austin home stager: Mother-in-laws, Trichinosis, and Real Estate Lessons - 02/09/12 02:14 AM
This past weekend, I was reminded of an excellent lesson in Real Estate Business by my mother-in-law.
She and her husband are down from CO for a few months renting a home in Georgetown and we get together a couple of times a week.  On Sunday, she had volunteered to make dinner for us after a light hike.  Upon arriving, I noticed a pork tenderloin laying on a cutting board on the counter. "Excellent!" I thought, as we all like pork. 
Upon returning from the hike, I noticed the pork still sitting in the same spot - she had not refridgerated … (3 comments)

austin home stager: Merry Christmas! - 12/21/11 12:34 AM
Just a Quick Note out to my Active Rain Friends:  Merry Christmas!
And if there's one lesson I learned this year that would be most beneficial to Agents and Stagers, it's this:Never be afraid to go knock on a neighbor's door and discuss a problem.  Be polite, but straight forward.
This year, I went and asked a client's neighbor if they would mind splitting the cost of a fence repair with my client.  The  fence in front, technically owned by the nieghbor, was leaning into my client's lawn and was being held up by string.  First Impressions!  NO ONE Wants to … (7 comments)

austin home stager: Sometimes you get what you pay for... And sometimes, you don't! - 06/05/11 01:05 PM
During a recent online discussion with some fellow Home Stagers from around the country, I read the following snippet from part of the conversation by another Central TX Home Stager:
"...when I do a consult I try not to be too specific with my ideas for the staging just to ensure they don't try to do it themselves and I lose a day of staging... I discuss the rooms in real general terms sharing my ideas but not being so specific that they can do it themselves..."
It was an "Ah Ha!" Moment - I have been doing things totally wrong … (10 comments)

austin home stager: Annuals? They should be called "Daily-ies"... - 09/08/10 04:01 AM
I was visiting a house in Round Rock last week for a Basic Stage Coaching and as I approached the front door, I scribbled on my notepad, "Too many pots... not enough flowers..." One of The Stage Coach's Greatest Hits: "Pots are OK - but they must have a live plant or flower." It's an easy rule: either put the pot in the garage or plant something new.
While discussing Curb Appeal with the homeowners, I brought up the pots.  One of the owners asked, "Should I plant some annuals?"
I smiled - I get this question a lot as almost … (1 comments)

austin home stager: Compromising on Closets - 06/09/10 04:44 AM
When I first started visiting homes in 2006 to help owners prepare their homes for sale, I was a overly enthusiastic about Staging Closets.  At first, it seemed important to me to really show off the space available in closets because most Central Texas Homes don't have basements for storage.  I would push all of the Home Staging basics:  every thing off the floor, closet rods at 50%, organized by color, clean and tidy shelves...etc...etc...
My tune has changed quite a bit over the last couple of years, and all it took was hearing a REALTOR give the advice to a … (11 comments)

austin home stager: Home Staging Statistics are Marketing Bunk... there I said it... - 03/20/10 02:48 AM
I received a LinkedIn discussion email yesterday regarding Home Staging Statistics that was started by a Fellow A/R Home Stager [don't want to name w/o permission], and found myself chiming in... The more I Stage Homes, the more I feel Home Staging Statistics are Marketing Bunk...
I'll admit it - I'm Cynical - so much in fact, that I want my tombstone to be a quote by David T. Wolfe: "Idealism is what precedes experience; cynicism is what follows."  So maybe I'm the wrong person to talk about the subject.  But I wanted to hear what other RE professionals felt about … (22 comments)

austin home stager: New Service - Prime Photography Package - 11/18/09 01:01 AM
The Stage Coach is excited to announce  
the formation of a new partnership!  
We are Teaming up with Professional Photographer, Thomas Meredith, adding yet another top shelf offering to our list of services: The Prime Photography Package.

The idea came about while viewing some actual listing photos on the MLS. For some reason, photos are being used that would compel a buyer NOT to visit the property and other photos are in such poor quality that buyers can not see the features of the home. The solution: by teaming a professional photographer with all of the best equipment … (3 comments)

austin home stager: "Sanctuary!... Sanctuary!" - 11/05/09 12:48 AM
It is fairly common from my experience to enter a Master Bed Room and find that the children's belongings have spilled over into the parents' room.  I suppose some people would find it convenient to let the little ones play whilst they dress for the work day.  Others believe in "co-sleeping".  What ever the reason, when it comes time to put the house on the market, one of the most important things you will hear me stress is: The Master Bedroom (suite) must be cleaned of ALL evidence of children.  You are selling Sanctuary!
When buyers see a Master Bedroom that … (7 comments)

austin home stager: Double up those pillows! - 09/23/09 01:20 AM

On Monday, we moved some furnishings into a condo in downtown Austin that was recently vacated by the owners.  For the bedding, two different sets were required: one queen and one king.  The king set had been in storage for quite a while, so I did not remember exactly what was in the Space Bag.  After the bed was made, it was seriously lacking some thing [see pic on right] - all four King-size pillows were used.  But it was just not working for me.  The bed looked like it had just been slept in - it "felt" awful.  [As … (11 comments)

austin home stager: Listing next Spring? Start thinking about Curb Appeal NOW! - 09/10/09 04:53 AM
Not everyone has the luxury of taking six months to prepare their home for sale.  But I have to admit, I love working with them when they come along!
One thing I am pushing with this client is to start working on their curb appeal by planting next month.  In the Austin area, hopefully Summer will be turning down the heat a little before too long, and Fall Planting can begin.  This is a great time to put in new trees and shrubs so that they are well established before next year's 100+ degree heat.  And most importantly, you might get … (14 comments)

austin home stager: Don't use the towels... [When did I become my mom?] - 07/28/09 01:41 AM
While on a recent visit to an occupied home, I was discussing the possibility of supplementing furniture and accents with the owners.  The opportunity was becoming less desirable by the moment as the owners kept telling me about their dog, who was probably born before Nixon resigned, and how he continues to soil any thing he is not familiar with... The thought of provided furnishings for the home was not appealing.  Luckily, they primarily needed accents.
Now, what does this have to do with my mom?  When discussing accenting the Master Bath, I mentioned adding matching towels. And I found myself … (10 comments)

austin home stager: Featured Service from The Stage Coach - Front Door Makeover - 05/13/09 04:16 AM
 
We've all heard the expression a thousand times [probably more]: 
You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
One of the recommendations I make to all of my home owners in this regard is to take the time to clean the front door.  Sounds simple enough.  Many times, the front entrance features a steel door and it will require a hose down and touch up paint.  But what do you do for a nice wood door?
Call The Stage Coach!
This particular door had a full make mover done including a refresh of the locksets to replace … (9 comments)

austin home stager: The lesson learned this week - or, Professional Policy # 1772 - 05/08/09 08:57 AM
1772 professional policies is probably a bit of an exaggeration.  But for those of you in the Home Staging industry who are constantly updating their contracts, you know what I am talking about.
This week's lesson stems from a simple communication error.  As the story goes, Monday evening I received a call from one of my REALTOR clients while he was at a client's home.  We agreed on an appointment for Thursday evening for a consultation visit. 
When I arrived Thursday (early, as usual, so I waited around the corner), I was greeted by the teenage daughter. The mother was not … (7 comments)

austin home stager: When to get a storage unit - 04/22/09 03:56 AM
Yesterday afternoon, I was working a consultation for a REALTOR on a 3500 sq foot house that was filled to the brim with stuff.  During the course of the conversations, the husband stated, "I better run out tonight and get a storage unit..."
Immediately, I stopped him.  "Don't run out now.  That should be done towards the end. Do you have space in your garage [three car garage by the way]?"  He sure did.
Here's the recommendations I gave on why he should wait:
We had no idea how many boxes they would fill - thus, no idea what size storage … (5 comments)

austin home stager: Great Article for Sellers in Parade Magazine this weekend - 05/05/08 03:36 AM
There was an interesting article in this weekend's Parade Magazine that every home seller should read.  Not any of the Real Estate articles.  But the "Make Over a Room for $100" by Lisa Quinn.  Need I say more than to quote the first line: "You can improve any room with out breaking the bank!"
I am finding that many people immediately associate Home Staging with Vacant homes.  But Occupied homes are some times more in need. An Interior Designer by trade, Ms. Quinn points to three valuable lessons for any Owner that can also be applied to Sellers: 
Conquer the ClutterPerk up the … (1 comments)