Pam Faulkner-Faulkner House Redesign Stager-Northern VA-Fairfax & Loudoun Co

In previous posts, I wrote about the new IRIS National Capital Area Chapter's homeless shelter apartment makeover project. Two of the three apartments are finished. On June 9, 2009, at the Shelter House.org Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, the Chapter received the Community Partner Award for work on the Patrick Henry Family Shelter. As President of the chapter, I can tell you that the results and the response from the staff and the family who moved in were rewards enough for the hours of work spent on the redesign and staging of the apartments . To be the recipients of this award is such an honor. We are so thankful to be able to give back to the community in this way.

As if that weren't exciting enough, we were also presented with an official copy of the United States Congressional Record for June 9, 2009 in which Congressman Gerald R. Connolly of Virginia recognized "Shelter House.org and in particular the contributions its volunteers make in service to our community", and names the Interior Redesign Industry Specialists as the Community Partner Award winners for the Patrick Henry Shelter.

This project, which begain with a desire to redesign and stage one apartment for the Shelter grew into a committment to fulfill an immediate need for three. Deserving redesign has created ripples that we would never have expected.

To see brief videos of the first two apartments please click on these links:

http://www.realestateshows.com/383648

http://www.realestateshows.com/392976

More on the third and final apartment to follow!

Dumpster-What? Yes, I must admit that we are not too proud to pass up great potential furniture that has been left by the side of the dumpster.

IRIS National Capitol Area members (and soon to be new chapter) have finished their second apartment makeover for the Patrick Henry Shelter House in Falls Church, VA. Key to this project was stretching the bare bones budget by using donated materials and furnishings and finding freebies through craigslist (yes, it is supposed to be lower case) and Freecycle. That also included keeping sharp eyes out for 'potentials" which brings us to the dumpster diving part. One particularly nice "potential"piece was found next to a dumpster by one of our members. It was an old Ballard Design low cabinet with two drawers and only one of its two doors. The narrow piece was perfect for the small apartment and creative eyes saw its reincarnation into a small bookcase.

So what does this have to do with staging a home to sell?

Most sellers are on a tight budget, particularly in this economy. That budget must cover repairs and cosmetic fixes like painting. Once it comes to actual staging, the budget may be next to nothing. I'm not suggesting that everyone should start hanging out at their local dumpsters looking for treasure like this, but to take a look at what the homeowner may be ready to throw out in their quest to pare down for their move. Often furniture with potential ends up in the trash because no one has recognized its value. As redesigners and stagers we can offer our clients this additional service-using our creativity to save them from wasting resources but also showing them how to use reclaimed furnishings in decoratively functional ways. It's another way to be green in our businesses and to show homeowners how to be green in their decor.

To see the video of the family room/dining area redesign, please click here or cut and past the link below:

http://www.realestateshows.com/392976

A friend forwarded this to me and I found it to be more than a little disturbing. Thinking you can go into the staging business by just reading a book? Staging is the same as redesign? Uh, NO. Maybe to someone who has just read a book about it and knows little else about the subject it is.

If a person has talent and a natural ability to assess a home and knows what it would take to showcase it, then reading a book could help them on the way to a career. It might help the home seller understand what is needed to sell a home and allow them to do some of their own staging. Would it tell them all they needed to know about the process? Would it allow them to see their home as buyer might? Would they believe it?

Hands on training in real life situations is the minimum one should expect in a home stager. It's like learning to fly a plane by reading a book. You may learn the fundamentals but what has been left out-hands on experience. Bad staging reflects on the rest of us. Many people have gone into the business as a hobby with little or no training or a true grasp of the scope of a staging project. I have restaged homes for clients who have had bad experiences with "stagers" who talked a good game but weren't able to deliver. Did they learn their craft by watching TV or reading a book?

I am not a trainer, but I feel strongly about training or lack of it, and how it can affect the perception of our profession. The article was meant to be helpful, but it sends out a misleading impression of what it takes to be a successful in real estate staging, both for stagers and their clients

In the spirit of HGTV's Deserving Design and the popular Extreme Makeover shows, IRIS National Capital Area interior redesigners have completed one and are working on the second of three apartment makeovers for the Patrick Henry Shelter House in Falls Church, Virginia. Shelter House provides temporary emergency housing and support services to homeless families.

See 60 second before and after video of the transformation here:

( http://www.realestateshows.com/383648 )

Jewell Mikula, Executive Director or Shelter House remarks: "I am completely speechless; the IRIS generosity towards our homeless families is amazing." Shelter House's mission is to break the cycle of homelessness by providing crisis intervention, temporary housing, training, counseling, and programs to promote self-sufficiency. The facility is owned by Fairfax County and Shelter House partners with the Department of Family Services to operate it on a daily basis.

Interior redesigners and stagers are known for creative room makeovers using existing furnishings. When these weren't sufficient, they adopted a Green approach and refurbished, repaired and recovered gently used items from those they had gathered that might otherwise contribute to local landfills.

The use of a storage container donated by 1-800- Pack Rats made it possible to accumulate items in advance of the makeovers. Paint, materials and funding were donated by Springfield businesses Jerry's Paints and Fischer's Hardware, American Foam Center in Merrifield and Coverage, Inc-The Insurance Specialists in Chantilly.

If you are a homeowner who is moving and have unwanted, gently used furnishings, consider donating them to a shelter. If you are a stager and are offered these furnishings, consider donating them and your time to make a difference in your community.

For more information on Shelter House, please go to www.shelterhouse.org. Please post here if you would like more information on our project.