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Just over two years ago, we were forced to move our mother to an assisted living community near my sister. She didn't want to go, but it was time. At 93 and still living alone, she needed medical attention more and more often, and the burden and responsibility it placed on friends and relatives had grown too great. My siblings and I explored every option to keep her in her own home as long as possible, but the possibilities had been exhausted, and so had my sister. Because she lived the closest-still a seven hour drive-she had to make the long trip more frequently than my brother and I could, and it was beginning to take its toll.
I made a trip to visit my sister in order to help research our options for Mother. We looked at several places, and were very fortunate to find a facility that was about a mile from my sister's home. It was neat and clean, the staff seemed caring, they were flexible with our time plan for the move, and they assured us that as our mother was still capable of living with their assistance rather than needing the more advanced care of a nursing home. After lots of teary-eyed discussion, we decided to put down a deposit and choose a room. We began to introduce our mother to the idea of moving from the small town she had lived in most of her life to a different state where she would be near one of her children. Always practical, she accepted the idea and a few months later my sister and I met once again to prepare the new space and bring Mother to her new home.
We mentally made a list of what we thought would be practical to move from her home in the two vehicles we had available and a separate note of purchases we would need to make. Then we began working to put the space together with her in mind. Here are some things we learned:
- In these situations, the siblings need to work together and depend on each other! She hadn't accepted the idea of the move nearly as well as we believed! When we arrived to move her, she questioned why she had to move so strongly that if there had been only one of us there, we might have given-in. Together, we were able to do what we KNEW was best for everyone, especially our mother.
- Include the parent in the decision making process as much as possible. We made sure to ask her what she would like to bring with her to her new home and honored those wishes. In fact, she was able to bring more things than she first thought she would be able to (including all her really personal, meaningful things).
- Have the parent help with the actual packing if they are able. Our mother couldn't do too much in this area, but she did watch and offer suggestions.
- Describe the new space in great detail and emphasize all the positives of the move. In our case, the location was easy access to the dining area, her daughter lived minutes away, and she would have the opportunity to spend time with grand and great-grand children. Rather than just a room, we described her space as an efficiency apartment (which we did our best to make it).
- Mix plenty of their personal items with new things to make the space as familiar as possible. We brought family portraits, a bookcase, art, an heirloom clock and personal mementos. Because our transport space was limited, we purchased and had delivered actual furniture.
- Make the space bright and cheerful. Having said that, you have to be practical when it comes to fabric on chairs, sofas, etc. At this time of life there are likely to be accidents, so choose fabrics that clean up easily and don't show stains.
- Be careful to have clear pathways and easy access to anything the resident will need. Phones, tissues, trash, remote controls-all need to be within easy reach.
- Plan to spend a night or two in their new space with them. Mother was disoriented at first and the simplest things were overwhelming. Help them adjust slowly and with the comfort of someone that they love and trust.
- Call, write, and visit often. We found that while our attention meant a lot, Mother very much enjoyed getting mail from her hometown. Encourage others to send cards and letters.
- Give yourself a break!! When you know that you have done the right thing to the best of your ability, don't beat yourself up over the choices you have to make. Remember that you made the decisions out of love, just like your parent once did for you.
Mom died a year ago, December 21, 2008, on the winter solstice. She was 94 and lived in her new space about a year. I know she likes her final home even better. . . .
Here is a clip of the space we created: RealEstateShows.com/449613
Written by Kim Dillon, Creative Eye Home Staging. Creative Eye Home Staging serves parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. Services include all aspects of pre-listing preparation, or "Staging" for home owners marketing their home and "Staging To Live" for owners wanting to stay in and enjoy their home!
With the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season, it can be easy to forget that not everyone finds this time of year so cheerful. In fact, many find it down-right depressing. Even people who normally love the Holidays may find it difficult from time to time. There could be illness in the family, the first time without loved ones to help celebrate, a myriad of reasons.
If you know someone who is having trouble dealing with the Season, make a special effort to take extra time for them this year. It might be the best gift you give!
If you find yourself not enjoying the Holiday as much as you usually do, give yourself permission to cut back on decorations and some of the things you "always" do. You might even find you can start new traditions. Here are some examples:
1. If putting up a tree seems over-whelming, use gifts as decorations. Beautifully wrap your gifts as soon as you buy them and use them as decorations around the house. They will add a festive touch, remind you of loved ones, and you can enjoy their beauty during the Holidays.
2. Try decorating one room of the house instead of the entire space.
3. Invite friends over for a simple tea and laugh at your lack of enthusiasm. I've been part of baking "obscene gingerbread men" with friends and it was a riot. Laughter is the best medicine!
4. Remember what it's really all about. Volunteer a few hours of your time. It helps put things in perspective and feels great! Pictured are members of Central College's cross country team volunteering for the Salvation Army.
5. Attend a Children's Concert. Their enthusiasm is contagious! Below is the Cheyenne All-City Children's Chorus.
Wishing you Happy Holidays however you choose to celebrate the Season!
Written by Kim Dillon, ASP of Creative Eye Home Staging. Creative Eye Home Staging helps home dwellers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware enjoy their personal spaces or market their homes.
Deena Cottingham did an excellent job of explaining the differences between home stagers and interior decorators. I especially love her last paragraph. . . . Via Deena Cottingham, Home Stager & Photographer (GreenApple Staging & Images, Calgary Staging & Photography): Okay, let's be honest . . . Is home staging just an "easy" portal to an interior decorating career? Afterall, it's all about re-decorating a house in a more contemporary style . . . right?
No, not at all. Home staging is more accurately thought of as a subset of the real estate industry. While the tools of the trade may look similar to those of a decorator, Stagers have a far different goal in mind.
 A Professional Home Stager's priority is to bring greater market appeal to a property. Often this does involve advising clients to upgrade various decor elements that are otherwise out-dated. As a stager, yes I would recommend that you lose the tiny floral wallpaper in the half-bath, or the brass lighting fixtures in the kitchen. I'd probably pick on your Barcalounger, too.
But the reason I would suggest this is not because those things are no longer in fashion. I would make these recommendations because buyers respond better to properties that have been well-maintained. And believe it or not, having an updated decor helps communicate that essential message. If you've taken the time to replace a light fixture or two in the last 20 years, chances are good that you might have tightened a few toilet bolts a long the way, as well.
When staging a home, recommended furniture placement may also be very different from how you might live in a particular room. A good home stager will take into account how easy it is for at least 3 people to navigate through the property when viewing it. Usually this means that I will ask the home owner to remove all those little, extraneous pieces of furniture that come in handy when entertaining or watching the game. Yes, awkward furniture placements make for awkward showings! If the buyer doesn't actually enter all the rooms, they won't be buying your house.
And about that furniture, a Stager wouldn't simply choose a sofa based on color and comfort. We would choose a sofa that fit the room, first and foremost, and then the price point and style of the home. Luxury homes need luxury furnishings to underscore the value packed into the price tag. Small spaces require furnishings that are light in color, don't take up a lot of visual space, and are functionally cheerful.
As a Stager, I really don't care about how comfy that sofa is for TV viewing! It's all about allowing the home's architectural features to be the focal point (is that a window behind the big screen TV?). Furniture in a Stager's mind is simply a means to reinforcing a lifestyle message for the buyer, and showcasing the space that it resides in.
For selling a home, accessorizing is all about de-personalizing--not choosing the things that you love. The treasures you have collected on your last trip to Asia, or over a lifetime with sentimental value, are the first things to go from a home. When buyers get the feeling that they are invading someone else's space, they are out of there like a turkey before Thanksgiving. Probably not what you want when trying to sell your home.
Artwork, knick-knacks and even reading material need to be "safe and neutral" in their content. While a decorator would showcase these items, a Stager will tactfully suggest that you put Uncle Henry's self-portrait in storage, for the time being.
Bottom line? Decorators should listen. Stagers need to advise. Pretty and trendy may be your goal for decorating your home, but the Stager is ruthlessly objective in achieving "neutral". It is possible to make your home beautiful, and unsellable all at the same time! Choose the right professional for the job!
An Entrance Ready for The Holidays: Less Than $10.00!!
If you have shopped for decorated live wreaths, you know that florists and greenhouses can demand exorbitant prices.
This weekend, Creative Eye Home Staging did Holiday Decorations for a project with a limited budget (aren't they all?!!). I wanted to share with you one of the many decorations we managed to create on a shoestring!
This fresh wreath was purchased at a produce store for $4.50. 
Creative Eye then salvaged old ribbon from a previous project, gathered winterberry, cedar, blue spruce and some interesting branches from nature and with a little time and creativity put together this wreath. Below is Diane Ogorek with Creative Eye Home Staging working her magic!
The finished product--two doors ready for the Holidays for $9.00!
(By the way, 20' of roping was $7.99 at the grocery store and was embellished much the same way. The light source wasn't functional yet, but when this is lit, it is very festive!)
Don't forget Home Stagers as a source to help with your Holiday Decorations! They thrive on stretching your decorating dollars!
This is a wonderfully written article on a sensitive subject. Enjoy!
Kim Via Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor): There you are: Pitching yourself as only you can...
and the potential clients are hitting you with a volley of questions. You are not just holding your own - you are darned near poetry in motion!
The answers to every question rolls off your tongue with complete confidence. You are feeling the love - you know you will get this listing, you can practically taste their eagerness to work with you and you alone.
And then it comes. That one question that has been popping up with far to much frequency lately. The one that gives you a queasy feeling because you know your answer on this one thing seems to consistently fall short.
"So, do you think we should stage our house?"
What do you say to that?
First of all, it's a trick question, without a doubt. Say NO, and you are in direct opposition to 95% of the real estate, staging and decorating programming on HGTV, the DIY Network, The Learning Channel, The Style Network, and The Discovery Channel that your clients are absolutely watching, whether they admit it or not.
 Dismiss the notion of bringing in a stager at your own risk, because the message they are likely to internalize is that you don't care about getting the most money possible for their property. And if you think this answer will stop them from pursuing a stager outside of your recommendation, you couldn't be more wrong. They will Google stagers, they will see before and after pics in their town, and they will call them to inquire about pricing, and most of all, they will say "The agent we are thinking about working with doesn't know I am calling...." The stager will ask who the agent is, and when it is all said and done, the stager may very well drop the name of an agent who is more proactive regarding equity.
Saying YES is also fraught with peril. YES means they have issues that are clearly apparent to you. It means they have been weighed, measured, and found wanting. This message NOT what you want to be delivering, that you are not liking what you see, which is tantamount to saying there is something wrong with their lifestyle, taste, and them as people. This is a deal-kill without a doubt. You could very well be percieved as looking down upon them.
So what the heck are you supposed to do?
- You could ignore the question entirely, and change the subject.
- You could say that the house is beautiful as is. You could say you yourself are not only a Real Estate Agent but that you also stage your listings yourself, and start spewing out advice on the spot.
- You could hand them a flyer talking about de-cluttering and pre-packing, and call that your "Staging Checklist."
- You could give them a DVD with some generalized staging tips and decide that is more than enough to keep them from noticing you don't actually offer any services in this area.
- You could even say that staging is not a factor in your locale (which might be true if your listings are in Antarctica).
But none of these answers correspond with what they are hearing, seeing, and internalizing from the available media they are devouring as sellers. They will doubt your commitment to market their listing aggressively and effectively, and doubt your ability to sell their house quickly time and do everythingit takes to prevent the unnecessary loss of their hard earned equity.
So what is the best way to handle this that will make you seem non-judgmental about their home, and therefore, them as people, and meet their media-induced expectations diplomatically and head on?
All you simply have to say is:
"We will send our professional stager to meet with you."
That's it. If they ask about draperies, furniture arrangement, carpet condition, etc., you just state that the stager who will be sent will answer all their questions about any improvements or changes that may be necessary.
You talk business, you sell yourself, you land the listing. All questions on condition or presentation get deferred to "your" professional stager.
It doesn't get any easier. Professional, experienced stagers are highly skilled at being diplomatic, garnering cooperation, and getting things done on a tight budget. Their cost for consultation varies, and can be negotiable when an entire real estate office is concerned.
It isn't about getting in there and charging a small fortune for "all new everything." It's about creating as an inviting space that possible under the circumstances, and stagers know circumstances vary. One 2-hour consultation is usually extremely reasonable in price and bears a bountiful harvest of changes that are all carefully justified and explained, and make a tremendous difference in the way the listing will show, both in marketing materials and when viewed in person. Your listing will shine brighter when you enlist the assistance of a professional stager.
Can't find any stagers in your area? You are probably not looking very hard. Google stagers in the nearest large city and see if they will service your area for consults.
Had or heard about bad experiences with stagers? Betcha dollars to donuts they were not experienced professionals. The staging industry has standards and ethics, and a quick visit to the Real Estate Staging Association's website will explain those standards and ethics and how they are enforced with members, and can help you find somene qualified, capable, and charismatic.
So call an experienced stager, secure a lunch date, and get to know one another. You might be surprised what you don't know about these amazing resourceful business people who take their commitments seriously, want your repeat business, know their stuff, and know exactly how to motivate your sellers to make the right moves to make your job much, much easier.
~Michelle Molinari
Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Staging,
CSP Elite Instructor, Certified Staging Professionals
Lead Virtual Designer, CurbAppealForDummies.com
President of Acadiana Chapter of the Real Estate Staging Association
 
What's Being Whispered Behind Your Back?
WORK: Who Needs It?!!
When prospective buyers view a property for sale, the two things that they don't want to be reminded of are WORK and POTENTIAL PROBLEMS!!!
Remember to be careful of the subconscious messages you are sending to buyers while they are viewing your listing. I have observed all of the following in recent listings. They are sending messages you don't want the buyer to hear!
These are attractive floor fans, BUT what the buyers hear whispered in their ear: "Hmmm. . . the air conditioning system isn't doing its job."
Floor heaters send a similar message: "It must be cold in the winter. I'll need additional heaters and the utility bills are going to be high!"
Humidifiers: "Well, I guess they haven't installed one on the heating and air conditioning system. No telling how much that will cost!"
Doors that stick: "Oh, no! I just went through that in the house I'm in now."
Toilet plungers: "Plumbing problems? I'm definitely NOT dealing with that!"
 
Speaking a bit softer, but still whispering are full trash cans, and toilet brushes. All remind the prospect of work to be done.
When you are marketing your property, be sure it speaks positively about you. Create a crisp, clean, serene and welcoming environment. A Home Staging Professional can help you see things you may have missed. Take advantage of their suggestions and ideas.
Written by: Kim Dillon, Creative Eye Home Staging. We serve parts of Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.
Truly, you don't want to miss this one! This has been totally redone and even has Stainless appliances. A feature you won't find in this price range!
The location can't be beat. Located off of RT 202 near RT 1 you can actually walk to shopping! Easy access to main roads when you need to go further.
View the link below for a glimpse of the inside and click on the detail for a more thorough description.
http://www.realestateshows.com/show.php?mls=basic&id=451194
A very well written article that shows the value of Home Staging. Via Donna Ross - Home Staging, Sydney, Australia (Great Impressions Real Estate Staging & Consulting - Sydney): Home staging (or ‘property styling' as it's sometimes called, depending on where you live in the world), is the process of getting a ‘for sale' property to sparkle and really stand out for potential buyers. Despite the concept of professionally ‘staging to sell' being developed in the 70's, it's still a relatively new concept to the real estate scene in many areas.
So what can you learn from a professional home stager, like me? Well, it's more than about baking cookies and playing soft music during inspections. Today, thanks to the internet, home buyers are much savvier, and what once spoke volumes to house hunters is now tired and obvious. Think of house hunters as customers in a store. And as they say in sales - "the customer is king".
In this 2 part series I'll fill you in on 20 lessons an expert home stager can teach you about attracting more potential buyers customers to your property store.
- Give you the secret to the kind of kerb appeal that gets buyers in the door, not just driving past it.
- The best home stagers don't just understand where to place your sofa; they have an excellent understanding of house hunters and their buying expectations. For example, I help my clients narrow their property's target market down from 7 different types of home buyers. Then we get to work on meeting the expecactions of those types of buyers.
- A stager will point out your home's most saleable features (chances are, you have more than you realise), and show you what to do to bring them out for your buyers to see.
- Is your property's architectural style classic or contemporary? Be careful. There's a fine line between a true classic style, and a look that is simply outdated. A home stager can help you find out what your home's style is and then show you how to make it a real selling feature with 'low' cost, or perhaps even ‘no cost' fixes.
- Show you how to place your existing furniture to make each room look and feel larger, as well as being a very useable space.
- Stagers can pull your existing furniture together to make for a harmonious sellable look.
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How to take those smaller decorator items and use them to focus a buyer's attention on a feature of your house.
- Home stagers understand that any established home suffers wear and tear, but some of it can't be passed over when you're selling. You'll learn which repairs and updates give you the biggest bang for your buck.
 Would you believe it is possible to use some of the kid's gear to help you sell your house? I kid not! ("pun intended - hope you don't mind"). A home stager will know just what to do.- A professional stager or re-designer often has plenty of contacts. Just ask, and they can probably point you in the direction of a sharp real estate agent, plumber, electrician, gardener, painter, storage facility, moving company, homewares store.
- Most stagers are happy to make suggestions on which marketing photos show your property in the best possible light for buyers (it's a crucial part of your marketing plan). Having 1st class property marketing photos is a bit of a personal obsession for me, and I think most stagers tend to feel the same way.
- Some wall colours work very well when you're selling, others can scare your buyers off. And no - it doesn't all have to be beige, beige, beige. A professional home stager will help you understand what will work for your place to give it more of a wow factor.
This is a start. I've still got more up my sleeve as I'm sure my home stager friends have. Would you be willing to share some home staging lessons of your own? Donna Ross
Great Impressions Real Estate Staging
"I love helping Sydney home owners and real estate agents catch the eye of choosy buyers with their 'for sale' listings, with fast, simple and inexpensive decorating fixes."
The locals all know about it, but if you are new to the area or live a short distance away, you may not be familiar with Twelves Grill & Cafe.
Located at 10 Exchange Place, West Grove, PA, Twelves calls the Old Sovereign Bank home. The building (which at one time in West Grove's history actually housed the town jail) was completely gutted and renovated in 2008 to the specifications of the Smith family.
Tim and Kristen Smith are the owners. They named the restaurant "Twelves" because that number is of particular significance to them. Their first date was on November 12; Tim's birthday is January 12; Kristen's birthday is February 12; and they were married on November 12!
Chef Tim does a tremendous job with the food, often using local produce. The atmosphere is friendly and cozy with an upscale feel. The menu is priced fairly, and it is a BYOB that makes it even more affordable.
For more information, visit their website at http://twelvesgrill.com/index.html
Don't keep it a secret! Visit Twelves Grill & Cafe in West Grove, PA for a great dining experience.
Submitted by: Kim Dillon, Creative Eye Home Staging, serving Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware
K.I.S.S.: K-eep I-t S-imple S-tupid. I'm not suggesting that home sellers are stupid, buy I am advocating that they keep things simple when marketing their property.
Here's what I mean:
•· De-clutter (I always call it simplify, because that is really what it is)--simplify your surroundings by displaying what you use on a regular basis
•· Pare furniture down to pieces that are functional and keep pathways clear. Remember that a crowded room makes the space appear small.
•· Remove wall accessories except where they balance a space or where they are placed to draw the eye to a focal point (over a fireplace mantle for example).
•· Accessorize tables with the rule of odds: use 1, 3 or 5 large items instead of many smaller ones.
•· Eliminate most area rugs (unless your floors are in really poor condition). Your space will seem larger and you can show off lovely hardwood or other desirable floor treatments.
•· If you have children, keep out only a few toys at a time and rotate them. (You will find they are played with them more this way!)
•· Think clean and crisp! It is hard to have a clean and crisp appearance with too much stuff around. Pay particular attention to the way beds are made.
With less on display, cleaning will go faster and it will be easier to get ready for those unexpected home showings.
Keep it simple, and you will be kissing your property good-bye before you know it!
Want more tips to get your property ready to market? Contact a Home Staging Professional in your area!
Submitted by: Kim Dillon, ASP, Creative Eye Home Staging. We serve parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware.
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Kim Dillon
West Chester,
PA
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Creative Eye Home Staging
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