Cincinnati Home Staging Stage a Star's Blog Home Staging in Cincinnati

Staged Market Home in Anderson Twp: Cincinnati, Ohio: Take A Peek At This Beauty!

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:03:21 -0500

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!

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.

JOIN OUR FAN PAGE for exclusive coupons, tips, ideas and our latest staging projects here in Cincinnati!

Stage A Star provides home staging services to Hamilton county Ohio, Butler county Ohio, Warren County, Ohio, Clermont county Ohio, West Chester, OH., Liberty Twp, OH., Mason, OH., Fairfield Twp., OH., Monroe, OH., Hyde Park, OH., Loveland, OH., Maineville, OH., Morrow, OH., Deer Park, OH., Indian Hill, OH., and surrounding Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas.

Investment Property Staged & SOLD in just 5 days! Take A Look For Yourself...

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:29:34 -0500

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:

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FALL In Love With My House: Staging Strategies For A Fall Sale

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:25:45 -0500

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.

I also love how the change in season motivates me to do a little "nesting" and I want to bring that outside feeling in my own home. I want to surround myself with warm colors and textures, candles, a crackling fire and the smell of apple pie.

Ahhh...are you feeling it? I know I am.

Now if you're lucky enough to be selling your home this time of year, doesn't it make sense to evoke this kind of emotion I've described to your potential buyers? Did you know that Fall is a great time to sell your home? The pool of buyers are more serious as they are motivated to find a home to move into just in time for the holidays. And YOU, the seller, can take full advantage of that!

Here's some simple, budget friendly ideas to make the most of the Fall season and help transform your house into a warm, welcoming and irresistible place potential buyers can call "home"!

Welcome Them 'Home'

Refreshing the landscaping for Fall requires a little work on your part but has a MAJOR impact on the way your house looks and feels to buyers. The good news is (at least in the Midwest here) that the grass is really green right now. For some of you these landscaping "do's" may be a no-brainer but keep reading, you might pick up something here you didn't think about before.

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

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SOLD in 22 hrs at 99% List Price: Staging Consultation Gets Results!

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:36:39 -0500

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

JOIN OUR FAN PAGE for exclusive coupons, tips, ideas and our latest staging projects here in Cincinnati!

Staging Tips in Cincinnati: It don't mean a thing if it aint got that bling!

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:06:57 -0500

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!

Here's the Blog:

Via Jackson West (Reveal Estate Home Staging - Vancouver):

Many people think it is simple to stage a vacant property. We've all seen the television shows and all stagers do is bring in furniture to show the size and function of a room right? Perhaps after reading this you may re-evaluate what qualified home stagers do, for there is a definite "method to our madness".

Some time ago I viewed a small, vacant 1 bedroom condo and after submitting a proposal to merchandise the property for sale, the homeowners decided they could save money by doing it themselves. They were very nice people and when they called to let me know their plan I sincerely wished them a speedy, profitable sale. They purchased some furniture, set it in place, had it photographed and waited for the offers to start rolling in. It didn't take them long (only a couple of additional mortgage payments) to realize that their listing wasn't capturing the attention of potential buyers. Have a look... can you see why?

You will notice it is a small, fairly narrow living room (not uncommon for a 1 bedroom, downtown condo these days). To the right of the sofa is a door leading out to a patio.

From this home stager's point of view, what they did isn't all bad. They used an area rug to anchor the seating and they chose light, somewhat "airy" furniture. What they didn't realize is....

Heavily patterned rugs make small spaces seem even smaller and pull potential buyer's eyes down.

Positioning furniture right up against the walls does not make rooms feel more spacious.

Perhaps they also didn't know that...

Flow is as important as function.

Color is crucial for setting a mood and creating interest.

Greenery provides an element of "life".

Angled flooring and furniture can visually widen a room.

Artwork keeps buyers eyes up and moving throughout a room.

Accessories enhance and help soften furniture.

Good photos are crucial for generating buyer traffic.

Something tells me that they now have a better understanding of the points I mentioned above. As of today this is what the room looks like and they have renewed hope that a sale is indeed forthcoming!

Jackson West is the founder of Reveal Estate Home Staging and a Certified Staging Professional Instructor. His interior redesign work can be seen in the book "Home Staging For Dummies"* as well as magazines including multiple editions of the "Staging Standard". He is also featured on a television series for the W Network. While his niche has long been downtown properties in a higher price range, the principles of design, functionality and flow he implements are equally effective in every home.

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Summertime Curb Appeal Tips That Sing "WELCOME HOME!"

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:06:34 -0500

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!

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A Realtor's Perspective on Staging: A Staging Success Story

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:42:09 -0500

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!

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3 Days, $300. Stage a Star featured in Cincinnati Enquirer

Sat, 16 May 2009 10:28:54 -0500

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.

JOIN OUR FAN PAGE for exclusive coupons, tips, ideas and our latest staging projects here in Cincinnati!

SOLD In 1 Day! How Grandma's Stylin' Staging Sold This Property...Check It Out!

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:40:21 -0500

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

JOIN OUR FAN PAGE for exclusive coupons, tips, ideas and our latest staging projects here in Cincinnati!

Grandma's Stylin' Now...See What STAGING Can Do With Dated Furnishings

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:30:19 -0500

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!

JOIN OUR FAN PAGE for exclusive coupons, tips, ideas and our latest staging projects here in Cincinnati!

Staging The Litter Box & Other Kitty Tips When Selling

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:42:51 -0500

Selling your house can be challenging when you have pets and I'm going to focus today on your CAT. Your furry friend and family member. I've got three myself so I understand and can empathize with my selling clients when it comes to this subject. I got plenty of inspiration to share some kitty tips when selling from my own experience over the weekend. I decided to move my cat's litter box from the basement to our first floor mudroom. See, my cats are senior citizens now and since I'm not planning to move into a ranch style home with no stairs for THEIR sake, I had to make some adjustments for them.

The dreaded 'litter box" can pose some challenges when you put your house up for sale. I've seen litter boxes in just about every room now in working with sellers over a number of years. I still remember when we were looking for a house to buy, we toured two houses with cats. The one house had about 7 litter boxes throughout the house including bedrooms. Hmmmm....do you think they had a problem? The other house had only one litter box and it was located in their family room right by the sofa. It reeked. Needless to say, we didn't buy either of those houses. Downplaying the presence as well as the location of the litter box really is critical when selling.

Location...Location...Location

I've found the best locations for a litter box is out of the way places like the basement and laundry/mudroom. I've seen them in bathrooms too but I've found that buyers really want to see the bathroom and not get distracted by a litter box. One way to help my kitties better transition when I moved their box was to put their food in close range of it. This worked perfectly.

What's That Smell?
If you have cats then you know that if you don't keep their throne pristine, it's going to smell. When selling, this is a no brainer. You may have to scoop 3-4 times a day but this is a MUST. Do you have a COVER for your box? If you do, great! Now make sure you turn the box to make sure the hole is facing a wall. If you don't have a "cover", think about getting one. If the box has to be present during showings, at least the box is covered up and the hole is against the wall. Buyers really do not want to see inside of the box even if it is pristine. They just don't.
I also recommend buying those "stick ups" they sell in the pet aisle or pet stores that help neutralize odor. Stick that baby on the side of the covered litter box. They really do work. And a quick spritz of Febreeze in the area before a showing is a good idea too. Remember I said "quick spritz"........NOT half the bottle.

Take It Outside
The BEST solution I give my clients is to place the litter box in the garage during a showing if at all possible. I know this doesn't work for some kitties that can't be trusted but I've found that it works for the majority. My own cats freak and run under a bed and hide when visitors come to our house so having a missing litter box for an hour is not a problem.

Creative Solutions
I came across an amazing idea on a forum while doing some research for this article. Someone was building a house and decided to incorporate the litter box into their laundry room cabinetry so it was out of the way and they could keep the room....ummm.....more "visually appealing" you might say. I jumped all over this idea and told my husband to break out the power tools and cut a side door into our sink cabinet that is in our mud room. The cats go through the door and all I have to do is open up the front doors to scoop and be done.
It's hidden and better than a covered litter box.

Talk About "Staging" Your Litter Box

Who knew there were such a wide variety of creative litter box options out there? (I'd just suggest turning that hole around to face the wall.)

What about these cool styles?

Okay...if you were freaking out like I was when I first saw this, you can relax when I tell you that I think they are trying to show another option here. I don't think most people would actually put a litter box beside their bed (but you never know!). A cozy hideaway bed for your cat is another way to use this piece of furniture. Feel better? I know I did.

For the modern cat:

Entry Table AND Litter box in one...Who Knew?

Need a Litter box in the Office? Just be careful that you get the right box when looking for that file....

I'm having too much fun with this...can you tell?

Here's some other Staging Tips For Kitty When Selling:

Princess Perspective:
This might be harsh, but when you are selling, kitty is NOT the princess (or prince) anymore. The castle is for sale and things cannot stay the way they are. That means that the cat jungle/scratching post tower has to put away, the million mouse and feather toys must be rounded up and the sunning window perch for cats has to be disassembled and stored away. Yes, I realize that it's your cat's favorite place but your potential buyers needs to see how pretty the window is, not looking at the pile of cat hair left on the cushion attached to the window.

Meow Mix Mayhem:
Did you know that kitty's dishes shouldn't be out during a showing? It's so much a part of our everyday lives that we don't think about it, right? But when selling, they need to be gone. This also goes for those cool plug in water fountains. The cat may love them but with their messy cord and location near a plug (which is usually in the kitchen) it's not a great thing to keep around when you're trying to impress buyers.

Not Everyone Loves Your Cat

I know, it's your baby. I understand. I have three furry children myself and I love them dearly. Not everyone is a cat person. Or likes pets at all. Many are allergic to cats as well. When you are selling, it is really important to see it from the perspective buyer's point of view.

Fur Ball Fiasco:
If you've got a cat, you've definitely got this: Cat Hair. Getting rid of as much cat hair as possible and staying on top of it by cleaning frequently is critical. Are you trying to use a lint brush to get rid of hair on the furniture or curtains? Forget it. The best thing to use is a rubber glove. A damp cloth works really well too. The Swiffer is another great product to use on the floors. I'm constantly amazed at all the invisible hair you can't see until you look at the bottom of the swiffer pad when you're done. Whoa.

Stay Or Go?

Have you been waiting for me to answer the obvious question: What the heck should I do with my cat during a showing? Don't worry, your cat will probably be fine staying at home. More than likely the cat will either go hide (like mine) or lay on a bed and look slightly annoyed at the interruption from strangers. If your cat is never to be outside, you may want to consider putting him in a cat carrier or taking him with you. Better safe than sorry.

Even though your pet is a huge part of your family, downplaying their presence while selling your house is a smart move. Remember it's all about the house and getting it sold. Follow these tips and ideas I've shared with you today so that it can help you better deal with your kitty when selling so that it doesn't cost you a sale.

Happy Staging!

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

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Top 5 Staging Mistakes To Avoid When Selling Your Home

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:13:27 -0500

You've heard the saying "You never have a second chance to make a great first impression" right? If you are selling your home or will be shortly, you need to take that little saying to heart. I'm going to share with you my top staging mistakes to avoid and hope that you'll apply what you've read today and be on your way to a successful sale.

Staging Mistake #1: BAD MLS Photos

Did you know that over 85% of buyers are looking on the Internet first to find a house to buy? First Impressions start here folks! How do your photos look? I am amazed a lot of times when working with sellers that currently have their house on the market that they have not even bothered to take a look at their pictures online. I think it didn't even occur to them that this is a critical marketing tool that pulls those buyers in. GREAT PHOTOS are a must! Professional Photography makes all the difference in capturing buyers attention and getting them in the door. Great photos capture ALL of the room, have good color and clarity and show interesting angles of each room. I see bad photos all the time. Blurry. Dark. Boring. And the worst is when you can only see a small portion of the room. I don't know about you but I could care less what the sellers BED looks like...what about the room? Potential buyers want to see everything in the room in one shot. Do make sure you have at least 15 pictures advertising your house on the Internet/MLS. Buyer's really want to see as much of the house as possible.

Staging Mistake #2: Disappointing Curb Appeal

Ever get fixed up on a blind date? Remember the anxiousness you felt as you anticipated meeting this person for the first time? If your date went anything like mine, I was REALLY disappointed with my first impression of him and wasn't even sure I wanted to proceed with the date. When selling your home, don't disappoint your buyer! When they pull up to the front of your house, they carry with them their hopes and dreams that this home could be the one! Shouldn't you do whatever you can to impress those buyers so they will want to come in for a closer look? It's amazing how a green, freshly cut lawn, new mulch, shiny new fixtures and a fresh paint job on the front door can sing "Welcome Home" to your potential buyers. Doing these basic items make all the difference! And don't forget a new welcome mat and doorbell too. Believe it or not, these are the 2 items that get overlooked all the time.

Staging Mistake #3: A Dirty, Cluttered House

Have you heard this one before? "The way you live in your house and the way you sell your house are two completely different things." Sellers can throw up their hands and say, "But I have to still live here!" so remember...you're house is not YOUR home anymore. When you put it up for sale, it became a PRODUCT. In order to sell a product, it has to be packaged beautifully so it sells! Your buyers expect to see an immaculate house with no visible signs of dirt, dust and hair. It's no different when you go on vacation and you've decided to stay at a very nice hotel. You expect that when you walk into your room that the bed is made to perfection, everything is sparkling clean and they've even left you a little something that says "Welcome", right? What if you walked into the bathroom and you spotted hair in the sink and you couldn't tell if the towels were used or not? If that were me, I'd be calling the front desk and demanding a new room! Your buyers are really no different either. Dazzle them with a sparkling clean and clutter free house to buy! Clear away all your clutter so that the selling features in each room are highlighted and your house becomes the STAR, not the people that currently live there.

Staging Mistake #4: Making Your Buyers Feel Like A Guest

Ever walk into someone else's home and as you look around at their family photos and decor, it is apparent that this is "their" home. Their personality is in every room and even if you squeezed your eyes shut and tried really hard to imagine living there, you just couldn't do it. Trying to imagine your stuff over top of all of their stuff is just impossible to do. This is how potential buyers feel when they walk into a home that is full of family photos and taste specfic decor. Those buyers immediately feel like a GUEST in your house and this is one mistake you don't want to make! That is why it is so important to pack away your family photos and neutralize each room to appeal to a broad range of buyers. That also includes your collections, religious items, personal awards and trophies, your family calendar and those fifty million magnets, invitations and "TO DO" lists from the refrigerator. Don't forget your taste specfic decor as well. You may LOVE your kitchen bright yellow because it goes so well with your sunflower collection but its got to be neutralized so buyers can SEE your kitchen with its 42" cabinets and corian countertops. They need to be able to visualize themselves cooking and entertaining in there! See what I mean?

Staging Mistake #5: Decor That Fails To Connect With Your Buyers

I see this one a lot. A homeowner has lived in their home for the past 15 years and the last time it was decorated was when they first moved in 1994. Lots of oak furniture and dried flower arrangements. Dated decor, empty rooms and random furniture pieces scattered throughout can make any house no matter how nice the selling features feel TIRED, DATED and OLD. Think about it this way. You know how it feels when you get your hair done? Not just a trim but when you go all out and get a new hair color and a trendy haircut? When your hair designer is done, YOU look and feel like a million bucks, right? You look YOUNGER and FRESH and everyone you see that day smiles and their eyes light up as they take in the NEW YOU!

You know, you're house is really no different. It is amazing what a few key decorative items can do for a room too. You want your buyers to have that same reaction...their eyes lighting up as they view the room becoming more impressed as they tour your house.

One of the biggest misconceptions about staging your house is that you need tons of new furniture and decorative items to make your house look like a model home. You can relax now when I tell you that it isn't true.

If you are living in your home while it is for sale, working with what you have plus maybe a few new items with a minimum investment is all you need. Consider working with a professional Stager that are experts at working with what you have using their creativity to re-purpose it and sometimes blending it with a few newer items. This gives older furniture and decor a fresh new look and feel. I am always amazed at how a few key accessories can make all the difference in highlighting a selling feature and breathing new life into a room! Slipcovers, new pillows that pop color, updated lamps, a rug or some inexpensive window panels might be all that is needed to turn unimpressive decor into a fabulous new room that your buyers will love and connect to!

Of course, I will say that if your house is vacant or you have empty rooms because you never got around to buying that dining or living room set, you will want to consider options like renting furniture. Most professional Stagers carry beautiful furnishings you can rent and will work with your budget.

Stage For A Successful Sale

Selling your home and getting it ready can be a pretty overwhelming task that is stressful to say the least. Did you know that working with a professional Home Stager can take that stress away and let you focus on the other important things about your move like finding YOUR dream home? They can create a staging plan for you that is unique to your property. You can have complete confidence in knowing that you will not be making any major staging mistakes with a Stager on your team while you sell your home!

Happy Staging!

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Clean Up Your Messy House: Peter Walsh is on Oprah this week February 19th!

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:34:20 -0600

Set your DVR's this week! Peter Walsh will be on Oprah decluttering his way through those messy homes. I am a HUGE fan! I'm completely inspired every time I watch him work his magic to simplify my life even more!

Peter also has a new book coming out on March 3rd: "Enough Already!: Clearing Mental Clutter to Become the Best You"

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Cincinnati ASP's Accredited Home Staging Professionals: Join Us February 18th!

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:53:47 -0600

Cincinnati ASP's: Please join us this Wednesday, February 18th as we learn about forming an IAHSP chapter here in Cincinnati. Our Columbus Chapter has organized a special meeting for the Cincinnati ASP's. I'm planning to attend and would love to see all the other local ASP's there as well. It should be a great meeting and I'm looking forward to networking with you all and meeting many of our Columbus ASP's.

Host:	Nancy Dreyer
Location:	Sorrento's Restaurant & Lounge 8794 Reading Road Reading, OH 45215 US View Map
When:	Wednesday, February 18, 12:30PM to 2:00PM
Phone:	614-309-4114
Learn how forming a Int'l Assoc. Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) chapter in your area will: -Increase your market exposure -Help you obtain more job opportunities -Help you reduce your inventory expenses -Develop your business skills and opportunities Have lunch on us!! Enjoy a "Meet and Greet" with all the ASP Stagers in your are and learn how a Cinci IAHSP chapter can benefit you!

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STAGE a LAUNDRY ROOM with the Martha Stewart Stamp Of Approval!

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:00:29 -0600

I have a confession to make...I've got a thing about staging Laundry Rooms. The Kitchen may be the "heart of the home" but many hours are spent each week in the laundry room. And THAT makes this room a very important space to feature when selling your home.

Many times when I am consulting with homeowners and we get close to the laundry area, they'll ask if I want to see it because after all, it's only the laundry room. In their minds, it's that space that's a catch-all for dirty clothes, shoes, coats, 5 cases of water bottles, dog food and old paint cans. Oh yes! I tell my clients, I DEFINETLY want to see what's behind that door.

The Laundry Room needs some attention and staging too. This is one space you don't want to forget about! The biggest issue is getting rid of everything that is not needed so the room can breathe and look spacious. Yes...that means you have to get rid of the 20 pairs of shoes on the shoe rack behind the door, the dog food has to find a new home and you're going to have to store all that water neatly in the garage.

(Image: Hampton Designs)

Here's a few Staging Tips that can help you transform your laundry room into a fabulous space that buyer's will love:

DECLUTTER: Get everything out that you don't need. The only thing that should be in there is the stuff you need to do laundry...(detergent, softener, etc.) Now is not the time to buy the HUGE 50 gallon jug of detergent. I'll tell you why in a minute.

CLEAN LIKE CRAZY: Wipe down that washer and dryer from top to bottom. Push it back against the wall if needed. I've seen a lot of washer and dryers pushed out with all those hoses showing. Tuck the hoses in while you're at it. Think NEAT and ORGANIZED.

PAINT. Most laundry rooms need a fresh coat of paint and a different color. For some reason, I see alot of sponge painting in these spaces. Probably because it was a "safe" room to try your hand at the technique years ago. I'm speaking from personal experience here and mine looked just dreadful! Trust me, a fresh coat of paint goes a long way.

STAGE: Canvas Bins and Baskets make a HUGE DIFFERENCE visually when used to store all those detergents. Buyers do not want to see all those bottles that look like clutter anyways. It looks so much more organized and fresh staged with these pretty bins or baskets. This is why you don't want to hit Cosco for the jumbo size detergents. I want you to hide it in the bins.

KEEP UP THE LAUNDRY: Not letting the laundry get out of hand during selling can be a challenge. We lead busy lives. Doing a load a day keeps you on top of the process. Buyers should NEVER see dirty clothes in piles, in a basket, anywhere. Ever. The same goes for clean laundry. It should not be sitting out on the counter or top of the dryer waiting to be put away or hanging around. Buyers don't want to see your laundry. They want to see the space. Show them an organized room they can emotionally connect to. Not how much work laundry can be.

HANGERS & CLOTHES BASKETS: Yes...we need them to do laundry but during showings, they should not be anywhere in sight. Storing all those extra hangers on the clothes rack is not an option either. Throw them in one of the bins/baskets or if you are lucky to have a closet in your laundry room, store them there.

HIDE IT: And one last mention here. If you have a last minute showing or you are just REALLY behind on laundry because you didn't listen to my "one load a day" advice, make sure you get it out of sight and HIDE those baskets. When I sold our house a few years back, I would actually take those baskets of dirty laundry and hide them on the garage shelves during a last minute showing. (They were concealed well and no one ever knew!) I have also been known to take it with me in the car. Hiding it in the actual washer or dryer is good too. For those that have always kept your laundry up, stop laughing. The rest of you know what I'm talking about and it's a great strategy to use.

Here's a few examples of past clients that followed my advice and created FABULOUS Laundry Rooms:

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A Staging Technique That Neutralizes Those Personal Photos: No More Distracted Buyers!

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:01:55 -0600

I wrote last week about how distracting personal photos can be when it comes to selling your home: Old School Thinking: Personal Photos do NOT Make Your Home Feel More Like HOME While You Are Selling"

I'm in a lot of homes as I consult with Sellers and I do see many beautiful and artfully displayed photos on the wall. Wall Words are very popular right now as well as frames with meaningful sayings that celebrate the family displayed and what is important to them. I see gorgeous black and white photography of families and children. And let's not forget those baby shots that just melt your heart!

But when you are SELLING....as stunning as these pictures and wall displays are, they are DISTRACTING to your Buyers. If you haven't read my last post about this, stop and click the above link to read. It's alright...I'll wait. (whistling...looking around...)

Okay...you're back. You got that now, right?

So... now the BIG question. What do we do with these beautiful photo displays on the walls?

Do we take them all down, patch the wall/re-paint and stare at a blank boring wall?
Do we add a piece of artwork instead?
What if we have A LOT of walls with photos?

Don't despair! There is a "Staging Technique" that works quite well.

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to "neutralize" those family photos is to replace the photos inside.

Here's how in 3 Easy Steps:

I tell my clients to go to Google.com and then to "Images". Do a search for "Black and White landscaping/nature/trees/flowers....." whatever you prefer or works in that particular room. And it can be in "color" too if it works better for that space.
Once you find what you're looking for, print it off in the appropriate size.
Put it over the existing photo in the frame and Ta-Dah!....you have a nice, neutral photo.

Here's an example of a past client's homes. The pictures to the right were of their children but temporary replaced with neutral B&W photos.

Remember that there is also a "balance" that needs to be achieved throughout the house when it comes to all those personal photos.

To achieve this balance, follow these guidelines:

There may be some walls that everything will need to come down and you'll patch and re-paint.
There may be a wall that will need a piece of artwork in place of the photos. The photo below is a perfect example. DO NOT attempt adding 11 pictures of "trees" to this collage and calling it a keeper.

If you have a display of photos with mis-matched frames, they DEFINITELY need to come down. DO NOT attempt to replace the photos with the staging technique above using all those different frames. It just won't work.

Which brings me to the last guideline: Be sure that all the frames in your display are the same. This creates a nice, clean simplistic presentation that does not distract from the selling features of the room. The example below is a good one. Now, don't start thinking that the photos in those frames would be fine for selling either. Can you just see the Buyer's getting sucked into how sweet those babies are? Are they looking at your fabulous fireplace and large windows right now? A good replacement photo would be a landscape. You'll see in the far top left hand side the photo looks to be a far off shot of a hillside and trees. If people ARE in it and you can barely make them out...it's fine to keep that one. Landscape of a beautiful hillside, mountain, river etc. go well with the wording too.

Still unsure about creating that balance?

Consider hiring a Home Stager. Stagers offer a Staging Consultation that is a very cost effective solution. The professional House Stager can assist you with creating that balance as well as an overall plan to get your house ready for the market. This takes all the second guessing and stress out of it as you prepare your home.

Happy Staging!

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Old School Thinking: Personal Photos Do NOT Make Your House Feel More Like "HOME" While You Are Selling.

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:37:40 -0600

Thanks to HGTV and many other media articles on home staging, Sellers are starting to understand the importance of removing their personal photos as part of the overall preparing their home for the real estate market. However, I've still noticed an awful lot of personal photos in our MLS when I check out the local listings. So what gives?

Old School Thinking: Often it is very difficult for Realtors to tell their Sellers that the personal photos have got to go. Sellers can be very attached and proud of their grand displays of their kids and extended families. On the other hand, one of the old school thinking I have heard many times is to leave the photos up because buyers want to see who lives there and it feels more like "home".

This simply is not true. Don't buy into that old school thinking. The way houses are marketed and shown today are completely different than 5-10 years ago.

Sellers MUST take themselves out of the picture. If you walked into a house with a large display of these gorgeous Olan Mills photos I'm showing here (and I'm being sarcastic folks!), would you be distracted? You'd probably be taking a trip down memory lane instead of remembering those great selling features.

The same stands true for those beautiful up to date baby/family photos and wall collages. Yes, they distract too!

Think of it this way: How would Buyers feel when they came to view your home? You want them to connect and feel like the home could be theirs. With all the photos, they'll feel like a GUEST and that they are intruding. Buyers also get distracted by trying to figure out who lives there and why they might be selling.

Remember: "Distraction" equals forgetting about your house and all it has to offer. It's the kiss of death because those buyers just walked out your door and will forget your house completely as they view 10+ more that day. Or worse, buyers do remember the house...."Oh yeah, is that the fifty million photo crazy house? What did that one look like? I only remember all those pictures."

Bottom Line: Pack those photos up. Let the house be the "STAR"and on DISPLAY...NOT the people who live there. Doing so will get you one step closer to a successful sale!

Check back this week: I'll share some very inexpensive solutions to STAGING those nicer walls of photos so they can stay while the house is on the market.

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A Really Cool Tool To Make Before & After Staging Pictures (or anything else!)

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:23:56 -0600

I wanted to share with you a cool photo editing site called Picnik. I've been using it on and off for a few years. I edit alot of my photos in Photoshop but when you just need something fast and fun, this is your place. I was playing around with their COLLAGE feature and discovered this to be a REALLY cool tool for making quick BEFORE & AFTER's to use in my portfolio and website/blog. My home staging friends reading this will hopefully go try it out. The collages are also fun to do for just about anything else. And you are not limited to just 4 squares...they have all different designs. But you do have to have the premium account to use all the collage designs and features.

Check out a few I made:

And if you want to try your hand with a little different look, my professional photographer, Jenny made these cool collages for me with Picasa. You have to download the software but its another great tool if you are looking for something that also organizes and stores your photos. I'm still learning my way around it and all the features it offers.

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Whoa! Our 3 Properties We Staged Right Before Christmas Have ALL SOLD!!! Staging Works Folks!

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:40:08 -0600

Stage a Star was seriously busy as elves the week before Christmas: Read about it here "One of the busiest weeks of 2008: Stage a Star's latest Home Staging Transformations in Cincinnati, Ohio"

We staged 3 properties for 2 different Investor clients. All 3 properties had been on the market for at least 3 months prior to being staged. I am happy to report that ALL 3 are PENDING!!! It hasn't even been 30 days!

Staging is working folks! Staging is always less than a price reduction and when you compare how much you are spending each month carrying the property with mortgage payments, interest, utilities, insurance,etc., making the initial investment makes sense.

If you're ready to get your property SOLD in 2009, give Stage a Star a call and let's talk about how we can assist you in staging your property right now. I would love for Stage a Star's next staging success to be YOUR PROPERTY!

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My Favorite 2008 Transformations...I couldn't pick just one!

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:58:48 -0600

I just couldn't let 2008 slip away without showing my favorite 2008 transformations. It was too hard to pick just one so I'm going to show you several of my favorites.

First up is the first vacant staging Stage a Star did of 2008. It was an adorable starter home on the west side of Cincinnati. The Realtor had done a little staging herself but after being on the market for close to a year, she was smart enough to bring in the big guns (that would be us, Stage a Star...smile) to stage it so it would appeal to that particular demographic of buyers...20's professional, 1st time buyer. The other fun twist to this first staging of the year was the opportunity to mentor 2 great ladies from Ft.Wayne, Indiana, Gina Zimmerman and Hannah Picotte. One thing we all learned that day was assembling furniture on the job site is HARD!

The house was under contract within 30 days! A great way to start off 2008 I'd say!

My favorite "outdated" makeover I blogged about last January: "Grandma's Bathroom gets a Makeover!" This is a great example of how you can take a very "dated" space, add some decorative accessories and professional photography and make a dramatic improvement. Even I was amazed that this bathroom from the early 80's could look so good.
The staging worked for this property too! After a year on the market, it was under contract in just 90 days and sold during the winter months.

Moving into summer of 2008, Stage a Star had the opportunity to stage an adorable house in the cool east side suburb of Cincinnati called Mariemont.
I can honestly say I ADORED this home. I love houses from the 40's with all their character and charm. After we staged this beauty, it was under contract in 30 days.

I have 2 "Selling Feature" Staging favorites. The first would have to be the window seat in a home we staged back in the Spring. The house had been on the market for 6 months with only 1 showing. After it was staged, it was under contract in just 10 days! Blog: "A Charming Window Seat: Make it an Irresistible Selling Feature Buyers will Love!"

The other favorite "Selling Feature" staging was my "Martha Stewart Stylin' in a Vacant Master Bath" I REALLY enjoyed this one! The property is still on the market and the agent said the staging has made all the difference with the feedback she is receiving vs. poor feedback prior to staging.

And I'll end it here with the last staging of the 2008 year. This one was staged the week before Christmas. What an AWESOME renovation in this charming house in Cincinnati's "Norwood" area.

It was fun to look back and see all of Stage a Star's staging projects of 2008 and remember the clients and stories behind each home. I'd like to think we played a big part in the behind the scenes of preparing the homes prior to their successful sales. I can't help but smile to think of all the clients we worked with in 2008 and how they have been able to "move on" with their new lives. It might have been a transfer to a new state, a bigger house, downsizing, retirement, or a divorce. I wish them much happiness as I picture them settled into their new surroundings and very much looking forward to a New Year.

Here's wishing you a very Happy and Blessed New Year 2009!!! If you currently have a home or investment property to sell or will be preparing to sell in 2009, please think of Stage a Star and give us a call. We look forward to working with you in 2009!

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One of the busiest weeks of 2008: Stage a Star's latest Property Transformations

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:31:33 -0600

Whew! What a week! Stage a Star has been very busy as we've staged 3 vacant houses this week and still one to go. We also De-Staged 2 properties & a few Consultations as well. If someone had told me I'd be this busy the week before Christmas, I would have laughed and said "No Way!" But in this business, I've found that you just never know your schedule and how busy you'll be from one week to the next. I am grateful for all the business we've received this year.

I still have Christmas shopping to do, a family Christmas this weekend & a huge family dinner I host on Christmas Eve. I'm thinking once its all said and done, I'll get to sleep in the day after Christmas. Come to think of it, I may sleep all day!

Here's a sneak peek of some of the properties we've completed with 1 more to go.

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Proactive Sellers STAGE & sell in just 7 days: Check this out!

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:08:24 -0600

Proactive definition:
“tending to initiate change rather than reacting to events”

Isn’t this definition so true when it comes to selling your home? How many times do we
see the story play out where sellers and their agents put the property up for sale and it sits
for months and months without an offer? The only solution is price reductions to get it
sold in a depressed market, right? This puts the seller right smack in the “reacting” mode
with their hard earned equity at stake!

In my business, I walk into a lot of homes that are wonderful. I see past the clutter, loud
paint colors & wallpaper and see the great potential that isn’t being demostrated. Some-
times a home needs a lot of help but the majority I see just needs to be “refreshed”so that
the home’s features stand out & buyers can finally “see” what a great house it is!

I love Proactive Sellers! Stage a Star had the opportunity to work with a seller that was
positve and ready to do everything to get their home sold. They had previously had it on
the market last year with no luck in selling it. After 84 days, they gave up and put a renter
in the home. When the lease was up, they were ready to try again. Only this time, the
market was in worse shape than before & it was going to take doing things differently if
the house was to sell.

After the initial consultation where we recommended the right paint colors & minor
repairs, the homeowner got right to work. Once the recommendations were complete, it
was time to stage. The homeowner had some of their own furniture they were willing
to use so this always helps to keep costs down. Stage a Star brought in our decorative
accessories, artwork & plants to add to the larger furniture pieces.

Once the staging was complete, our professional photographer Jenny Walters took the
photos which were sent to the listing agent. The home was listed and UNDER CONTRACT
IN 7 DAYS!!!

I love happy endings! Here’s what our happy homeowner had to
say about working with Stage a Star:

“I was recommended to use Teresa and Stage a Star from a friend who recently sold her home.
I was amazed at the consultation price and called Teresa right away. I knew that in this market
I needed to have a competitive edge against the tremendous amount of other homes in my
area currently on the market.

A year before we had tried to sell our home. I thought that my decorating style and ability to
take photos would be sufficient enough to show off the character and likeableness of my home.
But after Teresa had a consultation with us and told us what to repaint and then staged the
house and the photographer took the photos, I was truly amazed at the difference. My home in
Cheviot looked like a model home. My friends and family continued to ask me why I was
moving out of this now gorgeous home.

I knew that Teresa had made the difference. And the evidence is clear after my house sold
within the first month. I can’t thank her enough. ”

Julie Woedl
Cheviot

Here are the Before/After Pictures of this successful staging project:

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Sellers invest in a Staging Consultation and sell in 25 days! They work...they really do!

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:55:25 -0600

I am constantly amazed at what a seller can accomplish with a staging "plan" and specific instructions when it comes to preparing and staging their house.

Stage a Star was contacted a few months back by this homeowner looking for staging help. the seller wanted to do most of the work themselves except they weren't sure where to start. Our Staging Consultation "One Simple Step Toward SOLD!" was the perfect solution for them.

We were THRILLED to hear that they were under contract in just 25 days after listing even in this very challenging market!

Here's what our happy homeowner had to say about working with Stage a Star:

Editing, Re-arranging, Re-purposing the Loft area and Adding key accessories to various rooms was the bulk of the "To Do" List to get this home ready for the Cincinnati real estate market.

Here's a few Before & After pictures:

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Winter Welcome: Stage Warm & Cozy Spaces for the Winter Season Ahead

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:21:27 -0600

Gather 'round the Hearth: If you've got a fireplace, now is the time to take full advantage of it. There is nothing better than a warm glowing fire to add beauty and sparkle to a room during the winter months. Make sure to always have a fire going during your Open House and showings if possible. With a glowing fire, buyers can imagine themselves curled up with a good book and drink as they relax fireside.

Warm it up with Candles: Candles are wonderful throughout the year but are especially beautiful during the winter months. This is the time when you can use lots of candles in the key rooms to really add warmth and set the mood. Use groups of candles in various heights and odd numbers (3’s & 5’s work great) and display them on the dining room, an entry or coffee table, bedside in the master, or in the master bath by the tub.

Layer those rooms: Just like we add warm sweaters to our wardrobe this time of year, adding a few layers to our rooms brings about a warm, cozy feel that just feels great. Add a larger rug under the dining or kitchen table and coffee table to warm floors up. Create a cozier space in the living and family rooms by adding colorful pillows with texture for a punch of color & interest. Think bolder shades like reds, browns, blues, or black & white. This is a great time to find inexpensive pillows that have a lot of style and are just right for the winter season. Don’t forget those warm and furry throws! Add a few to the sofa or chair. Roll several up in large basket by the fireplace.

It makes Scents: Now that we have a glowing fire, beautiful candles spread throughout the home, cozy layers of pillows and throws…it makes sense to add a warm and inviting scent to complete this welcoming winter picture. Scents such as cinnamon, vanilla or another “warm” aroma are the perfect choice for this time of year. Add an oil ring within a lamp, a plug in, potpourri or a candle in key rooms. Scents should never overpower but be very subtle throughout the home especially when selling.

Deck the Halls: With the holidays fast approaching, remember to take a simplistic approach to holiday decorating when selling. It's true that most houses never looked so good as they do during this time of year but resist the urge to display everything you've got. When selling this year, it may not be a good idea to unpack and display that 50+ Village collection. There is a balance when it comes to holiday decorating. Let a few choice pieces accent the rooms but never distract and overpower the selling features. There will be serious buyers looking now and they still need to "see" the house and not get overwhelmed and side tracked by the beautiful decorations. .

Article written by Teresa Meyer, Owner & Lead Designer at Stage A Star, a professional home staging company in Cincinnati, Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Want to know more about our STAGING SERVICES....Visit our website at www.stageastar.com

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Website is temporary down...www.stageastar.com

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:07:25 -0600

UPDATE: Okay...we are back up and running! :) Thanks for your patience.

For those of you trying to access our website www.stageastar.com, we are temporary down due to server issues. We hope to be back up as soon as possible. Of course in the world of technology, there is always computer issues it seems.

So until then, if you need information about our services or to schedule a consultation or staging, please call me directly at 513-379-5488 or email teresameyer@fuse.net

To view our profile and "BEST" After photos, please visit www.activerain.com/stageastar.

Check out our blog for staging tips as well as info on our latest staging projects and successes at www.activerain.com/blogs/stageastar

We hope to have our website up and running shortly!

Warm Regards,

Teresa

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