Michelle's Blog

So What Exactly Do You Say When Sellers Ask You THIS Question???

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:45:35 -0600

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 preservation.

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 digesting 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 and do everythingit takes to prevent the unnecessary loss of their hard earned equity.

So what is the best way to handle this question 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

The Perils of Kitchen Kitsch: Fat Chefs, Lighthouses, Sunflowers, OH MY!

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:24:45 -0600

We see it everywhere.

And it's scary.

The Themed Kitchen.

Whenever we are in them, our senses are assaulted by wine bottle-carrying obese chefs, roosters of every possible size and description, hand-painted palm trees swaying the breeze on every plate and cup, swags of ceramic chili peppers around the window frame, Folksy-Country signs with wooden hearts telling us the dishwasher is full or empty, salt and pepper shakers made of cowboys napping whilst standing up against cactus (Ouch!).

It's an epidemic. And when a family of fat chef figurines arrived at my house today, via my significant other on a shopping spree, I was suddenly mentally forced to draw a line between tasteful decor and utter crap (that would be udder crap if it is kitchen decor comprised of black and white cows). I absolutely must rebuke the chefs and banish them to the outer realm.

Before I start a riot from fat chef lovers everywhere, I want to say I love collections, and have a few hokey ones myself. They make me smile. I happen to adore those tacky plastic bonsai trees from the fifties and sixties. I love kooky-looking figurines of Asian guys fishing with a crazy look on their faces made of off-white plastic and brown stain, to supposedly mimic ivory. I collect bejewled box purses by E. Collins (they are really, really tacky with giant plastic gems glued all over them). These things are my weaknesses, and they are displayed with off-beat pride. They are parts of my personality.

But such tacky collections do not belong in a house for sale. Or, for that matter, in the house of someone who makes their living helping others stage and/or redesign theirs.

The thing is, I want my guests to comment on my stuff. I want them to see things they may have seen before, but in a whole new light after being in my house. I want them to drive away thinking, "Well, I have never seen anything quite like that. She sure has an eye for odd but interesting crap! "

But if your house is for sale, you really want the opposite reaction. You want any cook to picture themselves chopping healthy vegetables for their family, stirring big pots of their family favorites in your kitchen, laughing with their own people as they weave a spell of friendship and abundant entertaining. That is hard to do with thousand rooster eyes staring at you as you make your way through a stranger's kitchen sizing it up for purchase.

And that is the thing: a themed kitchen is a strange kitchen to a stranger. The goal is to make it universal, warm, spacious, and able to drink a cup of coffee by one's self and a newspaper with sunlight streaming through the windows, cozy up near a loved one over a couple of steaming bowls of soup on a rainy day, and celebrate the milestones and events in class and style on special occasions with the whole clan.

You want to acheive this feeling regardless of the buyer's age, ethnicity, religious beliefs, or their own decorating style. The fastest way to do that is to get the collections of kitchen kitsch OUT and let a wider audience appreciate what your kitchen has to offer.

Just say no to fat chefs and all their ilk. Do not use them as a decorating crutch. Stand on your own two feet and find a legitimate style to show off your house if it is for sale. And if it isn't, still, please think twice about copping out and buying that entire set of dishes with a different birdhouse scene on every plate. Your food will thank you by tasting much better and be more dignified on a "plain" plate (It's ok to have a nice floral centerpiece on the table with a realistic-looking bird's nest nestled in it).

There. I feel better now.

So, how do I get these three fat chef figurines out of my house without hurting my beloved's feelings? I may be able to save others from falling into the kitchen kitsch crevasse, but apparently I cannot save myself.

~Michelle

Are You Staring at the Walls and Pulling your Hair Out Again?

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:11:37 -0600

Do you stand around staring at the rooms in your house

wondering what the heck to do to give it a fresh new look?

Where do you start?

How will decide what to change?

What if you spend all that money and it just doesn't come together?

Don't you wish someone would just tell you where you should begin?

Well, that is exactly what we do! We look carefully at what you have to work with, and we start making changes using digital imaging. Then we give you a plan to follow, including specific colors, surfaces, and finishes to make the most of what you already have, using our expertise and experience.

These cabinets in the original bathroom image need to be torn out...right?

Drywall needs to replace that paneling...?

Counter-tops need to be ordered right away, don't you think?

We said no to all of those possibilities and steered this client away from a $4000 gut-job on this bathroom and achieved remarkable results for about $1200.

That updated vanity is not new. The name-brand quartz counter-top (with a 12" back-splash!) cost only $800 vs. $1800. The paneling has been treated to a wonderful face lift without removal for about $12 (Ancient Cajun Secret...) and a gallon of paint.

The cost of our Conceptual Advice Service is only $179.99, and we saved our client over $2500 in just this one room, and it includes a Conceptual Image of how the plan will pan out, giving you peace of mind. Our advice comes in a written report, and you will receive actual color chips of our recommendations.

Can we help you, whether you are selling or staying. We can make this very easy, and save you a lot of time and money. So let go of your hair! Call us or visit our website and relax!

Michelle Molinari

Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Staging, www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com

CSP Elite Instructor, Certified Staging Professionals, www.CSPElite.com

Lead Virtual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com

Vice- President of Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com

Supernatural Staging - 10 Nifty Tips for Dealing with Haunted Real Estate

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:04:26 -0500

If you have been staging for any length of time, you may have come across a home that requires your services that may be "occupied," and I am not talking about the present owners or renters.

It has happened to us, and I've heard from other stagers that it has happened to them. It doesn't matter if you believe in the supernatural or not, when something outside of what is considered normal (paranormal) happens to you, you might not know what to do.

Real Estate comes on the market for a variety of reasons, including death and despair, and while it is our job as stagers to reset the energy of the house to appeal to a buyer, the past does not always stay in the past. Additionally, many believe that renovations and changes don't always sit well with the dearly departed, if they are attached to a residence. So, stagers who are working could be asking for a little interaction and they won't even know it.

So, here's some nifty tips if you ever find yourself in a pickle with a pesky paranormal entity:

1. First of all, remember that ghosts were people, too, and they might just miss being treated with a modicum of social courtesy. Nobody ever says hello or goodbye to them - they are largely treated as non-persons, because well, we usually can't see them. So, if you think you are experiencing a visitation while staging, disarm them by saying hello, and introducing yourself.

2. Ghosts are curious about the living who enter their space. Telling them why you are there, and what you are doing goes a long way toward satisfying their curiosity. Sometimes this is all it takes to get them to go back to whatever it is they were doing before you showed up.

3. If you still feel watched or pestered, ask them kindly to understand you don't wish to be rude, but that you are very busy and working against a "deadline," for lack of a better word, and you must get back to work.

4. If you hear noises, as them to please keep it down. If you hear actual words, tell them you hear them, but that you don't have a whole lot of time to talk, because you have so much to do.

5. If you are particularly religious, carrying a religiously significant object may make you feel more secure when working, and that is ok! Just don't go flicking holy water all over the place and burning stinky substances. I know if I was haunting a house, I'd be rather offended by that type of activity in my residence.

6. Don't panic. Running away when you realize you have been approached will only get you hurt or hurt someone else. Stay calm, and if you feel you must leave, simply walk of the house out calmly, excusing yourself, and come back as soon as you are ready. You can freak out later, with a fifth of Jack Daniels.

7. Don't rebuke them or tell them to leave. You are a guest in their home, and just because they are invisible (usually) doesn't mean they are out to get you or are inherently evil. Sometimes, they are just dead folks who simply like where they are. Think of how you'd want to be treated, or how you'd want a dearly departed relative to be treated if someone encountered them. And sometimes, it is just a residual energy linked to the house, like a tape, that gets played over and over in the house, and not an "intelligent" spirit at all. You might be talking to a video of sorts. Just don't presume it's evil or demonic, maintain your civility and don't let your fear or what you see at the movies determine your behavior.

8. If you feel very uncomfortable, leave and come back with someone else in tow. If the presence does like scaring folks (and some do!), there's sometimes not a whole lot you can do about it, but it's more fun to be frightened as a couple.

9. Don't dwell on it. We have no idea why or what caused a spirit to want to stay in the realm of the living, so there is no use trying to figure it out. Just chalk it up to another whack-o staging day, and enjoy the rest of your week. They normally won't follow you home unless you ask them to or show them you are open to that idea. So, saying goodbye is a great way of, well, saying goodbye.

10. Don't mention what happened to you to the neighbors, or go screeching out of the house and leave tire marks in the driveway as you rip out of there. Disclosure about haunted houses it something that is different from state to state, and most do require that the past of the house, or the fact that someone died in the house, be disclosed to the potential buyer.

That's it. If you can remember to be unfailingly polite, you can stage any house, haunted or not.

Flipping, Listing, Selling, Buying... Add up to 15% to Resale Value!

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:53:24 -0500

If you are not 100% sure on how to mount a comprehensive attack to maximize curb appeal, we have mastered the art of delivering the Curb Appeal Strategy Package for every type of house, in every price range, in the US and Canada.

Our package covers the exact colors to consider, landscaping elements, hardware, lighting, and masonry suggestions. We procure discounts with providers of services and materials in your local vicinity. The icing on the "motivational cake" is included with every Strategy Package, a high-quality virtual image of our suggestions in action on your listing, home, or investment property. Seeing the destination and providing a road map to get there is often all it takes to make magic happen.

Our report is over 12 pages of suggestions to provide each and every Curb Appeal Strategy Package Buyer a truly customized plan which addresses all flaws and emphasizes all strengths on an individual basis, and in keeping with the allowed budget.

Why wing it when you don't have to? Why risk wasting time trying to find and try random curb appeal tips? There is a better way, with designer results without the anticipated designer pricing.

Call us today. There is no better way to improve your ROI than with the right exterior improvements.

We love what we do, and we'd love to do it for you!

~Michelle Molinari

(337) 652-3983

Lead Virtual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com

Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Staging,www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com

CSP Elite Instructor, Certified Staging Professionals, www.CSPElite.com

President of Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com

Grabbing That Glory - Active Rain-Style

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:38:44 -0500

Since joining Active Rain over a year ago, I have had my first article on Ranch House Curb Appeal read 12,891 times, and many thousands of those readers followed that article to my website.That is one of DOZENS and DOZENS of blogs I have authored, all working for me while I am working on other things.

I was interviewed on the Diva in the House Radio program by AR memeber Gina McNew about my innovative Curb Appeal Strategy Package.

My words have been quoted numerous times for a variety of publications.

Dan Eason, AR Member and owner of the EnergizedSeller website has interviewed me and worked with me to develop an affiliation with his site.

And today, I received a phone call to be interviewed by a freelance real estate journalist for an article on Curb Appeal for the Associated Press.

Not to mention my many, many clients I have received due to my participation here at AR.

Active Rain has the clout to get you what you want.

So if you are thinking about joining AR to generate some real leads, you couldn't ask for a better site. Opportunities are falling out of the sky at Active Rain. You just have to reach out and grab them.

~Michelle Molinari

Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Staging,www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com

CSP Elite Instructor, Certified Staging Professionals, www.CSPElite.com

Lead Virtual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com

President of Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com

Keeping that Eye on Future ROI...

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:05:52 -0500

Staging is an excellent tool to use when selling. It's even better when you call in a professional stager a few years ahead of your selling schedule. You'll actually get to enjoy those improvements now, and reap the benefits later when the time comes.

Improving function and flow isn't just a tool for selling - it can make your home more enjoyable and gracious.

Many stagers are capable of identifying design issues, and are suggesting and overseeing renovations today in anticipation of a more lucrative sale down the road.

Case in point - This Abbeville, Louisiana house had a front door that opened up straight into the eat-in kitchen (the front door was located directly to the left of the double windows above, behind a cinderblock partition, so it emptied you out right into the dining table). By removing a wall and erecting a wall, we were able to give this home a foyer, move the front door to open up there, and trade in the dining room and the wall that was cutting it off from the living area for a much more useful dining bar.

The result is an open concept space, full of gracious possibilities for future buyers to appreciate, and for the family to enjoy today.

Staging is a LOT more than moving furniture around and calling it an "improvement". We are using our eye for design and ability to create MORE equity for sellers in new ways.

So, consulting a stager isn't just for people with homes that are for sale. It is for people who have homes, and want to get some insight on how to make that major investment work harder for them now, and in the future!

So give a professional stager a call, and see what they can do to improve your life, and ultimately, your bottom line!

~Michelle Molinari

Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Staging,www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com

CSP Elite Instructor, Certified Staging Professionals, www.CSPElite.com

Lead Virtual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com

President of Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com

Virtual Staging - Bringing in that Repeat Business!

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:04:22 -0500

We are just moving right along from one project to the next with an former client located in Abbeville, Louisiana who is ready to do her guest bath. We did her master bedroom last year. We love doing redesigns in the interest of future ROI!!!

~Michelle

Staging: Selling Faster and for More Money?

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:08:22 -0500

Staging. It's everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Agents are using it in their client's best interest more now than ever. Some agents staunchly refuse to even entertain the thought.

Broderick Perkins, the award-winning consumer journalist of www.deadlinenews.com came out firmly against it, with NAEBA's stats a couple of years ago, and has done a 180 degree turn in 2009.

It seems those who have used it or seen it in action have become true believers. Could it possibly be that there is an industry on the rise that actually does know how to present homes for sale BETTER than Real Estate Agents?

I say yes, there is. Professional stagers present homes with target-marketing lifestyle and design enhancements on display. Buyers are snatching up these homes over the unstaged competition, requiring fewer priced reductions (netting more money for buyers and less marketing expenses for agents to carry). Knowing how to ellicit this positive buyer response in the sole expertise and passion of quality stagers.

The marketing ball, however, stays firmly in the court of the agents of these homes.

Can you use a stager? Should you? Is it in the best interest of sellers to at least MENTION the possibility of a faster, more lucrative sale? Is it your fiduciary responsibility to know all you can and do your own research about this sales strategy?

Some say absolutely, others say there is no point whatsoever.

Staging is not going away, because it works to sell homes faster and for more money. The quality and experience of the stager does matter, just as the quality and experience of the agent matters.

What happens when a great agent aligns with a great stager?

PEOPLE START SELLING HOUSES FASTER AND FOR MORE MONEY, that's what happens.

Knocking it before you try it, sticking to the old ways, and jamming your fingers in your ears are all excellent ways to assist your competition to the detriment of your sellers.

Staging by an ethical stager absolutely does not, EVER hide flaws. Stagers are in the flaw-rectification business if they are truly professional. Exalting the architecture, the space, and the message that the house whispers to potential buyers it the only goal and hallmark of the truly experienced stager.

If you feel curtailed by the condition of your properties, daunted by the resistance to change on the part of sellers, and the discomfort of discussing yet another price reduction to motivate a sale, perhaps you are missing a key player on your team who could help reduce these scenarios drastically.

Perhaps.

And don't forget to ask for verifiable local stats when you speak to a stager. You might be horrified that you didn't call on one a lot sooner.

Michelle Molinari

Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Stagingwww.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com

CSP Elite Instructor, Certified Staging Professionals, www.CSPElite.com

Lead Virtual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com

President of Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com

My Enthusiasm is Flagging...

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:33:40 -0500

Do you like to see articles about your marketing niche or area of expertise on the Main Page of Active Rain? I know I sure do!

It gives us more credibility and a louder voice than we could achieve on our own, but I think it just plain old boosts my spirits.

Those articles don't get to that main page by themselves. It takes somebody to wave a little flag for it to get noticed and then given a place on that most prominent of AR pages.

I love to flag the great posts on Real Estate Staging. That's my thing, and I just love it when I see my thing on the that main page. It's an easy way for me to support my industry and make me smile.

So, if you like what you are reading, stand up for it and wave a little Flag!

They are on the bottom of every blog for us to have input on what we would like to

see AR put out in front of the AR readers, our readers!

~Michelle Molinari

Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Staging,www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com

CSP Elite Instructor, Certified Staging Professionals, www.CSPElite.com

Lead Virtual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com

President of Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com

Dear Mr. Seller, I TRIED to Help You, but ...

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:47:18 -0500

This is a re-blogged post from a fellow stager Maureen Bray, and it's such a sad, yet typical story in our line of business...

Via Maureen Bray ~ Home Stager Portland OR ~ Room Solutions Staging (Staging that Sells Portland Homes):

Dear Mr. Seller,

You contacted my company 3 months ago and requested a staging proposal for your home. It's in a premier Portland neighborhood and you said you knew it needed some help before listing. You'd already bought another home and were packing up your things to move out in a few days.

When I arrived to view your home, it was surprising to see a huge pool table in your dining room! We laughed together about that and also the long heavy dark velvet drapes! Your home needed major cleaning and packing up of many small items. I knew we could help you!

We'd be able to work with most of your furniture that you'd be leaving behind, and we'd provide the necessary missing pieces as well as accessories, art, trees & plants, etc. as needed. We discussed that if we were going to work together, I'd give you a detailed list that would include which furniture pieces to leave behind as well as some easy cosmetic improvements that you could do yourself.

You told me that your listing agent did not believe in home staging. I was surprised to hear this, because I thought that your home was one of the better candidates for staging that I've seen this year, but I kept my opinion to myself. I told you that our company keeps track of our staging statistics, and we're proud of them. I knew we could help you!

Later that day I emailed you a very cost-effective proposal that included staging your home using your items and providing quality furniture & accessories from our inventory. We'd stage your home to make it appealing to your target buyer. Our proposal also included quality digital photos for the online listing ... critical in today's challenging market. I knew we could help you!

Later, I was disappointed that you decided not to stage your home. Looking at the online listing, it was a shock to see the photos of your home! They are dark, out of focus, crooked, and don't show the best features of your home. I won't show them here because that would not be discreet, but I noticed the heavy velvet drapes are still there, and your furniture is not in the right position to showcase the space. The photos are about the worst I've seen. I knew we could have helped you!

After 6 weeks on the market I noticed that you took a $30,000 price reduction! After another 4 weeks, I saw that your price had now dropped $50,000!   Hmmm ... your agent discouraged you from staging (even though you would have paid for it) but has no problem recommending that you drop your price by $50K?

Wow! Staging your home with a professional staging company would have cost a tiny fraction of your first price reduction -- but you decided to drop your price by $50,000 instead.   How does that make sense from a financial viewpoint?

The sad thing is, today I drove by your home again on my way to staging one of your neighbor's homes, and saw the new addition now hanging from your "For Sale" sign ...

Mr. Seller ~ We really did try to help you! I wish we could have.

     ***            ***              ***

For help making sure your home shines for potential buyers, contact Room Solutions Staging in Portland OR to learn more about our home staging services. We work with Homeowners, Banks, Realtors, and Investors to prepare homes to SELL. Give us a call at 503-246-1800 for more information. Room Solutions ~ Staging that Sells Portland Homes.
       Staging that sells Portland homes!

Slump-Busting is our Middle Name...

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:40:07 -0500

I know you guys get sick of hearing it, but I have to say it, because it bears repeating.

In an economy where no one is biting because there is no sense of urgency in the market, you have to create it inside the home. Price is dictated largely by the comps. Location isn't negotiable. Therefore, condition is the only thing within ones actual control.

So, staging, by an experienced, professional, cracker-jack stager is a sure-fire way to get that property sold fast.

There are some extremely experienced and talented pros out there, who can really knock it out of the ballpark. Staging is changing the entire vibe of the house, and it's not just with a tchochtky here and a sofa there. There is much more to it now than "de-cluttering" and moving some things around, or bringing a few pieces in.

That's really kind of old school.

Today, stagers are making real, lasting equity enhancements for the house, and we can do it on really tight budgets. We have the connections. We absolutely know what buyers are truly desiring to see, and we know how to deliver.

Today's Staging...

Gets the seller a quicker sale with minimal haggling.

Allows the seller's agent to have less marketing expenses and get paid faster.

Allows the buyer's agent to get buyers in a house more quickly, and get paid faster.

Provides the buyer with a move-in ready, desirable home they love.

When more agents start recommending that sellers at the very least consult with a stager, amazing things will happen, and buyers respond much quicker to homes that have vibe that professionals stagers create.

Every seller deserves an agent who recommends a stager to advice on their property's presentation.

Every buyer deserves a home that has gone through the nit-picky, detail-oriented hands of a ethical, experienced stager.

Houses that are not getting this treatment are at a tremendous disadvantage, whether it is a $60,000 1bd//1ba or a $600,000 home, or a $1,600,000 estate. Most staging consultations cost around a couple of hundred bucks, and most sellers expect to have to make some changes and have some money set aside for that. And consultations do not always turn into full-blown stagings for us. Many times, we just show them EXACTLY where to concentrate their time and/or funds for maximum ROI. That is our expertise.

MANY agents have shunned the idea of using professional stagers, and MANY have done a complete 180 degree turn on their positions after seeing real results brought about by real pros. It is not uncommon now for stagers to be called in on every listing that goes through an office. Some agents refuse entirely to work with sellers who will not stage.

So, Agents, please - find the best stager in your town, and align yourself with that stager. Let him or her advise your clients. Encourage your sellers to listen.

Bust that slump and be prepared to reap the benefits.

~Michelle Molinari

Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Staging,www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com

CSP Elite Instructor, Certified Staging Professionals,www.CSPElite.com

Lead Virtual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com

President of Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com

Stagers - Here's your Sign!

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:29:07 -0500

Aries : You are superior to none when it comes to making appointments, blogging, chatting with agents, and getting that foot in the door. You are a natural promoter, and have no problems passing out your cards like you ordered a million of them. You give off an excellent first impression, but sometimes you tend to lollygag a bit on deadlines. Your phone rings off the hook, but somehow, a lot of your leads don't pan out the way you expect. The craziest things always seem to happen to you. Your always very concerned about the end-result of the photography and address the exterior staging.

Taurus: You adore the act of transforming homes into showplaces. The process itself thrills you to no end, and you can't wait to see each item in it's place. Constantly rearranging until each decorative object has been switched around from room to room many times, right up until the last second of final reveal is a common tendency. You find inspiration in your dreams and often come off as not being confident in your decisions. Nothing could be further from the truth, as you are absolutely confident in yourself and you know when something DOESN'T belong before you find out what DOES belong. You love staging ANY room you can get your hands on.

Gemini: You can talk staging all day long, no matter who is or is not around. Theory fascinates you, and your favorite thing is watching/viewing other stagers work to find out how they tick. You read all the books there are, and still, the art of staging never fails to fascinate you. You tend to have a tough time with choosing and buying accessories, and shopping for them always sounds like a great idea, but you end up frustrated and tense. You love staging offices and craft rooms. You are always seeking "the purpose."

Cancer: You tend to really love to lifestyle accessorize, especially with faux foods, throws, and cozy things like tea cups and coffee beans. To you, it's all about extreme sensory comfort and pampering. You love staging the dining rooms and kitchens the best. You tend to linger long after the staging is done, and wonder from room to room and feel the vibe of the property, and are always shocked at your own skills and abilities. You know you are good, but you are taken back by how good you really are.

Leo: Your thing is lighting and mirrors, and you never feel there are enough of either. You like the bling effect, and find it a little hard to tone down your personal taste. You tend to feel your colors are louder or more intense than they should be. You have strong tastes and feel they need to be reigned in for the average bear to appreciate you. In reality, your gutsy color schemes and dramatic touches are the envy of many of your peers.

Virgo: It isn't clean until every inch of the house looks like it was just built yesterday. You fret over every thing and would iron the paper towels if you thought you could get away with it. You shoot and re-shoot your pics dozens of times, and comb them for flaws. It has to truly pass muster, and smell like the clouds of Heaven. You back out of the house on your way out, shut the door, then open it one more time and stick your head in just to be sure. KItchens and Guest Bedrooms are your favorites.

Libra: Shiny things, velvety things, and color subtlety are high priorities. You'd stage houses even if you had to pay the client to do it. Staging is your drug of choice, and you need it bad. When business is slow, you feel anxious and twitchy. You are all about the living room/shared areas. Always on the lookout for the newest look, you are a true decor and function aficionado and would gladly follow your favorite designers off a cliff. It's in your blood, and you will never give it up. Ever.

Scorpio: Your favorite room to stage is the Master bedroom and bathroom, and spa-like doesn't cut it enough for you. It has to be romantically charged. In fact, you like the whole house to feel just plain sexy. You prefer staging high-end homes and usually are not to excited about giving advice on the exterior. Exotic stone, extremely fine cabinetry, and exquisite hardware and fixtures are your calling card when you get the chance to choose them. You feel a rush of power just touching these types of materials, and you touch them a lot!

Sagittarius: No staging client is too far away for you to turn down an appointment. Delivering great service is very important to you and you have no problem going the extra mile. You tend to prefer a transitional, rather eclectic look. You are very versatile and can almost always find some way of weaving the client's own belongings into the scene. Repeat clients are not a problem for you to cultivate. You prefer an earthy approach and are drawn to incorporate a little bit of the exotic in your work.

Capricorn: Your greatest strength is organization and keeping everything and everyone on a tight schedule You are a natural born project manager. You really feel the pressure when you are behind. You have a fresh way with traditional furnishings and you actually prefer to shy away from high-end/big budget stagings. You are all to happy and quite satisfied to do your thing on a mid-priced tract house than anything else. You prefer a challenge, and feel a fancy house with a high budget is too easy and therefore no fun at all. Your favorite rooms to stage are dining rooms and eat-in kitchens, as you are always hoping to appeal to a family as a whole.

Aquarius: You love the big picture, and always are looking for new ways to enlarge it. Never satisfied, always seeking ways to improve the whole process, you are confounded by any resistance you encounter. You see all sides of the coin, and while you understand when someone doesn't see it your way, you can't help but think that is seems that people are a little bit stupid. You have a strong will on the job. You are very focused and your work tends to bowl your clients over, in a good way. You are impatient and hard to work with sometimes, but your resolute decisions and belief in your craft never fail to impress. Clients remember your words long after you have come and gone.

Pisces: You are routinely struck by the stories behind the house and the clients. You don't stop staging until the room "feels" right more than looks right. you are often not thrilled with the scale or color of an item, but you get it anyway, and are shocked to find it is almost always the perfect item. Once you are done staging a house, it chokes you up a little bit. You find yourself bonding with the house as a person, like it is your patient and you are it's doctor. Goodbyes are painful, as you really put your heart and soul into your work. You like to stage the patio areas, and the entry way the most.

Why are you Googling Curb Appeal Out of Season???!!!

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:31:07 -0500

Because you are SMART, that's why!

Here's 10 great reasons to start thinking about your Curb Appeal now, and what you can do to save hundreds, even thousands of dollars on your Spring project today!

1. Contractors, Craftsmen, Landscapers, and Laborers all feel the holiday pinch this time of year. Jobs always dwindle for these hardworking folks in the fall and winter. That means quotes will be leaner as competition gets stiffer. Scheduling any work that fall into these fields of expertise now could really free up your budget to include more than you thought you could afford to have done. Call on these good people NOW, and you'll have more $$ to work with. Stretch that contractor budget to it's MAXIMUM CAPACITY!

2. NOW is the proper time to fertilize your grass and feed your perennials one more time before they go dormant for the winter. One afternoon dose-ing your lawn, shrubs, and flowers on a single crisp fall day will allow you months of longer-performing, healthier plants for months in the Spring and Summer growing season.

3. Pruning trees & shrubs now will also go a long way to improve the overall appearance and health of your existing greenery. Removing unnecessary branches and leaves in the Fall allows the plant to concentrate it's nutrients on the remaining branches, allowing for a more lush look in the Spring - and pruning is FREE... if you do it yourself!

]4. Ever been to the nursery in the fallthis time of year? They are GIVING away plants- really good plants, too. They may need a bit of winter TLC, but you can easily find a $79.99 starter wisteria for $only 29.99, sometimes in a decorative pot, too. Take advantage of the bargains, and "baby" them a bit through until Spring, and you'll be rewarded with a beautiful plant, and a job well done, as well as saving a TON off your landscaping costs. THe plants you were going to buy in the spring had to be babied by someone, so it's not like you are buying "old" plants. You are just doing the babying, and saving HUNDREDS in the process!

5. Time is on your side - so look NOW for patio sets, water features, automated watering systems, door mats, door bells, and flowerbed edging! A deal is only a deal if you can take time to shop around. So do your comparison shopping, so you'll know a good price when you see one, and then buy all sorts of things you'd be paying for at a MUCH higher price in the Spring.

6. It's a great time to do minor DIY repairs - fixing the window caulk, replacing the weather stripping around the doors, swapping out a beat up threshold for a nice new one, or replacing a cracked piece of window glass... start ticking off your "honey-do" list now and maybe save a buck or two on your energy bill in the process!

7. While you are plotting out where to diplay your exterior holiday finery to it's utmost, go check out www.RoofReviver.com. They have an excellent D-I-Y solution to get that black streaky smut off your roof for less than $100, no scubbing, nor even bending! It will shave YEARS off your homes appearance, and it leaves your roof not only clean, but protected!

8. Give even the littlest kids something fun to do... and save even MORE money! Consider helping the kids have an interesting winter activity by starting some seeds in paper cups for a few cents rather than buying 20 filler plants or color plants for $17.99 a pop!

9. And don't forget the older ones! Spend some quality time with your teen and help them build a garden bench, flower boxes, a couple of pair of mock (non-operable) shutters or an entire picnic dining set.

10. And our most important time-saving, cost-saving tip of all...

Take advantage of the 10% Fall & Winter discount off the our exclusive Curb Appeal Strategy Package - a 12+ page assessment of your property's "appeal" , including specific advice with precise remedies for creating cohesion & balance. You'll not only get our best customized advice, you'll get a suggested color palette with LARGE paint chips and a cutting edge conceptual image of what your house will look like if you take our advice and execute the plan. Call us and order yours today! ONLY $159.99! Don't forget to ask for your 10% Off-Season Smarty-Pants Discount

Best of Skill to you!

Michelle Molinari

Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Staging,www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com

CSP Elite Instructor, Certified Staging Professionals, www.CSPElite.com

Lead Virtual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com

President of Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com

Breaking the Rules in Cow Island, Louisiana

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:25:19 -0500

Earlier this year, our finishing carpenter, Paul, dedicated a lot of time, largely unpaid, for a project for a family member of ours who was "displaced" by Hurricane Ike.

To help repay our debt to him for his tireless efforts, we re-designed a guest bedroom in his house in Cow Island, Louisiana.

We had to break some pretty basic rules, but they were necessary.

Here's the layout we had to work with:

Please note the doors on every wall, causing furniture placement issues.

We had a HUGE Pre-Civil War 4-Poster (w/Canopy) Bed, that belonged to Paul's Grandfather. We also wanted to see a writing desk in this room. No closet - the house was built in the 30's and closets as we know them today were not invented yet, lol.

So, we had to edit a few distractions - chiefly being the single window, the awkward electrical box, and the secondary door to the office. In old houses in the South, doors were everywhere to take advantage of a any and every passing breeze. A room could not have enough doors during this design phase. The attached parlor has a large wardrobe closet. We hope to get to do that room this winter.

Here's the Before and Afters:

Our Team:

Recreated the Missing the Cypress Canopy

Sewed the Massive Wall Draperies

Created Custom Pillows to Tie in the Wainscoting

And Made the Stained Glass Window

It was loads of fun working with such fabulous period furniture. The desk is from Paul's wife's family. It was her travelling school-teacher mother's, and it actually was transported weekly from school to school in a covered wagon.

I dunno when we will get to work on a project as interesting as this one again. It was a kick!

~Michelle

Becoming a Part of The Solution... my experience with CSP Elite Trainer Melissa Marro

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:01:33 -0500

This week has been a major turning point for my staging company and for all Home Stagers and Real Estate Agents in Louisiana.

I have come back from my CSP Elite Training Course taught by

the incomparable Melissa Marro

and I am now a CSP Elite Instructor.

Melissa Marro & Michelle Molinari

Big Whoop you might be thinking, as you click out of this blog. If you are a Stager or an Agent, you might not want to hit that back button just yet.

This is a revolutionary course that will, beyond a shadow of a doubt, demonstrate not only the impact of real estate staging to Agents, but also provide a step-by-step solution on how to diplomatically implement local staging professionals seamlessly into an Agent's repertoire.

It is not a Lunch and Learn. It is a full-blown 7 hour course, taught by local professional stagers. Once you take this class, staging and selling the purpose for staging is completely de-mystified. You will walk away with all the tools and materials necessary to be more than just an agent who offers lip service in this arena.

Sellers need you to be an expert in your field. Taking the CSP Elite Course allows you to become an expert in the Gentle Art of Persuading your Seller to Stage - to embrace the best opportunity they have to protect and recoup their equity quickly and to avoid price reductions.

Curious? I certainly hope you would be. Stagers and Agents alike can visit the CSP Elite Website for details.

Melissa Marro, Executive Director of North American Operations for Certified Staging Professionals has opened this class to ALL stagers regardless of designation!

The sooner you get trained, the sooner the Agents in your state can truly get busy making their businesses grow exponentially by finding and utilizing professional stagers effortlessly and with incredible results. Her class is FANTASTIC and she blew us all away with the new Elite Program. She is an incredibly successful stager located in the Charleston, SC area and a true professional.

Agents - you can go to www.cspelite.com and find out if a trainer can come to your location and teach you this crucial business survival tool that will sell your listings faster, generate higher offers for you sellers, and REDUCE YOUR MARKETING EXPENSES - all to make your job easier while you earn and keep more of your commissions.

Don't let this opprtunity slip away. It's beneficial for everyone, and for the Real Estate Industry as well. Become proactive. Move those listings with proven techniques and with proven stagers! CSP Elite will show you EXACTLY how to incorporate staging into your existing services.

~Michelle Molinari

Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Staging,www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com

CSP Elite Instructor, Certified Staging Professionals, www.CSPtraining.com

Lead Virtual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com

President of Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com

She's Crafty!

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:07:05 -0500

So we had this dilemma...

A guest bathroom -2 feet wide and 71/2 feet long. Mauve wallpaper with tiny cream flowers, and a country blue Formica counter top, and a really cheap-looking vanity with blue round porcelain knobs on the cupboards. And a cracked porcelain toilet tank lid (you just can't buy the lid, btw). Sorry no before pics -but believe me - it was tragic.

A gut job was NOT in the cards. I didn't even want to deal with it, honestly, and I just put it all off on my mother & business partner, Carol.I didn't even want to talk about that bathroom. And what she wanted to do sounded INSANE in the MEMBRANE:

So, we had this leftover mosaic tile, about 7 sheets. It was $9.98/ per sheet from Home Depot.

We Gorilla-glued the toilet tank back together (it was in 3 pieces!) and I thought she had lost her marbles on this one. But I was so impressed with the result - it's my new favorite thing to do to a toilet tank!

We transformed the cabinets with trim, the excess tile & grout, and added four $1.79 knobs from Lowe's. We painted over the wallpaper with some leftover foyer paint (which I never recommend - painting over wallpaper is almost always a waste of time and materials, unless you are willing to strip it off and repaint if it bubbles, and it usually does bubble)... successfully.

We didn't have to replace a single thing, except those knobs.

MOM - this blog's for you.

You are the shizzle!!!!!!

~Michelle

I cannot help this client pick color - because I might hurt someone!

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:26:54 -0500

Well, it was bound to happen eventually.

I received an email this afternoon from a potential client in Florida.

He wants my advice on exterior color for his small retail business. He found my website dedicated to advising clients on exterior curb appeal, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com.

Florida law says I must be a licensed interior designer to advise this fella on any level, and charge him for my consulting service.My fee for a color consult, with a digital image of the property exhibiting the color change, is $159.99

However, he can go into any paint store of his choice in his state, and ask any employee, from the accountant to the janitor, and they can give them their two cents without fear of repercussions or fines. And, that paint company will benefit monetarily from his purchase of 10 gallons of paint, for a profit of MUCH MORE Than $159.99

But my experienced "two cents" are ILLEGAL, because I am NOT a licensed designer. I am a very experienced decorator and curb appeal consultant (I used to work for a major paint company and I used to consult all day long for residential and commercial -WITHOUT A LICENSE).

The premise for this law is that I might endanger society with my advice, even though no record of such an injury has ever been documented in Florida or any other state.

Incidentally, it also protects the pocketbook of licensed designers, a special interest group. Did you know that laws are supposed to be enacted and upheld to protect the public, and not special interest groups? But hey, it's A-OK to do that in Florida and a handful of other states.

If you think this is a ridiculous waste of taxpayer money to enforce such inane laws, or of you think you might one day have to turn a client (and their money) away, perhaps you should read up on the laws and state activities on this topic at www.idpcinfo.org.

Donations to eventually prevail against this kind of special interest activity can also be given to www.idpcinfo.org.

Today it is me and my little curb appeal company that has to say "NO,I cannot help you in any way because it is illegal for me to advise you on paint color in the Sunshine State. "

Tomorrow, it might be your staging/redesign business trying to help your clients with color, that will be "victimizing" people.

Free enterprise for stagers-redesigners-decorators is not a nation-wide right. And be careful with that fan deck o'paint colors - someone could really get hurt. Like a licensed designer's bank account, for example.

~Michelle

Don't Make Me Put on My Pantyhose!

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:23:45 -0500

I've been reading blogs for a while here on Active Rain about stagers who are staging properties only to have them "re-staged" in their absence.

It hadn't ever happened to me, until a couple of weeks ago, when I was conducting a very through curb appeal strategy for a neglected ranch house (our specialty!). Now, I have to say, we provide our clients beforehand with digital images of our ideas, so they know what the end result will look like, so everyone is on the same page. Our new client was no exception.

He was a fella who had heard about our work from his mother over the course of several months, and we had met him on a couple of casual occasions. When he was ready to begin in earnest, he called our company to increase his curb appeal.

So, we ran some of our ideas by him, and we got the go-ahead, so we jumped in and started the very next day with a full crew. It involved power washing, painting, restoration, landscape removal, new window screens, some glass replacement, new rain gutters, and installing new landscaping. It was a full transformation.

Although we discussed each project and received approval, it seemed like as soon as we got a color up, or a bit of new hardware installed, or brought a plant on site, our client disapproved. For one project painting a pair of service doors in a color he approved beforehand, he became so angry, he stopped talking to us for the entire day. He didn't like the color.

It was uncomfortable, to say the least. But, we just kept on staging, since he didn't exactly tell us to stop.I had never had so many decisions being second-guessed, and I just wanted to get the job over with.

So finally we get down to the last couple of days. The last few landscaping plants we special ordered finally came in, and everything was ready for planting. We worked hard, and when it was complete looked magnificent. We left with only a couple of things left to do to wrap it up the next day.

So, we pull up into the driveway the next morning, and to my horror, I discover he has removed all the key landscaping and relocated it in other areas that already had been addressed with plantings. The major impact zone, which greets visitors, is a large flower bed, where we had planted some shrubs, a large fern, and a luscious bed of white and red periwinkle, and it was now bare... nothing but a 10x10 patch of bark mulch, very inviting to cats, but not to people.

It seems I was still in a state of shock, when he came out and asked me what I thought of his new placements. I didn't censor myself in time, and I told him exactly what I thought it looked like... a great place for a cat to leave a calling card.

Then he asked me, "What makes your opinion on what looks good better than mine?" He wasn't being snide. He was honestly asking. And that was when I knew where I had failed this client, and that I was the problem, not him.

We had been talking to this fella for months, seeing his mom all the time, and discussing the upcoming job so often, I never presented our company to him with a proper presentation with our beautiful Before & After Slide Show and Stats, and while he knew of us, he didn't know about our company. He didn't understand our goals for his property, our experience, or how carefully we planned his budget to insure him maximum ROI.

And I knew better! I know how important it truly is to get every project started on the right foot, but I just dropped the ball completely and totally. It all made sense, the difficulties we were repeatedly experiencing on this job, which we hadn't encountered before.

So, I learned my lesson.

There is no such thing as an informed customer until I, myself, inform them.

We have to put on that suit (pantyhose, pumps, and all!) and grab that briefcase, and explain who we are, what we do, and why we do it. We need to whip out those "purportedly" useless credentials many of us have, and talk about our affiliations and associations.We have to qualify ourselves as an expert to be treated like one.

Even if it seems like they already know.

Even if they are chomping at the bit to sign the contract.

Because if we don't, we deserve to be second-guessed!

~Michelle Molinari

Certified Professional Stager, Feature This... Real Estate Staging, www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com

Lead Virtual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com

President, Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com

Feature This...Staging Tip # 30987 Profitable Painting Paraphernalia

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:16:53 -0500

Painting advice is rampant with all sorts of gee-gaws and product suggestions to make projects go more smoothly.

As Stagers who not only advise, but oversee the execution minor renovations, here's some real cost effective tools we use every day to make our work professional and profitable.... from Feature This...Real Estate Staging!

Tools:

The 4" Whizz Roller - less than $6.00

The Whizz Roller looks like a child's toy compared to some of the ginormous rollers and handle sets on the market which offer maximum width and paint-holding capabilities. So why would anyone bother with a rinky-dink thing like a Whizz?

We never use those big rollers, because Whizz Roller doesn't wear us out. Fatigue is the enemy here, not paint load. My shoulder isn't sore after painting several rooms in a day with a Whizz. It cleans up much faster for color-changes than traditional rollers. Whizz roller covers are cheaper, last longer, and doesn't shed. The end of the roller is also covered, to make perfect corners in seconds, They are smaller, and fit into tight areas, such as you'll find in bathrooms, and fit better in my paint supply case.

I'd rather have my little Whizz laying down paint any day over every single paint product I have ever used, some quite expensive. It's just a smarter way to paint.

The Paint Pad -About $2.00

If you haven't used a paint pad yet, you are straight up behind the times. They are not perfect, but using a paint pad in conjunction with high-quality 1 inch trim brush will shave HOURS off your time. Just wipe it around the sides of any trim-out you have to do - the little roller-guides will do about 75% of your cut-in to perfection, leaving you with only about 25% to do minor correcting with the brush. Use them along the ceiling, too, to prevent 75% of the time you will have to keep your head at an awkward angle!

Paint pads are extremely popular in the UK for nearly all residential projects , and is gaining a foothold here in North America. They cover MUCH better, with no splatter or flick-off, pass beautifully over most rough surfaces, and offer a much better finish. I especially like to use them to paint crown moulding before install. What used to take me a couple of hours to achieve now gets done in about 15 minutes with smoother, brush-stroke free results. And one pad will last you for a whole project - they are VERY long-lasting. But buy two, so you don't have to fight over using it with any assistants.

The Ladder - $199

With all that money and time the Whizz Roller and the paint pad will save/make for you, you need to turn around and buy the Little Giant Model 17 Commercial Grade Type 1 Ladder for $199. It is a mini- scaffold, and multi-useful step and extension ladder all in one. Don't forget to buy the Project Tray accessory, designed to hold tools and paint cans for only $40 more. Weighing in at well under 30 lbs., this is the BEST purchase you can make for yourself, your back, and your bottom line.

The Paint - $54 per gallon

Yes. $54/gallon paint is the ONLY paint we ever use, because we can do basic math! And the math shows us that paying $54 per gallon and getting DONE IN ONE DAY beats the britches off of paying $30 per gallon and having to drag out a job of TWO OR EVEN THREE DAYS!

So Here's the basic Math proof for those who are still choking on $54 per gallon:

Example Project with Regular Paint

Master Bedroom currently painted a deep taupe-gray w/ Burgundy accent wall

Goal - Unify and brighten with a lighter neutral color.

Materials needed:

$20.00 -1 gal latex primer (to cover burgundy wall)

$60. 00 - 2 gals of Interior Wall Paint (for two+ required coats)

$35.00 - 1 Gal of Trim Paint (all trim and moulding, two doors, one set of double closet doors)

_________

$115.00 worth of supplies

Work:

-Apply Primer to Burgundy wall. Wait lit dry. One hour labor +6 hours dry time

Paint 1^st coat on walls. 1 hour labor + Wait til dry 4 hours

Paint 2^nd coat on walls, 1 hour labor

Cut in trim first coat. 3 hours labor +Wait lit dry 4 hours

Cut in trim second coat. 2 hours labor

__________

21hours of TIME and LABOR

OR you can use the RIGHT PAINT for the SAME PROJECT:

Materials needed

$108 for 2 gals of Benjamin Moore Aura Interior Paint, one trim and one wall

_________

$108 total

Do not prime - Aura is self-priming

Paint coat One - one hour of labor + recoat in ONE HOUR

Spot-Paint Coat two.

Paint Trim -3 hours

Paint Trim Second Coat - 2 hours

_________

8.5 hours of TIME and LABOR

That's a savings of 12 hours of labor AND $7 whole bucks~!

So using $54 per gallon Aura Paint by Benjamin Moore:

SAVES MONEY AND TONS OF TIME
Benjamin Moore Aura Paint - SELF PRIMES
Often Requires only ONE COAT (the actual thickness of one coat of this paint is measurable EQUAL to 2 coats of regular brands)
Full Coverage Guaranteed in TWO COATS
Extremely LOW VOC
Recoats in One Hour
Fully Washable
Seamless Touch-up Feature allows spot patching vs. whole wall painting

Passing these tips along to your clients who wish to do their own painting will endear you to them.

I HAVE HAD CLEINTS ACTUALLY COME UP AND KISS ME AFTER USING THESE TIPS.

So be careful!

Michelle Molinari

Certified Professional Stager, Feature This... Real Estate Staging, www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com
Lead Virtual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com
President, Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com

South Carolina gets the Concept!

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:17:03 -0500

Here's a conceptual staging slideshow we just finished up. Our client says: "You are the best and have been a total pleasure to work with!! I have been in sales all of my life and it is rare to find people like you! I would love to be able to collaborate with you in some way to sell your concept across the country. It is so exciting! Maybe one day! Have a nice day! Robyn" This house has been on the market a very long time and had taken over $100,000 in reductions. Will conceptual staging work for them? Stay tuned!

Virtual Staging - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:56:26 -0500

Okay, so I started doing this Virtual Thing in 2007.

I was a color consultant working for a Benjamin Moore retailer. We only had ONE color person on Saturdays, and it was moi.

I was SLAMMED from the moment I arrived to the moment I left. No potty breaks, no lunch, no diet cokes to wet my whistle. My yap was flapping 90 to nothing, as I helped answer questions, persuade, cajole, and reassure people about paint color for their projects.

So, I started using the Benjamin Moore Color Viewer with my customers. Neat tool, as it helped me convince customers faster, sell a larger volume of paint, and get on to helping the next person who needed me that much sooner. Nevermind the part where I actually could finangle to squeeze in a slice of pizza now and then.

But the tool seemed limited. I could show them a nice color on the wall of their own house, but sometimes the dated hunter-green sofa they intended to replace would be throwing it off. Or, their plain ceiling-white paint or the flourescent fixtures would cast a morgue-like glow that would make everything I tried look just plain nasty.

But, I did what I could, and it helped quite a bit. Exteriors were my favorite, as they were never flourescent-y lights to thwart my efforts.

But sometimes, I 'd come up with a brilliant, truly inspired and totally fresh exterior color scheme customized to PERFECTION with their roof and brick, only to have the client say, "I don't like it."

It would burn my biscuits!

I knew if they could just see it without that dead grass patch on the lawn from the kiddie pool and overgrown landscaping, and envison nice, lushly manicured flower beds & some tidy, darling shutters, they would just flip out. But, sometimes, they just couldn't see what I was seeing in my head.

And so, my pursuit began for a way to get the image out of my head and into my client's. I 've used everything but the kitchen sink to improve the realism and NOT delve into a completely CAD image. Our images are not just based on the original photo, they ARE the original photo, with a few changes we would absolutely make if we were actually there on the premises, to enhance the architecture and flow. There is an awful lot more to staging than furniture, accessories, and potted plants.

Sometimes, we depict the image with a better paint color to warm the space. Sometimes, we add detailed brickwork to an exterior that needs grounding, Occasionally, we need to throw the whole book at it, showing potential buyers what it would look like to remove a non-loadbearing wall to open up a tight floorplan, or completely rennovate a dreary, dated kitchen. It's all about selling the immense potential most homes truly have, without actually breaking the bank for the seller, or pulling a fast one on the buyer.

It's been over 2 1/2 years of virtual imaging for our company. We have expanded to include two new virtual designers, whom are still in training, and have been for several months. The programs we truly require are not invented yet, but we are putting along just the same, working with what we have available. The learning curve is a doozy.

But acceptance is gaining, and new virtual designers are being hatched every day. I hope this newest branch of the Staging Industry keeps it's standards high, and it's virtual work true to the concepts of Staging set by our predecessors. It ain't called VIrtual Real Estate Decorating. It's supposed to be Staging, through and through, only on the Virtual side of the track instead of the Traditional side.

~Michelle Molinari

Certified Professional Stager, Feature This... Real Estate Staging, www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com
Lead Virtual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com
President, Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com

Choosing A Virtual Stager?

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:14:06 -0500

Consider your options carefully. Staging is unregulated but specialized field of expertise regarding many factors, including, but not limited to, the target demographic of the property, the architecture, the location, and the amenities the property offers.

Unregulated means there is no authority to oversee the education and qualifications of someone who wants to call themselves a "stager", virtual or otherwise.

Virtual Staging is a specialized field within the staging industry. It basically breaks down into the insertion of design ideas onto an existing image of a room or exterior of a house.

How one decides which ideas to use is crucial to the overall impression a virtual staging image makes. Experience separates the wheat from the chaff. Anyone can insert images and propose ideas for staging onto a photo with any Photoshop program. Anyone at all.

But experienced, professional stagers are not just anybody. They are keenly aware of what ROI (return on investment) a project carries. They are purveyors of cost-effective ideas that can enhance a property in the exact way that follows ever-changing buying trends. Translating that to the Virtual Staging Arena is crucial to showing a buyer not only what is possible potential a property holds, but how to depict that potential in a straightforward, highly desirable, and cost-effective way.

Virtual Staging is marketing, but it has an unmistakable relationship to the art of revealing an instinctual verdict of value about a property. There is more to it than Photoshop + Furniture = Staging.

If you are considering sourcing a quality virtual stager, consider these tips:

Do they have actual experience in the field of Staging?

Do they offer Traditional Staging as a Service?

Do they have any Staging Education?

Are they affiliated with any reputable staging associations, such as RESA or the IAHSP?

Does their portfolio reflect a clear sense of design skill and execution of actual staging rules and concepts?

There is more to staging than simply "photoshopping" in furniture, art, and accessories to a photograph.

Quality staging encompasses a myriad of skills and fields of learning, including layout, style, architecture, demographics, color theory, ROI knowledge, product knowledge, DIY capabilities, current trend awareness, and a strong ability to create dynamic flow to tell a story about what life could be like living at that particular property, with a little elbow grease from the buyer.

So, do a little homework to determine who you are hiring to Virtually Stage your listing.

There's more to it than one might think.

~Michelle Molinari

www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com

Can't Find a Stager? Order Staging To Go!

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:34:47 -0500

Professional Results ARE possible when you have great advice

and a visual plan to follow tailor-fit to your listing

by a Professional Stager.

Call us today and find out how we can help you whip those listings into shape using encouragement and sound staging principles, as well as a "GOAL IMAGE" to help your buyers embrace the concept of Staging to maximize their architecture and push their property ahead of the pack!

~Michelle Molinari

(337) 652-3983

Lackluster to BLOCKBUSTER with Conceptual Staging

Michelle Molinari (FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:31:52 -0500

Once... Twice... Thrice!

Pique Buyers' Curiosity about YOUR listings

with Conceptually Staged Images by CurbAppealForDummies.com.

New Construction has used conceptual images for years to show buyers the potential a property holds regarding Curb Appeal and more.

The same skillful rendering is available for you to define that potential...

in a way buyers can instantly appreciate.

Only ten percent of the population can rely on their imaginations to mentally augment what they see, and transform it in their mind's eye. Help the other 9 out of ten buyers by giving them VISION.

If you would like to add instant impact to listings

that might otherwise get clicked over on the MLS, call us.

(337) 652-3983

~Michelle Molinari

Certified Professional Stager,Feature This...Real Estate Staging

President, Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association

Lead Virtual Designer,www.CurbAppealForDummies.com