Tomorrow I get to de-stage this Royal Oak home.   I'm very proud to say that again it had a MULTIPLE offers within  two weeks after staging.   This time it will close.

The realtor is singing my praises.   The owner loves me She knows the reason is selling is the staging.   She asked me not to de-stage until the papers are signed.  That doesn't work here.  We must de-stage before closing or she will have to pay rent to the purchaser.   That gets real messy.

Please all of you keep your fingers crossed that this house closes Friday at 3.

Transaction closed with record breaking speek.  Everyone is so pleased.

Staging works

This adorable Birmingham home was on the market for two years without an offer.   Two weeks after staging with Stage-Show-Sell., LLC it had an offer.

The cape cod had a bedroom and sitting area on the upper level with a beautiful bathroom.

The entry level had a bedroom and a full bath.

These were also staged.

Tha basement was confusing because it didn't have a purpose to the buyers eyes.  The seller  used it for a media room and that wasn't selling the house esp. with it vacant.

Having the basement staged gave the buyers the option of knowing that it could be used for a bedroom.  Please note the exit window.  The basement could also be used as an office or media room

One of the nice things about having the business a little slow this week is the chance to play with different programs.

This home was re-staged in December 2009 after the buyer couldn't close on the home.

I thought this would be a good opportunity to try the Photosynth program again.

I'm looking for opinions on the program and it's potential in marketing homes for sale.

Royal Oak staged by Stage-Show-Sell, LLC

My AR family I need your opinion

Tis the season to be de-cluttering.  Thought you all thought I was going to say Jolly.  :-)

Well I do wish for the Jolly but I want to stress the de-cluttering.

This time of the year we give gifts and we receive gifts.  Some of the gifts we really like and others well we could really do without.

Now before grabbing all those gifts and shoving them in the closet take a hard look at what you already have.

What you all ready have a dust buster?  and now you have another one !!    Decide if you want to return the new one (Good luck) without a receipt and get half the money the gifter (think I made up that word) paid for it.  Toss out or donate the old one and get a income tax credit for it   (my favorite is donating things that work)   Or a really fun thing is to thing of who really needs one and put it away for re-gifting during the year.  Put a tag on it so you know who its for AND MARK YOUR CALENDAR for that person birthday that you already have the gift.

Great time to be singing Whistle While You Work and enjoy.

Dump that closet that's always been too full.  Throw everything on the bed from your closet.   Put them in stacks of sizes.  Yes we all have severl sizes in our closet. Toss out the ones that are too big because none of us want to go back there.   Toss out the ones that are several sizes smaller than what we are wearing.   Let's face it, no matter how many New Years resolutions we make to exercise and loose weight, it's going to take time to get there.   Time means style changes.   The clothes are ugly by the time we get down to the weight we want to be AND when we get there we deserve new clothes.

Get your kids in on the action.   Have them dump their toys out and decide which one are complete.  Which ones they haven't played with in a long time and are still good for donating and which ones need to go out the door. This really makes the kids feel good when they know that their toys are going someone else for someone to play with.

Oh right, they are all collectibles.  Right.  They are only collectible when you are buying them.  Not when you are selling them. I know because of all the estate sales   The truly great toys like Lego ...keep for your grand kids.

Pretend you are moving and do you want to pay someone $$ for shipping things that you haven't used for years.

Now go out there and make this time your Boxing Day.  Box things up and get rid of them.  It will make you want to sing.   Tis the Season to be Jolly Fa La La La La La La

I'm fascinated by Photosynth and what the possibilities that it has.  The only problem is that I'm having a terrible time getting it right.

So, I hoping that there are more AR members who are playing with it and we can support each other.

This home was staged by Stage-Show-Sell, LLC in November of 2009.

This project took me about 10 hours of playing and experimenting  It's not right but it's close enough to start the group with.

As you can see one of the problems that I'm having is getting it to start where I want it to start.  How do I get it to recognize the first photo.

The Microsoft help section leaves a lot to be desired.

December 2009 this condo was prepared for sale by Stage-Show-Sell, LLC

Taking is from the 1960s to now should help the marketing of the condo

Cleaning is more than dusting a vacumning.  It's looking at the house with a buyers eye.   First impressions count that's why it's important from the front door be clean and shinny and that includes the doorknobs.  The windows need to sparkly and show the outdoors

These small and economical changes to the condo will bring the buyers in.

I realize that many of you warm climate stagers don't understand the challenges that we go through.  Yes I do know that you are having a cold snap.  Gee what is it this week 60 degrees :-)

Last weekend we de-staged a home, during a snow storm, in Madison Heights.  That means getting the supplies damp, slipping and sliding on the ice walks and driveways.  Try loading your car when there is no purchase for your shoes on the ground.   Right after that we had to stage another vacant in Royal Oak.

Understand how complicated it is  by understanding that vacant house have to be winterized.  That means turning off the water and putting anti-freeze in all the pipes and TOILETS.  We women have to know where the nearest fast food restaurant, with facilities, is.

There are no utilities when the house is a foreclosure and there is no one to pay the utility bills.  That means no heat and no electricity.

This is like going back 100 years and staging a log cabin except there is no wood burning stove.

What damage can happen to our furniture and linens in this cold damp climate?

What happens to us trying to unpack boxes with gloves on our hands?

Oh, mother nature, please let this be a short winter.

Yesterday, Christmas day, I spent flat on my back reading a book for the 3rd time.  Christmas was the day before for my family so I spent the day doing nothing.  It was great.  We call it a PJ day around here.

The book I choose to read, again, was by Andy Andrews.   This book had

 such a change on my outlook that I've decided it's one that will say with me forever.  I won't loan it out.

Even though this book is for determining personal success it has effected the way that I do business.

His Seven Decisions and how they have changed my business

1. The buck stops here.  I am responsible for my past and my future.

The mistakes that I've made marketing to realtors that don't get it (staging) is my mistake and I won't go it again.  I can't change them.  My future is working with those who know and understand the benefits of Stage-Show-Sell, LLC

2. I will seek wisdom.  I will be the a servant to others.

We at Stage-Show-Sell, LLC will volunteer to help others that need my service.  I will joing organizations that will help me grown personally and business.

3. I am a person of action.  I seize this moment.  I choose now.

No more putting things on the back burner.  Do more saying I'll do that tomorrow.  Today is the day to begin any project whether it's joining a new networking group or cleaning my closet.

In 2009 we joined two new networking groups that are great.

4.  I have a decided heart.  My destiny is assured.

Stage-Show-Sell, LLC will continue to grow in 2010 just as it did in 2009.  I know and feel  the future.

5. Today I will choose to be happy.  I am the possessor of a grateful spirit.

Many years ago I was overcome with the negative things of life and business. I was a realtor at the time and some how got into the DRAMA of the business.  All the realtors out there know what I mean. I choose to find everything a leaning experience and not let the problems of day drag me down. 

My business picked up.

My life, because of dying parents, was dragging me down emotionally and physically.

I choose to be happy and enjoy the days that were left and not on what will be lost.

6. I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit.  I will forgive myself.

Everyone has 'baggage' from the past.  Get over it.  I've learned to forgive myself and learn from the past. 

I've learned that others aren't upset with me as I thought.  Why should I be upset with myself.

I will forgive those who don't believe in Staging.  I don't need to carry the burden and frustration.  We can help only those who want to be helped.

7. I will persist without exception.  I am a person of great faith.

I believe in me and my business. I know what I do makes a difference.

Staging works and the more I "think it" the more it will happen.  My PMA ( positive mental attitude) will win.

All the homes that I have staged in 2009 have had an offer on them within two weeks of staging EXCEPT the ones that the sellers didn't co-operate with the agents and price their homes right.

So there will be No New Years Resolutions for me  I will continue on the path that I've been on.

I know that you all think that I'm making this stuff up.  No way.  This is an actual estate that I've been working on.

The family loved living with wallpaper and saw no need to change it.

The home is now neutral, warm and inviting

Yes the closet was wallpapered

♠

Wallpaper is gone and hardwood floors exposed

The closet paper matched the walls of the master bedroom

This is the same room.  The paper is done and the hardwood floors exposed.

I can't tell you what a pleasure it has been to work on this home and make this transformation.

♠

Two months of preparation including the estate sale.

Please vist my posts on the kitchen transformation

Changing the Family Room

The laundry room transformation

Bathroom♠