I say leverage that fact!  Continue posting new blogs with key-rich words and it will continue to happen!  And while there are other great ways to market your services, Active Rain can and does serve as a huge opportunity to help drive further visibility on the Internet.  I've been fortunate to have many of my leads come directly from posting examples of my work here on Active Rain.If your a Stager - be sure to post "before" & "after" pictures of your work.  Join the group Staging "Before" & "After" Pictures and post away!  It's a great way to showcase your work to the public as well as to other Active Rain Members.  Agents - If you're looking for a home staging professional in your area, feel free to join the group as well and check in often.  If you're currently not signed up with Act... 07/16/2007

For me personally, I have found that bedding can literally make or break the look of the room.  As a result, I find I spend an incredible amount of time looking for the right set to showcase the room.My objective with masters is really no different than any other room.  I want to provide a visual for the prospective buyers on how they can use the space.   The difference for a bedroom is that you have this massive canvas called a mattress to help showcase the room.  Pure opportunity!Here's the before picture:Here's the "after" picture taken by the Realtor: Georgia Interior Solutions is a full service home staging company in Atlanta, serving Cobb County, Marietta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Dallas, Kennesaw, Powder Springs and surrounding areas.  View our web site at HomeStagingAtlanta.com f... 07/10/2007

Preparing your home for the market doesn't have to be made difficult.  For some rooms, it can take as little as 5 items to make a significant difference.  Remember, the objective in home staging is to create a warm and enticing home that the prospective buyers can emotionally connect to.Knowing what 5 items to use is key.  Using a professional home stager can certainly help as they're armed with the knowledge of what attracts the buyers eye.Here's an example:As you can see, this particular bathroom is rather bland.  As a prospective buyer, I'm likely to take a quick look and walk right back out. Now here's the "after" picture:  The 5 items used:  Flower; candles; towels; shower curtain and floor rug (not pictured).Georgia Interior Solutions is a full service home staging company in Atla... 07/09/2007

Given the importance of the listing photos on MLS and the impact staging a home can have, I can't think of a better combination.Two weeks ago, while on my way to see a prospect, I had received a call from a professional photographer who had found my web site on the internet.   Her timing couldn't have been more perfect.  For at least a couple of months, I had been meaning to make the time to search for a photographer within the Atlanta area.While I pride myself on my "after" pictures there is absolutely no comparison.  My hat goes off to the professionals in this trade.  Here's a "before" picture (and oddly enough, this is the home I was on my way to see when the photographer called me):Keeping room:After Staging and Professionally Photographed: Georgia Interior Solutions is a full serv... 07/06/2007

As a professional home stager, I often find myself speaking to the home seller about the importance of the home "looking" good.  The truth of the matter is that the home needs to "feel" good AND "look" good.  The better it feels, the longer the prospective buyers linger.  Of course, the longer they linger, the better chance we have of getting an offer on the home.  I use this rule of thumb when staging.  When a room feels good, it's time to move onto the next room.  I'll do that for each room I'm staging until the project is complete.Here's a staging project I did earlier in the week for an occupied home: Now here's the "after" picture: I felt so good in this room that I now want to duplicate this look for my own home.Georgia Interior Solutions is a full service home staging company in ... 07/06/2007

With the quantity of homes on the market, it's likely that the prospective buyers are visiting lots of homes/listings.  Some may do it in the course of a day, while others take weeks if not months to find the perfect home.Having been a home buyer, I too can relate to the need to search.  Yes, we now understand that most will begin their search using the internet (80%, according to the National Association of Realtors).  And with all the many wonderful blogs on the importance of great listing photos, we understand that those photos need to "catch" the eye of the prospective buyer to help them take the next step;  which is to visit the home.Now once they're there, is your home or listing worth remembering?  In my recent blog It's Hard to Connect with a Blank Wall it's highly unlikely that... 06/29/2007

It's late but... I wanted to share this vacant home staging project I did today.This home is located in Marietta, Georgia inside a wonderful country club called Indian Hills.  Unfortunately, it's been sitting on the market for a while.  As with any vacant home, the minute I walked in, I couldn't connect with the home.  Yes, there had been many wonderful upgrades done to the home and all were very wise investments.  However, despite these changes, the house wasn't moving.  Why?  Because it's hard to connect to blank walls.Here's the before picture of the living room (hard to connect to these walls, isn't it?: And now for the "after" picture: Can't you feel the difference?Georgia Interior Solutions is a full service home staging company in Atlanta, serving Cobb County, Marietta, Roswell, ... 06/28/2007

Back in February of this year, I had the good fortune of working with one of the top Realtors within Alpharetta, Jeff Aughey with AlphaHomes.com.  Jeff had reached out to have me look at one of his occupied homes to assist the seller in getting the home sold more quickly.  I was able to work with Jeff on another one of his listings (again, occupied) and the results of the transformation turned out great.So impressed was Jeff with the impact staging could have on his listings, he solicited the expertise of one our very own active rainer's, Angela Parker.  Angela owns and operates Wicked Word Craft and comes highly recommended for anyone seeking professional writing services.  Jeff wanted an article written on my staging services and I gladly supplied the content.  The magic in the articl... 06/22/2007

I'm often asked by home sellers whether or not to stage the bonus room.  As is often the case, the rooms are either on the 2nd floor or in a finished basement and typically have odd layouts and sometimes odd ceiling heights as well.In staging homes, the objective is to allow prospective buyers to envision living in the home as well as to give them ideas on how they can utilize the space.  Given the challenge listed above on bonus rooms, I will always suggest having the bonus room staged.  Here are two sets of "before" and "after" pictures of a bonus room just recently staged.   The additional cost to stage the bonus room is, on average a couple of hundred dollars.   I'd say it's worth it!Georgia Interior Solutions is a full service home staging company in Atlanta, serving Cobb County, M... 06/21/2007

As a little girl, I would love when my mom would take us out and we'd go through model homes.  We couldn't afford a new home but that surely didn't stop us from looking and dreaming.   Little did I know that one day others would be looking and admiring my work.    And the icing on the cake - I get to save builders thousands of dollars in getting their model homes decorated.So... in the spirit of Active Rain, here are some of my "after" pictures of the models I've been blessed to stage:This is the first room you see when entering this home:Keeping room.  When vacant, this room was a challenge for the prospective buyers given the size.A splash of color! Georgia Interior Solutions is a full service home staging company in Atlanta, serving Cobb County, Marietta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Dall... 06/08/2007

Established in 1834, Marietta is a vibrant city that offers world-class amenities while preserving its important ties to the past. The City of Marietta is a unique blend of small-town values with big-city opportunities. Mariettans appreciate the past and are excited about the future. [Click the link below to learn more about Marietta]http://www.mariettaga.gov/default.aspxMy business is located in Marietta, GA.  This is a great community and as a family we plan to be here for a very long time.  Marietta is the county seat of Cobb County and by far the largest portion of Cobb.I will post a link of "Cats and Dogs" for all the remaining cities that fall inside Cobb County.  06/03/2007

In my blog titled  "Is it Worth Staging a $129K Home?"  there were a couple of comments that inspired me to create this new post, Selling Staging to the Homeowner.  For many, it was an eye-opener in that: 1) it confirmed that a home, regardless of the price point is worth staging and 2) it proved that staging isn't as costly as one may think (the staging fee for this home, $600.00.  The results, home sold in 3 weeks)Here's another set of before and after pictures of the same home, different room:After:What is Staging?  The difference between interior decorating and home staging:Interior decorating is decorating with an understanding of the likes and dislikes of the homeowner.  Based on a series of questions asked, the decor will center around their personal preferences. Home Staging, of... 05/30/2007

Looking to buy a condo in Marietta Georgia? Or maybe you prefer to buy a new town home in Marietta Georgia!  Well you are in the right place!  Marietta has great condos and town homes for sale in Marietta.  If you want a new town home in Marietta or a resale...feel free to view the listings currently for sale, and if you are interested in buying condos in Marietta, feel free to contact us!  It will be our pleasure to assit you in buying Marietta town homes or condos.Marietta, GA 30060Map of Marietta GeorgiaMarietta Georgia City Profile Marietta Homes for Sale Marietta Elementary Schools Marietta Middle Schools Marietta High Schools 05/23/2007

Looking to buy homes for sale in Marietta Georgia?  Well we have them all here for you!  Feel free to search for homes for sale in Marietta,  and if you find anything you are interested in buying in Marietta, please feel free to contact us!  We can assist you if you are buying a home in Marietta or selling a home in Marietta Georgia.  Marietta, GA 30062  Mareitta homes, townhomes for sale, and condos!Marietta Homes for Sale $200,000 - $300,000 Marietta Homes for Sale $300,000 - $400,000 Marietta Homes for Sale $400,000 - $500,000 Marietta Homes for Sale $500,000 - $600,000 Marietta Homes for Sale $600,000 - $700,000 Marietta Homes for Sale $700,000 - $800,000 Marietta Homes for Sale $800,000 - $900,000 Marietta Homes for Sale $900,000 - $1,000,000 Marietta Homes for Sale $1,000,000 - 5,... 05/23/2007

What do I love most about staging a vacant home?  Watching it come to life and hearing the squeals from the Realtor and homeowner when they see the completed project.  In fact, it's now habit to greet them at the door and "invite" them into the home so that they too can experience the ever-so-important first impression.Here are some "before" and "after" pictures from the project I did yesterday: When vacant - the room appeared cold and left nothing for the prospective buyers to connect to.Here's the transformation in the kitchen area.   Home Staging Company in Atlanta, Georgia Interior SolutionsKathy   05/22/2007

There are discussions swarming around discount v. full service brokers and the varying commissions. The fact is that there are varying levels of service even within these groups. Not one agent is going to perform exactly the same as another. The sellers need to make clear with their agent their goals in selling their home and what they expect as far as service goes. If you as the seller have concerns, address those upfront with the agents in the interview. Ask the agents for a marketing and service plan in addition to their qualifications. The agents should also be able to discuss a clear plan of action for promoting your property. Never be afraid to ask "how" or "why" to the agent. The time that your house is on the market can be very stressful and nerve-wracking. Your agent should be ... 04/11/2007

While we have several wonderful blogs that describe the process involved in staging a vacancy, I thought it would be fun to share the progression, as it occurred, in the staging of a vacancy.  So, armed with my camera, I managed to take the following:It's Wed. March 21st and I've received an inquiry via my "contact us" page off my web site.  Fortunately, I'm scheduled to be in the same general area so it works out that I'm able to actually visit the home the same day I received the inquiry.  Here's the very first photo taken.  At this point, it's my first visit to the home and I'm meeting with the homeowner.  FYI, I used this "before" picture to determine the quantity and pieces of furniture as well as accessories I'll need to captivate the buyers.  I also used all of the "before" pictu... 03/31/2007

As other stagers can relate, a great deal of time is spent in choosing the perfect accessories to compliment the home.   For me personally, I'll spend hours looking at the "before" pictures I've taken when I first viewed the home and to map out what accessories would work best.  To make the process easier, I now download my "before" pictures to my iPod and use it when shopping at stores or even when I'm inside my storage unit.  More on that tip later....What's become apparent is the fact that nearly 80% of the vacancies I've staged, the master bedroom is a creamy off-white color (or some version of white).  As a result, the accessories such as bedding, art, etc... become that much more important.  As a stager, my main objective is to connect with the buyers on an emotional level.With th... 03/31/2007

Okay, I admit it.  I HAVE FAVORITES.  Don't get me wrong, I put forth the same level of commitment on each and every home I stage.  However, this is one that left a mark.  Here's the before picture (Home on the market 11 months): After Picture (Staged & Sold): Perhaps it's the warm colors and/or the more contemporary look I used.  To be honest, I'm not quite sure.  What I do know is this... it remains one of my favorite homes I've staged.Thanks for letting me share!Kathy    02/26/2007

Imagine you're the homeowner and you've just found the home of your dreams.  However, in order to make the purchase, you must first sell the home you're currently in.  Not too hard to imagine, I'm sure.  Reality slips in when you realize that the home you currently live in, the starter home you purchased only 2 years early will now become the 3rd house in a row, on the market.  And, your home has 1/2 less bath than the others and you're planning on asking more for yours.True story!  The homeowner recognized the challenge and faced it head on by calling a stager (me) to help get the home sold.  Her first comment when I entered the home was; how many people do you know that place their couch in front of their fireplace?  Here's precisely what she was referring to:While I understood why sh... 02/18/2007