First Impressions Home Staging in Minneapolis and surrounding areas

Staging Consultation

Sample Report

Client Name: XXXXXX

Client Address : XXXXXX

Agent: XXXXXXXXX

First Impressions Home Staging would like to make the following recommendations to enhance your home’s value and to showcase the key characteristics of your property.

FRONT EXTERIOR

Power wash the cement.
Remove the dried flowers from front of house. Refer to picture Front Exterior #1.
Plant vibrant colored flowers in flower box. Fall flowers would be good such as mums. Red, orange, or yellow. Refer to picture Front Exterior #1.
Add a planter on the left side of the front door with same flowers you plant in flower box.
Tidy up the landscaping in the oval landscaping area. Reference picture Front Exterior #2.
Add a planter to the left side of the house with vibrant colors such as red, orange, or yellow. Mums for fall would be a good choice. Refer to picture Front Exterior #3.
Plant shrubs on the right side of the house. Refer to picture Front Exterior #4. Several examples that will do well in shade are included.
The blue door should be changed to match the color of the window trim. Refer to picture Front Exterior #5. The eye is drawn to it because of the drastic difference. The color we chose is Sherwin Williams SW6076 Turkish Coffee. See bid from XXXXXXXXXXXXXX.

Comment: One of the most appealing features of your home is the fact that it is so secluded and the natural outdoor feeling it gives. Keeping the exterior areas tidy and clean, while adding some pops of color, will be inviting to potential buyers as they drive up.

BACK EXTERIOR

Clean cobwebs from all outside areas.
Paint the outside of the light covers that are on the lower deck area. Refer to picture Back Exterior #1
Cut the long grass on the bank. Refer to picture Back Exterior #2.
Remove the dock materials on the lower bank. Refer to picture Back Exterior #3.
Plant flowers or plants in ledges going down to water. Refer to picture Back Exterior #4.
Add vibrant colored cushions to chairs around table. Examples are included in the enclosed pictures.
Cover grill neatly when not in use.
Place all tomato plants together in one area out of immediate view.
Put a patio lounge area (with vibrant colored cushions) on the deck in front of living room windows. Place decorative lanterns on tables. Examples are included in the enclosed pictures.
Add planters with flowers to deck. Red, orange, or yellow again.
Keep area tidy and organized.
Fix several steps going down to the lake that are broken or rotten.

Comment: It is important that people be able to visualize themselves sitting on the deck looking at the great view of the lake. By making it inviting and warm people will be drawn to that area. It will be a great selling point.

GARAGE

Hang bikes.
Clean and organize.
Donate any items that are unwanted.

Comment: Your garage has some good space and keeping it organized will appeal to male buyers. It is important that they can visualize themselves using the area.

MUD ROOM

Remove all pictures from door and repair any marks left.
Anything that is not used should be put away out of sight ( coats, shoes, etc).
Fix overhead light and clean overhead light.
Keep pet area in one place and clean and organized.

Comment: Your mud room has a wonderful amount of storage space and by keeping the area clean and organized that is what people will focus on.

LIVING ROOM/DINING ROOM

Paint the walls Benjamin Moore HC-35 Powell Buff. See bid from XXXXXXXXX.
Remove the chandelier.
Wood floor is damaged and needs to be addressed.
Remove the leaf from the dining table. The size of the existing table makes the room look small and draws the eye to the table and not to the view or house.
We would rearrange the furniture throughout the house to maximize the areas and define the spaces.
Rearrange the art throughout the house to better suit the scales of the walls.
We would accessorize in a manner which allows people to focus on the house and not the furnishings.
Keep the ledge that goes down the stairs empty except for an accessory arrangement.
We would suggest decorative pillows that would bring out the colors in the window treatments.
The computer equipment that is on the dining table should be removed to the defined office space.
Keep the blinds all the way open for showings so people can see the whole view.

Comment: The lake will be a huge draw for the new home owner and it should be one of the first things they see when they enter the house. This being said, the living room should be designed in a minimal fashion to achieve that.

KITCHEN/OFFICE

The wood floor needs to be repaired so the eye is not immediately drawn to the damage.
Fix the curtain rods.
Remove the bench on the far wall, it is too big for the area and makes the area seem smaller than it is.
Keep the shelves on the center island neat and tidy. Accessorize with decorative items.
For showings, move all signs of pet to mud room. (blanket, water bowl, etc.).
Remove pans and rack. People should be able to see outside without any obstruction.
Take items off window ledges.
We would accessorize the shelves and table.
De-clutter the whole area.
Move the printer to the other end of the desk if possible to hide the wires. Refer to picture Kitchen #1.
Take down all of the personal pictures from the house except for a very few favorites.

Comment: Just as you had indicated, the kitchen is a great space and should be very inviting. By keeping it clutter free and depersonalizing the area, buyers will be able to better visualize themselves cooking, eating, and living in that space. The desk area should not draw the eye to it upon entry into the kitchen so should be kept neat and organized for all showings.

HALF BATH

The white mirror should be removed and used in a space where the size would be more appropriate. It is a great piece but makes the bathroom appear smaller than it is because of the depth. A flat piece of art would be better for the space.
We would suggest towels that have some warm color to them.
Remove the rock from the sink.
Shave the bottom of the door so it opens smoothly.

Comment: The bathroom reads a little too cool. The good news is that is a really easy fix by adding some warm towels and art.

OFFICE/BEDROOM

Without a closet, it should be marketed as an office. The bedroom set should be moved to the downstairs bedroom.
The bookcase needs to be de-cluttered and accessorized in a manner which will not draw the eye to the things on the shelves but to the built in itself. The baskets that are currently there are a great idea to keep it organized and neat.
Bring in an office chair.
Clean the lights.
Remove pendants hanging from the window and repair any damage.
Keep the blinds open for showings.
Remove all of the art from the walls.
Remove the TV and stand.
Potentially paint the same color as the living room. See bid from XXXXXXXXX.

Comment: We realize that this space will be hard for you to change because it is XXXXX’s room, but it is a very important aspect of the house that needs to appeal to the largest demographic of potential buyers. It is one of those items that we talked about being seconds from the front door and a priority. It will probably make you uncomfortable but will make a big difference in the sale of your house.

MASTER BEDROOM

Move TV to other wall so it is not the first thing you see when you approach the bedroom. Hide the wires and hardware.

Move dresser from lower level bedroom to master.

You need 2 matching bedside tables with matching lamps.
You need a headboard.
Add a seating area in the far corner.
Keep blinds open for showings.

MASTER BATHROOM

Closet needs to be de-cluttered and organized. Would suggest moving as much as possible to the dresser that has been moved into the bedroom. The amount of apparel in the closet makes it look small and cramped when in actuality it has good space.

The shelves in the bathroom would look great with some colored towels and a basket including bath products.

Add some accessories such as candles with reflecting holders to bathtub area.
Clean the lights out. Refer to picture Master Bathroom #1.
Keep the area spotless and de-cluttered for showings.

Comment: The master suite and bath are a very important feature of a house and one where people should be able to see themselves in. It is a hard thing to visualize because it is such a personal space therefore, making it a priority. Keeping it clean and personal items put away goes a long way in helping the potential buyer achieve this.

FAMILY ROOM

Paint it Shooting Star #304 from Benjamin Moore. See bid from XXXXXXXXXXXXXX. It is a warm, sunny color, that will aide the natural light in brightening up the area.
Rearrange the area to optimize the space and feel inviting.
Move that fantastic writing desk to the office upstairs.
Accessorize to make it warm and inviting.
We would accessorize the shelving unit in the hall.
Art would be used to fill some of the wall space.
Remove the blackboard from the hall wall.

Comment: You had stated that you did not spend much time in this area and it felt cold to you. It is a blank slate to work with. Bringing some furniture down there and creating a space where people can envision themselves relaxing, will bring life to that area and make it feel warm and homey.

LOWER LEVEL BATHROOM

Paint it Country Comfort #305 by Benjamin Moore. See bid from XXXXXXXXXXX. It is a color a little deeper than Shooting Star and will go together beautifully.
Replace shower curtain with a more diverse color and pattern that will go along with that fabulous vanity.
Fix the light fixture globe (it has pink paint on it).
Replace all colored bulbs.
Towels to accentuate the new shower curtain.
Accessorize.
Keep spotless for showings.

Comments: This is a big bathroom and will appeal to the broadest range of buyers by changing the colors.

LOWER LEVEL BEDROOM

Paint the bedroom and closet Country Comfort #305 by Benjamin Moore. See bid from XXXXXXXXXXXXX. The same color as the bathroom.
Use the bed from upstairs and rearrange furniture to the best use of the space.
Accessorize.
Add lamps to warm and brighten area.
Fix light fixture (globe is falling down) and clean light.
Replace the globe on the closet light.
Remove stickers from doors and repair any marks left.
Clear out closet and clean.

Comment: This is a really good size room with a big closet but it is dark with the color of the walls. A lively, warm color such as Country Comfort will fix that and open up the room. Adding some furniture from other rooms will finish it off.

STORAGE ROOMS

Clean, de-clutter, and organize both rooms thoroughly.
Use dehumidifier to take out damp feel and smell.

Comment: Your house has a great deal of storage space and organizing all of the closets and storage areas will accentuate that. People love storage space.

GENERAL STAGING SUGGESTIONS

There are 4-1switch light plates, 6-2switch light plates and 1 light plate with a dimmer switch that needs to be replaced with white covers. Refer to picture General #1.

The windows need to be washed throughout the house.

Touch up the paint throughout the house. See bid from XXXXXXXXX.
We would arrange furniture and art throughout the house to better optimize the use of the space.

SUMMARY: Your home has many wonderful features and making the above changes will help to bring them front and center. Many thanks for the opportunity to consult with you on your home and your own little corner of nature. We look forward to working with you.

Regards

Robin H.