Victoria Mahoney, Realtor and Certified Home Stager

Repeat Homebuyer Tax Credit soon to expire!

Do you have enough time to sell your listing AND find a replacement home, so your client can qualify for the "Repeat Homebuyer Tax Credit" which expires April 30, 2010?

• Staged Homes sell 50% faster than non-staged homes
• Staged Homes stand out from the competition

NOW is the time to get your listing staged by a professional. Hire a certified home stager. Formal training makes a difference.

Small Investment = Big Return.

Make every showing count!

Realtor Inventives and Closing Gifts for Home Buyers: Did you clients recently move into a new home? Did they spend hours and hours of rearranging the furniture and it still does not feel right?

This is a very common problem. Why? Most homeowners try to place the furniture, artwork and decor exactly the same way it was in their previous home. Why doesn't this work? Because the "new" home is different than their "old" home. That makes sense, right? You wouldn't move out of your home and into the same, exact "everything," would you?

There is a 99% chance the placement of the furniture, artwork and decor in your new home would naturally be different. And, there is a lot for you to consider: style, architecture, age of the home, room size, size of the furniture, lighting, and floor plan, to name a few.

I take the pain and guess work out of moving by offering free design services to all my home buyers. This is part of my marketing plan and is the perfect closing gift. As a Realtor serving the Denver metro area since 1994, and certified home stager & interior redesigner since 2005, I have heard the the same story over and over. It runs somewhere between extreme excitement of moving into a new home and extreme frustration of not being able to get it to "feel like home."

I offer the usual team to assist my clients: appraisers, lenders, home inspectors, etc. Recently "my team" has expanded. I offer: professional packers and movers, downsize and organize services, estate liquidators and senior discounts - basically any service that will ease the transition.

Some of these "other" services are perfect as incentives for prospective home buyers to choose you as their Realtor, or closing gifts. Let's stand out from our competition and make real estate a banner year in 2010.

The Realtor said, "My home doesn't look that bad . . . " Are you staging your listings by someone "other than yourself?" Please ignore the following if you are like me - a Realtor and certified home stager.

More than 90% of my staging jobs are from the homeowner. I ask them "why" they contacted me vs. their Realtor. Below is a small sample of "why."

POOR EXCUSES
* The Realtor says, "I do not believe in home staging - it is over rated."
* The Realtor says, "I do not know any home stagers - you find one."
* The Realtor says, "I can stage, but no, I don't have any formal training. Does that really matter?"
* The Realtor says, "If you want a professional stager - then you pay for it."
* The Realtor says, "All my listings eventually sell without home staging."
* The Realtor says, "Home staging is not included in my marketing plan, but I do open houses."
* The Realtor says, "I only offer home staging services for high-end properties."
Here is one of my favorites. "My Realtor said my home doesn't look that bad . . ." Is that a back-handed compliment or what??

How embarrassing that some clients know more about what sells homes faster than Realtors.

The list goes on and on with excuses why Realtors do not use a professional home stager for ALL their listings.

As a Realtor, I want my clients to see me as the "go-to source" when it comes to anything even remotely related to real estate. To ask a client to find information themselves is absurd.

Home staging is not a new concept. New home builders have been staging their model homes forever. NAR came out with a statistic back in 04' saying that staged sells homes 50% faster than non-staged homes. Today, Home & Garden shows on cable TV run all day long showing the quick results from home staging. And, to say "out loud" to your client that you only stage high-end properties. . . you're kidding me right?

When we passed the real estate exam, we received a license to sell real estate. If we were lucky, we signed on to a company who gave us intense real estate training to go along with it. No where on the exam were questions on home staging. Passing the real estate exam does not automatically qualify you as a home stager. Yes, you may have an "eye for design," but the formal classroom AND "hands-on" training will take what you think you know about home staging to a much higher level. After all, aren't we suppose to be working in our client's best interest vs. ourselves.

Real Estate 101: Give your client what they need, plus more. Make yourself unforgettable in a good way!

Home staging is a small investment ($75 & up) with a BIG return!

HOME STAGING BENEFITS:
* Separates you from other Realtors
* Separates your listing from the competition
* Faster closing for seller & Realtor
* Happy seller = Seller referrals
* Higher sales price = Increased equity for seller & Higher commission for Realtor
* Opportunity for "repeat home buyer" to take advantage of tax credit
* Being recognized as a progressive Realtor with "cutting edge" marketing tools for all sellers

Your listing and the "repeat homebuyer" tax credit. Does your client have enough time to sell their current home, find a replacement home AND qualify for the "Repeat Homebuyer" tax credit?

If the answer is "Yes," then read no further. However, if your answer is somewhere inbetween, "I think so" and "no way," then you may want to consider home staging by someone other than yourself - a certified home stager.

Why home staging by a certified home stager?

1) Staged homes sell 50% faster AND for more money

2) Staged homes stand out from the competition

3) Home staging costs less than a price reduction

4) Formal training takes what you "think" you know about staging to a whole new level

Home staging is a small investment with a big return for you AND your clients.

Christmas tree alternatives - for a change of space. Why? Maybe the fact that the average Christmas tree takes up the space of a VW bug, AND it usually takes up to a day to drag out the tree (more if you buy a fresh tree), along with the decorations, and miscellaneous décor - you may be ready for a festive "change of space."

If you are looking for Christmas tree alternatives as a time-saver, or would like to have space in the room besides "just the tree" for yourself and guests over the holidays, or just something a little different, please read on . . .

• Hang a wreath inside the front door.
• Hang a wreath over the fireplace, or in place of artwork.
• Drape garland, faux or fresh evergreen branches over the fireplace.
• Place holiday candles of all shapes & sizes on the mantel of the fireplace.
• Place/stagger large holiday candles of different sizes inside a wood-burning fireplace. Add evergreen for filler, but make sure it is placed at the bottom of the candles, or candle holders so it does not catch fire.
• Hang stockings off the mantel of the fireplace.
• Drape garland over mirrors.
• Wrap garland around the hand rail on your staircase.
• Drape/loop garland around your hanging lights in the entry, dining room or kitchen.
• Wrap garland or wide, colorful holiday ribbon around deco columns; add a small wreath or large bow at the top for accent.
• Choose the "best of the best" of your ornaments and place in a clear bowl or large jar. Add faux or fresh evergreen and pinecones. Use as a centerpiece.
• Use your "holiday" dishes everyday between now and the New Year - not just for that special dinner or company.
• Choose the "best of the best" of your holiday décor. When you add a holiday piece, make sure you remove 1-2 pieces of décor so the holiday décor stands out vs. a mixed collection on the same surface.
• Place electric candles in your windows.
• Spray artificial snow on windows or use stencils for distinct patterns.
• Use holiday candles of all shapes & sizes on a plate for a centerpiece.
• Place peppermint sticks in a clear jar, or hang on a ribbon for garland.
• Place gingerbread cookies in a clear jar - they are not just for eating.
• Place sections of your Christmas Village collection in multiple rooms vs.
  all in the same room, and spread the festive look throughout your home.

I think you get the idea . . . And, I'm pretty sure you can come up with some ideas of your own.

Keep in mind; you do NOT have to use every piece of holiday décor you own - all at the same time. Highlight your home using the "best of the best" of your décor vs. giving your home the look of a holiday store. Why? Nothing really stands out.

My vision regardless of the season is, "Understated Elegance." Try it - it's timeless.