Archive for June, 2008

(photo by j@son.)
I read this quote from Bill Lublin’s post (Can Foreclosure Kill?) on Agent Genius and felt very inspired by it.

Isn’t that what we all essentially do for our clients in real estate? We owe it to our customers to give them the best information possible. We be there for them when they are going through hard time, decisions and uncertainties. We are there to answer all their questions and be creative with difficulties.

Real estate can be rough. It can be a dog-eat-dog world. But it’s our job to be there for our clients and do everything we can to make sure they all get their happy endings Right?

Ah, I just came across this: Home Sizes Shrink with Growing Concerns over the Economy and Energy Costs. There is also a press release released by American Institute of Architects.

From the Press Release:

“The recent weakness in the housing market forces households to be more sensitive to housing affordability concerns. Coupled with rising home energy costs, this encourages many to rethink their overall space needs,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. “While smaller homes may be a short-term response to economic conditions, there are signs that we may be at the beginning of a longer cycle where house sizes stabilize or even decline.”

Baker continued, “With weak billings, inquiries for new projects and project backlogs, evidence suggests that the conditions in the residential market are not poised to improve anytime soon.”

Inman news disagrees. “But the latest government data on housing characteristics does not support the survey findings, as the average square footage of homes remains continue

(photo by ShutterSparks)

I recent took on a client who wants me to redesign her existing home right now but at the same time preparing it for sale 2-3 years down the line. When I suggested green finishes, she was very open to it.

This is why:

a) Green finishes are healthier to live in the home, especially if you have young children and pets. They roll around in those finishes every day on the floor, touching the wall, you want to make sure the finishes are quality green materials that is safe to live in. It’s also better for your installer, they don’t need to breathe in those terrible chemical smells. Moreover, you are not exposed to off-gasing from non-green materials or chemical glue. In typical carpet installation, the chemical glue emits toxic off-gasing for 8 years after it is installed. 8 years!!! Do you want your children or grandchildren to breathe that toxic in for 8 years?!

b) Quality green finishes and materials perform just as well as non-green finishes, if not better. Take the new green fabrics for example, they breath well therefore reduce the chance for skin allergy. They are not processed in chemicals so they are healthier to wear or to sleep in. You are not rubbing those chemicals off your skin that can cause irritations and rashes, you sleep better. You sleep better, you perform better during the day. Not a bad bargain at all.

c) Green finishes increase RESALE value. It’s true. By being more environmentally conscious and by installing green finishes and green appliances, you are reducing the costs to maintain your home, utilities and helping the planet out. With an rapid increase awareness of being green and eco-friendly, using green finishes and materials make the continue

Welcome to the June 9, 2008 edition of carnival of real estate home staging.

(Read Athol’s post to find out what’s this picture about!)

I am stoked that Athol submitted for this carnival, I have been a fan of his from the bad MLS photos he posts! I also want to thank Reba for her continuing support of the carnival! She is a amazing writer and I would highly recommend you to subscribe to both of these 2 great agents’ blogs!

Athol Kay presents When Your Wife Stabs You With a Fork You Learn to Pay Attention. posted at RE Agent In CT, saying, “It’s real estate photography, but I’m sure the key points transfer. Besides, don’t you want to know about the fork incident? :-)”

Reba Haas presents update on Mercer Island condo prep posted at Team Reba Real Estate, saying, “Looking for ideas on how color can impact your home sale? This Before and After photo series just might be the thing to convince you that proper prep and staging of a home can make a huge difference in how you look online.”

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of real estate home staging using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: carnival of real estate home staging, blog carnival.

Hello ladies & gents

I recently transitioned into a commercial warehouse space that is about 3600 square feet and 14 feet tall. My problem this week has been figuring out what’s the best shelving and storage options for all my inventory. Anyone has any suggestions??

I can’t seem to figure out what’s the best way to store things that is the best use of space, easy to retrieve items and inventory them, and flexible enough for inventory growth. Any ideas would be appreciated!

Cheers,

Cindy

PS. if you want to follow our updates on moving in and fixing up our new humble abode, follow us via twitter: www.twitter.com/staged4more