staged first impressions: Shopping for Kodak V570? - 07/02/07 10:48 PM
If you're shopping for a Kodak V570 to snap some fantastic listing photographs, now might be a good time to shop for one.  Walmart is selling these models for $188. with no shipping costs if you pick it up at your local store. It comes with everything you need.
As I mentioned at the IAHSP Convention, you can get a more expensive model with a built in panoramic stitching feature, but I don't think that's necessary. 
                                          What is Staged Photography? 
Staged First … (16 comments)

staged first impressions: What is Staged Photography? - 06/23/07 11:46 AM
Staged Photography combines home staging with props to create powerful listing photography. Staged Photography can help a home to sell because buyers get a positive first impression when they look at the MLS on the web.
85% of home buyers are looking at the on-line homes for sale FIRST. Make those key listing pictures count!
What is Staged Photography?
Listing photographs taken after the area is staged and props are added to the space to improve and update its lookImages are PhotoShop'd to edit any imperfections or crop unwanted backgroundPhotos can be uploaded to the MLS, Realtor.com, Trulia, or wherever you'd like them … (50 comments)

staged first impressions: Home Sellers, Create Some Excitement and Get Your Home Sold! - 06/20/07 08:03 PM
 Selling your home?? Create some excitement, stir up some energy, get your house SOLD!! 
 If you were a Realtor with a beautiful home to sell that was priced correctly, wouldn't you be EXCITED? Make the excitement happen! 
 If your house looks great and your agent is proud to show it to other agents and buyers, what happens is a "This-house-is going-to-sell-fast" attitude. The excitement is CONTAGIOUS! Buyers can feel this excitement and will be more apt to make an offer.
First, repair and replace broken/ruined items. Have your home staged so it has curb appeal, and updated style.LISTEN TO YOUR AGENT'S … (14 comments)

staged first impressions: Sitting On the Market Too Long? - 06/19/07 11:13 PM
  If your house is priced right, and still sitting on the market, what can you do? Before you resort to a price reduction, consider Home Staging.
  When your home is staged, it is transformed into a beautiful, comfortable and updated property. The listing photographs of a staged home stand out above the others. According to the National Association of Realtors, over 80% of today’s home buyers are looking on the Internet first for houses that interest them. That means the listing photographs of your home that are posted on the Internet must be top-notch to capture buyers’ attention. You … (6 comments)

staged first impressions: Under Agreement 8 Days After Boosting Curb Appeal - 06/17/07 06:37 PM
 
This New Hampshire front entry received a new dose of curb appeal and went under agreement 8 days later!
 
Staged First Impressions, Hampton, NH home staging company. We'd love to help you sell your home faster too!
If you have a question about home staging and you can't find the answer here, please contact me, and I'd be happy to help you in any way I can.
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 Market Too Long?Under … (19 comments)

staged first impressions: A Quality NH Realtor Website - 06/15/07 07:14 PM
Check out this Seacoast New Hampshire Realtor's website... Laurel Trzaskoma from Michael Bean Realty, Exeter, NH The site matches Laurel; it's got style and smarts! If you need quick and easy information about homes for sale in Rockingham County and beyond, check out Laurel's website.
Browse through Laurel Trzaskoma's website and see why I like it:the first item of business is the home finder tool, which is what buyers are looking foreasy to use "One-Click search", with fast "look and see" catagories right on the home pageinteresting local seacoast NH flavor sectionlocal NH resources givenher original photographs of her town, … (8 comments)

staged first impressions: Adding WWW links into Your Real Estate Show - 06/07/07 10:53 AM
Read today's Real Estate Shows Blog, written by Sarah Cooper, called Work that "WWW" Button! There are several spots to place links in your Real Estate Show, use them all!
       Where can you add links?
"WWW" tab: Again, read Sarah Cooper's blog for advice on this tab. You can change this to add any link you want. Make sure you have your branding info completely filled out, with your email and website link!"Schools" tab: IES is automatically going to come up, as long as you correctly enter the zip code in your property details. This IS a good school info site, but, you … (17 comments)

staged first impressions: 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)

staged first impressions: 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)

staged first impressions: 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)

staged first impressions: 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)

staged first impressions: 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)

staged first impressions: 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)

staged first impressions: 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)

staged first impressions: 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)

staged first impressions: 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)

staged first impressions: 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)

staged first impressions: 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)

staged first impressions: 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)

staged first impressions: Earth Day...Welcome to Active Rain...Burbank (Green) Construction of Providence, RI - 04/22/07 12:16 PM
  I would like you to join me in welcoming to Active Rain...........
                 BURBANK CONSTRUCTION of Providence, Rhode Island                     
Burbank Construction in Providence, Rhode Island is passionately doing their part to create earth-friendly affordable housing. Check this out:
"Burbank Construction's dedication is to renovating the mills in and around Providence, Rhode Island, transforming them into "Mixed Use" facilities. The "Mixed Use" conversion shall consist of residential, condo studio lofts, cafés, galleries, performance spaces, rooftop parks/gardens and greenhouses. The company's vision is to create sustainable, affordable alternatives to normal urban dwelling and inhabitance; Residents may purchase … (16 comments)

 

Sue Argue - NH Home Stager

Hampton, NH

More about me…

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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