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Photo Blog: Staging Speaks for Itself

By
Home Stager

I just don't think this requires a lot of words...other than it's a builder's model. And this is only part of it...

 

livrm before    livrm after

dr before   dr after

nook    nook2

entry1    entry2

master    mastered

Comments (35)

Kimberly Wester
Valparaiso, IN
Sue - I was thrilled to have such great colors to work with.  Usually it is builder vanilla - YUCK!
Mar 27, 2007 01:18 PM
Craig Schiller
Trempealeau, WI

saaaaaaaweeeeeeeeTA work.

Pixs are worth 1000s of words for sure.

Stage It Forward...

Me

Mar 27, 2007 04:34 PM
Janice Sutton
1st Stage Property Transformations - Murrieta, CA
Home Stager - Temecula Murrieta
Great job done by you as always!  Thanks for sharing the pic's.  I have a iron scroll on won at a raffle and now I know what I am going to do with it!  Is the one you used heavy?  Did you have to use a lot of hardware to hang it?
Mar 28, 2007 11:04 AM
Teri B. Clark
http://www.teribclark.com - Sanford, NC
Love the headboard photos! I'm in awe of all the talent here on AR!
Mar 28, 2007 11:26 AM
Kimberly Wester
Valparaiso, IN

Craig and Teri - Thanks, you make me blush...

Janice- The scroll work was not all that heavy - one of the things I liked about it - the other thing I liked is it has a mount on the back to hide the heavy duty nail I used.  That was all, too. Just one nail.

Mar 28, 2007 02:07 PM
Diana Corcoran
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Hudson Valley Properties - Rhinebeck, NY
Rhinebeck Real Estate
Beautiful job.  I noticed you did not use any window treatments...do yo ever or do you think they are not really necessary when staging? 
Mar 28, 2007 04:17 PM
Kimberly Wester
Valparaiso, IN

Diana-

In a builder's models such as this, I do not use window treatments.   1. The task of dressing all of these windows would be enormous not to mention expensive. 2. The potential damage that could be done to the drywall as there is no existing harware. 3. There may be an issue of conveyance. 3. They just paid the trim guy a lot of money and he did an excellent job - I don't want to cover it up.

In a home with existing hardware, I will use draperies if needed.  I also have them either pay outright for them or have them note on the disclosure form that the treatments do not convey

Mar 29, 2007 02:35 AM
Diana Corcoran
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Hudson Valley Properties - Rhinebeck, NY
Rhinebeck Real Estate
Kimberly: Thanks for such a thorough answer! In my area there are no subdivisions to speak of so I never thought about doing a model and causing damage.  My staging is always done in existing homes.  I never thought about coveyance but I will in the future. So far, I have just gone in and removed the treatments after contracts are signed but I realize now a buyer could possibly be surprised to find "naked" windows on moving day.  Thanks for sharing and the photos do speak for themselves simple and elegant!
Mar 29, 2007 04:39 AM
Calie Waterhouse
Chandler, AZ
Community Builder

Kimberly - Great work!  You are talented! 

Thank you for sharing such a detailed answer to Diana's question about window treatments.  It's a great point that must be discussed with the client - especially with damage and conveyance. 

We had one home stager here in Phoenix that did this incredible staging of a formal dining.  The home owner had removed the window treatments, but left the hardware.  She simply added some very expensive swags - and yep, you guessed it - the home buyer included the window treatments in their negotiations.  How awkward for all involved.  (Yes, they were sold with the house).

Mar 29, 2007 05:42 AM
Kimberly Wester
Valparaiso, IN

Diana-

When we sold our own home 2 years ago, one of our offers had a long list of inclusions that we had not thought to place on the disclosure form - window treatments were among them.  I will never forget that - not because we had a problem leaving them (we certainly could not use them in the new house), but because I realized some people think everything in the house is available for purchase or as a negotiating chip.  Besides, most builders are leary of hanging artwork, let alone mounting harware.;)

Calie -

I do not have a resale certificate, nor do I intend to get one.  I make a point to tell my clients that my inventory is not available for purchase, therefore cannot be sold with the house.  I fear the paperwork...

Mar 29, 2007 07:46 AM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

I will shop for window treatments for the clients if needed and they pay me for the shopping time and the window treatments.  They get the receipts and can do whatever they like with them  That way they are a permanent addition to the home (probably) and I don't have to worry about them. Nor do I need a resale certificate.

Kimberly & Kathy have great looking bedrooms!

Mar 29, 2007 02:15 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher
Kimberly, what a beautiful job you did!  The bedroom looks fabulous, as does the rest of the house and I too, LOVE the colors!  Congratulations on a wonderful staging success!
Mar 30, 2007 02:55 AM
Katie Kinney
The DiToro/Lahey Team - Valparaiso, IN

<3 <3 <3 KIM <3 <3 <3

Mar 30, 2007 07:55 AM
Katie Kinney
The DiToro/Lahey Team - Valparaiso, IN

Oh, Kim, I have some panoramics that I will send you. They look mah-vellous!

 For example:

 

Mar 30, 2007 08:04 AM
Katie Kinney
The DiToro/Lahey Team - Valparaiso, IN

Meh...that one didn't showcase Kim's exquisite staging skills quite enough for me. Here's another:

 

Mar 30, 2007 08:09 AM
Kimberly Wester
Valparaiso, IN

Kathleen - I do the same thing.  If they want them, I will shop for them, but I am not putting my own up and risking the loss.  Most people understand that and are willing to pay the personal shopping fee, plus they are relieved that there is no mark up - I give them the receipt!

Carole - Thanks, I really enjoyed this one!

Katie - <3 right back at ya! Thanks for the added shots - you are the best!  I love working with you guys! (Hey, how did you like my 'drink milk' sign on the dry bar? I so easily amuse myself...)

Mar 30, 2007 10:04 AM
Abby Roselli
ALR Home Staging and Showcasing, LLC - Staten Island, NY
Staten Island Home Stager

Beautiful...Nicely done.  I love the inflatable bed thing.  That's awesome! 

Abby

Mar 30, 2007 11:53 AM
Phyllis Pafumi
ReStyled to Sell Home Staging New Jersey - Old Bridge, NJ
ReStyled to Sell Staging Homes NJ

Hey Kim

Great job, I love the headboard, stupid me, I did something like that in my OWN home and never thought of doing that in staging...great idea, less costly, and a lot easier to transport.

From my experience as a real estate paralegal I know that when the contracts of sale are written up it always includes what will be included and what will not. I just staged a home that did not have mirrors in the bathrooms and I left mine. I gave the client and realtor a list of what was mine and COULD NOT be sold with the home, which was the mirrors. It was never a problem because it was disclosed from the beginning. Always tell the realtor what NOT to include...

You should get lots of other jobs from this builder. It seems that more and more builders are using stagers instead of interior decorators, do you find that to be true also. I have gotten quite a few calls lately.

Phyllis Pafumi

Mar 30, 2007 02:02 PM
Jaynee Acevedo
Capital Style Home Staging - Kensington, MD
Capital Style Home Staging
Fabulous job, lady!  Few things are as satisfying as when a volume client breathes the "ahaaa".  Congratulations!  Here in DC, builders are just waking up to the fact that there's something between vignette and model home staging.  Since I've not done a completely vacant home, I wonder if I might get your permission to use your photography as an "idea of what can be done" when speaking to builders in our area?  [I have this big thing about using no photographs I haven't taken, of work I haven't done, but if credit is given?????]
Apr 19, 2007 02:45 AM
David L. Britt
Platinum Realty, LLC - Olathe, KS
MBA
Kimberly, GREAT site, I think you will do very well!
Apr 27, 2007 11:55 AM