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July 2012 Newsletter

 

Greetings!  

 

We are pleased to report another one of our staging success stories.  Earlier this year we staged a loft apartment in SoHo which received multiple offers above asking price just days after we finished staging.  

 

Unfortunately the sale transaction did not go through, so the apartment was put back on the market, this time at a higher price.  The owner again received multiple offers and finally sold $100K above the new higher price.

 

See our before and after transformation photos below to see what we did to get this apartment sold so quickly and at above asking price. 

 

Warmest regards,

 

Donna M. Dazzo, President

Designed to Appeal 

P.S. Mark your calendar to check out next Sunday's (July 29) New York Times Real Estate section and see the Designed to Appeal team in action staging an owner-occupied apartment that just went on the market.

 

 

 

 
In This Issue
Testimonial of the Month
Featured Staging: Multiple Offers Received Above Asking Price Just Days After Staging
Market Overview: New York, NY
Tips and Tricks of the Trade: Utilizing Floating Shelves
Did You Know: That Brooklyn Is About to Get its Own Sports/Music Arena and Basket Ball Team?
Market Overview: The East End
F/REE Closet Organization, Open House & Moving Checklists
 
TestimonialsTestimonial of the Month

 

"I was amazed at how quickly [Designed to Appeal] transformed my man cave Soho loft into a welcoming and inviting living space and all within budget. There is no doubt in my mind that because of Donna's installation and recommendations, I received multiple offers above asking price all within days of the first showing. I would highly recommend Donna and her team to any seller who wants to get maximum return for their apartment."

 

- Andy Lee, Homeowner Soho, July 2012 

 

        
Staging
 

Multiple Offers Received Above Asking Price
Just Days After Staging 
 

 

This owner -described "man cave" was in need of some TLC from painting to removal of excess furniture to the addition of original artwork, luxurious bedding, and colorful throw pillows for the living room sofa, all to enhance its appeal to potential buyers. 

 

Buyers cannot see past the owner's clutter and decorating mistakes.  Our goal when we stage is to create such a positive emotion when the buyer steps into the place, they have to live there.

 

As the owner, Andy Lee, said:

 

"From day one, Donna attacked the project and came up with a beautiful scheme and design. Not only do they stage the space but they also do everything else from: painting, junk removal, art rental, minor repairs and tweaks, furniture rental, and accessory shopping and set up. The best part of working with Donna is her keen attention to detail and her professional attitude and service."

  

 Foyer Before 

 

Foyer After 
The yellow venetian plaster was painted over with a neutral beige, and we added an original sculpture rented from an art gallery, all to set the right tone when the buyer first steps off the elevator into the apartment.  
 
Living Room Before
 
Living Room After
We removed excess furniture and Asian objects, the latter of which is too taste-specific. We then added original artwork and colorful throw pillows and staged the built-in shelving and surfaces with decorative objects.

 

    
 Dining Room Before  

 

Dining Room After 

We rearranged the owner's original artwork and properly set up the table to show potential buyers where they can entertain for meals.

   

Kitchen Before 
 
Kitchen After   
We bought this set of inexpensive but trendy bar stools online to replace the dark and worn wood barstools. We also decluttered the kitchen so buyers can see what a great space this is to prepare meals.
  
 
Study Before 
 
 
Study After 
The huge wine refrigerator and one of the chairs were removed, and now the study feels light and airy, just the feelings you want buyers to feel.


Master Bedroom Before 


Master Bedroom After
The addition of a new rug, bedside lamp, new bedding, artwork and decorative objects to the shelves, all serve to turn this master bedroom
into a luxurious retreat.
  

Guest Bedroom Before
 
Guest Bedroom After
Another "man cave" room in the apartment was transformed into a room in which  any guest would want to stay. 

  "I owe a huge shout out to Designed to Appeal for the wonderful job they did in staging my Soho loft. Donna and her team do it all!"

-Andy Lee, Homeowner, July 2012
 


 

   NYMarket Overview:
     New York, NY


According to Corcoran's 2012's 2nd Quarterly report

 

"There were 3,650 market wide closed sales during Second Quarter 2012, 3% higher than Second Quarter 2011 and 30% higher than First Quarter 2012. This quarter's sales activity is 11% above the trailing five-year average and aside from Second Quarter 2010, is the highest number of sales since Second Quarter 2008 (emphasis added), before the downturn.

Inventory continues its trend downward. The overall effect of strong demand, limited inventory, low interest rates and unwavering enthusiasm for Manhattan as a global capital has led to elevated pricing and a sense of urgency in the market." 

 

Market Wide: 

  • There are 8,060 units currently listed on the market.
  • New listings represent 63% of the total number of listings.  

The following is a comparison of 2nd Quarter 2012 vs. last quarter and 2nd Quarter 2011:

 

Condos:

  • The median sale price of $1,175,000 represents a 17% increase from last quarter and a 12% increase from same quarter last year.  
  • The average price per square foot of $1,217 is a 1% decrease from last quarter and a 5% increase from same quarter last year. 

Co-ops:

  • The median sale price of $640,000 represents a 1% increase from last quarter and a 5% decrease from same quarter last year.
  • The average price per square foot of $854 is up 4% from last quarter and decreased 3% from same quarter of last year.

 

 
                             TipsTips and Tricks of the Trade:    
Utilizing Floating Shelves

  floating bathroom shelves tips and tricks 

 

Have a tight space you would love to use efficiently but can't fit a piece of furniture into? Or do you want to showcase some of your favorite decorative accessories with a fresh touch?  

 

HGTV.com's article "13 Ways to Decorate with Floating Shelves" gives you 13 ideas to make these shelves add just what you're looking for in your home. 

  • Use floating shelves in a tight bathroom to make it appear larger 
  • Balance an off-set TV and/or fireplace with shelves and accessories  
  • Revamp an empty wall to create a well-designed look 
  • Add vertical shelves to add visual interest to a room with little height

You can find floating shelves anywhere, from IKEA, to West Elm, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn and even Home Depot.  

 

 

 

 

Try these floating bin shelves from Pottery Barn for a more unique style.  

 


 

Didyouknow Did You Know...  

 

...That Brooklyn is About to Get its Own Sports/Music Arena
and Basketball Team?

Barclays Center 
  • The Barclay's Center is set to open in September on Atlantic Avenue
  • It cost $1 billion and is jointly owned by Forest City Ratner and Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov
  • It will  seat 18,103 fans for Brooklyn Nets basketball
  • It will seat 14,500 for hockey and 19,000 for concerts
  • The British bank, Barclay's, agreed to pay the Nets nearly $200 million over the next 20 years for naming rights
  • Rapper and Brooklyn Nets minority owner Jay-Z will perform the arena's inaugural concert on September 22 and will also open a restaurant and sports bar in the arena only accessible by ticket holders
  • The arena will include 100 luxury suites, 11 of which cost $550,000/year
  • Scheduled events this Fall include Justin Bieber, Harlem Globetrotters, Islanders vs Devils, and Barbra Streisand

 

For more information go to www.barclayscenter.com.
 
 
 

 
     EastEndMarket Overview: The East End




 
According to George R. Simpson, President of Suffolk Research Service, Inc.:

 

The East End real estate market showed an increase in dollar sales of 88%, 2nd quarter over 1st quarter 2012. There was an additional half billion dollars in real estate sales for the quarter.


The East End single family home median price for 2nd quarter 2012 is the highest of last four quarters, but lower than 2nd quarter 2011. Dollar sales and unit sales 2nd Qtr 2012 are highest of the last five quarters.  

 

Note: The following is a comparison of 2nd Quarter 2012 and 2nd Quarter 2011

 

East Hampton Town:
  • The median sales price decreased 2% to $950,000
  • The number of sales increased 21% to 185  
  • The dollar volume of sales increased 42% to $330 million

 Southampton Town:

  • The median sales price decreased nearly 9% to $830,000
  • The number of sales decreased less than 1% to 320
  • The dollar volume of sales decreased 9% to $575 million
Southold Town:
  • The median sales price decreased almost 12% to $440,000
  • The number of sales increased 13% to 77
  • The dollar volume of sales increased almost 12% to $50 million

Source: Suffolk Research Services 

  

Read more about Hamptons Real Estate here.  

 

Also, see this article from The Real Deal on Hamptons increased transactions but decrease in sale prices.  

 
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F/REE Closet Organization,
Open House, and Moving Checklists

 

Checklist

 

Download your FREE Closet Organization,  Open House and Moving Checklists,

Try our new Home Staging Savings Calculator developed by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)

 

 

Click on the calculator above, which will launch in a new window. 

 

For more detailed instructions, click  here.


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Click here for more information and to schedule a Home Staging Consultation.


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