5 Reasons You Should Stage Your Ventura County Home Under $500,000

Something we often hear from Sellers, Realtors, Developers and "Flippers" is that it's not worth the small investment to Stage Homes under $500,000 in the Southern CA area. Here are five reasons why it IS a smart investment and ultimately why ALL homes can benefit from Professional Home Staging, especially in the Ventura County area:

1) First-Time Buyers: The majority of the people looking to buy homes under $500,000 are First-Time Buyers. They are excited, they are scared, they want to make sure they get the MOST for their money because after all, it's a BIG investment and they want to make sure that they are making the right decision when buying their first house. Since the majority of the demographic coming to tour your home is going to be the First-Time Buyer your home needs to be marketed towards THEM. Staging your home to its fullest potential and highlighting selling points such as built ins, wood floors or a great garden view will help them remember YOUR home when they are visiting EVERY house in that market.

2) Size and Scale: Are there bedrooms in your house that contain two HUGE armoires, a dresser, two night stands and a Queen size bed? Typically homes that are listed under $500,000 have smaller bedrooms and rooms filled to the brim with large-scale furniture will actually make even a large room feel claustrophobic. Professional Home Stagers can help alleviate the congestion and bring the room back to its original size and scale. In Vacant properties, Professional Home Staging can actually make a very small room feel large and roomy. The ENTIRE square footage of the Santa Monica bungalow shown above is LESS than 700 square feet ~ You would never know it or feel it looking at this picture or entering this living area. (This Bungalow sold in 13 DAYS while 2 others just steps away have been on the market for months! - March 2010)

3) Awkward Floor Plans: Often times Developers of smaller homes or condos are trying to maximize every square foot possible for marketing, while flippers may often times remove existing walls to create a more "open" feel; both resulting in awkward floor plans. Small rooms, "bump outs", lofts or oddly placed windows may leave Buyers guessing and confused. Staging can help define the area in question, while high-lighting other great features of the space ultimately making it feel cohesive, not awkward.


4) First Impressions are EVERYTHING: The NAR (National Association of Realtors) announced in 2009 that over 87% of all Buyers shop for homes on the Internet and will literally "write-off" your home with a simple click of a mouse if it does not catch their eye in how the home is presented in those few on-line pictures. Make sure that first impression is a memorable one and that they will WANT to come see your home personally.

5) "The right price will bring your home interest; Staging it will bring offers." - Gary Keller, Keller Williams. All things be equal: price, location, square footage, number of rooms and bedrooms, etc the price will bring interest to your home; but Staging is what will bring in offers. When touring houses, Buyers make a snap decision within the first ten seconds upon entering your home. "Is it clean?", "Is it inviting?", "Is it maintained?" but most importantly, "Can I see myself living here?" That FIRST impression is what will make your house stand out among the homes that Buyers are touring. You may very well be helping to sell the house down the street by NOT Staging your home. (Home Staging featured in the above before and after pictures helped get this Agoura home SOLD in 11 DAYS! - April 2010)

If you are located in the Ventura County area and ready to sell your home or listing, contact Platinum Home Staging, Inc. for your free Home Staging estimate. (805) 553-9952

REALTORS: Tips on How to Overcome Stage(r) Fright

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  Recently I had a very frank phone call with a local Realtor Friend whom does a large volume in our area and we often "bounce" ideas off each other in regards to business, marketing, blogging, etc. Even though we speak frequently, I asked him point blank during the conversation, "Since you know all the benefits of my Industry (Home Staging) why is it that you've never used one?" His reply was simply, "...because some Home Owners get offended when you tell them their house looks like cr*p."
  
  We both shared a good laugh but this was an "ah-HA!" moment for me. Here was a Realtor who BELIEVES that presenting a home properly is imperative, who KNOWS the benefits of Home Staging, who even WANTS to get all his listings staged, even if only to declutter - he just needed some help in the delivery.
  
  To help him, and the rest of the Realtors who might be suffering from Stage-r Fright; here are some problem solving sollutions to ensure you are in the spotlight and on cue.
  
  
  
  
  
  The Casting Call: Make them want you as their Leading "Actor" (Realtor) from the very first casting call (Interview). You've come with your marketing plan, your script if you will, and you're ready to knock their socks off with all the things that you will do to make their home a block-buster.
  
  Called to Read: By letting them know up-front in the first meeting that Home Staging IS a service that you provide, they will ALREADY BE OPEN to the idea of a Stager coming into their home, and will actually expect it! By adding the services of a Professional Home Stager to your repartee you will stand out immediately as being up-to-date in marketing. You are immediately setting the Stage that your Home Stager will come in, spend time with them and walk them through their house with an unbiased view about how their home, in it's current state, will be perceived and viewed by potential Buyers.
  
  The Call Back: They want YOU as their Leading Actor/Actress; you've landed the listing - er Lead Role - you're ready to hit your mark, but before you've memorized your lines, THIS is when you call your Home Stager and ask them to be your support when going into rehearsals.
  
  
  Curtain Call: TELL your Stager about the project, TELL your Home Stager about the Audience (Home Owners) make them your PARTNER (or "bad guy") in the story line of what YOU need to have addressed. (e.g. too much clutter, pet odors, wall paper, lighting/upgrades, etc.) Let the Stager take the role of Supporting Actor on YOUR stage.
  
  The Professional Home Stager will dance through the home with your Home Owners, singing a happy tune about what/where/how the home will be able to be presented in it's best possible "spot" light. Well, maybe not dance, but you get the idea. Going from room-to-room, Act 1, 2, 3 (and maybe 4 or 5) the Home Stager will allow you to still be the Staring role but support your every move. From a simple walk through to de-clutter and packing to completely furnishing an empty stage (home) the Experienced Stager will be able to talk with your Home Owner about:
  
  
  •WHY their floral wall paper and country quilt should probably be adjusted and new bedding purchased.
  •About WHY their zebra striped rug and cheetah sofa probably would not show well in the Internet marketing photography.
  •About WHY it would be better that their collection of dolls from around the world would only be a major distraction for any young child who might be present with their parents while touring this lovely family home (and might get damaged/stolen in the process)
  
  
  ENCORE! ENCORE!: OK, your Sellers might not literally shower you in rose petals - but what they will believe is that you are a STAR and your performance was Oscar Worthy. They will REFER YOU to all their family and friends, co-workers and neighbors.
  
  The gist of this post is that by partnering with a Professional and Experienced Home Stager in your area you will be adding a vital key component to your Team and allows for the Stager to be able to correctly approach delicate subjects that maybe you are not comfortable in addressing directly yourself; without up-staging you.
  
  If you are an Agent, Realtor or Broker in the Los Angeles or Ventura County areas, call Platinum Home Staging, Inc. ~ We'll make sure your Seller's HOME is ready for it's "close up". If outside of Southern CA, check the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) website for qualified referrals in your area.

"Sellers Who Stage are Just Smarter", she said.

Recently my Company was called by a Home Owner who is thinking of placing her Santa Monica Townhome on the market for sale in the next few months and was inquiring as to the services we could provide for her. These Home Owners actually live out of State and the unit is currently a income rental property, so they needed to find a Home Staging Company that could handle everything for them since they were at such a distance.

I explained the process of how we can handle all repairs and upgrades such as painting, refinishing floors, lighting selections and installation as well as how Platinum Home Staging, Inc. is fully Insured and that we only work with reputable, also fully Insured, Contractors.

Further, we talked about the process of actually Staging the Home to sell and I very happily quipped, "94% our Staged Homes routinely are under contract within the first 6 weeks and many are within the first 2 weeks, if not days." and then she hit me.....

"Well, that sounds wonderful but I'd like to also think that the Sellers have something to do with those statistics... Sellers who Stage their homes are just SMARTER." She went on to say, "People who Stage their homes are READY TO SELL their homes and will price it right and present it properly."

Needless to say, a smile crossed my face from ear-to-ear: she was right.



If you're in the Los Angeles or Ventura County areas and ready to to speak with a Professional Home Stager that is the ONLY Design Company in Southern CA endorsed by Pottery Barn; call us, we'll be happy to help you prepare your home and package it to appeal to the buyers in YOUR target market.

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

::: Don't Make our Buyers Hit a Brick Wall :::

Often times when opening the front door to a home or condo there is typically an "entry" area. The area that welcomes Potential Buyers with maybe a small table, artwork, plant, etc. and leads them to the next room or area of the home. This "entry" may also be the "Landing Spot" for the Realtor's marketing brochures or other Realtors to leave their cards. While other homes might have wide open spaces, grand stair cases and vaulted ceiling; there is still usually a small table or the like as described. This was not the case on this home...

This is what Potential Buyers and Realtors saw IMMEDIATELY as they entered this beautiful ranch home: a cold, white, painted brick wall. It is actually the side of a double sided fireplace that splits the massive living space nearly in half. However, as one enters this home there were no walls to place a small table, standard eight foot ceilings and a smaller round table would have just stopped you at the door: not very welcoming. We couldn't exactly ignore this big white elephant in the room either. The solution:

My Company embraced it and made it as if it were meant-to-be. The brick wall became our "welcome pad" - our entry if you will. With a large color washed painting, textural elements and a touch of sparkle, we added a serving tray with a bright purple orchid to contrast and bring the eye to where the Realtor can now place their marketing brochures. Buyers will no longer hit a brick wall, when they enter their new home! ;)

5 Tips to Sell Your Home in Today's Market: ABC's Today Show

Gary Keller of Keller Willams was on the Today Show on February 26, 2010. One of the Nations largest Reatlor and Brokerage firms, hear what he has to say about Home Staging, Pricing your home right and selling in today's Real Estate Market.

Sellers: Be Wary of the "HGTV Effect"

Let me start by saying I love HGTV for the very fact alone that it has helped educate the public masses about the power of preparing and presenting a home when it’s on the market sale; otherwise known as Home Staging. (My disclaimer)
However, a word to Seller’s to be wary of getting caught up in what has lovingly been dubbed “The HGTV Effect“. similar to the “CSI Effect” of Judicial Juries believing that DNA samples can be resolved and fingerprints matched within a few minutes. The HGTV Effect is the misconception that an entire house can be upgraded, Staged and transformed for $2,000. While these shows do an excellent job of showing what can be done, it also does not show what has not been OR what goes into GETTING all these things done.

Case in point: One show might show three rooms that have been transformed and at the end of the show a breakdown might be presented as something like, “Paint was $295.00, Flooring was $630.00 while lighting was $75.00 and draperies and new bedding were only $45.00….” You get the point. What is NOT shown in these totals are the cost of moving trucks, equipment and tool rentals, carpentry fees, and labor. Think about how much TIME is spent shopping and researching all those “great finds” as well as the labor to design, paint, install, cut, haul, etc… This doesn’t even touch other needs that Stagers in the REAL WORLD must cover such as insurance requirements, additional labor, movers, gas, etc…. Now, I’m not saying that a home can’t be Staged for $2,000. What I am saying is; be realistic and educated about what Professional Home Staging really entails. If $2,000+ still is not within your budget, many Home Stagers may even offer options for smaller budgets or Consultations for the Do-It-Yourself Home Owner.

It is also the misconception that ALL of this work can be completed in a 30 minute time-frame. OK, not 30 minutes, but you get the point. Upgrades and repairs will take up to several weeks to complete depending on the amount needed for your home to compete for top-dollar in your market. Also consider your timeline: some Home Staging Company’s will complete installations within just one day, other’s might take 2-3 depending on the amount of work and the square footage to be Staged. Some Companies might require a 1-2 week period to schedule an installation, while others might be able to fit you in “this week.”
Research and interview several Home Staging Companies that service your area and as always take into consideration that you may very well “get what you pay for”. You might even consider reading this post to know what to look for when hiring a Professional Home Stager. However, once your homework is done, be confident in knowing that you’ve made the right decision about the Home Staging Company you have selected and the exceptional outcome it will produce.

Real Estate Blog - Remember This House?

Real Estate Blog - Remember This House? Yep, this was the house that had us Singing the Blues in December 2009. Yep - It's SOLD! This home is already in escrow! Under contract in just 9 short days! Congratulations to Kelly Pesis of White House Properties and the KOR Group Development Co. for pricing it right and recognizing the power of Professional Home Staging!

Want Home Staging Results? We've GOT Results!

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http://www.platinumhomestaging.com

Platinum Home Staging, Inc. is now the exclusive Interior Design Company for Pottery Barn!

Pottery Barn & PHS, Inc. have joined forces!

Platinum Home Staging, Inc. is now the exclusive

Interior Design Company for Pottery Barn, a Williams & Sanoma Company.

Serving the Los Angeles and Ventura County areas, Platinum Home Staging, Inc. will now assist all Pottery Barn clients and customers with all of their Interior Decor needs and dilemmas.

Not sure what paint color to choose?
Unsure if the couch you want, will fit in your space?
What about bedding and towels or placement of accessories and artwork?

Platinum Home Staging, Inc. will give you a FREE one room, in home consultation to answer all of your questions or concerns. WHY WAIT? Call the Pottery Barn in Thousand Oaks, CA for more information and to schedule your Design Consultation!

Pottery Barn
THE OAKS Mall
568 W HILLCREST DRIVE
THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91360
(805) 373-6501

Tell them Connie from Platinum Home Staging sent you!

Need that "WOW" factor under a tight budget? Call a Professional Home Stager

This Home Owner wanted her home to have that "WOW" factor for a Fundraiser she was hosting in her home. She didn't need to completely redecorate, she just needed it done FAST and under a TIGHT budget ~ She called in the Professionals of Platinum Home Staging, Inc.

Even if your not selling your house, why not make it look like a model home?
Call us today, (805) 553~9952

Serving Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, and everything in between.

Fully licensed & Insured

Trust Your Most Valuable Asset to a Professional Home Stager

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Home Staging for Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Hollywood, Hancock Park, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Canoga Park, Van Nuys, West Hills, Northridge, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Wood Ranch, Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Oak Park, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara

Los Angeles ~ Ventura ~ Santa Barbara Home Stager

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Think of it as a $100,000 Home Selling Stimulus Package!

Based on statistics of my company, we have injected OVER $100,000 into the economy and we didn't need the President, Senate or the House of Representatives to do it! How? Simple mathematics and smart partnerships.

Despite the fact that there is over a 10 month inventory of homes for sale in Southern California, our smart partnerships with Realtors, Home Owners and Developers, our homes are still selling within an average of 8 weeks (although some in just days) So for example purposes, today I'm going to use an average of 3 months.

Assisting a Developer get his remodeled, multi-million dollar home SOLD in 5 days, saved him over $20,000 in carrying costs.

A Home Owner first started with a Consultation, then decided to have us oversee the entire project of updating him home to be ready for sale. SOLD within 3 weeks for full price, saved him OVER $13,000 in carrying costs.

A Realtor enlisted our services on two of her listings for a TOTAL OUT OF POCKET COST OF JUST $300. One home went into multiple offers and closed escrow for $20,000 OVER ASKING PRICE, and saving the Home Owner $5,000 in carrying costs! The second home opened escrow in just 10 days for full price saved the home owner over $7,000 in carrying costs. The Realtor also told me she saved almost $3,000 between the two listing in adverting and marketing because the homes sold so quickly. For a total revenue injection of over $ 35,000 for the bargain basement price of $300!!!

Another Realtor enlisted our services on a vacant condo. The exact same floor plan was also for sale 2 doors down and also vacant (same asking price) After Staging the condo it SOLD in 1 month, while the vacant condo is STILL on the market to this day! This saved the Home Owner over $6,000 if it were to still be on the market today as the other unit is.

Another Home Owner did a Consultation on his multi-million dollar home for the bargain price of $550, and opened escrow in 6 weeks, saving him over $30,000 in carrying costs of the property had it been on the market for just 3 more months.

Consider it a Home Selling Stimulus Package courtesy of Platinum Home Staging, Inc. Call us today to receive YOUR portion of our stimulus package! (805) 553-9952

Platinum Home Staging - The Proof is in the Pudding!

What did these Home Sellers and Realtors do in 2008 to get results like these?

They hired Platinum Home Staging, Inc.


Greenbush Lane, Moorpark
Vacant home is Staged and opens escrow in 7 weeks!

Wiscasset Drive, West Hills
Sold for within 97% of asking price after Staging!
(Closed escrow March 5, 2008)

Arroyo Del Mar, Camarillo
Vacant home is one the market for 7 months, Staged and opens escrow in 10 days!

Saint Thomas, Oak Park
Received 5 offers and closed escrow for $ 20,000 over asking price!
(Closed escrow June 24, 2008)

Effingham Drive, Los Feliz
Vacant remodel, Staged and opened escrow in less than 1 week!
(Closed escrow July 31, 2008)

Wellworth Ave, Westwood
Owner Occupied home is Staged and opens escrow in 22 days!
(Closed escrow August 21, 2008)

Saint Croix, Oak Park
Staging Consultation helps get it sold in 2 weeks!

Seahorse Lane, Ventura
Owner Occupied opens escrow in 3 weeks after Staging!
(Closed escrow Sept. 9, 2008)

Bright Glen Court, Westlake Village
Vacant condo gets Staged and opens escrow in 6 weeks!
(closed escrow December 8, 2008)

Serving the greater Los Angeles and Ventura County areas

Call Platinum Home Staging, Inc.

today for all your Home Staging, Re-Deisgn and Interior Design needs.

(805) 553-9952

Platinum Home Staging, Inc.

Visit our extensive Home Staging portfolio of Owner Occupied homes, Vacant Homes, New Construction, Re-Designs and Re-Models. From paint colors to place settings, Platinum Home Staging, Inc. is your complete Home Staging and Interior Design Company. Call us today to begin your home's transformation.

(805) 553-9952

The Difference in hiring a Home Stager or a "stager"

Platinum Home Staging, Inc. was called in on a very larger property for a Home Staging Consultation. This bachelor has what every bachelor has in his dining room - a POOL TABLE, of course! Well, his Broker suggested using a Home Stager to get his home up to par, since the exact same floor plan across the street was also for sale. (Thumbs up to him!)

After talking with this home owner several times, we're 99% ready to move forward and I suggest this beautiful, handmade dining room set which seats 8. Everything in the home is Casa de Mexico, handmade, rich woods, terracotta tiles, etc. The dining room is 15' wide by 17' long, so this was my suggestion for a small monthly rental fee. Keep in mind, this is the ONLY piece of furniture we have to bring in for him, so this would be his ONLY furniture expense.


So flies in the Broker to save the day! His Broker has "a warehouse of furniture that he uses for staging that we can use for FREE!" - "Great!" I replied, "We can use what he has" - we do this every day; incorporate other pieces into the plan, besides it's only 1 room of the entire 6,000+ square feet of house - right?

Here's the kicker - THIS is the set that the Broker IS CURRENTLY USING in a house right down the street, which he is offering for us to use for free! How generous of him! Thankfully the Home Owner agreed that this set was a bit "weak" to use as the formal dining set.

That is why people hire experienced, Professional Home Stagers to STAGE homes, not just put furniture in a house....

Plainum Home Staging, Inc. is your experienced and professional Home Staging Company serving the greater Los Angeles and Ventura County areas. Call us today for your FREE Home Staging Bid at (805) 553-9952