Karen Otto

Designed to Sell Secret

2009-01-06T17:40:00Z

If you're a fan of those HGTV Shows like Designed to Sell you know the drill.

Generally they start the show off with a Realtor (not the seller's agent though an independent third party) walking through the home seller's house to "critique" the place. The sellers are next door at a neighbor's house watching on video the blow by blow breakdown of why this house so desperately needs to be Designed to Sell AKA - STAGED!

With horror the homeowner's brace themselves for what the expert has to say. Another version of this show is Sell this House - even more brutal because the comments are coming from actual prospective buyers with no holes barred language (censored thankfully) and criticism.

"WOW", the owner's say we didn't think it was that bad!

And we know - really it's not.

It's a TV show - ratings are important, shock value grand! Who cares if the owner's feeling are trampled on - this is good stuff!

STOP! Rewind.....

What makes for good TV makes often makes it difficult for sellers in the real world to understand what professional home stagers do. Heck I'd be scared to call someone over too if I thought my house would be criticized and trashed.

What I'd really like to say here in the home seller's defense and to clarify any misconceptions is this;

Professional Home Stagers are designed to sell and tell. We are the experts. We are the "eyes of the buyer".

But.... we're here to help, not hurt, embarrass or shame someone into staging their property before listing. We CARE about our clients. Your success is our success - the sale of your home. Home Stagers understand that selling a house is an emotional process and we will treat you and your home with respect.

Realtors and Sellers, many home stagers can also provide you with a powerful marketing tool that doesn't have to cost a lot,.

I'll let you in on the secret it's called a Home Staging CONSULTATION.

Listed below are some things to know about how a home staging consultation can work for you.

What is a Home Staging Consultation? - A home staging consultation can be a verbal walk through or written report detailing all the necessary things for a seller to do to get the property ready for sale.

A verbal consultation is usually paid for at an hourly rate - the area you live will determine the pricing, ranging generally speaking, from $50 hour up. A verbal consult generally does not not take longer than a few of hours depending on the size & condition of the home and the number of questions the homeseller may haver. Just like in the show, we walk through each room and explain the changes we see that would be necessary to create the environment suited for selling - the owner is encouraged to and free to take notes. We in essence, are the "eyes of the buyer".
A written consultation is a detailed report or "blue print" of everything we recommend for each room, including (at least in www.homestarstaging.com 's report) the front two corners of the property (curb appeal) to the back two corners, as well as paint and carpet replacement suggestions that a lot of us do. This report provides the seller with all the recommendations they need to prepare their home for sale. This report is often billed at pennies per square foot or a flat rate depending on size of the property and scope of the project.

HOW CAN A HOME STAGING CONSULTATION HELP A REALTOR?

A home staging consultation is a powerful marketing tool which can be used as part of your listing package
Having access to a qualified, professional stager on your team sets you apart from other agents who are not using staging consultations or stagers for their listings
Saves you the awkwardness of having to explain to your clients what needs to be done to prepare their home for sale Home selling is an emotional and stressful process and we understand the needs of your sellers. We are trained and experienced in handling delicate details.
Very cost effective and high yield on the return - starting as little as $50/hour in some markets, (for a one-hour verbal walk through) your home seller will have the recommendations they need to prepare their house for sale
Helps ensure the condition of the home will be in top shape. Remember condition is one of the 3 key components to the success of the sale. Don't shy away from being firm with your prospects! It only hurts you and them when you can't tell them like it is.
We create equity for our clients and that means YOU !- the return on the investment in a staging consultation will always pay for itself - generally yielding a faster sales time, which lowers the probability of a price reduction (in the thousands!) and statistically the better the condition of the home, the higher the sales price!

HOW CAN A HOME STAGING CONSULTATION HELP A HOME SELLER?

Provides the home seller with the blueprint needed to prepare the home for sale.
Gives sellers the "buyer's eye" perspective before the first buyer ever walks through the door.
Cost effective and quick!
Sets seller's home apart from other houses in the comparatible market
Great for the do it yourself homeowner who is serious about selling quickly for top dollar.
High return on investment. By doing the work yourself based on the home staging consultation you receive from a Professional Home Stager you are well ahead of the competition. Your house not only shows better but is a pleasure for Agents to want to show.
We create equity for our clients and that means YOU !- the return on the investment in a staging consultation will always pay for itself - generally yielding a faster sales time, which lowers the probability of a price reduction (in the thousands!) and statistically the better the condition of the home, the higher the sales price!

HOW DO I FIND A PROFESSIONAL HOME STAGER?

Sellers: Right here on www.energizedseller.com
Sellers: Ask your Realtor
Realtors: Right here on www.energizedseller.com
Realtors: Ask your receptionist - A stager may already have dropped off cards and brochures in your office and they're justing waiting for someone to take one!
Realtors: Ask your fellow agents - they may already have a stager on file

HOW DO I KNOW THEY'RE QUALIFIED?

Check this link at energized seller for RESA's consumer guide to home staging

Proudly serving Energized Home sellers, Realtors & Investors , Home Star Staging is here for you!

"What if I don't like it?"

2008-12-09T04:58:41Z

Hum.

That question, referring to the furniture and decor proposed for use in a vacant property, was posed to me this week by a client who has never worked with a home stager before. Although I've never been asked this question directly before, I could relate. I'm sure others have thought to ask me the very same thing just maybe didn't feel comfortable enough to ask out loud.

There are many sellers in this same predicament and some are nervous.

Home staging is an investment and it's not a small one when we're talking vacant property staging.

How many home sellers HAVE actually worked with a home stager is an interesting question.

My answer would be, "many more in the future", but I don't know if the market is even close to being saturated by examples, I'd say we still have a long way to go.

But, we're making great progress.

How we conduct ourselves, our businesses and our practices is being watched, questioned and judged whether we like it or not.

And rightly so.

Home Staging is currently an unregulated industry but a much needed one at that. The public is listening and is understanding the value our service brings to the home selling table. Make sure what you're serving is the right stuff.

Although this client says they "trust me", they were not sure about the choices I would make for furnishing their vacant home. Naturally they wanted answers.

I did not take this personally.

After all, it is still their home, once occupied by their family and adorned with their furnishings and decor. Although it is now vacant, it continues to hold memories and attachments for them.

I was prepared.

My answer to this question was honest and simply this;

"It is quite possible you may not like the choice of furniture and decor I've selected specifically for your home, however it really has nothing to do with whether it suits your specific style or taste. Home staging aims to appeal to a number of different buyer's tastes with furniture and decor that compliments your home's layout, style, detail and color palette."

I then went on to send a link to the furniture collections I'll be using and suggested they go see them for themselves prior to making the commitment.

Their vacant property staging is schedule for the end of this coming week.

Since I utilize the services of national rental furniture companies such as CORT and Brook Furniture Rental, I am assured that the collections these companies keep stay with the trends, whether transitional, contemporary or traditional and I base my choices on the homes themselves, the color palettes and architectural influences.

I want the home to sell, not the furniture, but I want the furniture to blend and compliment, not contradict the style of the house.

It's a pretty basic and simple formula but it does take a keen eye and experience to know just how to stage a property properly.

Note: For home stagers considering branching off into this area, I'd like to say this;

Know your limits before making the leap to vacant property staging. From price points to the inventory you keep it is not for the faint of heart. Your work represents not only your company but an industry and standards as well.

Even still for the most seasoned of home stagers, quite possibly your individual clients may not "like it" when all is said and done but then again, we're working to attract a broad range of buyers, not just one.

Sellers, I'm OK if you personally don't like it. It sometimes comes with the territory.

Just a follow up to the original post:

This home had sat vacant on the market for 3 months prior to staging. The home was staged and had the first offer in 5 days, that offer fell through but another came in shortly after, it closed in less than a month after staging.

Staging works!

Sellers, do you know why the first showing of your property probably won't be in your home?

2008-12-09T01:44:26Z

Home sellers, today's home buyer is in a different league.

With the Internet, virtual tours and great digital photos that are available, a buyer with access to the Internet, truly does not need to leave the comfort of their home in order to decide whether or not to see a property they may be interested in. Essentially that means the first showing of your property may take place on the internet not in your actual home.

It is estimated that 86% of buyers are shopping online first, and that's not just for any product but for homes too.

Buyers can make their decision right at the computer screen whether the house is worth getting in the car (or plane in some cases) to see. And often, with job relocations, it becomes necessary to view properties cross country or globally and the only way to do that is on-line.

I make it a practice to view www.Realtor.com to check out the virtual tours and photos. As a North Texas professional home stager I find myself virtually staging the houses that need it and wondering what the reasons are behind those homes that don't have photos or tours available. In my opinion, this is one of the most important tools after listing today's seller has in getting their house seen and sold.

There is never a second chance to make a first impression and home staging is crucial for making that fabulous first impression whether on-line through amazing digital photos and virtual tours or in person as the buyer walks up to the door.

While selling, make your home's first impressions count. whether the buyer is previewing online or in person.

Thank you energizedseller for your sponsorship at the DFW Stage it Forward Roundtable!

2008-11-24T01:44:00Z

On Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 I had the honor and priviledge of leading the discussion at the 2nd Dallas/Ft.Worth TX Stage it Forward Roundtable event.

On a national level, professional home stagers are gathering during the month of November, which by the way has been designated National Home Staging Awareness Month, by the Real Estate Staging Association, RESA, to network and brainstorm ideas to move the home staging industry forward. Collectively we are moving the service of home staging into the homes of every seller and on the radar of every Realtor with the idea of making home staging a standard part of every residential real estate transaction.

We could not have done it without the support of our wonderful sponsors and I'd like to take the opportunity here to thank Dan Eason, President of Energized Seller for so generously sponsoring our Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX event by providing our wonderful lunch.

Energized Seller has shown its support not only by highlighting the home staging industry and professionals on their website but also reaching out to our national associations and organizations in an attempt to bring awareness to the importance of home staging to sellers and Realtors alike.

Thank you again Energized Seller for your support of home sellers and the real estate professionals who work to serve them!

Sellers - Unwrap your walls to reveal the gift to your buyers

2008-11-21T12:48:00Z

Wallpaper, wallpaper on the wall are you the fairest of them all?

Love it or hate it or have no opinion of it, most Professional Home Stagers do address the issue. It comes, it goes, it's in fashion it's not. It's neat, it's versatile, it's dated, it's faded, out, in - whatever your feelings on it, in my opinion, in many cases, wall paper removal may and should be recommended.

Now fair seller, you say, WHY?

"I love it!
I paid lots of money for this designer look it matches my chair cushions!
I paid someone else to hang it perfectly straight!
All the flowers and leaves are joined seamlessly together and it looks like custom paint!
We could never remove it ourselves!
We have memories tied to this wall paper!"

My answer to you would be this simple two sentence answer, as you said,

YOU love it but not all buyers are going to be of the same opinion. In fact most won't.

What they will see your wallpaper as, especially if worn, torn or forlorn, is WORK, TIME & MONEY and NOT MOVE IN READY.

What will be a bit of sweat, time and about $50 for paint/supplies for you will be a sight for buyer's eyes to behold! A clean, fresh, slate. A warm inviting space. MOVE IN READY CONDITIONS!

And isn't that your goal? To sell your house and make it appeal to the most number of buyers possible?

Below is an example of just what removal of the top portion of the chair rail wallpaper and a warm neutral paint (the color below the rail stayed the same) can do to lighten and brighten up a room.

Can you see the gift that these sellers have unwrapped and given to their prospective buyers?

Dining Room Before Wallpaper Removal, Painting and Professional Home Staging

Dining Room After Wallpaper Removal, Painting (by owner) and Professional Home Staging by Home Star Staging

This Frisco, TX home was professionally staged by Home Star Staging in early November 2007. The home had a contract prior to Thanksgiving 2007 and closed shortly after (3 weeks on the market). By working with the right Realtor and professional home stager you too can set your home apart from the competition!

For Professional Home Staging Services and Consulting in Collin County, TX and surrounding areas please visit Home Star Staging on the web or us a call at 469-964-0516.

We're here for you Sellers!

Let us help you unwrap your home's gifts and make your HOME the STAR attraction in the competitive North Texas Real Estate Market.

Selling a home this holiday season? Should you decorate?

2008-11-15T22:51:00Z

Around this time last year I wrote an article about selling a home during the holidays with a focus on the question, should you decorate? I thought it was timely enough now to bring it back again because as we approach the various holidays this season, you may be questioning whether on not you should decorate while selling. It's a valid question and one to consider.

In general my recommendation would be, yes, go ahead and decorate, just do it in moderation! Afterall, you'd like the buyers to remember the large dining area that is great for entertaining, not your vintage collection of porcelain Santas that took center stage.

A decorated home is usually warm and inviting, if not over the top. Keep lawn decor to a minimum and the same rules apply to your interior. Once the season is over, make sure you pack and put away those items for your move. After all your objective is to sell the house isn't it? Don't put those holiday decorations in the attic, put them in storage and get prepared to move!

For more recommendations and tips please check out this article: Selling a Home during the Holidays? Should you Decorate?

I wish you all a very happy holiday season and a successful sale of your home!

Plano,TX - based Home Staging Professionals featured in Dallas Morning News

2008-09-11T14:47:00Z

This time last year , Home Star Staging along with another Plano-based home staging professional (and my good friend), Barie Pinnell, with WRE Interiors, were interviewed for an article by the Dallas Morning News. It was an article regarding (of course) Home Staging for sellers.

As we all know, in today's tough real estate market, home staging is fast becoming a way of setting a home apart from the competition, but not everyone understands how to work with a home stager.

Barie and I, along with a few other local home staging professionals had actually gotten together for the article and collectively staged a property that was photographed to be part of the story.

While we waited and waited for the article to appear it just never seemed to make it. Barie called me a couple of weeks ago and said she'd been contacted by the Dallas Morning News and that the article would run on September 5th.

Well, I'm happy to say my Google Alerts this morning showed me just that.

Here is the link to the Dallas Morning News article: How to Stage Your Home to Sell Fast

Proudly serving, Collin County and North Dallas, Realtors, Developers, Sellers , Investors, and news publications, Home Star Staging is here for you Texas!

A real life "Selling and home staging with kids" blog you have to read

2008-07-12T00:01:58Z

My Google Alerts had an interesting blog post and I want to share here.

The blog is written by a seller who had their Realtor stage the listing.

She describes in really good (and humorous) detail the process and how it was to live like that for a very short time apparently. You'll see for yourself if you read the post Selling a house with kids

Selling a house with kids

We are moving and we are staging our house.

Everyone tells me I should start packing weeks ahead of time. This is sensible advice, so I try. I really try. After the kids are in bed I attack the fringes of ten years of clutter. I sort through clothes. I clean out the dining room buffet and toss old candle stubs. I take down the wall of postcards that grandparents have sent from exotic vacation spots, carefully peeling tape off each card and tucking them into a box. (I wish I could travel to Copenhagen!). Then I start to panic. It's clear that at this rate, we'll never be ready.

We up the pace one weekend by renting a portable storage pod. A parade of relatives helps us cart off the extra dining rooms chairs, shelves and the daybed. I box up the dishes we seldom use, books, throw pillows, wicker trash baskets and candlesticks. By the end of the day, the house feels barren.

A few days later, our real agent arrives with a color consultant, on her dime, and spreads paint samples all over the living room rug. They decide on a palette of saturated colors that we would never have dared if we hadn't been moving. We stay in my mother's basement while the painters have run of our house.

A few days later, I leave for work just as our agent pulls up with a rental truck and two assistants. I'm apprehensive. Suddenly this whole endeavor seems over-the-top. Our agent told us that staging has helped some of her clients "let go" because their house no longer looks like their home. How will my house feel when I return? At the end of the day, I walk up to the front door and notice that the pileup of scooters, bicycles and helmets in the front porch has been replaced by two wicker chairs and a table and a tin star ornament. So far so good.

I feel like one of those reality TV show participants when I open the door. Oh my! Why haven't I thought of putting the living room rug at an angle in front of the fireplace? The house that has felt cramped now suddenly feels spacious. And what a nice Mission style armchair. (Wonder if she'll sell it to me?) There are a dozen new lamps casting pools of cozy light. The paint colors look splendid. And I really like her artwork. Remind me again, why are we moving?

She has rearranged the den as a "music room" with the piano against one wall. Our master bedroom looks like a page out of a Pottery Barn catalog. There are matching IKEA bedside tables and brushed pewter lamps where our mismatched shelves used to sit. A bold black and white spread has replaced the flannel Navajo print comforter cover that my husband brought to the marriage (and which I've been intending to replace for years!). The bathroom has a new shower curtain and artwork and a fake plant (...ok, I could live without the fake plant). Plump striped towels hang on the towel bars with washcloths carefully folded over the tops. "What if I forget and wipe my hands on them?"asks the 8-year-old.

Uh oh. Reality sets in.

A staged house looks nice, but just try to live in one. In ten minutes the children have recluttered every room. At least with most of their toys in storage, it doesn't take as long to pick up. That night I undress in the closet because one of our bedroom windows now has no curtain. My husband and I stand on either side of our staged bed to lift up and fold the new bedspread. Then we retrieve our Navajo comforter and lumpy pillows from the closet where they have been stashed with our other unsightly belongings. The next morning, we reverse the routine. The photographer is coming!

The kitchen counters look spartan, empty except for two fancy condiment jars with corks. My knife block has gone missing and I finally find it under the sink. The toaster has been moved to a pantry shelf. At breakfast I fold up the ends of a fancy table runner so the kids won't smear it with peanut butter. I hand dry the dishes because we can't leave out the dish rack.

Just before we leave for work and school, the five-year-old gets in a fight with his brother and hurls his sobbing self onto the sofa. I'm afraid that instead of consoling him, I start yelling frantically.

" Get your snotty face off the silk pillow!"

I flip the pillows to hide the stains from his teary face. Then I stand there draping and redraping the afghan to get it to look like it had before. It reminds me of going home after getting my hair styled and trying (unsucessfully) to get it to look the same way the hair dresser had left it. We almost miss the bus.

We put the house on the market a couple of days later at the start of spring break and fly out to California to stay with grandparents for the week. It ends up being an inspired decision. We are high above Las Vegas as the brokers' tour is going on. We fly back to Minnesota with an offer. We only have to keep the house tidy for several more days while our buyer comes back with various inspectors.

A week later, the agent sends her assistants to collect her things. My two-and-a-half year old daughter howls when she sees her pink bedding and the tulle netting canopy carried out the door. I promise to get her a canopy for her bedroom in the new house.

We are moving in two weeks. The knife block and our old comforter are out of hiding. Watching television is a challenge, however, since the TV is in the "music room"; where there is no seating and I haven't bothered to move it. But I discover I like living without TV.

I have also discovered that I like living without a lot of stuff. I like the space. I like not having to dust and clean it all. I'm beginning to forget what we actually packed away. And, with the exception of my silver candlesticks and my son's Harry Potter Wizard cape, I not sure I really want it all back.

Posted by Maja Beckstrom on June 3, 2008 12:33 PM | Permalink

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It is so spot on and true, especially when selling with children. However this family made the committment to sell and the results speak for themselves! Stagers and Realtors should read it!

To their Realtor, I'd love to say Congratulations on a job well done!

Sellers, I feel your pain

2008-07-06T04:54:36Z

Let me first say, we are not moving. At least not this month. But we are re carpeting our 2nd floor and replacing our white wooden stair balusters for our enjoyment as well as the future return on investment.

Why did we really want to do this?

Heck, we want to enjoy the upgrades now while we live in it! As a professional home stager, I have seen far too many sellers upgrade to sell and wish they'd done it years ago for their own use once they see how great it looks.

But sellers, I feel your pain!

When you're told to replace your carpet by a professional home stager or your Realtor (or just know you need to do it) and say "I'll just give the buyers a carpet allowance", I understand why.

It is quite a job to replace carpet while living in a home. I know, I've done it.

But it's also quite a job for a buyer to move in to a home and have to replace the carpet once they're in. Consider your inconvenience as doubly theirs and why many buyers choose to move on to another newly carpeted property when they hear "allowance"in yours.

The work involved in moving and storing items while in the process of re-carpeting (or laying any flooring for that matter) can seem overwhelming(especially from upstairs). Although the carpet installers will move the large furniture it's up to you to relocate and move everything from the tops of dressers, closets and whatever else may get in their way, break or become too much for them to have to deal with.

And then... after all that... you have to put it back!

But there is a silver lining. You finally get to the closet cholesterol that has been accumulating for years and may decide once and for all to get rid of it.

We're still, after 2 months getting rid of stuff, in fact, we declared this 4th of July - Independence Day from our junk! (well alot of it anyway)

A little background....For the past several years my husband and I have talked about replacing our upstairs carpeting. We'd already replaced all of our downstairs carpet with wood and tile when we first moved in 6 + years ago but not the upstairs carpeting. With 2 kids and a dog and countless trips up and down the stairs by friends, relations and various animals (from birds to dogs we've housed for friends on vacation... don't even ask what some of these "house trained" pets have done to my house...) the carpet was to say the least "well worn". We decided this summer to replace our carpet and enjoy it while we can.

But.... that's not all.

While checking out craigslist for a client who needed some furniture at a discount I came across a company that replaced wooden stair balusters with wrought iron balusters. Coincidentally, I had a client who had asked me about the cost of replacing his and I truly had no idea at the time nor did I know the return on investment to do this. Well, I researched further the company and the cost. Turns out this is a popular item with new homes. I've seen them myself and worked in newer homes which have this upgrade.

Well we decided to install them in our home as well, why not? We loved the look, the price was great, and we were replacing our carpet anyway and I knew it would be a good investment for the future. I have to say, the company we worked with Grandstairways was awesome and totally professional. If you're in North Texas and considering this upgrade, contact Alex Kaiser. He's a man of his word and their prices are about 1/3 of what others are charging.

After a couple of months of milling over carpet selections (had to think long term, wear, color, "green" factor and padding choices too) we made our choice.

Now if you don't already know about carpet, go out and shop for some if you're in the market for it and you'll learn lots from the reps at each carpet store.

Some basic things to consider when choosing a carpet:

If you have a pet with claws don't opt for "loop" carpet entirely. Their claws will catch the loops and they will pull and fray.
For homes with pets, a "cut" pile will work as will a combo of "loop and cut pile". Simply cut the loops that get frayed and they'll match the cut pile nicely.
Consider the long term if you're not selling. Since you are still living in and using the carpeting, don't go for the lowest grade cheap stuff unless you plan on replacing it when you sell. You want it to last for a while in case you sell in the next several years.
Think about the carpet color you choose. High usage areas will get worn and dirty. Don't go for white or very light in those areas unless you are meticulously clean, wear booties at all times and have no pets or kids traipsing through your home on a regular basis.
Again with color, if you plan to stay in your home for a while and want to really get personality injected into your carpet choice - go ahead. But when thinking about long term use and resale, opt for colors that will be universally buyer friendly. We chose a color in the "cashew" family.
We opted for the upgraded padding with a moisture barrier. Not only does it make the carpet feel plusher, spills don't soak into the pad and "reappear" over time. The barrier acts as a protective shield to ward away those magically reappearing stains.
Green is clean and consumer friendly, something I believe most people are looking for now and in the future. The carpet we chose was from Mohawk. It's called SmartStrand and it's partially made from recycled materials. Check the link for more information.
I was also reminded today in fact that most carpeting is petroleum based and very soon the price of it will also increase. Keep that in mind if you've been on the fence about replacing yours and consider alternatives if you've got your eye on other flooring surfaces (wood, bamboo, stone, tile)

Now that I'm at the end of the most recent upgrades the work was definitely worth it.

Sellers, many Professional Home Stagers are homeowners too. We understand what's involved in owning a home and we understand what it takes to help you prepare your home to sell too. We feel your pain but in the end the real goal is financial gain!

Proudly serving Collin County and North Dallas Realtors, Sellers & Investors, Home Star Staging is here for you North Texas!

What does $125 get you for Home Staging in North Texas?

2008-05-28T13:08:00Z

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 to home sellers in North Texas.

Any home, in any price point can benefit from a home staging consultation. In my professional opinion this service should be considered a standard part of a Real Estate transaction, just like a home inspection has become after a home has an offer, a home staging consultation can be seen as the "aesthetic inspection" that can get offers on the table!

Home Staging does NOT have to be expensive.

As evidenced below, the value of a Home Staging Consultation far exceeds the investment.

For pro-active sellers who are motivated to do the necessary work to prepare their home for sale and with the guidance of a Professional Home Stager TARGET those areas that need addressing (no more guessing games), the results are amazing!

NORTH TEXAS REALTOR® TESTIMONIALS

"I have to tell you that the home you helped stage [verbal consultation] at Old Shepard Place in Plano had an offer in 2.5 days! The other home you staged hasn't been listed yet. But both clients were so satisfied with your suggestions & assistance that they commented they loved the way their homes felt after staging & promised to never go back to the clutter again."

C.Hahn, Realtor®, Coldwell Banker Plano, TX

"You have done an excellent, fabulous job on my listing. You probably provided 30-40 times of value, for the price I paid [verbal consultation]. You have exceeded my expectations by a great extent. I am going to utilize your services for all my professional and also, personal needs. For a person as skilled as you are, you have absolutely no airs, you are very flexible, friendly and personal which makes you wonderful to work with."

S. Chaparala, Realtor®, DFW Realties

Realtors® Home Staging Consultations are a great service to recommend to your sellers and set your listings apart from the competition!

Proudly serving Collin County and North Dallas Realtors®, Sellers and Investors Home Star Staging is here for you North Texas!

Does a home staging consultation make a difference for selling?

2008-05-28T13:01:00Z

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 about the presentation and "move in" ready conditions that today's buyers are looking for.

In many cases, sellers will say, "this doesn't feel like my home". To which we respond, "Good!" The way we live in a home is very different than the way we market and sell it.

The owners choose to do the following as well as have JRM Photography take the after photos for the MLS. Note: Their Realtor had already chosen to acquire the services of JRM Photography as part of the listing package.

Clearly just three recommendations have taken what the owner's already had and made it buyer ready.

Lightening and brightening with a paint choice they had already made for a good portion of the home unified the spaces
Furniture was rearranged and re located from other areas
The final touch was great photography by JRM Photography that gives buyers more depth and vision on the MLS as to the potential of the house. The photos invite them from the internet to come visit the property in person. When over 80% of buyers are first shopping the internet how could you NOT consider professional photography for the highest impact?

Proudly serving Collin County and North Dallas Realtors, Sellers & Investors, Home Star Staging is here for you North Texas!

Selling a house? Use this FREE valuable resource to help with the successful sale

2008-04-16T13:02:00Z

Sellers, do you want to know what is one of the most valuable things you have in terms of the successful sale of your home and it's FREE?

I'll give you some hints:

It's a something we never seem to have enough of
It's gone before you know it
Sometimes it seems to stand still
It flies too fast when you're having fun
If only we could buy more
Where does it go?

Have you figured it out yet? The clock is ticking......

Well some may argue that time is money and you would be correct especially when selling a home, one of the most valuable things you have in your corner is time to prepare your house prior to listing.

But TIME is FREE.

It's how you carve it out and make it a priority when selling your house that you'll see big rewards with your time investment.

Now I know not all sellers have this luxury; if you need to move quickly for a job relocation or other reason, but in many cases, sellers should have ample time to get their homes ready prior to sale.

What you'll need time for:

Choosing the right Realtor
Preparing your home prior to listing

Want to know how to SAVE TIME and MONEY and learn what you should focus your time, energy and money on when preparing your home for sale?

Contact a Professional Home Stager to provide you with a Home Staging Consultation and find out where you'll get the most bang for your buck!

Why a Home Staging Consultation?

A Home Staging Consultation can provide you with the right recommendations for you to best spend your time and dollars on and what will give you the highest return on investment.
A Home Staging Consultation is cost effective, quick and great for the do-it-yourself home seller.
A Home Staging Consultation will help eliminate the time consuming guessing games of "What should I do to prepare my house?" "What updates and improvements make the most sense" "What if my budget is limited, where should I spend my dollars to make the most return?"

Why waste precious time?

Get the facts from the professionals who know what it takes to get your house show ready.

Contact a Professional Home Stager today to get started.

The clock is ticking...

For Professional Home Staging Services including cost effective Consultations in Collin County, TX contact

HomeStarStaging.com

Laundry room lesson - clean, clear & clutter contained

2008-04-16T12:48:00Z

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, including the laundry room. Basically no one wants to be reminded of chores associated with owning and living in a house while home shopping. Especially they don't want to see YOUR dirty laundry or smell it for that matter.

Simple changes and corrections can go a long way. No money was spent here, just a little "sweat equity".

In less time than it took to wash and dry a load of laundry, this room went from cluttered to clean and the room on the right gives buyers the fresh clean look they want to see in the laundry room they intend on buying.

Keep the laundry room:

clean
clear of laundry (dirty or clean)
clutter contained to cabinets or decorative containers and baskets.
Simple changes make a big difference in the eyes of the buyer.

You can almost play a game of "what's the difference with these two pictures"?

Which photo would you rather have on your online presentation?

Home staging does not have to be expensive, but the small changes you make can yield big rewards.

Get the "buyer's eye" perspective from a professional home stager.

A cost effective consultation can give you all the information you need to do the job yourself and know which changes pay the biggest profits.

Home Star Staging works with clients in all price points, no house is too small and you deserve to get what it's worth.

Professional Home Stagers: Working with YOU to achieve great results!

Do YOU have one on YOUR TEAM?

Superior Real Estate Staging & Consulting Services for Collin County,TX & surrounding areas

Realtors, Sellers and Investors : Home Star Staging is on your team!

Got Pets? Selling a house? One sniff could snuff a sale

2008-04-13T19:25:00Z

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 at them unexpectedly)
Loud barking, growling or even birds squawking creates an unsettling mood for showing the house. In some cases, barking dogs have prevented showings from even taking place before the key was turned on the front door!
Overly friendly animals jumping or wrecking havoc on potential buyers is a possibility. Just recently I was at a home where a nervous but friendly puppy proceeded to pee all over the place, including shoes!

Secondly, and just as important is the safety of the potential buyers and Realtors who will be previewing your property for sale. Not only do many people fear animals, but allergies and cultural assumptions about "living with animals" may present problems you may not have considered.

Why let fears, smells, allergens and assumptions be a potential deal breaker? Do what you can to eliminate these factors from the buyer's field of sight and smell and keep your pets safe and happy in the process.

Here's a list of suggestions to help you make the process of selling with pets smoother:

Ideally, pets should be removed from premises or at the very least crated, caged and contained in one area. When we have a party we keep our pets in a guest room upstairs with a sign on the door like the one here. A laundry room or spare guest room off the main house could be a good option if your pets cannot be removed for showing. Here's a simple sign you can create to give notice to potential buyers and Realtors who may be previewing your property.
Keep all evidence of pets clean and clear of the surroundings; from food and water bowls, toys, fur and droppings, keep the house, inside and out clear of pet paraphernalia.
Odors most certainly need addressing. Cat urine can often be detected upon entering a property even if you think you can't smell it after it's been thoroughly cleaned. A repeat offender may use the same area over and over and no matter how well you think you've got it covered, the acid has permeated the padding below the carpet and without replacing the pad and carpet entirely, it's almost impossible to remove the smell. Seek professional cleaning advice and consider your budget options.
Highly sensitive types will react to fur and dander in your home. Keeping your home as clean as possible with daily vacuuming and disinfecting may help offset potential allergic reactions.

By taking the necessary steps to ensure your pet's safety and well being, you're on your way to finding a new home not only for you but Fido too.

Professional Home Stagers: Working with YOU to achieve great results!

Do YOU have one on YOUR TEAM?

Superior Real Estate Staging & Consulting Services for Collin County & surrounding areas

Realtors, Investors and Sellers: Home Star Staging is on your team!

Recipe For A Home Sale

2008-04-11T17:49:00Z

Thinking about selling your home? There is a simple formula you should keep in mind to help you on your way. The recipe for a home sale has 3 key ingredients:

1. Price

2. Location

3. Condition

Setting the right price is the first and most important key to a sale. By getting the right information from your Realtor® on comparable properties in your neighborhood you can be assured that they will set the right price in order to sell your property. Many times a seller believes their home is worth more than it is based on subjective information. Let's be honest, we all feel our homes are usually worth more than they probably are. By being realistic and working with the right Realtor®, pricing your home right the first time out is crucial.

Location is another ingredient. However it is the one factor of the recipe that can't be changed. Buyers will narrow their search for a new home by price and location first. Although location can't be changed, there are always buyers looking for specific neighborhoods. Rest assured yours is one of them.

Did you know that condition is the only factor that is totally in the control of the seller? Your Realtor® can't really help you here. It's just like exercise, no one can get in good shape for you, and you must do the work yourself. But you can always hire a professional for help. Like a personal trainer for your workout, Professional Home Stagers are the trainers who can help get your home in top form. By preparing your home before listing (staging) you'll be setting your house apart from the competition and presenting it as move in ready. You want your home to be the one that buyers remember. Don't leave first impressions to chance. The first 2 weeks after listing are crucial.

So if you're planning to sell now, months from now or even have a home on the market currently and aren't seeing the results you want start preparing for the big reveal. Staging your home will help you achieve your goal and give you maximum results.