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staging: Texture makes a home warm - 10/17/09 12:06 PM
As stagers, we strive to make an occupied or a vacant home look inviting and homey. We want that buyer to think they "are home". And what are the elements in a stager's magic bag that make the home look homey? Texture.
Did you know that color does not add warmth to a room. It's texture the brings it in. Warmth is always achieved with texture. Did you know that throw pillows should never be the same fabric as what they're thrown on? Fabric finishes need to contrast. Did you know that grasscloth wallpaper is back, but highly textured? It's the … (10 comments)
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staging: Every Room a Different Color! - 09/21/09 12:26 PM
The job looked simple enough...vacant and only 8 rooms. However, each and every room in this duet was painted a different color! And, not colors I would have chosen, given the opportunity. The paint was staying and 19 hours later...voila! There is a theme to tie it all together. My girlfriend suggested that it was traditional, contemporary, italian, kitsch (whatever that is) with a touch of danish. I'll never ask her again! Can you guess what it is?
… (8 comments)
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staging: No Vacation This Year - Just Mastermind Summit - 08/03/08 12:26 PM
You say, "what's that"?
I say, this will be my third year attending the Mastermind Summit in San Diego hosted by Brian Buffini and Company. Brian is probably the most entertaining motivational speaker I have had the privilege of hearing. His focus for motivation is realtors and lenders, and what a better time than now, to get motivated in these fields. There are so many aspects to this 3 day convention that I could not possibly touch on all of them in this blog. The system that Brian has defined for real estate professionals is one that I have embraced for … (5 comments)
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staging: Every Listing on the MLS Requires Staging! - 07/27/08 04:44 PM
I am of the opinion that every home listed on the market, requires staging. Yes, every single one! Even the most perfect home, with the most expensive decor, decorated by an interior designer, requires the professional and OBJECTIVE eye of a home stager. We validate for the homeowner and the realtor that the home presents beautifully to its target market, even if it's just a THUMBS UP, YOU DID GOOD!
If I were to put my own home on the market today, naturally, I would go through it with a fine tooth comb, to the best of my ability. And, then … (12 comments)
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staging: It's Not Work! It's a Return on your Investment! - 07/26/08 02:09 PM
The Stager's Expo held in Dublin, California, a little over 2 weeks ago, remains in my mind. It was sponsored by Welcome Home Furniture Rental, Kym Houghof Staged to Sell and Terrylynn Fisher and Kym of Stagerslist.com.
Terrylynn coached us on how to talk to a realtor. Realtor's have their own verbiage, terms, perspectives on buying, selling and marketing. She said essentially, don't use the term 'work'. Attempt to make it clear that their efforts to get a home ready are a 'return on their investment'.
Yesterday, I was at a consultation and for a staging bid. It was vacant and the homeowner had already … (13 comments)
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staging: It's a first for this Staging Veteran! - 07/26/08 10:53 AM
There is a realtor in my neighborhood, that I have given verbal quotes to over the phone over the last several years and never managed to get the job or convince her of the value of staging. She has admitted that she was "the last realtor to embrace staging". She gave me an opportunity and I have staged 4 homes for her in the last 3 months. The last home I staged for her was HERS! I was honored and flattered with her trust in my ability.
However, this venture made me nervous. She has lived in the home, I think for over 20 … (17 comments)
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staging: Collaboration with a Realtor! OMG! - 07/18/08 12:23 PM
Yesterday I attended a Stager's Expo in the San Francisco Bay Area, hosted by Welcome Home Rental Furniture, Kym Hough and Terrylynn Fisher. Terrylynn gave an excellent speech about the stager/realtor relationship. She said it can be equally frustrating for both sides and gave us tips on how to basically help eachother out. I began thinking about my realtors that are loyal to my business. One in particular came to mind and I would like to share with you our efforts together.
This realtor had the smarts to hookup with a property manager. The manager contacts the realtor when the owners of … (25 comments)
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staging: My Loyal Realtor...Went TOO FAR!!!! - 07/08/08 12:27 PM
You've heard about my loyal realtor that shares her opinion and likes red. Here's Chapter Two.
She told me she did not like the cenetrpiece I had done in the dining room at her latest listing and that she wanted me to bring the outdoors in. She did not want my (imported from Spain) table runner and red Italian bowl. At the time, I had brought other options but she shook her head "no". Now this is the lady that wants red, but she nixed it! She wanted a vase and some greenery. So, early 4th of July morning, I dropped off another centerpiece on … (24 comments)
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staging: My Realtor is Forever Loyal, But.... - 07/05/08 10:16 PM
I am associated with a female realtor that is loyal, loyal, loyal. She does big business, is very ethical, fair, very nice, etc. I have no complaints and neither do her clients. She has brought me allot of work on some high end homes. I am grateful... BUT, at the end of the staging job, she appears right before the photos are taken and loves most of it but always wants "red" added; a picture, a tray, a rose, etc.
Now, the scoop is that for all of her jobs, the homeowner pays, And, for example, I bill 8 hours but probably put … (35 comments)
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staging: Is This a Good Time To Raise Your Prices? - 06/29/08 02:31 PM
I went to a staging meeting a few weeks back, and some local stagers attended. It was fun to meet the other women and to compare notes on allot of topics. It was mentioned that even though our nation's economic status has tightened, consumer spending is down, we should raise our prices, to make a collective statement that we are professionals and worth it! Not only did I find this statement appealing to my pocketbook, I found it to be an interesting concept, one that I continue to ponder.
I have not raised my prices, and, have in fact, struggled to get bids because others … (24 comments)
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staging: New Construction: Is there a Rule of Thumb? - 06/28/08 02:46 PM
I have toured some newly constructed homes for bidding purposes and realized that I can stage them but allot more goes into finsihing them for staging. The devil is in the details when choosing the finishes, flooring, moulding, paint colors, etc. It occurred to me how little I knew of what is current in those type of things.
These are my questions...maybe you can help me.
I sort of gathered that the red oak floors are out and the brazilean cherry and maple floors are in, especially the floors that have "texture". Is it true that the brushed chrome is on its way out … (17 comments)
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staging: I'll Charge You a Dollar! - 06/28/08 01:21 PM
I got called from a realtor that I had not worked with, but knew the name and reputation as being good, high end, and successful. He wanted to interview me on the phone because his client, the homeowner, wanted me to stage her home, even though we had never met. She had seen a home in her area that I had staged and it had sold. I passed the interview and called the homeowner. Turned out, the realtor had recommended his stager of 15 years. The 15 year veteran did not call back the homeowner. Homeowner had to call a few … (23 comments)
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staging: Where Does The Pile Go When the Garage is Full? - 06/14/08 01:42 PM
I recently have become very good friends with a client, the homeowner, and I staged her home twice. Long story, not important. She and her husband came for dinner and they told me of their experience the first time I staged. When she got home after a long day of work, she loved the staging but found the "pile" of items that I did not use to be a huge problem for her. The 'pile" consisted of an end table and a lamp.
WOW, I so did not get where this was going. They had a detached 4 car garage … (6 comments)
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staging: In This Market - 2 Offers Over Asking in a Week - 06/11/08 10:25 PM
I have heard all kinds of stories about this current real estate market. Yes, we're in an election year. Yes, there are a fair amount of foreclosures driving down home values, therefore equity. Yes, the lending world is forever changing and getting more and more interesting. Everybody, including me, wants to know what's up? But, the reality is that it's is a great time to buy and staging is essential to this market. And, even in this precarious, unpredictable market, I had a home with 2 offers over the asking price in one week on the MLS. Isn't life grand? Check it out...just … (15 comments)
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staging: Create a Memory for the Buyer with Something Unique - 06/11/08 06:13 PM
When I started my staging business about 4 years ago, the first thing I did was GO SHOPPING! I was in heaven! Recently, a new friend of mine perused my warehouse of inventory and asked how long it took me to accumulate all of it. Before I could get a word out, my husband replied, "2 weeks". Ssssshhhhhh, he's not all that far off.
Since, I have sold most of the furniture (you know, to buy my professional wardrobe), except for the linens, lamps, art, plates, etc...staging accessories. I did, however, keep a few pieces of furniture that were irreplaceable and items that I … (18 comments)
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staging: To Do or Not To Do (bedroom) Hallways - 06/07/08 02:01 PM
I don't know about you, but I have a system when I arrive at a home for staging, whether it be occupied or vacant. My asistant and I work from one room to the next. We usually start in the main, high visibility rooms and work our way down to the ...bedroom hallway. I do like to prioritize my hallways. Front entry - high, wide hallway - high, narrow bedroom hallway - low. My point, is, I don't do anything to the bedroom hallway if it is narrow. Yes, I could hang a little something. Ask my friends, it's not due to … (11 comments)
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staging: We Are in An Appearance Industry - Look the Part - 06/06/08 01:18 PM
I may be preaching to the choir here and, the last one to get this, so, if this is the case, please give me a 'bye' (tennis term, meaning a player advances to the next level of the tourney without playing a match). My good friend and hairdresser, John, gave me some very sound and good advice last year. "Honey, you are in an appearance industry, therefore, you gotta look the part. We gotta get those roots done every 5 weeks now, instead of 10 and get you a new wardrobe and jewelry. You gotta shine, Darling".
Flashback, to my older … (21 comments)
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staging: Cold Market, Hot Shows - 06/06/08 12:17 PM
So here's an article in our local newspaper by our TV critic Chuck Barney (would you want that job?). I was interviewed and asked my take on the shows and how they have affected our staging industry.
I'd like to hear your take!
P.S. "The Stagers" a new reality show is coming to HGTV on 7/22!
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Cold market, hot shows
It's 'realty,' not 'reality,' that matters By Chuck Barney Contra Costa Times Article Launched: 05/02/2008 04:00:48 PM PDT <script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/js/article/viewerControls.js"></script> Click photo to enlarge Potential home-buyers check out a residence on the new HGTV show "Sleep … (2 comments)
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staging: Loving Those Animals - 06/03/08 02:19 PM
In my effort to stay current and hit my target market, I am loving those animal prints. The young and the young at heart are drawn to the prints, including me! It adds a bit of fun, it's trendy and puts a little pizzazz in the air!
… (19 comments)
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staging: When The Kids Are Moving - 05/31/08 02:53 PM
The real estate agent and the stagers get called to do their job for all sorts of reasons. And, most of the time, there is a move involved, which means a great deal of change, upheaval. When there are kids invovled, they feel it the most.
The parents are busy; working, cleaning out toothpaste spit from the sinks, collecting moving boxes, making beds, mowing the lawn, etc. The kids feel it, especially the little ones. They may be leaving the only home they've known.
With my own 4 year old daughter and our upcoming move, I learned a "trick" that made … (17 comments)
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Nancy Cleary
Walnut Creek,
CA
More about me…
www.nancycleary.com - walnut creek - california
Cell Phone: (925) 330-3075
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