Shop Open

As many of you know I have spent much of 2009 helping my siblings care for my very wonderful mother (pictured here) who passed on August 12, 2009. It was an honor, I only wish we had longer to spend with her but I know I will see her shiny happy smiling face again.

It has taken awhile to get my spirits back up and my mind full time on business, but I am finally here and ready to do battle with this crazy real estate market.

Thank you for your patience. Newsletters, tips, pictures and real estate shows are forthcoming on a regular basis again so please bookmark my blog and check back in often. Thanks,

Laura

Consignment Shopping

I have an agent client who is paying for a vignette staging on one of her listings. Vignette staging means that you focus on using small amounts of furniture and lots of art and accessories or small vignettes to tell the story and warm the space.

So I hit the shops yesterday just looking for some new art to address and draw out the focal points of each space and to diffuse any issues that are presently glaring. I found almost everything I needed.

I live in Charlotte but shopping almost always means a trip to Gastonia for me. There are a few consignment shops there that I just love and can count on having some pieces that I could not afford otherwise.

I got 2 great mirrors, a screen, 5 pieces of art, some wire work, and few nice florals. I found more than my budget would allow me to purchase but with the new WOW factor and my 1000 square foot warehouse I will be able to pull that job together and make those spaces look awesome on a budget.

The Perfect Color in only moments, with no mistakes

Selecting paint from thousands of colors in paint decks has always been terrifying. Recently I learned the secrets and the science of making that process a snap by completing color certification training, "The Art and Science of Color."

This earned me the distinction of becoming a Certified Color Consultant, recognised by The Decorating and Staging Academy, the WCAA, CHF, RESA, and IRIS.

As an interior decorating professional I have the responsibility to keep my clients current on the trends happening within the industry. People are intimidated by color but are desperate to have it in their homes. This training will enable me to bring the latest techniques and trends to my clients.

Traditional interior design can take a alot of time and money. Adding the right color to a space can give you instant gratification for a fraction of the cost. Check out my website for services and pricing or call me at 704-517-6653. If you want a room that is transformed for a price tag you can afford call today for a Color Consultation and get a free Personal Color Palette.

Happy Thanksgiving

There is no better time than now!

SEASONAL STAGING SUGGESTIONS


There is no better time to have your home on the market than right now! What better time to show buyers how warm and wonderful your home is than when the holidays are approaching?

My experience tells me the buyers that are out looking now are serious. The first-time homebuyer tax credit has been extended so get ready to put your best foot forward, I expect the next 2 months to be more active than normal for this time of year.

Staging is an art, you need a well thought out plan to make the most of each space and to enable the plan to be implemented in a timely fashion. It is alot of work, but it is very doable and well worth the time and money invested.

You can do all of it yourself or choose what you want to complete and hire us to do the rest. We offer services that run the gamut, from a staging consultation that will give you a thorough staging plan and will guide you through the process so you can DIY to completing the entire project for A-Z for you.

Here are few insider tips for seasonal staging.

Welcome them home! Set a scene that invites them to enter and entices them to fall in love with the life that living in your home offers. Start at the front door.

• Put up a tasteful seasonal wreath on the door. If the old family favorite that Aunt Mable made is looking worn or needs updating, get a new one. My favorite is something made with fresh greens, local florists can make up something beautiful and that smells delightful. Sight and scent are very powerful.

• Make sure that the door itself looks good. Check the paint, does it need to be freshened, perhaps even painted a more updated color? Are the knobs and kick plates in great condition? You want to send the message that yours is a very well cared for home.
  

• How about the knocker, does it have your name on it? If it does replace it. You want the buyer to be able to envision their family in your home, not yours.

• Check the trim, is it fresh? How about the siding, mailbox and concrete? How about the light fixtures? Are they on trend and in good condition? Make any necessary repairs now, first impressions are very important. While the agent is opening the lockbox to get the key the buyer will be inspecting the entire scene and forming an opinion. You want this to be the place the excitement starts so you build on that momentum.

• Is there some place to sit? A comfy seat with a pillow in it and a small table with a plant.

• Red is a color that gets us excited. I always try to flank the steps with something flowering in red, perhaps a pair healthy poinsettias or pots of pansies. Just make sure whatever you use is thriving.

• Get a new welcome mat, there are many that will work just keep if tasteful and neutral. Check the path to your porch, make sure it is manicured. Put out fresh mulch and trim the bushes.
  

Okay, you are off to the right start! The buyers will be excited and confident that your home has been loved and may be the one they are searching for. What happens once they enter the door will decide if that excitement turns into a contract or if instead something turns them off and they mark your home off their list.

Stay tuned, more tips coming.

Another Success Story! Sold in 36 Days!

I will get some winter staging and organizational tips posted in the next few days, I promise. Things are very busy right now and it is hard to find the time to proof read my articles, but that is a good thing.

My staged properties continue to sell well. This property was listed for a while and did not sell so when the seller relisted it she had it staged. Smart seller. The virtual tour went up on 12/3/2008 and it went under contract today, 1/8/2009. That is 36 days, counting the Christmas holiday slow down. Nothing shabby about that. Virtual tour forthcoming, until then here is a picture of the great room.