Internet and Selling Your Home

If you're selling your home one of your best tools is excellent photos. More than 80 percent of home buyers report using the Internet to look for a home, according to a survery by the National Association of Realtors good photos are critical.

Know that you only need one buyer. That potential buyer could be from out of town and have limited time to physically visit your home. Or your potential buyer may not want to drive to your home without seeing it first online. Capture their interest immediately with your online photos.

The importance of staging a home comes in when you want to sell the dream of home ownership, showcase the homes better features or down play those features that are not fabulous. Some people have a better time understanding the space when it is furnished. Open House staged a townhouse last week. The agent felt the master bedroom appeared small without furnishings. With staging we created a sitting area in addition to the queen bed and nightstands and the room looked plenty big. It worked.

Staging or styling each photo is also key. It you need to move a chair out of the way to showcase the home's view then do it. Even if it is not where the chair is in the next photo. Take great care with each shot.

Most importantly make a good first impression from the street to the unfinished basement. This will most likely be the largest sale of your life. Go the distance.

First Impression

The owner took great care in creating a mood as the potential buyer walks up the path. This was very intentional.

This is also a shot of the front yard. It's a perfect first impression.

The master bedroom looks lovely and inviting. The view is beautifully captured by photographer.

In the family room the staging creates a warm feeling with the stylish furnishings. Again, the photographer knows the views are important and keeps that in the frame.

Agent: Cathy Millan Windermere Real Estate

Staging by Open House LLC

Fresh Starts and Growth. Green

If you feel a need for change or growth add a bit of green in your life. It is the color of nature, fertility and life. Symbolizing self-respect and well being

Transformation Complete

Before

Before

Tah-Dah!!! Isn't this a great living room?

Another great listing by Marsha Nemitz,  Blair and Jan Paul.

Happy Birthday Sister Sue

If the sisters 3 were together in the same town we would be laughing over drinks and dinner celebrating Sister Sue's birthday. We find "funny" in almost any situation.

This scene perfectly describes the sisters.

The birthday girl, Sue Carmody.

Creative, Fun, Sensible, Artsy, Inspiring, Motivating and so much more.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Love your wildly wonderful sisters-Erin & Tara

Young Artists

The Puyallup fair has a wonderful 4-H exhibit-my favorite. 4-H showcases flower arranging, baking, canning, sewing, photography, wood working and more. All done by children ages 8-17. Here is a selection I thought photo worthy.  This drawing won my vote for the "peoples choice" award.

All of the lines and loops are actually words. This was fantastic!

A future textile designer.

Robbed Again

It happened again! This time the thieves must have been interrupted at the scene of the crime. We lost some great pieces, linen and art but they did not get it all. It was crazy looking at the crime scene. All of the items were sorted, wrapped when possible and stacked neatly by the door. We think the crooks were women because they took such care. The furniture upstairs was pulled out and put at the top of the stairs ready to be quickly loaded onto a waiting truck.

It is always a hassle to have our things taken. There really isn't any sentimental value it's mostly the time that went into purchasing the item and of course the money. Once in awhile we get really bummed that a certain piece got stolen.

We lucked out-the bedding was by the front door...

Loading up is always a fun job....yuck.

Movers of America moving company. Another glamours side to our business.

Dining Room Envy

Seattle Stylist Kamie Kahlo has created a fun and sexy dining room in her Queen Anne home.

Love how confidently she married the Tiffany inspired blue and the intense orange. I am always telling Kamie how brilliant I think she is. An enormously talented stylist, graphic designer and blogger.

Fabulous food in a glorious space

A party at Mike and Dena's is a welcome treat!  They have taken their Queen Anne home and turned it into a place one does not want to leave. Mike and Dena have created spaces in their vertical garden that are over the top. This is their outdoor living and dining room. Image dining al fresco in Seattle year round... 

Mike is at the built-in pizza oven preparing our next course. Both Mike and Dena are accomplished cooks. Their cookbook collection is the largest I've seen. Mike says together they create something new each week.

This is at the top of their terraced garden. Lovely views of Puget Sound.

Cocktails beginning at the top.

Lovely Natelie who co-hosted the amazing evening with her husband Bob.

I am with my wonderful friend Annie. We rarely get to have a social evening together without all of our children. It's that that makes us happy in this photo-not the alcohol.

A Simple Transformation

The impact of staging a home is profound in these photos. This is a little starter home listed by Blair Paul of Re/Max. It's a sweet 2 bedroom home with light filled spaces. Staging by Open House LLC.

Don't be afraid of painting out the brick on a fireplace. This turned out to be a nice focal point rather than the original eye sore.

Paint: Benjamin Moore

Walls- Monroe Bisque

Trim- Monteray White

Fireplace-Quincy Tan