Michele Rose, Burlington County Realtor, RESA

I recently was the victim of a sty in my eye-ick, right? Now, I remember my dad always said when this happens, rub a gold ring on it and it will go away. He even used to keep a gold ring in the medicine cabinet! Well, I did... and it worked. I don't know why or how, but it worked.

So what does this have to do with real estate?

Well, I've been wanting to start a newsletter to send to my email list and I thought it would be fun (along with real estate info) to include a helpful household tip-something tried and true that makes life a little easier.

Recognizing my limited knowledge :-), I'd like to open this up to you all (or "y'all" for some of you!) to contribute your fun little hints for around the house. Nothing "magical," just home remedies, cleaning helps, health helps, garden tips, etc. that might be Useful. When we have a great big list, we'll all have great tips to pass on to our mailing list!

So to start us off, here are a few:

1. Plant a banana peel right next to a rose bush-they love it!

2. Quarter an orange or other citrus fruit and run it through the garbage disposal to freshen and clean it.

3. Sprinkle coffee grounds around acid loving plants such as azaleas, hydrangeas, and rhododendrons to give them a treat.

4. To freshen your microwave, heat vanilla extract in a mug or bowl for a few seconds (don't burn it!)

5. If your heating and air conditioning unit is in an enclosed area (like a laundry room), place an air freshener near it-the scent will be gently circulated throughout the house.

6. When shopping for flowers for the garden, don't forget to add white and yellow, especially along walkways. They will brighten your garden in the evening when all the other flowers have faded into the background.

7. Stubborn stains on clothes? Lestoil directly on stains, even old ones, does the trick and usually does not fade the fabric.

I'm sure I have others but that's enough to get us started. So how about you?

What are your tips and tricks for around the house?

OK-- this is going to be an interesting job! The homeowner has lived in the house for over 30 years and has made very few changes in that time. The bones are great: it has the charm of the Cape Cod style, four bedrooms, two full baths, some hardwood flooring, a cozy fireplace, and it's in a great location in an historic town. The house, however, is in need of some major updating!

When staging, we always keep in mind who the target audience is-- who is likely going to be looking at this house? In this case, our target market is first time homebuyers. That means that this home needs to appeal to them. According to a 2006 National Association of Realtors survey, the median age of first time homebuyers is 32. So when we stage a home, we need to keep those homebuyers in mind.

Now, I know these photos may be a bit alarming but stay tuned!

We have great plans for this home and can't wait to get the work done and get this house sold!

Come back for "Part Two" of our Amazing Transformation!

The Very Cluttered, Dark, & Dated Kitchen

The Other Side of the Kitchen

The Living Room

Come Back to See Part Two of Our Transformation!

I just started a new staging job with a new client, a really nice woman who found me in her internet search for a home stager. We met for the initial consultation, she gave me a tour of the house, and all was going well. With a staging plan in place, as I prepared to leave, my new client said to me with such relief in her voice, "You are so nice! I was afraid you would be mean!"

Mean?

As I stood there (I'm sure with my mouth hanging open), she went on to explain. She had seen the television shows with the not-so-nice stagers who criticize people's homes and unbeknownst to me, she was nervous about inviting me in.

So, I've been contemplating this.

I've always known home sellers might be a bit anxious to have a professional home stager come into their home, telling them what they need to change in order to make their home more appealing to buyers. I always try to reassure my clients-it's not about good or bad design. It is very possible for a house to be perfectly, beautifully designed and still not appeal to the widest array of buyers. Staging takes out the seller's personal taste and lets buyers imagine themselves living there.

So, a little nervous about inviting me in, yes, I expect that. But, afraid I would be mean? I felt terrible she had this impression of stagers. I also began to wonder how many sellers (and real estate agents too, for that matter) hesitate to hire a stager because of this fear?

Don't believe everything you see on TV! The reality is this:

A stager's job is not to be mean and criticize; a stager's job is to tell you the truth about your home and its appeal to homebuyers, and then formulate a plan to make your home show as well as it possibly can. We all have the same goal: for your home to sell as fast as possible for the most money possible.

A good home stager will work with you in a positive way to bring out the best in your home and should be able to do it without giving you nightmares!

Come join me for a tour of this beautiful home located in the desirable Garfield North section of Willingboro! 

You will not be disappointed!

A while back I saw on television show with doctors giving advice on weight loss. They said that yes, some people are genetically predisposed to being overweight and a large part of it is heredity. But, they said, that is not an excuse to be overweight, it just means you have to work harder.

Hmmm...

Kind of like selling a house in a tough market-- it's not that it can't be done, you just have to work harder. Yes, it may be more tough-- but that does not mean it cannot be done!

So what does working harder to get a house sold mean?

• Be Committed: Be serious about selling your house. I mean, seriously serious. I mean doing what is needed to get it sold. I mean taking the advice of your agent and a home stager.
• Have an "Exercise" Plan: Fix the needed repairs, update anything not from this decade, and add a fresh coat of paint.
• Picture Yourself in a New Place: Get into the mindset that this house (which is no longer your home) is going to be sold-soon. Pack away whatever you can live without for the next few months, since you will be moving. (The weight-loss advice would be to get rid of the "fat clothes!")
• Track Your Progress: Get feedback from your agent, be aware of market changes, know your agent's marketing plan, and make sure your home's marketing is excellent. Make sure your home is advertised, especially on the internet.
• Keep Your Goal in Mind: You may have to adjust your price, or you may need to make concessions to get what you want. Keep your goal in mind-you are selling your house. Do not let anything get in the way of that goal!

There is no reason, even in a strong "buyers' market" that a home cannot sell. It needs to be priced well and it needs to show well. As in weight loss, motivation is key.

Now... if only shedding those pounds was as easy as selling a house...