New clients recently hired our company to stage a vacant home in Hillsboro Oregon, just east of Portland. The property had been an abused rental, so when I first viewed it, I was able to provide the sellers with advice for easy cosmetic fixes, paint colors, etc. They worked on the property for quite a few weeks, taking care of home repairs including replacing windows, reconfiguring the family room, and improving curb appeal.
When the staging was completed, I received a wonderful email from my client. In part, it said "This house looked drab before and had been an abused rental, so we were all very sick of dealing with it. My 7-year-old would complain non-stop every time we had to go over there. As soon as he saw it staged, he said "I don't want to leave" and "I think we should just move in here." :-)
Here's how the living room looked on my first visit (old wood stove insert, stark white paint, empty) ...
After adding Devine paint on the walls & a new window, removing the insert in the fireplace, and staging ...
The dining room & family room were spacious but needed small fixes & Staging to make them buyer-friendly
The master bedroom was stark white, cold and uninviting. Painting & staging it made it much warmer ...
So if a 7-yr. old boy likes the home so much now -- hopefully a buyer will find it just as irresistible!
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This home was professionally staged by Room Solutions Staging in Portland OR. We help homeowners, real estate professionals, banks, investors and builders prepare homes so that they sell quickly. Our satisfied clients appreciate our menu of home staging services including cost-effective verbal consultations and staging for both occupied and vacant properties. For a free staging proposal for your Portland metro property, contact us @ 503-246-1800.
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Very nice before and after shots! Staging works and you can't deny the appeal of the staged room.
Great job!
WOW, I'm amazed at the difference. Taking the fireplace insert out was huge. It does not even look like the same fireplace.
Smart 7 yr old!! I want to live there too!! The fireplace insert really dated the room-great call removing it!!
I love your color palette and furniture pieces. I have the same art, bedding and the same urn next to the fireplace-how fun!!
The kid's got good taste. The fact that a young child would feel the warmth says a lot. You did a great job bringing warmth and color to the place!
Maureen- as always your Staging was perfect. What better testimonial than a 7 year old child wanting to be there. I love pops of red you use in your staging. It takes the room from being just a "staged" room to one that is warm and real.
Very, very nice, Maureen. There are two people that it's important to satisfy: the child and the wife. Guys can adapt, or move out to the man cave. LOL
Hi Jennifer ~ Thanks for your enthusiastic support of staging -- buyers surely will like the "after" better than what was there before.
Hi Marchel ~ That insert was so unattractive, and the seller didn't think at first that it could be removed. However I'm so glad they took care of it -- a roaring fire will be much more appealing to buyers.
Hi Cathy ~ Isn't that amazing, I often notice too when looking at other stagers' photos that I have something similar. Guess we shop at some of the same great stores!
Hi Leanne ~ Thanks, the young boy used to really complain about going over there with his parents ... but now somehow he likes it LOL
Hi Kathy ~ Red never lets me down, it brings energy to a space and forces the eye to move around too. I never get tired of using it! P.S. I like your new moniker -- "actively raining thoughts" -- very appropriate and fun!
Hi Russel ~ how nice to see you! What you say is true -- men are happy as long as they have their cave LOL!
Keep that kid around!!! Looks GREAT.....and I love the area rug with the circles in the Living Room!! Way Cool!!
Hi Kathy ~ YES -- I love that boy and what he said!! That circles rug is so fun and is one of my favs ... glad you like it.
There you go again, Maureen. Turning houses into homes making them desirable.
Congratulations. Your home staging is being featured in the group Staging Before and After Pictures.
Kathy
Great job. Love the before/after picts. Love the area rug in first set - reminds me of a carpet I have from Kane. Love it.
Fantastic use of color! Shows that you don't have to go all neutral to create universal appeal.
BTW, who makes the color "Devine?" Is it Ben Moore? It's a fabulous background color!
Wow, the colors made the room look like an exciting place to live. Nice job.
Awe. . . that's a sweet story . . . and a very SWEET presentation you made for the new home buyer!
Hi Kathy ~ it was really fun to work on this modest home and make it more appealing. Thanks for the feature! P.S. And I hope you have a very Happy Birthday today!! :-)
Hi Debbie ~ That rug is full of energy with those colored circles, isn't it? Thanks for your feedback.
Hi Palma ~ that's true, in a modest ranch home like this one, color makes it much more interesting. BTW, Devine paint is it's own line and is sold across the country. Their colors are very easy to work with (the living room is Devine Stone).
Hi Diane ~ Thanks so much, nice to see you again!
Hi Karen ~ Don't you love it when you hear how clients reacted to the staging? This was a good one for my website (although the original is much longer :-)
From the mouth's of babes! That is a great story! It looks beautiful and he is smart enough to know quality work when he sees it.
Maureen - Great story - I think that kid's a future interior designer! The thicker moldings around the windows and on the fireplace really make a huge difference. I also love the fun rug with the circles. What a huge difference the upgrades and staging make. Amazing.
Hi Sharon ~ Kids say the darndest things! (I'm really dating myself with that comment -- oh well!)
Hi Sally ~ It's always rewarding isn't it when clients take your advice for cosmetic improvements to heart. These clients were wonderful to work with because they could see the value of staging and understood that staging doesn't just mean "furnishings."
Maureen, you did a really nice job, I love the colors. It is a true testimonial when it comes from kids- they always give their honest opinion!
Hi Gina ~ I guess it's true that kids tell the honest truth -- thanks for your kind words.
"Kids say the darndest things..." because they speak the truth! Julie
Maureen: What's the old saying ... "out of the mouth of babes"??? Pure truth ... you did a marvelous job. I agree with your 7-yr. old little man. It makes me want to move in too ...
Gene
Like Sharon and Gene mentioned above...'out of the mouths of babes'! How cute that he hated going there before...future designer, watch out!
Hi Julie ~ I think you're right! Thanks for agreeing!
Hi Gene ~ How nice of you to say. It's always wonderful to get your input.
Hi David ~ Apparently it was his worst nightmare to go over there ... but not any more! :-)
You should take him with you when talking to sellers about staging so he can tell it like it is...I am sure he would be very convincing...LOL!!
I love the colors!
Hi Valerie ~ I bet he would too -- that's a great idea for my "new marketing plan!"
Hi Joshua ~ Thanks, me too!
Maureen, I have been away from reading activerain awhile. WOW is what first came to mind. That is one savvy seven year old. The difference is palpable vacant vs. staged.Great Staging!!!!
Hi Bev ~ Nice to see you here again! Glad you enjoyed the staging transformation. (Gotta love those kids!)
Hi Maureen, Seven year old speak the truth right out of the mind no preconditioning what a great testimonial of your fabulous work.
Maureen, I am not at all surprised that you were able to bring the warmth and life back into that house. Even more importantly you impressed a 7 year old! Now that's an accomplishment all by its self! Out of the mouths of babes! Hope you have a great next week ~ I'm off to Maine!
Hi Barbara ~ I thought it was one of the best too!
Hi Laura ~ Thanks for your kind words. Enjoy your holiday!