How do you want the buyers to remember your home? - 02/21/08 09:02 AM
These are photos that I've taken of homes.   
As a buyer's agent for over 20 years I listened to buyer's comments when leaving a home.   I always encouraged them to write their thoughts on the MLS tickets that I provided them.
They would come up with Great house.  Felt clean, bright and ready to move into
OR  the house with the 3 ft ugly wall paper in the bathroom
Or The house with all the stuff on the refrigerator
or better yet      The house with the moldy bread
Sellers how do you want your house remembered?

Staging homes in the Oakland and Macomb County area   incl.  Bloomfield Hills, … (15 comments)

When will it be the new norm - 02/20/08 10:38 PM
 
The norm was to get the listings of the office on ditto sheets that we put into a binder.  We had no idea what the competition had until 'tour' day.
Shortly there after we had the MLS books.  A new one every two weeks.  WOW    The book was old the day it was printed.
Shortly there after we went electronic.  We had the MLS on line and down loadable to our lap tops.
The norm keeps changing.
Once online we could put A photo of the listings
Shortly thereafter we could could put multiple photos   That became the norm
Then … (6 comments)

Perfect Staging Clients - 02/16/08 02:33 PM
Few weeks ago Marianne and I did a first appointment with my clients.  We helped them decide what furniture etc was to go into storage.  Mom and dad were there too loading and hauling.
They were wonderful.  The best cleints that we've worked with.
We gave suggestion on waht lights fixtures to change, furniture to move and colors to paint.
This week, it was was too icy for me to go out, Marianne went back to finish the staging.
These before and after photos say it all.
most of the precious collection of copper has been put into storage. Others were used in the house
Windows … (12 comments)

I can lick my nose - Can you - 02/10/08 05:24 PM
New Year   New Weight   Newish Grand dog and grey hair.  Time for a new photo
Meet my grand dog
I've never had a pet so having a grand dog is tons of fun
Shadow's story http://activerain.com/blogsview/374009/Odds-of-being-a
… (19 comments)

Odds of being a successful adoption are slim A true story - 02/10/08 03:13 PM
This is a true story, written by my grand daughter, from the view point of Shadow
Shadow's Story
A cold breeze rattled around the small chain link fence.  Snow came down heavily around the skinny, black dog, huddled in the corner of the cage, trying to escape the blizzard.  This dog, named Shadow, blinked quickly as the storm raged on.  The muffled sound of the little family huddled around the fireplace echoed around in Shadow's triangle ears.  The family's dog gave a cheerful bark as Shadow was left to brave the storm.  Shadow whimpered.
            The storm went on, slowly strengthening.  Finally, sometime in … (3 comments)

Staging Services are Ala Carte in Bloomfield Hills, Oakland County Michigan - 02/04/08 04:49 PM
The first thing a seller or agent asks is how much is this going to cost.  This is before seeing the property.  Well good golly I haven't seen the house.  Don't know how much work needs to be done or how much furniture is in the house.
Let me look into my crystal ball.

I'm not a "discount" Stager
 
I offer services that are pick and choose -   It's called Ala Carte
Stage Show Sell services, many times, pay for themselves.  When I work with attorneys, estates or homeowners with too much stuff, I help them get rid of … (5 comments)

HG TV - take me out and sh--t me - 02/02/08 01:23 PM
Tuesday, Wednesday and part of Thursday I spent lying on the couch with my foot up and being iced.
Can't concentrate on reading ( think it was the pain killers), can't walk around the house, can't clean, can't sit at the computer so I turned on the TV.
Daytime TV is unbelievable!!! Court shows, talk shows and depressing news shows.   OK, this was the time for me to watch HG  TV.  I wanted to see what my clients were seeing and of course why their houses looked like they did.
Give me a break.  The advice they are giving to our clients bad, bad, … (41 comments)

Back to Nature Plymouth Michigan Ice Show - 02/01/08 09:21 PM
Plymouth Michigan held it's annual ice show this past weekend.
On Monday, my husband and I, thought we would walk around a little bit and enjoy the the 40 degree heat wave.
It's amazing how fast these carvings will melt in our balmy winter days when the sun is shining.
The next day the temp were higher and we had thunder storms.  I imagine that the carvings are gone now.
BTW, we are back to sever winter with about 6 inches of snow.


It was a challenge getting these few photos.  The sun wasn't right and they were melting.  The tails had broken off the dragons becasue … (8 comments)

I Woke Up On The Operating Table - 02/01/08 05:32 PM
This Tuesday I had the 2nd surgery on my right foot.  The first one was in November when I broke my foot gardening.
My plans for the late Autumn was to have a problem, that I've been having for many years, taken care of with surgery.  That garden accident changed those plans.
About a month ago the break was healed enough that we could schedule the surgery.  I took two weeks off for Florida and a business trip in Grand Rapids.
All rested and ready the sugery was performed on Tuesday. 
The surgery was on the joint just above the big … (12 comments)