2 ADVANCED HOME STAGING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MODULE SIX 1
Advanced Home Staging & Business Development ENTRANCES 2
Copyright Copyright 2014 Naomi Findlay, International Institute of Home Staging and Silk Home Staging & Styling, Pty Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this report may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any informational storage or retrieval system without the express written, dated and signed permission from the author and copyright holder. 3
Disclaimer This report and its contents are provided for informational purposes only and all information and ideas are provided in good faith by the author who believes such information to be true and honest to the best of the authors knowledge and belief. Any and all opinions expressed by the author represent the views and opinions of the author at the time of writing. The author reserves the right to vary or change any such opinions subsequently. It is not possible to provide comprehensive information and advice tailored to each individual situation within a report such as this and it should not be regarded as any kind of substitute for appropriate and personalised professional advice. Nothing in this report can be considered to be any form of promise or guarantee. Implementation of any of the recommendations mentioned in this guide are entirely at the reader s own risk. The reader is totally responsible for the choices and decisions they make, and for any and all consequences of those decisions. SILK Home Staging and Styling or International Institute of Home Staging shall not be liable for any special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including without limitation lost revenues or lost profits that may result from the use of these materials or information. 4
Contents Learning Outcomes:...6 Introduction...7 Let Me WOW You!...8 Set Your Sights on a Grand Entrance...10 Back to the Basics...11 Dressed for Success...13 Don t Overlook Your Other Thoroughfares...15 The Assessment...16 5
Learning Outcomes: Module 6 entrances During this learning unit you will learn skills to enable you to assess: 1. Creating entries with wow entry ways 6
Introduction f first impressions count, then creating a I front entrance with impact is absolutely critical to successfully staging a property for sale. The entry to a home speaks volumes to a buyer about what the rest of the property may be like. If it is dirty, worn, out-of-date or cluttered, then potential buyers could think the rest of the property will be dirty, worn, out-of-date or cluttered. A person will form an impression that dictates the degree to which they like, or dislike, the home within the first few minutes of them stepping inside the door so make sure those minutes count! 7
Let Me WOW You! Rarely will a person be presented with one single view when they walk through a front door. Most houses are designed with multiple sightlines, where a number of rooms are able to be seen from the entryway. But in many houses not all views are equal (or able to be made equal), so it is important that you work on attracting the buyer s attention to the most impressive or inviting areas. This can be done by placing striking art or accessories in those sightlines while keeping the others clean and tidy, but also understated. The owner of a house is often oblivious to the various sightlines and the views they offer because of their familiarity with them. This is where employing a home stager can be useful as they can offer a fresh perspective and be able to identify undesirable elements that the vendor may not even be consciously aware of any more. When you are assessing the sightlines from the entryway, consider how much clutter is on show. While that messy pile of magazines in the lounge room may seem out of the way when you view it from the doorway to that room, the different perspective presented by a sightline from the front door may actually leave them clearly visible. 8
When you view a room from the expected location such as its doorway, the position of furniture and accessories may seem perfect. But the unique view offered when a sightline is created from the front entrance often showing the backs of furniture or tangled electrical cords from your appliances - could actually mean the first impression of that space is an unfavourable one. Consider a room from every angle it is visible before you decide on the final placement of the items within it. The entry of a home speaks volumes to a buyer about what the rest of the property may be like. Make it count! 9
Set Your Sights on a Grand Entrance When you look at a five-star hotel or the office building of a major corporation, it s clear making a good first impression is important to them as well. The reason behind all this extra effort on what is, realistically, a place a person passes through on their way to somewhere else, is that a grand entrance helps to evoke a certain atmosphere or create a particular image, which is then transferred by the viewer onto the hotel or business itself. Similarly when a person is preparing a home for sale they need to step back and consider what type of atmosphere or image they want to create for their property. Creating the impression of a grand entrance regardless of its size will go a long way to securing the interest of the potential buyer beyond those first key moments. 10
Back to the Basics It s time to really hone in on the elements that make up the front entrance to your property. The first step is to get rid of the clutter. The front door often becomes a dumping ground for shoes, bags, umbrellas, mail and keys, but this is a real turn-off for potential buyers who instantly feel as though the house is too small and does not have enough adequate storage space. Make sure they are packed away out of sight during the period your property is on the market and particularly during open home inspections. But don t just take the mess away you will also need to remove any personal items from the entry as you want potential buyers to imagine themselves living and creating memories there, rather than be reminded of the vendor and their family. Next take a look at the permanent features of the entrance the floors, windows, walls and doors. Worn or damaged flooring should be replaced and, if possible upgraded. Remember this is your first chance to impress the buyer gorgeous tiling or hardwood floors have much more of a wow factor than tired old carpet or vinyl. Some front entries have windows on either side of the door give them a thorough clean to make sure they are sparkling inside and out. The walls in your front entry should be unobtrusive if they are covered in dated wallpaper or stencils remove them and repaint the surfaces, preferably in a nice neutral tone. 11
The door itself should be fresh and clean. If it is warped, cracked, faded or damaged, replace it with a new door that is appropriate to the overall style of the house. Door hardware should be polished and hinges should be oiled to make sure they don t squeak or stick. The trim around the door should also be assessed and repaired or repainted if necessary. If you have a screen door in front of your solid entry door make sure it is also clean and in good working order. The doorbell (if there is one) should be checked to make sure it works properly, while the front door mat should be plain, clean and in good condition. Light fixtures at your front door and inside the entryway should be on-trend and thoroughly cleaned. Make sure you use the highest wattage light bulbs as specified by the manufacturer so there is plenty of light as the buyer first walks in the door. 12
Dressed for Success While a vendor or home stager will naturally spend a lot of time considering the furniture and accessories in the various rooms throughout the house, it is essential to put in as much effort when you are considering how to dress your front entrance. The right furnishings will add to the welcoming and inviting feel of your foyer the but wrong choices can have potential vendors wanting to turn around before they move beyond the front door. If you have the space against an appropriate wall, narrow hall tables can create a functional focal point within this area. A beautiful bowl or basket will add a practical storage solution for keys or the mail on the table, while a funky vase or a piece of artwork hung above the table could inject some life and colour into the entry. Mirrors can also be used to create the illusion of more space within your foyer, however feng shui principals suggest that a mirror should not be placed directly opposite the front door, as it will reflect all the positive energy straight back out of your house. Seating within a larger entryway will also add to its appeal and emphasis the sense of space. A small bench seat accented with scatter cushions will be both practical and also add another splash of colour. 13
A plant with striking foliage or a vase of cut flowers will create a fresh and healthy feeling within your foyer, but make sure it is always well watered, otherwise a buyer s interest could wilt as quickly as the plant s leaves. While your overhead light fixture may provide the main source of illumination in your entrance, a lamp will add a warmer ambient light to the scene to create a welcoming atmosphere. If the front door of the property does not open onto a formal foyer but instead leads directly into a living room, many of the elements already mentioned can be used to ensure the room creates that crucial good first impression discussed above. 14
Don t Overlook Your Other Thoroughfares Hallways and stairways are also important areas to focus on when staging a home for sale, but often get overlooked because they lack the defined purpose of a kitchen, lounge room or even foyer. These areas should be clutter-free, particularly stairs leading up to the second storey of a house. There s no quicker way to create a negative impression with potential buyers than by having them trip over toys and clothes left lying on the stairs. Carpet runners on stairways can also be potential trip hazards, so make sure they are securely attached. The tread on each stair should also be checked to make sure they are doing their job properly and aren t noisy underfoot. While lugging the vacuum cleaner up and down the stairs doesn t sound like too much fun, it is important that carpeted stairs are thoroughly cleaned, while wooden staircases and all handrails and railings should be cleaned and polished. Banisters should also feel smooth to the touch. Stairways are another common place for family photos, but just like in other areas of the house these should be removed during the selling period and replaced with attractive artworks. Lighting in stairways and hallways should be nice and bright, as these are often the narrowest and darkest places within a house. Make sure they become a welcoming pathway to guide potential buyers between the different areas within the property. 15
The Assessment Please complete and return the assessments that are outlined below as per the direc4ons in the course two outline and overview. Task - Please find three examples of entries that require work on their presenta4on before going to market. For each entry I want you to prepare a report or list of recommenda4ons that you would make to the client around the prepara4on of their entrance. These rooms can belong to friends, family or neighbours or ones that you may find online that have adequate images so that you can complete the task successfully. In regard to the layout and format of the submission, present this task in a way that you would present it to a client. In the report/list of recommenda4ons for each room please include: Images of the space Your recommenda4ons for upgrades and es4mated cos4ng to give the client Your recommenda4ons for maintenance and es4mated cos4ng to give the client Ideas on presenta4on and enhancements 16
Starting your own Home Staging Business This course (3) is designed for those who are ready to take the exciting next step and start their own Home Staging/Property Styling business. It is also of great benefit to those who already have a Home Staging and want to cement yourself in the market. As a result of completing this course your business will grow and prosper. ENROLL TODAY Course content includes: The magic of mindset Business planning Branding and design Rates and services Social media PR and marketing Client consultations Advanced client communication skills Inventory management Industry promotion Working with estate agents 17
Mentoring Mentoring is the art of teaching and training another person in what the mentor knows and does. Naomi Findlay is a professional Home Stager with vast experience in starting up, developing and building a successful home staging and property styling business, all whilst working out of a home office and raising a family of four. Naomi will mentor you through the process of creating a successful home staging business. Enquire TODAY 18
Business Coaching Andrew Dart is a professional and personal coach with a passion for helping people live their dreams. He has a Certificate IV in Business and Personal Coaching and has worked with many individuals as well as organisations such as Pfizer Australia. Andrew s coaching is all about empowering people to achieve their goals and dreams. He uses tools skills and frameworks to inspire and motivate people. Working with Andrew is a perfect way to consolidate all the new skills you have learnt in your home staging training. Enquire TODAY 19
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