In this Why Pay 6 Percent blog, we offer illusions, tips and tricks of the trade on the art of “Staging”.  We ask you to look with “new eyes” at your house.  Remember that your house is no longer “your home”…it is a product that is For Sale.   The challenge is objectivity.  The reward is mass appeal.  The genius is in knowing that real estate is a numbers game.  Better your odds by eliminating no one.  

If you are unsure of exactly what staging is, think new home builders.  Even though staging is a new concept to the resale home market, homebuilders have profited from staging for years.  Their model home parks take “picture yourself living here” to an art form.   They often sell entire subdivisions of homes, sight unseen, thanks to a few smartly decorated “model” homes.  

What can staging do for you?  Take a look at a couple of builders model homes.   You will quickly spot that everything is new, fresh and clean.  It smells good.  It’s light.  It’s bright.  The lawn makes you want to walk barefoot.  It’s very friendly.  It feels like home, maybe better than home.  Gottcha!  

When touring a model home, don’t focus on the furnishings, but how they are placed in  the room.  Notice the amount of light in the room and where it comes from.  Note what you don’t see…clutter, deer heads, dead plants.  All these little things you see, and don’t, create an illusion of warmth, openness and universal appeal that make buyers say “I could definitely live here”. 

You can also get practical ideas about staging on TV channels like HGTV and A&E.  Shows like “Designed to Sell” and “Sell This House” have great ideas and feature real homeowners.  Their websites, www.hgtv.com  and www.aetv.com feature show highlights and special topics to discover at your convenience.  Great staging idea’s can also be found in home magazines and websites.  And, in case you are short on time, we’ve done a little research for you.    

InfoTip 1:  First Impressions are formed in 15 Seconds

A buyer called to see inside.  Congratulations, your marketing is working and your curb appeal, appealed.  What can you do to make a good first impression?

      Buy a new Welcome mat.  Avoid cutesy.  Go classic.

      Shine up the door knob and knocker

      Mood Music, softly please.  Avoid lyrics’, opt for soft jazz or classics.

      Open the windows and air the house out.  If outside noises are not a problem and the weather cooperates, leave a few windows open.

      Adjust the inside temperature to an ideal setting.

      Flower Power— Flowers are cheap, create ambiance, add personality and cheer. 

      Smells—Good, clean, subtle smells are good.  Overpowering, disinfectant smells are used to cover something up and may also trigger allergies.

      Add a nice guest book and pen to invite comments.  Add small photo book picturing your house during a beautiful season.

      Turn on the lights in each room.  Well lit rooms show well.

      Open the drapes and blinds, but don’t expose ugly views.

      Highlight good views by drawing the eye to them.

      Light a few groupings of candles in appropriate areas.  Avoid strong scents.

      Remove all items considered “real estate”, before showing.  A good rule of thumb is, if it is attached or would leave a mark when removed, it stays with the house.  Many buyers refuse to close, or worse, they call an attorney, when they discover the dining room chandelier they “bought” is missing, the roses bushes have been dug up or the basketball goal has been stolen.

InfoTip 2:  Making a Grand Entrance

      Area Rugs break up the expanse of a floor space and make rooms feel smaller.

      Entry closets should be cleaned out.  Hanging Coats should not touch each other.

      Remove coat stands.

      The entrance into all rooms should be free of obstacles.

 InfoTip 3:  Bigger is Better

Create illusion of big rooms that people can picture their stuff in.  Think Spare, not Bare.

      Traffic Flow—You should be able to walk through every room in your house without being impeded by furniture.

      Counter Intelligence—Clear off all horizontal surfaces in the entire house.  Store the designer blender.  Decorate with a rosemary topiary, not functional items.

      Bigger is better does not apply to furniture.  Store oversized pieces.

      Re-paint dark rooms in light, neutral colors.  White reflects light-black absorbs it.

      Mirror, Mirror on the Wall–Seinfeld fans know mirrors create the “illusion of space”, feelings that there is a “whole other room in there”.  Mirror magic is highly effective on birds, and home buyers… Mirrors also add light, elegance, enhance views, show off mantels and shrink long, narrow hallways.

      Small pieces of furniture like footstools, end tables and throw rugs shrink space.

      Dining Room or Home Office?  Multi-tasking décor is confusing at best and screams that you have a lack of space and storage.  Computers do not belong in the dining room, ironing boards do not belong in spare bedrooms.  Stage each room for its intended purpose.  

InfoTip 4:  Hidden Treasures

Everyone needs Storage.  Covered Parking. Garages.  Attics.  Basements.  They may not count as finished square footage, but for homebuyers they count a great deal.

      Clean and light these areas before showing your home. 

      Use a label or sign to mark hidden doors or areas buyers might miss.

      Empty garages look bigger.  Pack the bikes, lawn equipment and trash cans.

      Basements should be aired out and free of mold and mildew. 

      Plywood can be placed in attics to create large, walk-in storage area’s.

      Hide things in storage boxes that slide under the bed.

      Lubricate the garage door.

 InfoTip 5:  Outdoor living rooms

When looking for ways to grow your space.  Look outside. 

      Balconies, patios or porches are living area’s, if staged properly. 

      Tables and chairs near your grill create another dining area.

      A comfortable lounger and coffee table create a reading nook.

      Healthy, potted plants can stage a greenhouse effect.

      Freshly mowed, green lawns have universal appeal.

      Outdoor lighting and sprinkler systems set a mood of relaxation. 

InfoTip 6:  Stimulate Imagination.  Buy this house and dreams come true.    

      Romantic, candle light dinners happen every night in this house… set your dining room table with your finest tableware.  Add a center piece and the stage is set.

      Use the romance and coziness of your fireplace to your advantage.  Place a pair of wine glasses and a vase of flowers on the coffee table in front of the fire.

      Sex Appeal.  Set the mood in your bedroom with fresh, fluffy linens, decorative pillows, candles and soft lighting.  Remove all personal items from view. 

      Well Healed His & Hers.  In the closet, like clothing should be grouped together.  Designate His and Her areas with his pants & shirts in his area, her blouses and dresses in hers.  Allow for space between each hanger.  Shoes should disappear.  Shelves should not over flow. 

      Anything provocative could spoil the mood.  Play it safe with displayed books, magazines and religious items. 

      Private Parts…bedrooms and bathrooms are private areas that people feel uncomfortable exploring.  To lessen feelings of intrusion, hide all personal care products in a basket under the sink.  Your Jacuzzi tub is sexier without the used razors and waxing creams.  Stage your bath as a place of retreat and quiet pampering.  Freshly hung, fluffy towels, candles, a basket of unused bath products de-personalize and give a bathroom the feel of a luxury hotel. 

InfoTip 7:  Real Life Issues Builders Never Face 

      Pets.  We love our Pets so much, this topic is painful to discuss.  Unfortunately, when buyer’s see pets, they start looking for trouble.  They immediately sniff for evidence of accidents.  They scrutinize for chewing, stains and scratches.  They rarely venture into the yard for fear of what they will step in.  You can’t pack your pet, so what can you do?

F     Cat Fanciers- Change the litter and sweep up daily.  Vacuum for hair.  Pack the kitty condo and all the toys.  Pick up the food bowls.  Freshen up bedding.  Brush your cat daily, so shedding is minimized.

F     Man’s Best Friend- If you can take your dog with you or to the neighbors, during a showing, do so.  If Doggie Day Care is available in your town, perfect.   Dogs who feel their job is to guard the house must be confined or taken off the premises.  Aggressive or barking dogs are best kept elsewhere until the house sells. 

Pick up the toys inside and out.  Scoop the lawn, daily.  Repair holes, paths, bare spots and damaged fencing.  Clean the pen.  Paint scratches on the door.  Remove feeding dishes and water bowls.  Vacuum daily.  Groom the dog and keep him clean.  Freshen his bedding.  Make it up to him when this is over. 

      Small Children—Can a two year old make selling difficult?   

As small as they are, they sure have a lot of stuff.  Try packing toys while they nap.  When you unpack in your new house, they will think it is Christmas.  Store the big life-size golf carts and doll houses.  Pack up most books.  Neaten their closets.  Clean out diaper pails, daily.  Move obstacles out of the entry or middle of their room.  Clear off bathroom countertops and hide bath toys under the sink.  

      Teenagers.  Bribe if necessary.

Scary, but their private space is now on public display.  They should make their bed every day, especially on weekends.  Take down the beads and re-hang the door.  Roll up those super model posters.  Get the TV, DVD, Computer, X-Box and Video Games stored out of view.  The closet is clean.  Clothes are put away.  Hide the spider collection and the magazines.  Repaint those purple walls boring white.  If a buyer is looking at the house, get out of bed, even if it is only 10:00 a.m., or get off the phone, turn off your TV and get out of the house.  Take comfort– a trip to the mall usually buys their forgiveness. 

Staging is a hard thing to live with everyday.  Thankfully, if you do it right, you won’t doing it for long.  One of those Looky Lou’s will picture themselves lounging and entertaining in your house in no time.  They will at long last become a homeowner and you will be recognized as a true, real estate genius.

Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com.  Our turnkey marketing programs reach million of home buyers, from all over the world, each and every day.  We can help you sell and save money to!!

________________________________________________________________________

     Photographs are important and powerful tools in marketing real estate.    Statistics show that home sellers who provide numerous and good quality photographs of their property receive twice the amount of buyer interest than their competition.

When photographing your property, try to follow this advise from Dave Rezendes, #1 real estate photographer in the USA.

• Don’t assume that wider is better.  Sometimes a particular vignette or architectural detail will better convey the feeling of a house and give a stronger effect.

…. CLICK HERE TO FINISH READING THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com.   Make 2012 your year to SHOW and SELL!!!!

When the real estate bubble burst in 2007, I predicted that we would likely see large, single family, suburban mansions carved up and repurposed into multi-family housing.   Well, time and a prolonged recession have proven the idea viable.

The USA went through the same type of evolution, in reverse, with intercity housing.   Vacant, large urban, single family mansions where carved up into apartments, efficiencies and co-ops, after the mass exodus to the suburbs in the 1950’s.      Now, its the McMansions, gated communities and long commutes that are out of vogue. 

Families are returning back to life in the inner city.  They are buying multi-family homes and converting them back into single family residences.  The concept of highest and best use…has come full circle.

Check out this short video to see the latest change in student housing in decades.  A bad housing market has created some luxury digs for college co-eds out in the ‘burbs”. 

College students renting suburban McMansions

Thank you for visiting Why 6 Percent.  We offer flat fee MLS and Realtor.com packages to builders, homeowners and anyone who needs to keep more money from their property sell.  We have helped thousands of homeowners sell their homes.  We can help you, too.

What a ship….no wonder ‘Made in China ‘ is displacing North American made goods big time.

 This monster transports goods across the Pacific in just 5 days!!   This is one of three ships presently in service, with another two ships commissioned to be completed in 2012.  

These ships were commissioned by Wal-Mart to get all their goods and stuff from China .  They hold an incredible 15,000 containers and have a 207 foot deck beam!!  The full crew is just 13 people on a ship longer than a US Aircraft Carrier (which has a crew of 5,000.   With it’s 207′ beam it is too big to fit through the Panama or Suez Canals .
       
                    It is strictly transpacific. Cruise speed: 31 knots. 

The goods arrive 4 days before the typical container ship (18-20 knots) on  a China -to-    California  run.   91% of Walmart products are made in China .  So this behemoth is hugely competitive even when carrying perishable goods.      
 
The ship was built in five sections. The sections floated together and then welded. 
The command bridge is higher than a 10-story building and has 11 cargo crane rigs that can operate simultaneously unloading the entire ship in less than two hours.

Cost for this container ship…$146,000,000

 A recent documentary in late March, 2010 on the History Channel noted that all of these containers are shipped back to China , EMPTY.

Yep, that’s right.  We send nothing back on these ships. What does that tell you about 
the current financial state of this country?    Let’s all just keep buying those imported goods (mostly, cheap nothing gadgets) until we run out of money, jobs, homes or all of the above.   

Just our two cents here at InfoTube.net…. We support American workers, products and companies.  We manufacture The InfoTube and InfoBox here in the USA, with materials Made in the USA…so don’t believe it can’t be done.  We’re just a little company.  If we can do, anyone can.  

Please Buy Made in America, whenever possible!!!

   The idea of Bulldozing houses is nothing new.  Although the banks are not blowing up homes for alturistic reasons…I think we can all agree that removing home inventory is good for all of us.  In 2010, Warren Buffet advised that ”blow up a lot of houses” was a viable option and similar to ‘cash for clunkers’ auto program.  I always thought bulldozing abandoned homes and returning the land to a raw state was a smarter solution than handing out money in the form of a homebuyer tax credit.   The tax credit cost billions of dollars, put money into the hands of a few people blessed with good timing and did little to reduce inventory.  

Bankers, why not take the “TNT” strategy one step further.   Donate unwanted houses to local non-profits vs blowing them up?  Make a call to Habitat for Humanity, for example?   I can’t understand why Habitat is still building new homes, when we can’t get rid of the ones that are causing problems in our neighborhoods.   Habitat needs to change their business model with the times and so do our lenders.  Families, who are in dire need now, wait up to 6+ months for a new home to be built and the cost of building from scratch far exceeds the costs of rehabbing properties, in most cases.    

Just my two cents….

Thank you for visiting Why6Percent.com.  We offer a low, flat fee MLS program for owners, builders and for people who need to hold onto as much of their money as possible.  If you aren’t familiar with advertising your home  on the MLS or Realtor.com, please visit our website and review the FAQ.   Our marketing packages reach millions of home buyers each day.

 InfoTube.net is FREE home selling website.  Visit our site for free legal forms, home searches, home listings, marketing tools, advise and support!   We are a 100% Made in the USA company.

We believe that very little of your $52 BILLION spent at big box retailers benefited American companies and US workers. 

If you are worried about the future of the US economy….  If you care about the millions of unemployed and homeless Americans…Make a Pledge that in 2011 you will buy Back to School Supplies that are Made in the USA!!!    It’s that simple.  Keep your money in your pocket and Say “NO” to rewarding retailers and companies that sell out American companies and support foreign workers.

It’s easier than you think to find American Made Back to School Supplies.  Here is a short list of companies to get you started!

SOURCE Made in the USA Foundation

Thank you for visiting InfoTube.net.  We have been making InfoTubes and InfoBoxes here in the USA since 1988.  We appreciate your business and please visit our website for FREE home selling services.   Thank You!

If you would like to Vote for Made in the USA products, please CLICK HERE.    If you want to express your outrage about the outsourcing of American jobs, CLICK HERE.  If you want to reach our politicians and news reporters and tell them what you t hink about the Companies who are shipping jobs overseas, CLICK HERE!!

Thank you for helping InfoTube Fight for American Jobs and Products!!!  Your Money is Your Vote…Spend it Wisely!

For those of you who are following our struggle and have ask how you can help next…  

I think that continuing to send requests to ABC news (the direct link is below) would really be helpful for moving our negotiations forward and for highlighting this David and Goliath story.   

My recent experiences have proven that the tide of consumer awareness is shifting in our country.  The grass roots support for American business, workers and products is gaining momentum quickly and we all need to stay involved to turn our economy and future around.

I would encourage everyone to submit your favorite American made products to ABC News. 

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/MadeInAmerica/mailform?id=13599846

I hope to see a lot of love for InfoTube and InfoBox, of course, but I know that a lot of American businesses are fighting against the outsourcing tsunami, as well.   Each one of them would appreciate your support and there is no limit on the number of products you can submit.

Thank you again for all your help!!!!  Without you, we wouldn’t be here today.   Please mention us to ABC News…I would love to tell our story to Diane Sawyer

Tommi Crow

President, Crow Erickson, Inc

We feel the sole reason for this communication is due to the pouring of support and the hundreds of emails and inquiries sent on our behalf.  

Although, a decision has not been made about the outsourcing of our products to China, we do feel that we have some positive news to share with you for the first time.

On behalf of everyone at Crow Erickson, Caplugs and our associates, we want to extend our deepest Thanks for all your continued effort and support.   We hope that a resolution can be reached, now that the lines of communication have been opened. 

We will be sure to keep you posted on the outcome of our ongoing negotiations.  Made in America matters to us all.

Tommi Crow

President, Crow Erickson, Inc.

After the radio interview, we received a call from Senator Richard Burr’s (R) office to inquire about our story.   The Senator’s office is looking into the matter to determine how they can help.   Thank you, Senator Burr!

Tommi Crow radio interview on Jameson show

I would like to say a BIG thank you to Jerri Jameson at WWNC News Radio 570 for having us on her show this morning.  

Thanks for following our story and for your support!  Please continue to sign our petition and send emails to Lowes, Home Depot and Menardsn telling them that InfoTube and InfoBox SHOULD NOT be replaced with chinese imports.