B Lucas-Thrower

It looks like the only way is to blog, blog, and invite others to join. I think that Active Rain is a wonderful community and to encourage people to join and contribute. Some took my invitation and others said they just don't have time. Well, I don't always have time either, but I do know that every time I visit I learn something. So come on sign up and get busy learning and sharing.

I have had my carpet cleaned twice by this group and it is undoubtedly the best carpet cleaning EVER! CitriSolutions, Kim and Mike Maffel, 615-333-8977 in the Brentwood, Tennessee area. I am sure there is a franchise in your City. I recommend them highly and hope that if you have a chance to "clean carpet" for your clients, or for yourself, you will use them. My nephew also used them and was extremely pleased with their work when he was preparing his town home for sale.

A friend asked me recently to help her surprise her husband with an office makeover. When we met and viewed the room in question several things were happening in the room, non of which created a great working atmosphere. My friend had a work station here, her husband worked from home in the room, and they wanted to be able to watch TV and play games in the room. Well!

No. 1....clear the room and make a plan. So we did. We decided to cover the old worn out sofa with a brand spanking new cover, we needed a game table and chairs, we wanted the husband to have an efficient, comfortable and beautiful space to work...plus she needed her space. Here are the results of just two weeks work and planning.

I simply have to tell you about the event "Addicted to Decorating" taking place March 21, 2009, from 9:3AM-4:30PM at the Holiday Inn Brentwood, 760 Old Hickory Blvd. The day includes:

• First 50 registrants have lunch with a decorating professional
• Top 10 decorating mistakes
• Economy-busting decorating ideas
• A drawing for a free room redesign
• Gourmet box lunch
• Mini home trade show
• Door prizes and coupons

Seminar by: Carol Bass, Master Professional Trainer, joined by a variety of other industry experts.

Carol will share the fundamentals of decorating. You will have loads of fun, food and prizes.

The cost is only $99 before March 5 (after March 5 it is $149). I have tickets if you wish to purchase a ticket, or you may contact Carol at carol@AddictedToDecorating.com, or call her at 1/888-800-7507.

I am so very excited about this day of decorating and I know you will enjoy it too! Call me if you wish to have further information, or have questions.

Last night at Church Street Flooring and Design in Franklin, TN we held an open seminar on staging, the basics of how to prepare your mind and your home for staging. Liz Jenkins with a fresh space and Karen Jones with Jones Home Staging were the co-presenters. We had a great mix of Realtors, home owners, suppliers, and even five other stagers.

The evening began with conversation, a little wine, and a few bits of food. The location was great and we were surrounded by beautiful flooring, cabinets, and design elements. It seems that though staging has been around since the 70's when Realtors "set up" a home, there are a lot of people who do not understand the concept of staging but do want to know all about it. We had wonderful interest, a lot of note taking, and some very intense questions.

We answered the questions about the different types of staging; vacant, vignette, and staging the dwelling. Vacant home staging is easiest to do because no one lives there and once they are staged they tend to stay that way. Vignette staging is not as often recommended because all you can accomplish is a sense of the purpose of the room and allowing the buyer to visualize. The occupied stage is the most common and the most complicated. You are turning an owner's world upside down to some degree and have the expectation that once staged it will stay staged. There are many tips on how to accomplish this and make it easy on the seller. We will be happy to share these tips with you. All in all I feel everyone came away with a better understanding of staging, how it can impact the time between list and close, and how it can help the seller, the realtor, and the buyer. The seller can realize a faster sell for more money, the realtor can be proud of their listing, and the buyer has a sense that the home is well maintained and move-in ready. Our next seminar is in late March 2009....spread the word, same place same time. More information to follow.