by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
As a home stager, I get this question a lot. While a home stager tends to stay away from trends, you want the home to appeal to the target buyer whether it is a home for a family of kids, a retired couple or a single person. Each home is unique and you want to show...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
Staging your home for the holidays Is your home on the market during the holiday season? Are you tempted to decorate the home one last time before you have to move? This is totally normal and of course you want to make one last memory in your home before you move out....
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor
Wish you can take a page out of a lessons learned book on home remodeling? Some lessons are hard to learn and can be costly when you are remodeling. If you are remodeling a whole home or just a room, there are a few design tips to keep in mind to save your...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Summer time is the biggest moving season for the military. If your home is on the market, your buyers will be looking for a home to settle into before the school year starts up again. Your outdoor spaces can get a leg up on the competition so keep them tidy and...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Let there be light! Lighting in a room can sometimes be challenging. There are 3 types of lighting you need in each room; general, task and decorative. We are going to cover task lighting and learn how to choose the right kind of lamp for the task at hand. Whether you...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Bring industrial decor pieces into your home Notice a new trend entering your latest trip to the home décor store? You may have seen more metal mixed in with the wood furniture or saw some different looking light bulbs. Those are part of what is called the Industrial...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
Seriously, it’s a garage! We all need a space to get away. Some Moms would love to retreat into a spa tub and kids love to play in a dedicated playroom. But for Dads, sometimes, the only place they can retreat to is the garage or if they are lucky, a man cave....
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
As a homeowner, moving can be quite a stressful event. And when it comes to selling their homes, a homeowner might do some home staging on their own to get it ready. However, when home staging is done correctly, a buyer should not be able to tell the home was staged....
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Landscape your way with a simple plan You love your home but the landscape is something to be desired. You have all of these ideas yet never have time or energy to implement them. You don’t want to spend money on plants that may or may not survive. I get it. But...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Why a home should not smell at all When selling a home, one major turnoff to buyers is smell. You may have heard that baking cookies for your open house can entice buyers to buy your home. But I am afraid to say that does not work. In fact, it can make some buyers run...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
How Airbnb can be an additional source of income Airbnb is a unique way to enjoy a major city without having to go to a hotel. This can especially be important when you are trying to attend a major event and find that all the hotels are booked. President Obama’s...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Tips for empty nesters moving out Do you have grown children who have “left the nest” and repurposed those rooms into an office or a gym? After a few years, you realize your home is too big for you and you want to downsize to a smaller home and...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Homeowners Don’t Sell Yourself Short According to Militarybases.com, there are 10 military bases in the Washington DC area. Thousands of military members move every year into this area. While the bulk of the moves are in the summertime, a large chunk still move...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor
As a home stager and someone who lives in a home that has a partially open floor plan I understand the pros and cons when tackling this kind of space. However, this setup is not for everyone. Some homeowners want an open concept but don’t know how to...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Bathroom changes you can do over a weekend Whether you want to update your bathroom for a move or just for yourself, there are some easy things you can do. Updating a bathroom may seem like a daunting task but small changes in a small bathroom can make a world of...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
Need to hire a home stager? Homeowners are starting to learn they need to stage their homes if they want to get it sold quickly. But how do you find a home stager? There are a number of ways to find one. You just have to know where to look. Google “home...
by Kasia McDaniel | Small business
Small Business Apps You Must Have To Run Your Business As a small business owner, there are many administrative tasks you have to do in order to run a business. Not all of it is easy to do, but there are some apps out there that can make it easier. These are 5 apps I...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Decorate Your Home on a Budget Ever wonder how some people get some really good deals on their home décor? Some people rely on coupons or wait for those sales, but sometimes you just want to get your project done. I found several ways you can save money and still...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
If you are getting ready to list your home for sale, you probably have a mile long checklist of all the things you need to do. This can be very intimidating but not if you take the list in chunks a few days at a time. Set aside an hour each night to get just one...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Do you have mason jars lying around? Put them to work! I was getting ready to host a party at my home and wanted to find something to store the utensils other than a large bulky bin. I ran across this cute mason jar caddy at Kirkland’s and loved how it could be...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
4 ways to make home selling easier on you A few years ago, it used to be easier to sell your home. You cleaned it up a bit, hid the dirty dishes, vacuumed and stuck a “For Sale” sign on the front lawn. However, with the influx of designer shows on channels...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
A PCS can be expensive, but not if you use these money-saving tips According to MilitaryFamily.com, moving is the third stressful thing that happens in a person’s life and on average a person moves 12 times in their lifetime. As a military member, I moved 5...
by Kasia McDaniel | Let's Get Personal
Getting to know Kasia McDaniel It’s hard to get to know people until you meet them in person. And even then you wonder what makes them tick. Well here are a few fun facts about me, Kasia McDaniel, that you may or may not know already. Some may surprise you and...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
Homeowners fear of staging costs and rental furniture As a homeowner, you worry about a lot of things: cutting the lawn, fixing the leak, or replacing the window or roof. But when it comes time to sell your home, someone may suggest staging it to sell faster. But what...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Real Estate Agents and Interior Decorating According to an article written by James Kimmons, when looking for a real estate agent, a homeowner will probably look for someone with the following skills: Knowledge of the real estate market Knowledge of the purchase...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
A Home Stager Can Make Your Life Easier As a homeowner, you will do almost anything to sell your home at top dollar. You know you need to clear off countertops and clean the carpets. But how do you know if that is enough? If you fall into any of these categories, you...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Lighten up your outdoor space As the weather warms up, many people start to come out from hibernation and spend more time outdoors. As you start planning your end of school parties, BBQs and such, take a look at your lighting outside your home. Lighting can set the...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Move in Tips It is finally here…move in day. The truck is packed to the gills and you arrived at your new home. Everyone is excited to move into the new place but you have one last hurdle to jump over: moving in all that stuff off the truck. If you have movers...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Moving Day Tips Moving Day is probably the hardest and most stressful part of moving. I know because I personally moved 7 times in my lifetime and mostly as an adult. You learn a few tricks of the trade when you do it often enough. Here are some tried and true secrets...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home Selling, Home staging tips
Homeowners: Don’t do these! Most homeowners know they need to do a little work in order to get their home ready for the market. Once you get it clean, it can be tough to keep it that way for as long as you need until you sell it. But there are some homeowners...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
5 Must Do Items for Home Security Many people take all kinds of precautions when it comes to locking doors, walking kids across busy streets, etc. But do you consider the home security risks when selling your home? I am not trying to scare you but complete strangers...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Afraid you will pick the wrong color scheme for a room? We pick colors every day without a second thought. Do you write meeting notes with a black or blue pen? What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Do you prefer spicy or mild flavored food? Each one harbors a color...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Flowers can help stage a home When selling a home, flowers are a great way to bring in color into a room and provide a focal point. However, be aware that some flowers may wilt quickly or leave a mess on your clean tables. If your home is occupied or vacant when on...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
I’ve seen so many moving trucks out there this summer, so a lot of you are on the move. And as someone who has moved A LOT with the military, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks for moving day. So you know the move date, found a moving company and have a...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor, How to
The Creative Home Podcast | Episode #172 This episode is brought to you by 30 Easy Tips to Get your House Sold. Looking for a quick checklist that will help you focus on what to do to get your house ready to sell? Check out my free download, 30 Easy Tips to Get Your...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Is your foyer a dumping ground? What makes you cringe when you walk into your foyer? Is it the scattered gym bags and backpacks? Is it the lack of color or the lack of organization? Here are a few simple ways to bring life back to your foyer and make it more...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Home Selling Secrets Selling a home can be a daunting task. Whether you are moving for a job or to get closer to family, it is one of the most stressful things in life that you can do. But you can relieve that stress by depending on some people to help you get through...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Costly home staging mistake We all make mistakes and as James Joyce puts it, “Mistakes are the portals of discovery.” As a home stager I made several home staging mistakes in my first few projects. While some may be trivial, they were stressful to me and I vowed I...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Mud room makeover A laundry room is normally the last place anyone would look for something to show off. But if you have the space near the garage or carport, this is a perfect place for a mud room makeover. The space I had to work with is only 6 feet wide but 22 feet...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
What home staging is not Home staging is a growing trend in major US cities. It is a way to decorate your home in order to appeal to the target buyer. However, not everyone believes this is needed in order to sell a home but I am here to tell you that is not true....
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Stay organized and keep moving As with any project, whether it is staging or redesigning, you have to be organized. I can have busy days on some days and slow days on others. To keep my mind focused on my small business, I set up a schedule of things I want to tackle...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Complete the home look with accessories A home is not a home until you make it your own with your personal touches. These accessories or décor can quickly fill up a room. But when it comes time to sell your home those personal touches have to be toned down. Some of it...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Rental properties need home staging too In the Washington DC metro area, you may notice a few more “For Rent” signs than “For Sale” signs. In fact, “1 in 3 homes is a rental” according to a 2013 American Housing Survey. It can be due to any number of reasons; a person...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Are open floor plans here to stay? Homes have changed significantly in the last 50+ years. The average home size in 1950 was less than 1000 square feet. In 2004, it grew to more than 2,300 square feet according to the National Association of Home Builders. Families...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Are you ready to sell your home? As you prepare your home for the market, you need to do a little work before your open house. Here are some quick tips to keep in mind when preparing your home to sell. 1. Curb appeal – First impressions are everything. Buyers...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
How can you use gray in your home? How many pink princess bedrooms have you seen? Probably too many to count but when it comes time to paint over it, what color do you choose? Try a more neutral color such as gray. A gray wall color is the new beige and can be used...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
First Time Home Buyers Do you remember being a first time home buyer? If you did, then you may remember wondering if you should even take this big step and being responsible for something so huge. Who are you going to call when the dishwasher breaks or a bathroom...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Tips on how to make a small room seem bigger Some homes will have small rooms and when you are trying to stage it to sell you don’t want to make the room seem even smaller. You want to open up the space in a small room and make it look bigger than it is. In addition...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Did you know that empty homes actually take longer to sell than staged homes? It’s so much easier to keep it clean when it’s empty, right? There is nothing to put away, clean up or even hide. But I found through personal experience that empty homes, while...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Linen closet essentials I see this everywhere and even had it in my own linen closet for the longest time. How do you accumulate so many things in the linen closet? I cringed every time I used to open mine because I knew that whatever I was looking for would take me...
