Real or Staged- Fake or Famous?

Last night I watched the new HBO MAX movie titled "Fake Famous".  The premise of the movie was to highlight the role of influencers on our social media and the steps taken to achieve this status.  Those who desire to become influencers generally want to grandularize their own fame and recognition.  This is achieved by getting an increased number of likes and followers.  

As I watched the development of the documentary it became clearly apparent how significant image is in adding value to what we perceive as superiority. Many of the influencers highlighted were selected to represent the face of a physical product or tangible idea.  These individuals were shown in carefully procured photos to convey the actual location or setting mode when in fact, often this is a total snow job. 

(spoiler alert- watch the film to see what a coach seat on an airplane and a toilet seat have in common)

As a Realtor we are taught the importance of Curb Appeal when we prepare a new property listing.  The ideal photos will portray a home that looks picture perfect both when seen online and in person to potential buyers in the marketplace.  Increasingly there are Real Estate sights that promote no-show online listing abilities.  In addition there are companies that do virtual staging.  Virtual staging allows a buyer to visualize how a space may look but should not be allowed to create a false reality of the in-person viewing.  How would a consumer know if the property actually has the same physical presence as the online image?  Although the convenience of doing the entire process virtually may sound appealing I encourage all buyers to find the proper professionals including a Realtor and Legal Counsel to guide one through the process.  

As I watched the documentary I became more skeptical about what I see online in media posts. I believe we can observe images online but if one is a serious consumer it is important to make an informed decision based on true due diligence.  Don't just look at the pretty pictures.  Do your research.  

As a Realtor part of my job is to help and educate my clients.  I have been working virtually since the start of the pandemic.  During this time I recently earned the NAR e-Pro Designation. I took courses to develop my skills for the latest technologies and security tools. I have learned that what you see isn't always what you get.  In real estate, in particular one cannot rely on online images alone. I am always encouraging my clients to learn as much as they can about their intended purchase.   

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham.  She enjoys coffee, walking her dog, theater/arts, reading, writing, travel and meeting new people.  She always welcomes the opportunity to have a virtual coffee now that we are amidst the “new normal”.  Check out her website at www.wendybcb.com or her FB page @wendybcb as she posts up to date content to meet the ever changing marketplace.  

The importance of staging

Who can remember the feeling of love at first sight?  We all want to look our best when meeting someone new to make a good first impression.  Studies have shown that buying a house invokes similiar emotions and it is often said that a buyer will know if interested within the first few minutes of looking at a home.

Staging is the process of dressing your home to make that first important impression.  There are different ways to prepare your home for entry to the marketplace.  Depending on the age and condition of a home,  work may need to be done structurally or cosmetically to spruce it up a bit.  Little things like painting or decluttering can often go a long way to showcase the space and structural integrity of your home.   A study by the NAR shows that a staged home typically sells much quicker than one that isn't.

From my experience the top priority to preparing a home for sale should first be to declutter.   You want to be able to show the structure of your home and make the unique features of the physical property easily visible and accessible.  I recommend going room by room and getting rid of the junk.  Categorize things by if you will continue using them when you move or not.  Get rid of things you don't want and consider putting things that you don't use in a storage pod until you move.  You want to remove as many personal items from your space as possible.

For a more expensive home it may be worthwhile to hire a professional stager or organizer but even if you are on a limited budget there are easy ways to show your place in the best possible way.  Below are a few links to articles on staging I have recently read.

Tips for hiring a stager 
Staging on a limited budget
How to hire a professional stager
Do it yourself Staging tricks
Decluttering tips made elegant
In our technology driven times many millennials want a home that is Smart staged.

Wouldn't you always want to put your best foot forward when you embark on a new project?   Selling a home requires an even higher level of preparedness.  I hope the above tips give you some insight into this process.  As I find more articles related to staging I will add links to this blog post below.

When considering a move it is a good idea to meet with an experienced realtor who can guide you in the preparation process as there are many things to do beforehand to be well positioned.  Remember your property is only a new listing ONCE so you want to get it right the first time to attract the most buyers.  A realtor has insight into how to do this to be competitive in the market place.

Wendy is a realtor in the metro west area of Boston.  She takes a hands on approach with each client and has built a team of professionals to help with each step along the way to make the process as seamless as possible.  As an SRES she is able to help with downsizing and advising her more mature clients on selling "a well lived in" family home.  If you would like a free consultation on how she can help you sell your home please email her at wendy@wendybcb.com.

The Urge to Purge

Do you find yourself surrounded by stacks of stuff and overfilled cabinets and closets.  We are all victims of clutter and we often blame our housemates for not throwing anything away.  My husband often says to me that if there is a surface I fill it.  In truth his office looks like a fire hazard with piles of paper.

We get so much unnecessary mail and it is easy to put it in a "todo" pile to look at later.     This can create extra work in the long run.  A few times I have been caught missing a bill or getting a second notice to sign up for something when if I had paid attention in the first place, one piece of correspondance would have been enough.    It is very important to periodically go through and clear the desk.

As I go through my closet and my kids rooms noting disarray it is apparent that we all have too many clothing and accessories items.  I have things I haven't worn for years but somehow can't give up.  Of late I have been trying to wear things I forgot about hidden in my back drawers.  It is fun to rediscover things in your own closet.  I recently found a suit I bought 8 years ago for my nieces Bat Mitzvah that I had dry cleaned and hadn't worn since.  I have more than enough clothing and really don't need more although I admit I do like to shop.  Ok I love shoes, scarves and jewelry but I now ask myself if I really need something before I make a purchase.  I think about if it is for a one time outfit or if it will be a staple to wear as part of my working wardrobe.

Christy Farr's new book Is Your Home a Happy Place confronts the issue of the "unruly woman" and looks at techniques to make your home a happy place free of stress and clutter.   With the holidays coming it is a good time to organize your home for company and ease of the season.   http://theweeklybookscan.blogs.realtor.org/2016/10/04/recognizing-clutter-for-what-it-is/

As a realtor I often confront people saying they would love to downsize but can't think about it until they clean up and get rid of their accumulations.  A daunting task of which I am quite familiar as I had the pleasure of helping my in-laws downsize and move to assisted living 3 years ago.  The process was grueling and difficult as we had to work within a tight time frame to purge and move 50 years worth of things.  It would have been so much more helpful if my in-laws had periodically gone through and gotten rid of things that they no longer needed or used.  I do now know what it takes to declutter and have a good rolodex of helpful resources to help my clients do the same.

I have since inherited my parents condo in Florida and it is also filled with 50 plus years of too much.  In order to sell the condo it first needs to be emptied and cleaned.  The task of cleaning, sorting and emptying its contents is much more difficult since it is out of state.  After a year on this project we are now ready to run an estate sale to help get rid of items that are impractical to keep or transport up north.  There are companies out there but you need to do research to find a reputable one.

After months of cleaning and sorting I made a promise to myself that I would never leave this type of situation for my kids.  I have since been much more diligent with purging and cleaning.  Although a lot of work it is something that needs to be done regularly.  I now feel much better when I address clutter before it gets out of hand.  Now if I can convince my other family members to follow my lead.

Wendy recently joined Coldwell Banker Needham.  She has been a realtor for over 8 years and knowing the area quite well can share a hands on local perspective.  She has also recently earned the SRES  designation and looks forward to helping other baby boomers as they approach their next transitions.  Feel free to contact her directly or click here http://www.wendybcb.com if you would like to learn more.