Kathleen 's ENHANCED INTERIORS Home Staging Blog

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-

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