by Barbara Webb

Making the most of your time stuck at home.

With all the virus talk, and limitations of what we can’t do, let’s focus on what we can do while stuck at home. Whether you are preparing to sell your home or fixing things you’ve put off, now is a great time to tackle those do-it-yourself projects. Since hardware stores are open, it’s easier to find a can of paint than a roll of toilet paper.

According to Gary Thompson of The Philadelphia Inquirer, “That hole in the wall that people have been looking at for three months? They’re fixing it.” Hardware stores are “selling paint, brushes, rollers, pans, and drop clothes. Some folks are even going after old furniture, taking on refinishing jobs.”

So get off the sofa and get your “steps” in by checking projects off your list. Before you know, this stay-at-home time will come to an end. So, get up and get ’er done.

Here are a few of my favorite paint colors from the Sherwin Williams 2020 collection:

​When shopping Sherwin Williams you may use my contractor discount, just mention that you are a client of Webb Home Staging.

Most home buyers have already become emotionally attached to a property after seeing photos online. They come with high expectations and want to verify that the home is really what they fell in love with and that the online representation is reality.

Author John Maxwell said that we all have some “change in our pockets” when we first meet. People will give us the benefit of the doubt. When we reinforce their good will we get more change in our pockets as influence in the relationship.

When touring a home if the photos align with reality the seller will get more “change in his pocket.” However, when expectations and reality do not measure up, “change” begins to pour out of the seller’s pockets.

Many will overlook a stretched photo. But when buyers can’t see how to use an unusual room like a walk through living room, or how furnishings and decor can overcome some dated features, the seller beings to literally “looses bank.”

There is a tipping point for all buyers and when too many things don’t line up they will end the tour and just move on. Second chances are typically not an option and pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters are left in a trail throughout the home as the buyer and agent make a quick exit.

That’s why staging a home is so important. A new survey from the National Association of Realtors® shows that 83 percent of buyers' agents say that staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home. Call Webb Home Staging whether you have an occupied home or a vacant property that needs staging. Remember staging is less than a price reduction and can pay for itself with a faster sale and possibly for a higher price. 

​Put your best foot forward, keep that change in your pocket and walk all the way to closing, get a big fat check to put in your pocket and take it straight to the bank.

The benefits of staging your home to sell are widely known thanks in part to networks like HGTV and Joanna Gaines. However, one more step is needed to get the full impact of staging.

As a kid ​I remember my parents looking for a home with the help of a real estate agent. Her name was Mrs. Boren and she carried a thick printout with the current "secret" listings of homes that only agents had access to.  I heard her say that the updated list came out once a week. If you wanted to buy a home, you most certainly would have relied on that printout and typically had no idea what the home looked like until you pulled up to the curb. Hence the term "curb appeal."

In 2019, as a Realtor myself, no seller can afford to ignore that things have completely turned upside down. According to the National Association of Realtors 2019 Real Estate in the Digital Age Report, "The typical buyer used a mobile device to search for properties online. S/he looked at websites with photos, home listings, and information about the home buying process. S/he then contacted an agent and visited a median of 10 homes over 10 weeks again in 2019 before purchasing a home." (Real Estate in the Digital Age)

When a buyer clicks through photos of a listing, using the electronic device of their choice, it's at a rapid fire speed. I know I could hit as many as three or four per second. My point is ... use your professionals. Take a look at the three photos in the blog. Really look at the difference. We each have something we do really well. For me it's bringing a home up to its full potential by staging. My company, Webb Home Staging brings style, scale and personality in completing the picture for buyers and allows them to visualize and see themselves living in your property. Now I am sure you are great at what you do, but for most, staging, design and photography is not your specialty. Allow a professional staging company and photographer to bring your hard work together to reach the goal... selling your property!

After staging, the final step is calling on a professional photographer. For less than $125 your hard work will pay off and put your property on a buyer's short list to tour and ultimately buy. After Webb Home Staging brings your property to life and shows off the features by staging, we are happy arrange and schedule that photographer for you. 

There is no reason not to ride into the sea of competition with your "guns blazing." Let us get you there and get your property sold! Reach out to me to discuss our services and get a free quote on staging. Visit our website at www.webbhomestaging.com or call 615-293-9094  Barbara Webb

Classic neutral tones of linen and wood finishes are highlighted by aqua accents.

The home finishes have been brought up to date with gray and slate tones. The staging plays off the interiors and brings home the electric cosmopolitan style.