Expert Home Staging MA - Decorate To Sell

Playing in the Rain!

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:52:16 -0600

We are working our blog today - let's see how this goes!

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

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Top 10 ActiveRain Tools for NEW MEMBERS and RainMakers

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:24:33 -0500

My last post mentioned how AR and SIF have numerous changes.
Active Brad has a terrific post on how to use all the great tools AR offers to help with your business. Great post to get you up to speed.

Thank you to Brad!

Love the Rain

Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain):

I've been out doing office presentations these past few weeks, and sharing with Brokers and Agents what ActiveRain is all about. In my travels, I have found that as new members join ActiveRain, it can seem a bit overwhelming because there are so many members, tools, great posts, and let's face it, there's a ton of information here.

So Where do you go and what do you do once you hear about ActiveRain?

The first step is to just sign up, the second step is to setup and create your ActiveRain profile, and the third step is to write that first post. To help new members with these steps and to try and simplify the process, there is a "Getting Started" post that helps minimize the frustration some experience their first few visits here.

The most common question I get is "What tools does ActiveRain offer to help my Business?"

Having useful tools in your "Toolbox" is great, but if you don't know where they are, you're not using them, you don't know how, or you never open the toolbox, then none of them will present much value? Hopefully this wil help some of you that are new to the community.

Here's the "TOP 10 ActiveRain Tools" and in no particular order:

10. Advertising on Activerain can get you some great exposure. Nearly 150,000 members, and over 2,000,000 visitors each month. We have numerous options available through channels, Activerain pages, the Daily Newsletter and the Top Spot on the Feature Board.

9. Go Hyper-Local using Localism.com Creating content on ActiveRain for your Localism Blog can be a huge resource for your local communities and neighborhoods. The worlds most complete neighborpedia. Sponsoring a community is easy and inexpensive.

8. Building a Profile is more than just your picture, company name and phone number. Member profiles CAN generate Subscribers, Traffic, Associates and Business. Take the time to make your profile your masterpiece. Your Profile can be just as powerful as a website.

7. Outside Blogs have become one of ActiveRains leading tools for members. There's No need to learn a new Blogging platform. It's easy to set one up and there are plenty of tools and widgets to help make your custom outside Blogs successful.

6. Vision - Do you know what your prospects are thinking? ActiveRain presents a new vision for success. IDX and Leads are great to have, but you'll need the tools, a plan, and the follow-up / follow thru to make any lead generation tool become a success.

5. Hit Router - With over 100,000 City searches on ActiveRain recently, you could generate some great leads via your IDX. Set up your FREE Markets, create City Search Campaigns, you can watch a webinar how to do it all. There's over 1,000,000 posts on ActiveRain which means one million plus opportunities for visitors to search for homes in your area and find YOU.

4. The ActiveRain Referral Exchange. Be sure to setup some alerts in your area immediately. This training webinar will help. There's even a rating system in place that can be used at the close of referral transactions. A tool every referral exchange should have.

3. Networking, Connecting, and building Associations with other Real Estate Industry Professionals on ActiveRain will increase your knowledge and resources faster than any other website or Social Network out there. Your Associates are a great reference and endorsement. You can Build your National and International Associates all in one place.

2. It's good to find Blogging mentors who have been successful. There are thousands of great Bloggers and successful members here on ActiveRain, you can see the Top 100 most subscribed to get some great ideas and to see what works for them.

1. Becoming a Rainmaker member does have it's obvious privileges. Why? (see all the above) There are many more tools, services and benefits you'll discover on ActiveRain, but these 10 are the most valuable and powerful in my opinion. Remember that joining ActiveRain and using these tools is not a "Sprint To The Win" it's a "Marathon To The Victory!"

Sometimes finding support and answers to your questions can seem like a daunting task, but there are some easy ways and "tools" available to help you get anything you need on ActiveRain. You can Contact ActiveRain, use the SEARCH tool, check the HELP/FAQ Group, visit the ActiveRainGuide.com for "how-to" posts and tutorials, use my profile, or you can contact our staff on-line anytime. You'll find our staff Blog at ActiveRainTeam.com.

Specific Tools are created to get certain jobs done, I hope these tools help you "Get Your Job Done!"

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Scent of a sale at The Wall Street Journal - Scent Seekers

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 08:33:39 -0600

Today's issue of the Wall Streedt Journal (2/03/09) tackles the question:

Is the Scent of Moroccan Bazaar too edgy for American Homes, by Ellen Byron
www.wsj.com

Does fragrance mean clean? Stagers have been working that for years!

Dobs, our Brittany Spaniel, wondered that too!

Proctor & Gamble Manager Scott Beal believes that "Your home could look clean, but if there is an absence of scent, you don't really know."

We recommend Pure Ayre - it is an amazing product that works on everything! James, the inventor and CEO, will help you in a heart beat for any questions or unique situations you happen upon.

www.pureayre.com

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Business of the Year Nominee

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:24:10 -0500

We at Decorate To Sell are honored to be nominated by Enterprise Bank as Business of the Year.

Enterprise Bank's First Annual Celebration of Excellence will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2008 at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

Businesses have the ability to make a difference. At our First Annual Celebration of Excellence we will honor those remarkable entrepreneurs, businesses and community leaders who have achieved success and inspired others to excel.

Theo Epstein, Executive Vice President/General Manager of the Boston Red Sox and architect of 2 Championship teams, will be the keynote speaker for the event.

The Business of the Year Awards will honor and recognize local businesses whose recent financial, organizational and social accomplishments have directly contributed to a better workplace, environment and community.

Thank you to all of our clients, friends & family!

Margaret Innis & the Decorate To Sell Team!

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

MAR Convention: My favorite new Tool! Thank you Miss Mannersmith!

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 09:14:44 -0500

Massachusetts Assn of Realtors at their recent convention had several really great seminars.

Miss Mannersmith - Jodi Smith - was my favorite!

She discussed first impressions (sounds familiar) and
it takes 14 positive impressions to overcome 1 bad impression!

This woman was fabulous! Check out her website at www.mannersmith.com

The website is amazing and has a Thank you Note Wizard!
As she states on her website:
"This Wizard is to be used only as a tool to aid you in creating your thank you notes..."

http://www.mannersmith.com/resources/tyn_wizard.cfm

Check it out, get some manners and have some fun!

She also offers a free tip card!

As Miss Mannersmith would say:

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today!

Margaret

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Help! 83 Days til Christmas - To Decorate or not to decorate???

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:08:49 -0500

I have a client putting her home on the market in the next few weeks - just before Halloween!

She is a terrific client - and very motivated.

Which is why she is putting her house on the market over the holidays.

Handling the celebrations of Halloween and Thanksgiving are easy for her -- She is doing seasonal generic wreaths and that is about it.

However, our BIG problem is Christmas!

She is looking forward to puttting up her tree - but without the cute ornaments crafted by her children.

I don't have a problem with that because many times Buyers are curious where to put up the tree.

What suggestions do you have for staging during the holidays!

For instance: what about Menorahs and Mangers?

Do you wrap presents and leave them under the tree or keep them in gift bags or in the closet at all times?

Candles in the windows and lights on the house? Reindeer on the front lawn?

You can see our dilemma! Thanks!

NOTE: Maureen Henry's comment really draws the line in the sand...Should we even decorate?

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Free Color Deck - Sherwin Williams Color Trends 2009

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:40:06 -0500

Color Color Color!

We cannot get enough of it!!!

Check out Sherwin Williams Color Trend Forecast and get the free color deck for 2009!!!

Have a colorful day!

Margaret

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Financial Crisis - NAR official recommends Staging

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:50:39 -0500

Staging has received the endorsement of NAR's economist Jed Smith.

During the keynote session at the

Massachusetts Assn of Realtors Convention 9/22/08

NAR's economist Jed Smith, Managing Director for Quantitative Research, gave 2 pieces of advice to Realtors during this financial crisis:

"Add Value to your services:
1. Marketing - realistic pricing
2. Staging - how many times do you make a first impression." Jed Smith, Chief Economist & Managing Director for Quantitative Research for NAR.

This was included in part of Jed Smith's powerpoint presentation and live webcast from Washington.

NOTE: Staging is discussed 14 minutes into this video.

UPDATE: This can be an important marketing piece for your presentations with Realtors - edit it onto your flash drive and it speaks volumes with Broker Owners.

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Juggernaut!

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:17:03 -0500

Stage It Forward hooked me 2 years ago and now I have discovered LinkedIn

If you are not LinkedIn - get there now!

Yesterday morning I received an invitation from a fabulous ASP.

I had heard about LinkedIn - with thanks to Tammy O'Brien and Cindy Lin.

And, life got busy busy busy - too busy to join!!!

Well, yesterday morning I signed up - you just push a few buttons LOL and made a few mistakes along the way (LOL)!

I started at 9:30 AM with 2 contacts..

Today I have 53 contacts and lunch and business appointments till the end of the year!

This is a great way to get off your butt and network!

And, of course, for any and all who have blogged about LinkedIn - you are visionaries!

What fun!

Have a LinkedIn Day! Margaret http://linkedin.com/in/margaretinnis

     Margaret Innis & The Decorate To Sell Team
     Renew your home with Staging Redesign Color
     Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
     Member 2008 Color Advisory Board
     ASPM ADE IDS IRIS SDP RESA WCAA
     Dewey Color Consultant & Instructor
     All inquiries are kept strictly confidential

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Craftsman Bungalow Staged & Sold! 10 DOM!

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:43:14 -0500

We get the best clients - This family was a pleasure to work with! We are thrilled to have been able to help them move on to their new home! DOM 10 Days!

This is a Craftsman Bungalow - an original
Catalog Home from Sears & Roebuck!

Bath Before & Staged!

Loft Before

Loft After!

Margaret Innis & The Decorate To Sell Team
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Toll Free 1-888-656-7376
Direct 1-508-572-8225
All inquiries are kept strictly confidential

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Business Systems: How to charge for "no charge"

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:11:20 -0500

Business Systems are key to keeping our business and relationships professional.
And, with all the discussion about how to get paid and when to get paid, many of us also do pro bono work - just like attorneys! So how do attorneys manage to do "no charge" and still remain professional? They have a system:

Attorneys are always sharing information - many times at no charge to family and friends. They get asked to help friends and family with P&S or anything else that requires their legal eye to review some contract or paperwork.

My friend was helping his friends who were considering the purchase of a second home. They asked him to put together the purchase and sale - some negotiations were required and eventually all the parties signed.

Because this is a business - and there is a system - and even though this work was no charge - An invoice was still prepared for the full amount of what would normally be charged. Because this is the system - all work gets billed.

The difference was that across the invoice in large handwriting the attorney wrote: no charge.

People do not appreciate or respect something for nothing and the invoice shows the value of the work. The no charge notation shows the consideration.

The invoice was still prepared because that is the system.

So next time you do anything for "no charge" - and we all do - be sure to show the value of your efforts and use your business system - prepare the invoice and handwrite "no charge" across it - and the client will appreciate and respect your efforts.

Have a Staged & Colorful Day! Margaret

   The Decorate To Sell Team
   Member 2008 Color Advisory Board
   ASPM ADE IDS IRIS SDP RESA WCAA
   Direct: 1-508-572-8225
   All inquiries are kept strictly confidential.

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Systems of Success - Benjamin Moore!

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:12:06 -0500

Systems of Success - Benjamin Moore!

Your business - whether it is Staging, Redesign, Decorating or Color Consultations - is really a series of systems you have put to work for you.

Sometimes we create our own business systems - they make our lives easier!
A system is tried and true and can be used again and again because it has proved itself.

Benjamin Moore Paints has a terrific color system -
of course we all know their terrific Color Preview Deck
and Classic Colors Deck -
within these color decks is the efficient
Color System Replacement Sheet Program.

One simple form allows you to order color sheets for your client -
delivery via first class mail. In our area we get them within 2 days!

And, you can order them for yourself too, allowing a better file in your office of your clients' wants and needs.

The Color System Replacement Sheet Program allows you to:

1. Keep your color decks in order and sacred!

2. Keep your client in the loop with terrific color samples.

3. Keep your client database current and efficient!

Many thanks to Stacey White and Marion Beaulieu of Benjamin Moore in Milford, MA for their insight and wisdom on all things Benjamin Moore!

Have a colorful day - Margaret

   Margaret Innis & The Decorate To Sell Team
   Member 2008 Color Advisory Board
   ASPM ADE IDS IRIS SDP RESA WCAA
   Toll free: 1-888-656-7376
   Direct: 1-508-572-8225
   All inquiries are kept strictly confidential

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

A Win-Win for Clutter & Homeowners!

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:14:48 -0500

Our homeowners (and agents) are always looking for resources.
Clutter is usually tops on the list.

Here is a win-win for everyone - you can help your homeowners & make a difference in a child's life!

In our area the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation www.bbbs.org offers scheduled pick-ups of small household items, usable clothes and shoes. (This is for gently used items) It is an efficient system to help your homeowners rid their home of clutter and help a very worthy cause. Their phone number is 800-483-5503

The BBBS Foundation is registered with the offices of the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, and they have taken any necessary steps to comply with local police departments' requirements.

Big Brother Big Sister Foundation offers mentoring programs that match children to adult volunteers. They sell the donated items to thrift stores and use 100% of the net proceeds to support the mentoring programs of Big Brothers of Massachusetts Bay and Big Sister Assn of Greater Boston.

And, if your homeowner has a collection of cars in the yard - contact The National Big Brother Big Sister Foundation has a Car for Kids Program - 1-800-859-6526. They will tow the car away!

They need resalable Clothing (men, women, children - all types and sizes)>
clothing Accessories, shoes, bedding items (no mattresses), draperies and curtains, housewares & glassware, small toys, games & tools!

They will pick up in most towns in Southeastern Massachusetts -
If you are not fortunate to live in the great state of Massachusetts call 1-800-859-6526 for more info!

Margaret Innis & The Decorate To Sell Team
Renew Your Home! Staging Redesign & Color!
Member 2008 Color Advisory Board
ASPM ADE IRIS IDS RESN WCAA
Toll Free 1-888-656-7376
1-508-572-8225 (direct)

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Architecture - Small House Lit!

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:52:30 -0500

Small house lit - James McCown has a great article about the influence of building small is having on the book industry - he states that Walden, is an early example of "small house lit."

Here are some great books he recommends!

25 Houses Under 1500 Squre Feet - by James Grayson.
Big Ideas for Small Spaces - David Lansing & JoAnne Liebeler.
Compact Houses: Architecture for the Environment.
The Smaller Home - Creating the Perfect Fit by Dan F. Sater II
The Very Small Home - Japanese Ideas for Living in Litmited Space.
The Wright Sized House: Frank Lloyd Wright's Solutions for Making Small Houses Look Big.

I am ordering these from the library and look forward to sharing them!

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Is Small the new Big?

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:34:37 -0500

As Stagers you are right there when homes come on the market. What house styles do you see when you stage new construction?

Building in our area is moving through a climatic change - carbon footprints, green LEED, wind farms and the price of oil.

Large parcells of land are a thing of the past - building roads can become not just a deal breaker but break the back of a business.

Work with spot lots and smaller parcells is the landscape now. From this change of landscape comes a change in the style of the home.

What styles of home do you see now?
What do you see for the future?
Thank you for your thoughts.

   Margaret Innis & The Decorate To Sell Team
   Renew Your Home - Stage Redesign Color!
   Member 2008 Color Advisory Board
   ASPM ADE IRIS IDS RESN WCAA
   Toll Free 1-888-656-7376
   Direct 1-508-572-8225

  All inquiries are kept strictly confidental.

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

I stopped marketing & had a cup of coffee!

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:38:10 -0500

We all love sharing everything about Staging -
but how do we get Realtors to Love Staging!
Some of us do this with marketing - but I hate marketing.
Any of you who know me understand that for me to use the word hate is a profanity - and I use it as a profanity here.

Let's change our language - let's get rid of marketing!
Let's collaborate with Realtors!
Collaboration is inspiring someone to view your way of thinking!
We have to inspire them!

Deborah Weisgall - she wrote a terrific article about collaboration - Searching for the Roots of Creativity.
This article discusses how architects collaborate with builders & writers collaborate with agents and editors -

The creative writer has to collaborate with their agent and editors to get their creativity out there -
hmmm this has a certain ring to it!

We have to collaborate with agents - share our vision!
Don't call it marketing - call it collaboration!
Collaboration is a negotiation - we have to negotiate the process of sharing our vision of Staging with the real estate agent and the happy result is a sold house!
And it is not hard - because a collaboration can be a pleasant cup of coffee together!

Because they need us!

     Margaret Innis & The Decorate To Sell Team
     Renew Your Home - Staging Redesign & Color!
     Member 2008 Color Advisory Board
     ASPM ADE IRIS IDS RESN WCAA
     Direct 1-508-572-8225
     Toll Free 1-888-656-7376

All inquiries are kept strictly confidential

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Before & Afters - What happens when you get a Stager & a Redesigner in the Same Room!

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:48:41 -0500

This was a unique staging - what happens when you get a Redesigner and a Stager together?
The different philosophies and uberstyles of work were a bit of a challenge!
As you can see - it all worked out.
This was a redesign/Staging to Live for Sue - a Haven for Healing client.

Before:

After - with Special thank you to Sue G., Jill Hosking, Kathy Norwiciz & Sue Noel.

Please enjoy the before and afters of this beautiful room -
This room redesign answered the needs of Sue, our Haven for Healing client.
- Sue used this room for guests and occasional ironing.
- Sue looked forward to having a space that was inviting to her guests.
- She also wanted a stylish space to work on her laptop while
enjoying the beautiful view from french doors and patio.

What we did:
- We played musical furniture as Lisa LePorter says on Design to Sell:
- The white chest of drawers was moved to the bedroom.
- The sofa bed was moved to the right side of the room (under the window).
- The television was moved to the left (onto the chest moved from the bedroom).
- The valance was an inspiration for the paint choice.

Haven for Healing is an outreach project with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition to break the silence of Ovarian Cancer.

check out the National Ovarian Cancer Website www.ovarian.org for further information.

Margaret Innis & The Decorate To Sell Team
Reinvent your home with Staging, Redesign and Color!
Member 2008 Color Advisory Board
ASPM, RESN, RESA, SDP, IRIS, IDS, WCAA
Toll free 1-888-656-7376

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

HGTV - The Stagers - your thoughts...

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:32:45 -0500

HGTV has a new show - The Stagers
It starts this Tuesday, July 1st, in Canada and July 22nd in the States - I cannot wait to see this!

Takes place in Vancouver (my favorite city) at a design firm. 13 episodes are on track and depending on response more will be ordered.

Apparently the craft of Staging does not have enough drama...there are dust-ups between the mother-daughter staging team, a prima donna - Jay, and uber stager - Matthew.

Do you think this will help or hurt our industry?

And, does this mean Staging is now accepted by the mass media?

Check out www.hgtv.com

     Margaret Innis & The Decorate To Sell Team
     Renew your Home - Staging Redesign Color!
     Member 2008 Color Advisory Board
     Dewey Color Consultant and Instructor
     ASPM ADE IRIS IDS RESN WCAA
    www.dectosell.com

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Portrait of a Professional Stager...do you have what it takes?

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:15:36 -0500

I thought I would share the following - it is as appropriate for Stagers as it is for the real estate agents it was written for. My admin, Cathy found it while cleaning my office - it is from Floyd Wickman's intensive course on sales for real estate agents.
I thought it was appropriate for Stagers - because we are in the same business.

What is a professional stager? A person who earns more money than the average stager.

What is the characteristic of a professional stager?
A. You need desire - a hunger - to be the best in your field and you are out to prove it to the world, family and yourself. This desire/hunger keeps you cheerful when you are with your clients, co-workers & family!

B. This desire is evidenced in all the details:
1. your paperwork is in order and organized!
2. You ask questions because it's not about you.
3. You return phone calls and emails - promptly!
4. You keep promises - if you are supposed to be there at 10:00 - get there at 9:45!

C. You are goal oriented!
How many houses will you stage each month?
What income do you want to make?
Is there an award or trophy you are working towards?

D. You know why you are working!
Do you want a better lifestyle/money?
Do you want to be the best - what is your definition of being the best?

E. Great professionals work daily - because it is a joy - not a job!

F. Your service is excellent!
The more service you provide the greater your pay!

The steps to Staging professionalism are:

1. A positive attitude - always!
2. A certain look - Do you have it? Do you stage in jeans and sandals and look like you are going to the beach? Or do you wear your name tag and look like you are going to work?
3. Do you have an image of success: the vehicle, your briefcase, desk, office?
4. Organization - on time, answers ready, handle the details, follow-up diligently.
5. You talk like a pro - you avoid shop talk and ask questions - politely.
6. You stay in tune - you devote a regular part of the week to learning new developments and sharpening your skills.
7. You respect fellow stagers and professionals - everyone has the same problems - everyone wins when the team is strong.
8. You remember your family and friends - always!
9. You are out and about networking - the more people you meet, the more you can serve.
and the best...
10. You keep your integrity in tact.

Thank you to Floyd Wickman!

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

The Power of a Haven For Healing - Part 1

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:49:58 -0500

Haven For Healing is an outreach project sponsored by the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and IRIS - Interior Redesign Industry Specialists.

The project is bittersweet - redesigners renew the space of a woman battling Ovarian Cancer.

It is bittersweet because redesigners get to do what we love and we get to meet and renew the home of some really great women who are battling this dreadful disease.

This past weekend the New England Chapter of Haven for Healing - Jill Hosking, Kathy Narkowictz, Susan Noel and Margaret Innis - had the privilege of redesigning the Master Bedroom of Sue G. Once you sit down with Sue you realize you have found a new BFF - Best Friend Forever!

The room was a challenge -
       small space
       locked into the bed placement
       large furniture pieces.

The fun part -
       The paint change!
        Head board trick - we'll tell you about that later (smile)
        The comforter was the inspiration piece - great colors!

Please enjoy the pix!
We look forward to sharing Sue's story in a subsequent blog...

Haven For Healing

Before...

Haven For Healing

After

Thank you to everyone involved in the project!

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

It's time for a makeover...

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:56:28 -0500

It's time for a makeover...

Decorate To Sell had the pleasure of working with Kim Herter, a wonderful mom and full time professional who lives in the beautiful suburb of Ashland, MA!

Kim was the fortunate winner of a complete makeover which included hair, nails, spa treatment, wardrobe consult and clothing, life coach consult, resume rebuilding and more! Also included in the makeover was a room redesign by the Decorate To Sell Team of Margaret Innis, Jeanne Boudreau & Pam Hall.

Here are some of Kim's thoughts on the makeover:

"Margaret and her team could not have been better to work with. She is so positive and enthusiastic (and even patient when Luke, my 4 year old, wanted to show her his room, too)! I was a bit nervous after our initial consult that the makeover would be just rearranging furniture and pulling stuff from other rooms to look different. Maybe I watched Hildy too many times on Trading Spaces.

"Margaret did end up moving rearranging and pulling some items from other rooms, but it doesn't just look different it looks BETTER!

"She brought in a few new things, but also focused on arranging things in pairs (the bedroom of a married couple, after all is all about the pair) and improving the asthetics.

"I am not much of a knick knack person (who has time to dust more stuff) and was happy that she realized that and only added a few candles, a plant (actually a very realistic silk orchid..what a statement it makes and I don't need to remember to water it), and mats a& runners on the nightstands and table (less dusting, not more...great trick)!"

Here are some photos!

Master Bedroom - Before...

Master Bedroom - After!

"My favorite change is that she moved the chest that was serving as a TV stand to a more prominent spot, put a red runner on it and moved our wedding picture, a plant, and a pair of candles and it looks wonderful. It is the first thing you see now when you walk in the room.

"Margaret and her crew gave me an added bonus of doing the master bath too...now it feels more relaxing than just functional!

"The room looks even better in person. We are thrilled with the results!

"Thank you to Margaret and her Decorate To Sell Team!"

Kim Herter & Family, Ashland, MA

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Color Trends Style 2008 - North Dartmouth MA!

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:29:29 -0500

Meeting great people who love what they do is a real benefit of networking!

Marion Beaulieu of Benjamin Moore Paints

has extended an invitation to the
Benjamin Moore Style 2008 event -

where you will experience an inspired fusion
of creativity and insightful interpretation of color trends!

Join Decorate To Sell and Benjamin Moore Paints as we pay homage to home
as a place of personal renewal and synergistic balance with our exterior world!

Call Margaret at Decorate To Sell for details!

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Haven for Healing - Nashua, NH

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:06:48 -0500

Redesigners associated with IRIS have partnered with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) to "Break the Silence about ovarian cancer with public awareness and education. To ensure that women currently in treatment for ovarian cancer have a comfortable and harmonious room in their home in which to focus on rest and wellness, redesigners across the US are volunteering their time, talents and skills to create such "havens."

Our most recent Haven for Healing was in Nashua, NH

The Haven for Healing program is open to all women who have been diagnosed with or are undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer.

The Haven for Healing program includes a complimentary consultation with a certified redesign specialist as well as furniture placement, re-hanging of art, and accessorizing with existing possessions - all to create a comfortable "haven" in their home in which to focus on rest and wellness.

This service is provided at no cost to our Haven for Healing clients.

If you are, or know of, a woman who has been diagnosed with or is undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer please contact Jill Hosking Cartland at 603-553-2611 (for women in New Hampshire), or Margaret Innis at 508-572-8225 (for women in Massachusetts).

All inquiries are kept strictly confidential.

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

It's Not You, It's Your Books...

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 09:20:51 -0500

What are you telling your buyers?

Back in the 1960s movie theaters used subliminal messages aka suggestions to nudge movie goers to purchase goodies at the snack counter.

Images of popcorn & drinks were shadowed across the movie screen!

Make mine buttered!

Subliminal messages are still going strong...check out this article in the New York Times
It's Not You - It's Your Books http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/books/review

Home sellers send messages to their buyers - whether they plan it or not!

There are the usual messages such as clutter, decorations, collections, etc.

What do their books and magazines say:

Here are a few titles Decorate To Sell has viewed on the road...
Disclaimer: These are all great reads...in fact the Carey Bros Home Maintenance is my favorite!

On the coffee table in the family room.

What kind of neighbohood?

What kind of neighbors?

In the kitchen...Work in this kitchen and you will be STRESSED!

Note: I love Peter Walsh - and I recommend this book!
Just don't leave it on the counter!

On the end table.
Democrat, Republican or independent.....

Books can help set
the message and tone of the home!   There are beautiful books out there - great graphics and color!

    A Gift From The Sea written by Anna Morrow Lindbergh

A favorite that Decorate To Sell includes as a gift to our clients!

Have you seen any good books lately?

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com

Ugh! The Pain!

Margaret Innis - We Stage New England (Decorate To Sell, LLC ) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 09:40:50 -0600

Making color choices is truly painful!

Taking the Pain out of choosing paint colors by Christopher Muther, Globe Staff, is a great article of how to get rid of that anxiety! Christopher interviewed David Oliver, a color guru from London, and author of a gorgeous coffee table book: Paint and Paper: In Decoration!

You can find the article at www.boston.com/lifestyle

Some of David's advice:

Test your shade: 'Don't just look at paint colors on a flat surface. Paint the inside of an old shoe box. That way you can see where shadows fall or how light behaves with color in a room.

Tart up hidden spaces: Paint the inside of linen closets and cabinets!

This is a great article with some great ideas! Check it out!

Margaret Ann Innis, Decorate To Sell, LLC "Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Staging ~ Redesign ~ Color ~ Training!

Dewey Color Classes for January are filling up quickly - call today to reserve your space!

Margaret Innis
Owner & Principal of Decorate To Sell, LLC
Why be "For Sale" when you can be "Sold!"™
Visit our website www.DecToSell.com