Elaine's Wonderful Blog

Wordless Wednesday--?????????

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:03:53 -0600

Wordless Wednesday--A dream come true or her worst nightmare?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:42:22 -0600

Green on your mind? You just need a little Goodwill....

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:17:51 -0500

I'd like to show you a way you can "be green" and "save a lot of green" at the same time.

Our IRIS Chapter was approached with an interesting challenge. Alison Oyler, who does marketing for Goodwill Industries, invited us to participate in an Italian Tablescape contest. It was held at the Festival Italiano in the Belmar development of Lakewood, Colorado. Now, here's the fun part. We were given $40 gift cards to Goodwill, and could only spend an additional $10 of our own for flowers, candles, etc.

Here are the beautiful tablescapes:

"Mattina Bella" (beautiful morning) by Elaine Manes-A Wonderful Space

"Palazzo Bella" (beautiful home) by Diane Palazzo-5280 Real Estate Staging and Erica Starich-Star Interior Solutions

"Cucina Coast" by Brenda Peterson-Busy Bee Organizing Plus

"Breakfast in Tuscany" by Mico Smith-Metamorphing Interiors

"Casual in Capri" by Khristy Wilson-Interior Evolutions

"Festa del l'uva" (grape harvest festival) Alison Oyler-Goodwill Industries of Denver

I think the photos speak for themselves. So, if you want to "be green", make your local Goodwill store your first stop. AND, you are guaranteed to "save a lot of green", too! The plates I bought were UNDER 50 cents!

Here are few shots of the festival:

This one is my favorite:

A RIDDLE, the color RED, and a quick REMODEL!

Tue, 19 May 2009 16:45:39 -0500

I was called in by my Realtor, to help a condo which had been on the market for MONTHS! The owner had moved out, but rented the condo, furniture and all. I called the seller to see what she was willing to do. Her answer was "whatever it takes". I LOVE these clients! I previewed the property and came up with a plan.

First, the RIDDLE:

When is a cookbook NOT a cookbook?

The answer?

When it's wallpaper!

This wallpaper was used as the backsplash in the kitchen! Convenient? Yes! Everyone's taste? Definitely not!

Next? The color RED!

I love a red accent wall as much as the next person. But, it doesn't work in every home. A small space like a condo will appear larger if you stick to one color for all the walls. And when the home has a fabulous feature like a fireplace, sometimes the red can be distracting.

Here is what I mean:

Now, the fireplace POPS!

I prefer to accent a staging with splashes of red, but not enough to be overwhelming!

The living space before:

Just a few changes:

The client agreed to have the whole condo painted, including the ceiling which was painted a dark tan and added to the cave-like feel of the space. She offered to put in new carpet, but saved a bunch of money by having it cleaned instead. Remember, there are still renters in the condo, so I advised against putting in new carpet for that reason. After the cleaning (the cost was just over $100) the carpet looked fabulous!

Now, the REMODEL:

I thought her money was better spent by updating the two light fixtures in the vanity area of the bathroom:

For a total of $100, we went from 1980.....

.....to 2009!

I agreed to add a few staging items, even though the condo was occupied. Sometimes, it doesn't take much to make a huge difference:

I think you'll agree that paint, some inexpensive lighting, and a few strategically placed accessories can make a world of difference! Here are a few more "after" shots:

Stagers can be invaluable to out-of-town sellers. My services included hiring the painter and carpet cleaners, shopping for the light fixtures, adding accessories, and providing new photos to the Realtor.

Thanks for letting me share this enjoyable project! Need a good recipe for chicken soup?

AR Member Says Staging a Waste of Money!

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:55:28 -0500

I can feel your outrage, and I have every intention of revealing the culprit!

It might surprise you that the AR member is a stager...

...and it might also surprise you that the stager I am talking about is ME!

I was contacted by an agent yesterday, requesting a preview and staging bid on one of his listings. I was anxious to get there and see what I had to work with. Today, I went. I am writing my bid tonight, and there is one thing I know it will say: Staging this home will be a waste of money. I could easily write a thousand words describing what was wrong with this house, but it's easier to tell you what was right. The view. Period.

Any buyer who considers writing an offer on this listing, will do so simply for the view and probably gut the home for a complete remodel. I asked myself if staging a few of the rooms would enhance the view. My answer is no.

So, am I walking away from this one? Not at all. I am hoping the seller gives me a chance to explain that if she puts any money into this house, it should be to take care of some minor repairs, repaint the front door, which is metal and 50% rust, and have someone remove the bars on the windows. That's right, I said bars. Bars on windows say bad neighborhood. After leaving the home, I stopped and chatted with a neighbor to ask if there was a lot of crime in the neighborhood. She assured me there was not.

Now, I could write up my normal bid, with three options for furnishing the home. And, the seller would probably choose one and I could make some money. But, that would be dishonest, because I know it will not help sell the house.

So, what do I want for my honesty? Perhaps, someday, a statue.

Wordless Wednesday-Too Close for Comfort!!!

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:37:32 -0500

Meet Cyrus, the Wonder Dog!!!

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:16:36 -0500

My daughter, Laura, has always been a softie when it comes to animals--a trait I am happy to say we share. Six years ago, she adopted a kitten from a shelter, and she and Boykins have shared a happy home. Boyfriend, Steve, just purchased his first house, and together they decided it was time to adopt a dog. Steve, who is addicted to Craigslist, started the search there. He found an ad from a rescue group that was looking for a home for a very special dog, and he forwarded it to Laura, who forwarded it to me. Here is Cyrus--he has quite a story!

Cyrus lived in Kansas with his owners. He was hit by a car, requiring surgery his family couldn't afford. Enter the rescue group, and a generous vet, who gave him the care he needed. Unfortunately, his leg was too damaged, and the vet amputated it. When he had recovered, he was placed in a foster home here in Colorado. Not much more is known about Cyrus, except he is between 4-7 years old, probably a mix of Corgi and Australian Cattle dog, is recovering from a mild case of heartworm, and gets around remarkably well, considering the surgery was in January. The woman fostering him reports he is the smartest dog she's ever met.

Steve and Laura fell in love with Cyrus immediately. As you can see, he is a happy fellow, and I'm not even sure he knows he only has three legs. He fetches and climbs stairs, and does everything a four-legged dog does. He's also a great ambassador for handicaps, because he gets attention everywhere he goes. He still has a strong urge to chase cars (probably the Cattle dog in him) but they are working on that.

I am very proud of my daughter and her boyfriend, and Cyrus joins my group of granddogs and grandcats, and I will spoil him like I spoil the others! I think they make a nice family!

Am I losing business...because my jeans are too tight?

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:37:28 -0500

Perhaps this has happened to you.You check your voice-mail, and there is a message from an agent or homeowner interested in hiring you to stage a property. You call them back, only to get their voicemail. You leave a message, telling them how anxious you are to talk to them about your services. And then...you never hear back.

We can only assume when they couldn't reach you by phone, they called someone else. And, that person answered their phone, and consequently got the job. I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me. So, what is the answer?

Let's be realistic--there are times we just can't answer our phones.If we are driving, or in a meeting, we are forced to let our calls go to voice-mail. What about when we are on a job?

It was always my practice not to take phone calls while on a staging job. I am being paid by the hour, and it didn't seem fair to use any of that time on the phone. But, frustrated from missing too many staging opportunities, I tried keeping my cell phone in my back pocket. As you know, staging is a very physically demanding job. It's constant kneeling, squatting, stretching, and even a little pushing furniture with our backsides. Too often, I would take my phone out of my pocket to see that during all that activity, I had inadvertently hit some buttons, and I would probably be seeing some charge on my phone bill for accessing a feature I don't already have. I tried my front pocket, but couldn't handle the jabbing pain every time I bent over. I discovered that the only time I would get a call was when I was standing on a chair with a painting in one hand, a hammer in the other and a nail in my mouth.

My voice-mail directs callers to visit my website, which some of them do, and some of them do hire me. But, the majority vanish forever. Since I don't believe I'm the only one having this problem, I would love to hear any and all solutions you may have tried, and what works for you.

And, for you stagers who may have gotten the calls I missed, I understand if you don't want to help!

From Home Stager...to Home Wrecker!!!

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:51:20 -0500

We all know what a home wrecker is, right? Someone who comes into the picture and breaks up a relationship? Well, last week, I did exactly that!

I was called in for a consultation by an agent I have worked with only once. The first home had been on the market for months. It sold two weeks after I made some changes. He really believes in what we do, he just can't seem to remember what it's called. He asked if I could come "showcase" the home, and then introduced me to the seller as the "Feng Shui lady". But, that's okay. I do live by that old adage "I don't care what you call me, just call me".

The home where I was meeting the agent was right across the street from the first house. Very attractive homes on a nice quiet street which winds around a hill. The house looked great from the curb, and I started to wonder why I had been called in. The agent greeted me with a smile and a handshake, and told me the pertinent info on the seller. "She has nice things" he told me. Great! I love when they have nice things!

I met the seller, a bubbly fifty-something woman, and she welcomed me warmly. She had no idea I was a home wrecker, and that my main mission that day was to break up one of her longest relationships.

The agent was right--her furnishings were extremely nice. At first glance, I again wondered why I was there. And, if buyers only got a quick peek and didn't actually walk around the home, the seller wouldn't need me. But, as I walked from room to room, something became glaringly obvious.

DOILIES! That's right..the D word. Every surface in every room sported at least one crocheted disc. I had never seen such blatant over-use of an accessory in my life. As my eyes bounced from one to the next, I lost all awareness of the furniture, the walls, the house. This was not good. Try to picture this in your mind. Every object, every lamp, every candlestick, every plant, sat on it's own little doily. They were on the kitchen counters, the island, on every shelf! The 800 pound gorilla in this home was made of lace! I had to mention it.

"I generally recommend the removal of doilies" I said in my best feeling-my-way voice. "My grandmother made these" she blurted out with a more than slight emotional tremor. I flashed back to another home I wrecked. The seller with so many plants, her home looked like a jungle. She knew exactly who gave her each plant and what the occasion was. I limited her to three plants in each room, and suggested she turn the rest over to family members for safe-keeping. The agent told me that after I left, the seller cried. Now, I've watched enough Dr. Phil to know that it wasn't really about the plants, just as it wasn't about the doilies. Both these sales were a result of divorce. I could see it in my new client's eyes. Everything around me is changing, please don't take my doilies away too. Well, I did take her doilies away, because I had a job to do.

The home was vastly improved when all the doilies were removed (yes, ALL of them) and some furniture had been rearranged. When the home sells, and she moves into a new place, she can wallpaper the walls with doilies, for all I care. But, for now, I had to break up this relationship. Elaine Manes--home stager, home wrecker.

How to Survive in this "NEW" Economy!

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:11:51 -0600

Please notice the term "new", used to describe our current economy, instead of what you normally hear. I use the term "new" to mean different from the former or the old (thank you thefreedictionary.com)

There will be NO negative words in this post! This is an inspiring, uplifting and altogether nauseatingly POSITIVE post. "Elaine, what have you been drinking?" you might ask. I have just decided that all I can control is my attitude. So, if you enjoy wallowing in depression and self-pity, STOP READING HERE!

OK, to better explain where I'm going with this--TIME FOR AN ANALOGY!

Let's say you have been playing the board game, Monopoly, your entire life. But, the deeds have become dog-eared over the years, all the money has disappeared except a five and two ones, and the only playing pieces that haven't been misplaced are the iron and the thimble. But, you remember seeing the game on sale at Target, so you put the old game out in the trash, and purchase a new one.

You open the brand new box, and it doesn't take you long to realize that the game is different and the rules have changed. You get upset. There should have been a warning on the box: MONOPOLY NOW HAS NEW RULES! You run out to the trash only to discover that the old game is covered in coffee grounds. It starts to sink in. The old game is gone for good. If you still wish to play Monopoly, you will have to learn the new rules. If you aren't willing to learn the new rules, you will have to play a different game. You think to yourself if only I had known it was going to change, I would have taken better care of the old game.

So, if you think of our current economy as being different, all we have to do is learn the new rules. And, the best part? We get to make them up as we go. We get to be creative. It's all trial and error, now. There are those who are so stuck in the past, they aren't willing to make the changes necessary. Those people will have to play CandyLand (I mean that in the nicest possible way).

Here are a few suggested new rules:

1. If reading the newspaper or watching the news depresses you, STOP DOING IT.

2. If your old marketing strategies now feel like a waste of time, THEY PROBABLY ARE.

3. If the old stuff isn't working, THINK UP NEW STUFF.

4. If you know someone who feels very negatively all the time, STAY AWAY FROM THEM.

5. If all you can do is complain about the new administration, YOU ARE NOT HELPING.

6. If you feel like you could manage better with more moral support, GET IT.

7. If you need help, ASK FOR IT.

8. If you feel like you are all alone, YOU ARE NOT.

9. If you think you will die without the luxuries you are accustomed to, YOU WILL NOT.

10. If you can still laugh, HOW BAD CAN IT BE?

As far as I know, we don't have poor farms anymore. Most of us will survive (although some of us may have to cut back on the Starbucks) and some of us will even flourish. If we stop acting like victims, we will stop being victims.

So, get out there and PLAY!!!

For those of you who still want the old Monopoly, I hope your houses and hotels are still worth something.

Soooo...you want to be a stager?

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:15:09 -0600

Stagers are multiplying like...well, rabbits. I was recently contacted by three different women about staging.

The first already had her company formed, and just wanted advice on how to get her foot in the door with local Realtors. Three years ago, when I started my company, the challenge was educating the public and the real estate industry about what staging is and what it can do. Now, when I check the local MLS, I can tell by the photos that staging is here, it's prevalent, and the honeymoon stage is over.

So, my advice to her was be good, if you aren't good, get good (I'm not sure she had any training), and find some way to stand out. She was so excited to tell me that she dropped off cookies at real estate offices. I worked in a real estate office for ten years, and we loved when companies brought in goodies, BUT it had NO influence on our willingness to work with this person. AND, there were not too many days that someone WASN'T bringing in treats for us. Her face fell when she saw I was not sharing in her excitement of her marketing attempt. So, I told her it was a good start, but she needed to punch it up, get really creative, and stay focused on what she wanted to do--which was stage listings. Find something that you offer that other stagers don't.

The second woman called to ask about the IRIS training course I took. I only have glowing things to say about that, and she completed the course last week. Turns out she is the sister of the woman who photographed my son's wedding AND took my initial promotional head shots. If she has half the talent of her sister, she will do very well at staging. AND, she's a smart girl because she's already a member of ActiveRain! We are planning on getting together for coffee, and I am hoping we become friends. I really believe friendship among stagers is VERY important. I would not be staging if it wasn't for the friendship and support I receive on almost a daily basis.

The third woman is the one I worry about.She is only considering a career in staging. She is a single mom and needs to make enough money at staging to support her family. I decided to fore-go the flowery speech about how rewarding it is to own your own business, how fun it is to get paid to shop, what a great creative outlet it is. I kept seeing a mental picture of her kids needing things for school while she waits for payment on a job she did months ago. Or her losing job after job to a stager who only dabbles in staging on weekends so offers her services at rock-bottom prices. I told her that staging can be a full time, lucrative career, but it takes a talent for business almost as much as a talent for decorating. And the most successful stagers I know, made a pretty hefty investment in their own furniture and warehouse. The challenge today is finding sellers or agents in this less than stellar market who have the funds for staging, and then beating out the competition. This area went from a handful of stagers just four years ago to hundreds of hungry stagers today. I would never tell someone not to become a stager, but I wanted to be honest about the challenges she would face.

I enjoy getting these phone calls, and sharing what I know about our industry. But times are tough right now, and I just wish these weren't the only calls I was getting. I would love to hear what advice you are giving out these days.

Wordless Wednesday--They're cute so we won't kill them.

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:37:51 -0600

Wordless Wednesday--Sometimes, I'm just in awe.....

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:49:50 -0600

Wordless Wednesday- Feel like you're being watched?

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:28:21 -0600

Wordless Wednesday- WARNING! Graphic photo of drug overdose!

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:31:14 -0600

Speechless Sunday- Do these stripes make me look fat?

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:01:43 -0600

Wordless Wednesday--for all you Southerners!

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:13:30 -0600

Zeke's First Snow!!!

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:30:49 -0600

It's been awhile since I posted pictures of our very unique Zeke, as I like to call him. He is seven months old now.

This dog has had as many looks as Madonna! First he was small and fluffy with bent ears, then his ears stood up and his fluff went away.

The present Zeke is all hairy again! His hair is long and shiny, but he has brown fluffy stuff below his ears! He weighs about twenty pounds, but he's still vertically challenged, and will probably remain so.

Here, you just need to see a couple recent photos:

Zeke and big brother, Bear, woke up this morning to something Zeke has never experienced! SNOW!!! Bear assured the little guy that snow is OK...in fact, snow is WONDERFUL!

Being a little "low slung" Zeke did have a problem with snow clumping up on his legs and belly, but he thought it was worth it. Can't wait until the big stuff comes down!

Thanks for letting me share my unique Zeke with you!

STAGING PASSES TEST...with FLYING COLORS!!!

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:13:37 -0600

With a struggling economy and a sea of unsold properties, my staging company was put to the test.

I was called in to stage a nice older home, fresh from a complete remodel. Feedback was the bedrooms seemed too small, even for the smallest of beds.

"I'll stage it for one month", the agent/owner told me. "If it doesn't sell, I'm going to rent it out". YIKES!!!

The rooms were small, but I knew they would look bigger with furniture in them (something that non-stagers have a hard time understanding)!

A queen size bed fits just fine:

Today, I got an email saying it went under contract. Less than three weeks, in this market! I would say staging received an A+! I think the agent/owner is now a believer!

I hope the new owners enjoy the beautiful roses in the front yard!

This home was lovingly staged by A WONDERFUL SPACE!

Thanks!!! Got to give you credit!!! (painted fireplace)

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:45:26 -0500

I am so grateful to all of you who answered my call for help! I went into this painting project with a lot more confidence than I ever thought I would have, thanks to the great advice I received here!

Now, I'm all about the simplest way of getting from point A to point B, so here is what I did: I bought satin black grill paint, safe up to 1000 degrees, two cheapo throw-away paint brushes (sorry, I know it's not very green of me, but I was not about to clean them in the white sink, and they were made of wood) and 000 steel wool.

I went over to the house before the furniture arrived, put newspaper down and started roughing up the brass with the steel wool. I then taped the areas where metal touched tile, and started painting. It did require a second coat, which I applied at the end of the day, right before photos. When it was wet, you could see brush strokes and drips. When it dried, it was ALL smooth!

Here are the before and afters:

The before photos were taken around 1:30 pm, on the day I previewed it, and the afters were taken staging day at 6 pm. Isn't it amazing how much better they look with the softer light?

Did I mention that this job came to me from Bob Schenkenberger, who hosts my staging blog at gethomedenver? And, I met Bob right here on ActiveRain!!!

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!!

My Diet: Day 1 or Is Killing Someone Considered Exercise?

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:26:50 -0500

It was bound to happen. The skinny child who turned into a skinny teenager who turned into a skinny adult has now become a chubby middle-aged (it's the middle if I live to be 104) adult. In three short years I've gone from hearing "you have the figure of an eighteen year old" to "I think we need to check your thyroid!"

Perhaps this is payback for all those times I pushed my skinny self between two obese women to load up my plate with desserts at the buffet table. They would look at me with the dirtiest of sneers, and I would just glance back with that "don't hate me because I have an incredible metabolism" look.

It all started with my yearly physical, which I have every four years. I've only had this doctor for two years, and I never had my records sent from my old doctor. I didn't think it was necessary for the new one to know that I catch every disease I read about or see on TV. I didn't want him to think I was some kind of kook.

Sitting on the exam table, wearing nothing but a "gown" (the bibs at Red Lobster cover more than this) I shyly said to my doctor "I'm concerned about my weight". He looked down at my chart, shook his head, and replied "You are within range for your height". "Yes, but what if I told you I have gained twenty five pounds in the last three years"? I watched as his little doctor ears perked up. He said "That is quite a significant gain. Have you had a lifestyle change?" I thought for a minute....nope, nothing jumped out at me. I like to eat five small meals and my significant other likes to eat two big meals, which means since I met him, I now eat seven meals--but I'm sure that isn't it. "Can't think of anything, Doc. Maybe, it's one of those medical mysteries." I could see it now on cable TV; The Woman Who Gains Weight Just Standing There.

And then, he said it. "My patients have done really well on the South Beach Diet. Why don't you give it a try?" "NOOOOO", the skinny person inside me screamed! "I have great GENES!!! My dad is skinny, his parents were skinny, and I'm sure their parents before them were skinny!" Then, I thought about the other kind of jeans. The sizes 4, 6, and 8 jeans hanging in my closet collecting dust, and even worse, going out of style!!!

South Beach. I like beaches, so maybe it wouldn't be so bad. It sounds like a vacation--gotta go pack, I'm going on the South Beach Diet! Then, I bought the book. This wasn't a diet, this was the WORST kind of torture. NO CARBS for TWO weeks!!! Are you kidding me? But, I'm a carbivore! Take away my carbs and I shrivel up and die! I called my honey. "Guess what" I said sweetly, "we are going on a diet".

We made the trip to the grocery store an adventure! How strange to skip ENTIRE aisles! Hello fruit, my friend, see you in two weeks! Hi there, breakfast cereal, it's nothing personal! I thought I had it bad, but my honey already hates two thirds of all food. He is MR. PICKY! Finding food he likes on the "allowed" list was very challenging. Every time I picked something up, he made a grossed-out face. The first little pangs of resentment started to rumble deep inside of me.

I jumped out of bed this morning, feeling very confident that this whole diet thing would be a piece of cake (oops...substitute tofu) so I gleefully pranced into the kitchen! I threw a chicken breast and some veggies into a pan to saute for my honey's lunch. I tossed him a salad, whipped up some Italian dressing (the bottled stuff has too much sugar) and measured out some sugar-free candy and 30 pistachios for his snacks. I started the coffee, exactly two cups for him and one for me, and not a drop more. Next, I made some sugar-free Jello, the fabulous dessert to follow the fish and steamed vegetables I have planned for our dinner.

He woke up a bit later, not quite as excited as I was to start our new healthy lifestyle. "Here's your first of two cups of coffee", I said, perhaps a little too cheerfully. His upper lip curled a bit, and I'm sure I imagined the low growl. His demeanor didn't change much when I served him eggs and turkey bacon. But, he did manage to eat it all, which was quite a feat considering breakfast is not one of the two meals he eats. "If you don't pack me enough food, I'm going to eat chocolate." What? Was that a threat? Now, I'm responsible for BOTH our diets? I mentioned some other things I could pack for him as snacks. He vetoed them all. My cheery smile was starting to hurt my face. I started to wonder if there was a connection between the South Beach diet and domestic violence. I should Google this, I thought to myself.

After he left for work, I was feeling a little tense. I decided to cancel all my appointments for the day. My body was feeling very strange and I thought about the amount of carbs I would have consumed by now. I felt like my behavior was just a bit too unpredictable, and perhaps I shouldn't go out in public. I'd hate to suddenly SNAP! I could see the headline now: Elaine Manes--Lifelong Carbivore Bites Woman in Line at Bank. Or Crazed Woman Robs Fast Food Restaurant...Only Takes Buns.

What time is it? Is it eleven yet, because that mid-morning snack of V8 and celery sticks is starting to sound mighty tasty.

MY kind of meme!!! Elaine to Elaine!

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:28:43 -0500

When Elaine Hanson meme'd me, I was worried about coming up with something that is even half interesting. Then I saw her meme, and I thought yay, it's like Meme's for Dummies! So, here goes:

I am - not fully ripe yet.

I think - with a very small percentage of my brain

I can - touch my toe to my nose, but when you think about it, that's pretty disgusting

I want - to be able to sing Happy Birthday to someone without breaking glass

I have - a sixth toenail on my right foot, but only five toes, hence the disgusting remark above

I wish - both my kids would have kids just like them

I hate - my bathroom scale

I miss - recess

I fear - blowing up in an airplane and my leg gets found with two day stubble

I feel - so very lucky

I hear - that brown is the new black

I smell - BBQ, and I go weak in the knees (see I hate)

I search - for a volumizing shampoo that really works

I regret - all the money I've spent on shampoo

I love -watching a man who can really dance

I care - way too much

I always - try to find the good in people, no matter how nasty they are

I am not - as together as I pretend to be

I believe - that man cannot hurt the planet, just our chances of living on it

I dance - and my dog barks to alert the world that I'm having a seizure

I sing - and people cry

I don't always - say what's on my mind, because sometimes keeping the peace is more important

I write - to feel better

I win - and then everybody gets pissed

I lose - and everybody's happy

I never - wake up in a bad mood

I listen - because that's how I learn

I can usually be found - in the housewares department of Ross

I'm scared of - running out of time

I read - anything that has pictures

I forget - the one thing I went into the store to get

I just - ran a mile on my treadmill and almost died, need to teach the dog to dial 911

I am - what I am, and I'm too old to change now

Here's the hard part: I tag Chris Ann Cleland, Tom Scanlon, and Kathy Passerette!

Does a Chill in the Air Mean the DEEP FREEZE for Business?

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:33:35 -0500

I didn't want to get out of bed this morning. True, I don't want to get out of bed most mornings, but today it was because there was a definite chill in the air, and it came right through my open bedroom window. Now, my inner child got very excited. Fall is coming! Piles of leaves to jump in, warming your insides with a steaming mug of hot apple cider, pumpkins just waiting to be carved. Even as an adult, it is still my favorite season. In Colorado, it always sneaks up on us early, sometimes giving us a blanket of September snow, and then a wonderfully long Indian summer settles in until around Halloween.

But, it's not just the air changing. As the days grow shorter, my business starts to dwindle, too. The grand plan is to make enough income in the good months to carry me through the not-so-good months. When I sold real estate, I used to notice the irony of the holidays. With business being slow, I had all the time in the world to shop for presents...just no money to pay for them.

This year, I am asking myself "Does my business have to slow down?" There is no doubt that the amount of buyers decreases over the last three months of the year. And sellers will often take their homes off the market through the holidays. But, what about the buyers and sellers who stick it out, continuing towards their goal of buying or selling a house. I can only assume that these people are very serious, and NEED to buy or sell. In a way, you can look at it like the not so serious buyers and sellers have been weeded out, and the ones remaining are VERY motivated.

What are the components of a successful sale? One showing of a home listed by a motivated seller to a motivated buyer. That's all it takes. It can be the only showing the home had for the month. It doesn't matter. One showing can be all it takes.

So, is this the time of year to throw in the towel and say "I think I'll get that novel read, and that home project started, and wait until business picks up again?" You could do that, and I have certainly had that attitude in the past. But, not this year. My business is not taking a three month vacation this year. When I start to get those calls wanting information about my services, and the conversations that end with "I'll call you back to schedule something after the New Year" I'm going to strongly recommend they don't wait. "It only takes one showing", I'll say.

A partner in staging...who doesn't want to get PAID???

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:22:22 -0500

Here in Colorado, I have a partner in staging, who always comes through, and never demands payment. Her name is Mother Nature and her contribution to the homes I stage is priceless. Here are two examples of her handiwork:

But, Mother Nature can only do so much, because buyers will live INSIDE their home. And, that is where I come in:

I think the combination of...

1. Great clients, who were willing to paint inside and out, AND follow my recommendation for new lighting, AND hire a professional stager!

2. Mother Nature, who does an excellent job of staging the outdoors!

3. A professional stager, who can handle what Mother Nature can't!

...will give this home the very best chance of selling!!!

This home was lovingly staged by A Wonderful Space!

Inspired by JC...uh, that's Jason Crouch.

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:26:56 -0500

Here is the song inspired by Jason Crouch, followed by some interesting findings.

Jason, Jason, Jason....you are such a paradox. As you know (because I have told you), I have made it my life's work to study you, take you apart, see what makes Jason Crouch tick.

What, if anything, have I discovered?

1. People are attracted to you like lint to a belly button. Is it your physical appearance that draws them to you?

When interviewed, people said you were a cross between:

and:

2. When I asked people who know you to tell me something about you, they declined, claiming their dinner was ready, which was an odd statement at 11am.

3. Your neighbors said you were an OK guy, but they wish you would mow your lawn more often.

4. Family members told me they would love to discuss you, but not until the DNA results come back.

5. Members of the ActiveRain community raved about you, but when asked to pinpoint what it is about you they like, the comments stopped.

Taking a poll to see if members knew what you did for a living, the results were:

31% You meet people for lunch

22% You're a male model

17% You drive a cab

30% They have no idea but it involves wearing a golf shirt

6. Some AR members are under the impression that they will be given extra points if they subscribe to your blog, become your associate, or write a post with your name in the title. Do you have any idea how this misconception started?

7. I met with a cross section of US citizens. When shown pictures of George Washington, Mick Jagger, Paris Hilton, Jesus Christ, and Jason Crouch, YOU were the only one they could correctly identify.

8. Continuing with my research, I decided to Google the name Jason Crouch. Under number of results, the symbol for infinity was there. Curious to see whether my keyboard had the symbol for infinity, I noticed there was a Jason Crouch button, which is what I hit every time I've typed your name in this post.

9. Taking a break from my rigorous studies, I decided to take in a movie matinee. The reviews in the paper were all written by Jason Crouch. The ones without reviews simply said "Jason hasn't seen it yet". Overhearing a couple arguing behind me in the theater, the woman finally got up, threw her popcorn, and yelled "Why can't you be more like Jason Crouch" and left the theater.

10. I noticed that there was no mail delivery today. My neighbor said that since Jason Crouch's birthday fell on a Sunday this year, the legal observance day was today.

In conclusion, after exhaustive study, I would have to say that you, Jason Crouch, will forever fall into the category of mysterious phenomenon, with the likes of Sasquatch, the Loch Ness monster, and the potato that looks like a foot.