BTSH's 2015 Reflections and 2016 Plans

Each year, as it comes to an end, I can’t help but get a little nostalgic. In May of 2008, I made the bold decision to embark on an exciting new adventure, and offer a new kind of service to Waterloo Region. While home staging wasn’t a new industry, I knew that it was a valuable service, that was under-utilized in my local community. I wanted to create a solution, and create a method for helping homeowners to make the process of selling their homes easier. 



At the time that I opened the doors to Beyond The Stage Homes, I couldn’t imagine that we would not only become the largest home staging company in Waterloo Region, but that we would build a thriving design business, mentor and inspire up and coming home stagers, and impact the local community all the while.

Beyond The Stage Homes is now a full-service team, and I have this incredible team to thank for making BTSH what we are today. 2015 was our best year yet for awards and accolades, and we are humbly honoured to receive each one. Check out our year in review:

January - received 3 awards from the Real Estate Staging Association:

RESA Top 10 Home Staging Team of the Year 2015

RESA Top 10 Vacant Home Stager of the Year Canada 2015

RESA Top 10 Redesigner of the Year 2014 & 2015

January - launched our first successful Home Seller’s Workshop, and have hosted several more throughout the year.

February - hosted a Cupcake Day in association with the local KW RESA Chapter

April - We were thrilled to take on a co-op student from Conestoga College. We enjoyed working with her so much, she later joined our team as a home staging assistant!

May - BTSH sponsored the KW MS Walk once again, and helped to raise much-needed funds for the Grand River MS Society chapter.

September - Style Corporation was launched as the parent company to Beyond The Stage Homes. 

September - Styled, Listed, and Sold Academy, the latest in home stager training, was launched as a division of Style Corporation right here in Waterloo Region.

October - Jennifer MacEwen, Design and Decorating Consultant, and Beth Thomas, Professional Home Stager, joined the ever-growing BTSH team.

October - Received 3 additional awards, both local and international:

- K-W Oktoberfest Women of the Year Entrepreneur Award

- Stevie Awards Women in Business, Female Entrepreneur of the Year in Canada, Bronze

- Record Reader Awards Favourite Interior Decorator

Some other exciting achievements

Other awards:

- Best of Houzz 2015 Service

- Houzz Influencer

- continued to educate, mentor, and inspire students of all ages (spoke at Conestoga (twice) and Sheridan colleges)

- signed up with Waterloo Region Small Business Centre as a mentor

- featured in Our Homes and Splurge magazines; noted in Snap'd

- incorporated Style Corporation, and now operate 2 divisions of this corporation, including Beyond The Stage Homes, and are looking forward to launching 3 new divisions over the next 2 years.

Some great causes that we supported throughout 2015 are:

- K-W MS Walk

- K-W Humane Society

- local children's soccer team

- Caring for Little Kidneys, McMaster Children’s Hospital

- Sleep Tight PJ Party

- Food Bank of Waterloo Region

What does 2016 have in store?

We plan to continue to build on our experiences. We will continue to host our ever-popular Home Seller’s Workshops, find new ways to mentor and inspire, and help even more homeowners to get the most out of their homes, whether they’re living or selling.

In January, Jennifer Roth and myself will attend the 2016 RESA Convention at Treasure Island in Las Vegas. I am honoured to be teaching an educational class in one of our break-out sessions. Each year, home stagers from across North America, come together to share their experiences, expertise, and support. 

As well, SLS Academy will be hosting their next Home Staging Career Workshop on January 16th, and will be offering their Home Stager Training program to Waterloo Region students in February/March.

The rest of the year promises to hold new adventures, and of course, exciting home staging and design projects. We can’t wait to get started!

All the best in 2016! 

From,

Shauna Lynn and the entire BTSH team!

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com 

Buyer Perception - What they REALLY see

Living in your home, and selling your home are very different. It's important to identify what a buyer will see during an open house or walk through, and the conclusions they are likely to draw from what they see. Helping to eliminate "distractions" will help buyers see the true potential and value of a home, which is always in the seller's best interest. 

By identifying and addressing these with the homeowner, from the buyer’s perspective, your home stager can help you understand the importance of their recommendations. Remember – it’s not what buyer’s see, it’s what they perceive.

For example, take some of these common items in your home and compare them to the perception they leave with prospective buyers:

What Buyers See	What Buyers Perceive
Bins and boxes in closets	There is no storage space
Out of place items – toiletries in the linen closet, pantry items in the hall closet, etc	There isn’t sufficient space where these items belong
Pet items - anything	Any knicks/scratches were caused by pets
Knicks and scratches on walls/baseboards, etc	The home has not been well cared for
Dirty appliances (oven especially)	The whole house was dirty before listing
Air fresheners	Homeowner is covering something up
Magazines in a bathroom	“I spend time in here”
Builder’s Basic fixtures	No updates have been done to the house
Pots and Pans in the oven	Lack of storage in the kitchen

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com 

6 Key Tips to a Successful House Flip

You can make money flipping houses, but it takes a savvy investor, and a keen eye to bring in a maximum return. TV reality shows and infomercials of all styles will have you believe that flipping houses is a quick and easy way to turn a profit in real estate. This can be true when done right, but if you are considering taking on the challenge, make sure that you are prepared for the work involved to help avoid making costly mistakes.

House flip·ping – the act of purchasing a home in a state of neglect and/or disrepair, fixing it up, and selling for a profit.

The key word there is “profit.” In order to ensure a successful flip, we have outlined some guidelines to help you.

If you are planning your first flip, it’s usually best to start off with a small, mostly cosmetic flip. While the profits will be somewhat smaller on these, it will give you, the investor, an opportunity to learn to budget, set timetables, and live within those. A cosmetic flip is one that does not require any major demolition, but instead provides a facelift based on fresh paint, baseboards, light fixtures, and other non-invasive updates.

Here are some of the most common mistakes that we at BTSH have seen when it comes to flipping houses:

1. Don't make too many personal design choices 

When planning a fix-up for the purpose of resale, you’ll want to ensure the finishes and designs selected incorporate every day function, while maintaining a neutral style that will appeal to your market. Avoid finishes that are on-trend. These will appeal to a smaller pool of buyers, and could concern potential buyers about their sustainability.

2. Avoid overly extravagant finishes that do not suit the price point of the house 

It’s easy to get distracted by pretty things. We all enjoy a little glitz and glam, and so will your buyers, but be sure to check in with your budget often. Before beginning any renovations, research your neighbourhood and market, and compare what similar houses are selling for. Regardless of your updates, there will be a market ceiling that dictates how high your buyers are willing to go. Most buyers are not easily impressed by brand name window coverings, or top of the line hardwood floors, provided that they feel that the finishes and workmanship reflect quality. Take the time to find the best price, focus on value, and splurge cautiously.

3. Price the house properly to recoup unplanned expenses 

This is already covered in the previous point, but remember that your budgeting errors are not your buyer’s concern, and pricing a house too high will result in a much slower sale of the house. When a house sits on the market, it becomes stale, and will eventually require a price reduction. Now you’re back where you should have priced the house initially, but a few thousand more in the hole from the extra months of carrying costs. If you go over budget, unload the house as quickly as possible so that you can free up capital to move on to the next venture.

4. Starting renovations with a clear plan and budget 

Poor planning is the bane of a property flipper's existence. In order to have a successful flip (and by that I mean maximum profit-minimum investment, not any profit at all) you must carefully create a plan of action and implement that plan as quickly and cost effectively as possible. You must also realize that there are likely to be rain delays, hiccups, and disasters along the way. Proper planning can eliminate some of the disasters that may occur, but it will not eliminate every conceivable possibility that will come along. More importantly than anything else, proper planning can limit these occurrences as well as their severity to the overall time schedule and budget. Plan for at least a 15% contingency once your budget has been created, and this should help to cover most unexpected expenses.

Before purchasing any investment property, it is always a good idea to have a qualified home inspector or contractor review the property, and address any renovation plans that you may already have to determine feasibility and review anticipated costs. Knowing the problems and potential problems that exist in a property can help you to create a workable timetable and budget.

Also, when creating your budget, don’t forget to account for resale expenses – these are the fees paid to your real estate agent, lawyer, and staging. Remember that vacant properties do not evoke the emotional response that most buyers need in order to connect with a house, and motivate them to purchase. As well, empty rooms appear smaller than they actually are, and properly furnishing them will show the scale. 

5. Understanding your audience

Take some time to determine what the buyer demographic is in your area, and evaluate what their wants and needs are. Keep in mind that you may not be the target buyer for your house, so what you like and dislike should not be a factor in most design decisions. This is important to all of the above points in determining what you should, and should not, do in terms of renovations. Today’s first-time homebuyers are especially motivated by move-in ready homes that require little-to-no maintenance. If your buyer is a young family demographic, you’ll want to show them the storage in the house, great lounging/entertaining areas, and of course, multiple bedrooms, preferably in close proximity to the master bedroom. Doing your research on your avatar will be key to marketing the house properly.

Some additional considerations, depending on your buyers, should be fenced in yards, landscaping, and maintenance requirements. Low maintenance lawns are in high demand these days, particularly low maintenance lawns that appear to be well landscaped. Remember, less often really is more.

6. Hiring the right trades 

We have all heard nightmare stories of the contractor that failed to complete work, or simply did not complete the job properly, and TV has capitalized on these failures, but you do not want to pay this cost. Research your trades, ask for referrals, review previous work, and ensure that they are properly registered and insured before hiring them for any work.

If you are considering purchasing a property for resale, contact us for information on our Resale Consultation BEFORE you begin any work on the property. We will help you to identify and address what your buyers are looking for, and can recommend quality trades to perform any work you need.

The sheer volume of work, the time consumption, the sleepless nights and days, and the planning needed in order take a run down property to resale condition is often glossed over on the reality shows, but the fun they show is real. Like all investments, house flipping presents a number of potential risks, so do your research, plan, and follow these tips to a successful house flip.

At BTSH, we have created a consultation specially designed for our investor friends - a few hundred dollars now could save you thousands on avoided mistakes. 

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com 

Create the Perfect Study Spot in Your Home!

It’s that time of year again! As the end of summer approaches, it’s time to get organized and gear up for back to school. The return to school can help households to return to a routine and schedule. Before your kids start returning from school with schedules for basketball practice, field trips, and after school activities, determine what type of calendar system will work best for your family, and start putting it into action. Whether your prefer the simplicity of the classic wall calendar, or you need to keep your tech-savvy family in sync with a mobile calendar, find the system that works best, and get it into action.

Though your kids may be excited to see all of their friends again, it is doubtful that they are looking forward to the prospect of homework. However, creating a proper, functional study area will help to improve their productivity. Regardless of whether you have an area that can be strictly dedicated to homework and studies, be sure to take the following into consideration, wherever your children set up their workstation:

- Eliminate distractions – This means no television, games, iPads, phones, etc. Avoid being a distraction yourself, ensure that the allocated space is not in a high traffic area where people will congregate and chat.

- Provide the tools of success, and keep them at the ready – erasers, sharpeners, pens, pencils, rulers, glue. If you do not have a dedicated homework area, store these in a portable container that can be easily brought out when needed.

- Create an inbox or mailbox for permission slips and returned tests.

- Provide sufficient task lighting, and add table or desk lamps as needed. Straining your eyes can lead to headaches and fatigue.

If your home can accommodate a study room, there are some great things that you can do to make the space comfortable and inviting:

- Allow for a couple of different workstations, including desks and, if possible, a “comfy area” with a sofa or relaxing chair, or a window seat with some pillows. This will help to encourage creativity and allow for a change of workplace when needed.

- Shelves, cubbies, baskets, and bins are great for keeping tools and materials organized.

- A chalk board and/or white board can help to get the creative juices flowing and work through challenging homework problems.

- Want to keep the art projects off of the fridge? Hang a ribbon or string on the wall between two hooks, and use clothespins to hang and display the latest works.

For more inspiring ideas, check out our Creative Homework Areas board on the BTSH Pinterest.

Did you know that many families can’t afford the simplest back to school necessities? Click here to learn more about helping families in Waterloo Region.

Anselma House and Haven House are two additional organizations that are always in need to supplies for the children that they house, from backpacks to pencils and books. For details on what they need, contact Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com 

What is Depersonalizing?

Family portraits and vacation photos are great reminders of loved ones and special times, so it’s natural to want to surround yourself with happy memories. The key to remember, when selling your home, is that these are your memories. If you’ve ever sold a home, you may have been asked by your real estate agent or home stager to remove all personal photos, but may not have truly understood the reasons for this depersonalizing. In fact, you may be wondering what depersonalizing is!

Depersonalizing, when selling your home, refers to the act of removing anything that tells your story.

So why is it so important?

The product for sale here is your house, not the items in the house, and personal items, especially photos, can be very distracting to your potential buyers. When your buyer sees one of these photos on display, not only is it a reminder that they are walking through a stranger’s home, but they may stop to look at the photo to see if they know the people in it, or the place where the photo was taken. This distraction could mean that they miss out on key features and selling points of your home.

That being said, depersonalizing does not only refer to removing personal photos, but it could also refer to a number of other personal items. Ensure ALL of the following items are removed from the home, before listing it for sale:

-          Souveniers

-          Medals

-          Awards

-          Trophies

-          Collections

-          Your name on a wall (decals)

-          Diplomas

By removing these items, you are creating a welcoming environment, and allowing your potential buyers to fully visualize themselves in your home. Of course, now that these items are removed, you will likely find yourself with some “empty” spaces. While they may not all need to be filled (remember, when it comes to setting up your house for sale, less really is more), it’s a good idea to hang some neutral artwork pieces, and display a few accessories and books to give the home that extra cozy feel.

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com 

10 quick facts about the REAL Shauna Lynn

Shauna Lynn, Owner and Founder of Beyond The Stage Homes, is known for her creative designs, upbeat personality, unique look and style, and of course, her dedication to her clients and their homes. But do you really know who she is? Here are 10 quick facts about the REAL Shauna Lynn, some of them might surprise you!

1. She was in a marching band (and went to band camp).

2. She was President of the Math club and the debate team in high school, and President of the Business Club in University - first class geek! 

3. She's a crazy cat lady - Shauna Lynn fosters families of cats through the KW Humane Society, plus has two rescue cats of her own. It’s not unusual to have anywhere from 5-10 cats in her house at any given time.

4. She loves anything peanut butter and chocolate

5. She completed two Tough Mudder’s in 2013 - don’t ever let anything limit you! 

6. She had a pyrotechnics license in her younger years, and performed a fire show at the classic Inner City Nightclub!

7. She’s left-handed, so she’s always right.

8. OCD - Okay, if you’ve ever met Shauna Lynn, then this isn’t exactly a secret. To further this, she hates yellow highlighters and believes that they fail to properly do the job they are intended to do. Subsequently, she has banned all yellow highlighters from the BTSH office.

9. She had a pet lizard named Soako for several years. He passed away 8 years ago.

10. Her favourite colour is yellow, not pink.

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com 

Top 10 Home Staging Myths

If you have never hired a professional home stager, you may be wondering what exactly it's all about. You've seen it on all the great real estate television shows, but it's probably too expensive, and isn't meant for your type of house, right? WRONG! Home Staging refers to the entire process of preparing a home for sale, ANY home for sale, and professional home stagers are working with homeowners just like you every day. Here we dispel the top 10 myths about Home Staging


1.  Home Staging is Expensive

Absolutely not! A trained professional stager is skilled at maximizing your budget, whatever it is. When preparing your home for sale, it’s a good idea to plan to spend some money to get your home move-in ready. With the recommendations of a professional home stager, often your largest investment is your time. Accessory and other staging packages vary by stager, but BTSH offers no minimum rentals (with our Home Staging Consultations).

Did you know? Your buyers are actively looking for a move-in ready home, and 63% of home buyers are willing to pay more for a move-in ready home!

2.  A home stager will tell me to remove everything that I have and replace with new stuff

A professional home stager will not recommend adding or removing anything unless they believe that it will contribute positively towards the sale of the house, and will do their best to work with your items wherever possible to achieve the desired results. Often, re-arranging of what you already have can work wonders for improving the flow, and overall appeal of a house to potential buyers! We get it – sometimes it’s just not in the budget to invest in a large staging package.

3.  All rooms should be painted builder’s beige

When selling your home, neutrals tones are best for showing off the space, but your typical “builder’s beige” is not recommended. In fact, today’s buyers are drawn to grey tones more than browns, giving the home a more modern look and feel. Whatever you choose, ensure that you select a neutral shade, and avoid colours that are too light. By choosing a colour a little further down the colour chip, you’ll add warmth and a cozy, welcoming feel to a room.

4.  Home staging is only for vacant homes or homes with ugly carpet and wallpaper

Certainly some homes can use updating more than others, but the truth is that every home can benefit from home staging, and often a few subtle changes can make a significant difference, whether it’s re-arranging furniture, or more dramatic updates and repairs, every home is unique and requires a unique home staging plan. Yes, vacant homes can tend to sit on the market longer than occupied and furnished homes since buyers struggle to make the necessary emotional connection to these homes, But the same can be true for occupied homes that are not styled to suit the target buyer market. Home staging will help to improve the overall flow of the home, and provide the final touches that buyers will be drawn to.

5.   Home staging is a way to fool buyers

Absolutely not! In fact, it’s the complete opposite! Our goal is to provide your buyers with the home that they are looking for. As a homeowner, you are still required to disclose any major flaws of the home that you are aware of. Home staging will help to minimize minor flaws by drawing the focus to the features of the home. As a member of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) and the Better Business Bureau, Beyond The Stage Homes abides by a strict code of ethics.

6.  Home staging is just removing personal photos and de-cluttering

We all know that we need to declutter and remove personal items from a home before listing, but home staging helps to address so much more. A professional home stager will help to create a style plan for your home, and address where to invest your money in repairs and updates. Home staging focuses on maximizing a home’s space, lighting, flow, design and best features, not just decorating the space.

7.  It’s better to list my property first, and call a home stager if it doesn’t sell right away

Always, always, always consider your home staging options BEFORE listing the home for sale! Cliché as it may sound, you really do only get one chance to make a first impression. When your home is listed, you want to be sure that it is ready to show at it’s best, both in pictures and for showings. Any Realtor® will tell you that you get the most attention for your property listing during the first couple of weeks that it is listed – don’t miss out on these key buyers! Home staging is an investment with proven results for selling your home in less time, and for the most amount of money possible.

8.  Staging is just the latest real estate trend

Staging has actually been around since the 1970s, and is a real estate service that is as common today as home inspections!  Showing buyers that your home offers good value is always in style.

9.  Buyers can see past all of my stuff

Here’s a fun fact for you - only 10% of buyers have the ability to visualize a space! This means that only 1 in every 10 people that view your home will be able to look past your things, and see the home’s true potential. Are you willing to miss out on 90% of your potential buyers that walk through the door? Make it easy for them – show them the best way to live in the home by showing optimal furniture placement, and eliminating anything that might distract them from seeing the features of the home.

10.  Home Staging means living in a show home, and that’s just too hard for my family and I to do

A professional home stager will provide you with options and solutions to allow you to maintain the function that you need while your home is listed. In this case, you’re right, it’s not easy to live in a show home, but by implementing your home staging recommendations, you won’t have to do so for long! In addition, BTSH provides you with a detailed list and tips for getting ready for showings, and will provide creative solutions for the things you need every day.

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com 

5 things to consider when hiring a home stager

If you are planning to sell your home, you have likely looked into whether to hire a professional home stager to assist with preparing your home for sale. In most regions today, home staging has become a standard practice and expectation when selling a home. With this industry standard comes more selection than ever, and as a homeowner, it can be confusing and over-whelming. How do you choose the company and home stager that is right for you? There are a few key areas that you should address to ensure you find the right fit for your needs:

1.    Review their portfolio! Any home stager worth anything will have a portfolio available for you to view, whether online, or in print. In today’s technology and social media age, it’s easier than ever for companies to showcase their work in a professional manner.

2.    Personality – You are trusting your home to this person, so you want to ensure they are qualified, but it is also important that you “click” with the home stager you choose. Selling your home can be an emotional process, and you want to ensure your home stager is not just someone you are doing business with, but someone you can trust to provide you with the best advice and solutions for your unique home.

3.    Price – This should not be a determining factor in selecting a home stager. Experience and quality service may come at a higher price, but saving a few hundred dollars on home staging could mean the difference between a successful home sale and a house that sits on the market for months with price reductions. Remember that your home is your largest investment, and investing in quality homestaging services will achieve the desired results – a quick and profitable sale!

4.    Awards, accreditations, and affiliated associations – Currently there is no governing body for the home staging industry, and therefore there are no real requirements to setting up a business except the standard business registrations. Most home stagers have received formal training of some sort, so ask what schooling or certifications they have received – most schools offer similar quality of programs, but it is important to receive some form of training prior to opening a home staging business. In addition, memberships of business organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau or Real Estate Staging Association can act as good indicators as well. You are hiring this home stager because they are an expert in their field, so you want to have the confidence that they will act professionally at all times.

5.    What is their process? It is likely that you will be expected to do some of the work, so it is a good idea to identify and address what the expectations will be of both you, and your home stager, throughout the duration of the home sale. Ask the right questions, such as what support is available following the consultation, and following staging? What happens once the house is listed? Will your home stager keep in touch and answer your questions? Your home stager should be a part of your home selling team, so it is important to understand what follow-up support is offered, and what fees will be associated with this.

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com