Home Staging from Naples & Fort Myers, Florida

Who is more successful today: Jack of All Trades or Master of One?

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:17:08 -0500

After reading a few different blogs about ‘specialization’ in your market, I am wondering if this business model is still considered a good choice in today’s economy. When consumers have less money to spend, why would they choose to hire three different people instead of one person who can handle all the details?

Businesses are struggling to explore new ways to earn income. I believe in the 'perfect world' that specialization is KEY to being successful as a stand-out in your particular field. Yet, when dollars are being carefully weighed and doled out with measured moderation, I wonder if the quality of services provided is strengthened or weakened when one person provides too many 'specialized services'.

Ahhh....therein lies the rub.

For my taste, with many details to manage in daily work and life, I prefer to work with business services which can deliver top-notch results. The question is whether to rely on the Jack of All Trades or the Master of One. In the end, QUALITY of work DOES MATTER.

What do you think? Who is more successful today: A business-person who specializes in multiple services or the business-person who simply provides the best quality with mastering one service?

Warmest Regards,

Check out Paint Color Trends for 2010!

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:28:24 -0500

Each year, new trendy colors are introduced to us and often influence our choices. Sherwin Williams presents an exciting fanfare with their annual color trend release. I enjoy checking it out and want to share the trends with you!

Though I may tend toward Benjamin Moore as my usual selection for a premium brand of paint, I can certainly appreciate the array of new 2010 top color picks from Sherwin Williams.

One important fact about color is that it has the power to influence our emotional well-being. When we are looking for peace and calm in our lives, overly bright colors will often produce the opposite effect of 'serenity'. Softer colors will provide a gentle quietness more so than an electric lime-green choice. Does that make sense to you?

This year’s trends appear to guide us toward the softer edges of color. These colors offer solace within the chaos of the nation's current challenges....affecting every one of us. Take a look and observe the difference in how you feel when viewing these choices. Remember, surrounding colors strongly influence our moods and can make an impression in varied unconscious and subtle manners.

Simplified, Refreshed, Treasured and Rooted are the themes of the SW 2010 color trends.

Our world has been rudely awakened to an unconscious 'throw-away mentality'. The awareness has been heightened and now focused on appreciating that which is old, worn and still usable. Instead of replacing, use paint as an artful way to update items. Choose colors which breathe new life onto a white wall or even a worn bookshelf...

If your life is as stressed and crazy as mine seems to be of late, I hope that my info on Sherwin Williams 2010 paint color trends offers you some creative ideas for your own personal space...including how color can influence and support your needs. Click on the above highlighted link to view the rest of the 2010 color trends!

Choose color as a way to celebrate a refreshed outlook within your life. Paint your space with thoughtful and well-chosen colors. And make no excuses for enjoying tender color….because your need for balanced serenity is too important.

Simplification is the IN choice for 2010.

Warmest Regards,

KATHLEEN GARVEY, National Award Winner of Stager Idol 2008.

State President of RESA-Florida

2009 RESA State President of the Year

ENHANCED INTERIORS & HOME STAGING is located in the Fort Myers - Naples, Florida area. Serving real estate staging needs in the following cities: Naples. Bonita Springs, Estero, Sanibel Island, Ft. Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral and Punta Gorda, FL. (239) 849-6009

Please visit my website: ENHANCED INTERIORS

The REAL DEAL with Home Staging in 2009 -- Listen up HGTV!!

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:43:39 -0600

If you have been keeping up on the trend to HOME STAGE as a way to better market real estate properties, you may have wondered if home staging still makes sense in 2009.

Questions you ask may include:

What if my house for sale is empty? Should I have it professionally staged?
What can I do to create more appeal to buyers? Does staging make a difference?
Is there another idea to help a listing sell quicker other than dropping the price? How else can I impact more buyers?

One of the newer trends in the real world of staging homes is focused on Staging the IMPACT ROOMS.

What this means is that the main living spaces are the showcased areas.

Because the economy is on everyone’s mind, I am often asked about the best way to spend wisely and incorporate the important elements of home staging. (All areas of the house do not need to be staged/furnished.)

In order to create an effective ‘Wow’ factor for buyers who view your home, staging the impact rooms of an empty house is key. Ask Realtors what they think about the difference in showing potential buyers empty houses versus those which are tastefully staged. Which ones create more traffic for the homeseller? Certainly not the empty house.

Impact staging usually includes the initial room a buyer may see as they cross the threshold into the home. Perhaps they first walk into a Living Room space and/or sometimes, a Dining Room. Whichever room is the first one you see, remember that creating a positive initial impression is all important.

By staging simply with a seating group, artwork, lighting and a few decorative items, the space is further defined to a buyer. It feels like a home. Empty rooms feel...well, empty!

The Family room and Kitchen are also two main areas where buyers want to feel ‘connected’ to when they walk through the rooms. One of the goals in staging a vacant home is to add interest and warmth to rooms which otherwise might feel rather lackluster and cold. A professional stager is knowledgeable about where to add proper furnishing placement and where to enhance with decorative touches.

Home Staging is all about creating a more appealing atmosphere so the buyers can picture themselves living in the home.

For example: Which Master Bedroom would you rather BUY (sleep in)?

(Hint: All three photos are the same room in a $700K listing!)

Whenever economically possible, I try to also include the Master Bedroom in the home staging budget. The way I see it, the buyers who are agreeing to purchase the home will be sleeping in this personal space so I want them to connect to the bedroom too!

It doesn’t have to be fully decked-out and designed….yet, the impact of beautiful linens, headboard and end tables with lighting works well together and often seals the deal! Adding few staged items in the Master Bath offers the finishing touches to the Master Suite.

The professional Real Estate Stager will know how much of a balance your IMPACT rooms will need. Real estate staging makes a difference in the buyer’s experience when viewing your home….and the difference in buyers choosing your property versus the other empty house down the street. This is the REAL DEAL in Home Staging trends for 2009 my friends!

Warmest Regards,

KATHLEEN GARVEY, National Award Winner of Stager Idol 2008.

State President of RESA-Florida

Please visit my website: ENHANCED INTERIORS

Why care about Home Staging? Because LOOKS MATTER!

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:59:24 -0600

Let’s face it, our parents always told us growing up that it doesn’t matter how we look on the outside, what matters most is whats on the inside. While this adage may be standard guidance for one’s overall character, the reality in our daily living is quite different.

Whether we want to admit it to ourselves or not, LOOKS MATTER. They matter to each of us every day and in more ways than we realize. Perhaps it is the quality of nicely packaged merchandise or the way food is arranged on our plate, most everyone tends to be attracted (or not) to visual presentation.

Notice that the word present is in the word presentation. We all love presents don’t we? So…think about why your excitement begins to rev up if you are celebrating an event and eyeing the gift with your name on it.

Does the exterior wrapping appeal to you?

Are you excited about opening the present to see what it contains?

When you un-wrap the package and discover what’s inside, what do you see? Do you feel even more excited and lean to take a closer look?

Now imagine the same scenario if you are trying to sell a house in today’s real estate market. What does your property’s looks say to potential buyers when they are shopping and first view your listing online? Ask yourself these questions:

Will your packaging attract a buyer’s attention OR is the packaging dull, dented and lack-luster?

Do your online property photos create excitement so that buyers want to see more OR are you simply showing an empty brick and mortar box?

Will your property presentation capture enough attention from buyers to keep your house in the running for offers?

If buyers have a choice between your house and real estate around the corner, make sure your house shines brighter than the competition. Real Estate Staging creates the necessary appeal which will attract waaaaay more potential buyers than if you did nothing at all.

Go ahead and test it out. Click on Realtor.com (a site where 90% of today's buying public searches for property listings) and see for yourself. How many of those listing photos make you want to run out for a closer look-see??

Selling most anything starts with the present-ation, yes? Hire the best home staging professional in your area and make sure your house-for-sale is properly dressed in order to turn buyers' heads and grab their attention. Doing so will give you the leg-up on the competition and attract more buyers.

Old adages are important to consider. Yet...sometimes, REALITY will trump ideals.

When selling your real estate, LOOKS MATTER.

Warmest Regards,

KATHLEEN GARVEY, National Award Winner of Stager Idol 2008.

State President of RESA-Florida

Please visit my website: ENHANCED INTERIORS

Florida’s Real Estate - Home Stagers Rock November!

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:31:28 -0600

Earlier this month, professional Home Stagers from the Gulf Coast of Florida met in Tampa to discuss hot topics in the real estate staging industry.

This was the premier meeting of its kind in Florida and I invited professional home stagers in our area to join together for this event. During this time of economic uncertainty for everyone, I know that Florida home stagers must rise above the stress of the real estate business and make the effort to have their voices heard. Additionally, Akanke Cadden held a meeting the following week in Miami for the South Florida stagers. She told me it was very successful as well. Yeah Florida home staging!

We discussed an agenda which was formatted similar to 27 other Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) & Stage it Forward (SIF) gatherings across the US and Canada. I asked the real estate staging professionals to state their thoughts as they felt them and to discuss their ideas. By creating a friendly and non-competitive ambiance, the collective open attitude remained full of energy and positive comments throughout the day. AR folks pictured below include St. Pete's Judy Kincaid (to the right of me) and a newcomer to Active Rain, Laurie Calhoun from Seminole, FL. Stagers visited from Naples to north of the Orlando areas.

Bravo to CORT-Tampa Bay Gloria Rose for arriving early that morning, hands stacked full of my special request: fresh, warm Krispy-Kreme donuts at the waiting. Yum! Additional Kudos to PODS National Sales Manager, Joey Interrante for trusting my judgment with ordering the delicious Cuban lunch fare from nearby Mandy’s. He thought the food would be similar to the tex-mex food from his recent stay in Texas, yet I assured him that tasting Cuban specialties would be much different. Joey agreed and was grateful for the introduction to the always popular Tampa-Ybor City specialty.

I figured that if I was going to drive over 325 miles round-trip to moderate the meeting, I was going to need some major fuel! (In more ways than one!) With my sugar levels on over-load combined with the excitement of meeting other professional stagers from across Florida, I felt that mountains could be moved by this group! (OK, granted, Florida is a flat state....so please go with the idea here…lol!)

We discussed the home staging issues and how they related to our business here in Florida, which unfortunately leads the nation in foreclosures and defaults galore. Many homes in Florida are vacant and are often secondary homes for our Northern part-time residents. It places us in an even more unique position than the average home staging company as the economy slumps and causes further pain for our clients and our businesses.

Avowing to continue to educate Homeowners and Real Estate partners alike, the professional Home Staging community wishes to work together with collective intention. We recognize the important need to support one another and to focus our strength as ONE VOICE in this growing Real Estate Staging industry, rather than as segregated factions, which merely serves to weaken the roots of professional progress.

We offer our sincerest gratitude for the combined efforts of RESA, ASHSR, IRIS and CSP for their continual leadership and support of this grand effort to work together as one. The support from many corporate sponsors such as CORT, PODS, BROOKS, 1-800-GOT JUNK and others, demonstrates that combining resources and energy is integral for the continued growth and future of all of our businesses.

***Special thank you goes out to Sherwin-Williams Matt Leeds for providing our professional real estate stagers with new Sherwin Williams Color Decks and the latest 2009 Color Trends information. I wanted Florida Home Stagers to walk away from the RESA-SIF meeting with tools as well as ideas which will continue to help them excel in their businesses.

Additional door prizes were supplied by CORT and it gave me great pleasure to present a large piece of artwork to Carol Berman from Design Savoir-Faire located in Seminole, FL. Carol provided huge background support for me, so I was thrilled when her name was randomly drawn as a winner! Congratulations also goes to gift card winners: Leticia Lawson of The Staging Stylist and Jane Xiques of Rooms for Change by Jane, both located in the Tampa area.

The meeting feedback has been outstanding with many professionals ready to meet again soon. It was very gratifying to know that the success of our meeting has created more excitement for the home staging professionals in the state of Florida. Good job everyone!

Warmest Regards,

Where to Peek at Paint Color Trends for 2009!

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 19:03:29 -0600

Do you like to feel that you are ‘in the know' about something before the rest of the world catches up? I sure do!

Pacify your desire to be alongside the design professionals and learn more about up-and-coming color ideas for the year ahead. All you need to do is sign up and watch a Sherwin Williams Webinar which highlights 2009 Color trends.

Pssst....spoiler alert: One of my favorite colors emerging as a strong 2009 trend: GRAY!

I love deep charcoal gray tones and also appreciate the cool calmness which emanates from the lighter hues as well. Actually, it is no surprise to me that this steel-toned color is becoming trendy now. The new low-key color direction feels as if it fits right in with the pervasive gray mood and underlying pressure many people seem to be experiencing right now.

So hey, why not use the color gray as a metaphor for these times? Yes...think strong as steel...and allow any grayness in your life to reflect your own inner strength.

Remember too, the color gray correlates with silver linings.

Certainly, there are many more color choices which made the list. As a professional real estate stager, I always like being 'in the know' with upcoming color trends and I thought you might want to catch up on the inside scoop yourself.

Welcome the new 2009 colors and take a look at the scheduled Colormix ‘09 Webinars with Sherwin Williams. Check out which colors you want to try in your home or work décor palette this year!

(Click here for SW Webinar dates)

Warm Regards,

KATHLEEN GARVEY, National Award Winner of Stager Idol 2008.

State President of RESA-Florida

ENHANCED INTERIORS & HOME STAGING is located in the Fort Myers - Naples, Florida area. Serving home staging needs in the following cities: Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Sanibel Island, Ft. Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral and Punta Gorda, FL. (239) 849-6009

Please visit my website: ENHANCED INTERIORS

How to UP your Game when selling your Home

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 06:14:26 -0500

When I receive calls from homeowners, I often hear the same comments.

“Kathleen, I have tried changing Realtors and lowering my price; yet, no buyers are coming to view my home for sale. I know I need to do something differently.”

Does that sound like a familiar thought?

What is really happening? Well, without getting into a deeper economics discussion etc., one of the main reasons your listing may not be selling is that you have not ‘upped your game’. The game of selling real estate has changed. It has changed drastically in the last 12-18 months.

Ask yourself: Have you also changed your game strategy?

Do you want to WIN?

Your typical way of looking at how your home is being marketed and sold must change with the times. Otherwise, you will continue to be stuck and wonder why sales numbers are gradually increasing in your city and your home is sitting there with no activity. No offers. No potential buyers walking through the listing. Nada. What should you do?

The solution is surprisingly simple:

-Define your goal

-Develop a better game plan

-Create interest in your listing…ahhh, therein lies the secret!

-Add an MVP Player to your team. Spend the money to have a home staging professional lead your listing to a better game performance

-Congratulate yourself on the decision to become more aggressive with selling your home

The goal is to sell your home. The process to get to that point takes far more effort these days. OK, we all realize it is a 'buyers market' out there. You need to attract those buyers to your listing. There are thousands of vacant and occupied houses that do not look much different from one another and frankly, most do not appear interesting enough to even consider seeing in person…no matter the price. B-o-r-i-n-g.

I love all kinds of homes but you will see what I mean when you check out how dull and lifeless most homes come across when you view them via the Internet. If you have not looked lately, do this: Go online to Realtor.com and see your listing with a fresh eye.

-Does your house stand out above the others in your game bracket?

-How does your listing stack up against the team of homes which are professionally home staged?

You may need to improve your game plan if your listing looks like all the others. You can easily 'up-your-game' and create more interest by utilizing professional home staging.

My best suggestion:

If you have not had a professional consultation (at the very least) with a good home stager in your area, you should start there. Receive some pointers and expert advice from a home staging and re-design professional who will offer more guidance than the usual ‘clean it up and pack it up’ solution. Pay for the information, it will be worth your while. Use Home Staging to increase the salebility of the listing and watch the interest grow.

Homeowners who add professional Home Staging to their game plan are greatly improving the home selling-odds in their favor. These people have 'upped their game'!

Up your Game and add a Home Staging MVP to your selling Team!

Play ball the ‘new way’ and step up your odds of winning in the real estate game.

PS. If you have already consulted with a Home Stager in your area, congratulations to you! You are on target to win in todays Real Estate market!

Warm Regards from your MVP Home Staging Professional,

KATHLEEN GARVEY, National Award Winner of Stager Idol 2008.

State President of RESA-Florida

Please visit my website: ENHANCED INTERIORS

Florida is Celebrating Home Staging Awareness Month in November

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:08:03 -0500

Florida is celebrating November’s ‘Home Staging Awareness Month” with its first-ever Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) and Stage it Forward (SIF) Roundtable event.

Today's professional Home Stagers are helping homeowners and Realtors improve how real estate properties are being sold successfully.

As state President for RESA-Florida, Kathleen Garvey is extending an open invitation to all professional Home Stagers in Florida. Roundtable meetings are being conducted throughout North America during the month of November for Home Staging Awareness month, in order to bring home stagers together and discuss vital industry issues.

Plan on joining your home staging colleagues and sharing thoughts and ideas at the 2008 Tampa Bay RESA-SIF Roundtable event. You will have the opportunity to enjoy and discuss varied important and exciting topics focused on our home staging profession. Along with the combination of informative interaction and fun, Florida home stagers will benefit by attending this November special gathering.

Additional professional staging and redesign groups such as the Interior Redesign Industry Specialists (IRIS), and American Society of Home Stagers and Redesigners (ASHSR) are also partnering with RESA in a unified effort to bring industry professionals together and participate in Home Staging Awareness Month. CORT Furniture and PODS will be providing support for this all-important meeting.

TAMPA BAY ROUNDTABLE EVENT

Date:              November 8, 2008 - Saturday

Time:             10:00am-1:30pm (Lunch will be provided)

Location:       CORT Furniture Rental

7817 N. Dale Mabry Hwy

Tampa, Florida 33614

Moderator: Kathleen Garvey (239) 849-6009

Email: enhancedinteriors@gmail.com

REGISTER HERE: Tampa Bay Roundtable Sign-up

Space will be limited so please register as soon as possible.

Additionally, there will be one more meeting available for the South Florida area Home Stagers being held on Tuesday, November 11. (Click here for S. FL Mtg.)

Please call me if you have further questions or need additional information regarding this event. Thank You and see you in November! (239) 849-6009

Best Regards & Successful Staging,

Kathleen Garvey

President, RESA-Florida

Do You Know what Helps Real Estate taste Good for Buyers?

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:51:22 -0500

How many times have you attended a wedding or birthday party and looked forward to tasting the celebratory cake?

Do you tactfully maneuver your place in line to grab that prized corner cake piece, lush with sugary icing or do you hope that your random cake slice served at your seat is mostly cake-only with minimal icing?

The whole experience begins with admiring the carefully hand-piped decorations and overall appearance of the cake. It doesn't matter if you are an icing junkie or a cake-only lover. Everyone can appreciate the overall thrill when we first spot the beautiful cake.

Now you might ask: Kathleen, what does this analogy have to do with selling a house?

Professional Home Staging is the ‘icing' of Real Estate. Everyone pays close attention to the first impression a home makes on them. The concept means in order to achieve success in real estate, sellers need to offer a taste of both cake and icing. When combined together, they keep more buyers interested and asking for seconds.

Of course the cake itself must be edible quality in order to build a good foundation. Yet, think about it...would a bare and plain baked cake make your mouth water all on its own? Probably not.

Therefore, please do not scrimp on the icing. It's the ‘finished' dessert which creates the visual magic for all of us. It is the home staging which makes the difference.

Think of this idea when you are trying to sell your real estate. Have you iced and decorated your property listing or simply left it plain and unadorned on the cooling rack, hoping for the best?

Remember, selling a house is not really about whether people love the icing or the cake-only; it is about impressions made when buyers take a first look at your ‘cake'.

Warm Regards,

KATHLEEN GARVEY of ENHANCED INTERIORS & HOME STAGING located in the Fort Myers - Naples, Florida area. Providing home staging services in the following cities: Naples. Bonita Springs, Estero, Sanibel Island, Ft. Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral and Punta Gorda, FL. (239) 849-6009

Please visit my website: ENHANCED INTERIORS

How the Synergy Secret helps Improve Real Estate Sales

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:09:55 -0500

Why do some homes in real estate sell faster than others?

In today’s real estate marketplace, this is a question which I am frequently asked.

We can all agree that pricing has a lot to do with whether a home sells quicker in this market; yet, would this be the ONLY reason some homes sell faster than others? No.

Read on about a well-known secret many homeowners and Real Estate agents are using to gain the upper hand above their competition.

Professional real estate staging has become a mainstay for home sellers in many of the larger cities across the U.S. and Canada. Staged properties sell faster when compared with un-staged properties. Hmmmm.....do you ever wonder WHY staging works?

The answer is simple: SYNERGY

Synergy is created when you have combined efforts which work together to improve the desired results.

Relying completely on the Realtor alone to sell a home is the ‘old way’ to sell real estate. Times are different now and this means that sellers need to have a new plan! Visual exposure on the Internet is important and creating an immediate synergistic connection with buyers makes all the difference in the world! Your property must look enticing for the buyers to even consider a visit. Add a Home Stager (Design Specialist) to the selling plan and watch the synergy sparks fly! Here are the reasons why:

Professional Home Stagers have the creative know-how to create synergy within a house. Whether changes involve repositioning of furnishings, removal of items which clutter living space or simple ideas which improve the overall appearance of the property, you can start by scheduling a professional consultation with a Home Stager.

Take the first step and begin applying the Synergy Secret with your real estate and see how hiring a professional home stager can improve your chances of selling quicker!

Simply ask yourself:

Do I have the right SYNERGY in place for this property to sell today?

(If you are unsure, you know who to call!)

Warm Regards-

RESA-FLORIDA PRESIDENT

KATHLEEN GARVEY of ENHANCED INTERIORS & HOME STAGING located in the Fort Myers - Naples, Florida area. Providing home staging services in the following cities: Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Sanibel, Ft. Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral and Punta Gorda, Florida (239) 849-6009

Please visit my website: ENHANCED INTERIORS

HIGH RISK GAMBLING with your Home-for-Sale----if you didn't professionally Home Stage!

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:33:06 -0500

You are a High-Risk Gambler in today's Real Estate IF....

Your home-for-sale has not been blinged-out by a professional Real Estate Home Stager.

Are you one of those people? Are you gambling with your home and taking undue risk? Ask yourself the following questions and we will see if you qualify as a High-Risk Gambler:

Has your Real Estate property been on the market for too long?

Does the only solution your Realtor give you involve ‘dropping your price'?

Are you losing more money while waiting for your home to Sell?

Did you skip the professional Home Staging step because it costs money?

If you answered YES to any of the above questions, you are a High-Risk Gambler in the world of today's frustrating real estate marketplace. If you think I am kidding you, I am not. Look around. See what your competition has to offer. Smart home sellers are making a better effort to give their home-for-sale the marketing ‘edge'.

Yes, it will mean shelling out some cash. This is a classic example from the basics of making money:

It takes money to make money!

If you insist on being a Gambler and taking risk with selling your real estate, at least play the game by learning a few rules to increase your odds of winning.

Tune into my next Blog where I discuss turning the tables and creating the ‘House Advantage'.

Warm Regards-

RESA-FLORIDA PRESIDENT

KATHLEEN GARVEY of ENHANCED INTERIORS & HOME STAGING located in the Fort Myers - Naples, Florida area. Serving real estate staging needs in the following cities: Naples. Bonita Springs, Estero, Sanibel Island, Ft. Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral and Punta Gorda, FL. (239) 849-6009

Please visit my website: ENHANCED INTERIORS

SHOW ME THE VALUE of Home Staging! Week-in-Review (7/13-7/20)

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:48:43 -0500

When asked to do this week's SIF Week-in-Review by Yvonne Root and Kimberly Wester, I was thrilled to offer my hand at writing the weekly run-down. Numerous writers contribute many noteworthy blogs each day and it is interesting to note the themes which often spring up!

There appears to be a bounty of blogs discussing the reality (or unreality) Home Shows which continue their efforts in educating the masses. Have you noticed all the different twists on the subject of redesigning/staging a home to sell...yet the 'stated' cost figures seem to lack the real truth behind the scene? Missing labor fees. OOPS!!

Despite this minor and not-so-obvious-to-viewers financial oversight, emphasis on Value and putting your investment of Home Staging to work are ultimately what these shows intend to highlight for the homeowner. Thus, I decided to focus on the VALUE of Home Staging from a sampler of this week’s SIF blogs in North America. How are we professional home stagers faring out there?

In a time when individual financial and real estate stress is increasing here in the U.S., it is ever-important to weigh the value which Home Staging brings to the Real Estate Sale. Let’s see what the pulse check reveals this week:

Lola Audu: Setting the Stage…or Buying the Warm Fuzzies? Realtor; Grand Rapids, MI

Melissa Marro: No one puts their house on the market looking like that! Stager; Charleston, SC

Alexandra Fletcher & Emily Hagerman: Home Staging works; Being greedy doesn’t. Stagers;Vancouver, BC

Lori Kim Polk: An understated elegance when selling a home. Stager; Sacramento, CA

Wanda Richards: ROANOKE Realtor Knows the Value of Home Staging Stager; Roanoke, VA

Nancy Cleary: Collaboration with a Realtor! OMG! Stager; Walnut Creek, CA

Michele Hess: What are they saying about YOU? Stager; Rockford, IL

Mark and Leslie Hoyt: Just slip out the back jack…So the house can SELL 1 hour later! Stagers; Greenville, SC

Successes are happening every day out there and we professional home stagers continue to give our best! Sometimes seeing is believing for folks. Providing the visual difference is one of the most impactful values of staging and taking a home to its next level: A SALE!!

Homeowners must remember to 'invest a little to get A LOT' when attempting to sell their home today's challenging real estate market. There is great VALUE when hiring a professional home stager to help market a home at it's very best!

Keep up the great work in showing the VALUE of what you have to offer your Real Estate community!

Have a Great Week Everyone!

Warm Regards-

KATHLEEN GARVEY of ENHANCED INTERIORS & HOME STAGING located in the Fort Myers - Naples, Florida area. Serving real estatestaging needs in the following cities: Naples. Bonita Springs, Estero, Sanibel Island, Ft. Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral and Punta Gorda, FL. (239) 849-6009

You don’t need VooDoo to Sell Your Home …You-Doo need a Home Stager!

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:32:04 -0500

YOU DO NOT NEED VOODOO TO SELL YOUR HOME!

Definitely…You-Doo need a Home Stager!

Located inside a current $800,000 listing, this particular Peruvian Santero box is filled with depictions of other-worldly spirits. Possibly, this art may be doing a whole lot more than scaring demons away!

Would this VooDoo art piece chase away the majority of your potential buyers? Hmmm....Possibly so.

Doo hire a professional Home Stager for a consultation and ensure your listing does not chase away the Sale!

Warmest Regards-

KATHLEEN GARVEY of ENHANCED INTERIORS & HOME STAGING located in the Fort Myers - Naples, Florida area. Serving real estatestaging needs in the following cities: Naples. Bonita Springs, Estero, Sanibel Island, Ft. Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral and Punta Gorda, FL. (239) 849-6009

Please visit the ENHANCED INTERIORS website: ENHANCED INTERIORS

Before and After - FLORIDA Home Stager works behind the Counter!

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:49:21 -0500

Do you realize how important the look of Kitchen Counters are when trying to sell your home?

BEFORE AND AFTER Kitchen Photos

Below you will see what the original MLS Kitchen photos looked like for this million-dollar home listing. These were the only two photos available for the kitchen in the listing!! Does this photo motivate you to come visit this property? When poor photos are posted on the MLS, it is any wonder that these homes sit for months…with no ‘counter’ offers in sight!

When Enhanced Interiors & Home Staging was called, I discussed the options to upgrade the Kitchen in this beautiful home so that buyers would be excited about exploring this listing. These homeowners knew something different had to be done in order for their home to bring in top dollars. Better counters and far better photos make this home resonate with luxury! Because the home is situated in the middle of a Nature Preserve, I brought in more greenery to the kitchen so that the outdoors lived indoors as well! (This IS Florida afterall!)

Call a professional Home Stager today who is capable of delivering the look your home deserves in today’s competitive real estate market. And present the BEST photos on MLS to SHOW it!

HEADS UP!! HOME STAGER behind the COUNTER!

BEFORE - MLS PHOTO - Kitchen Counter

AFTER - ENHANCED INTERIORS & Home Staging MLS Photo

BEFORE - MLS Kitchen Counter Photo

AFTER - ENHANCED INTERIORS & Home Staging MLS Photo

Take your time and hire the BEST Home Stager in your area and make sure your Kitchen shines!

HOW? ALWAYS review the Home Stager's portfolio of Before and After photos...

ASK! The stager if the photos are from THEIR OWN WORK (Not photos borrowed from their staging school's picture album of staging examples). Buyer Beware!

HIRE! A professional Home Stager based on their creative ingenuity and ability to lift your home to new heights!

Your decision to hire a quality Home Stager will pay you back many dollars beyond the initial money invested in your home when it sells.

BE MONEY SMART!!

Warm Regards-

Kathleen Garvey of ENHANCED INTERIORS & Home Staging, FLORIDA Providing quality Home Staging in: Naples. Fort Myers, Estero, Bonita Springs, Sanibel Island, Cape Coral, North Ft. Myers, Punta Gorda, FL. (239) 849-6009

Seeing PINK...Promotional Presence Idea!

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 10:08:40 -0500

Yesterday morning bright and early, my friend Mary and I ran in a 5K cancer fund-raiser -- Race for the Cure (Susan G. Komen). Pictured are the both of us recovering--post race. My friend is training for a 15 mile race (25K) in May so I decided to support her training by running along with her. Though I am no longer a regular runner, I figured the 3.1 miles would not be too difficult. I did it! Afterward, in my post-race delirium, I staggered around, praying that I was not going to look like a wimp and throw up. (Serious...lol!)

Nearly $1 million dollars were raised in our little area...which is pretty darn great! Over 6,000 runners and walkers participated. Pink ribbons, pink t-shirts, pink shoe laces, pink 'Hope' bracelets....you name it--PINK everywhere! Everyone smiled and greeted one another in a 'knowing' sort of style...one which made for a wonderful deep feeling of connection with one another. We all were there for a cause. Most of us have been touched in various ways by the disease of cancer and today's vibe at the race felt like a deep-bonding sort of morning. It felt special.

Home Stagers are a very generous group of people. All of us have talents which can contribute a lot of 'give' towards a local charity or two. As we continue to grow as a profession, I am a HUGE believer that the more we 'give', the more the Universe sees fit to give back towards each one of us!

Perhaps over the next year, we all might consider additional ideas of how we too might increase our charitable contributions within our individual communities. I am sure many of you have considered it yet not found the time to actually follow-through. For me, I have thought about it; though not made a more proactive move towards the next step myself. Find a cause which you feel strongly about and decide to participate in some way.

Booths were set up post-race by many local businesses....even Ford was there handing out the pink 'Warrior' scarf/bandana you see wrapped around my neck. People signed up for give-a-ways at nearly all booths and I thought having a booth might be a great idea to consider for Home Stagers. It would be an opportunity to support a cause...meet lots of people and increase your Profile in your local community.

Though it is a different venue than a typical Home Show, the crowd had a particular sense of loyalty to those companies who were there to support Breast Cancer. It would be a lot of fun and a great opportunity to create 'buzz'. I definitely took notice of the businesses which were present at the Race. Somehow, their loyalty to a cause important to me endeared their brand in my mind in a very personal way. Just a thought....perhaps a Fund-raiser road-race might be a great venue to think 'out of the box' and promote your Home Staging business!

Please Remember: THE MORE WE GIVE, the greater the Laws of Abundance will reward us!

STAGE IT FORWARD

Warm Regards-

Kathleen Garvey of Enhanced Interiors & Home Staging, Florida -- Offering Real Estate Staging services to the following areas: Naples. Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero. Sanibel Island, Punta Gorda, North Fort Myers, FL. (239) 849-6009

Prickly Perceptions--REALTORS & Home Stagers=T E A M!??

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:51:32 -0500

In a conversation this week with another Home Stager, we discussed why Realtors are sometimes reluctant to bring in a third party Home Stager. We talked about the possible reasons...and one of the biggest perceptions was a fear that the Home Stager might offend the homeowner with their evaluation.

REALTORS--Do you worry that your local Home Stager will offend the Homeowners?

There is a show on HGTV which has a two-member team visit and critique the seller's home. Personally, I have not especially cared for their style of communicating with the potential client. It is a professional Home Stager's duty to evaluate the home and give their expert advice. However, doing so in a rather abrupt manner is not appealing to many folks. I believe that this particular show does not portray what the majority of professional Home Stagers would consider as an example of proper behavior with a homeowner/seller.

The reality of this TV program: The show is simply an attention-getting twist on helping homeowners become better prepared to sell in today's market.

I think we can all agree that times have changed in the real estate selling game and homeowners need to approach presenting their home in new ways. HGTV provides a wonderful educational service through a variety of programming targeted to help sellers see a different viewpoint. However, educating via humiliation of homeowners is not something I think most staging professionals would do with such insensitive intention. It is disrespectful to the seller, to the Realtor and to the staging profession in general. Regardless, that is the flavor of that particular show. Naturally, I wondered if this type of show influences whether or not a Realtor would feel comfortable having a Home Stager on their team?

Respect is KEY in all relationships, whether it is within your personal or professional dealings. If a Realtor requests that a Home Stager meet and provide a consultation for the listing client, there are several professional reputations at stake. I would hope the Realtor has confidence that a Home Stager is not going to come into a seller's home and treat that client as disrespectful as the HGTV prickly pair treat others. Although this mother-daughter team has great ideas for the homeowners, I wonder if this style of 'providing advice' to the seller is something which might be of concern to Realtors. Is it?

Does this concern keep you from adding the Home Stager to your team?

Do you believe that your sellers would be nervous having a Home Stager evaluate their home?

Home Stagers truly want to assist Realtors and their sellers. Some Realtors 'get it' and once they make the choice to partner with a good Home Stager, they realize it is faster money in the bank for their seller and themselves! We want to be a part of your team and would like to increase your sales figures! Our work will help you sell your listings faster if you allow us! So....what are you waiting for?

What holds you back at times? Have you tried yet? What do you honestly think about the idea? Yay or Nay?

Please share your thoughts about adding the Home Stager to your Team!

Warm Regards,

Kathleen Garvey of Enhanced Interiors & Home Staging, Fort Myers, Florida. Serving: Naples, Estero, Ft. Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel Island, Punta Gorda, FL. (239) 849-6009

Several Home Stagers have DONE IT NOW!!…Have you?

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:52:03 -0600

Over the past few months, I have noticed several AR Stagers who had taken close-up photos of a feature from their staged work. Very close-up photos. The focus was tight and shot from an artistic angle. What was so interesting about showing one of these photos was that most people, who read the thread, commented on the artistic photograph the most! I think it was Dane Caldwell of Toronto and Kathy Nielson from Atlanta who shined with their artistic touch recently, by focusing on CLOSE-UP PHOTOs.

Well, I have to mention that it inspired me to try a few new artistic ways to photograph my stagings. When I take the photos of a room, I do my best to view the lens similar in ways a professional photographer might consider. I choose an advantageous angle to focus on and click away! Even though I am not a huge fan of viewing a stager's work in small bites, this is one morsel which adds artistic flair we can all appreciate--in addition to the room photo!

GIVE IT A TRY!!

Warm Regards-

Kathleen Garvey, ENHANCED INTERIORS & HOME STAGING - Located in Southwest Florida and providing Real Estate Staging in the following areas: Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Sanibel Island, Cape Coral and Punta Gorda, FL Call: (239) 849-6009

Member of RESA - State of Florida President 2008

SHOWING OFF your Home Staging talents--Your PHOTO GALLERY!

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:13:15 -0600

Whenever I have the opportunity to view a Home Stager's site, I must confess...rarely do I read the site text; instead, I immediately look for my favorite page--the Photo Gallery!! I CLICK on the link button and wait. While it is uploading, I watch with eagerness and excitement! What level of creative talent will unfold before my eyes? The anticipation increases...

When the Photo Gallery page opens, the viewer wants to be able to see a few example-photos of your staging work. (Befores and Afters). Often times I am disappointed because either there are only finished rooms or stock photos in a person's photo gallery. A professional Home Stager will highlight BOTH (Befores and Afters) so that their talent is readily available and credible to the viewer! Show off your creative TALENT! Your photos are about marketing your 'WOW' abilities!

If you only post the finished room, how are your customers going to be able to determine that you are able to provide them with better ideas (staging or redesign) than what they currently own?? People LOVE great ‘before and after' photos! They enjoy them because people like to view the profound changes which are shown through Before and After examples! Your work Photo Gallery should easily highlight the true reason for hiring a Home Stager in the first place!

We provide profound change which makes a difference. This amazing difference will help place thousands of additional dollars in the homeowners and realtors pockets...Right?? This is the point of Home Staging. We are here to help clients improve the marketability of their real estate and make a profound difference for people in today's challenging real estate market! Show off what you can do!

-Please DO fill your Photo Gallery page up with photos of images which show YOUR WORK. Even if you only have 4 photos total, make sure it highlights your own work!

-Please DO show the Before and After photos of a room so that the viewer can determine your talent and staging abilities. If all the viewer can see is the After shot, you are doing your staging business and your creative talents a disservice by not providing the Before photo as well! Show off your talent!

-Please DO NOT USE STOCK PHOTOS instead of your own personal work in your PHOTO GALLERY. This means that you should not be cutting and pasting work from other stagers without permission, using your staging educational material examples or photos clipped from random google décor image files.

This last point is very important. Whether you are a realtor who has started staging or a new home stager, using stock photos in your site's Photo Gallery is a deceptive practice and considered unethical.

WHY? Because the consumer automatically trusts that the work they are seeing is the work that you have actually provided to another client. There are numerous threads on Active Rain regarding how you can begin to build an honest photo gallery from your work. No excuses my friends.

Because this industry has gained a massive and growing amount of attention over the past few years, it is up to each one of us to maintain HIGH STANDARDS of conduct, professionalism and to present honest examples of our own work in our Staging Portfolios for the general public viewing pleasure.

C'MON.....SHOW OFF your Home Staging talents!! YOU CAN Do It!!

Warm Regards-

Kathleen Garvey of Enhanced Interiors & Home Staging, Ft. Myers, Florida (239) 849-6009

Styling and Staging Southwest Florida Real Estate: Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Cape Coral, Sanibel Island and Punta Gorda, FL

Interior Wall paint finish - Satin, Eggshell or Matte-flat?

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:32:59 -0500

Recently, I visited a three-story, seven figure home to do a staging consultation. When I entered this beautiful home, I was astonished to encounter interior walls which were finished with an overly-sheeny paint choice. Every little flaw of the drywall jumped out at me as the sunlight streamed through the many windows. The overall look was distracting.

There is often a debate as to which finish to choose when selecting interior wall paint. While the practicality of the easily-wiped satin may be a popular choice, I would suggest that the additional variables be considered:

• How much light does the room receive?

• What condition are the walls?

• Will there be high traffic?

• Is the sheen of the paint finish being used to the room's best advantage?

If your walls are screaming to be scrubbed at the mere hint of a fingerprint, consider toning down your wall finish so that it reflects an ambiance of serenity and calmness.

Always think about the above questions before giving your ‘finish' answer to the paint supplier before mixing your wall color. Doing so will help you create the beautiful look you desire!

What is the most common food allergy in the U.S.?

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 11:49:25 -0500

Did you know that allergies to Seafood are the most common allergy here in the United States??

After dining during a recent vacation, I suffered my first allergic reaction EVER in my life to shellfish. The night before, I had a very nice dinner at an expensive restaurant in the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. Within a few hours, my eyes began to water and swell. By the next morning, I was a mess and had to fly home. To be honest, I had no idea what was happening. As I struggled to get to my airport gates, the tears streamed down my face...my eyes looking like I had been punched out the night before. Thank goodness for my sunglasses....but the experience of your eyes closing and not easily opening was no fun.

Whether you have dined at a elegant establishment or a local seafood dive, be aware of what symptoms may happen when an allergic reaction occurs. My physician friends have told me that the first time an allergic reaction happens may be MILD in comparison to the second. Wow....talk about an eye-opener!!

Read here for more information: http://www.allergyasthmazone.com/food-allergies/how-shellfish-can-affect-your-body-symptoms-of-shellfish-allergy/

RESTORATION HARDWARE extends Trade Membership to Home Stagers!

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:24:52 -0500

One of the most favorite parts of our profession as Home Stagers is shopping for the beautiful merchandise which enhances the decor of our clients' homes. There are many retailers and catalogues to choose from and RESTORATION HARDWARE is one of my personal favorites! The quality of their merchandise is outstanding and the up-to-date colors can really step up an otherwise lackluster setting. Though they have locations in over 100 cities across the U.S. and Canada, I often find what I need within the catalogue since I am not particularly close to a brick-and-mortar store myself.

Because we are always looking for vendors' assistance in pricing, I contacted RH's Trade Vice-President and General Manager, Claire Eeles. On everyone's behalf, I inquired about the membership to their trade division and asked if the Home Stagers could also have the opportunity to join. Of Course! Warmly, Ms. Eeles welcomes each one of us to join the trade membership program and is looking forward to having the professional Home Stagers as part of their trade customer base!

I hope each one of you takes this opportunity to look through the RESTORATION HARDWARE on-line catalogue and considers joining the Trade Membership courtesy which has been extended to our Home Staging profession. The managers of your local retail stores are ready to help you and personally-speaking, I have had great experiences every time! ENJOY!

http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/index.jsp

Have a fantastic day!

Warm Regards-

Kathleen

Enhanced Interiors & Home Staging, Fort Myers, Florida (239) 849-6009

HOME STAGING & SELLING – EXPLORING SHANGRI-LA EXPECTATIONS

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:51:40 -0500

What is your favorite moment when you arrive at a destination for vacation? Is it the calm and refreshing feeling of being welcomed into the thoughtfully-appointed hotel lobby? Surrounded by warm colors and manicured greenery, are you lured into relaxing? Possibly it is the mere inhalation of the sweet-smelling air from a clean room? Perhaps it is the attention to details which you casually note. Somehow, you felt embraced by the overall wonderful feelings of your first impressions and you relaxed into your own private Shangri-La.

Isn't this how we all want to happily relax after our day is completed?

Each one of us pretty much has the same desires and needs when it comes to the relaxing feelings we crave while living in the place we call...Home.

When we are looking to purchase a new home, we search and hope to find that perfect opportunity to discover our new Shangri-La.

So here is the dilemma. How do you activate your home's Shangri-La to welcome new owners?

Because we all have different tastes and styles of living, it is often a challenge to envision our personal home in a different light. Home Staging professionals have the discerning eye which benefits every home seller. Staging will help guide your potential buyer to the ‘I can see myself and family living here' feeling which every home-buyer is seeking.

Ahhh....this is where the magic begins. HOME STAGING. A professional Home Stager has the creativity needed to bring out the personality of a home. Stagers are a homeowner's ally because they want to help you create more home value and improve your selling position. These talented professionals will fashion more universal and inviting spaces within your home! (Pssst...and by you trusting the professional's direction on recommended improvements, your home will more likely display the necessary appeal to attract serious potential buyers!)

It is imperative to think about the impact of HGTV on our lives. Home buyers today have much higher expectations than in the past! The fabulous and creative home programs have shown us in less than 30 minutes, how to identify and organize cleaner spaces, increase curb appeal, redecorate using your grandmother's vintage china....the shows are endless. They are fun and intriguing to watch aren't they? The general public has changed and improved their knowledge when it comes to expectations of home living.

So what does this change of viewpoint mean for the home SELLER? You can no longer be complacent when you are competing in today's real estate market. It's SHOW TIME!

Yes, you read that correctly. It is a fierce competition out there in the home seller's market and you need to be prepared to run in this race if you want to reach the finish line faster. Hiring the expertise of a professional Home Stager in your area will more than pay for itself when your home sells. 90% of buyers can not easily picture themselves living in your home. They need help to visualize your home as their Shangri-La. There is no question as to what the smart seller must do - Hire a Home Stager!

There are many, many small details which make a huge difference when preparing your home to sell. That pile of old papers and magazines in the bedroom corner, which is barely noticed by you, becomes a stand-out distraction to a potential buyer when they walk through your home. Perhaps too many framed photos of the children growing up can unintentionally cause the buyer to feel as though they are invading your family's sanctuary. It can be a challenge for many prospective buyers to picture themselves living their Shangri-La in your most private rooms and spaces. There are countless benefits to you when hiring a professional Home Stager. They can assist not only with the most important details of preparing a home for sale, they will also provide great suggestions for ways to increase your home's value. When you choose to work with a Home Stager, you will improve your chances of selling your home for more money in your pocket.

Let's face it, times have changed. The Real Estate marketplace is ever-evolving in many areas and our expectations as homebuyers have reached new levels. Television home shows have increased our awareness and desire to reach for new heights in home design and decor. What should you do if you want to sell your home? Your best choice is to consult with a professional Home Stager and let them help you. You will then have a better advantage over the many other homes on the market in your area. Plus, it is likely you will increase the selling value of your home as well!

Now think back to the inviting feelings at the beginning of this article....smell the freshness of the arranged cut-flowers in the reception lobby, your nerves are calmed by the clean living and sleeping quarters, and your sense of relaxation and general well-being feels good. You cherish these feelings and you want to remain there longer. In fact, you make a vow to return because those nice feelings are ones to remember.

Ah-ha! That's the result you desire from buyers after staging your home to sell - you want the interested buyers to return and offer a great contract to purchase your home.

Every piece of real estate property can be strategically and creatively enhanced through hiring a professional Home Stager. All properties are unique and want to be noticed...and every Buyer desires to own a piece of Shangri-La.

Written by: Kathleen Garvey, Enhanced Interiors & Home Staging, Fort Myers, Florida

Email us at: Enhancedinteriors@gmail.com