Home Staging Blog

How do you feel about buying real estate and what do you think about the long term future of real estate?

Over at RealEstateUndressed, Larry has posed the question and suggests that you view buying real estate as a business.  He offers up a few thoughts on the subject and is open to some feedback. 

I find it interesting because buying real estate can mean a lot of different things to different people.  Check it out and see if you any valuable feedback for him.

Water is vital for our survival.  We depend upon it not only for our health, but for our pleasure in life, the joy of a summer swim, the peace of a soak in the tub after a long day.  And of course, a tall glass of water refreshes us any time of the day.

You might be tempted to think that the only water that matters when it comes to your health is the water you drink.  The truth is, the water that is absorbed through your skin has a much greater impact on you than you might believe.  Having a water filter system installed in your home will help you achieve maximum health benefits for the greatest overall cost effectiveness.  And by having the water coming into your home filtered and pure, you will eliminate your need to purchase plastic bottled water for drinking. 

Isn’t it amazing how many people make plastic bottled water their primary source of drinking water?  I have to admit that up until recently, I was one of them.  But these bottles were not intended for primary drinking purposes.  They were actually designed for occasional use, such as drinking a soda pop every once in a while.  Not only have these plastic water bottles become a major waste issue, but the plastic off-gases and becomes toxic for your body. 

As a person who spends a lot of time on the road, I’ve found a solution that works for me.  I simply put my drinking water into glass water bottles that I can wash and refill and bring them with me.  Yes, I have to take a little care not to allow them to bang around while on the job, but the benefits far outweigh the slightly extra attention needed.

There are various types of water filter systems available.  First, test your water to see what issues you have.  I was surprised to discover the quality of my water straight out of the tap was so much better than I had ever imagined.  I felt silly when I thought of all bottled water I had bought because I had assumed my tap water was poor quality when in fact I had never taken the time to test it.

Once you complete your tests, you can decide which filter system is best for you.  The beauty of a whole house system is that the water you bathe in will be pure and toxin free.  And as you know, your skin is a breathing organ, so you want to make sure that what you put in contact with it is safe and healthy.

Remember, a healthy home is a happy home, so if you are staging your home to support you in your life, remember the basics.  Water that is pure and healthful is vital a healthy home and environment.

Related Posts: 10 Easy Steps to a Healthier Home

Step 1 to a Healthier Home Air Quality in Your Home

Step 2 to a Healthier Home Eliminate Clutter

Step 3 to a Healthier Home Natural Cleaning Products

With all the news about Home Staging these days, I figured it was time to catch up on a couple Home Staging client success stories!

You might remember seeing this Westwood home we staged a little while back.  Well it sold in two weeks with multiple offers!  The agent on this property has a track record of selling homes fast in any market, in fact he has graciously agreed to allow me to interview him, so perhaps he’ll share a few of his best tips!  Look for his interview in the next couple weeks.  I have to catch him between clients, he is a very busy man!

This pool home we staged in Studio City sold the first weekend after it was staged.   In fact, the buyer of this home took over the contract and kept it staged because he purchased the home as an income property and wanted to have it looking its best while showing it to prospective tenants.  He is a firm believer in the value of home staging.  He told the San Fernando Valley Business Journal that he has never sold a property without staging it, now that’s a home staging testimonial!

And this cool cottage in West Hollywood sold so fast, it felt like we barely got the truck unloaded and we were back picking everything up again!  Now that was cool!

So, yes, home staging along with smart marketing definitely works to get homes sold fast!

Don’t worry, I know this Feng Shui Friday tip is a couple days early, but in honor of Thanksgiving I thought we’d talk about the dining room as everyone is planning their holiday get-togethers this week.  So just relax, it is still Wednesday, we’re just getting a little bonus Feng Shui tip this week

Last week we talked about how the kitchen symbolizes the wealth of the family.  It is where the family’s meals are prepared and reflects how well they are nourished and cared for.  The dining room is where the food is served so you will want to make this room special every day of the year, not just the holidays.

Since the food you are serving represents abundance, you can bump up this energy by hanging artwork with fruits and other foods in it.  Make sure the subject matter is fresh and alive looking :).  You can also symbolically double the abundance in this room by hanging a mirror near the dining table.

So as you are busy cooking your meals and setting your table for your family and friends, take a look aroung your dining room.  Check the lights and make sure they are all working, double check the height of the mirror to be sure no one’s head will be cut off, and if you have any artwork hanging, be sure it gives you a feeling of health and abundance.  If not, you still have time to make some quick adjustments before you gather to give thanks and share time with those you love.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

We had fun staging this home in Harbor City this past weekend.  It is a great little home, full of all the amenities one could ask for.  Three bedrooms, high ceilings, private garages, lots of light…imagine the life in  your very own home!

Go check them out.  They will be open this weekend.  The agent’s info is on the details page of the real estate show.  This just might be the home you’ve been imagining youself in.

If you have been looking for a spacious home in Redondo Beach, you might want to go check out the home we staged last week, it is a beauty!  They will be having another Open House this weekend.  These are five bedroom homes that are spacious without feeling like you’re going to lose touch with everyone in the home once you live there.

And the cool part is, even though they are new construction, they are fully landscaped and fenced in, so all you have to do is unpack, find your best champagne classes and go celebrate with a toast in your new backyard!

Oh and by the way, if you need any help with your move-in, be sure to give us a call.  We can help you figure out how to best use the spaces your new home has for you and make your move-in a breeze. 

If you want to find out about their Open House, their agent’s contact info is on the details page of the real estate show.

As we are quickly approaching the holiday season, parties and gatherings are certain to be planned.  The kitchen is an important room in a home and it is an important room in Feng Shui.  So since your stove represents your wealth, for this week’s Feng Shui Friday tip, let’s talk about your stove.

Your stove traditionally represents your family’s wealth.  This is where your family’s meals are prepared and your family is nourished.  The more burners you have, the more dishes you can prepare.  If you have a small stove with only a couple burners, you can add mirrors to your backsplash to double the amount of food, providing for more opportunites at the same time.  If you are in the process of updating your kitchen or are purchasing a new stove, purchase one with as many burners as your space allows.

Ideally, the cook should be facing the room, in the armchair position.  If the stove is facing a wall and the cook’s back is to the room, you can use the mirrored backsplash to cure this too so that the cook is not startled from anyone coming from behind.

Make sure your stove is kept clean and the burners are all functioning well to keep the energy going and working smoothly.  Use all of your burners and keep your money flowing in. 

We spend about a third of our lives in the bedroom.  It is where we go to sleep, recover, restore, relax, cuddle, and nurture.  Our bedrooms need to be the most supportive room in our homes.  So for our first Feng Shui Friday, let’s start in the most important room of the house, the bedroom!

While sleeping, we are in our most vulnerable state, so we need to make our bedrooms as cozy, safe, restful and supportive as possible.  I know that you have already eliminated all the clutter from your space and are using pure, natural products in your home so you have a stress free and chemical free bedroom to start with :).  Bed placement is crucial to a good night’s sleep.  So let’s have a little talk about the “armchair position”.  Isn’t this cool?  We get to start Feng Shui Fridays with two Feng Shui tips in one!

Have you ever walked into a room you’ve never been to before and had the choice between two chairs?  One chair is nestled cozily against a wall facing the room with a clear view of the entry, an end table to one side and a small shelf on the other side with a nice cocktail table in front of you to set your drink on.  The other chair is propped right smack dab in the middle of the room all alone with its back to the door.  Which chair do you instinctively choose?

Well of course you chose the chair nestled against the wall, the one in the “armchair position”.  In this position you are placed in a position of power.  You are supported in the back and sides with a clear view ahead of you.  You can see who and what is coming into the room and have a feeling of security in this position.

The same thing follows in the bedroom.  Whenever possible, place the head of your bed on a solid wall where you have a clear view of the door.  Avoid placing your bed under a window if possible and keep the bed out of alignment with the opening of the door.  This way you will feel most secure, most supported while sleeping.

Considering all the time spent in your bedroom, make it a priority on your list.  Start with the position of your bed and go from there.  After a great night’s sleep, you’ll be ready to take on the world!

A clean home is a healthy home, just like our daily personal hygiene is part of maintaining our body’s good health.  The products that we use on a daily basis have a dramatic impact on our bodies, homes and our planet.  Are the products you are using pure and natural or are they full of chemicals, petroleum products and other toxic elements?  With a little forethought and planning, you can start using more healthful products to support you in your daily home health routine.

As you go through your day, make a list of all the products you use on a daily basis, your soap, shampoo, toothpaste, dishwashing detergent, laundry detergent, furniture polish and so on.  At the end of the day, you have quite a list, right?  How about at the end of the week?  Now multiply that by all of the people on earth.  That’s a whole lot of cleaning products!

How does this affect your health and why should you care?  What does this have to do with your home?  Remember, a clean home is a healthy home and healthy homes are happy homes.  A happy, healthy home is a home that will support you and help you achieve your goals in this life.

Most commercial cleaning products are made from synthetic chemicals and can contain phosphates, phenol, toluene, formaldehyde, chlorinated substances, artificial dyes and other toxins.  You don’t want to use these anywhere near your body where they can touch your skin or affect the air you breathe.  Neither do you want them in your home or dumping back into the environment.

There are many alternatives readily available.  Seventh Generation has some great natural cleaning products and a great site full of information.  They have a blog if you want to stay up to date with non-toxic news and updates.  Debra Lynn Dadd has a great site with 100’s of links to natural products, including natural cleaning products.  You can also make your own cleaning products from common household ingredients.

The easiest way to start is to simply choose better.  As you run out of items, think before you grab the same thing you’ve been using for years.  Make a run to the local natural foods market or plan ahead and place an order online.  You have the power to make healthier decisions every day.  Choose the natural best for yourself, your home and your planet.

Step 1 to a Healthier Home: Air Quality in Your Home

Step 2 to a Healthier Home: Eliminate Clutter

Related Posts:  10 Easy Steps to a Healthier Home

You hear about clutter removal every day when it comes to home staging, but clutter has much deeper ramifications in how it affects your life.  Clutter will not only take up space in your home, but it takes up space in your head, nagging at you in the corners of your mind, stealing precious energy from you.  Eliminate the clutter in your home, and your mind and your body will thank you.

Eliminating clutter is not a one shot deal.  It is a life long commitment.  It takes conscious effort to make changes in your life and make clutter control a habit.  But once you have experienced for yourself the freedom that a clutter free life allows you, you will not want to go back to the burdensome lifestyle you experienced in the past. 

And remember, by physically creating space in your environment, you are creating room in your life for new opportunities.  Maybe you’ve been looking for a new home, new job, a new relationship, maybe you just want some new socks :).  Letting go and making room gets the energy moving so that whatever you are trying to bring into your life can flow in.  So how’s that for a bonus benefit?

There are experts available that can help you organize and process what you have and assist you in eliminating the things you no longer need.  Zen Habits has a nice list of decluttering ideas that you can implement right now to start making your life simpler and create better habits that will enable you to enjoy more freedom in your own space.  And just think, once you’ve created the new habits, they will become much easier and will become natural to you.

You will have a much more peaceful and joyful environment when you don’t have the stress that clutter creates.  You will sleep better and will awaken refreshed.  Go ahead, de-clutter, relax, and rejuvenate yourself.  You deserve it.

Related Posts:  Got a Spare Bedroom that looks like a Spare Shed?, The 50% Space to Stuff Ratio, Want to Feel Lighter?

Step 1 to Healthier Home:  Air Quality in Your Home