Coming Home Magazine

Sellers want to show their home in its best light, so what are the most important factors to consider when staging a home? I believe you need to show your home in its best light—literally. You can easily accomplish this with dimmers. I suggest installing dimmers everywhere you can, and dim the lighting to a attering level. Also, remove all clutter. Clutter, either consciously or subconsciously, tells the buyer that this house doesn't have enough storage. Get rid of anything that is neither useful nor beautiful. Organize and edit, then edit again. Personal photos should be tucked away and out of sight when your house is on the market. What's the biggest mistake you see sellers make when presenting their homes to potential buyers? I feel that people either have too much stu• in their homes or don't have enough. With the former, buyers can't see beyond the clutter and imagine themselves in the house. On the ipside, if there is too little, buyers have a hard time seeing potential. Sometimes buyers tour several homes in one day. Is there anything sellers can do to make their home memorable—in a good way? It's no secret that emotions drive purchases. When buyers walk through the door, you should want their immediate reaction to be "Wow, I want this!" It requires great e•ort and an enormous amount of experience to imagine the scale of furniture and the inherent needs of a room. Do your best to make your home look aspirational and evoke warmth, security, and beauty. We know it's easier to sell a staged home, but is it okay to have a few empty or unstaged rooms? If so, which ones? For budgetary reasons, I tend only to stage the common areas and master suite. Most sellers aren't as concerned with secondary bedrooms unless they want to see the versatility of the room. For example, it could be beneˆcial to show that a space could be used as both an o‰ce and a guest room. Are there any techniques that really bring the look and feel of a home together? Add layers of texture and pops of color, and coordinate the ow of rooms. Create layers with rugs, pillows, throws, plants, owers, and of course, paint. However, don't be so generic in your attempt to appeal to everyone that it excites no one. Many people have a new appreciation for their home now. What can sellers and non-sellers do to make it a place they can truly "live" in? There is nothing more important than the safety and security of your family and loved ones—and for many people, the only place they can truly feel safe is at home. Think of what you can do to make your home not only safe, but also a sanctuary where everything either serves a purpose or inspires happiness. For example, transform a small nook into a reading area with plush pillows, a cozy throw, and a stack of your favorite books. Sellers may need the help of a professional home stager. How do you begin to —nd one that's right for you? The ˆrst place to start would be referrals. I have been in business for 25 years, and the vast majority of that business has come from referrals. Beyond that, scan their website, online reviews, and social media channels. Check out their before-and- after photos and get an idea of their business practices. Set a budget and ˆgure out the scope of work you'd like done. Compare pricing and consider interviewing home stagers to ˆnd the best ˆt for you. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 About Julie Julie Guidry, founder of J Guidry Design, is an interior designer who has been designing, remodeling, building, and staging luxury homes in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area since 1996. She has been a member of the American Society of Interior Designers since 2000. With an unparalleled passion for perfect spaces, she strives to make every project unique by learning about her clients and what they need. She believes that the longer you can keep someone in a comfortable, warm, and inviting home, the more likely they are to fall in love with it. Guidry has staged hundreds of luxury homes, many of which went under contract within the ˆrst week on the market. To work with Julie, please contact her at www.jguidrydesign.com. Image courtesy of Julie Guidry

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