Loading Data...

 Robb Cohen | Boston Distinctive Properties | Phone: 617.962.0142 | Email | Blog 

Fri, May 24 | Weather

 

  QUICK PROPERTY SEARCH
 Area
 
 Type
 

 Beds

 Baths

 Min $

 Max $

 MLS Number|Keyword
 

 

 

QR Code Blog Twitter FaceBook LinkedIn


Boston Destination | Enlarge

 

Real Estate.  Done Well.
It does not cost any more to work with the best... But, it can cost you much more if you don't. Why List With Us?


GET A DETAILED MARKET VALUE SNAPSHOT

Communities [Map]

MLS Number|Keyword

 

Boston Distinctive Properties Listings

Refreshing & stunning fully renov front facing 1BR/1BA w fabulous detail in multi elevator building. High ceils w original architect curves & detailed crown molding thru-out. Spac LR w 3 oversized wins, marble FP w dec mantel & built-ins. Reno gran/SS cook's kitch open to LR, w tile floor, ample cabinets,  Bright, lg MBR w tons of storage & en-suite BA, mrble floor/shwr & Restoration Hdwr fxtrs. Amazing common roof deck w spectacular city & river views. Building is totally updated  Prkg availab!

Sold
»» View Details   
362 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston
$489,000

In the Heart of the Back Bay--Quiet, bright, pristine 1 bed,1 bath on sunny side of Marlborough Street. Excellent layout with three large windows providing plenty of sunshine. Fireplace in living room. Separate dining area off kitchen. Good sized bedroom with 3 large closets. Crown molding & hardwood floors throughout. Common laundry in building. Professionally managed association. Fabulous location near Charles River, restaurants, shops, theatres & Newbury Street.

Sold
»» View Details   
257 Marlborough Street
Boston
$373,000

 

Romancing a Home Sale: Staging to Be Engaging Share



Will it be love at first sight? The desirability of a home should be emotional and immediate. Yes, many home buyers will come with a checklist of their practical needs including square footage required, number of bedrooms, bathrooms and so forth. But in their hearts, they are also secretly hoping to fall in love with a home. They will be looking for that “oh wow moment” even before they walk through the front door. 

This is the reason it is so important to show your home at its most attractive. The appeal of a place can be as important as its functionality. It should be fresh and engaging. It should draw people in. “Staging” your home refers to the act of improving your home’s appearance and enhancing its ambiance in an immediately positive way in order to appeal to the widest segment of potential buyers. The goal is to sell it quickly at a fair price.

Did you know that a survey by a large national real estate brokerage firm showed that staged homes sell in half the time? Another survey of Realtors® showed that a $500 staging investment recouped 343% of that cost. Staging is especially important in a slower market. Recently I had three identical units for sale (numbers 3, 4 and 5) in a building on Beacon Street. Number 4 was the only one that was staged and it sold first.

Another recent example I can give from my experience is that my real estate firm was given a totally empty home to sell on a Tuesday. We quickly staged it and it now has an almost a full price offer that we accepted on Wednesday. Staging can work - fast.

There is a big difference between selling and dwelling. As you may have a strong psychological attachment to your home, you may not fully appreciate hearing about a better way to show your home. But try to realize that the way you decorate to sell, may be quite different from the way you decorate to dwell. Staging throughout is important.

Both a real estate agent and a professional home stager can help to market your home successfully by highlighting its positive benefits and features, often in a multi-sensory way. How a home looks (including lighting) is the visual part of the equation, but the sounds, fragrances, and textures of a home can also influence potential buyers.


The first thing I suggest a seller do is to de-clutter and depersonalizehis or her home. Pack away CDs, videos, tapes, books, games, photos, collectibles and children’s items. (You may have to store a few pieces of furniture, too.) The idea is to simplify your home providing plenty of space for prospective buyers to imagine living there.

Then organize and clean your home. Make repairs, fix leaks, provide updates to areas and amenities that need it and put on a fresh coat of paint. It will work wonders. Make sure kitchen counters and bathrooms are free of clutter and spotlessly clean. If you have beautiful hardwood floors, show them off. Don’t hide them under an area rug.

Some items to consider adding to enhance your home that are favorites with staging professionals are: attractive table and floor lamps, flowers and greenery in most every room to add fresh appeal, a soft throw and new luxury fabric pillows in the living room, mirrors to make a room look larger and reflect light, candles for fragrance and a glass bowl of fruit in the kitchen for a touch of color. These are just a few ideas.

Natural light and air flow are critical components that are often overlooked. Make sure your home’s windows are simply draped to allow sunlight and fresh air to enter and circulate. Arrange furniture in settings that illustrate comfort and usage. Put on some upbeat music that will suggest how great your home is for entertaining. Music helps create a mood. If all this seems like a lot, it is. Better yet, hire a professional realtor who has all the contacts you will need to be sure your home is so engaging, it gets proposals.


Featured Communities


Read More On
Bay Village

Bay Village:  Boston
Contact Robb Cohen about Bay Village. One of the smallest of Boston's neighborhoods, Bay Village is comprised of 6 square blocks located between Back Bay, the Theatre District, and the South End. This tranquil residential neighborhood has brick row houses, tree-lined narrow streets, gas ...
 Search MLS: Bay Village [2 Listings]


Read More On
Waterfront

Waterfront:  Waterfront
Contact Robb Cohen about Waterfront. The Waterfront District is an upscale residential and commercial office district, bordered by Congress Street, Atlantic Avenue, and Commercial Street. In addition to providing spectacular views of Boston's inner harbor and the historic wharf building...
 Search MLS: Waterfront [63 Listings]


Read More On
Dana Hall

Dana Hall:  Wellesley
Contact Robb Cohen about Dana Hall. Opened in 1881, the Dana Hall School for girls was founded by Henry Durant, the founder of Wellesley College. What began as a small boarding preparatory school that guaranteed its students admission to Wellesley College upon graduation is now a day ...
 Search MLS: Wellesley [142 Listings]

 

Robb Cohen •  BDP •  617.962.0142
745 Boylston Street • Boston, MA 02116
©2013 BDP. All rights reserved. | Site Login | SiteMap


About Robb Cohen | A Few Really Good Reasons To List With Robb | A Walking Tour of Boston's Back Bay | Back Bay | Bay Village | Beacon Hill | Boston 4th of July Celebration | Boston Annual Events | Boston Arts and Culture | Boston Harbor Islands | Boston History | Boston's Freedom Trail | Boston's Prudential Center | Bring Robb's Expertise to the Sale of Your Home | Bring Robb's Expertise to Your Home Buying Experience | Brookline | Buying a Home | Charlestown | Complimentary Market Evaluation for Your Home | Display Sold Listings | Get Daily Alerts and Search Boston Homes | Get Your House Ready to Show Buyers | Home Inspections Avert Future Headaches | How to Choose a Home | How to Choose A Neighborhood for Your Home Search | How to Set a List Price for Your Home | Jacqueline Cabral | Jill Connors | Joshua Kellerman | Laurie Carter Noble | Midtown | Mortgage Information and Tips | My Sold Listings | Nancy Fusaro | Newbury Street - Boston's Back Bay | Newton | Norma Cohen | Places of Interest | Rodney Scott | Romancing a Home Sale: Staging to Be Engaging | Selling Your Home | South End | Take Charge When Buying A Home | Technology Overview | Ten Home Finance Mistakes You Can't Afford | Testimonials | The Basics of Making an Offer | The Basics of Marketing Your Home | The Leather District | Waterfront | Whale Watching | Why Choose a REALTOR When Buying a Home? | Why Choose a REALTOR When Selling a Home |