Waukesha County Home

HOME JANUARY 2018 2 Distributed by: ©2018 by Conley Media Waukesha County Home is published monthly by Conley Media - Waukesha County, 801 N. Barstow St., Waukesha, WI 53186. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. A publication of Conley Media Sales Director: Jim Baumgart 262/513-2621 jbaumgart@conleynet.com Editor: Dan Muckelbauer 262/513-2626 dmuck@conleynet.com Production: Patricia Scheel 262/513-2690 pscheel@conleynet.com Home Volume 7 ■ Number 1 ■ January 2018 Submitted photos Before-and-after photos of a kitchen staged by Home Staging Consultants of Elm Grove. Stager Mary Imden said prepping a home is like "putting on a good dress." Imden, a former art gallery owner, likens home staging to "putting on a good dress," as the right furniture and lighting in a home can positively influ- ence the decision to buy. Home staging allows real estate agents to demonstrate, rather than just explain, to buy- ers how furniture, such as a king-sized bed, will fit in cer- tain spaces. "If you have a vacant home, people may have a hard time figuring out if their furniture will fit," Imden said. Monroe agrees that vacant homes present selling difficul- ties for both homeowners and buyers. "People have a hard time viewing their home objec- tively," she said. A properly showcased home, along with good photography, are two key elements to a home sale, Monroe said. Reducing time on the market "The longer the home is on the market, the lower the price will be," Monroe said. "90 per- cent of the homes we've staged have had accepted offers." Imden said staging a home can be a cost-effective way to motivate home shoppers to buy, rather than dropping the pur- chase price, as realtors often convince home sellers to drop prices as much as 7 percent if the home stays on the market for too long. The cost of a three- month home staging for a three-bedroom ranch home typ- ically costs about $3,600. However, prices can vary depending on the value of a home, the square footage, and other factors, said Monroe. Home stagers in the Milwaukee area generally charge around $100 to $125 an hour, which saves the homeowners more money than if they were to reduce the purchase price of the house. Staging can also increase the home's value. "It can mean $1,000 or more in return," said Brookfield resident Shelly Budde, a broker with Cream City Real Estate in Milwau- kee's Bay View neighborhood,. What stagers offer Budde said decluttering a home, and adding small touch- es such as new throw pillows, succulent plants and artwork, can help transform a dated home into a modern one, espe- cially in areas with older homes, including Brookfield. "Home staging is fantastic. It really elevates a house in the eyes of a buyer," said Budde, who adds that many younger homebuyers might love a neighborhood and school dis- trict, but are put off by outdat- ed house décor. Home staging companies offer clients a variety of servic- es such as furniture rental, decorating and paint color tips; even shopping services. Becom- ing Home, for example, con- stantly rotates its furniture inventory and will buy pieces for clients to rent to comple- ment a room's décor. How homeowners can help There are several ways home- owners can impress potential buyers before a staging. Imden recommends home owners clean their homes thoroughly, wash windows, and open blinds so that natural light can stream in. Pet owners should remove pets from the home during showings, and keep carpets, furnace filters, and ducts clean, as dog and cat odors can be per- vasive to potential buyers. Monroe said that much of successful home staging is reducing clutter. She encour- ages people selling their homes to put away things that could draw attention, such as strik- ing or offensive artwork, and to remove personal items such as toothbrushes. "I want to see no signs of life in a staged home," Monroe said. "Put the (toilet) lid down." Decorating standards are high, as homebuyers seek houses similar to what they see on television shows on chan- nels such as HGTV. Along with illustrating a home's potential, Monroe said that one of the most rewarding aspects of her job is seeing buyers' excited reactions to a staged home. "Sometimes, they're almost teary-eyed. We like to set a lifestyle that they aspire to have," Monroe said. Continued from Page 1 Staging: Seeing is make-believing — and buying "Sometimes, they're almost teary-eyed. We like to set a lifestyle that they aspire to have." – Amy Monroe,, home stager and co-owner of Become Home, LLC

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