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September 2015 Newsletter
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Designed to Appeal doesn't just stage empty apartments. It's just as important to stage owner-occupied apartments as well.
Our staging success story this month involves an owner who was initially reluctant to stage as she thought it was too much work and not worth it. Thankfully she changed her mind, because she received 3 offers shortly after it was put on the market and accepted one of them just 18 days later at the full asking price.
See our transformation in the Before and After photos below.
Warm regards,
Donna M. Dazzo, President
Designed to Appeal
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Testimonial of the Month
After meeting with Donna, I decided to move full steam ahead with the staging. It was a fair amount of work on my part to remove years of personal items and furniture, but the Designed to Appeal team transformed my apartment into an open, updated and bright apartment. I was so pleased with Designed to Appeal and how the apartment turned out.
Buyers must have been impressed as well. I ended up getting three offers very quickly and accepted one at the asking price!"
Janet R., Homeowner, New York, NY
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Staged and "Sold" in Just 18 Days for Asking Price!!
As the homeowner said in her testimonial above, we started out with a home staging consultation for this owner-occupied apartment.
It was filled with outdated and too much furniture as well as personal clutter. This would distract buyers from the views of Central Park. The wall colors and lighting fixtures were too taste specific.
So, the game plan was as follows:
- The homeowner would discard or pack up and store personal belongings that she no longer needed or wouldn't be using for the next few months.
- The homeowner would arrange to have much of her furniture moved out of the apartment and stored.
- We would select a neutral paint color to be used throughout the apartment.
- We would select new ceiling light fixtures to replace the taste-specific ones that the owner would pack up and store.
- We would rent furniture and artwork, as well as purchase items like throw pillows and bedding.
We transformed this apartment into a bright and airy space which allowed the buyer to breathe and enjoy the views. It sold in just 18 days at the asking price!
Dining Area Before
Dining Area After
Master Bedroom Before
Master Bedroom After
Second Bedroom Before
Second Bedroom After
Office Before
Office After
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Market Overview: New York, NY
"August is typically one of the slowest months of the year in the Manhattan real estate market. While condos had a drop in signed contracts, the number of contracts signed on co-ops increased slightly. Prices rose in all measures versus last year, with the average price for a condo up 35%, and co-ops 33%. While prices in August 2014 were atypically low, the significant price increase relative to last year is largely explained by a jump in the proportion of sales over $3M. Conversely, sales below $500,000 represented just 12% of total sales activity this month, compared to 20% a year ago. Overall inventory has declined notably since last year."
The following is a comparison of August 2015 vs. August 2014:
Market Wide:
- The listed inventory of 5,012 units was a 10% decrease.
Condos:
- The median sale price of $1.830 million was a 37% increase.
- The average price per square foot of $1,835 was a 17% decrease.
- The listed inventory was 2,623 units which was a 1% decrease.
Co-ops:
- The median sale price of $780,000 was an 8% increase.
- The average price per square foot of $1,230 was a 19% increase.
- The listed inventory was 2,005 units which was a 19% decrease.
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Tips and Tricks of the Trade: How To Keep A TV From Sticking Out Like A Sore Thumb
There is no reason to hide or be embarrassed of your television, especially if you watch it frequently. However, it can be favorable to find ways to help it blend in with all the other nice things you have decorating the room. Instead of tucking it away somewhere in a cabinet or behind art or a mirror, there are ways to minimize the presence of it in a room. Here are some ideas:
Mount it on a dark wall
Or a patterned wall
Balance it out with other black accents
Incorporate it among a display of art
Mount it above a fireplace
To read more tips and the entire article, click here!
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Did You Know.....?
All About Apples!!
Fall is approaching, a season delivering not only crisp, autumn air, but a favorite crisp, autumn treat: apples. Ushering in the change of seasons we thought sharing a few facts about this nutritious and delicious staple would be fun!
They are millions of years old.
They originated as a fruit in the Tien Shan mountains of Kazakhstan millions of years ago, and have been a part of the human diet for tens of thousands of years.
They were cultivated in Jamestown, but not for eating.
The important purpose of this fruit in colonial society was for cider! North American apple harvesting began with the settlers at Jamestown in 1607.
Thomas Jefferson was a founding father of the Fuji apple.
As the story goes, Edmund Charles Genet, French minister to the United States in the 1790s, gave Thomas Jefferson a gift of apple cuttings that Jefferson donated to a Virginia nursery, which then cultivated a variety of apple known as the "Ralls Genet." In 1939, Japanese apple breeders crossed the genes from the classic Red Delicious apple variety with that of Jefferson's Ralls Genet, resulting in the now ubiquitous Fuji apple.
An apple a day may really keep the doctor away.
Apples are low in calories and free of fat, sodium and cholesterol and are rich in fiber, disease-fighting anti-oxidants and a variety of vitamins and minerals. Eating apples has been associated with lower risk of a variety of cancers, stroke and diabetes. In addition, these nutritional powerhouses may help protect the brain from developing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and even lower a person's risk of tooth decay.
To read the entire article, click here!
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Market Overview:
The East End
East Hampton Town:
- The median sales price of $998,000 was a 7.6% decrease.
- The number of sales of 771 was no change.
- The dollar volume of sales of $1,333M was a 5% decrease.
Southampton Town:
- The median sales price of $950,000 was an 11.8% increase.
- The number of sales of 1,584 was a 3% decrease.
- The dollar volume of sales of $2,838M was a 2% decrease.
Southold Town:
- The median sales price of $500,000 was a 2% increase.
- The number of sales of 395 was a 10% decrease.
- The dollar volume of sales of $240M was a 19% decrease.
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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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Try our
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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