Category: Home Staging

Home staging, which recreates the look of a model home, has been shown to improve sales – both in speed and price, but sometimes the thought of staging your entire home as you try to live there as well can be a bit daunting.

At least stage the biggest room.

Your living room might have a big TV and be comfortable. In addition to a thorough cleaning, put away the clutter and family mementos, and only leave out one remote. Set out snack and drinks before they arrive. Adjust the lighting as you would if you were getting ready to watch a movie or a big game. Keep it brightly lit. The buyer will keep this image in their minds.

Maybe you have finally put together a chef’s dream kitchen. Clean and declutter well. Then think about how it might look if you were going to cook for a party, but hadn’t made a mess yet. Some fresh vegetables or fruit on a cutting board, a few utensils set out ready to use, maybe some flowers on the counter like they were headed for the dining room, and suddenly your kitchen comes to life.

Focus on the dining room. Put a fresh flower arrangement out and put out your best dishes.

You may have a great bathroom, and want to accentuate it. Set the scene as though you were planning on a long soak. To ensure the relaxed feel, you can put a book or a glass next to the tub.

Your kid might have an awesome room. Play that up. Clean the room, but then set out some toys or electronics that complement the room’s theme.

Outdoor living might be your biggest asset. You can set aside some drinks on a patio, or add life to the pool by adding some floating toys.

Once you start staging your home with one room, you may find the process is enjoyable and decide you want to do the whole house, or it could be something you build on as you discover what each room needs to bring it to life. Maybe this week the living room, next time two rooms and soon the whole house.

Despite the idea that each individual has his or her own demands together with tastes, most of us still possesses a the same idea of luxury and comfort. For that reason, staging a home for sale, it will be not difficult to follow some general factors, employed to create an appealing atmosphere within the exterior and interior of a house, which often can be appreciated by many people.
So, first of all it happens to be of great importance to make the house looking nice and trim. The existence of garbage or clutter will unquestionably spoil the impression made by the home, when you will demonstrate it to your potential buyers. Secondly, the rooms at home have to be well-lit, to permit your potential buyers to view the furnishing of the house. And thirdly, the furnishing of the home and its style ought to provide the atmosphere of harmony and comfort, where your prospective buyers will be able to relax and enjoy their time, while residing at home.

You can attempt to make this type of fascinating atmosphere, utilizing your own knowledge of style and comfort along with some general principles we’ve mentioned above above. Nevertheless, if you wish to obtain the the greatest results, while making your house looking very costly and even getting the highest price for its sale, then it will be of great importance to consider the advices of an specialist regarding how to stage a house to sell.

These days the real estate home staging tips seems to be quite intricate issue that will need a particular approach and consideration of the quantity of significant points, which may be missed by non-professionals.

Remember when you first started college? As a freshman, the classes you took were all general education courses like math and English.

By your second year if you were a Business major, you started taking general classes within your major like basic Accounting and Economics. Then by the time you were ready to graduate, you were taking advanced classes specific to a subject within your major like Marketing.

This is very similar to your growth as a Staging Design Professional. When you first get started, you’re working with everybody (the general public), or in some cases, “anybody” because your business depended on it. You didn’t have the luxury of being choosey because you just needed to get business NOW.

As your business evolves, you may naturally start creating a niche because you just organically attract certain clients or types of projects. If this doesn’t come naturally, you will eventually want to figure out what your distinct segment of the market is or more affectionately, “define your niche”.

This is not only the “who”, but also the “what” in the marketplace you serve. For instance, as Stagers, you can work with homeowners, Realtors, builders, developers or investors.

Choosing to work with one of these types of folks is part of your niche. The “what” or your specialty, such as model home merchandising or only staging owner occupied properties is also part of your niche.

I was recently at a Mastermind meeting where one of the Realtors mentioned that when she first started her business, she met a mentor who called himself the “Condo King” so she decided to call herself the “Condo Queen” and went on to be known as a condo specialist.

I know of a local Stager that specializes in Staging Lofts.

I found one of my niches was in Managing Remodel Projects for Resale. I was the “go to” person when those projects came up because I was known by the local Realtor community as the expert in that area. That also led to several condo conversion renovation projects that I was hired to consult on.

SO WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO FIND A NICHE?

You want to be seen as the Expert in that particular niche. As an expert you will find that:

– Experts are able to command higher fees.

Your clients want to know that they’re getting the best and they’re usually willing to pay more to have someone who is an Expert. After all, Cardiac surgeons are paid a lot more than a generalist M.D.

– Experts have more credibility.

More people want to work with Experts rather than Generalists. There is a higher demand for Specialists and as a result, they command more respect.

Just as an Enrolled Agent is paid a lot more for their technical expertise in the field of taxation, particularly IRS audits, than your local H&R Block tax preparer.

– Niching can help separate you from your competition so that you’ll be remembered.

Recognition is particularly with the “green” movement. Incorporating those principles into your Staging services will not only get consumer attention but you can potentially dominate that market since this is an emerging concept.

– Niching helps you clarify your marketing message.

Now that you know who your target market is and what your unique service offering is, you can now build your customer’s awareness of your services as well as your brand with more focused campaigns.

SO HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR NICHE?

You need to ask yourself a few questions.

– What do people already see you as an expert of?

– What are you known for or what do you want to be known for?

Take a look at your previous projects or your client profiles.

– Was there a group of folks that you worked with more often than another?

– Is there an area that you’re particularly better at than anyone else?

– Where can you be a “first” at in your marketplace?

It could be that you only do vignette staging which creates a look and feel without the need for a lot of inventory which reduces your overhead expenses.

Perhaps you’re known as a Color Specialist or the “Green” Stager. By positioning yourself as the Expert in this sexy, new niche, you will probably get a lot of media exposure since it is the “HOT” topic of the moment.

As you can see, niching helps you clarify who and what you want to work with. By communicating that specialty to your clients, you can help ensure that you’re not taking on projects that are outside of your expertise and eliminate those that bring you the least joy.

Over time I found my niche just by working on all kinds of projects and figuring out which ones I enjoyed and which I could easily say “no” to, regardless of the money.

Figure out what your niche is and you will find that the journey to your Staging success is a lot more fun!

Copyright (c) 2009 Alice Chan

There has been an influx of homes in the marketplace recently. Anybody looking to sell their home ought to ensure that it has competitive pricing but that it also looks appealing. If somebody adhered to regular home staging suggestions it would help set the property up for top showings.

Home staging is when an individual selling their home prepares it for sale. What’s meant by that is, the seller pays close attention to the way the house is presented and its overall appearance. It is essential for the home to have all aesthetic issues dealt with and that the organization, design, and appearance are all top rate.

Some people don’t understand the benefit of having their house staged. These people, many occasions, believe that the price point for the property will be the only element within the sale. An benefit in staging the house is that the seller sees the larger picture of how the house looks, that can result in much less time on the market, and more effortlessly justifying the sale cost.

Looking at the curb appeal of the property will be the initial step in staging. Many individuals only believe of the interior of the house when they are staging their property. The first thing that a possible buyer will see is the exterior so it is important to have it searching good. A seller ought to do a walk about of the property and make a list of any items needing attention, and have a buddy do the same. The seller should then take that list and fix any items that stand out.

A high priority for staging the interior of the home is ensuring that the entryway is well taken care of. This is the region that connects the outside globe using the interior so it is important to have it searching good. Make certain that the region is correctly cleaned, swept, and dusted. This area ought to be nicely lit and also the lighting should fit the tone of the house as well. An additional key element is to get a brand new, high quality door mat. This is a cheap item that is frequently overlooked but adds to the really feel of becoming at home upon arrival.

Since numerous individuals entertain their guests and households in their living or family room it is essential to set those rooms as much as permit for the possible buyer to envision that taking place. Setting up the furniture within the room to showcase group conversation or interaction is really a great thought. If there’s a fireplace the furniture should be set up to make that the focus of the room.

The kitchen is another highlight of any house. If there have been any areas remodeled within the kitchen, the seller should showcase those improvements. Any updating needed to faucets, handles, or lights, ought to be carried out. The kitchen should be thoroughly cleaned so no grit or grime is left anywhere.

The bathrooms in the house ought to follow exactly the same steps as the kitchen staging. Any handles, lights, or faucets that need updating ought to have that done. It is even more vital to have the bathroom searching spotless. There should not be residue or soap scum left on any surfaces that the potential buyer might see.

The bedroom ought to be staged in such a way that it feels very comfortable. Do not have additional furniture or clothes within the room as that will give the appearance of clutter and make the room seem smaller. Since a seller wants the buyer to envision themselves within the home there ought to be no family pictures left anywhere in the home, including the bedroom.

Preparing a home having a stunning curb appeal is important when a person is selling their house. Following these easy house staging tips will help justify the properties asking cost. Setting up the house to have the possible buyer feel at house is extremely important.

Plan of Attack
Definitions
Epidemiology
Goals of Management
Diagnosis
Managing Stable COPD
Managing Acute Exacerbations of COPD

A disease state characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. Airflow limitation is usually both progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases. Symptoms, functional abnormalities, and complications of COPD can all be explained on the basis of this underlying inflammation and the resulting pathology.
Definitions
Chronic Bronchitis (clinical)
Sputum production more days than not for at least 3 months a year for at least 2 years
Emphysema (pathologic)
Parenchymal destruction airspace walls distal to terminal bronchioles, without fibrosis
Important: You can have either, but to have COPD you MUST demonstrate obstruction (thus the O in COPD)

Epidemiology
Fourth leading cause of death in U.S.
100,000 American deaths each year
15-20% of chronic smokers develop COPD
2.5% mortality for COPD hospital admissions
COPD with acute respiratory failure:
24% in hospital mortality
59% one year mortality
If you have COPD and PaCO2 > 50mmHg:
67% chance of being alive in 6 months
57% chance of being alive in 12 months

Diagnosis
Symptoms
Dyspnea
Sputum production (especially in the morning)
Recurrent acute chest illnesses
Headache in the morning possible hypercapnia
Cor pulmonale (Right heart failure)

Goals Of Management
Identifying and ameliorating (if possible) the cause of the acute exacerbation
Optimizing lung function by administering bronchodilators and other pharmacotherapy
Assuring adequate oxygenation and secretion clearance
Averting the need for intubation, if possible
Preventing complications of immobility, such as thromboemboli and deconditioning
Addressing nutritional needs at the time of the acute illness, most patients are in negative nitrogen balance, which is exacerbated by steroid therapy

Diagnosis:
Signs
Prolonged expiratory time
Expiratory wheezes
Increased AP diameter of chest
Decreased breath sounds (especially upper lung fields)
Distant heart sounds
End stage: accessory muscles, pursed lip breathing, cyanosis, enlarged liver and pedal edema (in case of cor pulmonale).

Diagnosis
Radiology
Chest X-ray
Hyperinflated lung fields more radiolucent
Bullae, often bilateral upper lobes in smokers
Flat diaphragms (best seen on lateral) and retrosternal airspace can indicate air trapping
High Resolution CT of Chest
Most sensitive to detect above changes
No role in routine care of COPD patients
Can be useful for giant bullous disease surgeries or lung volume reduction surgery planning

Diagnosis
Pulmonary Function Testing
Spirometry: Decreased FEV1/FVC
FEV1 percent predicted defines severity
Lung volumes: Increased TLC, RV, RV/TLC
DLCO: Decreased

Gold Staging Criteria
Stage O: Normal spirometry; chronic sx
Stage 1 (Mild):
FEV1/FVC 80% predicted
Stage 2 (Moderate):
FEV1/FVC
2A: FEV1 50-80% predicted
2B: FEV1 30-50% predicted

Diagnosis
Stage 3 (severe):
FEV1/FVC
FEV1
FEV1

Diagnosis
American Thoracic Society Spirometry
Low FEV1/FVC defines obstruction
FEV1%predicted Category

35-50% Severe
50-60% Moderately Severe
60-70% Moderate
70-80% Mild
80-100% Mild vs. Normal variant
> 100% Normal

Managing Stable COPD
Smoking Cessation Is KEY!
YOUR intervention will make a difference must address at each visit
Medication
Two therapies ONLY have been shown to improve mortality in stable COPD:
1) Smoking Cessation
2) Oxygen Therapy

Bronchodilator Technique
MDIs get better drug deposition than nebs
Use a spacer device with MDIs
Technique is key important for patient and doctor
Inadequate dosing can hamper treatment

Sympathomimetics
Beta-2 selectivity is good
Some additive vs. slightly synergistic effects of combining beta-2 agonist and ipratropium (Combivent)
Some data to support decreased H.influenzae pneumonia incidence with Serevent
Anticholinergic Agents (Atrovent, glycopyrrolate)
Similar ability to bronchodilate (in appropriate doses) as beta-agonists
Also reduces sputum volume; no change in viscosity
Usually under dosed
Recommend 2 (36 mcg) puffs qid
glycopyrrolate which is manufactured for IV/IM use for other indications, is available only “off label” for nebulized use in COPD (1 to 2 mg every two to four hours).
Aminophylline and theophylline are not recommended for the management of acute exacerbations of COPD. Randomized controlled trials of intravenous aminophylline in this setting have failed to show efficacy in excess of that afforded by therapy with inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids

Mucokinetic agents
There is little evidence supporting the use of mucokinetic (mucolytic) agents, such as N-acetylcysteine or iodide preparations, in acute exacerbations of COPD. In fact, some drugs of this class may worsen bronchospasm.

Oxygen. Yes.
Demonstrated to improve exercise performance, symptom indices and mortality
Goal in hypercapnic patients for SpO2 need not be greater than 88-90%
Always test COPD patients for oxygenation with ambulation if baseline at rest room air SpO2 ok

Systemic Corticosteroids
Never demonstrated to significantly impact mortality or exercise capacity
Slight improvements in symptom indices
Significant side effects
Rarely of benefit, generally of harm to your patient
Occasionally useful in a small subset failing other therapies AND with demonstrated bronchodilator response on PFTs

Inhaled Corticosteroids
Jury still out
Lots of recent research with some favorable data supporting its use
May be part of standard regimens in the future

Vaccines
Pneumovax, annual flu shots
Chronic antibiotic therapy BAD IDEA
Nutritional status Important
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Improved exercise capacity, symptom scores
Lung Volume Reduction Surgery
Transplant

Managing Acute Exacerbations of COPD
Common precipitants:
Infection esp viral or bacterial
Acute bronchospasm
Sedation

Who To Admit
Countless studies, few definite answers
Worsening hypoxemia and/or hypercapnia
Otherwise, mostly a clinical decision
Key points to consider:
Oxygen
Bronchodilators
Steroids
Antibiotics

Albuterol:
Neb or MDI neb MAY be better in acute setting, but MDIs have better drug deposition overall
Continuous nebulizer treatments confer no benefit over treatments every 1-2 hours
Generally should avoid subcutaneous beta-agonists
BEWARE: Hypokalemia, tachycardia (occasional)
Levalbuterol still with weak clinical data few situations where it is clinically indicated

ATROVENT (anticholinergic bronchodilator)
Bronchodilation
May decrease secretions
Few significant side effects
Usually significantly under dosed emerging data supports much higher doses than usually used currently

Corticosteroids Parenteral corticosteroids are frequently used in treating acute exacerbations of COPD. Methylprednisolone (60 to 125 mg intravenously, two to four times daily) or the equivalent glucocorticoid dose of other steroid preparations commonly is given.
Corticosteroids Utilization in this setting was initially based upon small randomized trials in which only a minority of patients benefit and the degree of improvement is modest
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 271 patients has confirmed the benefits of systemic corticosteroids given for up to 2 weeks to hospitalized patients with COPD exacerbation

Antibiotics
Winnipeg Criteria (give for 2-3 of the following):
Increased cough
Increased purulence
Increased sputum production
Antibiotics accelerate improvement in peak expiratory flow rates and lessen the rate of recrudescence in this setting
Amoxicillin, Doxycycline, TMP/SMX, Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, Levaquin for 10 days

Mucokinetic Agents JUST SAY NO.
N-acetylcysteine is actually contraindicated in patients with airway obstruction
No significant clinical benefit ever demonstrated
Chest PT, intermittent positive pressure breathing and postural drainage may actually be harmful in the setting of acute obstruction

Methylxanthines (Theophylline, Aminophylline)
Not recommended for acute exacerbations
No significant benefit ever demonstrated in large, prospective trials

Oxygen: YES!
Generally a good thing cells like that stuff
If requiring a significant increase in FiO2 over baseline requirement, start hunting for something other than just COPD exacerbation
BEWARE of CO2 RETAINERS! (goal SpO2 90%, PaO2 of 60 to 65 mmHg )
1) Altered V/Q relationships
2) Haldane effect (Hgb*O2 holds less CO2 goes out into plasma)
3) Decreased ventilatory drive (least impt mechanism)

Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation
BiPAP
Set FiO2, inspiratory (IPAP) and expiratory (EPAP)
Difference between IPAP and EPAP augments tidal volume, therefore improving minute ventilation. CO2 then gets blown off
MORTALITY BENEFIT in patients who will tolerate

Mechanical Ventilation
Respiratory distress
Acidemia that does not correct quickly with therapy
Inability to oxygenate adequately
Often a clinical decision relative to patients work of breathing