::: 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! ;)

Sampling of Recent Home Staging Successes!

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Call Platinum Home Staging, Inc. today for your FREE Home Staging estimate

(805) 553~9952

http://www.PlatinumHomeStaging.com

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.

Start the Process of Packing Sooner than Later « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

Start the Process of Packing Sooner than Later « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

There is a psychology behind selling your home, especially if you have been there for a long period of time. Suddenly you begin to realize that you can’t keep 50 boxes of files in the spare bedroom, that your prescription and vitamin collection probably shouldn’t be aired out like dirty laundry for all to see, or that you don’t realize that your home smells of wet dog. As a Seller you become “used to” these things because your eye sees it everyday; it almost becomes a comfort. Something that, as a Seller one needs to realize is, that you are going to need to go through this process sooner or later. (Click on the link for more)

Home Staging and the Generic Can of Beer « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

Marketing companies spend MILLIONS of dollars every year to convince you that their beer is the best beer. They spend MILLIONS of dollars, man hours and time on product development and placement. What colors will be most impactful and memorable to their target consumer and buyer. But we’re not talking about $2.00 bottles and cans of beer.
Home Staging and the Generic Can of Beer « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

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!

If Your Home or Listing has been on the Market for “Too Long”, It’s Time to Mix Things Up a Bit! « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

If Your Home or Listing has been on the Market for “Too Long”, It’s Time to Mix Things Up a Bit! « Platinum Home Staging's Blog

Want Home Staging Results? We've GOT Results!

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http://www.platinumhomestaging.com

Are You Helping Sell the House Down the Street?

Your listing started off well. You held opened houses, there were even a few people who came by and saw the house - but no offers yet... You advertised, held a few more open houses, maybe even dropped the asking price; but there is little interest. Right now you are probably asking yourself, "Why aren't people coming to view the house?" OR you're trying to convince yourself that it's, "Just the market...."

Here are a few things to consider:
1) If your home had lots of activity to begin with, you're price may have been right - but if there are no offers, then they didn't like what they saw and moved onto the next house.

2) Even at the right price, how is the home viewed via the internet? The NAR released that OVER 87% of Home Buyers today, "shop" the internet and narrow down their list of "must see" homes simply by how the home is presented on the Internet.

3) The more pictures the better, the most appealing pictures always win out for the "must see" list.

For example: Which would you prefer? These two homes are in the same high end area, comparable number of bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage. The first home is actualy priced LOWER than the second home by almost $50,000! Yet the second home was professionally Staged by Platinum Home Staging, Inc. and SOLD just 3 weeks from the date of listing for full price!

SOLD in 3 weeks!

If you were a buyer, which would YOU prefer? Which home, when all things being comparable, would YOU want to "go see" in person?

By NOT Staging your home or listing, you may very well be helping sell the listing down the street. Call us today for your FREE Home Staging Estimate! (805) 553~9952
Platinum Home Staging, Inc.

Be Informed Before Hiring "just any" Home Stager

Visit our extensive portfolio at http://www.PlatinumHomeStaging.com/Portfolio and call us today for your FREE Home Staging estimate. (805) 553-9952

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, Malibu

Los Angeles ~ Ventura ~ Santa Barbara Home Stager

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Home Staging Leads Buyers...

Upon entering this house as a Buyer looking for a home, where would you go from here? Human nature would say, "To the left, that's where the living spaces are." However in this home the floor plan is flipped. Guest bedrooms are on the 1st floor, the Kitchen, Living spaces and Master bedroom are actually located on the 2nd floor.


Following their instincts, Buyers and Realtors when looking for a huge kitchen and living room would immediately turn left to three empty bedrooms, and were a bit befuddled. Once Buyers and Realtors DID go up the stairs this is the area they would be "welcomed" by. Would you be interested in this home? Nobody else was.... So for seven months this house that is located just steps away from Ventura Beach sat on the market with little interest.


So after taking the home off of the market for a short period, partnered with a new Realtor and a grand marketing plan, the new Realtor suggested that the home should be Staged. She had worked with us on a prior property just a few blocks away, which sold in 3 weeks - so she was confident in the results Staging would be able to present.

Now after Staging, if you were a Buyer entering this home, THIS is what you be presented with. The eye is brought to the right where the entry table and marketing materials are located and spotlighted. The plants and artwork immediately bring your eye to LEAD you up the stairs, to be presented with THIS grand living space. Yes, Home Staging DOES lead the Buyer, but only in possative ways and to the right places and focal points when presenting your home for sale.
PLATINUM HOME STAGING, INC.

Platinum Home Staging, Inc is your Professional Home Stager serving the greater Los Angeles and Ventura County areas. From Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, and everything in between, call Platinum Home Staging, Inc. today for your FREE Home Staging Bid! (805) 553-9952

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

"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!

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