A friend of ours forwarded us a great article recently published at RealtyTimes.com, titled “Landlords Move In Furniture to Help Rent Properties.” It seems that more and more landlords are realizing how attractive, quality furniture already in place can help make a home more appealing to potential renters. Some are even marketing their properties as furnished, which is a big plus for renters who don’t have their own furniture. Home staging is a great idea.

One of our favorite quotes from the article is this one: “If the furnishings are done in good taste and are gender-neutral, I think that when someone walks in they already feel like it’s a home versus just an empty shell.” This is a great point. If a person can see himself at home in a space they’re considering, they’re more likely to rent it or buy it.

Though the article focuses quite a bit on landlords who rent apartments furnished with their own extra furniture (this saves them the trouble of moving it or storing it), they mention the benefits of home staging: “We have showed our furnished properties to renters who have their own furniture and I think it just helps sell the space because … it’s staged.”

Consider Home Staging

Whether you’re trying to rent or sell your home, consider home staging. It’s easy and affordable, and it could pay off greatly if your property rents or sells much more quickly than if it were empty. Businesses like Executive Furniture Rentals make furniture rental for home staging a breeze. We’re proud to offer fantastic looking, quality furniture that will make your home sparkle. We have everything from bedroom sets to sofas to dining room tables and even home office furniture.

Stop by our Toronto furniture showroom, contact us online or call us for more information:(416) 785-0932 in Toronto, or 1 (800) 618-1733 toll-free. And if you’re looking for Toronto used furniture, we have that, too!

As you read this, plans are being made by all levels of government in Canada for the possible resurgence of the Novel Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic virus, this autumn.

Currently, this virus makes up 95% of influenza strains detected by the Ontario Public Health laboratory.  The pandemic is expected to spread.  Sources say that 25% of our populations could be affected.  What can we do?….Prepare!!

On a personal level, Public Health suggests carrying hand sanitizers and sneezing in our upper sleeve or a tissue.  It is important to stay at home if one has flu symptoms and keep commonly touched surfaces clean and disinfected.  Be pro-active by being preventive.  Make plans within your business and family to reduce the risk of acquiring this virus.

On a broader level, Medical Institutions, in coordination with Public Health are planning for the possibility of mass immunization in temporary spaces.  Hospitals will need to service the overflow of emergency cases in temporary facilities.  These spaces will need temporary furnishings and Executive Furniture Rentals has been put on alert with very limited notice.  It’s what we do.

For over 50 years we as a furniture for hire company have been involved in emergency planning.  We are honoured to contribute our services.  It is however, the deal we hope we won’t have to do.

I love home staging! Over the past 10 years, home staging has exploded into a legitimate, professional full time industry, when in fact, it once was the exclusive domain of “home decorators” and interior designers. It is estimated that over 1300+  graduate an initial certificated home staging course annually in Ontario . Hey, you can even buy a copy of “Home Staging for Dummies”.

So what makes home stagers good? Well, like all professions, the “good ones” are locked in the 20/80 rule. Twenty per cent of all home stagers are doing 80% of all the business. It is not too dissimilar to what is experienced by the real estate industry. Like real estate, the top home stagers are entrepreneurial, professional, detail-oriented and have an instinctive feeling of what is best for the client and their main objective – to sell his/her property!

Although from the outside home staging may seem easy to do….like just taking a 3-day course and off you go! But that only takes you to the 5-yard line. It prepares potential home stagers with the tools to become a successful professional. Enhancing one’s education with additional learning modules and experience greatly helps, learning to be resourceful takes any home stager to a new level.

Aside from window coverings, paint and accessories, furniture rental for home staging can be essential to the look required. Everything from living to dining to bedroom furnishings are available to transform a home in 48 hours.

Honestly, I have seen homes sit on the market for 4 months, yet, after home staging with furniture rentals, it sold in one weekend!!

What I don’t understand is that some home sellers are prepared to pay up to 5%  in commission, yet balk at an introductory consultation with a home stager for around $250. Furthermore, I have seen home sellers pay as low as .002% of the selling price to have a home sell quickly with home staging. That’s a lot of zeros in the opposite direction. It doesn’t result to much money, yet, it works!

As home staging further progresses as a marketing tool, I foresee national or international standards created for home stagers, again to be compared to the real estate industry or design community who have created licensing qualifications for its  members. This would even instill greater confidence to clients and more importantly, it will just make better home stagers.

I hope in the future to further illustrate how furniture rental in Toronto (Ontario) has transformed itself very quickly to the demand of home staging professionals. In fact, it has made furniture rental companies better from a product offering and service perspective.

Moral to the Blog: Hire a home stager and sell that home now!