February 28th, 2010
Jennifer Valentyne and the Live Eye Crew Visited The Last Detail’s Showroom.
(Home Staging on Breakfast Television... continued...)
February 3rd, 2010
The House was beautiful, but the home owners have 3 little kids, so they needed a bit of help in getting their house to look "market ready" and give it that WOW factor to get the right price. Elli Davis, their Real Estate Agent, brought us in to see how we can help this lovely couple in achieving the best price possible. We recommended changing the furniture in the living room completely, to light bright furniture, adding more chairs around their great dining table, so we needed to change the existing chairs. Add art, flowers, and accessories all around the house.
The house went on the market on Friday and sold on the next Thursday for 155,000 over asking price which was 1,350,000.
(SOLD in Forest Hill: 155,000 over asking! continued...)
January 24th, 2010
Another success for The Last Detail Team. Here are some photos of what we did in the house. As you will see, the property had nice items, just needed The Last Detail’s touch!
(SOLD 255,000 over asking Price! continued...)
January 13th, 2010
Hi Ella, I am so glad i found you. It was an absolute pleasure working with you. More importantly, when I went to get the listing signed tonight, my client said that he was so happy with your turnout and that it was his best money spent.
(Just listed: 193 Coldstream, Toronto continued...)
December 23rd, 2009
We staged this house on Merril St in the East York area on December 10th 2009, Iris listed it, and it sold 5 days later over asking price:
Hi Ella, Merrill sold last night for 393,500k…26,600k over asking. My clients were extremely happy!
Iris Duncan, Sales Representative
RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd.
416 699-9292 www.irisduncan.com
(House in the Danforth SOLD in 5 Days, 26K over asking price! continued...)
December 23rd, 2009
TORONTO, November 4, 2009 – In October 2009, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 8,476 sales, up 64 per cent from October 2008. The average price for October transactions was $423,559 – up by 20 per cent compared to the same month last year.
(TREB Reports Strong Growth in October MLS Transactions continued...)
December 21st, 2009
The prosperous time before the Dot-com crash prompted many consumers to dive into buying grandiose properties suited for over-sized furniture. However, as this first decade of the 21st century comes to an end, the trends are changing.
“Households are using their homes as intensely as ever,” said Chief Economist Kermit Baker of The American Institute of Architects. Trying to cut expenses, families are scaling down their homes and re-purposing rooms. Three-car garages and multiple living rooms are no longer desirable.
(Say goodbye to 2000’s first-decade trends! continued...)
December 19th, 2009
The Spacious Suite and luxurious amenities of Palace Place offers residents the comfort and service of a first class hote. From the Concierge in the elegant Lobby, to Valet Service and Guest Suites for visitors, the accent is on service and security.
Rising 47 floors above the shoreline of Lake Ontario, Place Place houses 504 Suites, ranging in size from 800 to 2800 square feet.
(Palace Pier, Luxury at it's finest! continued...)
December 17th, 2009
Invest in Storage
Clear away any unnecessary furniture throughout the house and stash it somewhere offsite. All of your rooms should showcase their intended function.
(10 COMMANDMENTS of HOME STAGING continued...)
December 10th, 2009
If you are thinking about color change, what about turquoise? It is the top shade for 2010!
Turquoise was selected as the color of 2010 by Pantone. Pantone is the world-renowned authority on color – they supply color solutions across various industries. According to demand from their fashion and home decor customers, turquoise is going to be hit of 2010.
(Home Decor Color: Turquoise continued...)
December 6th, 2009
Well, when we came in to see the space it was obvious to us, the unit wasn’t presented at its best light. The fabulous loft was lovely, but only we could see it. Buyers were not falling in love.
We removed the clients living room furniture, bar stools, moved his bed into the room downstairs and staged the rest with our furniture, art and accessories.
(Loft in Toronto - Staged and Sold in a week! continued...)
December 6th, 2009
Another beautiful home we staged last week On Quiet Davisville Village Street.
Stunning, Bright, Updated Home Two Blocks To Shops And Restaurants On Bayview And Steps To Ttc.
Enjoy The Peaceful Street Scene From The Front Porch Or Relax Out Back On The Oversized Deck Looking Over Beautiful Perennial Gardens.
(House in Davisville Village - SOLD 14% over asking continued...)
December 5th, 2009
Here is a beautiful house in Deer Park we staged last week, already sold for $53,000 over asking price in 3 days.
With beautiful furniture, great accessories and wonderful photography, you cant go wrong!
(81 Lawton Ave. Toronto SOLD ,000 over asking! continued...)
November 13th, 2009
Best June on Record
TORONTO – July 6, 2009 — In June 2009, Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported a record 10,955 sales, up 27 per cent from June 2008. The seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales in June was 100,700.1
“The record result in June is testament to the fundamentally sound housing market in the GTA,” said TREB President Tom Lebour. “An increasing number of households have been confident in purchasing a home in the region’s affordable and diverse resale housing market.
(GTA Resale Housing Market Posts continued...)
November 13th, 2009
by Keith Rockmael
SAN FRANCISCO, March 19, 2006
When it comes to staging a home, the beauty lies not only in the art but in the numbers. For those who haven’t seen a home-staging TV show or sold a house recently, staging can transform a home from ugly duckling to swan.
Many people are under the misconception that staging is a pricey option for rich homeowners. Not true: Staging is about the creativity, not the money. What some people don’t realize when they sell their house "as is" or don’t stage is that it can actually cost them money.
Because the air seems to be seeping out of the real estate bubble, staging should be on the minds of more home sellers. In the real estate game, time is as important as money.
(Creatively Transforming A House Often Translates Into More Money continued...)
November 13th, 2009
– Men (41%) more likely to put a premium on decor than women (30%)
TORONTO, February 16, 2006 – The old adage that you only get one chance to make a first impression rings true for sellers showing their homes in today’s competitive market. With the spring market quickly approaching, many homeowners are wondering what they can do to help get their homes ready to sell. A poll of potential buyers released today by Royal LePage Real Estate Services, found that sellers ought to do more than just look after required renovations before showing their home. In fact, décor improvements help make a strong impact on buyers and can ultimately affect a home’s market value.
(Image is Everything: Creating a Positive First Impression is Key to Selling Your Home continued...)
November 13th, 2009
TORONTO, March 10, 2005 – With the busy spring housing market right around the corner, Canadians are contemplating home improvements to help entice potential buyers. According to a poll released today by Royal LePage Real Estate Services, the attitudes of Canadians towards appropriate house sale preparation costs and the currency of their home’s décor differs from industry experts.
(ROYAL LEPAGE Poll finds house staging a Pre-Sale MUST for Canadians continued...)
November 13th, 2009
from Scripps Howard News Service
As the real-estate industry has become increasingly sophisticated, the business of spiffing up homes for sale has become its own occupation.
According to published reports, people in several areas of the country have gone into the business of "staging" homes, arranging them artfully for maximal visual and emotional appeal to buyers. Staging as a business is new enough that such operations often do not know of one another, reports the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
( Decorating Homes To Sell continued...)
November 13th, 2009
By Vivian Marino
Published: August 22, 2004
DR. DIRK SOSTMAN and his wife, Maria Preka, had expected their two-bedroom Upper East Side co-op to be snapped up quickly after listing it last spring. And why not? They had heard myriad stories of bidding wars and sky-high prices throughout the region.
To garner top dollar, ”we did everything that everyone told us to do,” said Dr. Sostman, a radiologist. ”We got the windows washed, we got rid of clutter.” But the apartment, with an initial asking price of just under $2 million, languished. ”I showed it 55 times in two weeks and I didn’t have any offers,” said the couple’s broker, Jackie Vincent of the Corcoran Group.
(ASSETS; A Little Style Works. Just Not Yours. continued...)
November 13th, 2009
By Joy Valentine
When Cinderella went to the ball, she probably would not have won the prince if she had gone dressed as a maid. Cinderella would have lost out, and so would the prince.
There is a fine line between enhancement and camouflage, and staging houses for sale — like dressing up people — lies somewhere in between. In good staging, the best features of the house are maximized, and the worst are minimized. Staging a house is presenting the dream, showing it the way it could be. That’s what dreams are made of, and the relatively recent phenomenon of staging homes for sale has proven that actualizing that dream has merit, both for buyers and sellers. The following statistics indicate how much.
(All dressed up and ready to go: Statistics show benefits to staging continued...)
November 2nd, 2009
Wood furniture is loved for its beautiful colors and patterns, offering at least a bit of connection with Mother Nature. Additionally, quality wooden furniture can last for generations with an almost unchanged appearance. The price for this beauty is regular maintenance needs.
There are few rules, which can be applied to all kinds of wood furniture. The most important one is simple – wood hates humidity. Therefore, don’t use wet cloths to clean wood surfaces; instead use a soft cloth or vacuum cleaner with small brush. Immediately clean and dry all spills. Try to avoid placing the furniture in a room where the humidity is too high, too low, or the temperature changes too often; similarly, placing your prized antique table next to a heater is not the best idea.
(How to Take Care of Wood Furniture: The Basics continued...)
October 24th, 2009
Staging a second bedroom should be probably the easiest task while preparing your home for selling. However, don’t forget to check if everything is perfect.
The guest room is probably only used some days of the year, so there is a good chance that furniture and other items won’t be worn out. However, sunlight or humidity can naturally damage materials even when the room is unoccupied, so don’t forget to look closer at it. Focus on bed sheets, carpets, drapes and bad smells.
(Guest Room Staging continued...)
October 18th, 2009
All of you most likely know that there is hardwood and softwood furniture. But if you think the hardness is the feature which distinguishes them, you are wrong. The actual difference is a bit more complicated.
The names hardwood/softwood probably come from logging camps, where it used to be given to wood types based on their resistance to sawing. While generally it is true that most hardwoods are harder than softwoods, there are exceptions, such as balsa, which is classed as hardwood but is actually softer than any softwood out there.
(Hardwood or Softwood Furniture? continued...)
October 12th, 2009
Master bedroom staging is one of the easier tasks when staging a home, since the furniture present in the room is quite limited. However, we cannot afford to be complacent even here.
Among the usual basic steps, which are cleaning, depersonalization and decluttering, we should focus on several requirements that potential buyer is searching for in a bedroom. Bedroom should be neutral, comfortable, spacious and maybe even slightly romantic.
(Master Bedroom Staging continued...)
September 16th, 2009
The living room is the first room a potential buyer sees, so after he has seen your perfectly staged exterior, you shouldn’t spoil his mood with the first room he presented. Living rooms offer a lot of space with little or no non-movable furniture (unlike the kitchen or bathroom), thus giving you the chance to express a lot of creativity, but on the other hand, it can be a bit time consuming.
(Home Staging Tips: Livingroom Staging continued...)
September 2nd, 2009
The bathroom has a special place in every house. It’s a place where you can lock the door and sink yourself in tub of hot water and nice smelling foam, letting all the troubles of the day fade away. It’s also a very difficult room to stage. If you don’t use the help of a professional, it’s quite often an unsuccessful or even too costly experience. However, let me sum up the basics of bathroom staging.
(Home Staging Tips: Bathroom Staging continued...)
August 29th, 2009
When selling your home, the kitchen must be taken as an area of vital importance (although good home staging means you consider all parts of your home as vitally important). Let me reveal several steps on how to properly stage this heart of every household.
First and foremost – cleanliness. Together with the bathroom, the kitchen has to be the cleanest place in house. If you drop a slice of pizza on the floor, you shouldn’t be afraid to lift it and continue eating. Cleaning doesn’t mean just washing the floor and appliances. You have to take a close look at every possible sign of mould or water stone occurrence.
(Home Staging Tips: Kitchen Staging continued...)
August 25th, 2009
Lea Barclay a Harvey Kalles Sales Representative, brought us in to consult on the house, we explained to the home owners that in order to get the price they wanted they needed to make certain changes. We gave them 2 options, and after careful consideration, they decided to go with the works and do everything on our list.
(11 Duggan Street continued...)
August 24th, 2009
Where else to begin with staging than at the outside of your home? Not only the important seconds of first impression start running immediately when potential buyer enters your street and notices the property, but great exterior appearance can attract additional buyers, whose eyes will be accidentally seduced by your home and “for sale” sign. Yard, patio, pool, deck or terrace are almost equal to interior, when talking about home staging.
(Home staging tips: exterior staging continued...)
August 24th, 2009
9 Eaton is a small house in the Danforth area. We did a consultation in the beginning of July. When we came into the property, we knew right away, they needed to remove ALL the furniture from living room, dining room and tiny bedroom for us to make it look WOW.
The clients’ furniture was functional, but made the house look small and ordinary.By removing their furniture and using ours, we gave the house an instant face lift.
It looked newer, more expensive, and obviously got some positive reactions since they sold the house for
(9 Eaton Avenue continued...)
August 20th, 2009
You are probably asking yourself if the property was priced too low, but actually it was priced at 599,000 which is on the high side. They had a bidding war, and ended up with 101,000 more than anticipated.
Staging investment was under 4000. Great job Terri!
(184 Woodycrest Avenue continued...)
August 18th, 2009
Home staging (also known as house staging, house fluffing or Real Estate Staging) is an art of preparing your home to perfection before it’s put on the real estate market. When done properly, it allows the seller to unlock and present the full potential of a house they wish to sell. Home staging is about creating the right emotions and atmosphere in which the buyer feels ‘at home’ the moment they walk into the property. From the seller’s point of view, home staging increases the chances of the property selling quickly for a price, sometimes considerably exceeding the asking price.
(What Is Home Staging continued...)
When I went to get the listing signed tonight, my client said that he was so happy with your turnout and that it was his best money spent. You got the job done quickly and effectively. I stood up at today's office meeting telling everyone that I, myself, finally found the perfect stager.
“Ella and her team have worked for many of our clients and have transformed their homes! They took different styles of homes and condos in a range of prices and maximized their showing potential. We have had great success with using The Last Detail. Ella is very responsive, professional and extremely reliable. It is great to have a turnkey solution, as they just take over so the client does not have to worry about a thing!”
I have used Ella on several of my listings and can say without hesitation that, without her help, input and staging, the properties would not have sold for the prices they did and within the time they did. She is a marvel!
