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REAL PEOPLE, REAL HOUSES, REAL BUDGETS

Here are the before and after pictures of the woman's house that I had the pleasure of staging the other evening. While I mentioned in my article that she was depressed and overwhelmed, you can see how junk was just piled everywhere. Folks, this is her kitchen. Where did she eat??

I have been Staging homes for Sale in New Jersey for some time now and I have to say as staging has grown more popular in large part due to HGTV, oftentimes I have gotten depressed about my abilities. WHY?? Because some, if not most of my homes, don't look like model homes after they are staged. They certainly do look wonderful and show better than before I got there, you would have to agree. The realtor loved it and was thrilled!!

Then I read Judy Kincaids blog about finding your niche and (thanks Judy), it set me free to be me and continue doing what I loved in the manner that I have been doing it. Staging homes by ReStyling them to Sell is MY NICHE. I am happy doing that!! Really happy doing that!! This home does not look like a page out of a Pottery Barn catalogue but doesn't it look a heck of a lot better and more appealing to a buyer??

I had to re-evaluate my priorities, my abilities and my talents and stop and really ask a hard question. What do I want out of MY business?? When I knew in my heart what it was, honestly my business has taken off. Now I am having fun, because I am not trying to copy anyone else's style or business model. I AM ME AGAIN and trusting in the "thinking out of the box theory" to create ways to make something from nothing...LOVE IT!!

I encourage all to sit quietly and ask yourself that same question..Who are YOU, what are YOU called to do, and what is it that YOU really want from YOUR business.

This world is filled with real people who have real (tight) budgets and real houses and there are plenty of those houses for sale. ReStyled to Sell Home Staging NJ is ready and willing to help these people move on, are you??

Posted by Phyllis Pafumi-ReStyled to Sell Staging Homes NJ on 01/18/2007 06:42 PM

Comments (17)

staging homes by restyled to sell, restyled to sell home staging, nj

Originally posted at: Phyllis's Blog: REAL PEOPLE, REAL HOUSES, REAL BUDGETS

17 Comments on REAL PEOPLE, REAL HOUSES, REAL BUDGETS

JAN

2007

Phyllis - I think you demonstrate what a good home stager is...and to turn that clutter box into a functional space took a lot of work and creativity on your part. I know anyone looking at that nook will know what it is for and be able to size up the space for their own furniture. I will also bet that the homesellers can think a little clearer now. Great job!

Phyllis, you did this! It looks Great! I'm so glad that you figured the poictuires out! Look what WE would have MISSED! WOW!

Phyllis, you did this! It looks Great! I'm so glad that you figured the pictuires out! Look what WE would have MISSED! WOW!

Phyllis it never ceases to amaze me how quickly leaning ladies clean. It is because they are not emotinally attached to the project. Same holds true for home staging. Stager can see how to make a space shine its best. It might not be a model home... but it will look much better.

Phyllis,

I think it looks terrific! I think its amazing what we can come up with by just doing something we really enjoy :-)

Thinking about moving to Georgia? I think I might need a stager soon!!

Brande Bradford
Bradford Realty Group

JAN

2007

Phyllis...It looks wonderful! I think you made a big difference! As I'm reading your blog...I'm thinking AMEN sister! to evaluating your OWN priorites, abilities, and talents. I know for ME..my consultations are the most effective to the majority of my clients. My Before/After pictures looks so much better but they may not look like dreamy pottery barn after shots as you were saying. Thank you for reminding me to sit down and think about what is right for ME in my business.

Hey everyone thanks for the comments and encouragement as usual. Finding your niche and making it work is what will bring the most reward..Happy Staging to all

Phyllis Pafumi

Great job, Phyllis!

You not only made the most of what you had to work with, you made a real difference in this woman's life. By showing her how to declutter physically, it sounds like you helped her declutter emotionally too!

And yes, not all jobs will look like Pottery Barn. But then again, real life never does! :)

Cheers.

Lisa

Way to Go, Phyllis - For several reasons - For sharing your "light bulb moment" with all of us who will all come to the conclusion (at least once) that our staging style is not "model perfect". The good news is - not every home seller lives in a model home and not every buyer wants one.

For instance, a Realtor friend and I were hosting an open house once. I had staged the property, but felt it was not one of my "better" jobs. A perspective buyer walked in the door and looked around. Not saying much at all she walked from room to room. The Realtor asked what she thought and I couldn't believe my ears. The first words out were "I'm so glad it's not perfect. I'm just looking for a home for my family." And you know what? She made an offer, it was accepted and now lives happily ever after. Made my day and my job a whole lot easier!

All the best, Phyllis. Keep up the good work!

- Calie Waterhouse

Phyllis, really great job! You are so right about many things- finding our niche, loving what we do and believing in it, and that not every staged house can be a "perfect" Pottery Barn house.

I constantly remind myself, I can't make a house perfect- but I always make it better.

A+++++ (reminds me of Ebay :)

It looks great Phyllis... and, note to self... don't feel bad about not making it look like a model home. Real people don't actually LIVE in model homes. I can tell instantly when I walk in a home if it has been staged or not because of what I don't see and I'm sure you're the same. Then I have to imagine what it would look like if someone actually conducted their "life" inside....

HI Phyllis! I enjoyed your post because it is honest! So many thoughts come to mind. I think that we should think of our "touch" as lovingly and respectfully enhancing the beauty and functionality of each home using what they own which is so unique each time. We would never grade one's belongings or dismiss their taste entirely and anyone who would is likely not as creative and are just going by a "Pottery Barn" template. Don't get me wrong...if a family has that type of style it really does make it pretty easy to stage -- it is universally appealing but that is where our magic comes in. If a family simply doesn't have things we might consider worthy of placement for a staging, we are still able to honor them by making what they do have shine.

Sort of a side note....but I find that what I think is valuable is the fact that instead of insisting on a certain look or obsessing over every corner of their home as the clock ticks and their bill goes up...that it is so helpful to focus on those rooms that matter and to be more forgiving where we know buyers will also be forgiving. They will likely have already decided how they feel about the home long before they reach the teenager's room....or hopefully! Anyway, liked your post!

Phyllis, know who you are, and finding what you want to do in life, is a lot harder than it sounds. I am glad that you have been able to discover both of those things for yourself.

JAN

2007

I have to concur with everyone here in that your work with this kitchen is great!

And as long as what you do makes you happy, who cares about Pottery Barn? It's too overrated anyway!

Phyllis---Awesome job, Phyllis! I bet that homeowner had her first decent night's sleep in weeks after your staging expertise and generous heart helped to ease the stress and anxiety she had been experiencing. You definitely have found your niche and it suits you! As you know, I share your fondness for staging homes that need the most work. You are right...this niche does require a lot of creativity and the ability to think outside the box but that is what makes it fun....that and all the wonderful people that you get to help.

JAN

2007

Phyllis,

I am so glad to see a post that talks about this, I have felt the same way since starting my business. Every home is completely different and I can help each homeowner according to their needs. I just recently realized myself that I should not feel like a have to follow exact patterns of others stagers... that is why in my training they said to look at what other stagers in the area are doing and make mine different and put a special and unique spin on what I do and give. I have had Realtors who have said that this (what you did in that woman's home) is what Realtor's and homeowner's are looking for. Great post... I loved it.

JAN

2007

Phyllis,

Thanks for writing from the heart! The "afters" look great!

Thanks for also reminding me that everything might not look perfect....real people and real budgets are not forgotten.

I find that if I do a vacant home it can have the more PB look....but if it is an occupied home that isn't usually the case. Thanks for keeping my staging abilities focused on what I can create by stepping outside the box.

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