Manteca California Homes | Real Estate Listings - Manteca CA

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O.K. Shakespeare buffs, who said, "All the world's a stage..."? We know Andy Warhol promised us all 15 minutes of fame but how does this apply to housing? Whether you're putting your home up for sale or maximizing your home's potential for personal enjoyment, staging is important. Let me share with you a personal experience. I had just moved into my beach cottage on 12th Avenue. I had unpacked the boxes, put away the dishes, arranged the furniture, set up the stereo and plugged in the phone. I wa ready for company. Then, just in the nick of time, my sister Cynthia ( a commercial building space designer) and her friend Stephen (also a designer) arrived from the big city. I offere then a refreshment but they refused to relax. They didn't utter a word, pacing around my house scratching their chins, while I watched in curious wonderment. After they had worn tracks in my carpet from 15 minutes of power-pacing they exchanged knowing looks. Cynthia then chummily smiled at me, put her arm lovingly around my shoulder, and asked sweetly, " Mind if we rear range the furniture?" my sister was concerned that I would be offended. You know, younger sister harassing older, wiser sister, sibling rivalry, etc. au contraire; she and Stephen bill for their professional services at $150 an hour, and here they were volunteering to do my home for free! I sat down, relaxed and enjoyed frfreshments while they went to work. The dust flew again while they arranged and rearranged, moved this here, put that there. After about two hours...viola! Magnificent. my furniture looked better. My art looked more interesting. My home looked charming-right our of Architectural Digest- and with my stuff. Even my paperbacks looked novel. I had cozy seating arrangements. My dining room was staged in the large living that would hold my big, old pine table. The real dining room became my office. It was an amazing transformation and they were absolutely right. I became an instant believer. If a couple of professional designers on holiday could do this for me, imagine what staging can do for you.

Enhance the hidden potential of your home. Hire a professional. my friend and colleague Jeanne McKenzie, who is extremely clever herself and good at home staging, just hired several pros to fine tune her already enchanting and newly remodeled (from earthquake damage) home. Why? Because she knows the importance of good design. She knows that experts have a trick or two up their sleeves that can save her time and money. Another friend, art teacher and gardener extrordi9naire Peg Guerrieri, recently hired Howard Eddy, of sozoteki landscape Design, to redo her yard. The new yard is delightful. Whereas before Peg had beautiful flowers, she now has floral wonderland. It's complete with little lights, stepping stones, and bursts of whimsical colors. All dramatically captured by plant containers surrounding a hot tub. Yes, the hot tub was there before - but now it is event more fun.

When developers open a new housing or condominium complex they usually have a lovely furnished model available for viewing. They do this because they are in the business of marketing homes and a well furnished model helps sell their product. The living room might be small, but properly staged it becomes a cozy conversation area. The TV can go in the second bedroom, which can double as a den. Developers help you visualize, through staging, how to make your home more comfortable and attractive. Years ago I marketed a new local condominium subdivision, Woodland Heights. Most of the condos sold before they were built because the developers had an attractive, well priced product and a beautifully furnished model that people wanted to move into. Follow the developer's lead. Take a business-like attitude in marketing your home through home staging. According to Pam Pasotti, of homestaging Design and Renovation, "Magicians use smoke and mirrors to distract the eye so they can amaze us with their magical powers. home staging is not meant to deceive; rather it highlights the assets and plays down the less appealing areas. If a wall is in the wrong place, move it. Bring out the best. Get rid of that ugly old sink and replace it with an inexpensive vanity. Put in sliding glass or French doors. Create a grand entry with an archway or a pony wall. Put your best foot forward, for marketing purposes and pesonal enjoyment." According to Pasotti, an investment of just $500 to $1,00 in " little fixes" can do as much to sell your home as lowering the price by $10,000. This means more dollars in your pocket. In conclusion, I'd like to remind you that there are two areas of staging: interior design and remodeling. Even very talented people recruit the help of professionals to gain a fresh perspective on their projects and perhaps learn tricks of the trade that can save and make money. Athough a project may seem foreign to us lay people, it need not be scary. With the advice guidance and help of professionals, improving our property, staging our homes, and thereby increasing our home's value, can be fun.