November 30th, 2011
POP QUIZ #4: How Well DO You Know Mark Twain and Sir WInston?
Have always been a fan of wise people and the sage words they have shared, but did you know that two of the most beloved observers of the human condition were both born on this same day? (Those rascally Saggitarians have always had a way with words!)
Yes indeed, Sammuel Langhorne Clemens-a.k.a. Mark Twain in 1835, and Sir Winston Churchill in 1874. In honor of the occasion, here are some favorites, can you match the man to the words? Scroll down to see the answers.
1. All great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.
2. Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, take time to pause and reflect.
3. Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today.
4. Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak out; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
5. When in doubt, tell the truth.
6. Be good, and you will be lonesome.
7. I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us, cats look down on us, pigs treat us as equals.
8. Patiotism is supporting your country at all times, and your government when it deserves it.
9. You can’t depend on your eyes if your immagination is out of focus.
10. We shape our buildings, afterwards they shape us.
11. A fanatic is one who won’t change his mind, and can’t change the subject
12. A man with a new idea is a crank, until that idea succeeds.
13. The trouble isn’t that there are too many fools, it’s that lightning isn’t distributed correctly.
14. There are two kinds of people: those who accomplish things, and those who claim to have accomplished things. The first group is less crowded.
15. No sinner is ever saved after the first twenty minutes of a sermon.
16. Solitary trees, if they grow at all, grow strong.
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Twain: 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15
Churchill: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14
Tags: famous quotes, Mark Twain birthday, SIr WInston Churchill birthday
Posted in Appearances and Events, Pop Quiz, Smiles, Words We Like | No Comments »
July 26th, 2011
Welcome back to another edition of the refreshed home’s own bit of fun, POP QUIZ!!
Keep track of your own score, and scroll down for answers-but no peeking!! And stay on your toes, you’ll never know when the next one will show up.
Multiple Choice-Select all that apply.
1. If you Stage your house-that is, properly prepare your house for sale-who will be among the beneficiaries?
____Seller ____Buyer ____Agents ___ Neighbors ___ The local pizzeria ___ RE Industry as a whole ___Local and National Economies
2. I recommend a pre-sale inspection to Sellers because:
___I have a good friend who does house inspections
___It’s a reality check for both work to do and determining list price
___It prevents surprises that the buyer’s inspector could find
___It makes sellers more confident about all their other decisions
3. Which, if any, of the following would you NOT ever find in a Staging Report from the refreshed home?
___ Recommendations for Paint Colors ___ Recommendations for local pizzeria ___Referral for professional services ___Discussion of Exterior ___Floor plans ___Shopping list
4. Which of these properties are NOT good candidates for Staging?
___Cooperatives ___ Rental properties ____ Professional offices ___Model trophy houses ___ The local pizzeria ___REOS ___ short sale/pre-foreclosure ___Decks and patios
5. What element(s) help make a staging project successful?
___A big bank balance ___A lot of time ___Friends and family who can help ___Friends and families with opinions ___Having an open mind ___A good local pizzeria
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1. The sale of a professionally prepared property floats most everyones’ boats. Sure, Seller and Agents, but Buyer now knows how to make the best of a space, and a good price will help local comps, as well as the industry and economy as a whole.
The only loser here is the local pizzeria…instead of ordering in to keep the kitchen clean for showings, Stagesd properties gets sold quicker, so less pizza orders.
2. Mostly all of the above. Just switch the first one around a bit: a good house inspector will be your very good friend.
3. I don’t recommend pizzerias…unless it’s Nicky’s in White Plains, or Fernando’s in Armonk…or Napoli’s in Mohegan Lake… or Classic Grill in Mystic, CT.
4. If you are selling ANYTHING: a product, a service-whatever you can do to better the visual image in the market is a good thing.
I consider preparing outside space double-bonus, because while it’s not considered in MLS square footage, the more purpose you can demonstrate, the more value you create.
In commercial and professional properties, it’s a great platform to showcase and reinforce your brand. Everything in proportion, of course, but bottom line, attractive and updated spaces attract more attention.
SIGH Even Nickys/Fernandos/Napolis/Classic Grille.
5. Again, all of the above, but not in the order you might expect.
Remember, Staging a property is not just about creating a snazzy visual. Successful projects create a solution that matches up with the market, the needs/goals/expectations of the owner, and the pricing strategy.
Friends and family with opinions is a good start, it shows they care. Friends and family who can help is better, but all that helping works up an appetite…so a good pizzeria is very handy indeed!
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Listless Listings? Tired decor? Need to sell?
Know something has to be done. but don’t know what, where -or how to start?
the refreshed home is Westchester County’s Home Staging and Interior Decorating Specialist.
We create solutions, and facillitate change, so you can get on with your life. Buying, selling or staying-let the refreshed home be your partner in change
Because when your space works, so many other things fall into place!
Tags: Fernandos' Pizza in Armonk, fun and smiles, Marie Graham Westchester County Home Stager, Napoli's Pizza in Mohegan Lake, Nicky's Pizza In White Plains
Posted in Decorating, Home Selling and Home Staging, Pop Quiz, Smiles | No Comments »
July 6th, 2011
POP QUIZ!!
Welcome to the inaugural edition of the refreshed home’s POP QUIZ!! 
Sure, it’s summer, and the living is easy, but no excuse to let the grey matter get flabby.
Keep track of your own score, and scroll down for answers below-but no peeking! And stay on your toes, you’ll never know when the next one will show up!
Good luck!
True or False
1. Staging is for the interior of empty houses
2. By law, Interior Decorators are required to have a tiny dog with them at all times.
3. Staging is best suited for higher end properties.
4. Staging will always cost less than your first price reduction.
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ANSWERS:
1. FALSE! Staging is anything done to improve a property’s position in the market, so it will sell more quickly, for the best price.
Co-op or condo, private home or commercial space; vacant or occupied. De-cluttering or painting, closets or decks, lobbies or living rooms.
ANYTHING
that improves ANY property’s position in the market.
2. FALSE! The Pomeranian Protest, largely inspired by the Boxer Rebellion, joined forces with the Min-Pin Movement in the late 1980′s, and, after lobbying hard, the law was successfully repealed in 1992.
3. FALSE! Any type of property can benefit, but the more saturated a market is, the more valuable Staging can be.
SIDEBAR: As of late June, Westchester had 1859 co-ops on the market, 996 condos, and 4742 single family homes.
4. TRUE! A conservative price reduction on a house listed at $500K could be 3%, or $15,000.00. Of course every house, seller and situation is different, but 1/3 of that could get A LOT of staging done.
BONUS: Staging costs are a deduction sellers may be able to take against the proceeds of the sale of the house, in the tax year they sell it-your tax professional can confirm.
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Listless Listings? Tired decor? Need to sell?
Know something has to be done. but don’t know what, where -or how to start?
the refreshed home is Westchester County’s Home Staging and Interior Decorating Specialist.
We create solutions, and facillitate change, so you can get on with your life. Buying, selling or staying-let the refreshed home be your partner in change
Because when your space works, so many other things fall into place!
Tags: home selling, Marie Graham Westchester County Home Stager, market info
Posted in Decorating, Home Selling and Home Staging, Pop Quiz, Smiles | No Comments »
