Favorite Listings Friday!

Here we go with Favorite Listings Friday! I have chosen 2 homes from the local MLS (multi-listing service) to highlight. This week's focus is on historic homes: Home #1 was built in 1780, is located in Purcellville, VA and has a current list price of $1,495,000. It's as charming as the day is long!

It THAT a great outdoor space or what??

Looks like some much of the original integrity of the home was preserved! Onto House #2. It was built in 1800 and is in Leesburg, VA. The list price is $999,900. It is currently under contract.

LOTS of historic charm ~ with some modern updates. Are you interested in historic homes? Would you preserve as much character as possible or do you have to have updated conveniences? Hmmmmm. Hope you have a great weekend!! Sharon Goetz 703-679-1712, Sharon.G@KW.com Realtor®, Accredited Staging Professional, Certified Interior Decorator Keller Williams Realty

Autumn...Already!

I took a stroll through my local Pottery Barn. The Fall displays in the store were awesome. It's completely tranformed!

The lanterns that were so popular this Summer were incorporated into the mix with Fall colored candles and silk leaves. Do you decorate your home for the changing seasons? Do you change things up outside as well like adding a Fall wreath or pots of mums? Sharon Goetz 703-679-1712, Sharon.G@KW.com Realtor®, Accredited Staging Professional, Certified Interior Decorator Keller Williams Realty

Seeing YOUR home through a buyer's eyes!

"They only know what they see, not how it's going to be>" Barb Swartz, the creator of "Staging" Barb has shared these great tips about seeing YOUR home through a buyer's eyes. These are great tips for anyone interested in selling now or in the future! Try looking at your house "THROUGH THE BUYER'S EYES" as though you've never seen it or been there before. Any time or money invested on the following will bring back more money in return, and hopefully a faster sale.

INSIDE: 1. Clear all unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house. Keep decorative objects on the furniture restricted to groups of 1, 3, or 5 items. 2. Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops. If it hasn't been used for three months... put it away! Clear refrigerator fronts of messages, pictures, etc. (A sparse kitchen helps the buyer mentally move their own things into your kitchen.) 3. In the bathroom, remove any unnecessary items from countertops, tubs, shower stalls and commode tops. Keep only your most needed cosmetics, brushes, perfumes etc., in one small group on the counter. Coordinate towels to one or two colors only. 4. Rearrange or remove some of the furniture if necessary. As owners, many times we have too much furniture in a room. This is wonderful for our own personal enjoyment, but when it comes to selling we need to thin out as much as possible to make rooms appear larger. 5. Take down or rearrange certain pictures or objects on walls. Patch and paint if necessary. 6. Review the inside of the house room by room and be sure to: Paint any room needing paint. Clean carpets or drapes that need it. Clean windows. 7. If you need room to store extra possessions use the garage or rent a storage unit. 8. Leave on certain lights during the day. During "showings" turn on all lights and lamps. 9. Have stereo FM on during the day for all viewings. OUTSIDE: 1. Go around the perimeter of the house and move all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc., into the garage. 2. Check gutters for roof moss and dry rot. Make sure they are swept and cleaned. 3. Look at all plants... prune bushes and trees. Keep plants from blocking windows. "YOU CAN'T SELL A HOUSE IF YOU CAN'T SEE IT." Plants are like children -- they grow so fast!! 4. Weed and then mulch all planting areas. Keep lawn freshly cut and fertilized. Remove any dead plants or shrubs. 5. Clear patios or decks of all small items such as small planters, flower pots, charcoal, barbecues, toys, etc. (Put them in the garage or a storage unit.) 6. Check paint condition of the house -- especially the front door and trim. "CURB APPEAL REALLY WORKS!"

As always we at StagedHomes.com are here to help answer any questions you have. Whether you are someone selling your home, a real estate agent wanting to know more about Staging to enhance your real estate business or someone interested in a starting a home Staging business. Please let us know how we can help. Dedicated to your success, The StagedHomes.com Team Toll Free - 1-800-392-7161 Sharon Goetz 703-679-1712, Sharon.G@KW.com Realtor®, Accredited Staging Professional, Certified Interior Decorator Keller Williams Realty

Favorite Listings Friday!

Friday already? Well...that means it's time to highlight 2 fave listings for the week! This week, the "theme" is finished basements. House #1 is a large French Country home located in Great Falls, VA. Its current list price is $5,500,000.

House #2 is a very spacious French Provincial home also in Great Falls, VA with a current list price of $4,795,000.

What's YOUR preference. I personally choose House #2. You would never even need to go upstairs! Have a great weekend! Sharon Goetz 703-679-1712, Sharon.G@KW.com Realtor®, Accredited Staging Professional, Certified Interior Decorator Keller Williams Realty

15 TOP Staging Tips!

It's true: "Staging Sells"! If you're thinking about moving on, here are some photos of my Staged listings:

AND...Courtesy of Barb Swartz, the founder of Staging, here are the 15 TOP Staging Tips: ASP® Home Staging Tips Try looking at your house “THROUGH THE BUYER’S EYES” as though you’ve never seen it or been there before. Any time or money invested on the following will bring back more money in return, and hopefully a faster sale. INSIDE: 1. Clear all unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house. Keep decorative objects on the furniture restricted to groups of 1, 3, or 5 items. 2. Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops. If it hasn’t been used for three months... put it away! Clear refrigerator fronts of messages, pictures, etc. (A sparse kitchen helps the buyer mentally move their own things into your kitchen.) 3. In the bathroom, remove any unnecessary items from countertops, tubs, shower stalls and commode tops. Keep only your most needed cosmetics, brushes,perfumes etc.., in one small group on the counter. Coordinate towels to one or two colors only. 4. Rearrange or remove some of the furniture if necessary. As owners, many times we have too much furniture in a room. This is wonderful for our own personal enjoyment, but when it comes to selling, we need to thin out as much as possible to make rooms appear larger. 5. Take down, or rearrange certain pictures or objects on walls. Patch and paint if necessary. 6. Review the house inside room by room, and 1. Paint any room needing paint. 2. Clean carpets or drapes that need it. 3. Clean Windows. 7. If you need room to store extra posessions rent a storage unit or POD. If you must use the garage, keep it as organized as possible when storing things and your home is for sale. 8. Leave on certain lights during the day. During “showings” turn on all lights and lamps. 9. Have stereo FM on during the day for all viewings. OUTSIDE: 1. Go around the perimeter of the house and move all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc., into the garage. 2. Check gutters and roof moss and dry rot. Make sure they are swept and cleaned. 3. Look at all plants... prune bushes and trees. Keep plants from blocking windows. “YOU CAN’T SELL A HOUSE IF YOU CAN’T SEE IT.” Plants are like children — they grow so fast!! 4. Weed and then mulch all planting areas. Keep lawn freshly cut and fertilized. Remove and dead plants or shrubs. 5. Clear patios or decks of all small items. such as small planters, flower pots, charcoal, barbecues, toys. etc.. (Put them in the garage or a storage unit.) 6. Check paint condition of the house — especially the front door and trim. “CURB APPEAL REALLY WORKS!”

Sharon Goetz 703-679-1712, Sharon.G@KW.com Realtor®, Accredited Staging Professional, Certified Interior Decorator Keller Williams Realty

Dream a lil' Dream

The NEW Fall catalogs are out! Do you have a fave?

I have personally blocked some time this weekend to browse the new Restoration Hardware catalog. LOVE the photography, great use of space and interesting accessories. "RH" and Pottery Barn have some interesting and similar new furniture collections: These are "RH"

These are "PB"

Both feature great neutrals and a bit of Vintage mixed in! Are you planning any room updates in your space? Sharon Goetz 703-679-1712, Sharon.G@KW.com Realtor®, Accredited Staging Professional, Certified Interior Decorator Keller Williams Realty www.SellingHomesByDesign.com www.facebook.com/SellingHomesByDesign

CURB APPEAL!

This Summer's extreme heat and drought have been really tough on landscaping. It's almost a full time job keeping things lush and green. I see LOTS of lawns that look like this:

If you're planning on putting your home on the market for Fall - it's time to get green. If buyers don't like what they see through their car window - you won't get them in the door. Look around your neighborhood to see how you compare.

Outdoor space is really an extension of your home. Yes, I am adding pruning, leaf blowing and trimming to my to-do list right now! (pix courtesy of the countryhomeforseniors.com, lushgardens.com, sojourns.com, nature.desktopnexus.com). Sharon Realtor, Stager, Interior Decorator 703-679-1712