Q&A With Fairfield County Based Interior Designer, Alexis Parent Interiors:
Selling your chic and elegant home means selling a lifestyle. We at Chilton and Chadwick sat down with Westport native and Interior Designer, Alexis Avellanet Parent, for some tips on how get your luxury property poised for a competitive real estate market. Alexis has recently returned to running her own full-service design firm after spending years working on high-profile projects for the corporate division of Lillian August. Her projects included designing several multi-million dollar model apartments for NYC’s prestigious Extell Development. With a modern aesthetic that is sophisticated yet inviting and livable, Alexis is sought after by HGTV for staging productions and by homeowners and realtors for designing private residences that sell. |
| Alexis Parent Staging |
Q: Hi Alexis, thanks for sitting down with us today. How can Interior Design and Staging services help a luxury property to sell more quickly and for more?
A: My pleasure! By providing a look that is current and clean, but not necessarily taste specific, buyers can envision themselves moving right in. Proper presentation can help your home sell faster and at times even for a higher price! You need to know who your buyer is. Your design professional and realtor can help you zero in and appeal to your target market. designing to sell and Staging are tremendous marketing tools and have become the new standard for selling a refined home. In fact, the Association of Property Scene Designers states that staged homes sell 43% more quickly than un-staged homes.
Q: What is the most important room to keep “re-sale ready?”
A: I always encourage my design clients to stay ahead of the curve with their kitchens. They are the heart of any home. If you are updating your kitchen before putting it on the market, be sure to incorporate light, neutral colors and finishes. The ultimate goal to re-sale is being able to appeal to a wide variety of buyers. Try and stick to the classics. Crisp white cabinets are always a hit and good quality appliances will be noticed. Kitchen upgrades can get expensive, but the good news is you will get your money back on this one.
Q: How is a luxury property different to stage than your average home?
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| One Riverside Park |
A: With interior design in general, the quality of the décor should reflect the home’s price range and style. Prestigious homes are held to a much higher standard. For example, the fabrics and furnishings in a high-end Greenwich home should be far more luxurious than you would find in a hip yet lower priced apartment in SoNo. It is important to highlight the amenities that make your home so well appointed. If there is a large pool patio or BBQ, be sure there is inviting outdoor furniture with pops of colorful pillows. Buyers should be able to envision themselves entertaining friends and family. Wine cellars should be stocked, gym spaces should have at least a few pieces of exercise equipment, etc. There should be no forgotten spaces and cleanliness is paramount.
Q: How can sellers stage their own home?
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| Staging for Property Brothers |
A: Property can likely one of your biggest investments. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. It may sound cliché, but it is very true. While I strongly suggest finding the right pros to work with, I can tell you some of the easiest changes to make:
1. Start with a clean slate. Sadly many buyers do not have a tremendous amount of vision to see beyond your current décor. Remove overly decorative or dated wall coverings and apply a fresh coat of paint to everything possible. While you may love your bold color selections, be sure your home isn’t too taste specific. I strongly suggest going with colors that are on trend, like light grays and soft whites.
2. Let there be light! Every buyer wants good lighting in their prospective home. Something so simple as maximizing the wattage or switching to LED or Halogen bulbs in your fixtures can make a space feel brighter and larger. I also suggest adding mirrors, taking down heavy draperies and pruning any outdoor landscaping that darkens a room. Do whatever is needed to make your home feel light and airy.
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| Duplex Penthouse |
3. De-Clutter. This is so very important and can be a touchy subject with sellers. Family photos, memorabilia, collectibles and many other personal items can be distracting to a buyer. Less is more! Essentially, you want to de-personalize the home. At times homeowners can over furnish a room so consider moving pieces into storage. This will make rooms appear much larger.
If you are interested in design services from Alexis, you can learn more at:
alexisparent.com | ph: 203.451.5630
Article by: Bailey Bitetto
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