Well I have always thought that we live in the best place in the world... and that the "bad economy" wouldn't touch Northwest Arkansas and for the most part (in comparison to many other places) we have not been hurt as badly. Here is some great news... sent out in an email today from one of good friends at First National Title company!
Northwest Arkansas Positioned For 'Spectacular Growth'
Last updated Thursday, February 5, 2009 9:44 PM CST in News
By Lana F. Flowers
THE MORNING NEWS
Home staging defined... By Wikipedia...
Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence prior to going up for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to sell a home quickly, and for the most money possible by making a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers. Staging focuses on improving a property to make it appeal to the largest number of buyers by transforming it into a welcoming, appealing, and attractive product for sale. Many people believe that staging raises the value of a property by way of reducing the home's flaws, depersonalizing, decluttering, cleaning, improving condition items, and landscaping. For vacant homes, staging furniture is used to create a living space the buyer can "see" themselves living in. Properly executed staging leads the eye to attractive features while minimizing flaws.
Is it necessary to "STAGE your home to SELL your home?"
I think it is necessary. (Nicky Dou)
How much you need to stage is the question... Some homes that I am asked to come over and look at during a listing presentation need A LOT of staging, others look great and may only need a few items removed or rearranged. I have checklists that for both interior and exteriors that if a seller will follow most of the items on the checklist - the difference that it makes it tremendous.
In 2008, I listed a handful of homes that had been on the market with another Realtor in Northwest Arkansas for over a year or more... (they were not all with the same Realtor)... I was so surprised when I went through the homes to find... photos and other items on the fridge, clutter throughout the home, so many things that just surprised me that a couple of the homes - after a couple of hours in the house and not much money at all (if any); the house transformed into a HOME - one that now a buyer looking at it - could see it as his/her own home - not the sellers... Taking personal photos down (most of them) is important. I have shown homes before when there are a lot of personal photos - the buyer truly just begins looking to see if they know the people then they get distracted from the TRUE reason they are there. This might be a physchological thing - but truly... the less personal the home THE BETTER! So a couple of the homes that I listed, just after a week or two - we had an offer! Tell me that didn't make the seller happy! I think so many Realtors just tell sellers what they WANT to hear and not what they NEED to hear... or maybe they are just lazy... I don't know but be assured that if you call on me - I will be very honest (like it or not) and make sure your home shows in its very best light!!!
Web Resources on Staging Homes:
About.com talks about tips on staging your home... "Home staging is about illusions. It's how David Copperfield would sell a house. It's beyond decorating and cleaning. It's about perfecting the art of creating moods. Staging makes your house look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer, more loving and, best of all, it makes home buyers want to buy it.
30 Can't-Miss Staging Tips... Designed to Sell designer Lisa LaPorta shares some of her best staging tips. From HGTV
13 Home-Staging Secrets... Highlight your home's strengths, downplay its weaknesses and appeal to the greatest possible pool of prospective buyers - or simply your inner designer - with these 13 secrets of home staging from HGTV...
&
from Realtor.org - Field Guide to Preparing and Staging a House For Sale... Banish the clutter! Trim the bushes! Hide your Star Wars collection! Take down the family pictures! LOTS OF GREAT TIPS AND RESOURCES ON THIS SITE on staging your home for sale!
If you are selling your home in Northwest Arkansas (or anywhere) be sure to at least read through and take the advice about staging your home... The days of throwing up a sign in the yard are over and the professionals and sellers that are truly serious about selling will out sell the others!!! Nicky Dou is an Accredited Home Staging Specialist in Northwest Arkansas. Along with her marketing & negotiating skills as a TOP Realtor in NWA - Nicky is your key to a successful sale on your home. Give Nicky a call if you are serious about selling your home! visit Nicky Dou's website at www.NickyDou.com for great information about Northwest Arkansas and to search homes for sale on the Northwest Arkansas MLS!
STAGED HOMES SELL FASTER! Check out Nicky's page on the AHS website... Call Nicky Dou with any questions regarding selling your home in the Northwest Arkansas Market! 479.236.3457
Nicky Dou, "Serving Northwest Arkansas and YOU!"

Nicky Dou, a leader in Real Estate in Northwest Arkansas now has charts and graphs for you to see what is going on with the Real Estate market in NWA! Check Nicky's website monthly to watch the latest Market Video explaining the local market including statistics for Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers, Springdale, Bella Vista and both Washington and Benton Counties...
Watch the Market Report Video for Northwest Arkansas!!! Updated Monthly!
Nicky Dou, Sr. Vice President, Executive Broker
e-PRO, eco-Broker, Home Staging Specialist, Luxury Home Specialist...
Century 21 Exclamation Realty
"Serving Northwest Arkansas and YOU!"
Call Nicky Dou for all of your real estate needs in Northwest Arkansas! 479.236.3457 or visit Nicky's website www.NickyDou.com

What is your favorite neighborhood in Northwest Arkansas?
Does anyone have a favorite (UNIQUE) neighborhood? I have a few of course...
In Fayetteville I really like the Mt. Sequoyah area, Historical District and one of my favorite neighborhoods is Savannah (sits off of Crossover/Township - entrance has a large pond with ducks and large mature trees (a lot of Character). Clear Creek (at the Blessings Golf Course) is one of the nicest country clubs around and a beautiful neighborhood. Large lots set in a nice wooded setting. There is a new neighborhood being developed right now - called Oakbrooke (check out my ActiveRain Blog on Oakbrooke - (sorry for the long link)
http://activerain.com/blogsview/685787/Craftsman-Style-homes-in-Fayetteville-AR-Oakbrooke-a-Sustainable-Development-with-Old-Fashioned-Character
In Springdale, Harber Meadows has to be one of the most unique areas... It's one of those "you either love or hate" but honestly I used to not care for it so much but it "grew on me" and now that I have a little one I can appreciate all it has to offer! Other great unique neighborhoods include Woodcliff (older neighborhood used to be named "snob hill" when I was younger!!!) and Southwind Terrace - we used to live in here before we moved to Bentonville. I have always been a fan of Thornbury with all of the nicely done larger homes with lots of trees and character!
Bentonville - obviously I love MY neighborhood (Rolling Acres); it is Unique in that it is not your typical "grid type neighborhood" the lots are mainly 1/4 acre or a little less but take my house for instance - I back up to pasture with cows... I think my absolute favorite neighborhood in Bentonville is Chapel Hill - it is close to where the new Crystal Bridges Art Museum is being built... Other nice neighborhoods are talamore (high end) Stonebriar; Stone Ridge Estates (large lots & lots of trees! Many energy efficient homes here)...
Rogers - My favorite parts of Rogers have to be out on Beaver Lake! The Estates of Lakeway is actually located in Avoca but most still consider this Rogers... We own a lot there so that we could have a boat slip on Beaver. It's a lovely 3 acre lot that someday we might build on (who knows)... Serenity Point is a beautiful area on Beaver Lake as well. In town - Country Clubs (Pinnacle and Shadow Valley); and there are a lot of nice neighborhoods scattered around. Oak Ridge Estates in Rogers off of HWY 12 (take Dream Valley) is a nice area with large lots. I have a super Energy Efficient home listed for sale in here.. Check out my website for more info. on homes for sale in Bentonville, Rogers, Fayetteville, Springdale and the Beaver Lake area! www.NickyDou.com
What are some of your Favorite areas/neighborhoods in Northwest Arkansas???
What do you like/dislike about certain areas in NWA?
Hi - Nicky Dou here... Just wanted to let the world know I have joined Century 21! My new office is located at Village on the Creeks in Rogers, AR! 5206 Village Parkway, Suite 10 (where the old Hallmark store was).
I am very excited to be able to offer my clients all of the same great service you have come to expect from me - but a few new and exciting things are in store for you now that I have joined Century 21 including: buy or sell a home with me and use Century 21 Exclamation Realty's moving van for FREE, list your home with me and you will have "Enhanced Realtor.com listings", VisualTour (Virtual Tours), PROQUEST 800 riders for your signs that will allow me to capture the buyers looking for information on your home so that I can find out who is looking at your home 24/7!. I still do my YouTube videos (love doing it too much to quit :)) I assist with staging your home to sell QUICKER and for MORE MONEY than the competition... For a free consultation on how I will SELL your home - call me today! 479.236.3457 or email me at Nicky@NickyDou.com leave your name and address and email address if you do email - I will send you a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) of your home quickly and with no obligation.
This has been my best year ever in Real Estate (and you know how great the market is... - that was a joke...sorry...) WHY? Because of my positive - CAN DO WILL DO ATTITUDE! a little help with my staging abilities and marketing abilities havent hurt, either.
Call me today - NO OTHER REALTOR can compare to the service and marketing I will do for you. I will get the job done. PERIOD. I LOVE MY JOB! I also LOVE REFERRALS!

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