This Is Marketing A Home On A Different Level - Buy A Home, Get A Wife???? - 06/30/08 09:24 PM
Just saw this article on MSN.com, "Single mom selling Fla. home, heart online"; go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25416138/?GT1=43001 to view the online story.
This poor woman has been looking for love for several years and has also been trying to sell her home in a declining real estate market.  Apparently she thought merging her search for the two things most important to her - the perfect mate and the perfect buyer - might yield better results than individual searches for both.
I wonder if she has tried Staging her home? Might be a little less extreme than marrying herself off with the joint!
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Butttttt …. I don’t wanna use a Stager! She’ll make me work! - 06/25/08 10:08 PM
I often wonder why some of my devoted agent-clients don't hire me for every SINGLE one of their listings. I don't stalk their websites like a hound dog and accost them for not hiring me for some of their listings or anything like that.  But occasionally I come across one and wonder to myself, "Is it something I did?  Or is it more likely some resistance on the seller's part?". 
Then I started thinking to myself about how UN-anxious I am about the prospect of selling my own house a couple of years down the road.  I don't wanna fix the … (7 comments)

Please Vote in the “Ugliest For Sale Sign Contest” - 06/25/08 03:38 PM
As promised (although a little tardy), here are the contestants for the "Ugliest For Sale Sign" Contest.
Please review the sad little entries and vote for your favorite. 
An award was generously donated by James Cox of Seven Design Studios.  Winner will receive a single property website.
Judging will be open until midnight CST, Friday (June 27th).
P.S.  If one of these photos was submitted by you, please feel free to vote for it!



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Don't Laugh - Staging On A MAJOR (I mean, really MINOR) Budget - 06/19/08 06:23 PM
Okay, so we all know what it is like to work on tight budget.  The following photo is not indicative of my typical quality of work, but IS indicative of what Staging can be done on a VERY tight budget.
The following living room photo is actually a SUCCESSFUL Staging photo.  I was put in touch with a client whose home was very dated, full of wallpaper and they refused to put any money into their home to change anything.  However, they were sold on renting some furniture for the living room.  As long as it cost them almost nothing.
So … (26 comments)

The Real Estate Reality Hour Is Proud To Present: Dan Pittman, Sarpy County Tax Assessor - 06/19/08 06:06 PM
This Saturday's guest on the "Real Estate Reality Hour" is Dan Pittman, Sarpy County Tax Assessor.  We tend to get a lot of phone calls when one of the local County Tax Assessor's is brave enough to come on air, and we always appreciate their bravery!
Tune in Saturday morning at 9am CST to hear more about Melissa's services and her take on the local market.
Tori Lynn Ross of Ross Designs, LLC is Omaha's Premier Home Stager, co-host of the "Real Estate Reality Hour" Saturdays at 1290 KKAR.  Listen locally or listen via the web at www.1290kkar.com.
 
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E-Key Access For Home Stagers - 06/17/08 02:30 PM
For those of you Stagers who are also members of the Affiliate Council through your local Area Board of Realtors, have you asked the admin staff about getting an e-key?  I have been told by my Omaha office (and these people here are fantastic to work with!) that currently the national office does not allow e-keys for Home Stagers; only for other professions such as insepctors, pest control, etc.
I am wondering if any other areas of the country DO allow e-keys for Stagers and if not, would you guys and gals be interested in writing a letter to the appropriate … (16 comments)

One More Day For “The Ugliest For Sale Sign Contest” - 06/17/08 09:20 AM
If you haven't already seen my blog "By Popular Demand The Ugliest For Sale Sign Contest", check it out!  Entries are accepted here.  We had an award graciously donated by James Cox of Seven Design Studios and the winner will receive a free single property website. Entries accepted until midnight CST, Wednesday, June 18th.
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One More Day For The Ugliest For Sale Sign Contest - 06/17/08 09:18 AM
If you haven't already seen my blog "By Popular Demand The Ugliest For Sale Sign Contest", check it out!  Entries are accepted here.  We had an award graciously donated by James Cox of Seven Design Studios and the winner will receive a free single property website. Entries accepted until midnight CST, Wednesday, June 18th.
 
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The Real Estate Reality Hour Is Proud To Present: Melissa Jarecke of NP Dodge - 06/12/08 10:00 PM
This Saturday's guest on the "Real Estate Reality Hour" is Melissa Jarecke of NP Dodge.  Melissa is one of only four agents in the greater Omaha area to have the GRI, CRS and CRB designations.  Tune in Saturday morning at 9am CST to hear more about Melissa's services and her take on the local market.
Tori Lynn Ross of Ross Designs, LLC is Omaha's Premier Home Stager, co-host of the "Real Estate Reality Hour" Saturdays at 1290 KKAR.  Listen locally or listen via the web at www.1290kkar.com.
 
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A “Them-Them” For The Tragic Loss Of Boy Scouts - 06/12/08 01:18 PM
I am compelled to write a "Them-Them" that both deeply saddens me and makes me extraordinarily proud.
This has been an extremely tornadic weather season and the last couple of weeks have been more than a little terrifying for us in the Midwest. 
Wednesday, June 4th an EF2 tornado hit Ceresco, Nebraska. (Ceresco is between Lincoln and Omaha). My three step-sons live there in a farmhouse with their mother and luckily made it to the basement on time. The town was shut down and without power for several days as significant damage had occurred. Blessedly there were no serious injuries or … (7 comments)

Don’t Get Caught Staging Barefoot - 06/11/08 10:13 AM
Often times when Staging it is appropriate to remove your outside shoes and leave them at the door. Occasions when this is appropriate include when the weather is bad, a house has new carpet, a family has small children and prefers to keep outdoor germs away from the floor, etc.  However, it is best NOT to go sans foot coverings. Some homes are dirtier INSIDE than it is outside and then there is the slip factor.  Unfortunately I have been in some homes that are so dirty I would have preferred to not be in them let alone consider going barefoot. … (17 comments)

Staging Here For The Long Haul? - 06/10/08 11:43 PM
One of my agent partners told me this week that her coach has forecasted the real estate industry will not experience much of an upturn, or return to a seller's market, until 2011. 
Wow!  That's much farther off than I had anticipated (or been told to expect). Which led me to thinking, how will the return to a seller's market impact the Home Staging industry?
Many Stagers will argue that Staging is relevant in any market - during a buyer's market imperative for sellers to employ when competing against so many other listings.  The flip side is that during a seller's … (17 comments)

By Popular Demand: Announcing The Ugliest "For Sale" Sign Contest - 06/10/08 09:23 PM
I wrote a blog last week about a very unattractive "For Sale" sign in my neighborhood. I received many comments of similarly ugly For Sale sign spottings and it was suggested that we have an "Ugliest For Sale Sign" contest.  Here goes!
I am not sure what the official rules should be; I guess since it's my post then I get to be the final judge? Nah, that wouldn't be fair.  I will reformat the blog and open it to the group for judging. Let's hold the contest open for one week - submissions accepted on this blog through June 17th, midnight … (29 comments)

Three Year Anniversary for Ross Designs - Omaha's Premier, Full Service Home Staging Company - 06/08/08 10:37 PM
2004 was a big year for me.  I set the record for highest grossing sales month at the 36 year old office equipment company where I was employed, got married and had a PERFECT wedding on castle steps (too bad Prince Charming was Prince This-Won't-Last-Because-I'm-A-Schmuck; but that's a different blog!), bought a new house and sold my existing house, and most important - incorporated Ross Designs, LLC!!!!
It took me awhile to get set-up and ready to recruit new clients - federal tax ID numbers, insurance policies, logo, website, marketing materials, all while juggling a family and a full time sales … (10 comments)

You Know Ya Done Good When They Buy The Furniture - 06/06/08 11:04 PM
One of my proudest Staging accomplishments was actually an on-going Staging/Remodel/Design project. In fall of 2006 I was truly blessed to become the Interior Design Consultant for one of Omaha's coolest downtown condo projects, 902 Dodge (located ironically at 902 Dodge Street). 
For the past two years I have had the honor of selecting all finishes for several of the model units.  In addition to selecting all finishes (and at one point re-negotiating all contracts, vendors and finish options), I was charged with creating the floor plan and sourcing all furnishings (art, accessories, etc). 
One of our one-bedroom units become so … (13 comments)

"Bounce My Listing" - On Radio Show Saturday at 9am - 06/06/08 10:03 PM
"Bounce My Listing" is a new service in town for sellers.  Sellers are encouraged to enter their "listing" information on the website and they will be contacted by three professional real estate agents from the three largest real estate companies in town.  Tune in Saturday morning at 9am CST to hear more about this service.
Tori Lynn Ross of Ross Designs, LLC is Omaha's Premier Home Stager, co-host of the "Real Estate Reality Hour" Saturdays at 1290 KKAR.  Listen locally or listen via the web at www.1290kkar.com.
 
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Can You Judge A House By It's For sale Sign? - 06/05/08 07:03 PM
What do these "For Sale" signs say about the care and love the homeowner has put into this house? I am pretty sure this won't attract a lot of quality buyers; I would be highly critical of any imperfections in this house. What do you think? Seen any signs like this in your area?

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Can You Judge A House By It's For Sale Sign? - 06/05/08 07:01 PM
What do these "For Sale" signs say about the care and love the homeowner has put into this house? I am pretty sure this won't attract a lot of quality buyers; I would be highly critical of any imperfections in this house. What do you think? Seen any signs like this in your area?

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Who, Me? Honored to be TAGGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 06/03/08 09:48 PM
Thank you, thank you, Charlene Storozuk for deeming me "tag" worthy. I am honored to have this moment. Who knew some of these questions would be so tough????
1.  Who is your favorite musical artist?  I have lots of favorites, but I have to say that as a 70's baby I find the songs that remind me of that era strangely comforting (I get my years confused, so sometimes songs actually born in the 80's still sound 70‘s to me)!  Steely Dan, Crosby Stills & Nash (I saw them in concert twice!), James Taylor, the Bee Gees, just to name a … (8 comments)

ANOTHER Great Reason To Use Sherwin Williams And Partner With An Experienced Staging Company - 06/02/08 09:20 PM
I love Sherwin Williams paint! More than just the paint, I really love the store and the employees.  The color deck is mostly great (could use a few more choices) but since they can match anything I can always color select from my other decks and still use Sherwin Williams as my vendor.
Last week I stopped in to my local store as I was ready to tackle two painting projects at my own home.  A few years ago I set up a designer's account with them under my company name.  Any of my clients can use my account and take … (9 comments)

 
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Tori Lynn Wallitsch

Omaha, NE

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Prudential Ambassador / Ross Designs, LLC

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