Toronto's 2 Hounds Design: Decorating + Staging

Far too often, Realtor's with a listing will suggest reducing the price if it hasn't moved.

The Realtor's job is to sell the house. If they have priced it right for the neighbourhood and current market yet they are suggesting you take a price reduction it is time to ask them a very important question.

Why are you not suggesting a Professional Home Stager rather than telling me I need to drop the price?

There are a number of reasons why they might not suggest a Professional Home Stager.

They:

1. Don't know any stagers
2. Don't know what a stager is or does
3. Feels they told you how to stage already
4. Don't believe staging works
5. Are afraid you will ask them to pay part or all of the staging fee
6. See that a reduction in your asking price has less negative impact on their commission than paying for a Professional Home Staging consultation

On a $250,000 home a $10,000 reduction is only a $250 hit to the listing agent's commission based on the listing agent getting 2.5% commission. Is this an important piece of the puzzle or just coincidence?

UPDATE:

The poll ended (or was taken down) with a resounding NO! We Do NOT Support a Ban On Pitt Bulls! having the MOST votes!

Thanks all for taking the time to vote!

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The Toronto Sun, a large newspaper in Canada, is doing a poll today about the pit bull ban, and the dog lovers are NOT winning, as usual.

Take a moment to vote against the ban and could you spread this around so terrier lovers can have their say?

If we lose the rest of the provinces in Canada will ban these dogs.

Currently in Ontario all pit bulls (or pit bull type/looking dogs) must either be adopted out of province (rarely happens), put down or are sent to labs for animal testing!

We must not lose the fight to stop Ontario in it's tracks and end this horrible ban!

www.torontosun.com - The poll is on the right hand side.

Don't forget to pass on the poll link, or send them here to my blog post, to others who don't support the ban!

Thanks!

Dane

My pit bulls....

Reality Check:

Ok, I have 1 photo of the set but it was taken right AFTER the show so the pillows, throw etc are all over the furniture and the coffee cups, tray the 'talent' (LOL well if you are going to work with the industry you have to talk the talk! LOL) are on the coffee table still.

There were 5 digital cameras to film the show and they really show the lighting to it's fullest extent.

Also, we only had access to furniture with in the 4 seasons...which is only a 3 star hotel...YUCKY and OLD!

The couch I assured the Producer would look amazing and would also mostly be hidden by the girls when sitting on it.

The coffee table's legs would also not be seen so I was ok with it...I didn't like the brass legs but the top was perfect.

Ok, enough excuses for the furniture!

Here is the set, taken from beside the lighting and cameras:

This was the most excitment I've had in quite a while. I was not freaked out at all but that is only because I had Kimberly Hawley at my side. She was amazing and did an incredible job of sourcing accessories just going by my description of the furniture over the phone!

You can bet I will be calling Kimberly for another job if they come my way.

I will make sure to responding to comments I've gotten on the previous and this post over the next few days but I'm exhausted, still excited (I'm in BlackBerries in L.A and Chicago!!) told I will be getting referals and may get a call to go to L.A. OMG!!

Now I've promised to take the kids out to ride their bikes...they've waited long enough for me to have 2 coffee's and some time on the computer. :) Life has some great surprises for us all...just be patient and confident and they will come!

I am extremely lucky to have had this opportunity and I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity!

'Beautiful!'

I have had the most amazing 2 days.

I was called in by FOX/BET to create a 'living room' for a t.v. show where the stars of a film interview each other. The movie, The Secret Life of Bees, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival starring Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, Dakota Fanning and more!

2 Hounds Design designed the set!

The show will air this October the week the movie premiers in the U.S.

I'll keep you posted with the airing of the show so you can see just how amazing the room looked on film!

I can not think of a group more accepting, welcoming and fair as I have here among the AR Gods and staff. They truly are the best and I admire them.

I'm much more critical, biased and outright opinionated to do the job they do.

I've taken a lesson or two from their ability to be so open to contrary opinions and their, what appears to me as, infinite patience...I think it's worn off on me some...hope so!

It came as a complete shock to me to find out they've gone and Featured me in the AR newsletter...boy do I feel crappy about unsubscribing! BTW, what on earth did I do right to deserve the attention...and could someone send me a copy...I'd love to see it!

Thanks guys/gals (are gals among you?) I don't think I deserve the attention but thank you. There are so many more in the Rain much more deserving than me...and some who are sadly no longer with us.

If I may, I'd like to make a suggestion...could you add who has left us, to play in the rain no more, in the monthly newsletters?

I know I've missed some incredible people and may never discover them and their blogs otherwise however, I believe it is never too late.