why should we? We're too busy watching TV on our "too big for the room" plasma television.

In case you didn't get the whole view of the room - here it is.  What day is today?  The day to get a new window treatment.

Yes - we have 3 bedrooms in this house. But we don't even bother to center the bed or put bedding on.  And - we are still praying (but shorter prayers) for a buyer!

No - the person doesn't come with the house.

Neither does the realtor! But for a few extra bucks we'll throw in the hair curler, toiletries and the lovely hair band where the towel should be! Oh - the vanity cabinets don't close all the way - sorry.

We don't have enough room for a home gym, but you can do pull-ups on this shelf!

So...this is obviously extreme, but with some minor changes and decluttering this house would have shown so much better. You can tell that the house is nice - but a potential buyer would have given up after the first few photos.  Don't let that happen to your home or listing.  Hire a competant home stager - or put in a day or two of work and declutter, make the beds, put the toiletries away, close the toilet lids and consider hiring a photographer to take professional photos.

If you would like some help selling your home, please give me a call at 631 793-1315.  If you are in the NYC or Long Island area and you would like to have me do a Free Staging Presentation at your real estate office, just email me at Linda.Leyble@gmail.com or call!

Does Your Home Have a "Hook?" How to Make Yours Memorable

Just like a popular song that you recognize and remember easily, your home needs a "hook" - something that makes your home different, in a positive way, from the other houses in your area or price range. What's your home's "hook," the emotional tug that will have a buyer remembering your home fondly? Do you have one...or two...or three or more??

We added a memorable faux chandelier decal over the bed - with some black and white cameo plates.

If you don't have a memorable home - how will your buyers ever remember it? Think about adding something distinctive to the outside of your home. It could be a colorful bird house, a beautiful garden statue (not religious though) or two black urns holding some red geraniums. Inside you could have a stunning orchid on your entry table, a large colorful oil painting in your living room or a large bowl of red apples (with a note that says "take one!") on your counter in the kitchen.

Master Bedroom Before...not memorable

After...This bedroom will be remembered.

In the above example, the homeowner's Master Bedroom was tired looking and uninspiring. It just needed a little creativity to bring it to life.  The homeowner was a seamstress - so I put her to work to make a beautiful bedspread with some leftover fabric.  I switched the window treatment from over the window to over the bed.  I added a lovely mosaic mirror in the center and some bedside table lamps that were more proportionate. So, for very little money, we really changed the look and feel of this Master Bedroom.

In recent staging that we did, I added some great accessories to give a dining room a special look and feel that will help homebuyers remember it.

In this vacant home, we provided all the furnishings and accessories.  In this dining room, the floors were glossy (as opposed to the satin finish on the rest of the floors).  If my contractors had finished the floors, this would not have happened - but the real estate investor hired the company that made the mistake.

So, to counteract the glossiness, I added this beautiful bamboo area rug with typography on it.  It's memorable and it diverts a buyer's eye. I also added a lovely, tall birdcage with an orchid inside it - another memorable feature.  The sleek leather chairs give the room a younger vibe - that's who will most probably buy this home.The glass table does not take up much visual space in the room - so the rooms looks more spacious.

When your home goes on the market, it's no longer your home...it's a product.  And a product needs to be merchandized.  Staging is the act of merchanding a home for sale.  If you don't know how to make your home memorable, hire a home staging company like mine to help you.  Even a staging consultation (which is very budget-friendly) will help you get your home buyer-ready...and memorable...and SOLD!

My company also does e-staging.  What is that?  We will look at photos of your home and we'll give you our best staging ideas, tips and advice by email.  Call me at 631 793-1315 to learn more about this!

7 Great Ways to Update the Look of a Room

7 Great Ways to Update the Look of a Room That Will Help You Sell Your Home


Whether you are selling your home or staying put, the change of season is a great time to update your home. Here are some great ideas that you can start implementing right away

Add a Burst of Color The winter season is now over – so let’s bring on the happier colors of spring into our interiors. Make winter a thing of the past by adding some colorful toss pillows. Mix and match patterns and solids to create an interesting contrast.

Add some colorful lampshades to revive your old lighting fixtures and perhaps a striped ottoman or chair to perk up a room. Add some floral accessories (real or faux orchids) in vivid hues like magenta or add cherry or forsythia blossoms in a beautiful vase and you’ll forget that we ever had as bad a winter as we had.

Add colorful art and accessories to update and add zing.  Source, ivillage.com

Add Texture Whether it’s a seagrass rug, a textured pillow, throw or woven wood shades, adding texture to a room warms it up, makes it more cozy and interesting.

Add texture for added warmth and interest. Images from Crate & Barrel

Add Pattern A beautiful, geometric patterned carpet can warm up a room plus give it a more updated feel. For a more traditional look, try a damask patterned carpet – but perhaps one in a non-traditional color. You can also add patterned vases, pillows and other accessories to add some life to your room.

A patterned tablecloth from Williams & Sonoma

Angle Your Furniture Why be predictable when you can be interesting? Try angling some furniture pieces (a sofa, your bed...a piano) and you may find that your room seems roomier…and much more exciting! It costs nothing but time to experiment with different furniture arrangements - so give it a try.  You may just surprise yourself!

Change Some of Your Wooden Furniture  Dark wooden furniture can look a bit too heavy in the spring and summer – so why not try some lighter tables etc. that will give your room an instant lift. Whether it’s painted wood, wrought iron or other metal – choose something that’s lighter in feel to add airiness and more visual space to your room. Mirrored tables add functional storage – while blending seamlessly into your walls. Glass table tops also lend a lighter, more contemporary feel to a room.

Rococco console from House Eclectic

Playing with the Scale of Some of the Items in Your Room  Sometimes a room can look dated and uninteresting because the scale of some of the furnishings may not be right.  A bulky sofa (or one with oversized arms) takes up valuable real estate in a room.    If possible, purchase a sofa that is sleeker - one with less bulk by the arms.  Not only is this a more modern look - but it helps to make your room seem...well, roomier!

Also, take a look at some of your most important focal points - a beautiful fireplace, for example.  If your mantle or mantle  is too small  and thin as compared to the entire hearth, you may want to add more substance to the mantle (beefing up the size, so that it corresponds better).  Changing the scale of a mantle creates a dramatic and updated look to your fireplace.

Other ways to change scale is to add a tall lamp to bring in some height - rather than use two smaller table lamps.  Or consider hanging a large mirror vertically (instead of horizontally).

Draperies that are hung at the height of a window make a room look shorter. Why not bring the drapery rod up towards the ceiling - and hang the drapes higher?  This will make your room seem taller.

Originally, this fireplace that we staged had only a horizontal landscape picture above it.  Adding a vertically placed mirror brings more prominence and height to the space

Bring the Outside In  Add some spring and summer to any room with a decorative vase and fresh-cut flowers. Bring in natural items like wicker and sisal to give a more natural feel. Decorate with seaside acceessories like coral, a nautilus and sea glass to add a beachy theme. Create a taller feel to your room by adding tall grasses in a long cylinder vase in a corner.

Natural wicker, rattan and sea shell accessories bring the outside in.  Image, organizeeverything.com

Sometimes simple things can change a room dramatically.  Try a few of these suggestions - and let me know how they worked in your rooms!

If you would like to have some of these suggestions and more implemented in your home before you sell it, call me at 631 793-1315 or email me at Linda.Leyble@gmail.com.  I will work within your budget to create a home that buyers will fall in love with - so that your home doesn't linger on the market.  I can also do a staging consultation for you with great suggestions and ideas that you can implement yourself - for a totally budget-friendly way to stage your own home for sale. We have two locations - Great River NY and Huntington NY.