~ What is home"staging" or "real estate enhancement", and what is its purpose?    "Staging" or home and property enhancement is the art of neutralizing the home vs.    designing to personalize the home. This allows potential buyers to clearly see the     home and its features without being overwhelmed or distracted by the homeowner’s    personal possessions.

   The purpose is to minimize the negatives and accentuate the finest features and    highlight the home’s overall attraction and possibilities.

   This is accomplished by being aware of all details and then knowing how and where     to add or subtract accessories and furniture…utilize color, texture and lighting…and    improve traffic patterns in order to make the home appear lighter, brighter and more    spacious while maintaining an inviting, “must have” atmosphere.

     ~ Why should I hire someone to "enhance" my property when I already have books,    watch T.V. programs and a realtor who has made some suggestions?                          Books and so on are a good starting point. They are, however, too broad for optimal    enhancement. Your property is unique and requires personalized attention and    suggestions. Because you live in the home, you are probably no longer consciously    aware of all the little details that need to be considered. Since it is almost impossible     to be neutral about one's own living environment, the transition from creating a home    with a family history to a profitable product often takes a third party who doesn’t have     those emotional attachments. This evolution prepares your home to appeal to the     broadest range of buyers. To gain the SELLING EDGE, it is imperative to make             your home IRRESISTIBLE to buyers.  Your home is now YOUR MOST VALUABLE    COMMODITY.

   Many realtors are good at making sellers aware of what is needed and how best to do    it however, most realtors, even when they know how, don't have the time to do the    indepth analysis and consultation necessary to enhance the home and property for    maximum merchandising and marketing purposes.

     ~ Why do I have to worry about all the little things? Can't I do the major things and    then just keep the house picked up and clean? My home seems fine just as it is.             Of course you can and should do the major things…and keeping the house clean is a    must. The thing to remember is the way one lives in a home is not the way one sells a    home. This shift generally begins with a pairing down…a purging of not only the daily    clutter but furniture and accessories that have defined your personal comfort and    livability. Your home is like a three-dimensional painting…which people    either  immediately like or not. Therefore, it is essential to create a canvass that will    reflect the home’s distinctiveness without infringing upon a buyer’s own sense of    design and lifestyle.

   Most buyers don't immediately want to paint, change the carpet, redo the floors, or    repair and stain the fence, etc. They want a place that WOWS them…a home they feel    is immediately livable (even if it is not exactly their taste) for a year or two without any    additional expense or hassle. Taking care of the many "little" details completes the    transformation of your home…making it easily for buyers’ to see themselves living in    the home.

     ~ Why should I spend the time and money doing all the repairs and necessary    upgrades when I may not re-coup my investment? Why not just give a small allowance    to the seller and let them do it to their taste?                                                                          That works for the minority of buyers…those who can imagine exactly how it will look    when finished, like to be "in-charge" of the changes, do a lot of the work themselves,    or who want to buy at a rock bottom price. Most buyers, however, know only what    they see before them unable to imagine how the house will look when it is all spruced    up. Buyers respond negatively or positively to what they feel, see, smell and hear.    More often than not, that is what their decisions are based on.

   A home-stager can also give advice as to the upgrades that would more likely  re-coup    your investment as well as give the most bang for your buck.

     ~ Do I need a decorator to completely "redo" my home in order to sell it?                    NO! Most homes do not need to be "redone" by a decorator. Many beneficial and    noticeable changes are made by…de-cluttering all spaces (including the garage,    basement, closets and attic)…the addition and/or subtraction of accessories and    furniture… enhanced placement and use of the above…and better use of color and    improved traffic flow…all of which impact the overall ambiance of the home.

   Existing accessories and furniture can often be used in different ways, thereby    changing the entire effect of a given space. I have additional “props” that can fill in or    if necessary, one can purchase inexpensive accessories that will enhance the overall    feeling of the home.

     ~ What if I am no longer living in the home I want to sell, is staging necessary?    Owners of empty homes have an additional problem…empty homes do not sell as well    as furnished homes. Developers of sub-divisions know this and that is why they    spend a great deal of money on good decorators, furniture and accessories for their    model homes…they understand the POWER of a home that looks good, smells good    and feels good.

   I am able to put together small furniture rental packages without having to decorate the    entire house and utilize items from my “prop closet”. The “furniture hints” will provide    buyers with the sense of warmth and welcome that the home possesses.                                        For examples, view the ENCHANCEMENTS.  

     ~ Will I be able to increase the price of my property if I make these suggested    changes?                                                                                                                              Generally speaking, in a slow market staging generates a quicker sale and in a                       hot-market it yields a higher sale price.

   You may not be able to tack on the additional "enhancement" expenses to the price of    the house. Since the goal is to make your home A MUST HAVE to the broadest range    of buyers…there are necessary expenses if you want to be competitive. It stands to    reason that if a house is the best and most appealing in its price range, it will sell more    quickly and for more money.

   Living on "high alert" is stressful. Most sellers want to get on with life and regain a    relaxed state of mind. Only you can decide whether "to stage or not to stage".

     ~ What is your background?                                                                                                         I am an artist* and trained creative arts therapist. I have work as an artist and therapist    for over 30 years. I have studied with Barbara Jennings, recognized author and    national consultant in the field of  Interior Redesign. Developing my business,    DÉCOResolutions - Home Detailing, has allowed me to combine my artistic passion    and psychological skills. They work in concert, creating a solid base for   conceptualizing and implementing consistent room designs and understanding the    emotional intricacies surrounding the sale of one’s home.

                      *To view my art work visit Mystic Etchings: hand-painted furnishings

     ~ Do you give free estimates and do I have to be working with a Realtor?                         If you are not sure if my services would be beneficial, I offer a FREE  consultation.           I will inform you whether to proceed with the targeted “enhancements” or that my    services are not really needed.

   The evaluation will take 15 to 30 minutes.

   No, you don’t have to be working with a Realtor. Actually, if you are selling your home    yourself, whatever edge you can put forth will be to your advantage.

      ~ What range of services do you offer? Do you move furniture, hang pictures, paint,    move stuff around, clean out closets, basements or garages, etc.?                                           I have a hands-on-approach…I get down and dirty. These various services can be             part of  “enhancement packages” or verbal recommendations can be given to you, the    home owner, and you can do as you see fit.      SEE SERVICES OFFERED

     ~ What are your fees?
   My rates depend on the job(s). On average, a staging (rearrangement of furniture and    accessories) begins at $350.00.       SEE PACKAGES OFFERED

Please call, the evaluation is FREE

Candace Hutchison

502.749.2136

 Louisville, KY

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