Murrieta Temecula Home Stager Home Staging - Blog

Paint and Redesign for Wine!!!

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:17:30 -0500

Yup! That's right....I got paid in wine!!! Here's the uncorked tale........

Susan & Marshall Stuart owner's of Stuart Cellars Winery were looking for a quick inexpensive change to their winery. So when Susan called to ask me to help choose paint colors and redesign using their current accessories I was thrilled! Trust me...if you know me....you know I will look for any excuse to visit the Temecula Wine Country in Southern California!! Plus Stuart Cellar's is one of my favorite wineries and if I could help the winery to look its best it's a win-win for all!

Susan and I met at one of her favorite Italian restaurants Francesca's Italian Kitchen so that I could see the paint colors and atmosphere she was trying to achieve at the winery. The colors were very Tuscan and I loved them as much as her!

These pictures to the right and left are some of the rooms we were working with.....lots of white walls except for one area that was painted a dated green color with an adjacent wall sponged tan. Susan also wanted to figure out a more attractive way to store the wine boxes that need to be easily available by the cashier. Her goal was to have the Tasting Room to look more like a Tasting Room and not a warehouse.

We spent only a couple of hours choosing colors for each wall and area, deciding how to best store inventory and planning out the best way to rearranging furniture, accessories and items for sale.

Here are a few examples of what was accomplished after two days of painting and redesigning............

A warm and inviting Wine Tasting Room with plenty of open spaces to wander awhile, taste awhile and shop a lot! No more cafeteria look to this hot spot.

Susan and Marshall along with the Tasting Room Staff .......which at first were skeptical watching Susan and I plan our "attack"....... were pleasantly surprised! Local wine club member's were also surprised and happy to visit their new and improved home away from home!

If you are interested in seeing the rest of the transformation and taste some excellant vino.....visit this fabulous award winning winery! It would be my pleasure to show you around the wonderful Wine Country of Temecula. You will not be disappointed! Cheers!

Don't forget to Stop and Smell the Vineyards......

Janice Sutton - Home Stager - Home Staging the Murrieta and Temecula CA Valley

951.704.097 Murrieta Temecula Home Stager

29290 Via Norte Road, Temecula CA 92591 - A Meadowview Community Home

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:31:56 -0500

Incredible Meadowview Home, Temecula CA

29290 Via Norte Road, Temecula, CA 92591 View Map

Incredible Meadowview home w/ completely separate office! 4400 sf including office (800sf of living space not permitted) w/ five bedrooms and loft. Private gated entry to a half acre of parklike setting w/extensive hardscape including stacked stone accent & flagstone walkways w/ beautiful mature landscaping thru-out. Absolutely stunning master suite/bathroom, completely upgraded w/elegant travertine counters and shower with glass block accent, jetted tub and master closet w/ darkwood custom organizers. Gourmet kitchen with granite counters, kitchen-aid & bosch stainless steel appliances, pull out shelves & rich darkwood cabinets. Other upgrades include hardwood flooring, plantation shutters & beamed ceilings in this fantastic find. The separate office is perfect for the executive who want to work from home or could be converted into a guest house. Property has a 40' covered rv parking space, upgraded steel roof & full length patio cover. All this with amazing views! Lease option OK.

Details

Asking Price:

$799,900

MLS:

T08095087

Sq. Feet:

4,400/E

Lot Size:

24,393/A

Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

# of Floors:

HOA/Maintenance Fees:

Garage Size:

Subdivision:

Meadowview

Year Built:

1983

Property Amenities

Community Amenities

Contact Info

Marcel Hensley
The Hensley Group, Inc. - Keller Williams

Dir 951-719-0355

Tag Smag....A Play Day in the Rain!

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:39:27 -0500

Thank you George Tallabas and Connie Tebyani for allowing me to play in the Rain.

This one is pretty easy since the questions were supplied.

1. Who is your favorite musical artist? Have to go with The Eagles. They always make me smile & reminisce. Plus you probably can sing along to all of their songs! Sometimes a plus..sometimes not! Ha- ha!

2. Who is your favorite artist? I am an impressionist fan so I have to go with the all time classic Monet. His work is very calm and inviting...like Home Staging!

3. Who is your favorite blogger? Ahhh there are soooo many great bloggers! Jeff Turner Kathy McGraw Marti Garaughty Brad Carroll and of course Craig Schiller! But I could go on an on an on!

4. If you could meet anyone (alive or dead), who would it be and what is the most interesting thing about them? I would have loved to have met my maternal Grandmother. She was an immigrant from Austria and entered the US through Ellis Island. My mother speaks often about what a wonderful person she was and how she died too young.

5. What did you want to be when you grew up? I always wanted to be a Magician or Artist. Now that I think about it Home Stagers are Magician and Artist. :)

6. What is the most interesting piece of trivia you know? Every time I read this one I try to think of something clever to write ....but I can't get out of my mind that little boy from the Jerry Maguire movie that says "Did you know that the human head weighs 8 lbs?" That's all I got!

7. If you could live in any point in history what would it be and why? Well I was born in the 60's but I would have loved to have experienced the 60's!!! Everything was so free and that's the way I would like to be!!!

8. What is the most interesting job you have ever held? It would have to be the one I am doing now - Home Staging. I am always pleasantly surprised with every job! I am constantly learning and growing while helping. Can't get much better then that!

Now I would love to learn more about the fabulous Lori Kim Polk !

A Little Slice of Heaven!

Wed, 07 May 2008 13:21:24 -0500

I have always been a Wine Lover and like to think of myself as an Amateur Wine Connoisseur (aren't we all?). Not a bad thing when you live in California. Always great wineries to visit...relax in and enjoy a wine tasting, glass or bottle! :)

I am lucky enough to live in Murrieta which is about 15 minutes away from Temecula Wine Country which I have nicknamed "a little slice of heaven." I shared my weekend favorite My Weekend Best Kept Secret and now I am ready to share with you my favorite thing to do on Monday!

On Monday's (My day off...kind of!) my best friend Laura and I venture out to a winery and (this is the fun part!) pretend we are in another city, state or country! :) Sometimes its Napa, sometimes France and sometimes its Tuscany! Depending on our mood! We mingle among the tourists and chat with the wine pourer's or if they're not busy the wine maker!

Everyone is happy, no one is in a hurry, the scenery is beautiful, the employees are friendly, the wine(and food...if available) is delicious and if your lucky you can meet and make a new friend! I have met Realtor's and Home Seller's which became my clients at a couple of the wineries!! Wine & Networking gotta love it!

I NEVER take my Monday's off for granted. I am blessed to have a wonderful area to visit and enjoy with my BFF! If you are planning on visiting Temecula give me a call! I would be happy to show you around!

What's your Slice of Heaven??

Do you see why I call the Temecula Wine Country "A little Slice of Heaven?"

Don't forget to Stop and Smell the Vineyards......

Janice Sutton - Home Stager - Home Staging the Murrieta and Temecula CA Valley

951.704.097 Murrieta Temecula Home Stager

Active Rain, and Referrals, and Blogs...OH MY!!!

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 02:43:04 -0500

The power of Active Rain and the AR community is amazing. I never thought that searching online and finding AR would be such a blessing to me and so many other AR colleagues.

About three weeks ago I received an email from a home seller that was looking for a Home Stagerin the West Palm Beach area to stage her vacant property. WEST PALM BEACH???? OK, why am I surprised, you ask? Well, I live in Murrieta, CA which is approximately 2,650 miles from West Palm Beach according to Yahoo Maps!

West Palm Beach? Who do I know in West Palm Beach? Right away I thought of AR Home Stager Fernando Rosado owner of Eclectic Home Staging located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Have I ever met him? No. Have I ever talked to him? No. Does he even know who I am? I don't know! But, what I do know is that I feel like I have met him, like I have spoken with him, so I was confident to refer himdue to AR and our posts! Awwwww the power of Internet NETWORKING and the MIGHTY BLOGS!!

Check out what happened HERE after a quick email to Fernando followed up by an email to the home seller and a phone call from Fernando!

A couple of days later I received a phone call from a home seller that was looking to stage his partial vacant-furnished property in Calabasas, CA. Where is that?? Ok, back to my Yahoo Maps. Ok..this one is closer but 115 miles to stage a vacant property is pushing it a little! Once again I knew who to contact due to Active Rain. AR Home Stager Connie Tebyani owner of Platinum Home Staging who I had the pleasure to meet at AR Home Stager Michelle Minch's Professional Home Stagers Networking Get Together in Pasadena in March.

A quick email to Connie and an email to the home seller and VIOLA!! Check out what happened HERE!

Last but not least, I was called by another home seller that needed her vacant home in the Hollywood Hills staged! Ok...maybe I need to move! :)

This time it was easy to quickly refer the seller to none other but the great home stager Michelle Minch owner of Moving Mountains Design.

THREE in one week!!! What would I have done without Active Rain?? I think I can offical call myself the Home Staging Referral Queen of the week!

Do you see where I am going with this? If you haven't taken advantage of the amazing tools here on Active Rain you are missing out on expanding your network and your business. Who knew I would be able to receive and give referrals to home stager's as far as 2,650 MILES AWAY!

I am still in awe and forever grateful to the brillant minds of the AR GODS and my wonderful professional colleagues on Active Rain! Thank You All!

Now does anyone have a home in the Murrieta Temecula Valley they want to stage????? :)

May Good Listings be with You!

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:56:03 -0500

May good listings be with you!

Counting on four leaf clover's to help sell your listings?

Do your MLS listings look better then the competition?

Let us help your listings attract potential buyers..

Don't Delay....Home Stage Today!!!

Contact Janice at 1st Stage Property Transformations of Murrieta Temecula for a free estimate.

Janice Sutton | Home Stager | 1st Stage Property Transformation
Dir 951-704-0597 | Email | Website

Awwww How Cute.......

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:22:02 -0600

But not when you're selling your property!

Homeseller's need to de-personalize and declutter their properties to allow potential home buyer's the opportunity to imagine themselves living in the home. Period.

Unfortunately many homeseller's don't understand why buyer's can't look past the "cute" little added touches.

I reminded this homeowner that he needed to paint over his children's growth chart, handprints and footprints in the laundry room. I understand these are precious memories but he needed to make his property as neutral as possible to appeal to the majority of home buyers. To make it a little easier on him, I advised him to take pictures of these memories before repainting the space. :)

Well, I am happy to report he finally repainted the laundry room. :) How easy was that! Sure he could have added a warmer neutral color and added knobs to make the built-in cabinets "pop". But instead he used the exisiting wall color and spent a small amount of time and money on this home staging project.

Painless and priceless!

Now buyer's can see "the space"....not somebody else's space! Period.

(Now I need to go back and added some accessories!)

This Murrieta, CA property was home staged by 1st Stage Property Transformations. If you are preparing your home for sale please contact Janice at 951-704-0597 or email janice@1ststage.net for a free home staging estimate.

31131 Kahwea Road, Temecula CA 92591 - A Meadowview Community Home

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:12:43 -0600

Distinguished Meadowview Home!

31131 Kahwea Road, Temecula, CA 92591 View Map

3200 sf,4 bedrooms + office,3.5 ba,3 car garage on over an acre of fully landscaped grounds! Upgrades include granite kitchen counters,travertine with granite inlays & upgraded carpeting! Other features include crown moulding, window casings,upgraded baseboards, mirrored closet doors, neutral paint, granite counters in bathrooms, recessed lighting, double oven, built-in cook top, and ceiling fans. Enjoy the park like settings with fruit trees, kids play area with a swing set, gazebo, and lots of lush landscaping!

Offered by Marcel Hensley of Keller Williams Temecula (951) 719-0355

Details

Asking Price:

799,000

MLS:

H734276

Sq. Feet:

3207

Lot Size:

1.01

Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

3.5

# of Floors:

Garage Size:

Year Built:

1997

Contact Info

Janice Sutton
Home Stager

Dir 951-704-0597
Email | Website

Sing it with me "R-E-S-P-E-C-T....find out what it means to me!!"

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:33:39 -0600

I wanted to share with my AR Home Staging colleagues something that may help your days go smoother when you are out of your office but you need a desk to work at, time to organize between appointments, time to relax or time to just look at some fabulous furniture! :)

After our Stage It Forward Round Table at Brook Furniture Rental in Newport Beach, CA I received a lovely email from Teri Nelson the District Sales Manager:

I enjoyed meeting you at the Stager's Round Table. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to host your group. What a great bunch. I was struck by the great amount of business savvy that these stagers have and the many contributions they were able to make to a very productive discussion.

I was sincere when I made the offer for your group to use our showrooms as a "pit stop" whenever needed. We can always offer a comfortable chair, a place to plug in a computer, desk top work space and probably a cup of coffee too! "

Brook Furniture Rental is a wonderful company with friendly & extremely helpful customer service and excellant furniture. What more could you ask for?

I was truly touched by this email. I finally believe Home Stagers are getting a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Just a little bit......:) This is only the beginning of a lot more to come for the Staging Industry! Wooo Hoooo!

Enjoy the Show!! These girls are great!

Warning...this blog may make you smile...which will give you wrinkles!

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:30:22 -0600

I saw this on YouTube this morning and it made me smile so I wanted to share it with the rest of the AR Baby Boomer's.

Living in Southern California can be difficult. Advertisements regarding face lifts, Botox, tummy tucks, breast implants, etc.... are rampant. What ever happened to growing old gracefully? People spending tons of money trying to maintain there youth. I say enough already! Forget Anti-aging.....think Pro-aging.

OK that's my rant. Now relax....smile....and embrace your wrinkles.

Realtors.....Don't Delay....Stage Today!!!!

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:16:47 -0600

This Murrieta, California vacant property you are about to view had been on the market for approximately one year.   After many price reductions and still no luck, Sirva, a relocation company, took the advice from The Hensley Group, Inc in December 2007 to home stage this property. Six weeks after home staging by 1st Stage Property Transformation, the property received an offer and is now currently in Escrow! :)
Realtor's, What are you waiting for???   Don't Delay.....Stage Today!!!   :)

This Murrieta California Vacant Property was home staged by 1st Stage Property Transformation. Please email Janice@1stStage.net or call me at 951.704.0597 for a free home staging quote. Home Staging all of Riverside County Inland Empire.

Vacant Staging Success Story for the New Year!

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:27:49 -0600

One week before Christmas I got wonderful news that a house that I staged got an offer 3 weeks after it was listed. I just blogged about this yesterday. Going, Going, GONE! The Staged Mobile Home Sold!!!

Today I received an email from my client/realtor Dexter Padilla RiverRock Mortgage Realty  which reads:

Great news! We just went into escrow on the property a couple of days ago, so I'll keep you posted once all conditions are cleared so you can remove the furniture. Additionally, the selling agent loves the furniture and is thinking about buying it.

This property was staged October 25th and is now in Escrow!!! 2 months after being staged! I am thrilled!

The kids were still asleep...it's 11:30am....teenagers....and my husband is at an appointment. I want to just SCREAM!!!!! But instead I decided to blog on AR about this wonderful staging success.

Afters.........

Before & After's...............

Thanks you for letting me share with you and allowing the kids to continue sleeping.

This Murrieta Vacant Property was staged by 1st Stage Property Transformation. Please email Janice@1stStage.net or call me at 951.704.0597 for a free home staging quote.

To view Portfolio - Murrieta Temecula Home Stager

What's in a "Naymz"? A lot if you want better search engine placement!

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:22:06 -0600

I wanted to share with you something I saw on fellow AR member Tom Plant's blog Enough Is Enough! I'm Outing Someone And I Don't Care About The Consequences . Tom writes about an AR friend Bill Gassett that introduced him to better website search engines that can offer him better SE placements. Some for FREE!
Well, currently I am happy with my Google placement. When you search under "Murrieta Home Stager" or "Murrieta Home Staging" but some of the surrounding cities that I service don't show up as well. OK I am still on page 1 just not at the TOP. :) Call me Greedy!
One site Tom mentioned was Naymz. I checked it out and to tell you the truth I still wasn't sure if this was something that would help me. But since 1 of my New Year resolution was to market my business better I thought I would give it a try and Sign Up!!!
At the time there were only 6 Home Stager's under the "Home Stager" Community. So I invited a few fellow AR stager's hoping not to annoy any of them with "another website networking community....blah, blah, blah!" But I really thought this might help some of us get better Search Engine Placements.
One of my new AR friends, Diane Conciald, which I had met at the SIF Roundtables: Los Angeles was my first Victim....I mean Invitee! :) Long story short, I was Googling "Orange County Stager" looking for an email address and who came up FIRST..well after my Orange County - CA SIF Roundtable Invitation??? Yup, Diane's Naymz Profile DID!!!! She is now ranked 3rd and 10 on the first page of Google! Yahhhhhh! I was thrilled.
OK now the kicker....My Naymz Profile is still no where in sight! HA! That's what I get for being greedy! Trust me, I will be seeing Diane next week at our SIF Roundtable meeting to figure out what I did wrong! :)
So, if you haven't signed up for Naymz yet and your are looking for better Google placement I urge you to go now to Naymz Sign In . It really works!!!! Well not for me (yet!) but soon!
Stage it Forward & Real Estate it Forward!!
***UPDATE****My Naymz Google Ranking is now 7!!! :)

Going, Going, GONE! The Staged Mobile Home Sold!!!

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:50:27 -0600

I received a call from one of my clients a week before Christmas. He told me that he just received an offer on his Murrieta, CA property after being listed on the market for only 3 WEEKS!!!  He said "Thank you so much for helping me get the house looking it's best. That's why it SOLD so quickly!" What a wonderful Christmas present!

This was a mobile home property staged by 1st Stage Property Transformation   which I blogged about back in October Do you Stage Mobile Home's?   wondering if Mobile Homes should be staged. I received some great comments and was looking forward to the challenge.

I am soooo excited and happy for the home seller, REA. and lil ole me! :) A Win-Win-Win!

Some favorite shots... :)

We did a whole house consultation for this client, brought in a few accessories and staged the family room and spare bedroom with furniture.

I did suggest painting the panelling and removing or painting the wallpaper but the seller had a limited budget. The seller spent most of the budget on the driveway repair which I recommended and he agreed needed to be done. Let's face it...it's the first thing you see and considering this is a 55 and better community we don't need any potential buyer's falling on the way in!

Here are some Before & After's......

To see more Home Staging pictures - Murrieta Temecula Home Stager

30503 Bodega Drive, Murrieta, CA **SOLD in 6 weeks***

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:20:23 -0600

Murrieta Home with Large Lot!
30503 Bodega Drive, Murrieta, CA 92563 View Map

Huge private lot, almost 12,000sf, makes this gorgeous home a fantastic buy! Incredible floor plan boasts approx. 3,500sf, 5 bedrooms + a large loft and 3 bathrooms. Two large bedrooms and a Jack and Jill bathroom are on the first level, perfect for second master suite. Enjoy 3 fireplaces in the family room, sitting room, and master bedroom! Watch sunsets from the master bedroom balcony or sit in your private courtyard! Three french doors leading into a side courtyard. The backyard has a large patio, lots of grass to play in and tons of rose bushes surrounding the borders. This home has a great floor plan and a nice large lot! Centrally located and close to everything. Temecula school district. You won't be disappointed!
Details
Asking Price:
$439,000
MLS:
TO7069942
Sq. Feet:
3,434
Lot Size:
11,761 sf
Bedrooms:
5
Bathrooms:
3
# of Floors:
2
Property Amenities
- Range/Oven
- Sink Disposal
- Microwave
- Dishwasher
- Fireplace
- Kitchen Island
- Balcony
- Patio
- Grass Lawn
- Yard
- Fenced Yard
- Central Heat
- Walk-in closet
- Tile floor
- Family room
- Living room
- Bonus/rec room
- Dining Room
- Breakfast nook
- Stainless steel appliances

Contact Info
Janice Sutton
Home Stager

Dir 951-704-0597
Email | Website

Listing Agent - Keller Williams/The Hensley Group, Inc. Marcel (951)719-0355, Lisa Howell (951)970-0923 and Amanda Bethke (951)970-1559
This Murrieta Vacant Property was home staged by 1st Stage Property Transformation. Please email or call for a free quote or more information
UPDATE - This property closed escrow on 2/22/07

Orange County - CA SIF Roundtable Invitation

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:02:13 -0600

Date - Wednesday, January 9th 2008
Time - 11:30 am to 1:30pm
Place - Brook Furniture Rental Showroom 4121 Westerly Place, Ste 105, Newport Beach 92660
******************Lunch is being generously provided by Brook Furniture Rental******************
This meeting is FREE and OPEN to All Home Stagers regardless of affiliation or training.  We will be discussing a list of questions provided by home stagers from across the country. The SIF Roundtable will help to unify and promote Professional Home Staging. For more information on SIF Roundtable Meetings please read Craig Schiller's Blogazine.
Let's start the New Year off with a BANG by networking with fellow stagers, discussing common issues that effect us all, and brainstorming about ways to move the STAGING INDUSTRY FORWARD. :)
Please feel free to invite any Home Stagers that have not been sent an EVITE. Please RSVP as space is limited.
I look forward to meeting you all!

Identity Theft! Oh No! Don't let this happen to you!

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:33:46 -0600

Who stole the room! Is it a Living Room.....Office.......Closet????? Don't let this happen to your Occupied Home Seller!

This poor room has lost it's identity and doesn't know what it's purpose in life is anymore!!

If this room doesn't know what it is, how is a potential buyer suppose to know what it is?

A quick call to a Professional Stager can fix this problem and help this room find it's value and purpose in life!

Ahhhhhh.......a Dining Room! Who knew????

Now we can pull up a chair, sit down and relax.

Thank you Professional Home Stager! :)

Hey! Where's dinner???

This Occupied Murrieta home was staged by 1st Stage Property Transformations a Murrieta Temecula Home Staging Company.

OK so I'm late to the PARTY....my 1st Real Estate Show

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:06:07 -0600

I finally joined the PARTY! The "PARTY" is Real Estate Shows.  After reading many educational and helpful blogs by Jeff Turner and Maureen Henry I finally got my dancing shoes on (and for those of you that don't know me....I don't DANCE!) and joined the party!!  That's right after months of telling myself "just do it" I finally did it and I am so glad I did! Not being "tech savvy" I wasn't sure I could do this BUT it was so EASY!  If I can do it so can you.
So, if you haven't joined the party yet I am extending an INVITATION to you now. You won't be disappointed. It's OK if you come late to this PARTY...I did and they might need to kick me out if I stay too late. :)

Thanks for coming to my PARTY! I hope to get an invitation to your party soon!
This occupied property is located in Temecula, CA was staged by 1st Stage Property Transformation.

From Waterbed Nightmare.....to Sweet Dreams!

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 23:34:10 -0600

I recently finished home staging an occupied home in Murrieta that had a master bedroom that was challenging. Why, would the master bedroom be challenging, you ask? Well, this bedroom had a waterbed in it! Not that there is anything wrong with a waterbed....but this one was a little sad. It looked like it was sinking. Master bedrooms need to have a retreat like appeal so the challenge was now on!

   Ok here is the "Before":

YIKES is right! What on earth am I going to do with this Master Bedroom waterbed. I planned on adding artwork , lamps, decorative pillow and greenery but I knew it would not enhance the room enough to distract from the sinking waterbed. So, I asked for a few opinions from friends and stagers and some said "It is what it is." While others said I should replace it with a REAL bed.

I tossed and turned (not in bed) with the idea of replacing the bed but I didn't want to interfere with the home seller's lifestyle too much. I understand it is HARD to live in a staged home and I wanted to make the experience as easy as possible.

Then I got the AH-HA moment. And Viola...here is the after.......

Yes, this is the same waterbed BUT with an air mattress on top! Simply as that! Sometimes I find that I think too hard. :)

The homeowner's loved the idea and are more then willing to add it to the bed every morning. They understand the value of staging their home for today's market.

Visit  Murrieta Temecula Home Stager to view more Home Staging pictures

$50 Staging Consultation...PRICELESS!!

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:35:44 -0500

About one month ago I received a call from a homeowner that was getting ready to prepare their home for sale and wanted to find out more about my services. She had a limited budget and wanted to get the most for the least amount of money. Don't we all! Since this was an occupied home I suggested that all she might need is a 1 hour verbal staging consultation which cost only $50.00.
Two days later I met with the homeowner's Cindy & R.J. and their 4 home schooled boys. The home is a manufactured home located on 2/3 acre property in rural Murrieta. The owner's and I went room by room discussing what needed to be accomplished to create a large, warm and inviting home that would attract potential buyers.
One week later I received an email from Cindy -
Janice,
We are so appreciative of your time and expertise. We actually tackled every room this last weekend and boy what a difference!!! I would love to have you come by and see what we have done only because we are so impressed with the changes that you suggested. We had family over on Monday and they couldn't believe the transformation either. The clutter is gone and we found some real bargains on trees and decor.   The pantry and master closet will need a couple of "starbucks nights" after our boys are asleep and maybe a few things here and there but now our home feels much better.   If you ever need a referral or testimonial be sure to contact us as we may be your biggest fans yet. We don't know if the house will sell or not in this market but at least we can put our best foot forward within our budget.
Thanks again and if you want, give us a call so you can come take a quick look at the results.
Here are some of the results I saw upon my staging consultation follow up -
The first picture below on the left was the first room you viewed when you entered through the front door. We transformed the rooms back to their intended purpose. The living room was put back where it belonged! As was the dining room below. Basically one BIG flip flop!
Here is the master bedroom, yes I suggested to store the exercise equipment in the garage. But the garage was already full and believe it or not they use the exercise equipment! :)
And what would my post be without a bathroom transformation.......
I was so pleased with the homeowner's work I was shaking as I was taking these pictures. They completed most of the suggestions I recommended and their hard work paid off.
Bottom line....Can they do it....Yes they can!

Sometimes all it takes is a little PAINT!

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 22:40:08 -0500

Oh what a difference a little paint and accessories can make! The home seller was a little resistant at first but rewarded in the end! :)

We can suggest repainting or painting a room till we are blue(or in this case green) in the face. Next time I will be sure to share this before and after with future clients.

The paint in the after picture is a little warmer then the photo shows. My bad!

                Contact Janice at 1st Stage Property Transformations of Murrieta/Temecula, CA

Janice Sutton | Home Stager | 1st Stage Property Transformation
Dir 51-704-0597 | Email | Website

You have to Believe to Achieve!! :))

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:15:30 -0500

My daughter, Morgan who is 11 and in the 7th grade came home after school one day with a few catalogs and order forms and told me it was for a fundraiser for school.  One of the top prize's was an Apple MacBook computer  and she was going to WIN IT! She ONLY needed to sell 150 item's...either magazine's or cookie dough within 2 week's. She circled the picture of her GOAL and off she went door to door with catalogs and order forms in hand.

Normally I would never recommend a child going door to door by themselves. But since we live in a 44 home gated community and know all our neighbor's (due to my husband being the president of the HOA) I was comfortable letting her venture out door to door.  I reminded her to take her cell phone, be polite and not to enter any homes. When she returned home with a start of 9 order's and a long road ahead she decided she needed to set up her "Order online" campaign.

Let me back up a little, Morgan LOVES to solicit! I know..I know...who LOVES to solicit! It is a gift she got from her father, who enjoys hearing people say "No" and slamming the door in his face! I always kid them both that they were born coming out with a brief case in their hand instead of a finger in their mouth(maybe I should update that to laptop)!

Fast forward to the eve before the fund-raiser deadline. With lot's of order forms and check's in hand Morgan carefully counted how many order's she had received. Still shy of about 15, after Morgan herself purchased 9 magazine's, and Mom & Dad another 6 plus 4 boxes of cookie dough, she was beginning to get discouraged. I told her that I was very proud of her for setting a goal and trying her best to achieve it. Well, she didn't want to hear any of that!! She wanted the APPLE MACBOOK computer so she went calling everyone she knew and asked for their help in raising money for the school along with helping her to achieve her goal!

The next morning we were frantically gathering all the last minute order's it looked like she was 2 order's short and that Mom needed to order 2 more boxes of Snicker-doodle cookie dough! I first decided to call the headquarters' in TN to find out if anyone had ordered online from Morgan. The operator informed us that Morgan had received 21 online orders!!!! WOOOO HOOOOO!  Morgan had 169 order's!!!! She not only reached her goal but she had exceeded her goal by 19 orders!!!! Way to go Morgan. She couldn't believe it and was screaming all the way to school!!

Here are some picture's I wanted to share of the Entrepreneur! I couldn't be more proud of her! It just goes to show you that you can achieve your goals....at any age! You have to believe to achieve!!

Check out her older sister's (the one on the right) facial expression's behind Morgan. She told Morgan she would never win the Macbook! She is a firm believer now! :)



My Gift to You

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:57:24 -0500

I just finished watching The Ultimate Gift a fantastic movie and I wanted to share it with you.
If you haven't already seen this movie it is about a young man that is a "trust fund baby" that has always enjoyed life's gifts "as long as they are bankable." When his wealthy grandfather passes away, this young man gets an unusual inheritance..."twelve tasks' or "gifts" to help him grow as a man.
If you know me, I am not one to watch movies twice. This one I watched first with my husband and then with my 1 and 1/2 (ones a tween) teenager daughters. You know them...these challenging little monsters..I mean angels...that know everything and expect everything NOW. Oh, you have met them!! Well, I thought this movie would be appropriate...and I was right. We all loved it and I think (and hope) learned something from it.
So, grab some tissues, cuddle with the ones you love and enjoy this movie over the weekend. It is my gift to you. :)

Life is like a box of Home Staging....or chocolate :)

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:13:57 -0500

Which room could you imagine yourself sitting in, dining in....or BUYING? Here are some Before & After picture's of a Murrieta home recently staged by 1st Stage Property Transformation.





Buying vacant home's is like buying an empty box (of chocolate).  Let's face it, an empty box is a lot harder tosell then a box (of chocolate) with something in it.

Staging vacant properties create's a warm and inviting atmosphere and allows potential buyer's to visualize themselves living in the home. Let's give potential buyer a home (and some chocolate) they want to buy!

Contact Janice at 1st Stage Property Transformations of Murrieta Temecula for a home staging estimate.

Janice Sutton | Home Stager | 1st Stage Property Transformation
Dir 951-704-0597 | Email | Website

My Weekend Best Kept Secret

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:22:40 -0500

OK I can't be selfish any longer. I am ready to finally share. My husband Mark and I call this "Our best kept secret" because it is a wonderful night out without the crowds. It is.....here goes....Miramonte Winery  on Friday and Saturday nights. Not only do they have great wine and friendly service but the entertainment is wonderful and FREE! Yup, you read right...FREE. Great Live music. The best part is that the venue is small and very cozy. I couldn't have "staged" it any better. OK, maybe I have a few ideas! :)
There is a different band every week. Some are regular's and come back once or twice a month.
"Flamenco Fridays" is great.  Lot's of energy and dancing to get your weekend started. Oh and did I mention they also offer Sangria and Empanadas. Yummy!
"Blues Jam" nights on Saturday. A great relaxing way to enjoy fine wine in a relaxing laid back environment.
If you ever have the opportunity to visit Wine Country Temecula,CA make sure to stop by Miramonte Winery. I promise you won't be disappointed! You know where I will be this weekend! Hanging out with Mira the winery dog!