Some before and after pictures from a resent staging job I did.  This home was a great location, and I took special care to highlight the windows (and more importantly that gorgeous view). Well placed furniture actually makes a room look bigger then when it’s empty, and for this being a spacious house, many of the rooms appeared small before staging.  This was sold quick, and with good reason : )

To see more staging pictures click HERE

 To see more staging pics, or to check out the listing click HERE : )

I’ve talked before about the importance of cleaning your home. Cleaning and decluttering are the first step to getting your home sold, and common advise most people already know. Despite this I have worked with people before who understand they need to get things picked up, but don’t understand how detailed the deep cleaning must be.

We’re talking every corner dusted and scrubbed, carpets steamed, wood floors polished, windows cleaned inside and out. A potential buyer will notice things that friends, guests and even the most difficult relative will not. Is this something you can do yourself? Absolutely, but be ready to put in a lot of sweat and time – it will be worth it.

For those of you who would like some support, there are cleaners who work specifically for homes on the market. I’d love to give a shout out to one such woman, Pamela Conder. I met her seven years ago and have worked with her many times, she has an eye for details and is the best cleaner I’ve worked with.

Feel free to shoot her an email: pamelaconder@comcast.net

Pamela is the one who first taught me to toss the Murphy’s Oil (it can actually be very harmful on wood flooring) and too instead use a vinegar solution.

For more great cleaning tips, check out these links:

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/10-green-home-cleaning-tips1.htm

http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/maintenance-repair/home-cleaning-secrets/

Every day I’m involved in selling homes, not just in the staging process, but in helping my clients through the emotional process of getting their home ready for a sale.

Now I’m living through that process, and with a home I never expected to sell – my own (4027 SE 27th Ave). When I moved into this home I thought it was the home I was going to grow old in. I’ve been spending the last years doing a lot of high end remodeling -expanding the kitchen and the bathroom, and working to make the house feel like a cozy home. I am especially proud of all the work I put into the backyard, with its fire pit, sitting area, and hot tub. It’s a wonderful spot to entertain and a great place to relax after a long days work.

So, why am I selling? I found another home that I fell in love with, and it was too good of a deal to let it go. It is outside portland, in a more rural area, with a nice space for my dogs to run. (I’ll post some pics of it soon so you all can see). I decided to embrace the day, and make this big change, but I love this home and hope it goes to a someone who will love it as much as I do.

Here are some before and after pictures of the remodeling I’ve done:

 Check out the listing HERE

Update!

Here are some of the pictures of the staging on my home : )

To check out the listing click here, or set up a time to check it out in person : )

It’s true, I am selling my home. This has been a very intense, emotional and exciting process. Over the course of living here I have done a lot of remodeling and touch ups, ending with our fresh new kitchen (that turned out so nice I wish I could take it with me :p).

Staging is always an intense process; the artistic aspect mixed with the more logical research side of things (what the neighborhoods demographic is, what works for the market), but let me tell you staging your own home kicks things up a notch on personal pressure. But I’m ready to show the world, so come one come all; we’re having a Brokers Open.

When:                    Tuesday 7/24

Time:                     11am-1pm

Where:                  4027 SE 27th Portland Oregon 97202

There will be cupcakes and Bellinis to make the day even sweeter. So, come and stop by, even if it’s just to gawk at a home stagers home : )

A recent staging in Lake Oswego, a 4 bedroom 3 bathroom ranch style house. It is in a wonderful location, and feels secluded while still being within easy walking distance to multiple restuarants, coffee shops, grocery stores, banks and the library.

Click here to check out the listing

We have been getting some really gorgeous weather here in Portland, but being Oregonians we don’t know how to handle heat over 70 (kind of kidding ; ) so I thought I would do a fun post on some great recipes for days like these. Healthy cool dishes that are quick to make:

Creamy Cucumber Salad

 I love cucumber dishes when it is hot, cucumbers are mostly water so very hydrating and refreshing. Plus, this salad keeps well in the fridge, and works as a great side dish with any meal.

 Peanut Noodle Salad

This salad takes longer to prepare then the cucumber one, but it is delicious served cold and is filling enough to be eaten as a full meal.

Stuffed Tomatoes

Not only is this recipe tasty (tomatoes, eggs, cheese and bread crumbs) it comes from a wonderful cooking blog with lots of other great recipes.

 Do you have a favorite summer recipe? Feel free to link to it in the comments : )

In this example, the living room and dining room are essentially attached to the same room (though the wall does jut out to create a visual frame distinguishing them). This is not an uncommon layout for homes. In cases like this we will use colors to create a visual divide.

Last blog I wrote about using angles to guide a potential buyer through the home. Creating a visual divide does not mean you will interfere with this. In open layouts like this the home will more naturally guide the buyer from the living room into the dining room.  Using differing color schemes will create a clear contrast between the two different spaces while emphasizing their different functionality.

I used red in the dining room, with a few blue accents. The living room in contrast was heavily blue with just a few hints of red (and the red of the brick around the fire place).

To view more pics from this staging click here : )

Kristin Rader, a wonderful Realtor I work with, recently blogged about her experiance as a Realtor with a Stager and how staging has helped with sales:

I cracked open my 1999 Nissan Pathfinder this weekend, where it has been sitting in the field for the last 3 months gathering dust. After FOUR LONG HOURS of scrubbing, scraping, polishing, and buffing, I was cursing myself! How did it get this bad? Why do I let my kids eat in the car??

Doing ALL this work for someone else to enjoy was incredibly frustrating and I had an epiphany relating to real estate. Four hours is nothing compared to the “torture” I put my clients through before I list their home to sell.

Torture? Yes, I am a Realtor with a stager. A rare find and TRULY valuable!

READ MORE

It is such an honor to be featured in such a glowing blog post. I also recomend checking out her other blogs as well, Kristin is an experianced Realtor with not only a lot of great advice, but also fun to read witty writing : )