Hi Maureen,

I think the staging made all the difference in the world. We had 12 other homes for sale on our street, several in our area (Copperfield) and we are the only house that sold. Can you believe it???!!!

Cindy Wood, BSc, RDMS

For many people, summer is a time for weekends at the cottage and family picnics or simply when life seems to glide along at a slower pace while we enjoy each sunny moment.

But for homeowners planning to list their property, the fall selling season is fast approaching and now is the time to start preparing – at a pace you control. Ron Sowden, co-founder of Vancouver-based Dekora Staging Inc., is no stranger to the challenges of preparing homes for sale, and he has certainly seen his share of home sellers rushing at the last minute to get things in order for an open house. more…

The spring home selling season is in full bloom and Vancouver’s real estate market of late has certainly produced sales numbers much of the globe must envy.  Nevertheless, Vancouver’s strong housing market and high prices have not gone unnoticed among property owners as the selection of available homes on the market is rising.  What does this mean if you are planning to sell in the near future? more…

Photographic representation of homes listed for sale plays a crucial role in attracting buyers, yet it’s often overlooked when home sellers list their properties in print publications or on the Internet.

Hiring a qualified and professional real estate agent to market your property is a key ingredient to a success, but your agent must be armed with beautiful photography to capture the attention of potential buyers looking at your property for the first time. more…

Kittery Point Green, Maple Sugar and Chestertown Buff are three paint colour choices available from Benjamin Moore in what seems like an ocean-sized selection when you consider there are upwards of 30,000 colours on the market. Paint manufactures pontificate over colour names ad nauseam and this behind-closed-doors discourse yields some snappy results that do attract consumers more effectively than say, HC-48. more…

Selling your home is no longer as simple as plunking a ‘For Sale’ sign on your lawn – here are some tips for success in a challenging market.

As housing inventories rise, sales drop and buyers become more selective, leading real estate agents are advising home sellers to not only check their expectations in terms of price, but ensure their home or investment property stands out from the competition.   more…

Don’t be afraid to blend the old with the new, or pair something unusual; the results may surprise you!

Is your home feeling a little tired, dowdy, or just not finding its style groove?  Many of us find ourselves in the dilemma of trying to pull together a décor look to combine a few favourite pieces with family heirlooms, hand-me-downs, blended collections of furniture and ‘stuff,’ and maybe a few flea market treasures scattered in.  The result can be an unresolved jumble.  You don’t want to get rid of stuff you love (or stuff your loved ones cannot part with!) but how do you combine it all in a way that looks good – and not like a design traffic accident? more…

Tracey Mills walked past Pottery Barn and pointed to the window display, which was bursting with warm hues and other subtle touches intended to capture the sentiment of the fall season. “Do you see the care and attention they put into how product is displayed,” she asked. “They do an outstanding job of merchandising and it’s all about attracting buyers to the store.”

Makes sense. more…

We caught up with Dekora’s Matthew Finalson of  The Stagers this week on his way to Hollywood to film HGTV’s Showdown.  Produced by Los Angeles based Pietown Productions, Showdown is a celebrity judged competition pitting two teams of HGTV designers and carpenters against each other to see which team can best transform a room in a four hour time frame.  Think Iron Chef meets HGTV. more…