About Madera County, CA

Inspired by a blog post by Maureen Bray, Sellers for a Faster Sale empty those catch all rooms and Show each rooms best use and Fernando Rosado's comment "This faux must go," I wonder how many stagers have to deal with this issue and how many seller's think it's OK today?

Having taken professional classes in faux painting techniques it's pretty easy to pick out those jobs done by pro's and those done by the homeowners. Most frequently I see sponge painted walls...quite frankly they are usually not well done. Achieving a pleasing "faux" look takes knowledge, practice, the right tools AND the right paint colors to achieve a look that isn't "in your face" faux.

Wikipedia says about faux: Faux (pronounced /ˈfoʊ/, like "foe") is a French word for false or fake. It is often used in English phrases such as faux pearls, faux fur, faux pas and faux news. To imitate marbles, porphyry, and other stones, "faux finishes" are often painted using spatterdash, sponging, and feather-streaking techniques on gessoed and painted surfaces.

This is yet another "emotional" attachment that frequently the lady of the house has done and they just don't want to paint over their very special "creations". THAT'S A MISTAKE!

Here are just two that I've recently seen:

Both of these homes had great potential for staging and making them the best they could be BUT the seller's simply refused to paint these walls. (Yes they are both still on the market.)

Paint is the least expensive way that anyone can achieve a neutral palette that will appeal to a wide range of potential buyers.

Sellers, do yourself a favor, let go of your creations and neutralize those walls. They don't have to be white but the faux must go!

Dream Interior Redesign and Staging assists sellers in making sound decisions to make their houses the best they can be in this very competitive market. We can help you with color choices and other staging decisions. Serving the mountain communities out of Fresno, Clovis and Madera, California. 559-877-2442

Making the seller's house into the buyer's DREAM home.

For most people, purchasing and owning a home is the most expensive investment they will ever make. The asking price for a house can easily be broken down into price per square foot when comparing one house to another. Every square foot of a house has a value.

This is why decluttering a house is a crucial step in the staging of a house For Sale. Potential buyer's need to see the actual square footage available and if clutter is in the way two thoughts enter the buyer's mind: 1) These seller's do not care for the things that they own and if buyers see a mess they will wonder "what about the things that cannot be seen". Are the hard-to-see mechanicals in bad shape too? 2) Buyer's see clutter as an indication that there is not enough storage in the house. True or not that's how they see it.

Be aware that buyers will look everywhere in a house on the market. Closets, cupboards and other storage places send a message to buyers about the sellers and about the house. In professional staging we encourage sellers to pack items that are not absolutely necessary for living while the house is for sale. Leave some empty space in each closet, cupboard and storage space. When the drudgery of packing gets difficult sellers need to keep in mind that this chore must be done sooner or later and anything that you do now means less work later.

Another important element in decluttering a space is neutralizing. Buyers will be distracted if your house is filled with personal collections, family photos and other artifacts that are important to you. They are in your house to find their next dream home and it's very uncomfortable for people to see how they could possibly make this house into their dream home when it is jam-packed with your memories and possessions. Your house becomes a product the minute that it hits the market and as the seller you need to detach from it personally and make that product the best that it can be. Sell the house, not your personal possessions, style or interests.

If you need help with this task or any other part of preparing a house for sale, call Ginger Foust of Dream Interior Redesign and Staging. 559-877-2442 Visit our website at www.DreamRedesigns.com for more information. We service the counties of Fresno, Madera and Mariposa.

Saw a great quote today, "Mentor: Someone whose hindsight can become your foresight." - Anonymous

A MENTOR is a coach, trainer, guide. Someone who's been there, done that, got the T-shirt, lived to tell about it, and learned from it. Someone who will pass on that knowledge to you. So you don't have to GO there also!

So who's your Daddy (Mentor)?

P.S. It cannot be your spouse. That puts too much pressure on the fun part of your marriage!

Join my NEW group for professionals who work from their home office at http://activerain.com/groups/virtualoffice

Regina P. Brown
Broker, Realtor®, e-Pro
Author of eBook "Stop Foreclosure Fast: Solutions to Save your House"

Text copyright © 2008 R.P. Brown, All Rights Reserved

Here are some before and after photos of a lovely ranch style home in the mountain community of Oakhurst, California. The seller's contacted Dream Interior Redesign and Staging to help with staging BEFORE they listed the house. This was 19 months ago.

The interior of this house unwent a COMPLETE renovation. All of the floors on the main level are totally new. The floors are stained and stamped concrete, slate, wood, carpet and speciality tile. This kitchen is completely new and the master bathroom is truly unique with very special features. Click here to see a short slideshow of this property with more after photos.

This owner/seller is total perfectionist and has renovated many homes but since this was previously their family home he didn't know when to stop. Week after week I would stop by during the renovation process to see when I could get in to stage. Week after week he was redoing work that was already completed but not to his satisfaction AND they kept upgrading hoping to recoup costs. They ended up listing it 6 months AFTER their original planned listing date. THEY MISSED their market and the cost of the reno. had skyrocketed.

Repeatedly I tried to tell him to stop and get it listed but he just couldn't. By the time it was ready, our strong summer market was passed and overall property prices and values were headed into this slump. They felt that they had to ask a BIG price for the house since they'd invested so much time and so much money. THEY MISSED their market.

Now they have reduced the price almost $200,000 and I had to destage. THEY MISSED their market. The house is rarely shown and it is empty. People see the staged house on the agent's website or MLS but that is not the same house when they see it in person.

As stager's were often struggle with getting people to understand the need to renovate and upgrade their houses...with this house I had the opposite dilemma.

SELLER's IF you are preparing a house for today's market you must consult with professionals about how to best spend your preparation dollar. A professional stager and real estate agent team can help you decide how to invest your money wisely. Visit www.homegain.com and look at their house preparation maximizer to help with making those decisions.

If you are interested in this property contact their current agent, Dorothy Miller at Coldwell Banker, Oakhurst CA, 559-760-9034.

Dream Interior Redesign & Staging by Ginger Foust is a full service professional staging and redesign company serving the California foothill and mountain communities of Oakhurst, North Fork, Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Wawona and Mariposa. Click here to see a short slideshow with examples of our staging work. Also, visit our website at www.dreamredesigns.com or www.oakhurststaging.com for more information or call 559-877-2442.

Congratulations to John Bortz, YGAOR's Realtor of the Year for 2008. John is a tireless member of the association always providing education and support to members. He has served many roles as an officer and committee chairperson for the local board.

John was joined in business this year by his wife Cathy and they both are with Century 21, Ditton Real Estate in Oakhurst California.

I am particularly grateful to John and Cathy for the support of my Home Staging Business, Dream Interior Redesign and Staging here in the Oakhurst and Mariposa Mountain Area. John understands the value of proper preparation when marketing a house FOR SALE. Thank you, JOHN and CATHY.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home you can't go wrong with John Bortz. Give him a call today at 559-676-3913