Ana's Blog

BEHIND THE SCENES

Stagers wear many hats and one of them is as close to being a relationship counselor as it gets. Of course I am speaking about the relationship between a seller, their house and their "stuff".

We all know moving and selling a home can be very stressful and overwhelming. It's a letting go process for many. I have seen the look of relief on more than one face in the past as I arrived to do a consultation. 

Stress is a lot of little tiny things that eventually add up to a mountain.  That mountain is really just a little pile if you look at things in a simpler way. Sellers need a little help letting go, it's normal. We can speed up the letting go process and this has both emotional and financial benefits.

The polish and bling of a fully completed Staging job is the public face but what about what goes on behind the scenes?

One of the most important questions we should ask a client; "How much do you really need?"

This linen closet is one of 3 in a home with 3 bathrooms. Each bathroom had its own closet.

After some discussion and listening and understanding, this was the answer to the question.

We even found sets of sheets never opened ready for use when the seller sets up their new place! 

This behind the scenes example won't make the MLS and it won't be on a brochure but it will impress a potential buyer.  It's an important part of the selling package. What's backstage at your place?

AccentPositives provides effective and economical Home Staging consultations on sight and online.  We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.  Call 951 833 8529.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

It's funny as you get on in years, the things that you would roll your eyes about when younger start making sense.  Have you ever caught yourself sounding like your mother?  Something many of us swore would never happen right?

I have four very great kids, healthy, happy and yes deprived.  Some of their friends have every known electronic, toy or gadget known to exist.  The latest, greatest and newest.  They wear the latest, greatest and newest. We are way behind in our neighborhood.  Why just last year we purchased a play station! No we don't have a Wi!

Just like the kids in our neighborhood, the real estate landscape around my area became inundated with every bell and whistle a homeowner could want.  Unchecked refinancing, low interest rates and inflated property values fueled this consumption to excess.  Hummers and spanking new RVs became visible on every block for a time.  Boats, new pool construction and loft room addtitions were the rage.  You couldn't pay a contractor enough to answer your calls, show up for appointments on time or treat you semi respectfully on a job.

So I have a friend who is a buyer's agent.  She has allowed me to tag along with her as an "assistant" when showing homes to clients.  I felt this would be another education in seeing what buyer's expectations are out there, especially now in this market.  What an education!

High expectations they are, even for first time home buyers.  In an era of HGTV and FLN, many people absolutely believe a house is a dump unless it has certain amenities that were once considered high end. Hardwoods, granite, fancy moldings and high end appliances.  Yes they want it all. They want it all and now they want if for nothing...because they can.

The cycle of a buyer's market and a seller's market has always been a given.  But now it has become an especially vicious buyer's market in my opinion. 

In Staging this has created many high expectations also.  Recommending ROI improvements and advice on correcting "design" flaws are a large part of Staging Consultations.  It isn't just about presenting a pleasing livable space, it has to WOW the folks.  The wowier the better.

What ever happened to the the good old buyer that was looking for maintained, clean, spacious and in a good school district?  Big yard not good enough, must have BBQ from heaven and rock pool.

This may sound like a rant longing for the good ole days but it's not really.  What it is is a lament on how spoiled, superficial and materialistic we are and why things are headed down the economic roads they are.

 I don't mean we shouldn't want better things or more things but it's like people now view it as a right, a given and they are being cheated or deprived if they don't get what they want right now. Like children.

So I am back where I started this.  With my children.  My kids have offered to sell their play station and other stuff if mommy and daddy don't have money to pay for their house.  Everyday they walk past houses in our neighborhood, houses where their friends lived, that have bank owned notices in the windows.

Maybe just maybe we can teach them that there is a better form of high expectations; human kindness, empathy and responsiblility.

AccentPositives provides effective and economical Home Staging consultations on site and online.  We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire area of Southern California. Call 951 833 8529.

DOES THE HOUSE COME WITH THE TV?

Today the average American home has more TVs than people.  Over half of all homes have at least 3 or more sets.  Even in homes of families considered below the poverty line, televisions are plentiful. 

Big screen, flat screen, everywhere a screen screen.  Those dang outlets are everywhere and such an eyesore when trying to present a property for sale.  Not to mention the sets themselves. 

Not everyone who buys a set takes into consideration how it looks and where it will look and fit best.  They wing it and many times end up with something too large for the space or too awkwardly shaped to fit against the wall leaving an eyesore of exposed cables and wires.

TVs are even being substituted for or presented as art.  I guess that's ok, I am not really of that mind but they certainly are more stylish than they used to be. 

You will see them over fireplaces like this.  Many times they are placed too high, a common mistake made with art pieces also.  You need to crane your neck to view the screen.  I am not a fan of this placement, as in this photo, I think it takes away from the lovely fireplace.  

I think the TV would look nicer in the big empty hole to the left.  If a TV is to be wall mounted, mount it as art at eye level. As a seller, I would want to have the prospective buyer notice the beautiful stonework that stays with the house, not the cool TV.

How many homes have you been in where the very first thing you see is the TV?   Funny how house hunters are put off by this but have the same going on in their own homes most likely. I always tell sellers to pack em up, all but one.  The horrified expressions are mind boggling.  It's like you may have told someone to pack grandma off to the old folks home. TVs in bedrooms and bathrooms detract and are huge dust collectors.

Buyers do like to be able to visualize where their set or sets will go though. If the spot where the set sits is awkward and cumbersome, consider moving the outlet to an area that makes more sense.  Builders choices and prior owners choices don't always make sense.  Moving an outlet is not a huge cost. 

The local cable company charges $19.95 to move an outlet to another wall or room and will put it on the regular cable bill.   A small price to pay for better flow and function.   The whole look and balance of a room could change on simply moving one outlet. this applys to lighting as well.

Many times it is hard to talk a client into these small but effective changes but it is worth the effort and result.  As a seller, you don't want the buyer wondering if the house or your TVs are for sale!

AccentPositives provides effective and economical Home Staging consultations on sight and online.  We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.  Call 951 833 8529.

THE COLOR PURPLE

The color purple is really hot now days.  Yes it is.  It's splashed all over the design magazines and TV  shows, it's the "it" color at this very moment. Purple has always been by oldest daughter's favorite color.

Now I am not afraid of color and never have been.  Bright reds, greens of all shades I can work with and it will not look like a Christmas scheme.  I love the challenge of making bold colors work in spaces.  I never feel the urge to plaster or cover everything in whites, tans and beiges, never have.  When I enter a home on a Consult I make every possible effort to work with the existing color scheme unless it is very dirty or dingy and not salvagable.

I must confess that Purple and Pink scare the living daylights out of me. They take me back to many former house hunts where I ran across the purple and mauve color scheme.  This color would cower me in fright and indecision.  I absolutely hated it and was very vocal about it to anyone who would listen. When I think purple, I think Barney The Dinosaur.....yea let's not go there!

Recently though, I have seen some really exceptional use of the color purple in Staging.  It gives me pause and makes me think there is hope for me yet.  I just need to get over it and take the plunge. So I thought it would be really great to see some examples from any fellow Stagers out there who are using this color and how.  I recently saw a blog where the color purple was worked in through dining room chairs.  Absolutely beautiful. 

So it is my hope that any of you fine Stagers out there that are using this very trendy color will post some of your examples to inspire those like me who are chicken.  Either Redesign or Staging examples would be great.  Also, I would like to know if this color is getting good reviews from clients both Redesign and Staging.

Happy fun and safe Halloween!

AccentPositives provides economical and effective Home Staging Consultations.  We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire Area of Southern California. Call 951 833 8529.

MLS DESCRIPTIONS...WHAT DO THEY REALLY MEAN? 

This morning I listened to a very amusing talk on the radio about a NABA piece released discussing the disconnect between the reality a buyer sees and MLS descriptions used to market homes. 

Take the description "COZY", you may have heard the old joke the house is so small you have to go outside to change your mind! 

This brought to mind the descriptions I read when house hunting and what I actually saw after crossing the threshold.  A buyer's agent I worked with on a house hunt many years ago joked with me about this after going into the 4th or 5th house with mauve carpet and pink counters.  Whenever we saw a description that read "custom" or "tastefully decorated" we would both roll our eyes and chuckle a bit.      

FOR THE GARDENING ENTHUSIAST.....

 Need a machete to get to the front door!

LOVELY TRUE TO PERIOD HOUSE.....

Really really old!

So....what's in your MLS description?  

AccentPositives provides effective and economical  Home Staging Consultations on site and online. We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.  Call 951 833 8529. www.accentpositives.com and www.accentingspaces.com.

KITCHEN SPICE

You can get rid of the kitchen blahs for very little cost by creating small areas of contrast that make sense.  Spicing up this boring bar and desk center was a relatively easy project.  A glass mosaic tile back splash was added to the bar area. The bottom cabinets and desk were stained to break up the wall of oak.  Everything was finished off with the addition of cabinet pulls and some nice flowers! 

The area behind the desk will be finished off with cork board to house kids and household notes.

Let's look at what this easy update cost:

1/2 Quart Sherwin Williams Bistro Walnut  (left over from bathroom makeover, fresh can would be $28)

4 X 1x1 Squares Glass Mosaic Tiles @ 4.99 Ea.    19.96

1 Quart Cermaic Tile Adhesive  5.29

1 Quart Tile Grout  7.94

Adhesive Trowel     2.79

Grout Float            4.87

Grout Sponge  2.29

5 x Nickle Cabinet Pulls @ 2.97 Ea. 14.85

4 X Bronzed Cabinet Pulls @ 3.99 Ea.  15.96

Total = $101.95

Labor 17 1/2 Hours.  Time includes prepping, sanding and clean up.  It ran longer as I did not wipe all the grout off well enough before it dried so I spent several hours scraping and cleaning the tiles.  Here's my tip, Wipe excess grout off immediately after applying:)

The beautifull fresh flowers were 7.99 at Sam's Club.

AccentPositives provides effective and economical Home Staging consultations on site and online.  We are in Corona and service the Inland Empire area of Southern California. Call 951 833 8529.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Ok, so those of you who read my blogs know I have a real problem with Christmas lights left up year round.  There is another pet peeve of mine you may not know about which brings me to the subject of this post.

I run a pretty tight ship.  I am a lean and mean business.  I handle all Consultations and Redesigns.  The occasional full service Stages; I get help from my hubby and a few friends I trust.  I have no full time employees.  I recently brought on a marketing partner on a commission basis, that's it. 

On a regular basis, I get emails from job hunters.  Individuals who are looking to either intern with my company or get hired on as full time employees.  Nearly all these job seekers seem to have one common trait....They can't write proper English or put together a well constructed, properly spelled and non redundant paragraph.  Yes, that's right....HORRIBLE GRAMMAR! 

As Real Estate Professionals know, first impressions are everything in this business.   The scene that hits a prospective buyer when they walk in a front door...the image you present to prospective clients on first meeting, your business cards and your ability to communicate professionally all determine where you will end up in this business.

Now I'm no snob, I don't mean everyone who wants to work for me has to speak or write perfect Queen's English. I don't. However, I do expect that any employee or representative of my business be able to communicate in a professional and coherent manner. I may not be hiring now, but I will be in the future.  Any person who cannot communicate professionally will not be on my prospect list.  I know I am not alone in this method of weeding through the chaff in today's job market.

The lack of professionalism in today's world of business communications is to me a sad reflection of what our public schools and universities are no longer teaching.  Effective communication skills and professional etiqutte are no longer the linchpins of a good liberal arts education.  I do digress as this would be a blog topic in itself! 

So you want me to hire you...Go back to school.

AccentPositives provides effective and economical Home Staging consultations on sight and on line.  We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire Area of Southern California.  Call 951 833 8529.

EASY VANITY MAKEOVER

Getting tired of all that builder's grade oak?  Don't have the budget to replace or reface?  It's an easy project for just about anyone if you have the time and inclination.  Below is an example of how a little bit of change goes a long way.

Before

An oil based stain was used for this project instead of paint.  Stain gives cheap looking cabinets a richer look and is easy to work with.  It does smell and takes a bit longer to dry than paint but the look is worth it. As it drys, it gets tacky, so you can keep brushing until you get the look and finish you are pleased with and any imperfections look natural.  This color is Sherwin Williams Bistro Walnut. 

So how much did this project cost and how long did it take?  Here's the breakdown.

SW Bistro Walnut  1 quart $28 (over half left for touchups down the road)

Paint Brush $1.79

Sponge  .99 cents

5 x Brushed Nickle Drawer pulls @ 2.44 each

Painters Tape    $2.67

Fine Grit Sand Block $3.67

Labor  6 Hours includes sanding, coating and in between coat drying.

Total = $49.32, yes that's right, less than $50.     

Always work in a well covered and ventelated area.  You don't want dust bunnies and bugs in your stain and you don't want to pass out from the fumes!  Make sure to poly coat your stain if using it in areas like kitchens and baths.  Poly can be purchased in a variety of glosses.    

This makeover will be complete once the old track light is replaced.  There are many styles to choose from under $100 or even clearance if you look hard enough!

AccentPositives provides effective and economical Home Staging consultations on site and online.  We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.  Call 951 833 8529.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY...AUGUST...SEPTEMBER...

Yes, it's time once more for my rant about year round holiday lighting....

Moving here six years ago from the Midwest, it was an adjustment around holiday time.  Palm trees and 80-90 degree temperatures made it quite hard for me to get in the Christmas spirit. Even after all this time, it is strange.

It seems others here do not have this problem and they celebrate the season throughout the year... year after year.  They love it so much that they continue the celebration even when their home is on the market. 

The icicles may project a feeling of coolness in 100 degree heat but let's face it, they are not that attractive in the light of day, especially in the off season.  They remind me more of dirty spaghetti than icicles. This particular home has been on and off the market several times, never having taken down the lights.

In addition to year round holiday lighting, this home features the added bonus of gym equipment on the porch and a basketball hoop.  This home has also been listed numerous times.

Curb appeal is one of the single most important visions that will attract a buyer.  It is the very first impression that will set the tone for the rest of a buyer's tour. The outside condition of a home will tell prospective buyers if the home is well taken care of and worth taking a second look at. So please remember these small tips when readying a home for sale. Clean it up, take them down and please...always remember no matter what time of the year, celebrate responsibly!

AccentPositives provides effective and economical Home Staging consultations on site and online.  We are located in Corona and service the Inland Empire area of Southern California. Call 951 833 8529.

I don't know about everyone else,  but I love Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches.  It's just that everything goes so well together.  It's sweet, sticky and filling.  I tend to have food on the brain, maybe watching too many cooking shows but guilty I am. 

Thinking of Peanut Butter and Jelly brought to mind all the great professionals sandwiched here together on AR.  Realtors, Inspectors, Appraisers, Stagers, Mortgage folks.  All the great fillings for a Super Real Estate Sandwich.

cheezy analogy you say....OK.... maybe another blog.

We all have so much to offer each other professionally and in that offering all our respective clients come out on the winning end I think.  The knowledge shared here, the experiences and diversified opinions all serve our customers in the best way.  Even our disagreements and differing opinions are valuable as they spark ideas on how to serve our clients better.

Peanut Butter and Jelly is simple, straight forward and hard to get wrong. 

I read so many great blogs on this forum and marvel at the thought that goes into them. The smiles, laughs and comfort that derive from these blogs is just like the simple comfort of a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich.

So, as I am constantly dieting, I freely admit the one thing I will never, ever give up, are my Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches, both literal and figurative! 

A great Labor Day to all!

AccentPositives provides effective and economical consultations on site and on line.  We service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.