Roslyn Ashford

Well...in late Spring, I was able to get a little time with a local, busy developer to get advice about his prediction on the real estate market in the dc area. I told him I was very interested in moving full steam ahead on the Staging part of my business, since I did pretty well with it the prior summer. I was really interested in getting in front of builders and developers to let them know of my services, but was concerned with everything I was hearing about the state of the real estate market.

He didn't have much good to say about the market, especially in DC. He told me that many of the smaller investors/developers were NOT going to be active because the banks were no longer lending money. He encouraged me to reconsider my strategy and consider decorating office lobbies and offices, since the government had loads of cash and with the new administration, there might be a need to have these spaces redecorated.

Needless to say...I was a bit discouraged. After having a successful time the summer before I was really looking forward to getting back to Staging. So I thought and prayed and planned and figured. I found this new great new website/blog focused specifically on the DC condo and home real estate market, and seemd to carry a small number of ads from condo projects just finishing or soon to be finished. I contacted the site/blog and inquired about their stats on readership, exposure, daily hits and pricing. Ad rates were crazy low and I signed up for a one-month option. I was honest in speaking with the blogger/website owner - if no return, calls, or anything in 30 days, I am out.

Well...as fate would have it - on day 28 - I received a call from a realtor. He ultimately hired me to stage a single family home in April - literally 2 blocks from my own home. Five months and 7 properties later, I had the BUSIEST SUMMER EVER! The last two properties sold within 3 weeks of them being on the market. That ONE realtor led me to 2 others who kept me busy AND my ad (yes, I kept it running) lead me to another developer!

Below is a view of the last property (in Glover Park/Cathedral) that had an offer after 2.5 weeks on the market. The shortest turnaround on all of the projects from this summer!

Before of living room 2BD, 1BA condo

After - what a diference!

So although I do think it was wise to seek the advice of the original developer, I am really glad I didn't listen! I do think his words made it more serious and more me determined to figure it out.

So be careful who you listen too and let influence your business. And remember, no one has the magic crystal ball to see into the future - we are all trying to figure it out! But if you are serious about it, then DO IT!

Feel free to check out more of the staged rooms and homes on my portfolio. Thanks for all of the positive responses and feedback on my earlier posts! If you are in the Metro DC area, I have a warehouse full of decorative items, just waiting to dress up and help you sell your vacant property!

I just came off of a great summer with lots of busy staging projects. But I received the coolest news a few days ago - one of the buyers wanted to purchase some of the furniture I used to stage the home. Which is perfect!

You see - I am fortunate enough to have a wonderful furniture store as my partner in staging. They have allowed me to rent their new furniture for use in staging projects. The idea behind it is that someone will be so moved by what they see that they want to just purchase it all. And it finally happened!

I selected this neat mid-century feeling bamboo table in the dining space. The table is round as in the picture here, but each section 'opens up' to a corner, making the table go from round to square. Its very cool!

During staging, I remember saying to myself that the buyers HAD to purchase this table and chair set - it just goes perfectly with the space. AND they did - how cool is that! They love the table and chairs and are interested in a few other items. It feels good to know I can stage a home to not only to sell it...but the furniture too!

I would love to be able to sell furniture everytime I stage - that way each property will have its own look and feel. People will be encourage to purchase new furniture with their new home...and I, along with other stagers, would have more leverage with furniture stores to use their furniture in my projects too! A win-win all the way around!

Was contacted by a local developer and won the contract to stage a newly renovated 1BD, 1BA condo in Columbia Heights in NW DC. Great neighborhood, good price and fabulous staging should lead to a rather quick sale! Check out the before and afters below!

DC area realtors and developers - we would love to make your condo sparkle like this one too! Let us know when you are ready!

ops...we did it again! We turned another drab and boring beige on beige space to life! This time, the massive fireplace sort of overtook the space, even though everything was the same drab beige color. So we infused color to give it life and function, in a recently remodeled single family home in NW DC. Take a look for yourself!

Before

After - with color and life!

See how much just a bit of color carefully placed can really bring a room to life! Staging brings rooms and homes to life! If you are in the DC area, ask us how to bring YOUR properties to life!

ow, I am used to having to respond and act quickly when working with local realtors to stage properties. But my last project was the fastest one yet! The realtor called me on Wednesday, I viewed the space on Thursday morning and we staged it on Friday afternoon! Whew!

To our benefit, the house was only 1.5 miles from the office AND we were only focused on the basement level. But it was a long basement - 38' ft long by 11ft wide that was forgettable to potential buyers. And the good thing about it the basement and just off the garage, no stairs...items could basically come right in! Take a look at the photos below and let me know what you think!

Before

After -check out our handy work below!

DC/Maryland based realtors - don't show your vacant, sell it! We can stage your properties quickly too! Give us a call at ra reDoes rooms! We'd love to help!