Posts Tagged ‘hiring a decorator’

It’s 4pm???

Monday, July 13th, 2009

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Okay so I just realized it is 4pm and I have not even taken a shower yet.  This is why all office days need to occur at either Panera (hello pastries) or the Library.  It is very rare this happens but I had so much to do I hopped right on my computer this morning.  Okay, okay I also took Steve down to Massachusetts so he could leave for the week but whatever. Of course, I really want to be next to the pool with a Pina Colada in my hand but I will save that for another day.

This day has been crazy, I have been on the phone all day signing up very excited people for my class.  It is so cool hearing how enthusiastic people are to take this class.  I am so flattered!!  The good news is that I have been teaching it for three years so I know people get a lot out of it and that it is a lot of fun.  So I guess I can skip the nervous feelings.

I have also been busy shopping online for furniture for this Jamaica Plain job I need to get a quote out for.  The living space near the kitchen is small but overall super cute so I need something that is just right.  I really cannot wait to see this unit when it is finished!!!

So what else is left to do?  Oh, just email the Hippo paper to see if they can include the class in their weekly announcements, follow up with those developers I met last Friday, call back a client that requested information via the website, follow up with a girl from my networking group about a project in Bow she is having me help her with, finalize an appointment for this week for a reshuffle of a 3600sq ft home in Bedford, and find something interesting to post on Twitter.  So far I have only posted this song I am listening to and a blurb about my blog.  Not really a value for the people following me.  Sorry!

Tomorrow is the Broker Open house for that cute house on Back River Road I staged.  It is 11:30am -1pm at 94 Back River Road in Bedford NH.  Lunch from Panera (shocker right?  But really, that was not my idea).  Stop by if you are in the area, this house is great for the price point and for little money gets you into Bedford.

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Eco-Friendly Decorating Choices

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

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Somehow I almost missed the fact that several large retailers including Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn are now offering Eco-Friendly choices. In fact, I was shocked to see just how much is out there. Here are a few items that I found.

At Pottery Barn, their are a ton of beautiful organic towels in brilliant colors, seemingly endless bedding options in organic fabrics in solids and beautiful patterns. They also have a gorgeous Pieced Pine Oval mirror, soy candles and furniture. Check out www.potterybarn.com to see more. I simply searched using “eco-friendly” to see their offerings.

At Crate & Barrel they have a few new furniture options that are made of bamboo and constructed using traditional Chinese joinery techniques which use no nails or glue. Check out the Del Re Bed, the Bento Four Drawer Chest, and the Archer Bed (this bed is STUNNING!). Find them online as well at www.crateandbarrel.com.

Next, I found an organic mattress. I had no idea such a thing existed!! Naturpedic makes an “ultra organic” mattress which is waterproof and filled with an organic cotton filling. This filling is unbleached, undyed, and grown without pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers. Check them out at www.naturepedic.com

Lastly, Alsons has created a water amplifying shower head that makes you feel like you are taking a normal shower but using 20% -40% less water. Love that!! The shower head comes in adjustable and non-adjustable models. Available at www.alsons.com

There are a ton of other green decorating products out there and we are going to be bringing you more of these going forward!

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A High Price to Pay

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

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There are two major things home owners need to keep in mind when attempting to sell their homes. The first one is to not be so eager to get your house off the market that you over price it entirely, causing it to not only spend more time out there, but in essence, create more appeal for your competition. Home buyers may pass it by completely for something more affordable. Pricing too high will pigeon hole your listing into a category that excludes potential buyers, especially for online searches, where home buyers select specifics for a home, including the price range. Why would a buyer consider your home over a similar one in the same area that is listed fifty thousand dollars less?

Two major disadvantages face the seller by doing this. First, buyers will not want to pay the asking price, so their offers will come in low. Second, by initially pricing your home high may eventually cause you to have to drastically reduce it later. This causes the seller to lose their initial advantage and create more time that their house has been on the market.

The other major element to consider is, of course, staging. More than ever it is difficult to determine what will sell and what will sit. It is imperative to know what will sell. Home owners can take the first steps to preparing their homes by completing unfinished projects and fixing broken or old things in the home, but other than that they should take the time to consult with a professional home stager for the rest. Home stagers help the sale on so many levels. They help to depersonalize the home, remove access clutter, help individual rooms complement each other, prioritize accessories, and utilize a confusing or odd layout. Most importantly, they enhance the listing photos.

Homes that sit on the market are primarily due to home sellers who do not implement all the right marketing strategies in the beginning. Strategies that will produce appeal right away, rather than decreasing the asking price and advantage in the end.

 

 

 

 

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Going Green!

Monday, June 15th, 2009

More and more companies understand the need to enforce more eco-friendly products into their line of work. The building industry is one of the most important forums to implement these changes. Builders all over are producing their homes with energy saving and recycled materials. Our company, as well, is working towards offering our clients the option of using and applying “Green” products and practices in their homes. Whether you are educated about what green products you want to use or need help choosing the right ones, we can help with whatever design needs you are searching for. We are striving towards implementing design elements, such as paints, light bulbs, carpets, etc. into more of our design and staging practices. We can even help people choose energy and water saving appliances in their homes that will not only help the environment, but also save home owners money! There is no better time to start moving in the eco- friendly direction. With ever house that either is created from green materials or incorporates green elements, is a house that can begin healing what we have all helped to destroy.

New England Staging Group has been working with green builders and other professionals to create a network of green vendors to offer our customers. We have been educating ourselves with the proper materials and products to offer homeowners and we are dedicated to helping our clients make their houses more environmentally friendly homes.

 

 

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Real Talk

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Being a Realtor in this market can be challenging. Knowing what strategies to use to get houses sold is a key factor and can give you a jump on your competition.  Aside from knowing how to price a house properly in this market, I have learned that it is extremely important to make that house stand out from the rest. Buyers have so much inventory to choose from right now and you need them to be drawn to your house. I have found that professionally staging a home will not only help to get buyers into the home, but can also help to get the home sold quicker. I have even noticed that it can help sell the house for asking price, even in this market.

A company that I use, that I find has a tremendous track record and has helped me stay ahead of the game in this market, is New England Staging Group. Their expertise, professionalism and knowledge of what buyers look for has helped me get my listings sold quickly. Not only does the staging look phenomenal, but they are experts at taking professional listing photos. They know just the right angles and shots to take to make the home look appealing. After all, the pictures are what make a buyer decide if they want to actually go view the house. I have listed houses in this market, both staged and unstaged and I will tell you that the staged houses sell in almost half the time. I want to thank Julie and the New England Staging Group for all of their help and I look forward to growing our relationship in the future.

 

Bill Burke is a realtor with Keller Williams Metropolitan Realty in Bedford, NH. To contact Bill, call the office at (603) 232-8282 or (c) (603) 548-5315. He can also be reached by email at billburke@kw.com. Visit http://www.billburkehomes.com/ for more details.

 

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Whose Project is It?

Monday, June 1st, 2009

kitchen1I had lunch with a very nice guy who works for a design build company based out of Londonderry on Friday.  At one point in the conversation we started to discuss each of our company’s approach to client projects.  I explained that my process is simple.  By using pictures from magazines, books, etc I help my clients identify the look they are going after.  Then we discuss budget and timeframe for implementation.  I told him that essentially when a client hires me to help them decorate their home, I believe my job is to show them how to create the look they want within their budget.  My likes and dislikes really never enter into the picture.

My lunch partner was suprised to hear this even though his company has a similar philosophy.  Many of you are probably surprised to hear this as well.  Of course this approach is not for everyone or every client.  I have worked with many clients who wanted no part in the design process, they didn’t tell me colors they like or dislike, never gave me a budget, and frankly never identified any kind of direction for the project other than when they needed it completed.

The point is simply that if you are decorating your home, you need to decide what kind of client you are.  Do you know the look you are after but need help making it happen?  Or do you want to be surprised on the day of delivery?  Neither answer is wrong, unless you hire a designer that doesn’t help you accomplish your goals.

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