Sheila O'Mara

I know that the New Year has begun, but because I am just starting my year with Active Rain, I thought I would share a poem I wrote for the readers in our local newspaper in Elizabethtown, The News Enterprise.

Below is a lighthearted view of staging. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you happiness and prosperity in the New Year. May your houses get sold and your wishes come true!

T'was the night before the showing, when all through the house,

Every creature was stirring, getting rid of the mouse.

Trying to prepare for the buyers to come,

And hear them shout, "This is the one!"

The tile floors are all sparkling, and carpets are clean.

In anticipation for the house to be seen.

The windows are glittering and the light fixtures too,

The pet smells are gone, so it won't smell like a zoo.

The clutter was removed by hustle and hurry,

For the potential buyers who are the ultimate jury.

Our hope and our prayer is for them to be stunned,

By all of the work that our stager has done.

The beds are all made and the closets are clear,

A home that is organized we made it appear.

We removed some old furniture and replaced it with new,

We updated our look for when they walk through.

The new paint job looks amazing to see,

With no odor at all, the paint used was NO VOC.

We tended the curb and added lots of appeal,

Warm and inviting we hoped they would feel.

We have spruced up our home inside and out,

Because we wanted no reason for them to pout.

For in love with our house we want them to be,

So we took down the pictures of our family.

We have worked so hard and the house is all set,

It is warm, bright and cozy - one they will not forget.

And as they examine the fruits of our labor,

We will sit next door in the house of our neighbor.

Watching and waiting for the buyers to give,

A great purchase offer so in our house they could live.

We are ready to move to our new house so fine,

What a great way for us to ring in the year 2009!

Starting a business of your own is always a risky venture. There are many people that will try and hold you back, but only if you let them. This business I started a year ago has been a blessing for sure. I always wanted it to be a full time gig, but ... I was a teacher when I originally started my business. My time was very divided. I felt I needed to spread my wings a little more and decided that being a stager was what I wanted to do. So in December I hung up my apple and red pens and plunged into the Staging business full time. Working in today's market and economic climate is risky for sure. I gave up a paying job to try something out that may or may not pay off. There are people that are trying to hold me back, but I won't let them. I now have the time to devote to areas of my business that I didn't before. The thought that thrills me the most is that I get to go after the markets where I really believe I can make a big difference. Getting homes ready for sale is an awesome part of my business. Helping someone to transform their living space into a place that other people feel welcomed enough to want to stay permanently is a gift. I love hearing "I don't want to sell my house anymore. I want to stay." It is music to my ears. That means that I have done a good job for people who needed a nudge in the right direction. One area that I am particularly excited about pursuing is Staging for Seniors. I teamed up today with an amazing group of business owners that provide services for seniors. We will get together and provide informational seminars about the services we provide and how the senior and their care givers may benefit. Anyone who has ever tried to move an elderly parent or family member can tell you how difficult that can be. One of the services that Staged SO Right will offer is getting that home ready for sale. That means someone else will help the parent or caregiver sort through the 30 - 40 years worth of accumulations and whittle it down to what is needed and what provides the most comfort. Providing focus during a typically emotional and chaotic time is awesome. What an wonderful gift to provide people. I could never have pursued the senior staging if I wasn't in this business full time. This type of Staging is very time intensive. Trying to pack up years of living in one place takes time and patience. This couldn't be done from 3 - 6pm and weekends. I am grateful for the opportunity to walk down this path. As I spread my wings and continue to grow my business, I'll use this forum as a log to see what works and what doesn't. I have already learned so much, but know that I have many miles to travel. I welcome any wisdom that you would like to share.

Wow! What a week this has been. I am trying to jump into the age of technology! I joined Active Rain this week and I just set up on Facebook! I spent a long time looking up old friends. I need to remember to only do that when I have some time. Hmmm ...when will that be! It has been a busy, busy week and I made some great connections.

I will post the article that I wrote for our local news paper today. Each month I write a feature article in the News Enterprise. Seeing as though an article was published today, I thought I would share it with a bigger comunity! Enjoy!

Timing is everything right?

I was watching HGTV the other night with my daughter. She watches staging shows with me and gets as excited as I do about the great projects we see. She often thinks we should try many of the ideas we see and complete them in the same amount of time it takes on HGTV. I was talking about painting the living room and she thought we could get the whole room done in a half hour - just like on TV. My daughter is only ten, but she suffers from the same sense of reality that many people do when watching "reality" TV. That these "projects" take a short amount of time and can be completed almost single-handedly.

Most television shows last 30 minutes - including commercials - and document amazing household transformations. Most "Staging" shows really blow my mind. An entire house is cleaned up in two days - including paint, demolition, construction, sewing and accessorizing. The end result is amazing and seemingly effortless. The point I am trying to make here is that IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY IN REAL LIFE! Those shows have large crews that come in behind the scenes and get much of the work done. All of the shopping and planning goes on behind the scenes so the viewer doesn't see how time intensive it is. Anyone that has taken part in a staging project can confirm that it is rarely a quick process. Staging a house takes time and sometimes it takes more time than is available.

When Staging a house to sell it is important to allow as much time as possible. Before Christmas, I consulted for several clients who planned to put their homes on the market in the spring. They understood it was going to take time to make changes to their homes. Most people don't create clutter in an afternoon. It is going to take longer than that to clean it up. By planning ahead, those homeowners are going to avoid the costly mistake of staging their house after it is already listed. The time a house spends on the market can directly affect how much money a seller can expect to get. Fix it up before listing to set up for maximum profit.

There is nothing worse than feeling "forced" into choosing something because you do not have time to research the options. By allowing ample time to get your house ready, you can find a reasonable carpet cleaner or handy person to finish odd jobs around the house. You maintain control and can determine the best course of action that you sometimes forfeit when you are under the gun. You have time to shop for bargains instead of having to pay full price because you don't have time to wait for a sale.

Not everyone has the luxury of time. Sometimes you are only given a few weeks to prepare. In instances like this using a stager, or at least finding a friend to walk through your home, is crucial. I must admit that using a professional will be a different experience than just having your best friend walk through. A professional has been trained to know what the best use of your resources will be. Ultimately, hiring a professional will save you time and money by directing your attention to the projects that will have the greatest impact. Time is one of the most valuable resources you have and it pays to spend it wisely.

As seen in The News Enterprise, January 23, 2009

Today marks the one year anniversary of my business Staged SO Right, a full service home staging company. What a year it has been! This is the best profession ever and one of the most rewarding. The ability to enhance another person's living environment whether they are trying to move, live or work is awesome. I love my job!!!!

I decided to celebrate by joining Active Rain. I look forward to another great year staging Elizabethtown and the surrounding areas. Thank you for trusting me with your staging needs!