How Does She Do It

It starts with a vision. A blank slate + a fantastic team!

Here is a quick check list of everything I did to bring this home to market from Lived In to Staged To Sell.

The lovely vaulted ceilings and elegant light fixtures remained..... the rest was addressed.

Updated three bathrooms - chose shower and floor tile, mirrors, fixtures and lighting; refurbished the kitchen - Carrara marble counters, lighting, tile, sink, fixtures and knobs; replaced most of the light fixtures throughout home, removed carpet on stairway and in upstairs bedrooms, repaired and refinished the hardwood floors, interior and exterior patched and painted and made minor repairs in addition to clearing out the basement, and dirt crawl space, had windows cleaned inside and out, detailed home cleaning and had multiple inspections - drainage, fireplace, chimney, general home inspection, termite and roof. Oh yes, and the final and most exciting piece, staging.

Staging is the icing on the cake, the final piece, after all the hard work is complete.

And so it began, just like it does each time we take a listing. Access, discuss, implement. Of course, everyone has their own budget in mind, so we discuss the bids and mutually agree upon a plan.

Real estate is one of your biggest investments so don't short change yourself. If you build it they will come, as I always say. So putting in the hard work will pay dividends.

Before

After

Before

After

Before - Carpets were removed, floors refinished followed by paint, lighting and staging.

After

Before

After

Same Great View + an Expansive Level Lot - Over 13,000 sq ft - a generous size lot not typical in Piedmont

Before - Exterior Paint

After - Fresh Paint - A little bit brighter and cracks patched.

From Debbi DiMaggio The Real Estate Process

Real estate has many aspects.

One of my favorites is when a seller surrenders their home to me and my team so we can take their home from “lived in” to “staged to sell.”

As a professional Realtor, it is one of the services I provide. However, if you wish to do it yourself, here is a brief recap of what I recommend.

Planning I begin with a walk through, assessing the property and home with a keen eye. What I scrutinize: curb appeal, gardens, walkways, light fixtures, paint, floors, carpet, appliances, hardware, rooms and bathrooms, fireplace, electrical, furnace, the basement and, finally, the foundation. I inquire about systems you cannot easily see like the roof and the sewer. I take it all in, commit to memory, and visualize a plan. Window washing, a detailed cleaning and staging are the finishing touches after we complete the mini, or not so mini, makeover.

Preparation Whether we are working on the transformation together, or should you decide to do it on your own, obtaining bids is the next step. I have a team of amazing service providers who will meet with me at a moment’s notice, so I am able to line up everyone over a one or two-day period in order to obtain our estimates. Upon receiving the bids, I then sit down with the sellers and review … how much we will do, what makes financial sense, and highlight what is mandatory. Then we prioritize, together. Preparing a home for market, depending on the amount of work to be done, on average can take between 10 days and three weeks. This also allows time to for me to create the advertising and online presence before the home goes to market.

Transformation A commitment from the homeowner and attention to detail is critical as there is much work involved. Typically this entails removing clutter, exchanging old furniture for new, and adding beautiful accessories. There are many talented stagers and designers who are wonderful to work with during this process. I’ve also been known to make a dozen trips to various supply stores to find just the right appliances, fixtures or hardware for a client. By partnering with my wonderful resource providers, we can create a flawless transition. From “lived in” to “staged to sell”, the transformation is exciting each and every time.

The Risk Clients love their home so much, sometimes they want to stay!

Take a step inside 148 Estates Drive Piedmont

To purchase a copy of my coffee table book, or my other books go to www.DebbiDiMaggio.com/Books

Contained Beauty, Photographs, Reflections and Swimming Pools makes a great gift for yourself or a friend

The Art of Real Estate is ideal if you are interested in finding success in real estate as a Realtor, Seller, Buyer and

Real Estate Rules! 52 ways to achieve success in real estate ...

Whether you are an established real estate agent or brand new to the profession, real estate expert Debbi DiMaggio wants to help you achieve real estate success. She explains why you should treat everyone like a VIP, but always remain “captain of the ship.” She starts with the importance of selling yourself, and includes rules for marketing properties, working with clients, and building your business.

Read one rule a week—or all 52 at once! Real Estate Rules! is your guide to success in real estate.

Interested in Selling, Buying, Investing; or if you are an agent interested in being mentored, simply give me a ring. Always happy to chat.

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