Relax. Visit. Dine. Stay.

Picture Perfect Outdoor Spaces

June is the perfect month to think about outdoor spaces and how to market that picture-perfect patio and outdoor kitchen.  In the South, we’re well known for our easygoing patios where family and friends gather to relax, sip a refreshing cocktail, plan a small dinner gathering, and watch the kiddos play.  During the quarantine, we’ve all gotten our fair share of fresh air and patio time! We don’t know about you, but it has definitely motivated us to clean up those patio spaces and show them some love!Whether your space is big or small, we’ve got the right-sized tips to help buyers imagine themselves chilling at the end of a warm day while passing time on your back patio.       

 In addition to lemonade, icebox cookies and a handful of “socially distanced” friends, we’ve put together a short list of key “ingredients” to create a picture perfect patio/outdoor kitchen:

1) Grab the bucket and soap - Just like the inside of the home, your patio and outdoor spaces need a good dust & shine. Give all surfaces a thorough pressure washing and/or cleaning. Once on the market, sweeping and blowing off these spaces regularly is a must. And don’t forget to give your grill and grilling area a deep scrubbing. 

2) How about a fresh coat of lipstick?! - Repaint and/or stain back door, shutters, posts, beams and decking -  great for tired, sun bleached, or peeling surfaces! Continue the “lipstick” for lackluster wrought iron furniture by using a can of spray paint in a color with lots of pizazz!

3) Plants that persuade - persuade buyers to “sit a spell” and enjoy your beautiful outdoor garden with potted plants and/or flower beds.  Remove all weeds from pots and beds and add some colored perennials for that extra pop of charm. Trim back any bushes or plants that are overgrown and hiding your house, and please -- remove any dead plants or empty pots. Add pops of green to sitting spaces and surfaces –why not “green up” your outdoor kitchen, too? Hanging baskets and ferns are great additions to smaller patios with limited floor space.

4) Lighting that’s so inviting - twilight is a perfect selling opportunity!  Add some cute simple string bulb lighting to your patio space and/or illuminating lights in beds or around deck spaces. How about a charming pendant light over the outdoor dining table?  If you get too much sunlight and not enough shade, you may want to consider adding an umbrella to create some extra shade. Make sure your umbrella choice it is consistent with your other patio furniture’s color scheme. 

5) Stage to amaze - How about staging your outdoor patio and kitchen to create a space that invites buyers to step outside and linger?   We love neutral patio furniture and cushions mixed with pops of color and patterns using accent pillows.  Consider adding an outdoor rug for an even bigger invitation to buyers. (Rugs also help to define your patio space.)  How to get started?  Pretend you are having people over for an outdoor BBQ or birthday party and visualize all the key ingredients to make your outdoor space energetic, fun and welcoming. 

a) Set the table - getting ready for your MLS photos?   Use cute & coordinating place mats, napkins, plates, cups and/or wine glasses, and a vibrant blooming plant, fresh flowers in a vase and/or a bowl of colorful fruit (i.e. oranges or lemons).  Remember the stager’s motto:  less is more!

b) Style the grill and outdoor kitchen too! - with a gotta-have gingham towel hanging from the grill,  a wicker tray or cutting board, clean grilling tools, more baskets with utensils, stacked plates and napkins “for serving guests”, and always – plants!Mix all these ingredients together, and you’ll have the perfect recipe for a buyer-pleasing outdoor space that whispers “Relax. Visit. Dine. Stay.”

WFH: Styling Tips to “Liberate” Your Home Office

Whether your “work from home” space was a hastily put-together lap top on an ironing board, or quick tweaks to an existing home office, we’ve all been stretched to accommodate new dimensions of multi-tasking at home in this time of social distancing. It would be a semi-easy task to pull together a home workspace, but what about those video Zoom and Skype meetings?! Our offices need to be functional (especially with extra two and four-legged office buddies), but also camera ready with a splash of cute. Definitely familiar territory for sellers! House Dressings feels your home office pain, so this month we’re offering a few fun remedies for charming your WFH spaces for both homeowners and sellers. Read on as we share our May blog – Styling Tips to Liberate Your WFH Office:

1) Where to work? Some folks are already blessed with existing home offices or built-in computer nooks. For others, no such luck. We’ve been super inspired by the creative approaches to WFH spaces, including converting a bedroom closet into a small office space. Take off the doors, add some shelving, a desk & chair, desk-top accessories and voila’ – you have an instant home mini-office! Others are repurposing dining rooms & mini-bar areas, finding a cozy corner in a master bedroom, or converting garages for abundant task and project flow. If a space doesn’t feel quite right, try refreshing with a coat of paint – go for neutral serene colors in soft whites, beiges and grays. Trial and error will help you achieve that “just right” workspace for you!

2) How to add that splash of cute? Making sure you’re “camera-ready” applies equally to Zoom meetings and MLS photos and showings for sellers. Keeping that clutter confined is a big first step. We love the use of art in work spaces, especially by “artists in residence.” Other great styling props include an on-trend lamp, coffee table and other hard back books, a colorful planner, accent trays, decorative bins, and rattan baskets. Don’t forget that all important splash of green! Did you know that living plants boost mood and concentration when used in interior spaces, and reduce stress? A large plant nestled in a basket on the floor, combined with a few smaller ones on your desk and shelving will add instant “life” and creativity to your work zone. Achieving a simplified color palate for your furniture and accessories will also help the space feel more cohesive. See our photos below for other fun inspirations.

3) Feel like showing off? Strive to be a minimalist with your office organization systems by adding bulletin boards, open shelving on walls (buyers will appreciate your investment!), matching baskets and bins, both large and small, fashionable budget-friendly filing cabinets, and an on-trend desk chair. Labeling matching storage bins will make your video meeting admirers beg for your home office design tips – you show off! For more ideas, visit our favorite desktop accessories sources – Target and The Container Store.

4) Zooming (or selling) daily? Be sure to have good lighting in your space – natural is best. Open mini-blinds and drapes to let the sunshine in (a great source of Vitamin D too!). Go electronic as much as possible to eliminate paper clutter. And have extra baskets handy to store desktop papers & files for in-person showings and Zoom meetings. Even though you’re working at home and not going into the office, tidying up at the end of each workday will keep that clutter beast tamed from day to day – liberating both you and your WFH office!

Tips for the Season of (COVID-19) Cabinet Clean Out

Become an MLS Photo “Prop Master” and Beat Your Competition

There’s no doubt – this is definitely the season of clean out!  From closets, cupboards, cabinets, dressers and even toy boxes, big or small, we’ve all been inspired to tackle one of our least favorite chores - decluttering and tidying our home’s hidden spaces.

Who doesn’t want to live in a well-kept and well-organized home with closets that make you sigh with serenity each time you peek inside (especially potential buyers!)?  With an abundance of time spent at home this month, we’ve all been bitten by the clean out bug.  

Before you get too zealous with tossing or giving away, there could be some great treasures lurking in the back of those cupboards.  If you’re a “coming soon” seller planning to list your home the minute the stay-at-home quarantine is lifted, this is your chance to become a true Prop Master and put some of those cool finds to work as staging props for your upcoming MLS photography session.  

As you clean out, House Dressings suggests you put aside a pile of “things” that can be used for staging and styling.  What kind of things? Glad you asked! See our list of preferred props and inspiration photos below to really help you beat the competition!  And don’t forget to book House Dressings for photo day styling for “day of” services to make your MLS photos really stand out and shine!  

House Dressings recommended list of staging props includes:

Kitchen: 

• Artificial fruit – especially lemons, limes or green apples

• Matching neutral coffee mugs

• Cookbooks with colored photos inside

• Newish hand towels or tea towels

• Colorful pots and tea kettles such as Le Creuset brand

• Wooden, glass or colorful bowls (all sizes)

Dining Room/Mini Bar:

• Display glassware (pitchers, vases, etc.)

• Bar accessories, including pretty wine glasses, decanters 

• Neutral/solid table runners and cloth napkins 

• Neutral/solid-color plates and soup bowls

Bathrooms:

• Artificial succulents, small green plants or white flower stems

• Neutral/solid-color matching bath & hand towels, and wash clothes

• New/never-used bars of soap (preferably white or paper wrapped)

Living Rooms/Bedrooms/Laundry & More:

• Artificial succulents, small green plants or white flower stems

• Baskets (i.e. wicker baskets, storage and shelf organizer baskets)

• Trays of all kinds! 

• Hard-back books especially larger coffee table books 

• Neutral/solid-color throws and quilts (for the bedrooms)

• White or ivory candles 

• Artwork (including kids’ creations) especially abstracts or inspirational artwork with quotes

• Cute watering cans, colorful rain boots & floppy sun hats

And whenever possible – please don’t pitch – donate! Goodwill is still taking donations locally (but only drop offs!).  Remember, one person’s trash is another person’s treasures. 😊

Taming Your Garage: Winning Tips to Wow Buyers

Do creepy crawly things slither out every time you open the garage door?  You’re not alone!   Garages can be super scary places, especially when left untouched and un-tidied for a few too many years.  If you’re ready to make the transformation from Zombieland: Double Tap to a tamer “feel good” Toy Story 4, we’re ready to award you a Grammy for best garage presentation ever!

A few easy do’s and don’ts will get you on your way to a buyer-friendly garage space, making it a key asset in the sale of your home.  The first question most sellers ask us is -- what should be stored in the garage?  For starters, your car(s).  According to Unclutter.com, 57% of people with two-car garages don’t have room to park one or both cars inside.  What?!!  We always encourage sellers to clearly demonstrate enough open space to park at least one car inside.

More winning garage tips include:

·       Taming takes time!  Be sure to give yourself at least a half-day to accomplish this chore.  Sunny days work best since you’ll be using your driveway as a decluttering/decision-making zone.  Be sure to have all the right supplies on hand -- trash bags, a pressure washer, shop vac or large broom, and lots of plastic tubs of multiple sizes for sorting and organizing (source:  thespruce.com).  If your garage lacks adequate shelving, consider buying at least two sets of tall sturdy plastic shelves to help with organizing when items go back inside.

·       Next, take everything out of the garage – yes everything!   Once the garage is empty, give it a good cleaning before anything goes back in.  Shop vac the walls, sweep & pressure wash floors, and address any oil stains or odors.  This is also the time to decide whether a fresh coat of paint on the walls would energize the space.  House Dressings sellers find that clean, well-0rganized garages adds value to your home.

·       Ready to start organizing?  A consensus of organizing experts suggests using this simple 4-step system:  keep, donate, sell, toss.  Only the items in the “keep” pile will go back into the garage on taming day.  (source: thespruce.com) Since you’re selling and moving, this step will be a great start as you prepare to pack up and roll out on closing day.

·       Now you’re ready for zoning.  Yep!  That’s how best to organize your new & improved decluttered garage.  From your “keep” pile, create storage areas within the garage for up to four zones – examples include car supplies, yard/gardening, sports equipment, and tools (source: unclutter.com).  For sellers, you may want to substitute one of these zones for moving boxes.  Seasonal storage such as Christmas boxes can be stored in the garage attic or off-site.  The expert zoning system you create on taming day will definitely impress buyers as they visualize their cars and storage in your garage.

·       Last tip – you guessed it!  Keep it tidy!  That includes making sure the garage continues to feel spacious by not overcrowding floor space.  (source:  unclutter.com) Sweep or blow out weekly while your house is one the market.  And by all means, stick to your zones!!

Best MLS Photos Ever

Getting your listing ready for its closeup!

Yep, it’s true.  A picture is definitely worth a thousand (or even just a few dozen) words and when it comes to MLS photos, we encourage sellers to tap into this super important marketing resource.  Did you know that nine out of 10 buyers start their home search online?  Millennials especially – today’s largest demographic of home buyers, are actively (99%) looking online for their new homes.  In fact, 91% of Millennial home buyers say that quality MLS photos are crucial to their decision to view a property. (Source:  RESA 2019)

And here’s a few more numbers – 77% of today’s buyers say it is easier to visualize a property as their future home when it’s been professionally staged.  Nearly 30% are willing to overlook other property faults when a home is staged. (Source:  NAR 2019 Profile of Home Staging)

Okay, you’re convinced!  Your listing needs amazing MLS photos taken by a great real estate photographer.  But it also needs photo styling - a professional process by accredited stagers/stylists (think set designers!) whose goal is making sure your listing is “picture perfect” for buyers.

In 2019, House Dressings proudly partnered with agents and sellers to photo style over 85 Acadiana listings.  We learned some things along the way and wanted to share a few of our best “behind the scenes” tips with you this month:

1) Start at the curb!  This is photo number one.  Buyers form their first impression from the MLS photos.  (source:  Zillow Blog)  Make sure your front exterior is warm & welcoming and shows great yard maintenance and love.

2) Pack up all personals - photos, trophies & plaques.  This is super important in photos as well as showings because “personals” can be a huge distraction to potential buyers.

3) Declutter & tidy all rooms and please - just say no to floor storage, including boxes, bags  and tubs that eat up valuable square footage and look very “mysterious” in pics.

4) Clear and clean kitchen, laundry and all bathrooms.  Especially counters.  Sell those spacious counters and accent with just a few on-trend accessories.

5) Turn night into light:  avoid dark furnishings that compete with key selling features.  Examples include dark leather sofa sets sitting on top of dark wood floors in the living room.  Make those wood floors a feature by highlighting rooms with neutral-toned furnishings.

6) Art therapy hints - go big and stand alone.  You need just one strong piece of art per room.  We love abstracts to limit unnecessary attention spent on art interpretations.

7) Style to sell the key features!  What areas will you or your agent highlight in your property description?  Make sure these spaces pop with on-trend accents and accessories that will dazzle buyers and make them want to schedule a showing.

And don’t forget to schedule a photo styling appointment with your favorite House Dressings stagers for professional finish styling services to really make your listing a shining star for all buyers to see!

http://www.housedressingslft.com/request-photo-styling

Inspired By: House Dressings Shares Our Favorite Inspirations for 2020

Where do you find inspiration? For some, it’s about being outdoors, taking a brisk walk, or looking up at the sky and discovering a gorgeous rainbow. For others, inspiration can be found in daily life with time away from screens, practicing positivity, or enjoying amazing moments with special friends and loved ones. Inspiration can also come from the pages of the Bible, Pinterest, watching a great Ted Talk or even from the wisdom of a Fortune Cookie.

Wherever you seek inspiration, we can all agree that it comes from “time away” – an intentional decision to hit pause and just feel, listen, see. As stagers, we understand how important it is to stop and smell the roses (or essential oils!), letting our right brains take charge to visualize, imagine, and create. When we’re short on time and long on aspiration, we take mini-inspiration breaks by connecting with a favorite designer, blogger or social media influencer.

As we begin 2020, House Dressings wishes you the gift of inspiration through regular “pauses” as you ponder, absorb and encounter that brilliant spark that ignites your passion to explore new possibilities for your home and interior spaces. And just so you don’t have to wonder who we’re following in 2020 here’s our “secret” list of favorites:

Inspired By –

1. Anissa Zajac with House Seven Design

2. Mark D Sikes

3. Erin Wheeler with Sunny Circle Studio

4. Emily Henderson

5. Sarah Sherman Samuel

6. Whittney Parkinson

7. Gen Sohr with Pencil and Paper Co.

8. Sherry and John Petersik with Young House Love

9. Athena Calderone with Eyeswoon