Name
Ken Sater
Company
The Gold Standard Staging Company
E-mail
Contact Ken Sater (The Gold Standard Staging Company)
Website
http://www.goldstandardstaging.com
Office Phone
(877) 219-9287
Cell Phone
(415) 912-8716
Alt. Phone
(408) 907-5680
Fax
(408) 907-0142
Address
San Jose, CA, 95125
Description
A National and International Home Staging Company, styling properties since 2006 for sale or to just enjoy living in. We are "Constantly raising the bar to get your home sold!"

I had no idea what was to be...

When I was younger, I had no clue what I wanted to become when I grew up and had to have a "job". I just knew that if I could find that one thing that I loved doing, I would never feel like it was work.So what did I do? I did everything wrong...and found it was just the right thing to have done.

Let me explain. In my twenties and after college, I became a very successful insurance agent, making a lot of money and "working". After 14 years, I sold my agency and became a wholesale mortgage account executive for the subprime mortgage loan market. I know, OUCH! I funded 100's of millions of dollars in subprime loans. But I was "working" more and enjoying it less. (And yes, contributing to the financial mess we now find ourselves in.)

Before the big collapse, I decided in 2006, enough was enough.I had owned several homes, decorated them for sale as a lovely hobby, and made a tidy profit. I am a DIY guy at heart, so getting my home prepared for sale was fun. When I was asked to help prepare a desperate and dying friends home for sale (sorry, but true), I drove 3 hours and stayed a week. Painting, cleaning, moving furniture in and out, and it was all a joy. After 8 months of my friends home going nowhere in a dead RE market, would she finally be able to have some peace? She literally broke down in tears when she saw her home, now ready for sale.She couldn't believe her eyes. But to my surprise, the elephant tears came when she accepted that full price offer!

What she didn't know was she had done me the favor. I had found my love and my passion in that home. The thrill of her selling it in 5 days was icing on the cake. I immediately signed up for the "Staging Diva" classes by Deborah Gould, to sharpen my skills concerning how to start and manage a home staging business. I've never looked back. 

I love my "job" now, but it really isn't "work", not anymore. I have the honor of helping people, of serving people, and being able to use my natural talents to make someone else's life a little bit easier; by coming along side and dressing their home for sale. Our company's motto is "Constantly raising the bar to get your home sold". We adhere to a "GOLD STANDARD" when we are hired to stage your home. Professional, courteous, fair and honest.I care so much about making a difference, I can't ever conceive of taking shortcuts. Integrity has to be earned and I   make sure I am always giving more than I take. It's the right way to run a business. 

And...oh yeah, as I said in the beginning. I did everything wrong when I started on my career path...but in hind sight,it wasn't wrong at all. I went to a "job" for 26 years of my life and made enough money to buy a few properties. I had to have those "jobs" to get to a place where I could afford to buy those homes.

I really had wanted to be doing something else for a long time. But, if I had not had those "jobs", I may never have discovered my home staging skills and the joy I found in using those talents. I was able to discover that I was extremely good at decorating a home to sell.(The term "staging" wasn't even used then).  So I am glad I learned from those "jobs" that were wrong for me. Through them, I discovered who I really am and what I was meant to be doing. I am so thankful to have been able to have had those experiences, meeting new people, selling a necessary product. The experience I gained running multiple insurance agency offices with multiple employees all depending on me. The business acumen you can only acquire by owning your own business and running it successfully. All this has translated to The Gold Standard Staging Company and the success my wife and I are sharing now. 

So,if we can now help you, offer you a hand up (not out)in anyway...please contact us. It would be our pleasure!

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

Who we are, what we've done and projects we've loved so far

 

Still here? Great! Can we talk? Maybe better just to read for now....

The Gold Standard Staging Company, a National and International Staging Company is our new name. We've renamed and re-branded from our original business named "Creative Home Visions", formed in 2006. Why? Because our business model has evolved over the last seven years and we felt we needed our name to express what our company has become. And what is it that makes us a little different when it comes down to home staging?

The most important thing to keep in mind is that we have been doing this since almost before it was viewed as a noble profession. And almost before the word "staging" was coined. (A funny story) When we first started the company around late 2006, I made lots of calls to FSBO's and agents promoting our company. One afternoon, while phoning a "for sale by owner" property owner, I explained that we were "home stagers" and wanted to help her sell her house. I might as well have been calling her from another planet. The gal on the other end asked me "Why I thought she would want to set up a stage in her garage? This isn't a place for a garage band to rehearse!" Thank goodness, through the years, I can now use the term "stagers" and am no longer an alien.

What we have done in the past, that now has changed us....

  • I married my previous business partner (Lynne Sater) who by the way is my match in creative design. 
  • We began staging homes professionally in 2006, and soon were hiring only the best artisan tradesmen to help us bring additional value to our clients homes.
  • We have staged well over 300 homes in the states and we know what each home needs to be a showplace.
  • We gained press and television coverage for our staging designs and a reputation for  high value sales.
  • We have now worked with "too many to count" investors, builder/developers, celebrities and Realtors who demand a very high standard when it comes to staging their homes.

What types of projects have we been asked to do?

  • We have staged homes listed from $139k to $9.1 million
  • We have staged and furnished multiple vacant 6,000 plus sq. ft. homes on 5 plus acre estates to... 
  • 3 bedroom,1or 2 bath homes which required a total inside/outside "makeover", of course with furnishings
  • We were flown to England to stage a well known historical castle to it's original grandeur (history lesson req'd, but what a wonderful time and result) 
  • We have helped with the relocation of celebrities and a few sports stars to their new homes before they moved in. Yes, we stage homes to live in as well.
  • We have personally cultivated land, designed landscapes and planted over 2 acres of English Gardens for  clients in England and the states
  • We have designed and built "original" waters capes for gardens that made the home standout from the pack
  • Lynne has refurbished several fireplaces into modern day works of art that became focal points of the home
  • We always create an irresistible ambiance in the home that buyers can't resist. We love what we do!

What are we known for?

  • Staying on budget and on schedule
  • Continuously update with constant communication between ourselves,our clients,their RE agents and all principals involved
  • We ignite creative ideas that spark the buyers interest and then become reality in our staging
  • Being people who care about our clients first, always giving back and paying it forward
  • Being willing to travel anywhere, anytime, any place our services are requested
  • No job is too big but some may be too small.(IE: vignettes or one room staging may do more harm than good) 
  • Always being positive, responsive and professional in all our business dealings
  • Always striving for your best result,every time, no matter the budget,no exceptions. We care too much not to.
  • We phsically drive your neighborhood, we learn who your buyers are, where they may come from, what your competition's home looks like (if like kind), and then our property styling to your home gives those buyers what they want. 
  • Average market time for our homes (after staging) has been as little as the same day... 
  • To less than one month on million dollar plus properties and above (Visit our website and see the Gallery pages for examples of homes we have staged)

There is a lot more I could talk about here, but this is a good start. If we have peaked your interest , please don't wait any longer. Feel free to ring us up or check to see if your email is working by letting your fingers do the walking. We would love to have a chat... and the best part? It won't cost you a thing to do either. So don't talk yourself out of making some sort of contact right now. Give us a call, drop us a line. We promise, we can help!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember, visit  www.GoldStandardStaging.com and learn even more about the benefits of our services. We infrequently run a Special Offer in which you will benefit greatly.Thanks for following us!  

 

 

 

 

 

What our clients say about us.Can we add you???

Dear Ken and Lynne,

"You two are fabulous! What you did by staging my home was no less than "incredible!" After seeing the results of your work, I had to ask myself, "Why didn't I do this before I put my home up for sale?" I could not believe that this was my home when you were done. It was so beautiful. And the best part was I had a full price offer in a matter of days, after months and months on the market with no offers. I don't know how you knew what to do to make it so comfortable, but I am sold on your company.

I am moving next month when escrow closes and I am definitely calling you back to stage my new home. I can't thank you enough for helping me sell my home so quickly and I am passing your cards out to everyone I know so they can visit your website and see the wonderful work you both do. If you ever need a reference, please don't hesitate to offer my name and phone number."

Thank-you both so much,

Jo Ann Milliken

Lakeport, CA 

Dear Ken and Lynne,

"I just wanted to take the time to thank you for the marvelous job you did for us in preparing our home for the real estate market.

From your first visit I was impressed by your professionalism. Your initial presentation was very clear in all aspects, and you subsequently kept me informed during all stages of work.

What I appreciated the most, however, is that you contacted and talked to all the contractors, then monitored their progress. I did not have to call anyone, nor did I have to call anyone back to re-do anything. You took care of all of that, which meant I could continue to go to work as usual, even feel comfortable going out of town for the day, knowing that things were taken care of.

Putting your home on the market is stressful. I was dreading listing my house and keeping it ready for potential buyers. Now, however, it's easy. As much as it was possible, you removed the stress from preparing the house for potential buyers. I have been getting compliments on all the work I did on my house, and all I can say is, "Here's a card for Creative Home Visions. ( Now Gold Standard Staging)

Call them!!"

Thank-you!!

Julie Hopkins

Clovis, Calif 

Dear Ken and Lynne,

"I wasn't sure if you would stage my home because you advertise that you stage homes that are for sale. As you know, I wasn't selling my condominium. I just needed help to make it feel more comfortable. After your three hour consultation, I decided to get to work. I made a list of your recommendations regarding placement of furniture, cleaning, deferred maintenance needing to be done, lighting and even what colors to paint and where. I was able to do the work myself and I know I saved a LOT of money!

Now I have the best looking home in the complex and I love it. My neighbors have come over for coffee and were in shock because they remember what it used to look like. I am now totally enjoying the changes you recommended. It was definitely worth the consultation fee to get your advice and I think you will be hearing from my neighbors soon as well. So, just wanted to write and say "thank-you" again."

Best Regards,

Monica LeMaster