Staging New Hampshire

Today Is The Last Day To VOTE FOR ZACK

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:23:24 -0400

Today Monday, 9/6/10, is the LAST DAY to VOTE for Zack

You have no idea just how happy I am that this is the final day.

Voting for Zack every day while also participating in the 30/30 challenge has really kept me on my toes. I'm sure that this has been great exercise for my mind, but emotionally...a bit stressful.

Although it appears a bit hopeless that Zack will make the top five, there still is a chance if just a small percentage of AR members vote today.

We are not giving up...

We need all the votes we can get today...

You can only vote once a day....

so you only have to click the link and VOTE ONCE.

NOTE: If you click the link and it says something about "enabling cookies" or it doesn't open directly to Zack's picture....simply exit out and click link again. It should work the second time.

It would be exciting to see Zack's number go up dramatically on the last day....please take a minute to click and vote.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524

The Fish Won't Clean Themselves

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 09:10:23 -0400

It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

Get someone who knows what they are doing,

someone with skill and experience,

and it's a beautiful thing to watch.

Fast, clean and no bones!

Get someone who has no idea what they are doing, and you will be left with

a stinking, bloody mess.

I guarantee you'll be spitting out bones at the fish fry.

What's all this got to do with selling your house?

Nothing really...

I just love this picture of my friend Carlos, cleaning the fish after a day of deep sea fishing.

If you don't want potential buyers walking away holding their nose...

hire the right professionals to clean, prepare, and market your house for sale.

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524

Decorating The Bathroom With Inspiration From The Garden

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:18:07 -0400

Decorating The Bathroom With Inspiration From The Garden

Whether you are preparing your house for sale or just need a fresh new look, there is a lot to be said for "thinking out of the box" when it comes to decorating the bathroom.

Pretty much anyone can hang a towel from a towel bar and place a soap dish by the sink. For impact and added interest you need to be more original.

A memorable bathroom comes from being creative with the accessories you choose. Using items that wouldn't normally be consided for a bathroom are the most fun. One idea is to shop the garden center for urns and planters and fill them with rolled towels, sponges, and loofahs.

Here are some examples I have used:

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524

Try Cold Brewed Coffee For More Flavor and Less Bitterness

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:38:03 -0400

Try making cold brewed coffee for a more intense flavor with less bitterness and acidity.

My husband recently discoverd a new way to brew his coffee. His cousin introduced him to Cold Brewed and he likes it so much, I thought I would share it with you.

It's no more work, but it does involve a longer brewing time, so you have to make it in advance.

We use a French Press to make ours, but you don't have to have one...see the link below for instructions on how to use jars instead.

Grind 2/3 Cup coffee beans and place into French Press.

Add 3 Cups room temperature water and stir.

Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours.

Pour coffee through a coffee filter into a serving pitcher or storage jar.

Coffee will be strong. If you are going to add ice and milk or cream, or like strong coffee, it should be fine.

If it is too strong, you can dilute with water to taste.

Serve as Iced Coffee or heat in microwave for hot coffee.

For more information on Homemade Cold-Brewed Coffee

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524

The Angels Weren't The Only Thing Blue Around Here Last Weekend

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:30:24 -0400

Last weekend Portsmouth, New Hampshire hosted it's first air show in over twenty years at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease. The stars of the show were the amazing US Navy Blue Angels.

For days, leading up to their performance, the Blue Angels buzzed the area with booming sound and roaring speed, practicing their craft just above our heads.

For many locals, just having the Angels practice in the area, was exciting enough.

It is estimated that 70,000 people were in attendance for the two day show. Local businesses couldn't be happier with the results.

This year, the Blue Angels received 400 applications for appearances and accepted approximately 30...Portsmouth was lucky to be one of the chosen locations.

The Angels weren't the only thing blue around here last weekend...

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524

Seven Home Staging Steps That Will Sell Your New Hampshire Home

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:02:52 -0400

Seven Home Staging Steps That Will Sell Your New Hampshire Home

Home staging is preparing a house for sale. It is not decorating, it is marketing...strategic marketing. If you want to sell your New Hampshire home in the shortest time possible, a home staging consult, prior to listing, will give you all the information you need to guarantee that your product is ready for market.

Here are seven home staging steps that could mean the difference between SOLD and EXPIRED:

1. Update Light Fixtures

This is an area where a little money spent can make a huge difference and add tremendous perceived value to your house. You can add thousands of dollars of value by only spending a few hundred dollars.

See More Photos

2. Identify Red Flags

A red flag is something that gives potential buyers the impression that there is an existing problem, was a problem in the past, or could be a problem in the future. Common examples include water stains, storage or space issues, light switches to nowhere, protruding wiring, evidence of pets, and lack of light.

See More Photos

3. Pre-Pack Your Stuff

If you want buyers to consider making your house their new home, you need to remove all evidence of you and your family. The mistake most sellers make is either not removing enough or removing too much, leaving the house cold and vacant.

See More Photos

4. Define Space and Function

Only 10% of buyers can actually visualize a room any other way than how you show it to them. Don't expect potential buyers to try and figure out how to better arrange the furniture. It is very important, when preparing a house for sale, to clearly define the space and function of each room.

See More Photos

5. Maintenance Means Money

Your house is only worth what buyers are willing to pay for it. The more a buyer believes the house has been well maintained, the more valuable they perceive it to be. Buyers should be greeted with a spotless, move-in ready home, which gives the appearance of being well maintained and cared for.

See More Photos

6. Don't Underestimate The Bathroom

The most personal room in your house is the bathroom, and it is the last place buyers want to be reminded that you live there. Buyers know that other people are living in the house and obviously use the bathrooms, but emotionally, they don't want to think about it.

See More Photos

7. Transform With Paint

The biggest bang for your buck is using paint to improve your home's appearance. Paint will make a room cleaner, fresher, brighter, and more stylish. It gives buyers the impression that the house has been well maintained and cared for.

Paint can be used to help minimize negative features and to help showcase positive features. It can be used to create a flow throughout the house and to create a lasting positive impression.

See More Photos

Consult with a professional home stager prior to listing your home for the best results!

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524

Wordless Wednesday - Natural Transformation

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:02:49 -0400

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524

What Is Your House Worth? Depends On Who You Ask...

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:00:31 -0400

What is your house worth? Well, that depends on who you ask...

Not everyone looks at your house and sees what you see. The thing about "worth" is that the answer will be different depending on who you ask...

For example:

How YOU see your house:

How your LENDER sees your house:

How your APPRAISER sees your house:

How the PROPERTY TAX APPRAISER sees your house:

How do potential BUYERS see your house?

POTENTIAL BUYERS see what you show them, and 90% of them are incapable of imagining your house any other way. It's up to you what buyers see!

Consulting with a professional home stager prior to listing will guarantee your house appeals to buyers.

To answer the original question, What is your house worth:

Your house is worth whatever a buyer is willing to pay for it.

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524

Photos of Benson's Wild Animal Farm - Then and Now

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:59:43 -0400

Benson's Wild Animal Farm - Then and Now

I recently revisited a childhood haunt in Hudson, New Hampshire, that is currently being restored back to life. I had no idea how emotional it would be revisiting Benson's Wild Animal Farm,... but I'm really happy I did.

In yesterday's post about Benson's I promised some photos. So, as promised:

BENSON'S 1960's

BENSON'S 1982 The next generation - Visiting with my daughter

Benson Park 2010

BENSON'S WILD ANIMAL FARM

THEN and NOW

There is still a lot of work to do clearing and restoring, but volunteers are determined to bring the park back to life after so many years of neglect. They have done a great job so far, and I look forward to visiting Benson Park again very soon!

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524

Benson's Wild Animal Farm - The Memory Lives On

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:47:34 -0400

There is such an emotional attachment to places we cherish as children. For many Massachusetts and New Hampshire families Benson's Wild Animal Farm was more than cotton candy, amusement rides, and Colossus the gorilla. Benson's was a childhood treasure...documented in our old photographs and home movies.

If you were lucky enough to visit Benson's as a child, you most likely have a special place in your heart where you keep those memories.

Benson's was for many years, and for many people, the destination for family fun.

Benson's Wild Animal Farm was closed in November, 1987

after 60 years of making Hudson, New Hampshire, a regional tourist attraction.

Now, 23 years after closing it's doors, it has been reopened as Benson Park. Volunteers have worked very hard clearing away years of neglect and vandal abuse to create a beautiful place to walk, bike or picnic.

The zoo animals and amusement rides are gone, probably forever, but the memories live on.

Restoring several original landmarks is an ongoing process by volunteers.

There are plans for the back of the gorilla house to become restrooms.

The front cage area will remain and be restored for historic purposes.

On Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 9:00 am, Benson Park is having a grand opening celebration with cake and refreshments for everyone!

Tomorrow...

I will share vintage photos from Benson's

and some pictures I took

when I recently visited the new Benson Park.

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524

It's Time To Bake Homemade Blueberry Muffins

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 07:20:03 -0400

It's prime blueberry picking season on the New Hampshire Seacoast and that means it's time to bake some homemade blueberry muffins!

I was given this recipe from a friend over 20 years ago and I've yet to find one I like better. I prefer to use fresh, local berries...but frozen work just fine too.

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

2 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup blueberries

Preheat oven to 350˚

Mix dry ingredients. Add eggs, milk, and butter and mix with hand mixer. Fold in blueberries.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524

Professional Home Stagers Provide, Prepare, and Present

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:08:18 -0400

Professional Home Stagers Provide, Prepare, and Present

Home staging is becoming more main stream here in New Hampshire thanks to media attention and real estate programs on television. There are still many sellers, however, who are not sure exactly what home staging involves. What does a professional home stager do?

Here's my simple explanation:

1. PROVIDES THE PLAN

A professional home stager provides you with a plan. A professional staging consult will leave you with a complete list of suggested improvements that will increase your chances of selling sooner.

2. PREPARES THE PROPERTY

A professional home stager prepares your property. Your house must be dressed to impress - with each room's space and function clearly defined. A professional will highlight the positive and minimize the negative features.

3. PRESENTS THE PRODUCT

A professional home stager presents your product to buyers. A professional creates emotional appeal and perceived value that guarantees a memorable first impression and stands out from the competition.

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524

US Navy Blue Angels - Portsmouth International Airport at Pease - Aug. 28 & 29

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:34:11 -0400

US Navy Blue Angels - Portsmouth International Airport at Pease - August 28 & 29

The United States Navy Blue Angels are coming to Portsmouth, New Hampshire this weekend, August 28 and 29. The Blue Angelslast appeared at Pease in 1989. They will be headlining the first Pease air show in over twenty years.

Motorists can expect extremely heavy traffic on both the Spaulding Turnpike and Interstate 95 when upward of 70,000 individuals converge on Pease for this highly anticipated Boston-Portsmouth Air Show.

"We are delighted to be able to bring the world's most popular air show demonstration team to the people of New England," said Steve Wade, CEO, of the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire - sponsoring the event with the Daniel Webster Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Performing in addition to the Blue Angels is New Hampshire resident and national aerobatic champion Rob Holland as well as a demonstration from the WWII era B-25 "Panchito".

There will be ground displays of many different aircraft including military jets, vintage warbirds, and civilian aircraft.

Many of the displays allow the public to walk through.

Tickets for the show went on sale in January and the flightline seat packages are all sold out.

General Admission Price: Adults - $25

Children (6-11), Seniors (60+), and Military ID - $20

Children under 5 - Free

You can purchase tickets online through 8/27/10 at a discounted price.

For more information and to view a schedule of events visit the Boston-Portsmouth Air Show website.

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524

Wordless Wednesday... Why? Because It Is There

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:51:51 -0400

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524

Guy Fieri Brings DINERS, DRIVE-INS & DIVES To Bob's Clam Hut in Maine

Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:37:12 -0400

Guy Fieri Brings DINERS, DRIVE-INS & DIVES to Bob's Clam Hut in Kittery, Maine!

Local fans of chef Guy Fieri and the show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives are in for a real treat!

In June Guy brought his popular Food Network television show to Kittery, Maine, to highlight one of my favorite places, Bob's Clam Hut.

You can watch the show

on the Food Network

Monday, September 6

10:00pm

Bob's Clam Hut has been a favorite of seafood lovers since 1956. Bob's is located on Route 1 in Kittery, Maine and is open year round.

Bob's offers Senior Appreciation Days on Tuesdays and Kid's Night every Wednesday.

If you order at the side window, say "hello" to Lillian...

"Since Lillian started in 1986 she has taken orders at her own window. She is a big part of the tradition here at Bob's."

For more information on Bob's Clam Hut, just click any of the "Bob's" photos above to visit their website.

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Please take a minute to VOTE for Zack's picture and help him win a vacation!

Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast

Portsmouth Rye Greenland Hampton North Hampton Exeter Dover Stratham

603.661.8524