One of Julea's Model Homes

What is it about Model homes that make them so appealing? Is it the freshness of all new; is it the sassy paint colors, the perfectly placed furniture, art and accessories or the beautiful groomed backyard that makes you want to plop right down on that comfy club chair? Well…. Yes to all the above. A builder holds host to an array of skilled professionals to make that Model beautiful. From blue print to drawer pulls that Model home is meticulously planned.

Beyond the nicely placed furniture, Model homes are the current reflection of the home environment needs of the target market for the Builder. They are a turn-key product, designed and packaged for the desires of perfect buyer.

Models homes are lovely because they have the latest and the greatest, are fresh and new and are meticulously detailed. Psychology, more than decorating is applied to make them look so fabulous. From architecture to floral arrangements, Model homes are planned with “YOU” in mind.

So how can you make your listing as appealing as a Model Home? – Here are 10 ways.

1.) Clean. Those nice angled vacuum lines, gleaming windows, and perfectly manicured lawns in Model homes speak to a potential buyer – You don’t have to do a thing. Translate that into - A little elbow grease goes a long way. A super clean home says “turn-key” to the potential buyer. Have every inch of the home, blind slats to porch light glass, super clean and perfectly coiffed. According to a national 2011 survey done by Real Estate based Home Gain (www.homegain.com,)  a $290.00 cleaning investment gives a $1990.00 price increase, or a 586% return!

2.) Fresh and Smells Good. People buy homes on emotion, and your 5 senses are a direct path to your brain. If a home smells and looks “funky,” “doggy,” “smoky,” or if the stove is coated with cooking gone bad – The home is off their list. Just like you would detail your car to sell, invest in clean and spotless carpets, patched, repaired and freshly painted walls and new appliances if the old have seen better days. Be wary to skip this step and take the low road with room refreshers, candles and stove burner covers – Potential buyers are not fooled.

3.) Color. Any advertising executive will tell you color is a key to properly packaging a product; and a listed home is just that, a product. Throw away the off-white manta of old school home staging rules – Welcome to the era of HGTV. Using color is a powerful and inexpensive way of making that home stand out from the rest, and with so many decorating TV shows boasting the benefits of color, you better get hip to hues. From 1st Web impressions to curb-appeal, color is a strong emotional tug for the potential buyer. Update yourself on the latest color trends in wall color, appliance, fixtures, etc… and apply it to your target buyer. For home staging, use earthy, calm tones for the bigger areas such as wall color and add pops of saturated colors in the details; such front doors, accessories or annuals.

4.) Make Space. The joy of a Model home is the acres and acres of unused storage space & beautifully organized closets. Reduce, organize, upscale and edit all the home’s spaces when it comes to closets and storage areas. If the home’s price point dictates, upscale the closets with custom organizing options.

5.) Clear a Path. Consider that many people with be walking through the home. Make sure traffic patterns, entrances and exits are well established. Too much furniture, undefined entrances and awkward walkways confuse and discourage buyers from moving about the property. Follow a Model Home’s lead and create a concise walking pattern for potential buyers starting at curbside to back fence.

6.) Lovely Layouts. From the landscape to furniture placement, take a clue from Models homes that continuity and flow make for a good mix. Create curb appeal with nicely maintained landscaping, added annuals and perennials, an inviting stoop and well groomed walk and driveways. Inside, make sure each room depicts what its function is, enhances the highlights of the room (i.e. fireplaces or upgrades,) and allows the buyer to envision themselves in the space.

7.) Set the Mood. Create ambiance and character in the home with well thought out placement of sensory and lifestyle components. Soft music, lighting on dimmers, candles lit, and fresh floral are all great ideas for Broker or Open houses. If you have concern about candles, battery operated candles that even have timers built in are now readily available. Stage the dining room table tastefully, or set the stage in a back yard with a detailed patio retreat. Offering helpful lifestyle hints has always been in the Model Home arsenal and always is a huge hit.

8.) K.I.S.S. On the opposite note, don’t over accessorize, go over-board with the lifestyle tips or create “store bought theme” rooms (i.e. Chef-with-a-Hat Kitchen or Anniversary Bathtub vignette complete with Champagne bottle and fake ivy.)

9.) Appeal to a Target Buyer. Model home Builders hire tony Marketing companies that create campaigns to market that home. Consider "WHO” the ideal buyer that will be interested in the property is, and market the property accordingly. From advertising photos to furniture, consider who will find this appealing and desirable.

10.) Market, Market, Market. Model Homes have great marketing incentives inside and out. From clear address markers, great signs, to small exit giveaways, to an exit survey - Market that listing to the fullest.

What is it about Model homes that make them so appealing? Is it the freshness of all new; is it the sassy paint colors, the perfectly placed furniture, art and accessories or the beautiful groomed backyard that makes you want to plop right down on that comfy club chair, or light the grill on the patio? Well…. Yes to all the above. A builder hold hosts to an array of skilled professionals to make that Model beautiful. From blue print to drawer pulls that Model home is meticulously planned.

Beyond the nicely placed furniture, Model homes are the current reflection of the home environment needs of the target market of the Builder. They are a turn-key product, designed & packaged for the desires of perfect buyer.

Models homes are lovely because they have the latest and the greatest, are fresh and new and are meticulously detailed. Psychology, more than decorating is applied to makes them look so fabulous. From architecture to floral arrangements, Model homes are planned with “YOU” in mind.

So how can you the Realtor make your next listing as appealing as a Model Home? – Here are 10 ways.

1.) Clean. Those nice angled vacuum lines, gleaming windows, and perfectly manicured lawns in Model homes speak to a potential buyer – You don’t have to do a thing. A Realtor can translate that into - A little elbow grease goes a long way. A super clean home says “turn-key” to the potential buyer. Have every inch of the home, blind slats to porch light glass, super clean and perfectly coiffed. According to a national 2009 survey done by Home Gain (www.homegain.com,) a $100-$200 cleaning investment gives an 872% return!

2.) Fresh & Smells Good. People buy homes on emotion, and your 5 senses are a direct path to your brain. If a home smells and looks “funky,” “doggy,” “smoky,” or if the stove is coated with cooking gone bad – The home is off their list. Just like you would detail your car to sell, invest in clean and spotless carpets, patched, repaired and freshly painted walls and new appliances if the old have seen better days. Be wary to skip this step and take the low road with room refreshers, candles and stove burner covers – Potential buyers are not fooled.

3.) Color. Any advertising executive will tell you color is key to properly packaging a product; and a listed home is just that, a product. Throw away the off-white manta of old school home staging rules – Welcome to the era of HGTV. Using color is a powerful and inexpensive way of making that home stand out from the rest, and with so many decorating TV shows boasting the benefits of color, you better get hip to hues. From 1st Web impressions to curb-appeal, color is a strong emotional tug for the potential buyer. Update yourself on the latest color trends in wall color, appliance, fixtures, etc… and apply it to your target buyer. For home staging, use earthy, calm tones for the bigger areas such as wall color and add pops of saturated colors in the details; such front doors, accessories or annuals.

4.) Make Space. The joy of a Model home is the acres and acres of unused storage space & beautifully organized closets. Reduce, organize, upscale and edit all the home’s spaces when it comes to closets and storage areas. If the home’s price point dictates, upscale the closets with custom organizing options.

5.) Clear a Path. Consider that many people with be walking through the home. Make sure traffic patterns, entrances and exits are well established. Too much furniture, undefined entrances and awkward walkways confuse and discourage buyers from moving about the property. Follow a Model Home’s lead and create a concise walking pattern for potential buyers starting a curbside to back fence.

6.) Lovely Layouts. From the landscape to furniture placement, take a clue from Models homes that continuity and flow make for a good mix. Create curb appeal with nicely maintained landscaping, added annuals and perennials, an inviting stoop and well groomed walk and driveways. Inside, make sure each room depicts what its function is, enhances the highlights of the room (i.e. fireplaces or upgrades,) and allows the buyer to envision themselves in the space.

7.) Set the Mood. Create ambiance and character in the home with well thought out placement of sensory and lifestyle components. Soft music, lighting on dimmers, candles lit, and fresh floral are all great ideas for Broker or Open houses. If you have concern about candles, battery operated candles that even have timers built in are now readily available. Stage the dining room table tastefully, or set the stage in a back yard with a detailed patio retreat. Offering helpful lifestyle hints has always been in the Model Home arsenal and always a huge hit.

8.) K.I.S.S. On the opposite note, don’t over accessorize, go over-board with the lifestyle tips or create “store bought theme” rooms (i.e. Chef-with-a-Hat Kitchen or Anniversary Bathtub area complete with Champagne bottle.)

9.) Appeal to a Target Buyer. Consider "WHO” the ideal buyer is that will be interested in the property, and market the property accordingly. From advertising photos to furniture, consider who will find this appealing and desirable.

10.) Market, Market, Market. Model Homes have great marketing incentives inside and out. From clear address markers, great signs, to small exit giveaways, to survey - market that listing to the fullest.

1st recommended by her Realtor when she 1st arrived in the Chicago land area from Louisville in 2007, my new client wanted to put her stamp on her new home. We used what she already owned, and made her new home hers with a new wall color paint palette and interior redesign.
Three years later, relocated again - I'm at it again with her new home in Indiana.

If you're read to make a change, or have just moved into a new home, Room Makeovers are great way to revitalizing a home. Also know as interior arrangement, or redesign, this decorating technique celebrates the homeowner's existing things. By using the client's own pieces, it validates past purchases, embraces family treasures and readies a space for new decorating ideas or purchases.

1. Color Consultation - Often times a new homeowner wants to start decorating their new home from the get-go. Gone with the old homeowners, in with color choices in-tune to her belongings and personal style.



2. Interior Redesign- We take what you have and make it all work within your new home. In a few hours, your blank space becomes your space. Your room becomes balanced, functional and unified. Best of all, you get instant gratification, validate your existing pieces, and readies the space for family and friends. If added items are desired, I'll create a "wish list" of things that will enhance the room further.



3. Shopping & Traditional Design Services- If you'd like to refresh and add to your collections, I can make suggestion or shop for those new pieces. I too offer more traditional design service such as window treatments and one-of-kind accents such as custom floral arrangements to add those finishing touches to your space.

End Result: A home you can call you own, without the stress of thinking you have to buy ALL NEW. A space you can entertain and live-in within a few weeks of moving in.

"The thing I love about you Julea is that I would of thought to put everything back just the way you had it in my old home, instead your found a whole different way of arranging and displaying my things to fit into my new home - creating something fresh and new." - Angela

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We all watch those reality home staging improvement shows on HGTV...
In what seems like a day... A home that has been haplessly sitting on the Market, goes from drab and hopeless, to totally fabulous. The makeover is incredible! From a whole new kitchen (including appliances and really cute back-splash glass tiles) to a household full of new furnishings - All for a mire $2000.00! WOW, Staging sure seems remarkable.

Well, just like a sub-prime mortgage.... What seems too good to be true, well, is. The truth is - the TV show has a behind-the-scene staff of around 20, and they got that cute glass tile for free - Check the credits.... If you actually totaled the actual real-time labor and material cost you'd be at least five times that price, if not more...

But have no fear, ALL staging doesn't have to cost you a pretty penny - In fact, if smartly done, staging can make a huge impact -without the hefty price tag. The trick is having a smart Realtor and a good Stager. The smart Realtor knows that staging is going to take the home to the next level, and is the ultimate marketing tool. The good Stager is packed with creativity, and can advise the homeowner on cost effective updates that don't break the break, and will give you a bang for your buck to boot.

-Take my two latest staging as examples.
ONE - Done a few weeks ago - This poor empty town home that had sat on the market for over 250 days. Now with a new Realtor, the Realtor brought in her Stager - Smart Realtor. The out-of-state owners were willing to have the unit merchandised within a small budget. I worked with the existing color scheme, removed, touched up, and staged the unit with a frugal budget. The products were purchased JUST for the unit, and will stay with the unit when sold (A sassy marketing tool...) Beside just merchandise, a small bistro set and air bed were used to enhance the space.

The home was staged on Monday, the home went on the Market that weekend, and they had an OFFER on Tuesday - So within 48 hours of going on the market, the home had a buyer... WOW, Staging is truly remarkable, take a look - http://www.realestateshows.com/show.php?id=371391&resize=1

TWO - My second staging was just done this past Saturday. The near empty home had been on the market since September, with no interest, and now too has a new Realtor - who brought a stager in - Smart Realtor.

From my suggestions the seller agreed to painting a few key rooms of the home, making it "Move-in Ready." The paint crew worked Thursday and Friday. I came in at 8am. on Saturday morning to stage the home. With some merchandising and using what was left in the unit - The home was staged -

With a bit of advertising the Realtor had an open house on Sunday, all with gushing reviews, and another showing on Monday, and an offer on Tuesday. Wow, staging is truly remarkable, take a look: http://www.realestateshows.com/show.php?mls=basic&id=374821

So, with a bit a frugality, smart updates, and a great selling & marketing team - You too can successfully stage your home on a budget.

Just Closed ...
This 1.5 Million Dollar home had been on the market for just over the 2007 year. In a tony Chicago-land suburb, this was 1 of 6 new homes for sale on the block.
In 3 months, this now lovely went from languishing to SOLD SOLD SOLD.

-Empty homes struggle to find an identity that a buyer can emotionally connect to.

-Although it had magnificent custom amenities, a great location, & floor plan, it felt cold and uninviting.

• AFTER staging
  
• -By choosing furnishing in-tune to the products of the home (in this case the lighting finish color & cabinet wood tone,) colorful home's style appropriate accents, and soft window treatments (a perfect foil for the tile floors -) The space goes from empty - TO A HOME.

-The beautiful selling features, neutral move-in ready color palette, are enhance, improved and inviting -THE BUYER MAKES A CONNECTION.

In today's market, no matter how beautiful, how custom, or a tony the location every home needs bit of staging.

Tales of an Interior Stylist
Pushing all the Right Buttons when Staging a Living Room

I'm your personal Home Elevator Operator, educated on every level of all your decorative needs no matter which floor you may require. Whether you wish the 1st floor - "Moving In," or top floor -"Moving Out," I'm there to help push all the right buttons (I also have the talent to stop in between floors, but that's another tale...)If requiring a trip to the top floor "Moving Out -" I've got some helpful tips on which buttons to push to get that Living Room in top shelf condition.

The Home's 1st Impression - One of the two rooms that flag the foyer, this space needs to set the collective tone for the whole home and impress the potential buyer.

A Whole Lot of P's - Once you've reached this floor, there may be packing, depersonalizing, pulling (as in wallpaper,) and painting in this space. May I suggest a calming, classic & reserved tone such as SW-7694 Dromedary Camel.

Give the Space a Spa Day - Refresh that Space! Clean the carpet or buff the floors, touch up the trim, vacuum the cushions, polish the wood, and Windex the glass. A bit of spit and polish will make everything shine. You get a 578% return on your investment.

Fixate on a Focal Point - Every space has a great feature, it could be a beautiful picture window or fantastic fireplace. Showcase this wonderful selling feature by arranging seating and furniture accordingly.
Queue Home's Style & Stature - Make sure that your furnishings and accents are in tune to your home's style and stature. There's nothing worse than the wrong shoes with a great dress.

Selling Square Footage - Keep in mind when creating your seating arrangement - you're selling square footage. Keep your HGTV angles and furniture to a practical minimum.
Corral your Collections - Although you may love acres of family photos, Thomas Kincaid's, or candles, when selling a home the collections must be minimized. Too many multiples are distracting, take up space, and may trigger personal opinions.

Making Positive Sense - Push the emotion button by evoking the senses. Try a large vase brimming with bright seasonal blooms either store bought or from your own back yard. (A personal favorite is simple fresh hosta leaves in a clear vase. ) Open the windows and let a gentle breeze stir, and try some tactile accents such as knobby throws or bamboo containers as a foil to smooth fabrics or shiny woods.

Set the stage for your home by presenting the Living Room in its best light. By showcasing the room's selling features, creating an emotional connection, and setting the style and stature of the home - You'll be pushing all the right buttons for a successful sale of your home.

A new added product to my Interior Redesign/Home Staging "Bag 'o' Tricks" will include a can of PAM cooking spray.

• I film monthly this little local cable cooking/entertaining show (which I affectionately call 'The Wayne's World of Cooking Shows,') and was preparing for the shoot yesterday. I had purchased new glassware for the tropical table setting, and was soaking the glasses in the sink - I was going for a whole "Wish I was at an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean - Instead of Here" look for the show.

With 45 minutes till the crew showed up, I was Red Bulling through my kitchen prepping for the show. With no time to waste, I pulled those glasses out of the water filled sink thinking that the labels would just slip off, only to find them firmly stuck to the bottom of the glasses like leeches on an Explorer's leg in the Amazon.

With a clock ticking down, my kitchen not in order, no lip stick applied, and those labels stuck - I reached for the closest thing to me - PAM.

With a little squirt, I got an end finally lifted up, and to my shock those puppies came right off. With a second squirt and some elbow grease, the layer of adhesive came off too.
I kissed my can of PAM, which reminded me I needed to apply that coat of lip stick, and put the glassware on the table.

The filming went off w/out a hitch, my table was a hit, I had lip stick on for the filming - A can of PAM - Saved the day!





--Post Note: Shopping Explorers BEWARE - Tuesday Morning has discovered a pricing label that defies all physics - It is made of some sort of plastic that is impervious to water, and has an adhesive bond that can compete with those crazy commercials for bonding materials that you can pull trucks with...