The fires in Horry County, SC have been devastating for many families. Renewed Rooms will be donating Home Staging Inventory to needy victims. Please contact WMBF News, North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce or the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce for details. Below is a link for a clip from WMBF news
Active Rain Member and Chapter President of IRIS National Capitol Area , Pam Faulkner just made headlines in the Prestigious Washington Post.
The Chapters efforts, which has taken many hours away from their personal business, is true generosity, especially during these turbulent financial times when many small business owners of Real Estate and Redesign companies are struggling to keep their own doors open.
After the washingtonpost.com article many readers left lovely remarks. What an honor to be recognized by The Washington Post community for helping to bring a ray of sunshine to many who are dealing with daunting personal challenges such as the one described of a single mother who lost her home to foreclosure.
I wanted to personally thank them, as a fellow IRIS member located in South Carolina and member of the Board Of Directors for IRIS, An international, non-profit organization of Redesign and Home Staging business owners.
Below are two links that have highlighted their good work! I hope you will take the time to read the article and see their beautiful results!
WMBF News Journalist, Laura Thomas interviewed me today for a segment because I am donating Staging Inventory and the redesign to families that have lost everything in the fire.
She gave me the name of a family that just moved here with their adult children. They lost everything and had no insurance. I have been in contact with them and as one can imagine, they are overwhelmed but appreciative with the outpouring of generosity that everyone is showing.
To help them, I'm looking for a rental property that will accomodate the entire family. They are all employed...evidently the land-lord of the property they were renting won't give them back their deposit (some people are unbelievable).
If you have anything available...and is a property that is empty. Please let me know ASAP. When done, Laura wants to do another story on how the family was helped.
You can contact me at: renee@renewedrooms.com or call 843-385-0599
So far, 30 sq. miles are burning all around me... It really makes you realize what is really important in life.
For pet lovers, there are shelters all around for owners with pets. They say they are taking this lesson from Katrina... I say THANKFULLY you took the lesson from Katrina.
It is so comforting to see folks who have just lost everything say "These are things...it is life that is important"...even though they cry.
It is so comforting to see a community come together to help one another in a time of need.
It is comforting to see local goverments...go above and beyond...
It is comforting that middle America says "God Bless America" even when the upper class want to treat us like second class citizens.
Tes, Grand Strand, here I am, waiting for you to call to have a home staged! What? you dont think you can afford Staging....think again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Call Renee at 301 538-3746~
I've had the opportunity to live in many areas of the country over the years. All comes with its share of creatures, critters and unique demographics. For many of us around the country, Spring is Springing up all around us!
Swans in the lake in my back yard Little River, SC
Now is the time to take the time to spruce up the outside so the potential buyer will want to see the amenities on the inside and get your home SOLD!
Place a new, non-descriptive welcome mat at the door
Doors should be refreshed with a new coat of paint
Make sure the entry to the home is clean. No cob webs or dead flowers
Hardware on entry doors should be updated ... it helps to make it easy for the Realtor to easily let your potential buyer into the house!
Windows should be squeaky clean. Once inside, let the sun shine in. Nothing is cheerier than natural light. Remove those heavy drapes, open the blinds and your home will shine!
Don't forget to have a friend do the "smell" test... we get use to the odors around us, your buyer might not appreciate Fido's, flowery smell...
For an extra splash of shine place yellow flowers at your entry door. It has been said that the color yellow has a psychological and aesthetic effect on our brain. Help make your home memorable with a fresh pot of beautiful flowers!
Don't forget to schedule an appointment with a Home Staging Professional for a consultation. They will give you a thorough, non-biased assessment of the critical items that need to be completed to help you get to SOLD! A good source to find a professional is: www.westageandredesign.com
Wow, what a year... I can't wait for 2008 to be over!
I met two young women exactly on December 5, 2007. I believed everything they said....they had been taken by a "staging trainer" I didn't bother to check their credibility. I was on top of the world.My business was about to explode. All my predictions of success were coming TRUE....UH----OHHHHH!
It was a farce. Early in the relationship...these women entered a contest for home staging. While I was uncomfortable because they did not do the work...I kept silent. After all they were a part of my company...but there was more and more that didn't add up... I kept asking for signatures...they kept hesitating.
Their vindictiveness was not something I had ever experienced before...I said enough...they erased all of my Vizz-vox productions, (I have proof), they made my entire year a living hell....Accused me of things they were doing... it was the most unbelievable time of my life...I LEARNED A VERY VALUABLE LESSON...ASK QUESTIONS....MAKE SURE YOU GET SIGNATURES FIRST...
Their demands were enormous....and you need to know they come off as so sweet and honest. But after the "you are great"....all of a sudden nothing was good enough, they refused to pay for much but demanded even more...it was an amazing time.
Oh, I won both law suits I filed against them but they are some of the shrewdest, most manipulating women I have ever met... BEWARE! E-mail me and I will personally talk to you about who and what they did so you don't have to suffer what I have this past year. They have cost me $1,000's...I'm still surviving but it has been brutal, emotional,and not worth what I thought they would bring to the table....
I can't wait for 2009! Except for my membership in IRIS, my family, my great clients and friends it has been a horrendous year and I can't wait for the new one.
Happy Holidays to you all and Here's to a great 2009!
The world has been spinning with Recession, talk of DEPRESSION, losses of value and more! I continue reinventing my "fool proof" business plan to be able to continue following my passion. My fingernails are clutching the edge of the ledge to keep my business going...there are good days then a few steps back with bad ones... but I believe that the persistence to survive and be able to continue doing what I love will conquer in the end! There is a saying and I'm paraphrasing... the rock stands strong but the flow of the water always wins because of PERSISTENCE....
It is my sincere hope to service IRIS as treasurer for a full term. If you feel I am the one who can help with the already wonderful changes that IRIS is implementing please vote for me!
Thanks in advance and Happy Holidays!
Renee Pratta, IRIS, CISS, DCI
Renewed Rooms
Specializing in Real Estate Staging, Interior Redesign and Training
In my unending search to find new ways to market my services, I often feel like there can't be another idea, there can't be another way to make a home Stand Out From The Crowd...then all of a sudden I see a new spin on old ideas.
How about a Progressive Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner at several properties. My family has always revolved around food and I know, Realtors love to eat! So plan a Progressive...with the Realtors you work with which will "show off" the property and your work and help the seller get to SOLD.
How about a "theme" house for those vacant properties. I think others have had long discussions on this one. I believe in it...I believe it makes the house memorable. I have done a "Corporate Retreat" where I used the characters of the TV show The Office as the guests...even had a "team building" exercise going on downstairs, gift baskets, luggage...it got attention!
Welcome Board
Gift Basket
Luggage with ID Tags
Not to long ago a much heated discussion on Fake Food. I voraciously read all the negative comments... I happen to love using the stuff...it gets attention! Before I became a Real Estate Home Stager, I worked in a model home that had fake Sushi...it was always commented on. People thought it was fun...made them imagine having a party...
OK sometimes I put my personality into my staging. I was missing the fun and camaraderie I felt when having "Crabs and Beer" at Captain Billys in Southern Maryland when I staged a house on the Intra Coastal Waterway in South Carolina...so I made my own crab feast for all to enjoy...
I know a "normal" house would not put uncooked pasta in a bowl and set it on the table or have asparagus tied in bundles on a napkin...but it was colorful AND it got attention...
Anybody else willing to share what you do to make your properties memorable and get people in the door?
I had to deal with the first of unfinished business yesterday with business owners who seem to have nothing better to do than create vendettas...it was unpleasant! I was exhausted, but I faired well. Thanks to the many who are there cheering me on!
Today, GLORIOUS! It has been a slow summer along the Grand Strand, I was getting nervous... oh, what to do, what to do????
Funny, phone started ringing off the hook beginning last week...and, I was scheduled to speak at the Coastal Carolina Association of Realtors "Nuts & Bolts" presentation before the monthly luncheon today.
Never got home from the grueling day (can't wait for it to be resolved so I can move on) until 10:00 p.m. finished my presentation, made sure my projector worked, made sure my handouts were in order around 1:30 a.m.....up at 5 YUK....
Ran to get a tape so I could tape my presentation, make copies...get the item I always use for my "ice breaker"....Then...people begin trickling in, we start nice conversations... I brag about my kids (my greatest accomplishment) they brag about theirs... There really are honest, nice people out there...I'm energized!
Before I know it the room is FULL How wonderful! Questions are asked, lots of them...I'm handed over 25 business cards to follow up.... I'm energized ready for 2008 to be over and really, really starting to look forward to 2009!
My license plate says it all....
I'm proud that I have chosen this profession...I know my sisters and brothers (except for those uncrupulous few) are just as proud too!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Welcome Board
Gift Basket
Luggage with ID Tags
OK sometimes I put my personality into my staging. I was missing the fun and camaraderie I felt when having "Crabs and Beer" at Captain Billys in Southern Maryland when I staged a house on the Intra Coastal Waterway in South Carolina...so I made my own crab feast for all to enjoy... 
I know a "normal" house would not put uncooked pasta in a bowl and set it on the table or have asparagus tied in bundles on a napkin...but it was colorful AND it got attention...
;)
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