About Multnomah County, OR

SELLERS: SOME GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR HOME STAGING COMPANY

When you’re comparing home staging proposals, here are some questions to consider asking so that you can be confident you’re selecting the company that’s best for your project:

• Is the home staging company registered in the City they’re based in and fully insured for liability in the event of property damage while on your premises? Will they provide a copy of their insurance coverage to you?

• Does the staging company's pricing proposal include staging the same number of rooms as your other proposals -- so that you can compare apples to apples? Do they partially stage with "vignettes" only, or do they offer full staging with coordinated furnishings and accessories?

• Did they show you examples and photos of their actual work, and not just stock photos of the company they trained with (or photos they found on the internet)?

• Does the staging company provide top-quality digital photos for your agent to use online, as well as for flyers?

• Are they an established professional staging company with a good website? How long have they been in business? Does local media include them in articles, interviews & film clips?
  

• Does the staging company include periodic visits to the property to check on the staging as part of their service?

• Does the staging company accept credit cards?

• What training and professional affiliations does the home staging designer have? Are they a full time home stager?

• Does the staging company provide photos of their recent staging projects?

• Does the staging company give you local clients' references and testimonials?
  

• Does the staging company require a 3-month or longer rental minimum? (you may prefer a shorter time frame)
  

Because home staging is not yet a regulated industry, there are misconceptions about how it should be done as well as how to hire a good home stager. If you ask these questions of the stagers you're considering for your project, you'll be able to determine who's best for you.

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Room Solutions Staging in Portland OR helps homeowners, builders, investors, banks & Realtors prepare their properties with a full menu of home staging services to make them appealing to your target buyer. For a complimentary home staging proposal call us @ 503-246-1800.

I just took a new listing in Portland Heights, and it's not listed in the RMLS yet.

If you are looking for a 3-4 bedroom / 3.5 bathroom home, I have a sweet English cottage, with over 3000 square feet - in beautiful condition - and it's ready to show.

Call me for more information, or send me an email via www.caryperkins.com

I'd love to share this new listing with you!

I think not good, which is the same as bad, and I wrote about it earlier on my blog at www.terradigmrealestate.com. Here it is:

"Today, Fannie Mae, the country's largest insurer of mortgages, requested another $15 billion from the government. Looks as though they had an $18 billion 3Q loss (guess they didn't need the other $3 bill-what's a billion here or there among friends?).

"Anyway.

"That brings the total Fannie has needed to $60.9 billion. I haven't checked what Freddie Mac has needed to date, but when they were first bailed out, the total to rescue them both was projected at $25 billion. It's going to hit $100 billion, easily. Does this matter?

"Hmm. The Congress today passed an extension of the $8000 tax credit for first-time buyers. But it wasn't enough. A $6500 credit for trade-up buyers was added to the dessert tray. Nevermind that 70% of the first timers who have already used the credit would have bought a home without it. And the trade up people? The people who have to move somewhere after selling their homes to first-timers? Apparently, the government felt these people wouldn't buy without taxpayer help. I guess the feds felt these people would move into FEMA tents or something.

"Most of the first-time buyers are using FHA. Ginnie Mae insures FHA (and VA) loans. Ginnie's debt load is up to $680 billion last time checked. That portfolio has an explicit government guarantee, which gets us on the hook for $780 billion and counting.

"Don't get me wrong. The government had to step in and shore up the finance market, because if they hadn't, we wouldn't have an economy right now. I think the Feds did a good job keeping the country afloat.

"I like hot fudge, too, just not a gallon of it at one sitting."

Let me know if you agree with this. It seems to me that more of us have to stand against the NAR's lobbying and make our opinions known.

Many of you might now know who Philip Glass is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Glass

Now you know.

When he was in Portland, OR recently, my son who has done some interesting work inspired by Philip Glass, "Einstein on the Beach" had the opportunity to met the genius himself.

Philip Glass is an American music composer, considered to be the most influential composers around. He has collaborated on film scores, nominated for three Academy Awards. His list of "Who's Who" is staggering.

When someone of this stature takes the time to talk with your little darling, you'd feel a since of pride too.

All I want to know is this:

Hey, Philip . . . did you like Portland? If so, call me 'k? I'll hook you up with a really nice property!!