Home Staging in Portland Oregon Blog

From time to time I log onto Copyscape.com to see if anyone has copied text from my website ... they offer both a FREE service (as well as a premium one that's very reasonable for a more in-depth search).  You simply enter the url of your websites's various pages and instantly receive a report on places where that text is shown.  You'll see that it includes your text on sites where you placed it (like ActiveRain, your own website, Linked In or other profiles, etc.) as well as sites where PLAGIARIZERS have copied YOUR content and are using it as their own. 

Once you click on those "unfamiliar" links, Copyscape.com gives you a full report that shows the Source Page (YOUR content) as compared to the COPYCAT'S page.  Your text will be highlighted and so is YOUR text on THEIR page, so both you and the person who stole your original content can easily see what's been copied.  Copyscape.com also includes a Word Count to make it very clear how much of your content was copied.  For something that's this helpful, it's amazing that it's also FREE.

If you'd like their Automatic Search service, that costs a bit more but is the easiest way to make sure your original content is safe from copyright infringement.

AS a professional home stager in Portland, Oregon I've been dismayed to discover that home stagers from around the country  have copied my website text.  When this happens, I email them a polite but firm letter giving them the link to Copyscape.com's report as well as a demand that they remove my text from their website within 48 hours.  If they ignore my request, they receive a more firmly-written letter that references the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, Title 17, section 512, US Code (commonly referred to as "DMCA"). 

A final resort is a letter from an attorney detailing the financial penalties they'll be liable for if the plagiarized text isn't removed immediately.  You can also contact the host of that person's website and request that their site be taken down -- I did that last week and the offender's entire website was shut down in less than 24 hours -- because she'd refused to remove my text from her site.  Fines and penalties can be surprisingly stiff since federal law protects original content.

*Oh -- and you COPYCATS?  Don't offer that lame excuse that your "webmaster must have done it" -- we've heard that before and as the business owner, you're the responsible party for making sure that any content on your site is YOUR OWN.

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Maureen Bray is a professional home staging expert based in Portland, Oregon, and a member of the Real Estate Staging Association.  She serves as a Moderator of the 'Stage It Forward' and 'Real World Home Staging for Newbies' forums on Active Rain and writes posts helpful to homeowners, real estate professionals, and other home stagers.  Maureen's staging and design work has been featured in multiple episodes of HGTV's show 'My First Place,' on AM Northwest and KATU News, and her interviews are found in publications including The Oregonian, Portland Monthly, Personal Real Estate Investor, and Angie's List Magazine. Maureen was awarded the Super Service Award by Angie's List in 2010, and was voted by her peers throughout North America as a Finalist for Professional Stager of the Year for 2012 and 2011.

So Hard to Say Goodbye .... R.I.P. Darby O'Gill (1995 - 2011)

Darby was a fine Irish lad who liked everyone ~ but his lucky "people" family was his main focus from the day we met.  Rescued from a bad environment in his native Ireland nearly 16 years ago, Darby emigrated from Lough Gur, County Limerick to America  with me when I returned to the U.S.  after eight years in Ireland. Our love affair wasn't interrupted by occasional mischievousness (after all, Darby was half Jack Russell terrier & half Border Collie) and he was always sweet, obedient and smart as a whip. 

Last year I wrote this story  about his 15th Birthday, his birthplace in Ireland, and how we met. 

Here's a photo of 'Yer Man Himself' in his favorite park in Portland Oregon ...

Darby had trouble with his back last summer, and our Vet explained that some of the bones in his spine had fused.  For a dog his age there was no cure, but some meds helped him -- and he had to give up racing up and down all of our stairs.  This Spring we sold our house and found one with a nice big yard that he could explore, without any stairs to bother him.  Over the past few months we could see though that Darby was feeling his age more, and we treasured every day we had with him.  He never complained and just loved us more than ever. 

Here's Darby in his prime .... such a handsome lad! 

This week we had to say 'Goodbye' to our sweet Darby ... our hearts are broken and it's hard to keep the tears away.  But we are so grateful to have had him in our lives!  

Darby ~ we'll love you forever and ever  XOXOXOXO

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      Related Posts

Darby O'Gill Turns 15 and has a Guinness

Some New 4-Legged Friends I met Along the Way in Ireland

Why I Chose Real Estate ~ My Path to Real Estate Staging (Thanks Mom & Dad!)

Way back when I was 6, my mom took me with her to the interior decorator's shop -- my parents were building a new home that would have more room for our growing family.  I was allowed to select the wallpaper for my bedroom in the new house -- for a few weeks I poured over many wallpaper books and went with a stylized English rose print.  The matching fabric was made into bed skirts and tops for the cafe curtains.  I was in heaven, and a burning desire to make my surroundings "pretty" was born.  Here's a photo of my my big brother Kevin, my mom Mary, and me standing in the new house as the walls are going up.  This home in Carmel, California was what they called a "post adobe" and my dad was so into it looking authentic that he and Kevin even made many of those adobe bricks you see in this photo (Kevin made those crooked ones that added character!)

My parents were way ahead of their time and knew that when you sold your home, you had to present it well for potential buyers.  At an early age I learned a lot from my parents about the importance of making a house look like a home when it's time to sell.  When they sold two of our family homes, they always arranged furniture and accessories there to make buyers feel like they could move right in.  (And they'd drag us back there on weekends to help make sure the house looked perfect; my job was to vacuum, dust, sweep the patios, and water the roses.)   My parents also took me to see model homes on Sundays, a fun activity even for a youngster because all of the rooms were decorated to the hilt (and then some!) Later when I was a teenager, I was always moving furniture around the house, and my mom loved the changes I made.

In 1980 I had an Oregon Real Estate license and kept it active for a few years.  As I bought homes and fixed them up, I remembered that presentation was very important.  Every home sold in just a few days or weeks and Realtors would ask 'how do you know how to do this?'  My parents get all the credit for guiding me to this wonderful career!  

In the early 90's, I talked with a few of my Realtor friends about helping people prepare their homes for selling, only to be told, "no one would ever pay you to do THAT!"  But I was determined not to give up and knew that somehow, I'd find a way to make a living doing what I knew I was meant to. 

Meanwhile, I had a varied work career but the one that "stuck" the longest was as a sales manager for American Airlines, calling on corporate accounts -- and then I decided to move to Ireland in 1996 for an adventure, opening a Bed & Breakfast in the enchanting rural countryside of County Limerick.  Naturally, all of my guest rooms were decorated with great attention to detail!  While there, I had the good fortune to see a TV show called "House Doctor" with Ann Maurice, a property stylist from California who'd moved to the UK and helped people get their homes sold quickly.  The first time I saw this show while flipping through the channels, I called out to my son Brendan "Look -- she's doing exactly what I've been talking about for years!"  I was so excited to see that someone was successful in pursuing a career in home staging.  Over the next couple of years I watched every episode of "House Doctor" multiple times, and I was determined that when I returned to the U.S. I'd start my home staging business in Portland OR. 

After a stint working for Stanford University managing their private hotel, I took several home staging training courses, and in 2006 Room Solutions Staging was born in Portland. I feel like career-wise, I've really "come home full circle."

So -- thanks again Mom and Dad for the inspiration!  I can feel you smiling down on me every day!

It seems like only yesterday that I found Active Rain online (back in March 2007) and although it seemed like a great resource for real estate professionals (including home stagers) I had no idea then how being part of this community would impact my business in such a positive way.  Now, 189 blog posts later ....

It's true that Active Rain is a community  ~ in the best sense of the word.

I've found friends all over the country here, received referrals to my business, found other great professionals to refer clients to, and learned more about many subjects than I probably did during years of school.

On top of all that, the Active Rain staff is amazingly helpful, friendly, and responsive.  You just couldn't find a nicer group of people who are willing to answer questions and who regularly go above and beyond our expectations.

The thing is, I'm still a newbie in many respects .. we all are ... because this community is constantly evolving and growing just as the real estate industry is.  Being a member of A/R means you're going to be exposed to the "best of the best" info on a daily basis.

How has Active Rain helped me?  Here are just a few of the ways A/R has impacted my business:

• My A/R Blog reaches consumers in my local market of Portland OR looking for a professional home stager; my A/R Outside Blog is on page 1 of Google, so the exposure is excellent

• My A/R Profile also ranks high on Google and contributes to my overall internet presence
  

• A local Portland television station and Oregon's largest newspaper have interviewed me and asked for my opinions on  home staging and decorating ~ on camera and in print
  

• HGTV contacted me through my A/R Profile and another A/R stager's recommendation ~ and offered me a contract to do the design work for 5 episodes of their popular show "My First Place"  (to be aired in 2010)

• Portland Monthly Magazine and Personal Real Estate Investor magazine interviewed me for articles on how home staging can help sellers in any real estate market
  

• Savvy Realtors in the Portland OR area have referred homeowners to me, after reading my blog posts on A/R showing interiors of staged properties, often with "Before & After" photos that showcase my work
  

• My A/R peers nominated me for Professional Stager of the Year for 2010 ~ through the Real Estate Staging Assoc (RESA) ~ which is truly an honor I'm grateful for
  

So, grab your mouse ...& tell everyone you know ...

ACTIVE  RAIN  ROCKS!  All you have to do is Write posts with good, relevant content, Comment on others' posts, and Watch your business grow!

Reaching any milestone takes a team effort, and I'd like to thank the great team of professionals (many who are here on A/R) who have helped my business grow for the past three years.

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Room Solutions Staging in Portland, Oregon offers homeowners, banks, builders, investors & real estate agents a menu of home staging services to prepare properties for the market.  For a free home staging proposal for your property, give us a call @ 503-246-1800.  Our clients have confidence in knowing that our staged homes sell faster in today's challenging market!   View our updated Portland OR home staging photo gallery to see Before & After photos of both our vacant and occupied properties.

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.

Many of us regularly receive emails or calls from "wannabe" stagers .... I've had so many that I came up with a letter to send them.  They deserve to know the "reality" of the staging business and not just hear about how "easy" it is (as shown on TV and by some staging training companies) .... 

Dear Wannabe Stager,

Thank you for inquiring about the home staging business.  I’m often contacted by people who’d like to know more about staging and how to get started.  One of the most important things to consider is that professional stagers should be committed to running a business which is so much more than “decorating” someone’s home.  There are a lot of costs to consider, such as:

• Inventory and props – even if you plan to rent some of the furnishings, you’ll still need to invest a substantial amount of money into accessories, rugs, wall décor, linens, plants, etc.  The cost of these items adds up much quicker than you might imagine. 

• Storage space – once you’ve accumulated accessories and small furnishings you’ll soon find that you need more than just your garage or spare bedroom to store them.  Public storage or warehouse space will add to your expenses. 
  

• Special insurance to cover your staging company for liability in the event you or your helpers damage something in the client’s home, and also to cover your staging inventory whether it’s in transit, in the client’s home, in storage, or in your own home. 
  

• Legal help – you’ll need a good business attorney who can help you develop a staging contract for occupied & vacant homes;  this is very important as you’ll find that being in other people’s home exposes you to liability you may not have thought about, or what happens to your rented staging inventory in the event of non-payment, etc.  It’s best to seek help even if you have a “template” contract, to make sure everything in it applies in your state.

• A good accountant who can help with taxes and what requirements your city & county have for small business owners. 

• Labor help with packing, loading & unloading, transport, and the actual staging and de-staging.

• Register your business with the city and county you’re in and get the proper instructions on your responsibilities; get a TAX ID number.
  

A domain name for your website & a reputable host for it; SEO help to get your site noticed.

• A great blogging platform to help your business grow (Active Rain) 

• A portfolio and website with photos of your own work  (not the work of your training company or stock photos off the internet!).

• A reliable vehicle that can carry your many staging props to each job.

• Office space with a good computer, printer & supplies ~ and good computer skills.

• Marketing advice on the look of your company logo, letterhead stationery, flyers, etc.

• Investment in advertising & marketing to potential clients in your area.   

•  Cost of joining local professional organizations to network and get support from others in the industry 

• Sources for purchasing your inventory and for local furniture rental if needed. 

• The ability to give presentations to Realtors and Homeowners

These are just a few of the things to consider when thinking about setting up a staging company. The best advice I can give someone interested in staging as a career ~ and not just a hobby ~ is to take one of the professional foundation staging training courses that are available (some are better than others so be sure to get recommendations from established stagers).  Continuing education in this field is vitally important.  It’s also just as important to maintain contact with other local stagers for support and to further our common goals.  We have a lot of work to do to educate real estate agents and homeowners about the powerful benefits of staging their properties. 

If you’re truly committed to starting a professional staging company then I hope this advice has been of help to you.  Home staging is an extremely rewarding career ~ but please don't quit your current job just yet until you've really considered all the facts.  You  may also want to read this blog post about running a staging company.  Best of luck to you as you move forward with meeting your goals!

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Maureen Bray is a fulltime professional home stager in Portland Oregon.   To see Before & After photos of both our Vacant and Occupied properties, view our updated Portland OR home staging photo gallery.

Since your blog post exposes potential clients to you (through the magic of Active Rain's powerful Internet presence) you want it to be the best representation of your ideas and commentary. Just as we do when we stage a home to make it appealing to target buyers we want to do the same with our blog posts so that readers will find them attractive and well-presented. 

 If you haven't already, be sure to read all of the great Blogging Tips written by A/R staff & members ~ and don't miss Brad Andersohn's great post about 5 important blogging principles ~ it should be required reading!

Remember that in your post's draft mode there's a built-in spell checker, so there's no need to worry about misspelled words  ~ it's the "ABC" icon with a check mark at the far right end of the tool bar above your draft.

Inserting photos and clip art is easy ... just read Kristal Kraft's post about it ~ a step-by-step illustrated post that even beginners can quickly master.

You'll soon be an expert at Adding Links thanks to Jeff Turner ... and besides the Blogging Tips mentioned above, you can use the Search Bar found in the band at the top of each page and type in whatever info you're looking for. 

I still consider myself new to blogging, but hope these few tips I've learned along the way help you!

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Maureen Bray of Room Solutions Home Staging in Portland OR helps Homeowners & Realtors prepare homes for sellling using professional home staging techniques.  For a free staging proposal contact us @ 503-246-1800 ~ Staging that Sells Portland Homes.