More Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Well then, should I go ahead and list my home, then wait and see if it sells? If not, then stage it?    

A:  I would not recommend that as an option for you because in today’s competitive market you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Plus, think of the time lost by having your home on the market and all of those lost opportunities…

If you must sell your house, then the best course of action is to have it staged by an Accredited Staging Professional. It will increase your likelihood of selling it for the most amount of money in the least amount of time. Plus, your investment in staging will be far less than a price reduction on the sales price, or the additional cost of keeping your house on the market. Why is  

Q:  What is the 3-Tier Approach that you keep mentioning?

A:  We use a three tier method to prepare a client’s house prior to listing it with an Agent. The first tier is to ensure the landscape and the exterior of the house is pleasant and appealing to the buyer. Our landscape enhancements are designed to create an eye catching crisp fresh look. Our goal is to get potential buyers out of their cars with the desire and the interest to look at the rest of the house. Basically, my curb appeal enhancements invite buyers to see more.

The second phase includes any desired or specific remodeling and trim carpentry to ensure the house has those unique features that add value the house. Our remodeling enhancements may include accent lighting, crown molding, chair rails, neutral painting and other types of finish carpentry.

Staging is the final phase, and it is what pulls everything together. We customize our staging services for each home, so the potential buyer can visualize the harmony and balance of their furniture in the house. The overall effect creates a warm, inviting and pleasing atmosphere for buyers. Think of our services as tipping the scales in your favor by providing a buyer with a genuine justification to put an offer on the house.
 
Q: Okay, I understand your 3-Tier Approach, but let’s say, I like my landscaping like it is, how do you know what to do then? Will you then just do the accent remodeling and staging enhancements?
  
A:  To start with, we do an initial consultation visit and analysis… Our initial visit to the Owner’s house takes about an hour and a half. Our prepared report illustrates the overall findings, and depicts those steps necessary to prepare and stage your house for listing with a Realtor. The three main categories are: Landscape, Renovations, and Staging. The Owner then decides on those enhancements that fit within an established budget. And, the Owner is under no obligation to use Accent Properties…They can do the staging enhancements on their own, they can hire separate stagers and subcontractors to do the work, or they can use Accent Properties. We can do as little or as much work as the Owner desires.

Q: If we use Accent Properties, how much will it cost us?

A: Well, that depends…. Each house is different and each has its own special needs. We focus not only on staging but also on the literal condition of your home from a design and resale point of view. We help you prioritize the changes suggested and we give you specific solutions to your problem areas including such items as paint color, accent lighting and furniture arrangement. Your investment is as little as $350.00 and increases on the size and increases on your desires, the size and the condition of your home.

Q: What’s the advantage of using Accent Properties over advice from my Real Estate Agent? She is a good friend and she has been with XYZ Reality for 12 years. Plus, she has all sorts of creative ideas on how to get my house ready to sell…

A: Well, three things come to mind with your question… First, we like to think of ourselves as a Real Estate Agent’s best friend because we also work for the home Owner. We take the pressure off of the Agent for making landscaping, renovation and staging improvements. Their basic job is to list and show your house to as many potential buyers as possible. And, we have all heard Real Estate people say, “Well, it’s a nice house, in a good location, but it just doesn’t show that well….” That’s where we come in… We make the Owner’s house show at its best by appealing to potential Buyers.

Second, with Accent Properties, “One call gets it all!” That is, landscaping work, accent renovation and improvements plus staging… You or your Agent will need to spend a lot of time on the phone chasing down subcontractor’s to do all of those things, and he or she may or may not have the time to do things just for you. Remember, listing and showing properties is their profession and their line of work, not subcontracting out to various trades and Stagers to prepare your house for sale.

Finally, this is our profession… This is what we do for a living and we’re very good at what we do…Accent Properties puts the client in the driver’s seat, and all work is done under preapproved plans and under contract to ensure the best possible workmanship in the scheduled timeframe. Moving and selling a house can be very stressful, doing so in today’s market puts an extra burden on the homeowner.

Think of Accent Properties as Virginia’s sensible solution in today’s Real Estate market. Our services compliment and extend your Real Estate Agent’s exposure to potential buyers and it increases the sales potential of your home.