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Yikes! It's 2016 and I can't believe we are more than half way through this decade. Seems like only yesterday when I started my home staging business in 2007.
For those of you who still doubt that staging works or wonder if it really is worth it, review the highlights of our Staging Success Stories from 2015 below.
And I am proud to report that I was once again (the 6th time!) quoted about home staging in The New York Times. Click here to read the full article (I'm about 3/4 the way down).
Happy New Year!
Warm regards,
Donna M. Dazzo, President
Designed to Appeal
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Testimonial of the Month
"You did a great job and I'm very happy with the staging. Every real estate agent who has come to the house
has been very impressed, and I have been very clear how professional and great you are to work with. I look forward to working with you lots more in the future!"
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Here are a select few of our staging success stories in 2015.
Staging Increases List Price by $300,000, Resulting in
Multiple Offers, and Selling at 4% Over the Asking Price!!
Staged and "Sold" in Just 6 Days at 3% Over the Asking Price!!
Staged and "Sold" in 2 Weeks for the Asking Price!!
Staged and "Sold" in 2 Weeks for the Asking Price!!
Staged and "Sold" in One Week at 3% Over Asking,
and 25% Over a Neighboring Apartment!!
On the Market 8 Months with No Offers,
Staged and "Sold" in 10 Days!!
On the Market 7 Months,
Staged and "Sold" in Just 22 Days!!
Staged and "Sold" in 2 Weeks for Asking!!
Staged and "Sold" in Just 21 Days!!
Staged and "Sold" in Less Than
3 Weeks for the Asking Price!!
Staged and "Sold" in 4 Days at 7% Over the Asking Price!!
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Market Overview:
New York, NY
"Fourth Quarter 2015 wrapped up one of the most active years in Manhattan real estate, with steady sales activity during the quarter, a much needed increase in inventory, and median price hitting a ten-year high. Closed sales increased compared to Fourth Quarter 2014 across Manhattan, and were up in four of the six submarkets. After Fourth Quarter 2014 inventory reached its second lowest level in the past ten years, listed units had a much needed boost this quarter. The average time from listing to sale dropped compared to a year ago."
The following is a comparison of Fourth Quarter 2015 vs. Fourth Quarter 2014:
Market Wide:
- The median sale price of $1.1M was a 1% increase.
- The average price per square foot of $1,736 was a 5% increase.
- The listed inventory of 5,060 units was a 14% increase.
- The average days on the Market of 84 was a 17% decrease.
Condos:
- The median sale price of $1.325M was an 8% increase.
- The average price per square foot of $1,210 was an 8% increase.
- The listed inventory was 1,933 units which was a 10% increase.
- The average days on the Market of 92 was an 11% decrease.
Co-ops:
- The median sale price of $735,000 was an 4% increase.
- The average price per square foot of $1,230 was a 19% increase.
- The listed inventory was 2,212 units which was a 11% increase.
- The average days on the Market of 80 was a 19% decrease.
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Tips and Tricks of the Trade:
Are there inexpensive ways to make a bathroom show better when you are selling your home, without a renovation?
The answer is a resounding YES!
In fact, when someone is selling their apartment or house, Donna M. Dazzo, President of Designed To Appeal, doesn't recommend a renovation as the buyers would more likely want to renovate for their own tastes and preferences. So the objective becomes removing the "ick" factor. What can be done to spruce up and update this space so that the condition and datedness don't turn off a buyer?
First of all, bathrooms should be CLEAN. Donna always tells her sellers to envision a hotel bathroom: it should be sparkling clean and free of any personal toiletries, shampoos, children's bath toys, etc. when showing the home.
The biggest impact in updating a bathroom, but at a reasonable cost, is changing out outdated and/or poor condition:
- Lighting Fixtures
- Faucets and, if possible, tub and shower fixtures (a friend of mine spray painted her brass fixtures a brushed silver and they looked great and are still holding up two years later)
- Cabinet door and drawer handles (this same friend spray painted these, including the hinges on the doors)
You don't have to shop at high-end specialty stores for these items. Try a Home Depot or Lowe's.
Bathroom Before updating
Bathroom After updating
(tiles regrouted, tub recaulked, walls painted, new accessories added)
The next biggest impact is to paint the walls. Paint always freshens up any space. But if the tiles are white, don't paint the wall white. Choose a color that will add some contrast, but is neutral such as pale gray or warm beige.
Then tackle the tub area. If the tub is in poor condition, or of a dated color, it can be re-glazed by a professional for $400 to $500, much cheaper than removing and replacing the tub. Or re-grouting. A re-grouting can do wonders and make this area look like you just had new tile installed.
The sink, vanity and vanity top are additional areas to consider having a big impact if they are dated. Depending upon the price point of the home you are selling, at the low end you can replace the entire unit for about $500 by buying one at the big box home improvement stores.
To read the entire blog click here!
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Did You Know.....?
That Black Stainless Steel Appliances are
Among the Design Trends for 2016
Houzz sifted through discussions and data from their New This Week series to find out what materials, strategies and concepts will be coming to more homes in 2016.
Black Stainless Steel Appliances
Black stainless steel is making a buzz on Houzz. In a poll, nearly two-thirds of Houzzers say they would consider the dark alternative to shiny silver metal. (Shown here is LG's new Black Stainless collection.) Not into the darkness? Head to the light with Whirlpool's Sunset Bronze finish.
The following are some other coming trends for 2016:
Deep Kitchen Drawers
Houzz data shows that ease of storage is the top kitchen priority during a remodel. And while deep drawers have been creeping up to replace lower kitchen cabinets for a while now, they're only getting better - and more affordable. Dividers and inserts let you organize any shape or size of dish, pan or utensil under the sun, and there are even clever options for deep corner drawers, and drawers under range tops and kitchen sinks.
Sunrooms
A sunroom is a top dream space for many homeowners. Even those who don't have the luxury of having - or adding - one are finding ways to carve out a special sun-drenched corner in their homes.
Bold Powder Room Coverings
Dramatic wall coverings in powder rooms are nothing new, but the options for dazzling prints, textures and custom graphics are ever increasing. Here, Black Quilted Lacquer wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries steals the show.
To read about other coming design trends of 2016, click here!
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Market Overview:
The East End
East Hampton Town:
- The median sales price of $899,500 was a 7% decrease.
- The number of sales of 76 was a 7% decrease.
- The dollar volume of sales of $124.9M was a 15% decrease.
Southampton Town:
- The median sales price of $872,500 was a 13% increase.
- The number of sales of 26 was a 38% decrease.
- The dollar volume of sales of $36.8M was a 49% decrease.
Southold Town:
- The median sales price of $485,000 was a 5% decrease.
- The number of sales of 148 was a 12% increase.
- The dollar volume of sales of $104.9M was a 21% increase.
Click here for a 2016 forecast of the Hamptons Real Estate Market.
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