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“If the seller
postpones needed changes until after the home sits on the
market, they risk having their house become what real estate
agents call ‘market worn’ and less desirable to buyers.
‘Market worn’ homes often translate into more mortgage
payments and major disruptions in a family’s plans.”
The
Journal-Standard, “Setting the Stage” by Tabitha Engel, June
18, 2005
Q. What is
home staging?
A. Home
Staging is the art of professionally preparing a home for
sale. A professional home stager is someone who
specializes in transforming a home - from a family home into
a showcase home – one that is clean, orderly and catches the
eye of potential buyers from the moment they drive up to the
curb . We provide the potential buyer with a good
reason to stay in the home and tour it completely. Final Touch Designs prides themselves in working
within your budget; helping you to learn how to set your
house up from an objective, non-biased point of view, by removing those
personal items and replacing them with things that give the
home buyer a visual idea of living there themselves. It’s
an art, not a science. We use green concepts and
materials in all our design projects. This keeps costs
down for the seller, and enables you to use your items in a
more unique way. Click
here to learn more about
our services or visit our
Home Staging page.
“Staging can increase prices from two to 10 percent in a
moderate market and up to 50 percent
in
hot markets or for luxury homes.”
The Times, “Setting the stage” by
Anne Levin, November 10, 2005
Q. What is "sustainable living" or "going green"?
A.
According to Wikipedia, sustainable
living refers to a specific
lifestyle
that attempts to reduce an
individual's
or
society's
use of the
Earth's
natural resources.
Practitioners of sustainable living often
attempt to reduce their
carbon footprints
by altering methods of
transportation,
energy consumption
and
diet.
Proponents of sustainable
and
ecological
living aim to conduct their lives in manners
that are consistent with
sustainability,
in natural balance and respectful of
humanity's
symbiotic
relationship with the Earth's natural
ecology
and cycles.
The practice and
general philosophy of ecological living is
highly interrelated with the overall
principles of
sustainable
development.
By minimizing their "ecological
footprints"—the extent to which they create
an environmental impact—proponents of
ecological living hope to preserve the Earth
for future generations of human beings and
other life. Click
here for more details.
Q.
Why did Final Touch Designs, Inc. decide to
use sustainable living concepts and
practices in their design projects?
A.
We decided to become the FIRST GREEN Home
Staging & Redesign business in the Roanoke
area for a few reasons. First, no one
else was taking that step to step up to the
plate, so it made good business sense to
incorporate the principles with our goal of
protecting the environment. Secondly,
it just made sense! When the whole
concept of Home Staging, Redesign, and
organizing centers around the premise of
using what you have to complete your home
project needs, why not help you to reuse and
rethink HOW you look at your possessions?
It saves you lots of money! That is
what sets Redesigners apart from Interior
Designers -- we work together as a team to
"repurpose" your things. We put our
heads together, let the creative juices
flow, and re-think how things can be used in
different ways and in different rooms of
your home. It gives you an opportunity
to have one-of-a-kind, interesting treasures
that you never realized you could have.
Now how awesome is that?
“Although straightening up the house for
prospective buyers may seem like common
sense,
professionals add another layer, often
suggesting ideas home owners haven’t
considered.
But don’t call them decorators. Traditional
home designers may seek to incorporate their
clients’ style into the look of the home,
but home stagers ‘un-decorate’.”
Tampa Tribune, “Moneymaking Makeovers” by
Shannon Behnken, August 16, 2005
Q.
How do I
choose a Home Staging or Re-Design
professional?
A. Final Touch
Designs, Inc. is an accredited business that
is incorporated. We have been
thoroughly trained and are Certified through
Home Staging Resources, a well-known Home
Staging training company. Not only
does our certification cover Home Staging,
but also Re-Design. We have over 25
years of practice and experience working with homeowners.
Home Staging & Re-Design has been a passion
for many years and now that passion has
turned into a quality professional business.
We pride ourselves in being up to date on
the latest trends, quality, dependable
service, and exceeding the
expectations of our clients. It isn't
enough to know how to de-clutter someone's
home, you need to know how buyers view
homes. You need to know how to appeal
to buyer's senses. This is where we
excel.
“Though some homeowners may be hesitant to
spend the money to make changes, repairs and
improvements shortly before selling a home
they have lived in for years…it is money
well spent.”
The
Journal-Standard, “Setting the Stage” by
Tabitha Engel, June 18, 2005
Q.
What does it cost to have
my home staged?
A. It is
difficult to estimate costs before seeing
the home first hand. Prices are
determined by a variety of factors such as
the size of the home, complexity of the job,
estimated number of hours needed, whether
it's an occupied or vacant home, what they
have in their home, and rental of
furnishings or accessories needed to
complete the job. As you can see,
there is a lot to consider. A lot of
planning and preparation time also needs to
be factored into the cost of the job.
“Staging,
unlike decorating, involves editing, being
impersonal and doing so on a
limited
budget in a short time.”
The Flint
Journal, “Lights! Camera! Real Estate
Action?” by Melissa Burden, October 9, 2005
Q.
Does Final Touch Designs
service areas
outside of the Roanoke Valley?
A.
Yes, depending upon our schedule and the
type of project, we try to help families is
neighboring areas. We provide services
to Lynchburg, Christiansburg, Blacksburg,
and even Radford.
Contact us
so we can assess your needs. We also
provide "Virtual
Organizing" and "Virtual
Staging" for smaller projects.
If you can provide us with digital photos,
we can help. Our
Home page
lists the areas we serve.
Q. What
kind of profit do home sellers receive for a staged home?
A.
Statistics show that homes that have been professionally
staged sell on average, 50% faster and for 6 – 10% more. For
an average home, that’s an extra $20,000 - $50,000 more in
your pocket! So now you can ask yourself, “Can I afford
not to stage my home?” A small expense in the beginning
can bring in a large amount in the end. What are the
latest stats? Click
here.
“One
of the worst things that can happen to a property is it
stays on the market too long.
If a
house has been for sale a while, people start thinking there
must be something wrong with it.”
news-press.com, ”Every home
a fix-‘er-upper” by Anne Mitchell, June 26, 2005
.
Q. Why
can’t I stage my own home?
A.
Unfortunately most home sellers do not possess the skills or
insight needed to stage their own homes because they find it
difficult to look at their homes objectively. At
Final Touch Designs, it is our job to objectively view your
home as potential buyers do. Did you know that only 10% of
buyers are able to visualize a home’s true potential, so we
make every attempt to keep things simple and create an
atmosphere that catches a buyer’s eye from the very
beginning? As we do this, we make every attempt to use
items the homeowner already has, we help to update out of
date items and keep any additional costs to a minimum. This
is what we consider “fine-tuning” a home. Visit our
Home Staging
page.
There’s
an unwritten rule in the real estate industry:
When the
housing market slows down, show off. As inventory grows,
buyers are being wooed by more options, and sellers are
seeking ways to make their homes stand out.”
Detroit Free Press, “Staging helps a house sell fast” by
Emily Shartin (Boston Globe), November 13, 2006
Q. How do I
get started?
A. First,
get organized! If you feel as if you are spinning around in
the middle of your home and don’t know where to begin, then
that is perfectly normal for most, and it’s time to call us
to help. We begin this process by helping you map your
plans out step by step. Moving can be such an overwhelming
task and if you think ahead and plan your steps; you can
easily tackle those dreaded tasks one by one. Allow us to
take the weight off your shoulders while you continue to
manage your daily family tasks.
Organizing
/ Moving
services.
Q. Does
Final Touch Designs offer anything for
Do-It-Yourself
people?
A. We
offer a great package which includes a consultation and
detailed
Written
Evaluation, found on
our services page. This give you a detailed written
"report" that highlights the most critical things to tackle
to get you home on the market quickly. This is a money
saver for the homeowner and puts the homeowner in the
driver's seat. If the homeowner wishes to implement
the Staging Plan or take advantage of our
Open
House services, we can help them complete the
work.
“Realtors
forever have advised sellers on techniques—picking up
clutter, hiding dirty dishes in the dishwasher, brewing an
aromatic tea—to make prospective buyers feel comfortable.
But effectively
preparing a house to show at its best goes well beyond such
tips.”
Wall Street
Journal, “How Staging a House Can Pay Off for Sellers” by
Penny Doherty, April 30, 2003
Q. Does
Final Touch Designs offer training for homeowners and
others?
A. We
offer
training classes year round
to help people with their decorating, redesign, and
organizing needs. We love to help people grow while
learning new techniques and ideas. The more people who
share the same interest get together, the ideas are shared.
If you are looking for a specific topic, just
contact us and we'll do
what we can to get a class built around it.
Q.
What is the difference between what a Designer does and what
a Re-Designer does?
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IA. Interior Redesign / Decorating consultant will
survey the space, ascertain its function and style, decide
on the scope of the project, then physically rearrange the
furniture and accessories for each room for which the client
desires help. Together we make decisions that best suit the
family and their daily lives and needs. By using what
the homeowner already has, costs and disposals are kept to a minimum, and we give new purpose to things in your home.
We "upcycle" the things in your home by making them better!
In compression,
a Designer
will also assess the space, but often creates a desired look
or feel to a room that they feel works, then sets the plan in motion. The
Designer will contract out help from others to complete much
of the work to get the project done in a timely manner.
They also should have a license. In
most cases, the homeowner ends up with another person's (the
Designer's) ideas and
design concepts. Also, the cost is considerably higher
than a Redesigners fee.
See how we can help you
Re-Design
your home affordably.
“A fresh coat of
paint and new lighting fixtures are easy, inexpensive ways
to spruce up a home’s interior…
And don’t ignore
the dust, dirt and mold that may have collected over the
years.
Believe it or
not, a deep cleaning can translate into more cash in your
pocket.”
Detroit
Free Press,
“Restraint pays if prepping to sell” by Shannon Fromma, June
12, 2005
Q. I
want to add more color to my home and my
life. Can you help?
A. We
can help you choose the right color choices for your home.
Color can make a significant adjustment in your mood.
It seems so simple to express yourself with your wardrobe,
but what about the walls of your home? Not so easy?
Actually it is just as simple, and probably less expensive!
J
We'll
assess the look and feel you are after, then let you loose
with a paint brush or do the painting ourselves. We
use Low or No-VOC (volatile organic compounds). These
paints are environmentally friendlier than traditional
paints, and they don't cost much more. We even pass a
discount on to you. Visit our
Color page for more
information.
Q. Does
Final Touch Designs offer specials
for me to take advantage of?
A. Yes
we do. Please check out our
Specials
page for monthly specials. We do what we can to keep
our prices affordable for homeowners and home sellers.
“Though
some homeowners may be hesitant to spend the money to make
changes, repairs and
improvements
shortly before selling a home they have lived in for
years…it is money well spent.”
The Journal-Standard,
“Setting the Stage” by Tabitha Engel, June 18, 2005
Q.
Do you offer any
free ideas for Do-It-Yourself people?
A. Yes
we do. You can visit our Weekly Challenges page at
anytime and take advantage of some great tips and ideas to
help you in and around your home. These tasks take
anywhere from 10 minutes to 1 hour to complete. If you
stay on top of these tasks regularly, they don't build up to
cause frustration. If you have any
other ideas you'd like to share with us, please
contact us and let us know. We'd love to
hear how your challenges go from week to week.
Q. What
does a Home Organizer do?
A. We
begin by defining what you want to get organized. Sounds
simple enough, but were does one begin? We can help you by
breaking down your tasks (or rooms) into manageable segments
and take care of those cluttered closets, cupboards, garages
and more. We apply some Feng Shui principles as we go. You
don’t have to be moving to become organized. If you don’t
“purge” unneeded or unwanted items from your home regularly,
things multiply like rabbits. Suddenly you feel stressed
because you can’t find things, you don’t feel comfortable,
and your life becomes a challenge rather than a pleasure.
We are here to help you find that balance and harmony that
every human desires, but doesn’t know how to achieve. What
a great gift to yourself – or a friend or relative. Now you
have time for that massage….. Check out our
Organizing
page for more information.
Q. How much
time will I need to invest in Home
Staging services?
A. Staging
doesn't have to cost a lot. The time invested will vary
based on the size, condition and location of your home.
However, it generally takes between one and two days to
stage a home. That’s why we offer different packages. We
begin with a consultation and assess what is needed, help
you with a room or two, take some before and after photos to
show you the difference, and let you decide what works for
your budget. For more information look at our
Home Staging
page.
“Unlike real estate agents,
who often offer basic advice on how to prepare a home for
the market,
home stagers are specially
accredited—giving their advice more credence.”
HeraldToday.com, “How to set
the stage for a home sale” by Jennifer Rothacker, January
1,2006
Q. Why are
good quality photos so important?
A. Today
more and more people are turning to the Internet to search
for their dream home. It is often their very first view of
your home. The more photos you have to share online, the
broader your buyer’s circle will be. You or your real
estate agent
will truly value photos that both of you can use to promote
your home. It is so important to give a great first
impression, and what better way than through great digital
photos? We also provide photographic services for
events. Check out our
services page.
Q. What is
Feng Shui?
A. Feng
Shui is the art of balancing and harmonizing the flow of
natural energies in our surroundings to create beneficial
effects in our lives. We will apply some of these
principles if requested. This is used most when
de-cluttering and organizing spaces.
“Selling a vacant home could
result in a lower net return.
The main reason for this is
that first impressions play a big part in selling homes.
When buyers walk into a home
that looks bright, inviting and comfortable, they feel good.
When most buyers walk into a
vacant home, they feel somewhat at a loss.”
latimes.com, “A’staged’ house looks more like a home to
buyers” by Dian Hymer,
author of “House Hunting: The Take-Along Workbook for Home
Buyers”, October 6, 2005
Q. I want
to bring out MY personality in my
home. How can Re-Design services help?
A. Even
though you may not be selling your home, home staging will
significantly refine your existing functionality and décor.
We use sustainable concepts and make creative use of existing
items in your home. Another word for it might be "upcycling"
-- making it better than before! We will assess
your home and consider organizing, repositioning and adding
what is needed to bring you the “feel” you want most
to achieve. We can provide you with painting, stenciling, wallpaper,
draperies, pillows, and accessories – the list is as large
or as small as your budget will allow. This object
behind Re-Design is to create beauty, warmth and comfort to
your home. The result is an organized and functional
setting that delights you as well as your family and
friends. We even have discounts available.
Check out our
Services
or Redesign page for more details.
Q.
Why doesn't a vacant home sell
well?
A.
Most people figure
buyers can look past the out dated appliances, house flaws,
skimpy or un-kept yard or empty rooms, and see a home’s full
“potential”, but very few actually can! Did you know
that only 10% of home buyers can actually visualize a home's
potential? It’s also difficult for
buyers to imagine or "fit" their own things into an empty
room AND they will pay more attention to any minor
flaws the
home may have – what else do they have to look at ?
If they
can’t "feel" a living space, all they will see is a cold, empty room.
That’s why successful home contractors/builders use model
homes or model suites to help sell their homes. When
you take the time to consult with a consultant at Final
Touch Designs, you will immediately understand why it is so
important to have your home staged before you put it on the
market. If you don't, you will be selling the
competition! Check out the
2008 statistics by RESA and
read about the difference staging makes.
"Many people have a
hard time imagining what a vacant home will look like when
it's furnished.
For those buyers, a
vacant home poses a problem. They walk into an empty
living room
and start worrying
about how to furnish it.
Detroit Free Press, "Staging
helps a house sell fast" by Emily Shartin (Boston Globe),
Nov. 13, 2005
Q. Why
should I choose Final Touch Designs for my home staging
needs?
A.
Final Touch Designs believes that staging is not just about
style, it’s also about adding elements of interest to the
home’s potential, and in turn increases the value of your
home. We are skilled in choosing colors, fabrics,
textures, accessories, plants and so much more, to bring in
all the elements that will bring a higher selling price for
the home seller. Whether you want your home to look
its best to sell or you want to personalize your home for
pleasure, we are here to
help. It's what we love to do!
Q. What
else does Final Touch Designs offer?
A. We
dabble in all sorts of creative things. Just look at
our Services
page and you'll see only a fraction of what we do. We
can create window treatments, bedding, cushions, pillows,
and more. We will paint the walls, furniture,
accessories, trim, and anything else a paint brush or cloth
can reach. We'll help you de-clutter, neutralize, and
organize your home. And if you need some help outside,
we'll even dig in the dirt with you. If you require
shopping services to pick things up, we can assist.
People call Cathy a "Jane of all trades".
We feel that
training people is sometimes the best way to help people. In addition to
our decorating classes and
green class series, we get
people together to make our own
skin care products
(lotions,
moisturizers, cleaners, etc.). We believe that the
products we put on our skin should be free from toxic
substances. It's a great way to get people together,
laugh, learn, and create good-for-you products that are nice
enough to give as special gifts. You add the "special
ingredients" and essential / carrier oils to personalize
your products to your skin type. Let us know if you
are interested. If you're not sure what we'll do, just
ask. Chances are you'll be very surprised at our
professional skills. Visit our
Services page for more
services.
Click
here
to contact
us.
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