Kathy's Blog

Hickory Dickory Dock.....

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 23:16:32 -0700

Oh, the things that we professional homestagers have to handle! Our company was recently asked to stage a country home that had been vacant for many months. As we were finishing the staging, guess who appeared???

Yes, the current occupant!

I wasted no time in calling the owner to tell her that pest control was needed - PRONTO!

Her response was quite calm as she told me not to worry, that a mouse in the house was a very common occurrence out in the country.

I then explained that not only was this a "distraction" that potential buyers didn't need to face, but that she would also be responsible for any damages to my upholstered furniture or linens should her little housemouse take up residence in my inventory. Now I had her attention!

As the weather turns cooler you can expect all sorts of creatures to look for the comfort of a warm and dry home to spend the winter in. Be sure to thoroughly inspect vacant homes for signs of unwanted occupants and move to evict them immediately!

The New Economy? Will Work For.....

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:49:44 -0700

Remember the stories you used to hear from your grandparents about the hard times during The Great Depression? Mine always spoke of not having cash, but bartering their goods and services to make ends meet.

Times are tough in Clark County, but folks are making do and trying to stay positive.

After completing a job today and receiving a check for my services (my normal method of payment!), I was offered a dozen fresh organic eggs from the chickens being raised out in the yard since I gave extra time and tips and the homeowner wanted to thank me!

I guess that now I can say that I accept Checks, Credit Cards, PayPal and eggs!

Do You Find Value in Networking?

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:19:07 -0700

When I first started up my staging company a few years ago I didn't know any other local Home Stagers or Redesigners. My staging training company, Home Staging Resource, advocated that we join Active Rain and begin blogging to get "Google Juice" and network via the internet. With much trepidation, I came to Active Rain, lurked for a while and then jumped in and posted my first blog. During this time I closely followed the blogs of other area professionals who were active at that time, such as Maureen Bray of Room Solutions. What I really wanted was to meet and network with them in person, however, I was shy and didn't want them to think that I only wanted to copy them or steal customers. I was overjoyed when Audra Slinkey said she was starting a networking organization called the American Society of Home Stagers and Redesigners (ASHSR) and quickly volunteered as Chapter President to form a chapter in the Portland, Oregon area in 2007.

Our first couple of meetings were modest and held at restaurants and in homes with about 10 people attending. We all were committed to the idea of professional Home Stagers and Redesigners networking and helping to grow our industry. Our numbers grew and we realized that there really was power in numbers and tremendous value in this type of networking.

Fast forward to last year when Shell Brodnax encouraged us to form a Chapter for RESA in the Portland area.

As a group, we decided to hold joint meetings so that our strength would be magnified and local Professional Home Stagers and Redesigners would not be pulled between the two groups. It has been a great success and the local business community has warmly embraced us by hosting our meetings, extending numerous professional discounts and courtesies to us, and giving us opportunities to share resources with fellow professional Home Stagers and Redesigners.

Networking has been a tremendously positive experience for me. I now have all sorts of connections and relationships that I can count on as I continue to grow my business.

If you haven't connected with a group yet, I highly recommend that you make it a top priority and start networking!

Oh the Places You Will Go!

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:30:18 -0700

I have met many wonderful people over the past couple of years since I launched my staging business and I have had lots of fun experiences. I continue to be surprised and inspired by this career, which makes it even more rewarding.

Recently I completed a project that went in directions that I never anticipated and that challenged me to the hilt! A church in my area decided to open a "satellite campus" in a strip mall. The space was stark white and very utilitarian. The budget was extremely limited and volunteers were needed to transform the space in a mere three weeks. I volunteered to source paint at a 15% discount. Little did I know that I would be tackling something much larger.

Volunteering to simply help purchase paint at a discount led to

being asked to develop a color palette for the interior - which led to

being asked to design window treatments to block light and improve acoustics - which led to

constructing the window treatments alongside the finish carpenters - which led to

being asked to select light fixtures - which led to

helping with selection of seating - which led to

selecting fabric and helping with construction of stage draperies - which led to

another whole set of projects related to the children's area!

Exterior Before - A strip mall Interior Before - Definitely not a church!

Interior After -

The client wanted a warm look, that was nontraditional and appealing to the younger age demographic that attends this church.

Devine Paints in their new No VOC formula were used and the palette was from the Flora and Fauna collection.

Komodo was the ceiling color

Buffalo was the Art Wall color

Persian was used on two walls

Sarsaparilla was used at the front and at the coffee bar area along with a pop of

Cactus which was the accent color at the coffee bar.

Designing for a commercial space was a whole new area for me, but I believe in accepting new challenges and hanging on for the ride when you head into unknown territory. Try it - you will be surprised at the places you will go!

Art Wall for displaying works by local artists

Kathy Alexander and GreatStages offer professional staging and redesign services to clients in Southwest Washington, including Clark, Skamania and Cowlitz counties. We offer a wide range of services and options that work with all budgets. Call us at 360-314-8561 for more information.

Before and After ~ Small Changes, Little Cost and BIG Difference!

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:14:53 -0800

Most people are reluctant to purchase new items for the home they are preparing to sell. Sometimes, however, all it takes is one purchase and a bit of tweaking to make a huge difference. As a stager and redesigner, I try to help them achieve grand results while keeping budget considerations in mind. Repurposing items they may already own along with making small purchases is the creative and fun side of my job that I really love.

In this home, the art over the master bedroom was undersized and not in scale to the bed. The only new item purchased was the art - everything else was pulled from closets where lots of great things were hiding.

Before - Underscale art and a boring bed

After - New art over the bed that is in scale. Accessories and bed linens brought out from storage. Furniture moved from other area of bedroom and placed at the foot of the bed to create a more luxurious impression.

No Headboard? Easy new solution that is great for Stagers!

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:46:40 -0700

I am always on the look out for new headboard ideas. Many times the budget concerns of homeowners preclude purchasing new furniture or even renting certain inventory that can be costly. Like many of you, I have used screens, metal work, art and other things to provide the look of a headboard. I have also created fabric covered headboards using plywood, batting and fabric. They look very nice but for staging they still create some big issues. They are heavy, hard to transport and take up quite a bit of storage space. I just found this product which I recently used for the first time. You get the look of an upholstered headboard minus the all of the other problems - they are INFLATABLE! Backdrop Headboards, Upholstered Inflatable Headboards Quite ingenious and they look great. I did not attach it to the wall - just pulled the mattress out a bit to slide the headboard behind, then piled on the pillows to hold it in place.

This isn't a product that I would readily use in every home, but it is a great budget-friendly solution that is also back-friendly! They come in a wide variety of styles and shapes to suit many decors.

GreatStages Home Staging and Redesign will help you prepare your home or property so that it will sell quickly and for maximum profit. Call Kathy Alexander at 360-314-8561 to discuss our many services.

Even In A "Slow" Market, Staging and A Few Changes Get Offer on Day One! (Before & Afters)

Mon, 19 May 2008 01:48:48 -0700

In the slow sales market that we are experiencing now, it is more important than ever that a home be fresh, updated and in great condition. This home had been remodeled a while back, then turned into a rental. Needless to say, it had a few issues that needed to be addressed. Starting at the curb, we developed an action plan for our very handy home sellers. They were up for the challenges that we gave them and tirelessly worked to take care of the items on the list. One of the biggest challenges was curb appeal - this was a 70's ranch that was sadly lacking in appeal.

New plantings, mulch, neatly mowed and trimmed lawn topped off with crisp white shutters and a picket fence did the trick!

Inside, the challenge was to bring this vacant home to life by using furniture and accessories purchased off of Craigslist by the seller. Some quick re-upholstery projects helped even the tired furniture!

We finished the staging at noon on Monday and by Monday evening the first offer was in. By the end of the week, the house was in escrow at only $5,000 below asking price. A well-staged home in bright and shiny condition will rise to the top of the competition and sell quickly - even in a slow market!

Is the House You Are Selling Considered Average? Staging Takes it Up a Notch. Before & Afters - Vacant Former Rental in Vancouver WA

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 10:10:28 -0800

This is a home that we were contacted to stage by an out of town investor. As a rental property, it had never been given much attention and had never been upgraded from the day it was built. As a result, when it was first marketed it failed to make much of an impression with buyers. Their feedback consistantly ranked it as "average" and the backyard earned negative ratings as being uninviting and a maintenance problem. To make matters worse, the home right next door is also on the market and has had numerous upgrades. We assessed the home and made suggestions for some modest changes and the result has been very well received. In the past two days since staging, the home has received "exceptional" ratings and the yard is now listed as a positive feature of the home. Improvements and repairs totaled less than $500. Add in staging and this house was taken up to the next level.

ASHSR

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:51:17 -0800

I hope that all of you have received your welcome email from Audra regarding ASHSR, the American Society of Home Stagers and ReDesigners. If you haven't, please check out the website at http://www.ashsr.com/content.aspx?page_id=0&club_id=276586.

During the month of November, there is a special rate for new members. Once ASHSR is up and running, membership will be open to all stagers regardless of any training affiliation. I am excited about this new opportunity to network with fellow stagers and to use the power of numbers to have our voice heard to promote the staging industry.

UPDATED! Made a List, Checked it Twice - Result? SOLD in 2 Days!

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 10:25:39 -0700

In this tough selling environment, the importance of thoroughly preparing for the market cannot be stressed enough. Sellers need a professional stager on their team to help them evaluate their home's strong points and negatives, then develop an action plan that will give them great results.

This beautiful home was coming on the market. The sellers knew that the home had lots of bells and whistles that would appeal to many buyers, however, they also realized that to sell quickly they needed to do everything possible to make it sizzle. They also knew that selling a vacant home was not a good strategy.

GreatStages came in and developed a complete action plan that even included 9 pages of notes on preparing the landscaping. It took a few weeks and the work of a painter, handyman, flooring installers, window washer, landscaper, tree-trimmer and cleaning crew. Staging was the final piece of the puzzle before hitting the market with a bang!

The result? Listed on Monday, full price offer and SOLD on Tuesday!

UPDATE! Here is a little RES I put together. It was never used for the listing since there was a virtual tour done, too, but it gives you a little more taste of what the home was all about.

Thanks to all of you California Stagers!

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:39:14 -0700

I just came home from my most awesome meeting with a client EVER! For the first time I didn't have to explain anything about the benefits of staging or walk them through the details of what would be involved.

You ask were they rich? NO!

Are they careless with their spending? NO!

What would make them just dive in, write a check and say "Let's do it?" Because their last home in Southern California was staged and they saw how quickly it sold and the huge difference staging made in the marketing of their home. Now they are methodically preparing for the sale by replacing worn carpets, touching up painting and making all of the repairs prior to listing with an agent. This home will be in top condition, decorated beautifully and buyers are going to sit up and take notice! This home was a former Parade of Homes winner a few years ago. It will be pristine and move-in ready, and it is going to blow the competition away!

Thanks to whoever in California laid the groundwork before me and made my job so much easier. I dream of the day when staging is so readily accepted and welcomed by sellers and agents in my area.

Single Unattached and Lonely, ISO Family to Love Me

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:12:00 -0700

Have I told you recently that I love my job? This is a home that we just put the finishing touches on. It has been on the market for months, empty for a long while and was sadly in need of some love and updating. The client felt that the neighborhood alone was enough to sell this house, but came to realize that in this market staging and updating are critical. Need I mention that this is also FSBO? New paint, wallpaper removal, new lighting, new doors and an updated kitchen with slab granite and Viking cooktop started the transformation. Staging took the house to the next level, providing warmth, color and vibrancy. The Open House over the weekend was quite the success story and it appears that there are at least a couple of serious buyers who are now interested.

Matchmaking - coaxing an ugly duckling into a swan, then finding a perfect new owner who wants to make a house their own. That is what I do and I love every minute!

Clark County Parade of Homes opens August 10

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 00:12:40 -0700

The Parade of Homes 2007 opens August 10 in Ridgefield, WA

This year the Parade moves to Ridgefield, WA and will be held in the Hillhurst II subdivision. There will be 5 elegant homes featured. The tour runs from August 10th-26th, 10AM-9PM (ticket office closes at 8PM)

"Meet the BUilder" days will be on the Saturdays of August 11, 18, and 25. You can meet each builder on site in their home. This is your chance to ask questions and talk to them them about the features and details of their homes.

Senior Days are on Tuesdays, August 14 and 21, with half price admission for those who are 55 years and up.

The "Color and Design Tour," features the designers who made the homes look so beautiful. Tour dates are August 16th from 9 a.m. to noon and August 23rd 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available by prior reservation only.

For more information go to www.clarkcountyparadeofhomes.com

Lost and Found: Has Anyone Seen the Family Room?

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:46:25 -0700

What do you do if you are in a house that is missing the Living Room, Dining Room and Family Room? If you are a buyer, you are walking out the door to a home that has the rooms you expect to find in a house rather than trying to imagine what goes where.

The sleuths at GreatStages were hired to search for the missing rooms and restore them to their proper places. The Living Room was masquerading as a TV room (and the TV was trying to hide in a cabinet facing the entry hall)

As you can see, the Dining Room was now an office, complete with filing cabinets!

Where was the Dining Room hiding you ask? Elementary, My Dear Watson - it was in the Family Room!

Now that the lost rooms were found, it was time to put everything back and add some excitement for buyers by providing some color and accessories, but the GreatStages team was up for the challenge. For less than the cost of dinner and a movie, the homeowners will now see increased marketability and higher offers since they no longer are missing rooms.

Here is a little docudrama that we filmed showing how we solved this mystery:

Sometimes You Just Have to Move On

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 01:48:47 -0700

I have always enjoyed helping people and my careers have reflected that passion in me. For me, staging involves far more than good taste and an eye for design. I truly get deep satisfaction when my clients and I form a strong partnership and I help them succeed far beyond their expectations. Whether the outcome is a quick sale at a higher than expected price or just living more comfortably in their space, I get a real kick out of it all.

Emotionally invested - yes, I guess you can call it that, too. What fun would it be if I didn't get so excited and passionate about the possibilities that can be created? Some jobs you just know are going to be a success if you can get your hands on them.

I recently had a consultation with a homeowner on a vacant listing. Where do I begin? Over 430 days on the market, few showings, one comment and no offers. Perhaps it was the lime green kitchen. Maybe it was the deferred maintenance evident throughout the house. Possibly the poor workmanship evident from previous DIY projects around the home. Even with all of these issues, I began to feel excited with all of the positives that we could build upon. Miles of views, acreage, interesting architecture, outbuildings galore, infinity-edge pool, etc. etc. The new agent had made professional staging a contingent factor in taking the listing. I gave a great consultation, gave a very good bid and then received a note from the homeowner stating that due to all of the work needing to be done per the realtor's and my recommendations, they would be staging the home themselves to save money.

I graciously wrote a note wishing them luck and reaffirming my availability should they have second thoughts. Part of me is really sad, as I knew that I could help make a difference. The other part says move on, and looks for the next great thing, working with people who get it that professional staging works and that they nearly always will save lots of time, heartache and money by utilizing a stager.

Sometimes you just have to move on.....

Just a "Pop", not a "Punch"

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:23:31 -0700

Sometimes we need to help teach folks that less can be more even when it comes to color. This home had been lovingly maintained and had many positive things going for it until you walked in the Family Room. Then, POW, like a punch in the face you came up against this bright orange sponge-painted wall.

This was a project the homeowners had done themselves, so I had to diplomatically tell them that while some people like that style of wall treatment and color, many don't. Since the goal is to neutralize the home and make it appeal to as many buyers possible, the orange really needed to go.

There was a further discussion that the blue-gray tile around the fireplace didn't coordinate well in this color scheme.

They decided to proceed with my advice and the change was dramatic. Now, they still have an accent wall, but it just gently pops instead of punches!

By Jove, I Think They Got It!

Sun, 17 Jun 2007 22:24:01 -0700

By Jove, I Think They Got It!

Well, here I go bravely into the world of blogging! I just wanted to share some insights I gained from my most recent staging.

Two weeks ago I was contacted by a young couple relocating to another state. Their primary concern was the empty living room and dining room. We made an appointment for a consultation since they thought they would go the DIY route.

As I pulled up to the house, I started to get a sinking feeling as the curb appeal was awful. Half of the front yard was torn up and the rest was overgrown. It didn't get better as I entered the home. This couple had purchased the house about a year ago, thought they would be here a long time and began a long series of home improvement projects. The problem was that they hadn't finished anything in any room! Walls were partially painted, trim and baseboards removed, hardwood floors pulled up with bare underlayment exposed, and the list goes on...

I prepared a report for them and walked them through the steps they needed to take. Their budget was beyond stretched and they realized that they would probably lose money on this house so I knew that there was no way to push for bringing in professionals for the projects or to do anything else extravagant. They thanked me and I didn't hear from them again. Every few days I sent them an email with a few more budget saving ideas, some of which I found here on AR. Suddenly a few days ago they called to say that they had just found out that they had to be in their new state within days and that they needed me to do the staging. With a lot of trepidation, I headed back and was most pleasantly surprised. They had worked their rears off and finished up every single thing on my list and even some of the optional things! To save them money, we agreed to stage using as much of their existing furniture as possible. In the end, we only had to bring in a small table and chairs for the nook.

The day after the staging they left town, then called me asking me to do them a favor tweaking something minor in the house . This required going back to the house (a 20 mile drive each way from my house). At first I was highly annoyed and thought to myself that they should call their Realtor since I was only paid for 1/2 day of staging. Then after I thought about it, I realized that there were two good reasons to go back. One, their agent is a very busy agent with a major company who I didn't have a relationship with prior to this. Secondly, this couple was demonstrating that the lessons I had tried to teach them stuck and that they were now looking at all of the details with their "buyer's eyes".

Their agent is quite amazed at all we accomplished and I am happy that this couple GOT IT and put in the work to make this transformation happen. I think we all came out winners on this one!

Kathy Alexander - GreatStages

Before After