Kathy McGraw ~ Calif Broker

Blogging helps us to let others know who we are, and what we have to offer, whether it's hard core skills, or inspirational messages. But do you really trust the person you are reading? We can learn so much if we are open to new ideas, and take the time to see who is behind a blog. Staging was a term I had never heard of until I joined Active Rain. This Real Estate Network has so many different fields of expertise.

I read some Staging and Feng Shui articles but it wasn't until I looked on my County Dashboard that I saw there was a Stager near me. Janice Sutton of 1st Stage Property Transformation lives and works in Murrieta/Temecula.

I read her blogs, liked what I saw, and made contact. The first time last year that we attempted to stage a very needy house didn't work out. But a few weeks ago, I gave her a call again. One of my listings wasn't getting any activity and I was running out of options. Wanting a fresh perspective I called Janice. We set up an appointment for her FREE Consultation, and she gave me her opinions.......

Oh you should have heard me....

• "Oh no" I don't think my Seller would want to do that !"
• "But I like that Turquoise carpet"
• "What ? You want to take down all those expensive window coverings?"

Oh my I sounded like it was my house. This lasted about 10 minutes before I caught myself, and realized I called a Stager for Advice....so why was I being resistant? So I shut up and listened!!!

I still wasn't sure how I was going to approach my Seller to paint and re-carpet, and I couldn't give his name and number out without his permission.

But first I had to believe in what Janice was saying......and I did, as Staging is her area of Expertise.

Don't get me wrong....I was pretty protective of my client, and I wanted to save him as much money as possible, while getting help with the listing. I figure this wasn't going to be an easy task, but I would give it my best shot, and that's exactly what I told Janice.

I did call the Seller, and explained about staging, why I thought it would be in his interest to do as the Stager recommended, and the cost involved. I really thought he was going to refuse to relist, and just send me on my way. Not only had we not gotten the House Sold in 6 months, but now here I was asking him to pay out even more money. But actually he wouldn't be paying more money in the long run, just the first upfront fee for Staging, and paint and carpet. He said he'd think about it and let me know......and it didn't sound encouraging.

A week went by, and I got an email.....he decided to Stage his home.

I let Janice know and it didn't take long before she had the painter out there, and the carpet guy.

It was the same day the carpet guy finished that Janice was out there setting things up.

I was amazed at the energy that she had, and the way things were already starting to look when I got there. Furniture, plants, taking down the window coverings to let in more light; Staging.....she obviously knew what she was doing, and that's what I wanted.

Now that all her work is done, it's time for me to do mine :)

I did say this was a transaction with 3 Active Rain Members......

• First....Melinda Jones from Sun Lakes Realty in Banning gave me the referral. Working together in the past, and trust that I would do whatever I could for the client has resulted in several referrals from Melinda.
• Second.....That would be me :)
• Third Janice Sutton of 1st Stage Property Transformation in Temecula- a city about 45 minutes from the property.

Professional Respect and Working Together for the common goal of helping the client......Yes 3 Active Rain Members Working together.

I just love what Janice did with this home........and of course I thank Melinda for the Referral.

How about you, do you trust other Real Estate Professionals, or people that work in fields that are associated with Real Estate?

By: Kathy McGraw- CELLing Realty in Riverside County and Authoring the Blog California Real Estate and Life

The Art of Marketing You Group, here on Active Rain, has become my new best friend. I love new ideas, and love things that can increase my business. Like so many people, time seems to be more abundant than money these days. Reading Active Rain, and other Real Estate Networking sites keeps us on top of any new changes to the Market, or anything new for Marketing or Technology. Following marti garaughty's Blog and Wallpaper Tutorials is like a soap opera....each week we just want more :)

Well, Marti's last Post............was a great Tutorial on how to make our own Wallpaper. I was quite honored that Marti used one of my Photos as his example, and helped me make a September 2008 Wallpaper/Calendar FREE for download at my outside Blog California Real Estate and Life .

OK, this Post toots my own horn, but I am so proud of myself, and extremely Thankful to Marti.......

As soon as Marti's Post came out I started trying to make my own Calendar. Then I had questions....several actually. I know Marti explained it all, and in plain English to boot...but I still messed it up. This is my first attempt, and the picture took too much room, and my Icons didn't fit right. But I didn't give up. I commented back on Marti's Post, and then after he answered I tried again......and again.....and again.

Well.....today I got it.

I am so thrilled.....I have the October 2008 Wallpaper done. myself.....I did it :) This is a picture of the Progress I was making learning from the Wallpaper Tutorials. I had to keep my Active Rain Window opened to Marti's Tutorial in the beginning, but who better to stay with me hour after hour while I practiced.

And now that I can do it, it wasn't that hard after all :)

You can Download my September 2008 Wallpaper for FREE from my other Blog: California Real Estate and Life, and then the October 2008 Wallpaper/Calendar will be available at the end of September. If you can't find it on my blog...look under the Custom Calendars Category on the right hand side of the blog, in the Sidebar. Remember to check back each month for the new one, I am thinking about having 2 choices each month, but can't guarantee it :) If you would like a Custom Wallpaper/Calendar of Cabazon or something in the Cabazon/Whitewater area let me know, as I probably have a picture that I can make one for you. Just send me an email and I'll do my best.

By: Kathy McGraw - CELLing Realty Author of California Real Estate and Life Blog

Dori Lopez, Manager of the SGP Copy Shop, is a graduate of Banning High School, and currently attends Crafton College. One of her goals is to use her music to help others....she wants to study Music Theraphy. This is Dori's 1st Performance in a Theatre Procuction, and you can see how proud she is. Well we're proud of her also....

As a tribute to Dori, I am buying a couple tickets to her performance to be given away to the first 2 people to personally congratulate Dori through this Blog Post.

All you have to do is go to the Copy shop..SGP Design...at 515 Ramsey St (across from the old Laundrymat) and ask Dori what Instrument she will be playing in Damn Yankees.

The first 2 people that come back onto this blog and answer the question win a ticket to her performance. The tickets will be available for pick-up at the Copy Shop on Wednesday.

Damn Yankees will be performed Friday and Saturday at 8PM starting this Friday the 29th and Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM.

By: Kathy McGraw- CELLing Realty

Almost a month ago a new CA law went into effect banning cell phone use while driving. You had to have a hands-free device, but the joke of the law was that you couldn't talk on the phone while driving, but you could text :)

Well, today the CA Senate approved a bill to outlaw texting....but the Governor said he won't sign any bills into law until we get a budget. If approved the fines would be around the same as for cellphone use...$20 for the first offense, and $50 for the next.

And if all that doesn't make you believe CA is trying to make drivers pay attention to the road, they also passed a bill outlawing pets on laps (or in arms) While driving. This one if signed into law wouldn't go into effect until July of next year, 2009. I always did wonder what would happen if Fido got too excited while riding in the drivers lap.....If this law gets signed, the fine would actually be more than for using your cellphone or texting !

OK, so now I am waiting for them to ban eating while driving....no more driving through McDonald's and eating that hamburger on our way to our next appointment..... LOL :)

By: Kathy McGraw- CELLing Realty

You go to show a property and take your client into the kitchen to look around. Something is sticking out from under the fridge, and so you take a look......Oh gawd....it's a mouse. If you're squemish do NOT look at the first picture.

A live Mouse that is squiggling to get free. Your client hasn't seen it yet, and hey we're all supposed to Disclose....so come on what do you do? Kick the trap back under the fridge, take it out and throw it away, or allow the client to see it and say...well at least the trap worked LOL :)

OK, so now we know the house has a mouse....so I clean my Real Estate Glasses to see what else I might find...please please don't let him/her have more friends.

OK, this is what I found: Look at the metal strip at the bottom of the Door. Come to find out that a while back the owner of the home had an infestation of mice, so called a Pest Control Company.

Apparently the owners were so disgusted that they were willing to do just about anything to get rid of the mice. The Pest Control Company came and did an assessment, and one of the main things that was emphasized was entry points!

Look at the Picture on the left:

Apparently the Pest Control Company put glue traps in different places around the house, steel wool around pipe openings, and then talked the owner into putting metal strips on the bottom of the security door (to keep the mice out).

Do you see anything wrong with this ?

The Owners were distraught over having mice in the house, and after calling in the Professionals, figured they knew what they were doing. Ahh....but my Real Estate eyes saw something they didn't. If a mouse can climb up counters, and jump several feet...how in the world is this 2 inch piece of metal going to keep them out? Look at the opening that is right above the metal strip.

This is what I learned about Mice:

• Mice can manipulate their bodies and squeeze through an opening the size of a dime.
• Mice can't chew through steel wool, like an ordinary SOS Pad....so break off pieces and plug up small holes
• If the home is unoccupied, disinfect everything with bleach as Mouse Droppings can carry diseases
• Glue Traps don't kill a mouse, it only traps them.....there are different traps available including the old fashioned one that you "set" with a spring action. Glue traps are the least humane way to get rid of mice.
• Set traps about every 8-10 ft....but most important CHECK THEM at least every day in the beginning :)
• Mice are most active at night.....so plan to do your Mouse duty in the morning before other Agents get there.
• Mouse Urine smells.....clean with bleach or a disenfectant, and do not touch the area or the mouse with bare hands (yea like we would do this anyway :(
• ***Mice have litters of 6-7 at a time.*** A baby mouse is a Pup.
• Mice can jump quite far......and they can also climb up vertical surfaces...straight up !
  

Don't let a little Mouse take over your listing.....it's hard enough finding a buyer for a house without the Mouse running them off :) :)

By: Kathy McGraw- CELLing Realty