Beverly Carlson

It snowed today in Abilene at my Open House.

Fortunately the house was warm and cozy. I was so happy that I had already done a little extra staging for Valentine Showings. Below is 2509 Minter Lane which I have staged the interior.

The snowflakes add a surreal touch, don't you think?

To help the romantic ambiance of the Master Bath, I lit three of the tub candles - the "rose petals" are silk.

Nothing says welcome more than candy and flowers by the sign in sheet.

When staging a room with no overhead light, be sure and place a lamp or two in the room and leave at least one on so no one has to show a dark room.

Happy Valentines! Beverly

WHY SHOULD I GET A STAGING CONSULTATION?

When you are ready to sell your home there are many steps to take to get readybefore the sign can go in the yard. Now, you may be thinking where to start?

Do I really need to stage or not?

Should I paint the kid's bedroom? Do I need to replace the carpet?

Should I take the pool table out of the dining room?

These are all good questions and a home staging consultation can answer these questions and more.

What exactly is home staging? After all you may think, my home has already been professionally decorated.

Home Staging is preparing your home for the market to appeal to the most buyers to sell as quickly as possible for the most money.

Home staging is NOT decorating. Home staging is MARKETING TO SELL! Home staging should include defining the purpose of each room and showcase the best features of the home. A home staging consultation should provide directions on how to arrange each room, what to use as a focal point, how to display decor and include art, lighting, and plants. In other words, your consultation should give you a blueprint for staging and marketing your home.

If a home move is in your future, now is the time for a professional staging consultation.

A consultation is the best investment bang for the buck to extract the most available equity from your home. The consultation can include a list of furnishings needed for staging even for vacant homes. There are many options for furnishings, yours, rented or stager's.

One savvy idea is to purchase new linens you have been wanting anyway to use to stage the home for sale and move to the new home.

Even if you are in big hurry to sell, get a professional staging consultation FIRST. It will be t he best use of your time to give you the perspective you need to showcase your home for the fastest sale.

Don't skip the consultation. Take a deep breath and slow down. Make sure your home looks the best it can before the sign goes in the yard.

Information from the National Association of Realtors tell us that the most interest in a home for sale in during the first 4 weeks.

The home doesn't get more valuable the longer it is on the market. Sadly, the opposite is true and often the price reductions continue the longer the house is on the market.

To prevent that, get a professional staging consultation and get an up-to-date perspective on what buyer's want NOW and get that house SOLD!

I have been giving home staging consultations for over five years in Abilene, Texas, Call me and get yours done!

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Here are the photos of decor added to this patio home to add some pop and spirt to the fireplace, kitchen, and baths,

Fireplace and Living Before:

and AFTER STAGING DECOR TO FIRE PLACE.

Kitchen Before:

KITCHEN AFTER ADDING A LITTLE DECOR.

CLOSE UP OF BEVERAGE SINK AND COUNTER WITH PASS THROUGH TO LIVING - GREAT FOR ENTERTAINING!

MASTER BATH BEFORE

MASTER BATH WITH SOME SPA ACCESSORIES.

AND THE HALL BATH

ADDING ACCESSORIES WARMS UP THE SPACE AND MAKES IT "FEEL LIKE HOME"

FOR STAGING OR SELLING OR JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT TO DO FIRST, CALL BEVERLY AT 325-721-2429.

FINALLY -- FALL COOL!!!!

OPENING THE UPSTAIRS PORCH DOOR TO CRISP COOL AIR WAS A DELIGHT! AS USUAL THE CAT WANTED OUT AND THEN SHORTLY DECIDED TO COME ON BACK IN. NOW THAT IS CRISP COOL WHEN THE CAT IS TOO COOL!!

IF ALL GOES WELL THIS FALL, OCTOBER WILL BE SPLENDID NOT TOO HOT, AND NOT TOO COLD. IN ANY EVENT, IT IS A GOOD TIME TO THINK ABOUT ABOUT CHANGING THE AIR FILTERS IN THE HEATING/COOLLING SYSTEMS FOR THE FALL SEASON.

NOW THAT IT IS COOL, I MIGHT EVEN BUY A PUMPKIN OR TWO FOR A LITTLE ORANGE CURB APPEAL!

Or it would a great morning for a walk in the Park -- Here is a walking path in Austin

Or take a lesson from the cat, enjoy a nice morning nap

Either way ENJOY FALL COOL!!!!

80 DAYS of 100 Degrees ABILENE HOT! NOT SORRY TO SEE THE HOT DAYS GO AWAY!

The 100 degrees started in May, and didn't let up until September.

Today's high was still in the 90's but the Abilene Reporter News Weather Forecast is for more normal temperatures next week in the 80's.

The only thing that can make you feel hotter than the heat today is viewing your electric bills. I have already ranted on this before.

But lest anyone get confused it was DYNOWAT that chaarged 26.2 cents per kilowatt hour in AUGUST 2011.

When I called them on this, DYNOWATT alleges that ALL the TEXAS complanies WENT up in August. Maybe so, Maybe not but to 26 cents per kilowatt. I don't think so!

Anyway when you need to think about electricity, compare prices on www.powertochoose.org.

Here's a prior year photo of Rose Park's Swimming Pool, Abilene, TX. It looks nice and cool. ENJOY!