Follow up on Daughter wanting some "LOVE" left in her parent's home in Walnut Creek California - 06/29/08 10:57 PM
I staged this property on June 18th.  The Realtor needed a few days for photos and marketing materials.  She had the broker's tour of the home on June 24th.
I came home this evening to an email from the daughter who hired me.  She is thrilled to have an offer with no contingencies that will close in less than 30 days!! 
Staging works and can be successful combining new and used/modern and traditional/antiques and contemporary pieces.   Being sensitive to our clients and their needs when designing their rooms for staging makes the job all the more fun!!
Happy Packing for this family!!
   

 
Cathy Lee … (12 comments)

Happy Staging!! - 06/27/08 11:52 PM
S olutions:
     Prioritize them, not the problems and you will make your target date for MLS.
 T ime:
     Promptness and flexibility is a virtue in this industry.
A ction Plan:
     A team effort is the most successful one. 
G race and Humility:
     Treat others the way you would like to be  treated.
 I ntegrity:
     Honor your clients and their possessions at all times
 N eutralize:
     Depersonalization is the key element
 G  oal:
    Sell your home!!
   
I staged this home recently-it is pending with multiple back up offers after 3 days!!!!
The joys of … (11 comments)

Forget About Matching! - 06/27/08 10:44 PM
Blending Woods Is In!!
If you are concerned about which hardwood to choose in your room or think you have to select one so that the floors, furniture or cabinets match; think again and RELAX!! Don't be afraid to blend different but complementary hardwoods and stains.  A room with three or four warm woods is far more visually inviting that the matchy look.
A light floor will set off dark counters or furniture and vice versa.  The higher the contrast, the greater the impact.  Hardwoods can soften the starkness of electronics.
Big screen TV's are cold and flat.  Surrounding them with … (5 comments)

Daughter wanted some of the "LOVE" left in her parents' Walnut Creek California home!! - 06/24/08 02:20 PM
I meet the nicest people in this business!  One of my recent stagings involved a local family who moved their mother to assisted living after her health was failing.  Their father passed away a few years ago. 
Her daughter wanted me to leave some of the artwork her parents' had collected over the years traveling.  She also wanted me to use her parent's desks and chairs, their bedroom furniture, dining room set and their piano.  Her parents lived in this home for over 30 years and enjoyed many happy, loving years there.  Her parents were not in the home anymore, but their … (26 comments)

Lessons of the Butterfly Story - 06/13/08 12:13 AM
A dear friend shared this story with me years ago when I started my staging business because my logo is a butterfly.
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.  One day a small opening appeared.  He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.  Then it seemed to stop making any progress.  It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly.  He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining … (26 comments)

Staging Creates an Updated, Appealing Decor in Walnut Creek California! - 06/12/08 12:40 AM
Today I staged a nice, older single story home in a desirable neighborhood
of Walnut Creek.  The home was vacant (the few pieces left behind were moved out)
so we had a clean slate to work with.....so much fun!!!  The homeowners freshly
painted this home and installed new carpeting in the bedrooms.  It will be ready for
tour in a week or so. 
  
 
     
This is an old screened in patio /             After Staging
    
Empty homes are not selling!  Create warm and inviting atmospheres essential in todays market.  Contact Cathy Lee today for a complimentary quote at 925-351-6118.   … (8 comments)

A Dream Come True! - 06/10/08 10:07 PM
Have you struggled getting artwork level, straight, wires break?? "Picture Perfect" is a dream come true!
I purchased a piece of artwork recently at Home Goods for my staging today.  This piece had a small level attached to the top, center of the frame and a nice little packet taped to the back with a sticker instructing me to www.pp-mfg.com.
 
Picture Perfect , LLC is the easiest system I have used since I've been staging.  Watch the video on their site.  I hung this piece in a few seconds and it is wireless!!!!             
 
Here is the room I bought the art piece … (7 comments)

Staging Reconnects Friends in Alamo California! - 06/05/08 09:31 AM
I received a call to quote a new construction project.  When I asked the homeowners name, I said "put her on the line!!"   We had not seen each other for nine years!
Busy lives, moves, career changes, grandchildren-very poor excuses for not staying in touch-but we are grateful staging brought us back together again and we vowed to not loose touch again!!  Friendships are forever!!  (Thank you for your great "Forever" blog Gary Woltal)
This gorgeous new home is for sale on the west side in the lovely town of Alamo. 
It has a detached guest house with a full kitchen … (7 comments)