Home Staging to sell or stay in Spring - HGTV

It is gorgeous Spring and that piece of real estate you own deserves some attention.  Whether you are staging your home for sale this Spring or planning to stay put - these tips are simple and doable - even for a lazy gardener like me.

HGTV had some glorious ideas for staging this Spring.

1. Clean, clean and clean some more - organize closets,  drawers, windows, baseboards, light fixtures, polish knobs and pulls, clean grout.
2. Rent a steam cleaner for the carpets,  buff the hardwood floors with polyurethane.
3. Put away dark and cozy accessories and bring out the bright and colorful pillows, throws and area rugs.
4. Pull back curtains, raise the shades and blinds and switch on lights for showings.
5. Smells of fresh baked cookies is enticing - but if that is too much - light a candle with a mild natural fragrance appealing to all senses.
6. Bring blooms in from the garden - sprigs of cut flowers in vases scattered around the house, or simply botanical prints make it cheerful.
7. Clear off the counter - toasters, food processors, coffee makers all make the space look smaller and cluttered, clear them off and show off the beautiful granite!
8. A fresh floor mat, a spring wreath or a fun spring sign on the front door says "welcome!"
9. Potted plants with colorful flowers at the front curb or on the back porch or patio add tremendous charm.
10. Maintain the lawn meticulously while you are listed for sale.  Hire a service if needed.

To see pictures and learn more about the designers that gave these tips - visit HGTV - frontdoor.com
Which one of these seem difficult?  Please share your thoughts below.

Bela Vora, REALTOR®, 
Coldwell Banker Preferred - Exton
Office: 610 363 6006; Cell: (484) 947 3127
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Paint colors for home staging

Yes, you have heard it on HGTV - neutral colors help sell home faster.  Of all the home staging tips to make buyers fall in love with the house, paint is one of best places to invest your money.

Here are some reasons why repainting in neutral colors will help sell your home faster -
- It is one of the cheapest and easiest way to  freshen the home
- Buyers can imagine themselves in the space
- The house shows better in pictures online - where most buyers begin their search
- Very personal, strong non-neutral can turn buyers off (yes - even though they know they can easily fix it, they cannot get over that bright purple in your daughter's room)
- Buyers want a move in ready house - they do not want a To Do list before they move into their new home.

I tried a few paint company websites and staging articles to come up with a list of warm neutral colors that I recommend to my clients who list their home.
Benjamin Moore -
Thousand Islands - CC 308
Muslin - CC 110
Monroe Bisque - HC 26
Shaker Beige - HC 45
Lenox Tan - HC 44
Barley 199
Natural linen - CC 90

Trim - Cloud white - CC 40


I have used Benjamin Moore because I found their website to most interactive.  Feel free to go to your neighborhood stores, Sherwin Williams,  Behr, or any other supplier to pick up similar paint chips or ask your contractor to match the sample from the supplier of his choice.

What colors would you recommend? 

For recommendations on good reliable paint contractors in the Downingtown, Chester Springs, Exton area - call me for references.
More articles on Staging.

Use Feng Shui to attract wealth

We have all heard about de-cluttering and stimulating good chi for a balanced life.  Check out how Feng Shui principles can be used to stimulate the wealth corner in your home.  The Sheffield School of Interior Design article recommends a few simple 'cures' that include flowing water in addition to green and gold colors in your decor. 

By all means, try it - the positive energy can only help.  But Feng Shui can only be in addition to all practical efforts - gotta keep rowing your boat.

Green Home for Sale?

With media bombarding us daily, it is hard not to be environmentally conscious.  However, how many of us have actually gone on to do energy audits for our home?  Better still - this one for me Realtor friends - did you ever hear of anyone buying a home because it was "green"?

Well - here are 8 tips for staging a sustainable home on the National Association of Realtors website - check them out.

Home decor with colors found in nature

I am a sucker for any article on home decor that begins with using colors, especially if it espouses inspiration from nature.  Here is an interesting article from The Sheffield school of Interior Design that talks about bringing the blues from the ocean and greens from nature into your bathroom.