1st Platoon, Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, OIF 07-09

One of many troops in Iraq, protecting, and serving away from thier homes.  I came across Conrad Brown, West Point Aum '06, by accident really, and he had some amazing photos that I wanted to share with everyone.  I don't think people realize what our troops are really doing, seeing, and going through everyday.  I was so impressed with them, that I just had to do a series on it.  He has so graciously agreed to share his photos and stories.  He has taken some unbelievable photos, that I think every American citizen will enjoy!

This is Conrad Brown, taking a break eating lunch.  Not quite, like eating at Chili's!

Handing out stuffed bears to the girls of Iraq.  Looks like she's pretty happy to me.

Giving notebooks and pens to the boys of Iraq.  Looks likes the boys are having fun too.

Posing with some kids in Iraq.  The smiles tell it all!

Okay, that's all I'm giving you for now, just a very small taste of what's to come. 

What does this have to do with real estate or home staging you ask?  More than you may think.  It has directly or indirectly effected our economy which has affected home sales.  Our military is the best in the world and has done an outstanding job.  Our American troops are giving their all for us day in and day out.  As they say, the proof is in the pudding, or in this case the photos.  I for one am grateful, these are our American Heroes!

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

When living in NJ for 7 years, I remember having the classic medicine cabinet, (the one with the mirror that opens up with adjustable shelves) in the master bedroom bathroom.  Hey, you were lucky to find a house that had a master bathroom back then.   And that was it for storage. 

Wow.  if you could see my bathroom now, it's the Texas sized bathroom, that has more drawers, cabinets and even linen cabinet, with room to spare.  I don't know how I functioned looking back.  Now, I have enough room for my girly bath and beauty products, linens. One fourth of the first floor is the Master Bath, I love it, very spa like!

One of the things I did when I had this problem with space was to put a skirt around the sink.  I wished I had a photo of it. Actually my mom, the most creative, person I know came up with the idea.  We found decorator fabric that matched the wallpaper and coordinated it with window treatments and skirt.  It was adorable.  She did gather the top of the skirt, it required some sewing and then we velcroed the skirt to the sink.  I then put those 3 drawer totes underneath.  It more than tripled the storage space. 

This house by the way had special touches like this everywhere, that we, (my mom and myself collaborated on) and it sold within a few hours of when the agent came out to get the papers signed. 

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

Everyone on ActiveRain is invited to my big bash in Sonoma, but there's one catch to getting invited.  You have to comment on this post.  So comment, and you are as good as there!  Just kidding, your'e still invited, but I just can't promise you'll make it inside the house, and you'll be capped on your food and beverage intake and won't get to meet the celebrities that will be making special appearances, if you don't comment!!  My staff will be keeping track!

I'm starting now, planning the biggest party ever in Sonoma Valley for when they announce the winner (me) for their Dream Home for 2009.  I know, I know I say I'm going to win every year, but I really feel this is my year.  They'll be lots of food, music,and celebrity appearances (REALLY!), and fun so mark your calendars for the first weekend in March.  Beacause I'll probably be leaving for Austrailia in July for 6 months. (If you've been watching the news, you'll get what I'm talking about).

I really think they need a homeowner that will truly be excited and will actually live on the propety this year.  That's just another reason I'm the perfect candidate. 

I mean Home Staging will travel....Right?  Hmmm, I wonder if there are any home stagers in the wine country?  I could think of worse places to be!!

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

I can thank Miss Tanya Venable for tagging me for this MEME.  A little late as usual on my part, but here it goes.

Create a blog post with a link to the person who so happily tagged you. See above!

1. List all of these rules in the post. Feel free to cut and paste this.

2. Share seven things that others may not know about you. Do or have I HAD a life outside of real estate? Gosh, something other than real estate after the year we have just had? Ha!

3. Identify seven friends, contacts or near enemies in which to adorn this MEME. Tag them at the end of the post and give a link to their blog (hey, its super easy. Even, I figured it out - I cut and paste it :)

4. Contact each of the tagged members and let them know that you were indeed fast enough to catch them and that you did indeed tag them...no matter how much they say you missed them! No schoolyard rules in this MEME, nope you gotta do it if you are tagged. Sorry guys!

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So here are 7 things you may not know about me. So here goes:

1. I'm a night owl, I work better at night.  You don't even want to know how late I stay up.

2. I have to have a totally dark, cood, bedroom to sleep in, with white noise, no I'm not a vampire!

3. I've had migraine headaches since I was 3 years old, still do.

4. I love movies, don't really watch TV.  I see enough "Reality" driving around Houston.  Put me in front of the Plasma, surround sound, and I'm good!

5. I love vegetables, all kinds.  And some times I crave milk...isn't that wierd?  My parents used to get that huge container of Bordens milk deliverd to our front porch ( By a milkman) that you'd put in the fridge.  It had a spout on it.  My uncle told me when I was about 3, I opened up the spout and walked off.  Letting 2 gallons of milk go everywhere.  Luckily to save my hide, my uncle cleaned it up for me!  Thanks Uncle Dennis!!

6. I'm working on seeing The Seven Wonders of The World!

7. I wouldn't be suprised if I ended up in Hawaii someday.

Pottery Barn will be having classes nationwide tomorrow, Sunday, January 25th at 10:00 & 11:00.  They will be going over the upcoming trends, and showcasing new items. Giving you some new decorating ideas and tips.  They are keeping the class size small, so it's probably a good idea to call first.  It's free for anyone to attend.

Click here for more information and store locations.

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

Katy, West of Houston will be having it's annual Home and Garden show tomorrow Sunday, January 25th.  This will be a great place to preview new home and garden products, that are new to the market.  There will be over 300 exhibits, in 2 buildings on 2 floors.

Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for seniors.

For directions and more information click link below:

Katy Home and Garden Show

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

This Michigan State University alumni, still supported his schools colors.  He had green carpet put in when he built.  Unfortunately, buyers were not all from Michigan.  The carpet really wasnt' that bad, I kidded him a lot about it.   But it did narrow the buyer pool down.  The whole house was painted, and new furniture and accessories were brought in, even though it was an owner occupied listing. 

It sold in under 60 days in a down market!

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

The Super Bowl is just around the corner, so get your home ready with a mini-makeover.  You can have your key rooms redesigned for such a big impact.  Your wife or girlfriend will love it.  And doesn't she deserve it? 

A Redesign, is what we do for homes using your furniture, your accessories, your stuff... giving it a whole new look.  The end result is always amazing.  We are able to use items and furnishings from other parts of your house, pull it all together and viola brand new look, brand new space! 

Call or make an appointment now to get your home ready before the game!

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

The most popular colors will still be brown and natural tans. (These are recommended for staging)

Split Pea by Benjamin Moore is predicted to be the hottest color!

Item# 2146-30

The other colors of choice from designers are dark greens, periwinkle, with red, yellow.  Peach, blue and mauve may make a come back, not what we remember, but slightly trendier variations.  Deep-tones such as pumpkin orange, browns and cranberry, red brick, and blue.

Grey blues.

Pale violets.

Creamy whites.

More youthful and contemporary colors of pink, orange and green.

*Remember interior decorating and using these colors are a personal choice and your preference.  Home staging is not decorating, it is neutralizing.  So these colors would not be recommended.

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

The combining of warm browns with sandy tans to project an eco friendly aura will be popular.

In the 2008 report for Remodeling magazine the cost to remodel vs. seeing a return on your investment was down for Houston across the board for mid-range homes.

For the upscale home, bathroom remodeling and vinyl siding replacement were the only two that showed an increase over last year.

 Click here for the full report

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

I didn't catch the show, but I did come across this list of HGTV's 25 Biggest Real Estate Mistakes compiled from top real estate experts.  They do list "Waiting until Spring to put your house on the market".  Stating that you should show off your "seasonal attributes".  I've always heard the opposite, only because that is the busiest season.  They also mentioned "failing to market your home..."  properly. 

Guess what the #1 mistake was? 

"Failing to Showcase Your Home and Making Small Cosmetic Changes".   In a nutshell, Not hiring a professional home stager to come in and prepare your home to help it sell faster!

Number 2 was Pricing Your House Too High.  I think all will agree with that one!

Click here to see HGTV's 25 Biggest Real Estate Mistakes.

What would you add?

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

January 22, and 29 The Arts Alliance Center in Clear Lake across from the Johnson Space Center will be hosting an Open Mic night.  The nights will feature local artists and performers, and poets.  There willl be music, art, beer and wine along with refreshments.  No Cover Charge. 

Call 281-335-7777 for more information.

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

Starting in January the College of the Mainland will be having an evening real estate academy at it's North County Learning Center in League City January 20th.  New classes will begin every two weeks.  Classes are from 6pm to 10pm, Monday through Thursday. 

For more information please call 281-332-1800.

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

It's time to clean out those closets, drawers, cabinets, and bookshelves.  Whether you're selling your home and trying to de-clutter or just in need of thinning out the herd.  Here are some places you can donate your items so others can make use of them, or you can get a credit and trade for something else.

The top collectors are Goodwill and Salvation Army.

• For women's clothes- try the Women's Alliance- www.thewomensalliance.org  This is an organization that helps women that are trying to get back into the workplace.  The give each woman two outfits, plus three more sets of clothes once she gets hired.  They will take:  Suits, dresses, sweaters, blouses, slacks, skirts, coats, shoes, purse, scarves, and pantyhose (new); sizes 14 and up are in high demand.  They don't take any type of casual wear.
• For menswear- try Career Gear- www.careergear.org They are in a limited number of cities.  They take cleaned and pressed coats, jackets, trousers, and casual dress pants (on hangers if possible).  Big and tall sizes are in high demand.
• For household goods-Try Big Brothers Big Sisters of America-  www.bbbsa.org  or the YWCA  www.ywca.org  Call a local chapter for nearest location.  Most goods are sent to families right away.  They will take anything usable, they won't take broken or old small appliances.
• For College Textbooks- Try www.textbookbuyer.com  Follow the directions on website and they will send you a prepaid label within 30 days.  They don't take books that aren't used by most schools anymore.
• For Video Games-  Try www.videogamedepot.com  They will actually allow you to trade games for ones they have in stock.  They don't take scratched or defective products.
• For CDs and DVD's- Try www.spun.com  They will give you credit to spend in thier online store.  They don't accept audio cassettes and videocassettes, or anything scratched, or chipped.

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

This was a one-story contemporary that belonged to a bachelor that decided to move closer to downtown, that seems to be the trend.  It had quite a bit of space, but as you can see, it needed some work.  He was great and did everything I advised him to do.  It took a while, because of his schedule, but his work paid off.  Now this guy gets it!  His brother another one of my clients, house sold in under 30 days, so he told him to call me before he did anything to his place.  I'm glad he did!  We used Redesign Etc.'s inventory to stage this house.

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

Talk about memories, remember "Willie Talk"?  He was the old version of "Chucky" or at least that is what I'm told by my nephew and his imaginative friends who swear he comes alive at night, with strange noises coming out of the closet.  That's why Willie stays at my moms, she can't get rid of him, he was my brothers.  My brother thought he was a ventriloquist and would put on shows.  Memories.  That is why it is so hard for us to let go of them.  There embedded in our minds, whether good or bad.

Holidays and family get togethers always bring back memories with all of the stories and tall tales. 

Willie will always be a reminder of my little brother, that was always pestering me, and continually embarrassing me in front of my friends and boyfriends.

Here's to a prosperous New Year and to all the "Willie Talks" in our lives and to what the future holds.

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

2008 is just a memory now, with 2009 to look forward to.  Everyone is apprehensive about this new year and what it will bring.  One thing we know for sure is that we will all go on with our lives the sun will still rise ands the moon will still set.  But what will the housing market do?  While no one knows for sure, you can take and should take every action to have your house in the most pristine condition before you put that "For Sale" sign in the yard. 

If you plan on selling your house, it would be a great idea to get a jump start on your "to do list" projects. 

Whether a new or older home, every home can use some changes.  Maybe you can't see it, most people can't.  But a non-biased party can.  In the real estate community we are called "Home Stagers."  For a small fee we will come to your home and assess your property room by room inside and out.  We will give you our recommendations, and tips and help you merchandise your property enhancing the positives.

A consultation will get you on your way to getting your home in "show ready" condition.  If you follow our personalized list your house will stand out in the buyers mind as being one that has been taken care of.  Would you go to the doctor if you were sick and then not take the medicine that he prescribed, of course not, you would take his recommendations to get well as soon as you could. 

We offer a rental program of  the newest styles and lines of furniture and accessories to give you that extra help if you have a vacant home.

Contact us today at Redesign Etc. for a consultation to see what your house needs to change that "For Sale" sign to a "Sold" sign.

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

Here are some tips that most of us do, but some get neglected that are important.

Get rid of clothes-dryer lint.        

• Why?  To prevent fires.       
• When?  After every load.  Once a year gently scrub with detergent and warm water.  Vacuum inside the lint-filter chute.  Remove any built up residue in the duct.   Disconnect the duct, and vacuum inside the vent. 
• Tools?  The Dryer -Vent Cleaninig Brush, from www.HomeTrendscatalog.com a 10' long flexible coil with a brush at one end.

 Clean your heating system:

• Why?  Cleaner, healthier air, uses less electricity.
• When?  Have your furnace inspected yearly, then vacuum the exterior.  Once a month thoroughly clean the vents, baseboards.
• Tools?  The clean duct baseboard vacuum attachment, at www.hometrendscataglog.com ,is an L-shaped device that sucks up dust without having to remove the heater cover.

 Vacuum the refrigerator condenser coil:

• Why?  Cuts your electricity bill.
• When?  Once a year, unplug the fridge and thoroughly vacuum and brush the snaked wire that usually runs below or behind it.
• Tools?  The flat vacuum attachment, from www.sportys.com , a 3' long vacuum attachment that removes stuck-on dust on the refrigerator's coil.

Flush your drains:

• Why?  Saves on costly plumbing repairs.
• When?  Once a month, pour a half cup of baking soda followed by a half cup of vinegar down each drain, then flush with cold water.
• Tools?  Zip-It, from Wal-Mart, Lowe's, or Home Depot, a strip that you slide down the drain-without removing the stopper.

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

Finally, after years of listening to their music I finally got the chance to see the "Trans Siberian Orchestra".  All I can say is they were absolutely the very best I've ever seen.  And I've seen some of the greats, and Super Bowls too.  These guys, did not disappoint, they played their hearts out.  They were worth every penny, and I would see them every night if I could, they were that good.  It was symphony meets rock.

We were able to get floor seats, and saw them in the BOK center in Tulsa.  The crowd was an older, more conservative mellow crowd, not your typical Texas crowd for sure.

We took our niece and nephew and they were overwhelmed to say the least, the 16 year old niece (red head below) loved the rocker "dudes" (her words).  They were amazing, and put on the most entertaining show.  What talent, some of the best in the world!

Funny, I had the notion they were from Europe, because I'd never seen what they look like.  They were all American, at least most of them.  We got to meet them after the concert, and got autographs and pictures.  After the show, they actually signed our tickets, and Cd's we bought, they were sold out of programs, which I thought would put my niece in a frenzy.  They were all really nice, one of them was even from Texas, (the one doing the "Hook em Horns" sign below)!

If you haven't seen them, try to catch them next year,  they are the best...you will not be disappointed!

Here are some pics of the "Rocker Dudes" and singers.

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.

Some rooms are just too big, or have akward angles or spaces.  One way to use the space and increasing it's fucntion is to use room dividers.  You can buy all types of screens from various home good stores or be creative and make your own.  One interesting way is to use a window, maybe one or several stain glass ones and hang from ceiling  chains. Arrange plants around them and maybe use for a a sitting area, or a bistro area.

Another way is to use drapery.  You can use drapery tracks and hang ready made panels from ceiling to floor.  These are such an inexpensive way to give you an extra room using sheers or a heavier panel for more privacy.  You can also use panels on decorative rods in front of office rooms, or dining rooms that don't have doors. 

A very effective, dramatic look.

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Cindy Bryant is the owner of Redesign Etc. Home Staging & Redesign Specialist in Houston, Staging Your House To Sell By Professional Home Stagers! Our goal is to get your home sold for top dollar in the most cost effective way!

Contact Cindy today for a Home Staging Consultation.  Please visit our website for more information.

Areas Served:  Houston, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Bellaire, Piney Point, Mid-Town, The Heights, Montrose, Texas Medical Center, The East End, West Loop/Galleria/Memorial, Downtown, Museum District, West University, Spring Branch, Royal Oaks-Lakeside, League City, Clear Lake City, Friendswood, Kemah, Seabrook, Pearland, Sugar Land, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, The Woodlands, Kingwood.   And all areas down to Galveston Island.

We also have a location for the Houston Bay Area- League City Home Staging.