Home Staging and Redesign, Newnan, GA

Selling Your Home - It's A Process

2012-01-17T10:25:00.000-05:00

Once a decision is made to sell your home, there's a process involved. You make the decision, you start a list of task to complete, actual work begins to take place, emotions may arise and the roller coaster ride begins.

Decisions are made about where to move, what agent to use, how to price the property, etc. The decision to move may be due to a much anticipated opportunity such as job transfer, expecting a baby and needing more room or a promotion at work allowing you to purchase a dream home. Or it could be for a more unhappy event such as job loss, divorce, or death in the family. Empty nesters could qualify for happy or unhappy emotions. Either way, emotions are going to run amuck!

If you are a "list maker" you'll want to organize your thoughts, put your tasks to complete on paper and develop a time line about what's involved with the move. Whether you use pen and paper or digital sources such as computer or smart phone, this is a large part of the process. The is when "disassociation" from your home where you've built memories begins to happen. If you see it in black & white, you may start to believe that this is really going to happen. It's part of the process!

Get ready, this next stage is where the tasks start. This is the stage where everyone in the household needs to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Pre-packing, un-cluttering spaces, making repairs and cleaning like you've never cleaned before, must take place. Once all of this is complete, you then have the arduous task of maintaining this state until the house sells. Ugh! It's not easy, but if you want to sell the house, it's a necessary part of the.....process!

Emotions - this is the part of the process that will show up through-out all of the above stages. Emotions run high while deciding on a price to list, jump back on edge when you get a call to "show" the house. "Everyone pick - up! Their showing the house today! " Then you worry all day about what the buyer thought about your house. You call your Realtor only to find out that they haven't heard from the showing agent for feed- back. One of two things can happen at this point, either you will become excited due to an offer or disappointed from a low offer.

If you manage to work out a signed sales contract, you start the real packing and make moving arrangements, all the while keeping your fingers crossed about the appraisal, the buyers home inspection or that the buyers loan will go through without any complications. At the closing, a feeling of relief may be experienced or disappointment due the final sales price and proceeds to the seller.

Final part - taking that last look around the property once the last box is loaded into the moving truck to be sure you've left nothing behind and seeing the "ghosts" of past events that took place during your time spent in this home. I've done this a time or two in my life and I promise it can be a bitter/sweet moment. But...look ahead and anticipate your future

Life is an adventure! Enjoy the process!

Whew- I'm exhausted!

Pottery Barn Inspiration

2011-12-05T17:07:00.001-05:00

They say that Imitation is the best form of flattery and I hope that is true. I "Luv, Luv, Luv" the Pottery Barn Catalog. I tend to save them and refer to them for design and creative inspiration.

This Christmas season, I wanted to use a more "natural" decor theme in our holiday decorations. We live on wooded acreage and I have an abundance of natural resources in the way of pines, cedars and magnolias to "shop" and create one of a kind wreaths and floral arrangements.

{via Pottery Barn site}

Pottery Barn had this photo of a front entrance with Christmas decor and I found myself drawn to it. I "Luv" the natural elements but the pewter pitchers on that red front door really speak to me.

Years ago, my mother gave me some tarnished pewter wine goblets (we "luv" tarnished things) and I've never been able to find a use for them, so they've been packed away for about 10 years. Light Bulb moment!

Saturday, I shopped for greenery in the woods, and Sunday I made 2 front door hangings as our Christmas "Wreaths".

On the front of their Holiday Catalog, they have a stack of Holiday pillows tied with some red jute webbing, normally used for upholstering chairs. I ordered some last week and used it to make bows and as garland for our Christmas tree.

Close up

Front Door Pic

Now, I know that I need to replace the striped door mat or add another to create balance, but I'm EXTRA pleased with the results. The only thing I purchased was the jute webbing...I already had the rest. You know....Use What You Have Decorating....I practice what I preach.

I'd love to see what you're working on for Christmas! Want to share?

Target Market....What Does That Mean In Real Estate?

2011-10-13T16:24:00.000-04:00

As business owners, we are constantly hearing about target markets and how to direct our advertising towards attracting buyers for our goods or services. Information from survey results are compiled, reviewed and those results are then passed on to us. It's about appealing to the buyer of our products.

Knowing who our "target market" is while trying to sell a house is just as important to the home seller as it is to all these businesses that have products or services to sell.

As a home seller, this means that you are going to have to think about who your buyer will be when marketing your house. What age group are they? Are they empty nesters, new parents or families with teenagers? What will they expect to see when they come to view the property and will it be something that they desire?

Let's say your house is 15 years old. The kitchen appliances, cabinets, countertops and lighting is dated compared to what a buyer will see in an newer house. Your bathroom is 15 years old. The flooring, vanity and fixtures are dated compared to the competition.

Could your furniture be showing some wear and tear and look dated? Probably, but your thinking "A buyer is going to be purchasing our house, not our furniture. Why should that matter?"

It matters because, the "Target Market" for your property is probably around 30 to 40 years old, has a family that needs room to roam and if they see a house and the furniture looks like their parents or grandparents furniture, they can't get excited about making this their new home. They need to see that their young, hip style of life will work in a 15 year old house. I call this the "Pottery Barn" generation. This is a style of decorating that a 30ish age buyer likes and can relate too and they can't relate to a house that looks like their parents house.

Studies show, 90% of buyers cannot visualize the potential of a space with the current home owners taste and belongings. It shouldn't matter, but it does. However, if they visit a house that is 15 years old that has been updated through the years and has current style furnishings and accessories, they will get excited about it and most likely, this will be the house that they choose to purchase. This house was marketed with the "target market" (buyer) in mind.

House Hunting and Children's Story...What do they have in common?

2011-09-15T15:12:00.000-04:00

Remember the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears? One chair was too small, the next chair was too big and the last chair was JUST RIGHT! Buying a home is a lot like that.

For example, Mr. & Mrs. Buyer are relocating to another town with a job transfer. They have sold their previous property, have money for a down payment, closing cost, moving expenses and have the required amount of reserve money that the mortgage company has required for unexpected emergencies.

There are 3 houses on their list of houses to consider in the area where they want to live

House A: Fixer-Upper. Needs repairs, updating and an over-all "facelift", however, meets their needs as far as size, location and school district. It's going to require time, expense and expertise that Mr. & Mrs. Buyer doesn't have.

House B: Beautifully Decorated ! and located just down the street from House A, has been professionally decorated for the current home owner. The rooms have been painted and wallpapered in the home sellers favorite colors, the children's rooms have beautiful murals painted on the walls with princesses and favorite super heroes . The flooring, all though beautiful, is light in color and the buyers have 3 teenagers and 2 dogs. To make the house work for Mr. & Mrs. Buyers family, everything will need to be changed to go with their current furnishings and families needs. The house will need to be repainted, new flooring installed and the children's bedrooms will have to be changed to suit their teen age children. Again, another property that will require time and expense that The Buyers do not have.

House C: Properly Staged with a Buyer In Mind! It's in the same neighborhood as Houses A & B , it has been professionally prepared and showcased to appeal to a broader amount of buyers. The walls are freshly painted with neutral colors that will go with Mr. & Mrs. Buyers current furnishings, the flooring is family and pet friendly, everything from the countertops, to lighting and bathroom fixtures has been updated to current styles. The family can move right in and begin their life in a new town without having to do one thing to this house.

The message of this story is to understand that whether your house needs updating and repairing, or has been beautifully decorated and it should be in an issue of House Beautiful, they both require the same amount of work for a buyer to make it their own . Someone is going to have to spend time and money to make them ready for a buyer to move right in. If you CAN find a buyer that is willing to make the needed changes, the offer will be much lower than it would have cost you to make the changes yourself.

So, go ahead and save yourself the frustration of low ball offers or too much time on the market and make your property "JUST RIGHT" for a buyer.

Replacing And Updating

2011-08-25T16:45:00.000-04:00

How many times have agents heard this before?....

"I know my carpet, countertops and fixtures are dated and need replacing, but I'll just give the buyer credit for that. Anyway, how do I know that I will be making the right replacement choices for the next owner?"

Back in the good ole days, when real estate was selling like hot cakes, all that was required to attract a buyer was to have a clean and neat house. To say that real estate has changed over the last 4 years is an understatement. Now, we're all talking about "staging" and updating our houses in order to get them sold. As a seller, it's difficult to wrap your head around the fact that you may have to spend some money in order to sell your property. You're seeing dollars signs being subtracted from your bottom line.

If you are thinking this.... what do you think a buyer is thinking? If they see that light fixtures, carpet, etc need to be replaced, all they see are dollar signs rolling around in their head.

By the time a buyer has paid the down payment, closing cost and moving expenses, there usually isn't any money left to spend on updating a property. "However, the house down the street has a similar plan and it's already been updated......let buy that one! We can move right in"!

The days of "I'll just give them credit for the updates" are over. If you CAN find a buyer that is willing to make the changes, they are usually looking for a "good deal" and will make a low ball offer to compensate for the expenses of updating. The offer will be much lower than it would have cost you to make the changes yourself. You lose!

As for making the correct replacement choices.....talk to your agent or have a staging consultation to get the advice needed to make the right choice. A home staging consultation is usually around $150 - $275.

Why risk having your house sit on the market while other updated houses around you are selling?

For more information on updating your property, contact

Nan Johnston

Southern Staging & Redesign

nan@southern-staging.com

www.southern-staging.com

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Vacant Staging - How it works

2011-06-16T14:52:00.000-04:00

I get a great many inquiries about staging vacant houses and how it works. These inquiries can be either from real estate agents or home owners that have vacant property and are considering having the property staged so that it will show better.

Most people think that you just put a few pieces of furniture in a house and some hand towels in the bathrooms and that's all it's about. Well, it 's a good bit more than that.

It's usually a 4 step process starting with an initial consultation with a home staging professional reviewing the home, taking photos, drawing diagrams and taking measurements on every detail needed to complete the job. This is when budget and goals are discussed with the home owner.

Once the home owner decides to proceed, the professional consultant meets with a furniture rental company with which they have a good and reliable working relationship and design a plan. Then the pieces that best suits the home and the sellers budget are chosen. Most furniture rental companies require a 2-3 month minimum rental contract and the monthly rental fee is paid directly to the rental company

This is where most people think that the job ends ......not so. The day that the furniture is to arrive at the property, the consultant and their assistants meet the rental movers and direct where all of the pieces are to be placed. The consultant then starts adding tons of additional accessories in the form of bed linens, wall art, plants, trees, table decor, pillows, throws, light furniture, knick knacks and materials. These touches create the emotions, the feelings of the house and what turns the house into a home. This is where the professional home staging consultant shines, creating the emotional connection points that draws a buyer into a room so that they will linger a little bit longer and begin to start imagining this as their home. A monthly rental fee of the accessories is paid to the staging company.

A few days before the house is to close in escrow, the home stager meets the furniture rental company again and spends the day de-staging the home.

What all this boils down to in dollars in cents is a staging service fee, a monthly furniture and accessory rental fee. The cost is usually anywhere from 1/2 to 2% of the asking price and based on the size of the house and number of rooms that are to be staged.

This is usually the place where the owner suffers from sticker shock, but be reminded, *statistics show that homes that were on the market without staging, on average took 9 months to sell (across the country). Those same owners had their homes professionally staged and they sold, on average within 2 months. WOW! That's 9 months vs 2 months!

This is an investment in selling your house, not an expense. Making extra mortgage payments while the house sits on the market....that's and expense.

You may want to go over the formula below, to figure out if you can "afford" to stage or not;
Mortgage + expenses (utilities etc.) = Monthly expenses
Monthly expenses X 9 months (avg. time un-staged) = Cost to list house un-staged
Savings: Expenses X 7 months (average time on market reduced) – staging fee = Savings if you stage your house first!

Note: If you have a price reduction you can also add that into the loss you are taking by listing a property un-staged.

Let us help you sell your vacant property faster and for more money with professional home staging.

www.southern-staging.com 770-251-0608 home/office

*study conducted by Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)

No Lookers? Could it be technology?

2011-04-20T08:57:00.000-04:00

You've had your house on the market for months and have had a few showings and now.....nothing. What has happened?

Let's face it, technology has taken over the world. Facebook and Twitter are how the current generations are receiving their information. Most young buyers are being notified by phones, tablets and email, whenever there is a new listing available that meets their criteria. The first thing that they are going to do is look at the online photos.

To learn what others are seeing, go online and take a look at how the property is being viewed. Is there a virtual tour that takes too long to upload? It could be that there are photos, but is it possible that they need improvement, or there aren't enough photos for them to get excited about? If buyers don't see amazing images, they won't even put it on their list of properties to view. With over 90% of home buyers researching online before ever making an appointment to go view properties, having GREAT photos is crucial to driving buyer traffic to a listing.

If you are disappointed in the lack of showings for your listed property, talk with your agent. It could be that you need to update photos. You may want to consider consulting a home stager, before, to take every advantage of having your property in photo ready condition.

Don't let technology send your potential buyers down the street to the competition.

For more information of having a photo ready property, consult

Nan Johnston

Southern Staging & Redesign

www.southern-staging.com

Make Laundry Rooms Look Like A Fun Place To Be!

2011-04-03T11:52:00.000-04:00

I tell my clients to make their laundry rooms look like they are a fun place to be. These are some great inspiration photos for everyone....selling house or not.

Designs for Living: Cheerful Laundry Rooms

Houzz- Kitchen Design, Bathroom Design and More»

Browse by Space and Style- For Example:

Tropical Kitchen · Mediterranean Bathroom · Traditional Living Room · Eclectic Bedroom · Tropical Dining Room · Contemporary Homes · Modern Patio · Modern Landscaping ·

Make Rooms Pop With Spring Colors

2011-03-31T10:05:00.001-04:00

Check out HGTV's Idea site for great photos on the Hot Spring Colors.

HGTV Breakfast Room

Not the best colors on walls for selling. Bold colors reflect the home seller's taste and buyers know that "someone" is going to have to paint.

HGTV pink accessories

Better use of latest color trends when selling. Add the color in your accessories and they can move with you when you sell!

Another 'Use What You Have' Idea!

2011-03-24T14:27:00.000-04:00

A few years ago I need some shelving in one of the small bedrooms for kids toys, etc. The room is too small for a bed, dresser, chair and a free standing set of shelves, so hanging shelves was the way to go.

E (husband) had some old wooden water skies ( he used as a youngster) that were laying around, obviously not being used, since he had promoted to a fiber glass one. I decided to use these for my shelves and with the help of my nephews, Ham & Eggs (twins) we shopped for brackets and came home and installed them.

I think that turned out GREAT and everyone comments about my clever idea.

These storage jars are left over plastic mixed nut containers from BJ's. Aren't they just perfect for holding little cars, crayons and wooden puzzle pieces?

Now that "Ham & Eggs" are "too cool for Aunt Nan", this room has become my grandson's room.

Look at that cute little wooden "blue" fire truck that he built with his Cousin Josh. And my favorite items of all are ....

his cute 'lil' cowboy boots. LOVE IT! (singing)

This project reminds me of the skateboards that you see in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog. Only I would use metal L brackets to hang those up.

What kind of projects have you got spinning around in your head?

Put on your "Buying Eyes"

2011-02-04T17:32:00.000-05:00

It sounds like a song, doesn't it? However, every home seller needs to....put on their buying eyes. How do you do this?

Begin at the curb. If you were a buyer, what would you see? A nicely manicured lawn that looks as if it has been carefully tended or unruly flower beds, un-finished projects or children's toys scattered all over the lawn?

Now, walk through your front door. Most home owners seldom do this. Are there cobwebs all around the light fixtures and front door? Check the door bell ringer. It's often broken and most owners don't know it, because they never use the front door.

Once in the entrance area, what do you see as a "buyer"? Is every room that you can see from the front entrance, a different color? What grabs your attention? What gives a feeling of home?

Stand in the doorway of each room and ask yourself, how do you think a buyer will feel about this room? Will they be distracted by your collections, personal photos and decor? Is the room dark or light and bright? Will a buyer see dated furniture, fixtures and accessories? Neat and organized sellers are viewed as taking care of a home. The opposite is also true. Old and dated furnishings in a new home still make the home appear dated.

As a seller, it's easy to ask, why can't a buyer see beyond my furniture and possessions? The truth is that only 10% of buyers can see past current home owners decor and visualize what the space could be like for them. That means that 90% CAN NOT see beyond the owners decor and condition of the house. They CAN NOT imagine living in the space, because they are distracted by the sellers personal taste and belongings.

It is difficult for a seller to be objective about their own property. A good home stager can help a seller disassociate them from their home and see it from the eyes of a potential buyer. So, put on your "buying eyes" and let's get that house SOLD!

for more information about staging a home to sell, contact...

Nan Johnston

Southern Staging & Redesign

www.southern-staging.com

www.facebook.com/southern.staging

Price War and Beauty Contest

2010-12-09T17:28:00.001-05:00

The latest predictions of the upcoming housing market are bleak, to say the least! That being said, buyers are out there. How are you going to attract them to your house over the thousands of others on the market?

A well-priced, well-presented home will still attract buyers. Even in this troubled market, some houses in our area have sold quickly and at close to the asking price. If you are not the best looking house at the best price, you are going to have to wait to sell.

Every listing is in a price war and a beauty contest. Real Estate experts top two tips for selling a home in the current market: (1) price your home ten percent below market value; (2) hire professional stagers to maximize the first impression of the home to a potential buyer.

For more information about home staging and marketing real estate, contact
nan@southern-staging.com
770-251-0608 home office
Newnan, Georgia

Holiday Decorating When Selling Home

2010-11-21T17:24:00.002-05:00

The holidays are fast approaching. Often home sellers are unsure of how to decorate the house for the holidays while having their house on the market. Below are few tips on how to have the spirit of the season without undoing all the stagingthat has gone into preparing the house to sell.

• "Less is more" is the motto that one needs to follow while preparing a house to sell and the same applies to holiday decor. It may feel like you're being a scrooge by not displaying every item that you have or that the kids have made over the past 18 years, but are you willing to risk losing a potential buyer because they couldn't see past the holiday decorations?

• First impressions begin at the curb. Don't cover the architectural details. Wrapping the house in lights and using plastic and inflated yard ornaments can distract from the architectural details that a buyer needs to see. A simple wreath on the door, in keeping with the personality of the house (not the owners) is all that is needed.

• Tone down the size of the tree. In place of a large tree that can take up valuable real estate in a room, try a 4 foot table top version. You may decide that you like it better. Instead of using colored bulbs, opt for clear or white bulbs for your tree.

• Keep gifts under the tree to a minimum and use coordinating wrapping paper to give a cohesive look. Or hide the gifts under the beds or in a closet.

• The fireplace is a huge selling feature and does not need to be hidden with holiday decor. A simple wreath and poinsettias flanking the fireplace are all that is needed. If the kids want Santa to find their stockings, place one at the foot of each of their beds or wait until Christmas eve to place them on the mantle.

• Greeting cards can easily become clutter. Instead of displaying the greeting cards on the mantle or sideboard , etc. place them in a bowl or basket in your family room to enjoy while relaxing in the evening.

• If you absolutely have to display all your decorative items, remove an equal amount of "off season" accessories to keep the clutter to a minimum.

• If it's your turn to host the holiday party this year, see if it is possible to host holiday celebrations at a restaurant, banquet hall, or trade years with another family member this year to minimize the amount of punch bowls, serving platters, and other kitchen items that cannot be stored away. If your family gives you any trouble about this, then tell them you will need to move in with them while your house is on the market and I'll guarantee that they will be open to any alternative idea that you come up with.

For more information about Staging and Marketing a home...

www.southern-staging.com

770-251-0608 home/office

"How am I going to get rid of all this stuff?"

2010-10-26T07:08:00.001-04:00

This is the question that I most often hear when I meet with home staging clients and help them prepare their house to be in showing condition. Unless you are a minimalist, and most of us are not, we accumulate furniture, accessories, grandma's old antique clock, and children's out grown items. You name it, I've seen it in someone's, garage, closet or basement.

We hate to get rid of these possessions, but we don't use them any longer, and you hate to just throw them out. A yard sale is not an option due to time, energy or enthusiasm and you really hate to donate some thing's, when you know that you may be able to sell these things and put a little bit of "green" in your pocket.

One solution to this particular problem is to contact a consignment shop. Located in Historical Newnan, GA, next to Scott's Bookstore, you will find one of the most charming shops on the square. Owner Janet Elliott Cantrell will make it easy and take the take the drudgery out of selling your unneeded items in her shop, Encore Decor.

I sat down with Janet to ask her a few questions about how all of this works;

Who is your buyer or seller? My seller is someone needing to downsize or either they are remodeling or moving. The buyers are usually new home buyers, newlyweds, anyone furnishing 2nd homes at the beach, lake or mountains.

What are your best selling items? The best selling items, without question are the accessories and home decor. We sell a great many items as gifts for birthdays and weddings. Furniture usually involves return visits for measurements, etc. We offer gift registry for brides and also keep individual gift cards for our regular customer to include in the gift.

Where do you find your merchandise? 90% of our merchandise comes from consignors. I can either go see what they want to sell or they bring items to me at the shop. The shop was full when we first opened with consigner items. People would stop in when they were walking buy and ask what we were doing and they started bringing their treasures in for us to sell.

How does it work? commissions? etc. If someone has enough to warrant a personal visit to their home, I'll go and choose the higher quality items or they can bring things to the shop. It's helpful if the seller knows how much they want to net off of a piece. If I think that I can bring it back and sell it, we offer a 50/50 split between us and the consigner.

Give us a good example of comparing consignment shop purchases to regular retail. With consignment shop purchase you'll find unique items not found at retail stores, or the prices will be greatly reduced from anywhere to 1/3 to 1/2 of retail. And with consignment shop items, there's always a story behind every piece. In Newnan, people will make purchase on items just because it used to belong to someone special that they knew in the community.

How is this different than say, a flea market or yard sale? The main difference is the setting of the store, the way everything is displayed in an appealing manner, we're located in Historic Downtown Newnan and a lot of my customers are walking around our beautiful town and stop in to see us .....I wouldn't get near the traffic that I do if I were on Bullsboro or a busy road somewhere.

What are you looking for when you take on a consignment piece? Unique items that can either be updated with a fresh coat of paint or stain, one-of-a- kind pieces that you won't find in retail stores. We also have great local artist work in the shop. We are the exclusive shop in Newnan that offer one artist unique pencil renderings of Historical Newnan or Atlanta landmarks.

So the next time you either want to unload unwanted furniture or find that special piece at a fraction of what something would cost new, go see Janet at Encore Decor.

To see how you can furnish an entire room using consignment furniture and accessories, be sure to visit the:

Decorators Show House

November 20th

74 Jackson Street

Newnan, Ga 30263

Is It Expensive To Have Your House Staged?

2010-10-18T15:30:00.002-04:00

(Welcome Community Continued)

This is a question that I'm often asked when I tell someone about my work. The answer is... No....Home Staging doesn't have to be expensive. Below is a great example of staging a room to create an emotional connection for a buyer at a very low cost for the seller.

This charming ranch style home, located in the Welcome Community has been updated through-out the years. A few years before, the owner updated the bath with new light fixtures, vanity, toilet , spa tub/shower and new tile. In the before photo, the best features of the room were not highlighted.

By "shopping" the owners belongings and finding items that complement the character of the house (not the owner) we were able to create a warm inviting spa feeling in this bathroom. With the exception of the white shower curtain and silk flowers, this room was staged at no-cost to the seller. Look at what a difference it makes to the feel of the room, by adding just the right accessories to make a buyer linger longer in the space and imagine it being their bathroom.

2010-09-10T17:40:00.002-04:00

RECENT STAGING JOB IN THE WELCOME COMMUNITY
PART 1

This was one of the most enjoyable jobs that I've had in a while. This house belongs to friends of mine, that I've known most of my life. I drive by this house everyday and it's located in a great country setting with acreage, beautiful landscaping, barns and pasture. There is a great community spirit in this area and when the home owners called to have me come stage it, there was no hesitation on my part. They love antiques and have a great deal of collections and most of them are on display, as you can see in this before photo. Although having their belongings surround them makes this house their home, these smart homeowners knew that this style of decor would not appeal to everyone and knew that changes needed to be made.

Large rooms such as this, can be intimidating for a buyer to imagine how to decorate and arrange furniture. Once most of the furniture and extra accessories were removed, we set this room up with different sections. As you can see in the after photo, there is a entertainment area, a game table area and a reading nook, that would make a great place for a piano or music area. It's a family room in the truest since. Family members can all be in the same room, participating in different activities and still be together.

Reading Nook

Do you recognize any of the furniture in the after photo? (Hint: 4 chairs)

Stay tuned for my next blog on other rooms in this beautiful country house.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...My Latest Project

2010-07-28T17:50:00.001-04:00

In an effort to be "green", I decided to give these old director chairs a new life. I've had them about 8 or more years and they have had any where from red to black replacement canvas seats & backs.

After giving them a good sanding, and 2 coats of black paint, they are ready for another set of replacement canvas seats. Ordered them online from Lowe's (only $3.73 each) and picked them up from the store the next day. I could have picked them up the same day, but it's a long way from my house.

Finished product with green canvas seats. They look awesome. These were so inexpensive, I ordered some tan ones too. Only spent $31.93 for the 2 sets of replacement seats and about $3/can for paint (spray paint). WHO SAYS IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN?

Stay tuned to see where they will show up next!

The Benefits Of Home Staging

2010-06-14T12:40:00.001-04:00

Did you know that a home buyer will make a decision on a house within the first 10 seconds. In the blink of an eye, they will decide "This is the one" or "Let's move on to the next one".

There are so many houses on the market these days that not only must the house be attractive, cleaned and in excellent repair, it should be seductive. Buyers purchase houses based on emotions. Their buying a dream....a lifestyle. Most buyers can't see past a sellers personal items or decor style. Helping a buyer out by setting the stage can impact how they will feel in the home... an atmosphere is created that makes them want to linger longer in the space and imagine themselves living there.

Home staging is the process of making a home "buyer ready" so that it will appeal to the largest amount of buyers. It's not interior decorating but rather a process of de-cluttering, de-personalizing, utilizing a home sellers furnishings and accessories to highlight the best features of a room. It's about creating emotional connection between the buyer and the property.

Professionally staged homes:

• Help increase showings - most buyer traffic will come through a home within the first two weeks it's on the market than any other time period. This will be a sellers best audience and having the property ready to show and properly priced is key.

• Houses that have been professionally staged sell faster and for closer to asking price - according to surveyed Realtors, Home Staging is the second most valuable home improvement project to a seller when it comes to selling a home by return on investment.

• Doesn't cost a dime - according to the 2009 Home Gain Report, home staging has 586% return on investment. ($300 cost = $1780 price increase)

• Helps reduce a property’s time on the market - according to the National Association of Realtors the longer a property sits on the market the lower the sales price will be.

• A well staged home suggest a home that has been cared for and most buyers will pay more for a move-in ready house. Condition of the property will directly affect a buyers offer on a house.

Still unsure about the benefits of home staging? Call us a call and find out more. Having your house professionally staged can mean the difference between a house sitting on the market or selling faster and for top dollar.

Nan Johnston - Professional Home Staging Consultant

Southern Staging & Redesign

www.southern-staging.com

770-251-0608 home/office.

10 Ways To Make A Buyer Hate Your House!

2010-05-17T18:28:00.002-04:00

Did you know that a home buyer will make a decision on a house within the first 10 seconds?

Whether your house is on the market for sale or not, you'll want to avoid these problems:

1. Odors

Number one on the no-no list...house odors. If you have pets or smoke, your house may smell and you won't even notice it. Ask a friend or someone that will be brutally honest with you to give your house the ole sniff test. Don't get defensive when they tell you the truth. You do want to sell your house, right?

Often buyers with allergies will react to air fresheners. Use them carefully. My advice is to use the Biocide Systems Room Shocker to help eradicate odors. Cleaning or replacing carpet may also be necessary.

2 . Eager Pets
Some people are frightened or irritated by dogs that are greeting them at the car or door. I speak from experience. My two are always "happy" to greet someone. Although they are harmless, new guest sometimes won't get out of the car until we can get them under control. Of course they are "little angels" and obey all commands until we have quest, but when someone arrives, they lose their hearing. What's that all about?

If it's possible, remove pets from the house during a showing. If that's not possible, contain them in a crate for their own safety and out of respect for the potential buyers. Placing pets in a room or garage and then asking buyers not to open the door to that area is a bad idea. Would you buy a house you can't inspect?

3. Yucky Bathrooms
It's amazing to me how sellers don't see the grime in their own bathrooms. It's an instant turn off, so scrub them, paint them, buy a new shower curtain, rugs and towels. Make them shine. You either want to sell your home or not. This extra work is a must.

4. Dark Rooms
Do anything that you can to brighten up your space. Increase the bulb wattage in your lamps/light fixtures, remove dark heavy window treatments, repaint with lighter colors, clean the ceiling fixture globes, trim any landscaping that blocks natural light coming in from the windows. Also, clean the windows inside and out to let in as much natural light possible.
5. Wallpaper
Wallpaper, no matter how beautiful to you, is very taste specific and most buyers (even if they like wallpaper) will rarely like what you've chosen. Since your goal is to appeal to the largest pool of buyers, then removing it and replacing with paint is in your favor. Yes, it's a lot of work, but buyers know that and will deduct "points" in considering your house or even worse, may go to the next house that is move in ready. (This applies to borders as well)

6. Damp Basements
Damp basements have odors. It's a huge red flag to a buyer and they will automatically think that the foundation leaks! Be sure to check that any underground drains are not clogged, that the rain gutters are working and that the downspouts are diverting the rainwater away from the house. Most of the time the dampness will be due to one of these problems.

7. Bugs
Get rid of them! Knock down the spider webs, exterminate for roaches, ants, etc. It's that simple.

8. Bad Curb Appeal
You never have a second chance to make a great first impression. Heard that before? Well, it's the truth! If you want to sell your house, you have to get the buyer through the door. If your yard is unkempt or you have peeling paint, they might refuse to even get out of the car.

9. Full Gutters (with plants growing in them)
Really? Do I even have to explain this one? Remember the drainage problems in # 6? If you have plants in your gutters, a buyer will wonder what else you haven't maintained. Clean the gutters!

10. Sellers That Stay For Showings
Yes, your house is special. You've put a lot of special features in to it and want to be sure that the buyer knows all the fine points of your house. Leave the house when it's being shown. A buyer needs to be comfortable opening your closets and cabinets. They need to be able to linger in the space long enough to imagine themselves living there. If your hanging around, they will feel uncomfortable making comments and feel rushed to leave. Not a good selling tactic.

If your selling by owner, give them some space and don't hover around.

In Summary
Most of these issues can be corrected without a great expense. Before your house gains the reputation as the house with the loud wallpaper or the house that smells, these problems need to be solved. You want agents to show your house. There are a lot of houses out there for them to sell and you want yours on the buyers list, right?

Give us a call for a home staging consultation. It's very affordable and you can DIY the work yourself or hire us to help you out.
Contact us at http://www.southern-staging.com/
770-251-0608 home/office
770-301-4786 cell

3 Great Products For Your Home

2010-04-07T07:57:00.001-04:00

1. It's that time of year again... the sun is out and the weather is warmer and that means.....CARPENTER BEES at my house. If you have ever had these attack your house every spring, you will know what I mean. If you ever go to someone's house that has cedar siding, and they have a badminton bat or tennis racket sitting on their porch or by their back door, they have battled carpenter bees. I guess the thought process is that they can swat at them and they will go away....they don't. A friend of mine has a house with cedar siding and there are stones, buttons, and no telling what else stuck all over the outside of the house. Sure sign that they have carpenter bees.

Other than buttons in the holes all over ones house, the signs of Carpenter Bee Infestations are half-inch, round holes and piles of sawdust underneath. If you are near a nest, you will likely be buzzed by the male carpenter bee, on guard. He is loud and aggressive, but he does not have the ability to sting you. The female can sting but she is normally very docile. A single pair (male and female) occupies each nest. It is not uncommon to find several pair of carpenter bees nesting in one structure. They frequently nest near each other and often in the same area year after year, causing extensive damage. You may find old holes near newer ones. Sometimes the female will renovate an old nest gallery and reuse it.

I have done extensive research on ridding our house of these pest and have found that there is not just one thing that will control them, but a process of several different treatments for the male, female and eggs in the nest. It's the best thing that we have used yet. You may want to give it a try if you are plagued with these busy bees.

Check out this site for more information and to order the carpenter bee kit. It has worked for us and my husband recommends it to anyone....that will listen.

If you are having the exterior of your house painted, there is an additive that you can add that will also start the process, but you will still have to complete the rest of the steps to keep them at bay.

2. HARDWOOD FLOORING

Caring for hardwood floors as never been simpler, however I find that everyone has a different way. Here's a good site that explains the best way to care for your hardwood floors.

As for cleaning them, I prefer to use Bona Pro cleaning products. I learned about this product from the nice fellows at Kemps Dalton West Newnan. I've been dealing with this business for over 20 years and cannot say enough good things about them. We have used them for flooring for our rental properties to our own home and no matter how small or large the job, they always make me feel welcome and as if I'm the only customer that they have in the store at the time. They are always courteous, patient and extremely knowledgeable about flooring. Stop by and see them for your flooring needs. You can't go wrong with their great service and products.

3. Removing Odors

Nothing can be worse than lingering odors in the home. Whether it is from cooking, pets, or mildew and mold in the home, the smell can be very offensive to both you and your guests. Commercials and magazine ads will try to convince you that their candles, spray, or plug-in device will remove the offensive odors, but they do very little and mainly cover up the smell.

One of the best products that I have found in eliminating odors is a product called Room Shocker Quick Release from Biocides Systems.

Recently we had a rental property and discovered that tenant that had just vacated the house, was a smoker. Cleaning the house from top to bottom and a fresh coat of paint helped remove the smoke odor some, but as soon as it started raining, the damp air must have "revved it back up again" and you could smell it in the HVAC system. Even changing the filters and vacuuming out the vents didn't help. The Room Shocker Quick Release was the only thing that worked.

They claim to wipe out stinky odors such as smoke, mold, pet, food and even skunk odors. Now I've never had a problem with skunks coming inside my home, but there is a first time for everything and now I know what I can use if this should ever occur.

They even offer a product to remove odors from your pets. I probably should by stock in this company, because I could keep them in business.

If you have an odor problem in your home, car, boat or camper, this may be the product for you.

Well, there you have it. If you should have any of these problems, give these products a try and let me know how they worked for you.

Southern Staging & Redesign

Professional Home Stager

servicing

Newnan, South Atlanta, Fayetteville, Fairburn, College Park, Tyrone, Peachtree City and LaGrange, Georgia

We Turn A Sellers House Into A Buyers Home

Before & After of Investment Property

2010-02-25T09:08:00.017-05:00

Although this investment property had recently had the hardwood floors refinished and had been freshly painted throughout, it still needed some "fluffing" to make it more appealing.

By just adding a few furnishings and accessories, a potential tenant can judge the size of the rooms, and get an idea of how to place their belongings in the space.

Which room would you be more excited about moving into?

Southern Staging & Redesign

770-251-0608 home/office

nan@southern-staging.com

www.southern-staging.com

Use What You Have Decorating

2010-02-24T17:59:00.003-05:00

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

2010-01-21T08:55:00.003-05:00

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

2009-10-21T10:07:00.006-04:00

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

2009-10-14T16:13:00.007-04:00

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!

2009-09-23T14:07:00.007-04:00

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?

2009-08-13T13:55:00.015-04:00

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?

2009-07-27T11:04:00.003-04:00

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

2009-06-05T15:27:00.001-04:00

I recently posted a new blog about vacant home staging. Check it out: www.southern-staging.blogspot.com

Vacant Staging - How it works

2009-06-02T16:49:00.008-04:00

Most people think that you just put a few pieces of furniture in a house and some hand towels in the bathrooms and that's all it's about. Well, it 's a good bit more than that.

It's usually a 4 step process starting with an initial consultation with a home staging professional reviewing the home, taking photos, drawing diagrams and taking measurements on every detail needed to complete the job. This is when budget and goals are discussed with the home owner.

Once the home owner decides to proceed, the professional consultant meets with a furniture rental company with which they have a good and reliable working relationship and often receive a discount that they can pass onto their client. Then the pieces that best suits the home and the sellers budget are chosen. Most furniture rental companies require a 2-3 month minimum rental contract and the monthly rental fee is paid directly to the rental company

This is where most people think that the job ends ......not so. The day that the furniture is to arrive at the property, the consultant and their assistants meet the rental movers and direct where all of the pieces are to be placed. The consultant then starts adding tons of additional accessories in the form of bed linens, wall art, plants, trees, table decor, pillows, throws, light furniture, knick knacks and materials. These touches create the emotion, the feelings of the house and what turns the house into a home. This is where the professional home staging consultant shines, creating the emotional connection points that draws a buyer into a room so that they will linger a little bit longer and begin to start imagining this as their home. A monthly rental fee of the accessories is paid to the staging company.

A few days before the house is to close in escrow, the home stager meets the furniture rental company again and spends the day de-staging the home.

What all this boils down to in dollars & cents is a staging service fee, a monthly furniture rental fee and an monthly accessory rental fee. The cost is usually anywhere from 1/2 to 2% of the asking price and based on the size of the house and number of rooms that are to be staged.

This is usually the place where the owner suffers from sticker shock, but be reminded, statistics show that a vacant home takes twice as long to sell than a furnished home and we all know that in this real estate market, that can be a long time. This is an investment in selling your house, not an expense. Making extra mortgage payments while the house sits on the market....that's and expense.

Let us help you sell your vacant property faster and for more money with professional home staging.

www.southern-staging.com 770-251-0608 home/office

Benjamin Moore Paint Workshop

2009-04-30T10:24:00.009-04:00

I've just returned from a paint workshop at Gregory's Paint & Flooring in Duluth, Ga. and let me tell you... paint is changing!

Rebecca Dumas, a design consultant and owner of this fantastic establishment was full of knowledge about the new LOW-VOC and NO-VOC paints available by Benjamin Moore. I tried to take notes and want to pass along some of what I learned for your use in updating your homes.

1. The first paint that she introduced us to, was Aura Waterbourne Interior Paint. They say it's "quite simply the finest paint we've ever made." More customers are asking for "GREEN" products in their environment and this one is their top of the line. It's LOW-VOC (volatile organic compounds ) for environmental protection, low odor, mildew resistance and fully washable in ANY SHEEN! "Ben" developed a collection of 144 hues that harmonize with one another. In other words, we can choose any 3 colors in the paint deck and they will work together. WOW!

2. The second paint that Rebecca introduced us too was called Natura, an interior waterbourne paint. This paint offers the "green promise" meeting the strictest industry standards. It is NO-VOC both in base and colorants and they offer over 3,000 gorgeous colors. If your family has sensitivity to paint odors, this is the way to go. I did not know that paint is considered low or no voc until the tint is added. The tints added to produce the colors is not low/no voc. Most companies promise low/no voc's however once the colorant is added, that promise is not quite so true.

3. The other two products that she discussed was their Regal and Super Spec products that are their mainstays. The Regal is "scrub-able" in any finish and the Super Spec is their contractor line.

Rebecca educated us on their Metallic products and how and when to use these as well as some of her favorite colors that are tried and true every time she uses them. We talked about neutrals, the best shades of green, blues, reds, browns, yellows and whites.

She did say that the trend now is to "de-gold" the paint color choices and choose more muted earth tone colors. It must have something to do with the "going green" wave that the public is going toward.

Let me tell you, it's a long way to the Johns Creek, Georgia area, but it was worth the drive to receive this information that I can share with you. Give me a call and let's set up a consultation to update your space. I have new knowledge and I'm ready to share.

Call and arrange your re-design consultation now!

Southern Staging & Redesign
770-251-0608 home/office
770-301-4786 cell

Good News, Bad News

2009-04-09T17:56:00.005-04:00

Good News: Spring is here! The flowering trees are gorgeous and the birds are building nest for their babies.

Bad News: The pollen is intense and the birds often build their nest in areas where their not welcome, such as at the front door or in the garage.

We have to take the bad with the good, don't we?

When you begin the process of placing your house on the market, you have to take the bad with the good. The house will be listed and marketed by a professional agent that you chose to suit your needs, however you have to start working to get the house ready. And let me tell you, it can be a daunting task.

Staging your house to sell is more than just cleaning and de-cluttering, although that is a huge part of preparation. Its about being "cut to the chase" honest with yourself and making the decision to edit the things in your space that make it feel like home.

Once you decide to sell the house, it stops being your home. It becomes a commodity that you are selling and you have to make it as appealing as possible to attract a larger pool of buyers. That means removing personal photos, changing that themed "Star Wars" bedroom to a more neutral palette and hiding the daily signs of everyday life in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry rooms. It means that the furniture will need to be re-arranged to show off the selling features of the room, not leaving it where it is because it works for you.

Having a third person come in (professional home staging consultant) and look at your space objectively is more affordable than one would think. Most staging companies offer a variety of services at different price points for potential clients. Most consultants offer a "walk n talk" consultation beginning at $150.oo and the home owners do the work themselves, or they can hire the consultant to do the work for 1/2 day, full day or what ever it takes to make the house marketable. Consultants can take the home sellers accessory's and arrange them so that once a buyer walks in the room, there will be an emotional connection. This is often a skill that the average home owner doesn't have because it is so difficult to disassociate themselves from the home where they have built memories.

It is well worth the investment to hire the services of a home staging consultant to help you with the preparation of your home. Why wouldn't a home seller want to increase the chances of selling their house by making such and investment?

Staging Your Home is an Investment, Not an Expense

2009-03-30T08:11:00.009-04:00

You've decided to place your house on the market to sell and you know it needs some updating, but you think that the buyer will come in and make allowances for the changes that it needs. You may be leery of spending money on Home Staging or updating. You may think that the buyer will want to choose their own fixtures and colors, so you'll leave the property as it is.

As an experienced retired realtor, I know from personal experience that it is difficult for a buyer to visualize making changes to a home or look past the home owners personal taste and belongings. If they are able to see past the changes needed, they expect to purchase at a reduced price and usually the offer is significantly lower than the actual work would have cost the seller.

You must look at the money you spend on staging your home as an investment that will pay off in the selling price. There are no guarantees that staging will sell your home quicker and for more money, in the market that we are experiencing now, but it certainly gives you an edge over the competition.

Here are a few statistics to consider:

Over 80% of buyers start their search for a new home on the internet
Staging your home before the pictures are taken for the MLS shows your home at its best. If a buyer is not impressed with your home, they will move on to the next listing and you will have fewer showings and more days on the market. We all know that there's not a shortage of homes for a buyer to consider. Why send them down the street?

Staged Homes sell quicker than un-staged homes
The longer your home sits on the market, the longer you will have the carrying cost of your home; mortgage, insurance, utilities. The National Association of Realtors survey found that the longer a home stays on the market, the further below list price it drops. The Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) study shows occupied homes that are staged, listed and sold, spend 89% less time on the market than and un-staged home. Vacant homes that have been staged, listed and sold spend 85% less time on the market than an un-staged home.

Only 10%of buyers can visualize how a room would look furnished and accessorized
This is most important for vacant homes. If your home doesn't feel inviting and looks too small or too big for the buyer's furniture, they will not see the potential of the home and move on to the next one. Whenever I used to show vacant houses to a buyer, they would never stay in a room long enough to become emotionally connected. Sometimes they would only stick their head in the door of a room and walk away, without ever taking the time to linger and imagine their family in the space. You want them to imagine their family enjoying the fireplace or having breakfast every morning at the breakfast bar. If you don't have anything for them to connect with, you lose the potential to sell.

Staging your home saves you money by reducing loss due to extended time on the market, carrying costs and eventual price reductions. Even if you decide to do it yourself - staging is worth the time and the money.

If you find the task more than you can wrap your head around, give me a call and let's discuss the service that will benefit you the most. Check out my website to see some before and after photos.

Go Green...Use What You Have

2009-02-17T08:48:00.006-05:00

Everyone is going green or at least talking about it, but how can you be "green" in decorating? Use what you already own.

Who has the luxury of throwing out all of their furnishings and accessories and starting all over? In this economy, not many people. We may be able to afford an occasional new piece of furniture or new accessory that we bought on sale somewhere, but how do we make it blend in with our old stuff?

That's when having a re-designer come in and offer suggestions, really pays off. For about $75 - $150 per hour, you can have someone come in and look at your space with a fresh perspective. They're able to see things that you haven't even thought about, because you live there and once you have your space set up a certain way, it's difficult to imagine it any other way. A re-designer can even go into the attic or basement and use pieces that you forgot about and you'll think "why didn't I think of that"?

Repurposing items is another way to use what you have. Perhaps that old toothbrush holder would make a great little flower vase for daffodils....it already has holes in it and you don't have to worry about arranging them. How about that old bar/table that used to be your grandmothers? I'll bet it would make a great "entertainment" console for the T.V. and components. It's a great way to incorporate the modern conveniences of today with the sentimental pieces of your decor.

At Southern Staging & Redesign, working with what home owners already have is a specialty of ours. Give us a call. You'll be surprised at what a difference a few hours can make.

2009-01-27T16:56:00.007-05:00

Beautiful "Cover" Girls

You have surely thought it before - "to slipcover or not to slipcover - that is the question." It doesn't have quite the ring of Shakespeare to it, but you get the idea. Do you cover your existing sofa with a slipcover, or do you just go out and buy a new one? This might be especially important if you are staging your home for resale - does your furniture look good enough to "show?"

A couple of items to think about before making your decision:

1. Does the piece you want to recover need a new look?

2. Is the frame of the piece still in good shape?

3. Is the item you would like to recover a favorite piece of furniture?

4. OR - is the item a perfect size and shape for a particular spot in your home? If you answered yes to these questions, a slipcover might just be your answer.

And don't limit yourself to just upholstered pieces - slipcovers are a great idea for hardwood and metal chairs as well - an easy way to get a whole new look and feel for a room.

Custom made and fit slipcovers are not inexpensive - consider the amount of fabric and the labor involved - but they serve a multitude of functions and will be well worth your investment. A slipcover can actually increase the longevity of your initial purchase - the sofa or chair you are covering - by protecting your piece from every day wear and tear. Think of all the kids, feet, pets and spills that end up on your sofa - now they can end up on your slipcover - and then easily into the washing machine!

Slipcovers 101

(photo of chair before)

Fabric

Not all fabrics make a great slipcover. Consider the objective of your slipcover - are you going for a "look" or a protective piece? You have a lot more flexibility when you are just trying to achieve a certain look - basically any woven fabric could work. If you are looking for something to withstand the neighborhood kids, choose a close weave fabric like duck, poplin or denim.

Style

As is the case in so many items of design, details make the difference. After you determine the look and feel that you are trying to achieve, then begin to design the slipcover. Think of your favorite clothing - you are dressing a chair, much like you would dress a body. Do you want fun and flirty? Maybe the "skirt" of the chair - the fabric that falls below the seat - will be gathered will lots of fullness. Do you want tailored and sophisticated? How about a "body" - the chair itself - with crisp lines and cording, and a skirt with box pleats accented with buttons. With dressmaker details - knife pleats, ruffling, gathers, crisp bows, covered buttons, or tassels - your slipcover can be as varied as your personality!

Fabrication

Anytime you are about to embark on a custom made piece, do your research. At Southern Staging and Redesign we can help you with your project. And while we're talking about fabrication - don't forget that fabric can be used just about anywhere - so use that creativity! A summer casual fabric over chairs in a formal dark dining room can lighten up a look for summer.

Slipcovers over your existing pillows work for a quick change. And fabric covers and skirts for tables - even coffee tables! - are a good way to add texture and color to your existing pieces. So make a change and bring some "cover" girls into your home - you'll be glad you did!

(photo of chair after slipcover)

Photos courtesy of Todo es Slipcovers

Happy New Year

2009-01-03T13:26:00.012-05:00

It's time to pack up the Christmas and Holiday decorations, get organized and live in a less cluttered environment. While you are putting away your decorations, consider going through them and culling out the ones that you haven't used or put out in a few years.

If your house was on the market during the holidays, this is an excellent time to start packing for your move. Go through and ask yourself if you have used them over the last few years and if not, get rid of them to show off the "great storage" space that your home has to offer a potential buyer.

Donate decorations to local charities so that others may enjoy them over the next years. If you have been saving your adult children's "special" ornaments over the years, it's time to let them have the decorations for their homes and families.

My sister, who is great at cleaning out her closets, basement and such, suggest creating a memory box. Each member only gets one box and once your box is full, you have to get rid of something before you can add anymore "memories".

So, push up your sleeves and get in there and start organizing and de-cluttering. You'll be so proud of yourself when you see how much easier it is to get to the decorations next year.

Talk later,
Nan

P.S. Why is it so hard to get motivated to un-decorate the house for the Holidays than it is to decorate it?

Agent Open House - Feel Home

2008-10-23T10:33:00.004-04:00

I have the fortunate privilege of being able to attend Wednesday’s Agent Open House most every week. This is when the different offices around our county pile up agents in several cars and go tour the new and sometimes not so new listings. Most of the time a snack or food is offered and very often a door prize or two is offered. This is supposed to entice the agents to come and view these houses and I have to say, it works.

What surprises me is that with all the shows on A & E, HGTV and info about home staging and selling a house in a challenging market, that more homeowners leave their home in “live in” condition, than not. The family photos, collections, personal beauty products, even litter boxes and trash cans remain out for all the world to see.

As a professional home stager I believe that successful staging is the art of using marketing and decorating to create an environment that buyers can aspire to….”If I buy this house, I can live like this”. Home Stagers use the art of positioning to create several emotional connection points throughout the home so that when a buyer steps into the house they “feel home.” Not like they are in your home.

Here are a combination of eight things that are analyzed in each room to create a lasting impression for the home buyer.

First Impressions - Room by room, we will walk through and take note of our first impressions,what grabs us, what glares at us and what gives to us a feeling of home?

Eliminating Clutter - The packing starts now as we pack away a good percentage of everything in the room in order to create a more clean, open and spacious feel.

Emphasize The Positive – While Downplaying the Negative - Finding your beautiful focal points, we will emphasize what we love about the room and hide or distract the negative aspects of the rooms.

Lighten Up - Focusing on lighting and color, we will make each room into a bright, warm and inviting space that buyers can respond to.

Home Buyers Appeal - In order for a buyer to “feel home” they need not be reminded of this being your home. We’ll depersonalize the space while retaining the warmth and fun of photos.

Odor Free/Cleaning/Repairs - The dirty work speaks for itself but is many times overlooked because you’ve lived here for so long. Let’s get rid of the buyer’s mental “repair list” by doing it
ourselves.

Modernizing - Updating your style and building simple accessories out of what you already have to create clean lines and form. In some cases, we’ll recommend purchases as valuable
“investments” in the staging process.

“Emotional Connection Points” - Creating the “Wow Factor”. This is the fun part and is a huge focus of our positioning strategy. We’ll show you how to build in these subtleties in order to make the buyers subconsciously desire to live here and “feel home”. The “emotional connection points” are where marketing strategy really comes in to play.

So, if you are a real estate agent with listings, send this to your home sellers. Encourage them to either do this work themselves or call Southern Staging & Redesign to help.

If you are a homeowner with your house on the market or contemplating listing your house for sale, give me a call, let’s discuss my services and choose one that benefits you the most.

Unless you really don’t want to sell…….

Five Reasons You Should Never Sell A Vacant Home

2008-08-16T13:58:00.006-04:00

By Nan Johnston of Southern Staging & Redesign

You can’t turn on the news or log onto the internet without hearing about how bad the real estate market is today. It can be very depressing, especially when you have your house on the market along with the many others available. Buyers have more homes to choose from now, than ever.
If you have a vacant home on the market or are contemplating selling your vacant home, consider the following reasons why you should never sell a vacant house.
1. People Don’t Buy Houses, They Buy Homes
Buyers purchase homes based on emotions. The number one reason a buyer purchases a home is because it “felt like home”. If the room is vacant it can feel cold and lonely. Once the home is professionally staged, it becomes warm and inviting. Bringing in just the right amount of furnishings and accessories can make the difference. Have you ever heard of an empty room being described as warm and inviting?

2. Without Furniture, There Is No Frame of Reference
What is this room? Is it a dining room or home office? How big is this room? Without furniture it can be difficult to tell the scale and size of a room. Empty rooms actually appear smaller than those with furniture. When the buyer does not have the answers to their questions…they walk away. Don’t keep a buyer guessing, it only distracts them from considering your home as a purchase.
3. When A Room is Kept Empty, Buyers Focus on Negative DetailsA crack in the wall or the chipped tile on the floor is much more noticeable when there is nothing else to look at. If a room is professionally staged, the positive features are highlighted and any flaws are de-emphasized. The buyer has an emotional connection with the room and will linger a little longer and start imagining their families enjoying this space.
4. Only 10% of Home Buyers Can Actually Visualize the Potential of a HomeMost buyers walking into your home have no imagination of the wonderful possibilities that is may have to offer them. They aren’t able to visualize there is enough room for their table and chairs.
They just can’t picture it. Are you willing to take the risk of losing a sale because there was no furniture and accessories to help a buyer visualize the remarkable potential that your home has to offer?
5. Paying For Two Mortgages Can Get Expensive
The fact is that a vacant home typically takes twice as long to sell and the longer it “sits” on the market the lower the sales price will be.* Why risk paying two mortgages only to have the sales price lower than it would have been if you had the home professionally staged?

Home Staging is about adding the minimum amount of furniture and accessories to highlight the best features of the home. It’s not about creating a “model home” environment. Furniture is added and arranged to emphasize the best features of the room, but that is just the beginning. Accessories are then added to create the emotional connection points, that keeps a home buyer in the space a little longer so that they start imagining their families enjoying all that the room has to offer.
Furniture and accessories are rented on a monthly basis, from the home staging firm. The fees are often based on square footage of the home or the listed price. The larger the home or higher the price, the more inventory needed to provide the correct look and most especially provide the correct “feeling”.
At Southern Staging & Redesign we are professionally trained at offering a vacant home staging service that is quick, affordable and focuses on building emotional marketing connections throughout the home, so that buyers will “FEEL HOME” when they walk through the front door.
Before you consider reducing your vacant house, consider having it staged by a Professionally Certified Home Staging Consultant. For more information about vacant home staging, call Nan Johnston at Southern Staging & Redesign or check out her website at http://www.southern-staging.com/ to see some before and after photos of a vacant home.770-251-0608

*according to NAR survey

Shake It Up Baby!

2008-02-03T14:04:00.000-05:00

A couple friends of ours are always having a gathering of sorts, that usually has a theme name and some décor and the same but diversified group of guests. We always enjoy our time with them and most of their friends, but you know how it is… you usually stand around and talk with the same people that you talked with at the last party and usually don’t find out anything new or get to know anyone else.

Well, all that stopped last night! We were invited to “A Soup Contest”. The theme being self explanatory, approximately 10 of the guest prepared and entered a crock pot full of soup with any condiments that may need to be added. Our host set out disposable shot glasses and all guests were to sample the soups and vote for their top 2 favorites. Every guest was asked to contribute to $5.00 to a pot for the winners. This was great fun and a wonderful way for us to interact with guests that we may not have, at a regular party. You could start a conversation by comparing the soups and talking about ingredients and then introducing yourself was only natural. I met several new acquaintances that I might not have gotten to know other wise.

I said all of that to get to this point. We all need to shake it up a little and do something different in order to receive different results. If we keep on going through life the same way, we can expect the same results. This can apply to our personal life or business life.

I met a future business client as well as some great new friends and learned a good lesson about life.

So…. shake it up baby!

Up the Game Of Selling Your Home

2008-01-26T12:24:00.002-05:00

In the struggling real estate market of today, it often takes a little extra enticement to sell a house. Home owners and real estate agents have to evaluate their options and "up the game" of selling and marketing a house. There is so much inventory on the market, that they have to wow a buyer from the front door. Your house needs to stand out among the many other houses on the market for sale.

Start by contacting a Professional Home Stager before you list your property for sale. As an HSR Home Staging Consultant with a real estate background of over 20 years, Nan Johnston of Southern Staging & Redesign works with home sellers in Newnan and surrounding areas of Georgia, by preparing their properties to compete in the real estate market by emphasizing the details and best features of a home.

Homes that have been decorated purely for the purpose of selling stand out against comparable properties and look great in web site photos. Hiring a staging consultant can make the difference between your home sitting on the market and becoming stale or selling faster and for more money. Spending $1000.00 to beautifully prepare your home to sell is a lot less than the usual $10,000 price reduction.

For more information go to http://www.southern-staging.com/.