Margaret's Blog

The first rooms you see Set the Tone of the house

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:39:16 -0800

We're all guilty or at least I am! We walk through a sellers front door and immediately sum up the house by what we see in the first few rooms. I can't tell you how many times I've decided if its going to be easy or hard right there or think I know what the master bathroom looks like after I've seen just 3-4 rooms. Well, just like us the buyers are doing the same thing, so remember the first few rooms a buyers sees can either send them packing or intrigue them with what is yet to come. You get to decide!

In a recent case, Chicagoland Home Staging was asked to stage a very nice 3500 sqft historic home which was on the market for many months in downtown Naperville Illinois. From the curb I thought hmmm...pretty nice, but within seconds of entering the home I stopped in my tracks and thought "what the heck is this tiny room and why is the foyer over there in the hallway!" Not only were you immediately faced with an awkward room but the natural traffic pattern made it even worse. Well like any good stager I couldn't move on until I could figure how to make it better, meanwhile the REA showing me the property kept trying to get me to move on but nope I was stuck right there. The homeowner who was frustrated with the lack of offers could never figure it out what to do with it so she just did nothing.

After previewing the whole property it turned to be a very nice home but no one including me was getting past the first impression so the only thing that was selling was the competition.

Here are several before pictures...you can see the small writing desk is giving the room scale but it is not helping the buyer see the true potential. (sorry for the point and shot camera)

View #1 View #2

AFTER STAGING.

Well here is what we did...a living room. It instantly made it feel twice the size. We redirected foot traffic with furniture placement to the next room and not straight back into the dining room.

As many stagers know when done properly staging will 'create a path' for the buyers that pull you through the property. It can help them make sense of something as in this case or draw you into rooms that they might otherwise just glance in and move on.

So, if your getting your house ready for sale and not sure where to begin, start in the first rooms a buyers sees because they set the tone for what is to come!

THE RESULT was PROPERTY SOLD!

Staging Chicagoland is our passion ~ Problem solving is our specialty

We carry a full line of furniture and accessories for all your staging needs. We are your affordable full service staging source. Call Margaret Gehr today for more information.

Chicagoland Home Staging, Re-Arrange It Interiors 815-530-3566

To view other properties staged by Chicagoland Home Staging please visit: WWW.CHICAGOLANDHOMESTAGING.COM

Associated Press homeowners week series

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Thu, 06 May 2010 01:22:14 -0700

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.

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Setting the stage for faster sales...8 units sold in 30 days. Before and after pictures

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:07:36 -0700

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.

last six houses staged and sold within 1 week

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:50:20 -0800

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.

Home staged in Naperville, IL and sold in 3 days! Before and afters

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:45:39 -0800

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

Renters wreck TRANSFORMED into a Buyers Dream!

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:16:56 -0800

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

Staging foreclosure and Investment properties: Before/after pics

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:19:20 -0800

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.

A day in the life of a Chicago stager!

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:53:38 -0700

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 Staging Company is not liking TV props..Do You? Before and after pictures.

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:07:57 -0700

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

Staged home in Wayne Il - update with pictures

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:58:37 -0700

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.

Staged Home in Wayne, IL. A real murder mystery

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:24:33 -0700

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

Does your home pass the smell test? A home should smell good.

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:08:22 -0700

A home should smell good. Sellers sometimes do not understand the importance of the smell factor. A buyer can eliminated your home within seconds.

Often homeowners become so accustom to the smell they don't even notice it. A professional stager can not only help you identify a problem but also help you fix it. The biggest offenders...beloved pets, cooking scents, stale cigarette smoke. All of this seeps into the carpet, drapery, paint, the furniture. The old story about baking cookies, bread or using scented air fresheners and candles are a no-no in today's market. Instead find the source... scrub the house, replace the old smelly rugs and carpet. Clean smell with no noticeable odor is want you want.

Before staging this charming house in Wheaton Illinois, Margaret and her Re-Arrange It team came up with a winning plan to get this property sold fast. The first plan of action was to pass the smell test. We started by having the owner find alternative day-time arrangements for the family dog. He had serious bladder control issues and could not be let alone. Second the carpet had to go and the sub-flooring sealed. I sprayed ODO-BAN (at Sam's Club) which is a hospital strength disinfectant or can be deluded to an air freshener. It works great on cat urine and dander and almost any fabric/carpet. We added baking soda under the carpet just in case. Everything needed to be painted or scrubbed. We than did some strategic painting to appeal to our target buyer. Most of the furniture had to go so we worked our magic by providing new pieces from our inventory. All this worked like a charm as the home smelled very fresh.

Once again fantastic Results. Sold in 1 day with four offers!

Here are some pictures...

(yes those stains on the carpet are from Fido).

sometimes you have to work with what whats at the property.

Margaret Gehr and the Re-Arrange It team will gladly help you on your next project. Serving Chicagoland.

Margaret Gehr

Re-Arrange It Interiors and Design

815-530-3566

www.re-arrangeit.com

mirror mirror on the wall who is the saviest REA of all?

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:15:20 -0700

This REA won the savviest of all...by shelving that old "how to sell Real Estate" book that says people buy prices and you should just keep dropping the price until the property sells. Now price sometimes is the answer, but before you have a fire sale I believe you should dot all your i's and cross or your t's first.

As a professional stager I obviously believe in the power of presentation, mix that with a good marketing plan, the right price, and you almost always have a winner! This property for example has had two realtors..The first never suggested staging. The second did. Which marketing photos would you prefer? Here are a few of the original MLS photos.

. Not the worst you've seen right? ...but note the position of the couch and how close it is to the fireplace. You can stretch your legs out and rest them on the hearth. You can't see the staircase going up, it's next to the tree so it needs to stay open. Frequent comments were made that the room was very awkward and no one could figure out a better arrangement for the furniture.

ok.. but not eye-popping or memorable.

FAMILY ROOM BEFORE STAGING

Though the custom drapery would appeal to some...the flat upholstery weight panels looked stiff and were too short in the vacant room. We opted to change them for a younger sleeker look to target our buyer.

FAMILY ROOM AFTER STAGING

STAGING PHOTO JUST FOR FUN

MASTER BEDROOM BEFORE STAGING

We had to say goodbye to those capri's....we replaced them with inexpensive ready-mades. (I hate ironing!)

MASTER BEDROOM AFTER STAGING

(how'd that traditional topiary get in that picture....)

In addition REA#2 gained a new marketing team. Partnering with Re-Arrange It he also received...

FREE Professional photos provided by Re-Arrange it Interiors
FREE Broker Open and Staging Lunch-n-learn event
FREE Marketing campaign highlighting the staged property and listing agent.
100's of flyer's and invitations to view the property and promote REA#2
Zero dollars invested by REA#2 for the Home prep consultation or staging

Property Staged by ReArrange It Interiors, your professional home staging partner. Serving Chicagoland area. Call Margaret Gehr for more information at 815-530-3566

re-arrangeit.com

BEFORE AND AFTER HOME STAGING PICTURES

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:59:54 -0700

Re-Arrange It Interiors had the pleasure to stage this Beautiful new home in Western Springs, IL located just minutes from town and the train. Available for 1,279,00. MLS# 06508682 For more information about this property please contact Margaret Gehr, Re-Arrange It Interiors, at 815-530-3566

BEFORE staging this room it felt very small and uninviting.

AFTER STAGING. The furniture actually made the room seemed much larger

BEFORE STAGING This akward shape and location left buyers wondering what the room was...the open floor plan positioned directly next to the family room left the buyer thinking they had no other choice than line up two sofas right next to each in two rooms. The staging helped identify the room and show buyers an arrangement that was pleasing.

AFTER STAGING

BEFORE STAGING

AFTER STAGING

Your professional staging partner

Margaret Gehr, Re-Arrange It Interiors

Servicing Chicagoland. Call 815-530-3566 for more information

re-arrangeit.com

Mirror Mirror on the wall, who is the savviest REA of all?

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:18:31 -0700

ok.. but not eye-popping or memorable.

FAMILY ROOM BEFORE STAGING

FAMILY ROOM AFTER STAGING

STAGING PHOTO JUST FOR FUN

MASTER BEDROOM BEFORE STAGING

We had to say goodbye to those capri's....we replaced them with inexpensive ready-mades. (I hate ironing!)

MASTER BEDROOM AFTER STAGING

(how'd that traditional topiary get in that picture....)

In addition REA#2 gained a new marketing team. Partnering with Re-Arrange It he also received...

FREE Professional photos provided by Re-Arrange it Interiors
FREE Broker Open and Staging Lunch-n-learn event
FREE Marketing campaign highlighting the staged property and listing agent.
100's of flyer's and invitations to view the property and promote REA#2
Zero dollars invested by REA#2 for the Home prep consultation or staging

Property Staged by ReArrange It Interiors, your professional home stagers. Serving Chicagoland area.

Accessory staging...I said No!... 6 days..12 showings...3 offers and still coming!!

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:05:30 -0700

This property was actually nice before it was staged. It was a rental..little rough, but had great potential and good floor plan. The agent thought accessory staging would be enough. I thought No way...we need more!

WHY stage it? It will go from a nice property with potential..priced comparable to a WOW property that every buyer will know will go fast! She needed to sell it fast for the homeowner so she let me do my thing....

Benjamin Moore Smokey taupe puts a fresh look on this cottage style home in Wheaton Illinois. The color highlights the built-in's and wonderful molding. A few updated fixtures and this property is ready for some pizazz!

A few key pieces and now a buyer can fully appreciate the potential this home. Our goal was to compliment not over power.

The day the pink Formica counter tops were removed....

THE RESULT....

6 DAYS ... 12 SHOWINGS...3 OFFERS AND STILL COMING!!!!

Overall the staging created the urgency to buy now. The staging triggered the quick offers.

Make your nice property a WOW! property by calling your local staging expert!

Re-Arrange It Interiors, serving Chicagoland 815-530-3566

Tap into the POWER of presentation

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:39:15 -0700

IT'S NO secret selling a home in today's market can be a challenge.

One secret to rising above the challenges is the implementing a marketing basic known as visual merchandising or more simply put, PRESENTATION. Staging like visual merchandising is an art, but it is also a science with specific, easy to implement formulas that can help you sell faster. Price, location, condition, all play a important role but a quality presentation can deliver a powerful punch in this market.

More and more it becomes obvious buyers won't give second chances to properties after a less than fabulous experience because they don't need to. The problem is we all tend to get tunnel vision; we get so involved in day to day activities we tend to miss the things a buyer sees.

I liken Merchandising homes and Home Staging to silent selling. The seller has an opportunity to tell a story, put the focus on the best features and present their product in the most eye-catching way.

One stategy used by the savviest Home Stagers is what I like to call...

SPACE PLANNING and SPEED BUMPS.

This applies to the saying that the way you live in a house and sell it are two different things.

Furniture placement can increase the feeling of more square footage, be placed to enhance a feature, and provide the best marketing photos. Furniture placement can help a buyer see how to furnish a difficult space or and draw a buyer into a room.
Speed bumps (AKA focal points) are displays that work much the same as speed bumps in parking lots: they slow buyers down so they don't miss important features of the property. Speed bumps, AKA focal points, carve a path through a property that make sense to a buyer. They create good flow and are a proven strategy to better showings and more sales.

Using these stategies will help attract and hold the attention of prospective clients.

For example this odd shaped living room in this new townhouse development turned into a real selling block for the builder. The bonus balcony which bumped into the space created a furniture placement problem. Buyers just could not see how furniture would work in the space. Staging the unit to show as a model completely removed this objection. Now the buyers focus on the fireplace feature wall and windows. The simple window panels hung a tie back knobs help unify the space and make it feel like one room.

For more information on how Re-Arrange It Interiors can help you move your inventory or home please contact Margaret Gehr at 815-530-3566.

Christmas walk show house for charity

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:58:57 -0800

Re-Arrange It Interiors had the opportunity to be apart of the annual Christmas walk in the beautiful subdivision Wynstone in North Barrington, IL. Our house was one of four show houses that drew approximately 1000 visitors over 2 days. Each house was filled with beautiful holiday decorations and accessories which were for sale during the tours. The attendees toured the homes, had lunch with tea at the country club, and shopped at a special holiday boutique. 20% of the proceeds were donated to Catholic Charities. The event this year raised over $10,000.00 in for the charity.

Our 10, 000 square foot show house looked fabulous and I am happy to say we nearly sold out. This was a new event for us this year and we had a ball taking a short break from our staging.

The owners in part participated because it also on the market for a bargain price of $4,295,00.00. The event brought a ton of exposure and renewed interest in the property.

My pictures are poor quality and do this house no justice but here are a few..

Foyer before decorating..

Dining room

Dinette Area

Living room before its decorated

Sunroom

Master bathroom

Master bedroom

Master bedroom sitting room

Guest room

basement

Re-Arrange It Interiors is your full service staging company providing home staging to sell and live, custom window treatments, custom floral, holiday decorating, color consultations, and more. Providing services in the Western Suburbs of Chicago, Illinois

Margaret Gehr

Re-Arrange it interiors

815-530-3566

re-arrangeit.com

Staging Before & After Pictures

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:08:02 -0800

Here is a recent home Re-Arrange It Interiors Staged.

Before

After Re-Arrange It Interiors

Bath Before

After Re-Arrange It Interiors

Master bath Before

After Re-Arrange It Interiors

Kitchen Before

After Re-Arrange It Interiors

Family room Before

After Re-Arrange It Interior

Hard room to achieve balance because removing the oversized TV was not an option

No before shot but if your ever looking to add some pizazz to a stairwell try a shelf

Are you considering having your home staged or have a listing that could use some help. Call Margaret Gehr at Re-Arrange It Interiors and find out how easy it is to make your property shine. Serving the western suburbs of Chicago, IL

Margaret Gehr

Re-Arrange It Interiors

815-530-3566

re-arrangeit.com

4 steps to a better closing ratio - before and after staging pics

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:45:54 -0800

An agent who I work with regularly was getting back a listing after be fired 9 months ago. (She didn't know me back then) I'm told the REA that followed offered to set up free staging in exchange for advertising. In the last 8 months we've staged 12 properties for this agent and she has shot up the ranks to number 14 out of 3600 agents in Northern Illinois. This property was on the market over 13 months was staged 9 months ago by someone else when the owner re-located to another state. The staging was was a really a great redesign we just went the next step which got the property sold in just 2 short weeks. The before pictures were taken on our first visit.

Why do I say great redesign instead of staging?

Simply put the rooms were redesigned with existing decor and the same objections to the sale they started out with were still there 1 year later. Some of it you can't see in the photos but here what we concentrated on...

•1. The obvious- We neutralized the decor. The décor demanded all your attention. Ask yourself what stands out more the decorating or features! We took down 9 large pieces of Native American wall art and more wall décor not shown. We removed 2 authentic American Indian rugs and most of the stylized accessories. Very nice, but also very personal...We neutralized the decorating and turned the focus back to the property. (reasonable right?)

•2. The not so obvious- The wall color, neutral at first glance but it was a really tired color with a strong pink cast that totally clashed with the carpet and trim color. It made the carpet look old and dirty. The REA thought it was the red couch...nope. All the staging wasn't going to change this and it was such an easy fix. After painting it felt fresh, brighter, current and no longer an objection.

3. The property was too "woody"(is that a real term?) and the rooms felt dark - wood trim, wood blinds, wood rails, stairs, wood floors, wood cabinets, northern exposure...you get the point.. We raised as many blinds as possible, brought the eye up the wall and out the windows by framing some with color (window panels), and painted the mantle soft beige to match the marble tile surrounding the fireplace.

•4. We finished the staging already started and brought the property to a whole different level. We provided a table in the kitchen and neutral décor throughout. We did not change the "look" we just redirected the focus and went an extra step that gave the property some pizazz!

After over 12 months of sitting on the market 2 different buyers fell in love with it within 1 week of the staging. It went under contract and closed within 3 weeks. The buyer loved the look so much she purchased everything we brought in. If we were helping this owner from the start we would have recommended focusing on 1-3 first because this is where the buyer walks away.

Before original Staging..

Day 1 Before Re-Arrange It Interiors

After Re-Arrange it Interiors staged

Before Re-Arrange It Interiors

After Re-arrange It Interiors

Before Re-Arrange It Interiors

After Re-Arrange It interiors

Before Re-Arrange It Interiors

After Re-arrange Interiors

If you are looking to increase your closing percentages and really want to help your clients sell faster here are some must do tips.

•1. Discovery - Ask questions. Who are you selling this property to? What is that buyer looking for? What are the best features? What is missing that everyone wants?

•2. Identify objections to the sale- Is there any reason why a buyer might not buy this property? Carpet, paint schemes, outdated features, awkward floor plans, etc? Is it a feeling...too dark, too old, too boring, or too personal? A good stager will identify and remove objections or can stage to minimize them, they are not always obvious.

•3. Educate the seller- Educate your seller on the "What-Why-How" of staging. Understand the marketing benefits in this age of the computers and the importance of first impressions. Educate the sellers on lifestyle style appeal and buying triggers. Do not assume your client knows because they watch HGTV.

•4. Offer an easy to implement plan- One of my greatest successes when working with a homeowner is getting them to implement the staging plan, mainly because we make it easy for them. If you don't already, get to know your local tradesman, know what they offer and what they charge. Too often a seller will not follow through if it seems too hard or expensive. Learn to offer low cost alternatives like spraying old light fixtures, painting cabinets and furniture. Educate yourself on the power of color, learning to use color to make the old seem new again. Old counter tops, floors, or carpet can look newer paired with the right color. Experience has taught me to prioritize the staging plan based on providing the biggest impact even if it cuts me out.

Thinking about having your home staged? Interested in referring your client to a stager? Do your homework first and choose a Staging Company with proven results!

Margaret Gehr

Re-Arrange It Interiors

Serving Chicagoland homeowners and builders

815-530-3566

A Stager takes the silver award for Best Interior decorating

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:47:18 -0700

Re-Arrange-It Interiors had the recent honor of being asked to stage a show house in the 2008 Cavalcade of Homes "Dream Tour" at Stewart Ridge in Plainfield, Illinois. The 3 week event was sponsored by the Northern Illinois Home Builders Association and Fry Properties Inc. This is "Illinois' largest and most elaborate single site home tour" Each of the homes showcased the latest and greatest trends in the industry. The homes ranged from 799,000 up to 1.2 Million and were fully furnished and decorated by some of the top local designers.

We did the Trillion House by Fry Property. Well, as you might imagine no one paid much attention to the "stager". It was surprisingly competitive and felt like our own mini Design Star competition. I really believe being a stager gave us an edge. It's like I tell all my clients "The profit is in the details".

Our house won the Silver Award for Best Interior Decorating :)

Silver Award for Best Window Treatments :) (We did two treatments and custom Bedding)

We started in the interior selection phase of construction. The look was contemporary with a kick of retro...we just ran with it, Take a look at some pictures....

www. cavalcadeofhomes.com

Re-Arrange It Interiors, Plainfield, Il 815-530-3566

a house with the blues no more.

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 01:15:03 -0700

We had the opportunity to stage a property recently which had a bad case of the blues. I mean literally...blue carpet, blue floors, blue counter tops, blue curtains, blue light fixtures. Ouch on the eyes!

In our current market, Location, Location, Price, Price are often key ingredients to a sale but presentation can seal the deal. This 3 year old home sits in a nice newer community but not the best location and a foreclosure a few doors away, so its definitely not going to be the price. This owner was told to expect a long market time. Well its never been our policy to mislead anyone about staging statisitcs and its ability to sell just to get the job. In this case if this property was going to have any chance it needed a mini overhaul. In order to have any impact and be competitive it needed to look good. Now , if I had it my way that blue carpet would have been gone, but we all need to be flexible, right? We had the white walls painted a soft gray and brought in dark contrasting colors. kept things neutral to tone down the blue. We put the builder fixtures back up which were in the garage (better than the current ones) The staging helped the buyer focus more on the rooms and not just the blue. It also showed how the property could look nice without investing lots of money into replacing expensive items.

It worked like a charm , it had an excellent offer and contract within 3 weeks, it closed 30 days later on 7/31/08. They understood sometimes you have to spend a little money to make money. I am very happy for them and that they believed in me, my company, and in staging.

Take control of your sale and call a good Stager. .

Here are a couple photos that I took.

Margaret Gehr, Re-Arrange It Interiors, Plainfield, IL, 815-530-3566

Does your property look like a million bucks?

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:04:29 -0700

I received a call from one of my favorite Realtors and she just listed this great property which has lingered on the market for many months. The exterior and bones of the property were quite impressive but once you got inside...you forgot you were in a $1.5 million property. I worked with the homeowner to create better flow and use of space. I updated paint colors and added much needed warmth with rugs and accessories. Though the home owner did not follow though with several of my recommendations (darken the hardwood floors with a low sheen, update light fixtures, replace the too casual carpet in the formal areas) we were still able to improve the overall appearance and increase the probability of a timely sale. Here are some pictures.

Out goes the hand painted ivy on dirty white walls......in comes a warm neutral color and area rugs to define space. This owner choose not to refinish the floors to a more desirable darker color and low sheen gloss so we used dark rugs as an alternative.

Area rugs and new table greens help add contrast to all the blond wood and yellow paint

The furniture placement was awkward and unbalanced, just by reworking the existing pieces we made the room make sense and more comfortable. Re-Arrange It provided new table top accessories and fern plant stand.

This nothing room instantly with became valuable space when we gave it purpose. An extra couch pulled from the family room and an area rug, coffee table, and accessories provided by Re-Arrange It did the job.

Buyer feedback was negative in this space. They felt it was too small and in a awkward position between the study and kitchen. To improve the traffic pattern and help create the illusion of more space we relocated the extra large sofa and end table to other rooms and helped the owner select a better suited chair they can take with them. We added a console table under the flat screen TV floating on the wall and Re-Arrange It provided all the lamps, trees, and accessories that pulled everything together. The result made the room look twice as big and its now much easier for the buyer to visualize their furniture in the home.

Greens never photograph well but the softer shade was a huge improvement.

Here are some other finished photos of the property:

From been there, seen that.... to sold!!!

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:48:52 -0700

With Loads of vacant, quick delivery, and new construction homes to choose from you need something to make your property stand out from the rest. Staging can be the difference between sold and not sold. Buyers (and agents/stagers) visit many homes during their search and soon they all start to look alike! Case in point, This property was nice but the features are hiding in a sea of white and open space. The buyer was having a hard time visuallizing furniture placement and scale so they moved on to the next house. Adding some furniture and a few accents helped buyers easily and quickly see how large the space is and are able to concentrate on the beautiful features the builder has to offer. This home went from been there, seen that (300 days) to SOLD in 10 days!

Here are a few shots, Margaret Gehr, Re-Arrange It Interiors

Staging provided by Re-Arrange It Interiors, Naperville, IL 815-530-3566

Miracle Team - 4 days start to finish!!

Margaret Gehr (Chicagoland Home Staging ~ Re-Arrange It Interiors) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:18:33 -0800

Wow what a week! I met with a Chicago Builder last Friday night that decided to stage a vacant home that is going to draw traffic from the Chicago Luxury Home Tour... yes the one that started yesterday. He has a absolutely gorgeous house on the tour. He challenged me to pull together one of his vacant properties so he could promote the base model of the showcase house a few miles away, and next to 3 others on the tour. WELL..11 rooms! 4 Days over the holiday weekend! fully furnished! Do miracles exist? Here is some of the first floor. Thanks to Kris at Brooks Furniture rental...I couldn't have done it with out her.

Margaret Gehr, Re-Arrange It Interiors, 815-530-3566