Phyllis's Blog

So what do you do when your clients own a HUGE platform bed that is covered in pink and gray and screams 1980? Well you know what we suggest that they do with it but as usual the client is never willing to part with their cherished furniture.....SOOOOO, here is the next best solution! COVER IT UP!

I purchased a King Size Comforter set so I would have enough material to cover the large platform. If you notice the dust ruffle covers it quite well and now makes it appear softer and more inviting. I stuffed the pillow shams and had them rest on two other pillows so they would have height which covered the built in headboard. This softened the whole look of the room and the clients were very pleased.

I was lucky to find colors that blended in nicely with the built in furniture. The colors were richer in person, I think the camera washed them out.

The artwork was found in another room in the clients house and worked quite well over the headboard to tie in the colors of the bedding. Now in case you have not noticed the pink couch in the before picture, you will see how the room takes on a more formal feel once same is removed.

The bedding was purchased for $99.00 at Marshalls and the other items were found throughout the house. Staging does not have to be expensive. Small changes can have a huge impact on how your house will appear to buyers.

Before you list your house on the real estate market, call ReStyled to Sell Home Staging NJ and let us assist you in preparing your home to SELL!

Okay Ladies, listen up! Has your home been on the market for more than 3 months with no offers? Have you told your husband it must be the flowered pink foiled wallpaper in the bathroom, only to hear him say, hon, it was there when we saw this house and it didn't stop us from buying it? Are your rugs stained and matted?

You know you need to do something to make your home more appealing in today's competitive market, but your husband just does not think it is necessary. So what should you do?

SIMPLY REMIND HIM THAT......

WHEN MOST MEN ARE GETTING READY TO SELL THEIR CAR THEY WILL SPEND ANYWHERE FROM $150 - $500 DETAILING THEIR CAR TO PRESENT THAT CAR IN A POSITIVE MANNER TO BUYERS IN ORDER TO RECOUP MORE MONEY, YET... MOST MEN ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THE SAME WHEN PRESENTING THEIR HOME ON THE REAL ESTATE MARKET...HMMM!!!!! DOES THIS SOUND RIGHT LADIES??

                                                         WHEN FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER MOST

                                                                    YOUR HOME NEEDS TO BE.....            

                                                                           RESTYLED TO SELL

SIMPLE STAGING TECHNIQUES AND CREATIVE ROOM REDESIGNS THAT WILL PREPARE YOUR HOME TO SELL!

So guys, do you get the picture? Staging to sell, it's all about the details!  Call to Schedule your In Home Consultation today @ 732-995-3425, you'll be glad you did!

Two Objectives as a Realtor:

(1) Obtain more Listings

(2) $ell those Listings quickly and for top dollar

With MANY Real Estate Agents available to the public, how do you obtain the listings?

(a)    Discounting?

(b)   Brand-naming?

(c)    Begging?

(d)   Presenting the client with Real Value

Definition of Value:  To consider with respect to value, usefulness or importance, to regard highly. In other words, what you can provide that the others cannot or will not. It is about your time and your experience that you will deliver to the people.

How can you sell your listings faster and more efficiently, while eliminating the competition?

Teamwork: the more professionals you network with the better. In the past you have developed a network of trusted mortgage professionals, home inspectors, attorneys and title companies that have helped you achieve your final results...... a closed deal!

THE NEW PROFESSIONAL THAT MUST BE ADDED TO YOUR NETWORK IS THAT OF A HOME STAGER. DISCOVER WHAT REALTORS IN THE WEST COAST ALREADY KNOW ABOUT STAGING THEIR LISTINGS!      

             "With more houses on the market, sellers have more competition and with home prices steadily rising, buyers have much higher expectations. Before, you could buy a house for $200,000 and it would be a nice house, but that's not the case anymore, today that's a fixer-upper. So when people spend $300,000, $400,000 and $500,000 for a house, they expect to walk in and feel good about the house..." Realtor - Coldwell Banker

Now is the time for all realtors to INCLUDE HOME STAGING  ON  ALL THEIR LISTINGS! Teaming up with a professional home stager will help your listings stand out from the competition.

For more information contact ReStyled to Sell Home Staging NJ @ 732-995-3425.....

Stagers are changing the way buyers view homes!

Every year too many people suffer from depression and anxiety around the holiday season from loneliness, pain and sorrow. This is a very sad time for many but an time when we need to reflect on the Goodness of God. How can a Christian effectively fight bitterness in his life...."Fill your mind with God, and cultivate the art of THANKSGIVING"

I encourage all to Read Psalm 136

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His lovingkindness continues forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for His lovingkindness continues forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His lovingkindness continues forever. Praise Him who alone does mightly miracles, for His lovingkindess continues forever. Praise Him who made the heavens, for His lovninkindness continues forever. Praise Hom who planted the water within the earth, for His lovingkindness continues forever. Praise Him who made the heavenly lights, for His lovingkindness continus forever, the sun to rule the day, for His lovingkindness continues forever; and the moon and stars at night, for His lovingkindness continues forever.

Praise the God who smote the firstborn of Egypt, for His lovingkindness to Israel continue forever. He brought them out with mighty power and upraised fist tos trike their enemies, for his lovingkindness to Israel continues forever. Praise the Lord who opened the Red Sea to make a path before them, for His lovingkindness continues forever, and led them safely through, for His lovingkindness continues forever-but drowned Pharaoh's army in the sea, for His lovingkindness continues forever.

Praise HIM who led His people throught the wilderness, for His lovingkindness continues forever. Praise Him who saved His people form the poere of mightly kings, for His lovingkindness continues  forever, and killed famous kings who were their emenies, for His lovingkindness to Israel continues forever: Sihon, king of Amorites-for God's lovingkindess to Israel continues forever. God gave the land of these kings to Israel as a gift forever, for His lovingkindness to Israel continues forever; yes a permanent gift to His servant  Israel, for His lovingkindness continues forever.

He remembered our utter weakness for His lovingindness continues forever. And saved us from our our foes, for His lovingkindness continues forever.

HE GIVES FOOD TO EVERY LIVING THING, FOR HIS LOVINGKINDNESS CONTINUES FOREVER. OH, GIVE THANKS TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN, FOR HIS LOVINGKINDNESS CONTINUES FOREVER.

How long does HIS lovingkindness continue.....FOREVER. As you struggle with loneliness, fear, sadness and many other things that each of us may experience, remember that you have a GOD that LOVES YOU....

This is GOD'S GOOD WORD FOR A FRIDAY MORNING. REJOICE IN HIM ALWAYS AND TRULY HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR  

It's that wonderful time of year again, THANKSGIVING. I just love this holiday. It is a time to reflect and spend time with loved ones without any hassle attached to it. The food is ALWAYS wonderful and the turkey is phenomenal.

Every year I am elected to make the turkey. I happened to experiment years ago with a few concoctions and came up with the best turkey ever. It is NEVER dry, always juicy and delicious. Seriously, everyone loves it.

So being that Thanksgiving is just a week away I thought I would share this recipe with you.

After the turkey is cleaned and giblets removed, place in a large baking pan

1. Slather with SESAME OIL, TERIYAKI SAUCE, BALSAMIC VINEGAR, RICE WINE VINEGAR. I don't measure I just pour, not too much just enough to coat.

2. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, pepper, thyme and sesame seeds 

3. Add water to bottom of pan. Make sure you are checking periodically and adding more water as the turkey cooks.

NOW HERE GOES THE MISTAKE THAT TURNED INTO A JUICIER TURKEY....Cook the darn thing UPSIDE DOWN and uncovered. YEP you heard right. Half way thru carefully flip the turkey so the top browns as well.

When the turkey is done cooking, let stand for awhile for juices to redistribute and then carefully remove the turkey from the pan. You should have lots of juices in the bottom of the pan. Now here is what keeps the turkey moist. I carve the turkey and add the slices BACK INTO THE PAN WITH THE JUICES. HMMMMM, it is awesome, trust me you will love it. This is what keeps it moist and delicious. I never even make gravy.

Now I know what you are all thinking....but what about the Norman Rockwell scene of carrying that turkey to the table and carving it right there in front of the whole family?? I have given that scene up for the scene of my family smacking their lips instead of adding more gravy to their dried out turkey.

Try it and let me know what you think. Turkey is not just for Thanksgiving!! To all my fellow Active Rainers, have a truly blessed day!

Phylis Pafumi, ReStyled to Sell Home Staging NJ

Before Painting and Staging

After Painting and Staging.

So many times I see homes that are reminiscent of 1980's decor and paint color. Pink is one of those colors. While it works well in a little girl's room, it does nothing to warm up this space. This is a beautiful home in Warren, NJ. The style is contemporary and therefore the homeowner went with the "contemporary" colors that so many homeowners choose....PINK!

This living room was large and in an effort to "fit" all their furniture, the homeowners had everything spread out! The loveseat was across from the couch (as seen in the next pic). This arrangement was not set up for good conversation, but it also completely blocked the flow into the dining room. 

  After Staging...Reading Nook and open flow into the dining room was created

Too many times I see this pattern repeated. Entrances to other rooms MUST NEVER BE BLOCKED BY FURNITURE.  When a buyer enters your home they need to be WOWED!! Warm colors will invite them in, light will illuminate your space and clear flow to other rooms will keep them moving, wanting to see more.

Your formal dining room should be uncluttered and clean, showing buyers how they can entertain family and friends. Large area rugs placed over carpeting oftentimes can make a space feel dark and cluttered. In this dining we opted to remove the rug to keep the room from looking dark and cramped.

 Dining Room Before appeared dark, cluttered and small for entertaining. By painting, adding chair rails, removing the area rug and some items from the floors we now have a spacious, formal looking room. Also artwork was swamped out with prints from the living room which suit the room as well. All blinds were lifted up to let in more light. Sheers were added to the windows as well.

Now a buyer can appreciate the space and not be distracted by the clutter. If you notice, the light in the dining room is NOT ON in both pics. It is the same time of day, yet the dining room seems so much more brighter and airy after staging. This is a simple rule of staging.....OPEN UP BLINDS AND LET LIGHT IN, IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE!! LOOK AT THAT VIEW THAT THE BUYERS WERE MISSING!

Buyers keep it simple....

1. Paint out pastel paint colors to warm up your home..Color used in this home is Blondwood by Benjamin Moore. 

2. Rearrange your furniture to create conversation areas and reading nooks

3. Never block an entrance into another room

4. Let the SUNSHINE IN...remove heavy draperies and pull up those blinds

5. Declutter, declutter and declutter. We cannot repeat this enough. Pack early and show off the size of your rooms. Buyers are there to see your space not your stuff!

6. Remove heavy, dark area rugs and have those neutral colored rugs steam cleaned. The buyers will see this as one less thing they will need to install if they feel the carpeting is neutral, clean and looking like new

For more information on Staging your Home for sale, please contact ReStyled To Sell Home Staging NJ @ 732-995-3425 or visit our web @ restyledtosell.com.  

Home Stagers are changing the way buyers view homes!!

Everyday I receive phone calls or emails from people who are interested in getting involved with the Home Staging business either seeking advice or positions with my company. Awhile back I did a blog about Hiring an Intern because of this fact and wondered if anyone has done this before.

I was receiving emails from a certain girl just about every week and we were corresponding back and forth for a few weeks. I am always happy to share the hard lessons I have learned over the years in this business as well as help someone move along in theirs. Afterall, I am not sure how far I would have gotten without the help of family and friends.

While many people advised against taking on an intern, I just felt that there was something different about this girl. I had a huge job a few weeks ago that was going to take about 2-3 days to stage. Yes the house had that much stuff and it was quite large. I originally hired my assistant for this job but when the seller rescheduled because she was too swamped keeping her end of the bargain, (yes she had that much stuff), the new staging date meant my assistant would not be available.

My first thought was that I needed to prepare myself for 3 grueling days and then I remembered this girl who had been emailing me. I shot her an email and said that while I felt this house would be a bit of a ride for her, if she was willing to come she would learn alot about this business because this house was partially occupied, partially vacant and quite large. She would get to see the rental furniture delivery, the staging using homeowners items and the addition of new accessories that I was bringing in to enhance the staging.

She was thrilled and happily accepted, and so my first job training an intern was about to take place. When I arrived she had already gotten there since I was stuck in traffic for 2 hrs on 287, yuck. Once I arrived we immediately clicked. She was sweet, energetic and very excited to get started. Without a moment's hesitation the "fun" began. The furniture delivery truck pulled up as we were unloading my car and we were off and running. SHE WAS GREAT!

I am a work horse and I can run through a house like a crazy lady flipping rooms, hanging curtains, and rearranging furniture. She was right along side of me and was creative, helpful and just a pleasure to work with. She comes from a long line of interior decorators and she certainly displayed her talents that day.

The seller could not believe how quickly we were staging that house. Midway through the day I decided that this person deserved to get paid my assistant's wages for the day. Because of her help we completed that house that day. When I handed her a check, she cried and felt blessed. She said she had emailed many stagers asking for their advice and help and no one answered. 

The staging was a success and we have maintained a relationship. Her business is up and running and yesterday I received a beautiful thank you card from her. The card went on to read..."I know I probably thanked you a million times, but this is just one more of the many thank you's you deserve. Your christian spirit definitely shines through your good deeds. I know that is one of the greatest compliments a person can receive and I especially mean it for you. I truly appreciate the knowledge and experience you have bestowed upon me. Thanks for your support and generosity, With Love Elise

This card blessed me and I knew that I did the right thing by helping her along in this business. So to all who may be afraid about hiring an intern I will tell you that you may be missing out on a wonderful opportunity to meet another kind human being and help them along this road of life.

To my new friend Elise..."Rooms Like New" I wish you all the success and good fortune with your staging business. May every home you stage SELL QUICKLY!!

For more information about staging your home contact ReStyled to Sell Home Staging NJ @ 732-995-3425