Anthea's Perspective - Nashville's Home Staging Blog

Ultra Cool California Contemporary

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Sun, 18 May 2008 16:19:03 -0500

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.

When Staging Will Not Help Your Home Sell

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:49:12 -0600

I recently received a phone call from a homeowner who had her home on the market for 6 months with very little traffic. She had moved out of state and left her vacant home, thinking it would sell quickly. She called Fresh Perspectives to provide a bid to stage her home, hoping that staging would make the difference in selling the home.

As I pulled up to her home I was intrigued by the adorable historic home I was about to view. Most homes in this part of town are built in the early 1900's and have been completely renovated with hip, modern amenities or restored back to their original beauty. These homes have beautiful mill-work, tall ceilings, and original fireplaces in bedrooms, dining rooms, and sitting rooms. The only negatives are the chopped up rooms and the lack of the open, flowing floor-plans like the ones that are so popular today.

As I entered I began to see the challenges this home was facing. It certainly had all the beautiful mill-work, pocket doors, tall ceilings, and fireplaces that make these homes so appealing, but it also had a mix of contemporary (80's) fixtures and some bright, funky colors. It was very confusing for today's buyer. If the buyer wanted an originally restored home - they would be disappointed with all the bright colors and updated (but outdated) renovations. If the buyer wanted an older home with a modern touch - they were disappointed with the outdated fixtures and lack of flow. One room was true to the original time period - the next was not.

What to do? There were issues I knew any buyer would not be able to get past: some of the paint colors and the dated fixtures. We provided an honest assessment. Sure we could stage the home, but let's deal with the issues any buyer wouldn't get past, first! Neutralize the bright colors, update the dated 80's fixtures, and let's get this house scrubbed from top to bottom!

No matter how good a staging job we do, buyers still won't get past the bright lime green walls and the 80's Hollywood light fixtures - making this home a huge turn-off.

It's much better to have a neutral, clean vacant home then a staged home that is confusing and outdated.

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.

Nashville's SIF Round Table

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:14:30 -0600

Thursday, January 3rd Nashville held its first SIF Round Table at Cort Furniture Rental. It was a huge success and everyone had a great time networking and getting to know each other. The ladies in attendance were:

Mary Forsythe
Kathy Fix
Paula Foster
B Thrower
Christine Trebendis
Mary Jo Cosica
Bev Burger
Eve Wiseman
Liz Jenkins
Tiffany Saizon
Betty Borth
Gina Killebrew
Marti Hauss
Anthea Click

I met so many great women and learned what they specialize in - which was a great opportunity for me to develop my referral list when I am not right for a particular job. We also talked about our local ASP Chapter (which has reformed recently and is stronger then ever) and our local RESA chapter that is just getting off the ground. I strongly believe in the vision of unifying our industry and making staging a common practice in all real estate transactions. Our SIF Round Table was a huge step in the right direction. So many asked when the next one was scheduled and said they wanted to attend.

So, a huge thank you goes to those who participated and also Craig Schiller for developing these discussions.

Stage it Forward......

Get In While You Can!

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:44:02 -0600

East Nashville is an old established community currently experiencing a lot of urban revitalization. Contributing to the wonderful changes is a new six-unit town home community called Eastwood Village. Construction is complete and Fresh Perspectives has just completed staging the model. The townhomes are ideal for first-time homebuyers with prices starting at just $169,900. Below is a tour of the model and also a tour of the community.

For more information on this great community contact:

Yocia Flowers
Historic and Distinctive Homes
Ph: 615-668-5585
http://yocia@historictn.com www.yflowersathome.com

Fresh Perspectives is a home staging company specializing in vacant home staging, model home staging, and redesign for the real estate community in the Greater Nashville area. For more information on staging your home contact Anthea Click at 615-465-8086 or aclick@fresh-perspectives.com

Visit us online at www.fresh-perspectives.com.

Nashville Stagers Unite!

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:17:40 -0600

Calling All Nashville Area Stagers!

Our roundtable is finally scheduled! We are one of the many roundtables across the country scheduled to help grow our industry by discussing issues facing our industry today. Everyone is welcome, no matter where you trained, the letters behind your name, or the lack of.

Here are the details:

Date: Thursday January 3rd

Time: 10am -12:30pm

Location: Cort Furniture Rental

405 Harding Industrial Drive

Nashville, TN 37211

Click here for a map.

Please RSVP by December 18th to Anthea Click at aclick@fresh-perspectives.com

We look forward to seeing you there!

Lights, Camera, Action!

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:43:00 -0500

When selling and showing your home it's important to set the mood with lighting. Light can make a bedroom feel warm and cozy or a kitchen bright and energetic. Light has a huge effect on our moods and can make a big difference in how the house shows. There are three basic kinds of lighting: ambiant, task, and decorative. Each can be used individually or a combination of all three in a particular room.

Ambiant Lighting - also known as general lighting, creates an even glow within a room and fills in shadows while creating a smooth transition between light and dark. The best way to bring ambiant lighting into a room is with floor and table lamps. Make sure you turn on all of these lights when you have a showing. When a room is dark it looks much smaller then it actually is. By having these lights on, you are showing off your square footage - which is what the potential buyers want and are willing to pay for.

Task Lighting - This type of lighting is ideal for reading, working at a desk, or any other project you may be working on that requires focused light. Table or work lamps are best used for these situations. When your home is being shown, be selective on which ones to turn on. A bright spotlight glaring at a buyer's face when they walk into a room is not the best impression to make.

Decorative Lighting - This type of lighting draws the eye to a particular spot and can be very effective when used correctly. It can highlight a beautiful piece of art, an unusual architectural feature of a room, or even focus the attention onto a vibrant plant in the room. It shows off a feature that is sure to make a positive statement to a buyer.

As you are getting ready for your next showing make sure all lightbulbs are working and the light fixtures have been dusted. By paying attention to the small details, your home is sure to stand out from the rest. So, turn on those lights, fluff the final pillow, and walk out that door!

Fresh Perspectives is a home staging firm specializing in vacant home staging, model home staging, and redesign for the real estate community in the Greater Nashville area. For information on staging your home to sell contact Anthea Click, President/Lead Designer at 615-465-8086 or visit our website, fresh-perspectives.com.

But....it's too Small!

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:03:43 -0500

So you think your place is too small to be staged? How about this cute little cottage in the heart of East Nashville. It's completely renovated and boasts a whopping 744 sq. ft. The vignette style staging went a long way to transform this home. Without the staging, buyers were having a hard time figuring out what furniture the room could hold and where it would go.

The house is currently for sale and listed by Karen Hoffof Historic and Distinctive Homes......but, it won't be on the market for long. For a personal showing contact Karen at 615-228-3723.

Fresh Perspectives is a home staging firm specializing in vacant home staging, model home staging, and redesign for the real estate community in the Greater Nashville area. For more information contact Anthea Click at 615-465-8086 or visit our website at www.fresh-perspectives.com.

Eastland Ave Renovation in Beautiful Rosebank Area

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:10:26 -0500

Fresh Perspectives has just staged a beauty in the Rosebank subdivision of East Nashville. It features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, over 2000 sq. ft, gorgeous hardwoods, and a flowing floor plan.

For more information contact:
Listing Agent Karen Hoff
Historic and Distinctive Homes
Ph: 615-228-3723
Karen@KarenHoff.com
MLS 910073

Fresh Perspectives is a homestaging company servicing the Greater Nashville Area specializing in vacant home staging, model home staging, and redesign services for the real estate community. For more information contact Anthea Click, President/Lead Designer @ 615-465-8086 or http://aclick@fresh-perspectives.com and visit our website at www.fresh-perspectives.com

Hey Homeowners - You Don't Have to Spend Alot of Money to Get Your Home Ready to Sell

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:05:50 -0500

Getting your home ready to sell by staging it makes a huge difference when it goes on the market. The common misconception is that you have to spend a lot of money and that is simply not true! Take for example, this home below. Fresh Perspectives provided the homeowner a consultation and they put sweat equity to work for them. The homeowner decluttered the house and only painted two rooms, making a dramatic impact. Which home would you rather buy?

Living Room Before Living Room After

Kitchen Before Kitchen After

Dining Room Before Dining Room After

Master Bath Before Master Bath After

By making these small changes the house is more open, inviting and has a sense of warmth. You no longer get caught up in looking at all the stuff. You now see all the great features this home has to offer. Listed for only $215,700 it features 3 bedrooms 2.5 baths and over 2400 square feet. The address is 2835 Meadow Glen Mt. Juliet, TN 37122.

If you do like this house contact Debbie Parton of SilverPointe Properties. She can set up a personal tour just for you.

Fresh Perspectives is a home staging and redesign firm specializing in model home staging, vacant home staging, and redesign for the real estate community in the Greater Nashville, TN area. We can be reached at 615-465-8086 or info@fresh-perspectives.com to stage your home or provide a consultation for the DIY homeowner.

Win the War Against Those Dust Bunnies

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 10:54:12 -0500

Does it ever seem like no matter what you do those dust bunnies always seem to multiply? Vacuuming and sweeping are the weapons we use to combat those pesky critters and they always come back time and time again. Here are a few tips to begin winning the war against those dust bunnies:

Change Your Air Filters - Changing your air filters on a regular monthly basis will help keep those bunnies at bay. This limits the particles in the air and also helps your heating and air unit working at optimum capacity.

Install a Home Filtration System - If you suffer from allergies this is a good idea to install. The filtration system removes dust, dust mites, pollen, and pet hair before they can make their way into a corner or under the bed and keeps those bunnies from rearing their ugly heads.

Close Your Windows- As enticing as it may be on those beautiful Fall and Spring days to open the windows - Don't! Open windows allow dust particles, pollen, and other irritating contaminants into your home. Once again, giving life to those pesky critters.

For results of the Dust Bunny Barometer Survey visit www.americanairstandardair.com/dustbunny.

Nashville IAHSP Chapter Completes Community Service Project

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:27:25 -0500

Last week the Nashville Chapter IAHSP completed their World Wide Home Staging Project for Against the Grain, a non-profit organization helping unwed mothers. They focus on educating these young women and provide counseling services along with love and support. The lobby, training room, counseling area, and conference room were all redesigned to function much better and provide a comfortable atmosphere for the mothers and their children. The founders praised us for our work, but I think those of us involved received the bigger blessing of helping someone else in need.

We all had a fantastic time working together and are looking forward to next year's project. Pictured below are the participating members.

My Favorite Vacant House To Date!

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 12:14:58 -0500

Fresh Perspectives has just staged this fantastic home in Nashville, TN. This is one of my favorites that we have done so far. We worked on a small budget, but I think for the money spent it turned out well. Our client was fantastic to work with and we will hopefully be working with her again soon. 4128 Outer Drive features 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, large lot, and gorgeous hardwood floors.
For more information contact the listing agent:
Yocia Flowers
Realtor
Historic and Distinctive Homes
615-668-5585

Fresh Perspectives is a home staging and redesign company serving Middle Tennessee. For more information on our services contact Anthea Click, President/Lead Designer at 615-465-8086 or antheaclick@charter.net.

From Blah to Spa.......

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:19:27 -0500

With less then $400 Fresh Perspectives was able to transform this bathroom from blah to spa. We added crown moulding, a frame for the mirror, paint and accessories.

This bathroom transformation is presented by Fresh Perspectives, a full service home staging company servicing Middle Tennessee. Contact Anthea Click, President, at: 615-465-8086. Fresh Perspectives can help you get your home sold quickly and for top dollar.

Hey Homesellers: Give the Buyers Their Dreams

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:33:14 -0500

Today's homebuyers want comfortable spaces that they can envision themselves living in. As they look at the different homes on the market, they fantasize about what their new life will be like. Once they find "the one", their eyes light up and their heart starts to pound. They quickly develop an emotional attachment to the property and are highly motivated to make it theirs.

Set the Mood and Create Emotion

If your home is on the market, help those home buyers get emotionally attached to your property by setting the mood and creating emotion. One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to create emotion is by painting. It provides the biggest bang for your buck and can easily be done by most homeowners. Painting those white walls (you know - the ones you been living with since you bought your home?) - instantly creates warmth in a space. Of the two bathtubs below which one would you rather relax in?

The picture on the right is clearly the winner. It creates a sense of peace and relaxation with just a little bit of paint and a few accessories.

Select Carefully

It's important to appeal to the largest number of buyers when your home is on the market, so select your colors carefully. Here are some tips to remember when choosing colors:

Avoid white (except for trim), bright and bold colors.

Look at the color samples in the room you will be painting, not just the paint store. Lighting has a huge affect on color - also look at the color in both the daytime and the evening.

Stay neutral - but remember, avoid white. Tans, soft yellows, and smoky greens are great choices that appeal to the masses. One of our favorite colors is Sherwin Williams Practical Beige (sw6100). It looks great in both small and large spaces and creates a warm backdrop.

The best sheen to use in entryways, living rooms, bonus rooms, and bedrooms is eggshell. It is easy to clean, but not shiny. This is especially important if you have little children or indoor pets since your walls often get more wear and tear.

For major impact, paint your trim a high gloss white.

By following these tips, you're surely on your way to setting the mood and creating the emotion your buyers are dreaming of.

Fresh Perspectives is a homestaging company serving Middle Tennessee. For more information on staging your home for sale contact Anthea Click at: 615-465-8086 or aclick@fresh-perspectives.com

Bring You Stars and Stripes and Join the Parade

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:50:54 -0500

This year Spring Hill will host its fifth annual 4^th of July Parade for Children at 9am. The community is invited to decorate bikes and wagons and join in on the fun. The parade route is short, so little ones won't be completely worn out when it is over. It starts at the post office and ends at Evans Park with parking available at Town Hall.

A big addition to the line up is the Independence High School Marching Band. They will be performing traditional American fanfare so bring your flags and show your support. This is a great bunch of kids who work so hard over the course of the school year (not including the many hours put in at band camp and other scheduled rehearsals over the summer).

After the parade our local McDonalds will be sponsoring refreshments and Purity Ice Cream will be given away. So come on down and celebrate our nation's birthday before the fireworks start.

Southern Charmer - 508 Washington Ave, Mt. Pleasant TN

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:04:08 -0500

fresh perspectives has just finished staging a wonderful old Victorian home in the heart of Mt. Pleasant, TN. This 3 bedroom 2.5 bath has 2888 sq. ft. and has many modern amenities.

Check out this Southern Charmer:

Contact Listing Agents/ Owners:
Doug or Elaine Bouder
ERA Johnson and Thompson
office: 615-790-3400
Doug's cell: 615-943-4848 Elaine's cell: 615-943-0588

The 7 Biggest Buyer Turnoffs

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:04:43 -0500

Today's buyer is sophisticated, discriminating and wants only the best their money can buy. If your home is not selling, maybe it is turning off potential buyers without you even realizing it. Here are some of the biggest buyer turnoffs that will keep the "For Sale" sign in your yard:

1. Clutter - Having too much stuff around causes the buyer to focus on everything except for the house. Get rid of things you haven't used in six months or more and store items offsite that you can live without until you get into your new home.

2. Unpainted and Poorly Painted Walls - Unpainted walls leave a home feeling cold and uncomfortable. Walls with poor paint jobs scream lack of maintenance. Warm up the walls with soft, neutral colors - and pay attention to your painting - it's all in the prep work.

3. Unattractive or Dated Colors, Wallpaper and Borders - Purple passion may be a great color for your 4-year old daughter, but will the majority of homebuyers like it? No Way!

4. Worn-out Carpeting - Dingy, stained carpet is a huge deal killer. If you can't afford to replace it at least have it professionally cleaned.

5. Outdated Appliances and Fixtures - Today's buyers want modern amenities, no matter how old the house is. Investing a little money in updating these items will reap huge returns.

6. Bad Smells - Whether it be from smoking, pets, or cooking if a buyer can smell it you can't sell it. Invite a friend over who can honestly tell you if there are odors in your home. When you live there day in and day out your nose becomes immune to the smells.

7. A Dirty Home - No one wants to move into someone else's dirt. Clean your home so well that it passes the "white glove" test. If you don't have the time or desire, hire a professional cleaning crew to do the job for you. They are efficient and definitely worth the money.

If you really want to get top dollar for your home, consider hiring a professional home stager. Home staging is a tried and true method of highlighting the best features of your property while appealing to a large number of buyers . By focusing on strategic furniture placement, de-cluttering, organizing, de-personalizing, color selection, and accesorizing a home stager can turn your home into a showplace that will yield a higher offer in a quicker amount of time.

Aim, Fire, and Hit that Bulls-eye!

Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives) — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:37:26 -0500

I'm in the middle of working on my marketing plan and am currently reading Guerilla Marketing Excellence by Jay Conrad Levinson. Jay's 2nd Golden Rule hit me smack dab in the middle of my forehead.

"The ability to accurately define your precise market or markets

dramatically affects your profitability"

Ouch! That hurts (in a good way). So this comes to mind. How many of us have actually sat down and decided who we wanted as clients? I'm not talking about prospecting Realtors, FSBO's, etc. I mean have you sat down and "claimed" your clientele? Who do you want to service? I've decided to put myself in the "Situation Room", my personal term for defining the people and situations I want to work with. Here's a portion of my list to date:

Families living in and around my subdivision, being transferred out of the area and need to sell fast.
Couples who have just bought their first home and need to combine his and hers
The widow who is downsizing and relocating to be near family
Young couples who are selling their first home to move up
The single bachelor who has next to nothing in the way of furniture and ready to sell his condo

My list will be constantly changing as it will be a living, breathing document. I want clients who are easy to work with, open to allowing me to come in and make those desperately needed changes, who are willing to pay, and will tell everyone they know about me and my company. Not too much to ask for. So many of us focus on what we don't want, start claiming exactly what you want!

So many times we take a marketing shot in the dark hoping to attract anyone who has a pulse. You can't be all things to all people. It's time to focus. In real estate that is referred to as finding your niche market. How about defining your client and marketing directly to them? Get to know your customer. What do they read? What groups do they belong to? Do they respond to phone calls, email, letters, on-site visits? What activities do they do on the weekend? Figure out what "turns them on" and speak to it. Get inside their minds and figure out why they would do business with you. Be on their wavelength. Attend events they attend. Join groups they join. At that point you will have so much business, you will have to turn it down. So get ready to aim, fire, and hit that bulls-eye.

Happy Marketing!