On the first day of 2010, in reflection of the past year, I thought it would be a good idea to make a list of ‘lessons learned'.  The list was not only a closing to 2009, but a motivational tool to help us remember the good things we've learned over the past year and things to continue in 2010. 

Life is a lesson; it's how you embrace what you've learned that's important...

1)  Be true to yourself and others. ~ Honesty is always the best policy....

2)  Give back, even when you think you don't have anything to give. ~ Volunteering brings a great sense of self worth, one that can never be matched by materialistic things. 

3)  Good things come in small packages. ~ A smile, a compliment from a client or peer, friendships...these small things we can sometimes forget or take for granted, are more and more important as we face challenges in the future.

4)  Enjoy what you do. ~ Joe and I always make our staging process FUN!  Even when the sofa doesn't want to fit through the front door, or the ‘perfect' art piece was left behind at the warehouse, it's all about perspective and being thankful that we are ABLE to do what we enjoy!

5)  Surround yourself with people you enjoy and realize you can't please everyone. ~ We have established some amazing relationships this past year both personally and professionally.  It's not the quantity, but quality of people who surround you.  These relationships are the foundation to success.

What were your ‘lessons learned' in 2009?

Every year our family celebrates 4^th of July with a different twist on decorating!  My mother-in-law started a tradition over 10 years ago of Waffle Decorating!  I know you're thinking how does this relate to 4^th of July?  We decorate with strawberries (red), blueberries (blue), and whip cream (white).

Competition gets tougher every year to come up with an original idea!  We've had everything from the Statue of Liberty to Elmo.  Days, even weeks ahead, the phone calls start coming in with family asking ‘have you thought of what you're decorating this year?'...but I know a good artist never tells reveals their masterpiece until it's complete.

Prizes are awarded, and range from the most creative, best overall, and most delicious!  I must say before we had kids, my husband and I thought the idea was a little strange.  After having children, they cannot wait to get to grandma's and get their groove on!

Here are some of this year's entries, can you guess what they are?

Just a little fun to share and a reminder to think outside of the box, be creative in your own way, and enjoy the little things in life! 

Michelle and Joe Kaspari.Essential Home Staging.Sacramento CA 

Often times we walk into a home that's been freshly painted before entering the market.  New paint is one of the most recommended upgrades for home sellers.  A fresh coat of paint showcases the home in a ‘newer' condition even if the home is older.  

Before selecting the obvious WHITE for your wall color, consider painting an alternate neutral color throughout the home to give warmth to the space.  Remember neutral colors extend past the obvious white and tan.  

Here are some of our favorite colors we've recommended to realtors.

Trim, Woodwork, Ceilings - Swiss Coffee BEHR Paint #1812, This creamy white is our all time favorite.

Wall Colors -                                           

Gallery Taupe, BEHR Paint, #ICC-89      

Navajo White, BEHR Paint, #1822

Oyster, Kelly Moore Paint, #26

Don't be afraid to go neutral with something other than tan.  We recently consulted on a property and used a light sage green throughout the home as our neutral.  The results were beautiful.  Color trends are recommending lighter versions of green, yellow, and blue as the ‘new neutrals'.

Once you've chosen your color, you'll need to decide on the proper finish.  Satin, Semi-Gloss, High Gloss, Eggshell, Flat, how do I choose?  Here are some basic rules to follow:

Flat - Its matte appearance softens a room and helps hide surface blemishes, making walls look smooth. Ideal for: Adult bedrooms, Dining rooms, Formal living rooms, Ceilings.

Satin - With its slight gloss, this finish offers the benefits of a flat finish with added cleanability. It works best for high-traffic areas such as: Halls, Woodwork, Children's bedrooms, Family rooms.  This is our finish of choice in most cases, when in doubt go Satin!

Semi-Gloss - This lustrous, durable finish is perfect for areas that get cleaned frequently, such as: Kitchens, Bathrooms, Utility area, Closet doors, Trim

Gloss - This extremely hard and shiny finish provides a rich, smooth luster and is excellent for: Wood trim, Cabinets, Doors, Furniture

 Companies like BEHR, Kelly Moore, and Sherwin Williams offer lots of tips and techniques on their websites.  ‘Finish Selection' was shared from the Sherwin Williams website.  When in doubt about the color you are selecting, feel free to contact us for a quick and affordable paint color consultation.  Your clients will thank you!

Michelle and Joe Kaspari. Essential Home Staging. Sacramento CA

Often times we walk into a home that's been freshly painted before entering the market.  New paint is one of the most recommended upgrades for home sellers.  A fresh coat of paint showcases the home in a ‘newer' condition even if the home is older.  

Before selecting the obvious WHITE for your wall color, consider painting an alternate neutral color throughout the home to give warmth to the space.  Remember neutral colors extend past the obvious white and tan.  

Here are some of our favorite colors we've recommended to realtors.

Trim, Woodwork, Ceilings - Swiss Coffee BEHR Paint #1812, This creamy white is our all time favorite.

Wall Colors -                                           

Gallery Taupe, BEHR Paint, #ICC-89      

Navajo White, BEHR Paint, #1822

Oyster, Kelly Moore Paint, #26

Don't be afraid to go neutral with something other than tan.  We recently consulted on a property and used a light sage green throughout the home as our neutral.  The results were beautiful.  Color trends are recommending lighter versions of green, yellow, and blue as the ‘new neutrals'.

Once you've chosen your color, you'll need to decide on the proper finish.  Satin, Semi-Gloss, High Gloss, Eggshell, Flat, how do I choose?  Here are some basic rules to follow:

Flat - Its matte appearance softens a room and helps hide surface blemishes, making walls look smooth. Ideal for: Adult bedrooms, Dining rooms, Formal living rooms, Ceilings.

Satin - With its slight gloss, this finish offers the benefits of a flat finish with added cleanability. It works best for high-traffic areas such as: Halls, Woodwork, Children's bedrooms, Family rooms.  This is our finish of choice in most cases, when in doubt go Satin!

Semi-Gloss - This lustrous, durable finish is perfect for areas that get cleaned frequently, such as: Kitchens, Bathrooms, Utility area, Closet doors, Trim

Gloss - This extremely hard and shiny finish provides a rich, smooth luster and is excellent for: Wood trim, Cabinets, Doors, Furniture

 Companies like BEHR, Kelly Moore, and Sherwin Williams offer lots of tips and techniques on their websites.  ‘Finish Selection' was shared from the Sherwin Williams website.  When in doubt about the color you are selecting, feel free to contact us for a quick and affordable paint color consultation.  Your clients will thank you!

Michelle and Joe Kaspari. Essential Home Staging. Sacramento CA

After sitting at Tae Kwon Do with the kids' yesterday afternoon, I thought about the 6 Tenets of Tae Kwon Do they repeat at the beginning and ending of every class.  These basic, yet powerful words can inspire you in any profession.  Enjoy!

COURTESY - Definition:  A polite remark or gesture.  Are you courteous in your actions, towards your clients or competitors even when they are being difficult?  The old golden rule ‘treat others how you would like to be treated'.

INTEGRITY - Defnition:  Firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values.  How we view and carry ourselves is very important in determining how others view us.  Your clients want to work with someone that has a reputation of being professional and an expert in their field.

PERSEVERENCE - Definition:  Steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.  This can be a tough one in today's market.  The media gloom can bring your mental perception down like there's no hope in sight.  We need to be strong and clear in our thoughts that the market will turn around and we will persevere through tough times.

SELF-CONTROL - Definition:  control or restraint of oneself or one's actions, feelings, etc.  It can be difficult at times to hold back comments with people who push your buttons, but in the end, being a professional and maintaining a higher level of courtesy and self control is the better choice. 

INDOMITABLE SPIRIT - that cannot be subdued or overcome, as persons, will, or courage; unconquerable: an indomitable warrior. Have courage no matter what the odds are.  ‘When things get tough, the tough get going'...

VICTORY - Definition: a success or superior position achieved against any opponent, opposition, difficulty, etc. Conquer the things you set out to do no matter how big or small.  This may be as simple as filling out your weekly calendar, or as big as creating your marketing plans for the next few months.  The victory of completing and accomplishing your goals is extremely self rewarding!

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of taking the Lunch and Learn on Blogging at Sacramento Association of Realtors.  I wasn't sure what to expect, as I've been on Active Rain for about a year now, posted a few blogs with the help of my husband Joe and thought: there must be something more.

Where do the writers get their inspiration?  How many blogs can you read about staging and how you NEED to do it.  Is that going to make my phone ring for business?  Active Rain can generate business for you, but more importantly it's a community of professionals willing to share their experiences.

Don't get me wrong I appreciate all those who on a consistent basis share their wealth of knowledge with others here on Active Rain, Thank You! 

Our instructor, Paula Swayne, who's got her own blog on her website, and blogs regularly on Active Rain, shared some great tips about how to get your inspiration.  Short short and simple - JUST START WRITING! 

One key point she shared was about your profile and how important it was to create a profile that is YOU!  Fellow Active Rainers like to get to know YOU, this is a community of great expertise and knowledge but it's the 'behind the scene' stuff we really enjoy reading!

With that said, I've redone our profile to give you a better insight to Joe, myself, and our familly.  Thanks Paula for the inspiration and taking time out of your busy schedule to share with us! Hope you enjoy our new profile!

Happy Blogging! 

When Michelle Kaspari, owner of Essential Home Staging and President of the Sacramento Chapter of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) met with another RESA member Charles Wood, owner of Brite Ideas, to discuss local association activities, an idea was born.  It was time for RESA to give back to the community.  Michelle Kaspari then contacted Loaves and Fishes who her directed her to the Sacramento Self Help Housing coordinator Michelle Ward.

Sacramento Self Help Housing just happened to be in position to house some recently displaced individuals from the nationally recognized "Tent City" that had grown drastically over the last couple of years.  Our recent economic times have fallen hard on our community and many people found tent city as their only and in some cases best option for housing.

On June 12, 2009 the Sacramento RESA Chapter took their idea and turned it into reality.  "Staging and decorating is what we do, it made sense to partner with SSHH during their time of need", said Michelle Kaspari.  We pulled our resources together with donations from the community and other Home Stagers. 

Photo Above:  Joe Kaspari, Barbara Bussey, Lori Kim Polk, Michelle Kaspari

This is the first of many events our Sacramento RESA Chapter hopes to host.  Michelle Kaspari would like to thank the following RESA Members for donating time and resources for this fabulous event.  Charles Wood of Brite Ideas, Lori Kim Polk of Artful Journey Designs and Staging, Valesca Bogard of Welcome Home Furniture Rental and Staging, Thank You! 

Photo above:  The new tenant, Lori Kim Polk, Michelle Kaspari

We also had other local Home Stagers within the community volunteer on this project as well.  Thank You Barbara Bussey of Transitions Home Design and Jodi King of Artistic Interior Redesign!

The Sacramento RESA Chapter will continue to lend their support to the Sacramento Self Help Housing.  If you or anyone you know would like to donate time, furniture, or supplies they are greatly appreciated.  Please email michelle@essentialstaging.com with your information.

To find out more information on this event or to be part of any future events please contact Michelle Kaspari at (916) 402-6098.  To find more information about the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) visit www.Realestatestagingassociation.com

Are you showcasing the full potential of the property?  This time of year is wonderful to stage outdoor vignettes at your listings.  Summer is approaching and potential buyers will be checking out the front porch and back yards of all the properties they tour to see if it will live up to their entertaining lifestyle.

Curb appeal starts right at the front entry.  Consider setting up a small bistro set, with a pitcher of lemonade and small bowl of lemons during your open house.  We all know the Sacramento Valley can reach extremely high temperatures during the Summer.  The thought of sitting on the front porch with a nice cool glass of lemonade sets the tone of a relaxing environment and defines the front porch as useable space, not just a place for potted plants.

By staging the back yard with patio sets and bright colored pillows, will often extend the buyers perception of square footage if done properly.  The photo below is a clear example of extending your vision past the window into a space that would go unrecognized without the ‘pop' of red outside.  This great room now extends past the sliding glass door and onto the patio.  The same comforts of inside the home should be felt outside as well!

Essential Home Staging is Sacramento's premier Real Estate Staging Company.  We provide top-notch products and quality service to Real Estate Professionals. 

Please visit www.essentialstaging.com to view more of our work and a list of services.  Proudly serving the Greater Sacramento Area and beyond!  Call us today for your FREE Staging Evaluation (916) 402-6098.

Are you showcasing the full potential of the property?  This time of year is wonderful to stage outdoor vignettes at your listings.  Summer is approaching and potential buyers will be checking out the front porch and back yards of all the properties they tour to see if it will live up to their entertaining lifestyle.

Curb appeal starts right at the front entry.  Consider setting up a small bistro set, with a pitcher of lemonade and small bowl of lemons during your open house.  We all know the Sacramento Valley can reach extremely high temperatures during the Summer.  The thought of sitting on the front porch with a nice cool glass of lemonade sets the tone of a relaxing environment and defines the front porch as useable space, not just a place for potted plants.

By staging the back yard with patio sets and bright colored pillows, will often extend the buyers perception of square footage if done properly.  The photo below is a clear example of extending your vision past the window into a space that would go unrecognized without the ‘pop' of red outside.  This great room now extends past the sliding glass door and onto the patio.  The same comforts of inside the home should be felt outside as well!

Essential Home Staging is Sacramento's premier Real Estate Staging Company.  We provide top-notch products and quality service to Real Estate Professionals. 

Please visit www.essentialstaging.com to view more of our work and a list of services.  Proudly serving the Greater Sacramento Area and beyond!  Call us today for your FREE Staging Evaluation (916) 402-6098.

Often over looked and some times hard to look through.  The windows!  It is amazing what window cleaning will do for a property.  preparation of the home is the key to a successful sale.  Floors, kitchens, bathrooms are always a priority but what about the windows?

Clean windows make a home feel bright and brings the outside in. 

We at Essential Home Staging have a professional window cleaning company we work with.  Cost effective, and quality work that goes a long way in the preparation of a home for sale.

For more tips on Real Estate Staging visit www.essentialstaging.com or call Essential Home Staging at (916) 402-6098 and we will be happy to help you!

Essential Home Staging, LLC

(916) 402-6098 or michelle@essentialstaging.com