Why choose Chic?
Our company name embodies who we are and what we bring to the table. Webster defines Chic as “smart elegance and sophistication”. Chic is also an acronym for “Creative Home Image Consultants”. Like a personal image consultant for your home, Chic is your partner in success, guiding you to present the home image that will insure the greatest return on your equity.
Joanne was instrumental in developing the prestigious DeweyColor Consultant program as part of their Advisory Council and currently teaches the program in Northern California. Certified in Staging and Redesign by the Society of Decorating Professionals, Joanne is a well respected leader in the Staging, Color and Design industries.
Joanne attended the University of Illinois for both her undergraduate and graduate studies. She has successfully translated her 25 years of solid business and interpersonal experience as a Human Resource Manager and Executive Recruiter to an exceptional customer service culture at Chic. Joanne has leveraged the knowledge she shares with her students to focus on building Chic into the premier Home Staging Company in the Bay Area.
Chic Home Interiors now has two “Joanne/Johanne”s you can rely on for all your staging and decorating needs. As a team they are unbeatable.
As a Certified Staging Professional, Johanne Poulin is satisfying herpassion for real estate and design. She has a gift for seeing the potentialin any given space, and the training to bring this vision to fruition. Shehas become an invaluable member of the Chic Home Interiors team. Having lived through and managed multiple major home renovationprojects, juggled a busy professional and family life, and bought and soldmultiple homes, Johanne understands the realities of readying a propertyfor the market. She can take a seemingly overwhelming task, break it down to a list of multiple, feasible steps to achieve the goal. She has the resources to coordinate each component or, should the owner choose to do so him/herself, simply ensure the action plan is completed and return to expertly showcase the property.Why Stage?
Because it works! A professionally staged home will bring the highest dollar offers possible for that home and it will do so in the shortest timeframe possible. Consider the Open House a first interview for your house. You wouldn't think of going on a job interview without paying close attention to all aspects of your presentation - from grooming to professional attire to a well written and professional looking resume. The rewards for a well staged home are just as significant financially and deserve the same attention to detail.
How do we do it?
We go over your home, room by room, noticing things you probably no longer see because you see them everyday. We find solutions for potential problem areas and enhance the features that increase your home's value. By appealing to the largest segment of potential buyers, we create an environment that buyers want to make their own. Around every corner we prompt potential buyers to envision themselves: having a romantic evening with their partner, playing games with the family, preparing and enjoying an intimate dinner with friends or having a summer barbeque with the neighbors, etc… We appeal to the home buyer's aspirations for their life - how they want to live. We create an emotional response that brings you top dollar offers.
Savvy real estate agents will be more inclined to show our homes because they know their buyers will easily envision living in them. A home staged by Chic gives a good impression throughout the process and is more likely to be seen as a well-cared-for property by estimators, inspectors, etc.
What is it, really?
Staging is an essential marketing technique in today's competitive Real Estate market that enhances property presentation using lifestyle selling techniques to secure top dollar offers from buyers. We use proven techniques to review a property for ultimate impact on buyers. Showcasing your home's best features takes more than de-cluttering, adding flowers and placing a bed on an angle! It is creating favorable impressions everywhere the eyes rest. Starting at curbside and moving throughout the house to the very back edge of the property, we review everything with an objective and creative eye.
Who do we work with?
Home owners selling their homes who want to secure the most equity possible in the shortest timeframe
Home builders and re-modelers who want to maximize the return on their investment
Savvy real estate agents wanting to earn and keep a reputation for excellent service and exceptional performance
What does it cost?
The simple answer to that question is: “Less then it will cost you to not stage…" It is an investment, not overhead. That said, the fee for staging a house varies depending on the size of the house, how many rooms, the level of furnishings needed to support the value of the house, the size and condition of the rooms and if the house is vacant or occupied. You should expect a minimum fee of $300 for a simple consultation and that can go north of $10,000 for full staging of large, high-end homes. Remember, this is probably going to be less than that first price reduction you may be forced to make if you don't stage, or the house payments you are forced to make while your un-staged home sits on the market and becomes stale. Your return on investment can be threefold or more. How often can you say that about other investments in such a short amount of time?
Chic offers full-service color consulting, home staging and design in the following areas: San Francisco, Oakland, Walnut Creek, Danville, Pleasanton, Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga, Concord, San Leandro, Castro Valley, Alamo, Berkeley, Albany, Hayward, Emeryville, Alameda, El Cerrito, San Pablo, El Sobrante, Richmond, San Ramon, Contra Costa County, Alameda County, San Francsico East Bay, Marin County
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Chic's founder, Joanne O'Donnell, has been professionally staging quality homes in the Bay Area since early 2002. She is the Director of Training for the Certified Staging Professionals, assisting in the development of the program from the beginning, managing trainers and mentors in the acclaimed CSP™ organization and training home stagers throughout North America. She also taught the Accredited Staging Professional course in California and Nevada for over three years. She has trained both Real Estate Agents and professional Home Stagers in all aspects of Home Staging. She is the Vice President of Membership for the Real Estate Staging Association and was a charter member of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals.
