I love receiving these kinds of notes from my clients as it makes me feel good.  The condo had been staged for one day and a prospective buyer was planning on arriving the following morning.  So, in my follow-up with her, I asked how the condo showed.  Here's her response: Dear Kathy,I can really tell the difference already.  She loved the place, thought it was so comfortable - she even asked to buy the furniture ;) She's not sure if my condo is "big enough" for all her stuff, but she wants to think about it more.  It was the longest anyone has been in my condo when they've looked at it.Here's a "before" picture of the dining room:  Here's the "after" Picture:Home Staged by Georgia Interior Solutions, LLC.  Whether the home is vacant or occupied, we're here to assist in separating your ... 08/24/2007

Lake Crest Estates is a wonderrful 41 home community in the heart of East Cobb. It is tucked away from busy roads, yet has great access to Roswell Road and Johnson Ferry. It's only minutes from Highways 400 and I-75. The neighborhood amenities include tennis, pool and seasonal activities. The public schools for this neighborhood are some of the best in Georgia- Timber Ridge Elementary, Dickerson Middle and Walton High school. 08/23/2007

Whether vacant or occupied.  There, I said it.   And... I don't charge $5,645.Pretty sells.  Don't believe me?  Ask the advertising agencies as they've used this practice for decades.  Still wondering?  Ask the builders who've decorated their model homes using either interior designers or home stagers.As seen in my blog from August 9th Occupied-Home-Staging-in-3 Easy Steps the clutter can be a deterrence.  As a prospective buyer, I'm likely to be paying attention to things that don't really matter.  In this case, it's toys (and yes, that's called living).By removing the clutter, where are my eyes drawn to now?  Through staging, the buyers eyes are now drawn to the features of the home which is a) the space and b) the fireplace.  Jeez, I'm sure that's not trickery.  And yup, I consider t... 08/17/2007

 There is a new home sprinkler company in the area. It's called RIVERBEND SPRINKLER and they service primarily the North Fulton and East Cobb part of Atlanta.The company is a quality organization and from what I've heard does EXCELLENT WORK. Check them out right here...http://www.riverbendsprinkler.com/With the hot weather and lack of rain, now is a great time to make sure that your grass and plants get the right amount of water. Ask about any specials that they may be having. 08/17/2007

Time and time again you hear real estate professionals say to put your $$ in your kitchen.  Every successful investor lives by that principle when it comes to the cosmetics end of a home they are preparing for sale.  Well it does not stop there, as there are 2 more things to keep in mind as you start the process.   First off to keep in mind the buyer and what they would be looking for when choosing a home.  You do not want to put granite in a lower income home just as you would not put linoleum flooring in a high end home.  Secondly make sure you are putting your money in the most up to date items.  Kitchens can go in and out of style very quickly and can cost a lot of money to upgrade so putting in outdated upgrades could cost you big time.   I know I am not telling many of you anythin... 08/16/2007

I'm asked often by homeowners, as well as agents, as to whether or not there's value in staging a condominium on the market.My answer is the same whether I'm addressing a million dollar listing or a two bedroom condo:  Home Staging helps to separate your home or listing from the others on the market.  It's likely that there are others, within the same complex, and most definitely within the area that are on the market as well.  Now's the time to make yours stand out.As with any home, you want the prospective buyers to emotionally connect with the home.  Home Staging provides that connection.Want them to linger longer?  Give the buyers something, beyond walls, to see.Here's a condo I staged today in Atlanta, Georgia.  As you can see, the condo was partially furnished.  Here's the "after"... 08/14/2007

Recently I have worked with several individuals that have had the responsibility of selling a home where a family member had passed away.  I know we have all heard the stories about things dragging on and on.  Well, I wanted you to know that is not always the case.  In Cobb County, we are fortunate because the probate court works quickly.  One of the things I have learned is the administer of an estate can sell the house.  This allows the expenses - mortgage payment, utilities, insurance - of ownership to stop quickly.  If you need to sale the home of a family member, I understand it's a difficult time and it would be a pleasure assist you.  08/13/2007

I often speak of the importance of showcasing the features as well as the space a home has to offer.  Because I'm a visual person, I thought it best to provide an example of what I'm referring to.As you can see below, the couch faces the two chairs.  This layout makes perfect sense when you don't have your home on the market.  However, when selling your home, the layout actually makes the room appear smaller.  Also, the back of the couch, although nicely decorated, was one of the first things you could see upon entering the home.  Now here's the "after" picture. This simple change in the angle of the couch and moving the tree to the other side opens up the room and provides a clear path to the keeping room and kitchen.   Sometimes it's simple changes such as this that can reap the bigge... 08/12/2007

Know may of us are tiring of maintaining our homes and yards.  Last week-end I saw some wonderful two and three bedroom ranch condominimum in Marietta.  These properties are all brick, wonderful kitchens with granite counters, and formal dining rooms.  Just what I would be looking for I was moving.  Did I mention the 2 car garages and large storage areas.                                                                                                                            If you would like someone to represent to you in finding that smaller home and freindly neighborhood, give me a call.  I have sold properties in many of the active adult neighborhoods in East Cobb and Cherokee.  It would be a pleasure to help you find a new home. Kathy Kirby Seger, Senior Real Estate Specialist     08/10/2007

As I explain to my prospects, the process of staging an occupied home is simple.  Using a home I completed yesterday, I've taken the liberty of inserting pictures to further explain what the process is like.  I hope this helps anyone considering having their home professionally staged.Step 1:  A visit is made to the home and "before" pictures are taken.  At this point, a verbal consultation or a detailed consultation report is offered.  In addition to a verbal or detailed consultation, a third option; which is to have me come in once the to-do items are completed is offered.  In this case, the homeowner went with the verbal and elected to have me come back in for the final touches.With the verbal consultation, assignments are given to the homeowner for them to complete.  In the picture ... 08/09/2007

Whether in the millions or in the mid 200's - all homes can benefit from home staging.  Here's a home I staged last Friday.  Exterior:Here's an interior "before" picture.  As you can see, renovations were still underway:Here's the "after" picture.  Sorry for the different angle.  The owners were in the "before" picture and for privacy reasons, I've chosen not to include that picture: As mentioned, home was staged last Friday.  Results:  Offer received two days later and will go under contract at the end of August.Georgia Interior Solutions is a full service home staging company in Atlanta, serving Cobb County, Marietta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Dallas, Kennesaw, Powder Springs and surrounding areas.  View our web site at HomeStagingAtlanta.com for more examples of our work.  08/08/2007

Whether small or large, all homes can benefit from Staging.  Why?  Because staging provides the best opportunity to have the prospective buyers remember the home.   Given the volume of the homes on the market, this becomes an important element in helping to get the home sold more quickly.Here's a home I staged this week:As you can see, the room is extremely long and narrow.Here's the "after" picture: While I could have eliminated a chair in the living room, I felt it important to show the prospective buyers that there's room for two & a sofa.  And no, the lights aren't on in either picture.  The "after" picture was taken by a fellow Active Rainer, Carolyn Hollier with MyVisualListings.com.  She's a great professional photographer!Georgia Interior Solutions is a full service home staging... 08/03/2007

Give them something to connect to on an emotional level and they're bound to stay longer.  The longer they linger, the better chance we have of the prospective buyer making an offer.  When homes are empty, the prospective buyer has a tendency to zip through the home and before you know it, they're out the front door.  With furniture and accessories in place, not only are you giving their eyes something to rest on, other than the blank walls, but you're also providing them with a solution with respect to how to use the space.Here's a home I staged on Wed.  The home is located in Cobb County in Georgia."Before" Picture:   Here's the 'after' picture:  Georgia Interior Solutions is a full service home staging company in Atlanta, serving Cobb County, Marietta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Dallas,... 08/02/2007

Barb Schwarz, with StagedHomes.com, has coined the phrase Clutter Eats Equity.   I couldn't agree more.  When asked by Jeff Aughey with Alpha Homes to view this townhome to determine what the home needed from a staging perspective, the solution came quite quickly.As you'll see in the "before" picture, the toys are a bit overwhelming.  The baskets are filled to the brim with items that well... simply don't need to be there.Here's what I'm referring to:   By removing the clutter and adding a few accessories, the home now has a level of sophistication. Striving for a sophisticated look in your home?  Georgia Interior Solutions is a full service home staging company in Atlanta, serving Cobb County, Marietta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Dallas, Kennesaw, Powder Springs and surrounding areas.  Vi... 07/29/2007

Don't get me wrong, I like the color blue.  In fact as a small child, when asked what my favorite color was I instantly replied with "blue."  Now having said that, I will openly admit that times have changed and it no longer is a favored color.   While I like the color, my new favorite is GREEN.  With all my staging projects, I aim for warmth.  Whether the home is occupied, being flipped, or vacant, the colors on the wall matter. Here's an example.  The kitchen a) appears cold (minus the cheeze-its) and isn't as appealing as it could be. A change in color; which now matches the living room and provides continuity (more on that subject in a different blog), and a few added accessories and we've got instant warmth.  Georgia Interior Solutions is a full service home staging company in Atla... 07/25/2007

There are a number of different opportunities we can offer when staging a home.  Here are a few:Offer Key Room Staging - I offer this service and have had great success with staging the "key rooms" in a vacant home.  Key rooms are typically kitchen, living room, dining room and master bedroom/bath. Don't over-accessorize.  Not only will that cost the seller more but more importantly it has the potential to distract the buyer.  My personal objective when staging the home is to compliment the features the home has to offer as well as to show-off the space.  I'm at risk if I were to over-accessorize.  Shop Wisely and Shop Often - Here's a great example.  A couple of months ago, Pier 1 sold off a huge amount of inventory to Big Lots.  Big Lots proudly announced their purchase of the invento... 07/21/2007

Yesterday, as I finished up staging an occupied home, I overheard the Realtor say to the homeowner the following:  "It's Beautiful."  He quickly added the following question:  "Will it be possible to keep it this way while you have it on the market?"On the surface, it may appear challenging to keep your home in "show-case" condition.  However, the truth of the matter is that as a homeowner, there are things you can do to make the process easy.  Here's what I share with every occupied home seller after I've staged:Bathrooms:Purchase two plastic bins (6" x 8" with holes) and use to house your personal items (i.e., shampoo, conditioners, etc...).  Each morning after showering, place the basket under your bathroom sink.Use pre-moistened wipes and each morning, before leaving the bathroom, d... 07/20/2007

Nothing fancy... but what a difference minor changes can make to the "feel" of the room.Case in point - take this bathroom.  As you'll see in the "before" picture there's nothing spectacular about the bathtub area.  In fact, if I were a prospective buyer, I'd likely take a glance and carry-on with seeing the rest of the home.With a limited budget of $300.00 for added accessories, it's important to gain as much impact as possible and make the dollar stretch as best you can.Here's the "before" picture:  Again, minor changes can make a difference.  Here's the "after" picture: Georgia Interior Solutions is a full service home staging company in Atlanta, serving Cobb County, Marietta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Dallas, Kennesaw, Powder Springs and surrounding areas.  View our web site at HomeSt... 07/19/2007

Beautiful Executive Home in Marietta Georgia, with 5 full baths and 5 full bedrooms. Finished Basement, with office, Wired Home Theatre room, Work Room and Play room.Back yard is over 10,000 square feet and already fenced and landscaped.Check out this Link http://beta.coldwellbankeratlanta.com/search/FMLS-SF-DetailDisplay.cfm?fmlsnumber=3519441 07/19/2007

I say leverage that fact!  Continue posting new blogs with key-rich words and it will continue to happen!  And while there are other great ways to market your services, Active Rain can and does serve as a huge opportunity to help drive further visibility on the Internet.  I've been fortunate to have many of my leads come directly from posting examples of my work here on Active Rain.If your a Stager - be sure to post "before" & "after" pictures of your work.  Join the group Staging "Before" & "After" Pictures and post away!  It's a great way to showcase your work to the public as well as to other Active Rain Members.  Agents - If you're looking for a home staging professional in your area, feel free to join the group as well and check in often.  If you're currently not signed up with Act... 07/16/2007