Every quarter we celebrate the realtors, developers, and home renovators who are so often our home staging clients. They understand the value of home staging. In honor of Get to Know Your Customers Day (we prefer Get to Know Our Client Day), we asked Jusztina Paksai, realtor with Elyse Harney Real Estate and partner with husband Andy in EJ Home, a few questions. We’ve enjoyed staging a couple homes in northwestern Connecticut for Jusztina. Learn more about this dynamic real estate agent.
Every quarter we celebrate the realtors, developers, and home renovators who are so often our home staging clients. They understand the value of home staging. In honor of Get to Know Your Customers Day (we prefer Get to Know Our Client Day), we asked Jusztina Paksai, realtor with Elyse Harney Real Estate and partner with husband Andy in EJ Home, a few questions. We’ve enjoyed staging a couple homes in northwestern Connecticut for Jusztina. Learn more about this dynamic real estate agent.
Every quarter we celebrate the realtors, developers, and flippers who are so often our home staging clients. They understand the value of home staging. In honor of Get to Know Your Customers Day (we prefer Get to Know Our Client Day), we asked Janet Nelson, Realtor, Litchfield County Brokerage of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, a few questions. We recently staged a cozy cottage (and its studio outbuilding) in Sherman, CT for Janet, which went under contract almost immediately! Read on…
Since moving to Kent in 1984, Janet Nelson has designed and built two country homes. She is intimately familiar with the building process and has experience in interior design; these skills perfectly dovetail with her successful real estate career. Janet specializes in long-distance clients and transactions in Litchfield County, Connecticut.
Becoming a Realtor 28 years ago offered me the flexibility and freedom I wanted.
Michael Bowman Photography
William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty offers me the tools and support I need to make my career a success. You also have to listen to your clients and ask questions to help guide them through the process.
Everyone appreciates the beauty of the Northwest corner and what it has to offer. We have rolling hills, covered bridges, hiking trails, great eateries and lots of beautiful homes, antique and new.
Lack of inventory has been the biggest challenge, leaving many disappointed buyers losing out in multiple bid situations.
Our goal with this smaller home was to make it feel bright and open — a home where you can happily settle into for long winter months…and all the other months as well. Michael Bowman Photography
I have seen many homes over the years that have been decorated by Staged Ryte. I recently sold a house they staged in Sharon that my buyers were attracted to because it was staged beautifully. Dawn and her crew are terrific, talented, flexible and a pleasure to work with.
Learn more about Janet and her listings here!
Want to learn more about Staged Ryte’s home staging, design consulting, and more? Or just go ahead and contact Dawn Trachtenberg for a phone conversation: 917.543.4590. Email: dawn@stagedryte.com
Every quarter we celebrate the realtors, developers, and flippers who are so often our home staging clients. They understand the value of home staging. In honor of Get to Know Your Customers Day (we prefer Get to Know Our Client Day), we asked Julie King, Regional Manager for the Litchfield County Brokerage of William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, a few questions. Read on!
My own search for a home here in the Litchfield Hills. Like many second home buyers, my husband and I embarked on our search while working full time in Manhattan. This got me thinking about the unmet needs of second home buyers in the Litchfield Hills and how the skills developed in my career as SVP Director of Client Leadership at Ogilvy were transferable to real estate. My interest in securing a real estate license accelerated when we moved to the Litchfield Hills full-time and expanded our weekend cottage into a home. In 2014, I retired from Ogilvy and embarked on my mission to become a REALTOR. In 2018, I joined WIlliam Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty. In 2021, I became Regional Manager of our Litchfield Hills Brokerage offices in Kent, Litchfield, Salisbury, and Washington.
A keen understanding of human nature and how buyers and sellers make decisions.
We staged 6 Rug Road in West Cornwall, Connecticut. In less than a week it received multiple offers and went under contract. Photos: Michael Bowman.
Turning our client’s ideal into a reality. For example, when my husband and I decided to buy a second home our ideal was to wake up to exceptional views, enjoy breakfast on the porch, hike local trails, explore hidden gems, and share our love of this area with friends and family. And we did and it is incredibly rewarding to do the same for our clients.
Dispelling the myths of what’s happening to the real estate market. Much of the media reporting focuses on the major metro markets where demand has softened. In our market, we continue to see an influx of buyers seeking homes here. With demand high and inventory low, our prices remain stable.
Kent, Connecticut staging from a couple years ago.
Sometimes we like to do the unexpected.
I discovered Staged Ryte through our team in the Berkshire Hills - they had been working with Staged Ryte and shared your work with us. We were impressed and continue to be.
Engagement without fear as people grow more confident about their ability to contend with Covid. Personally, I’m looking forward to entertaining as we complete the renovation of our home in Washington. We started with the outside last spring and will finish the inside by summer. Just in time to shop the warehouse sale at StagedRyte! [Editor’s Note: Thanks, Julie! Our Warehouse Sale is May 5, 6, and 7 at 21 Business Park Road in Ashley Falls, Massachusetts.]
Thanks, Julie! You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn and follow Litchfield Hills William Pitt on Facebook and Instagram.
Every quarter we celebrate the realtors, developers, and flippers who are so often our home staging clients. They understand the value of home staging. In honor of Get to Know Your Customers Day (we prefer Get to Know Our Client Day), we asked Elyse Harney Morris of Elyse Harney Real Estate a few questions about how she got into real estate in the Northwestern Corner, the secret sauce of Elyse Harney Real Estate's success, and looking to the future of real estate in the Berkshires, Massachusetts, Northwestern Connecticut, and Dutchess County, New York. Read on!
My parents were the innkeepers of the White Hart [in Salisbury, Connecticut]. And so we grew up with a hospitality mindset. I went to Cornell School of Hotel Administration and went on to work at five star hotels in the Caribbean, Hawaii, and others. We eventually wanted to move back home where there are no natural disasters! We had to think about where we wanted to educate our kids.
Hospitality is an amazing learning ground for real estate. My mom, Elyse Harney, started Elyse Harney Real Estate at the age of 50 and wanted to keep it in the family. So we came into the business. I’m the lead broker. My husband Scott runs the business side, including marketing.
And now we’ve been doing this for 16 plus years! Elyse Harney Real Estate celebrated its 35th anniversary last year.
Hospitality is a cornerstone. Our greatest strength is our talented agents who are creative ambassadors for our region. We have 34 agents in our Connecticut/Massachusetts/New York area. Many of them came to real estate through hospitality like I did.
You constantly have to build strong relationships. You also need to stay on top of the industry trends, including marketing trends. And pay attention to detail.
It’s interesting, prior to COVID, buyers often only wanted to look at a specific town, like Salisbury or Litchfield. Now people are more aware of the region: you don’t have to be in Connecticut, you can be in the Berkshires or Dutchess County, New York.
This Elyse Harney Real Estate listing in Alford, Massachusetts went under contract within one week. The home owners said, “Thank you for the beautiful way you staged our family home. You clearly had the magic touch! We are grateful…for your creativity and hard work.” See more testimonials. “After” photo by Sonja Zinke.
Accomplishing a goal! Seeing our home buyers flourish in their new communities. We love encouraging buyers to get involved with what they're interested in, maybe its history, so we guide them toward a town's historical society. I often bring clients to the Salisbury Ski Jump, even when it’s not winter. The following year we’ll see the kids there taking lessons or they’re attending the Jump. When people get involved with their communities, they’re more likely to love the area and encourage their family and friends to move here. And recommend us to their family and friends.
New Listing; New Staging
31 Robin Hill Road in Lakeville, Connecticut is a mid-century modern home renovated by EJ Home and listed with Elyse Harney Morris and Jusztina Paksai of Elyse Harney Real Estate. We staged this home for contemporary living. It was offered up to us beautifully empty and ready professional staging. We grounded the great room with a darker rug, sofa, cocktail table, and chair. And we allowed the furnishings and accessories in the rest of the home to emphasize light and bright. Photo by Sonja Zinke.
Staying ahead of this ever-changing market. Lack of inventory right now. Staying ahead of the competition. And evolving our practices to be 10 steps ahead. Home staging is part of this…
Instagram! Dawn had transformed a farmhouse in Southfield, Massachusetts. I couldn’t believe how it was transformed—as you went from room to room you could see the lifestyle Dawn had created.
Staged Ryte has done a log home for us that’s on the market right now. It significantly increased the number of buyers who want to see the house.
Staged Ryte transformed this log home, staging every room. The living room—truly a great room— features large furniture, grounded by an area rug, that manages to make the space cozy…and spacious. Photo by Sonja Zinke.
I did research, saw Staged Ryte’s positive reviews, and their professional approach. Dawn’s eye for design and large inventory helps to put homes in their best light. We’ve closed on houses because of what she created. She knows her audience. It’s like smoke comes out of her ears when she’s assessing a house. She doesn’t settle on a design until it’s perfect. We work collaboratively together so we’re all part of the same team.
Every year we have exceeded our goals—and we’ve set lofty goals for 2023! We’re excited to take on that challenge. We also want to strengthen our market share in Dutchess County and the Berkshires.
Staged right now, 36 Whitford Road in Sharon, Connecticut is a gorgeous estate. Staged Ryte staged the magnificent home as well as the guest house and pool house. Photo by Sonja Zinke.
One of my mother’s goals is to conserve more land and educate buyers and sellers about conservation. Harney & Sons, also a family company, donates to the 1% for the Planet fund. We have strong connections with the Columbia and Dutchess Land Conservancies. The Housatonic Valley Association and Scenic Hudson. That’s important to us.
Looking for more work/life balance. Focusing on health, family and friends. More time out paddling, biking, hiking. We have a puppy, Cooper, a golden retriever. I look forward to seeing my newlywed daughter in Napa soon. Visit our son in Hawaii; he works for NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] as a marine biologist. A trip to France. Life is good.
Every quarter —or so—we celebrate the realtors, developers, and flippers who are so often our home staging clients. They are the ones who understand the value of home staging to sell homes fast. We asked Jason Lemon of Lemon Properties a few questions about himself and his very busy business in Connecticut’s beautiful northwestern corner. We have staged two homes for Lemon Properties and look forward to more! Read on!
Staged Ryte has staged four houses for realtor George Cain. It’s a joy to work with George: not only is he a hard-working professional and all-around fun guy, he absolutely sees the value of home staging. What he says is, “I don’t think home staging works…I know home staging works!” We love that. It’s Get to Know Your Customer Day, so it’s the perfect time for us to showcase George. Read on!
I’ve been a realtor for 17 years but have been a real estate investor and real estate manager for decades.
Beautiful home staged for George Cain, Winter 2021. William Pitt Sothebys International Realty.
My business experience (which is quite relevant to being a realtor) is both diversified and extensive. In addition to my decades of real estate and management experience, I also held significant Fortune 500 company positions, gaining experience in finance, advertising, marketing, sales, and management.
I think 2021 will continue to be good for real estate due to ongoing low mortgage rates and New Yorkers fleeing NYC to migrate to Massachusetts and Connecticut. These states will benefit from that exodus. At the same time, I think there may be slower economic growth associated with higher taxes and more government regulations. Nevertheless, New Yorkers leaving the city will save so much in taxes and others costs that they can well afford real estate in the Berkshires.
“Staged Ryte’s attention to detail is impressive.” Thanks, George!
I don’t think staging works…I know staging works! I have seen homes that sat on the market too long be totally reassessed by buyers after staging. Ironically, too many sellers look at $10K, $20K, $30K or more price reductions before considering a staging investment at a much less significant cost.
Why staged Ryte? Simple, I have worked with and seen other stager’s operations and I have worked with and seen Staged Ryte’s operations on four different occasions. The results have been dramatic. Staged Ryte’s attention to detail is impressive. On two of my Staged Ryte listings, the first person to enter that listing purchased the home! That shows the impact of their work. On my third listing, that did not sell on day one (but within six weeks). I had other agents that showed that home contact me for Staged Ryte’s info. My fourth experience just listed. There were eight showings in the first week based on fabulous photos with Staged Ryte’s staging. I expect a sale very soon.
These days, I’m looking forward to a return to “normality” where I can attend broker open houses, see new listings in person, have closings without masks, shake someone’s hand and not simply bumping elbows. Now I really know what people mean when they talk about “The Good Old Days!”
Before and After at Heron Pond in Monterey, MA.
21 Putnam Park, Greenwich, CT. George Cain listing with Charles Paternina Properties.
George is a family man with a wonderful wife, six children, and 12 grandchildren! Not surprisingly, he’s even more passionate about them than he is about real estate (and he LOVES helping people to buy and sell homes).
Learn more about George in the Berkshires with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty here (and check out two AMAZING listings). Learn more about George’s listing (staged by us!) in Greenwich, CT with Charles Paternina Properties. Or just call him directly at 917.861.3855.
Read our last Get to Know Our Customer Day blog post here.
