Margaret Oscilia-Home Stager, Salem Oregon

We've been involved in many kitchen and bathroom remodels and cabinetry is always key to not only a beautiful but highly functional room.

Recently we were doing a full kitchen remodel and decided to compare the big box store to custom cabinetry options.

First I set up an appointment with "big box" store kitchen designer. I had measurements of the space and ideas of what I wanted. The designer was wonderful, but since she wasn't in the room her ideas were limited. This home's price range is moderate, and the lower end cabinets were inferior quality in my opinion. I would not order them for this home. I selected the lowest end cabinet options that looked of passable quality. Big box stores charge extra to come out and measure/view the room which was the next step.

Then I contacted a custom cabinetmaker, Chris Lemon of CL Woodworks. Chris has helped us transform several kitchens and bathrooms. I trust his advice and workmanship. He evaluated the space and offered some innovative options that we hadn't considered that improved functionality and flow for the kitchen. The next day we received faxed computerized plans of a few options and the according prices. His custom cabinetry for this kitchen was less than the bid from the big box store and the quality difference was significantly better!

What things are you looking for in cabinets?

Quality?

Durability?

Custom Options?

Innovative ideas?

Value and Affordability?

By choosing a local cabinet maker, you can optimize your budget and options. As I said, we have worked on many projects with the professionals at CL Woodworks. Some have been a minor jobs like new doors only, others fully redesigned spaces. Each job has kept our objectives and goals in mind -- as well as our budget!

CL Woodworks is in located in Keizer Oregon and his workmanship has been featured in custom and tour homes for many years throughout the Salem area. When investing money into a home, it's important to work with licensed contractors of top integrity and values. We know the team at CL Woodworks not only have these important traits, but are excellent communicators and will work hard to make sure each job exceeds their customer's expectations.

So go ahead - check out the big box store for your cabinet options. Then check out the local options with CL Woodworks. Contact Chris Lemon at 503-851-9557. Not only are you supporting our local economy - but the value and quality can't be beat!

Creative Concepts and Contracting is a professional home staging company serving Salem Oregon and surrounding areas -- helping homeowners create beautiful homes to live in or to sell quickly!

This week we removed staging from a home that has been for sale since April. A routine task for us, but this "de-staging" job was unique. This is the only house we have staged in 2009 that hasn't sold. Usually when we remove staging the owner is getting to move on to their new home, maybe a new town and it's a story of wonderful new beginnings. Not so in this case. When we remove staging there frequently hugs and glowing testimonials about how staging worked so well for them. I wasn't looking forward to removing this staging!

What went wrong? The owner and listing agent were thrilled with the staging and had given us referrals for other jobs. We had received new clients after they saw our work at this home. It was a home people could fall in love with - but no one did.

As we were driving to the job I was concerned not only for the seller whose home wasn't sold, but for her attitude toward our company as we were unable to help her achieve her goal and she paid a lot of $$$ to our company for staging.

The owner greeted us graciously and came to sit down in the room I was packing up, chating warmly. She went on to exclaim over the staging, the raves it received and how she wanted to use us in the future to help her furnish her new home.

She let me know of her plans about the future of the house - she is working on a deed in lieu of foreclosure. She went on to explain that the listing price was too high and the house couldn't sell because of the high price. The agent had listed and priced in accordance to what was loaned on the home and in anticipation of negotiating a short sale as well.

She had to prove to the bank that she made due diligence to sell the home and she knew that by staging it she was making every possible effort to sell. She thought the staging was fabulous and wanted to be our reference - even though her house didn't sell. Yes - she knew the staging worked -- it brought in more showings, looked great online and got raves from agents and buyers -- she wanted to be our reference.

Our staging didn't get the house sold, but we got a new home staging fan and reference for our business. The situation doesn't look good for our statistics, but according to the realtor and seller the job was a huge success and worth every penny. So now when sceptics ask if staging always works, I guess I'll have to say no - not every house we've staged this year has sold. But yes -- every home seller we've worked with this year is a reference and "staging believer".

Creative Concepts and Contracting are the Prepare to Sell experts! Increase your odds of selling by propertly preparing to sell your home. It will stand out from the competition and make a memorable first impression. Contact us at 503-881-0886 for information of achieving your home's full marketing potential before it is listed!

Curb appeal - maybe an overused phrase? According to studies, buyers are extremely influenced by curb appeal. People really do want to buy a beautiful home - and the view from the curb is key to enticing them to make an appointment to see more.

This newer home in a great neighborhood had so much going for it - especially a fantastic back yard. While discussing curb appeal with the owners I recommended several things - one of which was painting the front door. I recommended a few bold colors which would draw attention to the front door and add come much needed contrast to this manilla view.

The owners really hesitated to paint the door a bold color, but rather than discard my recommendation, they decided to drive through some high end neighborhoods and see how they compared. Very quickly they realized the value of zipping up their door color. Custom homes usually have rich colored doors, and more visual interest than this cream colored home.

The door knob was brass and worn, which they replaced with a new oiled bronze color set which matched the light fixture. Other changes are also being made over the next few days which will add some finishing "zing" on their curb appeal project.

Thinking about preparing your home for sale? Starting at the curb and implementing a few simple changes can have a huge impact on how buyers will perceive your homes value. Spend a little time cleaning away the cobwebs, painting the door, cleaning the kick plate or changing hardware and see what a difference just simple changes can have on your curb appeal!

Want more ideas on how to create great curb appeal or increasing the odds for a quick sale? Creative Concepts and Contracting offers professional home staging and contracting services for Salem Oregon and surrounding areas. Contact us for recommendations that can set your home apart on the internet and in person at 503-881-0886!

Home prices in these 10 cities will appreciate handsomely over the next decade per US News and World Report's article today.

Here's the projected average annual percent change in home prices from the fourth quarter of 2008 to the fourth quarter of 2018:

1. Bremerton-Silverdale, Wash.: 5.22 percent
2. Glens Falls, N.Y: 4.71 percent
3. Fort Collins-Loveland, Colo.: 4.06 percent
4. Corvallis, Ore.: 3.95 percent
5. Anchorage, Alaska: 3.8 percent
6. Duluth, Minn.: 3.74 percent
7. Sandusky, Ohio: 3.66 percent
8. Santa Fee, N.M: 3.57 percent
9. Pittsfield, Mass.: 3.51 percent
10. Decatur, Ill.: 3.44 percent

With consumer confidence lower than in prior years, it reassuring to know that Corvallis Oregon home prices should increase an average of 4 percent annually over the next 10 years.

Creative Concepts and Contracting provides professional home staging services for Salem Oregon and surrounding areas (including Corvallis). Staging is the competitive advantage that can set your home apart - contact us at 503-881-0886 for more information!

These homes suffered from a colorful past - and when corrected the results were astounding. You've seen these homes - ones that are in a dated hue, are too personal or bold. Over 85% of home buyers are looking first on the internet when shopping for real estate. When preparing a home for sale, it's time to hide those wild colors!

Color - it can transform a room from cool to warm, serene to vibrant, stark to cozy. We love color and the affordable and huge impact it can make. It can make a huge "wow" when everything comes together well and the colors are perfect, but when the colors aren't "quite right" or show as dated or too personalized buyers will be turning to more attractive hues!

This home lingered on the market for far too long. We provided a staging consultation and convinced (yes it was a hard sell) the sellers to paint the kitchen. Multiple offers were received and both the agent and seller were convinced the painting and staging were key to this success!

While we loved the paint job on this bonus room - it was far too personal to entice most home buyers that may not have toddlers who loved Elmo! By painting a neutral color and staging it as an office, it has a broader appeal

This living room's color was also a road block in attracting a buyer's attention!

This neutral tone is anything but dull!

I loved this dining room color - and so did the home sellers! However, it did make the room seem smaller and darker, and it may not appeal to many home buyers. After repainting, buyers will focus on the beautiful back yard view, bay window and spacious room - not the room color!

We love homes with colorful pasts - here's a sneek preview of a few we're working with . . .

Don't let your home's colorful past effect the marketability to a broad buyer base! Most potential buyers do not have the ability to envision your home with an updated palette, and will always assume repainting is more work than it really is. Statistics show that buyers want move in ready and are willing to pay more for homes that don't require repairs and updates.

Contact a professional home stager to get the right color the first time and make sure your new look is one that helps your home project a beautiful future.