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Your Clients will Love You – Give the Gift of Color!

By
Home Stager with Chic Home Interiors

A color consultation for the new home can be a great client gift at the close of escrow.  I have been working on a Color Consultation this week with a new homeowner client.  We are using the Dewey Color System to create a personalized room by room color palette throughout the house.

color consultI n a couple of the rooms we took our inspiration from an existing piece. In others, we started from scratch with no preconceived notions.  The Dewey Color System is designed to ensure the finished product speaks to the individual client, ensuring that each room in their home brings them the feeling they are looking for in each room.  It does this by starting with the patented Dewey Color System Test and using the patented Dewey Color Coordinator.   The finished product is a home that is uniquely designed for the particular client with no fear of color mismatches. 

Color choices are one of the first reasons new clients hire designers.  They are intimidated by the overwhelming breadth of choices.  They don't want to make a color mistake, especially on the walls.  Even though paint is one of the easiest and most affordable changes to make, the sheer massiveness of walls in comparison to the smaller color choices (a chair, linens, or accessories) creates fear in the hearts of the average consumer.  That is why, for many, the first time they reach for the phone to call a designer, it is for a color consultation. 

Many designers, including home stagers, have expanded their business to include color consults for these homeowners.  As stagers, we know just what colors and color combos will sell a house, we know how to buy for our inventory and what colors to recommend to freshen and enhance the interior and exterior of the homes we stage.  We also know what works for us, makes us happy in our own environment.  But with the way color effects different people so differently, how do we ensure that our recommendations will create an environment that really takes into account the client and their color sensibilities? 

The people at We Make Color Easy have developed a certification program based on the Dewey Color Dewey CoordinatorSystem that does just that.  The Dewey Color System, the world's first scientifically validated color test, has been compared favorably in scientific journals to the Strong Interest Inventory and other psychological testing instruments.  We Make Color Easy has taken the principles of the Dewey System and, with the assistance of experienced design professionals from across North America, created a training course for designers that makes color recommendations easy.  Now design professionals have a system and tools which allow us to conduct in-home consultations that recommend exact paint, fabric and accessory colors room-by-room without the fear of a color mismatch, using the patented Dewey Color Coordinator.  Check our website for upcoming classes throughout North America, the next Northern California class is June 8th and 9th in Oakland, CA. 

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Melissa Zavala
Broadpoint Properties - Escondido, CA
Broker, Escondido Real Estate, San Diego County

That is a really neat idea which I will have to consider. Thanks for sharing.

Jun 01, 2009 12:15 PM
Konnie Mac McCarthy
MacNificent Properties, LLC - Cobb Island, MD
Broker/Owner - VA & MD "Time To Get A Move On!"

Hey..I took the test.... pretty cool...but I guess I have to sign up to learn all about me :)

Jun 01, 2009 12:54 PM
Lanre-"THE REAL ESTATE FARMER" Folayan
Samson Properties - Bowie, MD
I don't make promises.I deliver results.SOLD HOMES

This would make a great closing gift. If only you were anywhere in Washington DC,Virginia or Maryland. Thanks for sharing. Great post.

Jun 01, 2009 12:57 PM
Joanne O'Donnell
Chic Home Interiors - Oakland, CA

Melissa, here is the link to Dewey Color Consultants in Southern California http://www.wemakecoloreasy.com/Consultants/California.html giver one a call!

Konnie and Lanre, you both live in the same geographic area - here is a link to consultants in your area http://www.wemakecoloreasy.com/Consultants/NorthEast.html

It is great fun and a great closing gift - good luck and tell them I sent you!

Jun 01, 2009 01:14 PM
Sheila Moran
RE/MAX Access (Garden Ridge, San Antonio, New Braunfels) - New Braunfels, TX
SanAntonioSheila.com, RE/MAX Access, 210-32

Joanne,

Good idea.

I just hired a stager myself to help me with my colors...it was a wonderful experience!

Jun 01, 2009 01:21 PM
Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging

Joey - we also offer this hear and find it to be a great tool.  It's one of the reasons that I took the Dewey class - the really interesting thing is the quiz where you get to learn how much of your personality really revolves around color and how it can enhance your life.

Jun 01, 2009 01:41 PM
Joanne O'Donnell
Chic Home Interiors - Oakland, CA

Sheila, that is great to hear, think about hiring them for your client gifts, clients will love it... 

On another note, just have to mention I am talking at the Texas Association of Realtors Convention in Dallas in September, if you are attending, come and say hi! I am hoping to have a few friendly active rain faces in the audience... ;-)

Jun 01, 2009 01:42 PM
Joanne O'Donnell
Chic Home Interiors - Oakland, CA

Yes, Melissa, it really is amazing how people see themselves so clearly in the evaluation they get in response to their "colors"!

Jun 01, 2009 01:45 PM
Ron Tiller
Star Referral - Grand rapids MI - Grand Rapids, MI

Awesome idea. Now, when the buyer calls you to sell the home, it already looks nice.

Jun 01, 2009 02:10 PM
Joanne O'Donnell
Chic Home Interiors - Oakland, CA

Ron, you should try it, Shelley Wagner is a great stager and color consultant in Michigan, http://www.setthestagenow.com/ if you call her tell her I gave you her name! 

Jun 01, 2009 02:53 PM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

I believe they will be talking about this tomorrow at the Houston Stagers Expo.

Jun 01, 2009 04:54 PM
Joanne O'Donnell
Chic Home Interiors - Oakland, CA

Yes, you are so right Cindy, Margarett DeGange is going to be giving a session on the Dewey Color system tomorrow at the Expo.  Do me a favor and tell her I said Hi!

Jun 01, 2009 06:14 PM
Mary Fasnacht
Washington and Allegheny Counties and surrounding areas - McMurray, PA
Feels Like Home Interiors ~ Pittsburgh PA Home Staging

This is an excellent idea for a closing gift from a realtor, Joanne.  I also suggest a move-in consultation to the realtors I work with as a closing gift that buyers seem to really appreciate. 

Jun 02, 2009 01:47 PM
Michele Hess
Simply Staged Inc. - Rockford, IL
Home Stager Rockford - Simply Staged Inc

Great closing gift idea Joanne. 

Jun 02, 2009 11:01 PM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

I have never heard of the Dewey Color System. Thanks also for the link to the Southern California system.

Jun 04, 2009 05:12 AM
Margaret Ann Innis
Decorate To Sell - Merrimack Valley Real Estate Staging - Andover, MA
Real Estate Staging - MA & NH

Hi Joanne!  Love color = can't get enough of it!  And it is a great way to work with homeowners and Realtors - they always ask about paint!   PS - That was a great call with Margi today! 

Jun 04, 2009 11:10 AM
Susan Deering
Beautiful Spaces - Calgary, AB

I love doing color consultations! Iam always so happy when we find just the right color for a clients home. Many homeowners say that they would have never chosen that color on their own, and they love it when it goes up on the walls. It's a great experience.

Jun 04, 2009 04:06 PM
Chris Fisher
Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

Joanne  - I LOVE the color you chose for my mom's bedroom!  Every time I walk by I say, "I love that color!"  That is a very good thing!

Jun 06, 2009 05:28 AM
Alexsandra Stewart
Remax equity group - Portland, OR
Broker - Portland Oregon Real Estate

That is a great idea.  Often the buyers are going to paint --and why not have a color consultation.  Really cool.  Will I find it in the yellow pages under Dewey?

Jun 11, 2009 05:58 PM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

What a great tool! I've marked it, but I'm thinking I'm going to reblog you, too.

Jul 09, 2009 11:38 AM