Head Logo
February Newsletter
February 2007 - Issue 6 < >
In This Issue
Sign Up
Quick Links
Greetings!
Image of a dog in a chair next to fireplace

As we have moved from the warmth of the holiday season into the depths of a cold winter, sellers still need to sell their houses and agents still need to show their houses to sell them. This time of year staging is even more important to make your house and your client’s house stand out from other competing properties with light, warmth and aroma. We are excited about sharing news and tips in this issue along with three featured staging stories.

After staging pictures
Vacant Single Family Home in Sterling (MRIS #LO6288457)
This home had been on the market for more than 9 months when the listing expired. With the new listing agent, this home has been painted with custom colors and staged with furniture pieces and accessories from Staged Interior. The exterior has been spruced up as well. See “Before and After” pictures of this property.

Occupied Townhouse in Dale City (MRIS #PW6302528)
When this homeowner called Staged Interior, she new we would work as a team to get her house ready for sale, and then have it sold. With Trish’s consultation, household items were de-cluttered, minor repairs were made, rooms were painted with warm custom colors, carpets were cleaned, and then the home was professionally staged by Trish’s team. “Lights, Camera, Action!” It’s Showtime! See “Before and After” pictures of this project.

Occupied SFH in Oak Hill Sold in Record Time
(MRIS # FX6232225)
This home was staged just before the holiday season began. At this time it has the highest list price of any existing home sold or currently under contract in the last 90 days in the Century Oak community. It sold in record time – faster than any other existing home in that neighborhood during the same time period. Listed by broker, Glen Baird at VirginiaMLS.com Realty, this is another staging team work success story! See “Before and After” pictures of this project.

Last month you shared the joy of staging with your friends and clients using our unique custom gift certificate program and we thank all those who effectively utilized the program. This month you can spread the stories and myth busters of this e- Newsletter and be my Valentine. Home Selling and Staging to Sell is a perfect match made in real estate heaven, and when you are my Valentine, you win BIG and you win all that follows:
Two dozens of Roses
A box of “Gold Collection” Godiva Chocolates
Dinner for Two at Foxfire Grill in Alexandria
A Gift Certificate from ServiceMaster Carpet Cleaner
Two Gift Certificates from Staged Interior

Well, how do you become my Valentine, you ask? Forward this e-Newsletter to as many of your family members, friends, neighbors and clients as you like between now and Valentine’s Day Eve midnight (that is February 13th 11:59 p.m.) and the one and only one who forwards this e-Newsletter to the most people wins all these prizes valued at more than $700. I will personally deliver the prizes to the winner on Valentine’s Day.

IMPORTANT: You MUST click on the heart above to forward this e-Newsletter.
Using your e-mail program’s forward feature does not count. Simple, but crucial!

* No cash redemption value. Prize delivery & redemption are available for services rendered
in the Washington DC Metro area. Some prizes have a redemption expiration date.


This contest is for the active subscribers of our monthly e-Newsletters.
If you are not a subscriber, please sign up here
for future newsletters and contests.

ASPM logo
Myth 1: Staging is Decorating...

Fact: Staging is NOT Decorating or Design! Decorating or Design is personalizing and Staging is De-Personalizing and preparing a house for the un- known Buyer. That is why it’s KEY that you hire someone with training specifically on how to prepare a house for sale.

The Accredited Staging Professional DesignationTM (ASPTM) is the ONLY nationally recognized professional designation for Home Staging. Make sure to hire someone with this professional designation when selecting a qualified Home Stager.

TIP: When the focus of the Staging becomes about things and not your house, then you are working with a decorator and not a trained Stager. An ASP Stager can use existing items in a house and their creativity to properly Stage a house for sale.

Myth 2: Staging Costs Too Much...

Fact: Staging is an INVESTMENT in getting a house sold and the investment in Staging is always less than a price reduction. An ASPTM Stager has been trained to work with a Sellers’ budget and time frame to properly Stage a house. We like to ask our clients, “Can you afford NOT to Stage?” When compared with the other costs associated with the sale or purchase of a home, Staging is very reasonable. In most markets, a Staging report detailing what needs to be done to Stage the house for sale is less than the appraisal or Home Inspection reports.

Myth 3: All I Need Are Lights, Flowers & Music...

Fact: Lights, Flowers and Music are great for Showing a house, but that is not Staging. Staging requires an objective and professional assessment of a house’s strengths and challenge areas, and solutions to help Buyers fall in love with what they see. This requires more than just flowers and music to achieve - it requires an Action Plan! Your ASP can help you and your clients with a Success Plan for getting their house STAGED and SOLD!

Myth 4: I Can Just Watch One of Those Shows...

Fact: The shows on HGTV and similar channels give Sellers the idea that they need to do something to their house to prepare it for sale, but Sellers cannot truly be objective in a house they have been living in and need a 3rd party independent opinion to get it properly Staged. ASPs have the experience and ideas to help Sellers get their houses ready and we honor our clients, and work closely with Realtors to help get a house sold.

* This article was printed from StagedHomes.com with permission

Member of:

  • Northern Virginia Association of Realtors
  • Dulles Area Association of Realtors
  • International Association of Home Staging professionals
  • Staged Homes

Sincerely,

Trish Kim
Accredited Staging Professional Master (ASPM™)

phone: 703-298-0201

Forward this Newsletter to a Friend

Staged Interior | Pendleton & Young, Inc. | Centreville | VA | 20121