Margaret Oscilia-Home Stager, Salem Oregon

Ever look at photos where the floor isn't level - hmmm is it the photo or is the house not structurally sound? Or noticed a doorway that is at an angle in a photo that you thought would be perfect?

So often when I'm taking photos, I tend to lean to the left or the right - it's a minor lean, but obvious when I'm editing photos and so annoying when everything else in the shot Is great. I've tried to line my shots up so doorframes are straight, etc, but sometimes when using a wide angle lens it's difficult for us amateur photographers!

I'm SO EXCITED! I use www.Picnik.com to edit photos frequently, and have written of its ease of use in prior blogs. I just stumbled across a new feature - using the rotate button. This feature not only can rotate a full quarter turn, it also can set a grid up on your photo and allow you to align the photo a few degrees - whatever is needed to make your picture straight.

For example, here was a preliminary photo I took - looks like the tub is sinking into the floor.

Just a couple of seconds editing and wow - we just repaired the house!

This photo above had a lean to the right and couldn't be used. After editing it's significantly improved!

Check out this great feature when editing your photos. It's time to straighten up!

Creative Concepts and Contracting provides professional home staging and quality repair/remodeling services for Salem and surrounding areas. Licensed, bonded and insured. Statistics prove staged homes sell faster - contact us at 503-881-0886 on how staging can set your home apart from the competition.

Two years ago I was approached to join the board of a local non-profit homeless organization. The idea of adding more meetings or responsibilities to my schedule wasn't an enticing one. I'd volunteered for this homeless charity in the past, occasionally cooking or hosting meals at our church, donating my unwanted household items or outgrown kids clothes to be used by their homeless guests. Wasn't that enough? Reading in the newspaper about Salem's plan to end homelessness within 10 years caused me to wonder if that was really an attainable or even worthwhile goal - don't many of the homeless choose that lifestyle? Does it really have anything to do with my life and family? It seems so distant and perhaps a futile cause - and I don't think a few hours of my time can make much difference to such a lofty goal.

Truth is, my family too could have been homeless 13 years ago had it not been for a supportive family and good income producing skills. Many families that lack a safety net can quickly fall victim to circumstances or poor choices. And yes, sometimes these situations can even cause homelessness. While I was able to keep a stable home and environment for my children during tumultuous times, not every family is so blessed.

I joined the board of Salem Interfaith Hospitality Network. What is SIHN? A family shelter that has a day center and utilizes church properties for overnight care. A link between community agencies, referrals, resources and opportunities to struggling families. An opportunity to empower churches to minister to the homeless in an effective way. I'm now part of the 900 volunteers who spend their time and talents working toward to the goal of not only ending homelessness is Salem, but improving the lives of our guests. Guests --that's what we call people that enter this shelter - not our clients or residents, but our honored guests. Because these aren't just homeless people, but families - just like yours and mine. When we evaluate the value of our time spent - truly if we have improved the lives of others, provided a hand up in times of need, our own lives are greatly enriched

Please join me as our guest on May 28^th to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of SIHN at Mission Mill. At this celebration hear about our journey, successes and also what exciting things lie ahead. Learn that the few hours or few dollars we have to share can make a difference in making Salem and the lives of others. Space is limited so RSVP today!

Won't you look at this listing and see what you think? I get this request frequently as do most stagers from agents and home sellers. When we get these requests I usually go onto the MLS or Trulia and look at the photos and a couple of comparative properties, and try to zip out a response within 15 minutes or so of my initial impressions. BUT -- when I received a request this week it took me quite awhile to really be able to analyze the property -- why? Here are the MLS photos - what do YOU think?

These were the only interior shots that were posted on the MLS. There was an exterior shot which showed snow and a lit Christmas tree, as well as one showing a sunny day.

This first one looks like a family room - nice french doors to a patio and a ceiling fan - but I really can't tell much else about the room.

Looks like a large bed that takes up the entire space and a cave . . .

Bookcases, puddling curtains and a dining room table - but again I really can't see much of the room.

Now if you think that buyers as they are clicking through the MLS are going to spend this much time straining to see the room - think again! These rooms paint a dark and hazy view of this home. Yes, I think this house can benefit from the advice of a stager - but -- even more so, I think it deserves great photos!

With over 85% of home buyers looking first online, you can't afford to have bad photos representing a home for sale. (I'd like to repeat this 10 times in a row if it would help getting the message across!)

Even these dark photos can be enhanced through online software. One easy one to use is Picnik.com. No membership required if you are willing to process 5 photos at a time.

Upload the photos, adjust the exposure. Remember that people respond positively to light and bright rooms!

Adjust the saturation and temperature to warm things up to the correct colors.


Sharpen the image to appear more crisp and clear.

Save the image to your computer for your use. These few minutes are a good investment of time!

These are the same photos as above that I quickly took through the above steps so I could analyze these rooms. What type of impression do you have of this home now? I little different than above? From these enhanced photos, I can now really see the room sizes, how it is decorated and if I was a buyer, on whether I'd want to make sure to put it on my "must see" list!

Poor photos on the MLS don't represent the home well, but also don't represent the listing agent well either. This is your showcase of your product - make sure it is the best possible representation!

Creative Concepts and Contracting provides quality home staging and repairs for Salem Oregon and surrounding areas. Contact us at 503-881-0886 for ideas on how to set your home apart from the competition and presented well on the internet and in person!

One person can impact a life.

Together we can transform the City.

Do you believe these words? Sound too good to be true? Perhaps you would believe these phrases whole heartedly if you attended the Salem Leadership Foundation Fancy Dessert on Friday May 15^th. It was my first chance to attend the event, and I was interested to learn more of what SLF was all about. I’ve become acquainted with the energetic and enthusiastic executive director, Sam Skillern but what exactly is SLF’s direction and activities?

A jam packed ballroom at the Salem Conference Center laughed, learned and listened throughout the entertaining program. Most importantly we heard heart moving stories of lives changed, programs implemented, and how SLF is making great and wonderful things happen for Salem. They are building bridges to help hurting people. They are uniting schools, churches, non-profits, community and government agencies. Why? Because they truly believe that together we can transform the City of Salem – and that Salem/Keizer will be the healthiest community in Oregon – truly the City of Shalom.

Because of Salem Leadership Foundation more schools have partnerships with neighborhood churches. More resources are being leveraged into partnerships, programs and services. More people have increased skills, health and hope. More people are accessing food, clothing, housing, jobs, education and family supports. More kids have safe places to go and positive people to mentor them. By building these bridges, uniting these resources and opportunities, they are creating a healthier community – one neighborhood at a time. They have found the real answer isn't stuff or government programs. It is "relationship". It's me and you helping our neighbor.

Perhaps you missed this wonderful event disclosing some of their accomplishments, and encouraging us to become part of the solution for our neighborhood. I encourage you to visit their website, contact Sam for coffee and learn where you fit in to helping make Salem/Keizer neighborhoods a healthier place to live. One person can impact a life. Together we can transform the City. We all need a good neighbor. Won’t you be my neighbor?

Creative Concepts and Contracting provides professional home staging and quality repair/remodeling services for Salem and surrounding areas. Licensed, bonded and insured. Statistics prove staged homes sell faster - contact us at 503-881-0886 on how staging can set your home apart from the competition.

Many calls I have received lately are from home owners who have homes on the market, or whose listings have expired and they are thinking about re-listing. This week I had two consultations with this type of seller and they both were puzzled and irritated by their agent’s actions!

I spent a lot of time explaining the importance of curb appeal, first impressions and why deferred maintenance and declutter had to be dealt with before listing. The widow whose listing had expired was near tears. I expected her to be overwhelmed and even a little irritated with me by “imposing” expectations upon her. It surprised me when she said “Why didn’t my agent take the time to explain this to me before I listed?” I had no idea these things were so vital to my house selling quickly.” Yes, she was concerned – there was lots of work to do. But she had a plan and hope so was able to “see” that by taking a few steps forward she may be able to sell her home and move on with her life. More than concerned, she was irritated with her agent, and wanted a recommendation for a new agent. The trust was gone because the agent hadn’t let her know that our services were available or that her home was a target for low ball offers when it was so dated, cluttered and needed small repairs performed.

I’ve met this agent before and she has heard me speak about staging. She has even asked me about staging and I know she has considered presenting it to some of her clients. The response I’ve heard from some agents is “My clients don’t think it’s necessary” or “My clients won’t pay for it”. In fact, they didn’t have the statistics, time or information needed to present staging options in a way that encouraged their sellers to embrace the staging process. When clients understand the power staging can have and a plan of action, most are encouraged to do much more to prepare their homes for sale.

The next consultation I had was for a desperate home seller whose house had been on the market for many weeks – no showings, no realtor tour, no open houses and no idea as to why her home was being passed by. When I had looked at the photos on the MLS I knew why. After spending two hours with this seller, not only was she on board with doing everything suggested, but she also wanted the recommendation for a new realtor.

I’m working with a new agent who contacted me and is having me spend 15 minutes with her sellers before their homes are put on the MLS. I talk about staging, give the sellers statistics and explain the process. We visited with an elderly couple whose home was clean but dated and cluttered. When I explained staging, the owner told me that he had sold many homes over his lifetime and that their house was fine. I explained the current market, the impact of media, HGTV and first impressions. He held firm. I agreed with him that in a logical world staging wouldn’t be necessary, but that I was happy to help in the future if the need arose. When we left, the agent and I both knew this process had been incredibly successful.

No, it didn’t result in a job for me or much improvement on her listing. BUT – her sellers now are well informed on what should have been done before listing. If she didn’t present these ideas and options, who would be on the hook when the house doesn’t sell in 60 days? The agent! Bad advertising, not enough open houses, not enough signs – something pointing back to the listing agent. This young agent has it figured out. She knows the dated home will take a long time to sell. She had us inform them on what should be done, maintains a great relationship with the owners and when the time comes to make a price reduction – she can confidently say “Remember before listing we discussed how important it was to do the things the stager recommended? Now that the listing has been on the market for 60 days with no offers . . . “

Instead of being mad at you, they’ll be mad at themselves. Staging works – but only if you work it!

Creative Concepts and Contracting provides top notch staging and contracting services for home sellers in Oregon. Houses that are prepared correctly and well priced are selling! Contact us at 503-881-0886 for information on how staging can set you apart from the competition!