Recently, we staged a small, vacant home that has been on the market for a year and a half.  The owner called us in because she realized she needed to do something different.  She'd already reduced her price 3 times and did not want to do it again.  So, we gave her tons of suggestions and then returned to stage some of the rooms.

The master bedroom lacked any type of appeal - was basically a white box with 2 narrow windows.  Staging with fun drapes and bedding, turned this bedroom into an inviting space.

Living Room Before - the shape of the room left buyers confused

Staging shows how furniture can fit

Small space off the living room = BIG QUESTION MARK - Buyers wondered what to do with this space

Staging turns this space into a useful home office

Staging turned this ho hum, forgettable house into a charming home that buyers will remember!

Melody Salazar

 With the chaotic state of our economy, it is important to invest in tried and true marketing tools when selling homes.    At Salazar Staging, we continue to help move home after home with the use of  a consultation.   This is a great marketing tool for home sellers/agents and builders.  All can benefit from our various services, but the single least expensive, most impactful tool is the CONSULTATION. 

We offer a curb to curb analysis of the property and then put together a 6 page written report chock full of suggestions and advice for getting that property looking its' very best.  This advice MOVES LISTINGS!

We see it over and over again and it's great when we hear back from our clients.   Here are just a few satisfied customers sharing that.  Visit our website at www.salazarstaging.com and see samples of our work and read more about the different ways staging can help speed the sale of your property.

"Staging works.  For example, I know for a fact that several of my recent sales are directly attributable to your staging.  Why did  the Sill's home in Schertz sit on the market for 8 months without even a contract and then get staged and under contract in 2 weeks?  I'm getting called almost every day from buyers seeing the photos on the internet wanting to know if it is still available.  Why did Rebecca Mercer's home, located in a myriad of tract houses, sell quickly in a falling market?  Look at the photos and the ambiance created after she took your advice to heart, that's why. Mary Ann Gonzales accomplished her goals to scale down and live closer in after struggling for over a year.  Her home became irresistible and things happened.  How about the Maxwell's?  An impossible little older house  to sell, overcrowded with too much furniture and outdated colors and overgrown backyard.  You inspired them to get on the ball and they took your advice and went under contract a couple of weeks later and now are happily living in a larger home on a 2 acre lot in the country gazing at the "Twin Sister" hills every day!  The list goes on and on". 

Thanks for everything,

Chris Bowers

Coldwell Banker

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When asked, "Did you find the consultation to be thorough?"

 "Absolutely, thorough....Melody is on the top of her profession...she sees things that others would miss and has changed even our thinking about how our house should look ALL the time...."

            Maryann Gonzales, New Braunfels, TX

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Melody,

 I was there with the photographer.  I took the video which will be on my website in the next few days.  The house looks AMAZING!  Great job!  I am very excited to push this house. 

 Hunter Croan

Keller Williams Realty

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Hi Melody,

 I wanted to touch base with you to tell you how much I appreciate your valuable services!  My house has been on the market now less than 40 days and it's under contract as of yesterday!  I am grateful for finding the perfect group of people to help me with my house...my realtor, YOU, and the people who are buying it.

I made about 99% of the changes you suggested.  I covered the watermelon and plaid wallpaper with a neutral paper and hung a chair rail all by myself.  I painted the kitchen and dining room the color you suggested. What's more is that I got the bright red umbrella you suggested for the deck and my house was referred to as "the house with the red umbrella" by some people who really liked it but didn't want a street running behind the house. The overall feedback on the house has been tremendous and I have you to thank for that.  :-)

I've attached a link so you can see photos with the changes. 

 http://www.movoto.com/real-estate/homes-for-sale/TX/San-Antonio/9535-Vallecito-Mesa-401_839009.htm

 Thanks again and if you ever need me to write a testimonial, I would be honored.

 Many blessings,

Kelly Rainey

I've been using rugs in my stagings from the beginning, and I see a lot of staging that doesn't include this.  I think it makes a world of difference in so many settings.  What is your opinion on rug use?  Do you think rooms need this?  I would love to see your rugs  ~  Here are a few of mine,

While these concrete floors may be attractive, they need the warmth of a rug.

In extra large rooms, rugs define spaces.  This large bedroom needed a rug to tether the bed setting

Here's a dining area that  needs defining -

See how the rug tethers the furniture and creates a more divided space:

Here the homeowners were using the wrong size of rug, which made it disappear

So we changed it out for a bigger rug to broaden the space

Send us your rug shots!

I recently did some rooms in a beautiful lake house.  The footprint could not be changed, and no structural changes were possible.  So we did the most we think we could have for these dream clients.  This couple were the clients we designers wish and hope for - they accepted every single suggestion and let me have almost full autonomy.  The project moved swiftly and smoothly because they even bought a camper to live in while we were doing all the renovations.  I will be sending other rooms when they are completed (waiting on window treatments).

But here is the little space that got a face lift with the first changes in 15 years.  The tile and cabinets were outdated and did not show off the gorgeous ceiling.

 New cabinets were not in the budget, so we routed out the panels and replaced with glass.  Changing out the countertop tiles for granite was the final touch

This goes to show - no job is too little to make a big impact.

Mel 

I recently redesigned a bedroom that was very dark and uninviting.  We painted over their previous booger green walls and although the room looked bigger, it was still prettty blah.  I decided to include an accent wall to give some type of focus to this generic bedroom.

We also took the original mirror over the bed, and painted it the charcoal of the accent wall.  Then we hung it on the opposite white wall so it stood out and also tied the accent wall in.

We run into a lot of homeowners with rooms they have deemed the 'storage room' or 'the kids' play room', etc.  As more people are working out of their homes, we feel a home office is an excellent selling point.

Here we have taken a room full of toys and converted  - from spare rooms to rare rooms!  (photo by Salazar Staging)

I just landed a new redesign job for a client who wants to do various window treatments using what she has, but sprucing it up a bit with additional treatments.  The trouble in this bedroom is the vast AMOUNT of windows.  We have to work with the inside mount shades, but I'm afraid if we do just valances, it will be a sea of those.  If we do panels as well, again - so many of them. If I do panels in the round room, would it be okay to then just do valances on the other windows?  I would surely love opinions on this one. HELP!

I recently have signed up with a new window treatment company called B&W Window Fashions, website is www.horizonshades.com.  They have a wide selection of all different treatments, and offer beautiful sample books that are useful when doing windows.  For those of you who do a lot of redesign work, you know the dramatic effect new windows can provide.  I especially am loving the natural woven blinds that now come in a huge assortment of weaves and colors.

This is a redesign we did using only what the owner had.  We painted the bedroom, hung art, and rearranged the furniture.  The shades were the only new purchases.

Before -bland, windows have no impact:

Here we've installed Natural Woven Roman shades and arranged the furniture - the window treatments warm up the entire feel of the rooms

This bedroom was stark and cold looking.  The window shades and paint come to the rescue again

Mel

I like to inject some personality and color into my stagings.  In this home, the existing furniture and bedding was ho hum and this created a blah sort of presentation.  Salazar Staging brought in black and some red to punch up the look.

Here is the bedroom before we staged:  Not bad - just a little dated

Introducing BLACK into the mix

The bathroom was 'okay' but needed something

BEFORE

So we brought in a little more black

Mel