Author Archives: Debbie

Home Staging a NYC “French Country” Styled Home

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Home Staging NYC French Country LIving RoomHome Staging NYC “French Country” Style

When we first entered this empty co-op unit, we were immediately struck by the golden hue on the walls and the country french drapes and balloon valance in the kitchen.  Both the bathroom and kitchen were a bit dated but very live-able.  Our design team knew we had to make this as appealing to the masses as possible because this apartment could satisfy the needs of so many types of buyers: single working professional, pied-a-terre for a couple, a young couple starting a family.

The first thing we had to do was lighten those walls and clean the apartment from top to bottom.  Then our team made magic with the rooms.  We incorporated the the window treatments into the design plan and successfully converted this post-war cookie-cutter layout into a warm inviting home.

Within 4 days, the property has several offers – all above ask!  This kind of home staging NYC result is a success story we can live with!

 

Update: This property is going to contract at $30,000 over the asking price. For more information about this particular listing, please check out

http://streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/970208-coop-425-east-79th-street-yorkville-new-york

NYC home staging success

Home Staging New York: Summer Success Story!

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New York Home Staging

Like many New Yorkers, my team and I try to make the most of the summer months by juggling time with our families and our clients. While ASNYC has performed a staging a week for the past 4 weeks, we have taken time off from our blogging and communication efforts to focus some much-needed time with family and friends.

Summer SUCCESS!

However,  we should share this success-story with you:

2 stagings we completed in July got offers the first day on the market, one of which now has 14 offers at or above the asking price.

14 offers in 4 days!!!

September is right around the corner. Call Amazing Space NYC today to have your vacant or occupied property staged by Manhattan’s foremost Home Staging Company

917-428-3965

Let’s Go To The VideoTape!

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Home Staging NYCHome Staging NYC

Amazing Space NYC has a video!  It always seemed such a big deal to do a video in the past, but nowadays there are so many options. This is a highlights reel from just a few of our spaces. Where you see no before photo, that’s because it was a model unit and the before was merely an empty space or under construction.

For more information and to schedule your home staging or interior design consultation,
please call 917-428-3965

The Lethargic 2 BR That Needed Home Staging, Real Bad!

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Lethargic 2 BR ApartmentThis Upper East Side 2 bedroom offers gorgeous views of the park, generously sized rooms and a comfortable flow. Although freshly painted, the apartment felt lethargic and void of light, bright color. ASNYC welcomed the opportunity to install a custom staging design plan so that 15A became ready for photographs, marketing materials and showings.

Lethargic 2 BRWe removed many of the furnishings so that each room can benefit from furniture arrangements that introduced warm textiles, glass and metals, colorful art and accents, all of which softened the dark wood tones.  All of which invigorated the rooms.

Lethargic 2 BR Master BedroomASNYC supplied its own artwork, florals, and lifestyle accessories so as to add a layer that speaks to the lifestyle of the potential buying demographic.  Overall, the design plan exuded a level of elegance comparable to the price point that a 2 bedroom Unit on Fifth Avenue commands.  A lethargic 2 BR no more!

Den with Logo

Home Staging New York Lofts

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Home Staging New York Lofts

When Home Staging New York Lofts, it is even more important to demonstrate how life works in the space because they are usually open plan. “rooms” or at least designated areas for each of the 5 primary human functions have to be clearly identified. Equally at issue is this notion of “over-neutralizing” that we see amateurs presenting all the time.

A good Home Stager knows not to over-neutralize when a property has a spirit and vibe that needs to take center stage. This was the case with a 3 bedroom Tribeca loft for which Amazing Space NYC was contracted to stage.

Featured in books, the interior design of this loft space was a creative interpretation and installation of inexpensive materials such as plywood, 2 x 4s, plexiglass wall dividers, and masking tape wall paper. The “bones” of the loft offered a distinct personality but it was overpowered and masked by the collection of oriental rugs, the antique furnishings and the parade of dressers and armoires that lined the walls. Over the years, the loft became an enormous closet for the family’s eclectic and somewhat eccentric possessions. How would potential buyers see the Interior Designer’s creation?
Home Staging New York Lofts

Amazing Space NYC provided one of its full-service stagings and started by hiring a moving company that packed and shipped to storage 90 per cent of the rugs and a large assortment of armoires, chests, dressers, chairs, sofas and art. To showcase the remaining pieces, the exposed brick wall and the materials that were used to create the loft design, Debbie and the real estate brokers chose an oversized, slip-covered seating arrangement and added morroccan pillows in soft summer colors. The seating arrangement was anchored by a simple sisal rug and a large piece of the owner’s art. Buyers were easily able to see the expansive living space while enjoying the materials that were used to create this one-of-a-kind loft design. The result: 9 weeks on the market and SOLD at 94 per cent of ask!

Home Staging New York Lofts

Home Staging New York Penthouse That Packs A Punch!

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This 2 bedroom, 3 bath New York Penthouse, located in a 2007 condominium conversion, was the last sponsor-owned Unit for sale in the building.

Home Staging New York
The property was on and off the market for 2 years and went through its fair share of both tenants and real estate brokers.  The third broker knew it needed to be staged and asked ASNYC to take on the project.  Although it boasted a generous outdoor terrace, wrap around city views and a large entertaining space, the Unit was empty and buyers focused their attention on the “issues” as opposed to the attributes.

For example:

      •  The kitchen is small and lacks counter/prep space
      •  Every room has angled walls that appear to present furniture placement and/or height issues
      •  The Gallery entrance off the elevator was closed off from the rest of the apartment, making it feel more like a reception area as opposed to an important part of the home

home staging New YorkIn addition to a punch list of minor renovations, ASNYC redesigned the Gallery entrance.  We removed the front door to the actual apartment thus making the elevator the new ” front door” to the Penthouse.  The paneling on the wall was replaced with sheet rock, allowing the Gallery to flow directly into the main entertaining space. Recessed pin lights were added to the ceiling to provide extra illumination in the Gallery and accentuate wall art.

Then the furniture design plan was installed which allowed potential buyers to see how easily their living and entertaining needs could be achieved.  Pops of blue were included in the Staging design plan to complement the signature accent windows of the building.  A layer of orange was used to warm up the room.  Several lifestyle elements, that had a more masculine edge, were strategically placed throughout the apartment.

The result:  2 offers at full list price within 2 weeks of re-launching the property!

Homes with views often need more staging than those who don’t.  Yes, the view is a key feature, but the home owner still has to live in the space! This is where lifestyle marketing plays a key role: an open, on-trend arrangement of furniture placed not only in a sophisticated design, but so that everyone can comfortably and peaceably co-exist with the views!

For these kinds of results, and more interior design magic, please contact Debbie Oulvey at 917-428-3965 for a consultation on what home staging New York might look like for your home.

‘Love It or List It’ New York Style!

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Home Staging New YorkLove It or List It. What does a Seller do when they completely fall back in love with their apartment after it has been staged? 

Do they “Love it” or do they “List it”? Is that show, “love it or list it” real?  Do people really change their plans and stay?

In the case of Sam and Leah Worth, they did both.  Looking to move their family to the suburbs, they decided to list their  3 bedroom/2 bathroom Upper Westside apartment.  The market wasn’t on fire and the real estate broker knew the offers would be substantially lower than what the market was dictating since the apartment was cluttered and worn.   Debbie Oulvey to the rescue!

Home Staging New York with Debbie OulveyA full report was issued to Sam and Leah, with all that they needed to do to prepare their property  for the selling process.  De-clutter closets so buyers can see depth and height.  De-clutter bedrooms so buyers can see space and spaciousness.  A few new pieces of furniture and lighting were purchased and the worn-out pieces were either discarded or moved to storage.  Then, the real work began:

  • All rooms were painted providing a true move-in-ready appeal to the apartment.
  • Windows were cleaned.
  • White hotel shower curtains and towels installed in the 2 bathrooms.
  • New bedding added to all 3 beds.
  • Artwork was hung with a purpose – to drive traffic into the rooms.
  • Sheers were hung in the windows to provide a more intimate appeal to the bedrooms and to block the street traffic visible from the main living space.

After investing long hours to properly stage the apartment, it was photographed and listed.  And the buyers came.  And they came.  And do did the offers but they were not as high as they had wanted (due to the market being a Buyers, not Sellers, market).   One day, Leah looked at Sam and said “I love this apartment.  I love the way it looks now.  Let’s stay for another few years.”  And so they did.

     *        *        *

Fast forward a few years: the market conditions in Manhattan have resurrected and a buying frenzy is happening.  Properties that are move-in ready and priced correctly are moving at a very fast pace.  Sam and Leah are giving it another try, and once again Debbie Oulvey is called in to give them pointers and advice on preparing the property for the next wave of buyers.

For more information on Home Staging New York, please call Debbie Oulvey at 917-428-3965.

“Everything But The Kitchen Sink”! Another Home Staging New York Case Study

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Home Staging New York

Well, in this case, the kitchen sink actually did have to go! LOL This is an amazing Home Staging New York Case Study. Often we do not have such clear numbers to pinpoint success solely based on the staging.  This is one I’m particularly proud of!

When we were hired to stage this one bedroom co-op, we knew that most of the budget needed to be focused on the kitchen.  Kitchen s and bathrooms can make or break a sale, and this kitchen was definitely a deal-breaker.   Metal cabinets with plastic handles.  Yellow formica counter tops.  White appliances.  Poor lighting.  And no stove!

The target demographic buying groups for this unit were a couple who would use the apartment as a pied-a-terre or a first-time buyer.   We knew we had to present a clean,move-in ready canvas to satisfy the needs of these two buyers profiles.   The 7′ wide by 8′ long kitchen space was gutted and we designed a clean, updated kitchen plan that incorporated carrera marble counters, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, new lighting and 12 x 24 inch floor tiles that we ran lengthwise to make the room feel larger.

Kitchen-Pro shot w titleThe seller invested $50,000 in the Staging Design Plan for this property (which included the kitchen renovation, updating the bathrooms, removing wallpaper and skim-coasting the walls, removing window treatments, adding radiator cabinets with bookshelves and adding furniture and lifestyle accessories).  The real estate broker increased the list price of the property by $100,00 after the staging was completed.

At the first open house, he received 3 offers, 2 at full ask.  Our staging resulted in an immediate sale and an additional $50,000 in the buyer’s pocket.

 

Home Staging New York 917-428-3965

Flat Iron Penthouse – Home Staging New York At Its Best!

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Home Staging New YThis 2 bedroom duplex Penthouse in the Flat Iron District showed the “love” of family living. The savvy real estate broker knew that a lived-in look would not translate to offers and a sale.

ASNYC brought in its team of contractors and repaired, repainted and revitalized the rooms. De-cluttering, furniture rearrangement and the addition of colorful pillows and throws created a living room that welcomed Buyers as they entered the apartment from the foyer. The Staging plan incorporated the Seller’s furnishings and even some art that was in storage.

The result: a presentation of clean, neutral, move-in ready rooms that allowed the buyer’s attention to be immediately drawn to the outdoor space – the true selling feature of the Unit.

The Unit was on the market for 2 weeks and received multiple offers. It sold for above ask.

Home Staging New York

Those are the kinds of home staging New York statistics we’ll take all day long!!

If you have an apartment in the Flat Iron district and you’d like to see what a refreshed plan might look like for your home, please contact our lead designer, Debbie Oulvey at 917-428-3965.

Home Staging New York

Home Staging New York With Stylish Success!

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New York Home Staging Success

It’s not that the room looked bad, it just didn’t look its best.  Nor up-to-date. Nor particularly enviable.

Although located in a beautiful pre-war building nestled in the heart of an Upper Eastside affluent neighborhood, the decor of this duplex co-op apartment was not appealing to the buyers who desired a home in this zip code. Home Staging New York is as much about understanding the buyer as it is about maximizing the look of the space.

ASNYC’s Staging plan included painting several rooms, removing all existing furniture, removing over 50 per cent of the artwork, cleaning carpets and windows, buffing wood floors, and replacing light fixtures in the bathrooms and in the dining area. Light-colored fabrics on transitional style furnishings coupled with minimal artwork was strategically placed to allow buyers to focus on the fireplace, the 13 foot ceilings and the open floor plan of the living space.

Prior to Staging, this property sat on the market for nine months without a single offer.

Eight weeks after it was staged, it received an offer at full ask price.

To inquire about these results for your property, and about Home Staging New York in general, please call 917-428-3965 —> Amazing Space NYC.
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