Joe Carter Real Estate Quotes

New Hampshire Home Staging FAQ

Preparing Your New Hampshire Home For Sale Is More Than A Job To Me

Are you looking for advice on preparing your house for sale? As a professional Home Stager I have plenty of advice for New Hampshire sellers. The most important, however, is to find professionals you trust and make your decisions based on their experience. The process is always easier when you have support from professionals and a proven plan of success to follow.

As a stager, my greatest satisfaction comes from turning the "overwhelming" into "totally manageable" for my clients.

kitchen

My passion and obsession with organization began as a child when I tried to convince my friends that cleaning closets was more fun than playing outside. From an early age I was the go-to source for home decorating and re-design advice for my family and friends.

It wasn’t until a Realtor friend asked for my help with a listing, that I even knew home staging existed as a profession. What a gift to find out there was actually a business associated with doing what I love to do!

In 2006, after extensive research, I started my Home Staging business in New Hampshire. Since then my mission has been to help sellers increase the emotional appeal of their property and sell their homes for the best possible price in the shortest amount of time. Two years ago I became the first stager in New Hampshire to earn the RESA-PRO designation from the Real Estate Staging Association.

I'm not a home stager for the profit...

New Hampshire isn't exactly the Home Staging capital of the world.

I'm in this business because I love it,

and I'm very good at it.

Transforming is my passion,

but my satisfaction is in knowing that I help make other people's lives a little easier.

Making the agent's job a little easier....

Agents can rely on me to handle all the awkward, personal issues like odors, clutter, poor color choices. The agent no longer has to deal with appearance and preparation. They can devote their time to the task of marketing. I also provide "after" photos free of charge.

"If there was ever any doubt about the power of home staging, Sharon Tara will make you a believer. She did a fabulous job for me…the house she staged sold in a month, after languishing for six months with no offers. She is very professional, very accommodating, and really fun to work with! I highly recommend her."

Making the sellers' job a little easier....

I provide direction, a detailed "to-do" list for them to follow...saving them time and money. They no longer have to stress out over the huge task at hand. I'm sympathetic to their situation, providing creative options based on their budget.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sharon. Your work was instrumental in selling my house."

"What a big improvement. I never thought that we would be moving furniture, I just thought you would give me some ideas. It was a lot of fun and didn’t even seem like work. Thanks so much!"

"Sharon, Thanks again for all that you did. I would like you to know that we were blown away by your services. It was far above and beyond what we expected... You did a fantastic job of putting yourself in the buyers’ shoes and explaining your thought processes and impressions that you received. We appreciated your candid feedback as your constructive criticism was delivered respectfully and clearly."

dining room

I've learned so much since starting my business. I've made many new friends...agents, stagers from around the world, and clients who I never would have met otherwise.

Preparing your New Hampshire home for sale is more than a job to me.... I'm very grateful to have found an outlet for my passion!

I would love the opportunity to help you with your New Hampshire listing.

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Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland North Hampton Dover Rochester Somersworth

603.661.8524

Home Staging Consultations Pay Off Big Time In Fresno/Clovis,CA

Home sellers and real estate agents are finding that having a staging consultation is the best investment available when preparing a home for sale.

During the past year many local real estate agents in the Fresno/Clovis area, as part of their marketing programs, have begun providing their clients home staging walk through consultations from Selling By Design-Staging. The home stager and the client walk through the home while the staging professional discusses changes that the client can make which will enhance the home. The client is free to take notes.

In this home we suggested the owner remove heavy drapes, and a large recliner, as well as move the large sofa from the middle of the room to the wall. The changes opened up the room and brought in more light.

Staging consultations have paid off big time for both the agents and sellers in quick, profitable sales. To encourage those agents, and others who would like to add a staging consultation to their marketing, Selling By Design-Staging is offering a special rate for agents. We will provide a walk through consultation with your clients at a discount of nearly half of our regular fee for this service(no limit per agent.)

Linda Thompson

Fresno, CA- home staging and redesign services

Selling By Design-Staging

Selling By Design-Staging specializes in giving homes an edge on the competition by creating atmospheres that are appealing, inviting and that say to potential buyers "Welcome home." For more information we invite you to visit our web site at http://www.sellingbydesign-staging.net

linda@sellingbydesign-staging.com

Recommended by Home Care

What the Heck is Staged to Dwell?

www.MemorialStagedHomes.com

What the Heck is Staged to Dwell?

(Perspectives on Real Estate and More from a Home Staging Pro)

Guest Room It is a question I hear often, “What the heck is Staged to Dwell?” It is also called “Redesign” or “Restyle”. Simply put, it is about giving your space a whole new look without buying anything or by buying very little. It is a service Home Stagers, including Memorial Staged Homes, offer.

Over time, the rooms we love can become crowded with furniture and things. Kids’ toys move to the living room, work moves to the bedroom, the bonus room fills with boxes, rooms lose definition and become tired looking. The fresh eye of a Home Stager/Redesign expert can breathe new life into your home. When necessary, we can also advise you on paint colors and help you create flow throughout your home.

Redesign is a great option for folks that have lived in their house for years but it is also helpful to new Family Room home buyers. After all, it can be a challenge to figure out where to place furniture that was bought for another space. Buyers’ Agents have been known to gift their clients with Staged to Dwell services after closing.

Using the same principles used in Home Staging, Home Stagers can create balance, flow and harmony in a space using items you already own. Your home should be your haven and when you walk in the door; you deserve to experience a space that functions according to your needs yet fosters peace.

Wishing you a quick sale!

ASP Logo

Kathy Strader, ASP

Kathy@MemorialStagedHomes.com

Home Staging A Seller' Secret Weapon - CBS Sunday Morning

Home Staging - A Seller's Secret Weapon - CBS Sunday Morning

Watching CBS Sunday Morning is a part of my Sunday ritual...every Sunday. Today there was a segement on home staging as a seller's secret weapon.

While I don't agree with everything that was said, I do agree with the large majority of it. Home staging is a home seller's not-so-secret-weapon for getting their home sold faster and for a higher price. And if its on CBS Sunday Morning, well, it must be true!

There were some statements made during the piece that didn't ring true for me, like "home staging costs about 3% of the listing price" . I've never even come close to charging 3% for a staging job and I think neither have 99% of the professional home stagers out there. I'm guessing that they were including every and all expenses associated with getting a home ready for the market, including painting the interior and exterior, repairs to the structure (not normally the purview of home stagers) and infrastructure (upgrading electrical and plumbing - also not normally considered part of home staging).

Very generally speaking, I think most home staging projects cost .5% to 1% of the listing price of the home, although I don't know any home stagers that bid their job based upon a percentage of the listing price. Of course, where the home is located, whether it is a vacant home staging or an occupied home staging, home condition and how many rooms are to be staged all play into the cost of real estate staging.

They interviewed a Chicago real estate agent, Ian Schwartz, who said "You have 2 choices, either stage it or not. And if the answer's "not", I'm not working with you". Schwartz goes on to say that he cannot waste time on ugly houses and doesn't want to have to apologize for any of his listings. I say "Bravo" Ian Schwartz! Ian is one of the top real estate agents in the Chicago area, and now I know why.

So thank you, CBS Sunday Morning for informing home sellers of the importance and benefits of having your home professionally staged. Yes, hiring a professional home stager (and hiring the right real estate agent) are definitely a home seller's not-so-secret weapons when selling a home!

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Los Angeles Real Estate Staging

2010 RESA Professional Stager of the Year

Michelle has staged hundreds of Los Angeles homes, many of which have sold with multiple offers, above listing price.

She works with home sellers, listing agents and asset managers to prepare homes for sale throughout Los Angeles.

Moving Mountains Design provides vacant home staging, occupied home staging, color consultations, corporate and executive relocations, move organization, redesign, and interior design. We also stage model homes, REOs,foreclosures and auction properties for real estate investors and asset managers.

For more information about our Los Angeles home staging services, contact Michelle at (626)385-8852 or by email.

Click here to see our Los Angeles home staging portfolio

Click here to go to our Los Angeles home staging blog

Click here for more information about home staging in Los Angeles and how we can help sell your home faster and for the best price

10 Scenarios When A Home Stager Should Walk Away from a Job

This topic has never been far from my mind or my business policies. As a small business owner of a Plano, TX home staging company one of the benefits of running my own business is knowing when I should walk away from a job if certain scenarios are in place or come into question. Not only does this help my business (and often my sanity) it actually helps the prospective client know why their job is not one I'm able to assist them with and explains policies and expectations that all parties need to understand. However I try never leave them without the opportunity to know why I cannot work with them or where they may find help if I cannot.

On Monday, April 30th at 7 PM CST this topic will be discussed in a forum on twitter called a "tweet chat". Using the hashtag (which is represented by the # symbol) #StagingChat anyone who has an existing twitter account (sign up for free!) can join in the conversation and discuss various topics related to home staging, stagers and the challenges and victories we each face.

I was so looking forward to this topic brought forth by one of the regular stagingchatters and RESA member, Vanessa Helmick with Fiore Interiors, however I booked a job for a client who could only meet during the hours of the chat. But I am passionate about sharing my thoughts on the subject and wanted to share my thoughts, outside the forum.

Here are my 10 Scenarios When A Home Stager Should Walk Away from a Job

You are asked to work for FREE
The scope of the job is beyond your company or your own capabilities
The scope of the job includes more than home staging can help and the client refuses to do the work necessary but insists on staging anyway
Unrealistic budget
Client has unrealistic time and job expectations
Delays outside of your control continue to happen costing you time and money and client refuses to compensate
Your health or safety is compromised
Your professional policies or contractual agreements are broken
Ethics come into question
Your inner voice tells you from the first meeting or call that this job or person seems like trouble, listen to it!

1. You are asked to work for FREE. We may have all been guilty of this in the beginning to prove our worth and value. I know I was - once. I took it as a lesson burned. If I don't value my time or myself who will? What other service industry in the world is asked to provide their services for free? Hey Mr. Carpet Guy, can I have that carpet free just to try it out and see if I like working with you the first time? RUN don't walk from this request.

2. The scope of the job is beyond your company or your own capabilities. This not only helps your client but your business. When you understand your limitations you've thereby established expectations and policies that can only work in your favor, not against. On my website I've include the square footage and price points of vacant homes that I will stage. Working in Texas anything over the $1,000,000 5000 square foot limit becomes a job that I will refer or turn down. The size, scale, style and amount of furniture and decor needed for these homes is not something I can easily find for a budget most home sellers are willing to pay. I work with national furniture rental companies and their pieces tend to be smaller in scale and more modern in style than some of these Texas mansions need. I was recently shown photos from a photographer friend of a staging job for an $800,000 home and literally the accessories covered up the assets in this home while the furniture used was the wrong scale and style to showcase the rooms and their purpose. While I was told the Agent got the job 'cheap', it also certainly showed in the work and in the photos. Don't take on more than you are capable of, it reflects poorly on you, your company and the entire home staging industry! I do not hesitate to explain this to anyone calling with a job that is outside the scope of my abilities however I have found resources and referral partners I am confident to share.

3. The scope of the job includes more than home staging can provide and the client refuses to do the work necessary but insists on staging anyway. This is always a tough one for home stagers, turning away a staging job when the client insists on it. Here's a common scenario;

You arrive at a client's home for a home staging consultation. The home itself needs a lot of work in order to present itself as move in and buyer ready. Although staging the home would be the final touch this home needs (and a great way to sell your services), the other work is vital to the marketability of the property. 25 year old green carpet, dark paneled walls, 25 year old appliances with burners not working, wallpaper throughout and what's that musty old dog odor you smell?

If we as home stagers are to do our job correctly, then during a home staging consultation (or in your written report) the items that STAY WITH THE HOUSE and help sell the home are more important than the staging itself. Yes, I said that. Let me repeat, things that STAY WITH THE HOUSE for selling are more important than the final staging. Your recommendations during the home staging consultation should give them all the information they need to do the final staging work themselves (if they are only using what they own - and maybe you even recommend they move everything out!) however always stress the importance of doing the recommended work (painting, carpet replacement/cleaning, repairs etc.) as being priority over spending more money on final staging services. While getting the additional work itself is always a plus and where we can shine, when budgets are tight and priorities need to be set, your professionalism and commitment to doing the best by your clients will not go unnoticed, especially the their Realtor.

4. Prospect has unrealistic budget. I don't know about you but I'm in this business not only because I love it but I also want to make a living. Although I realize that I may not be the least expensive I am also not the highest priced staging company in town. However there are other companies with business models different than mine and if a prospect calls me wanting to stage a vacant home I have a certain budget they would generally have to meet in order to do the job by the standards I have set for myself and my company brand. When they insist that another company charges only "X" for the same job I respond to them with something like this; "Then by all means you should go with them! I liken this to having a choice where you can shop and if price is how you are shopping then you will get what you pay for. We can all shop Walmart, Macy's or Neiman's if we choose, not all staging companies are created equally."

5. Prospect has unrealistic time and job expectations. Ever get a call from someone you've never met on a Wednesday saying; " We only need the furniture for a weekend. We have an open house scheduled for Sunday and we need the vacant property staged for MLS listing photos on Friday!" ? Man jumping through hoop

Far more than some may realize these types of jumping through hoops situations usually never pan out well nor likely will they meet the budget requirements neccessary to complete a job scenario described above. "Only need furniture for a weekend" clues you into "we don't want to pay much for this". And for those of us with established professional relationships with the Realtors we work with regularly already understand the need for lead time and expectations.

6. Delays outside of your control continue to happen costing you time and money and client refuses to compensate. Delays will happen. And it's important to keep the lines of communication open as well as account for delays outside of your control in your contract. Once I've schedule a job on the books, it's theirs and should others delay our schedule due to circumstances I cannot control and the client has failed to inform me of the delay with at least 24 hours notice given then they are charged for services (whether they are performed or not). I have lost time and money when I am not able to schedule another job or work for the time committed to the other project. If this is a repeated problem with this client and you have not be compensated for the delays prior to the actual job, you should take that as a sign that payment for services may not be as easy to get either.

7. Your health or safety is compromised. Unsafe working environments are never ones to enter into. From fumes from floors drying to exposed electrical wiring. If a client asks you to do something that jeopardizes your safety or that of those who work for you this is not something to take lightly. Recently during a home staging consultation a client asked me to help him move a couch from an upstairs room down. I refused. He insisted that it wasn't so heavy and together we could manage and I said "No" that I was not there for moving furniture but a verbal home staging consultation paid for by his Realtor. I was giving him the tools to do the work himself or hire help to move items and if I returned to finalize the staging these types of things would already be done. I did give him the name of a mover but I was rather shocked that he actually expected me to do something so dangerous.

8. Your professional policies or contractual agreements are broken. This goes without further explanation and it is one of the reasons why you have a contract in place. It is not only to protect you but your clients as well. If any of your policies or contractual agreements are broken beyond what you can reasonably accept or the client is willing to repair, it's time to walk away and you may need the advice of a lawyer in some instances. Shady man

9. Ethics come into question. I will never hide a flaw or cover up structural defects and if a client asks you to do so, refuse and explain why. If the client continues to insist on this, walk away. Also, I've heard of this done more times than I care to know but if you purchase items for installation into a home and keep the tags on them then return them to the store you purchased this is un ethical! You have used these items and are using the store to increase your own bottom line. Charge appropriately for your services to begin with and you won't feel the need to cheat the system.

10. Your inner voice tells you from the first meeting or call that this job or person seems like trouble, listen to it! Call it your 6th sense or intuition but that gift is something we all need to listen to more. We are born with a fight or flight instinct but often squash it as "nonsense or paranoia". Pre qualify your clients by phone, get as much information as you can. Google search their names if you can find them. Let others know where you will be and how long you're expected to be there, even when the client seems like a great person on the phone. I once received a call from a man who said that we "live very close to each other" for a re design job. I don't advertise my private residence house number although I do office from home. It gave me a strange feeling and re design is not a core service and it's generally reserved for existing clients I've worked with on the staging to sell side first. I explained that I was unable to help him at the present time and to call back in a few weeks. I never heard from him again.

Please feel free to share your stories and reasons for walking away from a job and why! And feel free to join the #StagingChat on TweetChat tomorrow night, 7 PM CST, 8 PM EST and 5 PM PST!

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Home Star Staging Logo Selling a home in North Texas? Exceptional Home Staging services for Dallas, Richardson, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco, Carrollton,TX and surrounding cities.

Affordable pre-list home staging property consultations
Affordable post list "trouble shooting" property consultations - no matter how long a home has been on the market there are always ways to improve the chance of sale
Owner occupied property staging (utilizing owner supplied furniture & accessories or including some of our own inventory)
Vacant & investment property staging (Full and partial rental furniture packages, accessories and staging services)
Is your office interested in hosting a home staging class or presentation? Just ask! Contact Karen at 496-964-0516 or Karen@homestarstaging.com
Interested in learning how to start a successful home staging business in TX, OK or NW LA? I can help! I the hands on course trainer for the Staging and Redesign team. Stage a real home for sale, get a true portfolio of your work and start collecting your statistics, all key components to running your business.

Home Staging Dallas - Karen Otto

10 REASONS NOT TO STAGE YOUR HOME

1. We want to test the market for 90 days. And on the 91st day? Price reduction--and 90 days worth of potential buyers who have already eliminated your property.

2. It costs too much money. I have never seen a home where the staging costs would have exceeded the first price reduction. And that doesn't even factor in the monthly carrying cost of the home.

3. We can't stage the house, we're living in it. One common misconception is that staging is only for vacant homes. Every home/condo can be staged, and you can actually live in it after staging.

4. We didn't have to stage any of the other properties we sold over the years. Yes, once upon a time you could generate three offers by 5 p.m. on the same day your Realtor put the For Sale sign in your yard. Not now. Buyers are picky and they have a lot of homes to choose from.

5. Everyone loves our house so buyers will love it, too. What you, your friends and relatives love about your house may not be what today's buyer wants. Sellers are often baffled by the feedback they get after showings--amazed that buyers have found things they don't like about the property.

6. We can clean the carpets and declutter without someone telling us how. Yes, you can (and should) do this, but it is a tiny piece of staging. Do you know what separates "clutter" from "asset"? And what about all the other things that staging encompasses, like traffic flows, highlighting architectural features, updating, and appealing to your target market?

7. We have no desire to remove/change our _______________ (wallpaper/mirrored tile/gold faucets/paneling/dated light fixtures . . .). And neither do buyers. Better to keep your home or be ready to sell at a deep discount.

8. The view alone will sell this place. Then why many months later are these great view homes/condos still on the market? Could it be that buyers want something to go with the view--like a comfortable, move-in ready home?

9. We would rather let the buyers makes their own paint/flooring choices. And that equals a price reduction. If buyers do make an offer on your home they will double or triple the cost of these items and reflect that in their discounted offer price--which includes a deduction for the inconvenience.

10. Our home is professionally decorated. A professionally decorated home is tailored to the owner's particular needs. Does it work for the new buyer's needs? You could see #1 above . . . .

These are all great reasons--

for price reductions
for extended time on the market
for buyers not coming to look at your home
for buyers not coming back for a second look

There are dozens of reasons not to stage, but only one good reason to stage--getting your home sold faster for the highest possible price. Staging is preparing your home for sale and creating a home that buyers want to buy. If you want to be in the best competitive position in this market today, consult with a professional home stager before listing your property for sale.

Dazed and Confused in the Business of Life

1. Buying your first home in Winchester VA

OK, I admit I've been a bit too busy lately, but it really came to light in the past two weeks. I guess there is a point where you shouldn't continue adding things to your schedule, but I have a hard time seeing that line sometimes because I'm a "make hay while the sun is shining" kind of person.

In the past two weeks, two missteps I made finally came home to bite me. In that, they made me think I either need to hire an assistant, keep better records in my iPhone or just back off my busy life a little bit. I'm not sure where I'll go with those options, but suffice to say something has to happen because I can't fire myself.

The first mistake was an MLS entry. When I took a listing in June I had inputted the basic information in the site before I launched the listing. At the listing agreement signing, the seller and I negotiated on the commission and I dropped it 1%. I rarely do that, but this time I had a good reason. The only problem was that I forgot to change it in the listing before I launched it.

When the property went under contract I realized that I had forgotten to change that. That meant my company was going to take 2% of the commission instead of 2.5%. That doesn't sound like a lot, but it was $3000. Ouch! Lesson learned. It was definitely a college level class education too.

The second one related to keeping my calendar. I received a call from a closing agent today making reference to a closing I had today. I had a closing today? Really? Yes, I did. Only problem was I wasn't there or anywhere near the closing. It wasn't a real problem, but it was a good reminder to slow down and take inventory of my life and what I'm doing.

I hope you don't have expensive mistakes like that, but if you do, please learn from them. I definitely won't submit an MLS listing with the wrong commission split again. I say that today. Check in with me in 6 months and let's see if I get amnesia again.

2. What to look for when buying a foreclosure in Winchester VA

3. Short Sale inventory in Winchester VA

4. Winchester, VA - The best bedroom community for the Washington, D.C. area

5. Passion is contagious - Infect somebody!

6. Winchester, Virginia is a great place to buy a house at great discount!

7. This simple electrical test could save your life.

8. Turn setbacks into springboards

9. Reduce your mortgage by pre-paying principle and eliminating interest

10. What can I do to sell my home more quickly?

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Give me a call for all your real estate needs, and let's make something amazing happen.

Mike Cooper @ Cornerstone Business Group, Inc., 888-722-6029

Real Estate Sales and Property Management

(Disclaimer: All grammatical mistakes, punctuation breakdowns and misspellings are purely for your amusement and entertainment. Feel free to cackle.)

The Internet level playing field is no more!

In the early days of the Internet, one of the most exciting aspects of the new medium was the fact that ANYONE could achieve either popularity or notoriety by establishing an online presence.

The Internet was an equal opportunity awarder of status, and oddly enough, large businesses seemed to be lagging well behind the curve.

But big money changes everything. Once it was determined that the potential for profit was there, billions were poured into both Internet development and Search Engine Optimization.

Sites became bigger and bigger and more comprehensive. Niche entrepreneurs were gobbled up by hungry behemoths as they broadened their scope and capability.

As a result, a general query in a search engine today will typically return three of five mega-sites, with the second-tier sites following.

The little guys have been relegated to the obscurity of page two.

It saddens me somewhat that the early adopters that built the medium have been pushed out of the way by the big money players.

But there is no turning back to the way things were.

You are either on the mega-site bandwagon or watching the parade.

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate Better Homes and Gardens Metro Brokers, Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser REOS, E-Pro. licensed Auctioneer. 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required. Visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. North Georgia Photos.

There's Nothing Like A Cooling Facial When Entering An Attic Space