De-clutter - Sellers hear it on TV, in magazines, and from their realtors. Before putting their house on the market, de-cluttering is a must. But, how do you know what, and how much to remove? Is there a fine line between minimal and bare? A home staging specialist has the answers and will share them with sellers. Some sellers want to do the work themselves, so a home staging consultation fits their needs. And, others will hire a stager do the job.

 

Here is an example of de-cluttering gone too far.

 

Before:

 

 

Following the advice of their realtor, the sellers de-cluttered the living room. However, they went too far. The room feels cold, unwelcoming, and non functional with only a sofa and a TV in the corner of the room to the left of the fireplace. It lacks personality even though the house has a lot of old charm. Buyers’ eyes go straight to the wedding photo and comment on that, rather than the fireplace, which should be the focal point in the room.

 

It leaves questions in buyer’s minds. How will we entertain if there is only room for a sofa? There is only seating for three. Will this function for our lifestyle? They stop, turn around, and they move on to view the next house.

 

After:

 

 

With the addition of 2 small-scaled chairs, the room now has functional seating for 5. The pillow and throw cover add personality to the room, and repeat the colors found in the art above the mantle and, in the art above the sofa. The fireplace is now the focal point. The room feels spacious yet cozy. It draws buyers in to see more.

 

Sharon McConnell, Park Ave Home Staging & Redesign, solved the problem of de-cluttering gone too far with simple and inexpensive fixes.

 

4th of July at Lake Wallenpaupack in the Pocono Mts in PA is a moving and patriotic experience. The high light of the holiday is always the fireworks display which are launched near the dam. They can be viewed from the high school bleachers, from the shore line, on the top of the dike, from the top of the mountain at Tanglewood ski slopes and, from your boat. It takes your breath away to see hundreds of boats anchored waiting for the show to begin. Some boats parade, showing their patriotism with flags. lights, and decorations in red, white, and blue.

 

 

As the sky line dims, the lights from all the boats reflect off the water. What a site to behold.

Area businesses contributed to give locals and tourists alike a spectacular fireworks show. The colors of each burst mirrored off the water. The sound of the booms echoed off the mountains. This year in particular, the fireworks were incredible. There was not only one finaly, there were 3 finalies. The crowd cheered, and the boat captains tooted their horns in appreciation.

 

 

I am already looking forward to attending next years show. Is it possible to out do the fireworks from this year? As we wait in anticipation, be sure to make arrangements to visit Lake Wallenpaupack for your 4th of July Holiday. Visit the dam and walk atop the dike. See you at the lake!!!'

Personal footnote; This year my husband and I invited his aunt and uncle to join us on the boat to view the fireworks. They have vacationed at the lake since 1952 and now are retired there. They agreed that this was the best fireworks that they had ever seen. "Unc" is 90 years young - that's a lot of memories.

 

The dilemma -A nice finished basement with an eye soar

and a potenial tripping hazard. The pipe has to stay. There

 

is no budget to relocate it. It is hard to believe that this

passed code.

 

I would like to box it in. However, with the pipe sloping down,

the box will have to be a very large to keep it level. That

might be a bigger eye soar and will make 3 or 4 steps narrow

instead of just one step where the pipe protrudes.

 

What's a girl to do? Suggestions appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

Attention Bucks County Realtors … let your sellers know how they can

get the best return on investment and help the homeless at the same time.

 

 

 The spring selling season has begun. It is time for spring cleaning. Sellers need to get ready for that all important open house, making their listing sparkle and shine. Cleaning and de-cluttering is the first step in preparing your house to be staged and listed. What to do with all that stuff you don’t want, use, or need? You don’t want to be bothered moving it into your new home. The answer is to donate it.  Deserving Décor needs your donations to continue furnishing the transitional shelter apartments for the Bucks County Housing Group. (bchg.org)

 

Sharon McConnell, Park Ave Home Staging & Redesign, is a founding

member of the non profit, Deserving Décor. Sharon, along with the other

volunteers; clean, and decorate the shelter apartments before each new

family moves in.  They use donated furnishings, accessories and household

items.  Then, when the family moves out, will help them again, to set up and

furnish their “new home” as they restart their lives on their own.

 

 

 

 

Yes, this is a shelter bedroom decorated completely with donated items!

 

 

Seller’s ROI for Home Improvement Projects

 

The #1 do it yourself home improvement project for sellers nationwide is to clean and de-clutter, according to Home Gain.com in their 2009 survey. The average cost is $100.00 to $200.00. And the average increase in home price is $1,500.00 to $2,000.00. That is an 872% return on investment, and 98% of agents recommend it. 

 

In the same survey, the #2 home improvement when selling is Home Staging. The average cost for a Professional Home Staging Consultation is $300.00 to $400.00, which also increases the homes price from $1,500.00 to $2,000.00. This is a 586% return on investment and 82% of agents recommend it.

 

 

Realtors … Encourage your sellers to do some spring

spring cleaning, before staging and listing their property.

Their donations will benefit those who need a home.

 

Sellers … help yourself to get the best return on your

investment by cleaning, de-cluttering, and a professional

home staging, before listing. By donating, you will also be

  investing in the future of homeless families in Bucks County.

 

 

To schedule an appointment for a volunteer to pick up donations, or, to drop off donations at the NEW Deserving Décor Restore in Pipersville, Pa. Come and check it out and do some shopping, Proceeds from sales benefit the homeless also.

 

See the Deserving Décor Website for Restore hours and location, or, to donate items.

 

Donations are tax deductible and so are the stager’s services.

(Check with your tax professional).

 

 

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King Day. "The time is always right to do what is right." is a quote of his that is especially meaningful to me. MLK Day is designated as a day of volunteering. Volunteering is so fulfilling. You get more from it then you give. Deserving Decor, of which I am a founding member, furnishes and decorates transitional housing units for the Bucks Co Housing Group. Giving homeless families "design for dignity". One gives and one receives - using donated furnishings and accessories, the transformations really come together. As a decorator and home stager, I never cease to be amazed at the outcome. Consider donating or volunteering. You will not only touch the lives of others, you will touch the depths of your own heart and soul. See for yourself... Deserving Decor http://deservingdecor.org/ Bucks Co Housing Group http://www.bchg.org/

Dear Stager friends,

Please advise on how you would handle this eye sore that greets potential buyers when touring this beautiful vacant home in Bucks Co. PA.

 

 

The foyer is on the first floor. The stairs lead guests up to the main living area. On the stair landing, at eye level of course, (what was the architect / builder thinking?) is a heat vent and a red switch plate to the oil burner. I plan to have the vent grate painted the same color as the wall. The dilemma, what to do about the eye popping, RED, ugly, utilitarian switch plate. My guess is that code requires it to stay. I considered changing the switch plate and painting it the wall color, but again, will code allow it? Is it appropriate to try to disgise it? There is not enough depth to hang a shelf and put a vase  or art in front of it to hide it. Suggestions / Solutions appreciated!

 

Thanks,

Sharon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Master Cart Tool Box (model #17330605) by Black and Decker keeps staging and redesign "necessities" handy and organized. The wheels make toting it around easier, and it even travels nicely over a stone driveway. It's not too heavy to lift in and out of the car.

Top Section - The handle folds down flat when not in use. On each side of the handle are 2 lids that open to sectioned compartments. The large orange lift tabs open to reveal a removable tray and a nice size bin below the tray. The small orange lift tab in the middle releases a long narrow carrying case with sectioned compartments.

Bottom Section - Two side lift tabs (not shown) open to separate the entire top section from the bottom section. This reveals yet another removable tray with a larger bin below the tray.

Back of tool box - There are brackets on the back for wrapping on an extension cord.

 

 Keep all your tools and supplies together and travel with ease.

To stay organized and be more efficient, a great tool box is essential.

 

Please share any items that you feel are essential in keeping organized and efficient.

 

 

 

From Doll House to Open House – A light bulb moment!

HGTV Inspires an Entrepreneur

 

            A little girl plays with her doll house. The dolls are left idol as she rearranges the décor over and over again.

            A teenager’s assignment to make a presentation on decorating an apartment is the best homework ever!

            A newlywed receives compliments from friends, family and strangers on the color choices for the new siding and window shutters on her first house.

            A young mother wows the parents of her children’s friends with the kitchen that she designed for her new home.

            An empty nester’s “fixer upper” vacation home thrills neighbors and strangers. They stop to compliment her on the design choices that transformed the “eye sore” of the neighborhood.

            A middle aged woman down sizes her home. She blends her belongings with her mother’s belongings, to create a style that will function for both of them.

            As a daughter and her mother are watching HGTV, inspiration slowly creeps in. Night after night, week after week, year after year, finally the inspiration becomes a dream.

           

           Designed to Sell opened Sharon McConnell’s eyes to the concept of staging a home to sell.  Staging a home creates a great first impression for the Open House. Home buyers can visualize themselves’ living in their new home. “Even though home staging is relatively new to the east coast, I thought, I can do that! I will do that!” says Sharon from Perkasie, Pa.  

While watching the interior re arrange segments on Decorating Cents, Sharon thought to herself, “I have rearranged rooms for family and friends for years. I am obsessed with re arranging. I can’t go into an office or any home with out re arranging the furniture in my mind. Re arranging for others, I can do that! I will do that!”

 

An entrepreneur opens the doors of her home staging and redesign business.

 

 She did it! Sharon’s dream is finally realized thanks to inspiration from HGTV’s Designed to Sell and Decorating Cents.  Her home staging and re design business, Park Ave. Home Staging & Re Design, is located in Perkasie, Pa. You can do what you love. It’s never too late for dreams to come true. She is living her dream thanks to HGTV.

 

                                        ………………………………

           

What was your light bulb moment?

 

This article was submitted to HGTV’s Ideas magazine. HGTV’s quarterly home and garden magazine was distributed through E.W. Scripps newspapers across the country. They no longer print and distribute, but currently have an on line newsletter. I do not know if  the article was ever published, but it was fun to reminisce.

 

 

 

.....the lottery of friendship and support that is.

I was priveledged to meet and make more new friends, some of them are members of AR. Thirteen Home Stagers met at the Stage It Forward Round Table at Cort Furniture Rental in King of Prussia, Pa. With respect for our differnt training associations, we shared opininons, experiences, tips,marketing ideas, and so much more. We had such a nice time.We have so much more to share and learn.We are planning to meet again in the near future. If you would like to be part of future meetings, email me at Sharon@HomeStagingOnParkAve.com and I will forward your information to Linda O'Neil, our wonderful facilitator. 

Friendships and support are a winning combination. I am the lucky winner, you can be one too.

More winners!

Linda O'Neill, Laura Olejniczak,Sheri Walker, Wendy Kokinda, Colleen Stasinchak, Lin Wetzel, Lori McHale, Jill Kearney, Norma Braccia, Chere Sullivan, Dawn Fedorawicz, Jennifer Samsel

 

 

 

     Last week I met some old friends from Active Rain for the first time. Even though they did not know me, I knew who they were. Secretly, I’ve been reading their blog posts since I joined Active Rain in February 2008. We shook hands at RESA’s  First Annual Tri-State Staging Expo in Secaucus, NJ.  I knew their faces, now they know mine. I hope they enjoy getting to know me as much as I did them.

 

     Now we are new friends. They have voices and personalities. They are genuine, caring, hard working, and have a sense of humor. They are passionate about staging and promoting the staging industry. The Tri-State Expo was a wonderful experience, totally organized, full of fun, expert advice and inspiration. They encouraged me to jump into the joy of blogging and enjoy the growth of my business.

 

 

It was so nice to meet you in person.

 

     Shell Brodnax – Real Estate Staging Association

     Kym Hough – Staged to Sell

     Kate Hart – Hart & Associates Staging & Design

     Juliette Johnson – Stagomg – Home Staging NJ

     Mellisa Marro – First Impressions Home Staging & Interior Redesign

     Phylis Pafumi - Restyled to Sell        

 

 

Here is another secret. I love real estate staging as much as they do. Kim and Kate, here is my first post. Thanks for the encouragement!

 

Sharon McConnell,

 

Park Ave Home Staging & Redesign

Founding member BCSA (Bucks County Stagers Association)

Founding member Deserving Decor