Kym's Blog

One of our wonderful investment companies that we work with ongoing had an urgent request - Stage 3 homes in one day and by the way it's tomorrow.

Crazy, you bet - but we did it in a day and it went off without a hitch. Thank goodness they were small homes.

The Best Part - two of the houses that had been on the market 100 days before we staged it sold the very next day after we staged it!

Does staging work - at this point, it's just a silly question. We actually never get that question any more. There is something to be said for being in the business for a while and having a track record.

I have to admit this blog was inspired by the comments from another blog I wrote last week http://activerain.com/blogsview/1256749/monster-project-monster-results   I am often amazed how this industry and my company has morphed into this amazing multi-level diverse profession.

If someone had told me 7 years ago when I was thinking of leaving the wine industry to start my own business that I would be soon staging homes, designing interiors and creating custom furnishings amongst other things... I would have said they were nuts!  How could I possibly be doing that when I have been a marketeer and brand director for most of my life. You can't simply just go out and start something completely different at 40 in a field that you didn't even know existed, can you?

We'll I guess I proved myself wrong - and others in our industry are continuing to prove me wrong time and time again.  Professional Stagers are no longer a person or team that comes into a home and makes end tables from garbage cans with table cloths (not sure we ever really were that), but it has morphed into a wonderful industry of professionals who are educated business people with diverse businesses. If we choose to be, we can provide services for whatever the homeowner needs, whether they are selling or staying in their homes.

The Home Staging professional of today can be master marketing, interior designer, personal shopper, furniture designer, contractor, project manager, author, speaker, and product developer. We are only limited by our own minds and time. Last week alone I worked on four interior design projects, project managed a kitchen remodel, conducted two large stagings and one enhancement staging and spoke at a local event about a book that I was professional adviser for by Nolo Press on selling a house in a tough market. 

Now you tell me what other job in the world would provide me with that kind of diversity? My English born husband always says how lucky we are to live in the United States where opportunities are everywhere. We can do whatever we want. We are only limited by ourselves which means we have no limits.

Last night I had a dinner party for one of my favorite Realtors Denise Papas of J. Rockcliff Realty. In attendance was also the Foster Family whose house I staged last year in Castro Valley which sold in a matter of days. Denise found them a house right down the street from me in Danville and they are now our neighbors. They walked over for dinner and we sat in the back yard last night having a grand time talking about lives, schools and what else - if I had time to come over and talk about some ideas for their house. A the Professional Stager - nice gig.

This was a project that we could not wait to share with you. 

We worked on this project for four months. Before our client purchased the property it was used as a half-way  house for recovering addicts. A great cause but its located in the heart of an established neighborhood and maintaining the property was not number one the previous owners priority list.

The new owner was referred to us by another Stager from Active Rain because we offer Full Service Staging and could fill the clients needs.  We met with the new owner, assessed the needs to bring it up to current market value and away we went.  He agreed to all of the recommended items and we ended up changing every detail of the house except the roof and the foundation! A crew worked six days a week on every detail. Here are just a few of the before and afters:

Turn a Family Room into a Master Bedroom with a new Travertine covered fireplace

MASTER BEDROOM BEFORE

MASTER SUITE AFTER STAGED TO SELL

Turn a tiny bedroom into a Master Suite Bath

MASTER BATH BEFORE

 MASTER BATH AFTER STAGED TO SELL

Turn an area that was just dirt under the house into a spectacular laundry room/craft area

No befores available - it was just a dirt mound

 Take a Front Door and move it from the side of the house  to the front  - Curb Appeal!

EXTERIOR BEFORE

EXTERIOR AFTER STAGED TO SELL

 Take down three walls to open up the gorgeous view of the San Francisco Bay

GREAT ROOM ENTRANCE BEFORE (lots of walls)

 GREAT ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL

 Gut the entire kitchen and start fresh with new floors, cabinets, appliances and granite counters

KITCHEN BEFORE

KITCHEN AFTER STAGED TO SELL

Update the facade of the fireplace

FIREPLACE BEFORE

FIREPLACE AFTER STAGED TO SELL

Change three outdated, dirty and dingy bathrooms into beautiful spaces

HALL BATHROOM BEFORE

HALL BATHROOM AFTER

GUEST BATHROOM BEFORE

GUEST BATHROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL

KIDS BATHROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL

Remove outdated and unattractive banister and replace with contemporary bamboo and glass

What were the results of all this work? Sold in 6 days for the highest price ever received in that area - ever. Yes, even in this market. 

www.staged-to-sell.com is the East Bay's premier full service staging company. Our services include small and large preparation of homes for market. Whether our clients just need the bare minimum to make their home stand out from the rest or much more we have the resources and team to make it happen. For more information visit website www.staged-to-sell.com.

Ideal family neighborhood is the setting for this immaculate 5 bedroom, 3 bath home.  Updated kitchen and hardwood floors. Beautiful backyard looking out to open space.  Listing brought to the market by Lynn Anderson of Zip Realty. Staged by Kym Hough's Staged to Sell. For more information on this listing go to www.staged-to-sell.com and click on listing.

This listing will only be on the market for a short time because it has a fabulous location. It is listed at a wonderful price. Its Absoultely GORGEOUS too!  This 4 bedroom 2 bath ranch style home with spacious private yard and pool. A charming porch for sitting at the end of the evening with a glass of wine. Listing provided by Roxanne Chanos of J. Rockcliff Realtors in Danville. For more information on this listing go to www.staged-to-sell.com and click on listing.

It doesn't happen often, but when it does it gives me a stomach ache.

We were on a job earlier this week when my Blackberry did the little jingle it does when an email has come through.  I stopped hanging the new fixture Danny was just adjusting over the dining table and scanned my in-box where I found an email from a Realtor I had staged a home for a couple of weeks ago.

"Hi Kym, this is Margaret. The sellers have decided to take the home off the market.  You did too good of a job, they realize that they love it, can live there for the rest of their lives.  How about that!

Oh my...not the goal of any Professional Home Stager and words we don't want to hear. Of course, we are happy that the clients loved our work, but our goal and mission is always to help them love their NEW house even more!

My crew went to pick up the job yesterday, and we all agree that they are one of the nicest families we have ever staged with. The grandparents lived with the young couple to help raise their 8 month old baby girl. They couldn't stop thanking us for our work and were pleased that they had received multiple offers but decided they now loved it too much to sell.

Moral of the story is to CALL A STAGER NOW while you are still living in the home. Don't wait until you need to put it on the market. Let us help you fall in Love with your home now and live in it for years to come. When you are ready to sell down the road you will be ready, and have spent years of enjoyment prior to selling.

OCCUPIED HOME - USING HOMEOWNER'S FURNITURE

LIVING ROOM BEFORE

LIVING ROOM AFTER STAGED

BABY'S ROOM BEFORE

BABY'S ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL

OFFICE/GUEST ROOM BEFORE

OFFICE/GUEST ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL

Staged to Sell is the San Francisco East Bay's premier staging company. We offer services for both Occupied and Vacant Homes and Design services for Staging to Live. For more information go to www.staged-to-sell.com.  Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Danville, Orinda, Lafayette, Berkeley, Oakland, Albany and the entire Contra Costa County.

This wasn't our client's first Rodeo, as my assistant Maya likes to say.  The homeowner has been through the staging process before with another Realtor/Staging team in 2008.  He thought he knew what was coming and was prepared when we met for our consultation.

He had cleaned out the clutter, painted a few walls and worked on the garden a bit. He was a bit surprised when we asked for a few additional items in our report, but after lots of discussion and a few photos from our website he did agree to about 80% of recommendations and committed to staging while staying on a strict budget. Wallpaper came down, fireplace was painted and some of the dated furniture went into the garage.

The day of staging arrived and the client left his home expecting to return to a few additional touches and hoping for the best. We could tell he was not really convinced Staged to Sell could possible make that much of a difference from the Staging company who worked on his house in 2008.

When he returned from his day long excursion he was surprised, delighted and completed amazed at what he saw.  "It's not the same house and completely different than it was when it went on the market last year."  he said. Not only was the homeowner happy but the Realtor almost danced down the sidewalk after seeing the finished product. "The same Realtors will be coming to the Brokers Tour on Thursday that saw it last year...they won't even know its the same house" she said, smiling from ear to ear.

Result - multiple offers.

It's not just about staging, its about hiring the right Staging Company and Realtor to really make the most of the property and the market.

FAMILY ROOM BEFORE

FAMILY ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL AND A LITTLE PAINT

MOST OF THE FURNISHINGS USED IN THE STAGING WERE THE HOMEOWNER'S

FOYER AND LIVING ROOM BEFORE

FOYER AND LIVING ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL

DATED DRAPREY AND DARK FURNISHINGS BEFORE

BRIGHT, WARM AND INVITING NOW

COFFEE TABLE FROM FAMILY ROOM REALLY LIGHTEN AND BRIGHTEN THIS SPACE

GUEST BEDROOM BEFORE

 USING HOMEOWNER'S FURNISHINGS WITH A DASH OF COLOR

GUEST ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL

For more information on Staged to Sell's services go to www.staged-to-sell.com. Staged to Sell services Castro Valley, San Leandro, Walnut Creek, Dublin, Pleasanton, San Ramon, Danville and the entire Alameda and Contra Contra Counties

This charming bungalow had all the right touches. Beautiful molding and hardwood floors. Custom tile in the bathrooms and granite counters in the kitchen. New appliances and a gorgeous fireplace.  The backyard was spacious with a massive deck for multiple uses.  Even with all of these fabulous features the Realtor insisted that the home be staged for maximum appeal. The homeowner resisted, but the Realtor insisted. Staged to Sell came in and added the right touches to enhance the property even more and there were offers within a matter of days!

LIVING ROOM BEFORE

LIVING ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL

DINING ROOM BEFORE

DINING ROOM AFTER STAGED TO SELL

BACKYARD BEFORE

BACKYARD AFTER STAGED TO SELL

For more information on Kym Hough's Staged to Sell go to www.Staged-to-Sell.com.  We have many more before and after's of our work and lots of tips for selling your home in today's market.

Remodeled ranch on large corner lot just listed.  Beautiful refinished hardwood floorsthroughout home. Large basement room with bath with separate entrance.  Beautiful view off dining room deck.  Remodeled kitchen with granite counters and new cabinets.  Professionally staged by Kym Hough's Staged to Sell and listed by Katy Castaneda of Coldwell Banker Realty of Oakland. For more information on this listing go to www.Staged-to-Sell.com.

Basement/bonus room

Upgraded Kitchen

www.Staged-to-Sell.comis the San Francisco East Bay's Premier Staging Company. We service Oakland, Albany, El Cerrito, Berkeley, Alameda and the San Ramon Valley all the way up 680. See our website for more information on staging your listing or home.

My daughter Alix and I just returned from the 7:15pm showing of the most lovely movie Julie & Julia.  If you haven't seen it yet, make a date and do it.  Its was just wonderful.  You might be thinking to yourself right about about now "we'll that's nice Kym thanks for the tip, but what does that have to do with Real Estate?  You are blogging on Active Rain you know."  We'll let me tell you.

Half way through the movie my mind started cooking.  Not that my mind takes too many holidays, but this one really got me going.  I couldn't help but whisper to my daughter (I know, don't comment - I hate people that talk in movies too!) it just takes one great idea, just one and look what can happen.

Julia Child was bored so what did she do - took cooking lessons.

Julie was bored with her life too and what did she do - starting cooking and blogging.

Both real life characters were not happy with their lives and searched for something that they really love - that they were passionate about, and when they did it success followed. Julia Child's kitchen is now in the Smithsonian and Julie's book from her blog is now a movie!  If you haven't seen the movie stop reading here, if you have, I must share my favorite part in the movie is when she gets home and has 65 messages on her answering machine from agents, producers, studios, etc...  All within a year of getting her idea in the first place.

How fast our lives can change. If  you are having a hard time right now, odds are it won't be that way just a year from now if you start something positive today that will change your life for the better.  How many people give up on their staging business after just a short while without really committing to it and making it happen?

To tell you the truth I have never stopped changing my business. It has morphed into a completely different business than the one I began in 2002.  50% of my business are design clients now and I have to keep detailed files of each one as its become overwhelming. We have a huge warehouse full of fabulous furnishings and accessories, and I have wonderful loyal people to work with every day.  My clients have grown to be my good friends and I haven't met a staging challenge I couldn't conquer in forever.  How lucky are we stagers to do what we do. How lucky am I to find what I love and be busy doing it.

No my staging truck will never be in the Smithsonian and I doubt I will write a book or have a movie in my future...but then you never know. I walked out of that movie with so many ideas it might just happen. You just never know where inspiration will lead you.

Staged to Sell was given the opportunity this summer to work with a client on a cozy condo in a very popular development in the Oakland Hills.  We have been working in this particular development for years and have seriously worked on this particular model several times before with much success. We were therefore prepared to come and do our thing and get it sold in record time - just like before.

My Realtor client decided not to tell me a head of time that we would need to do a bit of painting. I think she was having some fun with us and decided to get my reaction when I arrived for our meeting with the client, a lovely woman who had a beautiful baby less than a year old. The family was moving to a bigger place as they had outgrown the one bedroom at this point.

The painter did a great job....lots of primer, three coats of paint too.  Results: Sold in a week and two referrals from this one job. The wonderful clients referred us to all their friends and are having us come and help them with their new home.

Color is great for living (you should see my house) but for selling we need to tone it down and bit while keeping it warm and cozy.

Living Room Before

Living Room After Staged to Sell

Bathroom Before

Bathroom After Staged to Sell

Bedroom Before

After Staged to Sell

As you can see we still believe color helps sell a property, but the right color makes all the difference.

Kym Hough's Staged to Sell is the San Francisco East Bay's Premier Staging Company. With two locations and a 4,000 square foot warehouse full of furnishings and accessories, we tailor our designs to the demographics and style of the home. Good staging is marketing, and with 25 years of marketing experience we are qualified to assist our Realtor and Homeowner clients with getting the property sold in record time.  For more information on Staged to Sell's services click on to our website www.staged-to-sell.com

This lovely home has views from end to end of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco - two amazing focal points of this expansive view.  There are literally views from almost every room in the home. 3 bedroom 3 bath plus large family and living rooms with long deck and pop out glass breakfast nook make this an irresitable property for any family.  Two fireplaces, new paint, granite, flooring and lots more updated features. Professional staged by Kym Hough's Staged to Sell and listed by John P. Anderson of Results Realty. For more information go to www.staged-to-sell.com and click on listings.

www.Staged-to-Sell.com is the San Francisco East Bay's Premier Staging Company. We offer a wide range of full staging services with resources to tackle any job whether it's a homeowner selling their property or designing to live in a house they love.  Check out our website for more details.

St

We were very lucky to work on a wonderful project a few months back on Harper Avenue in El Cerrito. We were very pleased to take on the job as we were referred to the project by one of our fellow stagers here on ActiveRain Cindy Lin.  She was kind enough to refer the homeowner to us and it turned into a four month project with great results (sold in 6 days for the highest amount in the area).

Now, we have two more to thank her for on the same street. The homeowners came into that project and called us to help with another project we just finished today. It as only a three month project this time - lots of work, but great results. The clients agreed to most of the improvements on our list - and the house turned out better than they hoped. In addition, we just finished a consultation on the same street with another client that we will begin working on soon!

We love the neighborhood and look forward to transforming the entire street before we are done.  Here are a few photos of the project we finished today. After it's sold we will be posting the amazing before and afters...it doesn't look like the same house! Thank you Cindy Lin!

Kym Hough's Staged to Sell serves the San Francisco East Bay including El Cerrito, Berkeley, Albany, Oakland, Walnut Creek, Danville and beyond. Www.Staged-to-Sell.com

This small but charming condo was on the market just five days when it received two offers way over asking. The Realtor Nancy Deverel with Hitchcock Realty did an amazing job of educating the homeowners on the need for staging. The smaller the house, the greater the need. 

We only have seconds to impressive a buyer enough to choose a property over the competition. Every inch of a property counts, but when it's small its even more important.

Placement of sofa's (can I even get a sofa in here?), beds and dining area is so important.  If the buyers can not see furniture in a space they often discount that property and feel that it just wouldn't work for their needs.  Highlighting the flexibility of the space and showing that a full sofa and more will fit just fine and look great is what this property needed.

Multiple offers in just days...not staged, no way.

Same Space - before and after...you decide.

Staged to Sell is the San Francisco East Bay's premier staging company. For more information on all of our services go to www.staged-to-sell.com

Clean and contemporary listing with multiple upgrades.  This home is situated on a beautiful lot looking on open space in the back.  Expansive living room/dining room and upgraded kitchen. 3 bedroom/2.5 baths and great floor plan. Single story - low maintenance yard. Professionally staged by Kym Hough's Staged to Sell and listed by JSC Real Estate. For more information on this property go to www.staged-to-sell.com and click on listings.

www.Staged-to-Sellis a full service Staging Company servicing the entire San Francisco East Bay. We provide staging services to both Vacant and Occupied homes. Our 4,000 square feet of accessories and furnishings gives us the flexibility to provide both full service and enhancement staging.

This family shows pride of ownership in the immaculate details. A full 1772 square feet of living space was 4b2b now is used as a 3b2ba with spacious living room, formal dining and another spacious family room/ den with all hardwood floors. One bedroom is on the first floor across from a designer bathroom with crawlfoot tub and delightful colors. Second story has 2 very spacious bedrooms and customized bath. This home comes with tile roof, very low maintenance yard, lemon and strawberries. Professionally staged by Kym Hough's Staged to Sell and listed by Margaret Lin of Keller Williams Berkeley. For more information on this listing go to www.staged-to-sell.com and click listings.

www.staged-to-sell.com is the East Bay's premier Staging company. With two locations to better service our clients we can respond with a quick turn around whether our client's need full service staging or simply enhancements to their property.

Spacious Condominium just listed. New carpets, paint and appliances.  Great location near Concord Pavilion at the base of Mt. Diablo.  Marble fireplace surround. Lots of storage. Expansive deck with lovely views and room for several sitting/dining areas.  Professionally staged by Kym Hough's Staged to Sell and listed by Domnic Leung of Fortress Capital.  For more information go to www.staged-to-sell.com and click on listings.

Kym Hough's Staged to Sell covers the entire San Francisco East Bay.  Warehousing 4,000 sq. feet of furnishings and accessories and a team of design professionals to ensure clients receive the best service and quality possible. For more information go to www.staged-to-sell.com

I love happy clients. When they are over the top happy it just makes our job even sweeter. 

I was at an appointment for a new listing for a Realtor client that I have worked with for some time now.  She is a lovely woman who usually just calls me up - tells me where the key is on the vacant home - and I send her the proposal. We move forward, the house gets sold and we don't talk again until the next listing.

A few weeks ago she called me and told me that she is selling her own home and would I be interested in taking a look?  I met her at her home - only the second time I have ever met her - took my photos, chatted and came back the next day to do our thing.

She has a beautiful home but it needed a professional to see it through new eyes to bring it all together.  And we did just that.

We had two more stagings to do that week so I didn't speak to her again until I received her call on Sunday telling me about another listing she needed help with that upcoming week. During the course of the conversation I asked how her house was doing and she said that it sold 18 hours after we staged it and that she needed my team to come back and destage.

Yes, in this market, it still happens. My Realtor client has always been a believer of staging vacant homes, but now she is a true believer of occupieds as well. It doesn't matter what the house size, age, or condition - all houses need to be staged to sell. If priced right and staged well the right buyer will find it (especially if there are lots of photos online). 

Here are just a few before and after's from this 18 hour home

BEFORE Staged to Sell

AFTER Staged to Sell

BEFORE Staged to Sell

AFTER Staged to Sell

BEFORE Staged to Sell

AFTER Staged to Sell

BEFORE Staged to Sell

www.Staged-to-Sell.com is the San Francisco East Bay's Premier Staging Company.  Visit our website at www.staged-to-sell.com for more information.

Immaculate Parkwoods condo. Fresh paint throughout, newer washer and dryer, new lighting and plumbing fixtures, new disposal. Quiet hillside view. Lots of storage. Terrific amenities include heated pool, hot tub, gym and saunas, AC Transit Express to San Francisco from front gates. 50" plasma TV included. Listed by Barb Roth, Alain Pinel, Orinda (510) 435-3805. Professionally staged by Kym Hough's Staged to Sell. For more information on Staged to Sell's Full Service Staging or this listing go to www.Staged-to-Sell.com

Premier Staging Company Staged to Sell works with homeowner's and Realtors through out the San Francisco Bay Area. Our 4,000 square foot warehouse is home to hundreds of furnishings and accessories to ensure we have just the right furnishing for our client's homes to merchandise them to sell.  Our full service staging provides resources to prepare the home for market including flooring, painting, construction, repair. lighting and so much more. www.staged-to-sell.com

Ranch style home with large backyard and valuted ceilings.  3 bedrooms, 2 baths with both formal living room and family room. Large Foyer with double door entry.  Fantastic location - close to schools.  Sliding glass doors from master bedroom lead to backyard big enough for a pool and more.  New flooring, paint and landscaping. Property listed by Nathan Hitchock of Hitchock Realty (925) 787-6675. Professional staged by Kym Hough's Staged to Sell located in Danville and San Leandro, California. For more information go to www.Staged-to-Sell.com

Staged to Sell is the San Francisco East Bay's Premier Staging Company. Our 4,000 sq foot warehouse is full of furnishings and accessories to produce the right package for a any home.  Our full service designers are prepared to look at your home with an eye for detail and experience to capture the buyers attention. Call 925-212-1833 to make an appointment today.