Nashville Home Staging - Anthea's Perspective

10 Tips For Staging Your Home To Sell in Nashville

Sun, 23 May 2010 17:24:30 -0700

10 Tips For Staging Your Home To Sell in Nashville

If you really want to sell your home in today's market, it must stand out from the competition. Staging sets your home apart and attracts buyers like bees to honey. Staging is all about appealing to the masses and helps buyers develop an emotional attachment to your home.

Below are 10 tips for staging your home to sell in Nashville:

1. Don't Get Dressed Up Without Taking a Shower- having a clean home is essential when selling. No one wants to move into someone else's dirt. Scrub the house from top to bottom so it can pass the White Glove Test. Don't forget key areas most home sellers forget: baseboards, light fixtures, air return vents, cabinet doors, inside appliances, windows, tubs and showers, tile grout, and door handles. I wrote a blog, Why Are You Getting All Dressed Up and Not Taking a Shower? describing areas many home sellers forget to clean. Putting your house on the market without giving it a good deep cleaning is like going to the prom without taking a shower.

2. Got stuff? - Most of us have too much of it. We bring it in one bag at a time and don't notice how cluttered our house really is. The more clutter you have the harder it is for a buyer to see the great features of your home. It appears much smaller than it truly is and will turn off a buyer very quickly. Get rid of the extra items you haven't used in a while. Store belongings off site, have a yard sale, throw it away, or donate to Nashville flood victims. I'm sure a family who lost everything would greatly appreciate the items you no longer need. Plus, when you get rid of items, moving day will be so much easier.

3. Take The "Me" Out of Your Home - Let's face it, Nashville is a town where everyone knows everyone. If a buyer walks through a home that has family photos plastered throughout, they will easily get distracted. They want to know if they know you and if not, that baby in the photo certainly is gorgeous. And so is that one, and that one and that one................

Do you really want buyers to remember your beautiful children or the home you are selling?

4. Know What You Are Dealing With Upfront- Is there a leak in your roof or water damage in the crawl space? Make repairs before you put your house on the market. Consider getting a pre-list home inspection to uncover any maintenance issues you will want to address. By dealing with any issues up front you will tell the buyer you are serious about selling, be confident (and not on pins and needles) when the buyer hires their own home inspector to evaluate the house, and have time to hire the right professional to do the job versus trying to find someone in a hurry and possibly delay closing.

5. Walls Should Be The Backdrop - Red may be your favorite color, but leaving your bedroom bright red will surely turn off buyers. Remember, you are trying to appeal to the masses. You must neutralize the color of your house to appeal to a broad range of buyers. Neutral doesn't have to mean builder beige. Great neutrals are soft greens, powder blues, light grays, warm creams, and buttery yellows. Pops of color should be added with your accessories, throw pillows, artwork, and accent pieces.

6. Bring Your Home Into Today - Buyers love an updated and fresh home and it makes all the difference when selling. Removing dated balloon valances, replacing brass light fixtures and adding slipcovers to worn out furniture are all inexpensive ways to freshen up the look of any home without breaking the bank. New cabinet hardware, a fresh coat of paint, and adding crown moulding can work wonders too.

7. Are You Hiding An Asset? - Furniture placement is extremely important when selling your home. Rearrange the furniture so traffic can easily flow around it. Many times people have too much or overstuffed furniture in a room making it look smaller than it really is. Scale down and arrange the furniture so it shows off the great architectural features of the space such as a fireplace or a wall of windows.

8. Create Useable Space - Buyers look at the useable square footage when evaluating a home. If a buyer doesn't know what the intended use is supposed to be they certainly won't pay for it. Maybe a pass through can become a great place to read a book if a bench or small couch were added. A deck can become a wonderful entertaining area with multiple conversation zones. A large extra closet can become a great craft nook or homework zone if a small desk were added. Think about ways every space can be used to the fullest.

9. Don't Play the Guessing Game - Avoid selling that "catch all room". You know that room that has the treadmill you no longer use, the boxes full of stuff you are planning on giving away, the spare guest bed, and the many other things that tend to pile up because you have no other place for it. If it is a bedroom, show it is a bedroom. If it is an office show it is an office. Show buyers what the room is. Don't make them guess. Buyers hate that game.

10. If You Got It Flaunt It - Do you have hardwoods under that carpet or a great basement you are not using? Remove that carpet, expose those gorgeous hardwood floors and add instant value to your home. Do you have a basement that can be an in-law suite or teenager's private haven? Go ahead and finish it off. You can add tremendous value, just make sure you don't over improve for your neighborhood. (Consulting with your Realtor for the best return on your investment is a good idea before you start any home improvement project).

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Anthea Click is the President of Fresh Perspectives Property Merchandising Services specializing in staging vacant homes, model homes and owner occupied redesign in the Middle Tennessee area including:Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Spring Hill, Fairview, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, and Lebanon. She is also a certified CSP Elite instructor, educating agents on how to incorporate staging into their business. For information on staging your home for sale contact us at 615-465-8086 or visit our website www.InsideNashvilleHomes.com

Spring Hill, TN Business Owners - Publix Can Teach You a Lesson

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:23:40 -0700

Spring Hill, TN Business Owners - Publix Can Teach You A Lesson

As the owner of a home staging company I try to emulate what the bigger, more successful companies like Borders, Starbucks, and Publix do. Why re-invent the wheel, right?

They are successful for a certain reason - they service their client and don't just sell product, they give them an experience. I will go out of my way to do business with these companies. Who cares if I pay more? To me, it is worth it.

In my small town of Spring Hill, TN the main grocery stores are Publix and Kroger. Kroger has two locations, one extremely close by and the other just a couple miles up the road. The Kroger further out is a MarketPlace store where they carry bedding, artwork, accessories, greenery, lamps, area rugs, and furniture along with, a jewelry store, groceries, and a buffet of ready to eat food. As a home stager, I'm sure you can imagine how much I love going there. The selection of home goods is awesome and I can spend hours in the store looking for items to add to my inventory.

The problem is, I only go there when I have to. The customer service is so poor. I can rarely find an employee who can help me when I have a question. I have also been known to buy 50lb bags of dog food and never, ever have I been asked if I would like some help out to my car. It's such a shame. Kroger is missing out on a customer who spends a tremendous amount of money.

Publix, on the other hand - now that is the place to go!

Is it as nice as the newer Kroger MarketPlace? No.

Do they carry fun things like artwork and accessories I can purchase for my business? No.

Are they cheaper then Kroger? On some things, yes, but not overall.

Yet, given the choice I choose Publix every time. Why? Because of the experience. I can always find someone to help me if I need it (even though I shop there so often I rarely need it). They will actually take me to the item I am looking for as opposed to grunting out that it is on some aisle on the other side of the store. I'm always greeted while I walk up and down the aisle. Every time I check out I am offered help out to my car, even if it is just a gallon of milk and a magazine.

Publix makes it clear they value me as a customer. They go out of their way to give me a shopping experience. Will I pay more for that experience? Absolutely! So as a business owner, don't you want those kind of loyal customers? How can you give them an experience with you like no other?

Thank you Publix! Not only for the great lesson in customer service, but for giving me an experience every time I visit your store.

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Home Selling Success: Nolensville, TN 37135

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:28:17 -0700

It's another home selling success story: Nolensville, TN 37135!

Fresh Perspectives recently provided a staging consultation for the homeowners of 7731 Nolensville Rd Nolensville, TN 37135. This adorable home is located the quaint town of Nolensville in Williamson County, TN. Surrounded by mature trees, wildlife, and room to roam this property is ideal for the first time homebuyer who wants to be in Williamson County and avoid subdivision living.

After following the suggestions we provided and the advice of their Realtor, Drew Hendry of SilverPointe Properties, we are happy to report this property sold within the first week of hitting the market to the first buyer to walk through the door! They also received a back up offer in case this contract fell through. Drew reported a couple other phone calls from agents who had buyers interested in the property and wanted to be notified if the current contracts did not work out.

What caused this home to sell so quickly?

Two reasons:

1. These homeowners followed the advice of Drew Hendry. Drew provided great advice for pricing the home and implemented an effective marketing strategy to draw buyers to the property.

2. The homeowners also followed the advice provided during the staging consultation they had with Fresh Perspectives Property Merchandising Services, a service Drew Hendry provides to all sellers who list with him.

If you're interested in listing your home with a Realtor who has a track record for getting homes sold contact Drew Hendry at 615-377-6330. You'll be glad you did!

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Selling a Home Quickly In Williamson County, TN: A Winning Combination

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:43:19 -0700

Sell your home quickly in Williamson County, TN.

Although the Williamson County market is not currently experiencing the record breaking sales as we had in recent years the good news is real estate is still selling.

So what causes a home to sell quickly in Williamson County, TN? A winning combination of 3 simple components ensures a successful sell.

1. You, The Homeowner

It starts with you, Mr and Mrs Homeowner! You must be serious about selling. Ask yourself, "Do I want to actually sell my home or just be another listing?" If you are not willing to listen to the advice of the professionals, you simply will not sell your home. You must be realistic about pricing, be willing to invest the time and money required for it to show well, and be flexible so buyers can actually experience it in person.

2. A Great Realtor

Yes, there are many to choose from and you must choose wisely. They must know the market, have experience in selling similar homes (price range and/or neighborhood), understand how to effectively market a property, and demonstrate ability to negotiate (Please note: It is not wise to ask a Realtor to cut their commission. They truly earn every penny they make by marketing the property and handling the transaction. If you do ask and they are willing to give their own money away, how hard will they negotiate on your behalf when it is your money on the line?)

Don't hire a friend or family member just because they have a license. Hire the best person for the job. Interview a few Realtors to find the right one for you. Ask how they plan on marketing your home and the results they have experienced. If you had a $500,000 legal problem wouldn't you hire the best attorney you could afford? Then hire the best Realtor to sell your largest asset. Not sure who to hire? We work with many Realtors and can refer you to an outstanding agent who knows how to get your home sold.

3. A Home Stager

If you want to sell your home it must be staged. Staging allows your home to stand out among the competition. It highlights the fantastic features and downplays anything negative while selling a lifestyle that buyers can connect with. A good home stager comes with references, can share statistics of similar properties they have staged, and will know how to target the buyer of your property. They are a great resource for painters, electricians, carpet cleaners, plumbers, and any other service provider you could need.

Fresh Perspectives stages many homes in Williamson County and has experienced tremendous success in helping to get these properties sold. For information on our services visit our website, www.fresh-perspectives.com.

Take your Williamson County home from listed to sold by putting together a winning combination.

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Georgetown Condos, Nashville, TN 37205: Renovated Condo in the Heart of Green Hills

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:57:53 -0700

The Georgetown Condos, in the heart of Green Hills is located just off Hillsboro Rd in Nashville, TN. We recently had the opportunity to stage this beauty that has just received a major facelift. Thanks to Hilson Merrill of The Merrill Construction Group the outdated and tired unit has a new, fresh appeal. Long gone is the wallpaper, old paint and worn carpet. If you are looking for a new condo in a great location of Nashville, then this is one to seriously consider.

Green Hills is full of fantastic shopping with The Mall of Green Hills and many other great retail outlets. Some of the best restaurants including California Pizza Kitchen, Bread and Co, Green Hills Grille, Cheesecake Factory and Noshville are also close by. It is also close to many universities in the area including Vanderbilt, Belmont, and David Lipscomb.

The unit is 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths with just over 1100 square feet. Listed for $179,900 you simply won't find anything nicer then this beauty in Green Hills for the price. MLS # 1165586. It's listed by Zach Goodyear of Village Real Estate Services. For more information or to schedule your private showing, contact Zach at 615-383-6964.

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If You Really Want To Move.......

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:14:10 -0700

The other day I received a call from an out of state homeowner. She was selling a home in Nashville. It had been on the market for 6 months and she decided it needed to be staged. The property was getting a lot of showings, but lacked the "wow factor" to bring an acceptable offer to the table. Her daughter was living in the property and I was to call her to set up a time to view the unit.

When I arrived I quickly assessed what the challenge was and why they were not getting a decent offer. The problem was clutter. Stuff was coming out from behind every door, peeking out from under beds, growing across counter tops, and falling out of every closet. The place was gorgeous, but the buyers couldn't see past all that clutter. It made the space seem so much smaller then it really was and less than desirable.

Along with a few other suggestions to highlight the unit I recommended the tenant get a storage unit to store all the extra stuff that was keeping the unit from selling. With every comment I made I got resistance. There was every excuse as to why she couldn't do what I was suggesting.

As we were standing in her closet she finally disclosed that she did not want to move! Really? No kidding! I had that figured out by the second room we were in. The suggestions I made were very reasonable but obviously nothing interested her.

I have left a message for the homeowner to have a true heart to heart with her. There is a bigger issue here that has to be addressed before I can do anything for her. She can spend money to add that "wow factor", but when you have a tenant who doesn't want to move it will not do any good to spend the money.

I can't help you if you don't want to move.

If you live in the Nashville area and you do want to move, contact Fresh Perspectives Property Merchandising Services. We can help you get your home sold quickly and for top dollar - but only if you want to.

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Nashville Home Stager to Educate Investors

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:35:45 -0800

Nashville, TN - Home staging has taken the real estate industry by storm and Nashville area investors will learn how to maximize their properties when home stager, Anthea Click, speaks at the Real Estate Investors of Nashville monthly meeting on March 8, 2010.

Anthea Click will be speaking from 5:45 - 6:45pm during the club's Table Topic portion of the meeting. The talk will focus on the 4 key elements homebuyers look for, how to develop emotion in a home and make it stand out from the competition, the benefits of staging, and how staging can maximize a property when it is for sell or rent.

The meeting is held at the Al Menah Shriners Center 1354 Brick Church Pike Nashville, TN 37201.

For a more in-depth education on home staging, Anthea Click will be holding a 3 hour class, Real Estate Staging For Investors on Tuesday April 6, 2010. Topics for this class include a deeper discussion of staging: the benefits of staging, facts, trends, and statistics, how to find a stager, questions to ask, how to budget for staging, case studies, cost vs. ROI, and much more.

Real Estate Staging For Investors will be taught at the REIN Education Center located at 2416 Music Valley Drive Suite 151, Nashville, TN 37214 from 6-9pm Tuesday April 6, 2010.

Classes are open to the public and cost varies. For more information or to register to attend visit www.reintn.org.

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Sorry, He Hates It!

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:14:24 -0800

"Sorry, he hates it!"Those were the words I heard from an agent whose listing we recently staged. "What?" I said as my heart jumped into my throat. We've never had an unhappy client and after 3 years in business we were experiencing our first. When we finished staging the property the agent stopped by, whom we had never worked with before. I'm always on edge when a client sees a property for the first time after we are finished staging. Knowing they are happy always makes me feel good - I never want to disappoint them. This agent was hard to read - not the emotional type. He said he was happy with it, but in those situations you just never know.

Here is a picture of the living room before we staged it:

This is how we staged the room:

Really? Do you hate it? This home is in the heart of East Nashville, full of gorgeous old Victorians that have been renovated. There are many eclectic homes attracting the young professionals who want to be close to downtown Nashville. This particular property was a mix of traditional and contemporary and the challenge was making both those styles work.

"Yes", the agent responded. "My client hates it so much he wants you to stage another property for him." Well, he got me - he got me good. So when I see him in a couple of days to walk the other vacant property I'll make sure I get him back. Now, if I can only think of something good...........

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Why Are You Getting All Dressed Up and Not Taking a Shower?

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:09:15 -0800

As a stager I end up in a lot of homes. On any given day I can find myself in a cute cottage or a multi-million dollar mansion. One thing that is common among every single home I walk into, no matter the size, location, or price is the need to be clean when your house is on the market.

You would never go buy a nice dress, find the perfect shoes and jewelry, have your hair and nails done and forget to take a shower, would you? Then why hire a Realtor, pay for a stager, rent furniture when necessary, leave the lights on for showings and not clean the house?

Putting your house on the market without giving it a good deep cleaning is like going to the prom without taking a shower.

So, let's talk about some of the common areas home owners miss when they put their home up for sale:

1.Windows - Good clean windows let the sunshine in and open up a house. Dirty fingerprints, smudges from dog noses and kids stickers can block the outdoors from coming in and also make the house feel small. Give those windows a good cleaning inside and out and don't forget to clean the sills.

2. Cabinet Doors - Years of cooking in the kitchen can leave cabinet doors with layers of dirt and grime. Wipe them down with a good cleaning agent, including the handles. Bathroom cabinets can accumulate the dirt too. Years of opening and closing along with toothpaste spills can be hard on the doors.

3. Baseboards - It's amazing the kind of impression good clean baseboards can leave with a buyer. It's one of those things a buyer won't notice if it is done, but they will notice it if it is not done.

4. Return Air Vents - This is an area that collects a ton of dirt (especially in the Middle Tennessee area). Wipe down the vent and go ahead and change the filter while you are at it - unless you are one of those homeowners who changes their filters every month. ;) When a buyer sees a dirty return air vent they wonder if the hvac system is in good shape. Don't plant a negative seed in the back of their mind!

5. Light Fixtures - Yep, get up on that ladder and clean out that dead bug collection you've had for years. While you are up there you can change the light bulbs too. Buyers like light and bright not dark and dirty.

6. Door Handles - Especially if you have little ones, door handles and the area around them can mysteriously collect the sticky from jelly, candy, and who knows what else the little hands get into. Cute when it is your kid - not so cute when it is someone else's.

7. Showers/Tubs - Keep the science experiment at school and remove all the mold and grime that is growing in the shower and tub. Bathrooms are considered money rooms and can make or break a sale. Don't lose a buyer because your bathroom can be mistaken for a science lab.

8. Tile Grout - Here is another opportunity to dazzle a potential buyer. When tile grout looks old and dingy it makes the bathroom seem dirty and cheap. To clean grout mix 1 part baking soda to 1 part hydrogen peroxide. Grab an old toothbrush and scrub away. In no time your grout will sparkle like a new set of pearly whites.

9. Kitchen Appliances - Yes, buyers will look inside your refrigerator, oven, and dishwasher. Toss out old food, wipe down the doors, and don't forget the top of the fridge. Years of melted cheese pizza on the bottom of the oven can send shivers down a buyer's back. You may not have the most updated appliances, but super clean will go a long way.

10. Exterior - Many times houses with siding can grow fungus in areas that don't get much sun throughout the day. Rent a power washer and remove all signs of it. Mold is a dirty word in real estate and will run buyers off faster than a speeding bullet no matter what type or if it is harmless.

Taking care of the little things (like taking a shower) can make all the difference in the world. If you want to have a good time at the prom or entice the buyer to write an offer on your home a good, deep cleaning is a must.

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Riley: A 4-Year Old Staging Queen

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:16:46 -0800

Ever since I got married I wanted to work with my husband. So many couples get up in the morning, go their separate ways during the day then wake up years later not even knowing who their mate is anymore. I was bound and determined that would not happen to my husband and myself or our marriage. I really like my husband and I love spending as much time with him as I can.

When I started Fresh Perspectives Property Merchandising Services about 3 years ago I saw that as a perfect opportunity to make that dream a reality. After my first year in business I needed to hire someone in order to grow. It just so happened my husband, Cory, was the perfect candidate. He is a former home builder and handles all the logistics of the business from the invoicing to even staging vacants with me. His strengths are a perfect compliment to mine. We work extremely well together. That is why our company is a family-owned and operated business.

Cory and I have a wonderful 4-year old, Riley, and as any parent can relate, children bring so much joy. Riley is full of life, very social, extremely curious, and a little staging queen. Sometimes when we stage vacant properties Riley comes along.

Why?

Because we are adamant about teaching Riley the value of hard work and accomplishing goals. We have a short window of opportunity before she starts school to be the only people who have influence on her on a daily basis. We want her to understand we work for everything we have and how we make our money.

It can certainly be challenging at times to bring her along. It takes us longer to get a property done since sometimes she thinks things should be in a different place then we do. I have learned to let her do her thing and rearrange everything in my final tweaking.

Riley has actually had a few good ideas though. We had staged a vacant with 3 bar stools at the counter. Riley didn't like the way I had put the chairs and decided to arrange the chairs on a perfect 45 degree angle. Neither Cory nor myself had seen her do that and before we were through Cory asked me if I had changed the stools. We quickly discovered who the culprit was.

So now, instead of being frustrated that my 4-year old is moving things around we use those moments to teach and engage her in what we are doing and why. Who knows if she will ever have the desire to take over the company, but at least until she goes away to college I will have my sweet little staging queen contributing to the family business.

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Help! My Listing Stinks!

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:14:06 -0800

I have heard "Help! My Listing Stinks!" over and over again from agents who have stagnant listings. So many times they just don't know what to do. Price reductions haven't worked and neither have agent incentives. As a last resort they contact my company Fresh Perspectives Property Merchandising Services, looking for the answers they desperately need.

They are frustrated their listing hasn't sold, have clients who are irritable and aggravated, and are willing to try staging the property as a last resort. I often wonder why they didn't think about staging the property first. Not only could it save a lot of frustration but it gives the property the best opportunity of getting sold quickly by making it fantastic from the start. It boils down to one thing: education.

With the many questions agents have about staging it's apparent there is a huge gap. How in the world can they educate their sellers on the importance of market presentation by staging the property and keeping it show ready when they don't understand the basics themselves?

That's why we developed "Help! My Listing Stinks!" seminars. The session focuses on equipping agents with the tools needed to educate their sellers on how to achieve a quicker, more profitable sale through staging. It takes the doubt away "if" the listing will sell, removes the idea of price reduction after price reduction, avoids unhappy sellers and gets that house sold!

The 90-minute session is delivered in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Agents walk away with a basic knowledge of property presentation, how to get a homeowner on board with staging, how it improves the bottom line and how offering staging earns more referral business. We offer this session to managing brokers in the Greater Nashville area at no charge to the company or agents.

After our initial announcement we almost filled all of our available January time slots. I was so overwhelmed with the response. I knew staging was a hot topic, but I didn't realize how great the response would be.

If you are interested in bringing this session of Help! My Listing Stinks! to your Nashville area office contact Anthea Click by phone 615-465-8086or via email aclick@fresh-perspectives.com. Hurry! January slots are filling up fast.

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Nashville Home Staging: A Year in Review

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:14:59 -0800

2009 has been a great year for Fresh Perspectives. As I was thinking about all we accomplished and planning for 2010 some of my favorite properties came to mind. I decided to begin a yearly tradition of writing Nashville Home Staging: A Year in Review to recap some of the the most memorable properties we were so honored to work on. We helped so many Nashville area homeowners get their properties ready for the market via consultations, redesigns and stagings.

Every one we stage is special in some way, but these are the ones that stand out to me the most:

Timberdale Drive - This was without a doubt one of my favorite homes and owners to work with. It had been on the market for 6 months with no offers. After we staged, it received 2 offers in 14 days!

Darlington Ct. - This homeowner was willing to do whatever it took to get the house ready for the market. After painting the entire interior we staged combining both our furniture and theirs.

Mt. Juliet Road - We spent about 3.5 hours consulting with the homeowners. They were awesome and followed our list to the Tee. Their energy and enthusiasm for a stager helping them was very gratifying. Their property sold after 9 days on the market.

Townley Dr - This home experienced dramatic results. Property was owned by an elderly couple who worked so hard to de-clutter and get rid of so much stuff. After consulting with them we came back and redesigned the space.

Fredericksburg Drive - Wow, how much fun was this! We worked with Liz Jenkins of A Fresh Space on this property. She managed the project and brought us in to stage it. With our combined efforts the house sold in less than 45 days. Thanks Liz!

Bristol on Broadway - A unique property for us since we don't stage very many lofts. We absolutely loved the way it turned out. Now getting the furniture up the elevator was another story!

Birmingham, AL - This was my absolute favorite! It was a true labor of love for my brother in law and sister in law. They recently bought their first home (a fixer upper by most standards) and I was dying to get down to Alabama to help make their new house a home.

Nashville Home Staging: A Year in Review - I appreciate all the memories and am so thankful the Realtors allowed us to work with their wonderful homeowners. Thanks for the great year now onto 2010.............

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While You Were Out I Decided To Have A Little Fun!

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:11:55 -0800

While on a recent trip to Birmingham for Thanksgiving we decided to give my sister-in-law a room makeover - our own version of While You Were Out. They recently bought their first home (after years of being patient while she was in medical school and living on absolutely nothing) and hadn't done anything to update it yet.

My sister in law is the practical kind - buying an old house and fixing it up as they can afford it. I completely admire her for not catching "Doctoritis" and avoiding that big house on the hill so early in her career. So while she was doing a 24 hour shift at the hospital we decided to have a little fun. We spent the whole day shopping and got window treatments, some artwork, and a couple of accessories.

Can you imagine her surprise when she came home?

This was the living room before:

Here is the living room after:

She absolutely loved the rug (which you can see in the before shots) and was the inspiration for everything else in the room. Since we left they have painted the room a cozy beige and I am dying to see it. So with just removing the old window treatments - which I would guess were from the 1960s and a little furniture rearrangement we gave this sweet young couple a living room much more their style.

K and T - Thanks for letting us have a little fun. I hope you absolutely love your first home!

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December: The Best Business Building Month of the Year!

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:41:33 -0800

Here we are back in the busy holiday season. It's December and our schedules are full of Christmas shopping, holiday parties, and preparing for guests to come or leaving to go see family. So why do we as an industry tend to "take off" the month of December?

Some common excuses I hear:

• Business is slow

• People don't buy houses during the holidays

• I'm planning for next year

But Why?

Barry Owen wrote a great blog, Look Out For Those Little Green Twigs! Just Keep on Lead Generating... about making the month of December fruitful. By focusing on planting seeds in December we can set ourselves up for a fantastic new year.

I tend to do my best business building in December. It is so easy to network and develop relationships this time of year that I always look forward to developing new business for the following year. Here are some great opportunities to meet new people:

• Holiday Parties - Attend as many as you possibly can. Mingle and focus on having meaningful conversations with a few people. Spend time talking with 3-4 new people. It's more important to come away with a few new contacts who you can follow up with than briefly meeting the entire room.

• Shopping - What a perfect way to meet someone new. Asking for another's opinion on a gift for your wife, sister, child, friend etc. is a perfect icebreaker. You never know who you will meet. Note - if you have a name tag, make sure you wear it. It can be a great conversation starter for you.

• Set Up a 1 to 1 - Are there people you do business with on a regular basis such as a mortgage lender, painter, inspector, stager, or closing attorney? Set up a meeting over coffee to find ways you can develop more business as a team. Can you host a seminar, share databases, farm a neighborhood together? Be creative and think outside the box.

• Host a Client Appreciation/Holiday Gathering - A great way to thank those who you have done business with over the past years. Invite all your past and current clients and let them know their friends/family from out of town are also invited. Can you say referral business?

The exciting part about being active during December is that most of your competition is not. They are the ones claiming how bad the market is and going out and getting second jobs. You on the other hand are proactive and making it happen! So give yourself the best gift of all - a successful, booming business!

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Is Staging in your Marketing Plan For 2010?

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:58:04 -0800

As an agent it's important to stay on top of the latest trends and tools to effectively stay on top of the game. But what is the use of great websites, utilizing social networking and having the latest and greatest smart phone to get the word out about your listings if they aren't appealing? You don't need just another listing, you need another closing! So why would you not want to have the best listings that generate more traffic and sell for higher prices with less days on market? Wouldn't you want to have the reputation in town among your peers that your listings are always the best (and the pocketbook that proves it)?

Property presentation, for some reason, has been a subject that the industry has shied away from. Were you taught in any continuing education classes any more than de-clutter, clean, depersonalize, and neutralize? (Aside from the Stagedhomes ASP Course that actually teaches you how to stage there hasn't been much information easily accessible out there.) Sure, it's great to know basic information about staging, but what about learning how the staging process works, general pricing guidelines and who pays, how to educate your sellers, and knowing statistics and facts you can use?

I am a huge fan of Christine Rae and her organization Certified Staging Professionals which is one reason why I joined the organization last June as an instructor for the CSP Elite Agent course. Christine has taken a much needed approach to educating agents with nuts and bolts information on the topic and how to effectively incorporate it into their business. It is everything the real estate industry needs to know when it comes to successfully presenting property for sale by adding a presentation expert (a.k.a stager) to their team.

The course topics include:

· The impact home staging has on buying and selling decisions

· Home staging evolution; what it was and what it is & why you need to know

· How to find a good stager and questions to ask

· Explore case studies and staging statistics then how to integrate them into presentation packages

· Benefits for you, the seller and the buyer to implement home staging in the selling process

· Four factors that determine a sale

· Facts, trends and statistics you can use

· Why good photography is essential to effectively list a property. What does a photograph tell the buyer?

· Getting the seller involved in the staging process and how the real estate professional and home staging consultant keeps the seller motivated throughout the process.

· Cost vs. Value; which projects brings the biggest return when selling a property and where home staging fits into the return on investment.

· Types of consultations

· Curb appeal, color and room design principles; crucial stats which emphasize the importance

· Pricing & who pays; plus much more!!

There are courses all around the US and Canada that can help you take your business to the next level. The CSP website, www.cspelite.com has a schedule of classes in your area. If you happen to live in the Nashville, TN area (or want to take a mini vacation) I will be teaching the class on the following dates:

January 19, 2010

February 23, 2010

March 17, 2010

Are you ready for a great 2010? Then visit the website, www.cspelite.com to register and reserve your seat today.

Anthea Click is the President of Fresh Perspectives Property Merchandising Services specializing in vacant and model home staging, owner occupied redesign, and new construction consultation. For more information on staging your home for sale or attending a CSP Elite course in the Nashville area contact Anthea at 615-465-8086 or visit our website, www.fresh-perspectives.com.

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How to Thrive Not Just Survive In Today's Market

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:17:58 -0700

After Fresh Perspectives stages a property we use popular Social Media sites to promote what we do. It is a great way to get the word out about the property for sale along with the added benefits it provides us of additional company exposure. Our goal as a company has always been to partner with our clients (Realtors and/or homeowners) to drive traffic to the property. It doesn’t matter how beautiful a listing is if no one knows about it. This is also a fantastic way to set ourselves apart from our competition. I don’t know any other stager in our area who uses this religiously. We on the other hand, do.

The power of Social Media is fascinating. It has completely revolutionized the way we do business. It has enabled us to create relationships with people across the world. ActiveRain is a perfect example of that. Not only have I had the pleasure of meeting staging industry leaders in person, but I have also forged online relationships with others in my field from across the country. It has given me the ability to hone my craft, improve my business and has blessed me with many new clients. Just last month a homebuyer contacted me regarding a property she was interested in looking at. I had sent out a “tweet” on Twitter about it. How excited do you think the Realtor was when I connected the two of them?

If you are not using sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube (to name just a few) not only will your business not thrive it will soon die. This is how Generation Y communicates. We have to speak their language in order to gain their business.

Being on the forefront of this form of communication will set you apart from the average Realtor of today. Having just a website today is no longer enough in order to survive. Posting your listings on the social media sites are where today’s buyers are going to find them. Today’s sellers are also expecting you to use this medium to advertise their property. Word travels fast. Shouldn’t you and your listings be what the buzz is all about?

Below is a video on YouTube with some amazing facts. It is about 4.5 minutes long, but definitely worth every second you spend watching it.

Anthea Click is the President of Fresh Perspectives Property Merchandising Services in the Greater Nashville area. For more information on staging your property for sale contact us at 615-465-8086 or www.fresh-perspectives.com

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The Power of Working Together

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:54:51 -0700

Fresh Perspectives was recently contacted by another stager, Liz Jenkins of A Fresh Space to help her with a vacant staging. Liz and I are friends. We have conducted seminars together and she has referred vacant projects to me. Liz specializes in organizing, redesign, and project management. She no longer stages vacants simply for the fact that she just doesn't like them. I, on the other hand, absolutely love them.

Liz had been working on renovating this home. Updating fixtures, floors, repairing the roof and replacing the hvac among many other things when she called me. She needed the final step of staging the property to complete it. After walking through the property and discussing her ideas we went to work just a few days later. Below are pictures of the results.

Living Room Before Living Room After

Family Room Before Family Room After

Kitchen Before Kitchen After

Working together to complete this project was a bunch of fun for us. Liz and I have found a great way to use our skill sets to help each other's businesses. We are both looking forward to working on more projects together in the future.

If you are wanting to grow your business, find others in your area so you can work together. This is a great way for everyone to win - the agents, homeowners, the buyers, and of course the stagers!

Anthea Click is President of Fresh Perspectives Property Merchandising Services in the Greater Nashville area. For more information on staging your property to sell contact us at 615-465-8086 or www.fresh-perspectives.com.

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UPDATE: Will You Support The Home Staging Industry And Vote?

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:16:57 -0700

I was recently contacted by Kirkland's(one of my favorite home furnishings store) to enter their designer contest. After submitting photos of my work, providing a design philosophy and tips for designing a small space I made it to the top 10! Votes are now being cast for the top 5 Designers to remain on their website and become a My Kirkland's Designer. Voting began July 31st and runs through August 27th.

Not only am I honored to be a part of this very talented group, I am thrilled to be considered in the top 10. Other familiar faces in the running are Cathy Lee and Tanya Griffin. Both are women who are not only apart of the Active Rain family, but they also do great work. How awesome is it that home stagers are apart of this opportunity.

So, all my friends out there in the Rain, will you show your support for the home staging industry as a whole and vote for us?

It's an extremely tight race and we would definitely appreciate every vote cast for us. Simply click on the photo above and cast your ballot.

Cathy and Tonya - I hope we finish top 3!

Update: Another Active Rain family member is in the running - Karen Rynolds. Cast a vote for her, too!

Cathy, Tonya, Karen - I hope we finish top 4! :)

Anthea Click is the President of Fresh Perspectives Property Merchandising Services. Specializing in vacant and model home staging and property redesign in the Greater Nashville Area. Anthea is also a CSPElite Instructor. For more information visit our website at www.fresh-perspectives.com or 615-465-8086.

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Teaching Nashville Realtors To Fish

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:44:43 -0700

When I talk with agents about staging I get very similar feedback. Yes, they believe staging does work, yes they know it helps to sell a house faster, but..........How do I educate my seller? How do I find a good stager? What are the stats to prove staging works?

How can we, as stagers, expect the Realtors to sell staging when they don't fully comprehend it themselves? I believe it boils down to one thing, education.

I am a firm believer in education. When I sold real estate myself I knew nothing about staging. There was one company in town that I was aware of and from what I heard they got great results. Beyond that I was ignorant to it. There were no classes to take to educate myself on how to properly merchandise a home. I learned all about negotiating contracts, fair housing regulations, client representation and how to sell myself, but nothing about making the listing as appealing as possible to attract the buyers. Sure, I knew to tell my clients to remove personal photographs, de-clutter, and neutralize but not much more beyond that.

I feel that is where most agents in Nashville are. With so many questions about staging, not knowing what to ask or knowing how to find a good stager is the reason more homes are not staged in the Nashville area. Television shows such as Designed to Sell, The Stagersand Stager Invasion have done wonders to educate the public about staging and how it can help sell a house much quicker. Now granted, we are still talking about Hollywood. No, we can't replace the counter tops with granite, paint the entire house, and purchase brand new furniture all for under $2,000. It's a little unrealistic, but definitely much better than these shows not airing at all. The public more often than not knows more about staging than the real estate experts.

So, how do we turn this around? How can we make real estate agents even more valuable in their client's eye?

Education! When Melissa Marro,a staging industry leader, contacted me about bringing the CSP Elite Agent Program to Nashville I was thrilled! Now there is a class agents can take to answer all those questions they have. How the staging industry got started, how it has evolved, how to find a good stager, the value staging can bring to the sell of a property, how to educate their clients and the list goes on and on.

No, this class is not about the agent staging themselves like other programs teach. How do you think the agent looks in the eyes of their client when they see them schlepping furniture, suggesting paint colors, and accessorizing? Is that what top agents really do? No! They are out there finding the buyers for the property - they leave the appeal to the experts on their team - the stager.

Nashville will experience the first CSP Elite Agent Program on August 5, 2009 from 8-5pm. I'm so excited for these agents who take this class. Not only will they be miles ahead of the competition, but they will preserve their client's equity and add dollars to their personal bottom line. I was always taught it was better to teach a man to fish than to give him one. This class is definately teaching the man to fish.

For more information or to register for the August 5th class visit www.cspelite.com or call 1-866-574-0565.

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Honey, The Monster is Here!

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:25:09 -0700

As a stager I am hired by home owners to get their home ready to put on the market. I am not there to pass judgment on their choice of décor, color, or any other aspect of the home that they love so dearly. My job is this: get buyers in the door to write offers.

Many times I am greeted at the door by a nervous home owner worried the monster on the other side is here to chew them up and spit them out by telling them everything that is wrong with their home. How grueling the next two hours are going to be. I know some would rather be at the dentist getting a root canal then spend this time together evaluating their house.

Honestly, I can say I understand how they must feel. It is probably pretty nerve wracking having a total stranger evaluate your home from top to bottom, inside and out. Well, rest assured Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner, I'm not a monster and I'm here to help. It's important to remember how you live in your home and how you sell a home are two different things. What works for living doesn't necessarily work for selling.

Next to your Realtor, I'm your best friend! I'm here to take what you have and make it better. I'm here to find the hidden money you have laying around that you weren't even aware of. I'm here to put money in your pocket. I'm here to show you really how great your house can be with just some minor tweaks. You may not always like what I have to say, but would you rather hear it from me or hear it from the many buyers who walk thru your house and don't write an offer? And then be baffled as to why your house hasn't sold after months on the market?

Do my recommendations always cost money? Nope. Sometimes it is just removing excess stuff and rearranging furniture. Is it worth it to put money into your house to sell? You betcha it is! Repairing broken door knobs, updating with a fresh coat of neutral paint, adding fresh flowers for pops of color, and caulking around tubs and vanities can make all the difference in a sold house or frustrated homeowners. Frustrated their agent hasn't sold the house, frustrated buyers haven't written offers, sometimes even frustrated that the sky is blue.

Remember Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner, you have to do your part, too. Your home has to show well - Period. If not, what shot does your agent have to sell it for fair market value? None, zero, zip.

So remember, when that monster comes knocking on your door take a deep breath and smile..... your leprechaun is here. We are going to find your pot of gold today!

Pictured above is a property staged by Fresh Perspectives Property Merchandising Services with zero dollars spent by homeowner except staging fee. Fresh Perspectives is a home staging company specializing in vacant home staging, model home staging, and property redesign for the Greater Nashville real estate community. For an honest assessment of your home contact us 615-465-8086 or www.fresh-perspectives.com.

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Nuts and Bolts Staging Seminar a Huge Success

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:22:59 -0700

Our Staging Seminar: The Nuts and Bolts of Staging on Thursday, March 26, 2008 was a huge success. Four area stagers: Myself, Liz Jenkins of A Fresh Space, B Lucas Thrower of Interior Redesign and Home Staging, and Karen Jones of Jones Creative Home Staging came together to offer a free community seminar on staging.

B Lucas Thrower, Anthea Click, Karen Jones, Liz Jenkins

We offered DIY Tips and gave insight on painting, window treatments, fixtures, flooring(which was presented by Dave of Church Street Flooring), kitchens and bathrooms. With a packed house the next seminar is sure to bring in even more people interested in staging their homes.

The next seminar, Staging For Your Life: Redesigning Spaces is scheduled for Thursday, May 28, 2009 from 6:00 - 7:30pm also at Church Street Flooring in Franklin.

To RSVP for the next event email aclick@fresh-perspectives.com with Seminar in the subject line.

Fresh Perspectives Property Merchandising Services specializies in staging vacant homes, model homes, and owner occupied properties for the Nashville area market. For more information on our services visit our website at www.fresh-perspectives.com or contact us at 615-465-8086.

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It's All in the Numbers

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:37:14 -0700

Every real estate agent knows buyers want to purchase a home as big as they can possibly afford. They want as much bang for their buck and most won't even consider looking at a property that has less square footage than they believe they need. Granted, you can't change the size of the house, but you can plant a seed in the buyers mind that particular rooms are not as small as they can sometimes appear in the mls listing.

Imagine you are a first time buyer who loves to cook and the kitchen is the most important space in your new home. Not only do you love to cook, but you also love to cook with your spouse or have friends join you for a fun evening of food and entertainment. What is more appealing to you, a kitchen that is 9x15 or 15x9? Sure they are the same size, but the 15x9 kitchen just seems so much larger. The 9x15 size seems like you will be bumping elbows and standing on top of each other. The 15x9 lends itself to imagine the buyers can have 2 or 3 chefs comfortablely creating the gourmet meal.

So, before you sell your listing short (or shall we say small) focus on the numbers to avoid getting your listing automatically ruled out for being too small.

Fresh Perspectives is a home staging company specializing in vacant home staging, model home staging, and property redesign for the Greater Nashville real estate community. For an honest assessment of your home contact us 615-465-8086 or www.fresh-perspectives.com.

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When Every Zigs, You Must Zag

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:08:19 -0800

Homeowners, Realtors, and Builders alike understand the value of staging a property in this current market. Long gone are the days of placing a sign in the yard, entering the information into the MLS and receiving an offer within 30 days. Home staging is becoming more accepted and new stagers are entering the industry daily. So how does a staging company compete? When everyone zigs, you must zag.

Fresh Perspectives has decided to zag by becoming a specialist in property merchandising. There is so much more to selling than making a property look great and appeal to buyers. Most stagers will stage a property then wait for the client to call to de-stage. Our philosophy is to take it a step further by actually teaming up with the agent to market the property.

Target the Buyer

Before Fresh Perspectives begins a staging project we define a target buyer. Do you know who will buy this property? Are we focusing on empty nesters, a family with small children, or a single in a hot and trendy loft? It's important to know who you are targeting so the property speaks to them. You will have much greater success rate when you focus on target, aim and fire vs. throwing out a net and hoping to catch something.

Professional Photography

The importance of professional photography is also a crucial factor. According to the National Association of Realtors, over 80% of homebuyers start their search online. If the photos of the property don't demand the buyer's attention, especially in this market, the buyer will move on to the next home even if the property may be exactly what they are looking for. Buying a home is an emotional decision and good photography grabs buyers by the heart and demands a closer inspection, thus creating more traffic and offers to the property. We bring in our dynamite professional photographer, Allison Hendrixson of Vertical Expressions. Allison has an amazing talent and can capture emotion even out of a plain white wall.

Lifestyle Tours and Videos

Getting the word out about a property is the key to getting it sold. Fresh Perspectives creates lifestyle tours and videos to do just that. Virtual tours are now an industry standard, but there's more to it than hardwood floors and granite countertops. The buyer wants to know how they are going to live in the home. It's important to note a buyer is not buying a home, they are buying a lifestyle. When we create a tour, we create the picture of the lifestyle. (Click here to see a sample tour). Along with the lifestyle tours we create videos and distribute them to YouTube and other video sharing sites.

Internet Presence

If over 80% of home buyers are surfing the Internet to find a home, doesn't it make sense to advertise the property where they will find it? Not only do we post the agent and property information on the Staged Homes For Sale page of our website, we also list the home on over 20 other real estate sites where homebuyers go to find properties. This is part of our focus, aim, fire philosophy to targeting potential homebuyers.

Drive Traffic

Out-of-the-box thinking drives traffic to view a property. We have been involved in unique events such as partnering with Simplicity Gourmet to host organic cooking shows, art shows, sponsored chocolate and coffee broker open houses, and community bike rides.

So the next time you need a property staged, do you want to hire a stager who makes the house pretty or a property merchandiser who becomes your marketing partner to get the listing sold?

Fresh Perspectives is a property merchandising company who specializes in zagging when everyone else is zigging. Contact us today at 615-465-8086 to get your property staged and sold or visit us at www.fresh-perspectives.com for more information.

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If Momma Isn't Happy, No One Is Living Here!

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:31:58 -0800

How many times have you heard the old saying "If Momma's not happy, no one is happy"? Well, the saying also holds true for home buyers. Women make up to 91% of all home buying decisions according to the National Association of Home Builders. Targeting these decision makers only makes sense when trying to sell your home.

How She Shops

Men and women shop differently. When a man wants to buy a pair of jeans he goes into the store, heads directly to the rack, finds his size, pays the cashier, and back out the door he goes. When a woman needs a new pair of jeans she enters the store, passes by the kids department, picks up an outfit for Jane, sees a new tie for the husband (since he will definitely need a new one for the wedding they are attending this weekend), picks up a new collar for the dog, and then heads to the jeans department. She'll try on a half-dozen or so pairs and will find a couple new blouses and a few accessories to match. Men are hunters, women are gathers. We are just wired differently.

The same holds true when shopping for a new home. As long as there is a wall for his big screen and room for his recliner - it's perfect! She, on the other hand, is thinking of how the entire family will actually live in the home. Is there space for entertaining guests? Can she watch the kids play in the backyard while she is cooking dinner? Is there a quite corner where she can curl up and read a book?

What's Important to Her

There are four main areas that are important to the female home buyer. If you can target these, you will appeal to her desires and sell her on the property.

Entertaining

Women like to entertain. Open spaces and great traffic flow is important. French doors that lead out to a large deck or back patio will also fulfill that need.

Relaxation

Women need to relax. Coming home can actually cause a woman's blood pressure to rise. She has been out in the field all day and she has to come home to her second job. Cooking, cleaning, taking care of the kids - her job never ends. A great relaxation zone where she can take a leisurely bubble bath, a corner nook to get away from it all and read a great book, or peaceful backyard retreat is what she desires.

Flex Space

Let's face it, with today's lifestyles we need rooms in our home that change purpose based upon our changing lives. An office that can change into a craft room, a playroom that can become a guest bedroom with the use of a Murphy bed, or closet space that can be converted into an elevator shaft is what today's woman is looking for. Give her options and she will be a happy home buyer.

Storage

There just never seems to be enough storage is a common theme among homeowners. Adding built- ins to closets, flooring off extra space in the attic, creating storage nooks under stairwells will give her the storage space she is so desperate for.

It Boils Down to Livability

It boils down to livability. She wants to know how her family will live and function in the home. If enough of her requirements match what you are selling, you will be scheduling a closing date very soon.

Fresh Perspectives specializes in vacant home staging, model home staging, and property redesign to appeal to the woman home buyer in the Nashville, TN market. For more information on staging your home to sell contact Anthea Click at 615-465-8086 or visit our website, fresh-perspectives.com.

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Ultra Cool California Contemporary

Sun, 18 May 2008 16:19:03 -0700

Fresh Perspectives has just staged this ultra cool California contemporary in the heart of East Nashville. If you are looking to stage your property in the Middle TN area, give us a call - we'll set you apart from the competition.

Cool California Contemporary

1022 Petway, Nashville, TN 37206 View Map

Fresh Perspectives can stage your property to sell. Whether it is an ultra cool California contemporary, colonial, traditional, or anything else in between we can set your property apart from the competition.
Contact us for your custom quote.

Details

Asking Price:

$399,900

MLS:

978864

Sq. Feet:

2920

Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

# of Floors:

Contact Info

Anthea Click
President

Dir 615-465-8086
Email | Website

Anthea Click
President/ Lead Designer
RES Home Staging Group
5015 Saunders Terrace
Spring Hill, TN 37174
615-465-8086
Email | Website

Fresh Perspectives is a Property Merchandising and Home Staging Company serving the Middle TN area. For more information contact Anthea Click at 615-465-8086.

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