Karen Otto, Collin County, Plano, TX Home Stager

This time last year , Home Star Staging along with another Plano-based home staging professional (and my good friend), Barie Pinnell, with WRE Interiors, were interviewed for an article by the Dallas Morning News. It was an article regarding of course Home Staging for sellers.

As we all know, in today's tough real estate market, home staging is fast becoming a way of setting a home apart from the competition, but not everyone understands how to work with a home stager.

Barie and I, along with a few other local home staging professionals had actually gotten together for the article and collectively staged a property that was photographed to be part of the story.

While we waited and waited for the article to appear it just never seemed to make it. Barie called me a couple of weeks ago and said she'd been contacted by the Dallas Morning News and that the article would run on September 5th.

Well, I'm happy to say my Google Alerts this morning showed me just that.

Here is the link to the Dallas Morning News article: How to Stage Your Home to Sell Fast

Proudly serving, Collin County and North Dallas, Realtors, Developers, Sellers , Investors, and news publications, Home Star Staging is here for you Texas!

What a timely blog written by Connie Tebyani called "Got....Interns?"

I just finished teaching my 3rd Home Staging class at Collin College in Plano, TX this week and it was the smallest class yet. It was actually really nice and intimate and I have been very busy these last two weeks with work and school starting for my kids, so the class size was a welcome respite from the hectic nature of this past month.

The last day of the class I talk about vacant properties and how important it is to stage them. I've written on this topic several times and you can read these two blogs, "Vacants... a growing market" and "Redemption for the soul less. Staging SAVES your vacant property from the no sale graveyard" to get an idea of my feelings about them.

After reading Connie's blog this week and also my staging partner putting the suggestion out there, I decided to open up an offer to those in my class the last night to come and help out at a vacant property I happened to be staging the next day. This was perfect timing and the class was so small, I felt comfortable offering this. This would not be a paying job for them but a learning, hands - on experience.

I asked that if they voluntarily chose to come and assist, to sign a waiver and a small contract stipulating things like they assume their own risk (not that staging is high risk but you never know), hold harmless the various individuals and companies involved, won't release the name or address of the owner/house, and although they won't be paid, they may take before and after photos for print portfolio use only (no web).

One student took me up on the offer and she showed up and did an awesome job!

Her name is Myrna, and she's a mighty talented woman. She had brought some photos to class the last night and showed us some work she's done to her own house. I was duly impressed. She turned out to be an ideal student assistant and I plan on using her again when I need help. While the job was a little more hectic than I like, (many contractors still working in the property and we had to work around them) it turned out great.

Below are some photos of work in the property that Myrna assisted Home Star Staging on.

Bedroom 1 Before

Bedroom 1 After

Bathroom Before

Bathroom After

I have to say it was a wonderful experience and I received an email from Myrna this morning that brought me to tears. Without going into the details essentially she realized that my mission in both my personal and professional life is to help others without judgment, without competition or ill intent. I honestly have a passion to educate others not only on the benefits of home staging but how we can all be of service to one another. In this case the student taught the teacher how important one life can be to another.

Thank you Connie for your timely blog, and thank you Myrna for inspiring me to be a better teacher.

Proudly serving, Collin County and North Dallas, Students , Realtors, Developers, Sellers & Investors, Home Star Staging is here for you Texas!

If you don't already know it (and if you don't have children in PISD or at all, it's easy not to know) tomorrow, Monday August 25^th, marks the beginning of the new 2008-09 school year for PISD students, teachers and staff.

I know we're not quite accepting this in the Otto household today.

Although we KNOW it, it just doesn't feel like it.

Maybe because my kids are older or cooler about it and don't care to have the latest Jonas Brothers or Miley Cyrus lunch gear or t-shirts. They've settled into the "back to school groove" easier than they used to and I guess I have too.

Reality comes early for one 8^thgrader tomorrow in my house with her 7:00 AM wake up call. The older of my two, a senior this year, has a late arrival schedule of 9:50 AM due to his top loaded schedule of classes and theatre commitments so he's actually excited to be able to sleep in.

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow will be crazy in most Plano neighborhoods and to DRIVE CAREFULLY!

The first week of school can be extremely frustrating and stressful for anyone, with kids or not, and the most important thing to remember is that it's safety first, for our kids and ourselves as they get to and from school each day until the routines finally settle in.

There are always first timers too, kindergartners and students who have relocated over the summer months, let's show them our Plano hospitality and just ease back into the groove.

After all, for us older kids, we are much cooler about it now aren't we?

Have a wonderful first day of school Plano ISD!

2008-09 Plano East Theatre Students

The award winning Plano East Theatre Department under the leadership of Lisa Hale, Theatre Director and Zachary Elms, Technical Director is getting ready for the fall 2008 season. Auditions for the season's first show, starring the "by audition and invitation only" Theatre Major Studies students are August 26^th & 27^th.

The first show, The Rimers of Eldritch, by Lanford Wilson, opens October 2^nd through the 4^th at 7:00 PM in the Plano East Theatre Auditorium. Audience seating for this show will be limited. Tickets for the play are $6 for students and $8 for adults and are available at the box office the night of the show.

The Rimers of Eldritch is a play set in a dilapidated mid-western town whose boon days have long since past. The story finds the town in ethical turmoil after a crime against a teenager and murder trial begins. Due to the mature subject matter of this show, some content may not be suitable for children under 13.

The fall season also brings the musical, Footloose to the stage on November 20^th, 21^st, and 22^nd showtime 7:30 PM. Auditions for this show begin October 6^th and 7^th. Auditions are open to all students at Plano East Senior High. This show is recommended for all ages. Tickets for the musical are $8 for students and $10 for adults and are available presale or at the box office the night of the show.

Footloose is a high spirited, high energy musical based on the hit 1984 movie, starring Kevin Bacon. It's the story of a big city boy who moves to a small town and shakes up the status quo with his unconventional, rebellious attitude. Music includes; "Holding Out for a Hero", "Almost Paradise", "Let's Hear if for the Boy" and always a crowd favorite "Footloose".

Mark you calendars now and join Plano East Theatre for an exciting Fall Season!

For more information please call 469-752-9247.

By: Karen Otto, PESH TMS Booster Club Publicity Chair 2008-09

Just a quick reminder to my fellow DFW RE colleagues that we'd love to see you at our annual fundraiser today to benefit our wonderful organizations.

Below are the details.

I'll be there all afternoon and if you're in the area, stop by, I'd love to say hi!

The Dallas Regional Chapter of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (DIRC) and the Forth Worth Regional Chapter of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (FWIRC) along with our valued business parter CORT Furniture Rental, are co-hosting a fundraising event for World Wide Staging Service Week 2008 benefiting our philanthropies.

Along with the IASHP Foundation, DIRC & FWIRC are also raising awareness and money to benefit Promise House, Dallas, TX.

The Mission of Promise House (from the Promise House website)

"The mission of Promise House is to stabilize and offer hope to youth and families in crisis through emergency shelter, crisis intervention, counseling, transitional living, street outreach, and education, all free of charge. Most of our clients come from the North Texas area and struggle with problems including homelessness, abuse, family problems, runaway behavior, drug/alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, truancy, and delinquency.

Promise House is a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible charitable organization governed by a Board of Directors. It is licensed by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services."

Please come support this event to; network, shop, enter a fabulous drawing, bid on the Silent Auction, eat and have a great time in support of a worthy cause!

Details below. Bring a friend or 6!

Cort Furniture Rental www.cort.com 14215 Inwood Rd Dallas, TX 75244 (972) 386-2981 Get directions More information »