Connie Tebyani, Platinum Home Staging Los Angeles to Santa Barbara

As an update to a previous post Teen room is no longer child's play, I mentioned that we took out the TV from the bedroom and placed in the Teen Loft. Now the dilemma with this bonus room is that there are essentially NO WALLS.

Imagine standing facing the main windows against the "back wall" (pictured) the 'wall' to the right is basically all French doors overlooking a central court yard. The 'wall' from the point from which I am standing that should be behind me is actually open to the main hallway of the entire upstairs with entrances to the master bedroom and 2 guest bedrooms. The 'wall' which should be to the left is an open staircase railing and has yet another door to a 4th guest bedroom.... So with NO walls, where do you put a TV, couch, desk, table, etc???? AND still be able to view the TV without glare from the windows, or have heat from the sun?

Problems solved! Take a look at the before and afters!

Before it was a hodge-podge of mismatched furniture. The old couch was against the back 'wall' facing the room, desk was just floating in the middle of the room and the computer was on a whicker stool.

Here is the NEW ROOM, with a sequence of how to watch TV and play video games.

A new couch now anchors the room with a computer / study desk behind it for the computer.

A WI and glass coffe table keeps things looking airy; and with a touch of a remote,

the center blind comes down, and the TV comes up!

Platinum Home Staging, Inc.

www.PlatinumHomeStaging.com

I received an email last night from the REA who listed a home which we recently staged, (see Staging Sold It: Staging and All) and the Home Owner asked if we could have our crew address a couple of the issues since Platinum Home Staging, Inc. served as Project Managers on the upgrades and maintenance of the home before it was listed for sale. Realtors, Brokers, Stagers: Feel free to use this list as an example that every little detail matters in today's market when selling your home.

The following list were the items which the Inspector found "wrong" with the house, and the Buyers are asking to have "fixed": (note: this "fix it" list has NOT been altered in any way)

1. Small amount of water puddling outside behind the kitchen on the left side where dry riverbed goes.
2. Receptacles work, check the plugs on the back splash
3. The powder room sink, it's the pipe that makes a "U" - the trap is missing, needs a proper trap, the plastic one there is not to code.
4. The a/c unit, inside the sub panel, the breakers are 60 amp, they should be 45 amp, it could blow out the condenser.
5. The buyer wants a termite company to look at the stain in the garage ceiling. They want to know it's not an active leak and make sure it's dry.
6. The buyer wants you to clean off the vinyl windows that are in the master.
7. Heater filter needs to be replaced.
8. Pool gas line, they want it sanded & painted so it's not "rusty" looking....but not replaced.
9. Fire sprinkler box needs to be painted red.
10. There is a light bulb out in the garage.

Now there are a couple things obviously that DO need to be addressed - the breakers for example. I'm not sure what a termite inspector would have to do with a water stain or roof leak. However, in my never to be humbled opinion, if these were the ONLY things that a Licensed Inspector could find "wrong" with the house, then the house must be in pretty dang good shape! I mean really, they want the vinyl windows frames to be "cleaned", and a gas line to the pool heater to be painted so that it doesn't look "rusty".

But I have a joke for all of you:
How many Buyers does it take to change a light bulb?

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Platinum Home Staging, Inc. has been recognized and grown into a tremendous success built on customer service, integrity and best of all, customer referrals. Specializing in Home Staging, Interior Decorating and Model Home Interiors. Serving the San Fernando Valley, Conejo Valley and greater Ventura County areas. A home's first impression is the most important one. A home should be inviting and memorable; to stand out among the hundreds of homes that Buyer's may be looking at. Selling a home, is in fact, selling a product. Market the product, "package" it to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. After all, ...How you live in your home, and how you sell your home, are two completely different things. Call us today at (805) 553-9952

AGENTS - WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!!!!!?????!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Here are just a few local MLS pictures that EVERY REALTOR and BUYER is seeing of YOUR LISTING!!!! Whether they are local buyers or relocating from across the country or from the other side of the world ~ isn't the Internet a wonderful thing?!?!?!

Have you forgotten that 80% of Buyers look to the Internet to "shop" for homes before they even call a Buyer's Agent? Have you forgotten that first impressions mean everything?

PLEASE, for Pete's Sake, Call us - we can help!!!

Platinum Home Staging, Inc.

www.PlatinumHomeStaging.com

(805) 553-9952

These photos were not the "worst-of-the-worst", but were within the first few listings of selected areas as posted on Realtor.com. Since it is inevitable that we will offend someone with this post, anyone who believes that this is offensive should take this apology to apply to them personally. Sorry, We're only trying to help!

We have definitely seen a shift in recent months, have you?

Home Owners / Sellers are calling, by the droves, for staging services! From simple consultations, to full blown make-overs complete with new paint, flooring, etc. It's been quite a phenomenon the amount of calls we're getting from Home Owners / Sellers who want to make their home as competitive as possible for a quick-er sale.

In some cases, Sellers are calling us before they have even called in a Listing Agent, and what's worse, some Sellers believe that if they get a home staged it will look so fabulous that they won't even need an Agent - something WE do not agree with what-so-ever, but this is how the market is shifting... Sellers are embracing the fact that there are hundreds of homes they are competing with, and to sell their own property have literally opened the doors to the fact that maybe what their eyes have gotten "comfortable" with, is not what Buyers are looking for.

So we've been left scratching our heads on the other side. While some Realtors and Brokers have embraced this valuable marketing tool with open arms, others have shunned it like the plague, and there seems to be no grey area in between.

The following are just a few objections seen posted here on AR:
1. Fear of offending the Home Owner by the implied perception that by suggesting Staging to a Seller, that their home looks like c*#p.
2. Staging costs too much
3. Not all homes need staging
4. Small homes don't need staging
5. Multi-million dollar homes don't need staging
6. Finding a good, experienced, reputable stager is a hard and daunting task
7. The infamous: "I already do that for my Sellers"

Here are only a few quick rebuttals we can think of:
1. The Home Owners are calling us more and more every day, before they are even calling you, the Agent or Broker. Once you have a listing why not merely ask, "How would feel about a Professional Home Stager coming in and giving us their opinion so that every picture and impression is top notch?" - There is nothing offensive in that line of questioning. Remember to mention the very fact that 80% of Buyers are shopping via Internet photos and virtual tours first.

2. Some company's (such as PHS) offer bids for FREE, and consultations at a reduced rate to the listing Realtor (very reasonable for a 5-8 page detailed report of everything to be done to a property for Staging) as well as helping out at Broker Opens and Open Houses for FREE for properties which we have Staged.

3. True, not all homes need to be staged, just the ones that you want to sell more quickly.

4. Small or larger, Staging can benefit every property in one way or another. From curb appeal to paint colors to place settings. Our team at PHS has staged everything from 2 bedroom condos in Santa Paula to $4M homes in Hollywood. Have alisting with 20 year old wall paper? We can help with that as well...

5. You can find a Stager in your area as easily as looking around here on AR - Stage It Forward is a GREAT forum for finding Stagers in your area.

6. Yes, many Realtors do offer some suggestions to declutter, pack-up, etc. Some Realtors have even gone through staging courses of one kind or another. We're not belittling those who have, but when it comes to a vacant home, where are they getting their inventory, furniture, accessories, artwork, etc to "stage"? Or a home that is SO cluttered the Realtor or Home Owner couldn't possibly handle it on their own, that's where a Professional Stager can come in and help to save your valuable time, energy and marketing dollar.

So in the spirit of a little "market research", we would like to ask what hurdles Realtors and Brokers have to the Staging Industry, and how we might be able to overcome these hurdles together. We would like to hear what services REALTORS would like to see offered from Professional Stagers and how WE can help YOU!

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Subscribe to my Blog

Platinum Home Staging, Inc. has been recognized and grown into a tremendous success built on customer service, integrity and best of all, customer referrals. Specializing in Home Staging, Interior Decorating and Model Home Interiors. Serving the San Fernando Valley, Conejo Valley and greater Ventura County areas. A home's first impression is the most important one. A home should be inviting and memorable; to stand out among the hundreds of homes that Buyer's may be looking at. Selling a home, is in fact, selling a product. Market the product, "package" it to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. After all, ...How you live in your home, and how you sell your home, are two completely different things. Call us today at (805) 553-9952

SOLD and opened escrow at 97% of asking price,

AND the Buyer loved what we did so much that they want to buy it as a Turn-key residence, staging and all!

Platinum Home Staging, Inc. also acted as project managers for this property. ALL new lighting throughout the home, all new faucets, hinges, knobs, stainless steel appliances, granite counter top, rebuilt patio & balcony, landscaping, etc

Platinum Home Staging, Inc.

(805) 553-9952