What stagers are saying as of today.

What stagers say is in or out, at least as of today.

How do I know if a house is staged?

1. If a house is to neat or pretty to be lived in.

Still not sure.

     2. Check the fridge if its empty its staged.

In

“Depersonalized” décor (get rid of all those family photos)

Neutral taupe colours

Natural stone—granite, travertine, slate

Wide-plank flooring

Stainless steel appliances (a must)

Crown moulding

High ceilings

Spa-like bathrooms

Apothocary jars and Pottery Barn-type accessories

Bedrooms retreats with a chaise lounge or comfy seating area

Berber carpeting

Brushed nickel fixtures

OUT

Black or white appliances

Laminate countertops—even in the bathroom

Ceramic tile

Wallpaper

Pinky-beige, yellow and bold wall colours

Panelling/wainscotting

Plastic venetian blinds

Carpeting (except berber)

Brass fixtures

Original thin-strip hardwood/parquet

Selling a home: 10 things you need to know

SHUTTERSTOCK

By Tony Wong | Mon Mar 21 2011

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People sell their homes for a variety of reasons, whether it’s because they need more space, they’re downsizing, moving up, leaving the country, or getting a divorce. They all have one thing in common: They want to get the most they can.

Here are 10 things you need to know about selling your house.

1. What’s my house worth?

It doesn’t hurt to get a second opinion at the doctor’s office. Real estate is no different. If you’re interviewing realtors, ask what they think your home will fetch. Agents will look at what else has sold in the neighborhood and make a comparison. But trying to figure out value in a fast moving market can be like pinning a tail on a galloping donkey. What sold last might not be where the market is today. But at least it will give you some baseline numbers.

That ballpark figure is essential to helping you to figure out how much equity you have in the home. That’s the amount of money left after you sell, minus your mortgage and other expenses such as moving and commissions. It gives you an idea of what you can afford for your next property and whether it’s worthwhile selling in the first place.

2. Declutter

I know you’ve seen those reality shows where the hoarders have junk packed to the ceilings. I know this isn’t you. But I also know that you don’t always vacuum every day and the house isn’t necessarily as pristine as it could be. Decluttering is the cheapest way to make your house shine to a prospective buyer. You may even find that box of chocolates that your aunt gave you for Christmas.

3. Curb appeal

First impressions count. The front of your home is the first thing buyers see. Some buyers have been known to stop at the front door and walk back to the car if they are turned off. That means making sure your lawn is freshly mowed. A coat of paint outside can’t hurt either. And bury the garden gnomes.

4. You can do it yourself

There are plenty of do-it-your self companies to help you sell. Some will list your home on the Multiple Listing Service for a few hundred dollars. Others will provide services a la carte, depending on what you need.

Or you can do most of the work yourself. That includes your own showings and flyers. But you get to keep most of the savings. An agent will charge a seller roughly 2.5 per cent of the selling price. On a $400,000 home, that works $10,000. With a little sweat equity you could save significantly.

5. If you want an agent…

If you feel more comfortable using an agent, shop around. Just because your cousin just got his license, it doesn’t make him the best choice. Your aunt might be miffed, but this is your money. Ask friends. Get referrals. There are even internet “dating” services out there that have realtors bid on your business. Pick from realtors that offer you the best range of commission and service and most of all knowledge about your neighborhood.

The realtor that suggests the highest price is not necessarily the best for you. Is he just trying to get your business? Find out how he calculated the price and assessed the value. Then compare with your other choices.

And don’t be afraid to negotiate. Realtors work hard for their money. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get a discount. If your agent shaves off just half a percentage point on his or her commission, that would leave $2,000 in your bank account on a $400,000 home. That’s enough for a nice little vacation somewhere.

6. Depersonalize your home

Pictures of your kids and grandkids are cute, but not to all buyers. Buyers want to be able to imagine living in your house. That means visualizing sitting on your comfy couch watching your big screen TV with a huge tub of popcorn. Just like you. So take away anything that will remind them that they’re just visiting. You want them to linger awhile. Don’t spoil the illusion.

7. Maybe hire a fluffer

Home stagers help you rearrange things in the house to make its appearance more attractive It could be worth it, but can also be expensive. But if it’s a slow market, your home has an odd layout, or your furniture is from a tattoo parlour (not that there’s anything wrong with that) a home stager may be the answer.

8. Marketing your home

Posting your home on the Multiple Listing Service, newspaper advertising and flyers are some of the traditional means that many people use. There are also internet sites where you can post your home for sale, depending on whether you are selling it yourself or using an agent.

The easiest and cheapest way starts with a sign on your lawn. Some people don’t like the For Sale sign because of privacy issues, but it’s round the clock billboard advertising.

You can also consider an open house for agents. Many realtors prefer to pre-screen a home before recommending it to their buyers. You can also have a general open house where anyone can drop by. Yes, so will all your nosy neighbors, but they may have friends or relatives who might want to live in the neighborhood.

9. When to sell?

Spring is traditionally the strongest market and prices are typically higher. As summer approaches, families have more time to look around, but most parents want to get settled before school starts.

Come winter, inclement weather keeps people indoors and buyers are thinking about the holidays. Not surprisingly, Christmas tends to be the slowest. But that doesn’t mean you have to shy away from listing. Sometimes less competition can mean good results. And your home is already decorated. Take advantage of the fact that the place already looks great for the holiday season. The tree is up, the fireplace is blazing. Let it snow!

10. Do you really need to sell?

If you need a bigger home, you could explore putting on an addition. If your home is dated, you can think about renovating. If you’ve lost a job and are having trouble making ends meet, think about taking in a tenant. There are options to selling that you can consider. There are also costs to take into account, from moving and storage to commissions that you pay each time you move. Selling isn’t always the best way to go. Your dream home might already be the one you’re in right now.

So, you’ve finally decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and buy your own home.

So, you’ve finally decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and buy your own home… how exciting! You are ready to fulfill your dream of having a place to call your own.

Buying a home is one of the biggest emotional and financial decisions you'll ever make. Prepare by learning about the process of homebuying and the responsibilities of homeownership. The differences between renting and buying a home are vast, and there's a long list of pros and cons for both options. And, remember — there is no one best decision for everyone. Before moving forward, though, here are some questions to consider.

• Do you have the necessary financial management skills?
• How financially stable are you?
• Are you ready to take on the responsibility of all the costs involved in homeownership, including mortgage payments, repairs, and maintenance?
• Are you able to devote the time required for home maintenance?

There are pros and cons for both renting and buying. Everyone must make his or her own best decision. Buying a home is not for everyone. Take a moment to think through the advantages and disadvantages of both owning and renting. Use this worksheet to guide you.

Read over your completed worksheet and then think carefully. Are the advantages of owning your home really bigger than the advantages of renting? Are the disadvantages of owning your own home really smaller than the disadvantages of renting?

If homeownership is for you, you must be both financially and emotionally ready. Buying a home isn't only about money. You should listen to your heart… and take an honest look at your lifestyle.

Houses triple in value

Six months after Vancouver City Council approved a plan to transform the Cambie Street corridor, homes in the area have nearly tripled in value and some residents fear development will ruin the neighbourhood.
Last May the council passed a plan to bring 15,000 more people into the Cambie Street corridor through mid-rise development.
Then last month a block of 10 homes along Cambie Street near 41st Avenue sold for $3.4 million each — nearly three times their previously assessed value.
Neighbours say they're growing tired of being pressured to sell by developers and real estate agents.
Janice Douglas says she expects a six-storey building will soon be overlooking her single family home.
"We've got people looking in our back yard, looking in our bedroom, and we will never see the trees again — nor will we have any more sunshine," Douglas told CBC News.
Many residents don't want to move and feel ignored by the city as developers move in, looking to tear down the single family homes, she says.
"People come here for the beauty. Well the beauty is rapidly disappearing," said Douglas.
City planner Brent Toderian says he appreciates the concerns and the city is trying to cool down land speculation in the neighbourhood.
Toderian says the city has been meeting with developers and realtors to discuss land transactions after getting wind of some very high deals negotiated in the months after the Cambie corridor plan was approved.
He says the final prices didn't appear to have factored in community amenity contributions the city negotiates with developers in order to pay for infrastructure and services associated with increased density
"People were overpaying for land — thus we sent messages out into the marketplace to say you're going to have to adhere to the expectation of the plan if you wish to succeed in development."
But he says having a new rapid transit line running through the neighbourhood means changes are coming and the city's plan has the community's support.
"Canada Line is a change maker and so yes — there will be some folks, and to my ear they are the minority — but there are going to be some folks that are unhappy about that," he said.
"But most people recognize the logic and inevitability of transformation once you've put in a piece of infrastructure like Canada Line. The vast majority of people we heard from were very positive about the plan."
Toderian expects construction along the corridor to begin in late 2012.
The Cambie corridor plan allows buildings up to 12 storeys in height, and leaves room for them to go even higher around the Oakridge Mall near 41st Avenue and at the southern end of Cambie Street near Marine Drive.
Preliminary plans for the 825,000-square-foot Marine Gateway Project next to the Marine Drive Canada Line station have already received city approval. It will include two residential towers with more than 400 units as well as a cinema, food and drug stores.

Living in poor neighbourhood can hurt overall health

Vickie Webb poses for a photograph at her apartment in Durham, N.C., Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011. Webb, 43, lived in the projects in Durham, N.C. for several years before a housing agency helped relocate her and her husband to a better neighborhood. According to a study released Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, poor women in big city public housing a chance to live in more affluent neighborhoods. had lower rates of diabetes and extreme obesity. Webb was not part of the study. (AP Photo/Jim R. Bounds)
Mike Stobbe, The Associated Press, On Wednesday October 19, 2011, 5:58 pm EDT
By Mike Stobbe, The Associated Press
ATLANTA - Back in the 1990s, the federal government tried an unusual social experiment: It offered thousands of poor women in big-city public housing a chance to live in more affluent neighbourhoods.
A decade later, the women who relocated had lower rates of diabetes and extreme obesity — differences that are being hailed as compelling evidence that where you live can determine your health.
The experiment was initially aimed at researching whether moving impoverished families to more prosperous areas could improve employment or schooling. But according to a study released Wednesday, the most interesting effect may have been on the women's physical condition.
About 16 per cent of the women who moved had diabetes, compared with about 20 per cent of women who stayed in public housing. And about 14 per cent of those who left the projects were extremely obese, compared with nearly 18 per cent of the other women.
The small-but-significant differences offered some of the strongest support yet for the idea that where you live can significantly affect your overall health, especially if your home is in a low-income area with few safe places to exercise, limited food options and meagre medical services.
"This study proves that concentrated poverty is not only bad policy, it's bad for your health," Shaun Donovan, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development .
But no one believes the deficit-plagued federal government is going to expand the program and start moving low-income women to better neighbourhoods en masse.
"It's not enough to simply move families into different neighbourhoods," Donovan said. Instead, new ways must be found to help families "break the cycle of poverty that can quite literally make them sick." He did not mention specific proposals.
Public health experts have long thought that living in poor neighbourhoods could ruin a person's health, but this study put the idea to a rigorous test.
Here's how it worked: Women believed to be about the same in most respects were randomly assigned to one group or another and then followed through time, in a model customarily seen in pharmaceutical studies. That makes it more scientifically rigorous than most research linking health problems to a social environment.
The study's good design "provides a basis to infer cause and effect" between poverty and bad health, said Dr. Robert Califf, a noted Duke University cardiologist who is leading a massive study on neighbourhoods and health outcomes.
The research was led by Jens Ludwig, a University of Chicago professor of public policy. It was published in Wednesday's New England Journal of Medicine.
The experiment started as a $70-million HUD project in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. It morphed into a health study after a variety of other government agencies and private foundations pitched in with an additional $17 million more.
"In terms of scale, it's not soon or ever to be repeated," said Dr. Robert Whitaker, a Temple University pediatrician who was a study co-author.
The study involved women living in public housing in neighbourhoods where 40 per cent or more of residents were poor — areas like many of those on the South Side of Chicago or in the Bronx in New York City. The women all had children and were considered heads of households.
From 1994 to 1998, nearly 1,800 of them were offered vouchers to subsidize private housing, but the vouchers were only good in higher-income neighbourhoods where fewer than 10 per cent of the people were considered poor. They were required to live there at least a year.
The rest of the women were divided into two groups. One group got vouchers they could use in any neighbourhood. The other women did not receive vouchers, with the expectation that they would stay put.
Ten years later, women in the study were weighed and gave a blood sample to check for diabetes.
The women who moved to richer areas had the lowest rates of extreme obesity and diabetes. The difference suggests that moving to a better neighbourhood could help at least one in 25 women. Or, in other terms, a person's risk of diabetes or extreme obesity dropped by about 20 per cent by moving to a higher-income neighbourhood.
(However, even the women who moved were not exactly models of health. About 14 per cent of them were extremely obese, which is twice the national average for women.)
The study has some notable flaws.
Because it did not start out looking at health, the women's medical condition and weight were not checked at the outset. The researchers believe the women in the different groups were about the same, because they matched up on more than 50 other indicators, such as age, race, employment and education. But that is an assumption.
Also, only about half the women offered a chance to move to a more prosperous zip code did so. And many who did move left after a year.
What's more, the study was not designed to answer what it is about more affluent neighbourhoods that would cause someone to be healthier. But the authors listed four theories:
— The availability of healthier food is worse in lower-income neighbourhoods.
— Opportunities for physical exercise are scarcer, and fear of crime can make people afraid to jog or play in parks.
— There may be fewer doctors' offices and other medical services.
— The long-term stress of living in such an environment may alter the hormones that control weight.
Some of those theories were supported by some women who live in the kind of situation targeted in the study.
Vickie Webb lived in the projects in Durham, N.C., for several years before a housing agency helped relocate her and her husband to a better neighbourhood.
"There was too much violence, too much going on in the 'hood. It wasn't safe," said Webb, who was not part of the study.
Annie Ricks, who lives with her 14-year-old son and two grandchildren in a public housing unit on Chicago's South Side, was not involved in the study either. But she said efforts like the HUD experiment should be expanded.
Local housing authorities paid for her to relocate to the South Side last year as part of its demolition plans for high-rise tenements. But Ricks lost her child-care job after the move, and says her new neighbourhood is worse.
At her old building, Ricks could walk across the street to a supermarket. In her new neighbourhood, without a car, she has to take public transportation to get groceries or go to the doctor, and Ricks says there's more crime.
"I feel like it would be a blessing" to be able to move to a wealthier area, she said.
———
Associated Press writers Alicia Chang in Los Angeles and Lindsey Tanner in Chicago contributed to this report.