As a real estate broker in one of the most popular resort areas in the world, I have always looked for a way to differentiate my work from others in the real estate business. I have added staging to my list of services because I can see the way a house that is prepared properly to appeal to the majority, sells and/or rents faster than one that is not. I am a certified home stager, a member of the Southampton Historical Society and Museum, the Southampton Association and an active member of NAR.I have listed and sold houses in the Hamptons for 10 years; I listed/sold apartments in the city for 5 years before I moved to the Hamptons full time. I have attained Gold Status in my company and was #3 in Southampton and #8 company wide in '05-'06.

I have just opened a staging company, Hathaway Home Staging, LLC,  with a separate office and staff. I will remain a licensed associate broker at Prudential Douglas Elliman. My focus as a stager and re-designer is Vacant homes for local builders and home owners who want to maximize the potential to sell their houses faster and for a higher price.

As of November 25, 2007 I was named Chapter President of the Eastern Long Island Region of the American Society of Home Stagers and Re-designers (ASHSR). In this capacity I am a leader in the educating, marketing and pioneering of the home staging, re-designing industry for Eastern Long Island. Since this is still a fairly new profession, it is my goal, through ASHSR, to build credibility and to help organize the members of the staging and re-design community so that we are recognized as a valid, fully functioning and lucrative trade.

My website is http://www.hathawaystaging.com/. Here, I offer all of my services for staging and re-designing homes, a link to all of my active rental and sale listings, and a substantial portfolio of before and after pictures including real estate shows/virtual tours of each property as they are completed.

This is one of the most exciting moments in my life as I "give birth" to a new entity; one that is both creatively satisfying and financially rewarding to me. I have a 5 year plan to build this entity into a multi-million dollar business that will grow to be the leading staging/re-designing company on the Eastern End of Long Island. My focus will be the upper end of the real estate community in the Hamptons. It will have it's own staff of stagers, service people and an inventory of homefurnishings, furniture and home accessories that will compliment the upscale properties that I plan to service.

My focus is Southampton Village and the surrounding Hamptons. I list and sell mostly high end properties, ocean front and estate homes but I never forget my "bread and butter" which is the lower end, affordable houses that need updating and in some cases, complete  restoration or renovation. I am not a big proponent of tearing down a house just to build a bigger one. I feel that any house has it's merits; they just need to be uncovered and expanded upon.

My buyers and sellers both rely on my areas of expertise when it comes to renovation and restoration. I am able, because of my own personal experience, to recommend service people and advise someone as to what and how  changes can be made to a property in order to make it more saleable or livable. This is an area that I have just expanded upon by adding "staging" to the services that I offer.

I have made a name for myself by my professional image and also for my ability to buy a house that has usually been on the market for some time. I then conservatively renovate and furnish the house in order to rent it out or sell it. My associates and even my competitors tell me that they can spot a house that I have done by the stylish way it shows. My houses have also been the easiest to rent or sell and I am very careful to fully compensate my fellow brokers when they sell one of my houses. I have even had other agents call me when they get a listing that looks like a "Paula" house. I have bought and sold all of my houses through other brokers, never directly from a seller; I like the idea of a buffer between me and the owner/buyer to avoid any of the many pitfalls and risks of the direct deal--a personal endorsement of why you should always use a professional real estate broker when buying or selling real estate successfully. The same can be said about staging: One should always use a well qualified professional to stage their homes.

Paula, You won't believe what just happened! After you left last week, I started to think about the package that you gave me and when I decided to put it aside until after January for the spring market you know--I got  call from Barbara and she told me she has a deal on her house. She told me that she  had used you and was very happy with the work you did. Thats why she sold it she says.I got right to work and started working on the 10 points you gave me and the house looks so good. I would like you to see it now and give me an idea of what I need to do with the entry way. I want to list it right away and I want you to list it too!

Diane F.

Dear Paula,

I am very happy with the Real Estate Show you did on the house. I am extending the exclusive with you and Pam told me that she will be calling you too. It was good to hear that you are getting calls, especially now just before Christmas . Thanks again for the advice and the work you did in gathering all the painters and carpenters for me. Living in the city makes it tough to organize the work that was done. The house has never looked better.

Mike P.

My fellow agents/brokers have told me that they can always tell a "Paula" house by the stylish look and comfortable way I stage or decorate a house. Even though I am not an interior designer, I have had people ask me to help them out when they want to buy something or if they are about to furnish their new homes.

Many of my frends and family members have told me that I should become an interior designer but that does not appeal to me---staging is the perfect avenue for me, especially since I am a real estate broker.

Attached are 2 real estate shows, both of which were done for rental houses. The first one is mine; I bought it, renovated it, put in a pool and I also rent it out for the summer.I created this show for my new staging business. The second house is a before and after staging show.

http://www.realestateshows.com/222382

http://www.realestateshows.com/231867

Dear Paula,

Thank you so much for the work you did on my house. It looks so good and I am getting more and more calls from agents now. They are people who never called to show my house before. I even have a friend who is thinking of buying my house now.

Thank you again,

Barbara