Design Tips, Investment Properties
Shauna Lynn Simon
Expert Advice for Your Vacation Rental Property

If you own a vacation rental property (or are looking to invest in one), you know that designing a short-term rental cottage that stands out from the competition is key to attracting renters and earning repeat business. With the growing popularity of short-term rentals and Airbnb properties, it's important to create a space that not only looks beautiful but is also functional and comfortable for guests.

In this article, we'll provide you with expert tips and insights on how to design a short-term rental cottage that will have guests raving and coming back year after year. Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to update an existing space, this guide will provide you with the inspiration you need to create a truly exceptional vacation home.


Start with the Basics

Before you start decorating, make sure you have all the basics in place. This includes…

Expert Advice for Your Vacation Rental Property

How to Declutter Before Moving

How to Declutter Before Moving

We want you to have a stress- and anxiety-free move. Here are the TOP SIX benefits for why you should declutter before moving homes:

* Getting rid of the clutter will allow you to relax and feel great!

* The Home Staging process will be faster and more effective.

* Your home will look inviting and it will attract more buyers.

* Save time, energy and $$ by not moving unnecessary items.

* Less time spent unpacking in your new home; arranging only the items you love.

* Sell and/or Auction Unwanted items to get $$ back.

The Dos and Don'ts of Hiring a Designer

The Dos and Don'ts of Hiring a Designer

DO

Provide information regarding your style

  • This may be magazine photos, Pinterest pins, or physical samples – you don’t even have to know what you like about something, but the more information that you can provide to your designer, the better

Provide Samples

  • If you have already selected any renovation materials, be sure to have samples of those items available for your designer

Provide Creative Autonomy

  • This is something that many homeowners struggle with – remember that you hired your designer for their expert, professional opinion, and there may be times where you will need to trust them to take you outside of your comfort zone.

  • Our goal is to integrate your style with our expertise to create a design plan that you will love for years to come. The more autonomy that we have, the easier it is to create this, but we want to ensure that we do so with your trust and understanding – if at any time you do not feel that you are being heard, or are not comfortable with a decision that has been made, be sure to address it as soon as possible to avoid any issues or unnecessary costs.

  • It’s all in our head - we understand that you may not always be able to see what we see! Sometimes, you may simply need to take a leap of faith and trust, but if this is something that you are not capable of, ask, and we will do our best to provide a visual representation of our vision.

Understanding Flooring Options for Selling Your Home

Understanding Flooring Options for Selling Your Home

Many of the decisions made regarding flooring, in terms of what buyers will prefer to see, will be market specific. Often the price-point of the house will dictate the extent of upgrades required for flooring.

Updates and Repairs

  • Replace worn, stained, or outdated carpet

  • Stretch and tack down loose carpet

  • Check grout for condition, and re-grout cracked or recessed grout (clean stained or discoloured grout)

  • Touch-up minor floor scratches

  • Refinish worn hardwood

  • Upgrade as necessary

As we say good-bye to 2016, and hello to a New Year...

As we say good-bye to 2016, and hello to a New Year...

Wow, has another year gone by already?! I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your continued support throughout this past year, and thank my incredible team here at Beyond The Stage Homes, for making this one of our best years yet! With homes selling for higher prices than ever, home sellers are as savvy as ever, and certainly kept us busy as we helped them to showcase their home to receive top dollar for the sale! With our expanded design team, we are better equipped to manage all of our clients needs.

So what made this year so fantastic? Here are just a few things that happened at Beyond The Stage Homes - thank you for being a part of it!

The year began with another outstanding Home Seller’s Workshop, and Beyond The Stage Homes continues to draw crowds to these informative seminars, providing useful tips for preparing your home for sale.

January - Shauna Lynn Simon and Jennifer Roth attended the RESA Convention in Las Vegas, where Shauna Lynn was featured as a guest speaker. This is the largest industry event in North America.

January - Shauna Lynn joined the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre as a volunteer mentor to local entrepreneurs.

April - Shauna Lynn joined Roger’s Daytime as a regular guest, sharing tips for around your home each month.

10 Low Budget Home Staging Hacks to Use in Everyday Life

10 Low Budget Home Staging Hacks to Use in Everyday Life

Our home staging clients often tell us how much they wish that they had brought us in sooner, before they decided to sell the house, so that they could have enjoyed some of the changes that we made! They especially love seeing some of our home staging tricks and hacks first hand, so we’ve decided to share some of our favourites with you! You can put these low-cost ideas to use in your home, regardless of whether or not you are selling.

1. Use baskets to hide cables

It’s not a fancy trick, but it can be incredibly effective. Hide routers, cables, and other messes using baskets. NOTE: some items (such as routers) need room to vent, so be sure to account for and allow for this.

Consider adding a shelf under your desk to get the cords and cables off of the floor.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

If you have outgrown your house, and are considering moving in the Waterloo Region (or surrounding areas), you may be intimidated by the extreme seller’s market. Reports have indicated it will not be shifting any time soon! With the increased demand due to a growing population, homebuyers are finding it challenging to find the perfect home that fits all of their needs within their price-point. Then, if they do find a home that works well, it’s often met with a bidding war. Perhaps you have already put yourself out there, and have lost several bids on ideal homes. You may be frustrated that you'll never be able to find what you need, for the price that you want. If you’ve considered the option of staying in your current home, and taking on some renovations, you are certainly not alone! You might be wondering if it’s better to stay in your home, and what your options are, should you stay.