June 2024

Staging Tips with Stephanie McCullough

Why does staging matter?

When preparing to sell your home, staging can help highlight its best features and detract from its less desirable ones. The main goal is to help the buyer imagine living in that space and how to best utilize it for their own needs. Enhancing the property’s appeal in this way increases its marketability, with the end goal being that the seller will receive top dollar for it. Statistics show this to be true.

Staging Tips:

Clean. A clean home indicates that the house has been well maintained. Start with the ceilings and end with the floors. The most important rooms to make sparkle are the kitchen and bathrooms. Everything should appear to shine like new.
Declutter. Box up anything you do not need on a daily basis to highlight the potential space available. Some suggestions include boxing up out-of-season clothes, getting rid of things you do not need, and organizing work/hobby areas. Remember, less is more!
Depersonalize. Remove all family photos and collectibles. This can encompass everything from refrigerator art to bathroom tchotchkes.
Define Purpose. Make certain the buyer can see how the space can be utilized. Turn a bonus room into an office. Transform the basement into a recreation area. Create a relaxing gathering space on the screened-in porch. The possibilities are endless. But keep it simple, with the goal being to maximize the home’s square footage. Using appropriately sized furniture is crucial to this end goal.
Make Repairs. Fill cracks and holes inside and out that would indicate neglect. This may require hiring a professional or spending your own time with a bit of spackle and paint.
Elevate Curb Appeal. The buyer's first impression begins here. Mow the lawn, trim the hedges, and add flower pots to the porch. Wash the window, powerwash and/or paint the siding, sweep the walkways, and buy new doormats!

Working with your agent and either taking your own time or spending the money to hire a stager is always time and/or money well spent. Staging presents the home in its best possible light and helps to make it stand out on the market. Additionally, a well-staged home often photographs better, which is vital in attracting buyers in the increasingly digital real estate marketplace.

KC News

Berkley Riverfront Development

In a few months, the Berkley Riverfront will break ground on the next stage of development, bringing storefronts and more apartments next to the KC Current stadium.

After that, the construction will stretch west along Berkley Parkway toward River Market. When it’s done, its backers promise Kansas City a walkable neighborhood that combines apartments and stores connected to downtown by a streetcar line and pedestrian walkways.

The Origin Hotel will open on July 3, and a beer garden is expected to open by September.

The next primary stage of construction, including 200 apartments and 23,000 square feet of retail, will break ground after this year’s KC Current season ends in November. Meredith Hoenes, a spokesperson for Port KC, said developers want to finish the first phase within two years before the 2026 World Cup.

The rest of the 11-acre project has a 10-year construction timeline.

The streetcar will extend from River Market along Berkley Parkway to a stop just outside the Origin Hotel, a quarter-mile west of the stadium. Construction began on March 1, with a two-year construction timeline.

It’s expected to be finished before the 2026 World Cup.

KC Hotspots

Your Guide To KC's Newest Bar & Restaurants

Fern Bar is located in the Crossroads in the former Broadway Bank building. Local bartender-turned-bar owner Bryan Arri serves delicious agave-based craft cocktails. Teaming with Tacos Valentina, you can pair the perfect tacos with your cocktails.

In the Lowest Ferns is a new hi-fi lounge in the West Bottoms. Austin Goldberg, Dante Walton, and Jason "J" Eubanks, owners of the conceptual design branding and production firm Nomada, are the brains behind this oasis in the city. With a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system, this is a great bar to enjoy local and international DJs and musical acts while enjoying a drink or two. No food is planned, but the occasional food truck may be outside the venue.

Green Dirt Farm is a cheese shop and restaurant with a rooftop deck in the Crossroads. Green Dirt Farm founder Sarah Hoffman, expanding on the success of her artisanal GDF Creamery Cafe in Weston, MO, is highlighting an authentic local farm-to-table menu sourcing ingredients from local purveyors, including Green Dirt Farm itself.

Bar Medici is a bar and cafe celebrating many Italian culinary traditions. David Manica and Christian Moscoso, creators of The Mercury Room, Verdigris, and The Monarch Bar, Bar Medici is the first food-focused bar from the duo. Inspired by 15th-century Florence, Italy the stunning space is outfitted with subtle shades of silver, gold, and bronze.

KC Real Estate

April 2024 KC Market Snapshot

With the spring almost over and the summer market about to begin, here is a look at the Kansas City real estate market for April 2024 compared to last year.

Closed sales increased 11%, and pending sales were up 3.6% for existing home sales. The average sales price (7.5%) and median sales price (10.2%) have also increased since April 2023.

The Kansas City real estate market is gradually moving towards a more balanced housing market. The housing inventory has seen a significant boost, rising by 14.9% from last year. This increase in supply has led to a rise in the availability of existing homes to 1.5 months, a 25% increase. With more options available, the average days on the market have increased to 30 days, up by 3.4%.

Even with inventory and supply on the rise, we are still seeing multiple offer situations in areas where buyers have yet to purchase a home in their desired location.

Whether you are a buyer or seller, having guidance from an agent in this ever-changing local real estate market is paramount to reaching your real estate goals.