Linda Leyble

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I saw an article last week about how interior designers should find their "Lipstick Effect." Leonard Lauder of Estee Lauder created that phrase to explain how his company could survive in an economic downturn - because women would spend money on makeup and lipstick - the little extravagant necessities - even when money is tight.

So, it got me thinking about my own work as a designer, stager and decorative artist. We all have to find that "sweet spot" that keeps us making sales and not being a victim of the economy.

So - where is the "Lipstick Effect" in your home or listing - those special finishing touches that make your home "more special?" It can be as simple as creating a spa atmosphere in your master bath (with little soaps and bath salts bought for a song at Home Goods) - but a little touch like this will be remembered by your future buyers.

In one of the condos that we staged last year, we featured two "Lipstick Effect" items - what I like to call our "signature touch" in homes that we stage - our antiqued ceiling medallions. We had a small one over the kitchen table - and one in the dining room. The condo sold in two days at a very significan profit. In the majority of our work, we will place these lovely items in dining rooms, entryways, master bedrooms and baths, over kitchen islands, in powder rooms and kitchens eating areas. With my design and decorative art clients - this is always my "no fail" upsell item.

This one was a gift to a realtor that gives me a lot of my staging assignments. It features gold and copper leafing that has been antiqued.

This pictured medallion took some time and effort to create - but usually in a few short hours (while we are working on other parts of the home) - - I can turn a plain medallion into a beautiful showpiece. It is always the talk of the home. Consider adding a medallion to your home or listing for the "Lipstick Effect" - that small extravagance that people just can't pass up.

For Sale: During the winter season, my company offers these medallions for sale. They make great gifts for your family, friends, and clients - or for yourself. We have many different price ranges - from $150 on up to $500, depending on how large and detailed the medallion is. If you'd like to have more information about this - just email me at Linda.Leyble@gmail.com or or call me at 631 277-2209. I'd be glad to tell you more about it, show you additional styles and prices. For Active Rain members, we are offering a 10% discount until December 10th, 2009. Please allow at least two weeks to have it delivered to your home or office.

New - Join my free e-newsletter mailing list: For great ideas like this, speed staging ideas and marketing strategies that will help you sell your home and listing faster and for more profit. Email me at Linda.Leyble@gmail.com with the subject line "Subscribe" and I will put you on the list of our "Creative Staging Strategies."

Thanks

Linda Leyble

www.beautifulstagedhomes.com

www.studioofdecorativearts.com

Hi Everyone...

I had a great time meeting with all the attendees at the Sayville, NY Library Home Staging event that I did on October 14th. The audience was comprised of all home sellers (and several future ones). Not one realtor in sight - despite the fact the I invited many local agents to attend. Oh well - that must mean their businesses are doing great!

Anyway, I raffled off several door prizes - two staging accessories (that I really love and use a lot) and one home staging consultation. All the attendees stayed until closing time - still asking questions about how to solve this problem and that. Plus - they all had questions and comments about the Before and After pictures on my PowerPoint presentation. They couldn't believe that the rooms I worked on were able to be transformed so much! I was also very happy to know that they all stayed quiet during my Niche Marketing Ideas - about how to stage your home to attract the "Most Probable Buyer." I thought that Marketing 101 would put them to sleep - but, on the contrary, they took to it very well - and they really "got it!"

I taped the presentation - and showed it to several realtors who told me that it was the best staging and marketing program that they had ever seen. So - I may be offering it as a downloadable video in the future. It will be a great tutorial for realtors to use for their clients who may be resistant to doing anything with their homes when they are selling.

From doing the presentation, I was able to get another staging consultation - and that turned into a staging job. The seller wants to sell by themselves - no realtor. I told them that they would sell more quickly with a realtor representing them (along with my staging expertise of course)...so I hope that they will choose one of the realtors that I work closely with.

It did get me thinking about the whole FSBO and DIY thing though. Sometimes when I am marketing to realtors and they tell me that they have "a girl in the office that does that," I don't know what to say to them. I look at their listings on their websites and - the majority of the time - there's no evidence of any staging...or even good photography/photo styling present. I was always taught to be polite - so I don't usually say anything when I hear about how the agency has a realtor who does "decorating" on board. I usually just end the conversation with a Thank You and that's the end of it.

So - I'd like to ask: How do realtors respond to homesellers who say "Oh - I can do it all by myself - I don't need you." It's really a very similar problem!

Thanks,

Linda Leyble, Creative Director and Founder

Beautiful Staged Homes and Studio of Decorative Arts

www.beautifulstagedhomes.com and www.studioofdecorativearts.com

If you would like to subscribe to our e-newsletter "Creative Home Staging Strategies" please e mail me at Linda.Leyble@gmail.com

FREE SEMINAR ON HOME STAGING AT SAYVILLE LIBRARY, October 14

How to Successfully Stage & Sell Your Home. In this exciting free seminar, you will learn about the benefits of home staging from expert stager and designer, Linda Leyble of Beautiful Staged Homes. Attendees will learn how to sell their homes quickly and for potentially more money by utilizing key staging techniques. In today's market, you need to create a home that buyers will fall in love with - a home that's organized, stylish and pulled together. Come learn tips on paint colors, flooring, lighting, furniture placement and more. Also - Get tips on how to create a home that will appeal to your most likely buyer. Attendees could win a free staging consultation and other valuable prizes.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, Oct 14, 7PM-8:30PM.

LOCATION: The Sayville Library, 88 Greene Ave, Sayville NY 11782.

TO REGISTER: Call the library at 631 589-4440 ext 305 to register.

ABOUT BEAUTIFUL STAGED HOMES

As accomplished, certified home stagers, Beautiful Staged Homes views homes objectively - with "buyers" eyes. The company benefitted from the rigorous training of Barb Schwarz (who started the staging industry over 35 years ago) of StagedHomes.com. Experienced in using time-tested, cost-effective techniques that have worked on a national level, Linda Leyble and her team have staged many homes on Long Island - most of these sold in less than a week. In addition, as trained decorative painters, the company can magically transform dated countertops or cabinetry into designer showpieces - for a fraction of the cost of demolishing and buying new. Linda's decorative painting company was awarded the "Best of Long Island 2008" award - and has been nominated again for 2010 by the readers of the Long Island Press.

Email: Linda.Leyble@gmail.com if you would like to be on the mailing list for the e-newsletter "Creative Home Staging Ideas" sent every two weeks.

For more information, call Linda Leyble at 631 793-1315 or see her websites:

www.beautifulstagedhomes.com

www.beautifulstagedhomes.blogspot.com

www.studioofdecorativearts.com

www.studioofdecorativearts.blogspot.com

I was thinking today about the differences between myself and my husband and how we both make decisions. He is an engineer and he over-analyzes things way too much. He can only make a decision about something after researching all angles - every cost vs. benefit factoid known to man that can go into making a decision. My stepson - also an engineer - is looking for a home and he just lost out on the one he really wanted because he didn't act fast enough. He was too busy taking pictures of the neighborhood...doing research...weighing all the pros and cons. The home went into contract last night - without him!!

Me, on the other hand, being a visual artist - I tend to trust my eyes, my heart and my gut when I make a decision. When it comes to real estate - I believe there are a whole lot of people like myself making buying decisions heavily based on emotional reactions.

This got me thinking also about the 1960 Presidential debate between Kennedy and Nixon. I was just a little kid then - but I remember my mother, a staunch Democrat, telling me why Kennedy won the election. During the debate, Kennedy looked great, he was well-spoken, calm, and self assured. Nixon was a sweaty mess - even though he spoke well and had good ideas. Kennedy won the debate among the TV viewers because he was visually and emotionally appealing. The radio listeners, however, thought that Nixon won the debate. This TV debate was key: Kennedy removed any objections the voters might have had during that debate and Nixon increased the fear among voters that going with him might be the wrong decision.

So...how well are you increasing the visual and emotional appeal of your properties?...How are you removing the objections prospective buyers might have? How are you allaying their fears and bolstering their propensities to feel positive about the property so that they will make an offer...sooner rather than later?

THE "NIXON" KITCHEN

THE "KENNEDY" KITCHEN

This condo sold in a week - for $6,000 above the list price.

Whenever possible, always try to ramp up the visual and emotional aspects of a home - someone like me may be the prospective buyer!!

Linda Leyble, Owner and Founder; Beautiful Staged Homes (www.beautifulstagedhomes.blogspot.com) and Studio of Decorative Arts (www.studioofdecorativearts.com); Great River, NY