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    <title>Real Estate &amp; Home Staging FYI</title>
    <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/</link>
    <description>Providing valuable services and solutions to homeowners and real estate agents, which enhance the home ownership experience.</description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1643533/home-staging-what-it-is-and-what-it-isn-t</guid>
      <title>Home Staging - What It Is and What It Isn't</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;I often hear comments or statements relating to&amp;nbsp;Home Staging that are somewhere shy of being accurate.&amp;nbsp; Some comments are slightly&amp;nbsp;off while other comments are..... well, how should I say this.... not even in relatively close proximity to an acurate statement.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I've always said that the best way to alter misconceptions is through education.&amp;nbsp; You can't be expected to know what you don't know.&amp;nbsp; So, for the next few weeks, I'm going to blog about&amp;nbsp;Home Staging&amp;nbsp;-&amp;nbsp;What It Is and What It Isn't.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As you'll see, the benefits of Home Staging for you and your clients&amp;nbsp;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.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Home Staging - What It Is&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;According to The Real Estate Staging Association, &quot;Home Staging is the act of preparing and showcasing residential or commercial property for sale.&amp;nbsp; 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&quot;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Home Staging - What It Isn't&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Home Staging is not decorating.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;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.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There is a popular saying in the real estate industry: &quot;The worst thing that you can do when selling your home is... nothing.&quot; The sit-back-and-see-what-happens way of selling a house is long gone. Be proactive in the marketing of your listings&amp;nbsp;by contacting a Professional Home Stager!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;Make it a great day!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Paige&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&quot;&gt;www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 May 2010 17:47:17 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1643533/home-staging-what-it-is-and-what-it-isn-t</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1554568/real-estate-staging-association-2010-industry-awards</guid>
      <title>Real Estate Staging Association 2010 Industry Awards</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;It was an amazing honor to be named the Real Estate Staging Association's 2010 Rookie Stager of the Year!&amp;nbsp; The Rookie Stager of the Year Award is presented to a &quot;Professional Stager that has been in the business for less than 2 years and is demonstrating professionalism and excellence in staging&quot;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Truly a&amp;nbsp;HUGE HONOR!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Judges for the Rookie Stager of the Year Award included Bethany Souza of HGTV's &lt;em&gt;Designed to Sell&lt;/em&gt;, Matthew Finalson of HGTV's &lt;em&gt;The Stager&lt;/em&gt; and Deborah Gilmore, 2010 WCR National President.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Thank you so much Bethany, Matthew, Deborah and the Real Estate Staging Association!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For more information about the Real Estate Staging Association and the RESA 2010 Awards visit &lt;a href=&quot;http://resaconvention.com&quot;&gt;http://resaconvention.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Have an awesome day!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Paige&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:48:42 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1554568/real-estate-staging-association-2010-industry-awards</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1554552/home-staging-statistics</guid>
      <title>Home Staging Statistics</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Check out these amazing statistics that clearly show the tremendous benefit ot working with a Professional Home Stager.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Real Estate Staging Association's Home Staging Statistics - Released February, 2010&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;Vacant, Previously Listed Homes &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Vacant Homes in this study were previously on the market an average of 277 days without selling and were un-staged properties.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;These same homes were taken off the market, Professionally Staged and then re-Listed.&amp;nbsp; These properties on average sold after 63 days on the market.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;78% Less Time on the Market&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;Occupied, Previously Listed Homes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Occupied Homes in this study were previously on the market an average of 233 days without selling and were un-staged properties.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Those same homes were taken off the market and Professionally Staged and re-Listed.&amp;nbsp; These properties on average sold after 53 days on market.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;78% Less Time on the Market&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;Vacant, Not Previously Listed Homes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;These vacant homes were not on the market previously.&amp;nbsp; These homes were Professionally Staged and then Listed.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Sold on Average in 42 Days&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;Occupied, Not Previously Listed Homes&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;These occupied homes were not on the market previously.&amp;nbsp; These homes were Professionally Staged and then Listed.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;Sold on Average in 39 Days&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:37:33 -0400</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1554552/home-staging-statistics</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1484927/technology-tools-and-tips</guid>
      <title>Technology Tools and Tips</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Sharing great technology tools and applications:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http://img.constantcontact.com/ui/stock1/9w5a6p2e.jpg&quot; height=&quot;66&quot; alt=&quot;Technology Tips &amp;amp; Tools&quot; width=&quot;100&quot; /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Technology Tips &amp;amp; Tools&amp;nbsp;for &amp;nbsp;Real Estate&amp;nbsp;Professionals&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;New&amp;nbsp;Application &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Welcome to &lt;strong&gt;GIST.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Everyone with whom we're connected online is searchable. Every blog comment, tweet, online profile, even reviews at places like Amazon, are searchable. But tracking down all of that information can be awfully time-consuming.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Gist takes the legwork out of finding out what you need to know about your clients and business contacts before you talk to them. An indispensable tool for anyone in sales, Gist is what Outlook wishes it could have been; not just contact management, Gist is knowledge management. Relationship management.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Gist Overview&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Website: &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.gist.com&quot;&gt;www.gist.com&lt;/a&gt; &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;What it does: Helps build stronger relationships by connecting the inbox to the web to provide business-critical information about people and companies. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;How to use it: Be the first to know about relevant news and events that give you the opportunity to personally connect to those who matter most. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cost: Free&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Contact &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&quot; title=&quot;Pearle Staging &amp;amp; Design&quot;&gt;Pearle Staging &amp;amp; Design&lt;/a&gt; for all your Home Staging and Interior Redesign needs.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Have an awesome day!&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Paige&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:36:12 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1484927/technology-tools-and-tips</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1468861/home-staging-tips-on-cbs</guid>
      <title>Home Staging Tips on CBS</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Check out these Home Staging tips on CBS Atlanta:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjE2yxfCtQ&quot;&gt;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjE2yxfCtQ&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact Pearle Staging &amp;amp; Design for all your Home Staging and Interior Redesign needs.&amp;nbsp; &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&quot;&gt;www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Thanks to the Real Estate Staging Association&amp;nbsp;for naming me the 2010 Rookie Stager of the Year!&amp;nbsp; What an amazing honor!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Have an awesome day!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Paige&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;877-721-9987&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:44:28 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1468861/home-staging-tips-on-cbs</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1374073/diy-tips-painting-dos-and-don-ts</guid>
      <title>DIY Tips - Painting Dos and Don'ts</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Painting Dos &amp;amp; Don'ts &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DO&lt;/strong&gt; buy a quart or smaller first instead of a large quantity in case you're not committed to the color. Paint a piece of foam board and move it around the room to see how the light affects the color at different times of the day.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DO &lt;/strong&gt;take the time to prep the area. Gather artwork and accessories in one box and place out of the way. Move furniture to the center of the space (or into another room altogether), wipe down walls and tape off molding. Cover the floor with a drop cloth. (Plastic sheets can be slippery and messy.)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DO&lt;/strong&gt; remove all of the hardware-switch plates, doorknobs, drapery hardware, etc.--and place the parts in a plastic bag.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DO&lt;/strong&gt; gather everything you'll need to get the job done and set up a &quot;paint station&quot; in or near the room. Include a paint tray, painters' tape, brushes, rollers, stir sticks, a paint can opener, rags, paint thinner, a screwdriver, hammer and ladder.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DO&lt;/strong&gt; purchase one good paint tray and line it with inexpensive disposable plastic tray forms. Aluminum foil works well in a pinch.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DO&lt;/strong&gt; calculate how much paint you'll need. It's always best to get it mixed at one time.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DO &lt;/strong&gt;choose the appropriate rollers and brushes. Specific rollers are required depending on the paint's viscosity (i.e. how well it rolls onto the surface) and the wall's texture. Brushes with angled tips are best for painting on and around trim.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DO&lt;/strong&gt; wear appropriate clothing (you &lt;em&gt;will&lt;/em&gt; get paint on you somewhere) and slip-on shoes for easy access in and out of the room.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DO &lt;/strong&gt;prime the walls if going from one extreme color to another. For instance, if the walls are tan and you want deep green, paint first with a primer tinted to match your intended top coat to ensure you'll end up with the true color.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DO&lt;/strong&gt; expect to apply at least three coats when painting walls red--one coat of primer and two coats of paint.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DO&lt;/strong&gt; keep a stash of paint for touch-ups in a small plastic cup or glass jar, like margarine containers or baby food jars (thoroughly cleaned, of course). Be sure to label each container with the color and brand name.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DO &lt;/strong&gt;keep inexpensive foam and artists' brushes (dollar-store variety) on hand for touch-ups on trim and hard-to-reach spots.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DON'T&lt;/strong&gt; rush. You'll achieve the best results if you practice a little patience. Plan on making it a full-day affair and you won't get frustrated.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DON'T&lt;/strong&gt; pour the paint from the can until you notch holes into the paint can rim. Simply hammer holes around the metal rim with a nail to create holes for the paint to drip back down into the can.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DON'T&lt;/strong&gt; paint out of order-start with the ceiling, then walls, doors and woodwork and finish with the floor.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DON'T&lt;/strong&gt; apply latex on an oil finish and vice versa without first sanding the walls (remember to wear a mask) and wiping away the dust particles with a tack cloth. Apply a primer of the same composition (oil or latex) of the intended topcoat.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DON'T&lt;/strong&gt; paint directly over wallpaper. If possible, remove it all with a steamer or paper-removing solution and prime. If it's old and not coming off, remove the loose pieces (repair with joint compound to smooth out the surface), sand and wipe with a tack cloth, then prime.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DON'T&lt;/strong&gt; close off the room. Keep doors and windows open to allow for proper ventilation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DON'T&lt;/strong&gt; underestimate how long it'll take you to get the job done. Allow at least 24 hours to dry before bringing everything back into the room. Allow two weeks to 30 days to cure before washing or wiping.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DON'T&lt;/strong&gt; put off cleaning your brush and rollers if you plan to use them again.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DON'T&lt;/strong&gt; dispose of paint irresponsibly. Check your area for local hazardous waste recycling centers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DON'T&lt;/strong&gt; reattach the lid without cleaning the rim of the can. Also, to further prevent inadvertent splatters, place a paper towel or rag on top of the lid, then hammer to secure.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:55:48 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1374073/diy-tips-painting-dos-and-don-ts</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1449314/moving-checklist-part-3</guid>
      <title>Moving Checklist Part 3</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;THE DAY BEFORE MOVING&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Defrost, clean and air out your refrigerator.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Make sure you have payment ready for the mover - they will not unpack without a check. Check your moving company's payment policies.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Purchase traveler's checks for other possible expenses.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Pack your former town's phone book for future correspondence.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get a simple breakfast ready for the next morning.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Pick up ice and beverages for moving day.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Take down curtains and curtain rods.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get a good night's sleep&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;MOVING DAY&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Strip your beds and disassemble if necessary&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Show movers around. Make sure your possessions to be moved are inventoried with them.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Write &quot;subject to further inspection for concealed loss or damage&quot; on contract when you sign to protect yourself should you find damage while unpacking.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get all keys together. Put in a safe spot.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Make sure moving van driver has correct address, phone number and directions. Confirm delivery date with him.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Check all rooms one last time. Remember closets and cupboards, basement and garage! Make sure all windows and doors are locked.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;AFTER MOVING&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Explore your new neighborhood. Locate the nearest convenience and hardware store, pharmacy, supermarket, video rental, school and library, etc.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Check smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguisher.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;If necessary, install a new door lock and/or dead-bolt.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Update your address information if you haven't done so (driver's license, car registrations, insurance, credit cards, bank accounts, voter registration).&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;




&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Call the Internal Revenue Service to change your address. You can also visit the IRS online at &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.irs.gov&quot;&gt;www.irs.gov&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact &lt;strong&gt;Pearle Staging &amp;amp; Design&lt;/strong&gt; for all your Home Staging and Interior Redesign needs.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Have an awesome day!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Paige&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;877-721-9987&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&quot;&gt;www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;



</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:12:56 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1449314/moving-checklist-part-3</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1398562/moving-checklist-part-2</guid>
      <title>Moving Checklist Part 2</title>
      <description>



&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Two Weeks before Moving&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Start a new bank account in your new town.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623; Transfer account from current bank?&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Contact your children's new school and notify them of your upcoming move to their area.&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Contact the Chamber of Commerce in your new town.&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Request a relocation package&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Pack your vital documents in one place:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Passports&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Mortgage records&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Marriage license&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Birth certificates&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Vehicle titles&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Stock certificates&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Insurance papers&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Bank records&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; School records&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Medical records&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Tax records&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Make arrangements to disconnect your utilities.&amp;nbsp; Get refunds for any deposits made.&amp;nbsp; Have meters read. Give new address for them to send their final bill:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Cable - return box if necessary&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Electric&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Gas&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Internet access&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Telephone&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Water&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Make arrangements to connect utilities at your new residence.&amp;nbsp; A helpful website to do this is &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.whitefence.com/&quot;&gt;https://www.whitefence.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Make arrangements for cleaning&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Inquire about your new state's auto licensing procedure and auto insurance rates.&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Check with your insurance company about transferring coverage to your new home.&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Arrange to have a sitter watch your children at their house on moving day.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;One Week before Moving&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Dispose or drain any flammable items:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Lawn mower gas&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Snow blower gas&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Paint&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Aerosol cans&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Plan what goes in the car with you:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Toys and games for kids&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Special breakable items or collections&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Important documents and records&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Change of clothes and toiletries for your first day&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Vacuum cleaner - if you want to clean right away&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Toilet paper&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; First aid kit&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Food kit with bottled water, cereal, bananas&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Make travel arrangements for your pets and plants.&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Purchase moving insurance if you have valuable antiques and collections.&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Have your car tuned up.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Happy Holidays!&amp;nbsp; Wishing you all the best this holiday season can bring!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Paige&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:32:07 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1398562/moving-checklist-part-2</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1379793/moving-checklist-part-1-</guid>
      <title>Moving Checklist Part 1 </title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Here's a helpful checklist to use when getting ready for a move.&amp;nbsp; Agents - this is a great checklist to provide to your clients and helps make the transition from one home to another a little easier.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;One Month before Moving&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Pick up a Change-of-Address Kit from the Post Office (or online). Also notify the address change with:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Friends and family&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Banks&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Insurance companies&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Credit card companies&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Magazines and newspapers - cancel local newspaper delivery&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Doctors, dentists and other providers - transfer drug prescriptions&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Past employer - for W2 forms&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Take a look around the house. Start to think about what you don't want to take with you.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Eat perishable foods&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Sell, donate, or hold a garage sale for unwanted items&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;For full service moves:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Get written estimates from several moving companies&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Ask - Will the movers pack for you?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Ask - What items won't they move?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Get appraisals for high-value items in case of future claims&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;For Do-it-Yourself Moves&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Make truck rental arrangements&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Buy packing supplies (boxes, masking tape, markers, newspapers, twine)&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Start packing boxes. Mark boxes clearly as to CONTENTS and ROOM to be placed in.&amp;nbsp; Mark &quot;Open First&quot; clearly on boxes containing important items to be unpacked first:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Dishes, pots and pans, alarm clock, bedding, special toys, towels, light bulbs, plates, and tools&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Stop by and make arrangements for picking up your important records:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Birth&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Doctor&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Dentist&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Legal&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Optician, optometrist&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; School - make sure you get one with a raised seal&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Veterinarian&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Close out your bank accounts:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Checking&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Savings&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&#61623;&amp;nbsp; Safe Deposit Box&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;




&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Check back for Moving Checklist Part 2 and Part 3&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact Pearle Staging &amp;amp; Design for all your home staging and interior redesign needs.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&quot;&gt;www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;877-721-9987&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Make it an awesome day!&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:37:10 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1379793/moving-checklist-part-1-</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1366057/decorating-green</guid>
      <title>Decorating Green</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;DECORATING GREEN&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;So you've got a green building, or maybe you want to make some green lifestyle changes.&amp;nbsp; Consider redecorating to incorporate environmentally-friendly products into your home.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Start with:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The paint on your walls &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The carpet under your feet &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Then move into:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Well-crafted furniture &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Decorative touches like curtains and pillows &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Accessories that really make the space your own &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Redecorating with a focus on green will not only give your home a new, environmentally-friendly look, but it may also improve the air around you and your quality of life.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Walls: Paper and Paint&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Vinyl wallpaper and conventional paints that are on your walls now may be off-gassing potentially harmful toxins into your home's air. To fix this, only purchase paint with low volatile compounds (VOCs).&amp;nbsp; You can also purchase green wallpaper that is made out of non-vinyl products, like bamboo pulp or grasses.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Floors: Rugs, Wood Floors, and Alternatives &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Want area rugs?&amp;nbsp; You can look for rugs with fibers made of recycled products or natural materials like wool, jute, sisal, sea grass or coir (coconut husks).&amp;nbsp; These types of floor coverings are widely available, and are generally long-lasting.&amp;nbsp; Check for labels indicating that the product is actually green.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There are other kinds of flooring options, of course, including wood.&amp;nbsp; When looking to install hardwood floors, buy only products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).&amp;nbsp; This means that utmost care was taken to harvest wood using sustainable methods.&amp;nbsp; Also, look for woods that have been reclaimed.&amp;nbsp; Other natural floor coverings include cork, bamboo, linoleum and concrete.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Furniture: New, Used-All Green &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When buying new furniture for your home, buy green.&amp;nbsp; Look for labels that mark certified sustainable wood, low-VOCs, and recycled materials.&amp;nbsp; Plenty of furniture makers now have lines for the green consumer.&amp;nbsp; Whenever you are buying furniture, make sure it is durable, and doesn't have to travel far to reach you.&amp;nbsp; You can reduce your furniture's carbon footprint simply by buying local.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;However, one of the best ways to get green furniture is to recycle it by buying vintage or antique pieces.&amp;nbsp; Not only were many of these pieces exceptionally well-crafted, you are helping the environment by keeping these items from filling up a landfill, and you are avoiding contributing to furniture manufacturing.&amp;nbsp; If you don't like the looks of the vintage or antique furniture, you can refinish it with low-VOC paints or stains, and you can also have it reupholstered with natural fabrics.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Fabrics: Upholstery, Curtains, Pillows&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Furniture upholstery, curtains, and pillows are all dependent on one thing for their beauty-the right fabric.&amp;nbsp; There's a bevy of fabric options that are durable, beautiful, and natural.&amp;nbsp; One great option is bamboo fabric.&amp;nbsp; Bamboo is a great grass that grows fast, and doesn't require a lot of chemical pesticides and fertilizer.&amp;nbsp; You can also purchase organic wool and cotton.&amp;nbsp; When you are buying fabrics, make sure they are untreated by chemical stain-repellents, which have a higher toxicity.&amp;nbsp; If dyed, look for solution dyed fabrics.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Accessories and Plants&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A great way to find accessories for your home is to buy used or go natural.&amp;nbsp; Check out antique and vintage shops or second-hand stores for pieces that you like. Or look for accessories that are made of recycled materials, or pieces of art made from found objects.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a green d&amp;eacute;cor that is truly green, consider adding plants to your room.&amp;nbsp; Houseplants can help clear the air, removing toxins like ammonia, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, benzene, xylene and trichloroethytene.&amp;nbsp; Some of the healthiest houseplants are the philodendron, ivy, spider plants, palms, ferns, and peace lilies.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Whenever you are buying any green products, always buy from reputable suppliers and stores to make sure that you are purchasing the &quot;real thing.&quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://blogs.hgtv.com/hgtv/design/lori-dennis-dining-room.jpg&amp;amp;imgrefurl=http://blogs.hgtv.com/hgtv/design/archives/2008/04/how_to_decorate_like_a_pro.html&amp;amp;h=338&amp;amp;w=450&amp;amp;sz=134&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;start=19&amp;amp;usg=__DKwiDUAOcSZ0sE0XbgyCKdr5-8M=&amp;amp;tbnid=YRTH3VX8KnHYRM:&amp;amp;tbnh=95&amp;amp;tbnw=127&amp;amp;prev=/images?q=eco+friendly+decorating&amp;amp;ndsp=18&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;sa=N&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bp1.blogger.com/_esrZ1Q826xI/RjM3-YSfXiI/AAAAAAAABjQ/XsNW0XEf8yI/s400/Page_5.jpg&amp;amp;imgrefurl=http://bellevivir.blogspot.com/2007/04/eco-friendly-tables-and-lamps.html&amp;amp;h=400&amp;amp;w=400&amp;amp;sz=40&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;start=21&amp;amp;usg=__jQMybap80SSDP3ZUtXePDHsfDwU=&amp;amp;tbnid=LWYhqWMyRewrEM:&amp;amp;tbnh=124&amp;amp;tbnw=124&amp;amp;prev=/images?q=eco+friendly+decorating&amp;amp;ndsp=18&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;sa=N&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.showroom411.com/Media/Category/greendecorating.jpg&amp;amp;imgrefurl=http://www.showroom411.com/dir/Living-Green/Decorating-and-Home-Decor.html&amp;amp;h=323&amp;amp;w=367&amp;amp;sz=22&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;start=1&amp;amp;usg=__BRWzC-sJeQC6YSTW4LcQQKY05xE=&amp;amp;tbnid=qtDtz3pjWspmtM:&amp;amp;tbnh=107&amp;amp;tbnw=122&amp;amp;prev=/images?q=eco+friendly+decorating&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;sa=G&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2008/05/16/GH08-furniture-couch_w609.jpg&amp;amp;imgrefurl=http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_furniture/article/0,1793,HGTV_3437_5868441,00.html&amp;amp;h=456&amp;amp;w=609&amp;amp;sz=141&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;start=13&amp;amp;usg=__bem83YXXl2QHaZmnps6RJNMB3jA=&amp;amp;tbnid=IQVCuof9Ba3g7M:&amp;amp;tbnh=102&amp;amp;tbnw=136&amp;amp;prev=/images?q=eco+friendly+decorating&amp;amp;ndsp=18&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;sa=N&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact Pearle Staging &amp;amp; Design for all your Home Staging and Interior Redesign needs.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&quot;&gt;www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;877-721-9987&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2008/05/16/furniture-lori-dennis-dining_h460.jpg&amp;amp;imgrefurl=http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_furniture/article/0,1793,HGTV_3437_5868441_06,00.html&amp;amp;h=460&amp;amp;w=344&amp;amp;sz=44&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;start=17&amp;amp;usg=__-I9eNZUAvrxG6sP6dsBEXQwXO58=&amp;amp;tbnid=baw48g2yl3HOnM:&amp;amp;tbnh=128&amp;amp;tbnw=96&amp;amp;prev=/images?q=eco+friendly+decorating&amp;amp;hl=en&amp;amp;sa=G&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:02:21 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1366057/decorating-green</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1360919/top-5-reasons-to-stage-your-home</guid>
      <title>Top 5 Reasons to Stage Your Home</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;Top 5 Reasons to Professionally Stage Your Home&amp;nbsp;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;1. You will get a greater return on your Investment&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average staging investment is 1% to 3% of the home's asking price, which generates a return of 8% to 10% when the home is sold.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;2. The cost of staging doesn't cost a dime&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In a Home Gain Survey of over 2000 realtors, it was discovered that sellers who invested in staging services for their home, recovered over 343% of the cost in the sale of their home.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;3. The longer your home is on the market, the lower the price&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;According to a National Association of Realtors survey, homes that sold &lt;em&gt;after four weeks &lt;/em&gt;on the market sold for 6% less than ones within the &lt;em&gt;first four weeks!&amp;nbsp; &lt;/em&gt;Don't be in a&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;position where you have to lower your price. Have your house Professionally Staged first!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;4. Your house will sell faster, which equals less headaches and hassles&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;USA Today&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;reported in a Coldwell Banker survey of over 2800 homes that the staged homes, on average, sold in half the time that the non-staged homes did.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;5. Only 10% of homebuyers can visualize the potential of a home&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;You don't want the advantages of your home overlooked and left up to the buyer's imagination.&amp;nbsp; Nine out of every ten people walking in your home have no imagination of the wonderful possibilities your home has to offer them; they just can't picture it.&amp;nbsp; Are you willing to accept those odds?&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact Pearle Staging &amp;amp; Design for all your Home Staging and Interior Redesign needs.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&quot;&gt;www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;877-721-9987&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;/h1&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:34:09 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1360919/top-5-reasons-to-stage-your-home</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1347147/eco-is-easy-simple-ways-to-turn-your-home-green</guid>
      <title>Eco is Easy - Simple ways to turn your home Green</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ECO IS EASY&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Do you want to make your home a healthier, more eco-friendly space? Saving resources and protecting the environment is easier than you think. The most difficult part is getting started, but once you go green, it's simple to stay environmentally aware. Our list of common problems and solutions will help you get on your way.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PROBLEM:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&quot;How can we conserve more water as a family? I'd love to cut down our water bill.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SOLUTION:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The bathroom is one of the biggest water-wasters in the home, so start your conservation efforts here. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily and make sure your toilet tank isn't leaking. (To find out if your toilet is leaking, place a drop of food coloring in the tank; if the color shows in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak). Take shorter showers and replace you showerhead with a low-flow version. Lastly, don't run the water while washing your face, shaving or brushing your teeth.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PROBLEM:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&quot;How can we light our home in a more environmentally friendly way?&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SOLUTION:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Navigation?storeId=10051&amp;amp;categoryID=501161&amp;amp;langId=-1&amp;amp;catalogId=10053&amp;amp;cm_sp=THD_Marketing-_-Ideas_at_Home-_-Smart_Living-_-Issue_24-_-Security_Flood_Lighting&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Compact fluorescent bulbs are an easy way to replace high-watt incandescent lights. They use less energy and have a longer lifespan. &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/BuildLinkToHomeDepot?linktype=keyword&amp;amp;id=dimmers&amp;amp;cm_sp=THD_Marketing-_-Ideas_at_Home-_-Smart_Living-_-Issue_24-_-Dimmers&quot;&gt;Dimmers&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/BuildLinkToHomeDepot?linktype=navigation&amp;amp;id=e64b3a12-efe1-43d9-9feb-6e9fe579c3ec&amp;amp;cm_sp=THD_Marketing-_-Ideas_at_Home-_-Smart_Living-_-Issue_24-_-Timers&quot;&gt;timers&lt;/a&gt; are another way to control the amount of lighting energy you use. And always ensure your outdoor &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Navigation?storeId=10051&amp;amp;categoryID=501161&amp;amp;langId=-1&amp;amp;catalogId=10053&amp;amp;cm_sp=THD_Marketing-_-Ideas_at_Home-_-Smart_Living-_-Issue_24-_-Security_Flood_Lighting&quot;&gt;security lights&lt;/a&gt; are on a motion-detector setting so they're not on all night.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PROBLEM:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&quot;How can I encourage my family to use the recycling bin more often?&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SOLUTION:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Getting your family to recycle doesn't have to be hassle. Place a list on the fridge of what can and cannot be recycled. Set your &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/BuildLinkToHomeDepot?linktype=product&amp;amp;id=100344034&amp;amp;cm_sp=THD_Marketing-_-Ideas_at_Home-_-Smart_Living-_-Issue_24-_-100344034&quot;&gt;recycling bin&lt;/a&gt; next to your garbage can, keeping all waste containers in the same area. You can also color-code your recycling boxes so everyone knows where each type of recyclable material should go. And don't forget to place small recycling bins in other waste-generating rooms in the house like the office or laundry room.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PROBLEM:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&quot;I plan to re-do my floor in the next few months. Are there any eco-friendly choices I can make when it comes to flooring?&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;SOLUTION:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Navigation?storeId=10051&amp;amp;keyword=bamboo+flooring&amp;amp;langId=-1&amp;amp;catalogId=10053&amp;amp;cm_sp=THD_Marketing-_-Ideas_at_Home-_-Smart_Living-_-Issue_24-_-Bamboo_Flooring&quot;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Attractive and reasonably priced, &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/BuildLinkToHomeDepot?linktype=keyword&amp;amp;id=bamboo%20flooring&amp;amp;cm_sp=THD_Marketing-_-Ideas_at_Home-_-Smart_Living-_-Issue_24-_-Bamboo_Flooring&quot;&gt;bamboo flooring&lt;/a&gt; is an eco-friendly and durable alternative to traditional hardwood. Since it is a grass, bamboo is harvested for commercial use every three to five years only, making it a sustainable, renewable resource.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Once you start going green around the house, you'll see how small changes can really add up. Check out our &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/BuildLinkToHomeDepot?linktype=commerce&amp;amp;id=EcoOptions&amp;amp;cm_sp=THD_Marketing-_-Ideas_at_Home-_-Smart_Living-_-Issue_24-_-EcoOptions&quot;&gt;Eco Options&lt;/a&gt; section for more ideas and environmentally friendly products that make a difference.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact Pearle Staging &amp;amp; Design for all your Home Staging and Interior Redesign needs.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&quot;&gt;www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;877-721-9987&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:46:02 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1347147/eco-is-easy-simple-ways-to-turn-your-home-green</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1335511/benefits-to-partnering-with-a-professional-home-stager-part-3</guid>
      <title>Benefits to Partnering with a Professional Home Stager - Part 3</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Don't miss out on these great benefits!&amp;nbsp; Parner with a Professional Home Stager Today!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;You Make More Money &lt;/strong&gt;- Home staging is not rocket science but pure economics.&amp;nbsp; When you improve upon a product, you increase the demand and thus raise the price.&amp;nbsp; Several statistics consistently show that staging has an impact on price and demand.&amp;nbsp; In a poll by Maritz Research, over 1/3 of buyers were willing to pay more money for a home that was move-in ready.&amp;nbsp; In another Royal LePage House Staging Poll (conducted by Maritz Research) revealed that 36% of potential buyers said that they would be willing to &lt;strong&gt;pay a premium&lt;/strong&gt; for a home with &lt;strong&gt;updated d&amp;eacute;cor&lt;/strong&gt;. A higher sales price should result in higher commissions &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Satisfied Clients&lt;/strong&gt; - In a NAR 2008 Profile of Sellers it was reported that more than 25% of Sellers listed their MOST IMPORTANT EXPECTATION of their real estate agent was selling the home WITHIN a specific time frame.&amp;nbsp; In today's market, that's not an easy task among the many homes available UNLESS your listings stand out with staging.&amp;nbsp; A faster sale for the best price will have clients singing your praises!&amp;nbsp; In a referral-based industry, satisfied clients mean more listings and the reward of a job well done.&amp;nbsp; The cost of staging is MUCH less than the first price reduction; so don't disappoint your clients with that sad alternative.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Increased Listing Inventory&lt;/strong&gt; - Satisfied clients talk and considering that 41% of sellers find their agents through referrals, you can expect more listings when partnering with a Professional Home Stager.&amp;nbsp; Partnering with Pearle Staging &amp;amp; Design gives you a HUGE competitive advantage over the competition! &amp;nbsp;Buyers recognize a home that has been beautifully prepared to sell and will want the same for their own home!&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact Pearle Staging &amp;amp; Design for all your Home Staging and Interior Redesign needs.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Superior Service, Superior Solutions, Unmistakably Pearle&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&quot;&gt;www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;877-721-9987&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:57:44 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1335511/benefits-to-partnering-with-a-professional-home-stager-part-3</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1329780/benefits-to-partnering-with-a-professional-home-stager-part-2</guid>
      <title>Benefits to Partnering with a Professional Home Stager - Part 2</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Benefits Part 2&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Value Far Outweighs the Cost! - &lt;/strong&gt;We have Realtor Partner Packages ranging from a simple Staging Consultation to a complete Home Staging project, which result in a more desirable home and a greater return on the seller's investment and a faster sale. &lt;br /&gt;We are trained to engage the home seller in the staging process and educate them on disassociating themselves and viewing their home objectively. &amp;nbsp;Your sellers will be incredibly motivated and willing to do what's necessary to outshine the competition and prepare their home to sell.&amp;nbsp; &lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Greatly Improves Your Outside Marketing Campaign - &lt;/strong&gt;The money you spend on marketing the home will be much more effective when you have photos of beautifully staged rooms (with updated accessories) versus photos of un-Staged, poorly decorated, unappealing rooms.&amp;nbsp; With over 84% (according to NAR) of home buyers searching the Internet FIRST, it's critical for your home marketing photos to be outstanding and therefore have a much greater positive impact and influence on home buyers.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Gives You Industry Status&lt;/strong&gt; - According to NAR, Realtors are more likely to take their clients to homes that have been Professionally Staged versus homes that haven't been Professionally Staged.&amp;nbsp; When you have a reputation for listing &quot;move-in ready&quot; homes marketed specifically to buyers, you'll establish a reputation for having quality listings, and consequently agents will naturally want to show properties in your listing inventory.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your Listings Sell Faster&lt;/strong&gt; - Buyers have MANY home choices in today's market, so what home do you think they will make an offer on, a staged or un-staged home in the same price range?&amp;nbsp; Home Staging specifically transforms each room to maximize its appeal to buyers, which results in offers.&amp;nbsp; Statistically, Professionally Staged homes sell 50% faster than homes that have not been Professionally Staged.&amp;nbsp; Buyers want a home that is &quot;turnkey&quot; ready and Home Staging provides that for them.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact Pearle Staging &amp;amp; Design for all your home staging and interior design needs.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&quot;&gt;www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;877-721-9987&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:08:59 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1329780/benefits-to-partnering-with-a-professional-home-stager-part-2</link>
    </item>
    <item>
      <guid>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1326420/benefits-to-partnering-with-a-professional-home-stager-part-1</guid>
      <title>Benefits to Partnering with a Professional Home Stager - Part 1</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Benefits to partnering with a Professional Home Stager&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Gives You More Control - &lt;/strong&gt;That's right.&amp;nbsp; Here's a common scenario for you, the seller may desire a certain dollar amount for the home but you know that unless some changes are made, the seller won't get it.&amp;nbsp; By incorporating the first step in the home staging process, a Staging Consultation, you are controlling more of the outcome of the sale.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Gives You Credibility and Differentiation- &lt;/strong&gt;When you bring in &quot;experts&quot; who do this for a living it adds to your own credibility.&amp;nbsp; Would you seem credible if you also appraised and inspected the homes that you sold?&amp;nbsp; No, it waters down your expertise because people know you can't be an expert in everything!&amp;nbsp; When you're focused on your own field of interest and outsource to professionals it gives you added credibility in what you're good at - selling homes!&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Protects Your Relationship and Listing -&lt;/strong&gt;You have to have a strong client relationship that gets you through the entire escrow process.&amp;nbsp; Home staging is a form of constructive criticism that sometimes addresses sensitive, personal issues like smell and cleanliness.&amp;nbsp; Your clients EXPECT a professional stager to instruct them on these issues.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Gives You Home Seller &quot;Buy-In&quot; - &lt;/strong&gt;In the NAR 2007 Profile of Sellers, over half of home sellers undertook a home improvement or remodeling project before selling the home.&amp;nbsp; According to a Maritz Research Poll, 79% of home sellers are willing to spend up to $5,000 to get their house ready to sell.&amp;nbsp; During the staging process with Pearle Staging &amp;amp; Design they will understand the difference staging can make in their home, have a list of necessary purchases to make to complete each room, and have a list of important cosmetic improvements (paint, electrical, etc.) they will want to quickly do in order to maximize their return on investment if they so choose.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Contact Pearle Staging &amp;amp; Design for all your home staging and interior redesign needs.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Superior Service, Superior Solutions, Unmistakably Pearle&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&quot;&gt;www.pearlestaginganddesign.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;877-721-9987&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <dc:creator>Paige Earles (Pearle Staging &amp; Design)</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:01:01 -0500</pubDate>
      <link>http://homestagingfyi.com/post/1326420/benefits-to-partnering-with-a-professional-home-stager-part-1</link>
    </item>
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