Beginning next Monday, January 5th, I will be starting a new series called 'Build a Better Life'. This ten part series will be to help inspire, motivate and get you moving in the right direction this year. This series is not about having a better career, though that may certainly be a significant part of your goal setting. This series is about creating a better life.
I have set up a new private community: http://activerain.com/groups/betterlife so we can openly post without fear of lurkers.
If you would like to be part of this project, please visit the site to join, or email me privately at melissa@StagingAndReDesign.com
Please note that there will be homework for each session. The homework is mandatory in order for this series to actually be of benefit. You do not have to post your homework, though you may find posting it to be helpful in creating a sense of accountability.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is Charleston's 2nd round table event. We had a slightly different crowd, with many return attendees this time. There was a bit of excitement since we had so many come from so far away including Gary & Linda Barnett from Indianapolis, Michele Kurelich and her partner Janine Varney from Raleigh NC and Denise Balthis and company from Jacksonville Florida....
We had 18 people in attendance including three husbands. (Mine actually was there briefly, but not for the round table.. in future photos you'll see him in a yellow shirt. That would make four.) I think you may notice some familiar AR faces as well.... (Teresa & Darrell Ramey are photographed above - it is the only photo I have of them & I dont want them forgotten!)
The round table started at 2pm, but I opened the office at 12:30 for socializing beforehand. (You'll recognize Gary & Linda Barnett here.)
You should recognize Marci Toliver & Patty Hill .... My assistant Sue and Cissy Snyder are also photographed here....
Patty's husband John, my husband John, Pat Eardly, Suzanne Lazarus and her friend (sorry I have forgotten her name... terrible me!)
Meredith Morgan, one of my past students was there and excited to meet other stagers with so much experience and information to offer....
Angela Baker, Marjorie Schooler, Michele Kurelich and Angie Wren can be seen in this final photo.
It was an amazing event with tons of great networking and sharing. Thank you everyone who attended. I hope you had as great a time as I did and I look forward to talking to all of you again soon!
Also a shout out to our sponsor www.EnergizedSeller.com who so wonderfully sponsored our snacks!!
If you are close to Charleston, SC you may want to consider coming to our SIF Roundtable. We actually are almost completely booked, but there are a couple of spots left still. With that said, I'm excited to announce that Gary & Linda Barnett (Home Matters) will be joining us at our roundtable this weekend. They called me today to tell me and I'm thrilled!!! Michele Kurelich (Lasting Impressions) will also be attending our little gathering. (What great news to come home from my vacation with!)
Our roundtable event is Saturday, November 22nd from 3-5pm. Go here to register https://resa.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=162&club_id=304550&item_id=65741&sl=28563998
Again, we have only limited seating and only a few seats left, so hurry if you want to join us!
This week Bevin Googer, Susan Hardin and David Moon represented our company at the SC Realtor Trade Show. Unfortunately I could not attend as I was at a Dewey Color Class working on my Instructor Status. (Yeah! Who wants to learn some color?) The feedback from the team was that it was a huge success!!
(David was taking the photo & apparently didn't have one taken of him..... slapping him on the wrist for that!)
Many agents who we currently work with stopped by to tell us what a great job we have been doing for them. Many new agents were impressed with our stats foam board and took marketing information. Several brokers asked about more information on our classes, etc, including from Greenville (Marci, you will be very busy soon I suspect!). We even had clients (in the real estate industry) whose homes we had bids on stop by and tell the team how much they look forward to working with us on their projects!! How great is that?
I wanted to take a moment to thank my whole team who worked very hard on this project to make it such a success and also thank all the industry professionals who stopped by and ask questions, let us know how we were doing, and provide valuable feedback about the industry. We always appreciate your support!!
SC Realtors, are you looking for a way to step up your business, learn something new & exciting and network all at the same time?
We hope to see you at this conference, where we will be exhibiting. If you are still looking for more information check out the Detailed Conference Agenda.
Don't miss this educational session on home staging:
|
Wednesday September 24th 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm |
Education Sesssion Amy Chorew: Trimming the Tree: Home Staging Education Session |
Afterwards you'll want to make sure to stop by our booth and register for one of our new Agent Courses!
See you there!
 |
|
|
First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign is dedicated to helping sellers get top dollar for their properties in the shortest amount of time. We also offer also top notch staging training.
Melissa Marro, a Home Staging and Interior Redesign Specialist from Charleston, SC has always had an obsession with decorating and redesign. "Even as a teenager I had a strange obsession with it. I would take my graph paper, measure all my furniture and my room and start making scale cutouts of everything trying to see which way it would fit best. When that didn't work, I would just move everything until I liked it!"
Marrying young and having three children while her husband was in the Navy she had to learn how to decorate on a budget. Moving 12 times in 14 years, quickly finding the correct placement for things and more importantly using what you already owned became very important to her. "There just wasn't money to spend on new things every time we moved. I wanted the house to look nice, but didn't really have a budget for much more than paint."
Moving also meant buying and selling homes, lots of them! Always on a budget and looking out for the bottom line, the homes the Marro family bought were usually the plain or neglected house that could be bought for below market value but had good bones and potential. The homes were then given great paint jobs, cleaned and staged to sell when the time came. Every home she put on the market sold quickly and at top dollar. She realized she had a knack for the job.
Moving to Charleston in 2004 and working for a real estate company her passion for redesign and staging took off and she decided to make it her life's work. Now owning her own company called First Impressions, Home Staging & Interior ReDesign, she does what she loves. "It's very gratifying at the end of the day. People's lives are changed. Home is more about comfort and security. When there is peace there, people can relax and unwind."
I specialize in Vacant property staging, however I do offer staging services for owner occupied residences as well. I also offer comprehensive certification courses for both agents and those wishing to become full time Interior Redesigners or Home Stagers. Please visit my website for further information.
Classes Offered:
Dewey Color Coordinator Class
Dewey Color Consultant Class
AWARDS -
2009 RESA Professional Stager of the Year Award
2007 RESA Professional Stager of the Year nominee
2007 RESA Staging Innovator of the Year nominee
Positions in the Industry -
SC Stage it forward Roundtable Moderator (2007, 2008)
RESA Regional Vice President Region 8 (Southeast) May 2007 - April 2008
List date 06/18/2006 $819,900 List date 04/11/2006 $234,900
Staged 09/06/2007 Staged 10/24/2007
Under contract 10/23/2007 Under contract 11/08/2007
List date 12/14/2006 $345,000 List date 07/02/2006 $374,733
Staged date 08/08/2007 Staged date 07/25/2007
Closed 09/20/2007 Under contract 09/26/2007
To view a sample of our currently staged properties, click here.
"I just want to take a moment and compliment your staging services. As a Realtor with nearly a decade of experience in the business and hundreds of satisfied past clients who refer business to me, I know something about providing exemplary service. Your service definitely lives up to that standard. Your staging flair, responsiveness, and attention to detail has turned a last minute pre-Tour of New Homes distress call into one of the best service experiences I have had in this business. I look forward to developing a long-term working relationship with you."
Dave Sansom, Agent, Prudential Carolina Real Estate
"Thank you for the staging of our model home in Brickhope Greens. It was a pleasure working with you from the initial appointment until the completion of the staging. The furniture that you picked out works perfectly and has allowed home buyers to visualize how nice their new home can look with the right touch. You can really tell a difference when selling new homes how buyers take note of the potential when comparing complete rooms to an empty one. Thanks again and I'll call you on our next project."
Chisolm Walker, Agent, The Cassina Group
This is a team of true professionals that are focused on customer satisfaction and exceeding your expectations with delivery of services. With little notice and under pressure to stage three listings, they worked 24/7 to meet the deadlines. Staging with First Impressions is a savvy investment tool for realtors and sellers in this market. Presentation in marketing of your product and in showings to potential buyers is EVERYTHING. "You only get one chance to make a good impression, so leave a mark and not a stain" Ann Coggiola, Agent, Prudential Carolina Real Estate
"Melissa was great. She came to our appointment prepared and having already researched the market. She had good suggestions and we were very pleased with the selections she made"
Michelle Scarafile, Broker Associate, Prudential Carolina Real; Estate.
"Melissa goes above and beyond! She can turn what may appear to be impossible clutter and chaos into organized reality and charm. Her rooms welcome you the instant you walk in with a clean, crisp, warm feel. Thank you, Melissa for your services."
Pamela Cox, Realtor, Agent Owned Premiere Group
"Melissa is amazing...she was not only professional and artistic, she was able to help my clients re-design their home for very little money and make it look like a show place! Both times I used her, the homes I had listed sold for the highest prices in their neighborhoods per square foot! I can't say enough about her and how much my clients enjoyed working with her!"
Lisa Roettger O'Keefe, Realtor Prudential Carolina Real Estate
"It was a true pleasure working with Melissa. She is very bright, energetic and creative. She was always a lot of fun and had toms of great ideas. She's a true "winner."
Laverna Smith, Broker Associate, Prudential Carolina Real Estate
"Melissa, I went by the unit yesterday and it looks smashing! You've created a "Pottery Barn" feel for the condominium that will help me sell these units. I honestly feel that your staging will help me sell these condominiums mush quicker and for a higher price. Truly magical work and the best thing is I didn't have to worry about a thing. Thanks Melissa."
Tommy Loeber , Agent, Kit Thrash Properties
"Melissa is truly an artist making my vacant new construction listing into a real show piece! The difference was amazing, even to my builder client who was so impressed with the magical transformation. She totally captured the vision the builder had for each space and made it come alive. Thanks for your hard work!"
Michele Reneau, Agent, Prudential Carolina Real Estate
"Using First Impression Home Staging and Interior Redesign was the best decision I made in regard to selling a newly constructed townhome in Charleston National. They took empty rooms and turned them into a showplace with a "welcome home" appeal. They did a wonderful and timely job. I will definitely use them again when the opportunity arises. I know this will help to sell this property quicker than if the townhome was left empty. Thanks again, First Impressions, for performing your image."
Marlene Beauston, Agent, Weichert Realtors
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
