Home Staging in Portland Oregon Blog

Having lived in Ireland, I like to visit there as often as possible ... such a beautiful country with the most amazingly friendly people!  I've also discovered that the Irish love their dogs .... and sometimes those dogs are allowed to be quite independent especially in rural areas.

Here are a few new pals I found along the byways on my last trip over to Ireland .... some are scruffy, some spoiled rotten, some are lonely, some have serious jobs, but all surely must be loved. 

The two characters to the right are Rocky & Swanky -- they live on the County Kerry farm where my grandfather was born in 1886 (my ghostly reflection is in the cottage's window).  As a border collie and a Jack Russell terrier, they represent two of the most popular breeds in Ireland. In the photo below, Swanky is obviously trying to win the "ugliest dog" contest -- even with his smile.

Just a bit further North we came across this cutie on Kells Beach -- he wanted us to play catch with a rock he found in the sand.  I just love the look of this little guy!

In County Limerick we found more new pals, some who were waiting patiently for their masters ...

This fellow looked so lonely that we asked his master if we could take him for a walk down to the river ...

Now isn't he having much more fun?

And this lucky collie oversees magical Lough Gur in County Limerick, where I had a Bed & Breakfast business for 4 years ...

But my favorite Irish dog of all is my own Darby O'Gill (D.O.G.) who's a Border Jack (border collie-Jack Russell mix) and was born & raised in Lough Gur but emigrated to the U.S. (now 14 yrs young).

Have you come across cute dogs during your travels?  If so, please share your photos in your comment!

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If you're looking for a home stager in the Portland OR area, give Room Solutions Staging a call.  We love preparing homes for the market just as much as we love dogs!  For a complimentary home staging consultation give us a call @ 503-246-1800.  To see Before & After photos of both our Vacant and Occupied properties, view our updated Portland OR home staging photo gallery.

In case you missed the story published in the October 22, 2009 edition of the NY Times by Mark Oppenheimer, it profiles Meridith Baer, a home stager and designer in the Los Angeles area.  Her company, Dressed to Sell by Meridith Baer, has been staging homes and offering design services for ten years with 12 designers and a staff of 70.  They house their extensive and eclectic inventory in a 45,000 sq ft warehouse.

Her story makes for interesting reading and the photo tours on her website showcase some spectacular homes!

One of the hallmarks of this company's staging style is that they decide who will be living in this home (determining the target buyer) and then stage the home for that person.  Apparently her techniques are very successful ~ and sometimes quite costly!

We can all learn from each other and this article illustrates the importance of professional home staging to sell homes -- luxury and otherwise -- faster than if they had been left vacant. In any market, staging makes the home memorable!

Read the full NY Times article here ....

What did you think?

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If you're looking for a professional home stager in the Portland OR metro area, Room Solutions Staging offers home staging services to prepare your property for sale or lease.  To make your property appealing to your target buyer, give us a call @ 503-246-1800.  We offer complimentary home staging proposals for homes in all price categories.

Bob Stewart issued a bribe challenge for posts describing how we use Active Rain to enhance client relationships ~ a fun challenge to take on.  One of the main  advantages of being an Active Rain RainMaker is the great marketing opportunity to communicate with home staging clients in the Portland OR area. 

Most of my blog posts are written for two main target clients:  Portland Oregon Homeowners planning to sell, and local Realtors.  Since most of my clients search for home staging professionals using Google, having a strong internet presence is critically important.  You'd be hard put to find a better means of building your real estate-related web presence than Active Rain!

One of the ways that potential and existing clients can find your blog is to provide links to it in your social media profiles (LinkedIn, Facebook, Zillow, etc.).  I also post links to many of my A/R posts on these other forums for wider exposure than the A/R audience.  I also add a link to my blog in my email signature so that people can easily connect to my posts when I reply to their inquiries about our Portland home staging services.

The home page of my company website has a link to my Active Rain Blog that has resulted in many views.  My A/R Blog serves as my main "portfolio" of staging photos from various projects since I joined A/R in 2007.  I've blogged about staging Portland OR vacant homes for sale using 'Before & After' photos, as well as staging occupied homes in the Portland area.  I've also blogged about our Portland staging statistics for homes that we've staged this past year,  resulting in clients  calling me with requests for staging proposals.

Writing hyper-local content posts on A/R targeted to my Homeowner clients recently resulted in new clients finding my home staging tips and advice and then contacting me.  One local Realtor read my A/R Blog, saw my Before & After photos, and then referred the president of a local bank to me -- that bank then hired my company to stage four high-end foreclosed homes!

One very effective way my A/R Blog helped me win new home staging clients came about this Spring when HGTV's production company posted a blog on A/R asking for Portland-area first time homebuyers to send in their application to appear on their show "My First Place."  I wrote to the author of that A/R post and asked if they needed some design help for their Portland episodes.  Shortly afterward, expert Chicago A/R home staging colleague, Julea Joseph did the design work for their Chicago episodes and the producer mentioned that the show's next shooting location was Portland, so Julea suggested that they contact me (since she knew me from my A/R Blog).  The producers reviewed my website and A/R Blog and hired me to do 5 episodes of HGTV's My First Place, filmed this past summer -- to be aired in the Spring of 2010.  (That was pretty cool ~ thanks A/R and Julea!)

Clients also find me through my A/R profile while searching online for Home Staging in Portland Oregon ~ today on Google my company is ranked in 5 spots on page 1!  So ~ keep blogging on A/R ~ be consistent.  It will enhance your client relationships!

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Room Solutions Staging in Portland Oregon offers full service home staging to the entire Portland metro area including Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, Wilsonville, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Happy Valley, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Aloha, and Hillsboro.  We can help your property or listing look fabulous online and in person for your target buyer.  We've helped hundreds of clients including Homeowners, Realtors, Banks, Builders, and Investors using staging techniques that sell homes fast.   To see Before & After photos of both our Vacant and Occupied properties, view our updated Portland OR home staging photo gallery.  For a complimentary staging proposal call Maureen Bray @ 503-246-1800.

When I visited Ireland before moving over & living there for eight years, I was surprised at how they use color when painting the exteriors of their homes and buildings.  It's a delightful surprise to come across a brightly-colored cottage or pub, especially on a gray and misty day in the Emerald Isle.  It's not unusual that painting the exterior is the last decorating step and is often done a year or two after your home is built -- usually because most of the building budget was already used up!  So driving around you'd notice some homes are still the color of their cement walls ....  while others are amazingly bright like these ....

And even "graffiti" celebrating history and sports is full of vibrant color on the sides of buildings in small villages ...

Irish Pubs and shops are notorious for being delightfully colorful ...

A brightly colored red door welcomes you to an old Church now used as a Museum ...

But in front of this colorful pub I wonder ~ are we yielding to Pedestrians, or to the urge for a Guinness?

Ah ~ here's the answer ~ Have a Happy Halloween!  And remember to have fun with color!

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If you're in the Portland Oregon metro area and you'd like a paint color consultation for selling or staying in your home, give the color experts at Room Solutions Staging a call @ 503-246-1800.  Our consultation service will help you choose just the right colors for your interior and exterior.   To see Before & After photos of both our Vacant and Occupied properties, view our updated Portland OR home staging photo gallery.

This custom home near Portland OR was designed by a Street of Dreams builder and offers three levels of unmatched quality and craftsmanship.  Positioned at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, this property backs up to a green space that allows for privacy on both upper and lower decks.  Great Bull Mountain neighborhood in friendly Tigard Oregon.

  Here are photos of some of the staged rooms in this lovely home ...

This bank-owned property represents great value for the money!

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This home was staged by Maureen Bray of Room Solutions Staging in Portland Oregon.  We help Homeowners, Realtors, Builders, and Investors prepare their homes with a full menu of professional home staging services.  Want your property to sell faster than the competition?  Give us a call for a complimentary home staging proposal.  Room Solutions ~ Staging that Sells Portland Homes.  To see Before & After photos of both our Vacant and Occupied properties, view our updated Portland OR home staging photo gallery.

As part of the ORA (Oregon Remodelers Association) annual Tour Oct. 17th & 18th, this LEED Platinum home will be featured as the prizewinner for Best Green Building Remodel for 2009.  This home's innovative and energy-effiicient design make it one of the "Greenest" homes in Portland Oregon.

The Tour runs on Saturday Oct 17th & Sunday Oct 18th from 10am to 5pm.  Check out the link to the ORA site above for more details on the Tour ~ there are more than 19 homes in the Portland and Salem areas included.

Here are a few photos of the winning home at 8020 SW Elmwood St., Portland 97223

For more information on this outstanding remodeled home please visit this website

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This home was professionally staged by Room Solutions Staging in Portland Oregon.  We help Homeowners, Realtors, Banks, Investors and Builders prepare their properties to sell quickly.  We offer a menu of home staging services to our clients, tailored to your budget and timeline ~ just give us a call @ 503-246-1800 for a complimentary staging proposal. To see Before & After photos of both our Vacant and Occupied properties, view our updated Portland OR home staging photo gallery.

This gorgeous custom home near Portland's Forest Heights neighborhood is an entertainer's dream!  Dramatic two-story great room with soaring windows overlooks a peaceful setting filled with trees.  Gourmet chef's kitchen with professional s/s appliances and slab granite along with beautiful sapele wood cabinets.  

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This home was professionally staged by Room Solutions Staging in Portland Oregon.  We help sellers and their agents prepare vacant and occupied homes to make them irresistible to buyers.  For a menu of our staging services or a free home staging proposal just give us a call @ 503-246-1800.  Our staging techniques help to sell your home or listing faster!  To see Before & After photos of both our Vacant and Occupied properties, view our updated Portland OR home staging photo gallery.

This updated ranch home is located in a peaceful setting in the Portland-Tigard Metzger area;  3 Bedrooms + 2 full Baths;  1240 sq ft.  

This lovely home has hardwood floors, new carpeting, fresh paint, updated bathrooms and a remodeled kitchen.  After staging and listing, it SOLD in just 21 Days!

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This home was staged by Room Solutions Staging in Portland OR, working with the seller's own furnishings and providing our accessories where needed.  We work with Homeowners, Realtors, Banks and Investors to prepare homes for selling so that they appeal to the target buyer of each property.  For a menu of our home staging services or a free home staging proposal call us at 503-246-1800.  To see Before & After photos of both our Vacant and Occupied properties, view our updated Portland OR home staging photo gallery.