We Launched Our 5,000 Square Foot Home-Staging Facility in the Berkshires

We did it! We welcomed realtors, developers, friends and family to our new storage space in the Berkshires on Friday, October 15. Our 5,000 square foot home-staging facility houses over 10,000 pieces of furniture and accessories and, we’re proud to say, visitors were pretty stunned by what they saw. (We’re still feeling pretty stunned ourselves…)

Our new facility is located at 21 Business Park Road in Ashley Falls. And it’s a very important piece for our continued growth! It’s now a warehouse, showroom space, and office perfect for our  woman-owned company serving the Berkshires, Western Massachusetts, Connecticut, Eastern New York State, New York City and New Jersey. 

“Because we have enough furniture and accessories in stock to stage 15+ homes at a time, we have a lot to manage,” Dawn Trachtenberg said at the grand opening. “I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had to remove eight sofas or multiple tables and chairs just to access the one particular piece we needed for a staging project. Now we can see everything at a glance. This storage facility is a game changer for us.”

We’ve always been thrilled with the outcome of our stagings, it’s just that the process was often challenging. The term “making the sausage” comes to mind here…the final product is amazing, but you didn’t want to watch it being made. This new space makes all items accessible.

The new storage facility houses:

• 10,000 pieces of furniture and accessories

• 1,000 books

• 500 pillows

• 90 dining room chairs

• 30 sofas

• 450 pieces of wall art, including over 200 original works.

Sofas, cocktail tables, chests of drawers, and other large items needed to be organized and tucked away (as well as you can tuck away a large piece of furniture and still have it visible for easy access). The shelving structures necessary to organize all of this stock were a vital component for this project’s success. The massive shelving units are out of the former C. A. Lindell Hardware and Lumber yard in Canaan, CT. We figured if the shelves could hold hundreds of pounds of lumber, they could hold our furniture and accessories.

Unlike some home-staging companies, we own all our stock: no additional furniture rental costs are passed on to clients. Our philosophy is to never stage in a “cookie cutter” style. Dawn says, “We believe that every home tells a story – and you need to tell that story to the right buyer. Our attention to detail and ability to understand what buyers want is unmatched.”

A special thanks goes out to the team that worked lots of hours to get everything in place. Lot’s of elbow grease, muscle, creativity, and endurance made this home staging dream come true.

Thanks to all who came to our open house. If you’d like a tour, contact Dawn Trachtenberg at 917.543.4590 or contact us (button below).

Read a Berkshire Eagle article about our business and the new space.

It takes a team to tackle a project like this. Thank you to our hard-working staff!

See Where the Story Begins! Staging Facility Open House!

For YEARS we have successfully staged homes for sale while storing our ever-growing collection of furniture and accessories in multiple storage spaces. We’ve staged dozens of houses, estates, cottages, apartments and condominiums and done it well; from NYC to the Berkshires and in between. We have dreamed of having one large facility where we could house our thousands of items, pick and pull for any property regardless of location, and see all of our inventory all under one roof. We have good news…

We look forward to telling you about our home staging process and how we manage over 10,000 pieces of furniture and accessories (much better now with a 5,000 square foot storage facility)!

We will launch our new home staging storage facility on Friday, October 15, 4pm and 6pm 21 Business Park Road, Ashley Falls, MA in the beautiful Berkshires.

And YOU are invited to our open house.

Stop in for a tour, enter our raffle for a stunning 24” x 36” custom commissioned abstract painting by Staged Ryte’s artist-in-residence Kari Kroll, and enjoy bites and beverages catered by Rubiner’s Cheesemongers.

You can Follow Kari Kroll on Instagram and see her amazing art.

Questions? RSVP below or call or text Dawn at 917.543.4590.

Get to Know Our Client: Anna Kolberg of Corcoran

Every quarter we celebrate the realtors, developers, and flippers who are so often our home staging clients. They are the ones who understand the value of home staging to sell homes fast – and to the right buyers. So, in honor of Get to Know Your Customers Day, we are excited to showcase Anna Kolberg, licensed Real Estate Salesperson with The Corcoran Group. We just staged a wonderful apartment in Bushwick/Brooklyn, NY for Anna and the results? She’ll tell you about it. But first, let’s learn something about Anna.

Anna joined Corcoran with 10 years of real estate experience in NYC as a property owner and an investor. In addition to their two-family primary home in Williamsburg, she and her husband, a sales director for Corcoran Sunshine, own several income-producing properties which they’ve gut-renovated, managed, and substantially increased their value.

Where’s your home base, Anna?

I am based at the Williamsburg office. I cover all of NYC, but specialize in the North Brooklyn neighborhoods of Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick.

Anna Koblerg’s client needed a quick turnaround time on this Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY listing. Staged Ryte delivered on the staging and Anna sold the apartment in two weeks.

What do you find challenging about real estate in the city right now?

Since January, the velocity in the real estate market has picked up considerably. In certain segments of the market, we are seeing multiple bids above asking. Inventory in Brooklyn is low which makes it even more competitive for prospective buyers. Buyers need to be ready to go and submit their strongest offer from the start, or they risk losing out. [Editors Note: Brooklyn’s second quarter saw the highest number of closed sales on record.]

I always try to be upfront with my clients about the state of the market, so they know what they are getting into. Buying or selling a home is such an emotional experience. I find that people can remain calm if they know what to expect and are prepared for a situation. Arming them with information and a game plan is just one way I help my clients keep their cool in a hot market.

What do you find rewarding about real estate?

I find it rewarding to help someone achieve a goal that they may never felt possible (such as buying their first home or selling their property above ask in 2 weeks.) My clients enjoy working with me because I work tirelessly and do whatever it takes to help make the buying or selling process as easy as possible for them. (You would not believe some of the things I have done!!)

As a property owner and landlord myself, I have experience with finding undervalued properties and renovating them to increase their worth. It is extremely rewarding to help someone find a "diamond in the rough" — something that not only excites them, but is also a sound investment that helps them achieve financial independence.

Working in real estate is challenging, but it is also fun! Where else you can spend the day with a friend, exploring different neighborhoods, checking out properties and call that work?

How did 2020 go for you?

2020 was an interesting and challenging year for everyone. Real estate agents had to pivot on a dime and quickly figure out how to adapt a very personal, face-to-face process to a virtual one. The online classes Corcoran's Agent Studio offered definitely helped us make this transformation in stride. While it was definitely not "normal," I learned a lot about resilience, and enjoyed the extra quality time with my family. I guess I am a "glass half full" kind of person!

What are you looking forward to in Q3 & Q4?

Summer is usually slow for real estate agents in NYC. But this year is anything but normal! I guess we are still making up for lost time due to COVID. I expect Q3 and Q4 to be just as busy as Q2. So hold on to your hats!

Why did you choose to work with Staged Ryte?

We needed a quick turnaround on our staging so that our listing could hit the market asap. Nancy and Dawn promised a quick service at a great price and they truly delivered! The quality of their work exceeded my expectations and they were also fun to work with!

Staged Ryte took a half furnished apartment and made it look fresh & stylish. I think people could see themselves living in that space, and they wanted to live there. Every single showing, someone commented on the furniture and some even asked to buy it. We had multiple offers in the first two weeks and went into contract at asking!

Thanks, Anna! Learn more about Anna at at www.corcoran.com.

How Do You Decorate With Yellow and Gray? Pantone Colors 2021

Why does everyone seem to be using the exact same color at the same time? You go into a home goods or furniture store and you see the same pops of color at each one…it’s not a coincidence. We use some trending color in home staging, judiciously. Our goal here is to help you understand if YOU should use it in your home décor.

Since 2000 the Pantone Color Institute has promoted a Pantone color of the year (sometimes, as in 2021, a pair of complementary colors) that they believe evokes the spirit of that year. (Learn more about Pantone in our previous blog post: What Is a Pantone Color?) The 2021 Pantone Colors are yellow and grey -- Illuminating 13-0647 and Ultimate Gray 17-5104. In an unmistakable nod to our pandemic reality, the company describes the colors as “A message of happiness supported by fortitude…We need to feel that everything is going to get brighter – this is essential to the human spirit.”

So when you see this yellow and grey color scheme everywhere you look--clothing, makeup, graphic design products, even some kinds of specialty foods, like cakes and cookies--it’s not a massive case of color ESP among manufacturers and designers. It’s the result of a carefully orchestrated marketing effort that is meant to saturate the market with the year’s color.

Why are we telling you this? Well, if you’re painting and decorating a home, you have to choose a color scheme. When you look around for color inspiration, you’re likely to see this profusion of Pantone color of the year everywhere and you might be tempted to go whole hog with one of these beautiful, trendy colors. If you’re like us and staging a home for sale, sure: you can invest in some on trend colors. But if you’re decorating your own home that you’ll be living in for some time, you need to remember that “color of the year” means that soon it will be “color of the last year.” It will seem trendy and on brand this year but by next year the color is bound to feel dated.

Yellow May Not be Mellow

Also, it’s better to be more cautious with these very vivid Pantone colors because they are, in our experience, attention-getting shades that work better as accents than as the major color in a scheme--unless of course you are a highly skilled professional. Good examples in this Ideal Home UK article.

Subtle yellows and grays. Love it (not our design). Image credit: Simon Scarboro.

Pantone’s yellow – illuminating – is a bright hue that, like most yellows, requires major knowhow to pull off. It’s a major commitment. As a friend once asked when another friend was considering a deep Venetian red dining room, “Hon, do you really have that much to say?” The same goes for yellow. Do you really have that much to say? Most people don’t. In fact, by pairing it with gray, Pantone pretty much admits the necessity of using yellow with a more neutral tone. 

Doesn’t matter that the walls and carpet are beige. Gray is also a neutral and paired with the vibrant yellow contemporary painting by Kari Kroll, the room comes to life.

Yellow is also problematic in the sense that it’s a fussy color that reads differently in rooms facing west than in rooms facing east; in morning light versus dusk. Although the idea of happiness, optimism and energy it conveys is very attractive, yellow can also signal danger (think of the blinking yellow traffic light). 

If you feel you must have yellow, or any other intense, dark, or unusual color, as your dominant color,  make sure to test it on walls facing in all directions and during different times of day. Go to your local hardware store and purchase small sample sizes of paint to create your own large paint chips. You can also buy 12-inch square chips from samplize.com. You’ll be amazed at how different the same color looks in early morning sun and at noon and dusk. 

What do you think? Do you now know how to decorate with yellow and gray? Let us know if you need help!

Do you need help staging a home for sale or need a new look in your home? Call us at 917.543.4590. Email us at dawn@stagedryte.com. Or fill out our contact form.

What Is A Pantone Color?

Unless you’re a design professional you may not know about Pantone colors. But you surely have seen and/or used a Pantone color in your life. 

You may have noticed that when you walk into a furniture store that many of the staged rooms display throw pillows and other accessories in a particular shade of pink or a deep blue. Then in the housewares store you notice the same shade of pink or blue on the pricey new enamel cookware they are featuring. Then you’re in Sephora buying lipstick and you see that all the new packaging for your cosmetics brand is that same pink or blue. How could that be? Are you imagining they are the same?

No, you’re not imaging it. What you are seeing is the Pantone color effect. Those manufacturers are most likely using the current Pantone color of the year. 2021 colors are yellow - called Illuminating - and Ultimate Gray. Have you seen these colors online and in shops?

Pantone is a company that has been known since the 1960s for its development of the Pantone Matching System, a standardized system of color formulas that enables any manufacturer or designer anywhere in the world, whether producing clothing, housewares, or graphics, to precisely choose and reproduce a given color. The Pantone Matching System comprises 1,867 colors created by combining 13 base pigments. 

2021 Pantone Colors

Stay tuned for our next blog post. We’ll go into detail on how to use yellow and gray when decorating your home.

According to the Pantone website, “More than 10 million designers and producers around the world rely on Pantone products and services to help define, communicate and control color from inspiration to realization – across various materials and finishes for graphics, fashion and product design.”

Stay tuned for Part 2 – we’ll delve into this year’s colors of the year and how (or if) you should use them.

Want to read more about color? Read this blog post – Fear Not a Pop of Orange.

Get to Know Our Client: Realtors Stacey and Pels Matthews

Every quarter we celebrate the realtors, developers, and flippers who are so often our home staging clients. They are the ones who understand the value of home staging to sell homes fast – and to the right buyers. So, in honor of Get to Know Your Customers Day, we highlight not one but two realtors: Stacey and Pels Matthews – The Matthews Group – of William Raveis Real Estate in beautiful Litchfield County. Business has been booming and they’re busy…so here are some quick questions and answers.

Q & A with Stacey and Pels

Stacey and Pels Matthews

Q. How long have you been in real estate?

A. Stacey has been in the business for 21 years and Pels joined her about 10 years ago when they decided to expand and create a large team. The Matthews Group now has 21 agents. 

Q. How has real estate changed over the years?

A. Connecticut was in a real estate slump for the last 12 years. Things are completely different now and properties are moving quickly. Prices are up about 20%, but are still below replacement cost. 

Recently staged and under contract: 424 Long Mountain Road, New Milford, CT. Photo by Michael Bowman.

“We’re amazed at how quickly they…have it looking perfect.”

Q. What do you find challenging about real estate?

A. 24/7 schedule and never having a day off.  

Q. What do you find rewarding about real estate?

A. Meeting interesting people and finding them their dream homes. Many of our best friends are former clients.  

Q. Why do you choose to work with Staged Ryte?

A. Staged Ryte is so quick. When we have had a job to do, I am amazed at how quickly they can get furniture and accessories into a house and have it look picture perfect. 

Former listing with Stacey: Litchfield, Connecticut primary bedroom before and after.

Q. How did 2020 go for you?

A. 2020 was a record year in real estate. We worked nonstop. 

Q. What do you think 2021 will bring...and what are you looking forward to? 

A. We are working on listing several spectacular properties in the next month and are looking forward to some quick sales!

Thanks, Stacey and Pels! Learn more about The Matthews Group here. Or call them at 860.868.0511.

Recent listing with Stacey Matthews - staged and sold.

Get to Know Our Client: Realtor George Cain

Staged Ryte has staged four houses for realtor George Cain. It’s a joy to work with George: not only is he a hard-working professional and all-around fun guy, he absolutely sees the value of home staging. What he says is, “I don’t think home staging works…I know home staging works!” We love that. It’s Get to Know Your Customer Day, so it’s the perfect time for us to showcase George. Read on!

How long have you been a realtor & where do you sell homes?

I’ve been a realtor for 17 years but have been a real estate investor and real estate manager for decades.

Beautiful home staged for George Cain, Winter 2021. William Pitt Sothebys International Realty.

What differentiates you as a realtor?

My business experience (which is quite relevant to being a realtor) is both diversified and extensive. In addition to my decades of real estate and management experience, I also held significant Fortune 500 company positions, gaining experience in finance, advertising, marketing, sales, and management.

How's 2021 looking for real estate?

I think 2021 will continue to be good for real estate due to ongoing low mortgage rates and New Yorkers fleeing NYC to migrate to Massachusetts and Connecticut. These states will benefit from that exodus. At the same time, I think there may be slower economic growth associated with higher taxes and more government regulations. Nevertheless, New Yorkers leaving the city will save so much in taxes and others costs that they can well afford real estate in the Berkshires.

Do you think home staging works? Why Staged Ryte?

“Staged Ryte’s attention to detail is impressive.” Thanks, George!

I don’t think staging works…I know staging works! I have seen homes that sat on the market too long be totally reassessed by buyers after staging. Ironically, too many sellers look at $10K, $20K, $30K or more price reductions before considering a staging investment at a much less significant cost.

Why staged Ryte? Simple, I have worked with and seen other stager’s operations and I have worked with and seen Staged Ryte’s operations on four different occasions. The results have been dramatic. Staged Ryte’s attention to detail is impressive. On two of my Staged Ryte listings, the first person to enter that listing purchased the home! That shows the impact of their work. On my third listing, that did not sell on day one (but within six weeks). I had other agents that showed that home contact me for Staged Ryte’s info. My fourth experience just listed. There were eight showings in the first week based on fabulous photos with Staged Ryte’s staging. I expect a sale very soon.

What's are you looking forward to these days?

These days, I’m looking forward to a return to “normality” where I can attend broker open houses, see new listings in person, have closings without masks, shake someone’s hand and not simply bumping elbows. Now I really know what people mean when they talk about “The Good Old Days!”

Before and After at Heron Pond in Monterey, MA.

21 Putnam Park, Greenwich, CT. George Cain listing with Charles Paternina Properties.

George is a family man with a wonderful wife, six children, and 12 grandchildren! Not surprisingly, he’s even more passionate about them than he is about real estate (and he LOVES helping people to buy and sell homes).

Learn more about George in the Berkshires with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty here (and check out two AMAZING listings). Learn more about George’s listing (staged by us!) in Greenwich, CT with Charles Paternina Properties. Or just call him directly at 917.861.3855.

Read our last Get to Know Our Customer Day blog post here.

Our Instagram Contest Winner's Front Porch Gets a Holiday Makeover

Have you ever asked yourself, “How can I decorate my front door for the Holidays?” Well, our Instagram Front Door Decor Contest winner Nicole Colantoni asked herself the same question. When she saw our posts about the contest she immediately entered but didn’t think she’d win, “I never win anything!” When we reached out to her after our random-name drawing, she was busy at work but was able to take the time to say, “Fabulous! This is so exciting. My night just got better!”

Have decor will travel!

Masked and armed with boughs and berries.

The Staged Ryte team masked up and showed up to Nicole’s charming farmhouse-style home in Housatonic, MA on the appointed day and time and unloaded our van filled with balsam wreaths and seasonal pillows, lanterns and snowmen, and got right to work.

Just like when we stage a home, we did some clean up and then got to the fun stuff. The porch railing was treated with fresh pine boughs, cheery berries, and white lights. The front door received a red-bowed wreath (of course).

We created seasonal sitting areas, perfect for hot chocolate (or toddies). We topped a table with a rustic wooden snowperson surrounded by pine. Then on the other side of the porch, we warmed up a two-person rocker with Christmas-treed pillows. We set a white lantern filled with pine cones and surrounded by balsam boughs on another occasional table.

Nicole told us, “I’m so excited! It’s super cute.” What do you think?

This has been a challenging year, so switching up what we do (beyond real estate home staging) has been refreshing. We designed a wedding and reception in the summer and designed the interiors for an independent living facility in Florham Park, New Jersey that opened in the fall (see more here). We topped the year off with unstaging a home that sold in one day and staging Nicole’s front porch. All good. We’re going to ignore that the van had a dead battery in the freezing cold that day. We’re looking forward to the new year. Happy Holidays, everyone!

The Biggest Home Staging Mistakes

If you go online or read home and lifestyle magazines, you will find multiple articles on home-staging dos and don’ts - about the biggest home staging mistakes. Everything you need to know can be summed up in one rule: 

It’s not about you!

What do we mean? It’s very simple. The purpose of home staging is not to showcase your home, your decor, or your lifestyle, but to create fertile ground for potential buyers to imagine their lives in the home. Good staging will give the buyer the germ of an idea for how they could live there. If you fill the space up with too much of your beloved stuff—overly personalized decor or shelves of your family photos—it distracts potential buyers and makes it more difficult for them to create their own vision for the home. 

Believe it or not, many people cannot picture the home looking different than it looks when they see it. If they find something objectionable, they often reject the home, instead of realizing they can easily change that element. Even something easy to switch like a paint color or a window treatment can be a turnoff to a potential buyer. You should try to anticipate design elements that might be too extreme and substitute something less likely to cause a negative reaction.

Staging often has to meld house style and furnishings with today’s clients. This primary bedroom is an example of an antique-filled home that has been morphed to appeal to a younger family. Staging is based on the demographic of the potential buyers, not the owner’s style. Click here.

It’s best to avoid any furniture or decor that’s very personal or specific to your taste. That’s why our advice is not to make your staging about you, your taste, your family, or your life. Make it about the buyer instead. Remember, good staging encourages the potential buyer to begin an emotional connection with the home, which allows him or her to see how her own life could unfold there. This is absolutely what Staged Ryte does every time we stage a home. Here are some specific situations where you might feel tempted to indulge your own taste but shouldn’t:

Don’t choose colors based on your preferences.

You may love deep violet bedroom walls, black curtains, or lots of acid green, but chances are buyers will be less enthused. Take the opportunity to switch out the black, violet, or green for a more neutral color before putting the home on the market. 

At the same time, when we say neutral, we don’t mean the sterile white-on-white interiors that are popular in design magazines. Sure, they look great on Instagram, but a home on the real estate market should look cozy and livable, not like a showroom. Remember the staging is telling the potential buyer a story, one that is a balance between fantasy and reality. And the reality is most people don’t live white-on-white.

The good news on color: painting is one of the best and least expensive fixes in our home-staging toolbox. Still, if a paint job simply isn’t in the budget, embrace the vivid color and try to balance it out with neutral linens, pillows, throws or other accessories.

Want to learn more about decorating with color? Click here.

Don’t assume potential buyers are going to love your pet.

It’s hard to imagine, we know, but many people are put off by evidence of an animal in the home. We understand you love your Fido or Fifi, but you can’t assume your furry friend will charm your potential buyers. Make sure any pet fur, bowls, or toys are out of sight during showings. Your kitty litter box should be clean and, even better, removed from the house. Even better if you can take your pet out of the home as well. If people see a cat, they may imagine they can smell it, even if you can’t. Want more pet tips? Read this Architectural Digest article.

There’s no such thing as too clean, too neat.

Your idea of charmingly lived in might be someone else’s idea of a hot mess. And when it comes to home staging, there is simply no such thing as charmingly lived in. Give up your own idea of what looks comfortable and make your home a neatnick’s dream. Be prepared to do a deep clean (or have a professional do one) and declutter before putting the home on the market. If you do have a pet, be prepared to maintain that level of deep-clean and neatness throughout the showing period. It may be arduous, but it’s necessary.

This kitchen was cleaned and cleared of all clutter with minimal decor added. Keep kitchens fresh.

Not every smell is a good smell.

The home should not only be fresh and clean but should smell that way. Sometimes people are so used to living with a particular odor, they actually cannot smell it. Recently we staged a home that had a lingering smell of damp and mold. We cleaned and cleaned and cleaned but the offensive odor remained. At the end of our rope, we popped some apples and cinnamon in the oven. Soon the home smelled like a sparkling autumn day and we could imagine drinking some cider there. The whole scene changed immediately. We just had to make sure the real estate agent was willing to go in before each showing and bake those apples to keep the scent in the air.

Staging a home for a quick sale is a serious commitment – we know! Our entire goal is to do this FOR sellers – to take this burden off their shoulders. Our home staging services are is unique and eye catching. Let us know if you’d like to learn more about how we do this.

Bored? 6 Home Improvement Projects While You Self-Isolate

It’s an In Between Time…

It’s a strange in-between time for many of us. We still need to work but we also have odd pockets of time not knowing what to do with ourselves. Now’s the time to tackle home projects that have been neglected all winter. Review the list below and see what you can do now or over the upcoming weekends. If you need help, or you have a client who wants to get their house on the market soon, you should know that Staged Ryte offers remote staging and design consulting. We don’t have to physically be in a space to assess and direct how a room should be edited and staged. Click the button below to contact us.

6 Home Improvement Projects

1. Yard work: Spring can be gray and damp but remember: sunny days ahead! Get outside and sweep, rake, pick up, clip, and mulch – even if it’s just a few minutes each day. Here’s what we did recently at a soon-to-be-listed home. (If you don’t already follow us on Instagram, please do!)

2. Spring cleaning: Are you spending lots of time gazing out your windows? We are too. Now’s the time to clean them inside and out. Want to know THE BEST WINDOW CLEANER? Combine 2 cups water, ¼ cup white vinegar, and ½ teaspoon Dawn Dishwashing Liquid (we’re biased on this one). Soak a soft brush with the mixture and scrub the window. Rinse with clean water before it dries. It’s also time to vacuum and wash curtains, move furniture and thoroughly clean all areas, clean outdoor furniture, and…you know the drill.

3. Curb appeal: Research paint colors and paint your front door (and possibly garage doors, while you’re at it). Zillow did an analysis of 135,000 photos from listings across the US since 2010 and found on average that houses with black or charcoal gray front doors sold for as much as $6,271 more than expected. Other curb appeal projects: remove overgrown shrubbery and replace; buy and install a new mailbox; plant a tree.

4. Edit: Dig in so you can throw out, recycle and donate:

Scott in action! Transforming bookshelves.

• Clean out closets, dressers, pantry, basement, linen closets, kitchen cabinets and make them neat and tidy;

• Donate books, clothing, furniture, food pantry items, small appliances. Get them ready for drop off;

• Clear out excess furniture: move it to the garage for family or donation;

5. Rearrange your bedroom, living room, office. Browse through Pinterest, Houzz, magazines, etc. and get ideas for fresh ways to rearrange. You can also reach out to us – we can remotely guide you.

6. Create a home office: Have you been working from home? Are you sitting on the corner of your couch? How’s your neck? Shoulders? Lower back? Now’s the time to actually create an ergonomically-appropriate work space. Even if you don’t have an extra room, you can create a mini-office that works. Scope out these areas for a desk and a chair that are comfortable: seating area in your master bedroom; in front of your book shelves where there’s that extra space. And your son’s room…he’s moved to California…time to take it over, especially if it has great light.

Call Staged Ryte to learn about remote staging and design consultation. We want to help everyone keep moving forward.

Staged Ryte’s Flipping Clients: Q and A's

When we write “flipping” in the headline, we’re not substituting a benign word for a swear word: we mean that these professionals flip houses for quick resale (or sell houses renovated by flippers). You’ve seen the shows on HGTV! These real estate investors buy and renovate houses and then count on Staged Ryte tell the home’s story through interior design/staging. Today is Get to Know Your Customers Day – January 16th – so we thought it was the perfect day to get to know these three clients a bit better: Elle Villetto of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, a realtor with clients who are flippers; Matt Merritt of Merritt Home Solutions; and Clerio Cardoso of Z&C Floors.

Elle Villetto, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty.

Q.  What is your business or job?

A.  Real estate agent.

Q.  How long have you been doing this job?

A.  7 years.

Q,  What do you love about your job?

Elle Villetto, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

A.  Every day is different! I’m in charge of myself. And, I like the creativity and design aspects of a home as well as architecture

Q.  What do you find challenging about your job?

A.  Unrealistic sellers and buyers ;)

Q.  Why do you choose to work with Staged Ryte?

A.  Because your design and aesthetic gets homes sold in a shorter period of time - even in 30 days; your inventory, eye and style; you are forward thinking.

Q.  What are your thoughts/goals for 2020?

A.  Have another great year - 2019 was one of the best so far, work with some new flippers, and continue with existing flipper clients, and finish two of my own homes/projects. KEEP MY SANITY! (Editor’s Note: We’d like to help Elle keep her sanity.)

Matt Merritt, Merritt Home Solutions. 

Q.  What is your business or job?

A.  Contractor.

Q.  How long have you been doing this job?

A.  26 years.

Q,  What do you love about your job?

A.  I do house flipping and construction so I am not dealing with homeowner’s and their wants. I can do what I want.

Q.  What do you find challenging about your job?

A.  Biggest challenge right now is that all my work is out of pocket until a home sells. And always making sure that I have a good product (home) and real estate market so the house is not sitting around too long.

Q.  Why do you choose to work with Staged Ryte?

A.  Initially because my realtor suggested Staged Ryte. I took her advice. I am pleased with the product, attention to details, fair pricing, and willingness to listen to my suggestions.


Q.  What are your thoughts/goals for 2020?

A.  Sell the last project that has been done, purchase & renovate two more projects, and renovate an existing one. (Editor’s Note: We’re here for you, Matt!)

Clerio Cardoso, Z&C Floors

Q.  What is your business or job?

A.  Installation and refinishing of hardwood floors and flipping homes.

Q.  How long have you been doing this job?

A.  Flooring: 15 years and flipping: 6 years .

Q,  What do you love about your job?

A.  All aspects of flooring and renovations - I love old floors and integrity of homes.

Q.  Why do you choose to work with Staged Ryte?

A.  You are the best and you do it with Love!

Q.  What are your thoughts/goals for 2020?

A.  Sell the new home I am finishing, renovate another, and sell it. And keep busy and make my customers happy! (Editor’s Note: Thank you, Clerio!)

We love working with these flipping professionals! Staging with the intention that the house show as a HOME and appeal to buyers is our sweet spot. If you buy and renovate homes, contact us. Or if you know someone who flips houses, share this blog post with them!

Make Your Primary Bedroom THEIR Primary Bedroom: 5 Tips to Stage A Bedroom

Make Your Primary Bedroom (Master Bedroom) THEIR Primary Bedroom: 5 Tips to Stage a Bedroom

Let’s be honest: Primary Bedrooms (Master Bedrooms) are intimate spaces. When it’s time to put a home on the market, it’s standard protocol to scour the kitchen, clean the carpets, get new pillows to freshen the living room, and even paint the mud room. But what about the primary bedroom? What about the kids rooms? And don’t forget the guest room filled with the left-over furniture from Nana’s house. Bedrooms need to be upgraded and staged just like public-facing rooms. When buyers go into a prospective home, they want to see themselves living their best lives there – they don’t want to see your wedding photo (although you did look fabulous!) or your old wicker laundry basket.

Stop a potential buyer’s bright red “NOPE!” button from blaring with bedrooms that delight and charm. Easy to say, but how—exactly—do you create a bedroom atmosphere that sells your home fast? These tips focus on the master bedroom – but are easily transferable to the other bedrooms in your home:

1. Make it 100% fresh. Clean every surface. Start at the top: ceiling, walls, windows, blinds, woodwork, baseboards, furniture and carpets. Vacuum the cobwebs and hunt down the dust bunnies. Have a trusted friend, your realtor or another dependable professional (ahem, that would be us at Staged Ryte!) – provide an unbiased opinion. Is there any odor? Do the linens look old or stained? Is a fresh coat of paint necessary? Give your friend or colleague the space and confidence to speak freely. Don’t forget to have the carpets professionally cleaned. There may be stains that you don’t notice anymore, but the people shopping your house will.

2. Edit the furniture. Your master bedroom is perfect…for you. But your prospective buyer has to envision their dream bedroom. Make is easy for them by creating space. How do you do that? It’s easier than you may think. First, remove as much as possible from the room. Leave the bed and nightstands and remove almost everything else. Defer to less, not more. You want the space to look open and spacious (as much as possible).

Ahhhh. This bedroom is neutral and relaxing - but not bland. It’s crisp and clean. A buyer can look at this and think, “I could sleep here!” Painting by artist Kari Kroll.

3. Make relaxation the theme. Buyers respond positively to a master bedroom where they can see themselves feeling at ease. Review your comforter and curtains. Are they an outdated style, color or print (or all three)? Buy a neutral duvet/bedspread/comforter. Maybe you don’t even need the curtains – let the light shine in. Add color with new pillows and a throw (see this recent blog post on how to use a pop of color when staging your home) and strategically placed fresh or fake flowers. Also consider the shades on the bedside table lamps. If they look dingy, buy new shades in a neutral color.

4. Consider the closet. Everyone wants to think that when THEY live there, the closet will be beautifully organized. Make it easy for them to visualize this by setting an example of closet nirvana. Declutter. Review your wardrobe and decrease it by one third. What remains hanging in the closet should hang neatly and not be jammed in. Invest in shoe, bag and scarf organizers. And if you’re not ready to get rid of that size 2 dress you wore to your brother’s wedding or your husband can’t bear to part with his 5K tee-shirt collection, rent a storage unit or box the memento clothing up and put it in the basement or attic. If you do the declutter now, your move into your new space will be ten times easier!

5. Channel your inner Mari Kondo and keep on top of it. (You know—the famous diminutive author of “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” as well as the star of the Emmy-winning Netflix series of the same name?) Once you’ve done all this cleaning, editing and zhushing, you have to stay on top of it. Every morning, get up and put the room back in order. That way you’re ready for that last minute call from your realtor saying she wants to show your house to a buyer.

We love the simple pop of color above this bed. Paintings by artist Kari Kroll.

And if all of this just seems like too too much, give Staged Ryte a call. We want your house to tell the story that prospective buyers want to hear. Contact us here.