Well you’re not alone. The question; "how do I arrange the furniture?" is perhaps the most frequently asked questions I receive. And with reason. Most sellers have seen enough shows on TV to understand that there's a need to change. However, they're challenged on exactly what changes would benefit them the most.
Let's begin with reviewing the objective:
The objective for the seller is to showcase the features as well as the space the home has to offer.
How is that accomplished?
- Find the feature you want to highlight. Perhaps it's the fireplace in the living room or the built-ins in the keeping room. Your objective as a seller is to draw the buyers' eye to that feature.
- Add visual space. This can be accomplished by removing an item or two from the room. For example, if you have two end tables today, try removing one. If you have a dining room table with a leaf and 6 chairs, try removing the leaf and two of the chairs.
- Expose your flooring. This is especially true if you believe this to be a feature of the home. Try removing the rug or reduce the size of the rug you use. Yes, area rugs can add warmth but if over-sized, then you risk covering up one of the best features of the home.
With those basics in mind, know that it's perfectly okay to have a room re-arranged 5-6 (or more) times before you settle on the right arrangement.
Also know that there are experts in place that are use to "putting the pieces together." An experienced home professional can easily help you identify the features, knows what it takes to add that "visual space" and can recognize what features may be hidden and need to be exposed.
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Georgia Interior Solutions (GIS), LLC is Atlanta Georgia's Premier Home Staging Provider. Owner and Real Estate Staging Expert, Kathy Nielsen has appeared on the pages of Atlanta Magazine, Atlanta Home Improvement; Atlanta Business Chronicle and the Atlanta Journal Constitution. You can also see one of her staged homes on HGTV's hit show Sleep On It.
With their extensive home staging portfolio, you'll quickly learn that they have the experience and knowledge on what it takes to make your home and/or listing appeal to the prospective buyers. Contact them today for your free no-obligation appointment: 678 522 8392.
Home Staging Atlanta - Kathy Nielsen - 678 522 8392
RESA Professional Stager of the Year - Southern Region 2011
Whether your home is vacant or occupied, this Atlanta Georgia Home Stager, Kathy Nielsen, understands what it takes to sell a home quickly. Her homes have graced the pages of several publications, appeared in TV commercials as well as on HGTV's hit program Sleep On it.
With years of experience and a massive inventory - Kathy makes the perfect choice.
Home Staging Website: Home Staging Atlanta
Before and After Pictures: Atlanta Home Staging Portfolio:
Email: Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com
Blog: Atlanta Home Staging
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Kathy ~ Very informative! I like the tips for adding visual space. I love the graphic and tag line!
Kathy: Great tips for home sellers. Most will still need to hire a professional home stager to implement it. I like your puzzle analogy. Very clever. Is "We put the pieces together" your new tag line?
I really agree with exposing the flooring-too many times it is covered with oversized rugs. Great Article Kathy!
Thanks, Kathy P.
Michelle - I agree that most will need to hire a professional! Thanks for the compliment on the puzzle analogy. As for "we put the pieces together", I do like it as a tag line and need to consider using it moving forward.
Cathy - There's a before and after picture (which I should post again) that truly demonstrates the impact removing the rug had on the room. I shared that picture with a prospect last week and she gasped.
Kathy
Great post Kathy! I also love your new photo. :)
These are some great tips. Do you have any suggestions on how to tactfully ask a customer to rearrange a room? We have a listing where the owners have the house staged beautifully except for one bedroom that needs ... something different.
Thanks, Annie!
Brenda - here's what I tell my prospects when I meet with them for the first time:
Should I put my home on the market tomorrow, one of the first things I would do is to re-arrange my rooms. I further go on to explain that how I have it arranged today works for "living" in the home. However, in its' current arrangement I've made the room appear smaller. Works for living but not for selling.
Now to give you an example of how to take what I just said and put it into words you could use with your customer; try this:
"The way you have your room is great. But, I see some real opportunities available to us that could make a big difference in how the buyers view this room."
Hope that helps, Brenda.
Kathy
Great post Kathy! I love the tag line too! And your new picture is great :)
Kathy - That is the question we get most--how do we arrange the furniture. You have given great take-off pointers that any homeowner can use. Great job.
Congrats on the featured blog Kathy! I seem to recognize that property in your jigsaw puzzle ;-)
Puzzle is a great graphic. The room arrangement is so important. I had a Realtor call the other day, that just wanted me to deliver the furniture to her listing...she said she would arrange the furniture. Isn't that interesting? May have to do a blog on that topic.
Great tips for "where to start" for home owners unsure of furniture placement.
Thanks, Wendy!
Debbie - I'm sure we (home stagers) get this question asked by sellers all over the country.
Hi, Jennifer. I hope you're doing well. We're going to have to get together soon.
Cindy - Yes, that's very interesting that the agent wanted to do the arrangement.
Thanks, Michele.
Kathy
Thanks for such a clear explanation of the basics. My partner and I are preparing a presentation on the basics of home staging, and this really helps focus my thoughts. Your blogs are always well worth reading!
Kathy thanks for the tips. It's really incredible just how useful staging can be to sell a home, yet how few sellers are willing to take advantage of these services.
Great tips! Staging really can transform a space!
Good post, it's always good to state the obvious because we're not all trained to see what needs to be done in a room. And with all of those TV show about staging your home most leave out the most basic staging principles.
Thanks for the staging information. All of my listings, except one, are vacant. What to do, what to do?
I love the tag line and puzzle!! It's so true!
Hi Kathy, What a great picture of you! I think it's the first time I've ever really seen your eyes, and they're gorgeous. I, too, love your puzzle analogy. I often wonder why people shove furniture against the walls. It's as if they are trying to feature them, or that they think this will make the room look larger when WE know that just isn't so. Michelle's right. They do need us.
LOVE, LOVE the new photo. You got younger!!! I agree, puzzle analogy was a good one. Missing Yvonne Root right about now, she used to do that really well too. Good post.
Kathy,
As a successful realtor in this changing market, I use a stager whenever I can. It has worked every time, making my seller more money and getting the home SOLD!!
I knew some arrangements looked better than others, but I never really thought much about why. Your post gives me some direction in that area. Thanks.
Your presentation is well done. The finished rooms are truly liveable, warm, and inviting.