Atlanta Home Staging Company: July 2007

Clutter CAN Eat Equity!

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:

Home Staging Atlanta Before Picture

By removing the clutter and adding a few accessories, the home now has a level of sophistication.

Home Staging Atlanta Before Picture

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. View our web site at HomeStagingAtlanta.com for more examples of our work.

Home Staging Atlanta - Kathy Nielsen - 678 522 8392

RESA Professional Stager of the Year - Southern Region 2011

Whether your home is vacant or occupied, this Atlanta Georgia Home Stager, Kathy Nielsen, understands what it takes to sell a home quickly. Her homes have graced the pages of several publications, appeared in TV commercials as well as on HGTV's hit program Sleep On it.

With years of experience and a massive inventory - Kathy makes the perfect choice.

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Home Staging Website: Home Staging Atlanta

Before and After Pictures: Atlanta Home Staging Portfolio:

Email: Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com

Blog: Atlanta Home Staging

22 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • July 29 2007 08:09AM

Getting Rid of the Blues - With Home Staging

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.

Staging Professional in Atlanta Before Picture

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.

Staging Professional in Atlanta 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 HomeStagingAtlanta.com for more examples of our work.

Home Staging Atlanta - Kathy Nielsen - 678 522 8392

RESA Professional Stager of the Year - Southern Region 2011

Whether your home is vacant or occupied, this Atlanta Georgia Home Stager, Kathy Nielsen, understands what it takes to sell a home quickly. Her homes have graced the pages of several publications, appeared in TV commercials as well as on HGTV's hit program Sleep On it.

With years of experience and a massive inventory - Kathy makes the perfect choice.

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Home Staging Website: Home Staging Atlanta

Before and After Pictures: Atlanta Home Staging Portfolio:

Email: Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com

Blog: Atlanta Home Staging

34 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • July 25 2007 03:34PM

How to Save the Home Seller Money When Staging Their Home

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 inventory and advertised 40% off. At the same time Big Lots announced their "sale", I also received an advertisement from Pier 1 announcing they too had a big sale. Given that Pier 1 is 4 miles away, I first headed there to see what they had to offer. I'll make a long story short: I purchased a rug at Pier 1 for 75% off. I left Pier 1, went to Big Lots and found the same rug I just purchased for 40% off.

Consider offering Vignette Staging: I'm going to be honest on this one. I personally do not offer vignette staging. Why not? Because my objective with each and every staging project I handle, is to allow the prospective buyers to envision living in the home. Vignette staging of a living room with a single chair and perhaps a lamp doesn't have the same impact as a living room staged with all the right pieces. I understand and respect those stagers who've had great success with staging vignettes so for that reason, I've added it to the list.

Here's a recent project (staged last Tuesday):

Home Stager In Atlanta "Before" Picture

Staging can and does make a difference! The process doesn't have to be complex nor does it have to be costly.

For those seeking home staging services within the Atlanta area, contact Georgia Interior Solutions, LLC at 678 522 8392 or visit our website at HomeStagingAtlanta. We proudly offer a variety of staging options at affordable rates.

Home Staging Atlanta - Kathy Nielsen - 678 522 8392

RESA Professional Stager of the Year - Southern Region 2011

Whether your home is vacant or occupied, this Atlanta Georgia Home Stager, Kathy Nielsen, understands what it takes to sell a home quickly. Her homes have graced the pages of several publications, appeared in TV commercials as well as on HGTV's hit program Sleep On it.

With years of experience and a massive inventory - Kathy makes the perfect choice.

Atlanta Home Stager Logo

Home Staging Website: Home Staging Atlanta

Before and After Pictures: Atlanta Home Staging Portfolio:

Email: Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com

Blog: Atlanta Home Staging

10 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • July 21 2007 07:36AM

Tips For Living In A Staged Home

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, do a quick wipe down in the sink(s) and faucet.
Hang towels
Ensure toilet seat lids are down.

Bedrooms:

Make beds each morning
Place clothes in laundry basket

Living Areas (Living Room or Family Room):

For homeowners with children, use a wicker basket with handles (they're light and easy to carry) and make a game of collecting the toys, books, etc... to place in the basket. Each night, put the toys to bed in the child's closet or in their room.
Ensure coffee table remains clear of everything other than the accessories
Get a basket of some sort (could be wicker or wire) and place all remote controls inside
Use pre-moistened furniture wipes - they're easy and convenient to use. A quick wipe down of your accent tables (i.e., coffee and end tables) will make them look beautiful.

Kitchens:

Ensure sink is left empty and clean
Ensure counter-tops are kept clean and are wiped down
Place liquid soap, scrubber, etc... in plastic bin and place underneath sink
Kitchen table - Ensure the only item left is the centerpiece and wipe table down

Suggested purchases based on the above list: 3 to 4 plastic bins (to house bathroom items as well as kitchen soap/rag items); wicker basket (for toys); small wicker/wire (for remote controls); pre-moistened wipes (for bathrooms); pre-moistened dusting wipes (for living areas).

Making a habit to do these things daily will help further ensure that the home looks great for every prospective buyer visiting 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. View our web site at HomeStagingAtlanta.com for more examples of our work.

Home Staging Atlanta - Kathy Nielsen - 678 522 8392

RESA Professional Stager of the Year - Southern Region 2011

Whether your home is vacant or occupied, this Atlanta Georgia Home Stager, Kathy Nielsen, understands what it takes to sell a home quickly. Her homes have graced the pages of several publications, appeared in TV commercials as well as on HGTV's hit program Sleep On it.

With years of experience and a massive inventory - Kathy makes the perfect choice.

Atlanta Home Stager Logo

Home Staging Website: Home Staging Atlanta

Before and After Pictures: Atlanta Home Staging Portfolio:

Email: Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com

Blog: Atlanta Home Staging

43 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • July 20 2007 07:00PM

Staging On a Budget

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:

Home Staging Services in Atlanta "Before" picture

Again, minor changes can make a difference. Here's the "after" picture:

Home Staging in Atlanta "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 HomeStagingAtlanta.com for more examples of our work.

Home Staging Atlanta - Kathy Nielsen - 678 522 8392

RESA Professional Stager of the Year - Southern Region 2011

Whether your home is vacant or occupied, this Atlanta Georgia Home Stager, Kathy Nielsen, understands what it takes to sell a home quickly. Her homes have graced the pages of several publications, appeared in TV commercials as well as on HGTV's hit program Sleep On it.

With years of experience and a massive inventory - Kathy makes the perfect choice.

Atlanta Home Stager Logo

Home Staging Website: Home Staging Atlanta

Before and After Pictures: Atlanta Home Staging Portfolio:

Email: Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com

Blog: Atlanta Home Staging

21 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • July 19 2007 08:15PM

Stagers - When Your Active Rain Blog Positions Higher in Google than Your Web Site...

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 Active Rain - I highly encourage doing so. It's a wonderful opportunity to gain insight and to share ideas for anyone tied to the real estate industry.

Okay, off to post more "before" & "after" pictures.

Kathy

Home Staging Atlanta - Kathy Nielsen - 678 522 8392

RESA Professional Stager of the Year - Southern Region 2011

Whether your home is vacant or occupied, this Atlanta Georgia Home Stager, Kathy Nielsen, understands what it takes to sell a home quickly. Her homes have graced the pages of several publications, appeared in TV commercials as well as on HGTV's hit program Sleep On it.

With years of experience and a massive inventory - Kathy makes the perfect choice.

Atlanta Home Stager Logo

Home Staging Website: Home Staging Atlanta

Before and After Pictures: Atlanta Home Staging Portfolio:

Email: Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com

Blog: Atlanta Home Staging

15 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • July 16 2007 07:15AM

Master Bedroom Staging

For me personally, I have found that bedding can literally make or break the look of the room. As a result, I find I spend an incredible amount of time looking for the right set to showcase the room.

My objective with masters is really no different than any other room. I want to provide a visual for the prospective buyers on how they can use the space. The difference for a bedroom is that you have this massive canvas called a mattress to help showcase the room. Pure opportunity!

Here's the before picture:

Home Stager in Atlanta Before Picture

Here's the "after" picture taken by the Realtor:

Home Stager in Atlanta 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 HomeStagingAtlanta.com for more examples of our work.

Home Staging Atlanta - Kathy Nielsen - 678 522 8392

RESA Professional Stager of the Year - Southern Region 2011

Whether your home is vacant or occupied, this Atlanta Georgia Home Stager, Kathy Nielsen, understands what it takes to sell a home quickly. Her homes have graced the pages of several publications, appeared in TV commercials as well as on HGTV's hit program Sleep On it.

With years of experience and a massive inventory - Kathy makes the perfect choice.

Atlanta Home Stager Logo

Home Staging Website: Home Staging Atlanta

Before and After Pictures: Atlanta Home Staging Portfolio:

Email: Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com

Blog: Atlanta Home Staging

32 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • July 10 2007 08:37AM

How 5 Items Can Make a Difference

Preparing your home for the market doesn't have to be made difficult. For some rooms, it can take as little as 5 items to make a significant difference. Remember, the objective in home staging is to create a warm and enticing home that the prospective buyers can emotionally connect to.

Knowing what 5 items to use is key. Using a professional home stager can certainly help as they're armed with the knowledge of what attracts the buyers eye.

Here's an example:

As you can see, this particular bathroom is rather bland. As a prospective buyer, I'm likely to take a quick look and walk right back out.

Stager in Atlanta, Georgia Before Picture

Now here's the "after" picture:

Stager in Atlanta, Georgia After Picture

The 5 items used: Flower; candles; towels; shower curtain and floor rug (not pictured).

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.

Home Staging Atlanta - Kathy Nielsen - 678 522 8392

RESA Professional Stager of the Year - Southern Region 2011

Whether your home is vacant or occupied, this Atlanta Georgia Home Stager, Kathy Nielsen, understands what it takes to sell a home quickly. Her homes have graced the pages of several publications, appeared in TV commercials as well as on HGTV's hit program Sleep On it.

With years of experience and a massive inventory - Kathy makes the perfect choice.

Atlanta Home Stager Logo

Home Staging Website: Home Staging Atlanta

Before and After Pictures: Atlanta Home Staging Portfolio:

Email: Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com

Blog: Atlanta Home Staging

25 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • July 10 2007 06:01AM

A Winning Combination: A Stager & A Professional Photographer

Given the importance of the listing photos on MLS and the impact staging a home can have, I can't think of a better combination.

Two weeks ago, while on my way to see a prospect, I had received a call from a professional photographer who had found my web site on the internet. Her timing couldn't have been more perfect. For at least a couple of months, I had been meaning to make the time to search for a photographer within the Atlanta area.

While I pride myself on my "after" pictures there is absolutely no comparison. My hat goes off to the professionals in this trade.

Here's a "before" picture (and oddly enough, this is the home I was on my way to see when the photographer called me):

Keeping room:

Atlanta Home Staging Before Picture

After Staging and Professionally Photographed:

Home Staging Atlanta 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 HomeStagingAtlanta.com for more examples of our work.

Home Staging Atlanta - Kathy Nielsen - 678 522 8392

RESA Professional Stager of the Year - Southern Region 2011

Whether your home is vacant or occupied, this Atlanta Georgia Home Stager, Kathy Nielsen, understands what it takes to sell a home quickly. Her homes have graced the pages of several publications, appeared in TV commercials as well as on HGTV's hit program Sleep On it.

With years of experience and a massive inventory - Kathy makes the perfect choice.

Atlanta Home Stager Logo

Home Staging Website: Home Staging Atlanta

Before and After Pictures: Atlanta Home Staging Portfolio:

Email: Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com

Blog: Atlanta Home Staging

25 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • July 07 2007 06:27AM

When Selling Your Home - It Needs to LOOK Good and FEEL Good!

As a professional home stager, I often find myself speaking to the home seller about the importance of the home "looking" good. The truth of the matter is that the home needs to "feel" good AND "look" good. The better it feels, the longer the prospective buyers linger. Of course, the longer they linger, the better chance we have of getting an offer on the home.

I use this rule of thumb when staging. When a room feels good, it's time to move onto the next room. I'll do that for each room I'm staging until the project is complete.

Here's a staging project I did earlier in the week for an occupied home:

Home Staging Atlanta "Before" Picture

Now here's the "after" picture:

Home Staging Atlanta After Picture

I felt so good in this room that I now want to duplicate this look for my own 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. View our web site at HomeStagingAtlanta.com for more examples of our work. We make the process EASY.

Home Staging Atlanta - Kathy Nielsen - 678 522 8392

RESA Professional Stager of the Year - Southern Region 2011

Whether your home is vacant or occupied, this Atlanta Georgia Home Stager, Kathy Nielsen, understands what it takes to sell a home quickly. Her homes have graced the pages of several publications, appeared in TV commercials as well as on HGTV's hit program Sleep On it.

With years of experience and a massive inventory - Kathy makes the perfect choice.

Atlanta Home Stager Logo

Home Staging Website: Home Staging Atlanta

Before and After Pictures: Atlanta Home Staging Portfolio:

Email: Kathy@HomeStagingAtlanta.com

Blog: Atlanta Home Staging

16 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • July 06 2007 08:59PM

Atlanta Home Staging Company: July 2007

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Clutter CAN Eat Equity!

Getting Rid of the Blues - With Home Staging

How to Save the Home Seller Money When Staging Their Home

Tips For Living In A Staged Home

Staging On a Budget

Stagers - When Your Active Rain Blog Positions Higher in Google than Your Web Site...

Master Bedroom Staging

How 5 Items Can Make a Difference

A Winning Combination: A Stager & A Professional Photographer

When Selling Your Home - It Needs to LOOK Good and FEEL Good!