Home Staging is an art and very few people can appreciate this form of art. Interestingly enough it is still a relatively new marketing tool that in my opinion is not fully embraced by sellers and many of us real estate agents. I'm always fascinated by the ability of a home stager to transform a simple part of a home into a sophisticated and inviting one. Dena Badger is a friend and a fine professional in the business of Home Staging, today I catch up with Dena as I interview her for my Business of the Month article.
Q. What made you go into Home Staging and why?
A. I love the "Before & After" concept - and I love Real Estate - so when I heard about Home Staging it was a perfect fit! It is so much fun to make a few simple changes in a client's home and see their face light up and hear them say "I never would have thought of doing this, I wish it had been this way all along!"
Q. What are the biggest challenges you face in this line of work?
A. Before the economy became challenging my biggest challenge was getting a house completely finished in a short time frame - now I have to say my biggest challenge is helping people to understand that staging is worth the money it takes to do it! Even in this economy - especially in this economy - homes need to be at their very best - there are so many homes available at good prices - buyers need a reason to buy yours!
Q. For someone who is considering this business, what do you advice they should do first?
A. For someone wanting to start a staging business now I advise that you purchase some of your own furnishings and decor - some transitional - neutral sofas & chairs that you can use in vacant homes - this way you can save your clients money by not paying the high prices of the rental companies (the rental companies are very helpful and provide good service, but it is expensive.) This way you will be able to use the furnishings that will look best in the home. It is very hard to find exactly what you need in the stores. I would also recommend that a future stager shadow a seasoned stager - volunteer your time and work with them - this will give the best training you can get! (good advise Dena!). Times are tough right now so expect a slow start.
Q. Home owners and Realtors have this idea that home staging is "expensive" - what do you say about that?
A.I realize that home staging seems expensive to most people - it is good to gain a little understanding: Properly staged homes sell for as much as 6% more than their un-staged comps. A stager's "vision" is invaluable to a homeowner. A stager will look at a home with "buyer's eyes" and will make suggestions that will take a home from frumpy to fabulous! A stager will cause those cold empty rooms to become stylish and inviting - helping buyers to feel as though they could move right in! Compared to the benefits and monetary gain of staging the expense is minimal - if you are not convinced try it just once and experience the difference it makes.
Q. How can people get a hold of you for your services and consultations?
A. If you would like to give staging a try or you are looking for good staging services give us a call: First Impressions Home Staging and Redesign: 530-604-7628 or email: frstimpressions@frontiernet.net. If you aren't sure and you want more information don't hesitate to call!
You're an outstanding professional Dena and we sure have benefited from your staging experience. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this interview with us, your thoughts and advise are appreciated.
DON'T MISS Redding's Culinary Classic - 2nd Annual
Everyone is Invited to Attend
Join in on the fun at the as local chefs, students and food enthusiasts compete in the
2nd annual Redding Culinary Classic. Cheer on your favorite contestants and enjoy cooking demonstrations presented by local professional chefs.
Contestants will be selected from the following Levels
Winning recipes will be featured on Crave Redding!
This will be a lot of fun...watch as contestant set-up, prepare and plate their selected dishes. Judges will have a challenging time I'm sure but how fun will this be! Here are the details:
Redding Culinary Classic - 2nd Annual
Saturday, November 15, 2008
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Simpson University, Emeriti Dining Center
2211 College View Drive (map it!)
(from Shasta View entrance, 1st building on the left)
This financial crisis affects us all, there's no doubt about it! We are getting calls from friends and family members and several clients who either fear loosing their jobs or are looking to get back to work (for those who have been in early retirement). These are tough times and we're doing everything we can to help.
For those looking to get a job here in Redding, we've created a list of openings in our City. Maria has over 10 years of Human Resources experience and will be glad to help you out with your resume and give you some interviewing tips.
Current Openings:
Electric Utility Project Coordinator(City of Redding), Salary $5,791 - $9,200/month
Nursing Home Administrator (Golden Living Centers)
Account Executive(Mapleton Communications of Redding)
Bookkeeper Assistant (Viking Truck)
Receptionist/Van Driver(Enloe Medical Center in Chico, CA)
Residential Counselor(RemiVista Inc.)
Merchandise Associate(TJ Max)
We will be updating this on a regular basis, so come back and check for more.
This time of year is one of my favorites. The temperature begins to drop slightly but the sun still shines here in Redding allowing for outdoor activities like hiking, al fresco dining or a road trip to a nearby towns. My personal favorite is ccapturing the autumn colors in search for that perfect Thanksgiving picture I use on my greeting cards.
When I think of autumn, I think of "home" and the smell of freshly-baked apple pie. I think of my family and the many warm gatherings we've had over the years. For me, autumn is a time to enjoy life, enjoy our family and enjoy this beautiful country! We're seeing some turbulent times these days and while the uncertainty of "how long will this last" is a true reality, we still have each other, we have life, our standards of living are still greater and better than others less fortunate, so take this time of year and hug those you love and hug your country.
Happy Autumn Day!
Maria J.
Due to the fires we had this summer, the City of Redding canceled the annual fireworks show "Freedom Festival" that takes place every fourth of July here in Redding. But these fires haven't stopped us from celebrating our independence and now that things are calmer and cooler around here, we will be able to enjoy this event and appreciate it for what it is.
WHAT: Largest fireworks display in Northern California! Vendors, food, and live music. Outside on the Convention Center grounds.
WHEN: Saturday, October 18th
Come join us, bring your cameras and the whole family!
Chris & Maria
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Experience life in the Northstate. Affordable housing, excellent schools and a world of recreational acitivities make Redding an excellent place to live, raise a family or simply retire, we know!
It's the strong family values that brought us back to Redding. We spent several years in Southern, California and longed to live in a peaceful place where our children could have a better and safer place to live. For us, "quality of life" is not defined by fancy buildings, stores, entertainment or even the size of a city. We define it by the tranquility of the area, the clean air, friendly neighbors, clear rivers and lakes, open spaces and a stress-free lifestyle. Redding was the obvious choice.
When not at work, Chris likes to go fishing with his dad and brother. He enjoys stream fishing, deer and duck hunting and taking his family out to the lake. Maria loves the outdoors just as much and has a passion for photography. She likes capturing the beauty of the North State and she Blogs about everything Redding. She has a love for gourmet cooking and looks forward to her "Dinner Club" gatherings with friends. She appreciates the Mediterranean and Italian cuisine and especially likes to entertain friends and family with exciting meals. When you're proud of what you do and enjoy everything about it, it should reflect in the quality of your work. Real Estate is a career we are very passionate about. To us, it's about combining the elements of exceptional customer service, appreciation for home design and solid management skills. We are successful in this industry because we have a heart for it. Our level of service has been measured by a third-party company (Leading Research Corporation) and we have been recognized for maintaining 100% client satisfaction year after year, currently holding a 5 out of 5 rating (on a rating scale of 1-5). 
REDDING REAL ESTATE SALES
SENIORS REAL ESTATE SPECIALISTS (SRES Certified)
FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS INVESTMENT PROPERTIES RELOCATIONS
INTERNET MARKETING (via SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION)
NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERTS
*SET APART FROM THE COMPETITION*
We are proud to be associated with GMAC (Real Estate Professionals, GMAC). Customer Service is the heart of our business and the reason our clients continue to refer us to their friends and family. At GMAC, "service" is what sets us apart from the competition. Our office here in Redding, CA ranks #2 in North America. Click on this article for further details: Quality Service.
We appreciate you taking interest in who we are and in visiting our Blog. We have written many articles with you in mind. Visti our BLOG regulary and feel free to pass on any feedback you might have, we value your input!
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the excellent service you provided when you assisted me in selling my home and purchasing another home. Your knowledge of the housing market enabled me to sell my home for a fair price in a very short amount of time. My home was on the market less than 2 weeks when I received a cash offer for it. Your professionalism in handling each transaction of the selling and buying aspects went far and above my expectations. Both your work ethic and willingness to put in long hours, is very appreciated. When I had questions or concerns, you were available even late at night. When I accepted the offer on my home, I needed to find another home in a short amount of time. You located many homes in my price range with the features I was looking for. You kept in close contact with my lender and offered suggestions to me to make for a smooth transition. With your assistance, I was able to find the exact kind of home I was looking for in less than 3 weeks. Your efficiency in setting up all my appointments for home inspection, roof inspection, plumbing inspection, etc. with your network of companies is amazing. This experience is one that I will never forget and am truly grateful. Your house warming gift to me was very thoughtful and I am enjoying it with my friends and family! You have continued to check in periodically to ensure that my relocation is going well." Thank you again! -- Ms. Young 4/14/08
"Chris and Maria were exceptional to work with in every way. They were extremely supportive, caring and conscientious about every detail and concern we had during our transition. They have impeccable character and ethics, listen attentively and honestly give their input, which made both the experience and the sale of our home a huge success! We will highly recommend them and consider them to be superior as professionals in real estate. Thank you Chris and Maria!" ---Mr. & Mrs. Ferrara "We have purchased 4 homes in our lifetime. We've never received such personal, professional and fun people to have represented us. We had some issues with a contractor but Chris and Maria stayed by our side and guided us throughout. My husband doesn't care for "sales people" but Chris and Maria are the exception. They always addressed our concerns, you are lucky to have them on board." -- Mr. & Mrs. Bivens
"We were impressed with the organization and personal skills of our real estate agents. Redding has become a desirable place to live. Chris and Maria presented us with two offers at top asking price the very next day" ---Mr. & Mrs. King
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