Whether you live in Coarsegold, Bass Lake, Mariposa, Ahwahnee, Wawona, Fish Camp, North Fork or Oakhurst there are things that every seller can do to optimize the chances of selling their home or second home.  The living room and family rooms areas of your home are critical when your place your house on the resale market.  If your furniture is in a good state of repair, is clean and not TOO old, then a professional stager can use your items to save you money on the cost of staging.  Below are photos of living areas where all major furniture pieces belonged to the sellers.   This formal living room was the first room that potential buyers saw from the foyer, a crucial room for staging.  In the before photo, the sofa was blocking the view and taking up space in the desirable bay window. ... 08/21/2009

Whether you are selling your home in Coarsegold, Bass Lake, Mariposa, Ahwahnee, Wawona, Fish Camp, North Fork or Oakhurst there are things that every seller can do to optimize the chances of making that sale.    This post is #3 in a series on staging homes in the Oakhurst, California mountain communities.  Click here to see post #1, Master Bedrooms and #2 Bathrooms.    Below are just a few examples of the wide variety of dining areas that we have staged.   The kitchen island in this Mariposa home was huge and very functional. With granite countertops and plenty of space the problem here was that most buyers are visual and many wouldn't couldn't "see" how useful this island would be for family breakfasts or additional seating adjacent to the dining table.  A few counter height stools, so... 08/19/2009

Whether you are selling your home in Coarsegold, Bass Lake, Mariposa, Ahwahnee, Wawona, Fish Camp, North Fork or Oakhurst there are things that every seller can do to optimize the chances of making that sale.    This post is the second in a series on staging homes in the Oakhurst mountain area.  Click here to see post #1, Master Bedrooms.  Today's buyers want the bathrooms to be both functional AND have a touch of luxury.  THINK Spa Look when preparing the bathrooms in your home for the resale market.  A professional stager knows how to achieve that look for a very budget friendly price.  Owners of vacant properties can rent these items from us for a minimal investment.  EVERYONE wants high-end surfaces throughout their homes today.  Updating your bathrooms with those surfaces can be co... 08/17/2009

Whether you are selling your home in Coarsegold, Bass Lake, Mariposa, Ahwahnee, Wawona, Fish Camp, North Fork or Oakhurst there are things that every seller can do to optimize the chances of making that sale.    Today's buyers want a master bedroom that is a retreat.  They want comfort and style.  They do not want clutter or excess.  When preparing your home For Sale, first make sure that the Master Bedroom is visually, as large as possible.  This often means removing excessive furnishings and placing them in storage for an eventual move.  Large scale chest of drawers and other cabinets may need to be removed to enhance the appearance of the square footage in the bedroom.  Second, make sure that every surface is white glove clean and tidy (steam iron the bedding). Third, remove your per... 08/15/2009

I'm so proud to be a member of the Lions Club.  I now have the time to devote to a service club and I began my search for the right club 4 years ago.  I visited several of our local community service clubs and finally made my decision to be part of the Sierra Lions Club in Oakhurst, California My husband has been a Lion where ever we have lived and he is a member in our small community today (but his club doesn't have any women members.).   Until recently I didn't have the time for club membership, because I cannot just be a member, I need to be an active member.  If you are not familiar with Lions Club it is the largest service organization in the WORLD.  The primary focus of Lions has always been vision care but each club determines their own mission, projects and fund-raisers.  This... 08/13/2009

Yes they are.  Many interior decorators have not studied staging and some professional stagers don't know the ins and outs of decorating.  When you hire for either job here are some guidelines to help with your hiring decisions. Decorating: Is always personalized to the tastes, style and needs of the family/homeowner. Staging: Staged homes are DEpersonalized to appeal to a broad range of potential buyers. -----  Decorating: If the clients live with a cluttered look, that's OK, decorators will work with it. Staging: Clutter is NOT ok when a house is staged.  Buyers need to see the space that the house offers.  Every square inch has a value.    ----- Decorating: The amount of furniture used and the placement of the furnishings are arranged to suit the needs of the family. Staging: Furnitu... 06/23/2009

Staging in Estate Situations...consider this, Oakhurst CA residents & families A year ago I staged a home for a woman whose mother had just passed away.  Letting go of this house was going to be very difficult for her.  Mom had lived in this home for almost twenty years and they had already put most of her personal items into the garage.  When I arrived for the consultation I had to tell them that they also needed to update,  and remove wallpaper.  It took weeks to get ready for staging because the daughter couldn't bear to spend extended hours in the house.  The whole process was very emotional.  Grandma was being "removed" from the house because these clients understood the need for proper home staging, but they were very reluctant to let go.  The changes were simple because the budge... 04/10/2009

    Ever been frustrated when trying to hang art that has two keyholes on the back? Many shelves, plaster pieces and corbels have them and they have been a problem for me.  Here is a great solution.                                         The Black and Decker BSDL 36 inch Level with Accu Mark . You may have seen it advertised on TV around Christmas, 2008.  That was when I went hunting for it and couldn't find it anywhere.  Even online it was a back ordered item.  When I spoke to a sales person at Home Depot he said that they sold so many over the holidays that Black and Decker couldn't keep up with the demand.  Today I found it several places  on-line, just google the name or click on the link above.  I think that I paid around $25 for it at Home Depot but found it on several sites for ... 03/30/2009

      Years ago designer Christopher Lowell coined this term and I've found it very useful.  Design and staging clients, seem to like it, understand it and will often implement it.    "CROSS POLLINIZATION" basically means to use color, design & style elements repeatedly throughout a room and a home to make it feel pulled-together and to help keep the eye moving throughout the space. I particularly like to use this terminology when teaching clients and classes about COLOR.  With a whole-house color palette of 3-4 colors cross pollinating means that those colors are repeated in any one room and in other rooms.  This is a home where Dream Interior Redesign and Staging helped the sellers put cross pollinization to good use.  Shades of burgundy and berry were the recurring accent color throu... 03/22/2009

Headed for Yosemite, Bass Lake or points north off of Highway 41.  Next time take the road less traveled...Road 200.  It is less congested than Highway 41, more scenic and a breath of fresh air.  The recent construction of the roadway and straighten out some curvy sections and it's in great condition.                                  Be forewarned however, if you are headed to Yosemite the gas stations are few and far between if you travel this route.  Fill up your tank in Fresno before you head for the mountains.  There are two gas stations in North Fork and their rates are usually about 20-25 cents per gallons more expensive than in Fresno or Madera.  As you travel east on Road 200 you will pass through the very small town of North Fork.  Once a very vibrant lumber town it is now just... 03/15/2009

Most Californians are accustomed to our "golden" landscapes from lack of precipitation.  BUT when it's green, WOW it's gorgeous.  Right now is the perfect time to take a drive and see the green fields, hills and mountain sides.  Take a drive up Highway 41, headed north out of Fresno and discover the beauty that our area holds.  Notice the snowcapped peaks in the background                                                 Drive through farm lands, vineyards, pasture lands, rolling hills, and then into the Sierra Mountain Range.  Highway 41 will take you through the small town of Coarsegold and into Oakhurst where Highway 49 intersects or you can stay on Hwy 41 and drive through forests of Ponderosa Pines and Redwoods to the southern entrance to Yosemite.  Be sure to get gas in the valley ... 03/15/2009

LIVE STRONG, we've all seen and/or purchased the yellow bracelets, but this week my husband and I plus thousands of others in California got to experience the AMGEN bike tour, up close and personal.  We were volunteers for the race and I got to stand in the middle of the highway to direct the bikers on a major turn from highway 49 to highway 41.  The only problem was it all went by SO-O fast.  When they reached Oakhurst they were all bunched up, so from start to finish it took about 4 seconds for them to pass by.  The breakaways were about 10 minutes in front of the group at this point.  We'd had 15 inches of snow on the previous day and the roads in the morning were treacherous and I was sure that the bikers would be rerouted but everyone pitched-in and they followed the planned route ... 02/20/2009

When preparing a home for resale, updating lighting fixtures is one of my common recommendations. I have posted many blogs about this subject to include most recently,  Fluorescent Lighting Updated, Thank Goodness.  Recently a client contacted Dream Interior Redesign and Staging to help with the renovation of a guest bathroom.  This house is 40 years old and as typical of homes from that era, it had recessed fluorescent lighting fixtures in the kitchen and in this bath. The photos below show this type of lighting.        This lighting is VERY common in my area and I was determined to come up with a solution that would work for almost all applications.  Simply putting in an updated fluorescent fixture wasn't an option for more than one reason. I have no before photos of the room before d... 02/19/2009

Many of you have experienced and lived with these lighting fixtures.  For some reason contractors in our area still think that these albatross fixtures are still ok in kitchens and baths.  I know of three spec. builders that persist in putting these into their new builds and that is just crazy in today's lighting market.  In the shop or garage, OK but in the house, PLEASE they need to be updated.   Recently Dream Interior Redesign and Home Staging was asked to advise on a home staging and also on separate kitchen redesign.  Here are some products that can help homeowners be energy efficient BUT with more style.  Whether in Chrome or Bronze what a big improvement and at a great price compared with some retail lighting specialty stores.  I found these at Home Depot.  When preparing a hous... 11/28/2008

                                                                                            This year Dream Interior Redesign and Staging will be submitting two items for the ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE AUCTION and Holiday Event on December 7th, Saturday at 3 p.m.  This event is benefit local charities with a focus on the Boys and Girls Club of Oakhurst.  Celebrate the Holidays with a live auction of beautifully decorated full sized trees, table top trees, and wreaths.  Also enjoy champagne, hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction, a raffle and door prizes.  Many other items will be auctioned online at www.SupportBGClub.cMarket.com Join us at the Pines Resort on Bass Lake.  Admission is $25.  Call Rima Runtzel at 642-0313 or visit the event website for tickets.  The gift box topiary will be up for p... 11/11/2008

Every fall in the month of October our Chamber of Commerce sponsors a Wine and Chocolate Festival in the community park.         Experience the cool morning temperatures of Oakhurst in the fall and the beautiful colors in the surrounding mountains.  Many vendors representing local and regional specialities have booths and you can sample wine, chocolate and tasty foods.  This is designed as a family event.                                             Come to our mountain community, just 40 minutes north of Fresno and 20 minutes from the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park.                                          Contact the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce for more information. 559-683-7766                                          ------------------------------------------------... 10/26/2008

.style1 {color: #FF0000} Price: $259,000 FIZBER.com ID 7608066 Single Family with 3 bed, 2.0 bath, in 40902 OAKHURST, CA, 93644 http://www.fizber.com/7608066 40902 - For Sale By Owner Property Details: Type: Single Family Address: 40902, OAKHURST, CA, 93644 Sq footage: 1860.0 Floors: n/a Bathrooms: 2.0 Bedrooms: 3 Year built: 0 View full property details and seller's contacts. View more California homes for sale. Homes for Sale by Owner. Description: NO REASONABLE OFFER REFUSED! This home is ready for a new family. Must see this spacious, sunny charmer. Wood burning stove in large Living room. Large, secluded deck for outdoor relaxation. 2 large closets in Master bedroom. Dishwasher,Fridge,Washer/Dryer,Propane Tank included. Owner never occupied home, sold "as is". Close to schools and... 10/19/2008

Ten Top Reasons Why Ed Bailey Should be your Mountain Area Real Estate Agent Area Resident Since 1972 - extensive knowledge of the mountain area. More than a quarter century Real Estate experience, including more than 20 years as a Real Property Right-of-Way Agent with Sierra Telephone. Real Estate Broker's License - Experience and education well beyond requirements for the Salesperson license. Real Estate Instructor at State Center Community College. Graduate University Degree (Master of Science). Graduate REALTORS® Institute (GRI) Professional Designation. Recipient of the "Angels Amongst Us" award for more. than 30 years service to the community. Editor of the local monthly NEWSLETTER, "Yosemite. Gateway Properties and Lifestyles," published at www.EdBaileyRealtor.com/news.html. Edit... 09/23/2008

Milestones   This week my husband (DJ) and I celebrated two of our daughters graduating with honors from their respective schools. Many days were spent rehearsing the ceremony, getting hair styled and make-up just right before dressing in the silky blue cap and gown.Our middle daughter Kelsey graduated June 10th from Oak Creek Intermediate school located in Oakhurst, California. She achieved the Presidential Physical Fitness award as well as an academic achievement award. With diploma and new cell phone in hand she will follow in her big sister's footsteps and enter Yosemite High School (also located in Oakhurst), this coming August. Kelsey The following evening our eldest daughter, Apsen, received her diploma at a sunset ceremony from Yosemite High School, the same location I graduated... 06/14/2008

The Action Committee to Incorporate Oakhurst Now (ACTION), is seeking new Directors to replace retiring members.  If you are interested in the future direction of the community that we love, send e-mail to edbailey@sti.net, or call 676-2424. 06/13/2008