Trish's Blog

Why Would You SPEND Money to Sell Your House?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:56:21 -0600

All of us would love to place our house on the market and see it receive multiple top offers within a week and be done with the hassle of selling our home. And we all want to believe that we can do this will little or no effort on our part. Funny thing is, rarely, if ever is that the case.

As humans, we surround ourselves with things that we like to look at, sit in, walk on, read, collect,wear, touch and do. This equals clutter, very personalized stuff, pictures, odors from our favorite cooking, odors from our teenagers laundry, hair from our much beloved pets, and the list goes on. When we have lived in a space for a period of time, we lose the ability to see or judge it as a potential buyer would.

Often we have so much stuff that our home appears smaller than it actually is. Perhaps the color orange that our twelve year old daughter "just had to have" on her bedroom walls would be off putting to the general population seeking to "imagine themselves" in our home. Personal pictures remind buyers that they are in someones HOME and can distract them from the process of their "trying the home on to see how it fits". You wouldn't sell your car with all your personal stuff in it if you wanted to get top dollar. To my mind, petrified McDonald's french fries on the floor of the back seat aren't a feature that adds to the value of a vehicle.

Understanding the psyche of the buyer is critical when you begin to merchandise your home for market. Cleaning and de-cluttereing are givens. There are other things that can cost you a great deal of your equity that if addressed properly can curb that loss and maintain your asking price. Things that show as worn and outdated can be a show stopper for many buyers. That includes worn carpet, wood floors that need attention, old vinyl, non-neutral paint colors, old laminate counter-tops, dated finishes and light fixtures. The estimated cost that buyers assign to these things averages about 5-1. Meaning that if it would cost you $100 to fix it, they will reduce their offer by $500 for that item. Providing allowances DOES NOT WORK! First, buyers don't want the hassle of picking out the item and then having to find someone to put it in. They want it done before they buy it and they want it to look good. When they have to do the selecting of materials and trades to install you get a PITA fee on top of reduction for the perceived hassle. PITA stands for Pain In The A**. You get the point.

So yes, it may cost you a bit up front but if you could SPEND no scratch that, invest $5000 to update the look of your home to protect $25000 of your equity would you see that as money well spent? Smart money says you would. There is an old Chinese Proverb that says "Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart!" Hopefully, you can take this information and be a little smarter, a little sooner rather than later after months on market with multiple price reductions.

Choose a good Stager to assist you with this effort. They can help you focus on exactly the right things and help you to get your home show ready. With over 90% of buyers searching online before they call and Agent it is critical that those pictures look amazing and getting the updates and Staging done prior to the virtual tour or brochure pictures is a great way to help get your property the very best chance of selling as fast as possible for the highest price possible.

Trish Pachak, ASP Master

Trish@WeStageColorado.com

http://WeStageColorado.com

"Changing the Face of Colorado Real Estate, One Home at a Time!"

Are Homesellers Stepping Over Dollars to Pick Up Pennies?

Mon, 04 May 2009 23:15:51 -0500

When preparing a home for sale, every seller wants to get the biggest value for the least amount of money, to get the greatest return on their investment. We hear this all the time. As Accredited Staging Professionals, we want to help you accomplish this too.

Part of the value that we, as Staging professionals, bring is to help homesellers know and understand that Staging is not a cost but an investment in EQUITY PROTECTION. When a seller is deciding what to invest when updating and Staging their home, they can be sure that a potential buyer will remove FIVE dollars from their offer for every ONE dollar that homesellers choose not to invest. We know that your investment to replace carpeting may be perhaps $2500 but a potential buyer will want to take $10-15 thousand off of a sellers asking price assuming that is what it will take to get the carpet replaced.

Buyers are looking for "turn-key" purchases. Allowances DO NOT work and any seller who thinks that they can sell their home "as is" is asking for buyers to spend their equity. I wish I had a dollar for every time I have heard a homeseller say that they don't want to paint because they want the new homebuyer to have the opportunity to choose the color they want. Truth is, buyers don't want to HAVE to paint at all. It is not unlike the builder that chooses not to put in any landscaping saying they want the new homeowner to be able to choose what they want. (Really? Is anyone fooled by this logic?)

This does not mean that home sellers need to spend a lot of money. There is a way to prioritize the things that need to be done and choose the most important things to focus on when allocating funds. Together with a professional Stager, homesellers can get the information they need to get their home looking great before it hits the market. Clean and clutter-free is something every homeseller can accomplish. Great visual impact doesn't require big budgets. Using a Staging professional is one of the best investments you can make in protecting your home equity. Note: the key word is "professional". There is method to the madness and watching HGTV does not make someone a "professional" Stager any more than watching Boston Legal makes someone an attorney.

Choose well. Check out the person you are relying on to help you protect your biggest asset. Knowledge is power but you have to trust the validity of the knowledge. Don't just choose on price, because you may find out that you got what you paid for. You can get top dollar for your home with the assistance of a well trained Accredited Staging Professional. It is hard to argue with success.

Case in point: Victorian two-story in Baker neighborhood. With a few minor updates and great Staging. Sold in one week, March 2009. Priced right, Staged beautifully = SOLD (fast, Really Fast!)

Are Homesellers Stepping Over Dollars to Pick Up Pennies?

Mon, 04 May 2009 22:44:36 -0500

Part of the value that we, as Staging professionals, bring is to help homesellers know and understand that Staging is not a cost but an investment in EQUITY PROTECTION. When a seller is deciding what to invest when updating and Staging their home, they can be sure that a potential buyer will remove FIVE dollars from their offer for every ONE dollar that they choose not to invest. We know that your investment to replace carpeting may be perhaps $2500 but a potential buyer will want to take $10-15 thousand off of a sellers asking price assuming that is what it will take to get the carpet replaced.

Buyers are looking for "turn-key" purchases. Allowances DO NOT work and any seller who thinks that they can sell their home "as is" is asking for buyers to spend their equity. I wish I had a dollar for everytime I have heard a homeseller say that they don't want to paint because they want the new homebuyer to have the opportunity to choose the color they want. Truth is, buyers don't want to HAVE to paint at all. It is not unlike the builder that chooses not to put in any landscaping saying they want the new homeowner to be able to choose what they want. (Really? Is anyone fooled by this logic?)

This does not mean that homesellers need to spend a lot of money. There is a way to prioritize the things that need to be done and choose the most important things to focus on when allocating funds. Together with a professional Stager, homesellers can get the information they need to get their home looking great before it hits the market. Clean and clutter-free is something every homeseller can accomplish. Great visual impact doesn't require big budgets. Using a Staging professional is one of the best investments you can make in protecting your home equity. Note: the key word is "professional". There is method to the madness and watching HGTV does not make someone a "professional" Stager any more than watching Boston Legal makes someone an attorney.

Case in point: Victorian two-story in Baker neighborhood. With a few minor updates and great Staging. Sold in one week, March 2009. Priced right, Staged beautifully = SOLD (fast, Really Fast!)

Faith in what we cannot see but that which we believe and hope to be so

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:27:44 -0600

Now, today, this point in time, is one of the most precarious times I can remember in my lifetime. Not matter what the path, no matter what the situation, it is imperative that we know that the choices we make are relevant to the here and now. There is so very little that we can control and so much that we have to put our faith in front of us to just move forward. Life can be great, life can be difficult but what is sure is that life does go on. Given that fact, we all have the choice as to HOW we move forward. Fear is the enemy. Fear of the unknown, fear of the possible, fear of that which we do not understand and cannot predict. So, just imagine for a moment what would happen if we tossed fear aside and agreed that we would deal with whatever comes in the moment that it appears? Interesting concept? To be sure.

What we do have control over is not the situations which present themselves to us, but rather how we CHOOSE to react to those situations. Whoever said that change would be easy? If it were easy wouldn't everyone do it? In truth, we go to great lengths to keep things status quo. That includes the situations which are difficult and painful. As humans, we get comfortable in pain because it is familiar. You have heard the saying "Dancing withe the devil you know?" That is why people stay in bad or abusive relationships, jobs, marriages, etc. It takes a certain level of courage to face that which is unknown in order to affect the necessary changes which will increase our joy and satisfaction with our daily lives.

Consider this: What's the worst thing that could happen? So, I would say to you, have faith. Faith in yourself, faith in something greater than yourself, faith in what is possible, rather than what is. Nothing will change until you truly believe that it can. You are so much more powerful than you know. Your thoughts, your actions, your faith and your beliefs will take you wherever you believe that you can go. You are only limited by your own thoughts and beliefs.

Aren't hope, faith and love the most empowering things you can embrace? Think about it. At least for a moment before you return to that inner voice which says: I can't, It won't, I will never. What a wonderful thought to know that YOU are the captain and that the rudder is in your hands. What will you do with the gift that is given you? The gift that is the only one guaranteed. This moment, in this day.

So much grace, so little time :0)

SOLD in 5 days at very near FULL PRICE! How to Help Your Home Stand Out in a Tough Market.

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:06:21 -0500

Home › Living › Home & Garden

How to help your home stand out in a tough market

By Lisa Marshall, Special to the Rocky

Friday, April 25, 2008

Steve Peterson, Special to the Rocky

A house-staging team from We Stage Colorado - from left, Amy Tennal, Donna Ward, Vicki Weller and Trish Pachak - gathers in the kitchen of an Arvada home they've spruced up for sale.

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A lime-green bathroom.

Chipped paint on the front door.

A cluttered home office with a dusty elk head hanging on the wall.

A wall-swallowing sports- memorabilia collection.

A few years ago, such subtle imperfections or quaint reflections of a homeowner's individuality may have been overlooked by prospective home buyers eager to catch a deal in a seller's market. But the tables have turned, and any of the above could constitute a distraction at best - and a deal-killer at worst, experts say.

"November through the middle of February was the worst market I have ever seen in 31 years," says Edie Marks, the Denver Board of Realtor's top seller and a three-decade veteran of the local real estate market. "To sell a house today, it has to be in the best possible shape and it has to be competitively priced. People want to walk into the house of their dreams and find it in move-in condition."

According to statistics provided by the Colorado Association of Realtors, a whopping 25,516 homes were on the market in the metro area in March. The average selling price is $223,597, down 3.5 percent from this time last year, and the average number of days a home sits on the market is a daunting 111.

Add all that to the record number of foreclosed-on houses crowding the market at cut-rate prices, as well as the fact that "for sale" signs seem to sprout like tulips during springtime, and a would-be seller has good reason to be nervous. But experts say there are plenty of simple, fairly inexpensive things homeowners can do to make their houses stand out in a competitive market.

"It's all about marketing - about changing your home from a home to a house to a product," says Real Estate of the Rockies Realtor Lisa Hives, noting that homeowners need to "detach" from their homes and work to make them marketable to the masses.

The first step toward that end, professional home stager Trish Pachak says, is to de-personalize and de-clutter.

"The way you live in your home is very different from the way you want to present it to buyers," Pachak explained during a recent walk-through consultation with home-sellers Rob and Carin Bremer, of Arvada. "If it is too personal or too reflective of the individual family, the potential home buyer sees that and they don't have the opportunity to see themselves in that place."

Pachak's We Stage Colorado is one of about 30 professional staging companies in Colorado, which charge anywhere from $150 for an initial walk-through consultation to several thousand to fully "stage" a home for a seller (re- arranging, decorating and remodeling it to make it more marketable).

Unlike interior designers, who aim to help you create a home that reflects your personality, stagers work to take "the you" out of the home, Pachak says.

She recommends sticking with neutral colors (think off-whites and beiges) for all horizontal and vertical surfaces. Meanwhile, weave one or two impact colors throughout the house in items like bathroom towels and kitchen place mats (sea and sky blues and sandy earth tones are in fashion).

She strongly urges homeowners to take down all but a few family photos, any religious items and large collections (China plates, sports memorabilia, hunting trophies) that eat up wall space, distract the potential buyer and may make a home feel crowded.

And when it comes to de-cluttering, Pachak recommends clearing out closets, drawers and home offices, packing away anything you haven't used in eight weeks and leaving only a few essential items neatly organized in place.

"Crammed home offices are one of the No. 1 problems I see," Hives says. "I've seen boxes and boxes stacked almost to the ceilings."

For busy clients like the Bremers, who have three children under the age of 3, Pachak recommends keeping empty laundry hampers with lids in the closet of each room so that if a potential buyer shows up at the door on short notice, they can throw toys, books and anything else into the hamper and shut the door.

"It's hard to deal with showings when you have little kids," said Carin Bremer, holding her 3-year- old on one hip, a handful of toys in the other arm. "We need to sell it quickly."

Lynne Abreu-Martin, a professional home stager with Westview Design, says furniture placement can also have a huge impact. While homeowners tend to arrange their furniture around their favorite pastimes (often the TV), that placement is seldom best for accentuating the home's architecture. For instance a large sectional placed in a U-shape in front of a television can make a room look much smaller than if it were stretched out across the walls.

"Furniture placement is extremely important, and it is one of the least-expensive things you can do," Abreu-Martin says.

Once the home is rearranged, de-personalized, and de-cluttered, it also needs to be spotlessly clean, inside and out.

"While the agent is unlocking the door, the buyer is looking around outside," says stager Jan Lawrence. A messy yard can leave a potential buyer with a preconceived notion about how the house has been maintained.

Leaving nothing to chance

When a fresh coat of paint, a few colorful throw pillows and a good cleaning still don't do the trick, some homeowners turn to higher powers and other unconventional sources to help get their houses sold. Here's a look:

* Bury a St. Joseph statue in the backyard: Centuries ago, nuns prayed to St. Joseph - the earthly father of Jesus and patron saint of workers - when they needed more land for the convents. Today, homeowners bury his statue upside down in the backyard when they're ready to hold an open house.

"Does it work? I'm not sure. But people everywhere do it a lot," says Boulder Realtor Bettianne Shoney Sien, of Global Real Estate Network. "Some people bury him upside down facing out. Others face him toward the sign." A handy St. Joseph Statue Real Estate Kit will run you $13.95 on the Internet.

* Hire a feng shui practitioner: The 3,000-year-old Chinese practice aims to balance the energy in a home, through furniture placement and use of light and sound, to create a space where yin and yang are balanced and the five elements are in harmony. If nothing else, the chimes and mirrors often used make the house seem lighter and sound pretty.

* Have your house cleared and blessed: For as little as $150, a shaman will help you clear out "energetic remnants of thoughts and feelings" (perhaps negative ones left behind by a bad divorce, a violent incident or other unpleasant experiences). Boulder shaman Melanie Mulhall uses drums, herbs, candles and other tools to clear the space and then blesses it. "The space feels lighter, cleared, cleaner, more joyful," she says.

* Give away free stuff: Sien likes to bake cookies and have them sitting on the counter, put out a bowl of chocolate, offer lemonade on a hot day or hand out seed packets come spring. "People associate the house with generosity, and it makes a subtle impression."

* And whatever you do, do not: smoke in or near the house, have your pets present or use an overpowering scent mister. People underestimate the power of a home shopper's nose.

Some hot sales tips

Professional home stagers Jan Lawrence, Trisha Pachak and Lynne Abreu-Martin offer these additional tips for homeowners trying to catch a buyer in our tough market:

In the kitchen

* Remove all pictures, personal notes, etc. from the refrigerator.

* Leave only one or two countertop appliances out in view.

* If your light fixtures or cabinet knobs are outdated, consider replacing them with something darker such as wrought iron or bronze or spray- painting them with metallic spray paint.

In the bathroom

* Put away all personal products.

* Hang colored towels with a ribbon around them. It serves as a nice decoration and keeps home shoppers from using them.

* Replace your shower curtain.

In the living room

* Remove all but one or two family pictures.

* Consider rearranging the furniture to make the room look its biggest.

* Keep a laundry hamper with a lid in the closet. If you have an unexpected showing, sweep the clutter into it.

In the closet

* Pack away anything you haven't used in six to eight weeks.

* Organize what's left in neat categories (shirts, pants, etc.)

Outside

* Paint the front door and wash it regularly.

* Spray off the front porch.

* Rake up dead leaves and grass.

* Place a pot of flowers or a potted evergreen out front to give it color.

At the showing

* Bake cookies or put out a citrus scent (it has a clean smell), but don't overdo it or they'll think you're hiding something.

* Open the shades and turn on all the lights.

* Play soft music.

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Comments

Posted by pgchek on April 26, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The house in Arvada that We Stage Colorado staged was listed at the higher end of the pricing range and sold very near full price in five days! Add to that the fact that there were several other comparable homes at the same price point including the same model in the same neighborhood for sale. Two things sell a house: Pricing and Aesthetics. Pricing is the expertise of a great agent and aesthetics is the expertise of a great Stager. Professional stagers can provide a "huge" market advantage for the home sellers that want to sell their homes quickly and for the highest amount possible. You can contact the pros at We Stage Colorado at http://westagecolorado.com/ or call 303-521-8551 to schedule a no-fee property review.

Chicken Little- The Sky is Falling, the Sky is Falling! Or is it? Change your perception and you will change your Reality!

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:08:45 -0500

No matter where you turn these days, you hear about how bad the housing market is. I even heard a comment on a recent showing of an HGTV show that dubbed Colorado the "Foreclosure Capitol of the Country". Whether or not you feel that is true or not, when a media source puts that kind of information out there, it colors people's perceptions.

Is the market down? You bet

Are homes still selling in Colorado? Of course! It is not the breakneck pace that we have enjoyed in recent years past but when homes are priced right and staged by a professional home stager they sell faster and for the most money possible.

Some market correction is probably a good thing. We can sit and blame the mortgage industry and in truth they should shoulder a lot of the responsibility but what has come of this is tighter regulations on an industry that previously has had little or no regulations. That is a great thing!

But where do we go from here?

The answer is UP! As in all things, Real Estate is cyclical and what goes down must come up. We are beginning to see some of that in the Denver metro market. Perception is changing and with that comes a shift in the home buying public attitude and awareness.

Homes need to be priced correctly and be aesthetically pleasing through Staging. These are the two most important factors for selling a home in ANY market. "Trying" a price and giving "Allowances" don't work. They never really have and they never will. 90% of buyers cannot see past what is in front of them and that includes paint color!

Buyers are getting smarter and more agressive but home sellers are getting smarter as well. The practice of having homes Staged before putting them on the market is becoming more and more common place. Staging is not being seen so much as an expense as in an investment in protecting the seller's equity. Merchandising is crucial. It has to look good and create a sense of urgency on the part of the buyer. You know what I am talking about here, just like the urgency you feel when you walk in to a Marshall's or TJMaxx. You know if you don't get that item right then, it won't be there when you come back later.

It is ironic that people will take a vehicle and invest several hundred dollars detailing and cleaning to get a price that is perhaps 25-50% of what they originally paid for it. Yet, when it comes to their homes, they often do not clean, polish or shine up the investment that has probably increased in value since purchase and will net them the greatest return on their investment. Hmmmm....Interesting don't you agree?

Educating home sellers is the key! Helping them to understand that by investing in making their home look as aesthetically pleasing as possible they will garner the highest price possible for the investment that will give them the highest return. Staging is an investment in protecting their equity or at the least helping them to garner the highest price possible. If an average price reduction is 5-10% to rekindle interest in a property, on a $500,000 home that would be $25,000 to $50,000 of their equity - GONE! I don't know about you but if your seller can give away that kind of money, please, give them my address and have them send me the check- my name is spelled PACHAK.

Friends don't let friends sell homes without Staging. Realtors don't let clients list homes without having them Staged and without agreeing to a realistic market price. Education, education, education. Sellers don't know what we don't tell them and they look to us as the experts. Fear is the enemy. Fear of the unknown. Paint a realistic and hope filled picture. Let your sellers know the reality of their marketplace and educate them as to how they can make it work the very best and most beneficial for them. It is a buyer's market right now but when you create a beautiful, well priced product they will come. We Staged a home in Piney Creek last week and it sold to the first couple who looked at it. It was priced well and looked amazing. The formula works. Time and time again the formula works. Empower your clients to do the best thing for themselves when selling their homes. No one wants to spend top dollar for a "dog" of a property.

We can change the perception of gloom and doom in todays market or at least empower home sellers to see that pricing their home correctly and investing in the detailing of their property through Staging is essential for the serious client who wants to preserve the equity they have or at the very least, reduce the amount of funds they would have to bring to the closing table.

"No, Chicken Little, the sky is not falling!" It has been cloudy for some time but I can see the sun peeking through the clouds and it's gonna be a beautiful day.

Perception is reality. What does yours look like today? Become inspired.

Don't discount your time or services, increase your value to your clients. Insist that homes are ready to place on the market with the right price and aesthetically pleasing by being Staged.

Staging Services offered by We Stage Colorado

"Changing the Face of Colorado Real Estate...One Home at a Time!"

http://WeStageColorado.com

Trish@WeStageColorado.com

Trish Pachak ASP Master Trainer for StagedHomes.com

303-521-8551

Lipstick on a Pig

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 01:30:45 -0500

Yes, you read it correctly. I said lipstick on a pig. To what am I referring?

The house that has, well let's just call them, ihallenges. The warp in the wood floor from the homeowner trying to refinish them by themselves. The baseboard that doesn't quite square up. The bathroom with the miscellaneous stains or small nicks. The do-it-yourself wall texturing project. Yes, there are those houses out there where the home improvement police didn't get there in time to save them from the Weekend Warrior with power tools.

So is there hope for these properties? Of course, there is. I like to refer to it as "putting lipstick on a pig". Even a pig looks better with a little lipstickand a pretty pig is better than an ugly pig. Staging a property to show in the best possible light is an art and why a good Professional Stager is worth their weight in gold. The right color, the right light, the right furniture and voie la! you have a nice looking house.

I would never advocate trying to cover up anything. I would however say that playing up the existing assets is a great way to market a property that may have a few "challenges". So get out that lipstick and say pucker up!

Home Stagers.......Who needs them?

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 01:03:39 -0500

Home Staging is a phenomenon that is sweeping through the Real Estate industry across the county with no signs of slowing down or going away. Yep, that's right, Staging is here to stay. But why use an Accredited Staging Professional when you the Realtor can just do it yourself, right? Well, maybe we ought to take a look at that notion.

The job description for Real Estate agents is to list, market and sell properties right? The more listings, the more sales. The more sales, the greater the income. Lots of paperwork and networking to sell homes, not to mention holding Open Houses, Broker Tours, Office Tours, Listing Presentations, Closings, etc. Wow, with all that going on when would you have time to Stage the properties?

Your home sellers are counting on you to be the expert in marketing their properties and getting them sold for top dollar, quickly. By using a Professional Stager you give yourself the advantage of keeping your relationship with your sellers clean. A Professional Stager is trained to work with home sellers to help them move in the emotional journey from home.....to house.....to product. A product that needs to be merchandised to show well and sell quickly.

Realtors who "get it" know that by adding a Professional Stager to their virtual team they are providing an extremely valuable service to their clients and increasing the odds to sell properties faster and for more money. More money for the home-seller, higher commissions, reduced advertising costs, fewer Open Houses and a reputation for being a top selling agent.

Yes, you can put in a couple of plants and pictures. You can tell that home seller that the collection of 242 ceramic clowns needs to be put away but is that how your time and efforts are best spent? If you want to focus on what you do best, which is listing, marketing and selling Real Estate, be smart and efficient. Use a Professional Stager to give your clients the marketing advantage they deserve. Referrals come from happy clients.

Marketing a house that hasn't been Professionally Staged is a lot like going to a job interview in your pajamas!

This was a child's playroom before being Professionally Staged

This is the same room after being Staged by Accredited Staging Professionals.

Feels a little different don't you think?

The investment you ask a home seller to make in Staging their house is going to be less than the first price reduction you ask them to take on their home. If an average price reduction on a $350,000 home is 5%, that is $17,500. The investment in Staging is a fraction of that.

Staging statistics prove that Professionally Staged homes sell in about half the time and for more than the non-staged competition.

Knowledge is power. Use what you know and make professional Staging a standard part of your marketing plan. Your clients will appreciate it!

ReMAX leads the way in upping the game!

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 23:59:09 -0500

I am always impressed when a company puts education in a position of such importance. No one does this better than ReMax with the ReMax online education.

Take a moment to view the educational session on Home Staging and How it can help your business.

Barb Schwarz, Founder of StagedHomes.com gives Realtors purview into the in's and out's of Home Staging.

Take a few moments and view the session. You will be happy you did.

Realtors Earn 16 CE Credits and Your ASP Designation While Having Fun!

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 23:38:42 -0500

It's COMING! The next ASP Course is coming to Denver!

Get 16 CE Credits and have a wonderful two days learning about Home Staging!

Knowledge is power and the more you know, the more you know!

StagedHomes.com is bringing the ASP Course to Colorado on September 11-13. Realtors attend day 1-2 and Stagers attend days 1-2-3. You will come away with valuable Staging information as well as achieve accreditation as an Accredited Staging Professional Realtor or Accredited Staging Professional Stager.

You've seen coverage of Barb Schwarz, the Creator of Home Staging on ABC, CBS, Today Show. You've read about Barb and StagedHomes.com in Forbes, Money, Home, and many other publications. When the media wants to know about Home Staging they go to the source. Be a part of the hottest trend in Real Estate. Bring more value to your clients or start a new career.

StagedHomes.com is the place to start. Realtors earn 16 CE credits. Stagers learn everything they need to know to start a successful Staging business.

http://stagedhomes.com/ to register online!

Staging Brings to Life $2Million dollar home!

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 23:07:00 -0500

Staging brings to life 2million dollar home

We just finished staging this gorgeous home in Denver. It is in an area where small bungalows and ranch style homes are being scraped and replaced with new homes with amazing square footage and top of the line amenities.

As beautiful as the architecture and amenities are it still appeared sterile and cold. It has sat on the market for several months with no serious interest. A new Realtor is engaged and he is smart and knows that this property needed to be Staged. What a fun house to Stage it was! Take a look at the before and after photos and see if you agree that this property went from cold and cavernous to warm and inviting. Now potential buyers see possibilities all around!

Here is the dining room before Staging

Here is the dining room after Staging

Family Room before Staging

Family Room after Staging

Formal Living Room before Staging

Formal Living Room after Staging

Master Bedroom before Staging

Master Bedroom After Staging

Master Bedroom 2 Before Staging

Master Bedroom 2 After Staging

Master Bath Before Staging

Master Bath After Staging

If you have a vacant or occupied property that you want to sell fast and for the most money possible contact

We Stage Colorado..... .Changing the Face of Colorado Real Estate, One Home at a Time!

Colorado Staging Professionals Accredited and Insured

Phone: 303.521.8551

Email: Trish@WeStageColorado.com

or visit us at: http://westagecolorado.com/

Staging brings to life 2million dollar home

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:50:19 -0500

Here is the dining room before Staging

Here is the dining room after Staging

Family Room before Staging

Family Room after Staging

Formal Living Room before Staging

Formal Living Room after Staging

If you have a vacant or occupied property that you want to sell fast and for the most money possible contact

We Stage Colorado..... .Changing the Face of Colorado Real Estate, One Home at a Time!

Colorado Staging Professionals Accredited and Insured

Phone: 303.521.8551

Email: Trish@WeStageColorado.com

or visit us at: http://WeStageColorado.com

Gratitude: For your consideration

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:29:47 -0500

Day by day our lives are in a constant state of change. The only thing we can be absolutely sure of is the fact that today will be different than any of the days which have gone before it. But are we consciously living in a state of gratitude for each experience and situation that comes our way? We worry about things we cannot control, we spend so much energy on things we cannot change. Gratitude is not easy when you find yourself in conflict or difficult situations. Yet, it is getting through those situations and coming out on the other side with new found knowledge that we can be grateful for. Had we not had the experience we would not have the newfound knowledge. It is a simple concept but difficult to keep in the forefront of our minds.

Living in a state of gratitude, keeping the attitude of abundance can help us not only get through but really be present in the experience that is life. I do know that I won't be given any situation I can't handle, but sometimes I think perhaps it would be nice if I wasn't trusted so much :o)

Gratefully yours,

Trish

No matter how much experience one has, we must consider our privilege of being invited in to the homes of others.

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 22:11:19 -0500

It is mid-July and the height of staging season. One thing that I have been very keen on is the idea that we don't always understand everything we see. Every house is not just as the one before and each person has their own unique story. It is so easy to become callus or insensitive to the lives of the individuals we serve. I have often subscribed to the old adage of " Swims like a fish, smells like a fish, looks like a fish, It's a fish!"

I am here to tell, that as much as we may feel that we have seen it all, we have not. Each and every individual walks their own path and we need to honor that. It is so very true that we do not always understand everything we see. We make assumptions, although often wrong. And we make decisions based on the incomplete information that we often have about people.

I would ask that each of us step outside of our all too human need for judgement of others, to give the people we serve the opportunity to be the unique individuals that they are and provide a measure of respect that each of us deserve regardless of our perceived circumstance. Respect is something that as accredited staging professionals, we should afford each individual we are given the privilege to know. Let us each take the time to provide the very best of our talents and time to assist those who need our services most, and provide that without our pre-conceived judgements. It is after all, a privilege that we each enjoy when an individual allows us purview into their most intimate inner sanctum. Let us not lose site of the honor that we are provided. Serve with honor, integrity and hold yourself to a higher standard. That is the place that all professional home stagers should ascribe to. It behooves us all to aim to that goal and makes us all strive to be more.

When the going gets tough, the tough remain steadfast...

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:19:48 -0500

I don't know exactly why but I just felt like a needed a jolt of positivity so I logged in here. I love this group. It is inspiring and empowering.

Business can be difficult at times. There are so many people and so much competition for any job. One thing I continually remind myself of is that what we think about and focus on grows. So I choose to focus on abundance. Ask and it is given. I believe that with all my heart and being. Someone else does not have to lose in order for me to win. There really is enought for all.

Abundance is a state of mind. So with that being said may I say,"There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us, that it behooves each of us to be kind to the rest of us." I know someone said that and I can't remember who, but it is something I remind myself of whenever I feel a bit lost in the midst of life's chaos.

I have been Me-Me'd by a Me-meemer :0)

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 02:05:56 -0500

Jennie- Thanks for me-me-ing me! What a great idea and a really fun way to get to know more about people!

So, I guess we are supposed to say five interesting things most people wouldn't know about me.

1. I have 5 brothers and am third in line!

2. On 9-11, I was working for Sun Microsystems and my office was in the World Trade Center in New York. I was on the subway two stops north of the building when the first plane hit. Had I not overslept I would have been in the office when the planes hit. Lucky huh?

3. I have three wonderful children, two girls and one boy. The girls were born 1 year and 6 hours apart. They would have been born on the same day if I had not asked the doctor to wait until after midnight to deliver the second daughter. Good planning......or not. :o)

4.My favorite color is Periwinkle Blue, my favorite movie is "Steel Magnolias" and my favorite animal is my female Brussels Griffon named Zoe. She is the same breed of dog that was in the movie "As Good As It Gets" with Jack Nicholson. You remember the one he threw down the garbage chute. She is a cutie with personality plus. I think she looks a little like Chewbacca. Isn't she cute?

5. I have been married for 26 years to the same wonderful guy. We have known each other since we were 13. I was a cheerleader for his football team. We didn't date but he dated my friends all through high school. We saw each other at a bar after college and started dating. The rest is history!

That's all for now! Now you know more about me and it is time to know more about YOU!

I am going to Me-Me:

Jeannie Berger

Amy Tennal

Jennifer Mussato

Here are the pictures of the re-vamped old medicine cabinet :0)

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 01:21:49 -0500

Here are photos of the medicine cabinet with the framing around it. The stain color matches the cabinet below. This particular frame needed to be narrow to accomodate the lack of space between the cabinet and window casement. Liquid Nails was used to adhere the framing to the medicine cabinet structure.

Dated medicine cabinets get a facelift

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 22:45:46 -0500

How many times have you gone in to an older home and seen the slightly rusty, dated medicine cabinet with the mirror on the front? I found a solution that gives new life to these medicine cabinets without the cost of trying to replace them, let alone trying to find a newer one that fits the space. Enter staging creativity!

I took trim that you would use on crown molding and cut it to fit the size of the cabinet. I mitered the corners and used liquid nails to attach the wood to the chrome around the mirror. I stained the wood to match the cabinet beneath and put a coat of varnish on it to complete the project.

It took only 45 minutes to construct and stain with a quick varnish the following day. It looks amazing and updated the bathroom by 40 years. Quick, easy, inexpensive! What could be better?

Too soon old, too late smart

Tue, 22 May 2007 23:01:45 -0500

If we could all understand that life is a journey, each of us walk a unique path then we could and would, understand the fact that our lives are nothing but the sum of our experiences. Good, bad or indifferent, the bottom line is we need to own the choices we each make. Nobody gave us an owners manual to be sure. So what choices are we making. I am not always sure of many things, but here are a couple of things I know for sure:

1. Kindness matters

2. Think before you speak

3. There will always be someone richer and smarter than you

4. You don't always get a second chance; do-overs are not always an option

5. When you look in the mirror, Be someone you would choose as a friend

6. Life is finite: No matter what, all things must come to an end.

7. We need to work hard, do good works, shut up and go home.

Okay, enough for now :o)

It's not only what we say, but how we say it...

Tue, 22 May 2007 00:39:20 -0500

I was watching one of those real estate shows on HGTV the other day, you know the one where the couple sit next door watching a small TV as a real estate agent goes through their home offering their critique of the property. As with many topics on TV, shocking or confrontational behavior sells. I found myself bothered, not by what the agent was saying, as I thought she was right on the money, but rather how she said it. I thought to myself, okay it is just television and people don't really act that way in "real life". Well, I had a true reality check during a recent encounter with a potential client.

I met the client at her home and noticed that right off the bat she was apologizing for everything. She even wanted to know if she had hung the toilet paper roll the right way. Oh my gosh, I was thinking,"Why is this person so nervous?" As the property review went on it started to come out that she had met with another stager who had given this poor person the feeling that she had done nothing right and that in truth the house should be leveled rather than shown to buyers. I wish I could say that I was exaggerating but if I am it isn't by much.

I told her she had a lovely home which was absolutely perfect for her and her family. (It was) At this, she began to cry. "Whoa, where was this coming from", I thought. She began to open up and tell me that they were moving back to their hometown to be near a parent who had been recently diagnosed with a serious illness. As she spoke, I realized this poor woman had an incredible amount on her plate and was stressed beyond belief.

Were there things that needed to be addressed in the home to prepare it for sale? Absolutely! It is our job to help home sellers to objectively see their home become the product that it is and what needs to be done to get top dollar. How we go about that makes a huge difference in how the seller feels about the entire staging experience and it's value. So here are a few things I was reminded of with this experience.

We can deliver some of the most difficult news if we make it a point to be kind and compassionate.

We need to honor the homeowner, their taste and their possessions regardless of whether their taste is in line with our own.

We must remember that a person's home is their protection and safe haven from the world. We are privileged to be allowed inside.

Words like disgusting, gross, filthy, obnoxious, (well you get the point) need to leave our vocabulary. They accomplish nothing but hurt feelings.

By carefully choosing words that represent the point I am trying to make, and which allow clients to maintain their pride, we all win.

We can still be clear about what needs to be done and speak kindly, with honesty and sincerity.

If we can remind ourselves of these things before we speak we will find a greater level of success and know that by honoring the people we serve, we are honoring ourselves and our profession.

It is absolutely true that people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Take the time to deliver your message in the kindest and most caring way. It will come back to you tenfold and enhance your reputation as a true staging professional.

For Realtors, Stagers and other Real Estate professionals: Safety should always be in the forefront of our minds!

Sun, 13 May 2007 17:39:42 -0500

So many times we have all heard horror stories about a Realtor who, while sitting in a home alone during an Open House, has had a confrontation with an ill-intentioned visitor. At best, it has been an annoyance and at worst, it has resulted in tragedy. As a staging trainer, I have told many students to be prepared and put safety measures in place while staging, to make sure they lock the doors and keep their cell phones with them at all times.

Well, last week, I realized how important it is to take my own advice. While staging a vacant home in a new build community I noticed a rusty van cruising past at an uncomfortably slow pace. It was near dusk and my assistant and I were trying to finish up after a very long day. I thought it was strange to see this dilapidated vehicle in a high-end custom home development but became increasingly concerned as the van came back by several times with the driver clearly checking out the property. I said something to my assistant who by this time had noticed the van as well. She informed me at this point that she had already taken our purses (with cell phones inside) to the truck. There we were, alone in the house with no way to contact anyone, as the realization of just how vulnerable we were dawned on us. There were no neighbors near-by as all the homes were in various stages of being built.

We saw that the guy in the van had parked in a cul-de-sac about 1/4 mile up the street. He was just sitting there. We quickly secured the property, gathered our things, went to our truck, locked the doors and left. My hands were shaking as I locked the front door and put the key in the lock-box. After calling the local police to report the suspicious van, we were a bit unnerved on the ride home. We both knew how lucky we were that day as the outcome could have been much different. I know my staging apron has pockets for a reason. The most important of which is to keep my well-charged cell phone on my person at all times. We just cannot become lax about making sure we are safe while working. Luckily for us, we have the opportunity to learn this without having to suffer what could have been serious consequences.

Hope and Optimism

Tue, 01 May 2007 23:01:05 -0500

It is interesting when our outlook becomes skewed by the information we take in on a daily basis. Is this the first buyers market? I don't think so. Do you remember when people used to sleep on sidewalks in front of savings and loan companies in the early 80's just to receive an 18% interest rate? I do. It was bizarre then and come to think of it, it still sounds bizarre.

The foreclosure rate is affecting real estate to be sure but interest rates are still very appealing. Let us not allow ourselves to get caught in the gloom and doom trap and remember that as in all things, the pendulum swings. We will again see a seller's market, the sun will continue to rise, and the stoic and brave will still be carrying the torch in the Real Estate industry forefront. Thank you for embracing the possibilities. What we think about expands. Let us make the choice to see the cloud with the silver lining or at least the one with a bit of hope and optimism. All is not lost, the sky is not falling Chicken Little. Okay, more than word for the day but perhaps food for thought?

When you are sitting at the closing table, who is the seller going to thank or blame for the final sales price?

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 01:36:19 -0500

Five thousand, ten thousand, fifteen thousand, twenty thousand? Those are the increments that are taken in the reduction of home prices. Is the market down? Yes. Is there record competition? Yes. Are there record numbers of foreclosures? Yes. Does this affect your ability to get top dollar for your home? You betcha!

So now that we have addressed all the fear issues, what can we do as Realtors or home sellers to get the best price for our properties? Okay, so here is where reality takes a stance. You cannot do anything about location, the market, interest rates, or the amount of foreclosures. What you can do something about is the way your home looks.

We all know that home is our haven and cocoon that is our protection from the world. When we put our homes on the market, all that goes out the window. We are on display. That being said, it is critical that we know who our target market is, know what appeals to them and know how to create the emotional appeal that will make them believe that they cannot live without our property. Sounds difficult? It doesn't have to be.

First of all, most of us live with way more stuff than we need. In fact, our STUFF can get in the way of our ability to accomplish what we need to. Cleaning out and organizing the things we have is sometimes actually cathartic. The size 4 slacks, the size 32 belts, the shiny aqua unitard we loved for high impact aerobics in 1981 are not coming back in to style or will they be fitting our post-four children derierre.

Not for one minute would I pretend to say it will be easy. Each piece has an emotional attachment that we simply cannot rationally part with. That is where having a professional can help. Professional Accredited Staging Professionals understand this and have the training to help. Home is where the heart is, and you are taking your heart with you. Pack it up! Move forward! Your life is ahead of you!

When potential home buyers enter, it is CRITICAL that they begin to mentally move in. If they don't move in, they will move on. By allowing them to see the parameters of each room, with minimal furnishings, they can get a feel for how their furniture and belongings will fit into each space.

Yes, there are a lot of properties on the market, but the majority of them do not have the "WOW" factor that potential buyers are looking for. It doesn't take a lot of money but it does take a professional, critical eye to help home sellers present their homes in the best possible light that is going to attract the perfect buyer. They are out there. Truly they are. They are just more discriminating because let's face it, IT IS a buyers market. Engage a Staging Professional to help you present your property in the very best light possible. It will be the best investment you can make!

For home sellers, and Realtors, A Great Stager can be your best Advocate!

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 23:30:22 -0500

When people decide to put their home on the market, many feel that they have suddenly stepped in to quicksand. So much information, so many statistics. Whom do they feel they can trust to give them the information they most need?

Stagers are in the unique position to use their knowledge and experience to influence home sellers in a very non-threatening way. Stagers share the same goals as the sellers and the Realtors. Sell the property for the greatest amount of money in the shortest amount of time. There is no competing agenda.

So how can we provide the voice of objectivity and rational logic? We provide information that is backed up with experience. By helping sellers to spend those precious funds wisely with focus on the greatest ROI.

I often use the term "Don't give potential buyers reason to spend your equity!". Potential buyers will ask for concessions that are easily double or three times the amount it would cost the home-seller to make the changes themselves. By using "buyer's eyes" we help home-sellers to make the changes that are going to garner them the "WOW" impression that is critical to get their home SOLD!

Having a great stager is a critical factor in a top real estate agent's "virtual" team. Just as having a pre-inspection done to avoid surprises post-offer, having a great stager who can help sellers to put their improvement dollars to the best use only serves to enhance the value of an agent who knows what it means to provide sellers with truly top of the line real estate services.

Differentiation: Increase your value to your sellers through your "virtual" team

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 22:59:48 -0500

Selling a home is rarely an emotion-free endeavor. Taking sellers on the journey from home to house to product is a complicated and sometimes difficult task. As the Realtor, it is very beneficial to use the resources of inspectors, stagers and other service professionals to preserve the relationship with your sellers. You have a "virtual" team that makes you look great and differentiates you from your fellow agents.

Sellers want to know that someone is looking out for THEIR best interests. As a Professional Accredited Staging Professional I have great success in getting sellers to make the minor improvements that will result in greater equity for the seller and higher commissions for the agent. Everybody comes out feeling great and that is a rare feat in this day and age. Using a Professional Staging service helps to take some of the anxiety out of the selling process for the seller. It allows sellers to see their property through a "buyer's eyes". Getting a pre-list home inspection takes the mystery and fear of unknown issues and expensive repairs out of the post-contract, pre-closing period that for many sellers equates to holding one's breath until they get the final inspection report.

We as service providers all trade on our reputations. Using proven successful Accredited Staging Professionals and Professional Home Inspectors can give agents the edge they need to set them apart. Sellers are looking to find the agent who will go that extra step to demonstrate their commitment to getting the property sold for top dollar in the shortest amount of time possible. The resources are available and cost nothing to engage. Choose the resources that you need to take you to that next level of success.