Home Staging Blog by Jennie Norris

Who says our market is tough?  I just had ANOTHER house sell in a matter of days - only 14 this time - after implementation of the Staging Plan I provided to the Sellers!  Staging works!  In our market we have now topped over 60,000 foreclosures region-wide!  In the midst of this - "normal" sellers are still in need of selling their houses and want a good price for their home.  Enter Staging.

Now more than ever Staging is needed to ensure that a property looks its best - both ONLINE and in PERSON.  The Buyer for the house I staged felt an emotional connection to the house - to the point that they would do anything to make sure they got the purchase!  There are other houses for sale on this same street, and plenty of other comps that would be of interest to a buyer - but this was the one that was STAGED!  I did not even have time to get all the marketing information out on this house before it had an offer! 

Here are some before/afters for you to enjoy!

- Jennie

BEFORE:  The living room/dining room was actually only being used as a living room/tv room.  The sellers decided not to bring in a dining room set and I was OK with that - and yet the use of the space was not really conducive to buyers as the extra space to the left was sort of wasted and from the front door, buyers sort of walked right into that chair and a half.

AFTER:  We made that space that could have been a formal DR (although no light fixture) into a nice additional area for the LR - making that space feel larger.  Now instead of everything crammed to the right, I opened up the flow, I made use of both areas of space - and helped a buyer to know what could fit where.

BEFORE:  Family Room - too much furniture and large chunky pieces that swallowed up ALL the space.  Purging unnecessary items and helping seller to put things away that were not mandatory for the selling time - allowed us to open up the space.

AFTER - Family Room is now much more open and spacious.  (I did remove the greenery on the mantel after this photo was taken).

BEFORE: Master Bedroom - too many things on the walls and floor.  Dog crate had to go - could not open the double doors to the Master.

AFTER - Master Bedroom - has more space and less clutter.  Much more inviting for buyers!

And no house would be complete without a SURPRISE lurking behind a door or two.  In this case, the Laundry Room held the Surprise Deer Head - I actually JUMPED when I opened the door as I was not expecting to see Bambi's father mounted on the wall.  Of course, he was not there for the sale.

 
Color and Decorating Trends for Fall 2008!
By Jennie Norris, ASPM®, IAHSP®, Owner, We Stage Sacramento

Color trends for fall are in one word:  BOLD!

The color palettes for paint companies will continue to be in the bold family lines of warm tones, with hints of homage to the past for those young enough to recall the pea-greens and mustard golds of the 50's and 60's.  With colors like periwinkle, navy, and chartreuse back on the color spectrum of acceptability, we should see some interesting combinations in homes.  Throw in some rusty reds, fuchsia, lime green, plum and navy, and you have the "new" color palette being touted by groups such as ColorMix 08 found at Sherwin Williams.  Not all palettes are bold, you can also enjoy a wonderful soothing palette of colors that have a peachy hint of a base color to warm them up.

The difference with today's houses and painted walls are the furniture pieces that sit in the rooms that we find are mostly in the dark tones with classic clean lines.  Framed art is also a way to create a new look and the wood frames have replaced the faux gilded frames from the past with a fresh and clean look that sits well on any wall color.

For guidance on what color to paint walls, take inspiration from your art.  If you have a fabulous key piece that you really like, select a color from the piece of art, and use that as the background color or inspiration accent color for your room.  If you are not confident putting bold colors on walls, you don't have to paint the wall that color, but how about placing some lovely accent pillows in the accent tone on your sofa or chair?  Or add an urn or other decorative object in that color. Add a thick faux mink throw draped over the arm of a sofa or chair, and your look says, "Come and sit - enjoy!"

You can also take inspiration from nature or a journey you have taken to another country where the culture of color inspires you!  Get inspired by the costumes, the food palette, and buildings. 

When looking at nature, notice how blues and greens blend together, and a pop of color such as yellow, red, purple, or pink give a special touch and draw the eye, much like a blossom of a flowering shrub captures your attention.

If you are looking to achieve a fresh look for your "tired" interior, consider the services of a Home Staging professional that can apply their "Staging to Live" techniques in your home.  Unlike designers or decorators that will try to sell you on expensive new furnishings (as they typically make their profit on the margin of wholesale to retail cost), an ASP Stager will use what you have, apply a fresh set of skilled eyes to your room, and refresh your interior with their creativity.

For more information on how to take your home from frumpy to fabulous while sticking to your budget, give us a call!  We'd be happy to provide an in-home Staging to Live Plan where you can do the work or we can help you transform you home, passing along our discounts and savings to you. 

Call We Stage Sacramento at 888-WE-STAGE or (916)768-1662  www.WeStageSacramento.com

Here are some tips from pros on the Color Trends for 2008-2009*:

• Purple - in fashion and home, purple is the front runner of color.
• Yellow - Yellow is the new orange! Orange will still remain with a presence, but not quite as hot as yellow.
• Blues - varying shades from soft spa blues to robin's egg blues to deep sea blues. Many nature inspired blues.
• Greens - with all of the buzz about the environment, natural greens are making their way into the home
• Browns -look great with other hot colors, especially the softer colors where black would be too harsh.

Home Accessory Trends - These trends allow you to maintain a conservative color base (neutral floors and walls) while playing with punches of color. These accessories can be replaced annually giving you a complete new look without a huge investment.

• Bright colors - yellows, deep spicy reds, deep sea blues
• Bold stripes - mainly thin multi stripes
• Large scale patterns - big bright oversized florals, animal prints are still hanging around
• Metallics - are still here contrary to previous forecasts. Perhaps the addition of pearl finishes and continued success of mirrored finishes are helping the metallic finishes stay around. Metal finishes are leaning more towards patina finishes rather than bright, shiny finishes.

Kitchen Trends

• Wall colors - either soft colors to compliment any cabinet color whether it be stained light finishes or dark finishes or painted color or bright bold colors to add life and punch to your kitchen walls.
• Backsplashes - adding a backsplash can give you an updated and stylish face lift to your kitchen
• Cabinets - New multilayered finishes are taking center stage with painted finishes, distressing, glazes and rub through finish techniques.

Tile Trends

• Metals - copper and stainless tiles compliment appliances, countertops in traditional and contemporary kitchens and baths.
• Glass - glass accents from mosaics, to single accents, to full walls and backsplashes in glass tiles
• Faux hardwood tiles - these tiles are great for rooms with a lot of water and moisture where hardwood might not be the most practical choice.
• Window frames - a new trend is to remove a pictures window casing and replace with tile.

*Source:  2008 Color Trends February 28, 2008 - Floor Talk Online

Real Estate Agents  - those of you interested in learning about the process and purpose of Home Staging, how to get clients on board, how to use Staging as a key marketing tool, and earn the prestigious Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Designation and Accreditation, come to the ASP Course in Portland, OR on September 23-24, 2008 hosted by Stagedhomes.com.

Date:  Sept. 23-24

Time:  9-5:30 daily with Special hands-on Staging Project on Day 2!

Discounts offered through WCR and CCAR.  Email Julie@stagedhomes.com for more information and location details.

You willl receive valuable and detailed instruction, as well as access to the one and only Staging University. It's not just what you receive in a class, it's what you need and receive AFTER.

Home Stagers - Anyone interested in running a SUCCESSFUL Staging business you can earn the ASP Stager Designation and membership in the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, the first professional association established to serve the home staging industry and includes professional educational standards and adherence to a code of ethics.

Sept. 23-25 (3 days) 9:00-5:30 all 3 days.

This course is taught by an experienced Trainer and current and successful Home Stager with Stagedhomes.com, the nation'a #1 Training Company.  You are not just learning "theory" you are learning from someone that is actually DOING what is taught and is successful.  Real Life.  Real Answers.

All ASPs receive access to the Staging University, online exposure for referrals, marketing resources to build your presentations and portfolios, turnkey resources for success, and website hits that average nearly 10 million monthly which means the public looks at Stagedhomes.com as THE resource for finding information and people to work with to help them stage and sell their houses.  Stagedhomes.com is the only company ever featured on prime-time television and was just featured in the August issue of Consumer Reports!  Get trained by the EXPERTS!

1/25/09: Clark's Story - the final chapters This is the update on Clark - Please love your family and friends and appreciate the moments in life that you have - things can change on a dime and things we think are so important and significant really are not - when faced with a real crisis of the heart and life. - Jennie

12/20 UPDATE: Please continue to Pray for Clark....  - this is the update on Clark.

10/28 UPDATE: Please continue to Pray for Clark....  - This is the update on Clark for Members Only.

10/20 UPDATE: Please pray for Clark - for healing and to come out of his coma

This is the update for Clark for Oct 20, 2008 - please read and continue praying for him!  - Jennie

10/11 UPDATE: Please pray for Clark - for healing and to come out of his coma

updated for Oct. 11, 2008 - to read the update on Clark, please link to this other post.

- Jennie

_________________________________________________________________________________

Updated for September 30, 2008 . . . To see the update on Clark, link to the other blog post:

9/30 UPDATE: Please pray for Clark - for healing and to come out of his coma

I truly hope that the blog gods don't delete this post as it truly is a matter of life and death and of great importance to all of us that Stage in the heat or in hot areas around the country.

Dehydration can kill you or me.  It is very important to stay hydrated as we Stage or do anything physical.

My brother in law, 49 years young, went out jogging last Saturday and while running became dehydrated, sat down, and passed out.  His heart stopped - he died.  He was found by other joggers - no one knows how many minutes passed before he was found - and a jogger that happened to be a Doctor also came by and immediately administered CPR.  The paramedics arrived and got his heart started again with the paddles, and all his vitals came back strong, but my brother in law remains in a coma - 5 days later.  He is excellent health - his heart looks good, his brain seems fine, although today an EEG will determine if there is any kind of damage to the brain that did not show up earler.  Physically he is beginning to respond to things but has not "awakened" yet - and that is what we want to happen.  We have many people lifting this man, father, husband and friend up in prayer for a full recovery - but it does not happen like in the movies where the person just pops up and is all fine.

Yesterday a 14 year old boy dropped dead after soccer practice here in Sacramento.  It was about 95 degrees outside, no humidity.  The boy was in good health, no known issues.  My prediction is that it is tied to dehydration and a tragedy that could have been avoided if the boy had stayed hydrated.

Another colleague (not a Stager) was moving her house and felt great pain in her legs to the point that she decided she should go to the doctor. Turns out her potassium levels were dangerously low, and - she was dehydrated.  They said she was "this close" to having a major heart attack.

Coffee and energy drinks are not a replacement for water.  My brother in law drank a cup of coffee and had a soda before he went running.  Caffeine is a stimulant, so my guess is that under the hot and humid conditions he was jogging in, that caffeine was not good for his system, and a bottle or water or a sports drink like Gatorade would have been better.  Hindsight is 20-20.

I know when I have staged in the heat, we sweat profusely as the temperatures sometimes climb up to 110 degrees.  It is important to keep cold water handy, and to pay attention to our bodies.  If we feel funny or something is not right, that is our body giving us a signal.

Many people that like the idea of Staging don't fully realize how physical it can be - with vacant home installs, or working with sellers that don't put on their air conditioning and we end up staging in a house that is 90 degrees.  Staging IS work.

When we exert energy, we can sweat, and we need to replenish our fluids or else risk our health.  It's as simple as that.

Drink water - it can save your life. - Jennie

I posted more on this and specific prayer requests on another AR group that is appropriate for that and will be posting updates on Clark's condition there.  Thanks!! Jennie

9/30 UPDATE: Please pray for Clark - for healing and to come out of his coma(Members Only)

 http://www.realestateshows.com/327851

View the Real Estate Show by clicking on the link above.

This house was recently Staged by We Stage Sacramento.  Prior to Staging, we advised the homeowner to paint out blue paint in the Family room and Master.  The seller also added granite counters to help with buyer appeal.