by Vivian Gilbert
Bring on 2021! A great way to increase the appeal of a listing is to work in the latest living and design trends - thoughtfully, as best fits each unique home. There have been so many changes over the past year. Here is what I'm keeping in mind …Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
It's December of 2020 - one tough year. That said, this year has reminded me of what I'm truly grateful for. I'm grateful for you, my clients, and the ability to work with you to transform properties. I've loved the fast sales, the multiple competing…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
One of my favorite moments is when I walk back into a recently staged listing and experience the new wow factor from the outside in. On-trend décor contributes to a powerful first impression - and a higher sales price for your listing. The lat…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
It's much, much harder to successfully stage a listing that is being lived in. Or, where you're working with sellers who just aren't that flexible, or have serious constraints on time or budget. Sometimes, it's a home from an estate that's going on t…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
Often overlooked by the current owner, the odor of a home can make or break a sale. Buyers who are allergic may turn and walk right out if they catch so much as a whiff of something off. Buyers instinctively place a higher value on a clean, fresh-sme…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
These days, outdoor spaces are increasingly important. Delight potential buyers by highlighting the unique outdoor features of your listing.
1. Draw attention to the view.
To extend the home's living space, start from the inside out. Make sur…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
Potential buyers will carefully scrutinize your listing's kitchen - particularly now, with more families dining in. Below is how to get a covetable kitchen without paying for a pricey renovation. The goal is a kitchen that is at or slightly above the…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
The photos of your listing will determine whether the home sells quickly for top dollar - or languishes on the market. In these times, buyers are scrutinizing every picture of every room to decide whether or not to request a showing. Here are th…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
Buyers' needs are changing as the quarantine continues on. While the core tenets of staging have not changed, we are adapting how we stage to better meet your buyers' needs. Below are six ways we've adjusted our approach to staging:
1. De…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
Times are certainly changing! Be smart and safe out there. That said, there is still a lot of activity in the real estate market, with more properties being listed, plenty of buyers drawn by low interest rates, and ongoing closings and settlements.&n…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
The key to a well-staged living room is to make it appear warm and inviting as well as upscale and aspirational. This can be a difficult balance to strike, but a good stager will do this every time by elevating the look and feel of the room. You migh…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
One of the things I like most about home staging is that we're all working toward common goals: the best price for the listing, more good offers received quickly, and happy sellers who refer more clients.There are a few actions that experienced realt…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
First, thank you for voting for me in the Best of Bethesda Readers' Poll for home staging! I was surprised, pleased, and grateful to get the call about the award.Now, on to this year's trends: a good stager knows that the careful use of on-trend elem…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
Prospective home buyers have many wants and needs. One of these is a master bedroom that looks and feels like a sanctuary: somewhere they can snuggle in, shut the door, and leave the world behind. Here is how to stage the perfect bedroom retreat:&nbs…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
Curb appeal is a frequently repeated mantra, for good reason. Potential buyers may be excited about a home based on the photos online, but if their first look results in the impression of a poorly maintained property, many will drive right on by. Her…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
Almost every listing has its challenges. A professional stager's job is to show potential buyers the possibilities of the home, without saying a word.
How staging works: a $1.1 million example
Recently, I was shown a listing that had not been…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
I am often asked which situation I prefer: staging an occupied home or a vacant listing. A good professional stager loves a challenge - and each situation poses a unique set of challenges.
1. Some things don't change.
The initial staging cons…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
The careful use of color is essential to a well-staged listing. A professional home stager will choose background and accent colors that fit the home, have broad appeal, and foster an emotional connection between potential buyers and your listing.
&…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
Watch and listen as Vivian Gilbert shares insights about home staging:
Staging A Home For Sale, with Brad Rozansky of The Rozansky Group: The importance of posting great photos of your listing, and how to apply the four core principles of …Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
Realtors frequently ask how I evaluate a new listing. Much like a prospective buyer, a professional stager begins from the outside and works her way in. I start with these five questions:
1. What is the view from the curb?
The outside of the …Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
Those of us in the industry know that staging works: smart staging puts more money in the seller's pocket and helps homes sell more quickly. There are clients, however, who are apprehensive about staging, and it's rarely about the investment required…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
Realtors and stagers know that staging is an investment to help increase a listing's sales price and reduce days on market. However, some sellers - particularly those who need it the most - still struggle with the concept of staging. Here is how I ex…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
Every house is unique. Even homes in the same development with the same footprint have their own character, as each homeowner makes different choices.As a result, every home has unique architectural features. These features - which are different from…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
Most buyers are quite rational about which homes they choose to see. They'll search online for homes in the right location and in their price range that have the appropriate numbers of bedrooms.The buying decision, though, is based on emotion. A well…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
Improving the flow of a home gives the appearance of a larger, more spacious home. Better flow unifies the space, inviting a buyer to walk from room to room and explore. Below are five tips on how to use flow to make your seller's home appear larger.…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
To get the best price for your seller's home, I recommend staging that showcases the home's unique features while incorporating current design trends that fit both the house and the layout. Below are a few key trends that we'll see more of this year.…Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
A good realtor is always the best guide of the right time to list a home. For those who recommend listing in December to get a jump on the early spring market, here are five tips on staging during the holidays.
1. Pack up the decorations.
My …Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
90% of home buyers are not good at gauging size or space. They can't walk into a room they haven't seen before and figure out how much furniture will fit, nor can they instantly imagine how to attractively arrange their furniture in the space.One of …Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
When our houses become items for sale, we have to be able to look at them objectively. We have to forget that the doll collection on display in the living room was passed down three generations and realize that it and the big obtrusive statue in the …Continue reading→
by Vivian Gilbert
When selling a home, the colors used both inside and outside can make a big impact. Putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls is the most cost effective way to appeal to more buyers. Below are several color tips to get your home sold.
Choos…Continue reading→