Erica Howard's Blog

Another Vacant Transformation!

Erica Howard (Take 2 Home Staging) — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 21:34:25 -0700

I don't know about you guys, but vacants are my biggest challenge and my biggest reward! I spend so much time shopping, planning, and yes obsessing about the project. It is all I can think about until it is done. I cram a weeks work into three 15 hour days, it seems my OCD is good for something! Shopping until the stores are closing and falling into bed exhausted swearing I will not do another vacant until at least next week.. LOL. But, in the end when it all comes together and you feel good about what you have done and you get a glowing review from the homeowner it is all worth it. I have included photos of two of the rooms.

Happy Staging!

Dining/Living Room Before

Dining/Living Room After

bedroom before

bedroom after

HELP! Need some creative headboard ideas!!!

Erica Howard (Take 2 Home Staging) — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 21:01:11 -0700

I am working on a vacant and my tiny budget is dwindling fast. I need some ideas to make a headboard, pictures too if possible! Thank you sooo much. I saw what you guys came up with on the table ideas so I know you have it in ya :)

Vacant on a budget! Before & Afters

Erica Howard (Take 2 Home Staging) — Tue, 01 May 2007 13:12:47 -0700

Staging Vacant Homes under $125,000 can be quite a challenge due to the homeowners budget. Ideally, I would love to rent furniture and finish with my accessories. But, most people in this price range just can not afford it. So, to make it affordable to the homeowner I ask them what furniture they can possibly scrounge, beg or borrow. In this case the couch and dining room table. The bed is just a queen blow up on a frame with the beads as a headboard. Since this house only had one living area and such a huge bedroom. I thought it was a good idea to break up the room without compromising it's size. All of the accessories are mine and the tables, etc... But, if you can get the homeowner to provide (and move in) larger furniture pieces staging can be affordable for any price home!

living room before

Living Room after

Bedrom Before

Bedroom After

dining room before

dining room after

Anything is possible! Eat in kitchen makeover!

Erica Howard (Take 2 Home Staging) — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 19:46:09 -0700

When I pulled up to this house in a beautiful, high priced neighborhood I was excited to see what I would find inside. My excitement soon turned to panic as I began to process the job I was about to tackle. As we all know staging is not a walk in the park. I don't know about you but, it's not often I get a clean, beautiful slate to work from. But, I have to say I feel more gratification after completing a job like this! Hope you enjoy the pics.

Home Staging Resource A+

Erica Howard (Take 2 Home Staging) — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 21:19:09 -0700

About two years ago I was looking for a home. The realtor I was working with said you have a real eye for the possiblities in these homes, you should consider home staging. I said home what? About a year later I started seeing all the shows on HGTV re: staging, etc.. So, I started doing some research. I told my husband, I think I found my calling. He said does this mean you will leave our home alone, I said don't count on it. Anyway, I spent a couple months researching all of the different trainings out there. I was trying to decide between online training and onsite training. After looking at the curriculum for most of the onsite trainings and realizing they were mostly design, I decided to go with the online training. If you don't have an eye for design you are not going to learn it at a four day seminar. I felt I needed more of the marketing side. I got so much information from the Home Staging Resource. Not to mention that they build and host your website for a year. They are kind of cookie cutter sites and when my year is up I will most likely work on developing something more unique. But, it was great to get started. So, much of the marketing materials are things you would spend hours, weeks, doing on your own. Not to mention the personal attention from Audra Slinkey. Her training program has more than tripled since I took her training. But, if I call or email her, I still get a personal response within a few hours. I am very glad I chose the Home Staging Resource.

FSBO Seminars To Do or Not To Do

Erica Howard (Take 2 Home Staging) — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 18:13:39 -0700

I was contacted today by a group that is putting together a seminar targeting for sale by owner homes. They were asking me to come speak at the seminars and inform the homeowners about the benefits of staging.

My opinion is since I am currently working with realtors, most who are paying for or reimbursing the homeowners for my services that this would not be in my best interest. I was just hoping to get some feedback from the AR gang because I value your opinions.

Thanks :)

Please don't forget about safety!

Erica Howard (Take 2 Home Staging) — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 20:27:34 -0700

This is my first blog, so bear with me! After seeing a clip on Inside Edition tonight about the dangers of realtors going into peoples homes and showing homes I felt compelled to blog. Ready or not.......

When I first started staging I found myself in an uncomfortable situation with a home seller. I panicked, made up an excuse to leave and quickly scurried out the door. I was discussing the situation with my neighbor who is a blackbelt in several different forms of martial arts. The next day I signed up for kickboxing. Let me tell you what especially ladies, I have learned techniques that I feel could save my life. Not that kickboxing is the answer for everyone (it is very cardio intense) but please at least check into a self defense class.

The first night of class, I learned what could be life saving information. Someone that would assault a woman is obviously not right in the head so the first 30 seconds of meeting you they are conducting a mental interview. If you come across as a strong willed, stare you straight in the eye kind of girl they may think twice right then about what they had planned before you came over. This goes for when you are in a parking lot, store, etc... If you are walking alone and see someone that makes you uneasy, don't look away. Look them dead in the eye, make eye contact. Make sure they know you saw them.

A few other suggestions and things that I do to prepare for consultations (then I will get off my soap box)

-Know who is going to be present at the consultation. Is it a couple or is it just a single man. If it is the latter I may ask the realtor to go w/ me or a friend "assistant".

-Find out during the initial phone call where they found out about me. My car has my logo all over it, did they just dial my number when they saw me driving?

-Staple item in my tool box --- pepper spray. Never leave home without it.

-Always make sure someone knows where you are!

-Finally, follow your gut instincts!!!

Hopefully, I did not bore you to badly. I just think it is sooo important. I have no doubt that the guy I mentioned in the beginning had other plans for me besides staging his home. Hopefully, you have already thought of all these things and practice them daily :)

Stage Safe...