Margaret Oscilia-Home Stager, Salem Oregon

Media emphasises the negative news, but some economic indicators are improving!

Personal spending is tracted closely by economists because it accounts for about 70% of total economic activity. Consumer spending has increased in January and February indicating a rise in consumer confidence.

Consumer savings has increased from nearly zero a year ago to over 4% in 2009 -- good news that people are thinking seriously about their personal finances.

While personal incomes have dropped due to layoffs, these economic indicators give hope that the declining economy is coming to an end.

Better economic news coupled with lower prices, low interest rates and tax incentives should help some home buyers to realize that it may be the right time to buy a home!

Creative Concepts and Contracting provides professional home staging, repairs and remodeling for Oregon homes. An investment in staging gives home sellers the peace of mind that their home will compete for a top dollar offer in any market!

When you're between a rock and a hard place --

Choose to bloom! Make it a great day!

Creative Concepts and Contracting offers professional home staging and repairs for the Willamette Valley in Oregon. When preparing to sell your home, contact us for ideas on how to set your home apart and get noticed online or in person. Staging is affordable and helps you make a great first impression!

We all love to read top tips -- and I just read an article on top staging tips from realtors that the Realtor magazine has compiled. Some of the tips were great . . .

"Furniture often leaves indentations in the carpet. When a piece of furniture is moved, I tell my clients to put medium-sized ice cubes in the imprints. As the ice melts, it causes the compacted carpet to expand and erase those imprints."

"If the master bedroom is too boring (and most are), I have my sellers go out and buy a new luxury comforter set with bed skirt, throw pillows, matching valances, etc. We have a Burlington Coat Factory here that sells dramatic sets with rich, embellished material for around $100. The right set will totally transform a boring master bedroom into a luxury hotel suite."

But some made me cringe:

Simple things, such as twigs to spell out a word or a small cutting tied with raffia around a pillow on a bed, draw the eye into the room but don't overpower it. I have even used a branch cutting to make a 'tree' in an empty corner. I try to use one piece of nature in each room to create an ongoing theme throughout the home.

"... a wreath on the front door (that I make). The wreath stays with the house for the new owners. Second, I hang a black nightgown on the master bathroom door. The buyer (husband) always remembers that house!"

Let me spell this out clearly -- do not write words with twigs on countertops in your homes! Do not hang lingerie in your bedrooms for people to view!

I too would remember houses that had used these staging techniques, but not in a favorable way!

One realtor team I work with has a fabulous eye for staging. They can give great advice and know what needs to be done before I get there. What do they tell their clients? "I believe the stager will advise you to XXXXXXXX and be prepared to listen to what she has to say -- it can be the difference between an offer or a price reduction." Their clients listen and DO what we recommend! They know by using a professional staging company their clients receive:

• more time focused on their client's needs in preparing their home for sale
• the value of receiving advice from an "expert"
• by using a team method, and endorsing the stager the client values our recommendations very highly

They are free to be the marketing and negotiating experts without having to go into detail about how to remove pet odors from the carpets or the added relationship tensions when recommendations include packing up all those baseball caps that are decorating the master bedroom.

When looking for top tips - be sure they are worthy of your time. Many realtors give fabulous staging advice, but most savy ones rely on a professional stager to give their team the level of quality services needed to help their listings compete!

Creative Concepts and Contracting provides great staging tips and more! For tips you can count on as well as full service home staging, license repairs and updating and more contact Margaret Oscilia at 503-881-0886.

A little added furniture and decor was all that was needed to help buyers "see" themselves living a enviable lifestyle in this beautiful home in Philomath Oregon.

With over 90% of buyers looking first online - this room wouldn't spark a viewers interest . . .

Or . . .Maybe it WILL!

Vacant rooms often are hard to judge on size, and when painted a neutral color can be easily forgotten.

Unless you spice it up with some furniture and accessories that will help buyers envision the possibilities and remember YOUR house!

With so many homes on the market -- how do you make sure you have the best possible chance to entice buyers into viewing your home and making an offer?

Give them something to remember! Home staging highlights the best features of a home, appeals to buyers emotions and gives you the competitive advantage in every market!

You can't change your location, the market or the competition -- but you CAN change the presentation your home makes on-line and in person! Home staging gives your home a competitive advantage and you peace of mind! Contact Creative Concepts and Contracting at 503-881-0886 to prepare your home for success!

A potential client called with this question the other day --

I haven’t been asked this before but responded that I could give him some information and a guarantee as well.

Over 85% of home buyers first look on the internet when searching for a home – unless your home looks spectacular in photos, it probably won’t make the “must see” list.

When buyers view your home in person, a decision is made within the first 10 seconds upon entering your home. Curb appeal and first impressions are key in making a sale. Buyers will not linger in a vacant or unappealing home.

58% of home buyers view ten properties prior to making a decision. How will your home rank – will it be forgotten as they go from house to house?

63% of home buyers are willing to pay more for a move in ready home. Will your home show are well maintained and desirable or in “as is” condition?

86% of realtors advise their clients that staging is an important investment.

Price will bring in buyers, but staging brings in offers. Buying a home is an emotional decision, and staging addresses the psychology of viewing the home and presenting it in the best possible light.

Statistics prove over and over that staged homes sell quicker and for more money than unstaged homes. Personally we have taken homes that have been on the market for up to a year, staged them and had them sell within weeks – and that is in our current market.

Staging neutralizes, invites, and creates the most desirable property possible – in this market I can guarantee it will appeal to more buyers, look better on-line and draw more attention than listings. Can you afford to not appeal to each and every buyer who views your home?

We’re staging his property next week.

Creative Concepts and Contracting provides professional home staging services, along with a huge inventory of furnishing and accessories. Our licensed and bonded contracting services can provide updates making it easy to prepare your home for sale! Contact us for information on how to get your home ready to compete in a buyer's market!