Phyllis's Blog

Every homeowner at one time or another have placed a mirror in a well strategic area to reflect more light and expand the space. It is true that mirrors can make a space seem larger. But while that concept remains true, a mirror will also reflect what is opposite of it, right? So, think about this!

The last 3 homes that I was called in to give a Staging Consultation had mirrors everywhere. One house had completely mirrored the walls going up their staircase and hallway, the other two had mirrored around their fireplace and chimney wall. Cool, thought the clients when they originally paid to have this done. BUT TODAY....well that is a different story because now they are trying to sell their home and this has become an issue.

Think about this for a moment. CLUTTER!! Yes we all have it. So maybe we can hide it in a corner somewhere, right? Probably not! Enter the buyer...they walk into an over decorated room or entry foyer which is bad enough but then they look into the mirror and what do they see?  DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF CLUTTER!!

Remember, when a Professional Home Stager enters your home we enter it as if we were there to buy the home. I had to walk around each of these homes for some time before I was able to figure out the space. WHY?? Because the mirrors were totally confusing me. Buyers literally make up their minds the first 15 seconds upon entering the home, they don't stick around like I do searching out all the wonderful things these homes have to offer. And believe me, each of them really had some wonderful features.

So what's a seller to do? REMOVE THE MIRRORS! But it is alot of work and it will will cost alot of money to repair the walls if they get damaged by removing the mirrors. YES THAT IS TRUE, and that is why a buyer would rather go elsewhere where they will not need to do so much work.

When a buyer enters your home they should immediatey fall in love with the space. If they are walking around the home asking, what is this room, then you have not properly prepared your home for sale.

MIRRORS, WALLPAPER and FAUX FINISHES....OH MY, please sellers kiss them GOOD BYE

If you are trying to sell your home please call today for a staging consultation with ReStyled to Sell Home Staging NJ or a Home Stager in your area, and prepare to MOVE ON!   

You heard the old saying that a shoemakers kids goes without shoes, right?? Well that saying is ringing true for this home stager.

Over the past few months, Home Staging and it's popularity has increased 10 fold. That is all anyone is talking about and let's face it.... it is GREAT for those of us who were pioneers in this field when NO ONE knew what Home Staging was and the value that staging has for sellers and their agents. Today, due to so much media hype about Home Staging, my business has grown in leaps and bounds. NO COMPLAINTS EXCEPT ONE!!

Can someone please come to stage my home...What a great TV show this will make, Stagers staging other stagers homes, hmmm. The very reason I began my business was due in part to the fact that ALL that entered my home fell in love with it. I have been helping family and friends redesign their space to make it more appealing for over 30 years. But I am afraid that due to my busy schedule my own home has suffered. This is the first summer I did not plant any flowers. NOT EVEN IN MY WINDOW BOX. Can you believe that? I always would rearrange furniture and change curtains and accessories on a whim to brighten my home. My back porch has always been my pride and joy. Friends would dream of spending lazy, cool summer evenings out there, sipping tea and talking by the flicker of candlelight. YEAH RIGHT....NOT THIS SUMMER!! Who has time to sip tea although I dream of those days gone by.

Home Staging is a very rewarding, but strenous job. I know that in the past many of us who have been in the business of Staging Homes for Sale has blogged about this same topic. IT IS NOT AN EASY WAY TO MAKE ALOT OF MONEY...too many people trying to get into this field have the misconception of the amount of work involved in staging a home.

Let me give you an example of my last 3 days. (Remember, Thursday is my Grandma babysitting day so I had to have my hubby and daughter's mother in law fill in so I can do the following tasks, BUT I still babysit in between.

Thursday morning...realtor calls and asks if there is ANYWAY I can do a quick staging for a vacant home. The deal fell thru due to appraisal issues and the builder/investor wants house staged right away for Open House on Sunday. Oh, and by the way, we are on a budget. 

Thursday afternoon...I meet with realtor and investor. Thankfully, the house is newly renovated and decorated in warm earth tones throughout. So can you do it? No problem, you are in luck because I am just about to destage a home that has my own inventory that would work perfectly in this space. This is true but I was going to pick the furniture up on Saturday. Now the rush was on!

Thursday afternoon, after my meeting...Time to go shopping for additional accessories. My husband was filling in babysitting this shift for me and he was calling me constantly to see WHEN I WAS GETTING HOME...gee wiz I am doing my best here, chill! 

Thursday night...Another consultation with another client. This was for an occupied home that has been sitting on the market for 6 mths. (that's another blog for a later date)

Thursday LATE night (10:30 pm)... Typing Consult report. Contract for the vacant home and 2 Proposals. Answer emails

Thursday LATER that night (until 2pm) Sorting through my accessories and piecing together my inventory. Then the wonderful task of packing my car   

Friday 8:00 am...Start to destage the first house

Friday 10:30 am..Start to stage the second house

Friday 2:30...Pick up the remaining furniture from the first house and deliver all to the second house. Finish staging the new house by 6 pm

Friday evening...Unpack and organize the accessories from the first house that were not used for the second house...

Friday late evening...Review files to schedule pick up of accessories and furniture from houses that have sold. Answer emails 

Saturday morning..Run out to get paint samples for another client, run to develop pictures, run to new house to add some more bling and take pictures.

Saturday afternoon...meet with investor at house to return key and get paid (that's the nice part). HE LOVED THE STAGING...but of course he would!

Saturday evening...Log all receipts and mileage from past few days. Keeping up with your books is a key part of this business. Write this blog!

So what do I have planned for tomorrow? I am celebrating a birthday party for my wonderful little grandson Giovanni. He turns 3 tomorrow. I will be at my daughter's house by 10 to help set up, pick up balloons, and then run around serving others and playing with about 15 little ones. AHHHH all this relaxation on my day off!

So I guess when the shoemaker had a day off now and then he was just too tired to make his own kids a new pair of shoes. Here at ReStyled to Sell Home Staging NJ we are just having way TOOO much fun making your homes look beautiful that we are willing to let ours wait a spell.

Happy Staging everyone

These words are music to my ears. But let me start from the beginning which might take a little convincing.

As I mentioned, I recently returned from a much needed Carribean cruise. While it is always hard to not think about work, I guess we as professionals are always speaking about our work. Such was the case at dinner one evening.

While friends of mine for many years, I guess they just did not think their house was in need of staging. So the discussion went. Here is the scenario. I have friends who recently moved to SC and prior to moving they added a new addition to their house. They added new windows, doors, bathroom, landscaping and outside chimney. Okay, so when they listed their house I figured it is READY TO SELL!!

On the cruise, I come to find out it has been 9 months and no OFFERS. They are struggling with 2 mortgages and just relisted for a third time. I again tell them about home staging. At this point the husband is interested, his wife feels there is NOTHING wrong with the house. So I leave it alone. Sometimes it is harder to convince friends, right?

I return on Sunday afternoon and later that evening my doorbell rings. I answer the door and there are my friends holding the key to their house in the air. Please do whatever you do to GET OUR HOUSE SOLD.

So we all take a ride over to their house and immediately my husband and I start rattling off a list of things we see that need to be addressed.

For one, the house is vacant and not so clean. Remember, they have not lived there for 9 months. Also they left in a hurry and actually left clutter in a vacant house. The lawn and garden are overgrown. Then the large unfinished basement had moisture because there was no dehumidifier. We purchased one immediately and cleaned and painted the walls and floor. FYI: Glidden Paint's Jefferson House is an excellent color for basement and porch floors. 

We worked up a proposal, I spoke with their realtor, who by the way told me she is a stager. She also admitted to me that she always has a problem selling vacants. HELLO! THEN WHY IS THIS HOUSE NOT STAGED?? By Wednesday morning we are all over this house like white on rice. 

This is the job that my son helped us on. Remember, my bog..WORDS OF WISDOM AND THE VALUE STAGERS PROVIDE?

Well, last evening we get a call from our friends..THE HOUSE SOLD!! I just knew that it would and I am saddened that they carried this burden for 9 months.

Here are some pics of how even a simple staging can make all the difference.

To all sellers and realtors alike...HOME STAGING IS SWEEPING THE NATION. HOME STAGERS HELP SELLERS MOVE ON. A PROFESSIONAL HOME STAGER WILL HELP YOU SELL YOUR HOUSE.

The cost of an initial consultation is so minimal, but in the long run can SAVE YOU THOUSANDS. Pick up that phone today and schedule your Staging Consultation with ReStyled to Sell Home Staging NJ or a professional Home Stager in your area.

Phyllis Pafumi, President of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging NJ 732-995-3425

How many times have you entered into your clients bathroom and were faced with the dreaded GRAY TILED BATHROOM??? Well, I have to confess more than once, but not more than the BLUE TILED bathroom. So what's a stager to do?

 Here is a before pic of a bathroom that I recently staged. While you cannot see the stains on the first sink, you will notice the drab, gray color. The rest of the bathroom is the same gray and the tub had a very old shower enclosure which made the room seem small and even more outdated. There was also a "shell border" lining the top of the room.

I loved the wall color and asked if the client had any paint left over. Thankfully, they did. So, this is what we did. First, the border was removed and walls touched up. Then the shower doors were removed and the tub was recaulked. Clutter was put away and then I purchased a vanity top with 2 sinks (onyx) at Lowe's for $288.00. I purchased in a cream/bone onyx to break up the gray. Then 2 new faucets and light fixtures were installed.

I accessorized in colors of cream and gray to again downplay the gray and for under $500.00 the client had a WHOLE NEW BATHROOM. Not so gray anymore, huh!!

 Anyroom, any color pallette and any home can benefit from the services of a professional home stager. Stagers are trained to work within your budget to achieve dramatic results. Don't wait any longer for your house to sell in the condition that it is presently in.

STAGE YOUR HOUSE AND SELL  

When you are ready to sell your home, your home must first become a "Product" to sell and market. Turning it back into just a HOUSE  is exactly what a Professional Home Stager will need to do so your realtor can successfully market it.

Here is a scenario to think about...When you trade in your used car in order to purchase a new one, the first thing the car sales man will review is the book value and trade in value of the car. Once you each agree on a price, you the customer, once owner of your pride and joy, will relinquish your car to a stranger that will now market it and sell this "product" to potential buyers. This is the same thing that a realtor will do once they list your home.

 LET'S LOOK AT some things he MAY NEED TO do to make your "car"  WHICH IS NOW HIS  "product"  appealing to buyers?

         .   First, he may take your dice out of the front window, can you believe that?

• Next, the tinted windows may be stripped to let in more light, HMMMM....
• Here's the biggie, all your empty Dunkin' Donuts coffee cups and bags will be thrown out!

OH NO!! My car, my home away from home, or how we sometimes refer to it as our Office away from the Office is now just a "product" that seems cold and empty. "Please Mr. Salesman, those dice were my good luck charm given to me by my wife on our first date, I cannot part with them".

Does this sound ridiculous to you?

Well, that is exactly what I hear every time I enter into someone's home to Stage it!

Depersonalizing a "HOME" and turning it back into a "HOUSE" that the realtor could market successfully to all buyers is the basic premise behind Home Staging. 

When First Impressions Matter Most, Your Home Needs to be                    

                      RESTYLED TO SELL  732-995-3425

After returning from a 9 day cruise, it was back to work as usual and I must admit it was TOUGH!! I had endless days of sunning, reading and definitely over eating. Anyone that has been on a cruise can testify to that. I enjoyed taking the time to read a good book and I read the life story of Paula Deen. You know her, she is on the Food Network, Ms. butter herself. Anyway,  her story was one of encouragement and determination in making a life for herself and 2 boys.

Starting and then running a business is never an overnight success and nothing ever comes easy. To see her success now, one would not know the pain and hard work that preceeded it. It got me thinking more about keeping my business all in the family for several reasons.

So today was a first in my home staging business. My son, Ron joined my team. I had a staging job today that needed to have the wallpaper in the bathroom torn down as well as the basement painted. I asked if he was finally ready to be part of the team and he happily agreed. So today on his 30th birthday, one more great guy has been added to the team of ReStyled to Sell Home Staging.

Well, he was not on the job more than 2 hours when he turned to me and said..."mom, the realtor cannot drop the price of the house anymore, it looks great! Do you realize the VALUE that you are providing for the realtor and seller"??   Words of wisdom were coming out of his mouth.  

It was funny hearing those words coming from him but I guess that until someone actually witnesses firsthand what a professional home stager does to make the property model ready, they really don't have a clue about Staging. Well you know we as professional home stagers have said this many times, but we need to make realtors and sellers alike BELIEVE IT!!

WE DO PROVIDE A VERY VALUABLE SERVICE. The house I staged today has been on the market for 9 months. The clients moved to SC and are carrying two mortgages. They are strapped. They are on their second realtor and when I called the realtor to discuss the fact that her clients wanted me to stage the property, this was her response...."I always have a hard time selling a vacant house"!!

So, why aren't you calling a home stager to stage it?? After doing my consult I had to call the client and tell them how upset I was because l am sure that if they hired ReStyled to Sell Home Staging 9 months ago, their property would have definitely sold. The house is very nice and in a good neighborhood. Yes, it needed a good cleaning, painting and wallpaper removal. I staged the living room, dining room, kitchen and accessorized the bathrooms. We also are having the garden weeded and lawn mowed. We purchased a dehumidifier for the client and are drying out his basement. Remember, we had a humid summer and no one was there to air out the house. It has been pretty much closed up for the past 9 months. 

Since the house has been on the market, there has been several price reductions. The total price reduction to date is $50,000.00. The cost of staging, cleaning, painting, wallpaper removal, furniture and accessories, garden clean up and mow - $1,200.00. The cost of staging is ALWAYS cheaper than the FIRST PRICE REDUCTION. Stage your home before the first and definitely BEFORE THE FIFTH PRICE REDUCTION!!

My son's first day on the job went great, he even cleaned the toilets, imagine that! He's hired for good. He loved being a part of the team and cannot wait for the next job.

His words are true...A home stager adds great value to a house that is on the market. More so in today's competitive market. He cannot wait to tell everyone about the house we staged today because up until now he thought all we did was rearrange a few pieces of furniture. He never imagined the difference a professional home stager can make in the appearance of a home.

As a loan officer, he has met with many realtors and after today he is ready to tell them all that before they consider dropping the price of the house, THEY MUST CALL A HOME STAGER TO STAGE THE HOUSE.

Preferably, his mom's company...ReStyled to Sell.

Well everyone I am writing this blog because I just returned from vacation. A wonderful vacation actually. A 9 day family cruise to the caribbean. While this has been my first vacation in 4 years I do not have to tell you that it was very much needed. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HOW DOES ONE FIND THE TIME TO ACTUALLY GO?

The month before leaving on my trip was insane. I was working from 7 am to 11 pm just about everyday. The morning I was to leave on my cruise was a frenzy of phone calls and emails making sure appointments were scheduled and questions answered. Leaving my partner in charge, as most business owners know, can be a little scary, if you are like me I am a total control freak, right?? But I have to admit once I got on that ship, it was a smooth sailing.

Well, let's not lie here, it took 2 days to unwind and 3 to stop worrying about what was going on back home without me there running the show. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, once I got into vacation mode, man oh man there was nothing like it. I knew I was relaxed when I did not even care about rearranging chairs or beds or thinking....hmmm, now if that picture was over there and that couch over there, this room would appear much larger!! LOL you know how we stagers can be!

I was on vacation and enjoying it. Now it's time to get back to work and back into the business of getting these houses SOLD for our clients.

I wanted to say a quick HEY I'M BACK to all and encourage all of my fellow business owners to take the time to enjoy their lives while we are still able to. Vacation is not so much about finding the time, as it is about MAKING THE TIME!

God Bless Phyllis Pafumi