collin county: Please Welcome 2 New Moderators to the Collin County TX Real Estate Professionals Group! - 02/01/11 04:52 AM
I'd like to welcome and say the thank you to both Lorrie Semler and Kim Jackson Daugherty for agreeing to co-moderate our growing Collin County TX Real Estate Professionals group here on Active Rain. Both Lorrie and Kim are active, regular contributors and bloggers on Active Rain and the Group and great ladies to get to know.
The Collin County TX RE Pros group was formed as a resource for real estate professionals and consumers to find information regarding Collin County.  The information of course is provided by the "local experts" in the area and when consumers Google search areas of … (3 comments)

collin county: Collin College, Plano, TX offers Home Staging CE Course starting September 28th 2010 - 08/03/10 06:26 AM
COLLIN COLLEGE, Plano,TX is once again offering a Home Staging CE class starting September 28th ,2010.  Since January of 2008 this course has been offered exclusively through Collin College. This is the only session being offered for the Fall Term 2010. Next course offering will be in Winter 2011.
This practical and informative Home Staging course is designed exclusively for the home seller or professional real estate agent who would like to know more about marketing and preparing a home for resale.
Learn from North Texas staging expert Karen Otto a working professional home stager the benefits of home staging and how staging a … (11 comments)

collin county: RE/MAX Four Corners Hosting FREE Home Staging Class for Realtors April 8th 2 - 4 PM - 03/31/10 02:51 AM
On Thursday, April 8th from 2 to 4 PM RE/MAX Four Corners is hosting a free Home Staging Class for Realtors.
I'm personally excited to share this as this class will be taught by me! More information below.
This class is open to any Realtor interested in learning more about home staging for marketing their listings. 
What: Home Staging for Realtors When: Thursday April 8th 2 - 4 PM Where: RE/MAX Four Corners | 8930 State Hwy 121 Ste 525, McKinney, TX | (972) 396-9100  Class size will be limited to 20. Please call 972-396-9100 to reserve your spot More details below:
Home … (1 comments)

collin county: Collin College offers Home Staging CE Course starting Feb. 8th -17th, 2010 - 01/19/10 12:59 AM
COLLIN COLLEGE, Plano,TX is once again offering a Home Staging CE class starting February 8th 2010. This is the only session being offered for the Winter/Spring Term 2010. Next course offering will be in Fall 2010.
This practical and informative Home Staging course is designed for the home seller or professional real estate agent who would like to know more about marketing and preparing a home for resale.
Learn from a professional home stager the benefits of home staging and how staging a home can help you achieve a faster sales time and top dollar.
Please note:This home staging course is not designed … (10 comments)

collin county: Collin College Home Staging CE Course - September 16th - 28th 2009 Register now - 07/28/09 03:17 AM
COLLIN COLLEGE, Plano,TX  IS OFFERING A HOME STAGING COURSE STARTING SEPTEMBER 16th 2009. This is the only session being offered for the Fall Term 2009. Next course offering will be in Spring 2010.
This Home Staging CE course is designed for the home seller or professional real estate agent to prepare a home for resale. Learn from a professional home stager the benefits of home staging and how staging a home can help you achieve a faster sales time and top dollar.
Please note:This course is not designed for those interested in starting a home staging business.
REGISTER NOW!
1.  GO TO www.ccccd.edu/ce
(6 comments)

collin county: Not selling a home? You might! 5 Tips to Start Thinking like a Seller - 03/12/09 05:30 AM
I first wrote this blog back in 2009 and the topic came up today at our Active Rain Meetup about selling homes & condition (naturally) so I went back to find this blog as the information is still relevant and applies even today.
The Back Story 2009 :
In the past 2 weeks I found out that a dear friend of mine and family are moving.
I was, to say the least, shocked and quite saddened that one of my friends won't be close by.  Road trips are being planned already and long "girl's weekends" are on the agenda.
Her husband, took … (17 comments)

collin county: North Texas Home Staging Consultation $125 - Immediate ROI $1,000 - 02/23/09 11:34 AM
How is that possible? Let me explain. 
Hiring a Professional Home Stager  for an affordable home staging consultation has an excellent return on investment for anyone thinking about selling a home.  
Money is tight for everyone. Home sellers need to know what updates and upgrades will be the best return for their dollars spent. 
As a standard part of Home Star Staging's home staging consulting services (as well as a standard practice for many home staging service providers throughout the country), we help home sellers identify where to target home improvements and updates and what will provide the best return on investment (ROI). 
Home Star Staging recently … (8 comments)

collin county: Thrive, Not just Survive Workshop Feb. 4th Presented FREE by the North Texas Small Business Development Center - 01/30/09 09:16 AM
One of my favorite resources in all of Collin County is the North Texas Small Business Development Center located at the Preston Park Campus of Collin College.  I received this invitation this week due to my being out of town last Friday (originally it was scheduled for Weds. 1/28/09 but due to ice was postponed so now I can make it!).
They are hosting a
Thrive, Not just Survive workshop for individuals and businesses on Wednesday, February 4th at  8:00 AM - 12:00 PM. I registered today for the Business Track. 
I've taken a bit of the email and pasted it below. This is a FREE Event … (2 comments)

collin county: Top 5 Secrets your House is telling Buyers about You - 01/29/09 02:53 AM
As a Professional Home Stager who consults with many home sellers, I've been continually reminded that it's important to keep your house's mouth shut.
"Houses can't talk!" you say.
Oh yes they can. 
And you'd be surprised just how much they're revealing about you to potential buyers.
Top 5 Secrets to keep from buyers
How much money you make and what bills you owe Notoriously found in home offices on desks or kitchen counters when you run out in a hurry for a showing or just take for granted no one is snooping. The state of your physical health Any medical equipment you … (33 comments)

collin county: Greetings 86 Collin County, TX RE Pro members! Where are the other 741? Here's a challenge... - 01/04/09 12:08 PM
I started thinking today about how great Active Rain has been for me both personally and professionally as I hope it's been for you or will be in the future.  As with anything, you get back what you give out.
Personally I've made real friends here from coast to coast. We talk on the phone, get together (if local & some of my other friends and I have talked about meeting somewhere in the middle) send personal emails and notes and genuinely support and encourage each other.
Professionally, it's increased my business and my SEO as well as keeps me connected with other North Texas RE Pros in my … (9 comments)

collin county: Home Star Staging's success is Collin County, TX merchant's success - 01/04/09 07:39 AM
Yes, it's a no brainer - my company's, Home Star Staging, success supports not only Collin County's economy but every area I do business in and that includes Dallas, parts of Denton and sometimes Tarrant counties as well.
As I go through the always fun task of getting my year end receipts together I was looking at the businesses I frequent for goods and services in my day to day life as a home staging professional in North Texas. These businesses depend on me and you to patronize them in order for them to stay in business too.
And if I'm a viable business I can afford to help … (14 comments)

collin county: Thank you BPW Richardson, TX! - Home Staging Featured at Monthly Meeting - 11/11/08 02:20 PM
Tonight I had the honor and pleasure of sharing the benefits of home staging with the Business and Professional Women's (BPW) Club of Richardson, TX.  It was a wonderful evening spent in the company of business women in my local community who graciously invited me to share with them what I do as a home staging professional.
I had been contacted over a month ago by a BPW member, Saundra Honea, who had read the home staging article from the September 2008 Dallas Morning News, How to Stage your Home to Sell Fast, in which I was interviewed, and thought it would be an interesting … (14 comments)

collin county: Home Staging Consultation January 26th 2008 - Home sold on day ONE 7 months later - 10/16/08 09:00 AM
Confused?  Let me explain.
This past January I provided a home staging consultation for a Plano, TX couple who knew they were going to be listing their home sometime this year.
Being very proactive sellers with a very savvy Realtor, they contacted Home Star Staging, to provide them with a home staging consultation to assist them in their preparations. I say they were "pro active sellers" because they knew it would take time to do what they needed in order to prepare their home for sale as well as find a home to purchase.
Home Sellers - TIME is your friend when … (17 comments)

collin county: Secret Santas needed - Collin County Meals on Wheels - 10/06/08 06:37 AM
I just received this email from a friend and wanted to pass it along to anyone interested. Although I am not currently involved with this organization I plan on getting involved with this Secret Santa for Seniors 2008 project here's why:
From: Lara Kitchens
Date: 10/6/2008 12:55:12 PM
Subject: SECRET SANTA PROJECT HELP NEEDED!!!  
Hello volunteers,  
I am writing to all of you to ask for your help in getting the word out about Meals on Wheels' need for additional Secret Santa participation. I know that many of you may think that it is far too early to think … (9 comments)

collin county: Do paint, staging and professional photography make a difference? - 05/18/08 02:04 AM
Below are some photos of an owner staged property after receiving a home staging consultation from Home Star Staging. 
Included in a home staging consultation are many, many recommendations. Below are just two of the following which highlight the purpose of this blog:
Paint recommendations Furniture placement / arrangement suggestions The owner could choose to do as much or as little as they wished. As is always the case in a home staging consultation by Home Star Staging, sellers will get honest, respectful feedback about what changes need to occur and how to showcase a property to appeal to the most number of buyers. 
Staging has NOTHING to do with your personal choices or style, it's more … (23 comments)

collin county: What does $125 in North Texas get you for Home Staging? - 05/17/08 05:06 AM
 ALOT!
Home Staging does NOT have to be expensive.
Many Professional Home Stagers provide many levels of service at different price points.  Budgets are always considered when I speak to my clients and I am well aware of being cost conscious especially in today's economy.
I'd like to share with you two testimonials I recently received from local Realtors® I've been working with.  I started working with these Realtors® this year and they have committed to contacting me for a verbal home staging consultation for each of their new listings.  For $125 and up to 2 hours, Home Star Staging provides this service … (9 comments)

collin county: Laundry room lesson - clean, clear & clutter contained - 04/14/08 06:22 AM
When selling a house it's important to look at every room of your house through a buyer's eyes as they would see it upon previewing. 
Want a simple way to see it from their perspective? Take a photo of it and see for yourself. It isn't always what you expect. 
This is a small laundry room below but obviously functional. 
While living in a home we all know how our laundry rooms can get, especially if the chores get backed up. When selling however, we need to make a big effort to keep every room of the house as neat as possible for showing, … (34 comments)

collin county: Home Staging CE Course for Realtors & Sellers - Collin College, Plano,TX begins April 21 - 04/14/08 02:05 AM
It's still not too "latte" to enroll according to the Collin College Schedule of Continuing Education course offerings for January - April 2008. 
There is still time to enroll for the April 21st -May 12th  Home Staging CE course.
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM Days: MondaysLocation: Court Yard Center at Preston & Park CampusHome Staging is a course that is; 
 "Designed for the home owner or the professional real estate agent to prepare a home for resale. Learn the benefits of home staging and how staging a property for resale can help you achieve a faster sales time and top dollar".
Collin County Professional Home Stager, … (0 comments)

collin county: Got Pets? Selling a house? One sniff could snuff a sale - 04/09/08 09:27 AM
Pets. We love them if we own them, they're our babies and a part of the family. However when selling, they become a different story when others will be entering and previewing your property.
First and foremost, for the safety of your beloved pets, consideration must be given to how they will be kept safe while showing. Potential problems could arise if:
An exterior door is left open for possible escape A usually friendly animal is frightened by strangers entering his "territory" and aggressive behavior ensues (I learned this first hand when I acquired a small Quaker Parrot. Oatie cannot be left out when visitors come because he flies … (14 comments)

collin county: "Neighborhood" Open House Success Story - 03/29/08 01:56 AM
I've worked with a Real Estate Investor now on several of his properties for the better part of a year. We've developed a great working relationship and know working together often results in the successful sale of the property. I have to say he's one of my favorite clients. He gave me a chance before others did and he's just a good person and we have a good line of communication open. Occassionally, as most investors and Realtors know, the sale of a home, even if under contract, can be a dicey deal, especially in this market.
To make a long story not so … (76 comments)

 
Karen Otto, Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes (Home Star Staging)

Karen Otto

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Plano, TX

More about me…

Home Star Staging

Address: Plano, Murphy, Wylie, Richardson, Allen, Lucas, Fairview, McKinney, Frisco, Dallas, Carrollton, Garland, Rockwall, , TX, 75075

Office: (469) 964-0516

Mobile: (469) 964-0516

As a North Texas Home Staging Professional this blog is a collection of information, thoughts, stories and ideas on the home staging profession as I personally experience it. I welcome comments and suggestions and hope I may help the home staging and real estate community in some way by my contributions on my blog. I am passionate about educating the public and real estate community on the benefits of home staging.



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