Actively Raining Thoughts-Room Service Home Staging: December 2011

My Thoughts; My Blog!

Staging a Condo in Boca Raton... 3 Things To Remember!

Staging a Condo in Boca Raton- 3 Things To Remember

In Boca Raton and in fact all along A1A in Palm Beach County there are condos that offer close proximity to our beautiful beaches along with views of the Atlantic Ocean or the Intracoastal Waterway.

delray beach

If you are planning on selling your condo here are 3 Key Points to remember to help you get it sold!


1.  Space is Key.... This is even more important for condos where storage space is at a premium.  Make sure your closets and pantry aren’t packed and stuffed with items you don’t really need.   Buyers DO look in your closets to see just what space they’ll have.  
         Go through your space and with an objective eye, pack up or give away furniture or items that are just there because you have them but serve no real purpose.

2.  Don’t Forget the View...no, not the daytime Talk show!  People move to Florida because of the weather and the water.  And they’re paying for the view.  Most condos will have a view of the ocean or the Intracoastal or both if you’re lucky.  Make sure your Buyer can see it!
         Clean your windows!!!  Have your blinds or curtains open!  And make sure the Buyers’ eyes are drawn to the view.  

3.  Make It Move-In Ready...Many people who are buying the condos buy them as a second home.  They want to be able to move in and go out and enjoy our sun and beaches.  
         What they don’t want to do is move in and spend the next 6 months updating, renovating or repairing.  Take a look at your kitchen and bathrooms.  The investment in new carpeting, or other flooring; fresh paint; and  an updated kitchen is well worth it.

Condo



If your 2012 plan is to sell your Boca Raton Condo, then give Room Service! Home Staging a call.   Our consultation can give you the game plan you need to get it sold!

 

Kathy Streib 
 
Subscribe to room service home staging
 

Subscribe to my blog

 


   Google+    Facebook    Wordpress      Twitter    You TubeRSSLinked In


                                   

Room Service Home Staging 

 

 

Why Should Anyone Who Isn't a Realtor Write a Localism Post? Look Whom I Met Today!

Why should anyone who isn't a Realtor write a localism post? Look whom I met today.  

I think it’s a given that Realtors can benefit from writing posts geared to street signtheir particular area.... otherwise known as localism posts.   I could say that Realtors “should” write them but no one wants to hear what they “should” do.  

In July 2009 Bob Stewart challenged us to write Hyper-Local posts.  I wasn’t sure what they were but I was game and in fact in my comment asked him if Stagers could participate.  I received a call from him and he said “Sure!”

From then on I was hooked.  If you were here then, you might remember that we had 2 challenges that month.  Nearly drove me nuts!!!  However since then, I’ve tried to incorporate localism posts... local events, local places..... into my blog.  

And like many of you, I’ve been contacted with questions like ….”Can I bring my dog to the orchid show?”  to one of my most recent ones...”Is it too late to sign up a family to receive toys for Christmas?”  

So fellow Home Stagers or lenders, home inspectors, virtual assistants I’m here to tell you that YES!     Even if you’re not a Realtor you can benefit from writing localism posts!

Commenting on my most recent post about the 2011 First Night Celebration in Delray Beach was a new ActiveRainer I want you to meet.   His name is Randall Regnier with Illustrated Properties in Delray Beach.

Randall Regnier




Randall is just getting started here and is deciding whether to become a Rainmaker.  Let’s not do the hard sale on him.... just drop over to his post... say “hello”  and give him your “humble” opinion!  

He commented that he would be keeping my info on hand should he need a Stager.  So YES... you just never know who you might have reading your localism posts.  


 

Kathy Streib 
 
Subscribe to room service home staging
 

Subscribe to my blog

 


   Google+    Facebook    Wordpress      Twitter    You TubeRSSLinked In


                                   

Room Service Home Staging 

 

 

First Night 2011 in Delray Beach- A New Year's Eve Celebration

First Night 2011 in Delray Beach- A New Year’s Eve Celebration!

first night

If you’re looking for a family friendly way to welcome in the New Year, why not pack the kids in the car and head to downtown Delray Beach for the 2011 Annual First Night to ring in the New Year.   This is a non-alcoholic celebration but there’s plenty of activities and entertainment for everyone......
          art...mazes..... skateboarding...a climbing wall... magic... arts and crafts....dance...music...food and much more.  


You can purchase First Night Buttons in advance for $10; and for $15 on December at:

    The 100 FT Delray Beach Christmas Tree- 51 N. Swinton Ave. *
    City Hall- 100 NW 1st Ave. *

    Chamber of Commerce- 64 SE 5th Avenue
    Delray Beach Public Library- 100 West Atlantic Ave.
    Delray Beach News Stand- 429 East Atlantic Ave.
    Or at various locations the day of the event.

* Credit cards accepted

And for those of you with young children who can’t wait until midnight to welcome in the New Year, there’s a special Children’s Finale at 9pm at the Tennis Center.

2011 First Night in Delray Beach

4 P.M to Midnight

561-279-1380 ext. 3

(Click below for more information)

first night




 

Kathy Streib 
 
Subscribe to room service home staging
 

Subscribe to my blog

 


   Google+    Facebook    Wordpress      Twitter    You TubeRSSLinked In


                                   

Room Service Home Staging 

 

 

Celebrate the Day.... I'll Have a Little "Whine" with that "Thank You" Note Before We Celebrate!

Celebrate the Day... I’ll have a little “whine” with that “Thank You” before we Celebrate!

It’s time again to Celebrate the Day!  If you’re all done with Christmas, there’s still some things to celebrate.

December 26 is another one of those Frenzied Shopping Days.  However unlike Christmas Eve when I love being in a mall, you will not see me anywhere near one on this day.   This is when the real hard-core shoppers go out to try to catch the half-off sales.  Mix this together with the “Gift Returners” and the somewhat newer “Gift Card Recipients” and you have a lethal combination of chaos and mishap.  


WhinerDecember 26 is also National Whiner’s Day.  It’s a tongue in cheek holiday but I think it’s meant for people who have a propensity to whine (which is like finger nails on a chalkboard to me) to get it all out in one day.  So if you want to whine about what you didn’t get for Christmas go ahead... this is your day.  Get it all out, then that’s it.   You get a pass for today, then zip your lip after that!

Next up... it’s also National “Thank You” note day.  The operative word here is “NOTE”.  What’s that you say, you’ll text a “Thank You” or even worse put it on Facebook?   When’s the  last time you received a handwritten note?  When’s the last time you wrote one?  
         Give it a try.... you’ll impress the heck out of the receiver and you’ll also be note writerhelping the US Postal Service!

And in a more celebratory note... Kwanzaa begins today and is a week long celebration, ending on January 1.   Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa celebrates African Americans and their culture and heritage.

 

Kathy Streib 
 
Subscribe to room service home staging
 

Subscribe to my blog

 


   Google+    Facebook    Wordpress      Twitter    You TubeRSSLinked In


                                   

Room Service Home Staging 

 

 

Merry Christmas To All.....

 

Merry Christmas

 

May the Joy and Spirit of Today Live Within Us All Forever....

        Merry Christmas to All.....

                    And to All a Good Night.

Happy Holidays to All My Friends at ActiveRain.

Thank you for another wonderful year in the Rain!

 

 

 

Kathy Streib 
 
Subscribe to room service home staging
 

Subscribe to my blog

 


   Google+    Facebook    Wordpress      Twitter    You TubeRSSLinked In


                                   

Room Service Home Staging 

 

 

Twas the Night Before Selling... A Holiday Poem

I posted this last year and am sharing it again with a few changes. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!



A Holiday Poem-Twas the Night Before Selling


Twas the Night before Selling

When all through the house,

Not a Creature was stirring,

Not even a mouse.

All the Tschotskes were scattered everywhere with no care

Still hoping some Buyers soon would be there.


The Children were upstairs attached to their iPods

While visions of a new home danced in their heads.

But the Sellers, you see, were losing their cool,

For they feared they'd forgotten all Good Staging Rules.


When out in the driveway their arose such a clatter,

They looked out their dirty window to see what was the matter.

Past the rooms full of clutter, down the worn stairs they ran.

Out their faded front door,  "Watch out for that Can!"


The sun shown bright light on their stained driveway outside

No flowers, just hedges and a lawn that had died.

But what to their wondering eyes should appear

ButRoom Service! Home Staging.  "She's here, have no fear!"


Just a little old Stager, so lively and quick,

"Let's get this house sold. Come on, Lickety Split!"

More rapid than arrows her orders came out,

As she gestured and shouted so there would be no doubt:


Now Vacuum, Now Broomstick,

Now Mop and New Paint Can,

On Comet, On Clorox,

On Boxes On Windex

To the Top of the Porch

To the Top of the Wall

Now Dash Away, Dash Away,

Dash Dirt  Away All!


Hope you have the Merriest of Holidays and Absolutely Wonderful New Year!

Room Service! Home Staging



 

Kathy Streib 
 
Subscribe to room service home staging
 

Subscribe to my blog

 


   Google+    Facebook    Wordpress      Twitter    You TubeRSSLinked In


                                   

Room Service Home Staging 

 

 

Take a Look At Your Friends for a Piece of Your History

Recently I was at a friends for drinks and as I was observing two of the young teens there it occurred to me that friendship is so much more than someone to go to the mall with... or commiserate over life’s trials.  

These two had known each other since they were toddlers... have gone girlsthrough school together... walked the neighborhood for candy at Halloween.... and shared so many experiences.  

Now attending the same high school, they have followed different interests...met new friends.  It’s what happens as we grow up and our world expands.

Yet I saw them together that night as they shared a moment only other teen-age girls can relate to.... trying on a brand new pair of heels.   They were as excited as they were so many years ago when they ran to each other’s house to see what each one had received for Christmas.

And as I watched them, I realized that they will always be friends, no matter how many miles apart they are... different colleges... different paths in life.  

They share a history....they can see their lives reflected in each other.  They will see moments that will have a special meaning for them because of this history.

During this holiday season, why not pick up the phone and touch base with someone that shares your history.  

friends

 

Kathy Streib 
 
Subscribe to room service home staging
 

Subscribe to my blog

 


   Google+    Facebook    Wordpress      Twitter    You TubeRSSLinked In


                                   

Room Service Home Staging 

 

 

Call Me Crazy But I Love Being in the Mall on Christmas Eve!

Call me crazy but I love being in the mall on Christmas Eve!

It has nothing to do with shopping or buying last minute gifts and everything to do with “feeling the spirit”.  It all began when I first started working and I was less than 5 minutes away from the Galleria in Houston (mycrowd Mother Ship).   You know how it is when you’re in an office... you shop when you can and often that would be nights, lunch hours and weekends.

Christmas Eve always meant a trip to the mall.  Everyone thought I was nuts!  But I actually liked it.

                  
And... soon a tradition was born.

I would often put off buying that one last item as an excuse to be in the mall.  Why?....  Why do I want to fight the madness?  Am I so unorganized that I have to go because I haven’t finished my shopping?

No.... after all, as long as there is Amazon.... I can always get my gift purchasing done.

No... I go because I love to drink in the Christmas spirit.  I ask you, what other time of year can you find everyone in such a cheerful mood? !  

I love seeing the dads out with their children trying to find mom a gift.  

I love having a CHEERFUL sales person smile and wish me a Happy Holiday.


Everyone is in good spirits.... and maybe I just hope that I can bottle enough of this up to take me into the next year.

Christmas Shopping

 

Kathy Streib 
 
Subscribe to room service home staging
 

Subscribe to my blog

 


   Google+    Facebook    Wordpress      Twitter    You TubeRSSLinked In


                                   

Room Service Home Staging 

 

 

My Most Memorable Christmas Gift.... I'll Tell You Mine If You Tell Me Yours!

My Most Memorable Christmas Gift... I’ll Tell You Mine If You Tell Me Yours!

We’ve all received special Christmas or Hanukkah gifts through the years.  Jewelry, a new car ,  trips,  the latest techno gadget!  But while I have been blessed to receive so much, one of my most memorable Christmas Gifts was......
                ............one I gave away
               ….................  gone in less than 24 hours
               ….......................one I’ve never forgotten

Christmas cookies



Don’t laugh.. of course it involves food.   When I was in my very first apartment... right out of grad school and working at my first “real” job I was surprised one December evening by one of the mothers of a good friend who lived in the same apartment complex.  She stopped by just to give me a big plate of home made Christmas cookies.  All sizes, all shapes, and all good!

This was such a surprise.  I love home made Christmas cookies! I wanted to keep them all to myself but I did manage to pry my greedy little hands off of them and share them with my neighbors.   

So yes, I shared them with my friends and they were gone in less than 24 hours.  And, the thoughtfulness of Mrs. H has never left me.  

What was one of your most memorable holiday gifts?

 

Kathy Streib 
 
Subscribe to room service home staging
 

Subscribe to my blog

 


   Google+    Facebook    Wordpress      Twitter    You TubeRSSLinked In


                                   

Room Service Home Staging 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday- From My friends at Green Cay!

Green Cay

 

Kathy Streib 
 
Subscribe to room service home staging
 

Subscribe to my blog

 


   Google+    Facebook    Wordpress      Twitter    You TubeRSSLinked In


                                   

Room Service Home Staging