THOUGHTS ABOUT SELLING

Letting Go - One of the great things about life is that it does not have to remain stagnant. The nature of life is change. Nothing stays the same forever. We grow up, we graduate, we change jobs, we travel and immerse ourselves in different cultures, and we collect things that give us pleasure. We make friends and let go of some. No matter what is happening, we are always moving forward. Sayings like “seize the day” and “grab the brass ring” are metaphors for living a full life and, according to Buddha, being completely open to the happiness each of us deserves. Being afraid of change holds us back and keeps us from enjoying the fullness of life that is right in front of us.

Why is it stressful to think about changing where we live? While moving from a long time residence can be a very emotional experience, at the same time, it offers endless possibilities for discovery and new and exciting experiences in a new environment. So how do we minimize the anxiety and make the transition smoother and even exciting?

One way is to minimize the pressure of last minute decluttering and packing. So many of us tend to accumulate things over the years that end up living in cabinets, closets or the garage, never to be used again. Why do we keep these things? We tell ourselves an item was too expensive to give away or it might be used “someday” or it’s “too good” to get rid of.

In truth, everything you own is associated with some level of responsibility. If you have clothes, furniture, accessories, games, toys, kitchen supplies or sports equipment that have not been touched in ages but are simply taking up space, the responsibility for all those things rests on you. Imagine how freeing it would be to let those things live somewhere else. Your options are numerous. You can sell on Ebay or Craig’s list, offer items to family and friends or, best of all, donate things to a worthy organization such as Hospice of the East Bay whose trucks will pick up donated furniture and other large items for free.

One test mentioned in a recently published book is to hold an item in your hand and ask yourself “Does this bring me joy?” You have to really think about it. If you cannot truly say “yes,” than give yourself the gift of letting go. As you look around, see the possessions that are most meaningful to you. They could be photographs, an old jacket, or a book you read and never forgot. If you had only 10 minutes to vacate your house, what would you take with you?

When your home is on the market, there are three things that are essential for prospective buyers to see when they walk through an open house: light, color and space. The more light, color and space you can create, the easier it is for others to picture where they can place their own furniture and accessories. Letting go of long forgotten, unused things can create so much space that you will wonder why you did not say goodbye to those items a long time ago.

Just as in physical exercise, movement is life! Embrace your move and everything associated with it. Know you are going to another place that will open up new, delightful and profoundly fulfilling experiences. Above all, don’t be afraid to let go!

Bringing Life to a Listing - Recently, I have been in several homes for sale that were very well maintained and had furniture in excellent condition. However, there were virtually no accessories. Each room seemed bland and lifeless. Homes with accessories that light up a room with color, a variety of fabrics and a lot of creativity repeatedly have been shown, on average, to sell more quickly and for more than the asking price.

How Do Agents and Sellers Benefit from Using an Accessory Stager?

Even after owners have decided to sell a home and have signed a contract with an agent, things do not always go smoothly, especially when it comes to preparing the home for an open house. There is so much emotion attached to leaving a home, especially if the sellers have lived there for many years. Asking them to remove everything and completely change the décor may be difficult for some people to accept because it takes them out of their comfort zone.

Turning the responsibility for that conversation over to a third party is often the solution to the problem. It relieves the agent of having to have that conversation with the sellers while, at the same time, letting the sellers know that a completely unbiased third party understands how they feel. Choosing an experienced stager with excellent people skills to accomplish all this is one of the most important steps in a smooth transition.

It is important for sellers to know that staging does not always have to be an all or nothing process. Homes with basically good furniture generally only need a change in accessories, a downsizing of some items and possibly some furniture, or a rearrangement of furniture and some accessories within the home.

Bringing in new accessories to make ordinary looking rooms pop while maintaining an air of elegance is a winning combination.

TESTIMONIALS

Our realtor recommended that we have our house staged prior to listing our house for sale. He recommended Barbara Halperin and stated that she does a great job staging a house without costing an arm and a leg. We had Barbara stage our house and patio. She also gave us some ideas for the grandkids tree house and a couple of other spots around the yard where we could set up little vignettes. She was always thoughtful with her suggestions as well as helping us understand the reasoning behind staging each room in a particular way. We needed to be out of town for a few days and when we returned, Barbara had the house staged. The various items Barbara provided for staging made the house look fresh. The house looked amazing and it sold quickly.

Thanks so much,

Barb & Ron Faraone

(Concord)

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Your staging was superb!

Thank you,

Wes Knapp

Excel Realty

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You were so helpful in getting Schenone staged so quickly for me and making it look so nice. As I said, it sold really fast with 7 offers and it was exactly what my clients needed. I appreciate all your professional touches and quick response. Thanks again and I look forward to next time.

Lisa Hoctor

Coldwell Banker

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Our objective was to get my parent’s house on the market quickly before summer vacations began, and without inviting the traditional cost and inconvenience of staged furniture and belongings. Our Realtor recommended Barbara Halperin.

She came to the house, toured the house, both inside and outside, and within 24 hours we had a very detailed and complete list – room by room – on what we should do to make the home more appealing, both inside and outside, to the general home buyer. When it was recommended that we purchase an item, she even included places to find the recommended item at reasonable prices. At the end of the document were photo examples. She was able to take what was available -- and a few purchased accessories -- and work with it while making the house attractive, inviting, and most importantly, desirable to potential buyers; and our cost savings were considerable.

Because I was in a wheelchair, Barbara knew my participation in moving things around, shopping for items and “decorating” would be very limited. She kindly brought items from her own inventory to add to what we had, and assisted my husband in pulling things together. The house was decorated very professionally and in a way that would appeal to the masses. We quickly received 3 offers on the house, and I know this quick turnaround was in part to Barbara’s staging assistance.

I highly recommend Barbara Halperin to anyone looking for professional staging assistance at a reasonable cost. And I feel she went above and beyond what was agreed upon when we hired her to assist us.

Lynne & Tom Herlihy

Antioch, CA

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“Having photographed hundreds of homes for sale, I am very impressed by the results of the personalized accessory staging Barbara Halperin does for sellers. She knows how to make rooms appealing to potential buyers while simultaneously positioning contents for the optimum pictures. In preparing her plans, her expert knowledge of space, balance, color, texture, proportion and flow result in a sense of harmony in each room. This encourages buyers to see rooms as a whole rather than be distracted by a single accessory or piece of furniture. From curb appeal to entrance to patio and yard, Barbara’s eye for detail is apparent. Moreover, I have witnessed Barbara’s interaction with sellers. She has a gentle way of interacting with them and is thoughtful and sensitive in discussing the need and the reasons for certain changes. Overall, Barbara’s results have been outstanding and there is no question that accessory staging is an excellent and economical choice.”

Mike Kirwan

Mike Kirwan Photography

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“When putting our home on the market my husband and I knew we needed to depersonalize our home but we were also were looking for suggestions on how to make our home more interesting and inviting for prospective buyers. We were so lucky to find Barbara Halperin through our realtor. Barbara came to our home and with a critical and artistic eye went through every room. The next day we received an e-mail with extremely easy to follow decorating advise for each room. Barbara also sent photos for visual examples and even sent a list of affordable stores to shop for our decorating needs. Her suggestions of color and textures really made the rooms’ decor pop! Our home looked beautiful, interesting, and inviting. I would definitely recommend Barbara to anyone putting their home on the market - a wonderful experience!!”

Best-

Suzy Ryner

(Brentwood)

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“I am very pleased to provide a reference for Barbara Halperin who recently completed a home styling assessment at 65 Antelope Court in Clayton. She first took time to speak with the sellers and was very tactful and sensitive as she talked about the nature of suggestions that would be made. Barbara then began her inspection of the home, keeping in mind a very lengthy list of things to look for and consider when selling a home and preparing for an open house. At this property, she conducted a thorough, very detailed inspection of every room in the house including all the closets, cabinets, storage areas, and garage. She also examined the entry way and the exterior on all sides of the house as well as the yard which has a pool, spa, high end bar-b-cue installation and more. In less than 24 hours, Barbara emailed to the sellers and to me a list of 28 suggestions for changes that would enhance the marketability of the home. All of the suggestions were accompanied by a reason, which made each one very palatable to the sellers.

Prior to the next open house, the sellers instituted nearly all of her suggestions. Moreover, Barbara contacted me to find out when the next open house would be and made arrangements to come by. She went through the house a second time, at no extra charge, and provided several additional suggestions.

I can say without reservation that Barbara is very conscientious, thorough and highly professional. She has a sharp eye for things most people would not notice but could create a negative impression unless changed. Her interpersonal skills are excellent, as demonstrated in both her verbal interaction with and diplomatically worded report to the sellers. Barbara's current fee is more than reasonable, particularly for sellers or agents who do not want to spend a great deal of money on a very expensive stager. I have no hesitation in recommending Barbara to any realtor or seller as a go to person to provide the service of styling homes for sale.”

Sincerely,

Owen H. McGrath

Colonial Mortgage and Real Estate

“F.Y.I. - I wouldn't hesitate to call you in the future. I thought you really handled it well.

Owen”

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"I had Barbara come to my home to provide recommendations on how to best showcase my home.

Barbara comes in and assesses your home as a potential home buyer would. She then provides a styling guide going room by room with her suggestions. Barbara is very cost conscious and provides tips and tricks on where to buy the necessary décor at a reasonable price. She gives you a plan to follow so that you can accomplish your styling goals. Her service is very reasonable since she is providing you with her expert recommendations and you, the client, are executing them."

Donna Davis

Martinez

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“Barbara, you did a great job!

Onkar Khatkar

Keller Williams Realty

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