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Single Unattached and Lonely, ISO Family to Love Me

By Kathy Alexander

Home Stager with GreatStages Home Staging and Redesign

August 20, 2007 11:12 AM

Have I told you recently that I love my job? This is a home that we just put the finishing touches on. It has been on the market for months, empty for a long while and was sadly in need of some love and updating. The client felt that the neighborhood alone was enough to sell this house, but came to realize that in this market staging and updating are critical. Need I mention that this is also FSBO? New paint, wallpaper removal, new lighting, new doors and an updated kitchen with slab granite and Viking cooktop started the transformation. Staging took the house to the next level, providing warmth, color and vibrancy. The Open House over the weekend was quite the success story and it appears that there are at least a couple of serious buyers who are now interested.

Matchmaking - coaxing an ugly duckling into a swan, then finding a perfect new owner who wants to make a house their own. That is what I do and I love every minute!

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Susan Peters

Dove Realty Inc. - Seattle, WA

The Better it Looks the Better it Sells

Kathy,

What a great job! Now if they had just listed and staged it from the get go, they might have ad multiple offers or at the very least, it would have sold months sooner.

Aug 20, 2007 04:55 PM

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

I was going to say, "what a house" but instead I'll exclaim, "what great staging!" Your bringing in color and warmth with furnishings, accessories, and art provided just the right touch ~ this home looks inviting and now the buyers can imagine what it would be like to live there. Great job! Thanks for sharing the photos and I love your RES! P.S. What is the listing price on this home? The setting looks lovely.

Aug 20, 2007 05:20 PM

Kathy Alexander

GreatStages Home Staging and Redesign - Vancouver, WA

Home Stager Camas WA, Home Staging Southwest WA

Susan - I couldn't agree more. Now if I can only get them to use a Realtor instead of going the FSBO route. I have shared Frank Llosa's blog with them ( Go FSBO! Save $20,000! Realtor Tells All!! ) and I hope they are giving it lots of consideration.

Maureen - Thank you so much for your kind comments. It is a wonderful house and while the size made it challenging, the setting was inspiring. It is listed for $939,000 ( they raised the asking price $20,000 after the staging was completed!)

Aug 20, 2007 05:44 PM

I'm not at all surprised that they raised the asking price after you worked your magic....I hope they get what they're looking for. That is one huge house! Did you supply all of the inventory yourself or did you rent some of it?

Aug 20, 2007 06:59 PM

Maureen - The only thing that was rented was the upholstered pieces. The bed is an Aerobed and I supplied all of the occasional tables, lighting, small dining set and of course the accessories.

These big houses really swallow up the inventory - my storage space is down to bare bones after finishing this one.

There is one last update that couldn't be finished until this week. Striped wallpaper in 80's colors with a book border is getting removed from the study. I will stage it simply with a small desk, chair, etc.

Aug 21, 2007 02:32 AM

Janice Sutton

1st Stage Property Transformations - Murrieta, CA

Home Stager - Temecula Murrieta

Great staging and RES show Kathy. Glad you love what you are doing. It shows! :)

Aug 21, 2007 08:07 AM

Janice - thanks for your kind words. Aren't Real Estate Shows great? I love how excited clients get when they view them.

Aug 21, 2007 09:56 AM

Maureen Maureen

Orangeburg, NY

Kathy - the home looks beautiful! Did you know that if they list the home on Realtor.com through one of the FSBO sites that you can post the RES that you made for them. That way their FSBO listing will have a feature tour. It is easy to do, you just into RES, then under the show you just click the link that says Publish. You will see an option that says Link to Realtor.com. Depending on what kind of listing they have it might be free or may cost $25.00. I have been charging a fee for the tour. It is a great way to get more FSBO clients. Email me if you have any questions.

BTW your RES sidebar widget looks great!!!

Aug 27, 2007 10:09 AM

Maureen - I told my client about that over the weekend and they are going to add it to their listing. I hadn't thought about charging for the tour - but that is an excellent idea.

Aug 27, 2007 10:18 AM

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Aug 27, 2007 11:40 AM

Maureen - You are absolutely correct and that is why I love AR and folks like yourself who are so generous with their advice. Thanks for your help - it is really appreciated.

Aug 27, 2007 12:59 PM

Betty Haney

Haney Consulting - Calgary, AB

Kathy, your staging looks absolutely beautiful. I can picture myself living there - and that is the reason for staging isn't it? Wonderful, wonderful job. Love your RES show too. Doesn't Maureen have the greatest advice in the world. She rocks. Betty

Aug 27, 2007 03:55 PM

Betty - Oh golly, you are making me blush. Thank you for the kind words! And yes, Maureen rocks!

Aug 27, 2007 04:08 PM

Inna Ivchenko

Barcode Properties - Encino, CA

Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

People who are happy and love what they do are very attractive.

Congratulations on another successful match:)

Sep 02, 2015 04:53 PM

Single Unattached and Lonely, ISO Family to Love Me

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