Ginger Foust-Home Stager Oakhurst CA Dream Interior Redesign & Staging Calif

For most people, purchasing and owning a home is the most expensive investment they will ever make. The asking price for a house can easily be broken down into price per square foot when comparing one house to another. Every square foot of a house has a value.

This is why decluttering a house is a crucial step in the staging of a house For Sale. Potential buyer's need to see the actual square footage available and if clutter is in the way two thoughts enter the buyer's mind: 1) These seller's do not care for the things that they own and if buyers see a mess they will wonder "what about the things that cannot be seen". Are the hard-to-see mechanicals in bad shape too? 2) Buyer's see clutter as an indication that there is not enough storage in the house. True or not that's how they see it.

Be aware that buyers will look everywhere in a house on the market. Closets, cupboards and other storage places send a message to buyers about the sellers and about the house. In professional staging we encourage sellers to pack items that are not absolutely necessary for living while the house is for sale. Leave some empty space in each closet, cupboard and storage space. When the drudgery of packing gets difficult sellers need to keep in mind that this chore must be done sooner or later and anything that you do now means less work later.

Another important element in decluttering a space is neutralizing. Buyers will be distracted if your house is filled with personal collections, family photos and other artifacts that are important to you. They are in your house to find their next dream home and it's very uncomfortable for people to see how they could possibly make this house into their dream home when it is jam-packed with your memories and possessions. Your house becomes a product the minute that it hits the market and as the seller you need to detach from it personally and make that product the best that it can be. Sell the house, not your personal possessions, style or interests.

If you need help with this task or any other part of preparing a house for sale, call Ginger Foust of Dream Interior Redesign and Staging. 559-877-2442 Visit our website at www.DreamRedesigns.com for more information. We service the counties of Fresno, Madera and Mariposa.

If you're looking for a new adventure this winter AND you know how to dress for the cold, I strongly recommend snowmobiling out of West Yellowstone Montana.

We have made this trip for the past two years and will return again this year to the south end out of Jackson Hole Wyoming.

Here are some of the wonderous sights to behold.

These first photos are from inside the National Park. It's certainly very different that what you see without snow.

Those are bison in the distance above. Here's a close-up

Canadian geese winter here in the waters warmed by the geysers.

The elk forage alongside the warm waters and hang out at this next famous location.

Above is what Old Faithful looks like with very cold temperatures.

And when I say COLD and dress warmly here's what I mean:

Yes that's me and it's worth every freezing moment.

Below is the view from atop the Continental Divide. The Grand Tetons are in the background.

If you have any questions about this trip, feel free to send me an e-mail.

Here are some before and after photos of a lovely ranch style home in the mountain community of Oakhurst, California. The seller's contacted Dream Interior Redesign and Staging to help with staging BEFORE they listed the house. This was 19 months ago.

The interior of this house unwent a COMPLETE renovation. All of the floors on the main level are totally new. The floors are stained and stamped concrete, slate, wood, carpet and speciality tile. This kitchen is completely new and the master bathroom is truly unique with very special features. Click here to see a short slideshow of this property with more after photos.

This owner/seller is total perfectionist and has renovated many homes but since this was previously their family home he didn't know when to stop. Week after week I would stop by during the renovation process to see when I could get in to stage. Week after week he was redoing work that was already completed but not to his satisfaction AND they kept upgrading hoping to recoup costs. They ended up listing it 6 months AFTER their original planned listing date. THEY MISSED their market and the cost of the reno. had skyrocketed.

Repeatedly I tried to tell him to stop and get it listed but he just couldn't. By the time it was ready, our strong summer market was passed and overall property prices and values were headed into this slump. They felt that they had to ask a BIG price for the house since they'd invested so much time and so much money. THEY MISSED their market.

Now they have reduced the price almost $200,000 and I had to destage. THEY MISSED their market. The house is rarely shown and it is empty. People see the staged house on the agent's website or MLS but that is not the same house when they see it in person.

As stager's were often struggle with getting people to understand the need to renovate and upgrade their houses...with this house I had the opposite dilemma.

SELLER's IF you are preparing a house for today's market you must consult with professionals about how to best spend your preparation dollar. A professional stager and real estate agent team can help you decide how to invest your money wisely. Visit www.homegain.com and look at their house preparation maximizer to help with making those decisions.

If you are interested in this property contact their current agent, Dorothy Miller at Coldwell Banker, Oakhurst CA, 559-760-9034.

Dream Interior Redesign & Staging by Ginger Foust is a full service professional staging and redesign company serving the California foothill and mountain communities of Oakhurst, North Fork, Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Wawona and Mariposa. Click here to see a short slideshow with examples of our staging work. Also, visit our website at www.dreamredesigns.com or www.oakhurststaging.com for more information or call 559-877-2442.

Congratulations to John Bortz, YGAOR's Realtor of the Year for 2008. John is a tireless member of the association always providing education and support to members. He has served many roles as an officer and committee chairperson for the local board.

John was joined in business this year by his wife Cathy and they both are with Century 21, Ditton Real Estate in Oakhurst California.

I am particularly grateful to John and Cathy for the support of my Home Staging Business, Dream Interior Redesign and Staging here in the Oakhurst and Mariposa Mountain Area. John understands the value of proper preparation when marketing a house FOR SALE. Thank you, JOHN and CATHY.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home you can't go wrong with John Bortz. Give him a call today at 559-676-3913

Many of you have experienced and lived with these lighting fixtures.

For some reason contractors in our area still think that these albatross fixtures are still ok in kitchens and baths. I know of three spec. builders that persist in putting these into their new builds and that is just crazy in today's lighting market. In the shop or garage, OK but in the house, PLEASE they need to be updated.

Recently Dream Interior Redesign and Home Staging was asked to advise on a home staging and also on separate kitchen redesign. Here are some products that can help homeowners be energy efficient BUT with more style.

Whether in Chrome or Bronze what a big improvement and at a great price compared with some retail lighting specialty stores. I found these at Home Depot.

When preparing a house for the resale, or new sale market, updating the lighting fixtures will impress the potential buyers and help make the sale.

If you need advise on how to properly prepared a house For Sale, call Ginger Foust at Dream Interior Redesign and Staging. Serving the mountain communities surrounding Oakhurst and Mariposa, California, 559-877-2442.