Dee's Blog

Need a Stager for a friend in Vail, Colorado

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:49:54 -0500

STAGER NEEDED IN VAIL< CORORADO!!!!

I need to find a stager for a friend who has a home in Vail, Colorado but is living here in Tucson. House is currently listed and needs to get it sold. He is interested in talking to someone ASAP!

Please contact me if you are in that area or know of someone in that area. Thank you.

See your world in a new light

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:22:51 -0600

Hello fellow AR members.... FYI, I have recently signed on as a Design Consultant

with 3Day Blinds.

Growing my business means providing homeowners and professionals, like you, with beautiful, high quality window treatments. So, I am asking for your help. Do you need window coverings at your home? Do you know others who need window coverings? You have my heartfelt appreciation for any referrals you can pass along!

For over 30 years, 3 Day Blinds custom window treatments have made life brighter for our customers. If you're moving, growing a business or upgrading an empty nest , call me for a FREE design consultation. See how easy it is to discover the perfect window treatment for your taste and lifestyle.

If you have questions about which window coverings are best for your home or office, I can send you our beautiful FREE 3 Day Blinds Style Guide and offer a FREE no obligation design consultation in the privacy of your home or office. I will bring with me our showroom of options right to your home or office and you can see samples in the light from your own windows.

I will gladly manage your project from start to finsih including quaranteed accurate measurements, custom window treatments and professional installation.

I care about people and want to always give the very best in service and quality. So, remember to call or refer family , friends and assoicates. I will take good care of them and as always I offer a 20% discount to all my referrals. You'll love the treatment!

Warmly,

Dee Vaughn

Design Consultant, Interior Designer

520-720-8694 dvaughn@3day.com

Group Consultations for Realtors and their clients. What's your thoughts?

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:09:49 -0500

I was given this idea to market my staging business which for the last year has been pretty much non exsistant due to lack of Realtors wanting to provide their clients with Staging.

So the idea goes like this: Contact a title company to see if they would like to partner with me in offering to local Realtors and their clients and Staging Consultation at the low cost of $50 per cleint in a group setting. The presentation or consultation would take place at the title agency, refeshments would be provided and the Realtors could bring one client with them along with photos of their home.

There would be limited seating to provide adequate time for all parties involved.

I would then present a brief presentation about staging and show before/after shots and then open it up to questions and provide suggestions according to what I see in their photos. Now, I am all about going all out with suggestions. The homeowner can decide what fits their budget.

This allows for low cost staging advice, educating the agents and sellers on the value of staging and most importantly open the door to more staging with those clients and their agents.

What do you think of this idea and do you have any suggestions to make it better?

Part2 of Fellow Stager in Salem helps Stager in Arizona

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:35:39 -0500

Well everyone it is done. The staging of my brother-in-laws home in Indpendence, Or. was completed last week and placed on MLS on Monday this week. It looks great and knowone can come close to how good it looks on the internet now...Wow!

I put together a real estate show for you all to enjoy. Take a look and give praises to Margaret of Creative Concepts in Salem, Or. Her work on this project was both professional and heartfelt. Our thanks and many blessings go out to her and her husband for all their hardwork and dedication to their profession

If you know of anyone who needs a great home in this area please, pass the information on about this beautiful home.

Fellow Stager in Salem helps Stager in Arizona

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 11:39:24 -0500

Margaret Oscilia of Creative Concepts in Salem, Oregon has taken on a very personal staging job for me and my family. She will be staging my brother-in-laws home in Independence, Oregon on Monday.

My older sister went home to be with the Lord unexpectedly in January this year. Her husband needs/wants to sell the home to be closer to his family. His son is currently living with his grandparents about 4hrs away.

He listed the home about six months ago but has had very little to no traffic during this time and was feeling quite helpless and hopeless.

I knew I had to do somthing to help. I also knew, I could not fly up to do the staging for him, I knew he was not in the right state of mind to do the staging by phone or email. I knew he needed help locally and I knew I could find someone who would take good care of him. It is in our nature as stagers to help those who are in need.

I originally went online to Home Staging Resource, where I took my staging certification. I found a few stagers in the Portland area and contacted one of them, but they where unable to go out that far so they referred me to Margaret. I immediately recognized her name from AR, checked out her website, emailed her with some information.

Margaret said, "YES".

I then needed to talk with my brother-in-law to see if he would be on board. We talked and he was very interested. He said, " I have to do something, what I am doing is not working." He had only 3 people in six months see his home.....

I then handed him over to Margaret and she did her homework and found that the homes in his area and price range were selling! He is now listed with a New Agent, Margaret will be staging on Monday and professional photos will be taken on Tuesday.

Thanks to Margaret and the new agent, his hope is restored and he does not feel hopeless anymore. He feels like he has team on board who truly cares and wants to see him reunited with his son and soon.

Margaret and I will keep you posted. God bless.

Chocolate makes everything better

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:46:58 -0500

Working with a decorating client, helps them sell their home. Who would have known....

I worked with a client to decorate her home and after a year of them working on the home they had to sell.

She called in a Realtor to look at the property and he said the place looked great! She was a little worried because we did add punches of bold colors throughout the home, but he said they are very current colors and the target market for this area is young couples.

That Realtor did not take the listing, because this couple needed to sell in less than 45days and he said it would be a waste of his time and money. He said it would never sell that fast!

Next, Realtor came on board and he too loved the house. It was well kept and he thought he wanted the challenge to sell it.

Sell he did! The first people he brought over loved it and put in an offer for the asking price.

Have integrity and tell your clients the thruth....

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:50:08 -0500

This post is inspired by Virginia Tatseos New Group about bad MLS photos.

I was just at a clients home the other day or maybe I should say a hopeful future client. The client wanted to know what I thought would help get people looking at his home and get it sold. I told him exactly what I thought. Yes, it was going to take some money , but very,very,very little in comparison to a price reduction!!! I wanted to tell him what I thought about the listing price also but that is not my area of expertise. I will leave that to the Realtor.

My point is, I had integrity by telling the truth. I may not get the job because of it. Oh well, but I know if those things are done it will sell alot faster and hope-full at the listing price.

I have heard from Realtors, that they are afraid to tell clients what they need to hear, because they could lose them to someone else. Is that how you want to do business? Taking a listing that is not ready to be listed, just in the hope of a miracle buyer....

So, tell your client you need to take photos of their home and give them a check list of what to do to make those photos the best. We all know the internet statistics don't we? No, dishes in the sink or on the counter, and put down the toilet seat, PLEASE! and the list goes on. And most important, inform your clients all clients up front about the wonderful stager or stagers in your community.

I know times are tough. I know very well, but be honest and let what happens happen...

Questions about investing in Inventory for your staging business

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:10:41 -0500

I have been working on building a staging service with my business and I am woondering if maybe I would get more work if the agents new I could do more with my own inventory. My question or questions are:

1. What do you buy? Do you start purchaseing for one style or price point and cover the major areas of the home?

2. How much is a good investment, without having so much furniture inventory it just sits there? Furniture for one home or more?

3. How much does it cost for insurance on these items or iinventory as a whole?

4. Is it more cost effective than renting?

5. How much storage do I need to hold 2 homes worth and all those accessories?

6. Where do you store your inventory? I live on over 2 acres so I have the capasity to put a store room here.

7. Is your storage climate cnntroled?

8. How do you transport your inventory?

WOW! Just writing out those questions makes me think that renting is a really good idea. The cost for all the above sounds crazy to me. Okay, stagers let me have it.....

Part 2 of the house that needs landscaping and Realtor did staging ...

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:09:30 -0500

Okay, I met with the builder this afternoon. It went real well. Beautiful home, but I can see pass all the things most buyers will not.

Landscaping needs work

Floors are not finished

Base boards not done

No ceiling fixtures

Otherwise the architecture and details of this home are top notch! Dark wood beams, fabulous windows with views of green pastures and mountains, quality cabinetry and lots of storage and closets!!!!!

So, I recommended doing the landscaping and finishing the floors. The concret is in excellent shape so I said to stain it, seal it and put the base boards in. Then rent the furniture for 1 month. Take great photos all around, place the NEW photos on MLS and hope for the best. Then month to month he can decide if he wants to keep the furniture, but at least the internet photos would draw them in.

I spoke with him about his carrying cost vs. the cost of staging for a few months to get it sold. The statistics support staging 100%.

I will keep you all posted as to what he decides.

Oh by the way, the Realtors staging was okay, but with the house the way it is right now I don't see doing much to change it....

Question about furniture rental. To the staging divas who have your own inventory....

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:25:38 -0500

What would you charge for this as a monthly rental fee?

Sofa, 2 chairs, coffeetable, 2 end tables, 2 lamps, 2 8x10 area rugs, 52" round dining table, 4 chairs, queen size bed with headboard and footboard, 2 nightstands, 2 lamps, comfortable chair with side table and floor lamp

The home is New Construction, Southwestern/spanish style architecture. Budget is very minimal...

Why am I asking? I will have to rent furniture and rent it quickly. The only place available is Arron Rents and from looking on line I can do it for about $500 a month.

Here is the home I was taking about. As suspected no new photos of staging done by the Realtor...

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:14:25 -0500

Hello Fellow Stagers,

Here is a custom built home listed at $640 and has been on the market for one year. It has recently changed hands from one agent to another due to a retirement.

The Realtor Open House was yesterday and I was told by the builder that the agent was going to do some staging in the kitchen and baths.

Well, my curiousity took me to her site and No new photos were taken... Tell me what these pictures do for you? My question is. Where is the major living areas? Master suite, and Living Room. Don't buyers want to see that?

There are a few more photos but it gives you an idea. You all know what it missing, don't you? There are to many close shots, you cannot see what the rooms reaqlly look like. I am hoping to get this staging job and breath life into these photos so buyers will desire to bring in an offer and build a life there...

Does this house need staging or landscaping first. What would you do?

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:50:47 -0500

This home is listed at $640K a Beautiful custom build home.

My question is. Do you think this home needs some landscaping done before staging is done inside?

If I was looking to buy this $640K home that is custom built with upgrades and beautiful windows, high ceilings. I would want it to look good when you drive up. It is out in the country about 15mile out of a small town. So, is remote and on top of a hill with desert all around. I don't think it needs much, but it does need structure, with a driveway, focal point, texture from trees and plants and color from flowers and pottery.

The reason I am asking is that I want to approach this builder and I want to be prepared. I obviously think it needs both landscaping and staging, but what if the both can not be done? My personal thought is make curb appeal first....

Okay, what's your thoughts?

"She has talked to most of the Agents in town . I don't think She needs to come to the Realtor Open House..."

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:43:21 -0500

Well, I had a conversation today with a local builder, friend and church member who has a home of his on the market. He told me he was having an Open House today for Realtors and that he mentioned my name to the listing agent and she said,

" Oh, yes. She came to our office and gave a presentation and also to the marketing group." We all know who she is and have her information." Hum?

By the way, she went up this morning and staged the Kitchen and baths. I will have to check this one out...

I do not know what to think.... What do you all think? Any comments? This conversation just adds to my frustration a little....

This builder and many more, along with those same Realtors will be recieving a new marketing paacket from me in the coming week. I have been working on it for a couple of days now and it is ready to be printed.

I will not be defeated!!!!

Living/Dining Room Redesign Wild West Style

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:01:35 -0500

This is redesign I did a while ago. I was trying to get Redesign Parties going in my area. I did two and then it stopped. Has anyone had any luck with this service in your business. I have done many redesigns but I was hoping to do more and I was thinking it would be a fun way to get the word out.

I know a few of my friends have said that they would love to do one for me and all of their friends would love it also, but that the husbands find it ridiculous to spend that kind of money on someone coming in to the home to move things around.

I said, " I know, I have thought about that but every time I do one the husbands think it is unbelievable what I was able to accomplish.

You know what? I am going to hit the ground again and send these shows out to people and see what happens....

Thanks for listening and keep looking up...

For some reason it is not letting me download anymore of my pictures from this redesign file. It says it needs to be a jpg and they are just like the ones above. I also tried to place the realestateshow for this redesign and it is not happening either. Maybe it is just too late and I show go to bed.

Look for a new post later....

Here it is I figured it out...

Home Stager in Sierra Vista, Arizona

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:54:49 -0500

Interior Moods, A Professional Interior Design and Home Staging Company offers Home Staging services for Sierra Vista an surrounding communities.

For more information visit: www.interiormoodsdee.com

All in the Family. 5yrs. olds art. Monkey see monkey do....

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:05:30 -0500

Well the story goes like this. I put my daughters artwork on AR a few days ago who is a 7yrs. old and an amazing artist. She has been drawing and painting since she was about 15months old. It is a true gift from God because it just comes out of her. Yes, daddy and I give her pointers from time to time but when it is a gift from God you know it. It is something I have never seen first hand before a gift from God being innate and yet still being grown and taught to become even better. I love to see her grow every year....

Well that said, I then decided to showcase my husbands talent as an artist. I placed some of his art pieces on the Family Ties Group of his sculptures he does out of metal. He too is a true artist and gifted from God. Noway to deni that, when you see him take a flat piece of metal and form it into his vision. Fabulous!

Well, then my youngest daughter saw what I did with her sisters work and daddy's work. By the way they were both surprised I put their work on here. They did not know I could do that. My husband said what does that have to do with real estate? I then explained. They all thought it was soooo cool. Especially the girls.

My youngest said, " Mommy, why didn't you put my art on there? Oh, I felt terrible. She too is pretty good at art but her true gift and talent is with her voice. Not only can she sing very well for a 5yr old and make up songs at a drop of a hat, but is a true drama queen and future thespian in the making. Loves to perform and talk and talk and talk.....

So, here it is. My 5yr old daughters artwork. She did this piece at school last week. Enjoy! It is called Monkey Face....

Wild Horse! Art at its BEST! Take a LOOK...

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:43:09 -0500

Here is a photos of my husbands latest art pieces. His medium is metal. Enjoy

Jumper

Bald Eagle

Bearded Dragon

Sea Turtle

Brush Strokes: The trick to professional looking accent walls...

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:11:39 -0500

Have you ever been frustrated when it comes to painting an accent wall? The CORNERS right? Here is the trick to professional, straight lined corners.

We all know to use painters tape to help create that straight line, but does it always work? No, it does not, because of the uneven walls. The paint sometimes bleeds through. Right? Now it won't...

Place painters tape as usual on the opposite wall. Then use paintable cocking directly in the corner of the two walls, up against the tape. Starting at the top and working your way down the corner of the wall. Next, smooth it out with your finder. Beware, not to use to much or too little. This takes some practice. Next, brush on the paint from top to bottom. Then remove painters tape and Viola! A beautiful straight, clean line that people will talk about...

You can use this technique around doors, windows, trim, ceilings anything that you want a clean line. It can be a little time consuming but it will always give a great finish to any paint job. I used it around most of the objects in the picture below.

Inspiring Art by a 7year old: AMAZING! take a LOOK!

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:44:52 -0500

Here is a piece of Art by my daughter. She sat down before dinner last night and did this.... What is so amazing? Only 2 places that were slightly erased, the depth in perspective, the balance and all this from a 7 year old. WoW! Proud mama....

Another Kitchen remodel with Resale Design In Mind....

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:47:17 -0500

Before and After of a kitchen remodel. These clients will be looking to put the home on the market within the next year. We still have some work to do on bedrooms and baths. I will post those pictures when we are done. Enjoy.

Success Depends on the Price

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:32:30 -0500

Here is another question for you all. Does the success of your staging business depend on the type of homes you stage?

The reason I ask this question, is when I look around at Stagers who seem to be out there staging their little butts off have portfolios that look like all they stage are homes over the $300K mark. With budgets way over $1500.

That's it. You must market to the high end clients and Realtors of highend homes. Otherwise, the average joe in todays market just can't afford it.

Tell Me Your Success Stories in Staging and Marketing Your Business

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:44:53 -0500

Hello Fellow Stagers, I am looking to hear your success stories or things not to do.... How did you get your first staging and where did it go from there? What is your best marketing tool? Does most of your referrals come from Realtors? Do you market homeowners? What kind of advertising is best? Here in Southern Arizona staging is not widely used or accepted. I have been told by Realtors their clients can not afford to stage. I know from experience that staging a clients home with just what they have can make a huge difference. Take a look. This homeowner was adement about there being nothing I could do to make the space work better or look better. She had tried everything. Oh, was she surprised!

New Website is up and running ! Check it out and tell me your thoughts

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 20:04:38 -0500

How to get a response from newsletters and emails

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 09:42:15 -0500

Good morning Stagers. I have a question for you this fine morning. Cloudy here in S. Arizona. Okay. I have seen some newsletters out there such as, Constant Contact. Looks great! My question is it seems my emails or newsletters get lost. Very seldom to I get a response. I will say I have had some. Do they automatically fall into Realtors or Builders JUNK MAIL or what? I sent an email the other day and it came back to me because the server said they do not accept SPAM. I know I get tired of placing an ad on craigslist for my services only to be sent emails from people wanting me to buy their services.

Any suggestions? Should I try using snail mail?

First Staging Job 1yr. ago

Dee Vaughn (Interior Moods) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:10:38 -0500