Is it smart to hire a stager when trying to sell?

This is a great question. Hiring a professional stager can be extremely helpful in today's market. It is not a secret that we have a huge supply of homes on the market and not enough demand (buyers), so sellers are competing with other sellers like never before. A buyer has many choices these days on choosing their home, so the best strategy is to push your listing to the front of the pack. A stager can help you do just that, using their expertise in paint color, positioning of furniture, artwork and flow. A fresh set of experienced eyes can help to downplay the not so positive areas of the home and feature the great qualities.

Not all of us are in a position to take on an extra cost for a stager, but it can be done fairly inexpensively if you do your homework. If the property is vacant, it will naturally cost more due to the fact that furniture will have to be rented to fill up the space. But if you are still occupying the property, often a stager can use items you already have and take down things that don't help, only paying for her time, not rental furniture/accessories which could get costly.

There are many success stories of homes sitting on the market for months and then selling almost immediately after having it professionally staged. Lets talk money a moment:

If you have little to no equity in the home, the home is not selling and price reductions are taking place, it is only a matter of time before you will need to bring thousands to the closing table if it sells. Wouldn't you rather spend a much smaller amount at the beginning to have it staged and actually have a chance at selling it sooner and have to bring little to NO money to the closing table? It's a no-brainer if you ask me.

So, here are some pointers:

• Make sure the entry to your home has great curb appeal. Things like keeping the lawn trimmed, the weeds pulled, mulch, flowers, a fresh coat of paint on the front door and dusting off all cobwebs and dirt from the exterior does a world of good. Clean those windows! If it doesn't look appealing on the outside, noone is going inside.
• Keep your house "Q-tip" clean. All the nooks and crannies need to be spotless. Nothing turns off a buyer more than a dirty house.
• Fresh coats of paint to the inside of the home is a great idea. Don't go crazy on the colors, but definitely use some. Stay away from stark white walls, use neutral tones, nice crisp white floorboards are a great contrast to the walls.
• Play some relaxed music on days when you know you are getting showings, bake a pie in the oven beforehand or fresh bread. Homey smells help the prospective buyer feel comfortable and help them imagine themselves living there.
• Decorate towel rods in bathrooms, candles on the bathtub, things that make you think, "Ahh, that's nice".
• Price your home RIGHT. It could be a beautiful home, but if it isn't priced to sell, it just might not for quite some time. You will eventually need to reduce the price and the home will have lost its "new listing" appeal. If you price it right immediately, you will sell it much faster. Pretty simple.

I hope that this is helpful to all who read it. I certainly haven't touched on everything, but it's a little bit of advice to "take and run with". If you are interested in staging your listing, call around, get quotes, check out their websites and "before and after" shots, meet with them before deciding who to go with. If not, try to look at your home without the rose colored glasses, compare with others and be honest with yourself. It will do a world of good!

Camping with the kiddos!

Okay, I think I am in for a wild ride! Our family is going on our first tent camping trip. We have three wonderful kids, but we have yet to take our two younger ones, Kian (almost 3) and Ella (20 months). It is safe to say that is will definitely be memorable, the question is... will it be a good memory or a miserable one! :o) Fortunately, it is just an overnighter with our church to Chatfield Reservoir. I can only imagine the chaotic sleeping arrangement, and I use the term "sleeping" very loosely. Whatever happens, this is what I know: Every activity with my children is precious, even the not-so-good ones. It reminds me that life is messy...and that is what makes it fun. If all goes well, the kids will be the messiest they have ever been and have the widest grins on their faces. Now that is a kodak moment!

Breckenridge... "lovin' it!"

My family and I have been spending this week in Breckenridge and loving every minute of it! Okay, maybe not EVERY minute. It has finally occured to my almost 3 year old son that he is definitely tall enough to escape from his porta crib. He has also figured out how to unlock the deadbolt and escape through the front door of our condo! What a great time for him to get this epiphany! We have had it very easy for quite awhile, and now I think when we get home, it's "out" with the crib and "in" with the toddler bed. This probably should have been done already, but there is something very magical about putting your kid to bed and knowing he won't be going anywhere until he gets up in the morning! Other than that, Breckenridge is always awesome. There is something about the fresh mountain air, the awesome French Dip at Eric's, shopping and admiring the gorgeous views and laid-back feel. It's a great place to get away from the daily grind and enjoy the beauty of Colorado. It is not far away, but even if it was, it would be definitely worth the drive!

Have you done a Summer home maintenance check?

Doing a home maintenance check prior to winter seems to be a fairly easy thing to remember so we don't get caught unawares, a.k.a shivering in your home on a very cold night as you quickly realize that your furnace has decided to pick the most opportune time to "take a little break" and break down. But sometimes doing a summer maintenance check can get overlooked. Truth be told, it is a great idea to do a safety check in the warm months as well! Here are some tips from NewHomeGuide.com to help your home perform in tip top shape over the summer:

• Heating and cooling: It is a great idea to change the filter in your heating/cooling system, and get the heater serviced. In the summer, you can rest assured that there is less demand, which means shorter waits and possibly lower rates.
• Check those ducts: If there is a chance of dampness in your ducts, it would be a good idea to get them cleaned and checked for mold. Warm-weather moisture and moisture from your air conditioner may help mold grow, which isn't so great for your family's health. Homes with daily use of the heating/cooling system should have the ducts checked annually.
• Fire safety: Change the batteries in all your smoke detectors. Making sure that extinguishers are in key places around your home is also a good idea in case of an emergency.
• Fireplace: If you have a wood-burning fireplace, it is a good idea to have your chimney checked and cleaned to remove any residue that may have accumulated during winter use.
• Inspect the Deck: Rain and sun can begin to damage your deck, so now is the perfect time to make repairs such as nailing down loose boards and applying sealant to protect it from water. If you have a concrete patio or walkways, check for cracks and significant separation. Resurfacing or applying filler to these areas will help keep the cracking from getting worse. Deeper cracks mean more difficulty in terms of repairing damage caused by shifting.
• How's the Roof? Inspect the roof regularly for issues such as missing shingles, cracks, moss or damage from fallen tree limbs or hail. Have any damaged areas fixed right away before it becomes a bigger and more costly problem.
• Gutters: Clearing the gutters of leaves, branches, dirt and other debris will help stave off problems later.
• Doors and Windows: Caulk gaps around doors and window frames, remove storm windows and add screens. While you are working on the windows, why not clean them thoroughly on the outside and make sure all windows open easily when they are unlocked. Checking locks on all exterior doors and windows will also bring peace of mind.