Hundreds of prospects will drive by homes for sale ev­ery week, but never call off just a yard sign. With Talking House, there are no more lost oppor­tunities to tell about your home’s features because they didn’t want to talk to a real estate agent or they lost the homes number before they found time to call. Prospects will tune in, and get the in­side story. With TALKING HOUSE... your home is advertised 24 hrs. a day, 7 days a week,  selling itself to every prospect that drives by.

1. Your photos are mediocre. The vast majority of home buyers start their search for a home on the Internet; your house had better look great on the internet. Not just nice... downright fabulous. The best looking one in your price range. Today internet views are a “virtual showing”... if your house gets past that, then you might (just might) get an appointment from the buyers see your home in person... We consider that your SECOND showing. Today's buyers are expecting good quality photos (and lots of them... just 1 shot from the street won't cut it any more!),

2. It's overpriced. You've got to view your own property as objectively as possible.  Look at the home like a "buyer"... if necessary, go out with your Realtor and view other homes that are priced comparably to yours.  Be objective.  Given the other choices on the market such as distress sales and foreclosures, would YOU buy your home, over the others on the market? If no, then you either have to "update" your home to meet or beat the competition... or lower your price to adjust for it. If you can't afford to sell for the price, that you KNOW it would sell for, you may want to consider just removing it from the market.

3. It shows poorly. This could mean almost anything... from dirty windows to unmade beds, to the smell of cat litter.  Maybe the carpeting is a bit worn, or the woodwork shows a lot of wear.  All things don't show up on the internet, but once you get inside the house... they become obvious to the critical home buyer!

4. You're invisible. Today's buyer starts looking on the internet. They also drive around neighborhoods they are considering living in.  Have you or your agent simply plopped the property on the MLS, and started praying?  Are you getting the maximum exposure for you home in all the places that buyers are searching?  If not, you want to be.

5. Your listing is tired and stale on the market. Okay... yes, you overpriced your home initially when you first came on the market a year ago.  But since then you have reduced your price... constantly chasing the market down.... Now, finally you're truly priced where you should be... but your listing is tired and stale.  Everyone looking for your type of property, ranch with a garage in your area has already seen it, sometimes twice. One of the first questions buyers ask about a home is how long has it been on the market? When they hear that’s it’s been more than a few months they respond "Goodness, what's wrong with it? I simply say, probably nothing, just overpriced. If the home does get an offer at this point it’s often a lowball offer which the sellers are fearful of losing. Perhaps it’s time to take the listing off market.  Let it cool off (2-4 months), and bring it back on fresh.

In a hot real estate market, even homes that don’t give the greatest first impression will still sell. However, as the market cools off, the listings that show well will be the ones that sell faster and for a better price.

“Recent economic uncertainty has led to more of a buyers’ market,” says Dianne Usher, vice president, Royal Lepage Real Estate Services, Johnston and Daniel Division. “In this market, a house that isn’t properly prepared may struggle to sell. Staging and preparing a home for sale is more critical now than ever before.”

While interior decorating concentrates on making people feel more at home in their interior space, the objective of staging is to make the home more marketable inside and outside. Staging usually involves getting rid of clutter and “depersonalizing” a home. “Most people can’t envision themselves in someone else’s home,” says Usher. “Things like clutter or an imbalance of furnishings or colours that are out of sync with the home can throw them off.” As part of their service, REALTORS^® need to educate clients about how staging a home for sale can make a huge difference in the outcome of the deal. For some clients, it can be a tough sell to get them to pack away the family photos and bowling trophies.

When faced with a sellers’ home that’s cluttered, outrageously decorated or in need of a major clean-up, many REALTORS^® suggest enlisting the services of a professional home stager. Just as a home inspector investigates and reports on a home’s structural and mechanical fitness, a home stager will evaluate a home’s curb appeal and saleability. Usher, a REALTOR^® with more than 30 years of experience, says there is an increased awareness among REALTORS^® of the importance of staging. “More REALTORS^® are advising their clients to use this service and some even offer to pay for a stager as part of their value-added service.”

Although the cost to hire a professional home stager varies widely depending on the scope of the project, Usher says it’s a service that is worth the investment. “In my experience, a minimal investment in the cost of staging can achieve a much higher selling price, even if the property is priced properly,” she says. Many REALTORS^® have increased their knowledge of staging and can help clients stage their homes for little or no cost. “While it’s beneficial for REALTOR^® to learn about staging, they should not become a stager,” says Usher. “As REALTORS^® we need to know when to call in the experts.”

Some REALTORS^® believe suggesting the services of a professional stager can give them an edge when competing for listings. Many others have earned their “CSP” (Canadian Staging Professional) credentials, a designation that means they've completed a three-day classroom course and hands-on practice “staging” a real home.

An accredited home stager will follow a set of standards and professional guidelines to prepare a home for sale. Staging services range from simply rearranging furniture to emptying a house out and filling it with rented furniture. The cost for staging can range from $30 to $150 an hour with the majority of jobs taking less than a day to complete.

What do buyers want?
Usher says a contemporary and minimalist space with neutral coloured walls and a limited number of personal items appeals to most buyers and ensures the best results when selling a home. “Staging is more than removing clutter, it’s also important to have the right furniture placement.” She adds that even a brand new home needs staging. “It’s particularly important for new condos. Empty rooms seem smaller and people have a hard time envisioning their belongings in them.”

When staging a home, she advises REALTORS^® to focus not just on the inside, but outside as well. Walkways, paths and driveways should be clear of clutter as well as snow and ice. It may be difficult for a potential buyer to envision a backyard covered in snow so Usher suggests homeowners create a display of framed photos. Finally, she suggests it’s important in winter to make sure a client’s house is warm for viewings, but not too warm. “