http://picmarkr.com/ is a free website you can use to watermark up to 5 images at a time.  (You are limited to 25MB at a time).

PLUS, there is an option to resize the images at the same time.  You can choose 500 pixels, 800 pixels or 1024 pixels.

Once you have uploaded the images, you can watermark with text or an image (your logo).  It then gives you 9 locations on the picture to place the watermark. (Top left, top center, top right, etc.)  If that weren't enough, there are options on text color and opacity.

Check it out.  This site can be a real timesaver.  I love the ability to do up to 5 pictures at once.

Granite countertops are all the rage these days, but they can be quite expensive.  My clients knew that updating their countertops would transform the look of their kitchen, but when combined with other changes the home also needed, granite slab countertops broke the budget.  The more affordable alternative was granite tiles.

After stripping the burgundy wallpaper, replacing the white laminate countertops with granite tiles and replacing the sink, the entire look of the Kitchen is changed. (I particularly like the new granite tile backsplash).

.

I don't have anything against wallpaper.  It goes in and out of fashion.  That being said, when was the last time you walked into Home Depot or your local paint store and only saw one wallpaper book with only one pattern in it?

Wallpaper is highly personal.  The odds of two different families wanting the same exact wallpaper in the same exact room are extremely small.  OK, OK, some wallpaper is neutral enough that it can remain without bothering most people. This post is not about that kind of wallpaper. 

Who would volunteer to spend their weekends or take vacation to strip wallpaper?  Not many.  Some buyers like a house enough that they are willing to live with wallpaper they aren't crazy about.  I hear this all the time:  "This wallpaper came with the house. I don't really like it, but I didn't want to take on the task of taking it down".

I am going to devote several posts to showing what a difference removing wallpaper can make.  If you are selling a house, and you have wallpaper, don't offer an allowance, bite the bullet and take it down!  Then it is no longer an issue for a buyer.  If you don't want to do it, why would a buyer?

I did a Consultation on an occupied home in Duluth.  The first thing I saw when I opened the front door was the Powder Room.  You couldn't miss it because the door is to your immediate left as you enter the house.  This room is especially small, and the deep rose color on the walls did not help that fact.

The homeowners followed my suggestion and repainted this room.  This simple change to a lighter color makes all the difference in how this room feels.

Never underestimate the power of paint.  Even in a Powder Room.

This home is located in Ammersee Lakes, with almost instant access to great shopping (Whole Foods, Target, Home Depot, Publix, movie theater, restaurants, and more) yet the private lakes throughout the development make it feel like you are on vacation.

Home features:

• 2-story Grand Room has beautiful lake views
• Formal Dining Room seats 8 comfortably
• Master Suite on the main with lake views
• Updated Kitchen is open to Breakfast Room and Keeping Room
• Kitchen has Silestone countertops and glazed cabinetry
• Enormous Breakfast Room also has lake views
• Keeping Room has fireplace and built-in bookcases
• 3 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms upstairs
• Abundant storage throughout home
• 2-car Garage
• Lake dock is permitted

FMLS # 3543816

Contact The Turner Team at 770-238-0505 to arrange to see this home today!

This home was Staged by the homeowner based on recommendations made by Staging Professionals, LLC.

Built-in bookcases are a terrific feature to have in a room.  They are also a place where photos, awards and mementos from trips tend to be placed.  When a house is on the market, we want buyers to admire the beauty and value of built-ins, but we don't want them to stop and look at the homeowner's past experiences.

This Master Bedroom is fortunate enough to have a fireplace flanked by bookcases.  Before Staging, the bookcases were filled with photos.

We removed the photos and reaccessorized the shelves. We also moved the leather chaise from the other side of the room to create a reading nook next to the fireplace.  A large wooden bowl on the floor holds additional reading materials, and a lamp brings light to the space.

Staging Professionals, LLC specializes in Staging Occupied Homes in North Atlanta: Gwinnett, Forsyth, North Fulton and East Cobb Counties.

The Office Before Staging had 2 wooden desks, a large leather recliner and a wooden filing cabinet (not visible in this picture).  The way the larger desk was positioned, the fireplace was barely visible from the doorway.  Also, the burgundy walls and stained woodwork made this room feel dark.  What you also can't see in this photo, are built-in bookcases on either side of the double doors.  These were filled with personal photos. 

As you can see in the After photo below, we removed the smaller wooden desk and the leather recliner.  To lighten up the room as much as possible, we exchanged the area rug for one they were using in the Family Room.

Staging Professionals, LLC specializes in Staging Occupied Homes in North Atlanta: Gwinnett, Forsyth, North Fulton and East Cobb Counties.

This is a perfect example of taking a room in a house and returning it to the function for which it was originally intended.  The owners of this property chose to use their Breakfast Room as a Bar/Entertaining Area.  Most buyers would prefer to see this space set up as a Breakfast Room.

We specialize in taking what the owner already has, and reusing it in other areas of the house.  The table we ended up using was originally an occasional table in the Guest Bedroom.  We would have preferred a larger table, but this one gets the point across. (There is actually a third chair hiding behind the plant!)

Staging Professionals, LLC specializes in Staging Occupied Homes in North Atlanta - Gwinnett, Forsyth, North Fulton and East Cobb Counties.

This beautiful, executive level home features incredible outdoor living and privacy.  Plenty of room in the backyard for children to play, along with a pool and waterfall for adults to lounge by.  The property backs up to a nature preserve.

Home features:

• Formal Dining Room
• Office with Fireplace
• Master Bedroom with Fireplace and Built-in Bookcases
• Master Bathroom with walk-through shower, split vanities and oversized tub
• Kitchen is open to Family Room
• Bosch appliances
• Separate Breakfast Room
• Family Room has stacked stone fireplace and built-in bookcases
• Oversized covered Deck off the Family Room looks out over the beautiful backyard
• 3 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms upstairs
• Large loft area with attached Bar is open to Family Room below
• Main room in Basement has a fireplace and tiled floors - perfect for a pool table
• Full Bathroom on Basement Level
• Partially finished Basement has terrific views of the backyard
• 3-car Garage

FMLS # 3543768

Contact The Lewis Group at 770-663-3732 to arrange to see this incredible home today!

This home was Staged by Staging Professionals, LLC, with the assistance of Lisa Romans, ASPM, Sharon Lantis, ASP, Stephanie Bruch, ASP and Carolyn Chambers, ASP.

For the 3rd year in a row, the Atlanta Chapter of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) is participating in the Atlanta Board of Realtors Showcase.

We will be speaking with Realtors and Brokers about the positive impact Accredited Staging Professionals can have on listings, both vacant and occupied.  Stop by our booth and meet our officers.  We have an incredibly talented pool of Stagers ready, willing and able to take your business to the next level.

The ABR Showcase takes place at the Cobb Galleria Centre on Thursday, August 23rd from 10am - 5pm.  They are anticipating over 5000 attendees. A complete list of Exhibitors participating is available on their website: http://www.showcase2007.org/vendors.htm.

(*Tip: Arrive early, parking is always an issue as the day progresses).