a fresh space :: home staging :: liz jenkins

Stinky smells in a home for sale & my quotes in The Tennessean yesterday . . .

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:26:05 -0600

I had a nice call last month from a local reporter doing a story about smells in a home for sale. It's a major concern in a lot of houses. Smells are one of the biggest turn offs for so many buyers and one of the things that home owners rarely address primarily because, well, they don't notice them.

Some obvious ones are cat boxes, baby diapers or stinky food. But some not so obvious (to the home owner, anyway) include air fresheners, especially those awful plug in kinds; mold or mildew smells; cigarette odors that are embedded in the walls or carpets; or that "old" smell that is really hard to pinpoint but must be addressed.

I was quoted several times, as were a few other local experts, and the general consensus is that clean wins over fake smells, and spending that time can help sell your house.

Here's a link to the article if you'd like to read it: That funky stink can sink home sale. Not sure how long the link will be active but it's from the November 13th Williamson A.M. portion of The Tennessean newspaper.

Bills, Pills & Gold Records: Identity & safety concerns when selling.

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:04:21 -0500

I've had the "deer in the headlights" look from clients so many times when I explain to them the need for privacy in their home when it is on the market. I don't want to scare them, but it is really important to de-personalize the house. Not just for helping a potential buyer see the home as one they could move into, but for the safety of those who live there. This is a scary and sensitive subject, but very real in this day and age.

1. Leaving your bills or other mail laying around invites someone to walk off with them, or at the very least, see your name and how many credit cards you have or . This just asks for identity theft. I don't know about you, but I sure don't want a stranger to walk off with a paper that may have my credit card number or social security number on it. Or making assumptions about my financial position based on what is left out (past due notices?).

2. Leaving your prescription medication in visible sight, even in a cupboard, is asking for trouble. Not only do you run the risk of someone taking it (a kid?), you also are giving away information to a buyer & their realtor about you and your health. You may not think anything of the fact that you take an anti-depressant or a cancer treatment drug, but I will tell you now, that any agent worth their salt will take this into consideration when making an offer. If your cabinet is full of anxiety & depression related pills, that tells a story - and not necessarily the one you want.

3. Leaving your children's photos, names on the walls, sports trophies and school papers out is a bad idea. We are all proud of our children, but really - do you know who is coming to look at your home? And do you want them seeing pictures of your beautiful children? And being able to tell from what you've left visible can let a predator know where they go to school, how old they are, what their name is, what kinds of sprots they play (and where), and more. This is all someone would need to strike up an acquaintanceship with your child, which is NOT a good thing.

4. Leaving your diplomas, gold records, memorabilia, or awards on the walls can negatively impact an offer. Think about it, not only are you giving away personal information about who you are, you are giving an impression of whether you NEED a decent offer or not. I've worked in homes where famous musicians have lived. Do you really want prospective buyers knowing this is their house? How about Vanderbilt University medical diplomas on the wall? Or memorabilia of a sports figure? This just says, I don't need the money. You don't want people googling you for info, or knowing that you are famous or apparently well off. People assume that lawyers, doctors, professional athletes, musicians and others are set financially. On the flip side, if a professionals dirty laundry has been aired in public, this can invite lowball offers because the public knows that the person is in financial trouble.

It's about making the home appealing for a buyer and helping them see themselves in the home. But it's also about keeping the seller and their family safe. Things that give personal information affect both of these and can lead to a serious situation. It's not likely, nor is it common, but it could happen. My job is to bring up these concerns and put them front and center. Many home sellers just don't consider this aspect until I point it out - then it just seems like common sense.

Think before you list - think about the tiny percentage of people out there who would even consider any of the above factors. Most of those who look at your home is like you - considerate, honest and thoughtful. But not everyone is - and these precautions can be the difference between danger and safety.

Hey, Listen To Me When I'm Giving A Staging Consult!

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:56:56 -0500

I had a client recently for a staging consult. It was a nice little condo, vacant, that had been on the market for about a year. The client's ex-wife actually called me in as he was a bit resistant. In fact, when I met him on the property, he was on his Blackberry and starting pulling weeds in the front while I was talking. Definitely not that excited to be there.

I had two choices at this point:

a. get annoyed or frustrated and just sort of work around him OR
b. use my "teacher voice" and say HEY, listen to me because what I'm telling you will sell this place

I chose b. I asked him politely but firmly to pay attention, leave the weeds for later, and focus because this was important. As we worked our way through all of my points regarding exterior maintenance, he started getting a bit more involved. Most of it was caulk & paint, freshening up the door & landscaping, and a new light fixture. Once we got inside, that's where I really got his attention. I pointed out peeling vinyl in the closet where the HVAC system was located - where it looked as if there was a leak at some point. I indicated the focal point of the room and how it wasn't being highlighted. The dingy paint in the walk in closet, the unfinished trim at the base of the kitchen cabinets, the dirty shelves in kitchen cupboards, the dated ceiling fan in the master bedroom, and more really caught his ear. These were things he had not noticed but when I pointed out the perception of potential buyers to these things, he really started to GET IT.

By the time we were done, he was totally on board and was making plans to make the necessary corrections. We talked about bringing in furniture and accessories but it turned out that it wasn't necessary because once the maintenance and cleaning was done, the first people to look at it, bought it. The consult more than paid for itself and I had a new convert to home staging.

Think of the minor investment in a staging consult - holding costs for a year vs. selling within a week. Actually paying attention, paid off.

So if you are lucky enough to work with a home stager - LISTEN!

No headboard in the Master Bedroom? Make One for under $50!

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:05:19 -0500

I often run into clients on a tight budget who want their house to look terrific when it sells (that's why they hire me!). But, as is so often the case, even while much of the house looks really nice, the master bedroom is the last place to get spruced up. I find a big bed - usually just a mattress & box spring on a frame - in the middle of the room with a bunch of mish-mosh furniture pieces.

Anyone who stages knows that you need to make a master bedroom a retreat and without a headboard, the room just doesn't look finished. There are lots of techniques you can use including covering a board with fabric, or using lots of pillows. But here's something I've done with several clients that looks just fabulous - and way more upscale and expensive than it really is!

I've had several clients do this project - sometimes using scrap lumber they may have - and sometimes using pre-made pieces such as wall hangings or bifold doors. Being creative is the key!

Now keep in mind that you need to have a handy homeowner (someone who can operate a few power tools) or a carpenter. But with furniture grade plywood, some trim pieces, some caulk & paint, you can create a headboard that looks like you got it at Pottery Barn. When it's finished, just attach it to the wall.

The one pictured was built by the homeowner for less than $50. I designed it using 4 x 8 furniture grade plywood and trim pieces - I think here he used 1 x 2 pieces but 1 x 4 or 1 x 6 pieces would give a more craftsman look to it. You can also add a piece of crown moulding at the top if desired. This was painted in Sherwin Williams French Roast. The homeowners did all the work in here on my recommendations. Before it was cluttered and looked like a college dorm room. Now it looks like you'd want to rest & relax.

Is there value in a home staging consultation?

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:44:35 -0500

Really good post by Karen - I've had the same type of experience and she really speaks to what staging consults are all about in the this post. Enjoy!

Via Karen Otto, Home Stager, Plano, TX 469)964-0516 www.homestarstaging.com (Home Star Staging):

One of the most requested services my company, Home Star Staging provides is a home staging consultation. And if anyone is wondering whether there is value in a home staging consultation, I'd like to provide an answer to that question for any skeptics out there or those who may feel there is no value in this service.

For those who feel that they don't need to or cannot afford to stage their home using the services of a professional home stager, I'd like you to think again. A home staging consultation is your personal blue print to do that very service yourself, enlist the help of others or hire the home stager them self if budgets allow and it is most affordable! In fact, I dare say you cannot afford NOT to have this service at your disposal if you have any questions about the marketability of your home in its current condition.

A home must stand apart from the competition in today's tough real estate market!

Any home at any price point could benefit from a staging consultation with a professional home stager.

Here are 2 things you can expect to gain from a home staging consultation:

It can provide you with the tools & recommendations you need to do the work

It can give you the constructive, objective feedback you need to showcase your home for move in ready appeal.

Buyer feedback is crucial to understand why buyers may not be interested in your home. This important information is often non existent but you get the message loud and clear when your home has been sitting on the market for months, price reductions are taken and still you receive no or too low offers.

Recent Home Staging Consultation result:

Last Friday I provided a home staging consultation for a North Texas home seller whose home had been on the market over 45 days. The house had multiple showings but received NO offers. When I arrived at the home the seller informed me that a showing was scheduled that same afternoon just after our consultation. I really felt the need to make sure we could do some work in the 2 hour time frame that could help showcase the home better.

I immediately identified a few areas that needed addressing and we quickly went to work. Yes, the home seller and I worked together in the 2 hour time frame to get some things moved, fine tuned and "tweaked" before the showing. From what I could initially see, the home was clean, neat, very de-cluttered (in fact too much so) and well, lacked some warmth, appeal, purpose in some areas and flow was a problem in another area.

We were able to do some of the work and I also made further recommendations to be done after I left. We got a lot accomplished in a short time frame and my client was surprised at the difference the changes made in how the house "felt" and showed.

Home staging is not just cleaning, neutralizing and de-cluttering folks, sometimes I think too many Real Estate professionals overlook that and recite that mantra and some homes are actually too stark and unappealing due to a lack of "stuff".

Neutralize does not mean sterilize.

I left hopeful for the client's prospects after these changes and thanked him for allowing me to provide him with the service. I don't always hear back from my consulting clients but this time I did the following Monday. The message was short and to the point and I've included it here below:

"Hello Karen. Thank you for your help last week. The people that came by after you left made an offer on my home." Jeff D.

I followed up with an email and asked if it was an offer that was acceptable to him and he answered yes and I congratulated him and am hopeful this will go through to a successful closing.

If you're still a skeptic you may be thinking this was just luck. For those who believe in the power of home staging and the marketing and merchandising of properties to showcase them to their fullest potential this was no coincidence.

Home Staging has the ability to get a home noticed on the market, it can create buyer appeal and the desire to purchase. It can be as simple and affordable as a home staging consultation or a full service staging job if a budget allows.

If you sell homes or you are selling a home, one of the best values for your marketing dollars is to consult with a professional home stager.

Professional Home Stagers are here for YOU!

**********************************************************************************************

For expert advice on preparing a home for sale contact Home Star Staging, a Real Estate Staging and Consulting company. Home Star Staging is here for you North Texas!

By TwitterButtons.com

Copyright 2009 Karen Otto

How to Create a Blog Post for Customers and Search Engines

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 09:36:03 -0500

This was a really informative article for me - it's not rocket science or even anything groundbreaking but good, straightforward information for not only real estate blogging but any blog. Since I have two of them - I can always use this sort of info!

Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain):

How to Create a Blog Post for Customers and Search Engines.

There are three important audiences to be writing for: 1. Other members and friends of your Social Networks. 2. Consumers, Subscribers, and a Target Audience of readers. 3. Search Engines. I'm sure this is preaching to the choir, but this is important information to be shared if you want to get maximum exposure and results from your Blog posts with consumers, visitors, and with Google. Google Juice? I'll drink to that! :-)

Blogging for Customers and Search Engines correctly is a key component to a successful Blog.

Using these effective strategies and time tested methods when creating your post can make a huge difference. The first thing when writing a post is to determine the audience you are writing for, the product or concept you're promoting, and the geographic market you are targeting. In this scenario, we are creating a Blog post to drive readers, consumers, and search engines to your Blog which is All About Your Area. Things like "Vacant Land", "Open Houses", "Loan Modifications", "Tax Credit", "Pest Control", "Relocation", "Market Statistics", "Short Sales", "Condos" etc.

1. How to title a blog post: Use a title that a customer would type into Google. example: "Open Houses in Mesquite Nevada" Targeting Neighborhoods and focusing on Communities are best, but you can also use City/State. Most searches by consumers always include a geographic area. example: "Vacant Land For Sale in Bend, Oregon" Don't just title your post "Vacant Land For Sale" as it probably won't get indexed to a specific location and will likely get lost in the Search Engine Abyss. (SEO abyss = page 24 of Google)

2. Repeat the title in BOLD in the first sentence of your blog post. example: "Vacant Land For Sale in Bend, Oregon" and now priced better than ever! Build your dream home in Bend, Oregon!" By creating the first sentence of your post to include the title and BOLD key search words, terms, or phrases, you'll increase the potential of being found and then read. That first sentence is typically the first sentence that shows up under your TITLE within the Google search results. It's an important part of getting the search engines to recognize your topic and see it's relative content. It's also what will help a consumer decide if they want to click on your link or NOT!

3. Write your blog posts to the title...then add in good content that a customer would want to know about. It takes a bit more time to think this strategy through, but the results and rewards will be tremendous. This in NOT the only way to gain SEO and more exposure, but it's a great place to start if you're new to Blogging and are wanting quicker results from your time and efforts here.

Creating posts and Understanding Long tail and Short tail search terms: Short tail searches are just that, very short keyword searches. example: "Homes for sale" or "Homes For Sale Austin, Texas". This is where most searches begin during the early stages of research by consumers. The Long tail search comes into play the closer consumers get to making a final purchase decision. example: "Gated Community Homes For Sale With a Pool in Austin Texas" Justin Smith explains more about Long tail/ Short tail searches in his post. You can also find more details by searching Google for "Long tail and Short tail searches." Here's a video that might help make heads or "tails" about this.

4. Go through your blog post and make sure that the words of your title are repeated a minimum of at least three or four times. At least one time every other paragraph or so. You should also bold those keywords so they stand out to the reader and to the search engines. You need to be somewhat creative in doing this and remember, don't over do it.

5. Tag your blog posts with other keywords and phrases the customer may type into Google. These should be topic related and relevant to your post. Do not try to game the search engines by packing in keywords that have nothing to do with the post, this will do more harm than good in most if not all cases. Also make sure to include images and links to relative sites, this will create more stickiness and add value to your posts.

Creating a Blog Post for Customers and Search engines is not that difficult once you understand some of these basic concepts and then practice and apply them on a regular basis. This is not to say you shouldn't write about other topics both personal and business, even those can be tailored to get you better results with customers and search engines. We tested this theory on the Fourth of July Weekend and you should see some of the results ActiveRain members experienced. It really does work.

I hope you can use these tips on "How to Create a Blog Post for Customers and Search Engines."
VERY IMPORTANT: If your post on ActiveRain is (MEMBERS ONLY) then none of the above applies.

Are you really selling yourself to prospective clients? A guy looking for a listing agent . . .

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:30:12 -0500

http://kylechowning.com/2009/07/05/choosing-the-right-real-estate-agent/

The link above is from a guy I twitter with in Nashville. Most anyone who knows me knows how I love me some twitter (I'm @afreshspace). I love how many great blogs I come across and the info I learn about life and my industry (so many great home stagers on twitter!). I read Kyle's post about his search for a listing agent, and thought, hmmm, how hard should it be in our area to find a great agent? Not too hard, I'd imagine, as I know a lot of them. But apparently, he's not finding the right person. Or to put it more accurately, the right person may be there but they are not selling him on the fact that they ARE the right person.

So I forwarded this blog post along to a half dozen agents I know that really work hard for their clients. 3 emailed me back promptly, thanking me and letting me know that they had already contacted him based on the email. Haven't heard from the other 3 but I'd like to think they did the same. One posted on his blog post as well.

I wish them the best! The reason I posted this link was partly because I found it interesting but also to offer a regular person's perspective on how they are dealing with finding a listing agent. This blogger is not a real estate blogger - just a regular guy who blogs about life and tech stuff and marketing.

As a home stager, I work with a lot of listing agents but I rarely ask HOW they got the listing. I usually come in after the fact to make the home look fabulous but sometimes I wonder, just as I wonder about a lot of things in this world. I look at how I get clients as well, so this blog post spoke to me - am I selling myself as well as I could? There's a fine line between putting yourself out there and going over the top! Still walking that line I think.

PS I did get Kyle's permission to post this link - and if you are an agent in Nashville who wants to give it a shot-use the link in his post to contact him!

Where Organizing and Staging cross paths . . .clutter is your enemy when selling!

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:50:07 -0500

Clutter is the downfall of most houses, and never is this more apparent than when a house goes on the market. As both a Professional Organizer and Home Stager, it's really amazing how much of my organizing skills I use when I stage. In fact, I'm surprised there aren't more stagers that are PO's as well! So from my Professional Organizer hat, here's some tips for stagers (as if you don't already know these!!), but mostly for homeowners putting their house on the market:

A stager will tell you to de-clutter. This means PUT AWAY OR GET RID OF ALL OF THE STUFF LAYING AROUND EVERYWHERE! When someone comes to look at your home for sale, it is really important that they see the great features of your home - not your collections of angels, your kid's toys, or your mail. These things are distractions and make the home seem dirty and unattractive. You don't want every surface bare, but there is a fine line between accessorizing and messy. This is where a stager comes in handy.
A stager will tell you to hide your personal items. This means PUT IT AWAY SOMEWHERE WHERE IT CANNOT BE SEEN! This doesn't mean you have to get rid of your toothbrush or your bills - it means that people don't want to see your personal hygiene products, and leaving mail or personal papers out is an identity theft issue and a personal safety issue. You don't want people knowing you you are. People need to visualize themselves in a home and they can't do that if your stuff is out and about.
A stager will have you remove family photos. This means TAKE THEM ALL DOWN AND PUT THEM IN A BOX SOMEWHERE. Personal photos not only clutter up a house, they don't say "buy me-I'm your new home" to a prospective buyer.
A stager will tell you to create a smooth flow of traffic by removing or re-arranging furniture. This means YOU HAVE TOO MUCH FURNITURE AND IT'S IN THE WRONG PLACES FOR SHOWING YOUR HOUSE! Furniture that isn't placed properly for showing your home makes the home seem cramped, cluttered and small. Removing and arranging your furniture properly can make your home seem more spacious and attractive - helping you sell. How you live in a home is usually not how it should look when selling.

Where the organizing aspect comes in is figuring out what to do with about these things. This is what I recommend:

Go through your home and get rid of any items you do not see yourself using in your new home. Visualize where you are moving and the life you want to live. Look at each item and ask yourself, "does this reflect who I am today and where I am going?" If it doesn't, either throw it away, donate it to charity or have a rummage sale. Be ruthless and be realistic. If you haven't used in in years, or you just really don't like it - why are you going to take the time and money to pack and move it?
Place items in bins. This is key for most of my clients. You can have a lot of stuff in your home if it is contained in attractive bins. I usually use plastic bins with lids for storage; open top white bins for storing items in pantries or closets; canvas, wooden or wicker bins & baskets for items that need to be accessible in living rooms or bedrooms. Bins look nice, and conceal a myriad of messes. Bins are your friend when it comes to organizing and staging. Be sure to label all of your bins so you know what is in them - nothing is worse than putting away everything and then not knowing where your things are.
Leave "white space". I do this when I organize and stage. Don't fill every available space, even in a cupboard, closet or pantry. Leave room so that not only will the area look bigger, but it looks like you have so much space that you can't even use it all. Plus, from an organizing standpoint, it gives you room to grow.
Pack for your move. Keep in mind when packing that you only want to pack what you actually want to take (see tip #1). By packing now, it will not only make your move easier, but it will help de-clutter. The key things to keep in mind are: Pack items by room. Label every box not only with what is in it, but what room it belongs in. Create an inventory list of what you have packed. If you still have boxes that were never unpacked from your last move - this is a good sign that you most likely don't need to keep these boxes.
Be creative with storage. People will not usually look under beds. behind a couch, or inside chests or freestanding pieces of furniture.

This family room below was very cluttered with kids toys. By getting rid of toys the client didn't use anymore, we then stored the rest in bins both in the cupboards and in the room. I angled the sofa in the corner to get additional storage space and placed the most used toys in large plastic totes. One tote is visible, the rest are behind the couch. When the house is shown, the homeowner can just gather the toys in the bins, and drop them behind the couch. The woman in the photo is sorting the toys and placing them in the bins for storage.

Why "Now I don't want to move" is music to my ears! Don't wait to improve-enjoy it now!

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:10:17 -0500

One of the things I love about staging in occupied homes is that when I'm done, usually working hand in hand with the homeowner, the comments are usually something along the lines of "I wish I'd done this years ago" or "I don't want to leave now!".

And why not? Why not do the things that need to be done now - so you can enjoy them while you are in a home. Here's some of the things I do when I stage that can be done at any time, so you can have the home you want while you are in it. Then when you are ready to sell, it will be a breeze to get it ready!

1. Repair. Take care of all the little maintenance items that are annoying. These usually include things like loose toilet seats, a cracked outlet cover, a loud and rattly exhaust fan in the bathroom, drywall cracks, icky grout in the kitchen or bath, caulking around windows. You get the idea. These are the things that give you the constant litany of "I should take care of that" in the back of your mind. This can wear you down and make your house just not where you want to be. Contact a handyman and give them a list.

2. Clean. Have the house professionally cleaned at least once a a year, including carpets and windows. If you can't afford to have someone do it for you, do it yourself. But make it a deliberate, intensive deep clean. It's hard to make the time but if you do, it will really make you feel so much better emotionally as well as physically in your home.

3. Paint. Paint is one of the most inexpensive ways to freshen up a home. Pick a fun color if you aren't moving, or neutrals if you are. If you hate the color - you can always paint over it. It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do for a room. Don't forget freshening up the baseboards and other trim. These get beat up and look dingy after a while.

4. Update light fixtures, door knobs and cabinet pulls. Get rid of the cheap looking shiny brass and bump up to brushed nickel, black or oil rubbed bronze. Light fixtures can be easy - many just need paint and or shades. And don't be afraid to hit the thrift shops or resale shops - and be creative. Knock off doorknobs and pulls are easily available on line (one of my fave places is www.everything-doors.com) for not a whole lot of money.

5. De-clutter. As a professional organizer as well as being a stager, one of the biggest contributions I find I make for my clients is teaching them how to pare down not only their accessories but all the other stuff that accumulates in homes. I mean, really, how many cups does one need? Or towels. Or whatever. Take the time to really evaluate your possessions and ask yourself the hard questions: Do I love it? Do I use it? Does it reflect who I am today and who I want to be in the future?

It's amazing what these changes can make in a house, whether you are staying or selling.

tired (but good quality) doorknobs? replate instead of replace

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:17:45 -0500

I recently staged a contemporary 80's home that had a fabulous doorknob & door knocker. The only problem was that they were pitted and worn. They're by Baldwin and the knob was a mortise lock - which if you know these, involves lots of parts and space on the interior of the door. My initial thought was to replace them, which is what I usually do, but these were so nice and the knocker was just amazing - heavy and really cool. So instead, I took them in for replating. WOW. I had them plated in brushed nickel. They look amazing. Brand new and so luxe I couldn't believe it. Plus both pieces were done for $170. You couldn't even buy new ones of this quality for that price. Plus we saved a bundle not have to completely re-do the inside of the door to suit a lesser door knob.

In Nashville, TN we used Leonard Plating on 4th Ave. The results were spectacular although it did take 3 days longer to finish than they originally said. Otherwise, very pleased. And the homeowners were thrilled, as was I. If you want to see this house, visit www.realtracs.com and use MLS# 1082275.

Now, I've posted many a time about how the front entry can make the difference in someone having a great impression of a home. In this case, we fixed the trim, and painted the front door my new fave door color of French Roast by Sherwin Williams. Then put back the amazing hardware.

Check out the before & after:

there is such a thing as too much de-personalizing...blandness does not inspire offers

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Tue, 19 May 2009 09:01:15 -0500

Usually when I go on a staging consult, it's an occupied house which generally means that personal items have accumulated in the home such as family photos, toys, prescription bottles, calendars, religious or political items, etc. These are the kinds of things I recommend removing as the main goal of staging is to get the buyer to visualize themselves in the home. But lately, I've been running into an opposite problem. Sellers who "get ready" for the Stager or misunderstood what their Realtor told them (or the Realtor didn't really understand the concept of "depersonalization"), or in some cases, just never got to the accessorizing part of living in a home. This is a two-fold issue so here you go . . .

De-personalizing means removing things clearly belonging to the seller that could impact the buyer in a potentially negative way. Now we don't know who is coming to look at the house so we need to take precautions:

remove family photos, diplomas, gold records, framed news articles, kids awards, kids names in wood letters on their walls, etc. This is partially because you want the buyers to see themselves there, not you. But it is also for personal safety. Do you really want people knowing who you are, where you work, where your kids go to school and how cute your kids are?
remove medical items such as prescription bottles, medical equipment, etc. This is partially because you don't want these items to go walking, but also because a savvy Realtor will use whatever they can to get their buyer a deal. I know an agent who got their buyer a killer deal on a house because she could tell from the progression of medications that the owner had a serious illness. Further research revealed that the sellers were on the brink, so they swooped in.
remove any religious or political items. I don't care how devout you are - you don't know if the prospective buyer is a Buddhist, atheist or born again Christian; or Republican, Democrat or Communist- just don't go there. You are just asking for trouble.
put away all mail and paper that may have your name or other personal information. I can't tell you how many times I'll look at a house and there are bills scattered everywhere (this is a whole 'nother issue with organizing but also a whole 'nother article). In this day of identity theft, bad move. This also goes for calendars or planners. People looking at your house don't need to know you are out of town next weekend, or that your kids play soccer at the local ball field on Tuesday nights.

So what's left? Lots of stuff, if you are like most people. But when you are staging your house, you want to be sure that you do leave some personality, just not be "personal". This means accessories such as artwork, plants, books, pottery or other decorative pieces and more designed to bring out the great features of your home such as the fireplace, countertops, bathrooms, etc. If you are bringing in a Stager (and you should), give us something to work with. Selling your home is the time to pack up belongings that have personal meaning and set your home up like the product it is. Think nice, neutral accessories that bring in the feeling of a model home or the merchandising feel of a Pottery Barn, West Elm or Restoration Hardware.

I met with a nice couple last week and they had de-personalized so much that the place looked abandoned. I hated to tell them this but my job is to give them the truth. The truth was, the house was so boring and plain vanilla that there wasn't much I could do. Beige walls, beige floors, beige furniture, no art, no books. I had nothing to work with. What I did do was give them specific instructions on what they could do themselves (they were on a tight budget) to make the house stand out in the crowd. We've been emailing ideas back and forth - I'm thrilled they are getting with the program! I'm going to check on their progress next week - one of the few times I've asked clients to go shopping - usually I'm telling them to pack it up.

Great places to acquire these types of things, if you don't already have them include Big Lots, Target, Pier One, Old Time Pottery, Stein Mart, TJ Maxx/Home Goods, Bed, Bath & Beyond (be sure to check clearance and use a bunch of their 20% off coupons). I also recommend rummage sales and thrift shops. These are great places to get cheap accessories that look great - sometimes just a fresh coat of paint, or the judicious application of a Sharpie or wood stain pen can make something look new. You don't have to spend a lot - but use what you have wisely. Highlighting the features of your house with accessories can make the difference between someone remembering your house or not. The bland house with bland walls and bland stuff evokes a nothing house with no personality. You are selling an image, a feeling of what it would be like to live in that home. Blandness does not inspire an offer.

New Home Buyer Tips: Assessing potential velociraptor attacks

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:27:07 -0500

Thanks to @timTech & @PaymanBenz on Twitter for this terrific resource for new home buyers. The potential of velociraptor attacks is not generally known. For your own protection and those of your buyers, please read the following information: http://www.velociraptors.info/

The main information for new home buyers is below, although more detailed information about velicoraptors is on the site.

New Home Buyer Tips from www.velociraptors.info:

When buying a new home, there are a few things to look out for when assessing potential velociraptor attacks:

Check all doors and windows. Doors should be made of solid oak or steel. Windows should have steel bars with spacing smaller than the average raptor.
Make sure all entryways have adequate deadbolts. Quality deadbolts may be purchased at your local Home Depot.
Always keep a loaded big-game rifle under your bed, and tire irons near every door. Remember, you should never be farther than 20 feet away from a tire iron.

www.goodreads.com: great site for book lovers

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:23:27 -0500

A friend recently referred me to www.goodreads.com and I'm loving it. It's a site where you can post books you've read, want to read or are reading. You can also rate them, write reviews, and see what others are reading and saying about books you are interested in.

My biggest problem has always been remembering what books I've read - I get so frustrated when I check out a book from the library or buy one and then realize I've already read it. Or when I can't remember the title or author of a great book. This is my new way to track my books. What's really cool about it is that you can "friend" people if you choose and see what they are reading, plus get recommendations as well. So far, it's just me and Nina in my little circle but as I explore, I'm hoping to find others with similar tastes.

Being such an avid reader as I am - it's always hard to find ones I haven't read - and it's always good to get a recommendation - although experience has shown that one does need to be wary of some of them. That's how I got sucked into reading The Shack.

How Not To Fail On Twitter: great info from Social Media 101!

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:52:39 -0500

Thanks to Julie Roads on Twitter (@writingroads), and Ron Miller (@Ron_Miller), here's some tips on twitter. I know twitter has been a hot topic here on the Rain and, while I happen to love it, I know it's not for everyone. Many of the comments I hear have to do with questions of what to tweet about or the benefit or what if I screw it up. Julie Roads has several other twitter "how-to's" along with other Social Media info on her blog Social Media 101.

I've copied and pasted the post, but here's the original link: http://www.socmedia101.com/2009/04/fail-on-twitter-in-five-easy-steps/

Julie & Ron have great information on this site, much of which is applicable for people in any field who want to use social media for business and networking. Here's their recent foray into the twitter arena - and very good info as well for those who have dipped a toe into the twitter stream and are being buffeted about:

"It's surprisingly easy to fail on Twitter. If you don't want to make any good contacts, grow your business nor create a solid network, all you have to do is:

Set up auto-DMs that are impersonal and contain spammy links. For example: ‘Thanks for the follow! Like to know how to get 200+ targeted followers every day and make money? http://blah.blah.' These are particularly bad if they arrive after you've had a real conversation on Twitter with the person you're following. The Fix: Don't use auto-DMs. Send a message when you have something personal to say. Be human.
Only tweet about yourself. Here are some doozies: ‘I'm really hungry.' or ‘Why isn't anyone responding back to me?' or ‘Read my post!' (five times in a row). The Fix: 80-90% of your tweets should offer value and information to others either by @replying to someone in your network, sharing links to good sites or articles or retweeting (RT) someone else's valuable information.
Harass people. Someone recently followed me and when I went to see their Twitter updates, they were all @replies to different people that said, ‘Follow me back so I can DM (direct message) you.' I didn't follow her, and I received one of those @replies within 30 minutes. Bullying people into following you or talking to you isn't the best technique. The Fix: Create a valuable dialogue based on a fellow Twitterer's recent tweets or bio and follow the other steps here so that people are naturally inclined to follow you.
Stalk people. When you're new to Twitter and you're only following a few people, even 50 people, it's easy to watch and listen to their every move. It's tempting to reply to every one of their tweets. However, they're likely following a lot of people and having conversations with a lot of people...and think that your incessant responding is stalker-like (and annoying). The Fix: Follow more people so your Twitter stream is varied and hold your tongue...save those @replies for something really juicy or important.
Hit us hard in your bio. Promise money, business or immortality. And make it really cheesy and over the top. It's a sure fire way to get blocked by other folks on Twitter. The Fix: Create a Twitter bio that talks about who you are and what you're interested in. Sound like a person, not a snake oil salesman. "

As I said - this is from Julie Roads and Ron Miller from www.socmedia101.com - check them out!

must read for realtor bloggers - tons of blog post ideas!

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:14:45 -0500

Came across this blog post on twitter from Sugar Pine Realty/GMAC Blog. It's from last year but every time I talk with a realtor about blogging - the number one comment I hear is, "But, what do I blog about?" For many blogging realtors this isn't an issue but I think when you first get started - it's hard to figure out exactly what direction you want to go and what people will find interesting enough to comment on and start a conversation - and that is one of the main goals of blogging, isn't it?

So here's a link to the site which has hundreds of ideas for real estate bloggers:

http://sugarpinerealty.blogspot.com/2008/03/blog-writing-ideas-for-realtors.html

If you like this post - the author is on twitter as @blogboy2 - if you are an agent, you could learn a lot following him and his blog.

home staging seminar in Nashville, April 28th!

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:08:15 -0500

I'm very excited - I was asked to teach a staging seminar for the fabulous people out at Selection Center in Nashville. The Selection Center is a one-stop shop for everything from closets to appliances to granite to tile and more. They are having an realtor open house on Tuesday, April 28th from 9-11:30 and requested that I come and teach what I know about staging for the agents they are inviting.

Cindy Crego, of More Space Place, asked how long I could speak and I had to tell her I could talk for 2 days if that's what she wanted. But we compromised on an hour and a half with questions! I'll be speaking at 10:30 and will be focusing on the following:

how to talk to your client about staging
basic staging concepts and tips on flow and placement
tips on DIY projects that give you the most bang for your buck
when to bring in the professionals and what they can do for you
the benefits of a pre-listing home inspection
specific tips on paint colors, flooring, lighting, etc.

There will probably be more stuff but I think this is a good start. I'll have handouts as well with some great information on them. This is your chance to not only see the Selection Center but to learn about staging and ask all your questions!

If you are in the Nashville area - feel free to stop by. Also, visit the Selection Center website at: www.selectioncenter.com!

Home Inspection website for sale - great site and customizable!

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:47:47 -0500

My husband, a home inspector, has recently taken a management position with a company in a different field. We had created a great website for his company that includes 6 pages full of content, sample reports, an online inspection scheduling form, photos, endorsments and more. I've decided to offer this website to home inspectors as a "turn key" website. My web designer will customize the site with your logo, name, photos, contact info and any other content related tweaks you'd like to make. We'll also change color schemes, set up email accounts for the site and route all contact info to you.

The site uses all the right key words, has been around for years and is designed to attract realtors and prospective inspection clients. This site can be used anywhere in the country - we'll make all the changes - and include 3 months hosting too. You can continue with my web host (these guys are great) or use your own.

If this site was designed for you now, with the features and editing that it has, it would run in the $6000-8500 range. I'm offering it at $2399 including all of the changes (and more) listed above. The name of the company is also up for grabs.

Please email me at liz@afreshspace.com or call me at 615-509-1933 for more information. I'd be happy to send you a link to the site (it's in a "test" mode right now as it isn't active due the closure of the business) and more specific details of what's included in the sale.

The website is really nice and shows great personality and professionalism. If you or someone you know in the inspection business has been thinking about getting a website - this may be an option for you.

Nigerian Real Estate Scammers: Must read article in Tennessean today

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:10:58 -0500

I've been reading on several AR blogs that some agents have been affected by the Nigerian rental scam that is going around. This morning, my local newspaper in Nashville, The Tennessean, ran a big story about it in the Williamson Real Estate section on the front page. It involves a few agents I know which made it even more interesting.

For those of you that aren't familiar with this scam - it can affect you so I highly recommend that you make yourself aware of this problem. What's happening is that agents' listings on Craigslist are being "hijacked" by scam artists who are relisting properties for rent at lower rates and requesting that prospective renters send them money to get the place. They claim to be missionaries working in Nigeria.

Here's a link to the article in the Tennessean today (not sure how long the link will last but here it is): http://tinyurl.com/cnf8al

Nigerian scams have been going on a long time - you know, the ones you get in your email box claiming that you are in line to receive large sums of money but only if you send bank account information or "processing fees" or the ones that say you've won a lottery or something like that. This is along those lines. So be aware and watch your listings!

what a fun staging seminar we had!

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:08:05 -0500

Thursday night (the 26th) I hosted a staging seminar here in Franklin, TN - and what a great night it was! I hope all of our attendees had as good a time as we did - and learned a lot as well. We held our seminar at Church Street Flooring & Design in charming downtown Franklin. I had invited fellow stagers Anthea Click, Karen Jones and "B" Lucas Thrower to join me in presenting: "Nuts & Bolts of Staging". I see this as the nitty gritty stuff - the paint, the lighting, the flooring, etc. So that's what we talked about to a very receptive crowd. One of the good things was holding the seminar at a flooring store - the very capable Dave the sales guy presented lots of info (I actually learned some stuff which was awesome!) about carpet, pads, tile and hardwoods. We all pitched in with our thoughts as well.

I think the best part was how well we all meshed together with our thoughts - presenting a united front on staging. While we all have our specialties and preferences, we are all on the same page: staging sells a house. And the tips and techniques we presented were all designed to share information with the people who needed it. We had a couple of agents there as well - one in particular threw out some great points - Christie Drury of Exit Realty of the South - and had some specific questions as well. Quite a few home sellers were there and were able to get their questions answered. I think the most common questions related to specific paint colors and finishes on things like light fixtures & door knobs. There was a collective shiver from the stagers when shiny brass was mentioned.

Dan Prince came by, of Everything Doors (www.everything-doors.com), and donated a brushed nickel door handle set as a door prize. His shop is located off of Royal Oak Blvd in Franklin, but they do most of their business online - fabulous prices on door knobs, hinges, etc.

We had some good handouts from the event with specific information - feel free to email me and I'll send them along to you!

PS That's me on the right, with (going left) Karen Jones, Anthea Click, "B" Lucas Thrower. Didn't realize I was the shortest one of the bunch til I saw this picture - I was even wearing heels!

free staging seminar in Franklin, TN 3/26/09!

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:02:02 -0500

I'm co-hosting a free home staging seminar in Franklin on Thursday night (March 26th, 2009) and you are invited! This seminar is called "The Nuts & Bolts of Staging" and will cover paint, lighting, flooring, and more. Anthea Click of Fresh Perspectives, and Karen Jones of Jones Creative Home Staging are my other presenters.

The session is free and open to the public but we'd love an rsvp so we have a head count.

The seminar will be held at Church Street Flooring & Design at 601 Church Street in downtown Franklin from 6-7:30. We'll have light munchies, door prizes, handouts and lots of info to share.

Here's your chance to ask us the questions you've always wanted answered about staging - free!

Get more info on my website: www.afreshspace.com/events

Stainless appliances help sell - but you can be budget friendly

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:09:08 -0500

I had a client recently who is putting their house on the market - during the consult, we discussed upgrading the appliances. She asked why - the ones she has worked perfectly fine. This is where I went into my discussion of the perception of prospective buyers. In the $600,000 price range, people expect certain things. Here I could go into my rant about builder's model homes bumping up the expectations of even low end homes but I won't. Stainless steel appliances are one of those expectations. BUT - there are things you can do on a budget, and here they are:

You don't have to have ALL stainless - the refrigerator is a must, but you can mix and match with black ones to get the look. For example, if you have a stainless fridge and dishwasher, and a black oven and microwave - this will work. Or stainless fridge and range, but a black dishwasher and microwave - this will work. So maybe you don't have to replace all appliances - just some.
A stainless steel hood is about $170 and can make a huge difference even if the cooktop is not stainless.
When getting new appliances - you do NOT need top of the line, brand new ones if the house is not brand new. Check the scratch & dent aisle, the clearance section or outlets. You don't want to mix and match brands too much but see what you can find - you do need to keep a similar look with the handles and controls so it doesn't look hodge podge (that's the technical term).
Don't hesitate to ask for a further discount - Lowe's (at least by us) is usually really good about knocking off some on the clearance ones - they want to get them out of their store. Usually the ones that are on sale in the clearance aisle are the ones that have been returned or repaired and they don't want them on their showroom floor if they can get them out. I got a $900 Kitchenaid dishwasher for $300 for a client simply by asking (the price was $499 on the floor). It had been repaired and returned, plus had one minor ding.

Stainless can help sell a kitchen - and kitchens are one of the places to put your money when selling the house. Look for the deals and don't be picky. If you are selling - go for price, not what your ideal appliance might be - you are leaving and it won't matter if it has the perfect ice maker.

Franklin/Nashville TN: Home Staging Seminar 3/26/09

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:17:05 -0500

If you live in the Nashville/Franklin area, come and learn about the "Nuts & Bolts" of home staging on Thursday, March 26th from 6-7:30PM.

The focus of the seminar is

paint, lighting, flooring - all of the serious stuff when it comes to make a house shine
DIY tips you can use or share with clients
inside secrets of home staging professionals along with handouts and lists of sources

This session is presented by Liz Jenkins, Anthea Click & Karen Jones and hosted by:

Church Street Flooring & Design, 601 Church Street, Franklin, TN in downtown Franklin.

This seminar is free and open to the public but will be most useful to realtor and home sellers. Send the info along to your sellers if you are an agent - or come yourself and learn!

Get more info on my website at: www.afreshspace.com/events

See you there!

Container Store coupon: 25% off from Oprah through April 13th!

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:23:21 -0500

Not sure if this was posted yet but Peter Walsh was on Oprah recently decluttering and organizing. I don't usually watch Oprah but this was a pretty good show AND you can download a 25% off coupon for Container Store that you can use in the store, online or on the phone. That's pretty awesome!

Here's a link to web page that has the coupon: http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/oprahshow/20090129-tows-messy-house-tour-atlanta/10

Just click on the spot where it says "Get Your Coupon"! It's good until April 13th, 2009.

chocolate brown is my new black

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:45:02 -0500

I've been using chocolate brown now for a while instead of black for front doors, bathroom cabinetry headboards when staging to sell. And I just love it. I have a current client who is building a headboard for their master bedroom (bed, white duvet, limp curtains, white walls . . . you get the picture). Luckily he's handy but we're going to create a Pottery Barn style headboard and we'll paint it - yes, chocolate brown. I'll post a pic when it's done. I just did a cute little house with cream siding - did the door and shutters in chocolate and they look amazing. Changed the whole look of the house. Another one, we painted the bathroom cabinet brown and gussied it up (that's the technical term) with some brown and green accessories - fabulous. The client was really hesitant but it ended up terrific - she won't change her front door though - still red which clashes with the brick. Oh well, can't win them all.

Sherwin Williams makes a color called French Roast I've been loving - anyone else have any suggestions?

Another option to black, in our area anyway, is Belle Meade Green. Looks almost like black but it's not quite. It's one of those "insider" colors that the really prestigious houses use but we little people can use to gussie up (there I go being technical again) our doors and shutters. For some houses - this is killer.

So if anyone else has some fab brown they've been loving - I'd love to hear about it!

Seth Godin's blog today - real estate agents should read this!

Liz Jenkins (a fresh space :: home staging & thoughtful organizing) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:45:12 -0500

Posted by Seth Godin on March 17, 2009 - very pertinent to agents of all sorts but especially real estate agents in our market today, as well as other service people like stagers and inspectors. I copied and pasted it in it's entirety - hope it doesn't break any A/R rules but this is his work - not mine - but we need to read this.

Where have all the agents gone?

Travel agents... gone.
Stock brokers... gone.
Real estate brokers... in trouble. Photographer's agents, too.
Literary agents?

The problem with being a helpful, efficient but largely anonymous middleman is pretty obvious. Someone can come along who is cheaper, faster and more efficient. And that someone might be the customer aided by a computer.

The airlines don't want to pay travel agents, because the travel agents were making more money on each flight than they were. Some house sellers hesitate to pay real estate brokers because they don't believe the 6% payment is an opportunity, they see it as a tax. Investors abandoned full service stock brokers because trading stocks directly is faster and more accurate than using the phone.

Middlemen add value when they bring taste or judgment or trust to bear on a transaction that isn't transparent. Literary agents are crucial when publishers believe that their choice of content is essential but have too many choices and too little time. But publishers don't trust every literary agent. They trust agents they believe in. Key point: anonymous agents are interchangeable and virtually worthless. Agents that don't do anything but help one side find the other side in a human approximation of Google aren't so helpful any more.

Think about how anonymous the typical real estate broker is. He will sell almost any house or represent almost any buyer. When selling a house, he has a fiduciary responsibility to represent that house to the best of his ability. Just like every other broker. The great real estate brokers do far more than this.

Travel agents still survive, but in a very different way than they used to. Now, the best ones are paid by the traveler, not the airline. The best ones provide a differentiated service that is worth paying for. Instead of being middlemen, then, they are the front men, the attraction, a key asset to the traveler.

To thrive in a world of self-service, agents have to hyperspecialize, have to stand for something, have to have the guts to say no far more than they say yes. No, you can't publish this book. No I won't represent you. No, don't take that flight. No, I won't sell this house, it's overpriced, list it yourself.

The second thing agents must do to make a smart transition is to consider who they are selling to. Should talent agents only sell to Hollywood? Literary agents only to book publishers? Should ad agencies specialize in Google Adwords, not just Super Bowl spots? When markets change, agents can lead the way, not follow along grudgingly.

To read the post on the web page go to: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/03/where-have-all-the-agents-gone.html

If you don't read Seth Godin regularly, I'd recommend it.