Home Staging For The Holidays - A Los Angeles Christmas

Michelle, This is beautiful. What a grand entrance. I'm sure the homeowners will love coming home to this. Looks like you have some great little helpers. How long did it take you and your elves to complete this job? When you do a job like this do you charge by the hour or by the job? If you don't mind me asking.

Thank you Donna. I'm waiting to hear from my client tonight. I shopped for 2 days, and then we did all the decorations in one L-O-N-G day. Lonnie, who has worked for me many years in the film industry, and Carlos were fabulous.

I charge either a rental fee (like staging furniture) or a percentage over the purchase price (depending if the client wants to keep the items afterwards), plus I charge for all labor and trucking expenses and a flat fee for me. I figure how much time I expect the job to take me and base my flat fee on that. If it takes longer, it is my problem (unless the delay was caused by the client)

I am having a difficult time uploading the photos and placing them where I want them tonight. I'll try again in the morning.

::waaaaaaaaaaaa::  <<<That's me crying because my house doesn't look like that!

Gorgeous job, Michelle!  Of course, I knew it would be :)

Don't cry, Lisa. If you imagine paying the mortgage, you will feel better about the fact that your house doesn't look like that. Thank you:o))

That is absolutely stunning, Michelle.  You have an incredible gift of making things truly beautiful.

Wow, I love it, love the placement and everything about it. Just thought you should know. Do you do a tree, after putting up so many for others? Just asking?

Michelle -- this is just beautiful.  What a foyer and your presentation is awesome.  Thank you for sharing so much info regarding this avenue of business to pursue.  Something I have not tried -- maybe next year!

Michelle, it's absolutely gorgeous.  It looks like something right out of a magazine; especially the last photo looking into the house through the doors - just stunning!

Beautiful!

This makes me want to decorate my tree and home right now!  Just lovely Michelle!! Thanks for sharing and getting me in the spriit of the season after a Thankful Weekend!!

Well, Miss Clause, you and your elves did an amazing job! It is breath-taking and I'm sure your client will love it!  Are you doing the other house also?

Beth: That is very nice of you to say. Thank you.

Missy: That house looks like it was designed to have a tree right there. It is the perfect spot. I do put up a tree, but a much smaller one - maybe 6 feet. Every year I buy one or two new ornaments, that either remind me of something that happened that year, or a wish for the coming year. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to my own tree. Thanks Missy.

Karen: It is not too late to do it this year. I am still getting calls and emails daily asking for help. The last minute procrastinators are the ones that really need our help. Thank you.

Charlene: Thank you. It was a long day and I was tired when I took that photo. I should have taken more with slight adjustments. I am going back this week to work on the exterior lights, so maybe then.

Lisa Roy: Thanks!

Cathy: The holidays are upon us. It put me in the holiday mood too!

Connie: I wish I could have been there to see his face and how the kids reacted. Thank you.

Awesome decos!  I'm wondering however, do you ever get any pressure to be "politically correct".  I seem to hear that all the time...how you can turn people off by suggesting any religious preference.  I've been thinking of suggesting nice christmas decos to my clinets but have shyed away for that reason.  Am I being over sensitive on this subject?

Gorgeous decorating in a gorgeous home!  I love what you did, Michelle.  It looks so up-scale and yet so inviting.  I'm sure the family was beyond pleased.

And... I love the close-up shot of the garland as it has that magazine-like quality!

Kathy

Steve: This particular home was not staged for sale, but to live. As a home stager staging a home for sale, I think it is important to make recommendations that will help the sale of a home. If the home is in an area that will attract buyers who would probably have a Christmas tree in their own home, then having a Christmas tree in the home is not a problem. If the potential buyers will probably be from an ethnic or religious group that would find a Christmas tree less appealing then I would either recommend no tree or a smaller holiday display. Keep in mind that with staging, the point is to get the home sold as quickly as possible, for the highest price. Minimizing holiday decorations while the home is on the market is a small price to pay to acheive that end.

Kathy: Thank you so much. That house was made for this type of decorating. It was great fun and I am very happy with the way it turned out.

Michelle ~ I like the use of the fresh pine boughs for the scent of the holiday season, combined with the reusable tree.  What a beautiful statement it makes for those entering this lovely home!

Michelle,

Just beautiful!  I'm sure this home will be filled with the Christmas spirit and your touches will make this family's season that much more memorable!

Maureen: Pine boughs can be harvested without killing the tree. Many cities in the Los Angeles area also have a program where boughs and trees are turned into mulch and sold or used in city parks. My car smelled wonderfully for days after I picked up the boughs from the wholesale flower market. I have never been a big fan of fake Christmas trees, but this one looks so real (like a blue spruce) it was difficult not to make the green choice.

Michelle: I hope our decorations will help this family have a wonderful Christmas. Thank you.

Michelle, You and your elves have implemented the Perfect Christmas Decoration Plan! Congrats!

Hi Leslie: Thank you. We had a good time.

awesoooooomeeee decor, actually this pics gave me some inspiration for my christhmas web site design of my blog.

Regards

Looks beautiful.  I need to get started on my house.

Isabel: I get to do my own Christmas tree this coming weekend. Thanks!

Gorgeous Michelle!  What a wonderful welcome home.  Great photos too!

Michele: Thank you. My client was very happy with the results and I have heard that one of the children posted photos of the decorations on their Facebook page. I'm glad they are happy.

What a great house, and a great tree, how fun to do.  I just couldn't muster up the energy to fit in Christmas decorating.  The homeowners have to love it, sounds like their kids certainly do.

Cindy: I really enjoy doing this for clients. It is another way to bring income in and it is very light hearted. It makes everyone happy. We have a lot of fun doing it which is very energizing. Thanks.

I'm doing my first holiday staging tomorrow - I didn't advertise this service very much because I frankly don't feel all that confident.  My children always do so many of our own decorations.  I met with this realtor (it is for her own gorgeous home) yesterday and we talked about party preparations, and tomorrow we'll decorate.  I'll try to include a picture when we're done.

Michelle ~ I totally missed this post!  That looks fantastic!  The tree does look real in the picture, and makes a great impact in that spot. 

I'm doing a holiday decorating job this weekend.  Like Beth above me, I didn't advertise or market that because I didn't think I'd get much call for it.  Depending on how it turns out, I may start to though.  I love the real garland (it smells so good), but I always found I'd get a lot of it on the floor as I put it on the banister.  Any tips?

Beth: I would love to see a picture. Good for you. And for a REALTOR no less - great contact for future business.

Kathy: I didn't promote this a lot either, but I have gotten a lot of calls. I never realized how many people would want this service. Real trees and garland shed more the less fresh they are. Before you buy, tug on the needles. 95% of them should stay on the tree or on the garland. If you get a bunch of needles in your hand, the garland is not fresh and it won't last as long. The branches should be flexible, not brittle - another sign of freshness. And I make sure to tell my clients to spritz the garland at least once per day with water (plain old tap water is fine). Also, keep the temperature in the house on the lowest comfortable setting. Heat will dry out a tree or garland really quickly.

As the garland ages, it will dry out no matter what you do and will start to shed. Nothing you can do about it except don't mess with it and vacuum daily.

I hope this works out as an alternative stream of income for you. Good Luck!

Hi Michelle! It looks amazing! You did a great job and I am sure the owner will be VERY pleased! It is truly picture perfect :)

Really really beautiful!  I think you did a fantastic job and am sure that your clients will love it!  I can only imagine their children's shrieks of joy when they see the home.... thanks for sharing!

Oh Michelle-Thanks for sharing such beautiful photos of the Holiday decor!  Just magic!! That tree must've weighed at least 200lbs!!  Nice work! (Gotta love those elves too!)

Have fun putting up your tree this weekend...I too have switched to a fake tree (pre-lit but one strand is being fussy and won't light up darn it!).  Then, I run over to the 'real' tree lot and retrieve trimmed spruce-smelling branches to place around my home (and Nativity scene).  Thanks for sharing the pricing info; this too is how I charge for services and goods on this type of job.  I believe it is good to show other stagers how to bill this type of service as well.  Cheers!  Kathleen G.

Michelle - It looks beautiful!  You did a great job and "Staging for the Holidays" is a great way to add more business during the holidays.  Thanks for sharing!

Hi Wendy: Thank you so much.

Melissa: I heard that the daughter posted it on My Space immediately. Thank you.

Wanda: We have gotten a lot of work from this promotion. November is a good time to start since a lot of people want to beautify their homes for Thanksgiving guests. But it is never too late. We still have almost 3 weeks before Christmas and New Years Eve. Thanks!

I did it, Michelle!  I didn't get great pictures (and the angel is crooked here!), but I had a wonderful experience decorating for a realtor and her 88-year-old active businesswoman mother (she reminds me of Mary Kay).  Her sisters came over and worked on the tree while I finished up garland everywhere.

This particular mantle in this fabulous Mediterranean Palos Verdes Estates home consists of live garland, faux pointsettia, birds/nests, pine cones, candle, deer & angels.  The only new item was the garland; everything else came from their Christmas supplies.

Thanks for the inspiration.  I never knew I would become the Garland Queen this week!

Beth: Congratulations! I'm glad I could inspire you and now you inspire others to get out there and drum up some new business Staging For The Holidays. I bet your clients were thrilled and now you have a new REALTOR contact too. Thanks for posting your photo.

Lovely work Michelle and now you are officially one of Santa's helpers. I would love to see the reactions of the kids when they come home to their fully decorated tree - it'll be magical.

Fabulous Michelle! What an entry! I did some work for design clients for Thanksgiving...and have a couple on the books for Christmas but the house doesn't have this entry!  Fantastic. Thanks so much for posting it. Kym

Karen: The kids were floored. They couldn't believe it. The daughter immediately put it on her facebook page.

Thank you Kym!

Thank you to Shell Brodnax for choosing this photo for the December RESA newsletter.

Absolutely amazing work once again Michelle! Now did the clients buy these things from you or are you keeping them for future jobs when this one is over?

Annie: I purchased everything for the client. He wanted to buy things so he would have them for future Christmases. I will need to get a bigger warehouse if I am going to start storing Christmas and holiday props as well. Thanks Annie.

This is clearly one of the best staging posts I have ever seen!

Thank you, Ardell. Happy Holidays!

Michelle - great post and great photos. You and your elves did a fantastic job of holiday staging this home! Great job!

Sharon: Thank you. It is good to have talented, reliable and pleasant elves in your toolbox.

This is just beautiful!  I know I am a little late to read this post and comment but I ALWAYS appreciate beautiful Christmas decorations.  I would LOVE to do your job.