Houston Home Stager Cindy Bryant Featured In Houston Chronicle

Recently Houston Home Stager Cindy Bryant was featured in the Houston Chronicle and was asked 5 questions by Reporter Purva Patel.
June 10, 2008, 9:44PM


MoneymakersFive questions with Cindy Bryant

Staging homes adds a dimension to selling
By Purva Patel-Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle


Cindy Bryant grew up watching her mom prep homes for sale.
After spending most of her career marketing professional athletes, she started her own home-staging business, Redesign Etc., a year ago.
Staging entails cleaning, stylizing and depersonalizing homes so others can imagine living there.
Staging can also mean painting, new landscaping and other changes, depending on how much a homeowner is willing to invest in marketing a home.
Bryant recently spoke with Chronicle reporter Purva Patel about home staging. The following are excerpts of that conversation.

Q: With home sales slowing in parts of town, are you seeing more sellers resorting to staging services?
A: Absolutely. Yes, the market is not great, and I'm getting a lot of calls every day. People are having their houses on the market three to six months now and they're not getting any traffic to the house.
If you can't get traffic, you don't get offers. I'm getting more calls, and some people are calling before they put their house on the market because they realize there is so much competition. They want to start out with a bang rather than have to sit on the market for six months.

Q: How long does it take to sell once a house is staged?
A: Nationally is a whole different can of worms because every city and every market is different. In Houston, for my business, I've had houses sell in two days. My houses usually sell under 30 days. On average they sell about two weeks after they've been staged by our company.
I had a house that was on the market for a year, and it sold two days after it was staged. I got a call from an owner, who said the Realtor had said their million-dollar view would sell the house. After a year, she called me and said, "My million-dollar view is not selling this house."
I came in, picked out some paint color, completely repainted the whole place, brought in furniture and redid the whole place. Two days later, she had a full-price offer. So it does work.

Q: Are there any particular types of pieces that are better suited for staging?
A: It depends on the demographics of where the home is that you're staging. It's different in the suburbs versus a loft downtown. That's going to appeal to two different types of people — a family home in the suburbs as opposed to a loft that would appeal to young professional couple living in the city. That's why I pick up all kinds of pieces: urban, modern contemporary and traditional pieces as well.

Q: What's the biggest mistake people make when it comes to staging?
A: The biggest mistake is, and I come across this every day, people usually love their homes and it's a very, very emotional thing for them, so it's very hard for people to detach themselves from the house.
Because of that, they cannot look at their house objectively because they've lived there and it looks fine to them. They can't get past, say, their red dining room that maybe they spent hours and hours picking out that red color they love.
They don't understand that not everybody is going to love that red dining room. It's almost like a child to them.
They're just so emotionally attached to it that they can't give an objectiveview.

Q: Have you had to adjust your prices because of rising gasoline costs?
A: No. I should because I do go all over Houston. But I haven't yet. I can tell you it's tough because I drive a Suburban, so it's definitely driving up costs.


Contact Cindy Bryant for a Home Staging Consultation. Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Houston's Home Staging & Redesign Specialist Staging Your Home To Sell!

cindy @RedesignEtc.com or Phone: 281-748-2170

Website

Return On Home Staging Investments

2007 Home Gain Survey Based On Over 2,000 Real Estate Agents Nationwide:

Improvement-Professionally Staging A Home
Typical Cost -$403-$584
Increase In Sales Price -$1,938-2,431
Avg. Return - 343%
Agents Who Recommend -91%

http://www.redesignetc.com

To see completed survey on other home improvements click link below

http://www.homegain.com/media-center/statistics-market-analysis

From Frat House To Defined Spaces

This was a family/formal dining room that was being used for a family room/pool hall. Moving out the pool table and furniture the couple had since college and bringing in rental furniture and accessories gave this room a more appealing look. An added value of a dining room, on a very tight budget.

Visit http://www.redesignetc.com/ Houston's Home Staging & Redesign Specialist staging your house to sell.

Subtle Changes Make A Room Usable

Formal Living made into a Study. Small changes using the homeowners furniture and one rental chair, make a much more usable room. This room served no purpose before, now buyers could visualize a functional room.

House was staged and sold under 30 days.

Visit http://www.redesignetc.com/ Houston's Home Staging & Redesign Specialist staging houses to sell.

Curb Appeal Where What's On The Outside Counts!

Mom always told us it's whats on the inside that counts. And as usual mom is right, but in this case the outside also counts! While the inside could look amazing - if the yard is not well maintained, the buyer may not want to look for the diamond in the rough.
With some elbow grease the yard is transformed into showcasing this adorable bungalow in the trendy "Heights" area of Houston.

Visit http://www.redesignetc.com/ Houston's Home Staging & Redesign Specialist Staging Your House To Sell.

Above are Before & After of an Implemented Curb Appeal Recommendation from Redesign Etc.

Houston's Hot New Real Estate Marketing Tool

Home Staging in Houston is a hot new marketing tool that gives you that edge in a competitive real estate market. Sell your home faster and get Top Dollar by using our Home Staging Services. We create the "WOW" factor for that "Model Home Look". Buyers are savvy and first impressions are everything. We merchandise your home to stand out from the competition, staging your house to "sell". We can use your existing furnishings and accessories, or we offer an accessory and furniture rental program to artfully achieve a designer look. We use furniture and accessories that complement any size, type or look of home.

How Home Staging Can Help You

Whether you're selling or buying a home, newlyweds, empty nester's, combining households, or just tired of the "same old look," Redesign Etc. can help. Specializing in Vacant and Occupied Real Estate Home Staging, Interior Redesign for Living, and Color & Paint Consultations, just to name a few. We strive to enhance the appearance and curb appeal of homes for owners, and prospective buyers, while working within the clients budget. The design team will use tricks of the trade to achieve the "WOW" factor that model homes have! These services, as seen on HGTV shows like Freestyle, and Designed to Sell are an effective and inexpensive way to create a new look. Using your existing furnishings, or with a little help from our furniture and accessory rental program, your home can be transformed in days not months. Housing market experts tell us that staged homes sell an average of 50% faster and for 6-10% more. Home stagers provide a high value, low cost service designed to sell your home quickly and for the highest value. Our goal is to assist you with any decorating dilemmas you may have, inside or out.

The 3 Biggest Problems People Have With Their Own Homes:
1) The Placement of Furniture
2) The Scale of Furniture
3) The Combination of Colors

How Much Does Home Staging Cost?

The most frequently asked question is "How much does home staging cost"? That is the biggest misconception of staging. It is extremely affordable! Of course the price depends largely on the size and scope of the project. However, the cost is often a few hundred dollars for a full staging package compared to $1000's. So, before you list your home, or take that first price reduction, of several thousand dollars, give us a try. You will be amazed at the results. Redesign Etc. offers a Home Staging Consultation which includes paint/color and curb appeal.We will meet with you to understand your space inside and out. With your permission, I will take digital photos and prepare a written Consultation Property Assessment Report. This Report details all aspects of interior and exterior needs that you can do in order to get top dollar for the property. It will focus on what to pack up in each space, and offer recommendations such as paint, repairs, and de-cluttering. We will also provide a flat-rate Staging Bid Proposal, should you decide to have your property staged. We provide a full range of home staging services, and can do as little or as much you want within your budget. Our home stagers help showcase your homes hidden potential and get your house in "show ready" condition and we explain how to keep it that way. The team of Redesign Etc. can create a home that buyers can visualize themselves living in, or create a home you'll love living in!

House Not Selling~We Have The Solution!

At Redesign Etc, we know what it takes to get a house sold. With many years of marketing, merchandising, real estate investing and interior decorating experience we take your house from "For Sale" to "Sold". Redesign Etc., is a full-service home staging company, offering a complete line of furniture, accessories and hands-on staging to merchandise a "vacant or occupied home" giving it that "model home look" that appeals to the widest variety of people. We offer the most up-to-date furniture and accessories available for the most current look. In a 2006 National Association Of Realtors article, it stated that 81% of buyers use the internet to search for a home, and that number is growing daily. Many home buyers will pass on a vacant property because it's photos portray a cold, empty feeling house that lacks warmth and curb appeal. A home that has been staged gives the buyer a sense of how the space can be defined and utilized. So before taking a price reduction of several thousand dollars, and paying recurring fees on your "vacant home" let us give you our customized personal hands-on plan! Redesign Etc., also works within all budgets, and size of homes.

Home Staging Consultations Can Net You $1000's

Our Home Staging Consultations are the most in-depth comprehensive in the business. An implemented Consultation can net you $1000's.
With a Home Staging Consultation, I will walk through your home, take pictures, and give you verbal recommendations and ideas on how to prepare your home for sale. Also included will be a Property Assessment Report with customized Staging Tips, Organization Tips, Showing Instructions, Paint Color, and Curb Appeal along with a Home Staging Estimate. This part of the Consultation usually takes 2-3 hours depending on the size and condition of the house. After the initial home walk-through is completed, Redesign Etc. will prepare a customized written property assessment report which includes specific room-by-room instructions for preparing your home for sale.
Should you decide after reviewing the Assessment report you would like help implementing the suggestions, I will be happy to recommend companies that provide the services you may need. Many homeowners can save money by doing most of the work themselves.

After this process is finished, the homeowner can have Redesign Etc. execute hands-on staging for the last step in the Home Staging process. If you’ve completed all the work on the report, it generally takes a few days depending on the size and scope of house to complete the final staging. Redesign Etc. is a Full Service Home Staging & Interior Redesign Company serving the Greater Houston and Galveston Area.

Houston Real Estate -Buyers Market

It's a buyer's market just about everywhere in the USA right now. New homes are edging out the older ones, and empty homes are sitting even longer on the market because only 10% of buyer's can visualize their furnishings in a vacant house. Buyer's are overwhelmed at the abundance of choices they have when buying a home, they are like kids in a candy store, they can't make up their minds, there are so many available. They also have the luxury of making low ball offers. That is why home sellers have to do something to set themselves apart from the fierce competition. Their are two solutions to helping with this problem. The first is pricing your house competitively. The second is having your home professionally staged. It will show better, and make a better impression on the MLS listing photos, after it's been staged. A whopping 87% of people start their search on the Internet. If your photos don't impress, your home won't get shown. Don't waste time, and money sitting on your home, call for a Home Consultation today to see how home staging can reduce your selling time maximizing your bottom line.

Study Shows Vacant Houses Are Slower To Sell

In a recent study and article by redfin.com the #6 reason to a slow sale of a house was to show it vacant. The study suggests keeping your homeowners there. It showed 9.5% of homes that were vacant would go through a price reduction, based on what a buyers thinking process was when buying a home. When they see it empty, they automatically assume the homeowner needs to get out fast, thus bidding low.

Marketing your Home to Sell- 7 Tactics By Redfin.com
http://www.redfin.com/scientist

To avoid this underbidding, home staging and the use of furniture can turn your lonely house into a "Buy Me" house.

Houston Area Home Builders Save Money On Your Model Homes!

New home building is at an all time high, which means more competition for the home builder. As all builders know showing a vacant home vs. a model home is like night and day. Only 10% of home buyers can visualize their furnishings in a vacant home. The whole concept of a model home is to attract potential customers, that will say "Wow, I love this house, it's just what I want".
Purchasing a home involves a myriad of emotions in buyers, and is usually the biggest financial investment they will ever make. So being able to showcase your vacant home with that model home appeal is key to selling future homes.
So how can you turn your vacant property into a model home without the huge price tag?
By using a concept that is still new to many. Savvy builders have already been using this new practice, with unbelievable results. It is called Home Staging.

Benefits to using Redesign Etc. for home staging your models:

Equipped to fully furnish a model home with beautiful furniture, accessories, linens, and everything you need for that "WOW" factor for a fraction of the cost.
Rental program for furniture.
Rental program for accessories.
No pressure to buy expensive furniture, or anything else.
No overhead to carry.
No furniture to sell at undervalued pricing.
Don't have to worry about recouping the huge decorating budget if contents had been purchased.
When model sells, everything is taken out, and you're not left to the hassles of what to do with all the furniture.
The most cost effective, practical way to showcase your models, with stunning results.
Work within all budgets.
Do a few key rooms, or the whole house, you decide.

At Redesign Etc. we know what appeals to the widest variety of buyers, because we are in the business of staging homes to get sold for top dollar!

We would be happy to give you a complimentary consultation, visit your property, and explain how the process works.

Please feel free to email cindy@redesignetc.com

Visit our website http://www.redesignetc.com/

Or call 281-748-2170 for more information.

Houston...Reasons to Get Your Home Staged

~Staged homes show better than similar ones your competing against.
~Houses for sale are at an all time high, you've got to have the edge.
~Only 10% of buyers can imagine their own things in a home.
~Create inviting spaces with broad appeal to a wide range of buyers.
~Staged homes usually sale for 50% faster than non-staged homes.
~Staged homes on average sell for 7-10% over list price.
~Staged homes have been bought without ever seeing the property in person, from only viewing photos on internet.
~Agents show staged homes more, because they are ready to sell.
~Staging is far less than your 1st price reduction.
~Creates a positive first impression and makes property memorable in the eyes of the home buyer.
~Inspectors know that if a home looks great it must be well maintained.
~If your home has been on the market for a while, having it staged creates, a whole new buzz about your home, and Realtors will bring buyers, as it will be a fresh listing.
~Living in your home and selling your home are two different things.
~Increase the value of your property.
~A buyer forms and opinion within the first 10 seconds.
~Cost and Time Effective.
~The older your listing, the less you'll get offered, buyers will negotiate.
~Leaving your house vacant, already has the home buyer negotiating the price down, thinking you need to move the property quickly.
~Clutter lowers the value of your home in the buyers eye.
~No one ever complains about a house having too much light, too much space or too much storage, or being too relaxing.
~Staging is best done before listing, so you get a higher listing price, and great after photos for your listing pictures on the internet.
~ Home buying is based on emotions, the potential buyer must fall in love with your home, and nothing will stop them from having it.
~ For most people, a home is one of the largest financial investments made. Wouldn't you do anything you could to maximize the return on your investment?
~Staging is a win-win situation for everyone involved!

Exactly What is Home Staging...It's definition!

Home staging is the act of grooming a home to make it more attractive to potential buyers and to raise the value of the home, and has been around since the 1970s. By presenting potential buyers with a fully furnished home instead of empty rooms, sellers and agents are able to sell homes faster and for more money. The outside of the home should also be manicured; since it is the first thing potential buyers see when they pull up.
Home staging may be defined as preparing your house to be as visually and aesthetically pleasing as possible. First impressions are huge in real estate, and staging a home is designed to do just that, make an incredible first impression! The ultimate goal of staging is to place the home in the best showcase condition, so that it sells at the highest possible price in the shortest possible time. You also want your home to appeal to the widest possible range of people that could be viewing your home, and you want potential buyers to visualize the lifestyle they could have if they buy your home. We we will turn your house in to a very appealing "must have" property, that buyers will see not just as a house, but a beautiful home!
One of the more successful concepts in staging is that "Less is More"! Successful staging does not require a lot of furniture. There's something wrong if a buyer is looking at the furniture and not the house. A well-staged home will give it the appearance of being larger than it may actually be, and it's always good to remind yourself that every square foot you free up is prime real estate! Another motto is "Appearance is Everything"! By having your home professionally staged, you transform your house into a "hot property" by making it more visually appealing. Most prospective buyers make a decision within ten seconds of walking through your front door, and the ultimate goal is having them walk in and say "I can see myself living in this house!"

About the Owner

"First and foremost, I absolutely love what I do. Secondly, I'm a native Texan, or should that be first? I left Texas for a while, but I came back as soon as I could".

Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc, Inc., a full service Home Staging and Interior Redesign firm serving the Houston and Galveston area of Texas. Holding a degree in Psychology and Marketing, and having extensive knowlege in the Houston Real Estate Market, her experience has spanned from working for international corporations in marketing, sales, promotions, visual display and merchandising to professional sports marketing and celebrity autograph signings and appearances.
The sports marketing company provided sports memorabilia for all the major tv home shopping channels, as well as several major sales catalogs. She's had the opportunity to meet and work with some of the most famous athletes in the world, traveling city to city with them.
After being on the road for over 300+ days a year, and flying over 2 million miles, she was able to stay at some of the finest luxury hotels and see some of the most beautiful celebrity homes in the country. These five star resorts were home away form home for many celebrities during their playing season.
What does this have to do with staging you may ask?
Accumulating life experiences and a wealth of decorating ideas to draw upon, that can never be taken away...priceless!

She's also had the opportunity to travel to different parts of the world, which has afforded her the ability to visually see, hear and feel the pulse of the culturally diverse areas in the world.

With all this said, included in her many years of real estate investing, there are so many elements, that she has been able to incorporate into home staging from her experiences in travel.
She states that from castles to cathedrals, each area has had a distinct decorating style of it's own. I love the European architecture, the rugged coastlines with stucco homes dangling on sides of cliffs, to Tuscan villas perched atop a hill in the middle of a vineyard.
All of this combined with the love of enhancing homes, has been a wonderful palette from me to work from. The transformation of rooms, after home staging is what its all about. To turn a room that was blah, into "wow" is not only amazing to do, but a task I love to tackle. I'm very passionate about what I do and want my work to reflect that.

"Home Staging is still in it's infancy in this area, and I am committed to educating consumers and real estate agents about everything home staging has to offer"