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North Vancouver, BC Real Estate News

By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
How Important is Entry Presentation When Selling My Home? Home buyers will often make up their mind whether they like your home for sale or not, within the first few seconds of entering your home.  Therefore, a fetching entry or foyer presentation is crucial to engaging buyers and enticing them to see more of your home.  You don't want buyers to shut down, but to keep an open mind and even be intrigued to see what the rest of the home has to offer. One way I like to create a beautiful entry, is by hanging a bold, colourful piece of artwork.  Having a console table is ideal, and placing a large vase of flowers or a flower arrangement of some sort on top of the console, really adds life and pizzaz to the entry.  Greenery is also quite becoming, and an interesting tree or potted greenery a...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
Video Home Staging Tour - Before & After Here is a video tour of a home in North Vancouver that we recently staged.  Although this home was built in the 1980's, it had been updated inside, complete with arts & crafts style molding, updated paint colours, and granite kitchen countertops and stainless steel appliances. In this video tour, I take you from the outside of the home, into the vacant property.  There's no life or personality to the rooms.  After we staged the home, I walk you through again, only this time the rooms have come to life and feel warm and inviting.  Rooms are now clearly defined, and one can visualize how the rooms might be set up and used.  
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
Hello, My Name is Sally, and I'm a Blogoholic           I am addicted to Active Rain and blogging.  Really, they go hand in hand.  I cannot deny it.  I'm really a commenterholic.  If I read a post, good or bad, I feel obligated to leave a comment.  I'm getting the nickname "the mouth".  I just can't keep quiet.  It's a problem.  Since I'm a very visual person, what really grabs my interest when reading posts are the photos.  A post without a photo is like a sundae without a cherry, a ski run without snow, Eggs Benedict without the Bernaise sauce, a staged room without a fake orchid...  you get the picture.  Therefore, whenever I write a post, I'm more concerned about the photos that will go with the post than the written content.  My daughters have grown accustomed to me carrying my cam...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
New Year's Eve 2010 - What a Ball!                       This New Year's Eve, I invited 2 other couples to join us for dinner.  My dilemma was, what to prepare for dinner.  I wanted something a little more elegant than the usual fare, but was coming up with nothing.  I made a random comment on someone's post here on Active Rain about how I was thinking about making Beef Wellington, but I'd never made it before and it would either be great or a disaster.  Well, wouldn't you know it, not 2 minutes later, I received a personal email from Susan Emo, Gananoque's finest Realtor®, with a no-fail recipe for individual Beef Wellingtons.  Susan even suggested I place 2011 in extra puff pastry on each Wellington, for extra effect!  The Beef Wellingtons were a huge hit, and I can't thank Susan enou...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
I Got Zinged by the Zinger! You all know the "Zinger".  She's the Realtor® from Ottawa who loves to write those witty, funny, entertaining posts, usually turning the mundane into the extraordinary.  Here she is, just in case you don't know Valerie Zinger. Well, one day, not that long ago, I commented on one of Valerie's posts.  She was telling us how she was in the midst of "editing" (a great home staging term for "tossing") her longtime Christmas collection of ornaments.  She shared little photos of Christmas accessories that were being "shown the door", so to speak.  Amongst her collection, was an adorable little pair of Snowmen candle sticks, or Bonhomme de Neiges, as they are fondly referred to in Upper Canada.  With flight of finger, I quickly commented "Noooooo, don't do it, Valer...
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By Colleen Gunderson
(CENTURY 21 All Star REALTORS)
Investors are flocking to spend their cash on investment properties in the Phoenix market.  Only 30 minutes away in Casa Grande, Arizona there is a "sweet spot" of nearly new foreclosed homes at prices that provide less risk and equally good or better return for risk.  Canadian Investors have been the strongest foreign buyers in Arizona and they are investing in Casa Grande as an alternative to Phoenix areas where prices for homes similar can be 2 and 3 times higher.  Current examples:  You can get a builder model home 4 car garage, pebble tec pool, upgraded cabinets and counters with 3200+ square feet for under 130K!  Not low enough you say?  Okay how about a 2400+ sq ft home nearly new, upgraded, wood floors, pre-approved short sale for under 100K?  Okay still not low enough?  WAKE UP...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
North Vancouver Home Staging - Before & After Photos Yesterday I posted some before & after photos of this cute little bungalow in North Vancouver, staged by Exit Stage Right.  Here are a few more Before & After shots. Let me say, this job was not perfectly straight forward.  There always seems to be challenges that crop up, and this property was no exception.  As you will see, located in the Master Bedroom was a huge, washer and dryer!  Although incredibly convenient, it's probably not the most romantic item to be found in a bedroom.  I'm sure the new home owner will expand the ensuite bathroom, and incorporate a stacked washer/dryer, but in the meantime, we needed to take the focus away from this particular item, and back to the room at hand.  Without "hiding" the washer/dryer, we cho...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
Cute Little Bungalow Staged - Automnal Inspiration Exit Stage Right recently staged this cute little bungalow for sale.  We were inspired by the coming autumn season, and chose colours accordingly.  I also couldn't help myself - it has been a while since I've staged with my signature "Eiffel Tower".  I did enjoy throwing in a little French flair. The home was vacant, and feeling dull and uninspiring.  By staging this home, we added warmth and character without overdoing it.  Colours were pulled from the started point, the artwork above the fireplace.  We also decided to paint the fireplace a slightly darker shade than the wall colour, to give the fireplace a little more importance.  We used Benjamin Moore Rocky Road.  I hope you enjoy some before and after photos of this charming little...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
Silly Signs - From the Absurd to the Ridiculous Oh, heaven help us!  This is a new sign to let drivers know which way to turn to catch the B. C. Ferry, and which way to go to continue on up to Whistler.  If you were a tourist, would you know which way to go?!! Ok, someone got creative creating this sign! This sign is located in Mosquito Creek Park in North Vancouver, right by a wonderful swimming hole for dogs - or at least, that's how it has developed.  Unfortunately, a few dogs get a little over-zealous, and can't stop barking.  The neighbours in the area have complained, hence this sign to please keep Fido quiet.  Of course, this particular sign seems to be aimed at French poodles... A wonderful use of homonyms, don't you think?  These are a few of the silly signs we have here in Nor...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
Fix -Er Up Before You Sell   Small repairs made before a house goes on the market, can save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Recently, we staged this West Coast contemporary home.  The home had been a rental for quite a while, and when the tenants left, the home needed a little TLC.  The home owner had the walls painted in the interior, but when I went for a pre-staging look at the home, I found there were some items that still needed attention.  The hardwood flooring was in great condition, but the carpeted areas were quite stained.  A buyer would take one look at the carpets and over-estimate the cost of replacing these carpets.  I simply advised that the carpets be cleaned.  They came out beautifully, and are now not an issue.      The first and last impression you have of a...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
Well You Can Read, Can't You? - Attracting Buyers with Words The written word is a very powerful thing.  If you see something written, it must be so.  Why not attract buyers with the written word?  In a recent home staging project, we planted words here and there, to speak to potential buyers.  Here are some examples of how we "spoke" to clients, without even opening our mouths.  The bathroom was pretty uninteresting.  We needed to convey a spa like place; a retreat away from the maddening world.  What better way, than writing out in words how one should feel when in this bathroom?  Towels with the words "calm", "relax", "beautiful", "body" convey a message that will speak to the buyer. Just in case the potential buyer missed the towels on the counter, we planted another towel in the co...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
Whimsy Can Sell Your House - North Vancouver Home Staging Recently, we staged a West Coast contemporary home in North Vancouver, B.C.  This home has a youthful, modern appearance, and we wanted to attract a young, urban couple, or young family.  One of the key ways to make this home more appealing, was to add a little bit of whimsy to the decor.  We didn't want to take ourselves too seriously.  We decided to add a little humour to this space. Above is a photo of the kitchen eat-in area.  Using mid-century modern furniture added a fun, retro feeling.  We added these mirror stars for a little bit of fun and interest.  These stars are shiny, tying in with the chrome and steel of of the kitchen.  The stars seem to float and play on the wall between the table and the peninsula countertop - a...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
West Coast Contemporary - Before & After Staging Photos There are quite a few West Coast contemporary homes in my area.  There seemed to be an explostion of this style of home in the 70's and 80's.  These homes aren't to everyone's liking, so it's important to make the interior as appealing as possible. Here are some before & after shots of a recent home staged by Exit Stage Right. Before - Kitchen After - Kitchen The main living areas are located upstairs, and have a fairly modern look, so we chose to furnish the main living area with more modern furniture. Before - Living Room After - Living Room Before - Living Room After - Living Room Although the feel of the home was fairly modern/contemporary, I still wanted add some warmth.  I chose to tell a bit of a story, using nautical touche...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
Keeping Fit - What's Your Favourite Sport? Keeping fit is a great way to feel energized and keep that waistline in check.  I think it's really important to find a workout that you love.  I have a friend who enjoys getting up at 5am, and trucking down to the local swimming pool for a swim every morning.  I applaud her - I think it's great that she loves to swim, and she enjoys this part of her day. For me, however, an early morning swim would just not work.  First of all, getting up that early in the morning would frankly ruin my whole day.  Secondly, I really detest that freezing cold, shock you get when you first jump into a swimming pool.  Finally, I'm not a great swimmer.  I never really picked up the whole sticking your face in the water, blowing bubbles and breathing thing.  It's r...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
Home Staging - It's Not About the Furniture - Part II In Home Staging - It's Not About the Furniture - Part I, I talked about how home staging is not just about filling a room full of furniture.  It's the little touches that enhance the furniture that are the real appeal when selling a house. I also talked about adding a tranquil feeling with organic items, and adding interest with tactile accessories, in order to grab a buyer's attention, and appeal to them on a psychological level.  Here in part II, I'd like to add to this list, with other small touches that will pull at a buyer's heart strings, and make a home for sale memorable, starting with "bling". Bling I always love to add something shiny or silver.  Silver candle sticks, silver vases, chrome; let's face it, there's a little ma...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
Home Staging - It's Not About the Furniture - Part I Of course, an important part of home staging is supplying or re-arranging furniture.  To be honest, anyone can fill a room full of furniture.  There is a talent to how furniture is placed, taking into consideration traffic flow, the proportions of the human body in a space etc.  However, the real art of home staging lies in the small touches that speak to prospective buyers. Is a bathroom outfitted with clean towels and a new shower curtain enough?  Ho-hum, thinks the potential buyer on seeing this.  What is a buyer looking for?  Something out of the ordinary.  Something that speaks to them and grabs their attention.  It's all in the details.  It's all in the subliminal message that "this is your new home and you belong here".  Organi...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
Home Staging in North Vancouver, B.C. - Lower Lonsdale Apartment Transformation Exit Stage Right home staging was called in to transform this vacant apartment into a warm and inviting space.  This 1,000 square foot apartment is located in Lower Lonsdale, a great area, close to Lonsdale Quay, the ocean, restaurants and seabus access to downtown.  Although this apartment is in an older building, it has ample square footage, which most new apartments don't offer. This apartment has been on the market since January, and didn't show very well, as it was tenanted.  The tenants have since moved, and a vacant, lifeless shell was left.  With some savy home staging, this apartment has been transformed from lifeless, to warm, funky, youthful and inviting, great for a young couple or singleton! Her...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
Life! by Design - Turning a Negative into a Positive “I am not leaving my family and moving to Australia”!  With that, my mother threw tickets to Australia into the fire.  This, apparently, is how the story went.  My mother and father both hail from London, England.  Dad worked at Lloyd’s of London, and was fed up with the rat race of taking the tube every day to work.  He longed to travel to a commonwealth country and start a new life.  My mum, on the other hand, was very close to her 3 sisters in England, and didn’t want to move. Don’t worry, I’ll get to me, but really, I need to give you some background before I showed up.  Dad tried again, a few months later, with tickets to Canada.  This time, he said they would just try it out for two years, then return to England.  This was in 19...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
North Vancouver Home Staging, Exit Stage Right, was excited to stage this property for sale.  This is a lovely home in North Vancouver, situated overlooking a river, very near Bridgman Park.  The home is traditional in style, and has great curb appeal.  Exit Stage Right also included a colour consultation for the exterior, in order for buyers to visualize the exterior's potential with new paint colours.   The home has great bones and just needed some colour and artwork to bring out the home's features.  As it's spring, we decided to go with a spring theme, adding floral artwork, and bringing in bright green and orange accessories.  Of course, there is a slight French theme also - Paris in Springtime...  I know, I couldn't help myself! I hope you enjoy the "before & after" shots.    The ...
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By Sally Weatherley, Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C
(EXIT STAGE RIGHT)
I just wrote this article today for the B.C. Real Estate Convention e-newsletter.  We will be exhibiting in this show, and thought I would share these quick tips.  I created the photos using Picnik, after taking Jackson West's webinar (see his latest Blog).  Enjoy! TOP 5 TIPS TO READY YOUR HOME FOR SALE Did you know that 90% of buyers view a listing of a home for sale on the internet before they even decide to visit the home in person? Once a byers enters a home, they form an opinion of that home within the first 8 seconds. Great first impressions are crucial when selling your home.  How does your home stack up next to the competition?  How do your mls photos look, compared to other listings on the internet? Do you remember the feeling you had when you first walked into a boutique hotel...
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