MLS photos should NEVER Include

I'm part of a wonderful group in a well know social media 
about Real Estate Staging Association-National 
I came across this AMAZING list to stage a better photo on MLS!
If you are about to sale your property and think you are ready to post pictures 
Think twice,  read carefully this list and past on to your Real Estate Agent!!!

The Top 10  26  39 Things MLS Photos Should NEVER Include:

1. Trash cans - Inside and outside. Let's face it, trash cans are not appealing. 
2. Cars in driveways - I once viewed pictures on the Internet only to relay back to the seller that I know what his license plate number is. He wasn't happy.
3. Cars in garages - A garage will look far more spacious without the cars.
4. Unmade beds - Buyers are beginning their search for their home on the Internet. Your unmade bed will hardly draw the buyers into the home.
5. Tissue boxes, sprays, toilet bowl scrubbers in the bathrooms. 
6. Pets - Your pets are not for sale. Your house is.
7. Dead plants - they're simply not the most attractive thing. On top of that, it shows a sign of neglect.
8. Names on walls - sure the room may be theirs now. However, you want buyers to envision it being their room
9. People - They, too, are not for sale (smile).
10. You, the picture taker in the mirror. I see this mostly in bathrooms. I get that most bathrooms are small. However, you can kneel to take the photo.
11. Toilet seat up - If your photo must include the toilet (and sometimes, there's just no avoiding it), make sure the lid of the seat is put down.
12. Time/Date stamp on the photo - and like Brian Kuhns says below in the comments, this is ever a good idea unless the house sells within 5 days or less.
13. TV's on in the background - this can be extremely distracting.
14. Magnets and clutter on fridge - Eyesores, I tell ya. Eyesores.
15. Children's toys scattered about - This applies to the inside as well as the outside.
16. Dirty towels in bathrooms - It literally takes less than a minute to place the towels in the laundry. 
17. Dirty clothes - especially in the bedrooms. 
18. Family photos - As Steve Warrene Butler points out, the MLS photos will be all over the Internet. For safety precautions, it's simply makes sense to remove them.
19. Flash reflecting from mirrors or windows - I too have seen photos where this has happened. It simply doesn't make for a "great" picture.
20. Dirty dishes in sink and/or counter tops - There's nothing appealing about seeing dirty dishes. Heck, even clean dishes in the dish drain doesn't look good. Simply put - make sure all dishes are taken care of.
21. Window glare - Seems minor. However, it can also be distracting.
22. Gun cabinets and guns - for safety reasons, you'll not want these on display in your photos.
23. Jewelry and jewelry cabinets - as you never know who might be searching the Internet for items such as these.
24. Large liquor displays - Great that you like liquor. However, some people don't.
25. High-end electronics - this one may not be as easy to NOT photograph. However, if they can be avoided, great.
26. Nudity in artwork - may be viewed by a potential buyer as distasteful.
27. Litter boxes 
28. Political signs in front yard - My neighbor just put one up and now I can't stand him. Just kidding. You get the point.
29. Holes in walls or doors - Heck, why not just fix it?
30. Side view mirror - Really? Seriously? It would take two seconds (okay, maybe 5 seconds) to get out of the car.
31. Shadow of your thumb or hand near the edges of the picture - Let's not waste a single picture on something so silly.
32. Prepared food - (especially liver and onions). Okay... I added the liver and onions. But, you never know what the potential buyers like or dislike.
33. Heavy snow drifts in front or back yards - At times I'm sure these are difficult to avoid. However, it's worth the cost of the shovel, and the effort that goes along with it, for sure.
34. Lots of long icicles hanging from the eaves - Some are pretty, I get that. But, for those visiting the home first-hand, they could be hazardous.
35. Dead stuffed animals - some people may be offended.
36. Religious or highly ethnic paraphernalia 
37. Hoses - especially those strewn over the yard. 
38. People sleeping in beds - Unless you add zzzzz's over their head and a caption that reads  "leave me alone, I'm sleeping", it should be avoided.
39. Rival sports teams 

Keep this list for reference to avoid these mistakes!!!

View my Affordable packages

Have a lovely day and a special thank you to the author 

Kathy Nielsen!

 source Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

My spooky front door...

Last year decor at my doorstep and my first time really putting some kind of effort to make it look like Halloween, not being fond of the duo color black and orange altogether!!! 

Last year 

This year

This year, notice the Photo on the right!

The completion came final when my mother gave me this big terracotta pot. Thank you Mommy!

I love my flying bats, they highlights my spooky front door theme, and my guests always arrive with a smile at my doorstep!!! I wish you a fun and safe Halloween, Xo
 Sonia Daigle

Black is back...

Before- A beautiful large vase that had no pizzazz

Two coat of creamy black paint and one spray can of glossy finish 

the vase became standing proudly and the owner was happy!

A fun and easy project to do, a vase that gets a second and better After life...

 Please don't hesitate to ask question on the comment form below.

View my affordable services here

Thank you for visiting, xo

Sonia Daigle

The Famous Tiffany Blue in your decor!

I just can't wait to own one of this Blue Box. But in the meanwhile, I can at least get it from decorations!

Tiffany Inspired romance by dreaming of feminine in this blue décor. Be it an all-over blue colour palette or just as an accent. Timeless glamour to make you swoon all year round...

Thank you for visiting...
Don't hesitate to leave your comments.
Sonia Daigle, xo

source Google Images, also tiffany blue, houseandhome

Most Popular package * Forfait préféré

 New 3 packages to choose from * 3 Nouveaux forfaits au choix

No 1 * Cosmetic Home Staging *

I will spend - 4 hours staging your home and rearrange, organize, what needs 
to be address using only what you already have to get your home ready for sale.

*Is only for those with up-to-date furnishings and decor items already in the home.

Free Color Consultation, before/after photos also included.
 only $250

No. 1* Relooking *
 Je vous offre 4 heures pour organiser et redécorer votre propriété 

pour ainsi faciliter la vente de votre maison.

Consultation de couleurs, photos avant/après sont incluses.

Seulement $250

*Vous devez disposer de meubles et objets au goût du jour. 

No. 2 *HOME STAGING Full services*

I aims to inspire and implement in preparing your property for sale.

I will work with you one-on-one to provide consultations, 

stylization services, and project coordination; 

including strategic planning, organization and creative direction.

I will be able to give you advice on what items need to be addressed 

in order to properly prepare your home for sale.

My focus is to assist you in achieving your selling 

experience less stressful !

*$75 hourly 

No. 2 Services complets *HOME STAGING*
Je désire vous aider a vendre votre propriété
Je vous donnerez les principaux travaux a effectuer dans un premier lieux 
pour mettre en valeur votre demeure.
La planification la créativité ainsi que la stratégie a utiliser pour réaliser 
la nouvelle mise en place. Je serai en mesure de vous conseiller adéquatement 
sur les points important a respecter lors de la mise en vente de la demeure.
Mon objectif est de vous aider a réaliser et faciliter la vente.
*$75/h 

No. 3 *Only consultation*
I will help you and guide you to prepare and make your home ready for sale.
Includes free color consultation, furniture arrangement and recommendations.

*$150 2/ hours

No.3 *Consultation seulement*

Je serai en mesure de vous conseiller adéquatement sur les points important a respecter
 lors de la mise en vente de votre demeure. 
Incluant choix de couleurs, arrangement de meubles 
et la planification dans le but d'une vente rapide.
*150 $ 2 / heures

 Au plaisir de travailler ensemble! Pour + d'Info s.v.p me contacter
Let me help you sell your home !
Have a good day, Bonne journée !
Sonia Daigle

Ruby red wall

Revamp your decor and make a statement with RED

Vibrant,  rich ruby red wall will add instant worldly 

charm to any decor.

Red is a dynamic, energizing color!
Ruby red is bright and eye-catching !
If you need pizzazz, light red walls are
the perfect choice for your home.

Here is one of my red crush from Benjamin Moore

exotic RED 2086-10

Current red 1323  

 Another fave of mine this time from Beauti-Tone paint

"Red Mary's Lipstick FD006"

 at inspiration/style-at-home

If you live in the area and you need some help with your decor

or some Inspiration don't hesitate to contact me

You can view my affordable services

Images pinterest 

Don't think twice, use a professional!

I would like to clarified a touchy subject that comes to my ears way to often. 

Actually most home owners are aware of the difference between staging their homes compared to the unstage home.

And like any other businesses you need skill to "Home Stage" your home.

I hear peoples say: 

"My house is beautiful so is the decoration,  I don't need to stage it"
Of course your home is nice, but maybe it is not at is "Best for most of the customers"  who needs to see themselves living in your house.
You lived in your home, you have many memories and attachment, on many case you can't get past it!
....you watch HGTV every week, you tidy up, you make it look nice for the picture and then call the Real Estate agent to list it. 
And Voila!!!
To tell you the truth The minute you decide to sell it, your home is not yours anymore! 

Out the door the routine of the everyday life...If your house is on the market you need to make it look like a home model. 
Oh yes!!!
Then you set apart your home from the others houses for sale.

It takes a professional point of view, someone neutral with a good eye to help you sell  faster for more money and attract a bigger audience!!!



The cost of staging your house is not a lot of money, when you can get top dollar for it. 
My advice don't think twice and don't waist your time or money trying to cut corners, use a professional  home stager to help you sell your house faster.
"Your investment in staging your home, will be less than your first prize reduction if unstage" 

I'm here to make your experience less stressful, don't hesitate to reach me for any questions?

View my affordable services 

Thank you and have a lovely day! 
Sonia Daigle

Color your world

Smoke Restful blues are perennially popular, but with the piles of shades to pick from, getting it right can be a tough call. "This year's take is a spa-like blue that gets updated thanks to a sophisticated grey," says Benjamin Moore's colour spokesperson Sharon Grech. Most often you see soft blue paint colours in a bedroom or bathroom, but it can be just as striking in a living room with a contrasting-colour ceiling. Shown:

Smoke 2122-40 (walls) Benjamin Moore. (Ceiling) Here

 Get Inspired below with more Blue room

Source

Powder Room gone wrong....

When construction is involved 

there's chances that something can go wrong. 

In this case, 1 feet was lost into this tiny powder room 

the challenge was the pipes being in the concrete heated floor,the pipes coming out and not at the right place 

I had a box custom built to cover the pipes and put the sink cabinet on top of it!

Custom built half a wall to take away the excess space 

  from behind the new toilet  

This wall was suppose to receive the toilet 

After buying a new and smaller toilet and put it side way and be able to circulated between the sink and toilet

I added a new dimension to the shelving 

If you like the twirling wallpaper, you can purchase it here

To make it look more shiny, I add some sticker glitter around the mirror!

The disco ball gives a cool effect at night!!!

Finally everything is possible with a good cabinetmaker, some creativity and patience. The powder room gone wrong was maybe losing 1 feet but the hallway next to it was gaining it!!! 

Happy ending...

Have a lovely day! 

Sonia 

Photo Source: mine

http://soniadaigleporfolio.tumblr.com/

Realtors Six Reasons to Have a Stager on Your Team

 

• 1.  I can save you time.  

• At your request I will meet with your client before the property is listed to give a consultation and explain what needs to be done to sell the house quickly. This frees up more of your time for pursuing other leads, marketing, etc. 

• 2.  I can help increase your revenue. 
•  Statistics show that staging sells a house in about half the time and for more money than comparable unstaged houses.  This means a lower possibility of a price reduction and less money spent on marketing the property….which means more money in your pocket.
• 3.  I can relieve you of the stress 
• of telling your clients their house needs work.  Sometimes this can become awkward, but I am experienced in handling such situations.  Let me do the ‘dirty work’!
• 4.  I will help you achieve a reputation as a Realtor whose listings always show well. 
• 5.  I can ensure that your buyer's first impression is a WOW impression. 
•  There is only one chance to make that all important good first impression.  Make sure your buyers get it.
• 6. I can send you referrals.  
• From time to time, home owners who are having their home staged will ask me to recommend a good Realtor.  Of course I recommend those that use my services.
• Staging is just one tool that can be implemented to help sell homes on the market.  If it is priced competitively, marketed effectively and staged beautifully, it will be a winning combination and the house WILL sell!

Source: home styling by Cathy

Before, After Living room

...When changing your furniture, always measure the space you live in

Then make sure you buy something not only beautiful but also comfortable and easy to maintain!

  Depending on your house needs and traffic and in mind where the new furniture will set place.

When I first moved into my new home I kept most of my furniture

.. for fun one day, I decided to posted my red sofa on Facebook. 

To my surprise, 2 days later it was sold!!! 

No more red sofa,  empty space it is

Now off I go choose the perfect white sofa to fit in my living area

Lucky me I found my sofa after 1 day of shopping

 A white living room was a dream of mine

What a girl wants, what a girl needs whatever makes me happy sets you free..

(Lyrics from Christina Aguilera)

If you are not attached to material, you can redecorate any rooms of your home! 

In a matter of  a flash I changed my living space and without any regrets

After all it is only materials...

My wish came true and my dog is happy!!!

XO