Bethany Poole, Bella Staging & Design SLC, Utah

I have come across Realtors who feel "inadequate" if they can't tell their sellers everything a stager should know. My personal opinion is that way of thinking is harming you and your business. As a licensed Realtor you are not necessarily a home stager. Your job is to list the home and come up with effective marketing to sale the home. There is nothing wrong with getting advice and opinions from others who are professionals in their area. Don't be afraid to bring on other professionals, such as home stager's or photographers to help you do your job to the highest caliber. Take pride in knowing you have time to focus on what your job is and you can delegate the rest to others. Besides isn't it nice knowing you have a professional photographer to do your photos so you know they will turn out great! The same goes for staging. There are tricks of the trade and a good professional stager has the time and the resources to get the job done and get it done right! Also, when you build relationships with other proffesionals in your area a lot of times you can get discounts on these services to pass on to your clients making you look even better and your client that much happier!

The article below is written by Debra Gould who I was trained by and look up to as a mentor in the staging business. If you or a client has considered staging but need a few more reasons to finally decide to take that crucial step to sell your home, keep on reading and I think you'll understand the importance! If you need a stager in Utah contact Bethany Poole with Bella Staging and Design, bethany@bellsatginganddesign.com (801) 688-7026 www.bellastaginganddesign.com

"Why Hire a Professional Home Stager?

There are lots of simple things homeowners can do on their own to decorate their

homes to sell. They can get rid of clutter, repaint, clean or put out fresh flowers. So why

hire a home stager?

Many homeowners are unsure of what paint colors to choose or where to move the

clutter. The process of selling a home can be completely overwhelming. They often lack

real estate knowledge about their local markets and how homes in their price range

should look.

A home stager has the ability to look at a home with a fresh pair of eyes. They view the

home as a highly critical buyer would see it. Home staging expert Debra Gould provides

five examples of how a professional home stager can benefit you:

1. A home stager knows what's needed to create the right environment quickly and

at the lowest cost.

2. A home stager knows what homes in different price ranges look like and what's

selling. They will give homeowners suggestions that their real estate agent may

be afraid to offer because the agent does not want to risk losing the listing.

3. A home stager is not emotionally attached to any of the home's contents, which

means that they can see the home in a way that someone who has been living

there for years simply cannot. Using their fresh vision, they recommend the

optimal way to rearrange existing furniture, art and accessories.

4. A home stager can quickly choose new paint colors, flooring, tiles, countertops or

any number of finishes. They have a ready source of painters, cleaners,

handymen, off-site storage and a myriad of other services that may be needed

on short notice.

5. A home stager can bring in replacement furniture, accessories and art if what is

there isn't appropriate for the home's target market or the home is empty.

Home staging is not just for multimillion dollar homes. Even for modest homes, staging

can have a dramatic effect on the selling price and the number of days spent on the

market. For example, one of the homes Gould staged had previously been on the

market for months with the best offer being $350,000. She spent 90 minutes with the

owner rearranging the furniture, putting items in storage and telling him what needed to

be cleaned. He sold the house the following week for $361,000!

How many other (legal) ways can you think of to invest $600 and get an $11,000 return

on your investment the following week?"

Internationally recognized home staging expert Debra Gould is president of Six Elements and

creator of the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program. Gould has staged

hundreds of homes and uses her expertise to train others worldwide. Visit her at

www.stagingdiva.com and www.sixelements.com

Written by internationally recognized home staging expert Debra Gould, The Staging Diva®,

www.stagingdiva.com. © 2008, Six Elements Inc. Used with permission.

I've been studying the basics of Feng Shui (fungshway) to see how it might impact the sell of your home or listing. In the little bit I know about it so far, there are some things that could have a huge affect, for example cutter. Clearing clutter is one of the basic rules of staging and makes a world of difference not only to the seller living in the home, but for potential buyers. Have you ever noticed a difference in your thinking abilities when your office is cluttered compared to when it's clean? Have you ever noticed a more restfull sleep when your bedroom is clean? Well the same types pf feelings are there when a stranger enters your home for the first time. Do you want them to feel welcome thinking they can picture themselves living happy there? Or a first impression of chaos, thinking only about the sellers and their cluttered living habits, or about the changes they will need to make to the home before they could live happy there. Some people may even think the house has been poorly maintained. Not the thoughts you want from a potential buyer, especially if you are hoping for top dollar. So do yourself a favor and start clearing the clutter! Don't let it be a factor on how much someone is willing to pay for your home or listing!Make them want to live there now and be willing to pay top dollar to get it!

TIPS: you can find all sorts of de-cluttering and organizing tips on websites like HGTV.com or take it one step further and hire a pro-organizer or home stager in your area.

So this home was staged and it sold after 30 days on the market! Just look at the before and after difference in the photos and you can see for yourself why staging really works!

The walls were painted a more nuetral color, the counters were re-done with granite tiles and the large cabinet was removed over the island to give the kitchen a more open feeling. They also replaced the appliances with stainless steel.

The family room had a nice color on the walls, but not appealing to the masses, so we toned it down again to a more neutral color, cleared out the clutter and staged it with rental furniture to give it a calming feeling.

Again by toning down the paint color, adding the same black granite tiles like in the kitchen, cleaning up clutter and adding inviting accessories this bathroom looks new and nice!

Above is the before picture of the re-design of this apartment complex rental office. Below is the after. Quite a difference, and on a pretty small budget! It will be completley finished when the vertical blinds are replaced with 2"wood blinds the rug for the seating area arrives, and the decorative molding below the the chair rail is installed. When your office looks good, you feel good in it and your clients enjoy it too! Which office would you be more relaxed in and ready to write up that offer?