FREE STAGING TIPS....  So often I only get called out to work on the hardest houses with the most awkward floor-plans - or after a house has languished on the market for 6+ months without offers.  I love a good challenge, but it made me realize that the tips that I apply to a difficult house, also apply to all kinds of Do-It-Yourself types of rooms too.

1. Make sure that you give each room a true purpose!
2. If the room feels small, use smaller or less furniture.
3. If the room feels too large, add a few pieces from another room to fill some of the space, but not all of it.
4. Also if the room feels awkwardly large, pull the furniture off the wall and "cozy it up" by bringing the furniture closer together.
5. Watch-out for themes or collections, pack those away now, they are not selling friendly - I get called in all the time to talk to sellers about their beloved collection of ....
6. Choose mostly neutral colors for furniture, pillows, wall hangings etc., but add one stronger color to add a pop for the pictures - I like red, blue or green.

Here are some before and after examples of a tough to decorate house I just finished that went into escrow in 4 days.  This is an open Studio type guest cottage with no real focal point or kitchen.


After

Before

How is it already May?

May is here the flowers are blooming and real estate sales are picking up.  Prices are getting stronger, inventory is down and interest rates are still excellent.  But even with all those factors you still must prepare your home to look great for a strong sale.

In honor of may being the fifth month of the year, here are 5 quick tips to help with selling your home:

• Clean!!!!
• de-clutter
• Pack personal items and collections now
• Ventilate - fresh air is best!
• Mow the weeds

Happy selling!

Summer is in full swing!

Wow- Real Estate Season is ON! Staging has been hopping and so is the real estate market! What a fresh change from the past two years! I have seen some great houses lately that have had trouble selling for one reason or another.

The best advice that I can give to sellers is prepare your house and stage before it hits the market- its hard to take back a less than perfect first impression!

Here is a great newly staged listing! It is a beautiful home in Cambria- just 2 blocks from the beach!! Click on the picture to view the full info from Cambria Pines Realty.

Don't forget to check out our website for other great listings and staging tips!

http://www.lightbrightandairy.com/

Spring has sprung!

Spring is a great time to refocus and retool if you are planning, hoping or trying to sell real estate. As the weather changes and the rain stops, everything starts to bloom and house shoppers start to come out and look at new real estate options. As you have heard 1,000 times, you only get ONE chance to make a first impression. Real Estate is no different.

• Buyers shop first from the curb appeal, make sure that you tidy up your yard after all that rain!
• After buyers have decided that they like you curb appeal enough to make an appointment- they then shop with all of their senses, address them ALL: sights of your home, sounds, smells, and feel- we will skip taste!
• Sights- Make sure that your home looks GREAT- clean, tidy and clutter free!
• Smells- Make sure that is smells fresh, the best way to do that is to let in the smells of spring! Baking cookies is good too!
• Sounds- Make sure that it is peaceful, not over stimulated in the sounds- remove pets during showings- chatty birds and barking dogs can be a huge seller turn-off.
• Feel- Make sure that it is not too warm or too cold, either one can be a distraction from a great home.

Good luck and happy seeling!

Is this the Serengeti, or a California Beach town?

This is so cool, I had to share! I was working in a condo yesterday, staging it for the market, when I looked out the kitchen window and saw this view... Those are Zebra grazing on the hills of San Simeon, California at the Hearst Family ranch. This is truly the view from the kitchen window, and the view from the living room is of the pacific coast line, it is awesome! If you are looking for a 2 bedroom / 2 and a half bath get-away, look no further! I will attach a link to the full listing as soon as it goes on the market in the next few days! If you are interested sooner, please contact Sand Shell Realty in Cambria and ask for Terry Farrell, realtor- for more information - 805.927.1511

Where else can you see grazing Zebra and the ocean from the same home? This listing is one in a million!

Great new listing!

This is a great new listing just listed by Michelle Brown of Peabody and Plum. It is a large 4 Bedroom 2 1/2 Bath home in Atascadero's premier gated community! It has almost an acre of beautifully landscaped grounds and is a must see house if you are shopping for an elegant house with an open floorplan and a great setting!

Follow this link to view: Michelle Brown's Listing

The value in a good Realtor

I cannot emphasize enough, the importance of putting your real estate transaction in the hands of a savvy Realtor! This picture was sent to me by one such Realtor/Broker, Hayley Townley of Comet Realty in San Luis Obispo. The seller was asked to make sure that the water heater was strapped before the close of escrow. The seller assured all parties that this had been completed. On Hayley Townley's Final inspections -she was shocked to find, what the seller called a 'strapped water heater' - please look for yourself!

Yes that is a car seat belt, nailed to the wall and tied in the middle! This is NOT within the conforming state guidelines on proper hot water heater strapping! So please use a smart realtor, who can catch these issues like Hayley did, when you are buying or selling real estate!!