See How a Stager Transformed a “Dark and Dated” 1920s Tudor

See How a Stager Transformed a “Dark and Dated” 1920s Tudor

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Realtor Fiona Dogan is a big believer in the power of home staging, and she knows what she’s talking about. As an agent in the top 3% at Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty in Rye, New York, Dogan understands what it takes to take homes from sitting on the market to flying off the “shelves.” She put her expertise to use when selling a 1920s Tudor home that originally “felt dark and dated” with its low ceilings, small and oddly shaped rooms, and small and dated kitchen. 

In general, Dogan’s belief system is as follows: “Decluttering, refreshing, and staging a house are critical to a successful real estate transaction in this current market. When my clients invest $30,000 to $50,000 in preparing their house according to my recommendations, the payoff is big. We typically will sell for $200,000 to $300,000 over the asking price!” Here’s how she transformed the space — and got the sellers a major return on investment.

The Power of Staging Even Before Entering the Home 

“In today’s market, photography and an online presence are critical,” says Dogan. “Buyers shop 24/7 online, and if the house does not look dazzling when you see it online, most buyers just move on.” Dogan uses this knowledge to make houses appealing in buyers’ first contact with the home, which is almost always digital. 

“My staging principle is to make every property HGTV-ready so it stops a buyer in their tracks, entices them to make an appointment to see the house, and feel wowed as they step inside and walk around,” she adds.

Ensuring the staging makes the home look stunning in photos, before anyone ever sets foot in the house, primes potential buyers for a positive reaction and kickstarts the emotional attachment to a space that’s critical for people to buy. 

Big and Small Changes Add Up to Major Impact 

In order to make this particular home appealing from the first look online through an actual physical walk-through, Dogan set out to “brighten it, give the rooms meaning and purpose, and modernize the decor and furnishings.” 

Specifically, she began by painting the entire first floor Benjamin Moore’s White Dove because, as she put it, “first impressions are critical.” The white paint acted as a fresh canvas for the rest of the changes. 

Dogan repurposed some of the rooms so that buyers could better imagine themselves living in the space. She and her team converted the office into the dining room, and then the former dining room became the family room, the the former family room transitioned into a formal living room. The downstairs gym was refreshed as a recreation room, and then the small upstairs bedroom was converted into an office.

Lastly, Dogan and her team “updated the decor with modern light fixtures, and staged all the rooms with contemporary white sofas, chairs, tables, rugs, lamps, and white bedding.” Additionally, they took up old carpet in order to “showcase the beautiful hardwood floors that buyers covet.” 

The result of these changes, Dogan shares, was that “the house looked refreshed, modern, and move-in ready. Buyers just need to bring their toothbrush!”

The effect of home staging is evident in how quickly a home sells and for how much.

This was exactly the case with this beautifully refreshed Tudor. “The transformation made all the difference,” declares Dogan, detailing that “the house had 25-plus showings and sold at the very aggressive asking price after multiple bids.” 

“If the house was not prepared well, I estimate it might have sold [for] $200,000 [or] $300,000 below asking,” she adds. Now, that’s a good return on investment!

All About the Obamas’ 4 Stunning Homes in the U.S.

All About the Obamas’ 4 Stunning Homes in the U.S.

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They may have left the White House, but Barack and Michelle Obama are still living large. The couple has amassed an impressive real estate portfolio (though maybe not as impressive as Taylor Swift’s) in the eight years since they moved from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, including properties in Washington, D.C., Hawaii, and Martha’s Vineyard.

The Obamas are known for their classic style, and their White House decor was no exception. Both the public and private quarters were homey and welcoming during their tenure, with a smattering of contemporary art — a break from the stuffier aesthetic choices of past residents.

Their current homes showcase the same classic style with a nod to the modern designs that have come to represent the former First Family. The couple currently owns three properties, but a fourth may be in the works. 

The Obamas have been hard at work building their Waimānalo, O’ahu beachfront property for the last 10 years, KHON2 recently reported. Rumors have been swirling for years that the property, which the couple originally purchased for $8.4 million under their LLC, is nearing completion and that the Obamas may spend more time there in the future. 

The property is expansive — it’s actually three separate homes on three acres of beachfront land — and features 11 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms. And though in Hawaii, having private beachfront property is patently illegal due to cultural and historical reasons for Native Hawaiians, the Obamas will have private beachfront access for security reasons. 

Kalorama, Washington, D.C.

The neighborhood caters to Washington’s movers and shakers, with homes belonging to Jeff Bezos as well as Jared Kushner and First Daughter Ivanka Trump in the first Trump presidency. According to reporting by Curbed D.C., the 8,200-square-foot home, which boasts eight bedrooms and nine-and-a-half-baths, was previously owned by Bill Clinton’s press secretary Joe Lockhart.

Once the purchase was complete, the Obamas got to work adding an in-ground pool to the grounds. The beautiful brick home, built in 1920, underwent an extensive reno and expansion in 2011, and some security modifications were made in 2017 — namely, a brick wall around the property. They also converted the garage into an office, but don’t worry if you’re planning to visit; the gated courtyard has parking for 10.

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

In 2019, the Obamas, through a proxy, inked a deal on a gorgeous 6,892-square-foot house on the prestigious island of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. The home, which boasts seven bedrooms and eight-and-a-half baths, sits on a secluded 29.3-acre coastal estate with manicured grounds leading to the water and amazing ocean views.

The family enjoys a posh swimming pool, deck, and boathouse, along with a chef’s kitchen, formal dining room, elegant master suite, and a living room with vaulted ceilings and a custom stone fireplace. 

The Obamas were not strangers to the Vineyard when they chose to buy there — they vacationed on the island seven out of the eight years Barack was in office, enjoying time at the exclusive Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark Pond, which sold for $15 million in 2018.

Kenwood/Hyde Park, Chicago

The Obamas still own the Chicago home they bought after Barack was first elected to the U.S. Senate back in 2004. The stunning redbrick Georgian home has six bedrooms and six baths and was home to the young family from 2005 to 2008, when they moved into the White House. They originally purchased the home for $1.65 million.

The home is located on the street in the Kenwood/Hyde Park neighborhood, although the street is blocked off to deter tourists — and vandals — from loitering. Fittingly, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the mansion was a “hub of social activism” owned by Lutheran Urban Ministries, according to reporting from Huff Post.

Where do Sasha and Malia Obama live?

While Sasha and Malia may have lived with their parents during the presidency and after it, they’re both well into adulthood now — Sasha is 24 and Malia is 27. The sisters currently live together in an apartment in Los Angeles, according to People.

Amazon Is Selling This Stunning A-Frame Tiny Home for Just $10K

Amazon Is Selling This Stunning A-Frame Tiny Home for Just $10K

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Living in the right tiny home can make you feel like you’re checking into a luxe rental just by stepping out of your backdoor — or it can even function as a little Airbnb in your dream destination. Case in point: A stunning A-frame tiny house on Amazon that looks like a Northern California getaway.

The YG Luxury A-Frame Triangle House Is So Cute

Amazon is now selling the Luxury A-Frame Triangle House starting at $9,869 (prices vary depending on your customization), which promises to make you feel like you’re hunkered down in a cozy forest retreat. However, instead of shelling out hundreds of dollars to rent a cabin with this rustic silhouette, you could feasibly set up the scenic hideaway in your own backyard (as long as it’s big enough) — or even build this tiny unit as a personal cabin or rental in your favorite nature location.

The tiny home is really tiny, according to the listing, which we can’t verify at this time — just 20 feet in length, 17.5 feet in width, and 8 feet in height. Renderings of the tiny home in the product listing appear to show that there should be space for a first floor and second floor space, just keep in mind that the unit doesn’t appear to come with all the kitchen and bathroom appliances, plumbing capabilities, electric wiring, and foundation that you’d need to comfortably live in the space full-time. It also doesn’t say whether the wall of windows is included with the building kit. Make sure to budget all of that into the final cost of the home, as well as any contractors needed to bring your dream to life and potential permits needed for your location.

On the bright side, this allows you to tailor the home to best suit your needs, with the option to create bespoke windows, flooring, and roofing, as well as a terrace add-on. You can also switch up the number of rooms as well as their layout, depending on whether you plan to use this tiny dwelling as a guesthouse, a studio, or even a full-time apartment.

In addition to its modern, yet rustic appearance, this stylish tiny home is built to last — the listing states that the home comes with your choice of weather-resistant steel or timber frames, water-resistant panels on the outside, and heat-insulated panels on the walls.

Just keep in mind that the photos on Amazon’s house are more inspirational renderings than reality, and you’ll have to work with the company to come up with a final mockup and layout for your new tiny cabin getaway. But it’s a gorgeous design — and it’s fun to fantasize. 

Buy: Luxury A-Frame Triangle House, $9,869