Terry Haugen STAGE it RIGHT! 321-956-2495

Picture this: beautiful three story condo, two car garage, private elevator, spectacular view of the Indian River in Brevard County FL, priced in the mid $200's. Sounds wonderful doesn't it? What the description doesn't tell you is that there is no direct entry into the complex. One must drive through an older single home neighborhood to access the complex. And what the description also doesn't tell you, in addition to the spectacular view, most units also have a spectacular view of the gas station next door. Nor does the description tell you the complex is located just feet from a major highway. The units are beautiful, the floor plans are awesome, as are the room sizes, and don't get me started on the private elevator in each unit, to die for. But the minute you step outside on the balcony, the roar of the traffic is deafening. Anyone out there want cars and trucks whizzing past, right under their balconies?

Staging for the model was completed last week. First open house was last weekend. It will be interesting to see if any potential buyers can even find the access to the complex, and what the reactions are to the traffic noise. What was this builder thinking?

Pinching pennies has become a necessity in today's economic times. We clip coupons, look for sales, and hold back on spending. But can you afford to skip an all important step when putting your house on the market? The answer is a resounding "no!"

Most home sellers think a home, is a home, is a home. Their home serves their purpose, is arranged to suit their lifestyle, and truely believe that everyone that walks in the door will buy into the old saying "home is where you hang your hat." Well thats mostly true.

But hanging your hat in someone else's home, does not automatically make that home yours. And potential buyers are keeping that in mind when they view your property. Within 10 seconds of walking in the front door they will most likely make the decision that your home is not their home.

Thats why it is imperative that sellers enlist the professional services of a home stager. We can work within your budget to make your home, everyone's home! Without a professional consultation, a home seller can only keep their fingers crossed someone will walk in and see beyond the personal tastes of the seller, and envision what it would be like for them living in the home.

Don't allow your home to languish in this tight market. Be prepared! A few extra dollars spent in proper preparation can make all the difference in the world!

For more information or to arrange a consultation, please call us at 321-956-2495, or visit our website at www.stageitrightinbrevard.com.

We look forward to serving you!

Friendship is friendship and goes way beyond trivial matters such as a free, over the phone, staging consultation. One of my best friend's is putting her house on the market in the DC Metro area. They've totally retrofitted the house, new windows, doors, roof. Its an older home and needed the work. Soon they will pack up and move to their retirement home in another state, leaving the house vacant, and to the mercy of potential buyers who "might" be able to see the home's potential.

I recently counciled her on the benefits of home staging. Minimal cost, maximum punch! Leave a few pieces of furniture, the blinds, some accessories. Stage the kitchen and bathroom with things you don't need, or go to a discount store and purchase some attractive items.

The answer to all my suggestions was "no, no, and no." "I'm not putting another dime into this house." Her real estate agent is going to give her suggestions. Really? Then why is the REA letting her leave the house vacant? Leaving a toaster on the counter doesn't leave much to the imagination of potential buyers.

The times are tough out there for sellers, its a buyers market. Sellers need to present their homes to potential buyers in such a way that even the most near sighted person can invision the house as "their home." Skipping this essential step is just asking for a house to languish on the market, or almost worse, having to accept an offer below asking.

The time is now to hire a home stager. We can work within your budget to professionally prepare your home for sale. Without us, that longed for sale, probably isn't going to happen anytime soon.

For more information or to arrange a consultation, please call 321-956-2495 or visit our website at www.stageitrightinbrevard.com! We look forward to serving you!

You've decided to move, either down size, or up size, but what to do about the lazy real estate market. You know you're competing with foreclosures and short sales, not to mention For Sale By Owner and MLS properties. What can you do, in frugal times to make your house shine?

My first recommendation would be to run the numbers and figure out how much you can afford to spend to prepare your home. $100 or $1000, it makes no difference. Any amount you can put toward proper preparation, is money in the bank if you sell your home in a timely manner.

As a home stager, my second recommendation would be to let your fingers do the walking through Google and find a home stager in your area. We're here to give you the tools you need for proper preparation. If you only have $75 to spare, put that toward a professional staging consultation. If your budget allows, hire the stager to do the prep work for you. And if your property is vacant, it is imperative the property be furnished. A home stager often has the inventory to completely stage the home, or if the budget does not allow fully furnishing the home, partial furnishing with the addition of accessories can make all the difference.

In this difficult times, the competition is cut-throat at best. Your property will only sell if you realize proper pricing and proper preparation is the only way you will make that sale!

For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call us anytime! We're here to help you with your selling and moving transition.

Please visit our website at: www.stageitrightinbrevard.com

A horse that was removed from the Frontier Park Arena during Sunday's Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo performance has died.

Strawberry Fudge, a 4-year-old mare owned by the Vold Rodeo Company, fell to the arena floor on its right side shortly after leaving the chute. Rookie saddle bronc rider Brett Olive of Ford, Kan., was pinned underneath the horse until on-site veterinarians positioned the horse to load it in the arena's animal ambulance.

Arena personnel immobilized and sedated the animal to prevent further injury prior to loading it.

It is suspected Stawberry Fudge suffered head and neck injuries, which resulted in decreased motor function.

Although that was the most tragic incident Sunday, several other injuries and unusual happenings had spectators on the edge of their seats.

Dan Yeager had his rookie bronc horse fall into the stairwell of the camera pit. The horse's momentum carried Yeager over the railing and prevented an injury. The bronc stood right back up and began running towards Chute 9 and the timed event athletes waiting to make their runs.

Strawberry Fudge on her way down

(note the strap under her belly, that is a flank strap, used to make the horse buck. Often the riders will put pins, thistles, anything irritating under the strap for more wild bucking. In reality, anything on that part of the horses body is painful. At the end of the ride you will see the rider release the flank strap and the horse immediately stops bucking. And they call themselves men!)

Strawberry Fudge - dead (note the cowboys are roping her feet to drag her away)

Terrified horse jumping the chute

Neck jerked calf. Various veterinarians have described the "meat" of calves used in rodeo as looking like hamburger, due to the numerous neck jerking and being thrown to the ground

Guess who supports this cruel and inhumane form of entertainment?

Call Coca-Cola and express your displeasure. Mention you will be boycotting their products until they stop sponsoring animals in entertaiment events. Get ready for their talking points, the phones have already started ringing. 800-438-2653. If you can sleep at night, knowing what goes on in rodeo, please don't bother to make that call.

For further information regarding animal cruelty in entertainment, please visit www.sharkonline.org