How to sell the "Spare Bedroom." - 11/28/09 01:49 PM
What a great transformation from cluttered spare bedroom to "official" bedroom. Well done!  Thanks for sharing this.
Via Honey Johnson (Triangle Staging and Design / founder of Stunning Solutions):
Many properties on the market have the "spare bedroom" that is a catch-all for the odds and ends of the homeowners.  Usually, they are supposed to support more than one function and get all the hand-me-down decor.  Agreeably, these rooms are not the first impression areas of the house, but they do matter, none-the-less.
A spare bedroom is a great place to add value to a home.  It's staging transformation is often the most … (4 comments)

What's Being Whispered Behind Your Back? - 11/22/09 03:58 PM
The unspoken thoughts and feelings of buyers can kill a sale in a second. Stagers need to be particularly careful to eliminate negative thoughts whenever possible - and definitely not create any.
Via Kim Dillon (Creative Eye Home Staging):
What's Being Whispered Behind Your Back?
WORK:  Who Needs It?!!
When  prospective buyers view a property for sale, the two things that they don't want to be reminded of are WORK and POTENTIAL PROBLEMS!!!
Remember to be careful of the subconscious messages you are sending to buyers while they are viewing your listing.  I have observed all of the following in recent listings. They are sending messages you don't … (1 comments)

Buyers sometimes put out fleeces - 11/22/09 02:26 AM
Last spring my partner and I were potential buyers. After looking at a myriad of properties with our agent, we finally found one that we thought might work for us.  But as much as I liked the property, I was uneasy about the ups and downs of business during the past 6 months, so I clearly didn't have 100% peace of mind. I also was a bit apprehensive about the location.
I've always tried to operate my business from the philosophy of When in doubt, don't.
So I decided to put out a fleece and my partner agreed that it was the right thing … (4 comments)

FREE FORUM: Home Staging and Redesign - 11/22/09 01:19 AM
I've got an active free discussion forum open to anyone in staging and redesign or who just wants another opportunity to exchange ideas and tips regarding decorating, home business development, and the family. We've got categories on: home staging, interior redesign, interior design, wall treatments, window treatments, photography, sewing, cooking, marketing ideas, home and family and maybe a few others. Use your real name or pick an obvious "trade" name and come join us. It is moderated to keep out advertisers, the undesireables, and so forth, so to make sure you get approved, pick a username that let's us know you're … (2 comments)

Beware of solicitations to file corporate officer lists - 11/21/09 02:58 PM
I know better - but I still got taken in.
Earlier this year I filed our annual corporate officer's list with the state for $25.00.
A few months later, I was solicited with a very "official" looking document from a 3rd party, which I did not take the time to investigate thoroughly.
It appeared that I was being charged a penalty of over $200 by the state for failure to provide my annual list properly (or at all).
So I paid the fee and sent in the document - only it turns out it was not the state at all but … (3 comments)

Are multiple offers really legitimate? - 11/20/09 05:26 PM
I'm not an agent and I don't wish to offend any one.  But I am curious.
When a buyer places and offer on a home, and then is told by their agent that there is another offer on the home at the precise same time, how does the buyer's agent or the buyer know for sure this is indeed a fact?
How does the buyer know that this isn't a scheme to get the buyer to make a higher offer? 
How is the buyer to be sure their agent is helping them acquire the home for the best possible price?
… (11 comments)

Recovering from financial ruin - 11/20/09 01:39 AM
In the early eighties, I decided to open a wicker retail store. It was all the rage. I had no background in retail, much less wicker, but I believed I could do anything.  I went into serious debt to generate the capital. It took much longer to get the store opened and was more costly than anticipated. Needless to say, we were in a recession and I soon had to pack it all up, move my inventory home and wonder how I was to pay off my debt with no income.
I had canceled my health insurance as well only to … (11 comments)

Christine Bills Achieves Certified Staging and Redesign Specialist Designation - 11/19/09 06:14 PM
Christine Bills of Prescott, Arizona, has achieved the prestigious level of Certified Staging and Redesign Specialist from the Academy of Staging and Redesign, hosted at Decorate-Redecorate.Com. Christine took a Diamond course.
Congratulations, Christine!
… (0 comments)

Mei Lim Becomes Certified Staging and Redesign Specialist - 11/19/09 05:27 PM
Mei Lim, of Markham, Ontario, Canada, who took a Diamond course from the Academy of Staging and Redesign has just completed the requirements for certification. She is now a certified staging and redesign specialist. See her one minute video below. Congratulations, Mei Lim!
… (0 comments)

Coping with slow times - 11/19/09 01:17 PM
Yesterday I got an email from a stager/redesigner who is quite discouraged. She is new to the business, doesn't have many photos, and has only had one paid redesign. The rest were freebies for friends. Here is the essence of what I wrote her.
The experiences of entrepreneurs is always so vastly different, that no one could possibly set any bench marks for progress or ultimate success.  Many people start out with a promise from an agent they know that they will get immediate business. Others know no one.  Many people haven't sat down and cultivated a list of all the … (14 comments)

 
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Barbara Jennings | Decorate-Redecorate.Com

Huntington Beach, CA

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Academy of Staging and Redesign

Address: Box 2632, Costa Mesa, CA, 92628-2632

Office Phone: (714) 963-3071

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For anyone interested in concepts, tactics, strategies, ideas or tips on home staging, interior redesign or decorating.


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