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Turn Your Home Into a Money-Maker by Delicious Decors, Santa Barbara California

Turn Your Home into a Money-Maker by Delicious Decors, Santa Barbara California

Did you know that 80% of people planning a vacation book their reservations 6 months prior to their vacation? Of those travelers, 75% of them will chose to stay in a home rental in 2012.

Now is the time to get your vacation rental home spruced up and booked up for the summer! Delicious Decors is here to help.

Vacation Rental Preparation Services
• Just need some sprucing up? From new fresh bedding & towels, replacement kitchen ware, to fresh paint and curb appeal, our team can get the job done.
• Perhaps it’s time to replace that old sofa or ragged rug. From one sofa to an entire house, call Delicious Decors.
• Would you like to get more $$$ for your rental? Add a second bathroom, extend the patio, remodel the kitchen; our team is ready to get started.
• If you’re interested in managing your rental on your own, we’ve got the know how on what it takes to get your rental booked all summer long and we’ll pass that information on to you.
• Looking for a great management company to handle your vacation rental for you? Just ask us and we’ll steer you in the right direction.

From remodeling, to sprucing up, furnishing and decorating, to booking and managing, we’ve done it all and would like to pass on a few tips to you.

1. Is your vacation rental a place you would like to spend your family vacation? This is always a good question to ask yourself.
2. Curb appeal, you’ve got to have it! Give your house a fresh coat of paint, trim plants, add fresh plants & flowers, repair anything damaged or unsightly.
3. Whether you are just now turning your property into a vacation rental or sprucing it up for this year, select attractive, comfortable furniture. Keep in mind how many people your house will accommodate, and then double-check to make sure you actually have enough dining chairs, TV viewing seating, outdoor seating and eating capacity. You get the picture.
4. Décor & Accessories … make it vacationy. If you’re near the beach, add beach décor and beach toys. If you have a mountain cabin retreat, go with mountain cabin décor. Include some fishing rods if there’s a lake or river nearby.
5. Do everything on the “Honey-do” list to make sure everything is running in smooth top form.

Vacation Retreat by Delicious Decors

Vacation Retreat Santa Barbara California

How do you get your vacation rental rented?

These are my Top 3 suggestions for success on turning your property into a Money-Maker:

1st Your vacation rental should look great! You are appealing to people’s emotions, they need to be attracted to your home.

2nd PHOTOS. I capitalize this because it’s your #1 selling tool. You need excellent photos that not only show the property accurately, but show off the property as well. Again, you are appealing to emotion!

3rd Whether you are managing your own property or you have hired a management company, responses to inquiries must be done Promptly. If they have contacted you, they have contacted 5 other property owners as well, so jump on it.

Please call Delicious Decors today at 805.448.9226 or email peenny@deliciusdecors.com for a FREE estimate to turn your investment property into a Money-Maker and a retreat your entire famiy!

4 comments • Penny Bergstrom, Home Staging, Interior Design & Remodel, Santa Barbara to LA • March 21 2012 12:42PM

Gorgeous Redwood Deck by Delicious Decors, Santa Barbara

Gorgeous Redwood Deck by Delicious Decors, Santa Barbara 

When your daughter is getting married and you need a deck to host over 50 people for the wedding reception, what do you do? Call Delicious Decors!

We built this deck on 9 levels to accomodate the slope.  To make sure everything was going to be safe for over 50 people dancing we added more posts and cross braces to the framing.

 

Custom Deck by Delicious DecorsThe deck was originally built in the 70:s and had weathered well. It was a good constuction from the beginning and original plans still existed. However, the redwood decking was getting too dry and had started to break in some places. The posts were not of treated lumber and would have to be replaced, as well as all the joists. In the original plans the joist were set at 24 inches on center, so we upgraded that to 16 inches OC. to add extra strength.

 

 

Custom Carpentry by Delicious Decors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We made some changes to the look of the original railing and to the design of bracing the railing, which was very important to the home owners. The old railing moved when leaning against it! The home owners surely wanted to eliminate movement. 

Custom Decks by Delicious Decors

 

After 3 weeks of hard work and over 10,000 screws, the deck was completed. The home owners were thrilled with their new 9 platform deck, safe and sound and ready to be danced on all night long!

 

 

 

 

 

Custom Carpentry by Delicious Decors

Custom Carpentry by Fredrik Bergstrom

Need a deck? Please give me a call at 805.284.2628 or email fredrikbergstrm@me.com for your FREE estimate.

I Love custom carpentry! Just let me know what your looking for and I'll get started on your project right away!

Fredrik Bergstrom

5 comments • Penny Bergstrom, Home Staging, Interior Design & Remodel, Santa Barbara to LA • March 09 2012 10:35AM

Which is More Important, a Wedding or a House?

Which is More Important, a Wedding or a House?

Bryan makes an excellent point here. Perhaps we just need to make sure young couples know the cost of a down payment vs. the cost of their special day. The wisest choices are always made when people have all the information to consider. There are plenty of ways to have a Special Day and the savings for a home. 

Via Bryan Robertson, Los Altos REALTOR Los Altos Real Estate - Homes For Sale (Sereno Group - Los Altos):

I read an interesting article this morning that talked about the cost of weddings and the impact on parents saving for retirement.  Then I looked at the current average cost of a wedding.  Wow!!  Are you kidding me?  Have we really brainwashed couples for so long that the whole wedding racket costs this much.  The obscene overcharging that goes on with anything associated with a wedding is a whole other article.  Guess how much the average wedding costs!  $25,631!  That's the cost for ONE SINGLE DAY.

Now, consider the down payment on a house.  Given the average price of a house in the United States, that $25,000 could be a nice down payment.  How long will the house last?  Homeowners stay in their homes an average of 7 years.  So, which is a better deal, the house or the wedding?  Is one day worth 2555 days?  In today's world where budgets are more important than ever, how about spending less on the wedding and more on the house?

OK, I know, it's "that special day" and all that.  I'm not cynical.  My first marriage was a blow-out and the cost went WAY beyond that $25K.  When I think back on it all, I don't regret the fun everyone had but I think the money could have been spent better.  My second marriage (and definitely my last) cost about $5K.  It was held at a high-end resort overlooking the ocean.  We had music, a beautful ceremony, flowers, etc but we cut the guest list from 150+ to only 10 - including me and the bride (immediate family only).  The reception was held there as well.  It was very memorable and not as exhausting as the massive wedding.

I guess my point is that couples considering getting married might consider that all the money spent on one day isn't worth the home and life you could get if that money were spent on a house.  Just a thought.


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 Bryan Robertson, Broker Associate | T: 650.799.9951 | Email: bryan@serenogroup.com | Website: http://www.BryanRobertsonHomes.com |CA License: 01191946 | Sereno Group - Los Altos branch | 369 S. San Antonio Road | Los Altos, CA 94022

 

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Recent Articles from Bryan's Blog

Los Altos Neighborhood Tour - Old Los Altos

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9 comments • Penny Bergstrom, Home Staging, Interior Design & Remodel, Santa Barbara to LA • February 27 2012 02:38PM

Before I Learned "How To" Write a Blog

 

Before I Learned "How To" Write a Blog by Delicious Decors. 

Before I learned that blogs should be on average 300-500 words in length. Before I learned that keywords should be 2-4% of my content. Before I learned that I should add at least 2-4 photos or even knew how to add them. Before I knew what hyperlinks meant, let alone add them. Before I learned to underline or bold key phrases. 

Before I learned ... this is what I wrote ....

"My Most Rewarding DD Project"

For any of you that have a loved one transitioning from home to a retirement community I share this rewarding story …

I was called for a staging consultation for an elderly gentleman who had lost his wife
six months prior. His son, and only child, called me not only to advise his Dad as to “what to remove, re-arrange and such to get his home ready for sale,” but to listen to his father. Gently walk him through the process and ultimately turn his new place at a retirement community into his new “home.”

I met with our client at his home. Beautiful, very nice designer details throughout, one of a kind pieces from his travels with his wife. Although they had only one child, the home was filled with family photos … past and present, relatives and friends; all very endearing.

The first time I met Bob, I listened, I walked through his home/his life with him and made a detailed to-do list. Next, together, we started packing up and moving forward.

After all the de-cluttering, re-arranging and a stamp of approval from the realtor and Bob’s son on a “Staging job well done,” I was able to put on my Interior Designer hat and make Bob’s move into the retirement community easy, smooth and comfortable.

I drew out a floor plan for Bob with all the furniture in its place, showing him on paper how it would all work in his new living environment. I got the “Ok” from Bob, but I could tell he wasn’t quite convinced that we could get his favorite pieces and decor into his new 700 square foot space and make it feel like “home.”

And we did exactly that. Turned Bob’s 700 square foot retirement space into a Home for his later years with all his cherished memories making up his surroundings. Our strategic planning allowed for Bob’s favorite furniture from his 4000 square foot family home fit comfortably and elegantly into his new home. More importantly we were able to include he and his wife’s special art and decor pieces from their travels over the years.

It gets even better … All those family photos on the walls of his previous home? After packing up with Bob, we discovered lots of family photo loves he hadn’t seen in years! As we went through the photos Bob shared stories with me about his glory days as a quarterback for his high school football team, he told me about his first date with his wife, his son’s first steps.

Today, old and newly discovered photos frame his Grandfather clock (just like they did in the old house), are a feature display in the entrance and warm up his bedroom. Bob’s new space is now his new home.

Bob’s joy brings me so, so much joy. Thanks to Bob for trusting in Delicious Decors.

It was my pleasure working with Bob,
Penny

 

20 comments • Penny Bergstrom, Home Staging, Interior Design & Remodel, Santa Barbara to LA • September 09 2011 05:48PM

Stephanie Young, the Santa Barbara Realtor that Makes Things Happen

 

Stephanie Young is the Santa Barbara realtor that Makes Things Happen! 

 

We, at Delicious Decors,  have worked with Stephanie on several occasions in the past few years and what strikes me most about Stephanie is her ability to Make Things Happen and all with a smile on her face! 

 

A second generation Realtor, Stephanie was born and raised in Santa Barbara. After graduating from UCSB, Stephanie got her real estate license and joined her mom, Marie Sue Parsons, working at Coldwell Banker. 

 

Selling your house? Stephanie takes the bull by the reins to get your home ready for sale! 

 

Paint ✔ New Carpet ✔ Staging ✔ Ready to market! Stephanie is on the forefront of internet marketing using virtual videos and video tours, professional photos, blogging and posting about Your property on the most visible real estate sites! 

 

Before          After Stephanie got this property ready for SALE

 

Buying a house? Call Stephanie, she'll take care of you! Stephanie is on top of the real estate industry and will provide you with detailed listing information that is not available to the public. She puts You in the driver's seat, alerting you about properties before they even hit the market! 

 

While attending UCSB, Stephanie worked as a Substance Abuse Counselor helping woman recover from alcoholism and substance abuse. Stephanie has always been passionate about helping others, and especially enjoys being able to assist people during one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives ... the purchase or sale of a home! 

 

We highly recommend Stephanie Young and her mom, Marie Sue Parsons for all of your real estate needs! 


Pay it Forward,

Penny & The Delicious Decors Team


Please join us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Blog, Videos

 

8 comments • Penny Bergstrom, Home Staging, Interior Design & Remodel, Santa Barbara to LA • September 02 2011 04:52PM

A Swedish Summer Day by Delicious Decors

 

A Swedish Summer Day by Delcious Decors

 

We had a great visit with my husband's family and friends in Sweden this summer. Although I enjoy Stockholm's beauty and all it has to offer, my favorite days were with the family at the summerhouse enjoying the simple pleasures. 

 

"Jungle golf" was popular with the whole family! Even into the wee hours of the morning. Through the house, over the house, around the house; anything goes. 

 

Home Staging and Interior Design Santa Barbara          Home Staging and Interior Design Santa Barbara

 

My son and his girlfriend, Billy & Dani,  we able to spend a few days with us also, making our Swedish vacation even more special. I believe Billy was declared the golf champ, but Dani's smile won us all over.

 

We took the boat out on the Baltic cruising along the coast to see all the summer houses, so picturesque. This day on the Baltic was perfect ... (we'll leave out the story of the day on the Baltic, in the rain, with a broken motor ... !). 

 

Home Staging and Remodel Santa Barbara        Home Staging and Remodel Santa Barbara

 

Dani, Mona-Lisa and I and were the gathers, while the guys watched over the bbq. We hunted for mushrooms, ningon and blueberries in the forest. Mona-Lisa's tool for cleaning mushrooms was new to us American gals, making it all the more interesting. 

 

Home Staging and Remodel Santa Barbara        Home Staging and Interior Design Malibu

 

Oh, and The Door! Whether at home or on vacation, Fredrik always has a home repair or remodel project going on. Fredrik's parents had been talking about changing out that front door for months before our arrival. So, after several (and I mean several) trips to the one hardware store on the island, the project began. 

 

Brotherly love replacing their parents front door ...

 

Home Staging and Interior Design Santa Barbara         Home Staging Malibu California

 

A meal at the end of the day with the people you love most is always the best! 

 

Home Staging and Interior Design Santa Barbara        Home Staging and Remodel Santa Barbara

 

What did you do this summer? We'd love to hear about your ventures and adventures. I think it's fun to get to share your vacation; look through photos again, tell some stories. It's almost like re-living your vacation all over again! 

 

Happy Family Vacation,

Penny & Fredrik of Delicious Decors

 

 

Please join us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Blog, Videos

9 comments • Penny Bergstrom, Home Staging, Interior Design & Remodel, Santa Barbara to LA • August 29 2011 02:50PM

Selling Homes - You only Have 90 Seconds to Make a Great First Impression

 

This is an excellent post by Kristine! It only makes sense to get your listing market ready; staged with professional photos! 

If only all home owners could read this, education is the key!

Penny

www.deliciousdecors.com

 

Via Kristine Ginsberg (Morris County, NJ: Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC):

Selling Homes - You only Have 90 Seconds to Make a Great First Impression

 

* According to NAR (National Association of Realtors), 90% of potential home buyers start their search on the Internet before ever stepping out with their Realtor. MLS photos are what draw buyers to your house so make sure they represent the best of your home inside and out.

* On average, buyers make a decision about your home within the first 90 seconds - that first impression is critical to selling your home or sitting on the market becoming stale.

* A professionally staged home shows at its optimum best, creating more foot traffic at open houses and showings which is why 85% of Realtors recommend staging to their clients.

* According to National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average staging investment is between 1 and 3% of the home's asking price, which generates an 8-10% return. That small investment could be the defining difference between receiving offers, or your first price reduction, costing the seller tens of thousands of dollars.

* Vacant homes appear cold and sterile. Professional staging allows the buyer to assess the proportions of the rooms by creating warm and inviting spaces so they can see how they could arrange their furniture taking the guess work out.

* Professional home stagers combine decorating, marketing, & psychology to create emotional connections, enabling potential buyers to visualize themselves living in your home.

 * Buyers view a clean and organized home as well maintained making it more desirable. Homes in good condition are more likely to get close to their asking price. This is priority one in home staging.

* Ideally, you want to stage your home before you put it on the market, instantly creating the most interest on MLS, which brings in more foot traffic and a successful open house. However, if your home has sat on the market with no respectable offers, it's time to stage and bring back buyers who previously past your home by, as well as create interest and excitement for new potential buyers.

* Don't neglect curb appeal and outdoor living space; it's key for today's market. Hire a landscaper, add fresh mulch and a few potted plants – your home will be much more welcoming and make buyers want to see more.  

Home Staging Morris County - Kristine Ginsberg

Elite Staging and Redesign (201)602-2562

When you're looking to sell quickly and for top dollar, Elite Staging and Redesign of Morris County knows how to get the job done right. We will use proven techniques to create warm, inviting, updated spaces that will appeal to the masses. In today's competitive market, every home can use an edge and that's what Elite Staging is all about.

Home Staging Website: Elite Staging and Redesign

Morris County Staging Before/After pictures: Portfolio

Email: Kris@elitestagingandredesign.com

 

           

8 comments • Penny Bergstrom, Home Staging, Interior Design & Remodel, Santa Barbara to LA • July 19 2011 11:58AM

The Best Home Staging in Santa Barbara California

The Best Home Staging in Santa Barbara California!

Delicious Decors, 805.448.9226, penny@deliciousdecors.com

I am currently visiting my husband's family in Sweden. My brother in law recently bought a condo in Stockholm, which was staged. Staging is worldwide because it WORKS! 

The staged condo was so appealing that he not only bought it, he bought all the stager's furniture and decor in the condo! He was thrilled! As a bachelor, he wasn't interested in shopping and had no idea how to set the condo up as nicely as it was staged. Such a win/win! The home was staged, he bought it, and he could buy everything in the home and move right in! 

    Home Staging Santa Barbara California     Santa Barbara Staging

We, at Delicious Decors, own our own inventory. In fact, we have the largest selection of inventory along the Central California Coast! This allows our home buyers to purchase everything they like in the home and move right in! It's great for the realtor and great for the home buyer! We have already set everything up so nicely with a designer's touch for the home buyer.

    Staging Santa Barbara California.   Staging Santa Barbara California

These are the photos of the staged condo in Stockholm that my brother in law bought. Photos work! He bought the house unseen from the photos on the website! Staging, photos, designer touch ... call Delicious Decors at 805.448.9226 for your FREE staging estimate and FREE professional staging photos! We do it all!

Please join us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Merchant Circle, Youtube!

Staging it forward,

Penny & the DD Team

 

2 comments • Penny Bergstrom, Home Staging, Interior Design & Remodel, Santa Barbara to LA • July 01 2011 05:28PM

Santa Barbara Staging

Santa Barbara Staging by Delicious Decors

I just Love Home Staging! We turned this house from a construction site into a Home Dressed to Sell, let's take a look at some before and after photos. 

      Santa Barbara Staging by Delicious Decors        Santa Barbara Staging by Delicious Decors

The remodel update throughout the home is somewhat contemporary. To appeal to the largest potential market, we used traditional furniture with a blend of contemporary accents. Just what the realtor was looking for! 

     Santa Barbara Staging by Delicious Decors         Santa Barbara Staging by Delicious Decors

The living room is rather deep and has unbelievable views! To show this off, we added a pop of color with traditional wing back red chairs creating an inviting sitting area with views, views, views!

     Santa Barbara Staging by Delicious Decors          Santa Barbara Staging by Delicious Decors

We offer FREE professional staging photos when you stage with Delicious Decors! 

Check out this kitchen/dining area ... a dining delight along with counter barstools to join the chef of the house. 

     Santa Barbara Staging by Delicious Decors          Santa Barbara Staging by Delicious Decors

I absolutely love this master bedroom suite! Nice warm and luxurious bedding, along with beautiful artwork and a chaise to relax and enjoy the view. I think we nailed it! Custom Staging is what we're all about. 

      Santa Barbara Staging by Delicious Decors          Santa Barbara Staging by Delicious Decors

Views, views, views! I love detail photos, so here's one more! 

      Santa Barbara Staging by Delicious Decors          Santa Barbara Staging by Delicious Decors

Santa Barbara Staging by Delicious Decors! Contact us Today for your FREE staging estimate; 805.448.9226, penny@deliciousdecors.com. We stage along California's Central Coast; from Malibu to Arroyo Grande and everywhere in between!

Please join us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Blog, Videos.

We look forward to working with you,

Penny & The DD Team

www.deliciusdecors.com

 

10 comments • Penny Bergstrom, Home Staging, Interior Design & Remodel, Santa Barbara to LA • June 18 2011 01:00PM

Home Staging and Interior Design Thousand Oaks CA

Home Staging and Interior Design in Thousand Oaks, California

 

Delicious Decors specializes in Custom Home Staging. The realtor was having trouble getting clients to walk into this room! She asked us to make it a playful media room for the entire family and this is what we came up with. 

                          Home Staging and Interior Design Thousand Oaks CA 

We turned this contemporary bedroom from blan to WOW with new bedding, artwork and lamps. A little redesign goes a long way! 

                         Home Staging and Interior Design Thousand Oaks CA

From cold and vacant to warm and inviting. Before and after staging photo.

                        Home Staging and Interior Design Thousand Oaks CA

Custom Staging works! Take a look at this family and dining room. 

                       Home Staging and Interior Design Thousand Oaks CA

Contact Delicious Decors today for your FREE staging estimate! 805.448.9226 penny@deliciousdecors.com

Please join us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Youtube, Blog.

We look forward to working with you!

Penny & The DD Team

 

13 comments • Penny Bergstrom, Home Staging, Interior Design & Remodel, Santa Barbara to LA • June 12 2011 10:51AM