Don’t get me wrong, I can only really speak for the area I live in.  I truly believe some areas are affected more by this “downturn” than others, many people have moved to different states or have done whatever it takes just to support their families. What I’m talking about is when you look in the paper and there are hundreds of jobs posted yet there are those out there who won’t even apply because it’s not EXACTLY what they want or it’s “beneath” them because it only pays $X per hour when they used to make double.  What happened to the old values of working hard, providing for your family, and playing hard too?  Believe me, I can understand when unemployment pays more, I’m not gonna lie, I would do the same thing but that will run out if it hasn’t already.  Isn’t it better to make $10/hour than nothing?  Have only a small gap on your resume instead of a huge one? Show that HR person at the company you’re applying for that you will do whatever it takes? Among many, not all, there appears to be an attitude of entitlement and it isn’t an attractive trait on anyone.

As you can tell, I find this entitlement attitude very irritating.  Here are my reasons why… I started my business in early 2009 when it felt like the bottom dropped out of the housing market. Many thought I was out of my mind for starting a new business.  I was tired of working for someone else and not reaping the rewards of my labor. I work hard and I’m proud of it even though, at times, it can also be a downfall. Honestly, things moved at a snail’s pace but I continued to work hard and watched my business grow little by little.  Sure, there were times when I had to work another job to pay the bills but I knew that if I kept working hard, eventually, I would be able to do what I loved.  As of the end of 2011, my numbers were up 300% from 2010.  I’m happy at the growth, it’s amazing and far exceeded any expectations.  With that being said, I’m ready to grow…I NEED help.  I really can’t do it all at this point. Here are my challenges and one of the biggest reasons for my frustration.  Keep in mind, I’m still a small business so work is not always completely steady even though I have enough to make a fairly stable part-time position for someone. I’ve had several express interest in helping me grow. However, here is the kicker…they either want a ridiculous amount of money (about 3X what I make) and/or the type of help I need, they don’t want to do the work. On several occasions, I’ve asked some of these people to help me on jobs so I can give them a trial run. I’ve been stood up, yes, they didn’t even show up; I’ve had to babysit them, watch every move because I’ve caught them lounging around; and on a job that’s only a couple of hours, they want to take several breaks because they weren’t prepared to work or they have errands they need to do.  I’m sorry to interrupt your day for 2 hours with pesky work that’s paying you more than double what you’d make at a retail chain, forgive me your majesty.

I will apologize right now for the rant but it really is so frustrating. This is merely my personal opinion and I do not expect others to share it.  You are entitled (haha!) to your own opinion and I will respect you for it.  As I said before, I believe there are solutions for every problem you just have to get creative.  For now, until I find that magical “clone”, I will be hitting up the temporary staffing firm.  No need to search and no obligation to keep the employee yet they want to work otherwise they wouldn’t be there. Suffering from growing pains is a GREAT problem to have right now, I’m happy to have them.  Work smarter and not harder, good things will happen.

I know it will all work out for the best and BEST WISHES to you ALL in 2012!

Designed Living Room

Recently, while meeting with a client, we were talking about where she found me, why she chose my company etc.  She told me she found me on the internet, along with my competition and decided to research both of us.  She said she loved “my energy and passion and could feel it in my website”.  That got me thinking.  It’s true, I love what I do and I don’t share my reasons why I do what I do, often enough.  So, I want to share that with you all today.

My husband (at the time) and I put our house on the market in July 2008.  As you know, the market was on a steady decline and things were looking bleak.  Fall and winter hit…the market seemed to be at a standstill.  I had been working at a high-end interior design firm and had “designed” my house.  I always got compliments on it and positive feedback but not many showings.  My agent, Taunya Fagan with Prudential Real Estate and I were baffled.  I asked her to take us around to houses in the same price range.  I wanted to see what our competition was doing and trying to come up with a game plan of what we needed to do to come out ahead.  One house we went to had gorgeous maple cabinets, beautiful hardwood floors, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, tile in the bathroom…all things we did NOT have.  We had hardwood laminate floors, formica countertops, white appliances, basic cabinetry, etc.  We thought we were going to have invest thousands in improvements to get up to par.  We had already lost money on the house, we didn’t have the funds to do anything. 

In talking with Taunya, I asked her what she thought we should do.  She said “have you considered Staging”.  Oddly enough, the interior design firm I had been working for was not doing well (no longer in business at this time) and I had been looking to do something with my experience.  I didn’t have my design degree and to get it was over $30K (again, I had no money) so Staging seemed worth looking in to.  Immediately, I started doing research and found all kinds of Staging programs out there.  Many of them were just certification programs you took at home and they would send you certificate.  If I was going to pay the money, I wanted the best schooling out there.  Then I came across StagedHomes.com.  They actually had nationally recognized Staging University I could take classes and not only get certified but accredited and designated too.  The only designation available for Home Staging.  (check out www.StagedHomes.com for more info) Plus, the University was started by Barb Schwarz, the mother of the Home Staging concept since 1972.  Who better to learn from?  I booked my plane ticket for her class and was off.

When I came home, after receiving my accreditation, designation and certification, I saw all the reasons why my house was NOT selling and it had nothing to do with the lack of amenities I described.  My first project was my own house.  I’m one who has to find out for myself if something works or not.  I won’t tell anyone about it unless it has been tried, tested and found to work.  We started painting, packing, decluttering, organizing.  We put everything into a storage unit that we didn’t need.  I went through room by room visualizing what the buyer would see.  Moved furniture to accentuate the spaces and make them look bigger, added some pieces to define spaces…all things I had learned in Barb’s class.  It took us two weeks and a lot of elbow grease.

Staged Living Room

After it was all said and done, we had another open house.  The house was under contract within 45 days with 3 different offers and our house sold for more money than the competition.  At that moment, I decided that this was what I wanted to do.  I knew the challenges of having a house on the market while living in it.  Our house, prior to Staging, had been on the market for almost 9 months.  Trying to keep it clean, coming home when I got the phone call from Taunya saying it was going to be shown and driving 10 miles each way to turn on the lights, music and pick up the dog.  It wasn’t fun, I’m not going to lie, it was hard.  I honestly wished I had known about staging sooner, we would’ve saved ourselves about $20,000 (our price reduction).

This is how I know Staging works.  This is why I Stage homes to sell faster and for more money.  The National Association of Realtors reported that the first price reduction, on average, is between 10-20% of the listing price.  Can you afford not to Stage?  If I were to quote a price for my client on the services I did at my house (DIY-ers) it would’ve been around $200.  Hmmm, $200 vs. $20,000.  Which would you choose?  That’s why it’s important to Stage BEFORE you put your house on the market.  It can save you a fortune.  Learn from my mistake.

Guest Bath Before - Yikes!

Where am I going with all of this?  Well, in 2008 when we had our house up for sale (yes, during the economic downturn-when time stood still) we were up against some pretty stiff competition.  One block over from us, a house that was priced lower than us, had granite countertops, maple cabinets, hardwood floors throughout, beautiful tile in the bathroom, stainless appliances…yeah, ALL the things we did NOT have.  I felt so defeated.  I didn’t know how we were going to update our home to show the same if not better than this house without spending a small fortune and putting ourselves in the hole financially. 

If you’re a DIY-er like me, you’re in luck.  Just taking on a project by yourself, when simple (leave the complicated stuff to the experts), you can save yourself a ton of money.  On to the project, from the bottom of the financial scale.   The biggest and best thing you can do to freshen and update, if you haven’t done it already is clean.  It’s amazing how dirty things can get and you don’t notice.  Try cleaning your wood cabinets with Murphy’s oil soap and follow up with car wax.  They will shine better than brand new.  Personally, my favorite tool to clean with is an old toothbrush.  Gets all the nooks and crannies and you only have to do it a few times a year, if that. 

Guest Bath After - Better!

I’m not joking when I tell you that they literally have paint for EVERYTHING right now.  Countertops, tubs, sinks, appliances, metal, plastic…I could stand in the paint aisle for hours letting my head swim with ideas.  Nearly every color of the rainbow too.  For me, it’s like a candy store.  Paint freshens and renews just about anything.  I had a 70′s harvest gold stove hood I painted almond, looks brand new.  Easy, inexpensive, fast – enough said. 

What if you don’t want to paint?  The next step would be to update the little things.  Knobs and pulls in the kitchen.  You can find them in packages for less than $1 each and they come in modern finishes.  Replace old light fixtures.  Brass fixtures can date a room so fast it is close to miraculous.  If it’s an ugly fixture anyway, I wouldn’t bother painting it.  You can find inexpensive light fixtures at Lowe’s that look great and fit every price point.  Replace faucets in baths and the kitchen.  Again, another item that you can find at just about any price point.  They can update a bath or kitchen quickly with a small investment.  Our faucets we bought for our bathroom cost around $20 each.  Bath mirrors.  One of my pet peeves is going into a $500K plus house and seeing the standard old plate mirrors in the bathroom.  Really?  The contractor couldn’t spend an extra $20 for a great mirror?  It’s worth it, believe me.  Updates the bathroom fast and makes it look very high end plus it’s inexpensive but you have to shop around.  Mirrors at Ross are around $30-50 dollars each or get creative.  I saw a plate mirror once where someone put a frame right over it, not around it, on top of it.  It looked very cool and modern…great idea. 

What about old furniture?  Give it new life with paint or recover it.  Recovering furniture may seem intimidating to some but it really isn’t that hard.  I mean really, can that old rundown chair look any worse?  For smaller accent pieces you can have a lot of fun with colors and patterns but on larger pieces, it’s better to stay more neutral with your main colors. 

If you have to shop for anything big, try your local salvage, pawn, thrift, or Habitat re-store.  You’ll be surprised at the fun things you’ll find.  Garage sales can be great places for “treasures” too.  Look at the shape of items not the color.   Does it have any interesting shapes, curves or quirks?  That’s what makes a piece unique and loveable. 

So, what happened with our house?  Well, after I took my Staging course (through StagedHomes.com) I painted all my crazy colors neutral, changed out the mirrors and faucets in the bathrooms, cleaned my heart out, added knobs to all bath and kitchen cabinets, rearranged the furniture, painted the deck, cleaned the patio, etc.  We only spent about $300 but man did we stretch it out.  Most of what we spent was time and elbow grease but it was worth it.  Our house sold for more money and faster than the competition one block over. 

Remember, it’s not about how much you spend to get your house ready to sell.  It’s about the value of what you spend it on.  It takes research, lots of it, to find high quality items at discounted prices.  Looking back, if I were to bid on what I did to Stage our house, I would’ve charged the homeowner about $250 to get it where it was.  Think about it $550 to sell our house for close to $10,000 more than our fancy competitor.  As an ASP Stager and a DIY addict, I love helping homeowners, whether they are selling or not, to make improvements to their homes at the highest value.  Most Stagers do.  So, if you have a room that’s “bugging” you or you are stumped by a space, call an ASP Stager today. 

by Brandi Minshew ASP, IAHSP owner of Centre Staging in beautiful Bozeman, MT.  Visit us at www.CentreStagingStar.com for more info!

It all starts with the common misconception that first of all, Staging is Interior Design.  It is NOT.  I can tell you, from first hand experience, switching from the design world to Staging was like night and day.  I had to readjust my thinking completely.  Instead of picking out things I know the owner would like, I had to adjust my brain to look through “buyer’s eyes”.  What was going to be the most appealing to a wider range of buyers?  You have to change your thinking and how you arrange furniture, what accessories you would use, etc.  I’ll be honest, the things I use for Staging homes are NOT my personal taste and I don’t have them in my house.  It’s not that they are ugly, they just aren’t “me” personally.  Face it, we all see things at different shops that we say to ourselves “I like it but for someone else, not for me”.  It’s the same thing with Staging.  You can love the way a house is Staged but it doesn’t mean you want every single item in the house.  Interior Design is personalized for that particular owner to reflect their personal taste, personality, etc.  Staging is depersonalized so no one person’s taste or personality is reflected.  Granted you do have to possess a certain amount of taste but as ASP Stagers, we mute our own personal tastes in order to sell a product, your house.  We save all of our quirky, sassy, outlandish tastes for our own homes. 

The second big misconception is cost.  This is also linked to the above misconception that “Staging is design”.  Interior Design is expensive.  The regular, every day “joe” (such as myself) cannot afford to have a designer come in and re-do my house.  Not gonna happen especially in this economy.  Staging is affordable, plain and simple.  I can’t say it enough.  I think about all those people who have had their houses on the market for the last 6 months and it breaks my heart.  Imagine the thousands upon thousands of dollars (and more) they have taken in price reductions to get their houses sold.  It kills me!  They could’ve saved the majority if not all of that money by Staging their houses.  Here is a little secret:  when houses go on the market, the seller has control over only 2 things.  Presentation (condition) and price.  Well, I hate to tell you but the market is what determines the price and what’s going to sell.   You can hold on to your price point all you want but remember, the market decides who will “make it or break it”.  Keep in mind, the current average price reduction is between 10-20% of your listing price, according to NAR.  So, the only thing you have left to control is presentation.  Presentation encompasses Staging.  Staging encompasses neutral paint colors, clean carpets, decluttering, depersonalizing, etc.  When presentation isn’t there, price is the ONLY leveraging tool a seller has to get in a buyer.   The formula is simple:  rely on the experts to Stage and price your house and it will sell faster than you can imagine.  ASP Staged homes, nationally, are selling in 37 days or less whereas non-Staged homes are selling in 212 days. 

“Ok, so what about cost?”  When talking about Staging, there are no “costs” – Staging is an “investment”.   The reason I say “investment” is because you will get that money back.  I can tell you, without a doubt, that “the investment in Home Staging will ALWAYS be less than your first price reduction” (Barb Schwarz, Creator of Home Staging).  On a $200,000 house, your first price reduction may be between $20,000 and $40,000.  On a 2000 sq. ft. house, Staging may be around $1500.  Hmmm, $20,000 or $1500.  If this were taxes, we would all say “$1500 please!”.  Staging WORKS. 

However, there is a small caveat to all of this.  It’s important, I can’t stress it enough, to research the “Stagers” in your area.  As with any industry out there, you have professionals with training and you have wannabes or people who wake up in the morning and decide “I’m going to be a…”.  For example, we just had a massive hailstorm in our area.  There has been damage like you wouldn’t believe.  Last I heard it was over $60 million in claims.  Construction companies have been busy but what we are seeing in this area is new roofing companies popping up left and right.  I have a friend who has roofed for 20 years and he has actually had to do repairs on those roofs because the “new” roofer did it incorrectly.  The client has had to pay twice.  The “wannabe” roofer had little to no training and no idea how to do things correctly.  Staging is no different.  There is a Staging company in our area that has some training but they have not kept up on it and it shows.  It’s obvious in their work.  I get referral business because some Realtors don’t want to work with them anymore.  It’s good business for me but it’s sad.  There are over 1000 houses on the market here…plenty of business for all.   It all boils down to, you WILL GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.  For the best results, you have to pay a little extra.  I’m not talking much but that little bit will make a difference.  Paying that little extra up front will mean a bigger chunk on the back end.   It’ll be worth it.

by Brandi Minshew ASP, IAHSP owner of Centre Staging in Bozeman, MT.  Visit www.CentreStagingStar.com for more info!

1. Clear the clutter.  Sporting equipment, toys, run down furniture, hoses, lawn tools, etc all need to be removed and/or stored.  Place them in your garage or a storage unit.  Lawn ornaments should also be stored especially if they are broken.  Not everyone loves a lawn gnome.  Your porch and patio are not for storage, refrain from using them for such when you are selling.
2. Clean your exterior.  Renting a power washer is worth the extra money.  Wash all of the exterior including windows, shingles, gutters, siding, garage and concrete sidewalks.  Getting them shiny and new will only make your house look it’s best.  When your house looks it’s best, it gives the impression that it is well cared for.   If after power washing you see nicks, dings and paint chipping away, take the extra time and repair them.  It will pay off in the long run.
3. Outdoor lighting.  Buyers will shop at all times and so it’s important to make sure that the outside is properly lit.  Whether you have to use higher watt bulbs or need to update your lights, it’s an important and inexpensive trick that will show off architectural features of your house.  Keep your lights on all night and off all day.  Paying a little more for electricity will pay off 10 fold.  Also updating the door hardware can freshen the look of the exterior.
4. Create an outdoor living space.  Outdoor living areas are becoming more and more popular.  Creating a simple, tasteful outdoor space, without going overboard, can add value to your house.  Spruce it up by cleaning or painting the porch/patio area so that it is inviting and looks like a place buyers want to be.   
5. Dress up your windows.   If you live in a neighborhood where all the houses are similar, one way you can make your house stand out as different is to add shutters. You can find them for around $30 a pair or you can create your own. They are very simple but make a huge difference. Another way is by adding decorative window molding.  For more of a regal feel, add it to just the top of the window like you would with crown molding.  With your windows shining and your molding or shutters, it will look as if your windows are brand new.
6. Lawn and flower bed maintenance and sprucing up.  When it comes to your lawn, it’s important to make sure that all bald or yellowing patches are repaired.  There are great products out there to help with pet spots and high traffic areas.  Most of them grow in very quickly and are pretty tough.  Another option, if you need a quick fix, is to use grass paint (like they use on the golf course).  You can find it at any home improvement store or call your local golf shop or course.  For sprucing up your flower beds, make sure they are cleared of all debris and dead stuff.  If you have holes, fill them in with some beautiful flowers.  It doesn’t have to be anything too fancy or expensive but something colorful will only add to your appeal.  There is a great product out there called Soil Pep which works wonders, one of my favorites.  It’s inexpensive and renews a flower bed with little effort and easy clean up.
7.  Dress up the driveway and front entry.  Adding big pots of flowers will add SO much.  By the driveway, one of my favorites is tall potted bushes.  Keep them trimmed and neat and they will only accentuate the look of your house.  Potted flowers by the entry way are a great way to exude warmth and create an inviting atmosphere for potential buyers.  Put a centerpiece on your outdoor table, add a hanging planter off your porch but don’t get too crazy.  Plants are like children, they grow fast so make sure you can keep up with what you have.  Too much can also become a turn off for buyers so add just enough to accentuate and create an environment, not a botanical garden.

Whether you are selling or not, these are great tips for warming up and making your exteriors more comfortable for you and for your guests.  So, remember, the outside of your house is key, especially in warmer weather, in making that important first impression a positive one.  If buyers see how beautiful and well maintained your exterior is, they will only want to see more.

by Brandi Minshew ASP, IAHSP owner of Centre Staging in Bozeman, MT.  Visit us at www.CentreStagingStar.com for your FREE Home Staging Report full of tips and tricks.

1.  Paint.  I’m consistently teased that I “think paint can fix anything”.  Yes, it is the duct tape of the Staging world, I’m not gonna lie to you.  If you have tired looking cabinets or the wood is not in the best shape (or quality), seriously consider painting.  Take the time to remove the doors and hardware, thoroughly clean and sand all exposed areas.  Though it will take a little elbow grease, your results will, by far, exceed the cost.  Avoid any stenciling or personalizing.  Stick to neutral colors and don’t be afraid of the dark ones at that.  With cabinets you can go white, gray, chocolate-brown, black – white on top, gray on bottom, etc.  Painting your walls can also make a huge difference.  Choosing a neutral color (NOT white or cream) will warm the space and give it a fresh updated feel (and smell).  Choose something that coordinates with your countertop to really show it off.  Stay with just a couple of shades darker than white.  Since you are using a neutral color, it’s safe to paint all walls.  Avoid brightly or darkly colored accent walls if possible.  It visually shrinks the size of your room.

2.  Cabinet Hardware.  This is a fun one.  Inexpensive and can change the whole look and feel of your cabinets.  I know that some hardware stores even offer 20 handles for around $20.  To be safe, stick to brushed nickel or oil rubbed bronze finishes (depending on your other fixtures).  The simpler the better and less expensive.  Another option is to check your local architectural salvage or Habitat Re-Store.  Sometimes you can find great looking knobs that just need a coat of fresh paint.  Rust-oleum makes a fantastic hammered metal paint that looks great and covers brass.

3.  Light Fixtures.  This one will take a little more effort and possibly creativity but it can be done.  If you are not the refinishing type, most hardware/home improvement stores have packaged flush-mount lights 2 for $15 and they are not bad-looking.  Especially if your current ones are brass or have burnt orange glass shades.  If you don’t mind refinishing, again, you can either work with what you have or you can go to the Re-Store.  Pick up a fixture that has an interesting shape or feature.  Make sure it’s cleaned really well and take it apart (if you can).  Pick out either a brushed nickel, black, rust, white, etc. paint color and go to town.  If it has shades, you can pick up new ones for minimal cost or, depending on the fixture, it may look cool without shades but different shaped bulbs.

4.  Countertops.  There are so many different options out there for countertops.  I only suggest this one if your countertops are either in really bad shape or are really dated.  Sometimes you can find these at salvage shops or home improvement thrift stores.  Also, if you don’t mind spending a fraction more, you can buy the prefab sizes and have the home improvement store cut out your sink area and help you or show you how to install them yourself.  Other options out there are paints.  They do make paints out there specifically for countertops…it’s true.  I have not used one personally but I’ve heard they work well with a little extra prep work.

5.  Appliances and Bathroom Fixtures (Tubs, Sinks, etc.).  More often than not, you can find these items up to 75% off retail.  How?  Look for “scratch & dent” items.  If you don’t see them at your local retailer, ask them.  They may either donate them to a local cause or sell them at a discount warehouse.  Most of the scratches, I’ve found, are repairable so it makes it worth it.  Another thing to look at is to research your appliance and see if the manufacturer has different colored front plates available.  This can be tricky due to the manufacturer but it may be far less expensive than buying a new one.  We did this with an old dishwasher and it made all the difference.  There is always my tried and true friend “paint”.  They make paint out there specifically for appliances and for tubs/sinks.  With a little prep work, you can update that 70′s gold tub into a white beauty.  As for toilets, they are a little tougher but it’s worth it to go out and pay $100 for a new efficiency white toilet that doesn’t hold 15 gallons of water.  If your toilet is older but looks fine, I heard you can put a gallon jug of water in the tank to help with efficiency.  I would suggest researching that one, don’t take my word for it but I know similar solutions exist.

These are a few things that I have used over the past to help me update the look of my house without spending a fortune.  As with anything in home improvement, you can spend as little or as much as you want on upgrades.  Personally, I love the charm of some of the older fixtures and such in homes.  It’s the condition that’s the most important, you can always change the look.   Check out DIYNetwork.com for more fun projects.

Not sure what to do and need some suggestions?  Call an ASP Stager today.  To find one in your area, visit www.StagedHomes.com.

by Brandi Minshew ASP IAHSP, owner of Centre Staging in Bozeman, MT.  “Like” our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bozeman-MT/Centre-Staging-Accredited-Staging-Professionals/146626411765

If you are a buyer who wants these amenities, here are some things to keep in mind about each of them to maintain them and keep them looking beautiful for years to come.  As with all surfaces, they will face wear and tear so it comes down to what you can tolerate or resolve to fix.

1.  Granite Countertops.  Though beautiful and each one is unique it’s important to know the studies surrounding it show there may be a health risk (radon emission-http://organizedwisdom.com/Granite_Countertops_May_Pose_Cancer_Risk).   It’s a controversial subject or war so to speak between granite manufacturers and their competition but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.  Granite requires regular maintenance, not just cleaning but sealing as well.  Stains can be difficult to remove and it can also crack.  To keep them clean requires regular dusting with a microfiber cloth and water as needed.  Clean once a week with stone cleaner (with neutral pH).  Never use abrasive or harsh chemical cleaners as they may cause pitting and scratching.  When water no longer beads on the surface, it’s time to reseal.  If the surface should get damaged or stained, you will need to call a professional to repair.

2.  Stainless Steel Appliances.  Fingerprints, scratches, streaks, dullness…if you have stainless appliances, you know what I’m talking about.   Thank goodness that they are starting to make “fingerprint proof stainless”.  If you are a magnet junkie, like me (I love unusual retro magnets), you will be disappointed that most stainless fridges are not magnetic.  The way to keep you stainless looking it’s best is to use special stainless steel cleaner.  Follow the instructions and buff with a soft dry cloth to keep the streaks at bay.  A lot of times, this will also keep the appearance of minor scratches down too.  However, if you have major scratches, call a professional to buff them out for you.  The other option would be to appreciate the natural patina that develops over time.

3.  Hardwood Floors.  Personally, I love hardwood floors.  They age beautifully with time and care.  You will get scratches, you will need to refinish and seal.  It’s important to know what type of hardwood you have and what sealant was used on it.  One of the biggest culprits to scratching is furniture.  It’s worth spending the extra couple of bucks to buy felt furniture pads.  They will save you a ton of time and money.    Hardwood floors should be refinished every 3-5 years for high traffic areas and every 10 years for not so high traffic (depending on how much you mop).  Of course, if you have any major damage or discoloration, you will have to call a professional in for repairs.  Here is a great product I’ve used over the years and love.  http://www.greatcleaners.com/Products/Hardwood/PID-KIT000093.  I had the privilege of testing this product about 10 years ago and fell in love.  It’s so easy and does a great job. 

4.  Stone/Marble Surfaces.  Stains and scratches…ugly words but when it comes to stone, this is what you can expect.  Stone and marble are very susceptible to stains and water rings/marks especially acidic products like red wine.  With these surfaces sealant is not always the answer.  Because these are porous natural surfaces, many times they will not accept a sealant.  You may try to buff it out yourself but know that you may be causing further damage.  Once again, a professional is needed.  They have the know how and the proper equipment.  If you love the look but not the maintenance, there are many other options out there that have the look but are easier to maintain such as a manmade quartzite.  Many times they will also save you money too.

5.  Chef’s Kitchen.  We’ve all seen (and coveted) these kitchens.  I’m not an entertainer but even I feel like hosting a party when I see one of these.  Truth is, unless you do a lot of entertaining or are a chef, this may be wasted space for you.  Sometimes the fancy appliances and refridgerators just take up space and electricity and may be very expensive to replace and/or repair.  I have a friend that has one of these types of kitchens and when he went to use his new “chef” grade pots on the stove, the burners were so big they melted the handles off.  He tried to find bigger pots but what’s the point when you are cooking for two or three?  What’s worth more to you…additional living space or a huge kitchen?

When looking for your next house and evaluating the amenities that are important to you or if you are looking to remodel your current home, do your research.  Look into how they will naturally wear and what kind of maintenance may be required.  Things are not always as easy as they seem.

by Brandi Minshew ASP IAHSP, owner of Centre Staging in Bozeman, MT.  Visit www.CentreStagingStar.com for your FREE Home Staging Report.

Anytime you run a business, whether it’s out of your home or not, you have overhead costs.  Those overhead costs can be a variety of things whether it’s services, licenses, insurance, association fees/dues, marketing, etc.  The list goes on and on.  When you don’t factor those things into your cost of services, you are only shooting yourself in the foot.  How do you do your bidding?  Do you factor those things in?

Are you ever asked to give your services away for FREE with the “promise” of more business?  Have you ever fallen into that trap?  You know, I actually haven’t but I’ve been close and I have to admit I’ve reached that point before where I’ve seriously thought about it.  After reading a blog by our IAHSP President, Jennie Norris of Sensational Staging, I had a little wake up call.  FREE is NOT better.  In fact, it can ruin you, your business and your perceived value of service.

As you know, when selling your house there are a lot of costs incurred.  You have Realtor commissions, closing fees, appraisal fees, inspections, title fees, etc.   Things that you will neither get for free nor will you see a return on them.  If you have ever tried to ask for a reduced percentage in commission from your Realtor, you will be (99% of the time) met with a resounding “NO”.  No other professional in the Real Estate industry gives their services away for FREE, why should Staging be any different?  We are professionals with a valuable service to help homes sell faster and for more money.  It’s the one service you pay for when selling your home that you get back at a return of over 500%.  The Realtor makes more money, the seller makes more money why shouldn’t the ASP Stager be paid, and paid handsomely, for their services?  In many cases, we are saving the sellers from losing 10-20% of their listing price or tens of thousands of dollars.  Is it really too much to ask to be paid up to 1% of the listing price?  Would you rather pay 1% of your current listing price or 20%?  On a $200,000 home that’s $2000 vs. $20,000-$40,000.  Hmmm, tough choice (not really).

What’s my point?  My point is, to continue to establish your value as a professional, in any field, and establish the value of your services, it’s important to never give your services away for FREE.   That doesn’t mean you can’t offer discounts to your repeat clients but don’t give it up for nothing.  You, like other professionals in your industry, have bills to pay.  Let’s be honest here…why are you in business?  To make money, of course.  How you do it is what makes you valuable.  Conducting business with honesty, integrity and having a code of ethics with standards of quality and service all add to your value as a professional.  When you love what you do it just makes it easier. 

For all you Realtors out there, I apologize but I will not be giving away my services for FREE.  Like you, I have a mortgage, insurance, association dues, etc. that all need paid.  I won’t insult you by asking you to sell my house for FREE, please don’t ask me to Stage your listings for FREE.  It’s about building a team.  When a Realtor uses me to Stage a listing of theirs, it comes complete with a Staging team of professionals.  I’ve built relationships with some of the top professionals in the area like painters, landscapers, movers, carpet cleaners, flooring experts, etc. Never once have I nor will I disrespect those relationships by asking they work for FREE.   Even by using all of those professionals to get a property sold, generally it will NOT amount to your 10-20% of your listing price.  I’m all about building solid professional relationships and that is no different with Realtors of which I give discounts on repeat business.

So, how do I counteract what my competition is doing?  Well, what I found out is that my competition doesn’t have to charge much for Staging because they get outside money from a family owned construction company.  My edge in the market is that my focus is on Home Staging.  I do everything I can to educate myself (with the help of Staging University), I spend countless hours educating others in the community and actual selling is only 20% of what I do.  In this small community, sales pitches are taboo.  You will never get invited to any event if all you do is sell.  I build relationships.

If you are at a point where you feel the only way you will get business is to offer it for FREE, the “I’ll show them what I can do and they’ll hire me for everything”…stop right there.  When it comes to business, if you don’t want an action of yours to be a regularly expected thing, don’t do it even once.  Remember that in everything you’re doing.  This is your business and how you treat it is how others will perceive it.  Treat it with respect and high value, others will follow.  You and your business are worth it.

by Brandi Minshew ASP, IAHSP owner of Centre Staging in beautiful Bozeman, MT (just north of Yellowstone National Park).  Visit us at www.CentreStagingStar.com for fun before and after photos.

Special thanks to Jennie Norris, ASPM IAHSP President and Owner of Sensational Staging for the “Wake Up Call”.

What are the “right areas”?  Well, if you’re strapped for cash, now is not the time to gut your 1970′s kitchen.  When you invest money, you expect a return on it, to get out what you paid in.  Don’t get me wrong, when it comes to kitchens, they are a key selling feature in any house and are worth remodeling but you also need to think about the other things that need done.  How are the floors?  What’s broken?  What’s the condition of your roof?  The list could go on and on.  It can be tricky and overwhelming…I know, been there, done that which is precisely why I’m here now writing this blog.  In hopes that I can help you to invest wisely when not only selling but while living in your house so you won’t have the huge investment of upgrading or repairing last minute down the road.

There are so many times when I go to stage a house that has been on the market for months and months and I see basic (yet somewhat costly) things that should’ve been done years ago.  Big beautiful houses on the outside with faux wood paneling and nasty shag carpet on the inside and smells…whooo!  I’m wondering what the homeowners did to improve on their home over the last 35 years?  Buyers are wondering what kind of shape the house is in…how’s the plumbing, electrical, etc?  I love older homes.  They are so charming and interesting, they have a history.  It’s educational to go to open houses at these historical relics and hear the chatter of potential buyers.  I enjoy evesdropping on conversations and actually starting conversations with these buyers.  Not only do they help me as an ASP Stager but I also get to pass that info onto you to help you avoid pitfalls of selling.

Let’s talk about some investments worth making.  The number one thing you can do, with no other investment than time and energy is cleaning and decluttering.  You wouldn’t sell your car without cleaning it out and detailing it, would you?  Why would your house be any different other than you’ve invested a lot more time, energy and money into it and you could actually get what you paid for it.  Let’s get down to the nitty gritty.  Take your “big kid” pills cause I’m going to be honest with you here.  By clean, I mean get out the white gloves and wipe your finger on the baseboards.  There is no excuse or room for that unsightly hardwater stain in the bathroom.  Break out the old toothbrush and scrub around the toilet.  I’m not kidding, I hope you get my point.  By decluttering, I mean pack away anything and everything that you are not currently using on a daily basis.  Pack up your precious collections of antlers, teapots, teacups, spy novels, romance novels, toys…whatever your vice may be.  You’re going to be moving anyways, believe me, this will help with your stress levels when the house sells.  Cleaning and decluttering has an almost 900% return on your investment.  Wow!  No brainer, right?

Next invesment, paint.  Paint is so inexpensive (around $25/gallon) and with a little elbow grease you can change the look of your house.  Not only does paint freshen the look of your house but the smell too.  When you live in a house you don’t notice the smells.  Not saying that you are all stinky or anything but cooking smells, animal smells, etc. can kind of soak into the sheetrock and paint holding on to little nasties.  If you have a room that you painted specifically for something, i.e. a child, the man-cave, the “red room”…that’s a good indication that you should probably paint that room.  Any color you would not see in your mother or mother-in-law’s houses – paint it.  When selling many have the misconception that they should paint white or cream.  I’m telling you now, from a professionals point of view, do NOT repaint your house white or cream unless it’s going to be an institutional space or you are renting.  I hear all the time “but they’re neutral”…uhh, no.  They are sterile, colorless, pasty, cold.  Buyers want warm, inviting, cozy, friendly.  Stick to neutrals like a light sage or pale yellow, beige, taupe and tan are popular favorites, even a pale blue can be considered neutral but beware of where you live.  Think earthy tones just a couple shades darker than white/cream, that’s where you will find your neutrals.  If you hire someone to paint, you will make a 250% return on your investment.  Of course that number will be much higher (probably around the 800% mark) if you do the work yourself.

Last, for this blog anyways, and surely not least is Home Staging.  It is a little known fact that Home Staging is #2 on the Top 12 Home Improvements for Sellers list put out by HomeGain.com with a 586% return on your investment.  When I tell people this statistic, I hear “why isn’t everyone doing this?”.  Makes you wonder.  The investment in Home Staging should be as commonly suggested as cleaning and decluttering.  Yet the only things Real Estate Professionals are suggesting less is remodeling your kitchens and bathrooms which, as we discussed, is a HUGE investment with only a 200% return, if you’re lucky.  There is this common misconception that it’s expensive, or “I can do it myself”, or “I don’t need it”.  Guess what, as a former home seller, it ISN’T expensive, you need the help of an objective 3rd party professional and you DO need it.  Staged homes are currently selling in 33 days or less vs. non-staged homes (212 days – ouch).   Staging is as crucial as the above mentioned items, make the call, ask as many questions as you like, interview as many as you like but get it staged.  It’s worth the investment, I promise.

So, if you are not selling your house right now but may be thinking about it in the future, now is the time to do the monster projects.  Remodel your kitchen and bathrooms, add a deck, knock down walls, whatever will update your house.  By doing it now, you will have time to really enjoy it before you decide to move.

by Brandi Minshew ASP, IAHSP owner of Centre Staging in the lushious Gallatin Valley (Bozeman, MT).  Visit www.CentreStagingStar.com for more information.

Looking for a Home Stager?  Visit the source of Home Staging www.StagedHomes.com.

Click this link for more HomeGain.com stats:  http://www.stagedhomes.com/mediacenter/stagingstatistics.php

Why choose Home Staging as a career?  Well, you get to work with interesting people while you exercise your creativity in making their homes beautiful and more appealing to a wider range of buyers.  It’s truly rewarding to help a frustrated seller get their home sold fast and turn them into a believer or shock them and their Realtor because the house sold so quickly.  Your work becomes your testimonial and proof.  You get to make your own hours, choose who you will work with and how you will build your business.  Truly, whatever you put into it, you will get out of it tenfold.

When you start out you will be making $35-$125 per hour (based on location and training).  Some say it takes no training but I’m telling you right now, in order to be successful and have support, it’s imperative that you do get training.   There really is a psychology to it unbeknownst to the general populous.  Visit www.StagedHomes.com to learn more from the creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz.

Personally, I researched every so-called staging training out there and found that if I was going to invest the money, I wanted to learn from the best, the source, the mecca.  I chose StagedHomes.com Staging University.  What’s great is that Barb Schwarz has really made Home Staging real and attainable for those of us who have taken the course.  She took her 35+ years of experience, narrowed it down and made it into a concentrated course packed with information and knowledge.  She shares her tried and true techniques and tips so you will be sure to be successful.  What I love is the ongoing support…I have access to a whole nation full of other ASPs, just like me, to bounce ideas off of and encourage one another.  This course is not only available to those who want to be Stagers but also Realtors who want to supplement their business (CE credits available).   She has also made this course available to military spouses and is the ONLY Home Staging Training School approved by the US Dept. of Defense (http://www.stagedhomes.com/public/MyCAA.php).  The ASP (Accredited Staging Professional) designation you EARN is the ONLY nationally recognized designation for Home Staging out there.  If you’re looking into becoming a Home Stager, beware of wannabes, do your research.

For me, it was the lightbulb going on telling me “this is what I want to be when I grow up”.  I had looked into Interior Design because I loved it and had done it but knew, from experience, that no amount of “design” could sell my house.  Staging is NOT design.  Design is personalizing, Staging is de-personalizing.   I knew that becoming an designer in a down housing market would be incredibly difficult (and expensive) but it was the opportune time to become a Stager.  I learned from my personal struggle in selling.  Everyday “joes”, like me,  needed to stage in order to change if not better their situations.   It’s become my mission to do just that, help everyone selling their homes by Staging them to sell faster and for more money.

Visit http://www.stagedhomes.com/public/25-reasons.php for more reasons to take the ASP course.

by Brandi Minshew ASP, IAHSP owner of Centre Staging in “I can’t believe we had more snow this morning” Bozeman, MT.  Visit www.CentreStagingStar.com for a discount on the StagedHomes.com Staging Course.