Stage A Star had the privilege of working with CFS Homes, Inc. to stage one of their beautiful market homes a few weeks ago.   This gorgeous ranch home is located in Anderson Twp., Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati.  

Take a peek at the final staged product:
(photos by Jenny Walters Home Imagery)

Interested in staging your home in the Cincinnati area?  Whether it is a luxury market home, family home or investment property, Stage A Star has the experience and resources to stage your property and help get it SOLD!   Contact Teresa Meyer to schedule your personal staging evaluation: 513-379-5488 or email: teresameyer@fuse.net
We look forward to talking with you about how staging can help get that offer!

Another One SOLD!....
 Wow...I love my job.  Being able to help homeowners, Realtors, Builders and Investors sell their properties by creating beautiful spaces buyers fall in love makes me feel very blessed.
This is a stressful time when a property is being sold and much is on the line for the folks selling these homes.   I'm happy that my team and I can make a difference and everyone wins when the property is sold quickly and for the best price possible.


A week or so ago, Stage A Star had the privledge of working with an Investor that was working hard to get his property completed on a tight deadline.  We were happy to accommodate his timeframe and the property was listed on time. We received word yesterday that it was under contract within 5 DAYS!  He will be closing in less than 30 days and on to his next project (and using Stage A Star once again. Smart investor!)



Here's a peek at the finished product:

 Fall is my favorite time of year!  Nothing energizes me more than the crisp morning air and the beautiful colors on the trees. I love snuggling with a fuzzy throw, hot chocolate in my hand while I sit by the outdoor fire pit laughing with family and friends on a cool autumn night.    I love football games, bonfires, hayrides, pumpkins,corn stalks and the beautiful array of mums popping up in landscapings and front porches.

• Pull out any dead summer plants and don't forget to edge around that landscaping  (There is nothing worse than dead summer flowers in October!)
• Add Mulch or till up the mulch you put down in the spring to freshen it
• Plant colorful mums in different areas of your landscaping.  A pop of color is a needed element as plants go dormant
• Get rid of those spider webs!  Spiders here in Cincinnati are crazy this time of year.  Check around windows, doors, light fixtures, etc.  

Add colorful mums in different colors, varing heights and put together in groups of 3's & 5's.  Add pumpkins for a really nice welcoming touch.  3 mums + 2 pumpkins= A nice balanced group of 5.    
If you have a porch, add colorful pillows to the chairs and a throw.  Add lanterns and candles for a warm touch

Decks and Backyards:  Don't forget these very important spaces this time of year too.  With the popularity of outside living spaces, this is a crucial selling feature! Be sure to include pots of colorful mums here.   Just like the porch area, add candles, lanterns and pillows to your seating.   Have a Fire Pit?  Be sure to stage this area as well!  No Fire Pit? Worth the staging investment (and you get to enjoy it!)  Let's show potential buyers how wonderful it would be to live in this home!

"Wow! I LOVE This Home!"

 

Layer Your Rooms with Fall inspired pillows and a warm, fuzzy throw.  Believe it or not, I go into a lot of homes where there are no pillows on the sofa or chairs.  I'm not surprised as many people hate pillows interferring with their TV watching and book reading while their sitting on the sofa or their favorite chair....

But did you know that adding a few pillows with a pop of color ( and while I'm add it...maybe a rug and a few key accessory pieces) can completely change the look AND feel of a room?    AND the cost to do this can easily be less than $100.    Other layer strategies includes a cozy fire this time of year (which is free..well, sorta)  and lighting candles always sets a warm and inviting mood.

My seller clients are constantly amazed at how a few key items can make such a HUGE difference once they know what they need in a particular room.   Trust me....you've got a great house, you just need that "layer" to show buyers just how truely wonderful your rooms with those fabulous selling features are!


Add A Warm And Inviting Scent to capture the best of the Fall season.  Scents such as apple, pumpkin or another “warm” aroma are the perfect choice for this time of year.  Add an oil ring within a lamp, potpourri or a candle in key rooms.  Scents should never overpower but be very subtle throughout the home especially when selling. 

Fall Centerpieces and Decor can add a nice touch in bringing the Fall season inside.  Many times this can be accomplished with things you already have.  I always love to hit Michael's or Hobby Lobby for Fall floral picks or those cool "beady" swags that can be placed around candles or an accessory for an instant Fall look.    Of course, if you are not the crafty type or pressed for time, many stores like Kirklands, Target or Home Goods have fabulous Fall arrangements and decor to choose from.  While your out there, pick up a few fresh towels in orange, red or browns and top it off with a pretty autumn embroidered hand towel for the half bath.

Here are a few of my favorite "FALL" accessories that inspired me to write this post while I was shopping for a staging job.   (Pssst...all these items are from Target)

Inspired  but think you need a little help to make your house irresistible to buyers?  Our Staging Consultations are cost effective and will give you an exact "plan" of what you need to do to stage your house and get it SOLD.   If your house didn't sell over the summer, NOW is the time to take action and take advantage of the Fall season.   Let's work together to create beautiful spaces that will help sell your house!  


Let's Get Staging!




513-379-5488
teresameyer@fuse.net
www.stageastar.com

You can use this article in your blog, newsletter or website as long as you add the following bio box:

Teresa Meyer is the Owner and Lead Staging Designer at Stage a Star, Cincinnati's Premiere Real Estate Staging company located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Teresa is an ASP, Accredited Staging Professional and CSPE, Certified Staging Professional Elite and Ohio Certified CSPE Trainer to real estate professionals in Cincinnati. She is a member of RESA, Real Estate Staging Association and currently is the State of Ohio RESA President.   Teresa can be reached at 513-379-5488 or by email: teresameyer@fuse.net to answer your questions about the staging process and looks forward to assisting you in preparing and staging your house for the Cincinnati real estate market.

Did You Know...
That a Staging Consultation with a Professional Stager is worth its weight in gold when selling your home? Stage A Star had the opportunity to work with homeowners on the east side of Cincinnati this past May.  I was referred to them by real estate agent, Jason Bowman of Remax Elite.  I have had the pleasure of working with Jason for quite some time on all his listings he takes.  A Staging Consultation is included in his marketing plan and every seller client meets with me first to create a "plan of action" so they know exactly what they need to do to properly prepare and stage the house prior to being listed.


Let's Get Staging:
These particular homeowners were really wonderful to work with.  Like many of today's homeowners, they were very well versed on all the HGTV "staging to sell" shows and were eager to roll up their sleeves and get to work once they had the "plan of action" in hand.  

Wallpaper removal, painting and de-cluttering were at the top of the "action plan" along with some minor repairs and curb appeal suggestions.  By the time I left, the homeowners knew exactly what to do in each room.  This takes so much "stress" off the homeowner knowing that they received professional advice and a plan that will help get their home sold faster and for the most money possible.  


Staging Success:
I am happy to report that these happy homeowners received their offer in record time....just 22 hours after the house was listed (and for 99% of list price)!!   They worked hard to get all of the recommendations completed and boy did it pay off! The house closed just a few short weeks ago and they are enjoying their new home.  

Just one more Successful Staging Consultation that resulted in SOLD!  

Here's the Before and After Photos:

Teresa,
I just want to thank you for helping so many of my clients to get their home showing its very best. Since we have been 
your consultation service on every listing we take, the majority have been selling in under 60 days. With your help, my listing at 6217 N. Shadowhill Way in Loveland sold in 22 hours! Your staging consultation has been priceless to my seller clients, and the results prove it. 

-Jason Bowman CRS
RE/MAX Elite

Here's a handful of his other listings that have resulted in faster sales because his listings were staged:

1034 Oak Forest        DOM: 50  %/List: 98%
151 Fencerail Way     DOM: 27  %/List: 97%
1766 Liberty Woods   DOM: 47  %/List: 98%
1551 Wild Cherry       DOM: 38  %/List: 94%

Happy Staging!

Teresa Meyer is the Owner and Lead Staging Designer at Stage a Star, Cincinnati's Premiere Real Estate Staging company located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Teresa is an ASP, Accredited Staging Professional and CSPE, Certified Staging Professional Elite and Ohio Certified CSPE Trainer to real estate professionals in Cincinnati. She is a member of RESA, Real Estate Staging Association and currently is the Ohio RESA State President.   Teresa can be reached at 513-379-5488 or by email: teresameyer@fuse.net to answer your questions about the staging process and looks forward to assisting you in preparing and staging your house for the Cincinnati real estate market

I just had to share this blog by my friend Jackson West in Vancouver.  A great example and many things to consider before you decide to try and stage yourself.  There really is so much more to staging than just dumping some furniture in a space and calling it a day!

All My Best!

Teresa Meyer is the Owner and Lead Staging Designer at Stage a Star, Cincinnati's Premiere Real Estate Staging company located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Teresa is an ASP, Accredited Staging Professional and CSPE, Certified Staging Professional Elite and Ohio Certified CSPE Trainer to real estate professionals in Cincinnati. She is a member of RESA, Real Estate Staging Association and currently is the State of Ohio RESA President.   Teresa can be reached at 513-379-5488 or by email: teresameyer@fuse.net to answer your questions about the staging process and looks forward to assisting you in preparing and staging your house for the Cincinnati real estate market.

Here's the Blog:

Summer is a wonderful time to maximize the Curb Appeal of your house. We know all the standard Curb Appeal Do's such as water the lawn, trim the bushes, power wash, etc.  I see a lot of houses on the market that have followed all the tips and their homes look, how shall I say..."very well groomed " That's a great thing...its better than weeds in the landscaping and a dirty front door, however, sometimes it just looks well...standard and kinda boring. 

• Yard is green and mowed (check!),
• bushes trimmed (check!), 
• 2 flower pots on either side of the front door (check!),
• and new mat (check!...double check!)....you get the idea here.  

The Curb Appeal can be "neat" but sometimes lack personality.  Summertime gives you that opportunity to create Curb Appeal that will have potential Buyers hearts pounding as soon as they pull up in your driveway!   

 Use these Summertime Curb Appeal Tips that sing "WELCOME HOME!"

Flower photo by Jenny Walters Home Imagery

• Tip #1:  FLOWERS...FLOWERS...and more FLOWERS!      Pick a nice color scheme of flowers that compliments your front door and shutter color.  Plant flowers in your landscaping, group pots together in groups of 3 and use those plant stands to achieve various heights to add interest in a corner of a porch, patio  or deck area.     Fertilize, water, dead-head and baby those plants! Keeping them beautiful, fresh  and blooming big all summer will be KEY to creating irristable Curb Appeal.  There's nothing worse than brown, limpy, dying plants by end of July.
• 
  
• Tip #2: A FRIENDLY FRONT DOOR!     Give your front door a fresh coat of paint, polish up the hardware or replace it with new, same goes with the light fixtures...if its seen better days, replace it., look up and check for cobwebs, clean the doorbell or replace with a shiny new one, add a shiny brass knocker and a beautiful summer wreath.  Be sure your wreath is new and updated for the season. There's nothing worse than a faded and dated wreath.
•  
• Tip #3: HAVE A SEAT AND STAY AWHILE:  Does your front door area have a space for a pretty, weather-proof piece of furniture?  This is a perfect way to welcome potential buyers and give them a preview of whats to come inside!  A pretty chair tucked in a corner, a pair of rocking chairs, or bench with a few colorful pillows visually invites your Buyer to have a seat and stay awhile!
•  
• Tip #4  CHARMING LITTLE EXTRAS: Don't overlook the little charming extras that can make your Buyer fall in love with your house.  Put out a tray of fresh lemonade and cookies if you have a porch with chairs and a table, add a book, magazine, or rolled newspaper by the tray. Fill your bird feeders, hang a small windchime, add fluffy pillows and even hide away a sachet of lavendar close to the doorway for a subtle hint of fragrance that says welcome.
•  
• Tip #5 MAINTAIN IT!:  Let's face it...Summertime can be busy with vacations, entertaining, running the kids, etc....and on top of it selling your house!  No matter how busy it gets, maintaining your Curb Appeal has to take priority and is critical to a successful sale.  Create a scheduled time each day and week to water, mow, sweep, fertilize, trim, etc.  Making a plan keeps you organized and on top of it.

Creating Curb Appeal that goes above and beyond what is standard is key to creating an unforgetable first impression in the minds of your potential Buyers.   Taking the opportunity to use these Summertime Curb Appeal Tips that will have your house singing  "Welcome Home!" and you'll be asking "Where do I sign?" when you get that offer!

Happy Staging!

 You can use this article in your ezine, blog or website as long as you add the following bio box:

Teresa Meyer is the Owner and Lead Staging Designer at Stage a Star, Cincinnati's Premiere Real Estate Staging company located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Teresa is an ASP, Accredited Staging Professional and CSPE, Certified Staging Professional Elite and Ohio Certified CSPE Trainer to real estate professionals in Cincinnati. She is a member of RESA, Real Estate Staging Association and currently is the State of Ohio RESA President.   Teresa can be reached at 513-379-5488 or by email: teresameyer@fuse.net to answer your questions about the staging process and looks forward to assisting you in preparing and staging your house for the Cincinnati real estate market.

The part of my job I love the most is the opportunity to work with wonderful, savvy real estate professionals that really understand marketing their listings to get them sold quickly and retain as much of the equity in their client's house. They use powerful marketing tools such as staging and professional photography to achieve that goal.  I wanted to share this powerful testimonial from Jennifer Cox of The RealCincyGroup as she shares her perspective on using staging to help sell her listings. 

"I was introduced to the concept of staging several years ago, just as the market was starting to slow, and home sellers were trying to understand why their home wasn't selling as quickly, and for more money, than the neighbor's had the previous year. Inventory was increasing, sales were slowing, and precious few homeowners wanted to talk to the realtor that had a glimpse of the future, now present, real estate market. Fortunately, I did have clients that wanted to know more. They wanted to try something that would set them apart. They did so, with success!  Embracing the concept and seeing the powerful results of staging, I was fortunate to be on a WKRC Money Alert segment in 2006, just as the idea of Home Staging was starting to really take off in this area.

Here's the thing:  Many home owners still just don't "get it" that by investing in a few hours, and potentially a few dollars into their home, prior to going on the market, the result will be a quicker sale and, bottom line, put more cash in their pocket! I suppose it's up to us, the real estate pro's, to really impress upon our clients that this is in their best interest.

I want to share the story of one couple who did "get it".  Dustin & Kristina Haggard, former owners of 8 Oriole Court, located in the Sedona Ridge subdivision, in Amelia.  The Haggards owned an adorable 3 bedroom, 1 ½ bath, 1 car garage home, no basement, but nicely decorated and updated, in a neighborhood of 2 full bath, 2 car garage homes.  Unfortunately, in this subdivision, and the adjoining, competing neighborhood of Quail Creek, homeowners often find that they are competing against short sale & foreclosed on properties. We knew we had our work cut out for us.

When pricing this home, we had to be cautious to not price too high, so that we were not competing with homes that are structurally more appealing, with 2 full baths, a basement and an additional garage space. We also wanted to send a message to the "deal hunters" that this is not a distressed sale. The sellers were not in a short sale or foreclosure scenario and simply, and correctly, refused to sell in the price range of those homes.

 Knowing that we were going to need to strongly appeal to those who did tour, the Haggards worked closely with Teresa Meyer of Stage a Star, following her instructions perfectly! They stained the deck, removed the personal photos, re-arranged the living room furniture and placed inexpensive decorative items to highlight the focal points of the home. Knowing that the pictures and online promotion would be critical to a successful sale, the owner's wisely accepted that if we took our time and prepared the home, following Teresa's ideas and instructions, prior to listing, our selling time would be reduced, and the stress of being on the market and preparing for showings, would be shortened. I am adamant with sellers that the month of the year, or the day of the week that they enter the market has far less impact than the condition of the home from day one.

The results? Dramatic! Showings were non-stop! We had 2 low offers within the first 2 weeks. Offers made by customers shopping outside of their comfort price range, but hoping to take advantage of the current market scenario. Of course they loved this home and you can't blame a' guy for trying! We often tell sellers that the first offer will be their best, but in this case, we knew differently.

The 3^rd week on the market, I received a call from a gal who wanted to view the home. It was a perfect fit. The "house" on 8 Oriole was clearly going to be her new "home". The customer asked that I help her purchase this home and we were under contract on Day 30. 30 Days on the market, with a 96% list to sell ratio. The seller concessions were minimal:  a small contribution to title insurance. 

The sellers and I absolutely consider this a Staging Success Story!"

The homeowners did a fabulous job preparing and staging their home. A Staging Consultation with Stage a Star gave them the "plan" they needed for a successful sale.   They were under contract in 30 days in this challenging market.  Staging works!   Are you ready to finally get your house sold?  It's easy. Give Stage a Star a call and we can discuss how staging can help you too!

To Your Staging Success!

Teresa Meyer is the Owner and Lead Staging Designer at Stage a Star, Cincinnati's Premiere Real Estate Staging company located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Teresa is an ASP, Accredited Staging Professional and CSPE, Certified Staging Professional Elite and Ohio Certified CSPE Trainer to real estate professionals in Cincinnati. She is a member of RESA, Real Estate Staging Association and currently is the State of Ohio RESA President.   Teresa can be reached at 513-379-5488 or by email: teresameyer@fuse.net to answer your questions about the staging process and looks forward to assisting you in preparing and staging your house for the Cincinnati real estate market.

Wow..it's been awhile since I've posted on my blog.  I've missed the writing and sharing with all of you but Spring Selling Season is upon us and Stage a Star has been very busy staging homes and consulting with homeowners to prepare for selling.  I've got a ton of great before and after photos and success stories to share and hope to start posting these very soon.

A few weeks back, Stage a Star was contacted by Amy Howell, the editor for the Home & Style section of The Cincinnati Enquirer.  She had taken a peek at some of our "Before & Afters" on our website and loved one of our bedroom makeovers.  She was writing a fabulous article on "3 Days, $300" to help homeowners get some ideas and tips on how they can refresh their home over Memorial Day Weekend whether they are selling or not.  

2 of Stage a Star's staging projects were featured with photos.  I was happy that Amy wanted to also feature our "Window Seat" makeover because this was one of my favorite projects.

Kate Hart of Hart Staging was a featured contributor as well.  Who knew she'd end up helping Cincinnati homeowners too!

To see the full article, just click on this link: "3 Days, $300. Cincinnati Home Staging/Makeover Tips and Ideas On A Budget"

I hope the article will inspire you to take a few days over Memorial Day and transform a room.  It doesn't take a lot of money; just the "know how" of what a few key things to invest in to make a big impact.

Happy Staging!

Are you a Cincinnati homeowner that needs some help making over those spaces for selling?  Contact us today to get started so you can get your home sold quickly and for the most money possible!  Call Teresa directly at 513-379-5488 or visit our website at www.stageastar.com

Teresa Meyer is an Accredited Staging Professional and Owner/Lead Designer at Stage a Star, Cincinnati's Premiere Real Estate Staging company.  Teresa is a member of RESA, Real Estate Staging Association and OHIO President of RESA.   Her work has been featured on WCPO Channel 9 News, Home Improvement magazine and The Cincinnati Enquirer.  

I've been wanting to get this out since last week but finally have a moment to sit down and share the fabulous news! Stage a Star had the opportunity to stage a house last week and I shared the before and after pictures in my last blog post "Grandma's Stylin' Now: See What Staging Can Do With Dated Furnishings"

Well...I'm happy to report that the first buyer that viewed the property made an offer!  ONE DAY after it was staged and then professionally photographed, it was listed and UNDER CONTRACT!   And even better...the offer was for 99.96% of the asking price!  It doesn't get any better than that!  

One of our very best Realtor clients was the driving force behind this successful sale.  She knew that in order for this property (that was filled with dated furnishings) to appeal to buyers, staging was the key.    She was right on the money too. The first buyer that walked through made a great offer.  It's set to close in a couple of weeks.  She and her seller clients are THRILLED!  

After the staging, I received this kind email from the Realtor:

Teresa,
The seller is thrilled with the staging.  The seller sent me an email after she saw the photos and wrote, "It looks like a model home".  We had several showings scheduled for the day after we listed.  The first buyers that viewed the home made an offer and wanted an answer within hours. They knew there was several other showings and didn't want this one to get away.   I'm happy to tell you that it is under contract. Staging made all the difference!

Thank you Teresa.  It's so great that you have this God given talent!  You are the best!



Take a look at those before and after photos above.

• Did Staging and Professional Photography make an incredible difference?
• Do you think the potential buyers would have been impressed and fallen in love with this home if they walked into the "before" photos instead?

I don't think so.

If you've been on the fence about staging your property or listing, this staging success should convince you that staging does work. It really does folks!


Happy Staging!






Selling a home in the Cincinnati area?  I'd be happy to answer your questions about how staging can help you get your home SOLD.  If your ready to move on instead of sitting month after month on the market, give Stage a Star a call.   We'd be happy to create a staging plan for your home to help get it SOLD.  Call Teresa directly at 513-379-5488 or visit our website at www.stageastar.com

Stage a Star had the privledge of staging a beautiful home this week for one of our top clients.  The house itself has wonderful selling features and is located in a fantastic area for empty nesters and retirees.   The staging challenge was working with grandma's furnishings as much as possible while bringing in some key accessories to blend with the furniture as well as highlight the selling features.

Take a look yourself and see how STAGING can make a remarkable difference in the marketability of a home.




Which set of photos do you think will convince potential buyers to come and take a look and make an offer?

Or This?

Big difference, right?

An experienced Home Stager knows exactly what to take out and add, rearrange and strategically place to best highlight the selling features of a room.    This house doesn't feel dated and worn out anymore.  It feels refreshed and new...ready for its new owners!

Happy Staging!