Before... and After!

This is a true story I'd like to share with you. It just might inspire you! I've become a true supporter of sprucing up your home to sell, including the hiring of a professional stager.

I currently have a listing in the Cottage Lakes Bridal Trails area of Woodinville. Prior to going on the market in early May, the owners laboriously worked for three weeks removing excess furniture (including two pianos and a large wall unit in the living room), de-cluttered and cleaned, touched up paint, cleaned the roof, cleaned all the windows and then some. When it hit the market, it was pristine.

Maybe a little too pristine? Too white? WHAT? Isn't that what homes are supposed to be when they go on the market? Neutral?

Not in this market! What I'm seeing sell for top dollar are homes that have color, lots of color, and, updating. Particularly updated kitchens.

At the 90 day mark, we were faced with a decision. Do we lower the price again, as we had already reduced once, or, take the home off the market and update/remodel?

After much discussion, my sellers opted to take their home temporarily off the market for a kitchen remodel, including granite slab countertops with 4" backsplash, onyx tiles behind range from splash to range hood, stainless under mount sink and faucet, stainless GE appliances (all stay with the home), and three pendant lights above the large working island, painting of the interior with designer colors, painting of the exterior trim, and various fixture replacements.

And the frosting on the cake? Professional stagers came in and tied it all together. They did an unbelievable job. See for yourself, it looks like a model home! (Click on each image for a larger view.)

A special thanks to:

Capstone Granite, Barry Abraham, Issaquah
Eastside Brushworks, Michael Shelly, Woodinville
Fredericks Appliances, Redmond
Linda Nelson Home Staging and Decor, Redmond