I think you might be missing out on money!!

I am sure that most people are aware of what home staging is by now. It is also known as Pre-sale Makeover, Home Styling or even Property styling. For those who don't know, here is a little bit about it.

Home Staging is the most powerful tool in a Real Estate agent or Home-seller's bag of tricks. It is the Ace up their sleeve. If you are thinking of putting your house on the market, then you can't afford NOT to hire a Professional Home Stager.

The Stager will:
- come to your house
- walk through the home assessing it with a non-biased, "buyer's eye", finding all of the price lowering features as well as the value adding features
-assist you in seeking out all of the things that need attention that you may have missed (you are emotionally attached to your house, the Stager is not)
-Will help you to stop looking at your house as your home, and start to see it for what it is : A product to be marketed to the right people, for the right price, in the right way.
-improve the "first impression' of the house (it takes buyer's just a measly 30 seconds to make up their mind!)
-help you to create a warm, inviting atmosphere that makes the buyer imagine them selves living in the home, therefore creating an instant EMOTIONAL attachment (those of you who aware of marketing techniques will know that getting a client to be able to visualise themselves in the home is sale's gold)

Put simply, A staged home = nicer house that appeals to a wider group of people = appealing advertising images = more interest in the property = more potential buyers = more chance of selling quicker and at your initial asking price, maybe even more.

Statistics have shown that only 10% of people have the ability to see the potential in a home. That means that 90% of people need help to imagine themselves being able to live in your house.

The research has proven that staged homes sell for more money and in shorter time than an un-staged home.

Isn't the small investment in a professional Home Stager much cheaper than lowering your asking price? Or even having to pay the continuing marketing fees to the real estate agent because the house hasn't yet sold? These days, the market is tight: the buyer has the upper hand. You all know that if you are trying to sell anything to anyone, it has to look great, stand out above all of the competition and be in perfect working order. Thats what we do for you.

Not convinced? Take a look at a real estate website. Look at the images of the houses and see which ones you like, and which ones you don't. Why do you or don't you like them? Can you imagine yourselves living in any of these houses? I am sure you too will see the value in getting your biggest investment in tip-top shape, you are way too smart to lower your asking price and walk away from your own money :)

The latest news from abroad!

My international Interior Design friends have noted that their businesses are getting busier and busier! After a quick decline in the hiring of our services due to the GFC and the economy, people have changed the way they view the financial world. Now, hiring an Interior Designer is a good financial move and is very much back in vogue!

Instead of going out, splashing money around on fruitless ventures, people are now investing in their homes. Gone are the spend-a-lot days where if you didnt like something you could just get rid of it and buy something new. People are taking the time to research their products to ensure they will last the distance. They want to be educated in their purchases, as it will save them money in the long run. The strong focus on the environment has also played a role in how we make our purchases; are the items made from sustainable resources? Are they 'Green'?

The other trend is to renovate instead of selling up and moving. It is costly to sell your home and purchase a new one; there are added fees and charges that, quite frankly, could be better spent on adding value to your current property. This could even help if you were interested in investing. But in the end it comes down to your own personal set of circumstances, what is right for one family/person is not necessarily right for another.

Hiring a good Interior Designer is an investment. It is an investment for your home or office, and an investment to you and your family. Do you ever see brown and yellow paisley wall paper and have instant flashbacks of the great times spent at your grandparents house? Do you go into an expensive restaurant with sparkling chandeliers and beautiful surroundings and feel glamorous, even though you have saved for the past 6 months for the occasion? Have you ever walked into a friends house and felt so at home, so comfortable? This is what a skilled Interior Designer creates; it is called ATMOSPHERE.

I love my job, I love being privileged enough to be allowed into my client's lives and homes to help them shape the way they live. It is an absolute honour.

Dont think of an Interior Designer as someone only the rich and famous hire, you can hire one too! Look around and compare fees. You may be surprised. Happiness starts at home, so make sure it is functional for your needs and beautiful to look at.

Yours in Design,
Kel

Ocean oasis

I have just come back from a week away at our beach shack on the beautiful Yorke Peninsular. It was not only restful, but inspiring. Nature is so beautiful; the colours, the shapes, the textures. It delivers such inspiration. I brought back with me a few pieces of driftwood that washed up onto the shore after a storm had whipped up the ocean. They are weathered, and fragile, yet so perfect and appealing. I have a few pieces that I like to use in my designs to add an organic feel to my rooms. I have even used one piece as a coat rack! Here are some of our holiday snaps. Take a look for yourself at how beautiful nature really is.