Atlanta Georgia Home Staging : February 2008

This Atlanta Home Staging Company, Georgia Interior Solutions, has the expertise and experience to help showcase your home and/or listing so that it stands out from the others on the market. With years of experience and a massive inventory designed to compliment any style home, we implement solutions that draw the buyer in and allow them to emotionally connect with the home.

Why Grandma's Kitchen May Be Harder To Sell

I caught the tail end of a news report the other day on one of our local stations regarding a couple who have had their home on the market for 2 years.  As a home stager, this obviously caught my attention.  They showed the interior of the home and more specifically the kitchen.  Proudly displayed on a wall was a sign that read:  Grandma's Kitchen.  Evidence, I'm sure, of all the wonderful meals she's made and the ownership of a room where she's spent an incredible amount of time.

So what's the concern?  Signs such as this may prohibit buyers from viewing the home as 'their' new home.  The same can be said about a child's room tagged as "Emily's Room" or "Jason's Room."  These signs of ownership, while cute, go against what the seller is trying to accomplish.  The objective when selling your home is to have the buyers envision living there.  In summary - remove those cute signs.

Now a blog from Kathy wouldn't be a blog without pictures.  So, here are a few "after" pictures of some kitchens staged by Georgia Interior Solutions:

 

Home Staging Atlanta.com after picture

In this picture above, I came close to not using the star above the sink.  However, given how the color matched perfectly with the color of the cabinets, I chose to use it.  This home received a contract 2 weeks after staging.  And... the buyers have asked if they can purchase the star.  I'll be de-staging the home this week.

Home Staging Atlanta.com After Picture

When vacant, the eyes had nothing to rest on resulting in prospective buyers moving quickly through the home. With accessories, you give them reason to pause and absorb what the rooms has to offer.  As for the sign by the swan - it reads "Hot Coffee."

Home Staging Atlanta.com After Picture

Whether vacant or occupied, we have the expertise to help set your home apart from the others on the market.  Contact us today for your free in-home estimate on the cost associated with home staging.

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Kathy Nielsen RESA National Board Member of the Year

 

 

About the Author: Kathy Nielsen, a RESA 2010 Home Stager of the Year Finalists is  a nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry, offers affordable home staging solutions to help sell your home more quickly.  Kathy can be reached via email at info@homestagingatlanta.com or by phone at 678 522 8392.  Their Atlanta Home Staging services offer a variety of options to accommodate all budgets. To view examples of their before and after pictures, visit their portfolio at Home Staging Atlanta Gallery.

 

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24 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • February 24 2008 07:59AM

Simple Staging - Sometimes Less IS More

When a home has an incredible feature, I say flaunt it.  Whether's it's the fireplace or the granite on the counter-tops, they're features of the home that could help influence a buyer's decision.

As a home stager, it's important I help accent those features when staging a home.  Here's an example of how less really is more...

Kitchen Before:  

Home Staging Atlanta.com Before Picture 

Kitchen "after" picture:

Home Staging Atlanta.com After Picture

By placing the accessories at the far end the eye is drawn down the entire length of the counter-top.  A great feature now gets the exposure it deserves.

And here are a few "test" pictures of the roses: 

Home Staging Atlanta.com Rose PictureHome Staging Atlanta.com Rose Picture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The process of staging your home is made easy and affordable with Georgia Interior Solutions.  Our extensive portfolio represents our attention to detail with every home we've staged.  Looking to separate your listings from the others?  Contact us today.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Kathy Nielsen RESA National Board Member of the Year

 

 

About the Author: Kathy Nielsen, a RESA 2010 Home Stager of the Year Finalists is  a nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry, offers affordable home staging solutions to help sell your home more quickly.  Kathy can be reached via email at info@homestagingatlanta.com or by phone at 678 522 8392.  Their Atlanta Home Staging services offer a variety of options to accommodate all budgets. To view examples of their before and after pictures, visit their portfolio at Home Staging Atlanta Gallery.

 

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17 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • February 18 2008 07:03PM

Why Stagers Make A Great Resource for Agents

As in any market where there are stagers, there's a great opportunity for referrals.  Here in Atlanta, I'm continuously meeting with homeowners who are either about to list; re-list (looking for a new agent); or who have had no success with FSBO.  As a result, I'm in a great position to refer agents that I've worked with.

Here's a recent scenario.  I had been corresponding with a homeowner regarding staging her condo; as we prepared to meet, I received the following email:

Since you've probably had some experience working with real estate agents, I would be interested to know if there's someone who you might recommend to us.  We're particularly interested in someone who has dealt with selling condos before.  Any help you could give us would be appreciated.

I had the perfect agent in mind and quickly responded with the name and number. The result: The agent got the listing and I had the good fortune of staging the condo:

Here are the "before" and "after" pictures: 

Home Staging Atlanta.com Before Picture

"After" Picture:

Home Staging Atlanta.com After Picture

Another view of the "before":

Home Staging Atlanta.com Before Picture

Home Staging Atlanta.com After Picture

Atlanta's Premier Home Staging Company,  Georgia Interior Solutions, is here to assist you with getting your home ready for the market.  Whether vacant or occupied, we have the experience and expertise to help showcase the features of the home.  To see more examples of our work, visit our web site at HomeStagingAtlanta.com.  

 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Kathy Nielsen RESA National Board Member of the Year

 

 

About the Author: Kathy Nielsen, a RESA 2010 Home Stager of the Year Finalists is  a nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry, offers affordable home staging solutions to help sell your home more quickly.  Kathy can be reached via email at info@homestagingatlanta.com or by phone at 678 522 8392.  Their Atlanta Home Staging services offer a variety of options to accommodate all budgets. To view examples of their before and after pictures, visit their portfolio at Home Staging Atlanta Gallery.

 

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30 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • February 15 2008 08:27PM

Home Staging - The Creation Of A Design Plan

As any professional stager will tell you, the design plan is perhaps one of the most important things we do as we prepare to stage a home.  Given how important it is, I thought it might be beneficial to share a little insight into how the process works.

Capturing the "before" picture:  Yes, before pictures are great for a stagers portfolio; however, they become critically important in the creation of a design plan.  So, what am I looking for when I review the pictures?

Let's look at the following "before" picture: 

Home Staging Atlanta.com Before Picture

In the picture above, I'm looking at the following:

  • Color of the walls
  • Space
  • Window placement
  • Granite color and tile color
  • Height of the island
  • Color of the marble on the fireplace

    • From that, I'll determine:   Artwork, accessories, plants, furniture items, number of lamps, etc..  Given the distinct color of this room, I'll want to ensure accessories and furniture compliment the room.  It's also important to ensure that I'm showcasing the space and drawing the buyers eye to the features of the home.  That said, it will be important to not crowd the room with heavy pieces.

    So, with the design plan in hand, my next step is to collect the items I've envisioned using.  Most of the accessory items used in the home (see below) were already part of my inventory.   The new items, such as the pillows below on the chairs, were items I purchased specific for this home. Once the items are gathered, it's off to pack.

    Now here's the "after" picture.  These two next shots were taken with my Nikon D80.

    Home Staging Atlanta.com After Picture

    And from the another angle:

    Home Staging Atlanta.com After Picture

    Atlanta's Premier Home Staging Company,  Georgia Interior Solutions, is here to assist you with getting your home ready for the market.  Whether vacant or occupied, we have the experience and expertise to help showcase the features of the home.  To see more examples of our work, visit our web site at HomeStagingAtlanta.com.  

     

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Kathy Nielsen RESA National Board Member of the Year

     

     

    About the Author: Kathy Nielsen, a RESA 2010 Home Stager of the Year Finalists is  a nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry, offers affordable home staging solutions to help sell your home more quickly.  Kathy can be reached via email at info@homestagingatlanta.com or by phone at 678 522 8392.  Their Atlanta Home Staging services offer a variety of options to accommodate all budgets. To view examples of their before and after pictures, visit their portfolio at Home Staging Atlanta Gallery.

     

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    19 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • February 09 2008 04:22PM

    The House That Got an Offer Before It Was Listed In MLS

    As promised, here are a few of the pictures of a home I staged back on January 18th.  This is the home that received an offer before it was even listed in MLS.  Oh - the offer?  It was for the full asking price.

    Here's the family room before staging: 

    Home Staging Atlanta.com Before Picture

    Now here's the after picture (Note: Photo taken by a professional photographer). 

    Home Staging Atlanta.com After Picture

    Here's a picture of the kitchen.  I don't have the same angle so am not including the before picture.

    Home Staging Atlanta.com After Picture

    Dining room before staging:  Notice the black molding?  And yes, it does match the lamp shades but... isn't quite the look that most home buyers would find appealing

    Home Staging Atlanta.com Before Piture

    Dining room "after" staging:

    Home Staging Atlanta.com After Picture 

    And here's a unique photo of the master bathroom.  I love the simplicity of this shot. 

    Home Staging Atlanta.com After Picture

    Georgia Interior Solutions - Providing Home Staging, whether Vacant and Occupied, in the metro Atlanta area.  For more examples of our work, visit our web site at HomeStagingAtlanta.com.

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Kathy Nielsen RESA National Board Member of the Year

     

     

    About the Author: Kathy Nielsen, a RESA 2010 Home Stager of the Year Finalists is  a nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry, offers affordable home staging solutions to help sell your home more quickly.  Kathy can be reached via email at info@homestagingatlanta.com or by phone at 678 522 8392.  Their Atlanta Home Staging services offer a variety of options to accommodate all budgets. To view examples of their before and after pictures, visit their portfolio at Home Staging Atlanta Gallery.

     

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    29 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • February 08 2008 08:24PM

    Warming up HOTLANTA - One Home At A Time!

    While our temperatures here in Atlanta warmed up to slightly over 70 degrees (a welcome reprieve from the cold), there's no doubt that home staging a vacant home can provide the much needed warmth!

    And, while I typically share before & after pictures, I thought I'd shake things up a bit and share with you the "after" pictures of a home I staged today. 

    By the way, the home I staged two weeks ago just received an offer for the full asking price.  That particular home had been on the market for over a year; staged and offer submitted 2 weeks later!  I'll be sharing photos of that home in a future blog so stay tuned.

    In the meantime, here are a few pictures of the home I staged today:

    Home Staging Atlanta.com After Pictures

    Home Staging Atlanta.com After Picture

    Home Staging Atlanta.com After Pictures

    Atlanta's Premier Home Staging Company,  Georgia Interior Solutions, LLC, takes great pride in helping homeowners, builders and investors with figuring out exactly what type of changes would have the most impact.  Our experience and expertise in home staging can help separate your home or listing.   Visit our web site for more examples of our work at HomeStagingAtlanta.com.

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Kathy Nielsen RESA National Board Member of the Year

     

     

    About the Author: Kathy Nielsen, a RESA 2010 Home Stager of the Year Finalists is  a nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry, offers affordable home staging solutions to help sell your home more quickly.  Kathy can be reached via email at info@homestagingatlanta.com or by phone at 678 522 8392.  Their Atlanta Home Staging services offer a variety of options to accommodate all budgets. To view examples of their before and after pictures, visit their portfolio at Home Staging Atlanta Gallery.

     

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    18 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • February 05 2008 08:19PM

    Home Staging Industry Growing in Atlanta

     

    With home staging becoming more and more popular across the country there is an overwhelming consensus within the Home Staging Industry to unite to share and develop ideas the will benefit home sellers, realtors and home stagers. Therefore 27 round table discussion groups are being organized across the country at the local level and at regular intervals.

     

    The discussion groups, known as Stage It Forward Round Tables, are demonstrating how easy and beneficial it is to have local home staging professionals come together to facilitate positive industry growth.  Discussions focus on how the home staging industry can move forward in a way that empowers all the entities that are working hard to prosper.  Equally, discussions concentrate on the home staging industry providing professional services that aide the home seller, the Realtor and also helps boost the real estate industry.

                   

    These meetings are an extension of the Stage It Forward social network of Home Stagers on ActiveRain.com. This home staging social network group, which has over 1,500 members nationwide, was founded by Craig Schiller of Real Estaging out of Chicago. Craig was the initial energy behind the Round Tables discussion together across North America. He has now facilitated three (Phoenix, Sacramento and Chicago) of the twenty-seven scheduled discussion groups.

     

    The first Stage It Forward Round Table discussion held in the state of Georgia was on Thursday, January 17, 2008.  Approximately 40 home stagers in the Atlanta Metropolitan area joined together to participate in the event.  The event was held at IKEA in Atlanta, located at Atlantic Station. IKEA is an invaluable resource for home stagers. Stage It Forward is thrilled that IKEA is providing the home stagers with meeting space, designer tours and several drawings for IKEA gift certificates.

     

    The Georgia event was facilitated by Kathy Nielsen of Georgia Interior Solutions LLC out of Marietta and by Karen Dembsky of Peachtree Home Staging based out of Peachtree City.  Both companies serve all of Metropolitan Atlanta.  Karen and Kathy have been actively involved in the staging business for multiple years.    Kathy Nielsen has been acknowledged for her dedication to the field by being a 2007 RESA Professional Home Stager of the Year Nominee.  Karen Dembsky entered into the home staging business through her vast Real Estate business, successfully preparing her listings and other agent's listings for sale.

     

    For further information contact:

     

    Karen Dembsky

    Peachtree Home Staging

    Phone: 770-595-8809

     

    Kathy Nielsen

    Georgia Interior Solutions

    Phone:  678-522-8392

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Kathy Nielsen RESA National Board Member of the Year

     

     

    About the Author: Kathy Nielsen, a RESA 2010 Home Stager of the Year Finalists is  a nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry, offers affordable home staging solutions to help sell your home more quickly.  Kathy can be reached via email at info@homestagingatlanta.com or by phone at 678 522 8392.  Their Atlanta Home Staging services offer a variety of options to accommodate all budgets. To view examples of their before and after pictures, visit their portfolio at Home Staging Atlanta Gallery.

     

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    1 comment • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • February 01 2008 07:16AM

    Staging Atlanta

    With home staging becoming more and more popular across the country there is an overwhelming consensus within the Home Staging Industry to unite to share and develop ideas the will benefit home sellers, realtors and home stagers. Therefore 27 round table discussion groups are being organized across the country at the local level and at regular intervals.

     

    The discussion groups, known as Stage It Forward Round Tables, are demonstrating how easy and beneficial it is to have local home staging professionals come together to facilitate positive industry growth.  Discussions focus on how the home staging industry can move forward in a way that empowers all the entities that are working hard to prosper.  Equally, discussions concentrate on the home staging industry providing professional services that aide the home seller, the Realtor and also helps boost the real estate industry.

                   

    These meetings are an extension of the Stage It Forward social network of Home Stagers on ActiveRain.com. This home staging social network group, which has over 1,500 members nationwide, was founded by Craig Schiller of Real Estaging out of Chicago. Craig was the initial energy behind the Round Tables discussion together across North America. He has now facilitated three (Phoenix, Sacramento and Chicago) of the twenty-seven scheduled discussion groups.

     

    The first Stage It Forward Round Table discussion held in the state of Georgia was on Thursday, January 17, 2008.  Approximately 40 home stagers in the Atlanta Metropolitan area joined together to participate in the event.  The event was held at IKEA in Atlanta, located at Atlantic Station. IKEA is an invaluable resource for home stagers. Stage It Forward is thrilled that IKEA is providing the home stagers with meeting space, designer tours and several drawings for IKEA gift certificates.

     

    The Georgia event was facilitated by Kathy Nielsen of Georgia Interior Solutions LLC out of Marietta and by Karen Dembsky of Peachtree Home Staging based out of Peachtree City.  Both companies serve all of Metropolitan Atlanta.  Karen and Kathy have been actively involved in the staging business for multiple years.    Kathy Nielsen has been acknowledged for her dedication to the field by being a 2007 RESA Professional Home Stager of the Year Nominee.  Karen Dembsky entered into the home staging business through her vast Real Estate business, successfully preparing her listings and other agent's listings for sale.

     

    For further information contact:

     

    Karen Dembsky

    Peachtree Home Staging

    Phone: 770-595-8809

     

    Kathy Nielsen

    Georgia Interior Solutions

    Phone:  678-522-8392

    .

     

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Kathy Nielsen RESA National Board Member of the Year

     

     

    About the Author: Kathy Nielsen, a RESA 2010 Home Stager of the Year Finalists is  a nationally recognized leader within the home staging industry, offers affordable home staging solutions to help sell your home more quickly.  Kathy can be reached via email at info@homestagingatlanta.com or by phone at 678 522 8392.  Their Atlanta Home Staging services offer a variety of options to accommodate all budgets. To view examples of their before and after pictures, visit their portfolio at Home Staging Atlanta Gallery.

     

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    0 comments • Kathy Nielsen Atlanta Georgia Home Stager • February 01 2008 07:13AM