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Home staging with leftovers. What!?

By
Home Stager with Design Results

Alright. This bedroom is not my favorite look.  But the whole house was a train wreck. The pillows on the bed were in the living room and the picture above was in the garage. The white 'throw' on the comforter is a sheet... but it's clean!

I redesign rather than stage homes. Working with pieces already in the house - before they are removed - can save alot of money. Why would I opt to save a client money rather than rake it in myself? I'm just getting my foot in the door. My real work is designing the client's new home or investment property, or getting the referral of their realtor or management company. I can help make this, or the next property, awesome with or without anyone's old furniture!

Take this house, a hoarder's haven. It took 16 man hours just to rid the top two floors of excess furniture and knick knacks - months after the place was on the market. The photo below shows deep indentations where two massive, primitive sofas made of 4x4s and mattresses had been. Seven or eight old chairs were scattered around a huge, black screen TV. Old, dark wood furnishings and hand-me-downs littered the place. Nothing matched. I had everything removed except the kitchen table which I relocated to the bay window. Even though it's now on carpeting, it's 'suggestive'.

I brought in a faux palm but left the old cuckoo clock for grins!

 

Emptied living room with kitchen table in bay window

Rehoming the kitchen table and chairs to the living room creates a spacious and inviting kitchen area. Leaving the counter stools in place also makes sense. They give the room focus and purpose. If they won't fit in the next house, it's easy to sell or donate them after the sale.

Kitchen counter stools left in place

Before clearing everything out of the house, look for sets of items that might read as a collection. The pottery grouped on the kitchen counter above, (and close up below) gives the kitchen a polished look.

 

Kitchen counter

These three ceramic jugs were found in closets and shelves in various rooms throughout the house, before coming to rest on the black granite counter. A matching set of crackled glass bath accessories, below, was retrieved from bathroom closet and cabinets. If you look closely, that cute little potted daffodil has made it's way into quite a few of the photos! The realtor was very pleased when feedback went from "poor" to "excellent." Making the most of what you've got is so important...

bathroom, crackled glass accessories

and remember, it's what's on the inside that really counts!

 

If you like what I write, please consider "liking" my Design Results on Facebook! You can read more and see great pictures, and I'd really appreciate it.

 

 

 

daryl rosenbaum
Design Results - Wilmington, NC
coastal investment properties and home design

Thank you Bob. I notice your line of work. I am very intersted in The Coastal Federation here. Thank you for caring about our environment!

Apr 06, 2017 08:47 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

                                       Thank you daryl rosenbaum 

Apr 08, 2017 05:37 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Hello Daryl. Some people just need a little help! Enjoy your day!

Apr 09, 2017 05:17 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Gooid morning Daryl and welcome to the Rain. Nice post and well written.

Apr 09, 2017 06:24 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good Morning Daryl - this is a great example of creation a great showing experience.  You have worked wonders.

Apr 09, 2017 06:47 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning daryl rosenbaum ,

I'm so glad Kathy Streib featured your post in her "Ah-ha" moments for the week! Excellent post on how creativity can work in re-designing with what a seller already has can show case their home in a better light! I just subscribed to your post.

Apr 09, 2017 07:05 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Daryl

Welcome to ActiveRain. I'm glad Kathy featured your idea-packed post. I look forward to learning more from you.

Jeff

Apr 09, 2017 07:31 AM
Mick Michaud
Distinctly Texas Lifestyle Properties, LLC Office:682/498-3107 - Granbury, TX
Your Texas Lifestyle is Here!

Looks great.  Based on your description of what was in the house before, you've worked a miracle.  Good job!

Apr 09, 2017 09:32 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Hi Daryl, and welcome to the rain. I loved your post and will now be following you to see what you have to say next.

Apr 09, 2017 10:04 AM
MaryKay Shumway
The Kellstrom Ray Agency, Inc. (Est. 1948) - Sister Bay, WI
Door County Wisconsin's Real Estate Expert

I do the same thing with the permission of the Seller---I know what will work in my photos and staging.  Unfortunately, I can't get everyone on board, but I'm definitely getting better at being more firm about what stays and what goes--those are the clients that I want.  Well done, great post.

Apr 09, 2017 10:21 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I specialize in owner occupied consults....I find great satisfaction in making transformations like this using only what's at hand. You show great examples here. Well done!

Welcome to the RAIN!

Apr 09, 2017 11:35 AM
Karen Graves
Artistic Home Staging - Edmond, OK
Certified Home Stager/ReDesigner in the OKC area

Great job!  I do owner occupied staging most of the time too and I ususaly have a $0. budget to work with.  It makes us get creative!  You did great work!  Welcome to AR!

Apr 09, 2017 02:29 PM
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Coldwell Banker Realty

daryl rosenbaum "I redesign rather than stage homes. Working with pieces already in the house - before they are removed - can save a lot of money."

Right on target - and - re-blog!

Apr 10, 2017 07:02 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Hi Daryl, you did a great job with this home, using what's already in the home is a great and less expensive way to go from poor to excellent. Thank you for sharing and welcome to ActiveRain.

Apr 10, 2017 12:47 PM
Kim Gaston
RE/MAX Advantage Realty - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs REALTOR®, CNE (719)661-6987

I found your post on Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers re-blog. Great pictures of your work and very resourceful! 

Apr 11, 2017 03:44 PM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Nice post, welcome to the rain.

Apr 11, 2017 04:15 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Welcome to active rain. Good luck in achieving your goals on active rain 

Apr 17, 2017 05:42 AM
daryl rosenbaum
Design Results - Wilmington, NC
coastal investment properties and home design

thank you Gita!

Apr 17, 2017 10:22 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

What a great inspiration your post is to all of us - sometimes it is just a lot (!) of elbow grease and imagination that is needed! 

May 08, 2017 08:57 PM
Anonymous
Daryl Rosenbaum

Thnnks for the kind words Lise!

May 15, 2017 10:07 AM
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