Home Staging NY White Box Challenge

Our plan for the white box challenge was to split the room into 3 separate rooms, where the buyer can imagine themselves, eating, sleeping and entertaining.

Only 10-percent of homeowners can actually visualize the potential of a home, so if you have a vacant space contact us at 888.667.6643, info@stylishstagers.com and for more information on our company go to www.stylishstagers.com

Home Staging NYC The West Side Story

Stylish Stagers, Inc. is excited to announce that 555 West 23rd St. in NYC is in contract. The homeowners of this luxury one bedroom apartment in Chelsea, were relocating for work out-of-state. They had the option to stage using their existing furnishing or pack up and use rental furniture. They chose to start their move early, so with a fresh start we used fashionable items that would create a luxurious, trendy look that buyers are looking for in this neighborhood. It even has a private patio.

Need help selling your home on the market? Contact us at 888.667.6643, info@stylishstagers.com and for more information on our company go to www.stylishstagers.com

Home Staging Minor Repairs

It's important to complete those minor repairs before selling your home, this way the home will appear that it's been well-maintained and buyers won't low ball offers because of the repairs that need to be made. We use the HomeGain's Do It Yourself Survey, to determine what repairs will provide the homeowner with the biggest return on investment.

If you have a home that needs some tender, love and care please feel free to contact us at 888.667.6643, info@stylishstagers.com and for more information on our company go to www.stylishstagers.com

CNN "Your Money" on Sell Your Home with Home Staging

Home Staging is no longer a trend it's a new tool for home sellers and real estate agents to help maximize the home's value. Hiring a professional home stager can be costly, but can you afford not to stage? Home Staging Expert, Tori Toth from Stylish Stagers, Inc. shares the factors of preparing your home for sale.

Superstorm Sandy 1 Year Anniversary

Check out how we've come in just one year after Superstorm Sandy flooded the first floor of our home. We want to thank friends, family and everyone who supported us during this rough time and to all those that worked on our house, THANK YOU!

Selling Your Home During the Holidays With Home Staging

After riding around the neighbor looking at some amazing Christmas decorations as well as some just thrown up on the house, it made me wonder what's best for home sellers to do during the holidays, decorate or not? Home Staging can help answer this question, Tori Toth home staging expert from www.toritoth.com gives you the tips to stay sane this holiday season, while on the housing market.

Sometimes it's hard enough to get sellers to agree to remove certain objects or tone-down accessories in their home or front lawn. So, when it comes time to decorate for Halloween, display pilgrims and turkeys, set-up the menorah or Christmas lights and trees, what are stagers or even Realtors to do to make sure the home still appeals to buyers?

It's hard to imagine buyers receiving a good vibe on a home if they're walking up to the door surrounded by a makeshift cemetery. Plus, they may get distracted with the holiday décor and overlook the curb appeal. While Halloween and Thanksgiving are celebrated by most, Hanukah and Christmas are religious holidays that buyers could discriminate against. So, it's important for sellers to target buyers based on your neighborhood. If your neighborhood is festive during Christmas then a buyer would expect Christmas decorations at your home, on the other hand, if you live in a "politically correct" neighborhood with a mix of religious beliefs use more generic decorations to promote Season's Greetings rather than your specific holiday.

While it's easier to take your home off the market during this time of year, many sellers can't afford to lose those months. Keeping your home on the market can be beneficial there is usually less inventory and those looking to buy are serious, but it may be hard to schedule appointments and many agents take time off then. If you do plan to keep that for sale sign up make sure you keep your decorations to a minimum.

Exterior Decorating
Keep the tinsel, garland and most of those blow-up characters in storage. The entrance should be simple. Use more natural elements: For fall add pumpkins, stacks of hay, cornstalks and don't forget to plant some mums (you can also prepare the home for spring now by planting daffodils and tulips). For winter group poinsettias and use evergreens to create floral arrangements. Door wreaths welcome all to your home and set the stage for celebrating. Use holiday colors that blend in with and dress up your home's exterior colors. Attach tree branches from your garden, gourds or flowers, and ribbons. Use a few strands of white lights for elegance or keep to a color scheme, forget about the multi-color strands this year. Most importantly, refrain from objects attributable to specific religions.

Scene Stealers Inside
During staging it's important to make focal points stand out so don't block or cover up fireplaces, stairs, and stained-glass windows those features that sell. Rooms filled with decorations can feel smaller and stops the buyer's eyes from visualizing themselves in the space. Choose specific areas to stage with festive themes. You want buyers to see themselves celebrating their holidays in your house. To do this you want to create a simple, clean, cozy space with your decorations. Set your formal dining room for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Bring in a Christmas tree making sure it's not oversized. Again use natural elements to bring in texture and interest like an evergreen garland or pinecone centerpiece. Color is also important to keep in mind keep within a color scheme. Red is not only the color of Christmas, but it's an emotionally appealing color that you are able to use in the space.

Don't forget to think about what the holidays mean to you then incorporate that into your vignettes. Do you love decorating the tree? Creating a Gingerbread House? Making Apple Cider? Christmas Morning? Family Dinners? Or Sitting by the Fire? Create those imagines for buyers by  playing  into their sense to make them feel at home.

And just because you may not be able to decorate as you would in the past, you can still celebrate those traditions, take part in holiday activities and get in the festive mood through 'buyer's eyes,' it's a spirit that may result in selling your home.

2013 Stats for Stylish Stagers And the Year Ahead

Owner Tori Toth of Stylish Stagers, Inc. www.stylishstagers.com, shares statistics of 2013 and what to expect from the company in the coming year moving forward. Despite the company's setback from Superstorm Sandy, they were able to sell homes in 78% less time on the market.

New Years Resolution Selling Your Home

Home Staging Expert Tori Toth, conquers your New Years Resolution when it comes to selling your home.

Whether you are new to the market or your home has been lingering on the market for 90 days or longer, this home stager has some small measurable solutions to keep your selling resolution on track for 2014!

Make sure to subscribe to our channel, like the video and leave a comment about your New Years Resolutions for 2014...

Home Staging Clutter Busting Tips

Let's talk about clutter! Do you find your rooms closing in on you, expecially after the holiday season....well it may be your clutter. So here are some clutter busting solutions to get you one step closer to the closing table and your sanity.

There are many reasons why we have clutter....maybe it has some sentimental meaning to you, maybe it was a good deal or free, maybe you just don't know how to throw things out...whatever the reason is clutter will not get your house sold quickly.

Determining what is clutter may be hard for you...so i'm going to keep it simple clutter is stuff piled ontop of stuff or too much stuff in one location that can make your head spin. See our brains needs empty space to define objects and make sense out of what we are seeing. Clutter doesn't allow that empty space to exist, which makes most people uncomfortable. And when a buyer is uncomfortable they won't buy!

Everyones clutter is different, but the most common sources of clutter are paperwork and old magazines, clothes, knick knacks and collectibles or just items that don't have a home. Let,s take your holiday gifts for example.

These are new items that have entered your home. You have to decide which rooms you will store these new items in. Then seperate the gifts by room. Any gifts that need to be exchanged or that you don't want keep in a seperate pile to either return or give to charity.

Then take the gifts and spend sometime organizing them in their new room and make sure to do one room at a time so you don't feel overwhelmed. For example, Sal got a bunch of new workout clothes so a good rule of thumb is for each gift received toss to of its counterparts out. So, he must throw out 2 sweatpants for every new one he got.

Repeat this process throughout your house and it will help reduce clutter and organize your home. For more helpful tips on how to prepare your home for sale head over to toritoth.com and make sure to leave a comment below about your clutterbusting stories. Thanks for watching.

Home Staging Value with Barbara Corcoran

This video is for all you sellers and real estate agent haters on the fence about using home staging to help you get one step closer to the closing table. I come across many who have not fully embraced the concept of home staging, mostly because they have failed to see the value behind preparing your home for sale. So, here goes I'm about to show you the value.

It's a proven fact that preparing and showcasing your home for maximum buyer appeal will get your home sold faster and in most cases for more money. We've talked about my company's statistics that we sell homes 78-percent faster once staged. But, I wanted to share with you national statistics from the Real Estate Staging Association in 2012 they studied 89 homes and found they sat on the market unstaged for 166 days. They were then staged and sold on average in 32 days that's 73-percent less time on the market.

Now why am I rambling off these numbers because facts don't lie and neither does real estate expert Barbara Corcoran, who stands behind home staging. Check out what she says in her interview with RESA founder Shell Brodnax.

So, I've given you a few statistics, a real estate powerhouse's expert opinion and before I go I want to share with you one of our most recent success stories.

An Elliman agent referred me to his newly listed homeowner who had a 1-bedroom apartment in the West Village. This home had been on the market for 8 months prior to switching agents and hiring us. We staged the entire apartment but specifically brought in furniture and accessories to change the look of the living room and bedroom so it was more in line with the potential buyer's lifestyle.

We staged on a Thursday the photos and marketing were done before the open house that Sunday, then the following day the agent received multiple offers. The $600,000 home that sat on the market for 8 months at a lower sales price sparked buyer interest. The homeowner accepted the bid of $645,000. That's $45,000 above asking price. The staging cost her less than $5,000 and now she is off the market within days of relisting with this agent. Now that's what I call value-driven!!

To learn more about this success go to www.toritoth.com or to get started staging your home contact me at tori@stylishstagers.com.

Home Staging Color Trend Green and Gold

Happy St. Patrick's Day, in the spirit of this festive occasion I wanted to talk
to you about two colors trending this year, both of which are important to
the luck of the Irish....green and gold.

Emerald green was last year's (2013) pantone color of the year and it's an
easily accessible color out on store shelves. This is a cool color that can
give off a tranquil feeling in your space. Emerald represents wealth,
prosperity and luxury, so why not add this color to this space? I think it
naturally works well with other colors that evoke the same air of richness
and elegance. Many other jewel tones mix well with emerald green, but in
particular I love this color with deep blues and shimmery gold.

Speaking of gold, gleaming, glittering, and totally glamorous, this precious
color adds sparkle to any setting. You can find it just about anywhere now
in furniture, artwork, pillows and more.

Try these two colors in your home today, for more ideas on how to use
them throughout your decor visit our Pinterest page at
www.pinterest.com/toritothhomestager/green and for more home staging
tips be sure to visit www.toritoth.com.

Home Staging Spring Cleaning Tips

Well the seasons are changing, spring is in the air and that means it's time to rejuvenate your home with a little elbow grease...

Not sure how to get started with spring cleaning? Here are five tips to put you on the fast track to cleaning tasks that matters most. It just so happens these tips can also help in getting your home prepared for sale. Rather than feel overwhelmed, take one room at a time, create a plan and let the cleaning begin.

Tip number 1: declutter each room in your home. The single most effective thing you can do in your home is cut clutter. Remove anything that you no longer need, then reorganize the items your keeping. Remember to wipe down all your shelves, closets and tabletops before placing the items back in its designated space. By removing clutter you'll have fewer obstacles in your way when it comes time scrubbing down the place.


Tip number 2: let the outside in by cleaning your windows. I recommend as soon as you can open your windows to let in the spring air it's time to clean them. Either hire a professional window cleaner or tackle the project yourself. With your hose and Windex outdoor glass and patio you can wash away the winter simply by attaching this product to your hose a spraying the windows and doors of your home. On the inside use Windex or a mixture of vinegar and water and spray the glass and use a squeegee to wipe away the grim. Also make sure to clean your shades or blinds and inside of the windowsills to avoid having the wind carry the dirt from these areas into your home.

Tip number 3: clean all your fabric. The fabric around your home can collect dust and bacteria so you want to make sure you can it all. Wash your curtains or replace with sheers, wash pillows, bedding and rugs. Also be sure to vacuum  and Febreeze your furniture and mattresses, then flip them to extend it's life. If you have carpets now is the time to shampoo them to get rid of winter's foot tracks.

Tip number 4: get rid of those dust bunnies. Now you have to consistently dust your home, it can't just be during your spring cleaning. Start from the top of the room and work your way down. Wipe down the ceiling, fan or light fixtures, the walls, baseboards and all the furniture in the room. Make sure to move furniture, appliances and look high and low to remove all dust.

Tip number 5: pay close attention to your kitchen and bathrooms. These are two rooms that constantly used throughout the day. Make sure to wipe all surfaces, organize cabinets, remove old items like expired food or medicine and make sure to sanitize all appliances, baths and sinks.

Now don't expect to conquer your house in a weekend. Set aside some time, start with the rooms you use frequently and work through these tips, you'll end up with a clean, clutter-free home that you can manage throughout the year or while your home is on the market. For more cleaning tips check out our Pinterest page at: www.pinterest.com/toritothstager/cleanfreak

Home Staging Consultation

I get this questioned all the time by homeowners or real estate agents inquiring about how to start the home staging process. Basically, what is the first step to staging a home?

First off I want to applaud you, because you've actually taken the first step by intiating your interest in staging your home. When inquiring about our company either over the phone or by email we will ask you some basic information about the size of your home, if it has furniture or not and the reason for selling.

We then recommend purchasing an in-home staging consultation, where a certified home stager will walk trough the home to assess the space. They'll take measurements and pictures of the home to use when putting together the proposal.

During the consultation we will answer questions you may have about the staging process and talk with you more about how Stylish Stagers, Inc. works. Depending on the size of your home the consultation can take about a half hour to an hour and a half. We will be looking for ways to improve your home by making repairs, decluttering, organizing, furniture and accessory placement and much more.

After the consultation we will then put together a proposal for further work. Our proposals are broken out by the staging fee or labor costs, the monthly rental accessory fee, which allows you to rent accessories from our company. The proposal also gives you an estimate on furniture if any is needed for the space and provides the type of furniture that will be used to transform your look. If needed the proposal will also supply vendor information to take care of necessary repairs, storage and moving services.

The proposal is there to provide you with an outline of the next steps we feel as experts should be taken, as well as give you an estimate on cost and the timeline.

If you currently live in your home and will be reusing what is there or pairing items down, we will provide you at an additional cost a multi-page action plan broken out by room, showing you exactly what needs to be done to prepare your home for sale, bonus too its a checklist that you can use so you don't get overwhelmed. The action plan is a cost effective way for homeowners to conquer project themselves, however we are available if you need a helping hand...and we can complete the plan for you.

I hope this helps clarify what the first step is when staging your home. For questions about our consultations and pricing, or if your ready to get started please contact me at tori@stylishstagers.com or call 888.667.6643. Remember home staging is a necessity to showcase your home so for more home staging tips go to www.toritoth.com and you'll be one step closer to the closing table.

Home Staging Tax Deductible?

Some sellers still tend to have objections about hiring a home stager, usually because of how much it costs. Well, this tax tip may just turn your no, into yes!

The cost of hiring a home stager varies, but guess what? It is tax deductible! Yep, that's right...according to IRS Publication 523, home sellers can write off selling expenses. A selling expense can be labeled as advertising fees, which includes home staging, as well as commissions, legal fees and points. A home staging deduction can actually save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars depending on the price of your home.

Now, there is a bit of a gray area, a home staging consultation, which usually initiates the staging process is not tax deductible, because at this point you have not advertised your home as being professionally staged.

If a home stager requests a seller to make necessary repairs in order to sell the home, those repairs can be deductible. Anything from painting to flooring can be deducted as long as you're selling the house.

And for all you Realtors out there this benefits you as well! If you pay for a staging service, you too will be able to deduct the cost. Or here is an insider tip: arrange to have the stager bill the client directly at closing so they can get the tax deduction. The staging will be paid out of proceeds at the closing, so no cash is needed upfront. Then as the real estate agent, you agree to lower your commission by the amount you would've the home stager, this way all the numbers are the same and you look like the hero! The will differentiate you from other agents and bonus will help sell your home faster and for more money! For more information on this contact us at tori@stylishstagers.com or 888.667.6643 to see how we can team up and put your best foot forward. Remember home staging is a necessity to showcase your home so for more home staging tips go to www.toritoth.com and you'll be one step closer to the closing table.

Home Staging Eggs In One Basket

As I get ready to host Easter dinner it made me think what does Easter and home staging have in common? Well, you can't put all your eggs is one basket. What do I mean by this?

Let's say you love your house like most sellers do, it's been a place where priceless memories have not only been made, but where you've had complete design control and freedom to put anything you want on this property for 5,10,15, maybe 20 years or more. Well, just because you think your home is great doesn't mean you will find others to agree with you.

Putting all your focus on the fact that if you love it, a buyer will love it too and pay your price is ridiculous! That's why most sellers who don't think strategically wind up with limited buyer interest. If a buyer doesn't view your cluttered, crayon-walled, misplace furniture home as a masterpiece and buy it, then guess what? You just dropped your basket and all your eggs are broken. That's why it's best to place your time, money and resources into multiple baskets that can all derive at the same end result to sell your home.

I was recently denied a home staging job in Murray Hill, the homeowner wasn't living in the space in fact she was renting the space and decided she didn't want to spend any money to stage her home. Her real estate agent brought me to the see the home and this is what I saw:

Clutter and disorganization throughout the home, rooms not being used properly, and just overall the home didn't feel inviting there was no cohesion or anything that completed the look of each room. And to top it off she's asking for $1.25 million dollars for a 1100 square foot 1 bedroom apartment, a price that has no research to back it up. Now this is a seller putting all her eggs in that one basket.



And while, I wish this seller luck, I've seen this type of problem over and over again and can say she should spread her eggs and not rely solely on finding someone to buy the home overpriced, as-is. Other baskets that she should be using are determining a pricing strategy and a staging strategy, so that she has options if the home is sitting on the market more than 30,60 or 90 days without finding a buyer.

There is nothing more disheartening then being on the market for months at a time, wasting your time, energy, disrupting your privacy or in this case your renters privacy and being stressed that one of your most valuable possessions isn't selling.

So, to avoid having your basket fall apart, by focusing all your resources on that a buyer will love your home as-is, I urge you to protect yourself and find other strategies to rely on. For home staging be sure to contact me at tori@stylishstagers.com and for more home staging tips to get you one step closer to the closing table be sure to check out www.toritoth.com until next time, I'm tori with toritoth.com Happy Passover, Happy Easter and most importantly Happy Selling!

Spanish Inspired Home Staging

Home Staging? I recently returned from Arizona, a place I love and I think part of that reason is because of the Spanish inspired culture there, especially their food, architecture and decor. Well in honor of my trip and this week is Cinco De Mayo, a day for one of the most festive of fiestas, I figured it's time to talk Spanish inspired home décor when staging your home.

This type of decor can be represented in many different ways, from Southwestern to Old World to a Mexican flair. Now, there are many throughout this country that can use this type of decor to stage their home, particularly in the Southwest like, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. I wish it was the style here in New York, but there are ways to use this decor strategically in homes outside of those states. If your home's exterior has a Spanish influence then you can mimic that style inside. If it's summertime you can also use the colors in Spanish decor to highlight certain rooms or bring in an relaxed, but festive feel. And speaking of festive you can also decorate for Cinco de Mayo.

So, let's check out what type of Spanish inspired decor is out on store shelves today, you can easily find items in Homegoods, World Market, or one of my favorites...Pier 1 imports.

I found artwork that has color and patterns of Spanish influence, lanterns with blown glass and fabrics that could be found throughout the Spanish culture. I even found dishware in vibrant Mexican colors and patterns that can be used on Cinco De Mayo or anytime bring the fiesta to mealtime. Or take the Spanish influence to your tabletops with this Mexican tile found on a server, tables and even chairs.

For more ways to incorporate a Spanish flair in your home go to our Pinterest page at www.pinterest.com/toritothstager/spanish-inspired-decor. And for more home staging tips to get you one step closer to the closing table be sure to check out our website  at www.toritoth.com.

Home Staging Mothers Day

Happy Mother's Day! Hope you enjoyed spending time with friends and family over the weekend to celebrate that one special lady in your life! I also had a chance to visit with my mom and even got her to join me on this video.

I get my creativity and anal-ness from my mother who is extremely craft and is always thinking on her toes. Not to mention her attention to detail. So, it was an easy choice to have her read the rough draft of my new e-book, coming out in a few weeks. Although she isn't selling her home, she even learned a few new things to get her home looking its best. See how we declutter her command center. For more home staging tips to get you one step closer to the closing table be sure to check out our website at www.toritoth.com. Have a questions about home staging be sure to contact me at tori@stylishstagers.com .

Home Staging Accessorizing

www.toritoth.com Accessorizing your home is an important part of the home staging process. Many sellers can go over the top and not realize when they're showcasing too many accessories. Think of it this way, how many accessories would you wear on a blind date? Well, in this video Tori Toth shows you how a little can go along way. Use these home staging tips when it's time to accessorize your home:

Remove clutter and small items.
Create variety by playing with visual height and weight.
Use different textured items and mixed materials.
We don't want everything to look the same.
Choose colors that will work with one another.
Experiment with symmetry of the items being used.
Pay close attention to the season and time of year your selling and use decor that showcases this season.
Use different shapes on the shelves.
Use books to display decor at different heights.
Have enough empty space for the eye to rest.
Every object should feel as though it belongs to the composition and has purpose.

Remember: stand back look at the shelf and make sure it's visually appealing. When working with more than one shelf in the same area look at the composition of the entire display case. For more home staging tips go to www.toritoth.com or email Tori at tori@stylishstagers.com, 888.667.6643.

Home Staging Lighting

www.toritoth.com. Home Staging Lighting. When your home is on the market, it's all about creating a light and bright feel throughout the room to welcome buyers. A home seller can do this a number of ways by utilizing natural light, painting, and adding more indoor lighting. The more light bouncing around each room, the bigger the home will appear and since buyers are purchasing square footage we need to make sure were showcasing the illusion of maximum space. For more home staging tips go to www.toritoth.com. Or have a questions email me at tori@stylishstagers.com. Make sure to leave a comment and like the video!!

Home Staging Bathroom Tips

www.toritoth.com Home Staging Bathroom Tips. Your bathroom should make buyers feel as if they're walking into a spa. Think light, bright, calm and relaxing when preparing your bathroom for sale. Check out this video for do-it-yourself tips on how to create a show stopping bathroom. tori@stylishstagers.com 888.667.6643 www.toritoth.com

Home Staging Updating Light Fixture

Make something old look new again! It's great to repurpose items around your home. www.toritoth.com Check out how we transformed this chandelier by spray painting the iron chandelier a glossy white. It instantly makes the chandelier more modern. What can you repurpose? Share below. 888.667.6643 tori@stylishstagers.com

Does Home Staging Work

Everyone always ask does home staging really work....my answer YES! And I'm not just saying that because I have a vested interest in home staging. www.toritoth.com Check out some of the reasons why home staging is beneficial, then if you have any questions or want to get started on your own home staging project contact us at 888.667.6643 or tori@stylishstagers.com

Home Staging Moving and Packing

If you plan on staging your home furnished, it always involves packing and moving some of your items. www.toritoth.com Check out this week's video to learn tips on how to pack your belongings to create rooms that are more neutralized for your home staging plan.

The home staging process usually coincides with packing, things can get messy. Here are a few ways to reap the benefits of simultaneously staging and packing your home.

One of the keys to a successful staging is letting potential buyers imagine themselves living in your home. Get a head start on packing family pictures and anything that makes your home “yours.”

As tempting as it may be to pack away everything keep out certain accessories, those larger than a softball to display around your home if they match the lifestyle you're trying to portray. Another item to keep out lamps and fixtures. Your home lighting can help it look more spacious, another appealing factor to strive for when staging your home.

These tips, as well as others in the video will help make packing quicker in the days before you move out, and it will make the staging more successful.

Home Staging 10 Minute Room Transformation

www.toritoth.com Think home staging takes a long time to complete? Think again. If you have all the right components staging a room in your home can take as easy as 10 minutes to get prepared for a buyer. Don't believe me watch this video and see how easy putting these home staging tips into practice can be in your room. If you have questions about home staging be sure to email me at tori@stylishstagers.com. Try it for yourself and then go to our facebook page and tell us about your transformation. You may even get a few extra tips from me.

Home Staging FLOOR Carpet Tiles

www.toritoth.com, I don't usually promote products, but I love  Flor Carpet Tiles are so versatile that I use them all the time in not only home stagings, but to decorate in my own home. Check out there amazing line here www.flor.com then contact me at tori@stylishstagers.com to take advantage of my special designer discount to help get your home show ready.

Home Staging Based on Architectural Style

www.toritoth.com I've recently visited a home on long island that has a problem many of the homes I see face. The exterior looks great its updated and clean and then you walk inside and see this...

The decor has you time warped back to past decades and doesn't exactly fit the architectural style of the homes exterior. When your exterior and interior styles clash, buyers usually end up turned off and confused and that means no deal.

So how do you avoid this...first go outside and study your home what is the architectural style, is it craftsmen, colonial, contemporary. There are lots of exterior and interior styles, and in some cases you can mix and match more than one style in your home, so let's take a look at some of the hotel rooms I stayed at in Italy and figure out what architectural styles are a perfect fit.

 I'd love to see the architectural style of your home, so post your pictures on our facebook page at facebook.com/homestagingtips and if you have questions about how to determine your style email me at info@toritoth.com.

And for more home staging tips to get you one step closer to the closing table be sure to check out our website www.toritoth.com.

Home Staging Tips for Fall

www.toritoth.com As the seasons change so does your home staging strategy. Learn what you should do in this video to prepare your home for sale during the fall months. If you have any questions please contact us at info@toritoth.com

Home Staging Open House Checklist

Home Staging Open House Checklist: http://toritoth.com/open-house-checklist/

Having an open house in your home is an opportunity to get your product in front of potential customers, so it's important to put your best foot forward and make sure your home is prepared properly for sale.

In the video we go through some of my best open house tips to stage a home and help you become show-ready, for all our open house tips check out our Home Staging Open House Checklist: http://toritoth.com/open-house-checklist/

Home Staging Tips On Fireplaces

Staging your home's fireplace can be easy and attract buyer interest. Learn home staging tips to show of your fireplace, a top feature for home buyers when looking for a new space.

http://toritoth.com/staging-a-home-fireplace/
http://www.realtor.org/reports/home-feature-preferences
https://www.facebook.com/homestagingtips

Home Staging Consultation

I get this questioned all the time by homeowners or real estate agents inquiring about how to start the home staging process. Basically, what is the first step to staging a home?

First off I want to applaud you, because you've actually taken the first step by intiating your interest in staging your home. When inquiring about our company either over the phone or by email we will ask you some basic information about the size of your home, if it has furniture or not and the reason for selling.

We then recommend purchasing an in-home staging consultation, where a certified home stager will walk trough the home to assess the space. They'll take measurements and pictures of the home to use when putting together the proposal.

During the consultation we will answer questions you may have about the staging process and talk with you more about how Stylish Stagers, Inc. works. Depending on the size of your home the consultation can take about a half hour to an hour and a half. We will be looking for ways to improve your home by making repairs, decluttering, organizing, furniture and accessory placement and much more.

After the consultation we will then put together a proposal for further work. Our proposals are broken out by the staging fee or labor costs, the monthly rental accessory fee, which allows you to rent accessories from our company. The proposal also gives you an estimate on furniture if any is needed for the space and provides the type of furniture that will be used to transform your look. If needed the proposal will also supply vendor information to take care of necessary repairs, storage and moving services.

The proposal is there to provide you with an outline of the next steps we feel as experts should be taken, as well as give you an estimate on cost and the timeline.

If you currently live in your home and will be reusing what is there or pairing items down, we will provide you at an additional cost a multi-page action plan broken out by room, showing you exactly what needs to be done to prepare your home for sale, bonus too its a checklist that you can use so you don't get overwhelmed. The action plan is a cost effective way for homeowners to conquer project themselves, however we are available if you need a helping hand...and we can complete the plan for you.

I hope this helps clarify what the first step is when staging your home. For questions about our consultations and pricing, or if your ready to get started please contact me at tori@stylishstagers.com or call 888.667.6643. Remember home staging is a necessity to showcase your home so for more home staging tips go to www.toritoth.com and you'll be one step closer to the closing table.

Home Staging Tax Deductible?

Some sellers still tend to have objections about hiring a home stager, usually because of how much it costs. Well, this tax tip may just turn your no, into yes!

The cost of hiring a home stager varies, but guess what? It is tax deductible! Yep, that's right...according to IRS Publication 523, home sellers can write off selling expenses. A selling expense can be labeled as advertising fees, which includes home staging, as well as commissions, legal fees and points. A home staging deduction can actually save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars depending on the price of your home.

Now, there is a bit of a gray area, a home staging consultation, which usually initiates the staging process is not tax deductible, because at this point you have not advertised your home as being professionally staged.

If a home stager requests a seller to make necessary repairs in order to sell the home, those repairs can be deductible. Anything from painting to flooring can be deducted as long as you're selling the house.

And for all you Realtors out there this benefits you as well! If you pay for a staging service, you too will be able to deduct the cost. Or here is an insider tip: arrange to have the stager bill the client directly at closing so they can get the tax deduction. The staging will be paid out of proceeds at the closing, so no cash is needed upfront. Then as the real estate agent, you agree to lower your commission by the amount you would've the home stager, this way all the numbers are the same and you look like the hero! The will differentiate you from other agents and bonus will help sell your home faster and for more money! For more information on this contact us at tori@stylishstagers.com or 888.667.6643 to see how we can team up and put your best foot forward. Remember home staging is a necessity to showcase your home so for more home staging tips go to www.toritoth.com and you'll be one step closer to the closing table.

Home Staging Real Estate Fools

Some sellers still tend to have objections about hiring a home stager, usually because of how much it costs. Well, this tax tip may just turn your no, into yes!

The cost of hiring a home stager varies, but guess what? It is tax deductible! Yep, that's right...according to IRS Publication 523, home sellers can write off selling expenses. A selling expense can be labeled as advertising fees, which includes home staging, as well as commissions, legal fees and points. A home staging deduction can actually save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars depending on the price of your home.

Now, there is a bit of a gray area, a home staging consultation, which usually initiates the staging process is not tax deductible, because at this point you have not advertised your home as being professionally staged.

If a home stager requests a seller to make necessary repairs in order to sell the home, those repairs can be deductible. Anything from painting to flooring can be deducted as long as you're selling the house.

And for all you Realtors out there this benefits you as well! If you pay for a staging service, you too will be able to deduct the cost. Or here is an insider tip: arrange to have the stager bill the client directly at closing so they can get the tax deduction. The staging will be paid out of proceeds at the closing, so no cash is needed upfront. Then as the real estate agent, you agree to lower your commission by the amount you would've the home stager, this way all the numbers are the same and you look like the hero! The will differentiate you from other agents and bonus will help sell your home faster and for more money! For more information on this contact us at tori@stylishstagers.com or 888.667.6643 to see how we can team up and put your best foot forward. Remember home staging is a necessity to showcase your home so for more home staging tips go to www.toritoth.com and you'll be one step closer to the closing table.

Home Staging Spring Cleaning Tips

Well the seasons are changing, spring is in the air and that means it's time to rejuvenate your home with a little elbow grease...

Not sure how to get started with spring cleaning? Here are five tips to put you on the fast track to cleaning tasks that matters most. It just so happens these tips can also help in getting your home prepared for sale. Rather than feel overwhelmed, take one room at a time, create a plan and let the cleaning begin.

Tip number 1: declutter each room in your home. The single most effective thing you can do in your home is cut clutter. Remove anything that you no longer need, then reorganize the items your keeping. Remember to wipe down all your shelves, closets and tabletops before placing the items back in its designated space. By removing clutter you'll have fewer obstacles in your way when it comes time scrubbing down the place.


Tip number 2: let the outside in by cleaning your windows. I recommend as soon as you can open your windows to let in the spring air it's time to clean them. Either hire a professional window cleaner or tackle the project yourself. With your hose and Windex outdoor glass and patio you can wash away the winter simply by attaching this product to your hose a spraying the windows and doors of your home. On the inside use Windex or a mixture of vinegar and water and spray the glass and use a squeegee to wipe away the grim. Also make sure to clean your shades or blinds and inside of the windowsills to avoid having the wind carry the dirt from these areas into your home.

Tip number 3: clean all your fabric. The fabric around your home can collect dust and bacteria so you want to make sure you can it all. Wash your curtains or replace with sheers, wash pillows, bedding and rugs. Also be sure to vacuum  and Febreeze your furniture and mattresses, then flip them to extend it's life. If you have carpets now is the time to shampoo them to get rid of winter's foot tracks.

Tip number 4: get rid of those dust bunnies. Now you have to consistently dust your home, it can't just be during your spring cleaning. Start from the top of the room and work your way down. Wipe down the ceiling, fan or light fixtures, the walls, baseboards and all the furniture in the room. Make sure to move furniture, appliances and look high and low to remove all dust.

Tip number 5: pay close attention to your kitchen and bathrooms. These are two rooms that constantly used throughout the day. Make sure to wipe all surfaces, organize cabinets, remove old items like expired food or medicine and make sure to sanitize all appliances, baths and sinks.

Now don't expect to conquer your house in a weekend. Set aside some time, start with the rooms you use frequently and work through these tips, you'll end up with a clean, clutter-free home that you can manage throughout the year or while your home is on the market. For more cleaning tips check out our Pinterest page at: www.pinterest.com/toritothstager/cleanfreak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BG6SwJKMYk

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Home Staging Clutter Busting Tips

Let's talk about clutter! Do you find your rooms closing in on you, expecially after the holiday season....well it may be your clutter. So here are some clutter busting solutions to get you one step closer to the closing table and your sanity.

There are many reasons why we have clutter....maybe it has some sentimental meaning to you, maybe it was a good deal or free, maybe you just don't know how to throw things out...whatever the reason is clutter will not get your house sold quickly.

Determining what is clutter may be hard for you...so i'm going to keep it simple clutter is stuff piled ontop of stuff or too much stuff in one location that can make your head spin. See our brains needs empty space to define objects and make sense out of what we are seeing. Clutter doesn't allow that empty space to exist, which makes most people uncomfortable. And when a buyer is uncomfortable they won't buy!

Everyones clutter is different, but the most common sources of clutter are paperwork and old magazines, clothes, knick knacks and collectibles or just items that don't have a home. Let,s take your holiday gifts for example.

These are new items that have entered your home. You have to decide which rooms you will store these new items in. Then seperate the gifts by room. Any gifts that need to be exchanged or that you don't want keep in a seperate pile to either return or give to charity.

Then take the gifts and spend sometime organizing them in their new room and make sure to do one room at a time so you don't feel overwhelmed. For example, Sal got a bunch of new workout clothes so a good rule of thumb is for each gift received toss to of its counterparts out. So, he must throw out 2 sweatpants for every new one he got.

Repeat this process throughout your house and it will help reduce clutter and organize your home. For more helpful tips on how to prepare your home for sale head over to toritoth.com and make sure to leave a comment below about your clutterbusting stories. Thanks for watching.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW_58eDd--o

Staging Tips for Superbowl Party

Well the countdown to Super Bowl XLVIII is on...the Broncos and Seahawks are 

prepping plays, while football fans are getting the necessary essentials for a game day soiree!!! Here are few tips you can do to stage your party and impress even your most 

annoying guests this Sunday.

Remember make sure to have great food and drinks, that the TV takes center stage to entertain all and that you create a comfy and fun party space for guests  to sit back, relax

and enjoy the Super Bowl. For more party ideas and recipes visit our Superb Bowl party board on Pinterest. Our profile page is www.pinterest.com/toritothstager also be sure to share your favorite party tips in the comment section below. If you have a question be sure to contact us at info@toritoth.com. Also if you need more help preparing your home for sale, go to www.toritoth.com.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHHjQgYYJ8k