| |
collin: Real men have mohawks - 01/09/09 05:00 PM
Today I did my thrift store roundup to shop for some inventory for my home staging prop library and hit my local Salvation Army, Goodwill and Habitat ReStore. Some great deals were to be found!
At my Habitat ReStore stop in South Collin County I found a great deal on new plastic storage bins for what else, storing inventory! Problem was, they were in a tight space and stacked about 4 feet high and I only needed 6.
As I was thinking about how to get them one of the staff was walking towards me, a young woman, and I started to tell her the situation … (14 comments)
|
collin: Favorite Staging Transformation 2008 - but not for the reasons you may think - 12/28/08 05:58 PM
My favorite staging transformation of 2008 was the first staging job I scheduled at the beginning of 2008.
It was my favorite for several reasons but perhaps not for the reasons you may think (in terms of the before and after photos). Here are several reasons why it was my favorite:
First staging job to kick off 2008 It was less than 1/4 mile from my house in Plano, TX and 2 miles from my warehouse ;-) The seller found me online which confirmed and validated my blogging and SEO efforts from the prior year (This was a biggie for me. Thanks Active Rain!) … (17 comments)
|
collin: How one home stager reaches 200,000 (or more) Collin County, TX Residents - FREE - 12/22/08 12:20 PM
I teach, therefore I reach.
It's that simple.
When my instructor packet arrived recently with the newly printed Winter-Spring 2009 Collin College Schedule of Continuing Education booklet inside, it dawned on me again. I am reaching well over 200,000 residents of Collin County Texas who are receiving their booklets with my Home Staging course in it, for free. The college sends this professionally printed course schedule out 3 times a year to all Collin County residents. How's that for marketing and it doesn't cost me a thing?
Then I see it on page 8 this time, that's right, my very own home staging course … (35 comments)
|
collin: North TX Active Rain Get-Together! December 4th, Kelly's Eastside Downtown Plano - 10/23/08 06:44 PM
Hey all you North Texas Active Rainers, Lorrie Semler and I have been at it again and thought we'd get another Active Rain Networking event on the calendar before the end of 2008. I know it's early but those holiday schedules sure fill up fast. It's on a Thursday, not a big night for holiday parties we imagine - so just stop by!
Come see some of your friends & fellow North Texas Rainers or meet some new ones. We had a great time at the last meet up!
This time we're going to meet atKelly's Eastside on the heated patio in Downtown Plano.
… (31 comments)
|
collin: Don't be fooled - I may be a Home Stager but my business is Real Estate - 10/03/08 02:16 PM
This is something I've known for a long time and if you think that as a professional home stager that you are only in the "home staging business" then you are not in the business of real estate.
A good analogy for this is to think back when trains were the main form of transportation (before my day folks but I remember history lessons).
When airplanes came on the scene the big wigs at the Rail Road industries stated something to the effect of," They'll never fly! People and cargo travel by RAIL not air!"
Well as we all know, … (37 comments)
|
collin: Why you can't afford NOT to get your home in top condition if selling or leasing in today's market - 09/28/08 10:01 PM
With a national financial crisis and the tales of woe and doom in the housing market many wonder how are they are ever going to get through this time if selling a property at this most uncertain time of our nation's economy?
After reading an article today on MSN.COM titled: Top 5 Things home buyers and sellers should do now, I am convinced the services of a home staging professional are even more necessary than ever.
Listed below are the top 5 tips for home sellers from the article:
Wait out the market if possible, especially if your house is located … (11 comments)
|
collin: Smooth move - How I staged 2 houses in less than 1 month using the same inventory - 09/20/08 08:56 AM
A unique home staging opportunity presented itself in the last month and if I tried to chronicle it here in detail it would be too long for you to care to read.
Essentially one house, that Home Star Staging staged, sold and closed very quickly. The client asked if there were options for the remainder of the lease agreement. Although they realized they were still obligated to the 3 month terms of the contracts, could there be a solution to try and off set some of the cost?
I made a phone call to the furniture rental company and asked some questions … (30 comments)
|
collin: My Faux Pear - 09/19/08 05:22 PM
Forgive me as I want to wax on about my favorite faux fruit of late... The pear.
The quality of faux fruit these days is really quite good and I've been fortunate to find some great quality product at decent prices at Tuesday Morning, Ross and Marshall's.
I'm enamored with pears these days. Pears translate well for fall, winter and spring, try them in place of pumpkins and see what I mean. (and they'll be just as useful around Christmas time too)
The variety of color and sizes make them interesting as well.
I even went as far as purchasing some … (45 comments)
|
collin: Hey Mikey, they liked it! - 09/19/08 02:51 PM
This is an update to the blog I wrote "What if I don't like it?" regarding a property in Plano,TX Home Star Staging staged last month.
Not only did the home seller 'like it', so did several others.
The first offer came just days after staging and subsequently fell through (that's why it's so important to keep a property staged until as close to closing as possible!)and the next offer came shortly after that and closed this week, 2 days shy of one month after staging.
Initially, the property was listed in June, vacant with no offers even after a price reduction was taken it … (17 comments)
|
collin: Plano - based Home Staging Professionals featured in Dallas Morning News - 09/05/08 07:17 AM
This time last year , Home Star Staging along with another Plano-based home staging professional (and my good friend), Barie Pinnell, with WRE Interiors, were interviewed for an article by the Dallas Morning News. It was an article regarding of course Home Staging for sellers.
As we all know, in today's tough real estate market, home staging is fast becoming a way of setting a home apart from the competition, but not everyone understands how to work with a home stager.
Barie and I, along with a few other local home staging professionals had actually gotten together for the article and collectively staged a property … (14 comments)
|
collin: Learning by example - A student, a teacher and a lesson learned - 08/29/08 12:23 PM
What a timely blog written by Connie Tebyani called "Got....Interns?"
I just finished teaching my 3rd Home Staging class at Collin College in Plano, TX this week and it was the smallest class yet. It was actually really nice and intimate and I have been very busy these last two weeks with work and school starting for my kids, so the class size was a welcome respite from the hectic nature of this past month.
The last day of the class I talk about vacant properties and how important it is to stage them. I've written on this topic several times … (13 comments)
|
collin: "I like it! And could I make an appointment to have you come over to my new house?" - 08/26/08 09:46 PM
As a quick follow up to my previous blog, "What if I don't like it?" I just wanted to say that I spoke to both the Realtor and Seller today to find out their thoughts about the final staging. The Realtor has updated the photos on the web and I'm happy to report both Realtor and client really "liked it!".
The seller even went as far as to ask whether or not I can do the same for their new residence, "Yes!" and I'll be making an appointment for a home staging consultation very soon.
Building trust is something I value with my … (23 comments)
|
collin: Welcome Back Plano ISD! School Starts Monday, August 25th - 08/24/08 05:34 PM
If you don't already know it (and if you don't have children in PISD or at all, it's easy not to know) tomorrow, Monday August 25th, marks the beginning of the new 2008-09 school year for PISD students, teachers and staff.
I know we're not quite accepting this in the Otto household today.
Although we KNOW it, it just doesn't feel like it.
Maybe because my kids are older or cooler about it and don't care to have the latest Jonas Brothers or Miley Cyrus lunch gear or t-shirts. They've settled into the "back to school groove" easier than they used to … (2 comments)
|
collin: My win is your gain! Certified Short-Sale Professional (CSP) Course FREE to one lucky TEXAS REALTOR! - 08/18/08 06:50 AM
This month Home Star Staging won part of a contest called, "I Staged This!" co-hosted by Realty U and Andy Capelluto on the Stage it Forward group here on Active Rain.
It was a "before and after" photo contest. I entered some photos for the "vacant staging" category and won!
The contest not only served as a fun way to compete for professional home stagers around the country but also as a search for photos to be used in presentations as part of Realty U's continuing education courses.
Realtors all over the country will now see my work along with the other entrants. How exciting is that?
I couldn't be … (10 comments)
|
collin: SHOWTIME! Plano East Theatre Announces Fall 2008 Season Schedule - 08/17/08 09:00 PM
2008-09 Plano East Theatre Students
The award winning Plano East Theatre Department under the leadership of Lisa Hale, Theatre Director and Zachary Elms, Technical Director is getting ready for the fall 2008 season. Auditions for the season's first show, starring the "by audition and invitation only" Theatre Major Studies students are August 26th & 27th.
The first show, The Rimers of Eldritch, by Lanford Wilson, opens October 2nd through the 4th at 7:00 PM in the Plano East Theatre Auditorium. Audience seating for this show will be limited. Tickets for the play are $6 for students and $8 for adults … (0 comments)
|
collin: "What if I don't like it?" - 08/17/08 04:30 PM
Hum.
That question, referring to the furniture and decor proposed for use in a vacant property, was posed to me this week by a client who has never worked with a home stager before. Although I've never been asked this question directly before, I could relate. I'm sure others have thought to ask me the very same thing just maybe didn't feel comfortable enough to ask out loud.
There are many sellers in this same predicament and some are nervous.
Home staging is an investment and it's not a small one when we're talking vacant property staging.
How many home sellers … (44 comments)
|
collin: Realtors, who's in your arsenol of influence? - 08/15/08 06:43 PM
I was inspired by a blog written by Collin County, TX's own, John Cannata with Reliant Mortgage, when he posted this blog to Realtors, "How to obtain more listings Part I".
John went on to give some great tips and information on how to do just that. If you haven't read his blogs I would highly recommend them, they're really well thought out, informative and highly useful. Just the kind of information we like to read here on Active Rain.
This is not to say I didn't enjoy the blog or get something out of it because I did but I immediately noticed … (15 comments)
|
collin: Home Staging CE Course Collin College, Plano,TX - What students say - 08/03/08 08:35 PM
I recently received my evaluation reviews from the students I teach the Home Staging for Sellers and Realtors CE course for at Collin College in Plano, TX. I was excited, honored and humbled by the comments and wanted to share some of them with you here.
1. What did you like about the course?
"Interesting content, enthusiastic instructor" "Instructor was pleasant and did not condescend as some instructors do. She showed us that though a professional, she is not the only one who can do this" "Great instructor!" "Went to great lengths to individualize her offerings according to the student's interests and objectives" … (4 comments)
|
collin: Journey of Hope, Plano, TX celebrates 10 year anniversary - you can support! - 08/01/08 08:14 AM
The Journey of Hope Grief Support Center celebrated its 10 year anniversary on June 22nd.
Journey of Hope was founded by a group of local school counselors and others who felt the need to provide a place of support for children and families who experienced the death of a loved one. The center has grown from serving Plano to all of Collin County with groups meeting at different locations meeting the different needs of those in times of loss.
If you or someone you care about would like to find out more about the support at the Journey of Hope call 972-964-1600 … (0 comments)
|
collin: Selling a house in a difficult location? Can home staging help? - 07/24/08 09:12 PM
Selling a house in a difficult location?
Have you considered other ways to market the property besides reducing the price?
While we cannot change the location of a property we can improve the appeal to buyers if the property is indeed in good condition.
There are always buyers looking in certain locations & neighborhoods (obviously this seller/possibly you purchased the property) and the area your property is located and listed will be one of them.
If however there are more problems with the property than the location, for example;
perhaps it is very dated outside/inside it lacks good curb appeal furnishings and decor reflect too personal of a choice the … (4 comments)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Karen Otto, Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging www.homestarstaging.com
Plano,
TX
More about me…
Home Star Staging
Address: Plano, Murphy, Wylie, Richardson, Allen, Lucas, Fairview, McKinney, Frisco, Dallas, Carrollton, Garland, Rockwall, , TX, 75075
Office Phone: (469) 964-0516
Email Me
 Listings
Links
Archives
|
;)
;)
;)
