Use What You Have Decorating

If ever there is a time to apply "use what you have decorating" this is it! Everyone is feeling the pinch of our economy and even if one is fortunate enough to have a job, career or income, we're all cutting back on spending.

But does that mean our homes, our havens, have to suffer from the consequences? The answer is NO!
 Recently I was asked to visit a home in the Fayetteville area that had been purchased about 6 months before and it was an increase in size and number of rooms for this family. They needed some decorating advice and I was happy to share my "expertise".

We toured each room, assessed the needs of the family, discussed furniture placement and if they may need to make any new purchases.
Now it would be nice to go out and buy all new furniture and accessories, but let's face it, who can do that? Even if we weren't all affected by the economy, I'm not sure one could afford to do such a thing.
We then descended into the basement. Now this is where my creative juices start to percolate! I love basements and attics. There is usually a treasure trove of cast off goodies in these areas. Forgotten treasures is what I like to call them. I feel like those people on the History Channel called "American Pickers".
There were old trunks, armoires, chest of drawers, fireplace screens, artwork, lamps and even a church pew. We had hit the jack pot. We discussed places that these treasures could be used in the main part of the house, and once finished, there were very few pieces that the owners needed to purchase to complete a finished look.
It may not be the look that they want to keep forever, but it will work until they can find just the right pieces that they desire.
Use what you have decorating, give it a try. If it's more than you can wrap your head around, then give me a call. A fresh set of eyes is usually all that's needed.

Happy Hunting!

Investing in Rental Property Staging

The past few months, I've been spending time re-vamping a rental house that I own. This is a cute little cottage that I purchased almost 30 years ago. I was single, had a Realtor Dad and Builder Mom and not only did they encourage me to purchase the house they also persuaded me to remodel it and boy did it need it. The walls were bright yellow, the floors covered in nasty carpet, the bathroom was 4/8 and the kitchen was sad. All of these things were updated and it was very comfortable place to live.

Since I've married, it has been investment property for me and I now find myself remodeling it again. I have become my own staging client and as my own client I need to follow the rules of staging in order to attract the best tenant.

Repaint interior walls to a neutral color.

Replace floor covering and light fixtures in bathroom.

Refinish hardwood floors.

Replace floor HVAC vents.

Clean existing ceiling and light fixtures.

Clean windows and replace blinds.

Pressure wash exterior and remove mildew.

Paint exterior trim.

Add furnishings and accessories for showings.

As a stager and former real estate agent, I believe that in order to attract a good tenant, I need to show a prospective tenant that I take pride in my investment properties and that I expect that same commitment from them. I want them to understand that I'm allowing them to move into my "portfolio" for a monthly fee and that I want them to show some pride in their surroundings and take care of my "retirement fund". So far, it's been a good marketing approach.

With the exception of painting the exterior trim, my check list is completed. The exterior painting will have to wait until the rain stops so that the trim can dry, and for the painter to get caught up on all of their other jobs that the rain has prevented them from completing.

If you have investment property, you may consider staging to rent. If you want to give it a try, call me. I'd love to help!

P.S. I'll post before and after photos next....so come back soon!

5 Tips for Fall Yard Spruce Up

Summer is over and most homeowners are winding down the yard maintenance, however if your house is on the market for sale, your work has not ended.

Your front yard is the first impression a potential buyer has of your property and the following tips just might be the finishing (or should I say beginning) touch that you need.

1. Pressure wash your driveway and front walk. Pressure washing is a great way to remove years of grunge and grime that builds up on concrete, pathways and patios. It will eliminate ugly oil stains and the danger that someone will slip on slick yuck or mud. Sometimes, you will need a cleaner to remove extra difficult stains, but the effort is worth it.

2. Remove cobwebs from porch ceiling, light fixtures and patios. Fall is the mating season for spiders and cobwebs are abundant. Be sure to remove any that you find, inside or outside of house. It can suggest "differed maintenance" to a buyer, which tends to start a negative feeling in a buyers mind.

3. Place Fall Blooming Perennials at Front Entrance. Everyone gets the flower planting craze in the spring but don't forget about the Chrysanthemum flowers, ornamental kales, flowering cabbages and dusty miller. These will provide the landscape with color well after frosty weather arrives. But don't be afraid to mix in some tender annuals, too. Their contribution will be brief, but spectacular.

4. Rake or Blow Away Falling Leaves . Yes the sound of yard blowers can be extremely annoying and as soon as you finish and look back you can often feel like you need to do it again, but this job has to be done. If you are trying to cut back on your "carbon footprint", then grab the rake and get to work. At our house, this is the final chore with the biggest pay off. We love to see the clean driveway and lawn and potential buyers will notice more if you DON'T remove the debris.

5. Mulch Your Flower Beds. Mulching is a job that makes other garden chores easier because, as well as making your beds look neat, it does a lot of other neat things. Keeping weeds at bay is one of the other advantages. It's hard to think of another job that gives so much garden payback. But be aware that Cocoa Mulch smells like chocolate and contains theobromine, an ingredient used to make chocolate - which is toxic to dogs.

Hopefully the above 5 tips will get you started in making that Great First Impression to your potential buyers.

Beebo Goes To Disney

October is my birthday month and to celebrate my 50th, my sweet husband took us all to Disney World. You see, I've never been to Disney and I wanted my first visit to be with my Grandson, on his first visit to Disney.

We woke up early (4:30 am) on the 8th (my b-day) and jetted our way to the Magic Kingdom with out a hitch. We arrived at our hotel, The Polynesian Resort and there was a fountain as you walk into the building on both sides of the walkway. My Grandson wanted to throw a coin into the fountain and make a wish. Once we found some coins, we both did just that. He asked me w

hat my wish was and I told them that my wish had already come true...to be in Disney World with him. We checked into our rooms, took a little rest and then hit the pavement.

To see Disney World through a child's eyes was indeed Magical. As we saw characters walking around, he would say "they are just suits", but he eventually got caught up in the magic and started talking to them.

One of our favorite memories was at Epcot in The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion. There is an interactive show called The Turtle Talk with Crush Show. According to the attraction description, it is a live show where kids of all ages can have a conversation with the totally tubular turtle from Disney·Pixar's Finding Nemo. Well, Crush singled out our Grandson and had a conversation with him. Once he found out it was my birthday, I was serenaded with a personal Happy Birthday song from the infamous Crush. We were ecstatic....you couldn't have planned and paid for an experience like that.

We all had a great, magical and exhausting visit with Mickey and his friends. My mother is always saying "building memories, building memories" and this trip was a great experience in "building memories".

Thanks Eggin!

Beebo, I Want To Be a Pollen Jock!

The name of my blog is "All About Home Staging & Other Things". This post would qualify for the "other things" part.
My adorable grandson, 4.5, has been talking about being a "Pollen Jock" for Halloween this year. To in lighten those who don't know about Pollen Jocks....they are in The Bee Movie. Pollen Jocks are the only ones that get to leave the bee hive to go out and collect the pollen to bring back to the hive, so that the worker bees can make honey. It's a really big deal and they are the coolest ones in the movie.
I've been searching for a pre-made costume for the little guy, but no one is making them. Don't the costume makers understand how cool this outfit is?
So, I, Beebo, have taken it upon myself to make a Pollen Jock costume. I've taken a black zip up hoody, placed bright yellow duct tape * around the body and over the hood to create stripes. The antennae are made from black zip ties. The Pollen-ater is a water gun with yellow cups glued all around. The shield for the "helmet" is a pair of cool kid size sunglasses.

I think he looks great, but the main thing is that "he" thinks that he looks just like a Pollen Jock and that's the most important thing.
*Yet another use for bright yellow duct tape!

Will Our Furniture Fit In This Room?

This past week I was asked by a home seller to stage a bedroom in a house that was purchased to improve and re-sale. The house is probably about 20 plus years old, and has been completely remodeled. The kitchen and the master bath alone are amazingly improved from what they were originally. The price is great and it's located in our Country Club area. Why hasn't it sold?
The master bedroom is located on the main floor, however with the house being vacant, it appeared to not be large enough to be a master bedroom. Without furniture it is incredibly difficult to tell the scale and size of a room. Now that the room has a bed and furniture, a buyer can see just how large this bedroom actually is and their furniture will fit inside this room.
Nine out of every ten buyers that walk into a vacant home have no imagination of the wonderful possibilities that a home has to offer them. They just can't picture it.

Check out the before and after photos below and see the difference staging a house with furniture and accessories can make.

Let us help your potential buyer visualize your vacant space as their home, with vacant home staging. With a little inginuity, you would be surprized at how affordable it can be.

Give us a call.

Southern Staging & Redesign
770-251-0608 home/office
nan@southern-staging.com

At What Point in the Process do I Call a Home Stager?

If you’re considering having your home professionally staged, you have probably done some research on the topic and understand the importance of staging. In doing this research you have probably learned the basics of staging; clean and de-clutter, depersonalize, lighten and brighten and improve the curb appeal.

These are basic steps that any Home Stager will suggest – so you might want to get started before you call a Home Stager so they can focus on the more involved aspects of staging - to emphasize the features and focal points of your home.

You might also want to consider not even calling a real estate agent to list your house until it has been professionally staged. Just as you want to impress buyers with your home, it is important that your real estate agent’s first impression of your home be a positive one so they will be more inclined to list your house for top dollar.

Let’s get started with cleaning and de-cluttering

Your home should be “white-glove inspection” clean, every room spotless. If you need help, don’t hesitate to call in a professional cleaning service and carpet cleaning service.

Besides cleanliness, we have all have a clutter issue – we just can’t seem to live without it. So, since at some point you’re going to have to start packing, now is a perfect time. Start by packing up some of that clutter.

Now, go through your clothes and linen closets and organize them, removing as much as you can so it shows that you have plenty of storage space. Here is a method of getting rid of clothing you may want to consider; if you wouldn’t wear it during a class reunion weekend, you need to get rid of it.

Bookshelves are another area that gets cluttered quickly - reduce your collection by at least one-third and try to leave only hard-backed books. The same goes for media storage in the living or family rooms.

And lastly - the garage. Oh boy, this is a big one! Buyers love a spacious garage - show them how much storage room there is by cleaning out and packing up.

Depersonalizing
When a buyer walks into your home, they don’t need to know anything about you; who you are, what you look like, what you do for a living or as a hobby – because we want them to be thinking about THEM – not YOU. Take down all of your family photos and collectables. Be sure to leave your non-personal accessories since your stager will want to use some of them.

Lighten and Brighten
Make sure every light fixture in your home is clean and has bulbs in them. If your walls are painted anything but a neutral color, you should consider painting them a neutral color to make the rooms appear larger and more open.

Curb Appeal

Walk across the street and take a picture of your house. Can you see your house? Does it invite people to the front door? Trim or remove any large bushes or trees blocking the view of your home, make sure the lawn in mowed and leaves are raked up. Flower beds should be cleaned out and edged, a new layer of mulch can do wonders.

If the paint is peeling or faded, you might want to repaint for a fresher look. Add some pots by the front door with flowers that are in season or green plants as well as a new welcome mat.

Make sure the front door and porch or stoop looks nice, this is what the buyers will be looking at while the real estate agent opens the lockbox to get the key. You don't want them looking at spider webs, bugs and broken door bell buttons and forming a negative opinion before they even get in the door!

Wow! You have a made a LOT of progress! Now you are ready to call a Home Stager and let them work their magic in your home.

Give me a call and see what a difference working with a home stager can make.
Nan Johnston

Southern Staging & Redesign

770-251-0608 home/office

nan@southern-staging.com