- This week Andy Hemmings and guests talk about staging your home to sell and fall decorations.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello everybody, and welcome to the Dana Simmons Real Estate Show.
It is a pleasure having you here today and thank
you for tuning in. My name is Andy Hemmings. I
am with capital title of Texas and I'm a guest
host for you today for Dana's show. Dana, thank you
for allowing us to participate in your wonderful show. Thank
(00:21):
you for all your support and for everything you do,
and especially congratulations on your new position as chair of
the board for the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce. I
know you are going to lead them well and lead
our community well, our business community, and congratulations to you
for that position, and we are proud to have you serve.
(00:44):
So today we have a special topic for you. The
weather is starting to turn a little bit cooler, kind
of feels a little bit cooler, maybe not as humid,
but we're getting into fall and so today for our
real estate topic, we're going to talk talk about fall
home deacoors fall home decor. And we have two very
(01:06):
special guests with us today. One of them is my
lovely wife, Miss Lisa Hemmings, and the other is Miss
Julie Strasberger and a dear friend of the family that
I've known for many, many years. So let's give a
couple of quick introductions. First of all, Lisa, tell us
about your role with a Dana Simmons team and how
(01:28):
you serve her team.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Well, I'm the official stager for Dana Simmons. I've been
working with Dana for this is my seventeenth or eighteenth year. Yeah,
I've seen a few houses in Beaumont and seeing them
sell for a much faster way than I get.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Your job is to make them, get them ready so
they sell quicker. I bring the sparkle, bring the sparkle
absolutely well. Thank you for being here and joining us today.
And miss Julie. Julie is the co owner of Estelle
Boutique in downtown Beaumont, in the beautiful Mildred building. Julie,
it's great. No, it's not in the Mildread building. Wasn't
(02:15):
it one time?
Speaker 3 (02:16):
No?
Speaker 1 (02:16):
It was not.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
So we are actually at.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
The corner of We should have rehearsed that before.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, we should the corner of Pearl and Bowie. We
are in the little building where Chuck Sandwich Shop is,
which everyone knows where that is, okay, So four nine
nine Pearl is our official address. Okay, we are Estella.
We carry ladies dresses and we also carry dresses for
your furniture. So if we're not dressing you, then we
(02:43):
can dress your furniture. They're all custom done. We have
a workroom on site and you can come in and
visit with us, dress yourself and dress your home excellent.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
We still have a couch that you all built for
us some years ago. How when was that that we
bought that couch twenty years ago? Twenty years ago?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, I'd say at least twenty twenty five years.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Because y'all owned the fabric, the fabric source and probably
do ottomans and sofas and things like that.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Oh, we had custom furniture and custom fabric and then
you know, times change and market changes and I change.
So I feel like I've come full circle, which everyone
has known for the past twenty five years. That summertime
was slipcover time, okay, and hurry up and get ready
for the holidays. So that's what we're doing again.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Fantastic And your husband Ken, he's also our bug guy. Yeah,
we love it. We love it. Bug me not pest control.
So anyway, so well, great to see you again here
and great having you with us.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
So let's step right into some tips for our listening
audience here today on how to how to bring that warm,
inviting feeling to your home as we move into the fall. So, Lisa,
when you're looking at you know, giving people advice on
preparing their home, especially through a transitional peero like this,
(04:01):
how do you transition from summer being more bright and
cheery into fall without making it feel like too heavy
or dark, keeping that light feeling.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Well, you wanna, you wanna definitely invoke a little bit
of warmth because it's fall. Even though we are in
southeast Texas and fall is kind of a fun word.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
It's still might degrees, yes, but you.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Don't want to get it too warm. Some of the
key colors that are coming into fall for interior decorating
or earthy deep tones, and you don't have to completely
redo a room. You can add pillows, you can change
(04:50):
up your pillows and change up a whole room and.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Row blanket across the back of the sofa.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Absolutely curtains or even accents to hurtains, just to give
it those warm, that warm feeling. You definitely do not
want to have fall decore And I'm making air quotes here,
like for example, which is in Goblins and you know,
(05:22):
pumpkins because it dates your house for the pictures especially like.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
So we're talking specifically for like when they put their
home up for sale yet correct? Right? Yeah, gotcha, Yeah,
because that's what I deal with. Correct, Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Let's see what else?
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Yeah, so maybe stay away from some of the more seasonal,
kitchy kind of items if you will. Yeah, okay, just.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Because you you want that fresh look, and pictures are
are pricey to do, and they really do set the tone.
I I I always lean on my greens. Either plants
are different green tones. It really tends to warm up
(06:11):
a room. And wood tones, browns are coming back, muted browns, okay,
and just earth tones in general.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Okay, very good, All right, thank you, Julie. What to
tell me from your perspective? What in what you do
with the slipcovers and pillows and things like that. How
do how do you envision those as we transition into fall.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Well, one, slipcovers, especially custom slip covers, they're there one
because you can't fit your sofa in your washing machine
and we live on our furniture, and so do our dogs,
and so do our cats. And you you wash your clothes,
you wash your sheets, why not wash your custom flip
covers as well. Uh, we go anywhere from denim to
(07:02):
off white to natural. I just finished an entire den
very masculine, moody color drenched den forest green ceiling, and
the slipcover on the furniture is a burnt orange velvet. Wow,
it is gorgeous. The whole room is absolutely gorgeous. So
(07:23):
to go from say, my living room all white, and
I am changing out all of my spring happy pillows
to my fall colors. So I'll leave my white slipcovers
on and then change to velvet pillows.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Okay, So for those out there in the audience and meet,
let's pretend I'm an audience member. Slipcover just means basically
you can do a slipcover for pillows, for sofas, for chairs.
It's just basically utilizing Go ahead.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
No, I was gonna say, it looks like it's been
re upholstered, but you can remove it. So my slipcovers
are custom. It has to be measured and it fits
just like you had it reupholstered. Except that you can
still unzip it and take it off and wash it.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Okay, so they with a zipper, unzipp it.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Wash it. Yes. Now, velvet, maybe you might want to
have it dry cleaned. But some of the new microfiber
velvets and swedes wash better than cotton. So I love
all of the new microfiber fabrics even better than they
were twenty five years ago.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Microfiber, microfiber, right, yeah, tell me about those.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
It is a synthetic fabric, uh, polya anywhere from polyester, yes.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Take my shirt. Is microfiber anywhere.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
From a polyester to a acrylic.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Okay, And they wash easy, they wear better, yeah, that
kind of thing, all right.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Yeah, they're made for all of those wonderful three thousand
double rubs. What the they're The fabric is rated by
a double rub, so it means how many times you
can rub back and forth and sit on it.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
As here, I've got this dumb look I because I
have no idea what you're talking.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Abollway, Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Excellent, so do you. So you have to go out
to their house, to someone's house, and you do all
the measurements and.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Correct for larger pieces of furniture, club chair down to
dining chairs and little chairs. They bring it to me
and then I have an area in the store which
is at the back door. We have a little workshop
in the back and I will have the piece at
the store with me for about a week, okay, and
then we do it my calendar. So it's it's feeling it.
(09:30):
You need to get it done for the.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Holidays, okay. And so it's Estella Estella, all right. And
how do people get in touch with you?
Speaker 3 (09:37):
They can get in touch with us by messaging a Stella.
They can also call my cell or Mary Claire cell,
which my cell.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
If you whichever you want.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Yeah, yeah, my cell is four zero nine seven nine
one seven six six zero. That's how you can get
in touch with me specifically. But if you message Estella
through our website you can see the price list. It's
all under dress your furniture. So if we're not dressing you,
then we're dressing your furniture.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Love it. And what's that website?
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Estella t X dot com E.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
S T E L l A t X do dot com. Fantastic.
We're gonna come back. We're going to talk more about that.
We're gonna get into some paint colors, maybe even a
little gardening tips with Lisa here as well, So we've
got some great ground to cover no pun intended as
we talk about fall decor here on the Dana Simmons Show.
I'm Andy Hemmings with Capital Title and we'll be right back.
(10:37):
Welcome back, everyone to the Dana Simmons Real Estate Show.
This is Andy Hemmings, your guest host for today from
Capital Title. Dana, we miss you today. Hope you are
enjoying your your wonderful weekend with your family. Before we
dive back into the segment, I wanted to give a
shout out to mister al Caldwell who was just honored
(10:59):
this past well just the other night as a Man
of the Year for the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce for
his sixty seven years I believe it was sixty seven
years of service here in our community. So aw, we
love you. Congratulations to you. All right, ladies, let's talk
more about fall decorps. So what we're discussing today is
(11:20):
your home as you prepare to move into the fall season.
And we're talking both both specifically about preparing your home
for sale when you're ready to sell it, but also
just some good decorating tips too that are good no
matter if you're selling your home or not. So as
we were talking a little bit during the break, Lisa,
you mentioned how important it is to have or how
(11:44):
valuable it can be to have slipcovers to change the motif,
to change the feel of a home right as you
do it.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Okay, Well, as a stager, my job is to go
in and check out the house and see what can
enhance it and what is is kind of putting it
not so beautiful on the on the market. So when
(12:14):
I go into a house and it does have a
lot of dated furniture, like from the nineties or early
two thousands, those are those are typical colors that are
unique for that era.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
It doesn't seem like that long ago, but it was it.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
It was, And I recognize a lot of that those
fabric choices because I made those. But I'm just going
into a house the other day and they had some basic,
nice furniture. It just needed to be covered to where
(12:51):
everything was not fighting and then you can add pillows
and throws and the accents and that that's where slip
covers come in handy, very very handy, because it can
completely transform a room by just calming everything down and without.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Well without having to go buy all new furniture.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Exactly, and it's very very cost effective, especially if you've
got good furniture. Sure are just basic furniture that that
doesn't fight with everything else, because once you tone everything
down and you have your accents, that's where the magic works,
because then the client can come in and look at
(13:39):
the house and notice the beautiful crown molding, what is staged.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
They're not distracted by those off colors, so to speak.
I'm always amazed at how how big of an impact
it has just to make those changes like that. Back
when I used to sell real estate and you would
come in and help me with staging and and I
would think, oh, this room looks okay, it's fine, and
you come you'd say nay, nay, nay, and you come
in and you do your thing, and you'd make me
(14:06):
move furniture around and all that stuff. And it's just
unbelievable the difference that it makes. And I know you
get that response from your customers as well too.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
It's really about the experience from the moment that they
drive up. You got eight to ten seconds from the
moment that they drive up to have a glorious experience
and I want them to be floating through. And Julie
and I were talking about how she changes out her
her slip covers outside. That's so important. I mean just
(14:38):
having some pretty pillows on a bench as you walk in.
I mean that's instant color. And especially during the fall
when our landscaping is it's tired, and it's hot and
it's probably got you know, infestation of.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Bugs, Southeast Texas critter right.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
And so it's it's that it's that immediate like ooh yeah,
it's that welcoming without having to say welcome.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Yeah, So Julie, that's what that's what you do, Yes,
you say welcome. Yes.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Well, there are so many ways to to make your
front door area, especially coming into the front area, you know,
and that's the first place that you welcome, your front
door and whatever sitting next to your front door, whether
it's a wreef, a little chair, a bench, simply throwing
a holiday pillow, whatever holiday it may be, whenever your
(15:39):
house like and for you staging houses, whatever the holiday
may be, keep it fresh. And it's not a big
expense to be able to go from holiday to holiday,
to just change out that little throw and that little pillow,
just to have that welcoming point on the front door
back patio. Your patio furniture is just as important as
the living area if you are really trying to sell
(16:02):
that area as a living space outside of your home.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
And especially in Southeast Texas, because we live we do.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Live outside, even when it's hot, even when it's humid.
We're all out there because we all know what fans
are and we can keep ourselves cool, or maybe we
don't want to because we have a pool in the
backyard and you hang out by the pool. Those slipcovers
on all of those chair pads and sectional pads are
are usually something synthetic that with sands weather over time,
(16:34):
they don't I mean, if they've been out in the
sun a long time, and it is very important to
change that out or to wash them or to hose
them down, depending on what kind of furniture it may be.
But that seasonal area, like you said, I change mine
out well, of course I do so for myself as well,
So my slipcovers change out very often, including out on
(16:56):
the patio. So the big sec on our patio changes
anywhere from white to turquoise to black totope and depending
on the holiday or maybe the party that we're having.
So you have to think of your living area the
same as that outdoor living area. Yeah, and a lot
fresh and covered.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
A lot of times, you know, even with our outdoor areas,
I'll I'll throw in some different textures, cause I that's
what makes it warm and inviting inside and out. But
you know, it might not be a traditional outdoor pillow,
but might have a little bit of velvet going on
in there, absolutely because that's what I need. That's what
(17:38):
I need for the space, right Yeah, And that's what
tells a little story. And I want I want people
after I've I've been through the house and done certain things,
I want people to go. I don't know what it
is about that house. It just maybe feel good.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Yeah, that's my goal. So for somebody that that's listening
right now, that's thinking, gosh, it just sounds like a lot.
I don't even know where to begin. Having updated my
house in twenty years. You know, there's people out there,
you know, ten to twenty years, So what would you
say to them is a good place to start? Julie,
Like they if they wanted to begin updating some of
(18:18):
their furniture, some of their things. What's a good kind
of entry level point for them to start doing this?
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Well, I think for a good piece of furniture that
you're going to keep if you are ready, if your
home is on the market and you know you're moving
to wherever it is you're moving to, why not invest
in customs slopcovers. Go ahead and choose something neutral. Choose
a white dnim, Choose a natural denim, Choose something very
easily adaptable to any space. White and cream always show
(18:47):
so well in any season. And you have that custom
slopcover to bring with you to the next house that
you're moving to. So why not go ahead and invest
a little bit to make your house sell by a nice, fresh,
clean slipcover on all of your furniture and then bring
it to the new house and you're ready to go.
So everything I mentioned that before, Everything in my house
(19:11):
is slip covered because it has to come off and
be washed and put back on, only because we live
on our furniture.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Yeah, I just suddenly remembered our friend, one of our
dear friends from Alabama. Her she covered her furniture with
like plastic, right, like that clear plastic.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yeah, so.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
She had one of them walk through rooms where the
plastic path plastic path.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Yeah, yeah, that's the that's the old way. We have
new ways to do things now. To protect your furniture.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Called Julie for some slipcover, yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Yeah, because I remember that because it's like it's just plastic.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Well, and there are so many that does not say
welcome washable rugs on the market that that are literally washable.
I mean to take an entire room rug and put
it in your largeage capacity washing machine and be able
to wash it and dry it and put it back
on the floor. It's amazing. I mean the products that
they have available right now obviously at your fingertips to
(20:10):
just you know, google anything that you want to think of,
it's there.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
And yeah, and rugs especially I I I love a
rug in the in the main living room because it's
sets a tone and it and it makes it an island,
if you will. And with the other soft you know,
uh covers, and then you add some velvets and some tweeds,
(20:39):
yes you got fall.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Yeah, And I know you love using different rugs in
your stagings because sometimes I'll walk into our living room
and I'll go, oh, our rug's missing.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
So well, if a house.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Needs it, it needs I know, I know, so Julie, Uh,
real quick. Tell everybody again how they can get in
touch with you. What's what's the best way for them
to reach you.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Go to our website Estella TX dot com, message us
through messenger, okay, or you can text me, which is
the best way. That way we have a nice little
conversation between the two when we talk about slipcovers. And
send me a picture and I'll give you a quote.
But my cell number is four zero nine seven nine
to one seven six six zero, and you can just
(21:28):
drop me a text and tell me who you are
and send me a picture of your piece of furniture
and we'll go from there.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Perfect We'll be right back with more information on preparing
your home during a seasonal transition. This is Andy Hemmings,
guest host for the Dana Simmons Real Estate Show. Welcome
back to the Dana Simmons Real Estate Show. This is
Andy Hemmings guest host for today, and today we have
with us Miss Lisa Hemmings, homestager for Dana Simmons Real
(21:58):
Estate team and Miss Julie Strasberger, co owner of a
Stella boutique in downtown Beaumont. And what we've been talking
about is preparing your home during a seasonal transition. And
really specifically what we've been discussing is fabrics and rugs
and things like that and different the ways you can
use those strategically. And as we were just talking during
(22:20):
the break, we also mentioned how changing putting on a
slipcover and changing in that way can also help possibly
with odors. Okay, And I know that's not a topic.
It's not a popular topic to talk about, but it's
very very important because, especially when you're selling a home,
that's a big impact. The sense of smell is a
(22:41):
big impact when you walk into the home. And so, Julie,
if you would tell us a little bit about how
you see what you do helping in that regard.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Well.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Because your custom slipcovers are washable, you can choose your scent.
I mean you can just wash them in your regular detergent,
or you could add a little bit of you know,
those little smelly beads that you put in your washing
machine that make you they do and you add.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Some high end stuff like the high maintenance.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
What's that so that you can I don't know.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
Oh, it's called.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Called high maintenance, and it lasts a long time with
the smell. So having a washable slipcover and adding that
scent that keeps your furniture smelling fresh, regardless if you
have the little you know, stinky feet dog that runs around.
I don't know why little dogs have stinky feet, but
(23:43):
they do. And that's why washable slipcovers are amazing because
you can always wash all their little throat blankets that
they sleep on that are also your accent throws on
your sofa as well as your slipcover. But that first
initial door opened to a home and you don't want
to necessarily smell like, oh gosh, it's a candle factory.
(24:04):
But at the same time it should smell fresh and
clean without it smelling like cleaning products.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
Right. Yeah, So, Lisa, you were talking about that, how
there's some certain sense even though they're clean and your
home is clean, it may have a not the best
effect that you're looking for.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Well, very important. I mean it goes to the senses.
It locks in there. You know, even if your house
is absolutely decorated perfectly and you go in and it's.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
A stale dog odor or a.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Cat oder or what have you. And I have clients
a lot of times go did you smell anything? Yeah,
And you don't want to be hit with a lot
of perfume sense. So I always tell people, you know,
stay away from food sense candles like you know, the
green berlelet, that kind of stuff, because you don't know
(24:59):
what the client is when the client is coming. They
might be coming at three o'clock in the afternoon, they
might be a little high, angry, and then they get
that scent of the sugar cookie.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Or the They're like, I guess, yeah, that would be me.
I'm like, let's go.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
I've seen that in action. Actually, So what I tell
people is, you know, tend to if you're going to
put a cent, or if you're going to clean with
the product, go with like stuff like simple Green that's
a fresh clean scent. Stay away from the strongolders like
(25:39):
fantastico are like pinel. Yeah, those are Those are two
cents that I've over the years I have heard and
from just clients go oh that completely turns me off.
Are they really like it? It's it's an either or
so for the most part, I tend to tell people,
(26:02):
you know, go with gain scent. If you're go, go
with a linen scent cotton.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
That's something good for any any any season, really absolutely Okay.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Well, and it's the fabric detergent that you use on
your clothing. So it's one that you know that you
don't want your clothes to smell. So if you're going
to wash some of the items in your home, whether
it's just the little throaw blankets that you throw over
the back of the sofa, making sure that those are
something that reflect you, then they smell nice.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
And it's and you don't jump to that conclusion which
some people do that it's they're trying to hide some
of smell. Yes, this is.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Real strong, Yes you can take.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Whereas if you smell that freshly laundered smell, it's like, oh,
what it tells the psyche is, oh, this house is
super clean.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Yeah. Yeah, So this is interesting. I never really thought
of about how the using how the fabric strategy will
call it can really help in that regard as well.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
And fabric and decor and keeping all of those things clean,
just like you do your bed and your own clothing
is very important for just the health of your home
and yourself. I mean, when you think about washing all
of those customslip covers and that you can take them
off and wash them, that's washing away dust mites, that's
washing away cat hair and dog hair and everything else
(27:27):
that they brought in with them after walking around in
the yard. So it does. It goes all the way
around with just simple hygiene, with keeping everything clean but
also keeping it looking fresh and fabulous. So it works
hand in hand.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
Yeah, definitely. And so Lisa, your role with Dana's team
is to help them get that home ready to sell
as quickly as possible. And it works. Obviously, the statistics
prove that outraised She just raised her eyebrows, like, you're right,
it does. It does. I heard that. So whenever you
go into a home and you know, maybe let's stick
(28:03):
with the odor topic here, and you need to tell
them something, you need to give them some advice, and
you don't want to hurt their feelings, how do you
talk to them about that? How do you express that?
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Well, I'll explain to them, you know, the different sense
and if it is overwhelming they are expecting.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
I mean, it's a lot of them already know maybe yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
They're usually asking me, okay, They're like, did you smell anything?
And sometimes I'll tell them sometimes, you know, I don't
smell anything. It's that fine balance between overwhelming the senses
with lots of perfumes and just giving it an overall
(28:52):
sense of cleanliness. Feel. Now, during the fall, you can
throw in some some like warm scents like uh, like
Christmas tree smells fur tree, pumpkin spice. Maybe you know,
(29:15):
not too much pumpkin spice, because then that's just.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
That's a handful pie. That might be a pumpkin pie
of it. And then yeah, and then it was hungry.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Yes. I remember when we bought our house, they had
these air fresheners in there that were just they were
just wonderful.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
They were gain sent Was it gain scents? Why I
found that.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Ill that I think about I immediately go back to
when I first walked into that house, when we first
looked at it. I mean, it just it hit been like, oh,
this is really nice.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
I remember I remember you saying that. And throughout the
years of me staging, and I mean you can really
there's different stages in staging where you know, you gotta
you gotta look at the daycore. You got to look
at the overall day corps how it looks, and then
(30:05):
you got to look at the smell, because the smell
goes back to the senses of you know, man, this
house is really clean. I'm getting a good deal and
you are. Yeah, it's just it's a fact.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
Ye.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
Yeah, that's the first thing that and that's the first thing.
So the first thing you see is the front door,
and the next thing that hits you is the smell
as the door opens.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
And I want that kind of virtual I want them
to open that door.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Up and just go.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
Yeah. So do you advise people on where they can
go to get these scents or like, what are some
what are some of your go to suggestions for them
to help them to make their house smell good? Maybe
certain air fresheners or things like that.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Yeah, just the local grocery store, yeah are you know,
and cleaners. I always send people to either loads on depot,
you know, outdoor. But for the scent, I tend to
go with uh, clean laundry, Yeah, clean laundry and simple
(31:12):
green in the kitchen because it's a it's a bidegradable,
it's a clean scent, it's not in your face, and
it's safe for pets and children.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
Gotcha, people's people. You still have pets?
Speaker 3 (31:27):
Yes, I do, I have many.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
We still have. We still have one pet, Lil, our cat,
who was introduced to us by Julie, and Lil has
been a wonderful addition to our family.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
That's so sweet. We have five kitty cats that run
around in our house and two little dogs.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Gotcha that you wash the little paws.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
We're slip covered.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Yes, okay, we will be right back with the Day
Simmons Real Estate Show. Stay tuned. Next, we're going to
talk a little bit about gardening and preparing the outdoor
areas of your home as we move into the fall.
This is Andy Hemmings with capital title, and we'll be
right back. Welcome back to the Dana Simmons Real Estate Show.
(32:18):
This is your guest host, Andy Hemmings with capital title,
and thank you for joining us today. We are talking
with Miss Lisa Hemmings from the Dana Simmons Real Estate
team and Miss Julie Strassberger, co owner of Estella Boutique,
and we're talking about decorating your home specifically for fall
and during seasonal transitions and so far, we've we've talked
(32:39):
a lot about your furniture and the benefits of slip
covers and what a good strategy that can be for
you for your decorp And we just talked a little
bit about odors in your home too and some strategies there.
And what I wanted to also make sure that we
cover is gardening and preparing your outdoor areas. So as
(33:00):
we move into this fall season. Uh, Lisa, what would
you say are some of the things that you run
across when you go out to look at people's homes
during this time of year, and maybe some strategies that
you give to them.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
A lot of times during this time of year. As
we said earlier, it's it's been a long, hot summer
and it's still going to be a couple of more
weeks until we get a little bit, a little bit
more relief. But you often see the during this time.
(33:35):
You often see in the big box stores moms coming out.
That's a that's an easy.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Pop for moms. Okay, hop for color.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I do tell people, you know, if if you've got
some plants that are stressed beyond repair, just go ahead
and pull them up. We don't need to see that
it's it's better just to have an empty area, and
it is very expensive to completely transform, but it's also
(34:11):
very important as the drive up. So it's a two
double edged sword, if you will. So just the other
day I had a client and I drove up and
they were saying, you know, we need to know what
to do with these boxwoods, and and they had some
(34:34):
empty spots, but then they had some older plants that
were more established. I'm like, let's use that as the backdrop,
and let's not break the bank. You don't need anything
over here, here and here, but let's get the most
amount of color right at the front door, because you're
(34:56):
you're wanting to be drawn to the front door, and
my are the best thing to do right now? And
make sure that if you if you can't even do that,
at least clean the beds and put some mulch, Yeah,
fresh mulch, and try to steer clear of the red mulch.
(35:20):
It's just not yeah, most houses, it just doesn't accent it.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
Yeah. You always recommend it dark, like a dark brown
or even brown are black. Yeah, yeah, it makes a
nice uh palette.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Well, it's kind of like an outline for the house.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Yeah, it makes a huge difference. Yeah, very good, Julie.
What what what do you say about plants? What's your thoughts?
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Well, I'm going to jump away from estella just for
a moment. And while you're mulching those flower beds, you know,
I also a part of bug me not pest control. Okay,
so sometimes that does kind of jump in there. Make
sure you don't pile that mulch up against the foundation
of your home.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
Can would be so proud of you right now.
Speaker 3 (36:04):
Proud of perfect That is my that is my number
one thing. If you have to add multch to your
flower beds, make sure you start that up and then
put the mulch in, but do not pile the mulch
up around your foundation or near the wheatpoles. Right still
clear intection during the inspection termite inspection will will call
(36:26):
a big yes.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
Yes, great point, I know.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
Or if you are completely redoing that flower bed, then
make like a little rock edge so that you do
a one foot segment away from the foundation and you
could put like river rock or less expensive rock along
that edge. That way, your mulch stops there and out
to the flower bed.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
Yeah, excellent point. Yeah, So what about people don't need
necessarily plant new plants in the in the bed. Right,
you can use potted plants as well, right, I know
you do that a lot at our house.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
Yes, I I well, I love boogom be Is. That's
one of my favorite stain. Yeah they are, they are
just going nuts. But here in Southeast Texas, we we
have freezes every now and then, so I always keep
mind and boogom v is like to be bound and
(37:24):
tight fin So I have big, oversized pots. I've got
smaller pots, and I move. I staged my backyard like
a stage my house. I mean, I'll move stuff around
and when it gets boring, then I'll do something different.
But placing them in pots also you can take them
(37:50):
with you, yeah, exactly, And if they die, you can
replace them a lot quicker.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
And the pots themselves become decorative pieces. I know, we've
got some really really pretty, really pretty pots that the
pot itself becomes an accent piece.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
Exactly, look at me, look at you, mister Gardner decoration.
Speaker 1 (38:11):
That's right, but you, but you mentioned that you can
take the pots with you. Just a quick little real
estate tip here that I think Dane would chime in. Also,
make sure like, especially if you're taking big decorative pots
with you, make sure the buyer knows that list it
is an exclusion even though it's not attached per se
(38:31):
and it's not something that you technically have to list
as an exclusion. A lot of times buyers assume it's
going to stay and if you take it, you might.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Have a little like the big front porch Earn.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
Yeah, list it is an exclusion if you're going to
take it with you, even though technically you don't quote
unquote have to because it's not an attachment. Just a
good idea to do that.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
That's a great point. Like when we sold our first house,
I did mosaic bird bath and a lot of people
were like, oh, we does that come with the house.
It's like, of course not, but we were.
Speaker 1 (39:07):
Very mosaic my hand in the middle of that.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
I know. So I do often tell people, you know,
if if you're going to be doing decorative things, even curtains,
because they are actually attached, just make sure that if
you are attached to the curtains that you want them
to go with you, then you you definitely want to
(39:35):
tell the perspective buyer right perspective buyer put them on
a disclosure.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
Gotcha, gotcha? Okay, very good? So uh you mentioned Mum's
being one of the plants that's a that's a good
plant for this time. You hear any other plants that
work well in the fall through the fall season, well when.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
It gets a little cooler. Pansies are always adorable.
Speaker 1 (39:57):
That was it.
Speaker 2 (39:58):
Yeah, and you can eat pantsy too.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
You know, you can can get hungry enough.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
They're very delicious peppery flavor. Indeed, yes they are, and they.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
Make a lovely salad nisturtians. Anyway, I digress and even
into the colder months, like you know, you've got point settus.
You can put point settas they grow in the ground,
but you can also just dig a hole and put
(40:26):
them in this in the actual pot down in there.
That makes it a little bit easier to change them
out if they tend to not make it.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
Gotcha, Yeah, okay, very good. Well, ladies, this has been
a nice wide ranging discussion on fall decors and different strategies.
And Julie, pardon me, Julie, tell us again, get a
little cough there. Tell us again how people can get
in touch with you for their slipcover needs.
Speaker 3 (41:00):
You can message us through Estella. That's at Estella tx
dot com. You can go to the website check out
all the precious, precious dresses and clothing, plus looking at
our information and priceless for dresser furniture, for slipcovers. We
do have more things coming to that little uh, that
(41:21):
little section of the website for fabric selections and things
like that very very soon. And then you can also
message me or text me at four O nine seven
nine one seven sixty six zero. My name is Julie.
Mary Claire's in the store all the time as well.
Speaker 1 (41:38):
She can your lovely daughter.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
Yes she shoulder said.
Speaker 1 (41:40):
She was born.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Yes, she can help you there too, and you can
shop and shop for fabric as well.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
Fantastic. Well, we really appreciate you being here today. Congratulations
on all your success. Have seen you and Ken through
many different ventures and they've all they've always been successful.
And I just love the style that y'all bring here
to Southeast Texas. Thank you, you, bet you, Lisa, thank
you for being here as well. Yeah, we'll see you
(42:09):
back at the house a little bit. Thank you all
for tuning in. This has been the Dana Simmons Real
Estate Show. Your guest host Andy Hemmings. You all have
a wonderful, wonderful day and a happy upcoming holiday season.
Hello everybody, and welcome to the Dana Simmons Real Estate Show.
It is a pleasure having you here today and thank
you for tuning in. My name is Andy Hemmings. I
am with capital title of Texas and I'm a guest
host for you today for Dana's show. Dana, thank you
for allowing us to participate in your wonderful show. Thank
(00:21):
you for all your support and for everything you do,
and especially congratulations on your new position as chair of
the board for the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce. I
know you are going to lead them well and lead
our community well, our business community, and congratulations to you
for that position, and we are proud to have you serve.
(00:44):
So today we have a special topic for you. The
weather is starting to turn a little bit cooler, kind
of feels a little bit cooler, maybe not as humid,
but we're getting into fall and so today for our
real estate topic, we're going to talk talk about fall
home deacoors fall home decor. And we have two very
(01:06):
special guests with us today. One of them is my
lovely wife, Miss Lisa Hemmings, and the other is Miss
Julie Strasberger and a dear friend of the family that
I've known for many, many years. So let's give a
couple of quick introductions. First of all, Lisa, tell us
about your role with a Dana Simmons team and how
(01:28):
you serve her team.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Well, I'm the official stager for Dana Simmons. I've been
working with Dana for this is my seventeenth or eighteenth year. Yeah,
I've seen a few houses in Beaumont and seeing them
sell for a much faster way than I get.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Your job is to make them, get them ready so
they sell quicker. I bring the sparkle, bring the sparkle
absolutely well. Thank you for being here and joining us today.
And miss Julie. Julie is the co owner of Estelle
Boutique in downtown Beaumont, in the beautiful Mildred building. Julie,
it's great. No, it's not in the Mildread building. Wasn't
(02:15):
it one time?
Speaker 3 (02:16):
No?
Speaker 1 (02:16):
It was not.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
So we are actually at.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
The corner of We should have rehearsed that before.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah, we should the corner of Pearl and Bowie. We
are in the little building where Chuck Sandwich Shop is,
which everyone knows where that is, okay, So four nine
nine Pearl is our official address. Okay, we are Estella.
We carry ladies dresses and we also carry dresses for
your furniture. So if we're not dressing you, then we
(02:43):
can dress your furniture. They're all custom done. We have
a workroom on site and you can come in and
visit with us, dress yourself and dress your home excellent.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
We still have a couch that you all built for
us some years ago. How when was that that we
bought that couch twenty years ago? Twenty years ago?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, I'd say at least twenty twenty five years.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Because y'all owned the fabric, the fabric source and probably
do ottomans and sofas and things like that.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Oh, we had custom furniture and custom fabric and then
you know, times change and market changes and I change.
So I feel like I've come full circle, which everyone
has known for the past twenty five years. That summertime
was slipcover time, okay, and hurry up and get ready
for the holidays. So that's what we're doing again.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Fantastic And your husband Ken, he's also our bug guy. Yeah,
we love it. We love it. Bug me not pest control.
So anyway, so well, great to see you again here
and great having you with us.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
So let's step right into some tips for our listening
audience here today on how to how to bring that warm,
inviting feeling to your home as we move into the fall. So, Lisa,
when you're looking at you know, giving people advice on
preparing their home, especially through a transitional peero like this,
(04:01):
how do you transition from summer being more bright and
cheery into fall without making it feel like too heavy
or dark, keeping that light feeling.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Well, you wanna, you wanna definitely invoke a little bit
of warmth because it's fall. Even though we are in
southeast Texas and fall is kind of a fun word.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
It's still might degrees, yes, but you.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Don't want to get it too warm. Some of the
key colors that are coming into fall for interior decorating
or earthy deep tones, and you don't have to completely
redo a room. You can add pillows, you can change
(04:50):
up your pillows and change up a whole room and.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Row blanket across the back of the sofa.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Absolutely curtains or even accents to hurtains, just to give
it those warm, that warm feeling. You definitely do not
want to have fall decore And I'm making air quotes here,
like for example, which is in Goblins and you know,
(05:22):
pumpkins because it dates your house for the pictures especially like.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
So we're talking specifically for like when they put their
home up for sale yet correct? Right? Yeah, gotcha, Yeah,
because that's what I deal with. Correct, Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Let's see what else?
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Yeah, so maybe stay away from some of the more seasonal,
kitchy kind of items if you will. Yeah, okay, just.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Because you you want that fresh look, and pictures are
are pricey to do, and they really do set the tone.
I I I always lean on my greens. Either plants
are different green tones. It really tends to warm up
(06:11):
a room. And wood tones, browns are coming back, muted browns, okay,
and just earth tones in general.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Okay, very good, All right, thank you, Julie. What to
tell me from your perspective? What in what you do
with the slipcovers and pillows and things like that. How
do how do you envision those as we transition into fall.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Well, one, slipcovers, especially custom slip covers, they're there one
because you can't fit your sofa in your washing machine
and we live on our furniture, and so do our dogs,
and so do our cats. And you you wash your clothes,
you wash your sheets, why not wash your custom flip
covers as well. Uh, we go anywhere from denim to
(07:02):
off white to natural. I just finished an entire den
very masculine, moody color drenched den forest green ceiling, and
the slipcover on the furniture is a burnt orange velvet. Wow,
it is gorgeous. The whole room is absolutely gorgeous. So
(07:23):
to go from say, my living room all white, and
I am changing out all of my spring happy pillows
to my fall colors. So I'll leave my white slipcovers
on and then change to velvet pillows.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Okay, So for those out there in the audience and meet,
let's pretend I'm an audience member. Slipcover just means basically
you can do a slipcover for pillows, for sofas, for chairs.
It's just basically utilizing Go ahead.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
No, I was gonna say, it looks like it's been
re upholstered, but you can remove it. So my slipcovers
are custom. It has to be measured and it fits
just like you had it reupholstered. Except that you can
still unzip it and take it off and wash it.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Okay, so they with a zipper, unzipp it.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Wash it. Yes. Now, velvet, maybe you might want to
have it dry cleaned. But some of the new microfiber
velvets and swedes wash better than cotton. So I love
all of the new microfiber fabrics even better than they
were twenty five years ago.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
Microfiber, microfiber, right, yeah, tell me about those.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
It is a synthetic fabric, uh, polya anywhere from polyester, yes.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Take my shirt. Is microfiber anywhere.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
From a polyester to a acrylic.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Okay, And they wash easy, they wear better, yeah, that
kind of thing, all right.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Yeah, they're made for all of those wonderful three thousand
double rubs. What the they're The fabric is rated by
a double rub, so it means how many times you
can rub back and forth and sit on it.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
As here, I've got this dumb look I because I
have no idea what you're talking.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Abollway, Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Excellent, so do you. So you have to go out
to their house, to someone's house, and you do all
the measurements and.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Correct for larger pieces of furniture, club chair down to
dining chairs and little chairs. They bring it to me
and then I have an area in the store which
is at the back door. We have a little workshop
in the back and I will have the piece at
the store with me for about a week, okay, and
then we do it my calendar. So it's it's feeling it.
(09:30):
You need to get it done for the.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Holidays, okay. And so it's Estella Estella, all right. And
how do people get in touch with you?
Speaker 3 (09:37):
They can get in touch with us by messaging a Stella.
They can also call my cell or Mary Claire cell,
which my cell.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
If you whichever you want.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Yeah, yeah, my cell is four zero nine seven nine
one seven six six zero. That's how you can get
in touch with me specifically. But if you message Estella
through our website you can see the price list. It's
all under dress your furniture. So if we're not dressing you,
then we're dressing your furniture.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Love it. And what's that website?
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Estella t X dot com E.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
S T E L l A t X do dot com. Fantastic.
We're gonna come back. We're going to talk more about that.
We're gonna get into some paint colors, maybe even a
little gardening tips with Lisa here as well, So we've
got some great ground to cover no pun intended as
we talk about fall decor here on the Dana Simmons Show.
I'm Andy Hemmings with Capital Title and we'll be right back.
(10:37):
Welcome back, everyone to the Dana Simmons Real Estate Show.
This is Andy Hemmings, your guest host for today from
Capital Title. Dana, we miss you today. Hope you are
enjoying your your wonderful weekend with your family. Before we
dive back into the segment, I wanted to give a
shout out to mister al Caldwell who was just honored
(10:59):
this past well just the other night as a Man
of the Year for the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce for
his sixty seven years I believe it was sixty seven
years of service here in our community. So aw, we
love you. Congratulations to you. All right, ladies, let's talk
more about fall decorps. So what we're discussing today is
(11:20):
your home as you prepare to move into the fall season.
And we're talking both both specifically about preparing your home
for sale when you're ready to sell it, but also
just some good decorating tips too that are good no
matter if you're selling your home or not. So as
we were talking a little bit during the break, Lisa,
you mentioned how important it is to have or how
(11:44):
valuable it can be to have slipcovers to change the motif,
to change the feel of a home right as you
do it.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Okay, Well, as a stager, my job is to go
in and check out the house and see what can
enhance it and what is is kind of putting it
not so beautiful on the on the market. So when
(12:14):
I go into a house and it does have a
lot of dated furniture, like from the nineties or early
two thousands, those are those are typical colors that are
unique for that era.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
It doesn't seem like that long ago, but it was it.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
It was, And I recognize a lot of that those
fabric choices because I made those. But I'm just going
into a house the other day and they had some basic,
nice furniture. It just needed to be covered to where
(12:51):
everything was not fighting and then you can add pillows
and throws and the accents and that that's where slip
covers come in handy, very very handy, because it can
completely transform a room by just calming everything down and without.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Well without having to go buy all new furniture.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Exactly, and it's very very cost effective, especially if you've
got good furniture. Sure are just basic furniture that that
doesn't fight with everything else, because once you tone everything
down and you have your accents, that's where the magic works,
because then the client can come in and look at
(13:39):
the house and notice the beautiful crown molding, what is staged.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
They're not distracted by those off colors, so to speak.
I'm always amazed at how how big of an impact
it has just to make those changes like that. Back
when I used to sell real estate and you would
come in and help me with staging and and I
would think, oh, this room looks okay, it's fine, and
you come you'd say nay, nay, nay, and you come
in and you do your thing, and you'd make me
(14:06):
move furniture around and all that stuff. And it's just
unbelievable the difference that it makes. And I know you
get that response from your customers as well too.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
It's really about the experience from the moment that they
drive up. You got eight to ten seconds from the
moment that they drive up to have a glorious experience
and I want them to be floating through. And Julie
and I were talking about how she changes out her
her slip covers outside. That's so important. I mean just
(14:38):
having some pretty pillows on a bench as you walk in.
I mean that's instant color. And especially during the fall
when our landscaping is it's tired, and it's hot and
it's probably got you know, infestation of.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
Bugs, Southeast Texas critter right.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
And so it's it's that it's that immediate like ooh yeah,
it's that welcoming without having to say welcome.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Yeah, So Julie, that's what that's what you do, Yes,
you say welcome. Yes.
Speaker 3 (15:18):
Well, there are so many ways to to make your
front door area, especially coming into the front area, you know,
and that's the first place that you welcome, your front
door and whatever sitting next to your front door, whether
it's a wreef, a little chair, a bench, simply throwing
a holiday pillow, whatever holiday it may be, whenever your
(15:39):
house like and for you staging houses, whatever the holiday
may be, keep it fresh. And it's not a big
expense to be able to go from holiday to holiday,
to just change out that little throw and that little pillow,
just to have that welcoming point on the front door
back patio. Your patio furniture is just as important as
the living area if you are really trying to sell
(16:02):
that area as a living space outside of your home.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
And especially in Southeast Texas, because we live we do.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Live outside, even when it's hot, even when it's humid.
We're all out there because we all know what fans
are and we can keep ourselves cool, or maybe we
don't want to because we have a pool in the
backyard and you hang out by the pool. Those slipcovers
on all of those chair pads and sectional pads are
are usually something synthetic that with sands weather over time,
(16:34):
they don't I mean, if they've been out in the
sun a long time, and it is very important to
change that out or to wash them or to hose
them down, depending on what kind of furniture it may be.
But that seasonal area, like you said, I change mine
out well, of course I do so for myself as well,
So my slipcovers change out very often, including out on
(16:56):
the patio. So the big sec on our patio changes
anywhere from white to turquoise to black totope and depending
on the holiday or maybe the party that we're having.
So you have to think of your living area the
same as that outdoor living area. Yeah, and a lot
fresh and covered.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
A lot of times, you know, even with our outdoor areas,
I'll I'll throw in some different textures, cause I that's
what makes it warm and inviting inside and out. But
you know, it might not be a traditional outdoor pillow,
but might have a little bit of velvet going on
in there, absolutely because that's what I need. That's what
(17:38):
I need for the space, right Yeah, And that's what
tells a little story. And I want I want people
after I've I've been through the house and done certain things,
I want people to go. I don't know what it
is about that house. It just maybe feel good.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Yeah, that's my goal. So for somebody that that's listening
right now, that's thinking, gosh, it just sounds like a lot.
I don't even know where to begin. Having updated my
house in twenty years. You know, there's people out there,
you know, ten to twenty years, So what would you
say to them is a good place to start? Julie,
Like they if they wanted to begin updating some of
(18:18):
their furniture, some of their things. What's a good kind
of entry level point for them to start doing this?
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Well, I think for a good piece of furniture that
you're going to keep if you are ready, if your
home is on the market and you know you're moving
to wherever it is you're moving to, why not invest
in customs slopcovers. Go ahead and choose something neutral. Choose
a white dnim, Choose a natural denim, Choose something very
easily adaptable to any space. White and cream always show
(18:47):
so well in any season. And you have that custom
slopcover to bring with you to the next house that
you're moving to. So why not go ahead and invest
a little bit to make your house sell by a nice, fresh,
clean slipcover on all of your furniture and then bring
it to the new house and you're ready to go.
So everything I mentioned that before, Everything in my house
(19:11):
is slip covered because it has to come off and
be washed and put back on, only because we live
on our furniture.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Yeah, I just suddenly remembered our friend, one of our
dear friends from Alabama. Her she covered her furniture with
like plastic, right, like that clear plastic.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yeah, so.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
She had one of them walk through rooms where the
plastic path plastic path.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Yeah, yeah, that's the that's the old way. We have
new ways to do things now. To protect your furniture.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Called Julie for some slipcover, yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Yeah, because I remember that because it's like it's just plastic.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Well, and there are so many that does not say
welcome washable rugs on the market that that are literally washable.
I mean to take an entire room rug and put
it in your largeage capacity washing machine and be able
to wash it and dry it and put it back
on the floor. It's amazing. I mean the products that
they have available right now obviously at your fingertips to
(20:10):
just you know, google anything that you want to think of,
it's there.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
And yeah, and rugs especially I I I love a
rug in the in the main living room because it's
sets a tone and it and it makes it an island,
if you will. And with the other soft you know,
uh covers, and then you add some velvets and some tweeds,
(20:39):
yes you got fall.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Yeah, And I know you love using different rugs in
your stagings because sometimes I'll walk into our living room
and I'll go, oh, our rug's missing.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
So well, if a house.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Needs it, it needs I know, I know, so Julie, Uh,
real quick. Tell everybody again how they can get in
touch with you. What's what's the best way for them
to reach you.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Go to our website Estella TX dot com, message us
through messenger, okay, or you can text me, which is
the best way. That way we have a nice little
conversation between the two when we talk about slipcovers. And
send me a picture and I'll give you a quote.
But my cell number is four zero nine seven nine
to one seven six six zero, and you can just
(21:28):
drop me a text and tell me who you are
and send me a picture of your piece of furniture
and we'll go from there.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Perfect We'll be right back with more information on preparing
your home during a seasonal transition. This is Andy Hemmings,
guest host for the Dana Simmons Real Estate Show. Welcome
back to the Dana Simmons Real Estate Show. This is
Andy Hemmings guest host for today, and today we have
with us Miss Lisa Hemmings, homestager for Dana Simmons Real
(21:58):
Estate team and Miss Julie Strasberger, co owner of a
Stella boutique in downtown Beaumont. And what we've been talking
about is preparing your home during a seasonal transition. And
really specifically what we've been discussing is fabrics and rugs
and things like that and different the ways you can
use those strategically. And as we were just talking during
(22:20):
the break, we also mentioned how changing putting on a
slipcover and changing in that way can also help possibly
with odors. Okay, And I know that's not a topic.
It's not a popular topic to talk about, but it's
very very important because, especially when you're selling a home,
that's a big impact. The sense of smell is a
(22:41):
big impact when you walk into the home. And so, Julie,
if you would tell us a little bit about how
you see what you do helping in that regard.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Well.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Because your custom slipcovers are washable, you can choose your scent.
I mean you can just wash them in your regular detergent,
or you could add a little bit of you know,
those little smelly beads that you put in your washing
machine that make you they do and you add.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Some high end stuff like the high maintenance.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
What's that so that you can I don't know.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
Oh, it's called.
Speaker 3 (23:22):
Called high maintenance, and it lasts a long time with
the smell. So having a washable slipcover and adding that
scent that keeps your furniture smelling fresh, regardless if you
have the little you know, stinky feet dog that runs around.
I don't know why little dogs have stinky feet, but
(23:43):
they do. And that's why washable slipcovers are amazing because
you can always wash all their little throat blankets that
they sleep on that are also your accent throws on
your sofa as well as your slipcover. But that first
initial door opened to a home and you don't want
to necessarily smell like, oh gosh, it's a candle factory.
(24:04):
But at the same time it should smell fresh and
clean without it smelling like cleaning products.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
Right. Yeah, So, Lisa, you were talking about that, how
there's some certain sense even though they're clean and your
home is clean, it may have a not the best
effect that you're looking for.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Well, very important. I mean it goes to the senses.
It locks in there. You know, even if your house
is absolutely decorated perfectly and you go in and it's.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
A stale dog odor or a.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Cat oder or what have you. And I have clients
a lot of times go did you smell anything? Yeah,
And you don't want to be hit with a lot
of perfume sense. So I always tell people, you know,
stay away from food sense candles like you know, the
green berlelet, that kind of stuff, because you don't know
(24:59):
what the client is when the client is coming. They
might be coming at three o'clock in the afternoon, they
might be a little high, angry, and then they get
that scent of the sugar cookie.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Or the They're like, I guess, yeah, that would be me.
I'm like, let's go.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
I've seen that in action. Actually, So what I tell
people is, you know, tend to if you're going to
put a cent, or if you're going to clean with
the product, go with like stuff like simple Green that's
a fresh clean scent. Stay away from the strongolders like
(25:39):
fantastico are like pinel. Yeah, those are Those are two
cents that I've over the years I have heard and
from just clients go oh that completely turns me off.
Are they really like it? It's it's an either or
so for the most part, I tend to tell people,
(26:02):
you know, go with gain scent. If you're go, go
with a linen scent cotton.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
That's something good for any any any season, really absolutely Okay.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
Well, and it's the fabric detergent that you use on
your clothing. So it's one that you know that you
don't want your clothes to smell. So if you're going
to wash some of the items in your home, whether
it's just the little throaw blankets that you throw over
the back of the sofa, making sure that those are
something that reflect you, then they smell nice.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
And it's and you don't jump to that conclusion which
some people do that it's they're trying to hide some
of smell. Yes, this is.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Real strong, Yes you can take.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Whereas if you smell that freshly laundered smell, it's like, oh,
what it tells the psyche is, oh, this house is
super clean.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Yeah. Yeah, So this is interesting. I never really thought
of about how the using how the fabric strategy will
call it can really help in that regard as well.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
And fabric and decor and keeping all of those things clean,
just like you do your bed and your own clothing
is very important for just the health of your home
and yourself. I mean, when you think about washing all
of those customslip covers and that you can take them
off and wash them, that's washing away dust mites, that's
washing away cat hair and dog hair and everything else
(27:27):
that they brought in with them after walking around in
the yard. So it does. It goes all the way
around with just simple hygiene, with keeping everything clean but
also keeping it looking fresh and fabulous. So it works
hand in hand.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
Yeah, definitely. And so Lisa, your role with Dana's team
is to help them get that home ready to sell
as quickly as possible. And it works. Obviously, the statistics
prove that outraised She just raised her eyebrows, like, you're right,
it does. It does. I heard that. So whenever you
go into a home and you know, maybe let's stick
(28:03):
with the odor topic here, and you need to tell
them something, you need to give them some advice, and
you don't want to hurt their feelings, how do you
talk to them about that? How do you express that?
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Well, I'll explain to them, you know, the different sense
and if it is overwhelming they are expecting.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
I mean, it's a lot of them already know maybe yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
They're usually asking me, okay, They're like, did you smell anything?
And sometimes I'll tell them sometimes, you know, I don't
smell anything. It's that fine balance between overwhelming the senses
with lots of perfumes and just giving it an overall
(28:52):
sense of cleanliness. Feel. Now, during the fall, you can
throw in some some like warm scents like uh, like
Christmas tree smells fur tree, pumpkin spice. Maybe you know,
(29:15):
not too much pumpkin spice, because then that's just.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
That's a handful pie. That might be a pumpkin pie
of it. And then yeah, and then it was hungry.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
Yes. I remember when we bought our house, they had
these air fresheners in there that were just they were
just wonderful.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
They were gain sent Was it gain scents? Why I
found that.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Ill that I think about I immediately go back to
when I first walked into that house, when we first
looked at it. I mean, it just it hit been like, oh,
this is really nice.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
I remember I remember you saying that. And throughout the
years of me staging, and I mean you can really
there's different stages in staging where you know, you gotta
you gotta look at the daycore. You got to look
at the overall day corps how it looks, and then
(30:05):
you got to look at the smell, because the smell
goes back to the senses of you know, man, this
house is really clean. I'm getting a good deal and
you are. Yeah, it's just it's a fact.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
Ye.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
Yeah, that's the first thing that and that's the first thing.
So the first thing you see is the front door,
and the next thing that hits you is the smell
as the door opens.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
And I want that kind of virtual I want them
to open that door.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
Up and just go.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
Yeah. So do you advise people on where they can
go to get these scents or like, what are some
what are some of your go to suggestions for them
to help them to make their house smell good? Maybe
certain air fresheners or things like that.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Yeah, just the local grocery store, yeah are you know,
and cleaners. I always send people to either loads on depot,
you know, outdoor. But for the scent, I tend to
go with uh, clean laundry, Yeah, clean laundry and simple
(31:12):
green in the kitchen because it's a it's a bidegradable,
it's a clean scent, it's not in your face, and
it's safe for pets and children.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
Gotcha, people's people. You still have pets?
Speaker 3 (31:27):
Yes, I do, I have many.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
We still have. We still have one pet, Lil, our cat,
who was introduced to us by Julie, and Lil has
been a wonderful addition to our family.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
That's so sweet. We have five kitty cats that run
around in our house and two little dogs.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Gotcha that you wash the little paws.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
We're slip covered.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Yes, okay, we will be right back with the Day
Simmons Real Estate Show. Stay tuned. Next, we're going to
talk a little bit about gardening and preparing the outdoor
areas of your home as we move into the fall.
This is Andy Hemmings with capital title, and we'll be
right back. Welcome back to the Dana Simmons Real Estate Show.
(32:18):
This is your guest host, Andy Hemmings with capital title,
and thank you for joining us today. We are talking
with Miss Lisa Hemmings from the Dana Simmons Real Estate
team and Miss Julie Strassberger, co owner of Estella Boutique,
and we're talking about decorating your home specifically for fall
and during seasonal transitions and so far, we've we've talked
(32:39):
a lot about your furniture and the benefits of slip
covers and what a good strategy that can be for
you for your decorp And we just talked a little
bit about odors in your home too and some strategies there.
And what I wanted to also make sure that we
cover is gardening and preparing your outdoor areas. So as
(33:00):
we move into this fall season. Uh, Lisa, what would
you say are some of the things that you run
across when you go out to look at people's homes
during this time of year, and maybe some strategies that
you give to them.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
A lot of times during this time of year. As
we said earlier, it's it's been a long, hot summer
and it's still going to be a couple of more
weeks until we get a little bit, a little bit
more relief. But you often see the during this time.
(33:35):
You often see in the big box stores moms coming out.
That's a that's an easy.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Pop for moms. Okay, hop for color.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
I do tell people, you know, if if you've got
some plants that are stressed beyond repair, just go ahead
and pull them up. We don't need to see that
it's it's better just to have an empty area, and
it is very expensive to completely transform, but it's also
(34:11):
very important as the drive up. So it's a two
double edged sword, if you will. So just the other
day I had a client and I drove up and
they were saying, you know, we need to know what
to do with these boxwoods, and and they had some
(34:34):
empty spots, but then they had some older plants that
were more established. I'm like, let's use that as the backdrop,
and let's not break the bank. You don't need anything
over here, here and here, but let's get the most
amount of color right at the front door, because you're
(34:56):
you're wanting to be drawn to the front door, and
my are the best thing to do right now? And
make sure that if you if you can't even do that,
at least clean the beds and put some mulch, Yeah,
fresh mulch, and try to steer clear of the red mulch.
(35:20):
It's just not yeah, most houses, it just doesn't accent it.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
Yeah. You always recommend it dark, like a dark brown
or even brown are black. Yeah, yeah, it makes a
nice uh palette.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
Well, it's kind of like an outline for the house.
Speaker 1 (35:35):
Yeah, it makes a huge difference. Yeah, very good, Julie.
What what what do you say about plants? What's your thoughts?
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Well, I'm going to jump away from estella just for
a moment. And while you're mulching those flower beds, you know,
I also a part of bug me not pest control. Okay,
so sometimes that does kind of jump in there. Make
sure you don't pile that mulch up against the foundation
of your home.
Speaker 1 (36:02):
Can would be so proud of you right now.
Speaker 3 (36:04):
Proud of perfect That is my that is my number
one thing. If you have to add multch to your
flower beds, make sure you start that up and then
put the mulch in, but do not pile the mulch
up around your foundation or near the wheatpoles. Right still
clear intection during the inspection termite inspection will will call
(36:26):
a big yes.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
Yes, great point, I know.
Speaker 3 (36:32):
Or if you are completely redoing that flower bed, then
make like a little rock edge so that you do
a one foot segment away from the foundation and you
could put like river rock or less expensive rock along
that edge. That way, your mulch stops there and out
to the flower bed.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
Yeah, excellent point. Yeah, So what about people don't need
necessarily plant new plants in the in the bed. Right,
you can use potted plants as well, right, I know
you do that a lot at our house.
Speaker 2 (37:01):
Yes, I I well, I love boogom be Is. That's
one of my favorite stain. Yeah they are, they are
just going nuts. But here in Southeast Texas, we we
have freezes every now and then, so I always keep
mind and boogom v is like to be bound and
(37:24):
tight fin So I have big, oversized pots. I've got
smaller pots, and I move. I staged my backyard like
a stage my house. I mean, I'll move stuff around
and when it gets boring, then I'll do something different.
But placing them in pots also you can take them
(37:50):
with you, yeah, exactly, And if they die, you can
replace them a lot quicker.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
And the pots themselves become decorative pieces. I know, we've
got some really really pretty, really pretty pots that the
pot itself becomes an accent piece.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
Exactly, look at me, look at you, mister Gardner decoration.
Speaker 1 (38:11):
That's right, but you, but you mentioned that you can
take the pots with you. Just a quick little real
estate tip here that I think Dane would chime in. Also,
make sure like, especially if you're taking big decorative pots
with you, make sure the buyer knows that list it
is an exclusion even though it's not attached per se
(38:31):
and it's not something that you technically have to list
as an exclusion. A lot of times buyers assume it's
going to stay and if you take it, you might.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Have a little like the big front porch Earn.
Speaker 1 (38:43):
Yeah, list it is an exclusion if you're going to
take it with you, even though technically you don't quote
unquote have to because it's not an attachment. Just a
good idea to do that.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
That's a great point. Like when we sold our first house,
I did mosaic bird bath and a lot of people
were like, oh, we does that come with the house.
It's like, of course not, but we were.
Speaker 1 (39:07):
Very mosaic my hand in the middle of that.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
I know. So I do often tell people, you know,
if if you're going to be doing decorative things, even curtains,
because they are actually attached, just make sure that if
you are attached to the curtains that you want them
to go with you, then you you definitely want to
(39:35):
tell the perspective buyer right perspective buyer put them on
a disclosure.
Speaker 1 (39:42):
Gotcha, gotcha? Okay, very good? So uh you mentioned Mum's
being one of the plants that's a that's a good
plant for this time. You hear any other plants that
work well in the fall through the fall season, well when.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
It gets a little cooler. Pansies are always adorable.
Speaker 1 (39:57):
That was it.
Speaker 2 (39:58):
Yeah, and you can eat pantsy too.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
You know, you can can get hungry enough.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
They're very delicious peppery flavor. Indeed, yes they are, and they.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
Make a lovely salad nisturtians. Anyway, I digress and even
into the colder months, like you know, you've got point settus.
You can put point settas they grow in the ground,
but you can also just dig a hole and put
(40:26):
them in this in the actual pot down in there.
That makes it a little bit easier to change them
out if they tend to not make it.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
Gotcha, Yeah, okay, very good. Well, ladies, this has been
a nice wide ranging discussion on fall decors and different strategies.
And Julie, pardon me, Julie, tell us again, get a
little cough there. Tell us again how people can get
in touch with you for their slipcover needs.
Speaker 3 (41:00):
You can message us through Estella. That's at Estella tx
dot com. You can go to the website check out
all the precious, precious dresses and clothing, plus looking at
our information and priceless for dresser furniture, for slipcovers. We
do have more things coming to that little uh, that
(41:21):
little section of the website for fabric selections and things
like that very very soon. And then you can also
message me or text me at four O nine seven
nine one seven sixty six zero. My name is Julie.
Mary Claire's in the store all the time as well.
Speaker 1 (41:38):
She can your lovely daughter.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
Yes she shoulder said.
Speaker 1 (41:40):
She was born.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Yes, she can help you there too, and you can
shop and shop for fabric as well.
Speaker 1 (41:48):
Fantastic. Well, we really appreciate you being here today. Congratulations
on all your success. Have seen you and Ken through
many different ventures and they've all they've always been successful.
And I just love the style that y'all bring here
to Southeast Texas. Thank you, you, bet you, Lisa, thank
you for being here as well. Yeah, we'll see you
(42:09):
back at the house a little bit. Thank you all
for tuning in. This has been the Dana Simmons Real
Estate Show. Your guest host Andy Hemmings. You all have
a wonderful, wonderful day and a happy upcoming holiday season.
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