Lighting a fire adds a rustic charm to an apartment. Take pains to keep the hearth clean and simple... to clutter the fireplace ruins the effect.
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February 2010
Light up your property value, and your home
"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand, and for a talk beside the fire: It is the time for home." Edith Sitwell
I'm delighted to report that sales of my book, Speed Decorating: A Pro Stagers Tips and Trade Secrets for a Fabulous Home in a Week or Less, are brisk and a second printing has hit the stands. Thanks to everyone who supported me and for all of you who bought the book!
We're in the throes of winter now, the sun is not so bright, and so I'd like to talk about lighting. Lighting is essential in a home, whether you are staging it for a quick sale or staying put. In city dwellings, it is especially important to maximize the light potential of a space, and to augment any other features that might help sell the property. When it comes to matters of lighting, we're really talking about impressions, and nothing is more important than a first impression when you are staging a property.
Recently I did a Magic Wand Consultation and I'd like to share the experience. Walking into the spacious West Village loft, it felt like a cave, dark and claustrophobic. So right there, a sale would be lost, as the space came off as dark and dingy.
As it turns out, the dimmer switch was turned down low from a dinner party the night before. What a difference when we turned up the light. Dimmer switches are a great way for creating the perfect mood---dim at night, bright during the day. When you are selling, you want to create a "bright and cheery" mood, so crank up that dimmer!
I was surprised to discover a working fireplace hiding in the living room. If you are fortunate enough to have a working fireplace in a city apartment, it's critical to use it as a showpiece. During showings, keep the fire roaring, especially during winter. Nothing says "cozy and inviting" better than the glow of a fire. Add a nice plush rug to the room and comfortable furniture, and buyers will flock there to warm up by the hearth. The fire will cast a beautiful glow and create a comforting sound with the crackle of firewood. And of course, the smell is fantastic. The mood this creates is priceless - a definite selling feature.
In this particular loft, there were other benefits to drawing buyers to the fireplace. From there, I was shocked to see an amazing view of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings. It was truly a gorgeous view hidden from the entrance.
Tinted and decorated glass balls are a modern accoutrement that brings charm into a room. When the bulb and ball are sparkling clean, the fixture will cast a nice light on the room.
Photo credit: Michael Grimm
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To enhance the property value of this apartment, it was critical to get buyers across the room within the first 30 seconds. In this case, using the fireplace as a draw was an easy solution.
If you dont have a fireplace, that's OK. There are many things that can be accomplished simply by cleaning light fixtures and changing the bulbs. If the place feels dim, you can amp up the wattage on your bulbs. Just make sure to check the wattage of the bulb and compare it to the wattage allowed for the fixture. Too high a wattage is dangerous and can burn out the fixture.
And finally, clean those windows! Remove fussy window treatments and any treatments that are dusty or dirty. Allow as much natural light as possible to flow inside the apartment. Shiny windows are a wonderful selling point. Let the sun shine in.
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