ross designs: Real Estate Reality Hour - 08/20/08 08:00 PM
If you have been reading my blogs, you probably know who Tori Ross of Ross Designs is. For those of you that are new to my writings, Tori is the home stager I use on properties that I represent (If Your Home is not Staged to Sell, then it Won't Sell., … (1 comments)
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ross designs: Want A Magnificent Wall Decor Item? Spruce Up A Wreath With A Floral Bouquet - 05/06/08 10:14 PM
Sometimes when decorating or Staging a house with large walls or fireplace facades, a large wreath is just the right touch - nice to introduce a round shape of wall decor every once in awhile. One way to really add bulk and interest is to attach a silk floral bouquet to … (5 comments)
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ross designs: For You Stagers that Buy Your Inventory - Versatile Sofa Set Must Have! - 05/06/08 09:59 PM
Okay, for you Stagers out there that purchase your own furniture inventory, I have a great set for you!
Check out the photos of this two piece sofa set; it can be set up as a sectional or two contemporary, stand alone sofas. The colors are definitely neutral and can be accessorized … (10 comments)
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ross designs: Mis-Matched Towels? Make a "spa" basket! - 05/04/08 06:23 PM
We all have many different types and colors of towels in our Staging inventory. Over time my sets have either lost one, been misplaced, or part of the set has just needed to retire. What to do with those leftover towels?
Roll 'em up and make a spa basket! A great accessory in … (12 comments)
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ross designs: Grout Recolorant To The Rescue! - 04/29/08 04:51 PM
When Staging existing homes, I am constantly looking for inexpensive techniques that I can recommend so sellers can make upgrades and improvements to their homes. One of my biggest pet peeves is dark grout lines with light colored tilework, especially in an entryway. Dark grout lines really break up the visual … (15 comments)
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ross designs: Grout Recolorant To The Rescue! - 04/29/08 04:50 PM
When Staging existing homes, I am constantly looking for inexpensive techniques that I can recommend so sellers can make upgrades and improvements to their homes. One of my biggest pet peeves is dark grout lines with light colored tilework, especially in an entryway. Dark grout lines really break up the visual … (2 comments)
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ross designs: Grout Recolorant To The Rescue! - 04/29/08 04:48 PM
When Staging existing homes, I am constantly looking for inexpensive techniques that I can recommend so sellers can make upgrades and improvements to their homes. One of my biggest pet peeves is dark grout lines with light colored tilework, especially in an entryway. Dark grout lines really break up the visual … (3 comments)
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ross designs: A Striking Financial Reason To Address Price & Condition Immediately - 04/27/08 10:16 AM
Okay, so I am a professional Home Stager and NOT a financial wiz :-) However, I learned something very interesting last week at a presentation that is ANOTHER striking financial reason to price right and stage a home before it's listed on the market. I do not have all of the … (3 comments)
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ross designs: But you should have seen it BEFORE we did all this work .... - 04/26/08 06:18 PM
Inevitably when Staging existing homes I run into several that have been updated at least half-way. At least MOST of the wallpaper has been removed and replaced with paint, at least MOST of the flooring has been upgraded, at least MOST of the lighting has been replaced with more fashionable options. But the … (7 comments)
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ross designs: The Power of a Handwritten Note - 04/23/08 09:22 AM
In the last three weeks I have received three hand-written thank you notes from clients - one from an agent pleased with the Staging work I have done for several of her clients, one from a builder-owner happy with the results of a vacant staging just installed, and another from a … (6 comments)
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ross designs: Steps for Removing Lingering Cigarette Smell From A House - 04/22/08 03:00 PM
Even though smoking is no where near as "chic" as it used to be, there are still some die hard smokers who eventually decide to sell their home. Their addiction to smoking then becomes an agent's problem as homes with lingering cigarette odors are much harder to sell than clean smelling … (10 comments)
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ross designs: Orange Glo - Miracle Wood Restorer - 04/20/08 03:13 PM
I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes! A few weeks ago I was at a client's house beginning our Staging walkthrough. I had mentioned that the wordwork was pretty beat up in the floor trim and around the doors. The seller stopped me to excitedly … (7 comments)
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ross designs: Another Striking Financial Reason to Stage Before Listing - Omaha, NE - 04/18/08 02:05 PM
Okay, so I am a professional Home Stager and NOT a financial wiz :-) However, I learned something very interesting this week at a presentation that is ANOTHER striking financial reason to stage a home before it's listed on the market. I do not have all of the technical terms down … (12 comments)
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ross designs: A Free Consultation Can Be Helpful - How To Reduce Your Time - 04/17/08 12:01 PM
Sometimes in the name of building a business it is helpful to offer some time to do a free consultation. I am not a proponent of working for free or reduced fees just because someone asks, but when trying to recruit a new high volume client or someone who can be significantly influential … (3 comments)
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ross designs: Becoming a One-Stop Shop for Clients - 04/16/08 06:38 PM
I was invited to participate in a presentation today by a real estate agent. There were three of us industry professionals; one agent, one mortgage person, and little ole me! The presentation went very well and I bet all three of us will earn several clients or transactions from our time.
One … (11 comments)
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ross designs: Real Estate Agents Are Interpreters of the Market - 04/15/08 06:05 PM
I really hate it when people operate with misconceptions. Blame gets misplaced, anger is misdirected, resentment builds. In the end nobody wins.
The housing market operates the same way as other markets in our capitalist society. Supply and demand dictate pricing. Supply and/or demand change to make corrections when things are slow … (6 comments)
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ross designs: People Sell Houses, Manequins Do Not - 04/11/08 11:05 PM
I co-host a radio show called the "Real Estate Reality Hour" on Saturday mornings. My co-host is a builder client/friend of mine; his building company has several model homes here in Omaha, Nebraska.
Steve Smithberg (co-host) is an interesting character. He likes to stir the pot and get people on edge or … (5 comments)
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ross designs: "Easy" Fixes Can Create Disasters - i.e. paint over wallpaper - 04/11/08 08:41 PM
In our incredibly busy world today it is enticing to take the "easy way out" whenever one is available. So many of us are overstretched with regard to time, money and energy in our daily lives; add the stresses of selling a home on top of that and it can seem impossible … (9 comments)
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ross designs: Agents Should Not Do Their Own Staging - Yet Another Example - 04/09/08 09:22 PM
Often times agents advertise "staging" services as part of their marketing package. If they don't hire a third-party professional home stager then they typically don't list a lot of details about their staging services in their literature. I usually chuckle silently to myself when I hear agents talk about providing their … (15 comments)
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ross designs: "Take Your Child To Work Day" - A Little Extreme for an 11 Day Old Newborn! - 04/06/08 06:55 PM
I was blessed with the birth of my second born son in January of this year (my first-born is ten, going on 16!). Before he was born I worried about how I would handle business during his early days but had hoped that since it was winter - not really a … (8 comments)
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ross designs: General Paint Recommendations for Any Seller - 04/05/08 04:39 PM
Often times my clients (real estate agents) have made upgrade/improvement suggestions to their sellers before I am scheduled to stage their home for sale. One of the most common suggestions is neutralize wall coverings/finishes - whether it is to remove wallpaper/borders and repaint or repaint over bold colors. Listed below is … (10 comments)
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ross designs: A gallon of paint - 04/04/08 09:03 PM
One of the more common items overlooked when selling a home is painting. Painting can make a huge difference when selling a home. For the most part, painting is a very inexpensive investment that can have a tremendous return.
When 83% of the buyers begin their search online, painting can make a difference … (2 comments)
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