What was the name of this project and why?
We called this The Stagers Home because — are you ready for this? — it’s my house. Working on this project gave me a whole different perspective. It’s different going through this process as a home seller. Staging the stager’s home was a unique experience!
What neighborhood was this home in?
My home was located in Beaverton in the Sexton Mountain neighborhood, just steps from Sexton Mountain Elementary School and in close proximity to local eateries and local shops.
Who was your target buyer?
We determined that the targeted buyer would most likely be a young family. This neighborhood is great and our schools are highly rated. They will enjoy the nearby walking trails and urban feel of the home.
Who was the client?
Me! It’s strange being your own client. I learned a lot about preparing for a move. Staging the stager’s home doesn’t make it easier. There’s lots to do!
One of the biggest was starting the de-cluttering, donating, updating, painting and packing well before the list date. Yes, I knew to start at least a year before, yet the preparation never seemed to be done. We had garage sales, added bark dust to the landscaping, spruced the yard, hired professional cleaners, and staged each room. The list felt like it kept growing instead shrinking!
I was exhausted by list date and thankful we scheduled a vacation for first week showings and the weekend of the open house.
What challenges did you overcome?
The biggest challenge for myself and most people who have lived in their homes for years would be looking the home objectively. We consulted our own staging staff and our Realtor Breylan, who is very knowledgeable about selling trends.
We were not sure what to do about the natural brick on our fireplace. One of the most striking improvements he suggested was to paint it Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze. It completely transformed our home and complemented the kitchen tile in the adjacent kitchen.
Breylan also recommended we paint the back deck and front door the same color, which added an urbane feel to the home and reinforced the contemporary style. It also brought a cohesiveness to the whole house.
What features were you focused on showcasing?
We focused on featuring the natural wood beams and wood floors. We accomplished this by painting the walls the perfect warm white in Benjamin Moore White Dove. This color proved the perfect backdrop for the warm, natural finish of the oak floors and ceiling beams. The neutral colored paint brightened the room and even completed the warm white kitchen cabinets and dark tile.
Our own furnishings were already neutral enough for staging and had a mix of styles that would appeal to the widest audience. We focused on texture, bringing the feel of the outdoors inside for a cozy Northwest vibe with throw pillows, blankets. baskets and local photography.
We listed our house on July 21st, right on the cusp of the market shift. Most homes in our area were already dropping their prices and sitting longer on the new market.
We received a fantastic offer just 5 days after our listing date and sold 10k above asking price. The sales process was smooth and easy, which we attribute our staging and our Realtor for making sure our home was listing-ready!