If you have found this blog and you want more tips and ideas for staging and decorating you can meet me at my new blog: www.dallasrealestatestaging.wordpress.com

4 Reasons To Use Professional Photos to Market Your Home: Before and After Photos Included

Plano, TX Home Before Staging: Living Room

Will professional photos help you sell you home? The survey says yes! Read the details below and then take a look at the professional before and after photos of a home in Plano, TX staged by yours truly.

1. The percentage of potential buyers who shop for their next home online is 89%! The photos that they see of your home is their first impression. Entice them to get in the car and drive on over to your home with beautiful photos that enhance the important details of your home.

2.  A study conducted by Papilios Real Estate Photography showed that listings with professional photos generated 139% more clicks compared to similar listings in the same MLS area and zip code.

3. Wall Street Journal said that most of the homes that sold had photos taken with a professional camera compared to those homes with photos taken with a point and shoot camera.

Plano, TX Home After Staging: Living Room

A professional camera and skilled
photographer can affect how a buyer looks at a listing.

Plano, TX Home Before Staging: Kitchen Nook

Plano, TX Home After Staging: Kitchen Nook

4. Unique Exposure Photography found that 32% of the listings in Fort Worth Texas were marketed with professional photos.

The higher the list price, the more likely that professional photos were used to market the home.
If your home is in a higher price bracket,  make sure that your home remains competitive with professional photos.




If your home is in a lower price bracket;  make it stand out from the others with the help of a professional photographer.

The before and after photos that you see here were taken by Lance Selgo, a real estate photographer who serves Dallas, TX and Fort Worth, TX.

This home is listed for sale by Ben Fluno and is located at 921 Mellville, Plano, TX.

For more information about staging your home, contact me, Holly Bellomy at 214-532-9677.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Are You Using the Best Light Bulb for Staging Your Home?

Are You Using the Best Light Bulb for Staging Your Home?

When staging your home it's important to make sure that your home looks and feels bright and well lit.  So make sure that you open the blinds, pull the drapes back and turn on all of the lights.  Then, to increase the light and brightness in each room, exchange your light bulbs with my favorite type....you'll have to watch the video to learn more!

Choosing the best light bulb is especially important when you have a room that doesn't get a lot of natural light or doesn't have a window at all such as a laundry room or bathroom.  Then it is especially important that you choose the right light bulb for these spaces.

Are you ready?  Watch this short video to see which light bulb I recommend.

For additional home staging tips go here and watch some more videos!

I am ready to help you stage your home, so call me!
Holly Bellomy
214-532-9677
http://www.dallasrealestatestaging.com/

Who's Your Mama?

I am a home stager who loves to create beautiful rooms.

I enjoy meeting new clients and helping them prepare their homes for sale.

Being part of a team and working with a home seller and a Realtor brings great joy, especially when we work together to sell a home quickly.

I love to see my client's eyes light up when I show them the perfect paint color for their room.

Oh, and there's Home Goods, AKA my home away from Home! I can't visit that store often enough! All of the beautiful rugs and art and pillows, and...I could go on and on!

Yes, all of these things bring great pleasure, but none of them are as wonderful as the little people who live in my home and call me, Mama. Yep, they still call me that!

Andrew is my youngest child who likes bugs, eating fruit, and holding wild bunnies! He's sweet and cuddly and can tantrum with the best of them!



Then there is Claire, who is 9 years old. She wants to be a pastry chef and fashion designer when she grows up. She can bake a delicious batch of peanut butter cookies all by herself!


And, Zachary, he is 12 and he will go to the Jr. high school next year...(tear). Look, he's almost as tall as I am. Zack spends time creating robots EVERY DAY. Yes, he's obsessed with robotics! I know that he will do great things and probably have a few patents. He has taken apart his calculator in order to make something new with it. That's a sign that he's a creative and brilliant boy, right?

These three precious children challenge and amaze me. Oh, they frustrate me, too, like when I'm on a conference call and they decide to fight over the video game...very loudly. Or when they spill water on the floor and leave it there so I walk by and slip and fall. Or when they wake me up at 5am on my ONLY day to sleep in.

These things don't matter. What matter's is our relationship. Our strong bond of love is much better than finding a great deal on a sofa or selling a home in one day. Hugging my kids and watching them grow is more satisfying than staging a beautiful home. And, as old as they are, they still call me Mama! That makes me smile!

Holly Bellomy

www.dallasrealestatestaging.com

My twelve year old son will be attending Jr.High next year and I haven't figured out if

It's Here! Your Home Staging Class is Here!

Your Home Staging Class is Here!

Realtors and home owners join me for a two hour class in Plano, TX!

Provider: CCAR #0298
TREC#02-00-073-23156
2 Hours MCE No Legal

Tuesday, July 19
Monday, August 29
1-3pm
$15

This course is packed with practical and simple solutions to help Realtors and home sellers understand the staging process. Items such as paint colors for interiors, tools of the trade, and the six basic elements of home staging will be discussed.

In addition, various types of real estate staging will be examined through the use of before and after photos.

This class will be informative and fun!

Collin County Association of Realtors 6821 Coit Rd. Plano, TX 75024

P: 972-618-3800
F: 972-265-4252

Register online at www.ccar.net

I can't wait to see you there!

Holly
www.dallasrealestatestaging.com
home staging, real estate staging, home staging class, Plano

Update Your Bathroom with a MirrorMate Frame!

Update Your Bathroom with a MirrorMate Frame

I am so excited to share this video with you. If you are interested in updating and beautifying the look of your bathroom, then you need a MirrorMate frame!

We went out to meet with a homeowner in Allen, TX. We shared all of the beautiful styles and colors and then helped her select the frames that would compliment each bathroom. Then we measured each mirror and went back to the office to place the order.

When the frames were delivered, we installed them for the homeowner. The results are fabulous!

Check out the video now!

Plano Homes for Sale: Foreclosure Fridays, A New Video Series

Plano Homes for Sale: Foreclosure Fridays, a New Video Series

My friend, Scott Vann, an excellent real estate agent, has created a new video series called "Foreclosure Fridays". This video series is great because you get to take a tour of a variety of homes in Plano. Get the details on the condition, amenities, and price of each home from your computer or mobile device!

I have joined Scott in the videos and I will share what I like best about each home and what you can do to update the various spaces.

Check out the videos and details here.

If you would like more information on any of the homes, contact Scott Vann: scott@scottvann.com, 214-354-0355

And of course, if you need help decorating or staging your home, contact me!
Holly Bellomy

Selling a Home with Pets

Selling a Home with Pets

We love our furry friends but not every one is keen on pets; especially some of those potential home buyers. That is why it's very important to make sure that your home is free of pet odors, hair, and any pet items. In other words; make it look and smell like no pet has lived there!

As a home stager who meets home owners every week, I understand that it can be difficult to remove your pet from the home for a showing. If you work out of the home it can be almost impossible to pick up your pet for a 2:00p.m. showing.

I suggest asking a trusted neighbor or family member to pick up your pet for the times when you are not home; especially if you are the owner of a large dog! A friend of mine told me that a potential buyer came to look at her home but as soon as the buyer saw her large dog, he/she turned the other way and left! What a missed opportunity!

So, for those of you out there who are selling your home, don't miss an opportunity for an offer by not taking care to remove, board or crate your pets. For more information; watch this video starring my puppy, Penny!

Adding value to your home,
Holly
For more information about staging your Dallas home: http://www.dallasrealestatestaging.com/

Is Your Address Visible?

So, I have been experimenting with various move making software. I made my recent movie in Picasa. It was easy and I have to admit that it was fun! Technology often overwhelms me but I think that I have gained a few skills.

I took photos of a small project and strung the photos together, added some music (from a sample of a few songs that were on my computer), wrote a few titles and voila, a movie was made and here it is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7YUv_2JMD4

Tip: make sure that your home address is visible. It's important for emergency vehicles (and their drivers :) to find your address!

Happy Spring!
Holly
www.dallasrealestatestaging.com

Holly Gives Home Staging Advice!

Holly Gives Home Staging Advice on Facebook!

Are you thinking about selling your home? Is your home currently on the market? Do you or does someone you know need home staging advice?

On Friday each week, I will choose one room from one homeowner and provide suggestions and ideas for staging that room. Just “like” our page, Dallas Real Estate Staging, and visit our page every Friday for valuable tips and ideas.

Please note:
1. Send 1-3 photos of any one room in your home and include your first name, city and state.
2. If your photos are not chosen one week, you may send them again the next week.
3. Submit your photos by Thursday at 8pm CST.
4. The room of the week will be chosen and revealed on Facebook on Friday by 8pm CST.
5. The photo will be showcased along with a list of tips, ideas, and suggestions.
6. By submitting your photos you give Holly Bellomy and Dallas Real Estate Staging permission to use your photos, first name, city and state for any and all marketing purposes.
Send your photos to photos@dallasrealestatestaging.com today!

Home Staging Dallas

Home Staging Dallas
I had the opportunity to stage a beautiful home in Dallas, TX. The home was newly renovated with extra square footage. Some wall art and accessories had been place in the home, but it was difficult for potential buyers to see how the long entry, living room and dining room could be used.

Here is a photo of the long space from the perspective of the dining room before the staging:
Here is a photo after the dining set is in place:

Here is a photo of the Dallas home from the entry before staging:

This is a photo of the living room after home staging:

Here is another perspective before home staging:

And, this is the photo of the living room and dining room after the staging:
The home is warm and inviting and now potential buyers can see the possibilities for each space.

Holly Bellomy, RESA-Pro

214-532-9677

www.dallasrealestatestaging.com

holly@dallasrealestatestaging.com

The Dallas Chapter of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) invites all professional stagers, real estate agents and industry related professionals in the Metroplex to join its rapidly growing organization in 2011.

“Membership in RESA not only provides credibility to your business, it creates an excellent network of professionals that share common values and business practices,” 2011 RESA Dallas chapter President Karen Eubank said. “Monthly meetings are structured to engage and support our members by providing insight and information they might not find elsewhere. At each meeting RESA Dallas hosts a speaker that appeals to home stagers as well as Realtors and industry affiliates.”

Start the New Year with RESA Dallas by getting motivated! Our January guest speaker is Artemis Limpert, is an internationally recognized motivational speaker, coach and entrepreneur.

“You have to get in the game to play the game,” Limpert said. “Transforming the world starts with you.” If you are hoping to transform your life, achieve your goals and take your business to the next level, begin your year with RESA and Limpert’s inspiring topic “Get Motivated. Get in the Game!”


About Real Estate Staging Association: Dallas Chapter:
RESA Dallas provides peer-to-peer support for all chapter members, promoting education to real estate agents, homeowners and the general public regarding the value and benefits of home staging. The Dallas chapter has a dedicated membership working to grow visibility and credibility of the home staging profession within the Metroplex.

Please RSVP for January meeting at The Real Estate Staging Association Dallas Chapter on Meetup.com.
For more information on RESA please visit
http://www.realestatestagingassociation.com/
www.facebook.com.
For more information on the guest speaker, Artemis Limpert, please visit www.artemislimpert.com.

Contact:

Stefanie Levine
817-494-4881
stef@niptuckhome.com
Karen Eubank
214-912-9263
eubank@sbcglobal.net
Holly Bellomy
http://www.dallasrealestatestaging.com/

Home Staging for the Master Bedroom: Before and After: Plano

Home Staging for the Master Bedroom: Before and After: Plano



We had the opportunity to stage a master bedroom in Plano.
This is what the master bedroom looked like before the home staging.
This is what the room looked like after the home staging.

To stage this master bedroom in Plano, this is what we did:

1. We highlighted the tall ceiling and shape of the bed with three framed prints. These belong to the homeowner and were originally used in the family room. They look great in the master bedroom and tie in perfectly with the decor.

2. We changed out the lamps. The original lamps were buffet lamps, so we took them to the dining room and placed them on the buffet. The homeowner then purchased a new pair of lamps, according to our specifications, that are jut the right size and scale for the furniture.

3. We suggested drapes to add the look and feel of luxury. We purchased four drapery panels at JC Penney for less that $140. The curtain rods were purchased at Target for less that $40 each. The red drapes add color and sophistication to the room. Dallas Real Estate Staging installed the rods and hung the drapes.

4. Then, to finish the room, we brought in some accessories for the homeowner to lease.

This Plano, master bedroom is complete!

What can you learn from this home staging example?

First, drapes do not have to be expensive; they just have to look expensive. If your walls are beige and you have white wood blinds; drapes are a great addition to give the room the look of luxury.

Second, use what you have. Try bringing in art and accessories from another room.

Third, every room needs more that one source of light. The ceiling fan with light kit just won't cut it! Consider table lamps and floor lamps. Lamps are a wise investment because you can take them with you to your next home!

And remember, the master bedroom is one of the most important rooms in the home, so make sure to stage it!

Holly Bellomy is a home staging consultant for Dallas, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Fairview, Lucas, and the surrounding areas.

For more information visit: www.dallasrealestatestaging.com

Home Staging for the Senses

Home Staging for the Senses
The Sense of Hearing

Noise! We’re inundated with sounds all day long! While some sounds bring a smile to our face like the laughter of a child, other sounds, such as the chronic barking of a dog can be exasperating.

We can all agree that a quiet, peaceful house is priceless; especially at the end of a long day. This is what potential buyers are looking for too, a quiet sanctuary to unwind in at the end of a day, or for those who work from home or who are retired a quiet paradise may be necessary.

There are some sounds that are not appealing to home buyers. Three of them are road noise, barking from dogs, and interior noises that clamor for maintenance.

Road Noise:
While it may be challenging to sell a home that is located near a busy street or strip mall there are a few things you can do to compensate for the noise pollution.

First: Make sure that your home has extra curb appeal. A well manicured lawn and fresh paint on the home’s exterior are a must. The goal is to get the buyers into your home.

Second: Clear out all clutter inside your home: extra furniture, toys, etc. and rent a storage unit for these items.

Third: Make all necessary repairs before listing your home. Don’t give buyers more reason to say “no” to your home.

Fourth: Hire a home stager to make sure that your home stands out from the other homes in the area.

The key is to create an environment so irresistible that your home is chosen above the others in the neighborhood. And don’t despair; there is a buyer out there for every home!

Barking from Dogs
I have also visited homes to perform consultations all the while listening to dogs bark while I looked at each room with the home owner. There is nothing more distracting than a barking dog! Take your dog with you for showings or find a neighbor or pet sitter who will care for your pet for showings.

Interior Noises
There are other bothersome sounds that you can take care of. These include leaky toilets, smoke detectors, dripping faucets. I remember a time when I went to look at a vacant house to prepare a bid. I toured the house, all the while listening to the chirp of the smoke detector which needed a new battery. I couldn’t get out of that house fast enough because the noise was so irritating.

And for those pleasant sounds, play them up!

Music: If you have speakers, use them! Play a satellite or cable station through all interior and exterior speakers. Light jazz music is preferable.

Movies: Play a movie to show potential buyers how wonderful it will be to have their own movie room; all the while distracting them from the road noise.

Water feature: Do you have a pool with a fountain or other water feature? Turn it on for showings and let the soothing sound of the water entice potential buyers.

In other words, maximize the positive and eliminate the negative!

Holly Bellomy is a home staging expert who specializes in occupied and vacant properties in Allen, Plano, McKinney, Fairview, Lucas, Frisco, Dallas, and Richardson.

For more information log on to: www.DallasRealEstateStaging.com

Home Staging Tips: Easy Updates

Home Staging Tips: Easy Updates

One of my favorite quick, easy and inexpensive updates is replacing cabinet hardware. I like to use my electric screwdriver to quickly remove the old knobs and pulls and to install the new ones.

Two popular hardware finishes are brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze. I like to coordinate the cabinet harware with the light fixture, faucet and door knobs in the room.

As you can see from the following before and after photos, new hardware makes a difference!
Replace brass knobs with brushed nickel knobs. The chandelier in the kitchen nook was also replaced.

Replace country knobs with oil rubbed bronze.

Replace mismatched brass knobs and pulls with oil rubbed bronze with copper accents.

My favorite places to buy beautiful and inexpensive cabinet hardware are: Home Depot, Overstock.com, and Habitat Restore in Plano.

Youe Home Staging Consultant,

Holly Bellomy

Home Staging and Interior Decorating for Dallas, Plano, Frisco, Allen, McKinney, and the surrounding areas.

Home Office Transformation in Allen, TX

Home Office Transformation in Allen, TX

I had the opportunity to stage a home office in Allen, TX. The office had nice features: built-in bookcases, tons of natural light, wood floors, and slate tile on the walls. There were, however some changes to be made. This is what the office looked like before the home staging:

As you can see, this Allen home office had red walls, clutter, and some personalized items. Home staging is meant to highlight a rooms positive features so I made the following recommendations in order to feature the bookcases, slate walls and wood floor:

1. Paint the walls with Behr Premium Plus Ultra in a satin finish in the color Paramount. Paramount is a dark, neutral color that harmonizes with the slate. This cool color is relaxing, unlike the red color which is very exciting and contrasting to the cool slate. These office walls were painted with one coat. Can you believe it? All of the red paint was covered with less than two gallons of paint!

2. Paint the built-ins. The white paint had yellowed over time.

3. Pack most of the books, all of the collectibles and the personalized items such as the diploma.

4. Bring in some art from the other rooms in the house.

5. Accessorize with other items in the house.

6. And, of course, clean the blinds, windows, and ceiling fan.

After the cleaning, painting, and accessorizing, here is what the office looked like:

The homeowner's furnishings, art, and accessories were used to transform this office and keep the cost of home staging quite low.

When staging your home, keep three things in mind: color, clutter, and cleanliness!

Your Home Staging Consultant,

Holly

http://www.dallasrealestatestaging.com/

Staging and decorating homes in Allen, TX

Family Room Update: Interior Redesign and Decorating

Family Room Update: Interior Redesign and Decorating


I had the opportunity to help a Carrollton resident with her family room. We rearranged the room while using the items that she owned. After I left the residence in Carrollton, the homeowner got busy making the additional changes that I recommended.


This is how the room looked before the redesign:



This is how the room looked when I left:

This is how the room looks now.

The homeowner:

1. Added a leather chair that was upstairs and not being used

2. Moved the TV to the opposite corner so that it can easily be viewed

3. Purchased a sofa table, baskets, side table, and plants

Now this room can now seat more people and it is conducive to conversation...exactly what the homeowner ordered!

Your Dallas Home Decorator,

Holly Bellomy

Dallas Real Estate Staging offers home staging and interior decorating solutions to Dallas and the surrounding areas including Allen, Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Lucas, and Fairview.

Home Staging Tips: Define the Room

Home Staging Tips: Define the Room

I had the pleasure of helping a homeowner stage the dining room in her Allen, TX home. As you can see from the photo below, the room was used for many activities, except for dining.

Tip: When staging your home for sale it's important to define each room, in other words, tell potential buyers how the room should be used by placing specific furnishings in it. This way buyers can imagine themselves living in the home.

Our goals for the room:

1. Clear out the clutter, including the personal items and collections

2. Maximize the architectural details

3. Maximize the square footage

4. Define the room as the formal dining room

This is how the room looked after we staged it:

This is what we did:

1. Took the table and chairs from the kitchen nook and placed them in the dining room

2. Released the chandelier which had been tied up

3. Touched-up paint

4. Placed decorative plates in the niches

5. Hung iron art on the wall

6. Accessorized the dining table

Your Dallas Home Staging Consultant,

Holly Bellomy

Home Staging and Decorating for Allen, McKinney, Plano, Frisco, Dallas

Family Room Dynamics

I recently met with a home owner in Carrollton, TX who said she wanted to stage her home, but she didn't want to sell her home. She wanted a "model home" look so that she could enjoy her house and I said, "I can help!"

She gave me the grand tour of her home and proceeded to tell me what she liked and disliked about each room. We ended up in the family room where she said that she wanted it to look inviting and accommodate the adults. She had recently changed the drapes and pillows but the furniture arrangement wasn't working. In fact she said that when her family of six gathered to watch TV, her seat was on the floor!

The home owner and I quickly began to move the furniture. Here is a before photo:
As you can see, there is no focal point and the furniture is not set up for intimate conversations. The TV is not easy to view either! So, this is what we did:

1. We pulled the sofa away from the wall and into the room. We placed it across from the fireplace, directing the attention there.

2. The corner to the left of the fireplace is where the TV will find it's new home. It will be easier to view.

3. The chair was moved next to the sofa to encourage conversation.

4. The homeowner had a coffee table that she brought out and I accessorized it with items she had around the house.

5. I leaned a different piece of art on the mantle for color and drama.

Here is a different view of the room before the redesign:

And here is the room after the redesign.

We used what the homeowner had in her home for the redesign.

In order to complete the room I made the following recommendations:

1. Hook up the cable at the opposite side of the room.

2. Purchase a sofa table with cubbies that will hold baskets of toys for her young son and place it behind the sofa.

3. Bring down the leather chair from the loft that doesn't get any use and place it to the right of the fireplace.

4.Purchase a side table and place it between the sofa and chair.

5. Purchase a lamp with a satin nickel finish and make sure that it's taller than the furniture and place it on the side table.

6. Add a potted plant next to the side table.

This homeowner has a plan for a sensational family room. She can complete the room over time, adding furniture and accessories as she likes! And, hopefully, with the extra chair, she won't have to sit on the floor!

Holly Bellomy

Dallas Home Staging Consultant

http://www.dallasrealestatestaging.com/

HGTV is coming to Dallas!

Are you a first time home seller? You may qualify to be on HGTV! And if you do, I would be happy to help you with a complimentary home staging consultation or complimentary furniture lease for a month.

Call me if you live in Dallas, Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Allen, or the surrounding area.
Your Dallas home staging consultant,
Holly
214-532-9677