"My home has been on the market for months. Now what?!"

Before we answer this question, we need to address a few more scenarios about why your home hasn't sold.

The first and foremost being: Are you listed with a Real Estate Agent? Or are you trying to go it FSBO? If the later is your situation, you really need to suck it up and start interviewing Professional Agents in your area (not your cousin's-best friend's-sister who is a Realtor located 45 miles away) The money you were trying to save by not paying the commission has already been lost in delaying the sale of your home and carrying costs. Bite the bullet! List with a Professional Realtor who knows your area, neighborhood, your target demographics and can market your home far better than you can and are.

The second part of this goes hand-in-hand with the first: Your asking price. Communitcate with your Realtor, this is WHAT THEY DO. A Realtor will either a) Give you a reality check and adjust your price accordingly, or b) be able to market the home to the right demographics.

Lastly, take a HARD look at your home and ask yourself, "What can I do to make it better?" If you answered your own question with, "...nothing, my home is beautiful..." Then it's time to call in the additional services of a Professional Home Stager.

In today's market, your home needs to be the the utmost, BEST condition, as it is likely to be competing with hundreds of other homes for the same price! "Location, Location, Location" is not the selling mantra in today's market. "Location, Price, Condition" is what is going to sell your home. Obviously, if your home has been on the market for months, it needs something you're not willing, ready or able to do. For very little investment, most Professional Home Stagers offer a consultation service.

From curb appeal, de-cluttering to paint colors, flooring or misc. upgrades and repairs: a paid Consultation will give you the road map to ensure your home will show at its very best every day. If the 7-10 page typed report seems a bit over-whelming, ask the Stager to give you a bid to have them perform part or all of the suggested items. It's a great place to start, and you have nothing to lose....except maybe another mortgage payment.
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Platinum Home Staging, Inc. has been recognized and grown into a tremendous success built on customer service, integrity and best of all, customer referrals. Specializing in Home Staging, Interior Decorating and Model Home Interiors. Serving the greater Los Angeles & Ventura County areas. A home's first impression is the most important one. A home should be inviting and memorable; to stand out among the hundreds of homes that Buyer's may be looking at. Selling a home, is in fact, selling a product. Market the product, "package" it to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. After all, ...How you live in your home, and how you sell your home, are two completely different things. Call us today at (805) 553-9952

WARNING: BAD MLS Photos!

AGENTS - WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!!!!!?????!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Here are just a few local MLS pictures that EVERY REALTOR and BUYER is seeing of YOUR LISTING!!!! Whether they are local buyers or relocating from across the country or from the other side of the world ~ isn't the Internet a wonderful thing?!?!?!
Have you forgotten that over 85% of Buyers look to the Internet to "shop" for homes? Have you forgotten that first impressions mean everything?
PLEASE, Call us - we can help!!!

Platinum Home Staging, Inc.
www.PlatinumHomeStaging.com
(805) 553-9952

These photos were not the "worst-of-the-worst", but were within the first few listings of selected areas as posted on Realtor.com. Since it is inevitable that we will offend someone with this post, anyone who believes that this is offensive should take this apology to apply to them personally. Sorry, We're only trying to help!

My $.02 Regarding Home Staging "Courses"

That's RIGHT! I'm on my soap box and I have HAD IT!

Being a Home Stager in an unregulated industry is HARD enough...

Trying to educated Home Owners, Realtors and the general Public about my industry is HARD enough...

But I AM here to educate EVERYONE that in the Home Staging Industry, EXPERIENCE and PROFESSIONALISM will trump ANY alphabet-shalphabet string of "certifications" or "accredidation" letters behind my name any day!!!

GO AHEAD - LET ME HAVE IT!!! But before you do... You have to know why I am on my soap box today, and those of you whom may have gone through one of the VERY few courses which have been around for years, should also be mad as he**!

I can't count on my fingers and toes just how many NEW and so-called home staging "training" companies have suddenly jumped on the bandwagon advertising themselves as offering that they can turn anyone into "certified", "accredited" or "exclusively trained" home stagers. Promising "a minimum of $75 per hour with little to NO inventory required" that can turn you into a bona-fied home stager "...in as little as 2 days..." and can cost anywhere from $500 - $2,799 and this is one I came across just this evening that sent me over the edge and prompted this post.

Home Staging Certification
$149
(INSERT PAYPALL BUTTON HERE)
And even advertises "Take 1 test and get 2 Certificates!

One for YOU, one for YOUR PARTNER!!!"

I actually called one of the more recent "certifying home staging courses" that just opened in my own back yard and asked her what her credentials were and asked if she had a website other than her own training course where I could see some of her most recent works..... She had none.

Another one I did a little back-up research on and found that they had NOT STAGED A SINGLE HOME IN OVER 8 MONTHS before opening this so called "training course with the ‘exceedingly successful' home stager _______________".

It is HARD ENOUGH to do what we do, to educate those who ALREADY know about our industry - imagine trying to explain to the other 90% of Home Owners and Realtors who don't know about our industry, that basically anyone can pick-up "any" certificate from "anyone" who calls themselves an "instructor"...These fly-by-night, pop-ups have now completely invalidated any course you have taken in the past and may stand behind. Since "anyone" can seemingly hand out these pieces of paper, your alphabet means nothing in the sea of Home Staging today....

So, why the heck not: Who wants to come get the "Exclusively Trained by the Certified Platinum Home Staging Accedidation Course"? Please email your contact information and payment to..... ( I am just kidding - but that is just how easy it has become )
I'm off the soapbox now....who's next?

Things you need to know before hiring "any" Home Stager

Get informed before hiring "just any" home stager.

Currently there is not an independent or national oversight organization such as NAR for Realtors, that certifies or licenses home stagers, and no government oversight or licensing in most areas. There ARE member based organizations which enforce a strict Code of Ethics for its members and communities such as theReal Estate Staging Organization.

As in any industry, do your homework!

These are some tips to consider when selecting the right Home Stager:

1. Do they have a valid business license? Self explanatory

2. Are they insured? Stagers are in essence “independent contractors”, if the Stager is not insured, then the homeowner, property owner or Realtor, may be liable for any damages or injuries that may occur as a result of the staging.

3. Find a Stager with the most experience in actually Staging homes: There are many training, “certifying” and “accrediting” companies which, within just a few days, or a couple weeks, can turn anyone who takes their course into a “certified” or “accredited” home stager. Since there is not currently any government or oversight, ANYONE can “become a stager” almost overnight. Don't hire "just any" home stager; Experience and professionalism trumps "certification".

4. Does the Stager have a printed portfolio or website with before and after photography? If they don't have a current staging portfolio, they may have never done a staging job, or very few. How are they going to assist you in marketing your listing if they cannot market themselves?

5. More importantly, make sure that their portfolio contains photos that are of their own work. Not of stock photography supplied by the “certifying” training course or “shared” before and after photos in a centralized web-site. Does their website have current information on recently staged properties or successes intoday’s market and economy?

6. Do they offer a range of Staging options and Styles, or is it “one-style-fits-all”. Again, they are packaging and marketing your Listing. Stagers should be able to transition their staging to the style of the HOME and the market demographics in your area.

7. Ask for references, and then check those references. When did they work with the Stager? Were they pleased with the results? How soon did the property sell? Would they hire that stager again? And ask for more than just one professional reference: Home Owner, Realtor, Developer, etc.

8. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
The bitter taste of a poor job, lasts longer than the sweet taste of the low bid.

Wellworth Ave, Westwood

Owner Occupied home is Staged and opens escrow within 1 week!

Wiscasset Drive, West Hills

Sold for within 97% of asking price after Staging

Saint Thomas, Oak Park

Received 5 offers and closed escrow for $ 20,000 over asking price within 45 days of Staging!

Arroyo Del Mar, Camarillo

Vacant for over 7 months, Staged with PHS, Inc. and currently in Escrow in just 10 days!

Effingham, Los Feliz

Vacant remodel, Staged and opened escrow in less than 1 week!

These are not tales of lore from a Real Estate market in the past, where Sellers can only dream of full price offers and being able to sell their homes within the first weeks on the market. These are happening in today's volatile Real Estate market -

Just in the months of June and July 2008 alone!

What do they all have in common?

They all embraced the marketing tool of a Professional Home Stager.

Where a "price is king" mentality is running rampant in today's current Real Estate marketplace, there are some key things that home owners can utilize before they consider a price reduction. Yes, the home does need to be priced right to be competitive with comparable homes in their geographical areas. However, considering that some areas literally are competing with hundreds upon hundreds of homes in the same price range - Seller's and Realtors need to understand that there are ways to make their home stand out amongst the sea of properties that potential buyers will be looking at.

Today's market-place mantra is no longer,

"Location, Location, Location"

It is now,

"Location, Price, Condition"

What is Home Staging? Using another analogy; When you sell a car, the first thing you do is wash it, clean it inside and out, take pictures in bright sunlight and make sure everything is working under the hood. Why not then take the same approach when selling your most valuable asset; your home? The cost in comparison is usually less than a fraction of a % of your homes sale price, and will ALWAYS cost less than a price reduction.

Room-by-room, in doors and out, a Professional Home Stager will give you a thorough understanding of what a Buyer will see through their eyes as they tour your home or condo. Many times home owners can't "see" the clutter or realize the smells which will be left imprinted on the minds of potential buyers. A Professional Home Stager will alleviate the negatives which distract the buyer, and showcase your home - not all your personal belongings. Stagers will also make sense out of awkward floor plans, ensure better traffic flow and bring the buyers eye to great details of the home such as a terrific view, built-ins or crown molding.
Why Should Every Home Owner & Realtor Consider the Services of a Professional Home Stager?Simply because over 87% of today's potential buyers "shop" the internet for homes before they request a personal viewing of the property. If your home does not translate well via pictures on the internet, home owners will "write off" every property that does not appeal to them visually in that very first impression.

Here are some examples:

In this home, the first MLS photo shows how this home was represented via the internet two years ago when it was still considered to be a Seller's Market -

yet they received no offers.
The room looks huge and cavernous, and although there is a fireplace, it gets dwarfed by the overall size of the room.

The second picture was Staged by Platinum Home Staging, Inc. using all of the Home Owners own furniture, then adding a few accessories.

By bringing the room into scale with furniture and accenting the fireplace; the second picture brought a potential buyer, within the first few DAYS of being listed, from over 45 miles away to see the home and who ultimately made an offer.

(This home was Staged by PHS, Inc. on July 22, 2008 and opened escrow 22 days later)

Staging is not only for the million dollar listings, in fact it is the homes under $750,000 that would benefit the most from the services of a Professional Home Stager. Staging does not have to be expensive either. Seller's who are on a tight budget can benefit from a Staging Consultation, where for about the same price as it would cost to detail your car, a reputable Stager can present a room-by-room, indoors and out report of everything needed to prepare your home for sale. Repairs, cleaning, upgrades, furniture editing and placement, even paint colors and curb appeal suggestions : A Professional Home Stager will be able to give several different options that will fit each home owner's budget and get them the biggest "bang for their buck", without wasting valuable time.

If the Consultation Report seems too overwhelming for the Home Owner to do themselves, Professional Home Stagers can do all the work for an agreed upon fee, as well as be able to extend great rates from storage and moving companies, cleaning services, upgrades and repairs.
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Platinum Home Staging, Inc. has been recognized and grown into a tremendous success built on customer service, integrity and best of all, customer referrals. Specializing in Home Staging, Interior Decorating and Model Home Interiors. Serving the greater Los Angeles & Ventura County areas. A home's first impression is the most important one. A home should be inviting and memorable; to stand out among the hundreds of homes that Buyer's may be looking at. Selling a home, is in fact, selling a product. Market the product, "package" it to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. After all, ...How you live in your home, and how you sell your home, are two completely different things. Call us today at (805) 553-9952

Getting the look for less - Home Staging, Bedding 101

How many times have you walked into a room and seen all signs of life sucked out of it? Bedrooms more specifically...

How many times have you walked into a home and seen the "master suite bed" look like this? "Clean & White" in this instance is usually portrayed as lack-luster or forgotten about.

Remember, most people spend over 33% of their lifetime IN THEIR BED! Why not make it the MOST welcoming, MOST luxurious, SHOW STOPPING stop in the house? Even if you're not selling your home, updating the look and feel of your bed can only benefit all parties "involved" - pardon the pun.

Here is a way to get a VERY expensive look, on a variety of budgets.

Option #1 - Only available through the Trade, WHOLESALE on this set is approx. $850 (Retail would be about $ 2,250, not including the sheets or down fillers.

Option #2 - Custom made by Designer using local vendors and bolt ends at DRASTICALLY reduced cost; however it IS custom and made to order. Approx cost $450.00, sheet set approx. $80.00 (Total: $530.00)

Option #3 - Duvet cover and sham set bought at local retailer about $70.00, sheet set approx. $45.00, various toss pillows approx $65.00 (Total: $180.00)


A great way to update ANY bed when Staging a home for sale: is to simply buy a great, reversible duvet and sham set in an eye popping color, or a new sheet set in a contrasting color to your current bedding. Pull the covers back and stack the pillows - viola!

If you're in a high end home and can afford the very best in fabrics, by ALL means, treat yourself! However, living lavishly doesn't have to come at an exorbitant cost. If you see something you like on-line or in a high end store, take a picture of it (aren't cell phones great!) Then look for alternate options that will work within your budget. Remember, keep your receipts, you can always return it if you don't like it. (Unused of course ;-D)

********************************************************************************* Platinum Home Staging, Inc. does Staging, and SO much more! Even if you're not selling your house, why not make it look like a model home? Call Platinum Home Staging, Inc. for an Interior Design Consultation at (805) 553-9952 Our Staging and Interior Designs are Platinum!

If Listing a Home this (or any) Holiday Season - Please Read!

This blog is for Realtors, Sellers & Stagers alike regarding the photography that might be taken this season to sell your listing or home.

Home Owners: Although you might be tempted to trek out the HUGE holiday tree and all the trimmings please keep in mind a few things before you go overboard on the trimmings. Your house, while on the market for sale, is no longer your home - it is a product for sale. While you should still live in your home, be aware of what you put out first and what might be included in your listing photography. Keep in mind as well that whatever you unpack to decorate with now, will only add to what needs to be packed up to move later should your home sell quickly.
Sure, a beautiful picture of the holiday tree in your living room might make your home feel warm and inviting - but what about in April if your home hasn't sold? Even a wreath on the front door can tell Buyers looking at your internet photos that your home has been on the market for a long time (too long)

Realtors: Take these same thoughts into consideration when taking photographs of your listings before placing them on the MLS, or discuss this with your professional photographer ahead of time. If your Seller is planning a big tree trimming party, maybe the photographs can be taken before the event so that every picture doesn't scream "I've been on the market since December" when Buyers are looking at the listings in June. Or at the very least, make a mental note that if a home has not opened escrow by say Valentine's Day, that you update and CHANGE the listing photography on ALL your marketing.

The same goes for Mother Nature; in areas where snow is inevitable to taking curb shots of the home, make a note that at the first thaw you get updated pictures of the outside of the home. And you if you're in an area that just got dumped on in the past month WITH snow, do you want all of your listing photos to be showing bright Spring flowers???? The reverse holds in this case, if buyers are looking at your internet photos NOW (when there has been a foot of snow on the ground for the past month), those great curb appeal shots taken in the summer are now screaming "been on the market for months!".

Stagers: Yes, we are visual beings by nature and many are now offering holiday decorating services. Again, think ahead. If the home remotely has a chance of being put on the market in the next 6 weeks, cautiously advise your home owners about the amount that might be used in decorating and not going overboard. I once Staged a house just before the holidays in an "autumn theme" (pears, pumpkins, fall colors, etc) only to have the LREA bring in a full X-mas tree to make it look "more festive"..... in a highly demographically Jewish community.

Our job as Stagers is to ensure the home is marketable to the general population, and always remember those all important before and after shots. You don't want all your after shots to be holiday themed to show prospective clients "this is what I can do!" when it's the 4th of July.

I'm NOT a scrooge, I LOVE the holidays - but as professionals we need to think and plan ahead.

PLATINUM HOME STAGING, INC.
Home Staging the Los Angeles and Ventura Counties

2008 - Home Staging Year in Review

I must admit that considering the current economy, when it comes to selling a home or property; Home Staging will deffinetly give you your biggest bang for marketing dollar.

Whether it's a simple Home Staging Consultation, where we give you a typed 7-10 page report of what needs to be done by you to prepare your home, or fully utilize our services in Owner Occupied Re-Designs, Vacant or Model Home Stagings; HOME STAGING WORKS!!!
HOMES ARE SELLING!!! Buyer's ARE buying IF your home or listing is the BEST on the market at the RIGHT PRICE. For so little money, which such HUGE results, we wanted to share with the world our Home Staging results in our little "2008 - Home Staging Review"



January 2008 - Vacant home home opens Escrow in just 7 weeks after Staging!
February 2008 - Platinum Home Staging, Inc. Stages celebrity homes as well!
March 2008- West Hills, CA home sells in less than 10 weeks AND - PHS, Inc. is featured in the LA Times!
April 2008- PHS, Inc. Stages $20M home on Kauai, HawaiiAnd a Home Staging Consultation in Oak Park, CA helps get it SOLD IN JUST 10 DAYS!!!
May 2008- Home in Oak Park gets the PHS, Inc. touch and sells in record time!
June 2008- Ventura home on the marina sells in less than 3 weeks!And a Home Staging Consultation in Agoura Hills, CA leads to 5 OFFERS and $20,000 over asking!
July 2008- Los Feliz home sells in ONLY 5 DAYS after Staging with Platinum Home Staging, Inc.!
August 2008- Giving Back to the Community: Platinum Home Staging, Inc. Facilitates, Organizes & Decorates a home for Foster Kids in Los Angeles, CA.
September 2008- Westwood, CA home SELLS in 22 days AND PHS, Inc. is featured in the Ventura County Star!!!
October 2008 - Platinum Home Staging, Inc. adds Interior Design to it's Resume!
November 2008 - Condo in Westlake Village, CA sells in 30 days after Staging!
December 2008 - A Pacific Palisades town home gets transformed and 3 offers!

Platinum Home Staging, Inc. is looking forward to a bright 2009 and beyond

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Platinum Home Staging, Inc. 2008 All Rights Reserved