Rental Furniture for Staging

Author: Diane Concialdi, July 6, 2010

DC Redesign uses rental furniture for our staging jobs. There are many benefits in using rental furniture compared to staging companies who have their own inventory:

1. It’s the best option to get the look you want since there are many styles, colors and choices for lamps, art and plants to choose from.

2. The delivery, set-up and pick-up, liability insurance and damage waiver is included in the price.

3. It’s faster for the actual staging process since the delivery is quick (within 48 hours), and the help DC Redesign gets from the service offered allows us to focus on the details of preparing your property for sale.

4. The cost to store furniture and the extra time needed for upkeep, cleaning, or replacement of used furniture is not carried over into our pricing. Plus, new furniture pieces are added more often.

5. We offer many patio furniture pieces, and in 3 different levels of pricing.

6. There are many “sale” options for pricing and we carry these savings over to you!

Whether you’re looking for a full stage for your home for sale, or just a partial stage, we want to help in the success of selling your home faster!

Contact DC Redesign at 714-815-3506.  We believe that the work we do to stage your home is important and vital to the sale of property.

What It Means to Be a RESA-PRO

Author: Diane Concialdi, March 26, 2010

RESA PRO
RESA-PRO Designees have met the following 5 mandatory requirements:

1.  Passed the RESA-PRO Ethics Exam.

2.  Have agreed to follow the RESA Code of Ethics.

3.  Have had a minimum of 1 year in business as a professional home stager (they have proved this by supplying either a  business license, DBA, LLC, CORP or Legal Partnership).

4.  Have Home Staging Business Insurance.

5.  Have a Business Checking Account.

Hiring a home stager with a RESA-PRO designation is important for homeowners and real estate agents because you are hiring a home stager that is a well qualified professional, one that is held to higher standards, higher ethics standards, one that has been in business at least one year and insured with a home staging business insurance policy committed to continuing education so they can use the latest home staging techniques.  RESA-PRO Designees are required to take continuing education courses every two years.

Contact DC Redesign and Home Staging for vacant home staging, redesign and conceptual staging! 714-815-3506

Conceptual Staging Revealed !

Author: Diane Concialdi, March 16, 2010
Conceptual Staging

Conceptual Staging

DC Redesign is now offering Conceptual Staging Services! It is to broaden our ability and assist our clientele on a limited budget.  Conceptual Staging allows us to depict our suggested changes via a virtually staged or redesigned image.  This is especially useful for clients who would like to see how DC Redesign can maximize the effect of any budget whether it is for:

1.  Residential Staging

2.  Redesign for Living

3.  R.E. Agents to motivate their clients with the merits of a professional property presentation

4.  Builders who would like to show prospective buyers the true potential of their new homes

5.  Investors who would like to see the impact of renovations before they invest or rehab

6.  Businesses interested in making cosmetic changes to create a dynamic design impression

7.  Senior Care Facilities who endeavor to provide an aesthetically pleasing environment for their residents

8.  Curb Appeal for homeowners

DC Redesign and Home Staging is unlike many staging companies offering Conceptual Staging. We also offer free 8″x 10″ photos and have the option of providing you a slide show presentation of your listings that are conceptually staged. Please contact us for pricing.  714-815-3506

2010 RESA Conference – Las Vegas

Author: Diane Concialdi, February 1, 2010

Our first ever RESA Conference in Las Vegas was this past week-end and a full-house attendance.  All of the speakers and presenters were excellent.  We had some show booths, great food and a fun time meeting face-to-face with Active Rainers and Facebook friends – very uplifting!

CA Home Stagers at RESA Conference 2010

It gave all of us a time to share our stories, successes and what works for each of us. It gave me a clear vision of what we really want out of our businesses, whether we want to own or rent our furniture, pricing, and what the homeowner and agent really have going through their minds.  It made us see how we can help you, the Realtor, agent, homeowner, builder and investor.

That’s Matthew Finlason in the middle from HGTV, The Stagers. He was our guest speaker and opened the conference on the first day and was always around for pictures and fun. Thank you Matthew!

Contact DC Redesign and Home Staging for information on staging your home to sell.  Whether you are an investor, homeowner, agent we can help with consultations, virtual (conceptual) staging, redesign, or vacant staging, it really sells your homes! 714-815-3506

Furnishing Hope for SJC and Habitat for Humanity

Author: Diane Concialdi, January 17, 2010

I had the recent pleasure of designing a home for a very loving family.  My design team each took a bedroom to design and helped in the final design before it was presented to the family last Saturday.  Each girl decided on colors and themes for their rooms so we had an idea how to proceed.   The 17 year picked black, white and red for her room. Designers Tanya Griffin and Rawah Algaoni from Shaping Spaces Group did a wonderful design.

Diana Rm 2 Diana Rm

A little girl who loved lavender was thrilled with her room! The designer, Wendy Wharton from Staging South Bay, filled all the drawers of the desk with fun stuff to do and really pulled it all together.

Mimi's room IMG_4624

The 10 year old’s room was designed by moi, Diane Concialdi, DC Redesign and Home Staging,  It was a lot of fun pulling together her love of Twilight, The New Moon Movie, and clouds along with the soft blue.  If you’ve never had a 10 year old, you wouldn’t know that this is an age of transition leaning toward growing up.

Alexis' Rm Alexis rm2

The master bedroom was also designed by DC Redesign and Home Staging. I took over after one of the designers was unable to complete the room.

Susana's Rm1 Susana'sRm

The living room and dining room, as well as all the other rooms, used slightly used furniture from the Furnishing Hope warehouse. The design team provided bedding, and any other accessories they wanted to donate to complete the home.

Living Rm The whole experience for my team of designers was a first. The families (5 homes) had to put in hours of work on all of the houses, and must meet strict guidelines to qualify for one of the houses.

There are 18 more homes coming up in September of this year.  If  anyone would like to donate their time and expense to design one of the homes, please contact Furnishing Hope.

Diane Concialdi is lead design and owner of DC Redesign and Home Staging. DC Redesign also offers Conceptual Staging in lieu of a consultation.  Pictures are better than words!

Conceptual Staging

Author: Diane Concialdi, January 9, 2010
Conceptual Staging

Conceptual Staging

DC Redesign is now offering Conceptual Staging Services to broaden our ability to assist any homeowner, investor or builder with a limited budget. Conceptual Staging allows us to depict our suggested changes by virtually staging or redesigning your room photo. This is especially useful for clients who would like to see how DC Redesign can maximize the effect of any budget, whether it is for:

1. Residential Staging

2. Redesign for Living

3. Real Estate Agents to motivate their clients to show the real value of professional property presentation

4. Investors who would like to see the impact of renovations before they invest

5. Businesses interested in making cosmetic changes to create and impress a dynamic design

6. Senior Care Facilities that endeavor to provide an aesthetically pleasing environment for their residents

DC Redesign services the areas of Orange County, CA, and some surrounding cities. Please contact for pricing on conceptual staging and if you have questions. 714-815-3506

Virtual Staging?

Author: Diane Concialdi, December 23, 2009

Many of you may not know about Virtual Staging, also known as Conceptual Staging. Your rooms are conceptually staged to see and confirm what your design will look like. It’s one step further to reinforce how staging can really work along with actual staging, and well worth the investment to sell your home.

I have been offered an opportunity to become an exclusive Stager for Conceptual Staging to my customers in Orange County CA. These would include homeowners, real estate agents, builders, investors, businesses, and senior assisted living facilities. The list is endless, and it can provide service to many on a small budget.

Check out the poll I’ve created on Linkedin and vote for your choice about Virtual Staging.
http://polls.linkedin.com/p/71467/sdsph

DC Redesign and Home Staging offers staging for all of Orange County CA and some surrounding areas. If you are interested in getting an estimate for staging or you are interested in Conceptual Staging, please contact me.

Don’t Quit: Partner Up

Author: Diane Concialdi, December 4, 2009

We’ve all heard of someone who’s quit or had to get a job to help make ends meet in the real estate market, or any industry for that matter.  Whether it’s a real estate agent, home stager, painter, furniture store, or organizer, it’s very necessary to think of additional ways to create a thriving business.  When looking into a partnership always remember to get everything in writing no matter what.  It’s easy and very economical with Legalzoom. According to BizStats.com, over 72% of all small businesses are sole proprietors compared to 6% who form partnerships. Believe me, it’s hard to run a business alone.

Create a win-win situation for you and your partner. According to the Small Business Administration, the contents of a business partnership agreement should include (a) the amount of equity invested by each partner, (b) type of business, (c) how profits and losses will be shared, (d) pay and compensation, and (e) distribution of assets if the business is dissolved.  Additionally, have your future partner and you create of list of wants, needs and dislikes in the business. Each should contribute something to the business.

Keep in mind these points:

1. Both must share the same vision, strategy for the business, and set up a clear focus that will meet the needs of both partners.

2. Capitalize on the strengths and skills of each partner: one may be good in marketing and the other sales and leadership.

3. Do not split ownership an equal 50/50.  There will be no conclusion to a future decision, so consider 49% to 51% split.

4. Meet monthly to discuss and share, review and provide thoughts, insights and constructive criticism for each other.

DC Redesign and Home Staging is located in Westminster, CA, and services all of Orange County CA as well as surrounding cities.  Create more freedom,  contentment and enthusiasm in your business by partnering with another business owner in your industry!  714-815-3506 or diane@dcredesign.com

Confused as To What I Do?

Author: Diane Concialdi, November 30, 2009

I want to apologize that this writing may be a little bit of me, me, me, but just thought I would give you an update about what it is I do, or for some, an update on DC Redesign Home Staging and Redesign.

With my love of Real Estate, designing and helping homeowners and Realtors, I stage homes and vacant listings with furniture, art, rugs, accessories, and make it appealing to buyers. Since the market is full of foreclosures, bank-owned and auctioned properties, a lot of homeowners do not want to put money into something they either will not profit at or don’t get any cash at all.  So I’ve added another position to my already home staging business staying in the real estate industry: use me for your pre-foreclosed homes or listings and our team of 27 negotiators will handle all of the short sale negotiating for you. We do not charge a fee for our service and we will buy your listing or home with cash. If there are any liens against the property (except for well and septic), we also negotiate those too.

It has always been my intent to stay in the world of real estate. I would love to team up with one or two Realty’s or Realtors in the Orange County area to stage their listings, and offer a few ideas to market homeowners who do not have the funds to pay for staging which would also help the Realtor’s business.  Joining forces with another home staging company in the South Bay area is also being looked into to  increase business and offer more to our customers and prospects.

If anyone has a comment or knows a homeowner, Realtor, builder, investor interested in teaming up to better both our positions, contact me, Diane Concialdi. I would be very happy to talk with you.  714-815-3506 or diane@dcredesign.com

You Have the What, Now Who?

Author: Diane Concialdi, November 16, 2009

Many homeowners, Realtors as well as new home stagers are confused about the designations that are used in a home stager’s name. There is no real designation or certification and no state or federal official training to use the Home Stager name. Please do not mistake me for someone who is against anyone who uses either of these certifications or designations. Many have asked me for recommendations on training and what difference there is between Home Stagers who use letters and those who do not. This article is just another step closer in educating everyone about Home Staging.

I have never been asked about my name or lack of certification initials. However many have asked Debra Gould of the Staging Diva Home Staging Training Program (which I have completed) why she has chosen NOT to provide credentials after the completion of her training. “Schools teach home staging training through their online programs and in class training and provide credentials, which is basically an acronym for their specific completed course.”

“Not one single designation can claim to be the one and only best in the home staging industry and not a single home stager is like any other. Many home stagers have their own policies, procedures and, obviously, their own design skills. However, this industry is working to create common wordage and implementations we, as Home Stagers, can practice. The more Homeowners and Realtors know about our procedures and common practices, the easier it will be to understand and use home staging and redesigning for their properties.”

Who do you call; HSR, ASP, CSP, IRIS, Staging Diva? Some very talented home stagers do not have any letters behind their name. So how do you choose a Home Stager?   To start, ask for a referral from another homeowner or Realtor, view the home stager’s website for professionalism, request to see a home stager’s portfolio or design photos and ask about pricing and the time frame needed to complete your job. As you talk and meet with a Home Stager you will know if their personality and the delivery of their estimate presentation is someone you want to work with. It’s not always about price.

Working with a professional home stager will leave you with a beautiful designed home that stands out from all other homes on the market.  Once you find your preferred stager, add her to your team. The talent and advice she provides will be unmeasureable. You will have an excellent team member who you can trust and increase your home sales.

There are a couple of associations for all home stagers to be a part of which are not based on any designation or training requirements.  RESA the Real Estate Staging Association and ASHSR the American Society of Home Stagers and Redesigners.  Both associations invite all professional real estate stagers, Realtors, and Affiliates to join offering support through education and business tools focusing on the needs of all stagers. We can all unite into one Association of Home Stagers!

Diane Concialdi is owner and lead design for DC Redesign and Home Staging, located in Orange County, CA and services all of Orange County and surrounding areas. If you have questions about home staging, give me a call, I’d be glad to help! diane@dcredesign.com  or 714-815-3506