Last week we Staged a model unit for a beautiful condo development in the Miracle Mile area of Los Angeles. It reminded me that whenever I Stage a model I must make sure 4 things are done before we arrive on Staging day:

1) There must be water coming into the unit (for the steamer and flushing the toilet)

2) There must be power coming into the unit (again for the steamer, but more importantly so we have light with which to take our photos)

3) All towel bars, curtain rods and bathroom mirrors must be installed

and most important of all...

4) That the unit must be clean!

It has happened to me on more than one occasion that we show up to Stage a model unit (which we've been assured is ready for us) and it's NOT ready. This time there was no water, no power, no bathroom mirrors, only some of the towel bars & curtain rods and it was FILTHY. Not just no one has been around so it's accumulated some dust filthy, but construction filthy!

But there we were, and the movers were half an hour away! So quickly we went into damage control mode. Can we get a cleaning crew and an electrician in immediately? No. OK, so we decided to have the furniture delivered but not to do the Staging until 2 days later, after the cleaners & electricians had been through. That seemed like the best solution, except that I was bummed to have to spread the Staging out over 2 days when we normally complete everything in one. I'm all about efficiency! So we moved in the furniture and stored our accessories in a closet. I called the agent the next day to confirm that we were good to go for Friday. He had just left the unit and the cleaners had been there so all was set.

So we arrive on Friday to Stage and it did look cleaner - whew! Unfortunately there were still no mirrors in any of the bathrooms, no water and no power! Plus one of the curtain rods had not yet been hung. Ugh. Well, there was nothing to do but start Staging and hope that by the time we were ready to steam there would be water and power. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. Luckily they brought in a very long extension cord which was hooked up to a working outlet in another part of the building and we used water from our water bottles for the steaming. And my movers agreed to hang the final curtain rod for us. But without overhead light or my lamps my photos were NOT what they normally are. I was able to get some decent ones, but they would've looked so much better with the lights on. Not to mention we couldn't shoot any of the bathrooms because there were no vanity mirrors!

Tip to all Realtors & Stagers of model units - don't try to rush the Staging until the model is 100% complete. It will only mean delays in the long run!

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Annie Pinsker-Brown | Stage to Sell
Owner & Principal Designer
310-384-1084
www.stagetosell.biz

"We get you to SOLD so you can get on with your life!"

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Stage to Sell is the premier West Los Angeles Home Staging Company.

Owner & Principal Designer Annie Pinsker-Brown is an ASP (Accredited Staging Professional), a member of IAHSP (International Association of Home Staging Professionals), an affiliate member of the Beverly Hills/Greater Los Angeles Association of Realtors and a member of the Culver City and West LA Chambers of Commerce.

Annie has Staged LA homes for Bravo's hit show "Million Dollar Listing" and TLC's "Property Ladder." She has also been featured in recent articles on Home Staging in Los Angeles Magazine, The New York Times, Costco Connection and Frontiers Magazine.

If you would like to see more of our Home Staging work, visit our website. There is an extensive gallery of before & after photos, as well as a list of our Staged properties currently on the market.