Tag: real estate

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Designers RENO ADDICT

Andrew Winter chats about Selling Houses Australia season 8

Charlie Albone, Andrew Winter and Shaynna Blaze were known for their banter and chemistry

I don’t know about you, but I’m counting down to the new series of my favourite show, Selling Houses Australia, starting on Wednesday (4 February). I couldn’t wait to chat to host Andrew Winter, in my opinion, one of the most amusing men on television! Perhaps it is the Brit in me that finds his sarcasm and bluntness utterly hilarious, but I can often be heard shrieking at the television when he delivers one of his crushing comments about a homeowner’s decor choices or DIY handiwork. For me, the reasons this show is in its eighth series are obvious, and Andrew’s just one of them.

Andrew Winter
Andrew Winter

Andrew would like to say it’s all down to him, but he admits it has just as much to do with his co-hosts Charlie Albone and Shaynna Blaze, suspecting a lot of female viewers are tuning in for “young Charles” over him. But that’s okay, because he thinks he has the best job in the world. Forget that Great Barrier Reef job Andrew says, he gets to say what he really thinks as well as getting away with doing barely any manual labour (although he tells me he is “flat out” driving and fetching coffee!). And let’s not forget there is a real point to the show; helping people who really need to sell their most expensive asset and are failing miserably.

Eight series is no mean feat. Andrew remembers thinking if they managed to do five and get a sixth commissioned that would be pretty amazing, and now here we are. “I’m absolutely delighted and I still enjoy it. I think we’ve been on so long now that we’ve unintentionally become a barometer of the Australian housing market. We started the last series, for example, with a house on the Gold Coast that sold for 10k over what they expected and that hadn’t been heard of for five years before then! So it’s interesting to watch these thing over the years.”

Andrew, Charlie and Shaynna’s genuine chemistry is clear and I find they’ve all become more equal stars of the show as time has gone on. “The three of us get on really quite well despite being totally different,” Andrew says. “Charles has a pretty crude and appalling sense of humour which always shocks Shaynna, but I of course, am always perfectly lovely!” On a more serious note, Andrew says there’s no pretence. All three of them are experienced and qualified in what they do and they just get on with it. “Everyone thinks they’re an interior designer these days because they’ve done some six-week course, but come back to me when you’ve worked in the industry for five or 10 years, and Shaynna’s done that and more. Charlie runs his own landscaping business and I was a real estate agent for years.

Charlie Albone, Andrew Winter and Shaynna Blaze front Selling Houses Australia
Charlie Albone, Andrew Winter and Shaynna Blaze front Selling Houses Australia

“It’s not a fluffy makeover show. Our brief has always been clear: take a property that can’t be sold and sell it! Of course, it isn’t always possible but we will do our utmost.” And someone upstairs, says Andrew, is looking down on them and continuing to hand them the amazing stories of the homeowners which really add to the show’s appeal. “Maybe that’s why I can get away with being a bit harsh, cheeky or rude, because the end game is not about winning a prize, it’s about selling a house that really needs selling for whatever reason. We can get in there and kick it up the whatsit and get it sold.”

What always drives me mad though, is when, despite the trio’s efforts and an auction bringing a realistic selling price, homeowners get greedy or, for whatever reason, decide to dig their heels in and not sell. And this often brings some of frustrated Andrew’s harshest words! We can expect plenty of the same in the upcoming series, as well as the cheapest house they’ve ever worked on, with Andrew saying at least three episodes fall into the “confrontational” category. Can’t wait! “I’m so glad I live in a gated community with security,” Andrew quips.

One of the best things about his profile on a top rating TV show these days, is that when Andrew consults privately to people trying to sell, they take his ideas on board, something that rarely happened in his 15 years as a real estate agent. “I go and sit there and they actually listen!”

I’ve already seen episode one and you’re in for a treat! and with Andrew pointing out that Foxtel is cheaper than ever, he hopes as many of you will be tuning in as possible!

Selling Houses Australia series 8 starts on Wednesday 4 February 2015 on the LifeStyle Channel at 8.30pm AEDT.

Tomorrow on the blog, Andrew shares the top three mistakes he thinks people make when selling their homes.  

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RENO ADDICT

5 questions with our real estate guru Mark Foy

As the principal director of Belle Property Surry Hills, Mark Foy really knows his stuff. Not only has he been the number one seller in Sydney’s Darlinghurst for the last three years, he also has a long history of exceptional sales results in the broader inner city. So we thought there was no-one better to answer the difficult questions on where to spend the big bucks when renovating for profit, how to pick the best agent and how to buy a property when you really have no idea what you’re doing! Mark will be Reno Addict’s go-to guy for all things real estate.

mark foy reno addict

1. What is ‘buyer beware’ and what should I look at?

Buyer beware basically means buyers need to do their own due diligence on a home. They can’t expect all the information to be given to them. If you’re buying a house you need to get a building inspection done or if your buying an apartment you should get a strata report done; a strata report is like a building report, it shows you the financials and the history of the building so you understand what you’re buying into. Also other things like doing council searches and seeing whether there’s going to be a building popping up across the road are important to do; it’s not the agent’s duty to disclose, but rather the buyer’s duty to seek out that information through their solicitor. And finally the buyer should have the contract reviewed by a lawyer prior to exchanging.

2. What value does a new kitchen add to a house?

It definitely adds a lot more salability to the property. You’d definitely get your money back and possibly a bit more. A kitchen is such a critical part of the house, you spend a lot of time there entertaining and preparing meals; so I think updating a kitchen for a sale is important.

3. How should I go about selecting an agent when selling?

The most important part of selecting an agent is understanding their experience. Are they local and active within the area, do they speak to buyers in the region and are they in touch with the market? You also have to find out how they’d go about handling the selling process. Starting from how they conduct their open homes and communicate with the owner and potential buyers, all the way through to picking an auctioneer come auction day. All these things come into play and they’re the things I’d want to know.

4. What are the big-ticket items to concentrate on when renovating to sell?

More important than kitchens and bathrooms is presenting a property that’s got a certain feeling about it. When a buyer walks into a property you’ve only got one chance to create that emotive feeling and it’s not through having a nice kitchen! It’s through making sure it’s furnished nicely, that it’s looking sleek with a new paint job, that the floorboards look nice or there’s a new carpet, that the garden’s presented well, that there’s music playing and then that it all comes together by being represented by a fresh looking agent out the front. All those things come into play, so that’s what I’d be focusing on when you’re renovating.

5. How much notice should I take of building inspection reports and should I ever buy without one?

I’d definitely get a building inspection report, 100%! It’s $400-500 and it’s peace of mind. Buyers aren’t builders and they don’t know what to look for, I think it’s critical that you get one. However, one thing to consider when you’re reading a report is the builders that do them are always going to describe the house in its worse condition, because realistically they’re protecting themselves. But in saying that it depends what and where you’re buying. If you’re buying an old 150-year-old house in the inner city then you need to understand that it’s going to need work done. However, if you’re buying a brand new house and it’s getting a bad condition report, then there’s something wrong. Therefore it’s important you consider where you’re buying and how long the building has been erected for.

–Contact Mark via his website or submit a question for him here.

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Expert Tips

Five ways to spruce your home up before it goes on the market

Many people selling their home underestimate the importance of making necessary improvements and adjustments before listing it on the market. However, what may seem like minor aesthetics can make a real difference to the number of people that read or click on your listing and attend the inspections. Many sellers write this process off as too expensive or too time consuming, but making a few repairs and improvements is sure to boost the selling price on your home.

Back to basics

Below are five simple and inexpensive ways to spruce your home up before it goes on the market:

  1. Back to basics

When buyers look at your home, they will instinctively imagine what their own furniture and items would look like in it. Bold colours and styles can be off putting and have the power to quickly eliminate potential buyers. Make it easy for buyers to picture themselves living in your home by sticking with neutral colours and styles. Consider repainting the walls a tone of magnolia/white, or having bright patterned couches or cushions recovered with a plain fabric. If spending this money or effort doesn’t seem worth your while, there are a number of adjustments you can make that won’t cost a thing. For example, remove table cloths to showcase plain surfaces, replace personal ornaments with a vase full of flowers or a fruit bowl, or swap family photos for a simple artwork.

  1. Cull the clutter

Clutter or an overload of personal bits and pieces can also make it tricky for buyers to imagine themselves living in your home. Go through the items on display and only leave out the ones that complement the look and feel of your home. Pack away overly personal items or those that take attention away from the room itself. Do the same with your furniture — clutter is off putting and taking out excess pieces will make rooms look more spacious and inviting. Pack the items away in a storage area or hire storage space if necessary. Avoid packing them away in the cupboard or drawer of a room that buyers will be passing through, as they are bound to want to look at the storage space available.

  1. Focus on the front

Sellers often get caught up on fixing up the rooms or the backyard of their home and neglect the front of the house. However, the front section should be your priority. Potential buyers, particularly those driving past the ‘for sale’ sign, will inevitably judge your home by what it looks like from street view. A good way of testing first impressions of your home is to put yourself in the shoes of the buyer and to see what needs to be improved or removed. It’s easy to get attached to your home and look beyond its flaws, so ask a friend or your agent for a second opinion. While it may seem pricey at the time, consider having the outside repainted, particularly if you think the colour has the potential to put people off. Make sure the lawn is mowed at all times and any weeds are removed. In the same way as the rooms, clear the front entrance of unnecessary items and invest in decor that will make it look more inviting, such as pot plants or a new front door mat.

  1. Clean and repair

Failing to do a proper clean of your home before holding inspections will jeopardise your chances of a quick sale. The property market is far too competitive to skimp on this part of the process, so make sure you spend the necessary time to give it a thorough clean top to toe and pay extra attention to the kitchen and bathroom. Consider hiring a professional cleaner before you take people through your home to ensure it will look its best and touch up on it daily so that you’re prepared for any last minute inspections.

In the same way, failing to get around to repairs before the inspections will decrease your chances of selling your home. The last thing that buyers want to worry about is costly repairs and while the jobs may seem avoidable, they only give buyers another reason to walk away. Make sure you take care of all obvious repairs — a broken doorbell or loose floorboard — and look out for any you’re not aware of — door handles, light fittings, cracks in the walls or ceiling, dripping taps and leaks, or broken fly screens/ windows.

  1. Go green

Making the most of your home’s outdoor areas will work wonders for your home and will make it far more inviting for buyers. Along with mowing the lawn and eliminating weeds, consider rearranging any outdoor furniture or items to make the garden look as spacious as possible. If you don’t have any outdoor furniture, it may be worth investing in a small table and chairs or a hammock, to make it look more enticing. If your home doesn’t have a garden, consider investing in pot plants or hanging plants for the entrance or balcony and buy flowers on inspection days to place in vases in the main living areas. This will give your home a natural and airy feel and will inject some colour into the space.

Go green

 

Consider taking these five tips on board to spruce your home up and make it look its best for buyers. Make your efforts worthwhile by spending the necessary cost to hire a good photographer for your property listings. This stage of the selling process is not worth skimping on;  it’s key to drawing a crowd to your inspections. Any investment in time or money you make here is certain to pay off in the long run.

–Zoe Pointon is the co-founder of real estate ranking and review startup OpenAgent.

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Interiors Addict

Build For a Cure house gets finishing touches from Jason Grant

The amazing charity project Build for a Cure is making impressive progress and recently, Freedom and stylist Mr Jason Grant, helped give it its finishing touches. The house will be auctioned, fully furnished, on 26 October, with all money going to the Children’s Cancer Institute.

6Build For a Cure 025

The four-bedroom house in Glenmore Park NSW, will be built and furnished in just 21 days with everyone donating their time and products for free. It’s a lucky buyer who gets to move straight into this place! And of course, the amount of money raised for the charity, as part of International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, will be substantial.

5Build For a Cure 017 CRD PHIL CARRICK
Stylist Jason Grant

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom ‘Havana One’ home is being donated by McDonald Jones Homes and built in partnership with Austral Bricks. It will sit on 500 m2 of land in donated by Wearn Brothers Group and will be sold fully furnished by Freedom, with kitchen and laundry appliances by Electrolux and home entertainment by Panasonic. All real estate services are being donated by PRDnationwide Penrith and the home will be auctioned by The Block celebrity auctioneer, Damien Cooley.

Check out the race against the clock in this video!

Find out more.

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Interiors Addict

Build for a Cure for the Children’s Cancer Institute

Scott Cam at the Build For A Cure house

This time last week, an amazing and heartwarming charity project started in Glenmore Park, NSW. Build For A Cure will see a four-bedroom house built and fully furnished in just 21 days. Everyone has donated the labour, materials and furnishings for free and when the house is auctioned, all the money will go to the Children’s Cancer Institute. Amazing, huh? and the progress so far in week one is incredible!

Scott Cam at the Build For A Cure house
Scott Cam at the Build For A Cure house

It’s the first ever Build For A Cure as part of International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The home will be auctioned on 26 October and proceeds will go to the Institute to fund vital medical research to find a cure for childhood cancer.

The lavish four-bedroom, two-bathroom ‘Havana One’ home is being donated by McDonald Jones Homes and built in partnership with Austral Bricks. It will sit on 500 m2 of land in Glenmore Park donated by Wearn Brothers Group and will be sold fully furnished by Freedom, with kitchen and laundry appliances by Electrolux and home entertainment by Panasonic. All real estate services are being donated by PRDnationwide Penrith and the home will be auctioned by The Block celebrity auctioneer, Damien Cooley.

Build for a Cure 9 September 2014 11.09am

The Block’s Scott Cam, a McDonald Jones Homes ambassador, is lending his support to the project, along with the show’s 2012 winners Brad and Lara Cranfield and stylist Jason Grant.

“When Bill [McDonald] asked me to join the Build for a Cure campaign to raise funds for Children’s Cancer Institute, I was thrilled to have a way I could personally help. These people aren’t asking for a miracle, just the funds to make it happen. Children’s Cancer Institute’s determination is infectious and I encourage all Aussies to give generously,” said Scott.

With its labs first opened in 1984, Children’s Cancer Institute not only conducts medical research to find a cure for childhood cancer, but also ways to improve existing treatments and reduce the suffering long-term side effects can bring. The Institute is now excited to be embarking on a program of personalised cancer treatment that will see it centrally involved in guiding cancer care for high-risk children at paediatric hospitals throughout Australia.

MJH0735_BradAndLara_0178-Merge-and-Etch-Flat
Brad and Lara Cranfield

“As we celebrate 30 years of medical research, we’re more determined than ever to put an end to childhood cancer,” said Prof Michelle Haber AM, Executive Director, Children’s Cancer Institute. “As the only independent medical research institute in Australia wholly dedicated to childhood cancer, our role is vital – because even with the current survival rate of eight out of ten, childhood cancer still kills nearly three children every week. I am blown away by the generosity of our partners who are making this happen.”

You can follow the Build for a Cure journey here and donate at, or buy a $2 token at participating Big Ws throughout September and Woolworths Petrol throughout October.

Here’s a video that shows you a little more about it:

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House Tours

Sarah Jessica Parker’s New York home for sale

Photo: Douglas Elliman real estate

Oh, you’ve got to love a good celebrity real estate stalk! Sarah Jessica Parker’s West Village home in New York is up for sale again and I really like her style. It’s not as eclectic as you might imagine, but then again we must remember she in fact an actress and not her Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw…

image
Photo: Douglas Elliman real estate

I wandered around West Village on our recent trip to New York (shopping tips here), dreaming of living in the West Village.  It’s so perfect! Yep, never gonna happen…

Photo: Douglas Elliman real estate
Photo: Douglas Elliman real estate

Of course, you want to see the walk-in? To be honest, I expected something grander!

Photo: Douglas Elliman real estate
Photo: Douglas Elliman real estate

And how about that tub? Sigh…

Photo: Douglas Elliman real estate
Photo: Douglas Elliman real estate

And here’s something else I’d like room for: a lounge in the bedroom!

Photo: Douglas Elliman real estate
Photo: Douglas Elliman real estate

This post has reminded me of these cool illustrations of Carrie Bradshaw’s iconic apartment available from Etsy. I think it’s time I bought one…

Carrie-Bradshaw-apartment-Sex-and-the-City

If you fancy a little more NYC real estate perving, check out the listings with SJP’s real estate agent.

Which is your favourite home from a TV show?

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House Tours RENO ADDICT

The fifth and final episode of Diary of a Reno: the big reveal

It’s finally time to reveal the finished reno and let you know how much money was made on the investment. In this episode, we have more keeping-it-real information and advice from Naomi Findlay and we also hear from real estate agent, Damon Sellis. We think the house is transformed and looks amazing! We think you’ll agree…

An offer was received and accepted after a mere five days on the market. Over 135 parties went through the property during open inspection during that time.

The final project profit, after all costs were taken into consideration, was $25,000. Not bad for six weeks’ work!

“What makes it all happen is a great team of trades and a great agent working hard on the overall goals of the project,” Naomi says. “Vision and design obviously play a key role but it must always stay grounded on the goal of the venture and the business. It is not all about design. It must be grounded in market research and a budget. Top that off with some targeted styling and you are away!”

Happy renovating!

Watch all the other episodes.

–Our video star Naomi Findlay is the founder of SILK Home Staging & Styling and the International Institute of Home Staging and a former university lecturer.

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House Tours RENO ADDICT Styling

Diary of a Reno, the complete video series

Watch all five episodes of our Diary of a Reno video series as we take you through a real life renovation, from purchase to sale and $25,000 profit six weeks later! Our expert Naomi Findlay, an experienced property developer (and busy mum of four!) owns successful business SILK Home Staging & Styling and teaches others how to stage for sale and set up their own styling businesses through her International Institute of Home Staging. Former Block winners Alisa and Lysandra are just some of her students!

Watch videos 1 through to 5 to follow the whole story of this project in Newcastle, NSW.

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Video 5

We hope our warts and all, keeping it real advice has inspired and helped you. If you have any questions for Naomi, please put them in the comments below.

Happy renovating!

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RENO ADDICT Styling

Video: Diary of a Reno part 4

In the penultimate episode in our series, Naomi Findlay gives us a sneak peek of the almost-finished house and explains how she has reconfigured the floor plan to make better use of space and add value.

In the fifth and final episode, coming soon, we reveal the profit made when the renovated house is sold and talk to the real estate agent.

Naomi Findlay is principal of the International Institute of Home Staging and director of SILK Home Staging & Styling.

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Expert Tips RENO ADDICT Styling

VIDEO: Diary of a Reno part 1 + top tips for renovating for profit

I’ve teamed up with Naomi Findlay to bring you a real-time video diary of a reno. In true Interiors Addict ‘style without the snobbery’ fashion, we’re keeping it real, warts and all, telling like it is. Our camera work and editing skills are by no means world class, but we’re less interested in that and more interested in bringing you practical, useful advice and giving you a realistic view of the highs and lows of renovating for profit, hopefully making you realise you could do it too.

Naomi, with various business partners, has done more than 20 renovations in the last three years (eight just last year!). She also owns Silk Home Staging and Styling and the online International Institute of Home Staging (IIHS). She’s also a mum of four. As well as helping people get the best price when selling their homes, it makes sense that she should renovate and stage her own for profit too

The house we’re bringing to you in this series is in the suburbs of Newcastle, NSW. “It’s an old home that has been bastardised over the years and the original features, other than two lovely ceilings, sadly removed,” Naomi says. “It is in ill repair and needing piering, sub floor repair, re-roofing, and a whole lot more!”

We won’t reveal exactly how much it cost until after it’s sold in case this affects the final sale price, but it was in the $300-to-$400k range. The budget for the reno is around $70K.

“I want to allow people to see the real and unedited world of renos; super quick and in the case of this property, super budget! I am by no means a feminist but it is great to show how a woman like me, juggling a family of four and running my own businesses, can reno for profit and enjoy it,” Naomi adds.

“I hope that people who want to have a go get an insight into what it is like and a thirst to know more about it!”

Naomi’s top five tips for renovating for profit are:

  • Buy well. This is where you make your money.
  • Have a team of trades as they will keep you alive.
  • Don’t forget to count your own time as money.
  • Keep a hold of the budget and review it weekly.
  • Time is money, so don’t lick stamps!
  • Know your market and spend you money based on ROI.

There are two main ways she sees other people get it wrong and these are putting too much or too little money in, depending on the market they are selling to, as well as trying to do everything themselves and it taking far too long. “They will go wrong if they think it is a ‘get rich quick’ thing and if they think it is glamorous!”

Naomi Findlay
Naomi Findlay

Many people put off having a go themselves and Naomi wants to encourage them to have a go, armed with the right information. “Some think that they are too time-poor or have no idea of where to begin. It is really hard as there is so much available on the net regarding developing property and there are so many valid and variable ways to develop or flip or reno for profit. All have their merits but it can be hard to sift through the information and work out what is best for you and your circumstances, considering your time, family, finances and skill level.

“Mentoring is one of the best things that you can do when getting into this game; learning from someone else’s mistakes and their wins! They can help you work out finance, joint ventures, time schedules, budgets, roles and responsibilities.”

Naomi runs courses in home staging and styling, and business mentoring, through the International Institute of Home Staging (IIHS). Find out more.

Come back next week for the next installment!

Categories
House Tours The Block

Dan and Dani sell first property since The Block

Dani and Dan

Two-time Blockheads Dan Reilly and Dani Wales know a lot when it comes to renovating and selling homes. But this time there are no TV cameras and they’re selling their very own apartment.

Dan and Dani in Apartment

Situated in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond, it is the first property they have renovated since being on 2012’s The Block and 2013’s The Block All Stars.

Outside

The pair purchased the one-bed apartment just before they had their TV debut, which saw them juggle renovating The Block house and moving in. “It was such a hectic week as we were working on the master bedroom and en suite on The Block whilst trying to move into our apartment at the same time,” explained Dan.

Continue reading “Dan and Dani sell first property since The Block”

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Interiors Addict

Tips and tricks for small bathrooms

Coordinated by Nuffnang

Today, I’m guest posting over at the Realestate.com.au blog with my tips and tricks for small bathrooms.

mimosa_design

Read the full article.

Image courtesy of Minosa Design

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Expert Tips Styling

Styling your home for summer

Pops of cool blue tones in the furniture, accessories and furnishings bring a cool feel to the space, while a mirrored wall helps bounce light around and make the area brighter and bigger.

Today, stylist Naomi Findlay of SILK Home Staging & Styling and the International Institute of Home Staging (IIHS), shares some great tips on styling your home for the summer months.

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Summer is well and truly here and we are increasingly looking for easy ways to enjoy it at home. Here are some quick tips for creating your ultimate summer-friendly environment:

Merge the outdoors and indoors

With the longer days and increased entertaining, now is the time to create indoor-outdoor living spaces.

Continue reading “Styling your home for summer”

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Kitchens

Giving your kitchen a new look on the cheap

Coordinated by Nuffnang

While we’d all love a brand new kitchen, we can’t all afford one. Patience is a virtue and all that! This week, on the realestate.com.au blog, I’m sharing some top tips for affordable facelifts in this much-used space, from new doors and handles to tile paint transformations and chalkboard paint features.

blackboard_Doors

Read the full article.

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Interiors Addict

My tips for making the most of a small kitchen

Image from House Beautiful. Click through to source.

Coordinated by Nuffnang

I’m guest posting over on the realestate.com.au blog today about maximising space, storage and style if you’re not lucky enough to have a large kitchen.

Read the full post.

Image from House Beautiful. Click through to source.
Image from House Beautiful. Click through to source.

 

Categories
Interiors Addict

Impress Shaynna and win a course at the International Institute of Home Staging

Naomi Findlay

Are you a first-time first renovator, a flipper, a property developer or simply a would-be stylist who’d like to start their own business? The International Institute of Home Staging, which launched this week, could be just what you’re looking for! Luckily for one reader, we’re giving away a course worth $497 to whoever impresses our judge, Shaynna Blaze, the most.

The International Institute of Home Staging's Naomi Findlay
The International Institute of Home Staging’s Naomi Findlay

The International Institute of Home Staging (IIHS), which offers the first and only interactive online home staging and property styling courses in Australia, launched this week to help budding designers learn the art and business of making homes attractive to buyers. The demand for staging professionals has reached an all-time high in Australia, as real estate agents and vendors alike realise how much it can impact final sale prices.

Founder Naomi Findlay says: “The courses offered are put together by a fantastic array of Australian design, styling and business mentors that provide great insight into what is a growing industry. It’s designed to teach other people how they can make money on their own property sales or start their own property styling and home staging business.”

Continue reading “Impress Shaynna and win a course at the International Institute of Home Staging”

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Interiors Addict

A family home designed for entertaining

Today I’m delighted to share with you this recently completely project by Point 2 Design with bright, open plan living and plenty of marble. Almost 2 years in the making, interior designers Sarah Gavan and Jessica Enander were involved in the planning of this waterfront property in Sydney’s Inner West from day one.

“The neutral palette, open plan living and stunning views make this an exceptional family home that ticks all the boxes,” says Point 2’s Sarah Gavan. “We were engaged by the client when they first met with the architect to develop the plans for their new family home. The property is positioned on the waterfront at Rodd Point. The family love to entertain and the house was to be designed to allow for entertaining.”

Continue reading “A family home designed for entertaining”

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Interviews

How to start a career as a home stager

Naomi Findlay of SILK Home Staging & Styling and the IIHS

Successful home stager Naomi Findlay was always being asked for her business secrets so she decided to start the International Institute of Home Staging (IIHS) to share her wealth of knowledge with the many people who are keen to forge themselves a flexible career in interiors. She spoke to Interiors Addict about the IIHS and shared some top tips for staging a home for sale.

Naomi Findlay of SILK Home Staging & Styling & IIHS

What exactly is home staging?

Home staging (also known as pre-sale property styling) is the process of preparing your property for sale in a way that gives you the best chance of achieving the maximum sale price in the quickest possible timeframe. It is a systematic process that involves many elements and aspects of maintenance, marketing and styling. All of these elements combine to provide a synergistic effect that showcases your property’s strong points and makes sure it shines and soars above its competition.

This is the kind of job lots of people think they could do. Why isn’t it as easy as it looks?

There are so many elements to the process of home staging, it is not all about pillows, lamps and throws. To stage a home successfully you require a thorough knowledge of the property market, astute research skills, project management abilities, strong foundational design skills, knowledge of the design industry and trends and high end communication skills, just to name a few. To top it off you need to combine all of these elements in often short timeframes.

Continue reading “How to start a career as a home stager”