logo web
topMarch 2010 Newsletter
Happy St. Patrick's Day
Greetings! , 
 
If you ever doubted that home staging works, our two most recent success stories prove it does: 
  • One Bedroom Apartment on the Upper West Side sells 23 days after staging at the full asking price.    
  • One Bedroom Apartment in the Murray Hill area had been on the market for 15 weeks with no offers, then received 3 offers in the first week and sold 28 days after staging at 99% of the asking price.  
See the dramatic before and after transformations below that Designed to Appeal did for these apartments that resulted in such quick sales.
 
Warmest regards,
 
Donna M. Dazzo, President
Designed to Appeal 
 
P.S.  Our stagings even beat the newly released nationwide statistics on staging -  see the Did Your Know...section
 
In This Issue
Staging Works: 2 Homes Sold in Less than 28 Days!
Market Overview: New York, NY
Tips and Tricks of the Trade: Creating Flow
Did you know...
Market Overview: The East End
Testimonials of the Month
F/REE Closet Organization & Open House Checklists
 
belowStaging Works:  2 Homes Sold in
                                Less than 28 Days!!
 
 
41 West 74th StLiving Room After 
 
After the homeowner implemented our recommendations for this one bedroom Upper West Side apartment...
 
  • painted the outdated bookcase white
  • updated the kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and
  • defined the dining area with a chandelier
 
..... we staged it in one day.  The homeowner accepted an offer 23 days later at the full asking price.
 
See the before and after transformation in this 90 second slide show: 
 
Living Room After
 
See what the real estate agent had to say after the staging was completed in Testimonials below.
 
 
15 Weeks on the Market - No Offers
 Staged - 3 offers in One Week!
 
This apartment had been on the market for 15 weeks with NO offers.  Once we staged it, the owner received 3 offers in the first week and had a signed contract 28 days after the staging.
 
Bedroom Before Murray HillBedroom After
 
It was no wonder that this apartment sat on the market for 15 weeks with no offers.  It didn't show well online (where 90% of buyers start their search) due to its black carpeting and empty rooms.
 
This homeowner also implemented our suggested changes...
 
  • removed the built-ins that were overwhelming the living room and taking up valuable space
  • removed the outdated wall paper from the kitchen and painted it our recommended shade of gray, and
  • agreed to our purchase of items to spruce up the outdoor terrace
  
Terrace beforeTerrace after
 
See the complete transformation of this apartment in the 60 second slide show below.
 
Murray Hill slide show
 
 
 
   Market Overview:
     New York, NY
 
 
 
 "Marketwide, sales activity picked up in February compared to January 2010.  While listed inventory is up 7% from last month, there are 37% fewer residence on the market than in February 2009."
 
Co-ops:  
  • The number of sales was 72% higher than a year ago.
  • The median price of $675,000 was 3% higher than a year ago
  • The discount from Ask to Sale improved from 8% to 5%
  • Days on the market increased 20%
  • The inventory was 22% lower than January 2009
     
    Condos: 
  • The number of sales was 57% higher than February 2009
  • The median price of $950,000 was 10% higher than a year ago
  • The discount from Ask to Sale improved slightly from 9% to 8%
  • Days on the market increased 38%
  • The inventory was down 31% from a year ago
  •  
                              
    Bookcase
     
     
     
    Tips and Tricks
     of the Trade
     
     
     
     
     
    The Art of Arranging a Bookcase
     
    One might think that the arrangement of items in a bookcase is not art, but it is.
     
    Color, balance, and space all play a big part.
     
    Look at these before and after photos and you will see the difference.  Which one is more pleasing to the eye?
     
                     BEFORE                                         AFTER
     
     
    Bookcase Before
     Bookcase After
     
    Here are some hints to arranging a bookcase, whether built-in or free- standing, whether you're staging to sell or not:
     
    1.  First, remove all of the items from the bookcase.
    2.  Discard or pack away paperback books (especially when staging as they can be sloppy-looking).
    3.  Remove the dust jackets from the hardcover books, except coffee table books to give the shelves a neater appearance (when staging).
    3.  Group books and accessories separately so you can more easily see what to work with.  
    4.  Group hardcover books by color of the spine.
     
     
    House for sale
     
     
    didyouknowDid You Know...
     
     
    Our home staging success stories above have even beat the fabulous new 2009 statistics released by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA):
     
    Occupied Homes...  
    • ...that were on the market, then staged, spent 78% less time on the market than before they were staged
    • ...that were staged before they went on the market sold on average in only 39 days!
     
    Vacant Homes...   
    •  ...that were on the market, then staged, also spent 78% less time on the market than before they were staged
    • ...that were staged before they went on the market, sold on average in only 42 days!
     
     
     
     
     
    Market Overview: The East End
     
     
     
     
    According to Suffolk Research Service in their January 2010 monthly report (note: number and dollar volume of sales have been annualized and are compared to all of 2009):
     
    East Hampton Town:  
    • The median price in January increased over 36% to $1,236,500
    • The number of sales has almost doubled!
    • The dollar volume of sales have tripled!
     
    Southampton Town:  
    • The median price in January decreased 4% to $757,000
    • The number of sales increased 26%
    • The dollar volume of sales increased 12%
     
    Southold Town:  
    • The median price in January decreased 20% to $370,000
    • The number of sales increased 29%
    • The dollar volume of sales increased 15%
     
    testimonialsofthemonthTestimonial of the Month 
     

    "I love it!  The apartment looks fabulous!  You've done everything you said you would do and when you would do it.  I want to use you for all of my future stagings."

     

    Larry Schier 
    Larry Schier, Senior Vice President
    Associate Broker 
    The Corcoran Group
     
     

     

    Quick Links
     
     
     
     

    F/REE Closet Organization and
    Open House Checklists

     

    Checklist

     

    To request your FREE Closet Organization and Open House Checklists, contact us.  Just put "Free Checklist" in the subject line, and we will know what to email to you. 

     

     
     
    Home Staging
    Consultation
     
     
    For Manhattan and the Hamptons from Montauk to Southampton:  $300 for the first 2 hours, $100/hour thereafter
     
    Other Areas:
      A travel premium will apply.
     
    Click here for more information and to schedule a Home Staging Consultation.
     
     
    FREE VACANT STAGING ESTIMATES IN MANHATTAN AND THE HAMPTONS