Living in a staged home: 7 easy tips for sellers to maintain a show-ready home with ease and comfort
Welcome to your regular staging advice column designed exclusively for real estate professionals. Whether you’re grappling with how to enhance the visual appeal of your listings or seeking innovative strategies to captivate your target audience, you’ve come to the right place. This is your opportunity to pose any and all staging-related questions and receive expert advice, for free. No query is too big or small — if it’s about elevating the look of your real estate, we want to hear it and we want to help! Email your questions to ninadoiron@isodesign.ca As a real estate agent, one of the key challenges you may face when helping clients sell their homes is ensuring the property remains show-ready at all times. While staging is an excellent way to present the home in its best light and attract buyers, it can be difficult for sellers to live in a staged home, especially when balancing busy lives. But don’t worry — there are plenty of strategies to help sellers keep their homes ready for showings while minimizing stress and maintaining comfort. Here, we’ll explore tips for sellers on how to live comfortably in a staged home, keep the property show-ready and avoid potential pitfalls. With your expert guidance, your clients can increase their chances of selling quickly and for top dollar. Why it’s important to keep a staged home show ready First, it’s important to emphasize to sellers why keeping their homes in pristine condition during the listing period is essential. A staged home is designed to appeal to the emotional triggers of potential buyers. A clean, well-organized space helps buyers imagine themselves living in the home, which can lead to quicker offers and higher sale prices. However, one messy or cluttered space can break that emotional connection for buyers. When they walk into a home that’s untidy or doesn’t look like the photos they saw online, they can become distracted by the clutter and may focus on negatives rather than the home’s best features. That’s why sellers must maintain the home in show-ready condition at all times. Tip #1: Create a daily routine to stay show-ready A daily cleaning and tidying routine can help sellers keep their homes looking fresh without the need for a deep clean every time there’s a showing. Encourage your clients to set aside 10-15 minutes in the morning before heading off to work and another 10-15 minutes in the evening to quickly tidy up common areas, wipe down countertops and do a quick vacuum or sweep if needed. This daily routine can prevent messes from piling up and help your clients feel more in control of their space. Consider sharing a checklist of high-priority tasks to focus on daily, such as: making the beds (use photos taken on staging day as a reference to restyle the bed) clearing off countertops putting away toys, clothes and personal items wiping down kitchen and bathroom surfaces emptying the trash checking for pet messes or odours Tip #2: Pre-pack personal and non-essential items Encourage sellers to think of the staging process as the first step of moving. Ask them to pack away personal items, non-essential decor and excess furniture that could make the space feel cluttered or personalized. By doing this in advance, they’ll have fewer items to worry about maintaining and will make the home feel more neutral for potential buyers. Not only does this help declutter, but it also reduces the number of personal belongings sellers have to organize every day. Plus, it gives them a head-start on moving once the home is sold! Tip #3: Implement organizational systems Having organizational systems in place can make a world of difference for sellers living in a staged home. Encourage them to invest in storage solutions like decorative baskets, bins and drawer organizers to keep essential items easily accessible but hidden from view. Here are a few quick organization ideas that can help: baskets for storing items like shoes, blankets and kids’ toys in living areas bins or baskets inside closets to hide clutter drawer organizers in bathrooms and kitchens to keep counters clear but necessities closeby decorative trays on coffee tables or countertops to display essentials (like remote controls) in a stylish, controlled way Tip #4: Designate ‘off-limits’ areas If possible, recommend that sellers designate one or two rooms or spaces where they can store personal items and daily clutter when showings are scheduled. A basement storage room, garage or even an out-of-the-way guest bedroom can serve as a quick spot for stashing toys, laundry or paperwork before buyers arrive. Remember, this doesn’t mean that they should toss these items into the space — these storage spaces should always be neat and tidy. This strategy can ease stress and provide a sense of relief for families who still need a bit of extra space for daily life but want to maintain the overall appearance of the home. Tip #5: Be prepared for last-minute showings Showings can often be scheduled with little notice, which can catch sellers off guard, especially during busy weekends. To help them prepare for this, encourage your clients to keep a “showing emergency kit” ready with supplies they can use for last-minute touch-ups. The kit could include: a microfiber cloth and multi-surface cleaner for quick wipe-downs a lint roller for furniture air fresheners or room sprays to neutralize odours a laundry basket to quickly gather and hide personal items a small vacuum or broom for fast floor touch-ups By having these essentials ready to go, sellers can clean up quickly and feel more confident when a last-minute showing request comes in. Tip #6: Keep pets and pet items under control While many buyers are pet lovers, not everyone appreciates the presence of pets during a showing. To appeal to as many potential buyers as possible, advise your clients to manage their pets’ presence and belongings during the listing period. Pet management could include: arranging for pets to be taken out of the house during showings, either to a neighbour’s home, to daycare or on a walk keeping litter boxes, pet beds and food bowls clean and out of sight neutralizing pet odours with air fresheners or odour-eliminating sprays Tip #7: Maintain outdoor spaces Don’t forget about curb appeal! The exterior of the home is just as important as the interior, so sellers should keep outdoor spaces clean and tidy as well. This could mean mowing the lawn, sweeping the porch, clearing walkways and even adding seasonal plants or fresh flowers to the entryway. Yard maintenance should be done on a weekly basis. If sellers are too busy for this, encourage them to consider outsourcing the task to a local yard maintenance company. It’s important to remember that the condition of the outdoor space is often a good representation of the indoor space. Both should be show-ready at all times. Why it’s worth the effort While it may seem like a lot of work to maintain a staged home, the effort is well worth it. Homes that are kept clean, clutter-free and neutralized for buyers tend to sell faster and for higher prices than those that aren’t. By following these practical tips, sellers can live comfortably in their staged home and ensure that it remains show-ready, allowing them to maximize the potential of their sale. As a real estate agent, your role is crucial in guiding sellers through this process and providing them with the support and advice they need. The result? A smoother selling experience and happier clients. Got home staging questions for a future column? Submit them to ninadoiron@isodesign.ca
GTA Real Estate Market Report - September 2024
The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) housing market saw a boost in activity throughout September 2024, as favorable mortgage conditions and increased market supply helped attract more buyers. Key Highlights: Sales Increase: 4,996 home sales in September, an 8.5% increase compared to the 4,606 sales in September 2023. New Listings: A total of 18,089 new listings were added, marking a 10.5% increase year-over-year. Average Price: The average home price across the GTA was $1,107,291, down 1% from $1,118,215 in 2023. Detached Homes Detached homes continued to be the most sought-after property type in the GTA, although they experienced a slight decline in average price year-over-year. 💎 416 Region Sales: 599 units Average Price: $1,299,324 💎 905 Region Sales: 1,755 units Average Price: $1,685,755 Year-over-year Changes:Detached home sales saw a slight drop of 3.5% in the 416 area and 1.7% in the 905 area, with price adjustments reflecting the overall market's moderate cooling. Semi-Detached Homes Semi-detached homes are an affordable option for buyers, particularly in suburban areas. Prices in this category showed stability across the GTA. 💎 416 Region Sales: 158 units Average Price: $1,090,749 💎 905 Region Sales: 446 units Average Price: $1,423,056 Year-over-year Changes:In the 416 region, the average price for semi-detached homes declined by 2.4%, while in the 905 region, it decreased by 0.5%, reflecting modest price adjustments. Townhouses Townhouses remained a popular choice, especially for first-time buyers looking for affordable entry points into the GTA housing market. However, townhouse prices varied across regions. 💎 416 Region Sales: 180 units Average Price: $978,343 💎 905 Region Sales: 599 units Average Price: $1,090,749 Year-over-year Changes:The average price for townhouses in the 416 region dropped by 4.1%, while the 905 region saw a more stable decline of 2%. Condo Apartments Condo apartments remain the most accessible option for many buyers in both the 416 and 905 areas. The condo market is crucial for first-time buyers, investors, and those looking for more affordable housing options. 💎 416 Region Sales: 864 units Average Price: $707,917 💎 905 Region Sales: 1,755 units Average Price: $887,023 Year-over-year Changes:The 416 condo market saw a price drop of 4.1%, while the 905 region remained slightly more stable, with a 2% decline in the average condo price. Market Outlook Looking ahead, the market is expected to benefit from improved borrowing conditions and increased buyer interest in more affordable property segments like townhouses and condos. With mortgage rates continuing to stabilize and positive changes to lending guidelines, more buyers are likely to enter the market in the coming months. For more information or to explore your real estate options in the GTA, contact Ali Bolourchi and his experienced team. Whether you're looking to buy, sell, or invest, we're here to guide you through every step of the process. ☎️ CALL US: 416-886-2000🌐 Visit: GTALuxuryHomes.ca
The GTA's real estate market sees sales growth, but price recovery remains elusive
The stalemate continues between buyers and sellers in Toronto’s real estate market this month. It’s easy to get excited because sales are up from last year — but let’s remember that last year was an exceptionally bad year. In the broader view, the fall market has been relatively weak in the long-term context against the typical month of September. Key September points The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) posted its monthly Market Watch report, and here are the key points you need to know from the summary: Sales are up 8.5 per cent from last year. New listings are up 10.5 per cent, slightly outpacing sales. Properties taking 35-45 per cent longer to sell compared to last September. Because of slowed sales cycle, active listings are up 35.5 per cent! Supply accumulation is becoming substantial. House prices are still grinding down — nominally, 1.0 per cent below last year, with real house prices down 3.0 per cent when adjusted for inflation. Source: TRREB Recovery or rebalancing? TRREB argues the uptick in sales we’re seeing is the result of favourable market conditions, such as interest rate cuts and revised mortgage lending guidelines. These factors are certainly important to recovery, but a deeper look suggests that the GTA market might be more balanced than on a path to full recovery. It’s worth seeing a long-term “sideways” market, rather than an “upwards” one. The key factor here is the rate of growth in supply, which has outpaced demand, challenging the notion of a straightforward recovery. Until that changes meaningfully from buyers entering the market more quickly than sellers, it’s tough to imagine a complete recovery has begun. Sales increase due to new opportunities for buyers, but price still most important factor The 8.5 per cent year-over-year increase in home sales (4,996 in September 2024, up from 4,606 in September 2023) is presented as evidence of recovery. TRREB President Jennifer Pearce attributes this increase to buyers capitalizing on lower borrowing costs and adjustments to mortgage lending guidelines. These changes include: rate cuts from the Bank of Canada reduced five-year fixed mortgages from a falling Canadian five-year bond yield the coming introduction of longer amortization periods the ability to insure mortgages for homes valued up to $1.5 million These factors certainly make the market more affordable for some buyers who are limited by capital costs and the lending environment. However, with the B20 stress test still in place and buyers qualifying at rates over 5.0 per cent, price ultimately becomes the most important factor for many buyers looking to re-enter the market. Easing of stress test could build staying power To this end, TRREB highlights that the easing of the mortgage stress tests for existing homeowners on renewal could build some staying power into the market, by making homeowners and investors able to afford to keep their homes rather than selling when faced with financial stress. TRREB also expects further rate cuts to allow a growing number of households to afford homeownership. This notion is especially pointed at first-time buyers, who have been outlined by the Bank of Canada as nearly 50 per cent of all homebuyers, representing a key demographic for those hoping for a recovery in the market. Supply outpacing demand A closer analysis reveals a more nuanced picture. While demand (measured in sales) grew, the rate of new listings entering the market has grown even faster, by 10.5 year-over-year, slightly outpacing sales growth. In September, 18,089 new listings were added to the MLS, contributing to an already better-supplied market. This gap between supply and demand, rather than indicating a shortage of homes, points to an easing of market pressures and a better market for buyers to enter. Compounding this, we’re seeing a significantly increased “time to sell” — meaning it takes an extra week for a listing to sell, compared to the average 20 days on market from September last year. This slowing absorption has led supply to accumulate, with active listings now up 35.5 per cent compared to September 2023. Ability to negotiate on price: Indicates a market no longer heavily favoured to sellers Should this trend continue to hold, it’s reasonable to expect that buyers will resume their home search as they see more homes on the market and hope they can capitalize on the supply, shop around and negotiate with sellers. This is how the imbalance between supply and demand is further materialized, in a decline in prices. The MLS Home Price Index Composite benchmark was down by 4.6 per cent year-over-year, and the average selling price in September dropped 1.0 per cent compared to the previous year. TRREB attributes this to increased negotiating power for buyers, especially in the more affordable segments like condominiums and townhouses, which are favoured by first-time buyers. More activity in the lower ends of the market can skew the average down. Interestingly, 416 condominium sales are actually up year-over-year, despite the market being in a severe state of excess supply. The ability to negotiate on price is a clear indicator of a market that’s no longer tilted heavily in favour of sellers. Source: TRREB The pricing context: A “recovery” in question A true market recovery, by definition, would generally see home prices stabilizing or even increasing as demand starts to outpace supply. However, this is not currently the case in the GTA. While average selling prices have edged up slightly on a seasonally adjusted basis compared to August 2024, the year-over-year decline in benchmark prices suggests that the market has not fully recovered to its previous highs. Affordability challenges that plagued the market before the interest rate hikes are being alleviated, but they haven’t disappeared. Furthermore, while rate cuts may improve affordability in the short term, they don’t necessarily address the long-term structural issues in the housing market, such as supply constraints or high construction costs. It’s worth noting that while lower borrowing costs can temporarily boost demand, they can also encourage speculative buying, which could further distort the market, particularly if supply doesn’t keep pace. Recovering sales, but not prices Despite TRREB’s optimistic messaging, the GTA housing market appears to be in a state of balance rather than recovery. Yes, sales are up, and rate cuts have eased some of the financial pressure on buyers and sellers. On the other hand, the growing supply of homes, coupled with modest price declines, suggests a more buyer-friendly market, one in which supply is catching up to — and in some cases, surpassing — demand. This dynamic is providing more negotiating power to buyers, and while that’s a positive development for affordability, it doesn’t necessarily signal a robust recovery in price. Instead, the current market is best characterized as one where buyers have regained some control, but where underlying challenges around housing supply and affordability remain. The return to a balanced market does point to a steady resurrection of sales activity, which is welcome news for the real estate profession that has been dealing with drastically reduced activity for some time now.
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