Have You Heard About Senoia, Georgia?

Senoia, pronounced Seh-noy (like toy - the a is silent), is located in eastern Coweta County of Georgia and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The name Coweta means "water falls" and is pronounced Cow-eeta by the locals. Senoia was incorporated in 1866 and has a population of 2500 plus. The area of Senoia traces back to William McIntosh of the Creek Indians.

Many families from Newberry, South Carolina came to the Senoia area around 1828. The area was rich in agriculture and supported cotton, corn, peaches and livestock. The community was originally known as Willow Dell which was established in 1854. Willow Dell had a post office and was actually located a couple of miles south of the present Senoia downtown location. The current town location was land that was purchased by Reverand Francis Warren Baggerly. Two railroads, Savannah Railroad and Griffin & North Alabama Railroad, ran through this area and was a main shipping point for local crops.

The first building erected was Rock House which was established as a general store or merchantile. It was quickly changed to a commissary for the Confederacy due to the civil war that had recently broken out. Reverand Baggerly was the minister of the first church...a Methodist Episcopal Church. Soon after the war was over a high school was also built in 1865. Architecture from the 1840's still remains visible and add's to the Turn of Century downtown beauty.

Areas of interest in Senoia include The Buggy Shop Museum, Culpepper House Bed & Breakfast, Veranda Bed & Breakfast and Riverwood Movie Studios which produced Fried Green Tomatoes, The War, and Andersonville.

If you are relocating to the Senoia area and need designing services give It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign a call. We're here to help you start off your beautiful new life in Senoia.

678-953-1678
www.itsahootie.com
hootie@itsahootie.com

Serving the south metro Atlanta area including Senoia, Fayetteville, Newnan, Peachtree City, Griffin and other surrounding locations.

How To Prepare For Your Redesign Appointment

Have you finally decided to have your home or just a room redesigned? Great decision!


Now, how can you prepare to get the most out of your consultation? If you aren't sure what your style is you can start by looking through magazines and cutting out the pictures of the rooms and look that appeal to you. This is such a help to your redesigner and a guarantee that you will be happy with the final results.


So many of us aren't sure what our style is called but a picture says it all. When looking at the magazines you will notice immediately that there is a particular look that really jumps out at you. You can't put your finger on it right away but if you will study the picture notice what really grabbed your attention. Is it the color, the lines of the furniture or the accessories? Once you and the redesigner examine your selections you are now on your way to a great redesign.

Call today for an appointment with a professional redesigner: It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign, Inc. 678-953-1678

www.itsahootie.com
hootie@itsahootie.com

Serving the south metro Atlanta area including Senoia, Fayetteville, Newnan, Peachtree City, Griffin and other locations.

Oh No! They're Coming To Show The House!

Is your home always prepared to be shown at a moments notice?

During the longer listing periods so many are experiencing today, it is really tough to keep up the pace of making your home show worthy. Don't give up, your buyer may be the next showing.

Have you considered having your home professionally staged? When your home is staged, statistics show that the home will sell quicker. Why not make yours the more competitive listing in your neighborhood!

Staging by a professional will enhance the features and downplay the negatives. Home staging will also appeal to the potential buyer by helping them picture themselves living there. Not only does it improve on the marketing but it helps you the seller by packing up items for your move in advance and therefore it leaves less clutter and less furniture to keep clean and in place. Wow that makes it easier and you the homeowner is less stressed.

Keep in mind these 4 suggestions to a successful showing before you leave:

1. Turn on all of the lights.
2. If you have enough time, bake something - the smell makes them feel at home.
3. Empty the trash/cat litter pan.
4. Turn on soft music at a low setting.

It's all about the atmosphere...

Janann "Hootie" Duncan
It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign, Inc.

Call today for an appointment and let It's A Hootie work home staging magic!

Serving the south metro Atlanta area including Senoia, Newnan, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Griffin and other locations.

www.itsahootie.com
hootie@itsahootie.com
678-953-1678

How to Make Your Christmas Decor a WOW

Are you tired of seeing the same Christmas decorations every year? We all from time to time need to revamp or update our decor...whether it is in our home furnishings or in our seasonal decorations. Try coming up with a theme that you and your family would like to display. If you can't come up with a theme then establish at least a color direction.

Here are a few suggestions:

• snowmen
• angels
• santa's
• victorian
• bears
• old toys
• snow and ice
• candy canes

Once you've selected a theme then you will know what colors to display throughout the home. If you selected angels then a great color combination could be gold and white, or if you've chosen candy canes then red and white would be the color scheme.

If you don't have time to change everything over this year make your plans for next year and shop the after Christmas sales to begin your collection of items for your new theme.

When you start decorating your home don't bring everything out that you own. When you put it all out on display your decorations start to loose their impact because they are now just clutter. Try collecting togther like items from your current assortment and build from that. You can also make each room of your home a certain theme.

Don't forget that what ever theme and direction you go in for the inside of your home make sure you carry it onto the outside also. If you run into trouble give us a call for an appointment.

It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign, Inc. -- http://www.itsahootie.com/ -- 678-953-1678

Serving south metro Atlanta including Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Newnan, Senoia, Griffin

CLOSETS...

What do your closets say if you are selling your home?

If any of your closets are "overstuffed" it will send a message that you do not have enough storage. Believe me when I say that potential home buyers will open "all" closet doors when considering your home.

Here are a few tips -- they may seem over the top but do take heed:

• Remove all clothes that you haven't worn in the last year
• Remove last seasons clothing - this will really open up the space
• Matching hangers - yes this will make a difference!
• Hang all matching items together - pants, shirts, dresses etc.
• Now sort these matching items in color groups - black, white, blue etc.
• If possible have at least an inch in between each clothing item
• Shelves - if you need to stack items on your shelves, purchase nice matching boxes or baskets to place these items in...the look is much neater and cleaner looking
• When is the last time you painted the closet - UGH, but it makes a positive difference

Professional advice on staging your home doesn't cost as much as you think...call today for an a consultation. Success in selling your home is our business - It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign, Inc.

678-953-1678 or 770-599-8010 http://www.itsahootie.com/

Serving the south Atlanta metro area including Senoia, Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Newnan, Griffin and other areas where homes need selling or rooms redesigned!!!!!!!! Home staging makes a difference.

How's Your Curb Appeal?

Have you taken a hard look lately at your curb appeal? If you are selling your home this is your first opportunity to make that great impression.



When a buyer drives by your home they will make their first decision on whether your home needs further consideration. Don't loose this chance to get their attention. A potential home buyer can drive by at any time of the day or night. Turn your lights on at night.



Here are some tips for creating a better curb appeal when selling your home:

• Cut the grass and pull all weeds


• Remove fallen leaves


• Have your home pressure washed


• Trim the shrubs or plant new shrubs if yours have overtaken the yard


• Paint the house if the paint is dull or peeling


• Try painting your door Black or Red if it will coordinate with the house color


• Add or replace the Welcome Mat


• Add other color by planting seasonal plants


• Add fresh mulch or pine straw


• Make sure your house numbers are easy to see

Do you have a front porch that could also need some punch? Yes porches need to be staged too to offer that inviting feeling.

Call It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign, Inc. today for an appointment. Consultations can get you on the right track to make your Curb Appeal stand out. 678-953-1678 or 770 599-8010

http://www.itsahootie.com/

hootie@itsahootie.com

Home staging and home redesign serving the south Atlanta area including Senoia, Fayetteville, Newnan, Peachtree City, Griffin and other areas

What About The Color Black In Your Home...

What does the color BLACK say to you?

Using the color black in decorating or staging your home definitely makes a statement. So how do you use it? You can use one black piece of furniture in each room and it will add that wow feeling. Black furniture or black walls (yes I said black walls) can introduce the drama that you are going for.

Accessorizing when using black will make it pop even more. Imagine this "painted" picture...paint the walls a cool gray and the trim bright white, add a black dining room table and white parson chairs, top off the table with a big crystal bowl full of granny smith apples or limes. Continue around the room with maybe a black serving buffet with crystal buffet lamps and a floral arrangement in that same apple green color. Hang a big bold round mirror above the buffet. Are you getting the picture? Looks like a room in a magazine. WOW.

Call It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign, Inc. today for an appointment. Let us bring drama into your home. We're here to stage or redecorate your home for that WOW. 678-953-1678 or 770-599-8010.

http://www.itsahootie.com/

serving home sellers and buyers by staging or decorating in the south Atlanta area including Senoia, Newnan, Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Griffin and other areas.

Selling Your Home - How Clean Is It?

How clean is your home? Here's the dirt on the subject.

Buyers will come into your home looking at everything. When we live in our homes we don't see our home through the eyes of a buyer. The last time you did that was when you purchased your home. Did you look in the cabinets, oven or even the refrigerator? Maybe you should look at yours now. What do you see - DIRT, OVERSTUFFED, SMELLS?

Here are a few suggestions on how to impress the potential home buyers. It only takes some elbow grease.
1. Open your cabinets and remove items that haven't been used in the last year. Make sure you have cleaned the area and install new shelf liner if yours is old and stained.
2. Keep your refrigerator cleaned out. If you don't eat left overs - don't keep them! Keep fresh baking soda inside. Remove any food that is deteriorating.
3. Don't forget the pantry and laundry room. Organize all items in these areas by grouping like items together i.e., keep all soups together and stacked neatly, collect all cereals together, baking goods, paper goods and cleaning goods. Turn all labels so they face the door when opened.

These are only a few recommendations. Contact It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign, Inc. for more extensive organizing and cleaning suggestions that help sell your home. We see things that a potential home buyer will see.

www.itsahootie.com
678-953-1678
770-599-8010

serving the south Atlanta area including Senoia, Newnan, Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Griffin and other areas

Which Furniture Styles Are Best When Staging?

How many model homes have you stepped into that just give you that WOW impression? That WOW impression is achieved 98% of the time by furniture styles that are modern. Modern design offers the clean lines and solid neutral colors. Once the "jewelry" (accessories) is added you have completed the WOW impression. It makes you want to live there.

When staging your home, modern furniture styles will appeal to more potential buyers. It can appeal to that upscale feeling that most of us are looking for. What if your home is all country in its decor? I'm sure that it feels comfortable to you and your family but remember you are not trying to sell your style - you are marketing your home for a buyer. When a buyer comes in you want them to picture themselves living there. Don't take a chance on turning them away with a dated or style specific decor.

So what can you do if your current furnishings scream a dated style? Call It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign today and get the professional help you need. We try to work with your own furnishings first. There are other economical alternatives that can be suggested too. We are here to help!!!!!!

www.itsahootie.com

serving the south Atlanta area including Senoia, Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Newnan, Griffin and other surrounding areas.

678-953-1678
770-599-8010

Collections or Clutter?

Are you a collector?

At some point in our life we have collected something - marbles, baseball cards, barbie dolls. If you are a collector, is it organized or is it more like clutter. What you think is just a nice collection can be considered clutter to many people. If your home is on the market to be sold you should consider 1 of 2 options. First option in most situations should be to remove the collection and pack it for moving to your next home. Second option, if you can't part with the collection for just a couple of months, please reduce the collection to just 3 of your favorite pieces and group them together as a display.

When you reduce your collections to a few of your favorites you will actually see that it makes a bigger impact - later you can exchange them with 3 other pieces. That way you get to change the look.

Do you have a curio cabinet full of "items" that aren't all related to each other? Take note of the items in the curio and select only the items that are the same theme. These items can be all crystal bowls or porcelain birds. Remember to display them in fewer numbers to avoid the cluttered look.

If you need help in organizing your collection or displaying your possessions correctly give us a call....It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign, Inc. 678-953-1678

Serving areas south of Atlanta, Senoia, Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Griffin, Newnan

Thinking About Selling Your Home? Is It Ready?

You've made that decision to sell your home - but, are you really ready? Has your home been prepared? It isn't enough to make sure your home is clean.

Today's market requires you to do more than just keep a clean home while your home is on the market. Do your homework first! What I mean by doing your homework is two-fold.

1) Homework Research - look at competitive listings, would your home appeal to more buyers than the competitors? How is yours furnished - does it look like a model home? Maybe your home is cluttered.
2) Homework Action List - Have you done all of the maintenance that you have been putting off? Does your home need to be painted or updated? And cleaning - you may not realize things that you will miss that buyers will see.

Now are you overwhelmed by the homework? Let It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign, Inc. provide the help you need. What we offer is professional consultation and staging solutions to get your property ready for the market. Let us start your marketing process on the right foot before you list. It puts you ahead of the game and gives you a better headstart over the competition.

www.itsahootie.com
serving the metro Atlanta area including Senoia, Newnan, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Griffin

What is Home Staging?

Although the art of staging has been around for years, it has only in the past few years been named Staging or Home Staging.

How many times have you checked out a new subdivision and visited the model home? Well little did any of us know the marketing power of the model home. It was staged to appeal to your emotions -- beautiful, elegant, warm, inviting -- it made you want to live there.

Now you too can sell your home with that staged feeling. It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign, Inc. offers that look. First of all we try to use the furnishings and accessories you have. However there may be times when we must suggest that you rent these items. This economical investment is critical to keep the potential home buyer from making an offer way below your asking price. Too many times they can get caught up on letting their emotions of seeing outdated furnishings enter into their decision of price reduction.

Call today to make an appointment for It's A Hootie to come out and stage your home before you list with a realtor. The staged pictures are your first introduction and impression for the buyer to decide if your property is worth their consideration to visit. In today's market conditions and competitive listings, you need to do everything possible to make your home stand out.

http://www.itsahootie.com/
Serving the metro Atlanta area including Senoia, Newnan, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Griffin.

Correct Accessories When Staging

When staging your home for selling, all personal items and clutter must be removed.

Only use accessories that are considered generic. Items that can suggest personal likes and beliefs like alcohol and religion can actually be a turn off for home buyers. Other personal items are family pictures, awards, trophies, stuffed animal heads etc. These things are also clutter items as well.

Once these items are packed up for your new home then you can focus on the correct accessories. Take a look at each room and select items for each room that work with the decor. Now think in odd numbers. For instance, try putting a large hardback book on the coffee table and then add a candelstick with candle that is about 9 inches tall and finish the look with a vase that is approximately 5 inches higher than the candle. Don't spread these out too far from each other, they need to be grouped closer together so they relate and balance. That was simple!

If you don't feel comfortable in selecting and placing your items, It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign, Inc. is here to help. Professional touches are our specialty. Call today for an appointment. www.itsahootie.com, www.itsahootie.blogspot.com, 678-953-1678 or 770-599-8010.

What Paint Colors are Good for Staging?

When staging your home to sell, neutrals are the best way to add that "soft color" to your rooms. You can safely add these neutrals without sending that potential home buyer down the road to the next listing.



So what colors are considered neutral? Many have been under the assumption that white and beige are the only options. This is not true. Your neutral palette also includes grays, greens and blues as well as your browns. When looking at paint chips from your home improvement store, the light colors at the beginning or top of the chip for these neutral colors is your best choice. The darker colors become your dramatic choices and can be more risky when selling your home.



If you aren't sure which color selection is best for you, color consultations are available through It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign, Inc.



Call for an appointment. The color consultation can be the answer you are looking for. We're here to help!

Are You Afraid of Color?

How many times have you admired those model homes? Do you wish your home looked that way?



It's easier than you think. The use of color can make a dramatic difference whether you are staging your home to sell or updating your existing decor. So how do you use color? One of the least expensive ways is with paint on the walls. But what color do you choose? I always recommend starting with the main item in the room such as the comforter on the bed or the sofa in your living room. The reason I suggest this is because there are hundreds of paint colors but you are limited in color ranges with the comforter or the upholstery on your furniture. Let's pretend you are redecorating your bedroom. Your comforter is a plaid with the colors black, tan and white. The tan would be your best selection to give you color on your walls. The white would be too boring. Now the black may not seem to be an option but it can be very dramatic. Consider black on the focal wall behind the bed. White should be the trim color. You now have the plan working. Your next step is going to a home improvement store or paint store and selecting several paint chips in these 3 colors. The reason for this is to make sure you match the exact color that is in that comforter. You are now on your way to that model home look.



If you still don't feel comfortable with the process, we are here to help you. We can provide a consultation for the color selection and maybe a shopping trip for the right accessories to help you achieve that look. Call It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign, Inc. at 678-953-1678 or 770-599-8010 for an appointment.

Is Staging Necessary to Sell My Home

You bet it is!

Staging your home before it is listed will start the process of making a great first impression. It only takes seconds for a potential buyer to make a first impression. Ask yourself - "Are my listing pictures making a great first impression?"

You live with your "stuff" day in and day out. Because of this you have difficulty with being objective and can't see a problem. That's where home stagers like "It's A Hootie Staging & Redesign, Inc." put on buyers eyes and make corrections. For a small economical investment you are making that first step towards more inviting pictures on the internet listing. When buyers see your pictures of your staged home they will add it to the list of properties they want to view in person. Now you have a potential buyer. If you haven't staged the property you take a huge risk in missing not one but several potential buyers.

Selling statistics show that staged properties typically sell faster and for more money. Don't take the chance by not staging your home. The longer your home stays on the market you are actually loosing money - you're making more mortgage payments and possibly paying higher insurance premiums if you've moved out. Today's market is so competitive that you need that extra edge to promote your property. Think of it as a business investment and not your home. SELL SELL SELL.

Check out our website: www.itsahootie.com

Give us a call today...we're here to help.

Hootie
678-953-1678
770-599-8010