portland: Some Recent Updates
- 07/03/11 05:48 PM
As I mentioned in my last post, I recently staged a home in SE Portland... and it has already sold : ) After having sat on the market for 3 months, the staging did wonders : ) Also, an update on the quick selling home I blogged about in my Craftsman Bungalow post, Andrea Dufresne, the Realtor I worked with just sent me a wonderful testimonial: “I recently had a vacant home with an unusual layout and some other space ‘obstacles’. Michelle was sensitive to cost and was very thoughtful about which rooms really needed staging and which ones could do without. … (2 comments)
portland: Craftsman Bungalow
- 06/15/11 01:48 PM
One of the most popular styles of home in Portland, Oregon is the Arts and Crafts (especially on the East side), so I have staged many a Bungalow and a Craftsman. There is a unique process in staging these types of home. These homes strive for cozy -they were designed mostly from 1900-1930, and they were quintessential middle class with functionality outweighing the earlier ornate style of the Victorian Era. While these characteristics make a wonderful warm home, some of the layouts and home designs can be confusing to buyers. An empty room in a Bungalow can seem far smaller then it … (4 comments)
I worked on emphasizing the homes natural cozy feeling, and in the livingroom showcasing that warm woodstove. This home was located in a cute neighborhood that is just a a few minute walk to Belmont, a pedestrian heavy street that features many eateries and shops, like the local classic Movie Madness:
An independent movie rental store that has a “museum of movie picture history” alongside the movies to rent. And just down the way there is also the delicious (and Portland famous) Pine State Biscuits:
As you can tell by these beautiful Realty Imaging pics, this home had wonderful natural lighting; which was one of the features I emphasized with the staging.
Click the google map to check out the listing : ) … (3 comments)
portland: Unifying with Color Accents
- 05/05/11 01:31 PM
The first thing you saw when approaching this house was the vibrant blue door accented in red. It inspired me to use these colors to create a subtle visual pathway for the potential buyer.
Accessories in blue and red created a gentle recurring theme that helped lead a potential buyer from room to room. It also unified the home by mirroring the same colors they first saw when standing on that welcome mat.
Recent home I staged for Living Room Realtors : ) … (1 comments)
portland: Modernizing the Outdated
- 04/24/11 12:44 PM
This home had been on the market for 6 months with another agent. The new agent, Trish Bannings, understood the value of staging and paid for it herself. I worked with her to create an inexpensive plan that would meet her needs. It was important to get the maximum results, while keeping the cost at a minimum. We got rid of the dated window dressings, which instantly opened up the whole room. Also, instead of staging every room, we decided on a few rooms that would have the strongest impact. 10 days on the market, and the house sold : ) … (8 comments)
portland: Challenging Listing
- 04/16/11 07:45 AM
Just received a wonderful compliment on one of the homes I staged: I can't begin to thank you for the amazing job that you did on staging my "challenging listing" in Tigard. We were in contract within 10 days of going on the market. (This home had been on the market for 6 months with another agent). Seriously, "it pays to stage". I love getting feedback like this, and it was a pleasure working with the agent, Trish Banning. I'll post some pictures from this house soon : ) … (2 comments)
portland: Staged to Sell (and they both did)
- 04/02/11 04:44 PM
I've run into people who are very skeptical that a staged home will increase its value, and decrease its time on the market. So, for those who love statistics, a recent stat from ASP emphasizes how much faster a house that is staged will sell. And here’s a little more proof: two different homes I staged both sold after one day on the market.
1714 SE 37th, Portland OR
7305 N JERSEY ST, Portland OR I have worked with many wonderful and experienced Realtors in the Portland, Oregon area, and I understand … (4 comments)
portland: Happy Spring, and Cleaning Green
- 03/20/11 07:35 PM
Spring is here, which means so are the birds and budding plants. It's time to go for a walk, plant some seeds, read a good book outside, open the windows and let in a breeze, and....it's also time for some spring cleaning. So, here is a quick recipe for a green clean (for those so inclined): General Cleaner: ½ cup vinegar ¼ cup baking soda 1/8 cup lemon juice 2.5 liters water White Vinegar - is a natural deodorizer and just acidic enough to eat through dirt, grease and soup residue. Baking Soda - also a deodorizer, mildly abrasive and softens … (5 comments)
portland: Large and Cozy 2
- 03/05/11 08:12 AM
It was such a wonderful opportunity staging this home. In a larger home like this, I had to go about things with a slightly different mentality (just because there was so much space). I wanted the rooms to feel visually connected, leading the viewer from one part of the house to the other. At the same time there needs to be a clear enough divide that the rooms didn’t feel empty or over whelming. I was really pleased with how inviting and cozy it ended up.
Thanks for the great response on the last pics I posted from this … (9 comments)
portland: Unique Clients, Unique Staging?
- 02/18/11 06:08 AM
I’ve been thinking about all the unique and different types of people we meet in the staging business. It’s always interesting to see how clients’ lives and hobbies affect their home – and sometimes the way it affects some of our staging decisions. Even something like a multi pet home, or a home with specialized remodeling (extra modern TV room, anyone?) can make us work creatively to create a successful staging. So, what are the most unique situations you guys have staged, and how did it affect the staging process? … (3 comments)
portland: Let your house breathe (so we can too)
- 02/08/11 02:33 PM
Quick Tip #6 Last tip I recommended to clean and clean and clean again. This tip adds to that: clean away all those soaked in smells too. There are lots of things in the house that absorb odor, the fridge, the couch and carpet (especially for those of us with pets), the garbage disposal, etc. It is important to make sure your house smells as fresh and clean as it will look. So, open up some windows, air out that musty smell. Let your house breathe a little. Bonus cleaning tip: Baking Soda Boiling a little water with baking soda with … (9 comments)
As I mentioned in my last post, I recently staged a home in SE Portland... and it has already sold : ) 
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