home staging: Foreclosures: Why Stage Them? - 05/26/07 04:43 PM
Foreclosures are happening. Pre-foreclosures, foreclosures, bank-owned, REO's, and government HUD owned properties sometimes sit on the market. Home staging cannot cure all of the challenges that many foreclosure properties have, but it can go a long way toward helping buyers picture the place as home sweet home.
Foreclosures can grow old on the market because:
often do not show or photograph well may have inflexible closing termsmay be no wiggle room in priceWhy stage it?
Universal Law of Wrappers, it will show better when staged, the listing photos will be more likely to draw investors and flippers in.a fixer-upper can look more do-able … (28 comments)

home staging: Does This Look Good or What? - 05/23/07 06:08 AM
It's the Universal Law of Wrappers. The prettier the wrapper, the better we assume it is, and the more money we are willing to pay for it. Great confectioners know that presentation matters when it comes to selling pricey chocolate.

See this chocolate bar with a plain old wrapper? Same old, same old, nothing special. How do I know? I just know. Well, I assume from looking at the cheap wrapper!
 
Take a look at this chocolate on the left. ...umm...looks like it's homemade with the fancy decoration done by hand. Fancy tin, too.
Probably expensive, but I bet it's worth … (38 comments)

home staging: Google Has a Sense of Humor - 05/22/07 07:56 AM
Here's some silliness to brighten your morning.1. go to www.google.com2. click on "maps" 3. click on "get directions"4. type New York in the first box (the "from" box)5. type London in the second box (the "to" box) & hit "getdirections" on the same line6. scroll down to step #24 and smile
               Silliness brought to you by Staged First Impressions, New Hampshire 's home staging company. We're here for you, NH, with comic relief.
… (16 comments)

home staging: Selling Your House? It's Not About You Anymore - 05/21/07 10:33 PM
My 83 year old mom has this really awful red baseball hat she wears a lot that protects her nose from the UV rays. Combine that hat with her sunglasses, her white with sunscreen nose, and wow, she's funny. It's ok, I love her dearly, and I don't have to wear it!
Everyone's tastes are different. Everyone's needs are different.
The images here are courtesy of Lands End. The upper four shirts may or may not appeal to you. The blue button down men's oxford or the little black dress with pearls are looks that are clean, simple, comfortable, versatile--and appeal to most … (16 comments)

home staging: Real Estate Commission...Sellers, It's Not Always What You Think - 05/20/07 05:43 PM
I walked into a small real estate office in rural Ireland while I was vacationing recently. After some discussion about the real estate market in the area, I asked, "How much do you receive for a real estate commission here, if you don't mind my asking?" "We get 1 and a half percent."  I was floored, mouth dropped. "That's ALL?"
Then she started to explain that she gets 1 and a half percent as the seller's agent; the buyer's agent gets 1 and a half percent, and the broker gets 2 percent for advertising and administration costs.
     A light bulb went on. … (27 comments)

home staging: The Most Important Listing Photograph - 05/18/07 10:30 PM
The front door holds the key...It's the first picture you post on the MLS, it HAS to count! It must make buyers want to open the door...If you miss the mark on this front entry photo, internet shoppers won't even click on the listing. When I searched active rain to find out what other bloggers had to say, not surprisingly, they're saying a lot. Here's a sampling:
Leslie Olson shows an updated front entry in her blog "What a Difference a Door Makes".Kathleen Lordbock discusses her smiling front door in "Looking Good"Wayne Pruner showcases his front entry in "What Sellers in … (44 comments)

home staging: A Green Vacation - 05/17/07 09:39 AM
I couldn't help but notice the green choices in England & Ireland when I was on vacation there recently. Even while I was in the pubs (studying the architecture), the loud CR--ASH every time the bottle recycling was emptied would take me off my seat. 
Some of their eco-friendly tactics are by choice, and some are out of necessity, and a lot is mandated.
The old narrow city streets and limited parking forces residents to use public transportation, bicycles, scooters and of course, walking. The gas price was £1.14 per liter...that encourages walking! The small hybrids, electric cars were prevalent.
We visited several … (13 comments)

home staging: Real Estate Market & Home Staging in the UK - 05/15/07 01:31 PM
I just returned home from a holiday in England and Ireland. Yes, I did relax, but I also checked out several pubs to see if they needed staging :)  While in London, I phoned a home staging company, Home Stagers, "the UK's friendly home staging people" to find out about the real estate market. Steve Kerslake was available for comment, and kind enough to answer a few questions about home staging in the UK.
                 
Steve exclusively works with vacant staging for developers of new and re-construction in the city. Most of these listings are flats, or … (25 comments)

home staging: What is a Home Staging Consultation? Pros & Cons? - 04/29/07 09:12 PM
A home staging consultation occurs when a home seller receives professional instruction on how to stage their own home. The muscle and purchasing of accessories is left up to the homeowner.
Cost: the range I have seen on the web is $150-400, with $250 seemingly average. In NH, I charge $250.
Pros: seller saves money by doing the work themselves, seller controls when work gets completed.
Cons: seller may pick and choose the portions of the plan that they like, that they are willing to do, that they physically are capable of. When picking out accessories at the store, homeowner may choose items that … (27 comments)

home staging: Who Pays for Home Staging, the Agent or the Seller? - 04/28/07 08:47 PM
Who pays for home staging, the seller or the agent? Home sellers, you are going to benefit from the home staging, and should be the one to pay for the investment. You can't expect your agent to spend their portion of the commission on staging your home!
It's true that some agents pay for staging consultations or full staging. But this can be hurtful if the home's sale never goes through, and the agent doesn't ever get a commission.  
Home Staging has been talked about on CNN, Newsweek, Good Morning America, HGTV, NY Times, NBC, countless local newspaper articles, and blogs...if you … (44 comments)

home staging: What are they Saying in Coos County, New Hampshire? - 04/27/07 02:21 PM
Fellow New Hampshire residents who live up in Coos County, there is a new blogging community. An associate of mine emailed me about this group in her area, and I thought perhaps some Coos County folks at Active Rain might like to network here. Check them out!
Coos Conversations This is a blog for and about Coos County, New Hampshire. Whether you call it your new home, your former home, your second home or just a place you visit, the North Country evokes a unique passion in anyone who knows it. The purpose of this blog is to capture that … (18 comments)

home staging: What is Considered Household Hazardous Waste?...When is My Town Picking Up HHW? - 04/26/07 11:22 AM
   The following list shows common household items containing potentially hazardous ingredients that might be found in your garage, basement, or other storage space in your home. This information has been provided by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.       
                     
The source of this information below can be found here:
Other Flammable Products
Propane tanks and other compressed gas cylinders Kerosene Home heating oil Diesel fuel
   For NH, your Household Hazardous Waste Pick-Up Day can be found here.  Email me if you have trouble downloading this info.
For my friends outside of … (11 comments)

home staging: You're Moving in NH...What to do With Your Household Hazardous Waste? - 04/25/07 05:10 PM
 You're moving...what do you do with the Household Hazardous Waste?
                                
First, what is Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)? This link is from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
  There are obvious ones such as paint,; but did you know moth balls and toilet cleaners are HHW too? 
Second, when is HHW pick-up in New Hampshire?  This link is the NH Spring 2007 Schedule of HHW Collections.
  It lists NH towns, dates & times of pick up, and the coordinator's name and contact info. If your NH town is not on the list, call the NH Dept of Environmental Services Waste Management Division @ … (9 comments)

home staging: Home Staging....Here's A Successful Marketing Tool - 04/23/07 11:43 AM
Home Stagers...I have tried Real Estate Shows in NH and they are helping my home staging business. Click on this link if you'd like some more background information on home staging and Real Estate shows.

Are the words "real estate show" turning you off? Home stagers can advertise with RES. Are you thinking the program sounds too hard? Definitely not hard; don't need special computer know-how.Worried you don't have the right camera? You don't need an expensive camera. Too time consuming? Once you understand how to create a show, they don't take much time.
YOU choose the beautiful staged home … (30 comments)

home staging: Looking for the Smartest Way to Sell Your Home in New Hampshire? - 04/21/07 05:51 PM
The smartest way to sell your home in New Hampshire:
contact Staged First Impressions, a New Hampshire professional home staging & staged photography company have your home staged prior to listing it to increase appraised valuechoose a real estate agent you can trustkeep your home looking its best after staging


At Staged First Impressions, we're here to help NH homeowners sell their home quickly.




Carey & Giampa Realty, Seacoast New Hampshire Portsmouth NH's "Tree House Toys"My Successes & Failures Are Teaching MeWhat is Staged Photography?Home Sellers, Create Some Excitement and Get Your Home Sold!Sitting On the … (15 comments)

home staging: Staging Commercial Properties in NH - 04/11/07 10:33 PM
Home staging can creatively solve design problems in commercial spaces too. Today in Hampton, NH I met with Robin Moyer Ratigan, a NH Occupational Therapist who has opened a business called Capable Kids. By helping pre-schoolers with fine and gross motor skills, she is helping our community by decreasing the number of children that need the "Readiness" program (which is funded by our school budget). We need Robin Moyer Ratigan.
Her commercial staging needs: coming up with a design for her waiting area that can entertain active little ones while keeping Mom and/or Dad comfortable and happy. She needs big design … (14 comments)

home staging: Creative Financing to get your Vacant Home Staged - 04/10/07 05:15 PM
Do you have a vacant home to sell near the ocean, a lake, the mountains? 
                   Is it near a large city, a tourist attraction?
      Near a college or university?
Stage your vacant listing so it sells faster, but have the buyer pay for it!
  Here's how:
Consult your home stager and explain that you'd like to stage your vacant property and sell it furnished. Your home stager will quote you a price for the furnishings, accessories, delivery and set-up.Consult with your Realtor and explain that you'd like your listing price to reflect a furnished vacation property.Sell your vacation property and … (29 comments)

home staging: Home Staging Pictures from Greenland, NH...Before & After Gallery - 04/04/07 05:32 PM
This is Staged First Impressions in its debut Real Estate Show. Real Estate Shows (RES) offers home stagers a great way of showing off their "Before & After Home Staging Picture Gallery". Check this out!
Load your latest staged home before & after pictures, and email them to Realtors and potential customers. There aren't any expensive brochures to create and print, which saves time, money and trees.
Jeff Turner, RES Pres, I know you get lots of pats on the back for offering RES, but here's just one more from me ;>) Actually it's better than that, it's gem-studded solid gold king-like … (43 comments)

home staging: Home Staging in New Hampshire: the Benefits for Homeowners & Realtors - 03/30/07 06:39 PM
Home Staging benefits for Sellers:
your house sells fasteryour house sells at the top of its price rangethe home appraises higheryour staged house creates enthusiasm among Realtors and buyer agents; they want to show your homeit photographs better, so the listing pictures pop! on the MLSHome Staging benefit for Realtors:
gain a stronger reputation when your listings sell faster, with more satisfied clients Home Staging obstacles:
seller or Realtor believes "it'll sell eventually" and resorts to price reductionsa belief that home staging should only be utilized if it doesn't sell before the listing expiresa misconception that home staging is more expensive than a price … (14 comments)

home staging: ERA Offers Home Staging to Market Their GOLD STAR Properties - 03/29/07 09:14 AM
Do you know what it takes to have an ERA Gold Star Property? Home Staging! This is what their website has to say:
                                 
  "ERA® Gold Star Property is a preferred property program designed to help you meet the fundamental challenge of standing out from the competition. It takes a great deal of preparation to get your home sold at its maximum price. The goal of Gold Star Property is to help you get top dollar for your home in the shortest amount of time possible.
An ERA Gold Star Property will:
Increase your selling price and decrease … (13 comments)

 

Sue Argue - NH Home Stager

Hampton, NH

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Staged First Impressions

Address: Katie Lane, Hampton, NH, 03842

Office Phone: (603) 926-2676

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Staged First Impressions,
A New Hampshire home staging company. Find answers to home staging questions, and see examples of what home staging can do for you. Pictures say a thousand words, so come on in, and check us out.

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