Wish I had seen this 2 years ago when selling family property. Even though we aren't planning to move any time soon, would be tempting to have someone come in and give ideas on 'updating'. Definitely in need.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Let me know if you need an agent in your area and I can have someone come by. Or shoot me an email and send me some pics and I can walk you through it! kati@terraluxconsultants.com

@cg9616

29 күн бұрын

Did the same and it sold within a week for our price. Preparation is essential, I wouldn’t look at a house that was poorly presented as it probably indicates bigger issues

When we put our last house on the market twenty years ago I spent two months preparing. We both worked full time, but I used weekends to thoroughly clean out closets, clean baseboards, light switches, door hardware, and the doors. We replaced old carpet because no one wants to move in on someone else’s dirt! They would rather buy a brand new house, so you have to have it looking brand new! I staged each room by removing personal pictures and using furniture we already had. I think folks like to see some furniture in each room because it provides a proper sense of scale. We had some areas in the large backyard that received shade, so the grass was not thick in those areas. We planted ferns that do very well in shady areas that my husband got from an entity that was tearing them out, so they were free! We positioned some porch furniture in the yard to make it more inviting. The day of the showing we baked some bread (you can purchase frozen dough to bake), we turned on all the lights, and I lighted candles in the fireplace. We sold the house ourselves, so we were the ones that did the showing. We sold it in six days and prior to our planned open house later that week! Making the home warm and inviting is the most important thing to do.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Congrats! Sounds like you did a ton of work!! And it paid off!

@jcmhanel1

4 ай бұрын

My husband and I toured a house being sold. What you said about bathroom towels is so true. It was a single guy selling. He must have left he house just before we came . The shower as wet and a wet towel was hanging precariously on be towel rod. All I could think of was ewww!

@nancystortz2308

4 ай бұрын

@@jcmhanel1 Thank

@sharongauss9298

3 ай бұрын

We toured a home for sale and the buyer’s dirty laundry was laying on the basement floor, bras and dirty underwear. Gross

@EverythingNorthbrook

3 ай бұрын

Completely gross!!! @@sharongauss9298

I use the staging to improve my home while not moving!

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Yep!! Definitely you should do that!! Thanks for your comment!

Great advices! I don't think it's actually fake it's just showing the house in a more updated and attractive way. We had a nice home that we renovated during the years and kept updated. I like interior design and having everything beautiful. But still; I styled as a crazy maniac before we sold our house. I took pictures and looked critical at how it all turned out. I took away most of our things and then cleaned and styled up every area from scratch, a lot like in home decor magasines. I styled every area; even inside the fridge, in all cupboards, under the stairs where we had tools. I painted it light, organised everything even better and put some nice boxes and baskets on the shelves there. It got so organised and beautiful. For the kitchen I bought fresh fruits that looked good, food and juices that was extra healthy and had lovely packages and colours. Then placed them in order after deep cleaning everything. The beautiful things in front and more boring at the back. The labels to the front in nice order. People look in there and in wardrobes. So fold and color coordinate clothes as well. I took away our underwear. A good idea is to rent a storage and place half of the clothes there together with your things and plants that are not perfect. It needs to be spotless, neat and styled everywhere. Take away your things in the bathroom and only place back beautiful items that look new and are cleaned. I even bought a new toothpaste that had a nice looking colour and design. If someone looked into the bathroom cupboards it was all cleaned and looked fresh with some more exclusive or good looking stuff. I bought new white towels to get a lux hotel feeling and placed new plants and scented candles in the bathrooms. The view was boring from two windows of our house. So I put up new green hanging plants there, that almost covered the view. The eyes stopped at the lovely fresh greenery instead of looking out there. We got comments about that window from the buyers later on; that it was so beautiful. So styling in the right way really works. We even styled our patio cosy even in the middle of the winter. The house was sold with bidding within 24 hours.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Great feedback and advice for others! I wish all of my clients were as conscientious as you!!! Thanks for your comments!

We sold three houses within a week in the past ten years. I staged each room and took photos to see how it looked and made adjustments and I cleaned everything closets, etc. one realtor walked in and said, “Oh, it will be a pleasure to sell this home.” Another described in his blurb that Mrs Clean lives here😊

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

That must have felt great!!!!

A friend/neighbor was selling her large condo. She hadn't updated it in years. The living room had ceiling to floor windows with very heavy drapes making the room dark. I suggested she remove the drapes, because they were custom made she thought the potential buyers would like them. I tactfully told her that people today don't decorate that way. She had a cheap looking dining room set that she was going to throw away. I suggested tossing the hutch, keeping the table and chairs, buy a tablecloth and a centerpiece. Made many other suggestions, but "she liked" the way it looked. My advice to her was similar to yours "walk in the front door as a buyer not an owner". Well, she wouldn't take my advice and the condo sold for $30,000 below asking price.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Yep!! That is truly what happens!! People get emotional for sure!! Thanks for your comment!

@vivian9803

4 ай бұрын

I bought a condo in June that came with very elaborate valances in the dining room. They were probably very expensive to make, the material was of great quality and they looked nice but hadn't been laundered in years, if ever. I took them down, vacuumed the dust off and donated them. People should listen to good advice but they don't and I think that's why a lot of realtors don't even bother - they know it's pointless.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

I do have clients that won't listen to a word I say... it's up to them. But for some reason this gets a lot of people who think they know more than people who are spending thousands of hours mastering this industry.@@vivian9803

Pictures are so important. When we were searching for a house our realtor insisted that we look at a house that looked awful in pictures. The pictures were so bad. He practically had to drag me to see it and when I saw it in person I immediately fell in love. The house was fantastic, and we ended up buying it, but we never would have even taken a look at it based on the photos.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

I love this story!! This is EXACTLY what I'm talking about! As agents, we have literally seen millions of photos and can see the inside of homes, structure and condition beyond the pretty HGTV look. That's great!

@arizonashopper5095

2 ай бұрын

I love when I find listings like that! Less competition is great for buyers. Glad you listened to your agent and got a great house!

@deborahlester4018

Ай бұрын

So many realtors take photos that show mostly the floor. Aim higher!

Sometimes I wonder what people are looking for. I sold my house in 2021. Every room was a different color. I didn’t re-paint anything. I used all my own furniture, but in downsizing, 3 of the 4 bedrooms were empty. I did remove everything personal, but left up all my non-family pictures. Nearly all my furniture and pictures were IKEA. I cleaned really well, and made my yard look nice also. I priced it myself with comps and used a flat fee broker who had a really great photographer that made the house look awesome. Sold for over asking in 1 day.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Great job!

I’m a believer. Our realtor was fantastic. He brought in a professional stager and a real estate photographer. I was so blown away by their listing I literally cried. I will say that prior to that we spent weeks getting rid of pretty much everything and cleaning, cleaning, cleaning.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

It makes a huge difference when people work as a team with their agent. We do this so often... this isn't just by luck. Great job working WITH your agent!

@karingraham4764

3 ай бұрын

Who was the realtor?

@Whatizzit

2 ай бұрын

@@karingraham4764 Windermere Columbia River Gorge; Michael Springston

@lisaj5041

2 ай бұрын

@whatizzit was the cost of photographer included in the agent’s commission or did you pay extra? I’m assuming you paid extra for an experienced photographer.

@KatiSpaniak

2 ай бұрын

I paid for it out of my commission. @@lisaj5041

We moved a LOT in dh’s job. I learned fast to buy a house in a good neighborhood without difficult features in that home. I also decorated to sell. Anything I did- paint, carpet or replacing appliances were done with an eye to selling. Everything you said is true! We retired and settled down before the online marketing started but it is the same principle. My mantra when we got a showing- sometimes at 5 minutes notice- turn on all the lights, grab the garbage, kids and dogs and get OUT. EVERY MORNING I cleaned as if we were showing the house that day. Opened all curtains. Empty the garbage cans every night. I also grabbed the kitchen trash bag on the way out the door for showing.

Put the toilet seat down and remove valances and old drapes. These are excellent suggestions.

I'm not a professional but when I sold my Mom's condo I replaced the lighting, had the carpets cleaned, painted in a beautiful light almost white paint colour and bought a sofa from Ikea, used my own art and bedding and it sold 20,000 over asking with multiple offers! I sell a lot of my furniture on Facebook Marketplace.

@KatiSpaniak

2 ай бұрын

Great job!!!! That’s the way you do it!

YES! We have bought and sold several homes, and I worked for a few years as a realtor's assistant-he specialized in archictectural MCM homes. Part of that job was going into his new listings and getting them ready for photography. Declutter, brighten up, remove personal items, close toilet lids, maybe buy new towels, basic cleaning! Look at the agent's other listings to see the quality of the photography-spending extra for a great photographer can make all the difference.

@KatiSpaniak

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing! Totally true!!

Love the before and after shots. REALLY shows how the key is 'optimize for how room looks IN PHOTOS.' May I make a suggestion? Your content is great but the frequent quick zoom in/out makes me need to look away which is harder to focus on the excellent advice you are giving.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Yep. Thanks for the comment!! We are a work in progress!

@auntb6817

4 ай бұрын

@@KatiSpaniakthis is the second video of yours that I am watching, and I agree with this comment. The glitches and frequent zooms is very distracting. Almost like you’ve got an old dude using some old “cool” video techniques in the editing process. It’s making it very difficult for me to watch.

@maureen4669

4 ай бұрын

Background music needs to be removed as well, it's very distracting from the good content.

@nanabuster7285

4 ай бұрын

@@maureen4669Agree. Background music is annoying.

@dilay5898

4 ай бұрын

Zoom in and out also background music distract. Great content. Keep the good work

One best piece of advice I got when I was a Realtor, and back when we had to take the photos…was, take photos from every door way. Begin with the front door, and then walk thru the house and take the pictures. Buyers want to see how a house flows from walking in the front door. Too many people over decorate their houses. I literally had to tell my sellers that we are selling your house and not a Hobby Lobby display. Clean out all closets, all cabinets, remove personal pics, religious things, clutter on counters etc. (i sold both of my houses myself in 2 days from listing on zillow) Every room needs a pop of red,black or yellow

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

This is a great idea!!

@miacat1727

Ай бұрын

Disagree, pop of red, black or yellow would put me off, theres trying too hard.

These before and after are an absolute testament to your knowledge and experience; wow. well done.

@KatiSpaniak

5 ай бұрын

Thanks, Ryan!! Much appreciated!!!!

I do a lot of real estate photography, and I'm always amazed by the bad-quality photos a lot of realtors use, and don't seem to realize how bad they are. I'm also getting our house ready to sell, and it is hard to see my own house through a buyer's eyes! Great advice!

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

YES! It's also hard to sell your own home as an agent! We are the worst clients!!

Such wonderful advice ! Plus I love the pictures! Don't know if it's just me an my old ears, but I always have a hard time listening with music in the background... yes, I'm easily distracted! 😂

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Thank you! We've heard that on this video. The music was turned up a bit more. Definitely noted. Thanks for your comment!

@Macintosh82

3 ай бұрын

The tension of loud music in the background competing with speaker to be heard.

Great advice! So very true! I live in a small, rural community in Ohio. My local real estate person took pictures that were kinda okay, but about 80% below profesional! I did a lot of my own research online for preparing my home to sell. First of all, I decluttered a lot. I was a 74 yr old widow, I did most of the work myself, but I must say, my home looked good when I sold it. I painted everything I could even the kitchen and bathroom cabinets and added new hardware. I did have someone come in and help update the kitchen including new countertops, new sink etc. I also painted the shed on my property to match the house (previously was red and looked like it did not belong). Another thing that I would highly recommend was hiring a professional to power wash the out side of the house including the deck, the cement patio and driveway. It was so worth the $500 I spent to make the outside just stand out and "sparkle." The real estate people were so impressed, listed it way higher than I was expecting and as it turned out, the first couple who looked at it offered and bought it at the full asking price! All my time, hardwork and money was well worth the effort.

@KatiSpaniak

Ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing your story!! It helps everyone!! Great job!

My next door neighbor & I were selling at the same time. My house was staged & I used the price my realtor recommended, my neighbor’s house was staged but with awful taste ($5 kitten wall art from Walmart, bulky furniture, too much furniture), & she picked her own price way above market. I got 5 offers in 3 days, it took my neighbor months to sell & she reduced the price several times. I had been asking my realtor for a year what to replace & with what, & what didn’t need to be replaced.

@KatiSpaniak

2 ай бұрын

You did it right! You called in your agent first!! Great job!

When I look at homes online I look past their furniture or curtains. Since I’m not purchasing their furniture or their taste in furnishings. I do pay attention to how clean the current owners are keeping the house. If there’s items thrown all over, piles of whatever out in the yard then no thank you. Because I know perfectly well they’re gonna leave the house like that and I’m not going to clean up someone else’s filth.

Excellent video!! The side by side before and after photos with commentary while looking at the pictures is so helpful! I like the side by side view if you show me a before, and then switch to an after, I won’t remember enough of what the before looked like to compare. So, thank you for that. (Again, the choice of background music is not great! Maybe something softer?)

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for your comments! Glad the video helped!!

I listed my own place. I staged it, priced it right and I had 5 offers in a week, sold in that week and moved in two weeks. But I did my homework!

A lot of buyers today want a "turn the key and move in" home. Seems like there are very few buyers who can see past the unstaged furnishings.

@KatiSpaniak

3 ай бұрын

Correct. The buyer pool likes the way it looks rather than the quality. Sign of the times I guess.

I sold real estate for any years and was surprised at how difficult it was to convince sellers to use staging or to freshen up the space with paint or just to get rid of personal items! Now retired, but tried to help my brother get his home ready for sale and he ignored all my suggestions. It is cluttered with family photos and too much furniture....the property has now been on the market over a year and his agent struggles to set up a showing. Buyers are wary of a house that's been on the market so long. Staging is so important, first impressions count!

It really works! We sold our house in 2 days at full asking price.

@KatiSpaniak

2 ай бұрын

YES! Great job!

Thank you! I do not plan to sell but have never been good at seeing things the way others do. Now I have a solid action plan for updating my beloved but admittedly sort of shabby little home.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

You are so welcome! So glad this could be of help! I've got more videos on the way. So make sure you keep updated!!!

Just a heads up: We moved out of our house and our realtor had a company do "virtual staging". It didn't cost us a dime. We got several offers and accepted 25K more than the asking price.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

yep! sometimes it does work. Not my favorite... but it's not terrible either.

@LilytheContessa

4 ай бұрын

So with virtual staging, furniture is not really there? Wonder how much does that cost?

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

It's not super expensive. Your agent should be able to help you. @@LilytheContessa

If people can't envision how a home will look with their own personal touches (paint, decor, furniture), then why buy a house? They should just move into a furniture showroom and be done with it.

Great advice in terms of staging for photos, buyers and why not to hire designers. I was on the fence about hiring a professional RE photographer, but am now confident that it’s a must in this current market. Keep the videos coming. You stand out from all the other 100’s of KZread’s I’ve watched! lol very appreciated!!

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Wow! This is a great comment!! I will definitely save this one!! Appreciate you taking the time to let me know!

I always FSBO, very successfully. I hire the best home photographer in the area. Former Realtor..I love the staging portion of the sale.

@KatiSpaniak

5 ай бұрын

Many people can sell by owner for sure. I've consulted with many people who successfully do sell FSBO. If you are a former realtor, then you definitely can do it yourself!

I am a strange egg. the family room picture change Meant nothing to me. the only difference I really felt was the dark carpet Looks brighter in the new picture. My brain is wired to see past the little things that you change. I don't even count them because I know I will change them. It's good what you're doing. It's really funny and hard for me to push myself to think past what I would care about and think what other people care about. While I have no trouble keeping a house functioning From a mechanical standpoint, When it comes time to sell I'll have to just let someone have added and do whatever they say I can't even try to think it I won't agree, i won't understand but I know it will matter.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Thanks for the note! Many of my sellers don't understand what "looks" good to a buyer. But they are like you and are keeping good care of the home. That will go a long way, and unfortunately many young sellers don't do the maintenance they need to do. This is where a great agent comes into play and helps guide you to what looks good in pictures. So luckily, an agent can guide you. You can also do a search for homes in your area and see which pictures are good to your eyes, and which ones you move past quickly. It's an interesting experiment. If you want to ever talk about this or share pictures with me, feel free to reach out and set a video or a call at www.meetkati.com

I’m watching your channel as advice for renovating and it is so helpful! I’m getting a great sense of where spending money is worthwhile and where is not.

@KatiSpaniak

2 ай бұрын

Thank you!! Did you see my renovate or move video?

Thanks, Kati! I'm a new agent after retiring as a pharmacist and I'm enjoying your videos. Very helpful!

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Good luck!! I love it!

The difference in the photos with the same paint and same carpet is amazing! How does one find a professional photographer who specializes in real estate photography?

@KatiSpaniak

5 ай бұрын

Typically your real estate agent should have someone they use. If you are going to sell by owner, you can honestly just ask agents who they use. If you have a good agent, they will share the information. You can also do a search for real estate photographers online. Typical pictures will cost somewhere between $100 and $500 depending on how good they are and other features they are using. I always upgrade my photos to be much more vibrant. It's completely worth it as your first showing is online!! Good luck and set an appointment with me if you have more questions. More than happy to help!! www.MeetKati.com

@laurab5013

5 ай бұрын

@@KatiSpaniak Thank you! As you said, it is definitely worth it! Will keep your offer in mind. Thanks, again.

LOVE the pictures! I would love to see more before amd afters and how to make things better.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Thanks! Working on some new videos like that!

Love the before and after photos, great illustrations.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

Great content…so true! Pictures do sell (or not) the house. 🙂

@KatiSpaniak

5 ай бұрын

Absolutely! It's the "first showing!"

Three years ago l spent $3,500 to repaint my home in Antique white USA. I did sell my home within a week of going on the market although repainting did not make a profit. The buyer repainted with a crisp white. The only parts l'd repaint now are the trims (doors, window sill, baseboards).

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Yep. Keep it fresh with some new trim work. Irritating when buyers change what is there!!

Your videos are EXCELLENT!!! Right pace, right information, great photos. Thank you!!!💯

@KatiSpaniak

5 ай бұрын

Thank you SO much! That means a lot!!

@QMJudy

Ай бұрын

@@KatiSpaniak - but for heavens sake, quit with the going closer then backing up. over and over and over. very distracting!

@KatiSpaniak

Ай бұрын

@@QMJudy This was an early video... we are better now

I think storage units are mostly a waste of money. However, they're valuable to use when selling a house. Just storing 80 percent of furniture and possessions can make a house show better

Good advice. I have never watched HGTV and am not going to start but clean, white, bright, airy and fresh with no personal items is how I’m going to roll. I will definitely hire a photographer who specializes in real estate. Plan on having most of my furniture out of there before showing so staging might not be needed. I live on a rural 10 acre horse estate so my buyers might not be HGTV viewers either.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Yep! Thanks for your comment!

Great video showing us why hiring a pro like you is priceless! You mention good paint colors are needed light and bright, but I don’t see specific colors in your video. Please provide wall colors!

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Here you go! Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray HC-170 Benjamin Moore Gray Owl OC-52 Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist 1549 Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray HC-173 Trim: Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17

In my area "Habitat for Humanity", "Salvation Army" and local churches will pick up/cost free. Donate, donate to organizations that help the less fortunate.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Yes. That's a good one!

This is the info I have been hunting for. With pictures! Thank you!

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

I'm SO glad!!! Thanks for the note!

Great information!!! Thank you.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Great content. I learned a lot. Thank you!

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Thank you for letting me know!!!

Great advice 😊

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for your comment!

Great video

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Very helpful!

@KatiSpaniak

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

I loved this video!

Wow! Great advice! Wish you were in the DFW area!!

@KatiSpaniak

3 ай бұрын

Awww. Thanks! I do know a lot of great agents there if you need one!

Thanks Katie! Great information..taking notes to use 😊

Terrific suggestions….

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Great tips and overall advice! I would love your thoughts on curtains and whether to remove or not and also how long to test pricing before concluding it is too high without damaging the re rep of the listing

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Thanks for the question! I do favor removing curtains and valances. They don't photograph well at all. Blinds can stay in place as long as they can be pulled up for photos. My rule of thumb... 2 weeks on the market and no showings (probably one week in this current market) or 15 showings and no offers... the price is definitely too high. Good luck!

I’m loving your videos, wish there was no background music though.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Yeah. Working on it. Thanks!

This is the real deal love it

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

For real!

Great information. Thank you.

@KatiSpaniak

2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Excellent transformation. It really looks different.

@KatiSpaniak

5 ай бұрын

Thanks, Tom! It made a huge difference and can add tens of thousands of dollars to the home. I've seen it many many times on homes that I've sold and bought. Remember, buyers can be faked out!!

Some people get really attached to keeping their home as it is. You pay a price for that. When I sell, my house becomes a financial investment and I optimize it for the quickest sale for the most cash. Also, you are moving, so get rid of stuff to make the move easier.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Yep!

My first home sold in a day. My last home sold, quickly, but with the proviso that most of the furniture be available for a separate price. Clean and less is more.

My biggest complaint with real estate photography is the use of wide angle lenses. It completely distorts the rooms and you can’t tell exactly the size of the room. I insisted on taking my own pictures for the last two houses we sold and they came out great. They sold right away. We are in the process of looking online now in another city to buy and it frustrates me that I can’t tell how big or small the rooms and yards are.

@KatiSpaniak

2 ай бұрын

Yes. We typically make rooms look bigger than they are.

@eattherich9215

Ай бұрын

You can tell right away that a picture has been distorted, but dimensions don't lie and they are what I want to see everytime.

Thank you

@KatiSpaniak

Ай бұрын

You're welcome

You are pretty awesome!!! Great advises!!

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

I appreciate that! Thank you so much!!!

You have excellent advice! I have been watching a few of your videos because I would like to sell my home as soon as possible in Colorado. But first I need to get a few steps taken care of in building a new house and then I can pack up and remove unnecessary items. My home has dark wood trim and a light beige paint throughout. I repainted the laundry room the same beige color but painted the garage and stairway to basement a bright white. When I bought my house 4 years ago I didn't like the color combination of the wood color with the paint on the wall. I thought I would probably end up painting the trim and doors white at some point but didn't because I have done so many other updates and wasn't ready to paint the entire house trim and or doors to be consistent yet. Well now I want to sell and it feels like there is still some sort of color clash with wall color and wood trim. I have added a lot of lights and replaced carpet with real hardwood with white wash finish. Is it better to paint trim white now to fix color combination issue or paint walls white instead of leaving light beige? Or something else?

@KatiSpaniak

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comments! Yes. You should change the trim. The dark trim screams "dated" to the younger buyers. Reach out if you want to chat more!

@Macintosh82

3 ай бұрын

A couple more questions. Is it OK for stair rail to stay dark wood as an accent? And office with French doors at bottom of stairs white trim but keep doors wood? Or doors white too? Front door and closet are painted beige like walls very close... all these need to be white and window sills?

You are worth every penny.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

I think that's a compliment?? :) Because you didn't pay anything! HAHA!! Thanks for your comment and for watching!!

Finally, the pictures.

Kinda loving your show here...

@KatiSpaniak

2 ай бұрын

Awww. Thx!!

I love your glasses. Do you have any details on them so I can look them up.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

HAHA! Thanks!! They are Prada! I don't know exactly which ones!

When I sold my first house I had plans to do some minor things I thought would improve the looks however the agent told me I should forget about my improvements because this was the season to relocate and move into a different home. So I said ok put it on the market without any of my improvements. As it happened the person buying the home had a mother who wanted to do things the way she wanted for her baby’s first house. My improvements did not enter in. They would have been a waste of time and money. I sold within a decent length of time with less stress on my part. We should listen to the advice of the professionals, in my case the salesman who had sold several homes like mine.

Remove all personal items. Color coordinated, not matched. Make it look spacious, never cluttered.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Yep. For sure!! Thanks for your note!

Now every time I look at real estate I think of you! I love that the TV was on when the pctures were taken for this open home - the subtitles read: Carol,.Big opportunity in Florida. Gonne be gone. For a long time.

@KatiSpaniak

2 ай бұрын

HAHA! Thanks!

I have a question about lighting. We have been replacing our overhead lighting with daylight bulbs. Are you saying that all the lighting should be warm or that the lamp light should be warm? We had been told to replace overhead lighting with daylight, but I lack confidence in the realtor who told us that.

@KatiSpaniak

2 ай бұрын

You want warm lighting in the home. But there are different levels of "warm." When you say daylight... do you mean like bright white? That can be really glaring and not comforting. I had that in my home and had to change them out. If you don't like the light color, then it might be time for a second opinion.

All look amazing and great information! One thing I noticed from the living room before and after is that the chairs are not on the edge of the rug, so the rug is kind of floating in the middle of the room, and the chairs are kind of pushed to the wall. Would the room look bigger if the chairs are pushed towards the middle some?

@KatiSpaniak

5 ай бұрын

Remember that this is for pictures.... so while you might not "live" like that... it's best for the photos which is the first showing to get people into the door. While people are actually in the room they probably won't notice. If you lived there, you would notice it though... and that is why when I'm talking about staging... I'm only talking about making the pictures look fantastic. Thanks for your comment!!

What a difference. Can you recommend paint colors? thanks

@KatiSpaniak

5 ай бұрын

Hi, Esther! Sure. You should go with colors that are not tending towards yellow. Those don't photograph well. It makes a room look dated. That is why you want to stay with cool colors that show a bit of warmth... but not yellow. BENJAMIN MOORE STONINGTON GRAY HC-170 BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY OWL OC-52 BENJAMIN MOORE BALBOA MIST 1549 BENJAMIN MOORE EDGECOMB GRAY HC-173 (my personal favorite and we have it in our house) TRIM: BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE OC-17 (love this)

I have some questions. What about a huge TV in the living room? Should we take it out? Is a pod in the front yard okay? Also, we have a king bed In a medium sized bedroom. Should we take it out? Love your videos! Thank you.

Great tips - get rid of things (donate/pack up) you don't need while your house is listed for sale. Do you need all the glasses, pots and pans, vases, decor on the tables and shelves??No you don't "need" it and you want your space to be as spacious, clean, and crisp looking as a magazine shoot/HGTV episode, so pack it up/get rid of it now. Your home will be more attractive to buyers and BONUS you'll have less to unpack at your new place!

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Yes! Exactly!!!

Seems like a lot of work put upon the sellers. I think I'll just stay put. I am however decluttering so our children will have an easier time of it when the time comes.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

It is very difficult to get your house ready to sell... I call it traumatic.

We just sold a home. We put a lot of money into it. The realtor staged it and I thought the staging was very bad. I could never live with how it was staged. It sold in 12 days.

Question about staging... I guess you rent the furnishings until the house sells? Buyers will expect to see the same furniture when they walk through the house that they saw in the photos. So you just rent a storage facility for all the furnishings you plan to keep and move to your new home?

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Thanks for your question! You will hire a staging company that will come and remove the furniture before closing. They don't expect to see the same furniture necessarily in photos and when they view the home. But typically it will be. The staging company usually will allow 1, 2 or 3 months of staging for a set price. They handle all the move in and move out of the furniture. Reach out if you want to chat live www.meetkati.com

Excellent before and after shots! Wow! My realtor, who did an excellent job photographing my father's house (under contract in 4 days) - but not so good with mine - concerns me. What if I choose a realtor based on photographs and apparent qualifications - only to find they don't do a good job with mine after the contract is signed. What then? Won't they get resentful if I ask them to re-photograph (or worse, more than once) - and maybe consider me a difficult seller so they won't put out much effort, since they feel they have already lost money with the extra time spent? A lot on the line! Anyway, so much to consider. Thanks for the insight!

@KatiSpaniak

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment. It's really important that you have an honest conversation with your agent. Even if you think it's not working out. Agents usually like to address issues up front. And this is why I have a cancellation clause in my contract that it can be cancelled for any reason. This is because I want to encourage that conversation. That is where I would start. If you are finding that you aren't getting anywhere with that, then it's time to elevate the conversation. Feel free to reach out if you have further questions.

@blujeans9462

3 ай бұрын

@@KatiSpaniak Thanks, Kati. I was not aware about a cancellation clause. Thanks, much!

I know you say light/bright colors. Are soft neutrals still in? Tans?

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Yep! You can definitely use those. Stay away from yellow though.

In Florida a home or condo is often sold with the furniture so staging is not relevant.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Yep. Agreed!!

Kati, What is the name of the paint in the Master Bedroom ?

@KatiSpaniak

5 ай бұрын

I'm not exactly remembering, but these are my go tos! It was probably Edgecomb Gray. Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray HC-170 Benjamin Moore Gray Owl OC-52 Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist 1549 Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray HC-173 Trim: Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17

Where can you put all the stuff you pack up in the home? Storage facilities are outrageously expensive and I can't afford them. Any other suggestions?

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Great question!!! I tell people that if they stack their stuff neatly, it can go in the garage or in the basement. If you can't get the stuff out... then that's ok. It is what it is. Don't go crazy trying to get it all out if you can't afford it or it won't work. Do what works for you. Remember that stress and money are intertwined!

@smiles36njcp

4 ай бұрын

@@KatiSpaniakThank you.

Professional approach! I am trying to sell a high value condo in Malta( EU) - a truly stunning apartment - yes its expensive but for a good reason. And without shading your colleagues from the Real Estate Agencies in Malta - the level of professionalism is sub optimal. When you as a seller have to tell the agents how to market the property, then you know its not going to be easy. I wish the same level of professionalism was available in Malta. May be I should have contacted international agencies, but its over now. I have removed it from the market and will continue to rent it. At least the rents are high.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Interesting!! I didn't know this! I have contacts all over the world and am more than happy to help you find an agent in Malta who operates professionally with high expectations. Feel free to shoot me an email if you want a referral. Good luck! I'm SURE rents are high there!!

@catchmeintherye2102

4 ай бұрын

@@KatiSpaniak That would be wonderful! I will send an email. Thank you.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Great! Looking forward to connecting! @@catchmeintherye2102

I just found this video and was wondering if you could do a video about selling antique homes. I live in an 1809 cape cod house. Everything is pretty original with the exception of the bathrooms. Fireplaces, bee hive oven, floors, some windows are all original. I couldn't stage it like you just showed. It would look ridiculous. Any advice you could give would be helpful!

@KatiSpaniak

Ай бұрын

I’ve been asked a lot of these questions. And if you have a house like that you shouldn’t make it “modern move in” it needs to be unpolished potential. It should be in good condition and just use your furniture that works with the home

Here are my tips. Clean everything. Think of your house like a hotel room. Nobody wants to see your personal dirt. I always take all trash, dirty dishes and dirty laundry with me in the car for each showing. If you work then load it up each morning. I know it’s a big pain but trust me, people want the kitchen and bathrooms to look like no one has ever lived there. I’m talking have an empty dishwasher, empty trash cans etc. nothing like tooth brushes etc anywhere. Also expect people to lay on your bed, open your clothing drawers, everything. Even stuff you think is private like file cabinets etc. Lock everything that you don’t want others to see or take. Jewelry, prescription drugs. Not kidding, people take it. Also assume the buyer may ask for just about anything you have. Appliances, furniture, makeup mirrors, lighting etc. if it’s a non negotiable for you, remove it before you start showing. It’s ridiculous what people will do! It gets worse every time I’ve sold.

@KatiSpaniak

Ай бұрын

Great tips!

Love the video. But ditch the 🎶.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Thanks! We are working through it!

Where are the colors that shoot well? You said they were listed below & I do not see them.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

Here you go... Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray HC-170 Benjamin Moore Gray Owl OC-52 Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist 1549 Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray HC-173 Trim: Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17

No gray paint ! Clean, have a spring cleanup done in your yard, have shrubs pruned, have home deep cleaned.

What is your opinion of cloud white by Benjamin Moore in a North facing room❤❤❤

@KatiSpaniak

2 ай бұрын

I would not overthink this one. If it's neutral, it works. If you are living there for the rest of your life, then do what's best for you. But if you are selling... just pick a neutral and go for it. :)

very interesting. thank you. your background music is irritating to me.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

We've heard that one.. definitely noted! Thanks for your comment!

Buyers will repaint, get new carpet, their own furniture, get new curtains and new pictures to suit themselves. They will rip out your kitchen and put in their own. Its NOT your house anymore. Sell the shell and the light.

@KatiSpaniak

3 ай бұрын

Yep! You are correct!!

You need to show more pictures of do and don’t.

What do we do when our dad goes in the nursing home & my brother & I emptied the whole house?

@KatiSpaniak

22 күн бұрын

That’s a tough situation. Can you give more info?

@debismith4067

22 күн бұрын

@@KatiSpaniak what di you need to know?

@debismith4067

22 күн бұрын

How to get the most out of an empty house?

I'm not sure why switching artwork makes a huge difference. it's such a personal preference, it's hard to target everyone's taste. The bedroom had the best improvement.

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

It's about making the colors neutral in the photos. Thanks for your comment!

WOW!!! #KatiSpaniak you are amazing girl. I'm a senior citizen who just retired and my home needs help. I always wanted a beautiful home and have failed in every way 😃 I just learned so much and plan to get started at taking a room at a time to achieve my beautiful calm living space in rural SC. Thank you > have a blessed day filled with lots of smiles 😊 John 3:17

@KatiSpaniak

4 ай бұрын

You made my day!! Thank you so much for your comment! Send me a picture when you're done!

We have a small bedroom which we used as a TV room. Now that we need to sell, I'm not sure what to do. We no longer have a twin bed. Must we put a bed back into this room or can I stage it as a quiet reading room without a bed?

@KatiSpaniak

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for your question! I wouldn't worry about staging the extra small bedroom... it will be labeled as a bedroom in the MLS and most people will understand that it's a tv room. However, I would not take a picture and put it on the MLS. It will probably confused people if they are just looking online. You can have it shot for reference, but your marketing online needs to only show the rooms that bring people INTO the home... don't just document the rooms. Good luck and feel free to set an appointment with me if you ever have any questions! www.MeetKati.com

I would never recommend taking curtains or blinds down or leaving windows bare, gives a cold empty unfinished look, especially when its dark. Dressing windows can create depth & warmth, crystal light, modern, coordinated colour. Windows are one of the most important features in a home, apart from privacy when nicely styled they can make your home inviting, attractive & complete. To me, although 'on trend', bare windows look like forgotten holes, lazy & uninspiring.

@janetplanet09

29 күн бұрын

If you are going to leave blinds/drapery up, make sure they are high end and spotless. Dusty blinds and drapes are big detractors. Also, no valances or swags and tails. Hang those drapes near the ceiling and take them to the floor.