Introduction to Home Staging

My dogue de bordeaux is nearly 9 months old and he has just started marking his scent in the house but this morning i came down and he had weed against the wall and fireplace and on the tv unit and on another cupboard. I can’t have this in the house as i have 4 young children who play in that room and we have nowhere else for him to sleep. He did used to sleep at the bottom of the stairs but then he started chewing the stairs!! This morning he chewed my babys chair, there was fluff and foam everywhere and now i’ll have to buy a new one. How can i stop him doing this when i’m not even there?
Please help because it’s been going on for a while now and we are considering having to rehome him but we really don’t want to because apart from this he is a lovely dog.
It’s not the breeding but showing that i want to do so therefore he needs his balls! As for the water thing it’s a great idea but he only does it at night when we’ve all gone to bed!

Male dogs always smell before they pee so what i did because i was in ur situation i put pepper were u would think he would do it because when he goes to smell little bits of the pepper go up his nose so then he should go away from that area and not pee.

If Ur children are young u might not wont to do that so if he is not an old dog (0-5 it still could work a little bit older) u should get him de-sexed this would get rid of the hormones to mark his territory so he can get the girls so that should stop it if u go to Ur vet they should tell u this and give u more information about it i hope this helped!

If he does it at night lock him in ur laundry or some room…defiantly don’t let him keep on doing it because he will get used to it and u shouldn’t re-home him because of that.

our dog did it and we got a special guy that knows about this stuff he said he is doing it for attention so we all had to give him a lot of attention and every day we had to walk him for 5mins in a small circle because at first they think they are going for a good fun walk but when u keep going around in circles they wont to go in the other direction so then there other side of "im boss of u" comes out so that teaches them that ur the boss and its ur territory and always will be.

What would be a reasonable hourly rate for a professional home stager?
Thanks all, I was actually inquiring for a friend who is looking to start her own business after getting laid off from a design position. She was curious about what she could reasonably charge per hour for her services.

That would depend on the amount of staging being done. If they are just removing the clutter and rearranging what you own, in the Northeast it’s $15.00 per hour

If they are painting and renting furniture, doing a little updating and landscaping the going rate is $25.00 per hour

If they are calling in outside contractors for some remodeling you will be paying the stager and the contractor.

These wages include client participation. If you are leaving the staging entirely up to the designer you will pay significantly more.

Got an offer. Buyers had their inspection. They hired the inspector from helll, he listed everything and I mean EVERYTHING. I know, I know, we all want the home in perfect condition, but trust me, this guy got off on every minute detail.

The buyers asked for every single thing on the list be done.

I called out two handyman, and both had the same reaction. About 50% of the stuff on the list does not need to be done. Cause in their opinion, 50% of the stuff he listed is fine, or so minute, it would take weeks to do it and there would be no change.

How do you typically handle this sort of thing?

Am I under some form of ethical obligation to act in good faith and at least have most of the repairs done?

I sold the home $22,000 below comparable homes sales in my area. The repairs they are demanding would exceed $5,500. I only want to have $2200 of them done, the rest are fluff.

Is this ethical? How do most deal with this?

The buyers are essentially making an offer to buy your house on condition that all the work is done. That is perfectly legal and ethical.

You are under no obligation to accept the offer. You can counter by saying that you will not do any of the work, that you will do specified parts of the work, that you will do all of the work etc. You can counter by raising your sales price by 5000 dollars and saying you will have all the work done. You can counter by saying you will have none of the work done, but will reduce your sales price by $1000 and sell the place ‘as is’.

But: don’t you have an agent representing you? What does h/she say.

There are all types of swag holder. I chose the one that look like a miniature shelf with a hole in the middle and put up one each side of the window. (they screw in) Then I threaded two panels into the holders and crossed them over in the middle of the window. Lots of work, but looks it!

If you’re selling in winter, there are a lot of things you can do to encourage buyers to keep coming back. These tips will help you provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere in your home and encourage buyers to stay longer than they would otherwise.

Keep your home scrupulously clear of ice and snow. Remove ice and snow from the roof and ensure the gutters are clean. The last thing you need is someone slipping and falling in or near your house; it doesn’t say much for the perceived safety of the property. Ensure that there is safe parking that is easy for the buyer to access.

Stage your home like you would for any other time of the year: remove dirt and clutter. Make sure that your general cleaning includes the windows – inside and out, so that nothing appears dirty. Homes can get dirtier and appear a lot dingier in winter, so be extra diligent about the cleaning. A clean, warm house is the first step to a perfect winter Home Staging.

If at all possible, arrange showings in the daytime, to allow the natural light to brighten your home. Also make sure that you have ample outdoor lighting in case there is a showing just before or after dark. The path or sidewalk to your door should be generously illuminated. Consider stringing cheap but attractive Japanese-style lanterns or other inexpensive lighting along a dark path or walkway.

Put attractive looking welcome mats on both sides of the door to help minimize mess and drips. Make sure there is adequate accommodation for coats, hats and other belongings that need a temporary home while the tour is being conducted.

Keep your home just warm enough to be comfortable for someone in a sweater. Most people will be wearing coats or long sleeves at this time of year; set the thermostat to a temperature that will keep them in the house rather than rushing outside for the coolness of a freezing night or the warmth of their car heater. A fireplace can add some extra warmth and also provide a cozy ambiance, if it is safely contained, supervised and extinguished.

A few hours before your prospective buyers are due to come, open some windows and doors for a change of air. This will keep the home smelling fresh and avoid stale smells. A regularly aired-out home also doesn’t tend to attract lingering odors.

You may also want to introduce a smell or two traditionally associated with winter cheer. Chocolate chip cookies smell heavenly and, left for your guests to enjoy, may leave a lasting impression. Other winter smells are apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg and fresh baked bread. Hot cocoa left out can also encourage guests to stay around for longer.

Use soft, thick coverings and throws on beds and couches. If you are repainting, try for warm colors that emphasize the comfort of your home. Hang thick, plush robes in the bathrooms. Use fabrics and colors that feel luxurious on the skin and look good to the eye.

A little work on your part to bring the warmth and comfort of your family home out for your prospective buyers can reward you with a quicker sale. Don’t hesitate to do a little extra to make your home appear inviting this winter; it can really pay off!

Stacy Neir
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/staging-your-home-for-a-winter-sale-690324.html

In the world of FSBO home sales there are some distinct things that you should keep in mind. This is a time consuming and complicated process, so planning is of utmost importance. Here are some tips for keeping your wits about you and on track throughout the whole process.

- Don’t do it alone – There are some people that you are going to need on your side during the sale of a home. Perhaps the most important one is a title/escrow company or a real estate attorney. Which you need will depend on which state you are in. You may also want to consider forming a relationship with a mortgage broker or lender. This will help in narrowing down the interested viewers to those who can actually afford to purchase your home. Have them get pre-approved by the lender before you show the home.

- Know what your home is worth – Some people when selling their own home will simply “shoot from the hip” on deciding a price for their home. Typically this never works out well. It is quite easy to get a CMA from any number of realtors in your area. They can provide these quickly and easily over the phone or via the internet, no meeting is necessary. The best way to find out the value of the home is to have it appraised by a professional appraiser.

- Get your home noticed – There are several ways of doing this. You will of course, have a front yard sign, also advertising in the classifieds is a good method. One great way to get coverage is the internet. Even though you are not using a realtor, you can still list your home on the MLS. This will give your home a huge amount of coverage.

- Get ready – Staging your home will ensure that when people see it, they love it. Take some time and peruse the staging articles are resources online for some great ideas on improving the show quality of your home. Most of the staging steps are simple things that you can easily do yourself with little time and money.

Ken Hamric
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/for-sale-by-owner-pointers-138229.html

Tropical home decor is being seen in an increasing number of homes. Visits to Hawaii and Jamaica inspire returning travelers to recreate that warm and vibrant atmosphere in their own space. Tropical Home Decorating is vibrant and colorful and usually includes artisan carvings and statues. Try some jungle prints or beach prints for the walls to remind you of what you are missing.

Yet another trick, particularly if you are trying to recreate the look in an apartment, is to use room dividers made from bamboo. This gives you more private space and definitely adds the tropical touch to your apartment. If you have a breakfast bar in the kitchen area then why not try adding some high bar stools for that bright feel. The best type of bar stools for this is those made from bamboo to accentuate the tropical feel of your home. Make sure that you have plenty of spices on display and maybe some bunches of onions and peppers. The capsicums are bright and add life to any kitchen – don’t leave them too long before you use them.

Forget the cream and the magnolia, if you want to go tropical then you need the rich warm tones of brown, orange, yellow and orange. You could get throws with these colors to update your furniture to tropical. It might also be an idea to get yourself some tropical plants – if you can’t get hold of the real thing then silk plants often make a good and realistic alternative. If you are wary of using the theme through your house then why not give yourself a tropical bathroom. Paint some palm trees and have a tropical design shower curtain.

In the kids’ bedroom try a wall hanging. This could be covered with tropical plants and wild animals. They will love the animals and the bright colors and admire the welcoming feel that it gives to their room. In a sense tropical decorating breaks all the rules. People interpret tropical in their own way and while some have a tropical theme running through the house, others want to get closer to the whole experience. The tropical style is lighthearted and eclectic with its mix of colors and artifacts. The furniture is fairly simple in a tropical setting and you could try that out with one or two items.

If you can, get yourself some cane furniture – cane furniture is not just for gardens and sunrooms. Pile the sofa and chairs with soft, bright cushions.
Get yourself a glass topped can table on which to rest your long, cool drinks. When you come home, on a cold day, and after a long drive surely nothing will be able to beat the welcoming feel of your tropical styled home. The best advice, when it comes to tropical decorating is to throw away the rule book and have fun.

Lee Dobbins
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/spice-up-your-home-with-the-fun-tropical-decorating-style-130500.html

I’m a senior directing a 10-minute scene for a class. Part of the scene is really, REALLY intense … and I know how I want to direct it; unfortunately, the university hasn’t offered a Stage Combat course in years. The scene doesn’t involve dangerous weapons, but it does require some quick maneuvering of the characters involved. They need to know – in particular – how to roll and fall safely … and it’s up to me to show them. Any ideas on REALLY good visual training aids?

If you can’t find a stage combat instructor (try the phone book, really) and you are dead set on doing it anyway, look for a martial arts school, especially one that teaches Aikido or Jujitsu, and tell them exactly what you are looking to do. You might be able to get a group private lesson specifically for falls and rolls and other ‘ukemewaza.’

Can anyone help, I need to name the stages of construction (for an assignment) of a brick house from excavation to …lock-up? I believe there are 13-15 stages each requiring different sub-contractors. Even links to sites would be really helpful, as even with that I am having no luck!

http://www.ci.cumberland.md.us/engineering/projects/sequence.htm

www.yorkccd.org/E&S/CONSTRUCTION%20SEQUENCE1.pdf

Try these or search Construction Sequence.

Good Luck

last january we had a heavy snow and on the one side of our house the soffits, fascia and all of that lovely stuff in there fell down. we called our insurance company who asked if we had a contractor, no we didn’t so they referred us to one on their list.

we had them come out to look. about 3 weeks later we got our estimate, which was high and fluffed but our insurance okayed it so we said alrighty then. after a few more weeks (they kept coming out saying it was too cold, when i would call and ask when they were coming out they said they already told my husband don’t i talk to him? which they never gave him a straight answer). they were rude and unhelpful and yelled at each other about not being the right conditions for them to work. they charged us to rent their scaffold. this is how they are.

so anyway, they finally get up there and we get another estimate. there was some previous damage that needs to be repaired before they can do what they were originally supposed to. well this other, all they had to do was sister some wood, i think it was 4 pieces, they charged us more for that than for all the other combined. now this part was coming out of our pocket since it was pre existing, which was fine.

we talked to the insurance company they said we didn’t have to go with that company if we didn’t want to. so we didn’t. the insurance company let them go, sent us a check, said we could find whoever we wanted, so we did.

they were in and out in 2 hours. much more reasonably priced.

now, the previous company left a couple pieces of their scaffoldling behind and never came to get it. in april we started receiving bills from them. 500 bucks. they feel they are owed 500 bucks. 95 was for the estimate, which i’m fine with paying. 125 was for the building permit which i called and found out it was only 20. so i’m fine paying them 20 since they didn’t even use it. the rest is for the scaffolding that they used for the estimate.

there was no mention of an EXTRA fee for scaffold used in the estimate. i tried to talk to the rude one on the phone but it was pretty definite they wanted to be paid this. so they kept sending me bills, then they said they were putting a lien on our house. so i filed a complaint with BBB. the company responded to me by saying i was committing insurance fraud, i told them i would be fine taking them to small claims court to PAY THEM what they are owed not their inflated bill. they haven’t responded further.

can they put a lien on my house without notifying me first?

the only thing that was signed was the paper that said they could do the estimate. there was no actual contract. can they still?
plus, since they made a new second estimate and said the first couldn’t be done until the second was, doesn’t that void out the original?

Without a signed contract for work performed, they should NOT be able to place a lien on your home without first going to court. You may want to consult with a local attorney with all your paperwork and details–first consultation cheap or free. Take your info above and make a concise statement, timeline of events and occurrences.