What’s the diff???

Before I went into the Home Staging business, I was a speech/language pathologist.  I love doing home staging for my clients, but I continue to have a soft spot in my heart for the area of speech/language pathology. I spent 23 years involved in providing speech and language therapy services to children within the public school setting.  I think there is alot of valuable information about speech and language development that can be provided to parents and teachers of children with concerns in this area.  That will be the purpose of my periodic blogs in our Health and Wellness Category. .. hoping to provide others with information and resources in another area which I feel I have knowledge and experience.  

I wanted to write today about a particular “pet peeve” that I have had through the years.  As a speech/language pathologist working in the school environment, I would work with children who had “speech” concerns and children with “language” concerns.  Sometimes my kiddoes would have both. 

I came to realize that many of my regular education colleagues, as well as the parents of my therapy children did not always realize or understand that there is a significant difference between “Speech concerns” vs “Language concerns”.  I did my best to educate and inform them through conversations and newsletters.  But then there were those continued occasions when I would hear one of my regular education teachers say, “Johnny, it is time to go to ’speech class’”, when in fact Johnny was coming to my therapy for “language help”, not speech.

With all of the children who came to see me for therapy, no matter what the age, I shared with them on a consistent basis, the reason why they were coming to see me for help.  This increased their awareness of why they were coming to Mrs. Rector’s room and it helped to keep them focused toward their goals in therapy.  Even with very young children, this could be covered in a way that helped them to understand.

Here is the diff:

“Speech” refers to four different areas of communication:
1.  Articulation is the way a child makes his/her specific sounds;  Example: if a child
     makes the /w/ for /r/ sounds, this is a speech concern in the area of Articulation.
2.  Phonology is the way a child understands how sounds go together to make words; 
     Example:  if a child has not learned the rule that sounds go at the end of words,  
     the child may be dropping all or most ending sounds such as a child saying /ca/ 
     for /cat/, this is a speech concern in the area of Phonology.
3.  Fluency is the smoothness of a child’s speech as he/she talks in words or sentences;
     Example:  When a child presents speech behaviors such as repetitions, blocks, and/or
     prolongations of sounds or words, depending on the severity, this could mean that
     this child has a speech concern in the area of Fluency (ie stuttering).
4.  Voice is the quality of a child’s vocal cord vibrations when he/she speaks; Example: if
     voice quality is consistently raspy or hoarse, this may mean that the child has a
     speech concern in the area of Voice.

*Remember that these are very general definitions and criterions for treatment are typically very specific based on severity of the concern area and the age of the child.

“Language” is the way we understand messages from others and the way we express or convey messages to others.  “Language” is such a general term, it has had many sub-definitions through the years.  Here are some of them as they refer to communication:

Language is a system that is shared by others in the same culture.
Language has many forms.
Language can be oral sounds, words, and sentences.
Language can be visual symbols (pictures, drawings) or written letters, words, and sentences.
Language can be non-verbal, such as gestures, facial expressions, and body postures.

When children have significant weaknesses in understanding and/or expressing messages, then they may have concerns in this area.  We learn through language, so significant language concerns typically interfere with academic achievement.

So…do you understand the diff?

If you have any questions about the above topic or want to comment, feel free!  Let me know if there is any other information that I could possibly help you with in the area of speech/language pathology.  Be glad to help!  Once a speechie, always a speechie!

Sue Rector, MA CCC-SLP
Speech/Language Pathologist

(aka) Sue Rector, ASP
Accredited Staging Professional
HomeStaging Innovations, LLC
sue@stlstaging.com
www.stlstaging.com

Want to “POP” an area, a special feature, or a room to attract that Potential Buyer’s Eye?

Use Vignettes!!

What is a Vignette, you say?  Well, it is “an arrangement” of three items:  one high, one medium, and one low in terms of their height.   The items within an arrangement can be greenery, knickknacks, pictures, small furniture items, etc.

The word vignette is pronounced /vin yet/. 

Vignettes are interesting to the eye.  They are groupings of items that appear to go  together in a way that is perceived to be un-cluttered and pleasing.

Use vignettes to draw a Potential Buyer’s eye to a particular area or space in a room, such as the corner of a great counter in the kitchen.  In staging a kitchen, it is usually recommended to have the least amount of items on your counters–but an interesting vignette on one end or in a corner area shows off the counters and attracts the buyer’s eye to the space. 

Use vignettes to draw a Potential Buyer’s eye to a great feature in your house, such as a fireplace. The vignette could be placed somewhere on the mantle or on the base of the fireplace.  This example below shows a wonderful granite shelf that we wanted to emphasize in a master bathroom. 
The vignette worked well to POP this great feature!

Use vignettes to draw a Potential Buyer’s eye into a room, such as this interesting arrangement in a small half bathroom.  This not only draws them into the room, but the vignette makes the half bathroom more interesting and inviting!

So…Vignettes, Anyone???  We welcome any of your comments about this idea or if you have some “Vignette Ideas” of your own that you would like to describe and share, let us know.

For more information regarding Home Staging Services, feel free to contact me at Homestaging@stlouisrealestatevoice.com and visit our website at www.stlstaging.com.

Sue Rector, ASP Stager
Accredited Staging Professional
HomeStaging Innovations, LLC

White Walls….NOT the New Neutral!

Recently while providing Home Sellers with Staging Consultations, I experienced very similar situations.  I walked into houses that are for sale and all of the walls were white or off white.  In all of these cases, the Home Sellers told me that they had various colors of walls and that their Realtor told them to paint all of the walls white.  They all told me that the Realtors suggested this because the rooms will look bigger, brighter, and cleaner…and that white was a “neutral color”. 

In my previous article, “Color It Cozy” I discussed how important interior wall color is when selling a house.

When a Potential Buyer comes through your house-for-sale for the first, second, or third time, you want them to feel “Warm and Cozy”.  Whether they know it or not, Potential Buyers are looking for that home which emits those “Warm Fuzzies”.

The color white or hues of the color white are NOT colors that will emit warm and cozy feelings.  Does the color white or hues of white reflect light better so that rooms seem brighter…Yes.  Does the color white or hues of white make rooms appear bigger…Maybe.  Does the color white or hues of white make rooms appear cleaner…Not sure about that one.

Think about this…What is the color of SNOW?…WHITE

What is the temperature of SNOW?…COLD

In my experience as a Professional Stager, White = Cold.

Would you want to stay in a COLD room or a WARM room?????

White and hues of white are the Old Neutrals.

There are many different “Warm Neutrals” that will help Potential Buyers to feel “Warm and Cozy” as they go through your house. 

Warm neutrals can be hues of Browns, Golds, or Soft Greens.

I have several favorites that I share with my clients when they are interested in presenting their house-for-sale in the Best Possible Showing Appearance. These are Sherwin Williams colors-which can be purchased through that store or matched to other brands that you prefer.  I hope that these will be helpful to you if you are considering re-painting your interior walls. When at all possible, paint all the walls the same warm color.  It makes your house flow altogether.  You might think this would be “boring”, but remember when you stage a house for sale, you are not decorating. Staging is about creating a mood, a setting in order for the Potential Buyer to visualize themselves living there with their things!

My favorite hues are the hues of Brown and Gold because these will typically go with any décor that you might have, soft hues of Greens may not:

Browns:  SW6106 Kilim Beige, SW6107 Nomadic Desert, SW6141 Softer Tan, SW6142 Macadamia, SW6085 Simplify Beige, SW6086 Sand Dune, SW6093 Familiar Beige, SW6099 Sand Dollar, SW6100 Practical Beige

Golds:  SW6120 Believable Buff, SW6121 Whole Wheat, SW6127 Ivoire, SW6128 Blond.

Remember…staging statistics indicate that the investment in painting whether it is inside or out, gives you the most return for your dollars.  Wall colors create a mood, a feeling for Potential Buyers.  Make your wall colors “Warm and Inviting”!

If you have any questions regarding wall colors or home staging, feel free to contact me at Homestaging@stlouisrealestatevoice.com .

Sue Rector, ASP

Accredited Staging Professional
HomeStaging Innovations, LLC
www.stlstaging.com

“WOW!”

That is what Sellers want Potential Buyers to say… when those buyers walk through their house for sale. 

Any house on the market can achieve “The WOW Factor” by meeting or exceeding a Potential Buyer’s expectations.  When a Potential Buyer’s expectations are met or exceeded…this could very likely lead to a contract, then a FINAL SALE! 

How does a Seller achieve The WOW Factor? 

Staging your house for sale is essential in achieving “The WOW Factor”.  In one of my earlier articles, I discussed the connection between Home Staging and Internet Marketing.  In order for Potential Buyers to say “WOW” when they walk through your house…you first have to get them TO your house. 

Price, Location, and Great Internet Pictures, along with a creative descriptive write-up will get that Buyer to make an appointment to see your house.  A Staged Home makes the Internet marketing pictures of your house for sale look great!   The old saying of “A picture is worth a thousand words” continues to hold true today.  Pictures of a house for sale can impact a Potential Buyer much more than a list of the house’s features.  

But what is very important for Sellers to understand is that pictures can be deceiving.  There is nothing worse than a Buyer arriving at a house that they saw on the Internet, and immediately the house is Below their expectations.   Meeting, but especially Exceeding a Buyer’s expectations of a house they make an appointment to see, will keep their interest, get them inside….and hopefully this will lead to a contract! 

Barb Schwarz, Creator of the Staging Concept and Founder/CEO of Stagedhomes.com, says that staging is the process of preparing a home for sale regardless of price, location, or condition.  

Staging a house for sale gets the house in the Best Possible Showing Appearance. 

Staging defines the home’s space in terms of size and function.

Staging accentuates the special features of a home.

Staging creates a “welcoming ambiance and atmosphere” which will be very pleasing to a Buyer

…and that’s when they say “WOW”! 

Does your house for sale have “The WOW Factor”?  Is it in the Best Possible Showing Appearance?  Based on your internet marketing, will a Buyer’s expectations be met or exceeded when they drive up and come through your house? 

If you are considering selling your house or currently have your house on the market…and you don’t know or don’t feel that it has “The Wow Factor”, then consider Home Staging Services.   An Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) can assist you to achieve “The WOW Factor” through Staging Consultation Services,  Hands-On Staging Services, or Vacant Home Staging Services. 

With excess inventory in this current market, Buyers can be and are being particular about the houses they make appointments to see.  Make sure that your house for sale has “The WOW Factor” online and in person! 

For more information about Home Staging Services and putting the “WOW” in your house for sale, feel free to contact me at homestaging@stlouisrealestatevoice.com .