fairfield county: Mama's SOOOOOOO Proud!
- 06/20/10 10:43 AM
I just love my clients; they make me so proud! As a professional Home Stager, Home Staging Consultations are the cornerstone of my business. For $150 or so (depending on the size of the house), I spend an hour or more going through the house taking notes. I then give the sellers a few pointers orally and turn around a written report within 48 hours. This report is a rather extensive DIY list. If they do everything I tell them to, they will get great results.
Of course, not every homeowner will do 100% of my recommendations, and sometimes I don't … (22 comments)
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fairfield county: Great Art for Home Staging
- 06/20/10 06:09 AM
When your home is for sale, you need to select great art to highlight the houses's features. However, you don't want the "Mona Lisa" over the fireplace, nor do you want Andy Warhol's soup cans in the kitchen! Generally speaking, you may need to just re-think the art you already have to stage your sale for sale.
How to select great art for home staging? We're referring to "great art" in the context of art that's suitable for home staging, not famous works found in art history textbooks or on museum walls. There are certain types of art that can really … (25 comments)
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fairfield county: Realtors: Do You Know Your Local Home Stager?
- 05/18/10 04:22 AM
Realtors: Do you know your local Home Stager? Two of my recent Home Staging jobs here in Fairfield County were referrals from Realtors. Hooray and many thanks! However, I had never worked with these Realtors before, nor were they on my "farm list". Their clients asked them for a Home Stager, and they found me online. (Thanks to ActiveRain!)
Now, perhaps I should have already had a relationship with these Realtors, but I just haven't reached out to 100% of the real estate community - YET! My question is: Why didn't these Realtors already have a couple of Stagers in their Rolodex or on their … (13 comments)
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fairfield county: Dried Flowers Are Dry Because They're DEAD! Get Rid of Them!
- 04/16/10 03:58 AM
Dried flowers are dry because they're DEAD, so get rid of them now!
OK, OK, I know they were popular with my generation in the 80's, and not just in Fairfield County, CT. I admit to having a fabulous spray of dried flowers and twigs myself. Why, I even remember when I purchased it, Mike said, "Where do you think you're going to put THAT bunch of dead sticks?" But you know what? I got rid of them a short while after and moved on with my decor.
Many people around my age are now downsizing; I see their homes on the market, the … (23 comments)
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fairfield county: Home Staging: Simple Fixes in Fairfield County, CT
- 04/01/10 04:03 AM
In Fairfield County, sometimes it's a matter of simple fixes to get your home Staged, but it takes a professional Stager to point them out. Here are some real situations along with their solutions, as suggested to Sellers in their Staging Consultations:
The true star of this show is the fireplace behind this children's playhouse. This family room was totally given over to the kids, but needs to be more adult-friendly when it's on the market. Store the toys and bring in some adult-sized seating to focus on the fireplace.
A lot of … (11 comments)
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fairfield county: Many Thanks to Jeremy Blanton and AR University!
- 03/22/10 05:20 AM
Many thanks to Jeremy and AR University for Friday's webinar on blog customization. I had customized mine more than a year ago, but forgot how! I really needed to update the look, and Jeremy was right on target. So, how does it look? I wanted something that was easier on the eyes and a little more sophisticated to appeal to the Fairfield County, CT reader. Yes, I was Staging my own blog. I even added some buttons for LinkedIn and Facebook! Yay - I figured out how to do that, too.
I encourage everyone to check out the University schedule for … (8 comments)
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fairfield county: Day 1, Part 2: The Condo Staging Diary: The Painters
- 01/26/10 01:56 AM
The Condo Staging Diary
Day1, Part 2: The painters have arrived! Yay!
It can really pay to hire an experienced painter who has a versatile team. Talented painters who can also do a little carpentry and repairs? Priceless. And, if you ask, they are also happy to take some small unwanted items off your hands such as vacuums and radios.
And painters are not shy about offering their opinions on your paint colors. Mom's condo was pink and green, with blue accents. Yes, she was stuck in the '80s and proud of it. When she moved into the condo, she finally … (9 comments)
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fairfield county: How to Earn Ds and Fs: Let a Professional Stager Tutor You!
- 12/16/09 05:40 AM
Listing a house: It's like sending a child off to school. You hope they've received the right preparation and developed excellent study habits so they will earn straight A+s, go to an Ivy League School, and successfully pursue the career of their dreams. If they need help along the way, you'd get them a tutor, wouldn't you?
You're so proud of your new listing. You've given the Sellers checklists of things they need to do: repaint the kids' bedrooms; power wash the deck; farm out the pets. You're now ready for the MLS photos because the house is clean and neat as … (43 comments)
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fairfield county: Local Artists Are Valuable Resources
- 11/15/09 06:48 AM
My charming, talented friend and neighbor, Karin Brey, is an award-winning artist in Fairfield County, CT, with a big heart. Every year my husband plants a large "neighborhood garden" of zinnias for all to enjoy. Karin gave him a small sketch of his garden in thanks. Her work is alternately impressionistic, pointillist, and dreamy. Much of her inspiration comes from the seasons and nature around her. Recently, Karin has introduced collage elements to her canvases. She will do nature "portraits", such as a homeowner's garden. Realtors: What a great gift idea!
Karin Lydia Brey can be reached at: klbrey@sbcglobal.net and you … (2 comments)
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fairfield county: Stage This Room: Contemporary Family Room
- 08/14/08 02:00 AM
Come and Stage along with me! I did a Staging Consultation last year for this contemporary home nestled in the woods. What would your recommendations be?
My recommendations included:
Paint the stark white walls a light taupe Remove the leather chair, ottoman, scatter rug, floor clutter and spindly plants Add end tables and lamps - need more light in here Remove the kimono and carved screen behind the TV (too taste-specific) Place tall stick bundles on hearth to emphasize height of stonework fireplace Move TV to left of fireplace and re-orient seating for one focal point Add large-scale, … (6 comments)
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fairfield county: Home Staging: "Decorating For Dollars" ???
- 08/11/08 08:05 AM
The "Decorating For Dollars" article, written Elizabeth Razzi (a real estate columnist for the Washington Post) caught my eye this Sunday morning. It was in our local paper, Connecticut Post, in the real estate section. I'm a little peeved that our paper ran the article like a news story, when it's really an opinion. Here's the link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/26/AR2008072600013.html
As a real estate expert, she doesn't know what professional Staging is really all about. This is what she wrote:
"I'm still not convinced most buyers need to spend their money on a stager's advice." (Huh? Isn't the seller/Realtor spending the money? She … (6 comments)
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fairfield county: So You Want To Go GREEN? Go Green The Original Way!
- 08/05/08 09:15 AM
So GREEN is the new black...even major catalogs such as Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma Home are featuring "green" furnishings, with reclaimed or sustainable wood sources, organic cottons, and recycled materials. Wait, did I just say "recycled"?
Want to go GREEN the original way? RECYCLE! This is more than the newspaper/plastic/metal cans routine we do once a week. Look for recycled furniture! The easiest sources are estate sales, consignment shops, and antique stores.
There are many local antique galleries, one of which is Stratford Antiques Center, located in Stratford, CT: www.stratfordantique.com. With 200 dealers on 16,500 square feet, there is a lot … (11 comments)
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fairfield county: Undercover Accessorizing for Home Staging
- 07/23/08 02:51 AM
They used to be $1.00 a piece - now they're about $2.50, but still a great deal! Hardcover books from Goodwill are an inexpensive way to meaningfully accessorize a bookshelf.
I usually look for classics or popular novels that don't have words like "Angel" or "Devil" in the title. Remove the covers - be sure the bindings are neutral or useful colors such as black, tan, even red.
It's good if they're the same height. However, big picture or coffee table books can add some drama.
If you can't find the "right" books, just buy what they have - and … (29 comments)
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fairfield county: Come On In, The Water's Fine!???
- 07/10/08 03:13 AM
Perception can be everything. In my previous blog post, I addressed the refrigerator in the dining room. Perception: potential buyers might think the kitchen is too small.
Let's talk about water. When you buy a house, you get the water access with it. It might be "city water" or "well water", but you get water. Is that water potable? Does it taste good? You might have the water tested, but in large part one assumes the water is fine!
So how far can we test this perception?
If you open the fridge, you may see bottles of water (or maybe not … (20 comments)
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fairfield county: I KNOW It's a DINING Room, But...
- 07/10/08 02:49 AM
The convenience of having a refrigerator (with breakfast cereal storage) in the dining room is not lost on me!
"I'd like some more milk, please."
"Sure, honey, I'll just reach over here..." No need to get up and fetch it from the kitchen!
One Staging truism is that how we live in our houses is different from how we live in them to SELL. Home Stagers provide valuable consulting services that help sellers determine the difference. If your house is on the market, it is no longer your home. It is a product that must be presented as a viable option … (26 comments)
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fairfield county: Got Micro-Suede? Get a Swiffer!
- 07/08/08 02:26 AM
Does your furniture have micro-suede upholstery? Is it covered with imprints, handprints, pawprints and fingerprints? The Swiffer to the rescue! Yesterday, I learned this tip from a professional cleaner: use the hand-held (clean) Swiffer to lightly brush the upholstery - it will not leave a pattern, and all prints magically disappear!
I do use a lot of micro-suede pieces for staging and model homes. Fortunately I carry a Swiffer in my "cleaning bag" - I'm glad I have such a useful tool! I'll be using it to give the furniture a once-over before the big Open House and photos! Happy Staging … (16 comments)
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fairfield county: Stagers: Who's Your Go-To Person?
- 07/01/08 04:25 AM
Construction is (almost!) finished; furniture is delivered, accessories, art, etc. loaded in...now what? Thank goodness the movers are required to set up and place the pieces they deliver. Thank heavens the builder (pictured on the right) had his crew assemble the remaining pieces of furniture. And THANK THE LORD for Kathy Mohr, of Begin It Today Design! Kathy and I live in the same town, and it's very convenient for us to trade off assisting each other from time to time. She agreed to help me yesterday in staging the model unit at the beautiful Renaissance on the Thames in Norwich, … (6 comments)
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fairfield county: The Trip to the Front Door: Setting the Right Tone
- 06/25/08 04:13 AM
Your visitors' experience starts outside your front door. Their trip to your front door can set the tone for their entire visit. If your house is on the market, it's something to consider!
Here's an example: I love going to my hair salon (or, as my husband calls it, "clip and dip")! The owners have created a lovely, relaxing environment where you can interact or be alone and zone out if you wish. But the experience begins outside the actual salon, which is on the second floor of a (mostly) medical building.
Since I park my car as far away as possible, … (2 comments)
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fairfield county: Stick a Fork in This Road - It's Done!
- 06/19/08 01:13 AM
Last fall I did a Staging Consultation for a contemporary house on a cul-de-sac of similar homes. In fact, a neighboring house was also on the market!
Curb appeal starts at, well, the curb, and so does a Staging Consultation. My client's house is up the driveway on the right. You can bet that I recommended they have it re-sealed to look as new and well-cared for as the driveway on the left.
First impressions matter, and sellers should make their homes appear immaculate and well-maintained, or they could suffer by comparison.
Now I just have to get my own driveway … (5 comments)
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fairfield county: Why Is 93% of Fairfield's New Construction Vacant?
- 06/10/08 01:42 AM
As I've blogged about before, most of my staging work is at either end of the Staging Spectrum: Consultations and furnishing Vacant/Model Homes. I've learned that many builders are so financially stretched, as the DOM extend, that they'd rather rent than reduce prices again. Perhaps, in my area, there were just too many spec houses built before this market "adjustment". Whatever the reason, they're not Staging, and there are just too many VACANT houses on the market! This can only slow the sales process down more.
Example: Fairfield, CT: Out of the homes labelled "New Construction" within a price range of … (0 comments)
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I just love my clients; they make me so proud! As a professional Home Stager, Home Staging Consultations are the cornerstone of my business. For $150 or so (depending on the size of the house), I spend an hour or more going through the house taking notes. I then give the sellers a few pointers orally and turn around a written report within 48 hours. This report is a rather extensive DIY list. If they do everything I tell them to, they will get great results. 
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