Staging New Hampshire

Declutter + Depersonalize = Deposit? Depends...

2008-08-17T11:37:33Z

Home staging is one of the best marketing tools and many consider it their secret weapon against the competition. However, it is not a magic wand and it is not the be all, end all to getting your house sold.

If your house is over priced, staged or not, it will sit until someone comes along who is willing to pay the price. That could be a very long time.

Time on the market is money out of your pocket.

It's funny how valuable something becomes, in our mind, when we decide to sell itl Price cannot be determined by your emotional attachment. Price cannot be determined by what you "have to get for it" or what you owe on it.

Price is determined by the market, and what buyers are willing to pay. Price is determined by what other houses comparable to yours have recently sold for.

Today, you need an advantage over your competition. You need to create a higher perceived value and something that sets your house apart, something that validates your asking price.

Imagine a buyer visits eight homes

and two of them are vacant,

five of them are dated,

have furniture placement issues

or need carpet replaced or painting done.

They visit house number eight

which has fresh paint,

furniture is arranged to show space and function,

postivie features of the home are highlighted,

and lighting fixtures and window treatments are current and stylish.

House number eight is move-in-ready.

All eight houses are in the same price range, but house number eight is perceived as more valuable, and therefore perceived as a better deal. House number eight will be remembered and all other things equal, will get the offer.

Your odds of selling before your competition and for closest to your asking price will increase using professional home staging in your marketing plan.

Decluttering and depersonalizing is only the beginning...professional staging together with a realistic price is the way to guarantee a deposit in the bank.

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The Importance of Lighting - Know Your Math Formula For Perfect Lighting In Every Room

2008-08-16T19:33:18Z

You learn something new every day...today I learned that there is actually a formula to use to determine the amount of wattage necessary to light a room. I find this information to be valuable and thought I would pass it on.

Via Dane Caldwell - Downtown Toronto Decorator Home Stager:

Everyone is aware when they walk in to a room with the perfect lighting scheme. A room with a well planned out lighting scheme just feels right; it feels welcoming, relaxing and yes even sophisticated.

How do you feel in your home? Do you walk in to your rooms and feel as though you've just entered an operating theatre or a movie theatre during the previews? Are your pets and small children afraid of what could be lurking in the dark corners of your rooms?

Getting the right balance of lighting is an art...but it is an art with it's foundation firmly rooted in science.

Lighting Formula = Layers of Light = Artful Lighting

The different types of lighting, and I'm not talking about floor and table lamps, chandeliers etc, have specific purposes and can be artfully layered to create the perfectly lit room for all your lighting requirements.

The Science of Lighting

Layers of Light

The 5 Basic Types of Lighting:

ambient - this is your general purpose lighting

indirect lighting- which comes from 1 or more fixtures also known as luminaries. Light from these sources bounce the light off the ceiling and walls. Indirect can be used as the ambient lighting for a room. Uplighting which can come from scones for example is a form of ambient where the light uses the ceiling to bounce the light back down on to the room...et voila! You now have indirect lighting.

task - provides a focused light designed for specific tasks you preform such as fixing meals or reading a book. The task lighting would be a layer of light in the room over and above the ambient lighting source.

wall washing - provides even lighting around the perimeter of a room and can come from the floor up the wall or from the ceiling down. Placement is important so avoid lighting over or under a window, mirrors or framed photography or you will create reflections which can be harsh and distracting. If you have an accent wall in your room with a darker paint colour you will no doubt have to add additional lighting to wash the walls due to the darker colour absorbing more of the light.

accent- is placed specifically to highlight an object. Make sure you avoid the light from straying beyond the object and avoid over use of accent lighting or you will overwhelm the room and occupants with visual stimulus and potentially move the lighting in to the realm of operating theatre.

What architects, interior designers, decorators and lighting specialists know in order to calculate the perfect amount of lighting for a room:

The Lighting Formulas

general formula

Room Length X Room Width X 1.5 = Required Wattage to Light a Room

An example:

10 x 15 foot bedroom x 1.5 will require 225 watts.

Therefore if you only have 1 overhead light with 2 60 watt bulbs the lighting in the room will be deficient by 105 watts.

2. task lighting formula

task area length X task area width X 2.5 = Required Wattage for Task Lighting

The concentrated lighting provided by the formula results in the amount of wattage for getting the job done.

The Art of Lighting - Professional Required

With required wattage in hand the left half of the brain takes over and the art of lighting reveals the intricacy's of layered lighting. The artist understands the interplay of light and colour and can visualize the layers of lighting required in a room to achieve the perfect balance.

In a follow up blog we will discuss the art of lighting and layering in detail.

Please feel free to re-blog this post to spread enLIGHTenment!

WWW.2-HOUNDS.COM

Feeding Mudpies to Mary and Other Fond Childhood Memories

2008-08-08T20:00:26Z

Recently, I spent an evening with some childhood friends and then a couple days later I spent an afternoon with my brother and sister.

Both visits brought up childhood stories and very happy memories. It got me thinking about how different it is today and how lucky I was to have grown up where and when I did.

How many kids actually play outside anymore?

Even if they weren't glued to tv's and computer games, and even if you didn't have to worry about them being abducted, they wouldn't know what to do if you put them outside for the day. They would become "bored" which is a fate worse than death.

I didn't exactly grow up in Mayberry, but I did spend a lot of time outside "playing" and when we came in at night all dirty and tired, it was not without protest. Staying outside after dark and playing flashlight tag was a real favorite.

Riding bikes,

driving through dirt and rocks with Tonka trucks and Matchbox cars,

and bouncing a ball against the house

were daily activities.

Making mud pies, running through the sprinkler, and buying ice cream from the ice cream man were the highlight of any summer day.

My favorite ice cream was the buried treasure, which was sherbet on a stick that had a toy inside. Not exactly a real toy, but it was so exciting seeing what character you got.

We didn't call our friends on the phone, we just showed up at their doorstep calling out their name. Does anyone else remember calling for their friends outside their door? Instead of knocking or ringing the bell, you would sing out their name real loud...was that just in my neighborhood? My brother and his friends actually had a call...a loud pitched squeel-like whistle sound they made to summon each other.

Remember making forts...in the woods, in trees, under a table? We used our imagination and went where it took us...always a new adventure.

Making a whistle with a blade of grass-how cool was that?

By filling an old rusty coffee pot with leaves, dirt, and water we made coffee.

There was a girl in my neighborhood named Mary. We used to make Mary drink our coffee and

we used to feed her cough medicine when we played hospital and

we used to cut her hair when we played beauty parlor.

We did terrible things to Mary. Kids can be very cruel.

She still returned to play day after day.

I hope Mary is happy and successful today. I hope she has happy childhood memories, no thanks to me and my evil siblings.

Other fond memories:

Jeannie vs. Samantha?

I enjoyed Jeannie, living in a bottle was cool...but Samantha had more class and style. I never liked Darren, either of them. She could have done better, and I never understood why she would willingly give up her witchcraft and live like a mortal.

Trivia: Did you know that Gladys Kravitz, Samantha's nosey neighbor, lived in the same house that the Partridge Family lived in? Speaking of the Partridges:

Partridge Family vs. Brady Bunch? Marsha, Marsha, Marsha...no thank you...what girl didn't want to be Laurie Partridge? How cool would it be to have your own band and ride around in a colorful bus? As for the guys, Greg Brady wasn't exactly a looker...but Keith, so cute!

Spaghetti O's vs. Beefaroni? I was never a fan of the O's but I loved Beefaroni and for old times sake, a few years back I bought a can. OMG, is that stuff nasty! It is true what they say, "you can't go back again."

Trivia: In the movie Apollo 13, when Bill Paxton vomits they used Beef-a-Roni for the vomit. There was a half of a can left at the end of the day. Bill lost a bet with Tom Hanks and he had to eat the rest of the can.

Hostess, Drakes, or Little Debby? Hostess and Drakes hands down...Ring Dings, Twinkies, and Devil Dogs...yummy! Back in the good old days before we knew about high fructose corn syrup and trans fats. By the way, the rumors that Twinkies remain edible for years is not true. They have a shelf life of 25 days.

What is your "snack cake" IQ? Take this quiz to find out.

Take some time and think back on those childhood days and what pleasures you found in the simple things. It feels good to remember and to laugh. Call an old friend or sibling and let those memories fly. You will be so glad you did.

UPDATE: Arabian Nights Prom Pictures-Thanks For Your Help

2008-07-22T20:21:12Z

Back in February, in my post "Dreaming of Jeannie at the Prom" I asked for creative help with decorations for a high school prom with an Arabian Nights theme. A friend of mine was on the decorating committee and asked for my assistance.

The comments that I received were forwarded to the Prom Committee and they were very grateful.

Here are some photos that were forwarded to me today of the completed project:

A good time was had by all and they sold all the decorations on Ebay for $2000!

Thanks again to those of you who sent in suggestions!

Why Should Realtors Partner With Stagers When They Can Have All The Fun To Themselves?

2008-07-20T18:54:01Z

In a recent post "Realtors Have it Easy" I wrote about just how overworked and under appreciated Realtors are. It seems to me that partnering with a professional home stager, who they could recommend to their clients, could ease some of that pressure.

I am wondering...

Would a Realtor's job be a bit easier and less stressful, if a stager assisted the sellers in the preparation of their house for sale?

Maybe, but the realtor would miss out on the opportunity to tell the seller that

there is a foul smell in the den and

they wouldn't get to be the one to break the news to the seller that the priceless Star Wars collection needs to be removed from the dining room.

The Realtor wouldn't be the one

creating the seller's to-do list and justifying

the expense investment of

the necessary improvements.

Would the MLS photos be more appealing if said house were professionally prepared?

Let's think about this one

because...

maybe the peeling paint on the front door is charming

and adds character.

and maybe

painting the bathroom would make the room appear less dramatic than the flocked velvet wallpaper that is there now.

New home owners today are into that retro look and besides if the seller makes all those improvements, the new buyer won't get the opportunity to make it their own style.

Potential buyers like using their imagination and they love home improvement projects, right?

Would said house sell faster if it were more emotionally appealing to buyers?

Why's everyone in such a hurry? If you wait long enough,

just the right guy who happens to be looking

for a home decorated in

"1979 bachelor pad" decor will come along and offer a

pretty penny for this charmer.

I'm sure a young couple that doesn't mind water stained ceilings and holes in the wall will come around eventually.

A family that appreciates animals will have no problem with the three large dog beds

in the master bedroom.

Would the seller make more money and consider the Realtor a hero and a marketing genius if said house sold sooner, rather than later?

Sure, but they are in no hurry to sell. They have plenty of money to pay two mortgages and they understand that if it doesn't soon get an offer, they can just lower the price again. And besides, who wants to live up to the reputation of being a hero?

Would the commission be higher if said house sold sooner and without a price reduction?

Sure it would, but it's not always about the money!

Realtors don't even care about the commission, right?

It's the joy of the whole experience that makes it all worth it.

Stratham Fair, NH Seacoast Tradition - Illustrated with Vintage Family Photos

2008-07-11T11:17:46Z

When it comes to agricultural fairs, the community of Stratham, New Hampshire, takes theirs very seriously.

This year July 24 - 27 at Stratham Hill Park the 41st annual Stratham Fair will be held and attendance is expected to be over 25,000 people.

The fair started out as a small lobster bake to thank the volunteer fire department and has become a huge charity event that benefits many local organizations.

Entertainment, in addition to the usual games and rides of the midway, include performances on two stages, baking competition, pie eating contest, Miss Stratham Fair pagent, a Fine Arts and Crafts exhibit, a road race, and a Fireworks display on Sunday night as a finale to the fair.

In traditional fashion, you will find 4H Shows and agricultural exhibits.

In addition to the food delights of the Midway and the traditional lobster bake, a barbeque and a lasagna supper are also scheduled.

The very reasonable price of admission is $7 daily. Children 6-12 and Seniors 65+ are just $4 daily.

Children under 6 are Free.

Grandparents get in Free on Thursdays.

Military personnel and dependents get in free on Fridays. Group rates and discounted tickets for Stratham residents are available.

Parking is Free.

For info including Event Schedule, Admission Specials, directions and more visit the Stratham Fair website.

"Realtors Have it Easy" A Home Stager Learns The Truth

2008-07-07T20:09:34Z

Realtors make a lot of money for not really doing very much. Four, five, six percent commission for what? They put up a sign, have a couple open houses, place some ads, do a little paperwork...on a $650,000 sale they make $32,000. Easy money.

If you are a Realtor, you are familiar with this mindset. Many people share this opinion.

Before I started my Home Staging business, a couple of years ago, I too thought that Realtors had it pretty easy. I, like many others, had no idea just how invested and consumed by their job these poor people are.

My step into the real estate world has changed forever my concept of this profession. Here are just a few of my observations:

They have no set hours...on call 24/7...evenings, weekends, holidays, vacations.

They have to be part psychic, part psychiatrist, part marriage counselor, part life coach.

They feed pets, water plants, take out the trash, move furniture, and provide taxi service.

They advise, encourage, and comfort.

They are expected to be able to read minds and tell the future.

They spend their own money up front on expenses, which usually are not reimbursed.

Somehow upon signing a real estate contract, slavery becomes legal once again. Is there somewhere in the contract that states the home seller actually becomes owner of the realtor?

I have witnessed Realtors going to great extremes on behalf of their clients, going above and beyond what would be considered their job description. I never knew the extent of the hours and dollars spent by Realtors leading up to their commissions earned.

For all of you who work so hard to earn your commission...you have earned my respect.

Easy money? I don't think so!

Inexpensive Wall Art - Adding a Creative Twist

2008-06-24T19:23:47Z

In a recent post on inexpensive wall art by Monica Murphy, Monica showed us how to create wall art using scrapbook paper. What I love about this idea is how easy it is to change out the art as needed. Off to the store I went to pick up my frames and various papers.

I was telling my daughter about this wonderful idea and she informed me that she had made a picture for a friend as a baby shower gift using this technique. In addition to using a sheet of paper in the frame, she cut up shapes from different sheets of paper and created a scene.

She used cookie cutters to trace the shapes.

She used a glue pen sold with the scrapping tools to glue it all in place.

This 12 x 12 picture cost a total of $13 including the frame and she has plenty of paper left over.

This was done for a baby, but this idea could easily be used for any room.

If I Show You Mine...Will You Show Me Yours? I Dare Ya!

2008-06-23T19:27:14Z

This past weekend my husband was going through old digital photos on our computer. After finding a few "what the heck was I thinking" photos, I thought it might be fun to put a dare out there in the Rain.

I'm brave (or crazy) enough to post a picture of myself from 1989, are you willing to put yourself out there with me?

What did you look like in the eighties? It really wasn't a very attractive decade. Permed hair, shoulder pads, high top sneakers, banana clips, legwarmers, and neon colors were just a few of the trends.

Well, as promised...

Here I am with my bad eighties perm.

Now it is your turn...lets see what 1980's fashion trend you can represent!

UPDATE: 1978 photo added in comment section

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Premature Listing Syndrome - New Hampshire Stager Cautions Home Sellers

2008-06-17T15:19:37Z

It may be a realtor who is afraid of losing the listing who is pushing to get the house on the market. It may be a seller who, now that they have decided to sell, wants it on the market yesterdayl There could be seasonal issues, school beginning or school ending issues, relocating to another state for a new job time restraints. It may be a divorce situation where the sellers are anxious to get on with their lives.

It doesn't really matter what the reason is, too many sellers are prematurely listing their houses.

I've heard it over and over again...sellers don't have the time to make the suggested improvements. They can't afford to wait two weeks to get it on the market. "Listed" somehow means "sold" and getting the house on the market becomes the priority.

Unfortunately, and ironically for these sellers, the act of rushing onto the market is what ultimately keeps the house on longer than need be. Today's buyers are not interested in making improvements. They want move-in-ready. Worn carpet or dated wallpaper not only represents work to buyers, it also suggests that the house wasn't properly maintained and other areas of the home become suspect.

This seller was ready to list, believing that removing the worn, dated carpet was not necessary. The Realtor and I convincing him to delay listing until the carpet could be removed and some accessories could be added made a huge difference on the quality of product being marketed. Taking the extra time resulted in increased perceived value.

For those sellers that do list prematurely, once they realize their mistake, the house's "days on market" are accumulating. Too many days on market leads to a price reduction.

A sellers best chance at getting closest to asking price is in the first two weeks, when the price and the interest in the house are at their highest. You only get one shot at that just-listed popularity. Just-listed interest is so short lived...can you really afford not to be prepared?

Here is my advice to anyone considering selling their home. Make the best use of your time. Take the time necessary to properly prepare the house for sale. Do not list until the house is completely ready to be shown.

It's not time and money saved when you cut corners, it is actually time and money lost.

Time spent on improvements increases your chance of selling and decreases your chance of price reductions.

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Don't Donate Until After The Home Stager Visits...Charity Begins at Home!

2008-06-16T14:18:49Z

When it comes to my home staging business in New Hampshire, my tag line "creative and unique solutions one room at a time" is much more than just a tag line. As a home stager, it is a way of life.

I find that more often than not, creativity plays a big role in a succesful staging. Many of my clients have made it clear from the beginning that they "have a limited budget" or "have no money" or "cannot afford" when it comes to paying for my services.

Don't get me wrong, I have been blessed with clients who totally "get it" and I am grateful for those opportunities, but cost usually is a determining factor on most jobs.

If you are a stager, this is not unfamiliar to you. Sometimes we are able to help realtors and/or sellers understand the value of the investment of staging and sometimes we just are not. When you are challenged with budget restraints and have to make the best with what the client has, "creative" and "unique" solutions are often what make the difference.

If you are a homeowner preparing your home for sale and you are deciding which items to donate, sell or even trash...you may want to wait until after the home stager visits. The items we choose to use may surprise you.

Here are some photos from a recent job, where creativity played the starring role in updating the room and also saving the homeowner money.

This photo was taken by a realtor, who was planning on using it on MLS. I convinced her to give me the chance to get her a better photo.

Although the room is actually quite large, it gives the impression of being small and crowded. The king size bed has no choice but to go in front of the windows and this makes the space seem like it has furniture placement issues.

The bedding and valances are dated.

I was only given one visit to make as much of an improvement as I could.

I flipped the existing bedspread over to the white side. The homeowner had an old comforter and shams she had put aside to donate.

Hey, charity begins at home, right! I used the comforter at the foot of the bed and added the shams..

Turns out there were valances to match the comforter, but I wanted panels for the windows behind the bed, one on each side to frame the bed and make it feel more like it belonged there.

Here's where the creative part comes in...

The charity set...had a matching shower curtain. I cut it up the middle, folded the top over to hide the shower curtain ring holes and used drapery rings with clips to hang from the rod. The homeowner found it very amusing, saying "I never thought I would be cutting up an old shower curtain for my bedroom and have it considered an improvement!"

By photographing the room from further back and including the second nightstand, the room feels more spacious.

Lucky for this homeowner that she hadn't gotten around yet to delivering her donated items, so her only expense for this room's makeover was the two curtain rods and rings and the two throw pillows...one quick trip to Walmart.

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More Wildlife Photos from the Woods of Portsmouth, New Hampshire

2008-06-09T21:03:01Z

I consider myself very fortunate to live in the best of both worlds.

The beach is 5 minutes from my house.

All the necessities of fine living (shopping, bank, market, fine restaurants) are within a couple miles of my house.

Boston is less than an hour away.

However, once you venture down my driveway...it's like you have left the world behind.

I live on four acres, mostly protected wetlands, nestled in the woods.

The convenience of city life nearby, and the solitude of country life outside my door!

In our woodland paradise we enjoy the company of many of God's little creatures. Here are some of my favorite photos of our little friends.

Butterfly and spider web

This birdbath full of food was too hard to resist! Morris, yes we named him, loves tomato.

Barn Owl checking out the area. No idea, anyone know what this is?

Look closely at this one...

This greedy squirrel

wanted all the birdseed for

himself...he got right

inside the feeder!

No, we did not have him for Thanksgiving! Winter bird

Winter or Summer, the squirrels are always looking for food!

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I Didn't Know There Were Albino Deer! Deer Photos From Portsmouth, NH

2008-06-05T17:13:28Z

Living in the woods, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, we have daily visits from deer, primarily in the winter months when they are in need of food. We have never seen albino deer. My daughter sent me these photos from northern New Hampshire of two beautiful albino deer.

Seeing these pictures gave me the idea to share photos I have taken of the deer in my yard in Portsmouth, NH. Here are some of my favorite shots:

More deer than birds at our birdfeeders! Look closely...it's tongue is sticking out!

They are such peaceful, sweet animals. I never get tired of seeing them.

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Selling (Your New Hampshire Home) is a Team Sport, Who Is On Your Team?

2008-06-04T20:17:14Z

Any winning team will tell you that their success is not based on any one individual player.

It takes the individual talents of many,

working as a unit, each knowing the

strengths and weaknesses of their

teammates to be a winning team.

Simply put:

When it comes to selling your home, who you choose to be on your team will determine whether or not you win or lose.

I consider myself a Red Sox fan...I wear my Boston cap proudly.

I've only been to Fenway once and I don't watch every game, but I really enjoy the games that I do see.

I know most of the players names and I have my favorites.

I tell you this so you will understand that I have no other real interest in sports and I really have no business writing a "sports" analogy post.

I could use a little help from some real sports enthusiasts. Feel free to step up to the base, or is it bat? (sorry, pun intended) and help me out here.

Back to real estate...who is on a "House for Sale" winning team?

Let's make the homeowner or seller the coach, they assemble the team and they ultimately make the final decisions. The coach should choose his players carefully, based on their expertise.

The Realtor is the captain of the team, and is responsible and accountable for strategy. They are the go-to guy, the leader who facilitates between the teammates and the officials.

Speaking of officials, the real estate attorney...let's make him the referee.

Our MVP is the Professional Home Stager, whose transformation gives the property

an advantage over the competition.

Other players on the team...loan officer, home inspector, painter, plumber, landscaper, electrician.

Bottom line here is "it takes a village" ... Ooops, wrong analogy...sorry!

Remember, you are the coach...

assemble a qualified and experienced team,

work together and work smart,

outplay the competition.

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For more information on Home Staging in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire area (Newington, Dover, Exeter, Hampton, North Hampton, Greenland, Rye, and Stratham) visit sharontara.com

Good News: Home Staging is Not a Common Practice in New Hampshire

2008-06-03T18:30:07Z

Planning on selling your house in New Hampshire? The fact that most New Hampshire home sellers do not consult with a home stager is very good news! Good news for you, and any other seller who chooses to professionally stage their house.

This is also very good news to the Realtors listing the staged homes.

Any time someone uses a successful method that the majority are not using, they have an advantage.

There is a big advantage to be had here in the Northeast. With so many listings on the market today and so many sellers using "don't want to spend any money on the house" excuses, a staged home stands out from the competition.

There is so much complaining about the terrible market, the slow market, the state of real estate... doom and gloom and falling prices. What is a seller to do?

I'll tell you what not to do...don't fall prey to the headlines and accept it as your fate. Many sellers in New Hampshire are doing just that. One after another they are becoming "price reduced" statistics. Those in tune with today's market know that a key to the sale is in the preparation.

Buyers want move-in ready...

For the best possible result, DON'T LIST your house until it is ready, and by "ready" I mean professionally home staged.

And by "professionally home staged" I mean consult with a professional who can advise you on every single thing you can do to sell faster and for as close to asking price as possible. Once you have been advised on what to do...do it!

Once the house is show ready, make sure your online photographs represent a spacious, well maintained, emotionally appealing home. Maintain the appearance for every showing.

Strategically marketed products sell...use this to your advantage.

Home staging is the trend of the future. For now, it remains a marketing tool that only a few are taking advantage of. Don't miss your opportunity to be one of the few!

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For more information on Home Staging in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire area (Newington, Dover, Exeter, Hampton, North Hampton, Greenland, Rye, and Stratham) visit sharontara.com

UPDATE From Happy to Sad

2008-05-25T19:15:35Z

A little over a month ago, I wrote a post from my heart, "My boy is having a baby" announcing that my son and his wife were expecting for the first time.

I am very sad to say that they went to their twelve week check up recently and found out that the baby had died at eight weeks.

It came as a very hard blow to all of us.

I was going to delete my prior post, and after much consideration decided that it should stand. The circumstances have changed, but my love and pride for my son have not. If anything, I'm even prouder of him now. This experience has matured him over night.

Miscarriage is very common and many of you have experienced it in your own families. Anyone who has, knows how devastating it is. No matter what stage of pregnancy the loss occurs, it is a painful one.

Many of the women in my family, including me, and many of my friends have experienced it. When told the news recently, the reactions all had one thing in common. It brought back the pain, the loss and the sadness of our own loss, no matter how many years prior. It is amazing how those feelings can come rushing back in such force.

I'm a true believer in things happening for a reason. The reason for losing this baby? I don't know...but I do know that they will get past this sadness and, like those of us who have had this horrible experience before them, they too will go on to have healthy babies in the future.

Don't Suntan With Limes and Don't Shower With A Fever - Who Knew?

2008-05-19T15:13:28Z

Have you ever had or heard of any strange medical conditions or experiences that without having experienced or heard about first hand, you would never have known about. Life is full of little lessons that come to us only by way of experience.

I have a couple of examples:

Years ago, my daughter developed a very dark discoloration over her upper lip. It looked like she was bruised or the skin got stained. The family doctor had no clue what the cause was. He sent us to a dermatologist. Well, he sent us to the right guy.

The dermatologist took one look and smiled and said "you have been eating limes, in the sun."

She had been putting lime wedges in her bottled water while tanning.

The doctor explained to us that the condition, called phytophotodermatitis, more commonly called Margarita Dermatitis, is a discoloration of the skin that occurs from a combination of contact with lime peel and exposure to the sun. The discoloration is permanent. She had to use a prescription skin lightener to gradually fade it out. She was lucky...most cases develop lesions and an itchy rash, she only had the discoloration.

According to the doctor, many Spring Break kids are aware of this scientific wonder and use limes to "tattoo" graphiti on other students who are sleeping in the sun.

Many bartenders who work poolside or on beaches have the discoloration on their fingers.

My second life lesson is more serious:

This same daughter found herself passed out in the shower one morning.

She called me very upset, her husband drove her to my house and I accompanied her to the doctors. She hadn't been feeling well and had a fever. Several tests were done to rule out anything more serious, then they assured us that her fainting was due to her body temperature.

Turns out that taking a hot shower with a fever can cause you to pass out. That was a first for me.

Any unusual or interesting medical experiences you would like to share? Any medical mysteries you haven't solved yet?

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Yard Sales - A Guide to Navigating the High Seas of Weekend Merchandising

2008-05-16T13:55:00Z

It's that time of year again...I go sailing every weekend.

I'm not sailing on water, I'm cruising the streets of New Hampshire.

I am a pirate of sorts, searching for treasure.

I venture off each Saturday morning on my quest for treasures at local yard sales. It used to be just a passion, purely for fun. Now that I am a professional home stager it is more than just fun, it is my business.

I find many brand new or like new home staging accessories at very low prices.

In addition to having yard sale experience as a buyer, I have had many years of experience having yard sales and after commenting on a post by Audrey Hoffman, where she asked for yard sale advice, I decided that I had enough information for my own post.

If you, or a real estate client of yours, are planning on having a sale, here are some of my tried and true tips to make your sale a successful one.

First, some advice on writing your ad:

Place an ad in your local daily paper. Most salers use this as their source.

Highlight any big ticket items. (collections, furniture, antiques, appliances, tools, dolls, books, records...)

Multi-Family sales or "first time" sales are a big hit and will draw more people. Try to get neighbors to participate...the more families on a street included in the sale, the better.

The phrase "years of accumulation" will attract buyers.

If you plan to have your sale rain or shine...make sure you state that in the ad or list a rain date.

I don't usually put the number of my house in the ad, only the Street name. That way the dealers can't show up the day before. Just make sure the house is clearly identified when you open.

I usually only list a start time, no end time. That way you can end whenever you feel like it.

If you don't want anyone there before the start time, make sure you state No Early Birds. Understand, though that some people will still come early. If you don't state "No Early Birds," plan on people arriving very, very early. If you advertise for a start of 8 am, you could have people there as early as 6:30. You can only have actual control of the start time if you have control over letting them in, (gate, door, or roped off area)

Regarding the sale:

Get change (ones, fives, and coins) the day before.

Have lots of bags and also old newspaper for wrapping glassware.

It is best to have tables, but plywood over some trash cans or boxes work well. Do what you can to have breakable items up off the ground.

Have big, easy-to-read-from-a-distance signs at both ends of the road. Make sure signs can withstand weather if rain is a possibility. (8.5 x 11 sheets of paper taped to a telephone pole are not good enough.) Always remove signs after the sale is over.

The better the presentation, the more valuable the items for sale will appear. (organizing stuff into sections...housewares, holiday, toys, tools, books, etc. is helpful) I always have a "Free" box or area and add to it throughout the sale.

Don't keep candles or record albums in direct sun, they melt and warp.

It is best to have items individually marked with a price. Don't group items by price (everything on this table is $1) because the stuff gets moved all around and it gets too hard to keep track of what originated where.

Prepare yourself to bargain. Most people want it for less than you price it. Clearly mark anything that is not for sale.

If you have several people working the sale, then only one person should be cashier. People claim to have paid someone else if more than one person is collecting the money.

It is really sad to say, but people steal. Keep small pocketable items in view or inside zip lock bags.

If you have a lot of electrical items, have an extension cord available to prove that they work.

If you don't want people driving on your driveway, you need to block the entrance with your car.

At the end of the sale we always put any leftover items by the street with a big "free" sign and we go out to eat. Never fails, when we return it is all gone.

Having a yard sale is a lot of work, but it is also a lot of fun. Make it a festive atmosphere with music and balloons. Have fun with people and enjoy the experience.

It is amazing how much money you can make with a bunch of stuff you no longer need or want!

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Daycare Dining Room, Eat-In Living Room...Home Staging Defines Room Function

2008-05-12T11:34:01Z

Today's buyers want move-in ready. They have no time to try and figure out furniture placement. Each room must be clearly defined and the furniture must be arranged to show space and function. If buyers have to try and figure out where their furniture is going to go or if it will even fit, they move on to the next house.

This beautiful home in Rye, NH was a pleasure to work on. It is a great example of the dramatic results that are possible using only the home owner's furnishings and accessories. Other than some fresh paint and a couple of new light fixtures, nothing new was brought in for this make over. We simply de-cluttered, depersonalized, and rearranged the furniture to clearly define each room.

Room function was clearly not defined in this house and there were too many different bright wall colors.

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Photo Upload Problem Solved - At Least at My End- Give This A Try

2008-05-12T10:10:26Z

I haven't been able to upload a picture since Saturday. Many of you are having similar problems and AR is working on all the bugs. My husband, Rick, has solved the photo upload problem. I asked him to explain what he did so you all could see if it fixes the problem at your end. Here is what he did:

I currently use internet explorer 7 which is set to open new tabs instead of new browser pages.

I noticed that when I clicked on the tree icon indicating that I wanted to add a picture, I heard the sound of my pop-up blocker blocking an entry. There was nothing visual on the current tab, but when I switched to my main active rain tab, I saw the drop down bar on that tab asking if I wanted to allow popups from active rain.

When I set it to always allow pop ups from active rain and then clicked on the tree icon, the tab opened up with the insert image dialog. Now, when clicking the browse icon, the tab to "upload an image to active rain" opens.

Hope this helps the rest of you with this problem, if you have any questions just let us know.

Make Your Own Music Videos - Free, Easy and Very Awesome!

2008-05-09T10:23:03Z

If you haven't discovered Animoto yet...you are really missing out on the opportunity to create awesome music videos of your photos. I have made several and every one came out great.

It is really fun and simple to use. Upload your own photos, put them in the order you want, choose your music from their selection or from your own, and Animoto does the rest.

It creates a custom music video and when it is complete you even have the option of doing a "remix" which means it will redo it with different techniques and you get a whole different version. It doesn't replace the first version, it gives you an additional video using the same photos. You could use the same photos with different music.

A thirty second video, which is about 12-20 photos, is free and you can make as many as you want.

If you want a full-length video, which is an unlimited number of photos, it costs just $3.00. I've made videos with over 100 photos in them. You can remix a full length video as many times as you want and have as many different versions of it as you want for no extra charge!

Also Available is the option of an all-access pass, which for $30 you get an unlimited number of videos for one year. Use the link below to check it out, see a sample, and by using this link you can save $5 on an all-access pass and get one for only $25.

I have had so much fun with this program...try making a thirty second video and see for yourself!

UPDATE Check out two of my videos in comment section below.

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Replacing Family Photographs With a Gift to the Buyer

2008-05-05T19:43:40Z

A recent staging job has resulted in a creative way to replace personal photos. This home had a beautiful arrangement of photos on a wall. The family photos had to go, but the arrangement really worked well there.

Here is a photo of what the wall arrangement

looked liked. The wall would have been so empty,

not to mention having to fill all the nail holes, if we

removed all the pictures. Wall art to fill this space would

have been expensive.

I took some photos around the property and emailed them to the seller. She printed them and put them in the frames in place of the family photos. They look beautiful!

As a personal touch and bonus, the whole arrangement could be left with the house for the new owners.

Here are the photos we used:

I used a personal touch to de-personalize the wall arrangement!

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Part Psychic, Part Translator, Part Decorator...Behold the House Whisperer!

2008-04-30T15:49:14Z

There is a language that few speak and most don't even know about. Those of us who speak this language are more than willing to translate and share what we learn with those who don't. Most realtors know of this language, but not all understand it.

Much like the ghost whisperer

and

the horse whisperer,

we who understand it are not always taken seriously.

The information we pass on is invaluable and many have prospered from it.

However, so many more could be helped if they would only believe.

We are the house whisperers. We step into a house and hear every message it is sending out...

"My roof leaks" "Pets have abused me" "I have inadequate storage space" "My plumbing is obsolete"

What makes the language of "house" so perplexing is the fact that although sellers do not hear it, buyers do.

Most sellers don't realize that their house is talking, but the house is talking up a storm to potential buyers. Houses not only talk, what makes them dangerous is that they often mislead and misrepresent. Without guidance from a qualified house whisperer they could send a buyer away with a very poor impression.

If you are a realtor and you are not hearing what your listings are saying to potential buyers, or you know what they are saying but don't know how to change their message, you may want to find yourself a house whisperer.

You will be amazed at our ability and willingness to translate and communicate in the language of house.

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Portsmouth, New Hampshire Area Photos

2008-04-26T18:14:25Z

Here are some of my photographs taken in the Portsmouth, NH area.

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BOSTON A Humorous Guideline for Survival

2008-04-22T12:58:00Z

I received this today in my email (thanks Mary) and thought I would pass it on...

For those of you who have never been to 'Bawstin', this is a good guideline.

I hope you will consider coming to 'Beantown' in the near future.

Information on Boston and the surrounding area:

There's no school on School Street , no court on Court Street, no dock on Dock Square , no water on Water Street .

If the streets are named after trees (e.g. Walnut, Chestnut, Cedar), you're on Beacon Hill .
If they're named after poets, you're in Wellesley

Massachusetts Ave is Mass Ave ; Commonwealth Ave is Comm Ave ; South Boston is Southie.
The South End is the South End.
East Boston is Eastie.

The North End is east of the former West End . The West End and Scollay Square are no more;
Roxbury is The Burry,
Jamaica Plain is J.P.

How to say these Massachusetts city names correctly:
**Say it wrong, be shunned**
Worcester : Wuhsta (or Wistah)
Gloucester : Glawsta
Leicester : Lesta
Woburn : Wooban
Dedham : Dead-um
Revere : Re-vee-ah
Quincy : Quinzee
Tewksbury : Tooks berry
Leominster : Lemin-sta
Peabody : Pee-ba-dee
Waltham : Walth-ham
Chatham : Chaddum
Samoset:Sam-oh-set or Sum-aw-set but nevah Summerset!

Definitions:

Frappes have ice cream, milkshakes don't.
If it is fizzy and flavored, it's tonic. (or tooawnik)
Soda is CLUB SODA.
'Pop' is Dad.
When we want Tonic WATER, we will ask for Tonic WATER.
The smallest beer is a pint.
It's not a water fountain; it's a bubblah.
It's not a trashcan; it's a barrel.
It's not a spucky, a hero or grinder,... it's a sub.
It's not a shopping cart; it's a carriage.
It's not a purse; it's a pockabook.
They're not franks; they're haht dahgs; Franks are money in Switzahland.

Police don't drive patrol units or black and whites, they drive a 'crooza'. If you take the bus, your on the ' looza crooza'.

It's not a rubber band, it's an elastic. It's not a traffic circle, it's a rotary. 'Going to the islands' means

Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

The Sox = The Red Sox
The C's = The Celtics
The B's = The Bruins

Things not to do:

Don't pahk your cah in Hahvid Yahd .. they'll tow it to Meffa ( Medford ) or Summahville (Somerville).
Don't sleep on the Common. ( Boston Common)
Don't wear Orange in Southie on St. Patrick's Day.

Things you should know:

There are two State Houses, two City Halls, two courthouses, two Hancock buildings (one old, one new for each).

The colored lights on top the old Hancock tell the weatha':
'Solid blue, clear view....'
'Flash ing blue, clouds due....'
'Solid red, rain ahead....'
'Flashing red, snow instead....' - (except in summer; flashing red means the Red Sox game
was rained out)

Route 128 is also I-95 south. It's also I-93 north. Most people live here all their life and still don't know what the hell is going on with this one.

The underground train is not a subway.

It's the 'T',

and it doesn't run all night

(fah Crysakes, this ain't Noo Yawk).

Order the 'cold tea' in China Town after 2:00 am you'll get a kettle full of beer.

Bostonians...think that it's their God-given right to cut off someone in traffic.
Bostonians...think that there are only 25 letters in the alphabet (no R's - except in 'idea').
Bostonians...think that three straight days of 90+ temperatures is a heat wave.
Bostonians...refer to six inches of snow as a 'dusting.'
Bostonians...always 'bang a left' as soon as the light turns green, and oncoming traffic always expects it.
Bostonians ...believe that using your turn signal is a sign of weakness.
Bostonians...think that 63-degree ocean water is warm.

Boston is a beautiful city rich in history and heart.

If you haven't yet visited, I suggest you check it out.

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