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September 2014 Newsletter
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Our Staging Success Story this month is an estate condition 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment on the Upper East Side that sold at over $100,000 over the asking price. See the before and after photos below which show the dramatic transformation from drab to fab.
It's officially Fall! See our article below about fun and interesting facts about this season.
Enjoy the cooler weather!
Warm regards,
Donna M. Dazzo, President
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Testimonial of the Month
"We were uncertain if we should stage our mother's apartment, and decided to hire Designed to Appeal. We met with other stagers, who did not get how we wanted to position the unit, and what needed to change for the space to lose 40 years of neglect, and read "fresh, warm, I want to live here."
Donna and her team were like Santa Claus. She and the elves planned the layout, selected the appropriate furniture (in style, size, proportion) and in 48 hours, transformed our apartment into a decorator's showcase. Donna was easy to work with, took our direction and gave me the watch off her wrist (only kidding, though I wish she did). I highly recommend that anyone selling an apartment use her. However, once you see her work, you won't want to sell!"
Jenny C.
New York, NY
"Donna Dazzo and her team literally transformed our clients' estate condition apartment. We received multiple offers and the apartment sold for $100,000 over the asking price in a matter of weeks. Worth every penny!"
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Staged and Sold at $100,00 Over Asking!!
This 3 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment on the Upper East Side was the childhood home of a woman in New York and her brother in California, and pretty much had not changed since they were born! When their mother passed away, they inherited the apartment and it was time to sell.
We advised them to:
- Remove all of the furniture, artwork and accessories, except for the dining table, as it was tired-looking and would not appeal to the young family we thought would want this apartment as their home.
- Paint the apartment a warm neutral color. The dark navy blue dining room in particular had to go!
- Replace the dated lighting fixtures in the dining room and the hallways, which made a dramatic difference.
An offer was accepted 5 weeks after going on the market, and sold at just over $100,000 over its asking price of $3.4 million!
 Living Room After
Living Room Before
 Living Room After
Boy's Bedroom
Before
Boy's Bedroom After
Master Bedroom Before
Master Bedroom After
Office Before
Office After
Kitchen Before
Kitchen After
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Market Overview:
New York, NY
"August is usually one of the lowest months of the year for Manhattan real estate. August 2014 showed a decline in average and median prices, however, these are not believed to be indicative of a declining market.
Prices showed declines in both condominium and the co-op market, with a significant 14% decline in average condominium sale price versus last year. Inventory saw a decline from last month in both markets, but increased year-over-year for condos. Co-ops continue to see year-over-year declines in inventory."
The following is a comparison of August 2014 vs. August 2013:
Market Wide:
- Listings on Market: 5,555 is an 11% increase.
- New Listings: 1,064 is a 4% decrease.
Condos:
Co-ops:
- The median sale price of $720,000 is an 8% increase.
- The average price per square foot of $1,030 is a 3% decrease.
- The listed inventory was just over 2,480 units, a 2% decrease.
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Tips and Tricks of the Trade:
Changes To Make Tiny Bathrooms Feel More Spacious
Is your bathroom on the small side? While renting or just without the budget to renovate, it's sometimes hard to improve upon the space you have, but the following tips can improve at least the feel. The ideas below are organized from easy-to-complete to those that will take a bit more time.
Take it out: Less really can be more. If you're feeling cramped, consider shaving away some storage space in exchange for more room to breathe. Taking away visual clutter can literally give more elbow room with clearer walls and floor space.
Make it clear: Try going for clear elements of those you do need in the bathroom, such as shower curtains or trash bins, maybe even shelves. This will help cut down on the visual heaviness of the room providing the illusion of more space.
Make the mirror bigger: If you have a window, adding a mirror opposite that can expand space in the bathroom by making it feel like the walls don't close in quite as much as they actually might.
Add more light: Mostly just a perception fix, but being able to see all corners clearly within the room can help make it feel just a little bit larger.
Freshen the paint: With this idea, whether it's a dark or light hue, consider painting many elements in the space the same color, in order to create cohesion. This will make it feel as though less things are encroaching on the usable space.
To read the entire article, click here!
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Did You Know......Fun Fall Facts!!
September 22nd marks the official beginning of Fall with the autumnal equinox. Here are some other fun facts about the season adored by many in New York City!
1. Several cultures have ancient traditions that take place during this time.
2. Favorite fall fruit and vegetables include apples, spinach, squash, bell peppers and, of course, pumpkin.
3. The custom of bobbing for apples originates from Roman times.
4. The smell of pumpkin pie is a natural aphrodisiac.
5. While we call this season 'fall', the British call it 'autumn'. Both words date from around the same period in the 16th century. Before these terms came into use, this period was called 'harvest'.
For more facts click here!
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Market Overview:
The East End
The following is a comparison of August 2014 annualized vs. 2013, by town, according to Suffolk Research Inc.
East Hampton Town:
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The median sales price of $995,000 was a 9.7% increase.
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The number of sales of 758 was a 13% decrease.
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The dollar volume of sales $1,248 million was an 11% decrease.
Southampton Town:
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The median sales price of $815,000 was a 2.4% decrease.
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The number of sales of 1,599 was a 9% increase.
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The dollar volume of sales $2,445 million was a 7% decrease.
Southold Town:
- The median sales price of $447,500 was a 2.6% decrease.
- The number of sales of 398 was a 10% decrease.
- The dollar volume of sales $269 million was a 1.3% increase.
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For More Info
During the Month...
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FREE Closet
Organization,
Open House, and
Moving Checklists
Download your
FREE Closet
Organization,
Open House, and
Moving Checklists.
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Home Staging Savings Calculator Instructions
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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