Peggy Johnson - Charlotte NC Home Stager: November 2009

Charlotte NC Holiday Open House  

Follow these steps to throw a Holiday Open House in Charlotte NC

It’s all in the timing stick to a time frame - For a dessert open house; a three-hour window is perfect during the holiday season, either in the evening or afternoon. Keep in mind that an afternoon event will probably draw more people for two reasons: there aren’t as many daytime party conflicts, and adults will bring their children. Plan quantities accordingly.

Portion control - Have one or two substantial items to offer the guests who plan on hanging out for a while, plus nibble snacks for those who are party hopping.

Bring on tradition Chances are good that your holiday open house will become an annual event, so throw in a tradition guests will relish from year to year, like a carol sing-along, signature drink, cookie exchange or secret Santa grab bag.

Christmas clarity let guests know what to expect. State “champagne and desserts” or “wine and cheese” so they prepare and eat accordingly.

Open your house for the holidays and call Redesign + More for your holiday house decorating.

Seasonal and Holiday Event Services & Special Event Services -
Interior decorating design for holidays, special occasion decorating, events such as birthday parties, anniversaries and retirement parties. Let us handle all the event details so you can enjoy life without the stress!

Charlotte NC Home Staging - to sell  in the cooler months

During the spring and summer days when we see sunny skies and plenty of colorful flowers it can make a home more appealing to sell. Sometimes thats not an option and we must sell and stage our home during the shorter days and darker evenings of autumn and winter. Here are a few tips for making your home staging warm and appealing to potential buyers.

Curb appeal staging - Even without leafy trees and bright flowers, your yard and landscape can attract buyers if treated right. Remember that bare spots become more obvious in winter, so do what you can to camouflage them by laying mulch down around shrubbery and in flower beds. No one likes a messy yard in any weather, so keep it neat by making sure the yard is raked, the grass is evenly mowed and gutters are kept free and clear. To be competitive and to add that extra value to your listing, you have to think outside the box. And that literally means staging the kind of curb appeal that helps your home stand out from the other five or more on the same street. 
 
Attracting visual interest - Normally most people bring in the patio furniture when colder weather arrives; leave it out to create more visual appeal for potential buyers. A chimney or any portable outdoor fire pit is a neat touch for an outdoor patio or deck. Keep in mind faded and peeling paint or warped siding is even more obvious in the winter, so take care of all exterior touchups before listing your house.
 
Keep the interior of the home cozy - Set the furnace or central heat high enough to make the house as warm and comfortable as possible. Fireplaces are a big draw for potential buyers, so keep them free of dirt and clutter and arrange the room to highlight this feature. Get creative with warm touches - drape a warm throw over the sofa, or consider baking cookies or simmering cinnamon and other winter spices on the stove before showings. Those small touches will exude warmth and make your home feel cozy and welcoming.
 
Bring in light and some greenery - Light is especially important during the short, darker days of winter. So it’s important to take full advantage of natural light. Bare trees allow your home to get more light on sunny days, so keep the blinds open. On drearier days, turn on all the lights to add brightness to each space. Green, leafy plants can also add warmth to the interior of your house and fresh flowers add a splash of color to any room.

Redesign + More offers Vacant and Occupied - Home Staging in Charlotte NC

Charlotte NC - Home Staging to Sell -  It is essential to know what improvements to make, be precise about what you can expect to gain, and have a clear understanding of what is happening in the neighborhood.

Do Your Home Staging to Sell Research -
Before you think about selling a home, compare the home you plan to home stage and sell with other homes in the area. If a comparable property sold for $500,000 with a renovated kitchen and new appliances, don’t think you can get the same $500,000 by repainting the kitchen cabinets and laying down new flooring.

When you investigate other homes, take note of what upgrades have been made. Are the kitchens and baths fully renovated, with granite countertops, stone tile, custom made cabinetry and stainless steel appliances, or are they more ordinary? Are there up to date or brand new hardwood floors throughout? Recessed lighting? Finished basement? Is the electrical and plumbing up to date and upgraded? 

Enhance Exterior Home Landscaping -
Remove dying trees, bushes and flowers. Always trim overgrown areas. Replace dead grass with fresh sod. Plant evergreens, wreaths and potted urns in the winter months, and colorful blooms in spring and summer. Try using wood chips like chocolate or cedar-scented brands or gravel to economically cover large challenging areas this will enhance the homes exterior.

Exterior Home Curb Appeal -
Repair flaking paint and dry-damaged windowsills and shutters. Paint the front and back doors as well as garage doors, and if needed, replace them. Repair or replace broken or non-working eaves troughs. Fix and replace any aging or broken fencing. Consider adding exterior lighting to enhance curb appeal.

Update the Kitchen & Bathrooms -
These are lasting focal points for potential buyers, keep in mind that you must find a balance between being cost-conscious and looking like you took the cheap avenue. Kitchens can cost between $15,000- $80,000, bathrooms can range between $6,000-$30,000. Check and compare to see what materials they use. If most of the homes in the neighborhood highlight granite countertops and brand new appliances, then you should do the same if you expect a similar price tag.

Upgrade / Replace Flooring -
Check and compare in your neighborhood before you decide on what flooring you should choose. If all the homes in the area have new hardwood, don’t lay down laminate, unless you want to sell your home at a lesser value.

You can bring down costs by choosing synthetic opposed to natural stone tile, and sanding and re-staining hardwood instead of replacing it.  You can save by having your carpet company bind large leftovers for bedrooms instead of installing wall-to-wall carpet.  Do this only if the floor is hardwood and in good condition.

Apply Paint when Home Staging -
Paint more then the walls, paint everything the ceilings, closets, baseboards and interior doors. It will make the home feel clean, fresh and brand new. Note choose neutral paint colors.

Replace Old Switch Plates -
Nothing ages a homes property more than old, dated and discolored switch plates. Hire an electrician or do it yourself if you have the skills. Dimmer switches in dining rooms, kitchens and living rooms add an inexpensive touch.

Install Crown Moldings -
Adding crown molding is a nonstructural change that can recreate an interior. Stay away from poor quality versions from hardware chains that you can install yourself; they may save you money, but will look cheap. Choose a crown molding of significant size that matches the style of the house, and make sure there are no visible seams once installed. It’s a good idea if you redo crown moldings; look at adding new baseboards as well.

Bring Lighting Up to Date -
Install Pot lights they offer a clean, uncluttered look and create good lighting in a space.  They can run around $100 and up, this is a high return on investment. When home staging to sell think about adding new chandeliers in the foyer, dining room and kitchen. Hardware chain stores will often have knock off versions of designer fixtures that you can purchase for a fraction of the cost.

Upgrade Electrical and Plumbing - If you can afford it, the cost is well worth it.
Make certain that the changes you make bring your property up to a comparable level to the competing properties in your neighborhood. Charlotte NC Home Staging to Sell.