Real Estate & Home Staging FYI: Georgia

I created and shared this simple checklist years ago, but since the information is still relevant and valuable, I thought it would be beneficial to share again.   Sometimes we just need to go back to the basics and information we learned at the start of our careers.  This is great information for your clients, which will further enhance your credibiliity and set you apart as the real estate expert, who is committed to selling their home and providing unparalleled service. 

Is the property already listed?  No worries.  This is still a great checklist to provide your clients, but I would recommend reviewing these items, plus any additional items you want to add, with your clients asap.  It could make the difference between a sold property and a stagnant, unsold listing.

Sellers Pre-Listing Systems Checklist

Sellers typically don’t check to make sure the HVAC unit is working properly or check to make sure their home is structurally sound.  Usually they wait for a Home Inspector to check the mechanical or structural items during the Home Inspection. You may not feel qualified to check all the mechanical or structural items in your home, but you can definitely avoid potential problems and reduce costly surprises by doing a few simple checks on some of the systems prior to putting your house on the market.

-          Check all cabinets and closet doors to make sure they open and close properly.

-          Make sure your refrigerator door closes properly and tightly.

-          Check refrigerator and freezer temperatures.

-          Check all faucets and plumbing for leaks or drips.

-          Flush toilets to make sure the tank is emptying and filling properly.

-          Check commode to make sure seat and tank are securely installed.

-          Check all electrical outlets, including exterior outlets.

-          Check all light switches, including exterior switches.

-           Turn on the AC Unit, even if it’s extremely cold outside, to make sure it’s working properly.

-          Turn the Heating Unit on, even if it’s extremely hot outside, to make sure it’s working properly.

-          Thoroughly inspect all ceilings, floors, and walls for cracks, moisture, mold or wood rot.

-          Test smoke detectors.

-          Clean Air Vents

-          Check operation of the washer and dryer.

-          Check garbage disposal.

Provided courtesy of Paige Earles and Pearle Staging & Design

                                BEFORE 1                                                                       AFTER 1

RESA Atlanta's Charitable Event for the Frazer Center.

RESA Atlanta donated furnishings and spent several days decorating the Cator Woolford Gardens facility at the Frazer Center, which is an important source of revenue for the Frazer Center's programs. See below for information about the Frazer Center and Cator Wooldford Gardens. With the beautiful new furnishings in place, the Frazer Center can attract more events and therefore more revenue for their valuable programs.

The project was completed August 18th, 2011

Stay tuned for information about the upcoming charitable event and opportunity to participate.

The Frazer Center is an inclusive community where people at all levels of ability and disability gather, learn, and flourish together.

There are few greater shocks in life than learning your child has a physical or developmental disability. It can be overwhelming to acknowledge the lifelong determination it takes for that child to achieve. For the Frazer Center and the families we serve, that determination has been an everyday experience for the past 60 years.

The Frazer Center is a not-for-profit organization that provides exceptional services to infants, preschoolers and adults with physical and developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Down syndrome, sickle cell anemia, autism spectrum disorders and other genetic anomalies.

We teach and motivate individuals to reach their full potential through family and community based services, research and training. We also provide peace of mind to the families of our participants, allowing them to work, relax and enjoy a fuller life, knowing their special family member is in a safe, nurturing environment and becoming more independent each day.

Cator Woolford Gardens

Nestled on 39 acres of mature hardwoods, the Cator Woolford Gardens are situated on one of the few remaining intact historic estates in Metropolitan Atlanta and are located just a few miles from the heart of downtown.

The Gardens were originally created for Cator Woolford, one of the principle founders of Retail Credit Company (now Equifax, Inc.) and were redesigned in 1996 as a series of outdoor "rooms." Changing with the seasons, the gardens and forest are filled with dogwoods, roses, narcissi,rhododendrons, laurel, daffodils and azaleas, some of which are original to the estate.

Your guests will easily imagine themselves in a time gone by in this unique Southern oasis so convenient to the heart of the city. The Italian-styled pavilion accompanied by an elegant 30' x 45' white tent creates a truly enchanting and unique setting for any event - corporate retreat, conference, fundraiser, movie shoot or wedding. In addition, with a 3,000 square foot indoor space featuring vaulted ceilings and floor to ceiling windows as part of the gardens rental, only your imagination limits the type of event the gardens can accommodate.

While a source of enjoyment for the community, the Gardens are an important source of revenue for The Frazer Center, a not-for-profit organization. For over sixty years, The Frazer Center has provided exceptional services to infants, toddlers, preschoolers and adults with developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, down syndrome, sickle cell anemia, autism spectrum disorders and other genetic disorders.

                                      BEFORE 2                                                                               AFTER 2 

RESA ATLANTA

WE'VE SET THE STANDARD. NOW WE'RE RAISING THE BAR.

WWW.RESAATLANTA.ORG

PAIGE EARLES

RESA ATLANTA PRESIDENT

WWW.PEARLESTAGINGANDDESIGN.COM

Please check out the information for the RESA Atlanta Business & Election Meeting September 22th, 2011.

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=wm7pkpcab&oeidk=a07e4pilflta88cfa54

Thanks so much!

Paige Earles

Pearle Staging & Design

www.pearlestaginganddesign.com

RESA Atlanta Chapter President

www.RESAAtlanta.org

First of all, let me extend a belated Happy New Year to everyone!  I hope 2011 brings you great opportunities and great successes!

DIY Bath Tub Repair

So, you have a bath tub that is chipped or cracked, and you're wondering what repair options you have.  You've heard about those DIY porcelain and fiberglass tub repair kits, but you're concerned that the result might look worse than the chips or cracks currently visible on your tub.  Your other options are to have a service professional re-glaze the tub, or of course you could have the entire tub replaced. 

Obviously the DIY option would be the least expensive choice by far, but again you're left wondering about the validity of spot repairing porcelain or fiberglass tubs.  Do those repair kits really work or are they simply a waste of money and the DIY tub repair option just a bunch of hogwash?     

Answer

After using a tub repair kit at my client's house during a recent project, I'm happy to report that....... drum roll please...... DIY Tub Repair Kits really work!  Not only do they work, but the result can be a tub with no evidence of the previous crack or chip.  Pretty cool, huh?

As with any DIY projects, there's always a right way and a not so right way, and in some cases a right way and a totally wrong way.  With that in mind, it's extremely important that you pay close attention to the project during the repair and that you follow the instructions exactly. 

Before diving into a bath tub repair project, you must know what type of material you tub is made with, since repair kits are typically specific to porcelain OR fiberglass. 

Porcelain Tub
Consists of a thin stamped steel shell, coated with heat-fused porcelain enamel. The pros of Porcelain: resistant to acid, corrosion, and abrasion, flame proof and colorfast. The cons of Porcelain: if the surface area is chipped or cracked, it will rust.                                                                                               Note the RUST part and attend to any chips or cracks in a porcelain tub in a timely manner.

Fiberglass
It's lightweight and easily installed, and it can be molded into varying shapes. A pigmented polyester resin spray that is applied to a mold forms the surface. The finish will show wear after 10 to 15 years and will scratch and/or fade. On the plus side, it is easy to repair.

And finally..... a few Must Do Tips for DIY Tub Repair

- Patience, patience, patience - this is not a quick 15 minute project.  The polishing step alone can take more than 30 minutes to smooth the surface and blend the repair material into the existing tub surface

- Wet Sanding - you must use wet sand paper for the polishing step and you must continually wet the sandpaper.  I can't stress that enough.  If your sandpaper isn't wet at all times, you'll scratch the surface of the tub. 

- Purchase tub repair kits that include everything needed for the project - putty, hardener, applicator stick, sand paper (typically 2 different grits), polishing compound, alcohol wipe, etc.  If you start adding in your own products the results could be jeopardized. 

- Color match - make sure the repair kit is color matched to your tub's surface color.

Follow the tips and instructions and the result will be a successful DIY bath tub repair project.

Have a wonderful day!

Paige Earles

Pearle Staging & Design

RESA Atlanta Chapter President  

www.pearlestaginganddesign.com

On a recent project I learned that all hinges and cabinet doors are not created equal.  This may be something that many of you already know, but for those who are involved, or will be involved, with projects that require updates to cabinet doors and hinges, I hope this is helpful.

Cabinets are made with a "Face Frame" or "Frameless".  Face Frame Cabinets have a wood frame attached to the front edge of the cabinet.  A Frameless Cabinet doesn't have the wood frame attached to the cabinet.   The choice between the 2 types of cabinets really is just a matter of preference or personal choice.  The overall look of the Face Frame and Frameless after the cabinets are installed and the cabinet door is attached is pretty much the same. 

So, if they're pretty much the same, what's the big deal about the cabinet doors and the hinges?  Well, because the added wood frame on the Face Frame Cabinets adds another dimension to the cabinet edge, the cabinet doors and the hinges are different than the doors and hinges used for a Frameless Cabinet.  The cabinet, cabinet door and the hinge must be compatible with one another.   A hinge that is made for a Frameless Cabinet isn't compatible with a hinge that is made for a Face Frame Cabinet.  The same is true for the cabinet doors. 

For a recent project, the client's kitchen cabinet doors were being upgraded to glass cabinet doors.  A lot of time was wasted on ordering incompatible cabinet doors and purchasing incompatible hinges.  After numerous delays and unsuccessful trips to the local building supply store, the Sales Associate at a local hardware store was kind enough to provide the necessary information and guidance and the correct cabinet doors and hinges were ordered and soon thereafter successfully installed. 

A couple of tips:

- Always take the existing cabinet door and or hinges with you to the hardware store or manufacturer when ordering or purchasing new cabinets.

- If taking the existing cabinet door isn't feasible, make sure to take numerous pictures with you when you go to order the new doors and hinges.

- Talk to someone at your local hardware store who understands the difference between Frameless and Face Frame Cabinets and the compatible hinges for each. 

Upgrading cabinet doors can be very easy and the result can be dramatic, as long as you take the necessary steps on the front end to make sure everything will be compatible when it's time for installation.

Pearle Staging & Design's President, Paige Earles, Earns

Prestigious RESA-PRO^TM Home Staging Designation

Atlanta's own Paige Earles has earned the RESA-PRO^TM designation. 

RESA-PRO^TM designees must meet 6 mandatory requirements including stringent review of business experience and practices and completion of the RESA® Ethics class and RESA® Ethics Exam.

The RESA® Ethics class and exam is an extremely important factor in raising the bar for the home staging industry.  RESA-PRO^TM is the only designation governed and regulated by the Real Estate Staging Association®.  RESA® ensures that RESA-PRO^TM designees uphold the highest ethical standards possible.

Pearle Staging & Design is committed to providing superior service while maintaining the highest levels of integrity, honesty and professionalism.  Earning the RESA-PRO^TM designation is a true honor and further evidence of our commitment to continually refine, expand and improve in order to heighten the standard we've set in the industry, says Ms Earles, Pearle Staging & Design's President.  

Pearle Staging & Design's services include Home Staging, Interior Design, Residential Upgrades and Modifications, Model Home Showcasing and Special Event Staging.  Pearle's team of professionals includes Home Staging & Interior Design Specialists, Real Estate Experts, Color & Art Consultants, Residential Contractors and Moving & Cleaning Services.   We provide a smooth, seamless, one-stop shop experience for our clients, says Ms Earles.   Pearle Staging & Design's service areas include Atlanta, Midtown, Buckhead, Alpharetta, Marietta, as well as additional areas in Fulton, Cobb and DeKalb Counties.

RESA® recently released the 2010 Home Staging Statistics, which clearly evidence the benefits of home staging.  RESA's studies found on average staged properties are on the market 78% less time. "There is no doubt staging benefits buyers, sellers and agents. We strongly recommend anyone considering selling their property to work with a professional stager in their local area," said Shell Brodnax, RESA's CEO.

Contact Information:

Paige Earles

Pearle Staging & Design, LLC

194 14th St NE #2504
Atlanta, GA 30309

Phone: 877-721-9987 ext  702

Direct: 404-219-1393
Fax: 888-270-0346
E-Mail: paige@pearlestaginganddesign.com

URL: Pearle Website

Demo Videos: Pearle Portfolio Videos

Hello Everyone,

This year has been phenomenal.  A year that started with the amazing honor of being awarded by RESA as the "2010 Rookie Stager of the Year" and a year that has continued with amazing opportunities and amazing growth.  A BIG Thank You to all of our wonderful clients who have made this year a big success for Pearle Staging & Design, and a BIG Thank You to all the members of the Pearle Team who have been a part of Pearle's growth and have shared in my vision for Pearle Staging & Design. 

Thanks also to the Real Estate Staging Association and the Home Staging Resource for providing a valuable foundation, incredible training opportunities and unbeatable support to the home staging community.  Thanks Shell and Audra!

Although business has been great, it has unfortunately consumed more hours than I actually have in a day (not sure how that happens, but somehow it does), and consequently I've been unable to devote time to a few extremely important activities.  The most important neglected area has been my Social Media activity, which because of my focus on Organic Search Engine Optimization, has really concerned me for awhile.  BUT, to look at the situation from a different angle (simply because I can't stand focusing on what I can't do or negative energy and thoughts, and I must turn to the positive by finding the "silver lining" and focusing on what opportunities the current situations provide), I realized that although I've been absent from the Social Media arenas, my business and the 25+ staging and design projects so far this year have provided me with "real world" knowledge and expertise that I can now share with the Active Rain community, as well as on the Pearle Blogs and additional Social Media websites. 

So, stay tuned for "What Pearle Learned" and "What Pearle Would Do".   

Also this year I earned the prestigious RESA-Pro Designation.  Check back later to read the Press Release.

It's great to be back! 

Make it a great day!

Paige

I often hear comments or statements relating to Home Staging that are somewhere shy of being accurate.  Some comments are slightly off while other comments are..... well, how should I say this.... not even in relatively close proximity to an acurate statement. 

I've always said that the best way to alter misconceptions is through education.  You can't be expected to know what you don't know.  So, for the next few weeks, I'm going to blog about Home Staging - What It Is and What It Isn't. 

As you'll see, the benefits of Home Staging for you and your clients are without question worth every minute you'll devote to becoming knowledgeable about the very important topic of Home Staging - What It Is and What It Isn't. 

Home Staging - What It Is

According to The Real Estate Staging Association, "Home Staging is the act of preparing and showcasing residential or commercial property for sale.  It is a systematic and coordinated methodology in which knowledge of real estate, home renovations and creative design principles are applied to attract a buyer". 

Home Staging - What It Isn't

Home Staging is not decorating.  Decorating involves furnishing and accessorizing a space to fit the owner's personal tastes and lifestyle; quite the opposite of Home Staging and the goal of de-personalizing spaces to maximize appeal to potential buyers. 

There is a popular saying in the real estate industry: "The worst thing that you can do when selling your home is... nothing." The sit-back-and-see-what-happens way of selling a house is long gone. Be proactive in the marketing of your listings by contacting a Professional Home Stager!

 Make it a great day!

Paige

www.pearlestaginganddesign.com

It was an amazing honor to be named the Real Estate Staging Association's 2010 Rookie Stager of the Year!  The Rookie Stager of the Year Award is presented to a "Professional Stager that has been in the business for less than 2 years and is demonstrating professionalism and excellence in staging".

Truly a HUGE HONOR! 

Judges for the Rookie Stager of the Year Award included Bethany Souza of HGTV's Designed to Sell, Matthew Finalson of HGTV's The Stager and Deborah Gilmore, 2010 WCR National President.

Thank you so much Bethany, Matthew, Deborah and the Real Estate Staging Association! 

For more information about the Real Estate Staging Association and the RESA 2010 Awards visit http://resaconvention.com

Have an awesome day!

Paige

Check out these amazing statistics that clearly show the tremendous benefit ot working with a Professional Home Stager.

The Real Estate Staging Association's Home Staging Statistics - Released February, 2010

Vacant, Previously Listed Homes

Vacant Homes in this study were previously on the market an average of 277 days without selling and were un-staged properties.

These same homes were taken off the market, Professionally Staged and then re-Listed.  These properties on average sold after 63 days on the market. 

78% Less Time on the Market

Occupied, Previously Listed Homes

Occupied Homes in this study were previously on the market an average of 233 days without selling and were un-staged properties.

Those same homes were taken off the market and Professionally Staged and re-Listed.  These properties on average sold after 53 days on market.

  78% Less Time on the Market

Vacant, Not Previously Listed Homes

These vacant homes were not on the market previously.  These homes were Professionally Staged and then Listed.

Sold on Average in 42 Days

Occupied, Not Previously Listed Homes

These occupied homes were not on the market previously.  These homes were Professionally Staged and then Listed.

 Sold on Average in 39 Days