home staging: Facebook Page test a success! Here's my secret... - 12/01/10 02:09 AM
I managed to overcome one of the biggest shortcomings on my Facebook Business Page!  I have always felt like I was not able to participate in the conversation as a person, but only as a Company.  And that's not what I wanted for my company.  It's important to me to coexist with The Stage Coach - I can't really explain why - I just feel it is a necessary part of the mix of building my reputation and The Stage Coach's Brand.
There's a couple of solutions for this.  The easy one, and the route that I took, was making someone … (23 comments)

home staging: The Stage Coach officially comes out against Home Managers*** Updated - 10/25/10 02:42 AM
For several years now, I have taken a mostly neutral stance on Home Staging Managers.  When people would call me and ask if I provided this service, I would always refer them to a couple of local Austin companies I knew who provided this service.  As of today, I will no longer refer these people away and this blog is being written to serve as a warning [Caveat Emptor = Buyer Beware] for these callers.
My first distaste came when I discovered a three part investigative report by Fox 5 News in Atlanta.  Apparently, a Home Manager was not only failing … (6 comments)

home staging: So close... yet so far... - 07/23/10 06:17 AM
I had the pleasure of visiting a home yesterday for a Basic Stage Coaching service that was next door to a home I had worked on last November.  Going back to the same street after eight months wound up providing me with a good laugh. 
When I pulled up and exited the truck to take a picture of the facade, I noticed that the neighbor across the street had not done anything in their front yard since the last time I visited.  This is not unusual, were it not for the fact that they have left unopend bags of mulch in … (15 comments)

home staging: Friday Fun on The Stage Coach's Facebook Page - 02/04/10 12:27 AM
First, I would like to give a quick shout out to Kim Daugherty whose post back in November inspired me to implement this idea.  Her Post, How Facebook Fans Are Like Little Kids...and a TIP to KEEP their Attention! was about giving Fans a reason to come to your site, and keeping them interested while they are visiting. If you have a Facebook Business (Fan) Page, you need to read her article.
So, what's this about Friday Fun over on The Stage Coach's Facebook Page?
The Stage Coach has put together a new feature for Fridays, taking a different slant on … (5 comments)

home staging: REALTORS: Do you leave the Toilet Seat up? - 01/31/10 05:27 AM
It sounds like a strange question - but really, it isn't!  When you are taking pictures for your listings, do you leave the toilet seat up?
I was looking at some listings near a home that is on my schedule tomorrow, and there was a picture of the commode with the seat up. This prompted my to post to The Stage Coach's FB Page:
"The Stage Coach hates to say this, but he's going to say it any ways: if your REA doesn't put the toilet seats down when they are photographing your home, how do you think they are going … (65 comments)

home staging: The Stage Coach's 1 & 1/2 Rule... - 01/04/10 02:02 AM
...is a simple rule of thumb for determining cramped spaces.  It's really quite simple and I use it all of the time during consultations:  An area of the home, primarily those buyers would walk through, that measures less than 1 & 1/2 of The Stage Coach across is too cramped. 
Considering myself "Larger than Average", I think this rule works out great, and more importantly, it is a great visual that home owners can understand.  This rule was created one day when I was at a friend's house, holding my younger daughter's hand, and we could not get into their living … (13 comments)

home staging: This question caught me off guard this week - 12/18/09 10:26 AM
Late last week, I ran out for a "Service Call" to help another Home Stager who needed some blinds hung and did not have the hardware.  While there, she told me all of the things they needed to get done before the home could go to market.  So I offered to throw my hat into the ring for some of the Exterior Maintenance items.  The home really needed some help with Curb Appeal.
I delivered a proposal for about a dozen different things that needed to be done on the Exterior, including, cleaning the gutters on the first level.  There was … (15 comments)

home staging: Suggestion for Stagers who use Cort... - 11/17/09 10:33 AM
Hello, Stagers:I was reading a blog by Stefan Swanepoel regarding Brookfield acquiring Real Living earlier this morning.  Later, it occurred to me, that there was some important information for Home Stagers far down in the article - look at Post# 115.  According to Stefan's post, Berkshire Hathaway is involved in Home Services of America, and he goes on to list many RE companies that fall under this umbrella. 
On the way to a meeting this morning, it occured to me: our friend Warren Buffet also has his fingers in Cort.  So I returned, and reviewed the list.  My thought process was, … (3 comments)

home staging: "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)

home staging: I'm not a prude, but... - 10/30/09 06:52 AM
During a Basic Stage Coaching visit to a home, I ran into a wall with the home owner in regards to what I call a "Butt."  There's no easier way to say - it's undeniably a painting of a man with his rear end exposed.  Never considering myself very artsy, I would still have considered the painting to be in good taste - but it still needs addressing in preparation of the home to sell. 
I'm sorry - I'm not a prude, but some buyers might find this kind of artwork offensive. And in today's market, you need every possible buyer … (18 comments)

home staging: 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)

home staging: Buyers can't keep their hands to themselves... - 09/02/09 03:59 AM
This Blog has been brewing in my head for quite a while now: With Austin being the self-proclaimed "Live Music Capital of the World", it should not be surprising to come across many homes with Musical Instruments.
 
I still recall the home that was Staged by my ASP Class back in 2006. Nice home, no outstanding features, other than an office that was a Gun Room. Steiner Ranch. The formal living room had a Baby Grand of sorts.  Never having taken a piano lesson, I am only guessing this based upon the shape & size of the piano.  For all … (6 comments)

home staging: 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)

home staging: Oh, yeah!?! Well, we don't need you either... [*Rant*] - 07/07/09 06:19 AM
The following is an excerpt from an actual flyer sent out by an Austin REALTOR to every home owner in a large subdivision.  This was emailed to me last week by a fellow ASP Stager in the Austin Area, whose daughter lives in this particular subdivision.  I intentionally delayed my blogging on this topic so I did not jump all over this team and call them names.  Here's what was said:
Did you know that one of the top 5 financial mistakes a seller can make it to hire a staging company? It’s true! According to a prominent real estate magazine … (8 comments)

home staging: Featured Service: Sweep it Clean! - 06/22/09 06:34 AM
Featured Service: Sweep it Clean!The "Sweep it Clean" Service is a Rapid Declutter service provided by The Stage Coach. If Home Staging is a tool used to help houses sell faster, then this service would be the Sledge Hammer of Home Staging Tools. There is nothing pretty or gentle about this service. We come out to the home with boxes and packing materials and start moving clutter & furnishings out of the house. As each room is completed, some light Home Staging is performed. We will work through prioritized rooms using existing possessions in order to increase the appeal of the … (4 comments)

home staging: Finally - my prototype Superman... or Pineapple, if you will... - 04/29/09 07:11 AM
Over the last year, I have been meaning to create a signature of sorts to leave in my Staged Homes. (Primarily, Vacants)  I have commented on several Blogs about this.  But I am finally ready to unveil my prototype.
Here's the deal: Like Seinfeld had his Superman in every episode, or Psych tries to incorporate a Pineapple, my goal was to create a subliminal signature to leave in the houses I have Staged.  Esepcially, if the situation does not allow me to leave my marketing materials.  Hopefully, as I implement this more, it will start to become obvious to the initiated.
… (8 comments)

home staging: 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)

home staging: The things I do for my clients... - 03/23/09 07:49 AM
The owners over at The Concord project and I had been focusing on the kitchen over the last week or so.  I tasked them with finding the closing papers from the construction of their home in order to see what we could find in lieu of a proof of purchase for the kitchen faucet.  It's been seven years since the home was built and the finish on the base of the faucet was chipping off over the years.  The husband had looked up the information online, and had decided that their faucet fell under the 5year warranty since they bought it … (17 comments)

home staging: WOW! a Billy Mays product that works! - 03/16/09 12:59 AM
We've all seen him on TV - he usually wakes me out of a daze when he shouts, "Billy Mays here!".  His commercials are intentionally loud and obnoxious. He's the man you love to hate.  And always leaves me asking, "Does that really work?" 
A product called "Mighty Mend It" had really caught my attention.  What's not to love about a fabric glue you can use to fix tears and then parachute out of a plane with?  Except for the whole jumping out of a plane thing...
I was wasting time at Kohl's while me wife was trying clothes on the … (6 comments)

home staging: The Concord Project - Video Blog #02 - 03/04/09 03:58 AM
In this next clip from The Concord Project, we take a look at the clutter in the Master Bath room.  A few suggestions for decluttering, and how to implement "Dormitory Style Living".  It is pretty straight forward.
 
 If you did not notice at the end of the clip, this room has been painted already. We went with a Behr Classic Taupe to bring in some soft color and cover the Summertime. Eventually, we will come back for the final Staging of the Master Bath, which will include bringing in towels and bath accessories and any additional accents. For the time … (7 comments)