Home Staging can be frustrating and confusing, One of the main reasons for this is that we live in the same space every day. We see the same things, we hear the same things, and we smell the same things - day after day. So it all seems normal to us, we surround ourselves with personal items we like or what our family likes. However, the real truth is not everyone else loves the same things we do.
It is difficult to decide what to leave, what to take out, or what is a maybe? Home Staging is like trying to proof read your own school paper. You can look at it a 100 times and it still looks good; however, when someone else looks over it, it can reveal a whole different story. When a buyer can really see your home as their own, they can imagine arranging their furniture, putting their things in certain places, how they will entertain, and even get some great ideas from you…
I believe pursuing and receiving a quality education in the field of Legal Studies enriched my life beyond anything I could ever imagine. I worked hard and graduated Summa Cum Laude, and now use my legal background and experience to build my business while helping others. Poor contract negotiations can cripple you and leave you with little or no negotiation power and simply make a good deal go bad. There are many important elements and moving parts of a well negotiated contract!
Preparation is the key, you must be able to take all emotion out of contract negotiations and find out useful information in order to reach your goals.
Having a strategy can help facilitate the deal, always have the endgame in mind. The offer is not just about the dollar amount. There are other specifics such as time frames, understanding all legal documents, contingencies, fulfilling your contract obligations, and mutual agreements are only a few steps in negotiating a successful contract.
Always go for a win/win situation. Throughout negotiations, try to determine what you believe to be an acceptable outcome for both parties. Contract negotiations is a skill requiring a lot of competence and is developed through experience. Making sure you have the right Real Estate Agent working on your behalf will be one of the most important decisions you will ever make during the buying and selling of your next home.
One of the most difficult things I have learned about Interior Design is that it is not about my own personal style, but rather it is about my client’s preferences. My job is to help clients figure out how to build on their personal style and taste in order to reach their goals.
I also have learned that being a great listener is the most crucial part of helping a client reach their goals. Whether it be for designing their own personal space, finding their dream home, or staging a home for resell, my mission is to steer clients toward a favorable outcome while helping them feel in charge of their own design choices.
I think it is crucial when designing a space that we think about the interior and exterior at the same time asking the question “How can I bring the outside to the inside of the home?’ Have you ever gone to a home and just loved the outside of the home only to step into the home and think “This is not at all what I thought it was going to be!” The architecture is different, the home feels cold, or you thought the house was Colonial, however, there is beach theme going on inside. The exterior of a home like it or not does create an expectation!!!
I have had clients, friends, and family in the past ask me why their home feels so overwhelming. Part of the problem is they over-shopped... What I mean is this- they kept buying things thinking they could get their home just the way they wanted it only to find out they had only created clutter. A room’s design starts with creating a focal point and building from there with a color palette clean lines, and manageable space.
Interior Design does not have to be expensive; however, it does require a well thought out plan.
When I think about one the most rewarding opportunities I have had in my life it always comes down to 18 years of experience with home building and remodeling.
I believe I look at existing homes like people look at rescuing animals. Every animal needs someone to take care of them and I think the same way about a house. I see its potential and what can be done to make it one of the greatest homes ever built. I see the unsightly flaws and how it has been left in a past era or just left abandoned and what can be done to bring it back to life. I literally want to rescue it, and make it mine if only for a short period of time. However, I also have to remember many homes do present costly consequences and sometimes do come with a hefty price tag.
During the buying process, I see buyers looking at homes that could be potential problems for them. This can be due to not noticing structural issues, poor condition, and dated properties that could mean high repair costs down the road. It is imperative to be able to see beyond the gleaming granite counter tops and the manicured yards.
Although, an inspection is needed and will eventually reveal potential problems, knowing this ahead of time can save the buyer time, money, and give the buyer negotiating power when purchasing their new home. Or on the hand, the buyer now has the option to pass and move on to the next home without delay.
Having me as your Real Estate Agent and using my knowledge and experience in the building and remodeling industry can solve many problems for you. First, I know when you tell me the style, period, and characteristics of a home you are looking I can dig deeper into your must haves and I know exactly what you are looking for. This saves you a lot of time when I am only showing you properties that you are truly interested in.
Second, when I show you a home I recognize there are issues long before we get to the inspection period, I can help you determine the approximate costs to remedy the repairs. This helps you determine if it is home you want to spend more time on or if it is a home you just do not want to put anymore energy into.
My job as your Real Estate Agent is to be your advocate at my fullest capacity. Using my background and experience can be used for finding your dream home at the best possible price while helping you solve problems along the way.
