decorate to sell: Business of the Year Nominee - 10/30/08 02:24 AM

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 … (15 comments)

decorate to sell: Business Systems: How to charge for "no charge" - 08/05/08 04:11 PM
 
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 … (20 comments)

decorate to sell: I stopped marketing & had a cup of coffee! - 06/30/08 01:38 AM
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 … (11 comments)

decorate to sell: HGTV - The Stagers - your thoughts... - 06/27/08 06:32 PM
HGTV has a new show  - The StagersIt 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 … (12 comments)

decorate to sell: Portrait of a Professional Stager...do you have what it takes? - 06/16/08 08:15 AM
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 … (9 comments)

decorate to sell: It's time for a makeover... - 06/01/08 11:56 AM

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 … (1 comments)

decorate to sell: It's Not You, It's Your Books... - 03/30/08 02:20 AM
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 … (9 comments)

decorate to sell: Ugh! The Pain! - 12/28/07 01:40 AM
 
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 … (8 comments)

decorate to sell: They got Color! - 12/27/07 04:39 PM
 
   ~~ Dewey Color Class - October 24 & 25th at Eastern Middlesex Assn of Realtors, Reading, MA ~~
Introducing our newest Dewey Color Consultants:
                  
    Dewey Color Consultants (left to right):
   Jackie Peraza, Perceptions Adverstaging, Framingham, MA   Ellen Fador, Spectacular Spaces, Winchester, MA   Christy Belli, Now to Wow, Westborough, MA   Debbie Leonard, Marlborough Barn, Marlborough CT     Meg Strattner, Asher Benjamin Furniture Studio, Salisbury, MA   Joanne Stockwell, Stockwell Interiors, Falmouth, MA
 
 
      
               Mark Weiner, CSI  of Sherwin Williams                   presented Color Trends of 2008
  
 
 
    
 
 
 
                                Color Lab!
                 
        
 
 
 
           We also had a field trip to the Benjamin Moore Paint Factory in Milford MA!
 
                              
                Thank you to Marion Beaulieu of … (4 comments)

decorate to sell: Just say NO! - 12/10/07 03:09 AM
We all have a generous and caring spirit because here we are in the Rain!
But remember, it is okay to:
 
 And there is 
Sometimes our clients have
And they definitely have
Which is why they need us!
Remember:  The word No is a complete sentence!  Practice!
PS - check out http://www.seoconsultants.com/just-say-no/03.asp for these images and more! 
… (14 comments)

decorate to sell: What not to Wear! - 12/10/07 01:50 AM
 
 
Let's go from dowdy to dashing! 
What Not To Wear is a television show that takes a lucky participant on a makeover journey with a team of experts! 
 Stacey London - Fashion Expert      Clinton Kelly - Fashion Expert!   
 From trash barrel      
 to conversation and commitment      
 shopping        
And Finetuning with Makeup by Carmindy - Makeup Artist &Hairstyling by Nick Arrojo - Hairstylist (with a hug)!  
                                                  
The participant is successfully presented to their family and friends at a "coming out party!"
                                                      
 
Hmmm - does this sound familiar?
 
A makeover journey        
 
A team of Staging Experts:           
        Junk Removal:  
                Conversation and Commitment: 
                           Shopping:       
                                       Finetuning!  
The participant is successfully presented … (20 comments)

decorate to sell: Trick or Treat - This is a treat! Beautiful Houses! - 10/31/07 12:49 AM
Is there anything better than finding a house that speaks to you!
This home is currently listed in MLS - and it jumped off the page!  It spoke to me!
Now, you are thinking - this needs to be Staged!  Look at that front lawn, shrubs, etc.
And, you are right!   It does need Staging, and work, too!
However, this home is just gorgeous! 
Look at the roof line, check out the portico, the windows, the side porch, the attic space! 
When you find a house that you love,  you have to take a moment and relish the magnificence of these fabulous structures!  
What do your favorite houses look … (14 comments)

decorate to sell: Carpet discounts to the trade - 08/17/07 12:27 AM
When Staging - remember that the path your buyer follows is key to their impression of the property.
FlorTiles allow the opportunity to create a unique area rug or runner, and pull it up the next day.  
These tiles can be used for wall to wall, area rugs and runners.  Their size is a godsend!  ~20" square! 
When your layout changes - aka a new Staging job - you can change the pattern and create a new design by simply pulling up the tiles and changing placement.
A few weeks ago one of my clients had a minor disaster in their family room - … (14 comments)

decorate to sell: Where did you shop this week? - 07/26/07 11:16 PM
Preparing houses for sale & Staging!  - Whether you furnish it, use rental, or use your customers furnishings, you still need those WOW accents!  We try to keep it fresh - but sometimes you do have to replace it and go shopping!  Where did you shop this week?
This week we hit:
Linens N ThingsBed N BathTargetPier OneJC PenneyKohlsFabric PlaceCountry CurtainsCostcoBJsBarnes & NobleHome GoodsTJ MaxxMarshalls
How often do you shop and where do you go?     
… (18 comments)

decorate to sell: Who do you rent furniture from? - 07/26/07 10:46 PM
 
Who do you use for furniture rental We have an alliance with several l"high end" consignment shops along with a small furniture company.  ance with several "high end" consignment shops along with a small furniture company whose samples we use. 
AFR loves Stagers.  They have expanded their home Staging Division.
Does AFR have plans to use their own in-house Stagers?
 
… (8 comments)

decorate to sell: Hold my hand! - 07/25/07 04:57 PM
 We have been working with our clients since last Wednesday.  The clients  have a lot going on - they are building their new home and getting the house they currently live-in ready for sale.  We have been called in to help them coordinate the prep work so the property will be prepared for actual Staging work on Thursday & Friday.  The goal is to get the house on the market this Sunday for open house action!  So we hold their hand!  They need a cheerleader!!
This home is good - but it could be better.  The Sellers understand that there is only 1 chance to make a great first impression.  To reach … (7 comments)

decorate to sell: Condo living room - Staging Success UAG 7 days after Staging - 05/13/07 06:14 AM
We are so fortunate to be doing what we love!  We help homeowners and Realtors achieve success in the sale of their property.  We are the soft voice of moderation as we help a homeowner let go of their collections and decor.  Many times misunderstandings may arise when an agent asks the homeowner to "pack up their stuff!"  The agent is not mocking the homeowner or their taste.  The agent is being pragmatic  in helping the homeowner prepare their property for sale.  As a Stager, my job is to create a property that has universal appeal, while at the same time honoring the homeowner.    
 
 
The … (9 comments)

decorate to sell: Please welcome a Realtor who gets it! - 05/10/07 11:05 AM
Active Rain and Stage it Forward and all of you have had a phenomenal impact on Staging in New England.  Please take a moment to welcome Phil Tammaro, Realtor. 
Phil uses Staging on every listing!     
Phil gets how important Staging is to marketing a property.  With so much competition out there and Buyers being so very anlytical, Staging gets the buyer emotionally involved in the property.  As Phil says, "Staging gets the Buyer to pull the trigger!" 
Please give Phil a fabulous Stage it Forward welcome!
… (8 comments)

decorate to sell: Inventory - Take care of your employees! - 04/09/07 03:17 AM
I love having Staging inventory and props for my business because it really creates income for me!  It is working for me 24/7/365!  How good is that!   
It is almost like an employee!  Because it is an "employee" it needs health insurance and check ups at the Doctor's office! 
This weekend some key pieces were returned - they were not damaged - but did have a few dents.  Things get worn and that is OK.    How to fix them?  Really very easy - and this is done before I wrap them for storage or send them off to a new Staging Project.  I attend … (37 comments)

decorate to sell: Driving your passion... - 04/09/07 02:25 AM
Take a look at your passion aka business!  It is Monday, taxes are due soon, and we are heading to summer.  How has your Staging business been going?  Are you focused on your goal?  Time to do a Progress Report - be objective! 
Are you networking with key people? Are you absent from work?How is your attitude?Do you talk to new people every day about your Staging - via presentations, networking, schmoozing?Is your progress steady, slow or inconsistent?What is your dream, passion - write it down everyday!  If something is not working for you - fix it or move on!Are you leading … (3 comments)