Have you seen the new show on HGTV called "Bang for your Buck"? The storyline for the show is that two experts, a Realtor and a Designer, compare three renovations of the same space, within the same city, all at the same budget, to see who got the most "bang for their buck". I just happened to see the one that just aired which compared three $65,000 kitchen renovations in the city of Phoenix, Arizona. Since my husband and I endured a major kitchen renovation just 3 years ago and we invested nearly twice the national average, this story was particularly interesting to me.

Spring has sprung and even though the weather is a little schizo sometimes, I'm excited for the transition. I recently recieved the Pier1 Imports catalog and found some really great new items they have for spring that would be fabulous Home Staging Props. Here are my top 3 favorites and how you can incorporate them into your staging design.

Alice T. Chan, the Home Buyer Attraction Expert discusses the importance of creating first impressions with your home's curb appeal as it sets the tone for buyer expectations for the rest of the property. Is your home attracting ideal home buyers or bargain hunters? Watch this video to find out...

Alice T. Chan, the Home Buyer Attraction Expert shares tips on staging kids bedrooms.

We all know that Home Staging is the art of decorating a home to sell quickly and for top dollar. It is the most proven way to get the highest selling price for a property as you prepare it for sale. An important thing for both Real Estate Agents and Home Stagers to remember is that before you start the staging process, you need to do research about whom is most likely going to buy the house, otherwise known as the TARGET MARKET.

We all know that Home Staging is the art of decorating a home to sell quickly and for top dollar. It is the most proven way to get the highest selling price for a property as you prepare it for sale. An important thing for both Real Estate Agents and Home Stagers to remember is that before you start the staging process, you need to do research about whom is most likely going to buy the house, otherwise known as the TARGET MARKET.

You have to wonder what the thought process is behind those architectural details found in newer construction homes. You know, those open niches and the shelves that are 2 stories high. How practical are they? Unfortunately, these seem to be difficult areas for the average homeowner to decorate, but don't despair, you don't have to be an experienced interior designer to do these spaces justice. Here are a few ideas on how to stage these areas.

While I was watching this last week's episode of Dancing with the Stars, I realized that the challenges that some of the stars have with learning their dances is similar to the challenges that Home Stagers, realtors and home sellers face when staging a property. The judge's critique of Ty Murray and Lawrence Taylor's dances was that although they got all the steps, their performance lacked emotion and a real connection with the dance. Unfortunately, many staged homes suffer a similar problem. Sure, decluttering, and cleaning is a component of home staging, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Unfortunately, many homes that are staged have been decluttered and cleaned up and it may even be decorated, but lack personality and fail to make an emotional connection with prospective buyers.

While I was watching this last week's episode of Dancing with the Stars, I realized that the challenges that some of the stars have with learning their dances is similar to the challenges that Home Stagers, realtors and home sellers face when staging a property. The judge's critique of Ty Murray and Lawrence Taylor's dances was that although they got all the steps, their performance lacked emotion and a real connection with the dance. Unfortunately, many staged homes suffer a similar problem. Sure, decluttering, and cleaning is a component of home staging, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Unfortunately, many homes that are staged have been decluttered and cleaned up and it may even be decorated, but lack personality and fail to make an emotional connection with prospective buyers.

I used a lot of magazines in our Home staging design. We actually used quite a few fashion magazine covers as art for staging girls bedrooms. The covers can be easily removed and placed in a frame and voila...instant art! We also occasionally purchased magazines specifically for staging purposes like Cosmo Girl and Teen People magazine for a girls bedroom and Women's Health magazine as seen in the yoga room. Just like cookbooks, you can build a theme around a magazine.

Today, I'm going to show you how you can "kick it up a notch" and actually create a theme around the cookbook you choose. These are not expensive or difficult counterscapes to create, but the theme makes it a lot more fun and interesting. There are plenty of cookbooks with possible themes available...enjoy the creative process.

You would be hard pressed to not find a cookbook or two or thirty in a household...why not use them as props to stage your home to sell? There are a lot of creative things you can do with cookbooks.

One of the most difficult areas to stage and stage well, are bookshelves or bookcases. It can be an overwhelming task and does require a lot of props and creativity, more so than staging an entire room. Custom built-in bookshelves can be a great selling point, but merchandising them well will really help highlight this feature. Naked bookshelves are just not as appealing and are not as buyer attractive. Remember, most buyers have a hard time visualizing how spaces can be utilized - take the guess work out of the mix and just show them.

I was curious, as I'm sure the rest of you were when they announced this new program airing on HGTV called "The Stagers", if it would be a true depiction of what Home Staging life is like. I would have to say that it's probably the most realistic of the shows that are out there today, but still does not tell the whole story. Regardless, here are some things that I feel you could learn from the show and apply directly to your own Home Staging business (Part 2 of 2).

Home Staging Expert, Alice T. Chan, shares with you tips and strategies to create irresistible, market ready bathrooms that SELL. Alice will show you how you can make the most of "dated" bathrooms.