It is great when you find that "niche in the market" and people compliment you and say "finally, what a wonderful idea".

Although the title says "Seniors in Transition", the service is open to everyone who has had the undaunting task of facing THE MOVE. Friends or family are not always readily available, or, they might just take the phone off the hook!! Because let's face it, it can be a horrendous task, especially when you have been a collector or frequest visitor to the neighbourhood garage sales and flea markets over the years.

Moving is hard enough. parting with cherished items and leaving a home with treasured memories can make this an emotional time. We are sensitive to your needs. We help you prepare for your move in a timely manner with compassion and expert care.

First Stage Transformations has run a very successful Home Staging and Redesign business for the past 3 years from Ladysmith to Parksville with many satisfied customers. We saw the need over the years for this new service and especially with an aging generation in our area. 

 

Our process includes:

- Assist with furniture selection for the new home

- Arrange appraisals/purchase of valuables/antiques

- Remove all unwanted items

- Pack items to move or store

- Referrals: handymen, painters, cleaners, movers

- Prepare the home for most profitable sale

- Include a personal memory album or DVD gift

- Place furniture and art in new home

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

- Certified Care Aid

- Certified Home Stager/Redesign

- Languages: English, Dutch, French, German

- Great sense of humour

 

EXPERIENCE:

- Professional Staging, Redesign and Downsizing

- Serving Vancouver Island from Ladysmith to Parksville

- 20+ years working with Seniors

- Well versed in the selling and moving process

 

WHETHER MOVING OR STAYING, REDESIGNING OR DOWNSIZING - WE MAKE IT STRESSFREE AND SIMPLE

 

CALL TODAY: 250-619-6082 - Ilona Beedie

 

 

 

Being the "new kids on the block" we would greatly appreciate some advice from other stagers out there. Today, we set up an 1750 empty home and dressed 4 rooms, kitchen and 2 bathrooms. Great result, happy customers.

Our question: what is the correct way of charging, by the size of the home, by the room, etc. We put about 14 hours into the place, including the sourcing, prep work and set up.

Please send us your suggestions, comments, advice, whatever it is you can tell us to help us in the future. We find this part of the job the hardest. Thanks!! 

 

 

 

Shirley Huth and I have now officially joined forces, operating under 1st Stage Transformations. We work great together as stagers and redesigners.

I consider us a bit like "the staging rivalries", we each have our own opinions and taste.  That is a great advantage because we can cover so many different tastes and interests. And, in the end, we always meet in the middle and our clients are more than delighted with the results. Great value too, a twofor!

Our website is www.nanaimohomestaging.com. It is almost ready,  you can take a look and see what we have so far. 

1st Stage Transformations.....Making your dreams come true!!

 

Yesterday, Shirley and I drove down to Victoria together with her husband Gary. We went in Gary's truck loaded with boxes and containers. A week before I had had one of those desparation calls that kids are so good in. "Mom, I am moving to Vancouver and I need your help to come and stage my apartment before I list it, pleaaaaaaaaaaaase?".

So, Kalina had a week to work on her "to do list". You know, do as much cleaning as you can, put as much away as possible, in other words, MAKE OUR LIFE AS EASY AS YOU CAN WHEN WE COME DOWN. Of course....as you can imagine, despite her assurances that "yes, I have cleaned, the place looks really good actually", when we got down there, it was a different story.

You know when you get that "oh my gawd feeling" when you walk into a place that looks like a total disaster area? And this is after the big cleaning party! Well, long story short, we worked out a plan that paid off. After looking in the phone book for the nearest dump to bring the old couches, broken armchairs, three legged coffee table, etc., we managed to make a deal with the thrift store accross the road. Kalina did have a very nice piece of furniture that the fellow took in trade for getting rid of all the other junk and we were all happy campers.

 And, after the two Homestagers were finished with her place it looked awesome! Ready for the market and hopefully, it will sell soon. It will be listed this weekend!

 

 

Someone mentioned today that it might not be a good idea to advertise a home that has been staged, as such. In other words, once the home is on the market, let it do it's thing.  Don't go telling the neighbourhood that it is staged.

Why? Because the feeling is that advertising a staged home could be an invitation to maybe " scooping out the home because there could be valuable things inside" or, "the house might be overpriced compared to the other houses on the block because it is staged".

 I thought it was a different and interesting thought process. Any comments?

 

Well, I just had to respond to Morgan Carey's blog about how we met, how long we have known each other, how our paths have crossed and how, once again, we have met. This time through AR and I must say, I am just delighted that we have made this connections once again.

As Morgan mentioned, I am now a Home Stager in Nanaimo. In fact, when you go to the Nanaimo area, you will  see another Home Stager, Shirley Huth. Shirley and I are great friends and we also work together. We ALWAYS work together, so....... it only made sense to amalgamate companies and become one!

So, from now on, when you decide to get a Home Stager in Nanaimo and you phone me, or Shirley, you will get a TWOFOR. And the other totally exciting thing is that Morgan is going to be designing our website. And, because he is THE MAN we know that it is going to be totally AWESOME!

I know that Morgan has already told "our story" on his blog. But it really blew me away when he asked about Bill  (my husband) whom he probably hasn't seen since he was 15 and working in the gas station. He said "does he still smoke Rothman Kingsize??" And, unfortunately he still does, but the point is, he still remembered after all those years!

Anyway, I am really excited about having reconnected with Morgan. He is just amazing, you should see his office and his wonderful staff, it was a pleasure to be shown around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home Staging and Real Estate go hand in hand. Let me help you let your home "stand out from the crowd". You will be more relaxed and less stressed. You home will sell faster and for more money. Money spent on staging is like "money in the bank". Give me a call and let me show you how effective and inexpensive a home staging can be!