Ike Strike, Part Three

He's almost here, you can feel it in the air. The sunset was gorgeous, all but gone now...only a glimmer of light remains to reflect the dark shadows cast by the racing clouds. I watch as the news reporter based in Galveston gives his update of the conditions there. No power. So dark. Looking outside it's beginning to appear like that here.
Hard to imagine just a few short hours ago we were walking Zoe around the block. It was her second outing of the day, extremely rare because she is such a stodgy old biddy. We took her to the dog park before noon, I remember at 11:10 the wind blew the hat from my head. I noted to Marc that historical tidbit in case I forgot, but I knew I wouldn't. Finding the irony in life is one of my favorite tasks. 7:55 PM and the reporters lament, it didn't veer. HUNKER DOWN. This is the official phrase of the 2008 Ike Devistation Show. I haven't heard that phrase as much in my entire life as I have in the last 3 hours. 7:58 PM and I can't even attempt to go outside with my hat on if I want to ever see it again. We know we are in for the night when we're forced to stow the last 2 patio chairs. We'll do that once they won't stay out of the pool. But for now, I need to experience the true ambiance of impending disaster. I think 'll go sit by the pool.
Part Four in a bit.

Thoughts of Ike, Part Two...still no relation to staging!

I tried to tell my darling daughter Jackie to be careful what she wished for. She was one of the few who was disappointed when Rita grazed Houston, sparing us the devistation those just North and East of us were so unfortunate to bear. Now it appears she's gonna get her wish. I hope she's ready. She's always been fascinated with mother nature's wrath and longs to chase tornadoes and rainbows and such. She is my little Tink. I hope she realizes how she is flirting with disaster. At least she has A/C...for now!
The increased wind speed is giving us some merciful air movement inside the house. I hate to see what happens when the rain hits and the windows will have to close. I wonder if it's safe to spend the storm in the pool. From what I recall, there's usually not alot of lightening and thunder, just massive wind and rain. Looking out from our bedroom with the windows as open as they can get, I see the few light pieces of patio furniture shaking precariously in the wind gusts. In the distance I hear something fall over...hoping it's nothing major and better yet, not in our yard. How terrible.
Part Three to come.

Thoughts of Ike, Part One...totally unrelated to home staging!

I'm bored, trying to pass those unbearable hours waiting for the storm to get on with it. So many interesting thoughts have come and gone over the hours, but finally I decide to capture some of the more illuminating thoughts that flitter through as if on the wings of a hummingbird. This series of rantings will be my chronicle of those thoughts, in symphony with the realities of the wrath of Ike.
This ain't my first rodeo. But it's been a looooong time since I felt that certain adrenalin rush thats associated with the approach of a hurricane. A strange mixture of excitement and fear sprinkled with true anticipation. Memories of the transformation of the day, which started as beautifully sunny, somewhat humid and unseasonably warm at 80 degrees for the early hour of the morning, trapse randomly through my mind. "Get off the seawall", I hear the news anchor repeat while showing unbelievable photos of the surging tide, the storm still hundreds of miles off shore. The brightness of the morning mingled with the cooling breeze, increasing in intensity, mocked the anchor's warning, promising a lovely beginning to what is sure to become an historic day, at least in our local history.
As irony would have it, our central air conditioning decided to freeze up, discovered only minutes after I loaded my freshly removed bedroom ceiling fan into it's new owner's vehicle. Figured the we could easily live without the ceiling fan for a few days since the hurricane would necessitate indoor living, and the AC would just remain on. Despite our best efforts, by the time we realized that no AC service person would magically turn up on our doorstep to fix the dead blower motor we were stuck to "weather it out" without the benefit of being cool. Despite the heat emitting from the brain of my laptop, I continue to type, while clouds begin to overtake the sun's rays in a foreboding manner. Now I wondered who was being mocked.
Part Two to follow.

What IS Home Staging?

By definition, Home Staging involves preparing your home to sell by accentuating its advantages and eliminating or reducing the perceived negatives. The results are often a quicker sale for more money than expected. The marketing aspects of staging include all the work done to persuade a buyer to make an offer, including promotional activities, listing materials and how the home is presented.

Staging is about determining what you can do to place your property at the top of the show and sell list. The major difference when designing to sell is not to focus on your own particular taste but rather on the target market that will be attracted to your home. Remember that buyers usually choose the home with the most space and amenities within their given budget. It is human nature to pick the biggest and best for your money. Space is a matter of perception, so the main goal is to make your home feel open and inviting.

Cleaning up clutter and packing up personal items is necessary to achieve that crucial selling advantage. Essentially, buyers need to picture themselves living in your home. A neat, tidy and nicely arranged home without the reminder of daily maintenance is the best way to project the image of pride of ownership. Buyers want value and style, so it is important to tastefully accessorize to achieve mass appeal.

Make necessary repairs prior to showing your home to the buying public. When a purchaser sees even one thing that needs to be fixed, a red flag goes off in their head. They are given the impression that the home is not well maintained, and actually start to look for other issues. With every imperfection (and let’s face it, no home is completely without them) they mentally reduce their offer. By making those necessary repairs first, they have nothing to base a low offer on. Additionally, the repairs will eventually get addressed during the inspection phase which would result in the buyers asking for monetary compensation to have them taken care of, so be proactive and keep your equity in your pocket. Fix ‘em now!

First impressions are everything in real estate. Staging should be your first step in the home selling process. Make sure your home is in top condition before showings commence, and then Prepare Yourself for all of the benefits of staging your home!

Houston Property Sales Retreat Further In March

Single-family home prices hold up amid seventh consecutive monthly slide in overall property sales; home sales reach highest level of 2008

HOUSTON — (April 15, 2008) — Total property sales across greater Houston tumbled for the seventh consecutive month in March while sales of single-family homes edged up to the highest level so far this year, according to statistics released by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR). Sales of all property types for March 2008 totaled 6,098, which represents a 17.3 percent drop compared to March 2007. Total dollar volume for properties sold during the month was recorded at $1.2 billion compared to $1.4 billion one year earlier, a 16.7 percent decline. The average price of a single-family home continued to increase, growing by 2.0 percent last month from March 2007 to $208,105. The median price of a single-family home was flat at $151,000. “Home buyers and other consumers are tightening their belts during some of the toughest economic times we’ve experienced in decades,” said Michael Levitin, HAR chairman and principal of HTownRealty.com. “Many of those postponing home purchases are opting to rent for now, while those who have sold homes recently are reaping the rewards of pricing that has held steady even as sales have cooled. Houston continues to fare better than the rest of the country on the housing front and new employment figures show us leading the way with strong, sustainable job growth. Throw in historically low interest rates and Houston’s comparatively low cost of living and there’s every reason to believe that local consumer confidence will improve and help boost the real estate market.”

Adding WOW to your Windows

As stagers, we are always coming up with new and inventive ways to inexpensively add that “WOW” factor to our clients’ homes. One of the most effective ways to spruce up a room is to add fabric valances to your windows. Today I will share with you one of the methods we use to create beautiful valances with minimal time, skill and cost. There is no hardware to hang, all you need are rubber bands, a couple of nails, a hammer and double stick tape.
First, measure the width of your window(s). Now, determine the length of the drop on each side of the window. You need to decide what will look best on your particular window. Generally, you will want to choose one of three options; a short, scarf like end of only a few inches, sill length or floor length . Add the measurements for the drop for both sides with the width measurement, and add an extra 18 inches. It doesn’t need to be exact, as you will be able to adjust it when hanging. Better to have too much than not enough.
Now choose a fabric. Usually fabric comes in one of two widths, 45” or 60”. Since your valance will only be anywhere from 6 to 10 inches wide when finished, you can cut 2 or 3 strips from one piece of fabric and sew the lengths together to give you the total length you need. If you aren’t in to sewing, you can use heat fused stitching tape. We always check the sale tables at places like Bed, Bath and Beyond first for pre-made window scarves, as they require no sewing. Get 2 if they are too short, there are many ways to “tie them together” to get the length you need. You can also get creative with table cloths, flat bed sheets or scarves. When staging your home to sell, you’ll want to choose light, airy and colorful fabrics that blend with your home’s style and décor. You don’t want to cover your view, just enhance the window.
Create your valance by sewing or fusing your fabric pieces to achieve the total length you need. Fold your fabric in half lengthwise, right sides together, and trim to the desired width, allowing ½ inch or so for seam allowance. Now stitch across the raw edges and turn right side out. When finishing the ends, turn raw edges under and stitch close to the edge. Your valance is now ready to hang!
Install a small nail with a head to each upper corner of your window an inch above and outside of the frame. Leave enough nail protruding to hook your fabric on to so you can stand back and check for evenness. Drape the valance across the top of the window, hooking the fabric onto the nails. Make sure your drop is the same length on both sides. Grab the fabric where it sits on the nail, and bunch it up to make a “rosette”. Secure the rosette by wrapping a rubber band around the knot of fabric. Fluff out the fullness of the rosette, and hang from the nail with the rubber band. Repeat for the other corner. To finish, apply double stick tape to the wall across the top of the window and smooth the fabric against the tape. VOILA! Instant charm!

This example shows how we used 2 premade window scarves to create a lovely showcase for the view from these windows. The ends were brought together in the center of the treatment, creating a keystone center. This treatment took about 10 minutes to hang and cost about $20.

Press Release - Home Staging Open House

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9 A.M. EDT, March 25, 2008

ENTRANCES HOME STAGING TO HOLD STAGING OPEN HOUSE

KATY, TX, MARCH 28, 2008: In conjunction with April OPEN HOUSE
month, Entrances Home Staging will be hosting a Staging Open
House on Saturday, April 19, 2008 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, CST.
Visitors will be able to tour a staged home to get a first hand
view of how home staging is implemented. Pictures of the rooms
before staging will be posted. Entrances staff members will be
on hand to answer questions and provide information and tips
about staging. The open house will be held at 2131 Enchanted
Park Lane, Katy, Texas, 77450, which is in the Oak Park Trails
subdivision. Refreshments will be served.

“With the summer selling season fast approaching, home sellers
need to be aware of the many benefits staging provides them”
says Nancy Albea, founder of Entrances Home Staging. “We want
people to know that it isn’t just successful on TV. Staging has
proven to sell homes faster and for more money, and in today’s
slow market, sellers need every advantage available.”

Based in Katy, Texas, Entrances Home Staging prepares homes to
sell quickly and for top dollar. From preparing Complete Action
Plans for do-it-yourselfers to providing furnishings and
accessories, their services are fully customizable to fit every
budget and need.

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