Has this ever happened to you?
You get to the appointment and walk into a home with an unusual mix of styles, colors and upgrades. The proud homeowners are beaming with pride and it is up to you to (as gently as possible) burst their bubble?
It’s a terrible position to be in, and I wish we could band together to stop homeowners from bad, equity-draining home repairs and/or upgrades before they happen.
Problem #1: The do-it-yourselfer. This is perfectly okay if a) they actually pulled a permit if it were required and b) they are capable of doing the work properly themselves. Doing work that requires a permit WITHOUT a permit can cause quite a bit of pain when it’s time to sell. Although painting is a good way to update the house, please seek professional advice on colors BEFORE you paint.
Problem #2: Kitchen & bathroom upgrades. They aren’t always the best place to spend $$. Before a homeowner spends thousands of dollars on upgraded appliances, granite countertops and the latest fad sinks and tiles, let’s consider the ROI for each improvement. What style is their house? At what price will it likely sell? Does their competition offer these? Will these “upgrades” appeal to the likely demographic buyer? Are these upgrades necessary to sell their house at the price the market will bear?
Problem #3: The Right Stuff. Did the homeowner update their house too cost-effectively? (Yes, there is such a thing.) Nothing says poor craftsmanship louder than badly cut crown moldings, paint roller marks on the ceilings, gaps between the vent covers and hardwoods, and missing quarter rounds. Oh, and in the $450,000 home, nothing says cheap more like a vinyl floor that looks like wood!
Since not all home repairs and updates are created equal, let’s help home owners and sellers make wise choices.
www.ballantynehomestaging.com | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Short Sales and Staging
This afternoon I met with a Realtor and we were discussing the plethora of distressed properties in the Charlotte market. And we both agreed that even sellers of short sale homes typically receive higher offers and sell faster if they stage those short sales before putting them on the market.
Yet we all know the problem: most, if not all, short sale sellers are upside-down on the mortgage and dont' want to spend money to get their house sold. I understand this completely because all these homeowners want is to get out of the house and out from under the mortgage.
This, paradoxically, is why they need the help of a Stager.
We’re all guilty of it. When we live in our houses for a while, we tend to overlook – or truly do not see -- the things that need attention. Yet with so much distressed inventory on the market, even short sellers have only seconds to make a good first impression. Even short sale properties should be q-tip clean and memorable.
Hiring a professional home stager for a consultation will help a seller understand:
1. What should stay, what needs to go, an dwhat can be repurposed
2. Space planning – how to make the most of each room
3. Proper furniture arrangements
4. Proper accessorizing
Never underestimate the impact of proper color combinations, which can almost always be done with accessories the homeowner already owns, or from discount stores in the area like Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Kirkland’s and Ross. Don’t forget about second-hand stores and garage sales, too! Of course, the most cost-effective way to accessorize is to borrow items from family or friends.
To improve the curb appeal, a short seller can use a little sweat equity to make a big difference. Paint the mailbox & porch lights, straighten the flagpole, clean the gas lamp, replace burned out light bulbs, weed the flower beds, trim the shrubs, clean out gutters and – for the cost of a quart of paint – paint the front door with a high gloss finish.
Yet we all know the problem: most, if not all, short sale sellers are upside-down on the mortgage and dont' want to spend money to get their house sold. I understand this completely because all these homeowners want is to get out of the house and out from under the mortgage.
This, paradoxically, is why they need the help of a Stager.
We’re all guilty of it. When we live in our houses for a while, we tend to overlook – or truly do not see -- the things that need attention. Yet with so much distressed inventory on the market, even short sellers have only seconds to make a good first impression. Even short sale properties should be q-tip clean and memorable.
Hiring a professional home stager for a consultation will help a seller understand:
1. What should stay, what needs to go, an dwhat can be repurposed
2. Space planning – how to make the most of each room
3. Proper furniture arrangements
4. Proper accessorizing
Never underestimate the impact of proper color combinations, which can almost always be done with accessories the homeowner already owns, or from discount stores in the area like Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Kirkland’s and Ross. Don’t forget about second-hand stores and garage sales, too! Of course, the most cost-effective way to accessorize is to borrow items from family or friends.
To improve the curb appeal, a short seller can use a little sweat equity to make a big difference. Paint the mailbox & porch lights, straighten the flagpole, clean the gas lamp, replace burned out light bulbs, weed the flower beds, trim the shrubs, clean out gutters and – for the cost of a quart of paint – paint the front door with a high gloss finish.
Sell Higher | Sell Faster | Sell Smarter
http://www.ballantynehomestaging.com/ | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Local family hopes to adopt special needs child overseas
This is a copy of 2/26/2011 article on News14 Carolina:
MONROE - A family who has dealt with the challenges of having a child with Down Syndrome has decided to take in another child with the chromosomal disorder. The Maddex Family is raising money to adopt a child from an eastern European orphanage. Laurie Maddex first learned about 3-year-old Danil on the Internet, from an international adoption ministry. With financial donations, Reece's Rainbow helps others like the Maddex family bring children with Down Syndrome to the United States.
“Something just kind of clicked in my heart that said ordinary people could do this,” said Laurie Maddex.
Her husband, Bryan, was against the idea to start but later had a change of heart when a co-worker shared personal experience of the conditions of orphanages overseas and the unimaginable fate of special needs children living there. “Just thinking about Chase being in an institution and not having anyone to love him or hug him or hold him or give him every opportunity in life is really what pulled on me,” said Bryan Maddex. The Maddex family has already begun the adoption process. They have started an online auction to raise the $25,000 needed to bring Danil home, selling everything from jewelry to homemade honey.
Danil is just five days older than Chase. Brian and Laurie Maddex plan to meet him for the first time when they visit Danil's orphanage over the summer. So far, the Maddex family has raised about $9,000 The online auction runs through the end of the month but you can make a donation anytime by logging onto Reece's Rainbow's website.
Thank you for your help in bringing Danil home.
www.ballantynehomestaging.com | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com
MONROE - A family who has dealt with the challenges of having a child with Down Syndrome has decided to take in another child with the chromosomal disorder. The Maddex Family is raising money to adopt a child from an eastern European orphanage. Laurie Maddex first learned about 3-year-old Danil on the Internet, from an international adoption ministry. With financial donations, Reece's Rainbow helps others like the Maddex family bring children with Down Syndrome to the United States.
“Something just kind of clicked in my heart that said ordinary people could do this,” said Laurie Maddex.
Her husband, Bryan, was against the idea to start but later had a change of heart when a co-worker shared personal experience of the conditions of orphanages overseas and the unimaginable fate of special needs children living there. “Just thinking about Chase being in an institution and not having anyone to love him or hug him or hold him or give him every opportunity in life is really what pulled on me,” said Bryan Maddex. The Maddex family has already begun the adoption process. They have started an online auction to raise the $25,000 needed to bring Danil home, selling everything from jewelry to homemade honey.
Danil is just five days older than Chase. Brian and Laurie Maddex plan to meet him for the first time when they visit Danil's orphanage over the summer. So far, the Maddex family has raised about $9,000 The online auction runs through the end of the month but you can make a donation anytime by logging onto Reece's Rainbow's website.
***********
Bryan is a friend of mine and we've been discussing ways to raise funds. I've volunteered to donate $1 for every new like on my company Facebook page. All you need to do is tell all your friends to LIKE Ballantyne Home Staging between now and April 15th! That's it...you can unlike us later :-) but we hope you don't.Thank you for your help in bringing Danil home.
www.ballantynehomestaging.com | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Nanney & Bumgardner Join Ballantyne Home Staging
We are excited to announce that Mary Pat Nanney and Elizabeth Bumgardner have joined the Ballantyne Home Staging team in Charlotte!
materials and interior finishes.
Ballantyne Home Staging is a licensed and insured company offering staging, redecorating and move-in assistance for residential and commercial properties in the greater Charlotte area. For more information on the company, visit www.ballantynehomestaging.com.
www.ballantynehomestaging.com | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com
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| Mary Pat Nanney |
Nanney has a B.S. in Interior Design and has worked as an interior designer, visual merchandiser and advertising photo stylist. Her background enables her to take a critical look at a setting, ensure its features are enhanced and presented at its best to evoke a positive emotional response from the consumer.
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| Elizabeth Bumgardner |
Bumgardner earned her B.A. in Architecture from Clemson University and worked for a building design firm in New York City for more than three years. Her background includes developing floor plans, structural plans, kitchen and bath layouts, and assisting with the selection of materials and interior finishes.
Ballantyne Home Staging is a licensed and insured company offering staging, redecorating and move-in assistance for residential and commercial properties in the greater Charlotte area. For more information on the company, visit www.ballantynehomestaging.com.
www.ballantynehomestaging.com | 980.322.5825 | carol@ballantynehomestaging.com
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