When we visit homes that are being prepared for sale, often little changes yield huge results. Small things may seem minor and home sellers may think we are being “nit-pics” for bringing up such insignificant items. Big or small – we want to address and rectify every item that will give buyers the impression that a home is dated or not well maintained.

When living in a home we become used to its idiosyncrasies, items needing repair or the décor that becomes dated. Professional Home Staging is more than beautiful décor and furniture – it is addressing any aspect of a home that affects its marketability.

This photo was taken at the entry of a wonderfully maintained home in Salem Oregon that’s been on the market for a few months. What first impression does this entry give potential buyers? As a home stager, we know buyers first impressions are hard to change and decisions on whether to buy (or not) are made within seconds.

How many new homes have amber glass in their entries? The first impression buyers will have immediately is that the home has not been updated.

We encouraged the seller to remove the glass, but he resisted because of the amount of work involved (and – it’s a small thing that buyers should overlook right?). The glass was secured with thin flat trim on both sides that was stained and varathaned after the glass was installed. If the trim and glass were removed there would be an unstained area of about an 1 ½” that was unstained and difficult to match.
Yesterday we had the pleasure of staging this home with some décor and furniture. We again encouraged the seller to try these steps to remove the amber glass and they agreed to give it a try.

Within minutes all four trim pieces that held the amber glass had been removed and all intact! There were no scratches on the remaining sill. A clear piece of glass will be reinstalled using the trim and same nail holes.  Total project time is about 30 minutes and just a few $$!
Was it worth the effort? Absolutely! Previously, the amber glass was a negative focal point. Now when guests or potential home buyers arrive, they can see into the spacious living room and see the beautiful fireplace.

Wondering how to spice up a dated home or want your home to communicate a fabulous first impression? A home staging consultation can give you the advice you need to prepare a home for sale or give a dated room a boost!

Home Stagers know which home improvements are worth tackling and will give you a good return on investment.

Ready to do some updating or preparing for sale?  Simple changes can yield big results in how others view your home!

If you have a similar project, here’s the steps we suggested to remove the glass:

• Attempt removing the trim from the side that is less visable. Using a thin putty knife carefully pry up the trim pieces. Keep the putty knife flat to avoid scratching the wood.
• If the varathane is thick and the putty knife is difficult to get under the trim use a razor knife to carefully cut the varathane “seal”.
• Check the corners to see which trim was installed last and start with that piece to avoid breaking corners or trim strips.
• Slowly pry from several points on the trim until it can be removed without breaking.

Moving or improving? Creative Concepts and Contracting has the expertise to showcase your home’s full potential, stretch your budget, and maximize your time.

Professional Home Staging – Reliable Contractor Repairs – Beautiful Results!

View our website See our YouTube Videos Connect with us on facebook! Subscribe to our blog

 

Leave a Reply