Margaret Gehr, who stages homes in the Chicago suburbs through her business Re-Arrange It Interiors, and her staff staged a home for The Associated Press' Homeownership Week series.

We worked with a first time seller in Plainfield, IL, Rosemary West of RE/MAX international, and the Associated Press. It was a blast transforming the space in just a few hours. It went from uninteresting and ordinary to memorable property with pizazz. 

Different versions of the article and film have been released in many publications across the country. Here are a few:

Selling your home? Price low, present well, wait MSN.NBC.COM , TODAY.nbc.com

Another part of the series Selling your Home

#2 Ready, set, sell: What you need to know about staging your home for a fast sale

 Setting the Stage: How to sell your home fast 

 google.com The Associated Press

HERE AT A FEW PICTURES:

Before: The room felt very small and it was hard to see how furniture might fit in. The all white walls made the carpet feel old and was hiding the nice white trim and fireplace.

After staging: The room felt much bigger and had loads of pizazz! The new soft color neutralized the wear on the carpet and turned the focus back the rooms best asset..the fireplace.

Before Staging:

After Staging:

 For more information on staging your property call 815-530-3566 or email for more information.

Re-Arrange It Interiors, Serving Chicagoland Homeowners, Investors, and Realtors for 6 years. 

               visit us on facebook    

Re-Arrange It Interiors, Chicagolands' Home Staging Company sets the stage at Forest Creek condos in Brookfield Illinois. This multi-unit property recently acquired by Jenny Builders in Wilmette, Illinois is ready for the buyer who wants it all! Please contact Susan Breen at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in      La Grange to view 708-352-4840 

There selling fast..7 units sold in under 30 days. 

Here are a few photos

:

For more information call Margaret Gehr at Re-Arrange It Interiors 815-530-3566 

Serving Chicagoland homeowners, Realtors, and investors.

NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS HOME STAGING Company, Re-arrange It Interiors' 2010 statistics are proving to be strong and solid proof staging works!. The last six houses we staged all sold within 1 week. Proudly serving Chicagoland for 6 years we are your staging experts.

Here is our lastest property in Naperville IL...

Before staging.. The owner relocated 2 large desks, 2 bookcases, and several files to another room which used to over power the room. We staged the room as it was intended.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~AFTER~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before Staging....

The dining room was very long and narrow measuring only 9x14. The owner storaged their hand me down table and we added the accent wall to create a strong focal point and provided new furniture with our target buyer in mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~AFTER~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~AFTER~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

another view... We added the desk to replace the sellers keg cabinet and tapper.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~AFTER~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Proudly STAGING NAPERVILLE, IL and Chicagoland area. Call Margaret Gehr at Re-Arrange It Interiors for more information.

Naperville Illinois homeowner benefits from Professional Home Staging. Staged by Margaret Gehr and the Re-Arrange It team, This property SOLD in 3 days for almost asking price! 

Staging owner occupied properties can have more challenges. We often work with homeowners that want top dollar but think their home looks just fine. Sometimes owners are to close to see the big "marketing" picture. As a professional home stager not only do we know how to set-up your home for market, we can make the process easy and affordable.

In this case: Making the most of the homeowners furniture, we created a look that was polished and put-together. We can turn akward arrangements and rooms into spaces that feel good. We create just the right balance to keep the buyer eyes on the features..not the stuff. We always give you a fabulous pictures that bring buyers to your door!  

BEFORE Living room - Dining room

AFTER STAGING

Family Room - No Before picture

We reworked the furniture by flipping the couch and TV. The large TV was in front of the window left of the fireplace and the sectional was against the opposite two walls.

Before Staging two walls were painted a neutral color to tone down the blue paint. The built-in bookcases and mantle were painted an espresso color.

Re-Arrange it provided all the accessories and accents, end table and lamps.

AFTER STAGING

Kitchen/Dinette -after new paint - BEFORE staging

AFTER STAGING with kitchen view

Re-Arrange It interiors specialize in staging high-end properties and provide professional quality home staging. We have been helping builders, investors, and homeowners sell their properties for 6 years.

Call Margaret Gehr (815) 530-3566 for additional information

Not all houses start out being a buyers dream. This 10 year rental, though vacant, still had too much of the previous tenants' personality lingering behind.

A PROFESSIONAL HOUSE STAGER can take a diamond in the rough and make it place a young family would be proud to live. We saw lots of hidden potential, RE-ARRANGE IT INTERIORS just helped buyers see it to. 

Here are a few rooms.... 

BEFORE LIVING ROOM - The previous occupants were heavy smokers so #1 on the list was to bring in new carpet and paint. Lots of small repairs to doors, grout, drywall, fixtures made the home move in ready.

Another view in Living room - The landlord/seller just hung these brand new mismatched sheers... not sure what he was thinking but they had to go.

AFTER STAGING - view #1

View #2

BATH - Painting vanities, kitchen islands, and mantles can give you an instant face lift. Don't be afraid to use black it looks great. If your looking for a good espresso color try Ben. Moore black bean soup (2130) as shown here.

BEFORE - DEN / 3rd BEDROOM

This was an awkward room. It had 3 exit doors. 1 to a screened in 3 season porch which was a wreck. It needed an identity. The sellers wanted to call it a 3rd bedroom so we tried to show its versatility with a desk and futon. 

AFTER - DEN /3rd BEDROOM

The PORCH - Before unfinished wood walls and ceilings. (see before den photo) It had in-door out-door bright green carpet that was removed. A pet lived in this space so everything needed to be air out and sealed to eliminate the odor. Before staging it was hard to see what value this room added to the property.

 BEFORE- Bedroom

 AFTER - BEDROOM

We love what we do and look forward to our next staging challenge. Margaret Gehr and Re-Arrange It Interiors offer affordable staging to Chicagoland home owners, investors and Real estate agents.

For additional information please call 815-530-3566

www.re-arrangeit.com

margaret@re-arrangeit.com

Home Staging Company RE-ARRANGE IT INTERIORS, serving Chicagoland Illinois, STAGES FORECLOSUES AND INVESTMENT PROPERTIES WITH BIG REWARDS FOR INVESTORS.

Are investors starting to manage and sell foreclosure properties differently?

We are seeing a new trend in Illinois market were investment companies are working in a staging budget to sell these properties faster and for higher returns. For a long time staging a RELO or foreclosure was a rarity. It was all about price..formulas used to calucate everthing...good "Cap Rates" (operating income divided by selling price) when purchasing an investment property. 

Well many investors are seeing the advantage of using a PROFESSIONAL STAGING COMPANY...but it may not be popular for everyone. WE SEE THESE COMPANIES ARE NOT INCREASING THEIR OPERATING COST to include a staging budget just dividing it up differently. In other words the property managers and RE/Agents are being asked to take less if they want the property or listing. So far its been a WIN - WIN for everyone. The properties are selling much faster, they are attracking buyers otherwise not interested in foreclosures, and the offers are much better.

ARE YOU SEEING THIS TREND AS WELL?     

EXAMPLE: This new construction forclosure in WHEATON Illinios was on the market for almost 2 years. On paper it looked fanastic...a real steal! Everyone agreed it was priced right at 585k, so what was the problem..

NOTHING A PROFESSIONAL STAGER, couldn't fix. The first offer came in within hours of being finshed.   

Here are some photos:

We staged the main level and master bedroom of the 3500 sqft home.

Living Room before-

LIVING ROOM -AFTER

DINING ROOM - AFTER

FAMILY ROOM BEFORE- The yellow walls were over powering so we painted it a softer gray/green to not make the room all about the color.

FAMILY ROOM - AFTER

The inexpensive faux silk panels hung on metal utility rods cost approximately $130 for all 4 windows. We have many in this color as they seem to go with everything and go up and down in a flash. They really give a room a finished look.

BEFORE - DEN/OFFICE

AFTER

BEFORE - KITCHEN

AFTER - KITCHEN

CAll Margaret today for additional information.

Re-Arrange It Interiors, Home Staging & Design

Margaret Gehr, 815-530-3566

Serving Chicagoland home owners, investors, and Real Estate Agents.

Chicagoland's busiest Staging Company, Re-Arrange It Interiors, successfully transforms another Naperville, IL condo. Watch the team make it happen!

We've already spent days working on this project. After meeting with the client and seeing the property, a plan had to be formed, inventory checked, a quote prepared, paperwork completed.  Which brings us to the best part STAGE DATE! We have finally selected, gathered, AND loaded the pieces that will make the magic happen...pew I'm already exhausted... The Re-Arrange It team arrives bright and early and we start the very unglamorous job of unloading of the truck. For anyone considering getting into the business this part never gets easier.

That's Sue my assistant stager and Al "one of our movers".  This is a smaller job and he's handling the heavier stuff and assemble.

They don't know I'm taking pictures yet...

AHH I clean slate...

That's Kathy in the corner..She's the newest member of our Re-Arrange It team. I asked her to pretend to do something with that tree while I take her picture. (he-he) She's wondering whats going on but accommodates me anyway. (She still new enough she'll do what I ask without complaint =)

Okay..now she knows I'm taking her picture but she ignoring me.. probably wondering why I'm taking the pictures and she's doing all the work..=)) Did I mention She's my mother?   

The chaos before the calm. This one of the reasons it's best to have only Stagers on sight during set up. There is a point where you step back and go OMG will it ever come together??

Okay I'm starting to see the vision again...

Where'd everyone go..Here they are.

We spent way too much time in here setting up the bed. Put creative minds together and sometimes we don't agree.

Creative minds are great but come stage date muscle is what you really need. Al has carried in the heavy desk and is assembling it..

The girls are taking a break and watching..

Okay I think she's getting mad.. she's saying something about stop taking pictures and get to work!! ;)

OK OK .. THE FINISHED PRODUCT! (about 5 hours on-site today)

This Naperville condo was on the market for 3 YEARS with another agent and not one offer. The seller agreed to meet with me out of frustration of not knowing what else to do to get it sold. I recommended they paint the kitchen to soften the harshness of the white walls and dark cabinet color, replace 2 light fixtures, and STAGE.

THE RESULT: 2 full price offers offers within days of staging. Agent calls kept coming in asking if the property showed as good in person as it did on-line because they had a buyer interested in seeing it. (proof that pictures talk to buyers!!) The condo closed within 39 days of staging. The first Realtor also saw the photos and call me amazed. I am currently working on a new project for her.

Re-Arrange It Interiors proudly serves Chicagoland home owners, real estate agents, investors, property managers and companies.

Call Margaret Gehr of Re-Arrange It Interiors at 815-530-3566 for more information.

Chicagoland Home Staging Company, Re-Arrange It Interiors, recently staged this home in Naperville, IL and chose to stage for the best picture instead of placing the furniture around a TV prop.  For years we always added a TV prop because Realtors said it was important, but I was almost always disappointed in the marketing photos. Really now, what's so attractive about a TV. We currently have 9 of them in our inventory but I find I'm using them less and less. The exception being if the space appears to have placement issues.

How about you? Do you use TV props when staging vacant or builder properties? Do you think one should be there if your the Realtor? I love to hear your thoughts.

Here are our before and after pictures... 

We love what we do and proudly serve the Chicagoland area.

Re-Arrange It Interiors

Margaret Gehr

815-530-3566

The murder mystery tour was a huge success! The event brought almost 60 people to the property. It  was definitely a tour to talk about and house to remember. Realtors are a fun bunch..I though I'd share a few photos and before and after pictures of the property.

the kitchen crowd enjoyed food and drinks

The show attendees had a great time getting into their character..was funny to watch the Realtors get into playing their parts!

Definitely a tour to remember !!

BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS

The builder tried to stage first...we gave the room sophistication and polish it deserved.

the view was amazing..

Staged Home in Wayne, IL. A real murder mystery

Rearrange It Interiors recently staged this extraordinary 8000 square foot home in Wayne IL just minutes from St. Charles. The old world craftsmanship is a site to be seen. Offered by Avondale Custom Homes and Debora Mckay of Coldwell Banker in St. Charles, IL. 

We invite you to preview this incredible property 10/28/09 at a special "Murder Mystery Tour" sponsored by Debbie Mckay, Brooks Furniture Rental and Margaret Gehr of Rearrange It Interiors. Join us for food, wine and some fun.

A 45 minute show performed by professional actors starts at 4:00pm. A film production company will be filming and local reporters will be in attendance. Come have some fun and help solve the mystery!   

To preview some before and after staging photos click on the link below. 

Rearrange It Interiors recently staged this extraordinary 8000 square foot home in Wayne IL just minutes from St. Charles. The old world craftsmanship is a site to be seen. Offered by Avondale Custom Homes and Debora Mckay of Coldwell Banker in St. Charles, IL. 

We invite you to preview this incredible property 10/28/09 at a special "Murder Mystery Tour" sponsored by Debbie Mckay, Brooks Furniture Rental and Margaret Gehr of Rearrange It Interiors. Join us for food, wine and some fun.

A 45 minute show performed by professional actors starts at 4:00pm. A film production company will be filming and local reporters will be in attendance. Come have some fun and help solve the mystery!   

To preview some before and after staging photos click on the link below. 

http://www.picnik.com/show/id/5970024144_gmjJM/t/mare-barn-ln-wayne-il

http://www.picnik.com/show/id/5970024144_gmjJM/t/mare-barn-ln-wayne-il