As staging consultants I am sure you got to see lots of weird things. I did. And met fantastic people too.
Last week I did a staging consultation to a beautiful townthouse in Markham, which is a suburb of Toronto. While I just found the usual on the main and second floor, the basement was another story: an oversized glass cage with 2 CROCODILES. Although the glass structure was something that a ZOO can take some inspiration from, I don't think the crocodiles can help in any way with the selling of the house.
In fact the property was on the market for quite a bit, with no much interest, this is why I was brought in.
After some negotiations, the owner agreed to remove the cage and put the crocodiles in a pet hotel while the house is on the market.
I am just curious: what are some of the extravagant things you found over the years in your clients' properties?
When I get a call to do a staging consultation I ask the standard questions: how big is the property, location, number of bedrooms, finished basement or not, etc... the usual. But no matter how detailed this information can be, until I see the property in person, the property is just an address and a consultation time in my Blackberry.
Then the connection happens: I "meet" the property, the Real Estate Agent, then the homeowners who let me go in every room and open their closets:). This is when I feel I become a member of the "selling team": the agent, the homeowners and the staging consultant. It happened when I "met" the 26 Foxwood Rd., Thornhill Woods.
This property was a stager's dream: sparkling clean, great rooms, plenty of original art and some great antique pieces. The living room needed some furniture as it was almost empty and the family room needed an update. These are the only rooms where we brought rental furniture, in rest we just borrowed some pieces from other rooms and some of the existing furniture went in the basement, where we created a Rec Room. The homeowners were open to my suggestions and did their homework: pack and store the China Cabinet and the hutch from the Dining Room, lots of packing and storing, moved and stored the furniture from the family room...
There is a challenge in each staging project. Here I wanted to use as much of the homeowners' original classic art and antique pieces, but I needed to make the property appealing for the buyer's demographic, average age: 38. We had to stay very formal in the Living/Dining Room as we used the existing altique pieces in the dining area, but we went a bit more contemporary in the family room. We brought in some mirrors, art, coordinated accessories for the entire house and the end result is shown in the link below.
Were we successful?
www.26foxwood.com
This is the virtual tour provided by my agent partner, Arsen Gullesserian. I will post the Before pictures in my next entry.
Below is a summary of Cornell Projects for 2010 and beyond, as per Steve H. - www.cornellvillage.ca
Transportation
Donald Cousens Parkway - Work is expected to begin next year on the portion south of the 407 that will connect to 9th line north of Steeles. Completion is expected in 2011.
Bus Terminal - This terminal is planned for the south side of Hwy 7 near Donald Cousens Parkway. The project is expected to start in 2011 with completion in 2013.
16th Ave & Reesor Rd - New intersection to remove jog in road as well as new 2 lane bridge just East of Reesor Rd. Existing single lane wooden bridge will be kept for pedestrian traffic. Project is expected to start in 2011.
Public Projects
Community Centre and Library - The Community Centre will be located on Bur Oak Ave (south of Church street). It will connect with the Hospital and will contain a swimming pool with slide and splash pad, triple gym, library, rehearsal room, fitness centre, youth and seniors room. RFP is expected to go out in spring of 2010 with construction to start in the summer of 2010. Community Centre is expected to take 2 years to build (2012 completion).
Hospital Expansion - The 1st phase of clearing land, installing sewage and building parking lots started this fall with completion expected by summer of 2010. Once final approval is given from the Provincial Government, the hospital expansion is expected to start in the fall of 2010 with final completion expected by 2014.
Cornell Rouge Public School - Current plans are for this school to open in 2013. This date could get pushed up due to the full time Kindergarden program getting implemented.
Fire Hall - Construction of the Fire Hall on Bur Oak, just south of the Community Centre, is expected to start the summer of 2010 with completion by the end of 2011.
Private Projects (High Density)
Medical Building - This 4 storey building is currently being built on south side of Church street. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
Macwood and Springhill Condos - 6-12 storey condos (1200 units) are planned for the North-West corner of Hwy 7 and Cornell Centre Blvd. Final approval for the plans is expected by spring 2010 with sales projected by the end of 2010. They currently have sewage allocation for 200+ units.
Lindvest Condo and Retail - The first phase of 1,300 condo units, 50 live/work and commercial/retail/office buildings on the South side of Hwy 7 were approved 2 years ago. They have sewage allocation for a 150 unit condo building and the live/work buildings. There is no estimated start date for this first phase.
Cornell Gates - They are still working on the plans for this project. They are trying to encompass all of the land holders on the north side of Hwy 7 between 9th line and Bur Oak which will likely contain many high density buildings. They will need to update the Cornell Secondary plan first before they can bring specific projects forward. This is a few years away yet.
Woodhaven Retirement Residence - Plans have been approved for this 5 storey building situated between the existing Woodhaven building and Bur Oak Ave. There is no estimated start date although they will likely have it done for when the Community Centre opens. «
Staged 2 Sell Solutions Inc. staged this cute lived -in property in Toronto. Few days later and a bidding war, the property sold $121,200.00 over-asking!!!
We just brought in few accessories and voila...this is the transformation on a very small budget.
Please click on the Before and After link:
Cedarbank, Toronto
Here are the listing photos:
Cedarbank, Toronto
Now, this is the highest over asking we got so far, couldn't resist not share it with you.
We keep hearing from our clients or Realtors that in a hot Real Estate market they do not need to stage their properties, as they sell fast anyway... getting more than 120K over asking is a proof that staging works in any type of market.