Staging Job - Getting ready to sell!

I really enjoy my jobs and am always juggling to make it all work. This is a staging job in process. I received a call from a friend/past client and they expressed an interest to move. My first visit was to give a Broker's Price Opinion and presentation to list their home. After a walk thru, we decided that some staging could help the home sell in this market. The client's were interested and enthusiastic in this investment. I put a call into my friend, Miss Laurie, as we work together in staging most of my listings that need a little umph.

Check out what we did! This bed was the owner's childhood bed. So we saved it, painted it a darling blue, and relocated it to the younger siblings room.

The client was in the market for a new bed. So, they gave their son the queen size bed. We found a headboard and higher box spring, all new bedding plus we made a bed skirt to go with the theme. Window treatments were a must, the roman shades and drapery hardware are from Home Depot. Miss Laurie was able to find this woolish/poly blend fabric in a grey pinstripe and made the curtains! The artwork is made of vintage airplane ads-and along with the murals, there is a model biplane hanging from fishing line. The desk was a find from Target-matches up

perfectly with the client's bookshelves that they spray painted black for this project. The chair has a seat cushion that is the same fabric as the bed skirt and the pin board on the wall. Notice the orange accent from the pillow and rug? Do you love it? We do!

Stay posted for the next staging transformation: Laundry room and basement coming right up!

Smells to Dig-or Not

One of the real estate industry magazines I subscribe to recently provided a list I thought to share with readers. This list is about 'Good Smells and Bad Smells' while selling a home and how they affect moods. We all have heard about the cinnamon rolls or cookies in the oven trick. There's something to the trick in moderation. Read on:

Sensory research shows that the smell of a home can affect a person's mood, according to Terry Molnar, executive director of the The Sense of Smell Institute, a New York-based organization that focuses on the importance of smell to human psychology, behavior, and quality of life.
A light floral fragrance can put people in a more pleasant mood, while citrus scents, such as lemon and grapefruit, tend to have an energizing effect, he says. "Vanilla is one scent that's universal around the globe," Molnar says. "People find it comforting and relaxing."
But be careful: When you add smells to a home, it can be viewed as an attempt to cover up a bad odor. And if that's the intent, it can make the problem worse.

So what if you do need to get rid of a bad smell? Here are some ideas:

• Take the trash out. Simple and easily done. If your home is being shown to prospective buyer's, empty your garbage often.
• Snuff out the smoke. Eliminate smoking-put out your butts and buy an ionizer to help reduce the yucky stale smoke smell.
• Watch the cooking. The smell of lamb, broccoli, garlic, fish and eggs can stick around long after the food has been eaten. (Kim-postpone the lox, eggs and onions for a while!)
• Wash the dog-especially the big ones. Big dogs, such as Labradors and Retrievers, have a greater tendency to smell. Wash the dog and clean the pet's bedding regularly.

-Source, Realtor Magazine, April 2010

Freezing Weather Weekend

The week was a laborious one which calls for happy Saturday rewards!

Keep on the lookout for a new listing of mine which will be on the market sometime soon. This is a great townhouse in the downtown Natick area. The walkability to everything is amazing-train, shops, restaurants and the library is truly something to boast about. With help from a talented Miss Laurie-we staged the property by moving furniture and adding embelishments. The unit was already kept immaculately clean and tidy. However, most of the week was focused on staging which entailed bringing in and hanging wall art, furniture and moving boxes (with help from the Labate Landscape crew). Thanks team!

Therefore, on a freezing Saturday, I had time to make the Silver Palate Chocolate Chip Cookies-using chocolate chunks instead. What a treat!