Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeanne Westmoreland.
Jeanne, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Entrepreneurship began for me in 1993 but really came into the forefront when, then named, Classic Originals partnered with the newly formed Buckhead retailer Dekor in 2000. I was a member of both their Designer and Craftsman Guilds. Powercore CEO Wendy Kinney used to call me the “medallion queen”, as my detail, hand-painted ceiling medallions were hung on the store’s wall as examples to sell more custom painted Jeanne Westmoreland ceiling medallions. I was also one of the contract interior designers assigned to Dekor clients who had hired decorating services through the store.
Classic Staging & Design LLC was the new name once I added home staging as a line item service in 2005. It quickly became obvious to me that Staging was definitely not part of the Interior Design industry but of Real Estate instead. The name was once again changed to Classic Staging LLC and is now known as one of the top staging companies in the city.
My training came from the best. My teacher and mentor is Barb Schwarz, recognized as the founder and creator of the home staging industry. I am one of only two active Accredited Staging Professional Masters® (ASPM®) in the state of Georgia and have been the international president of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP®)
The latest and most exciting addition to Classic Staging is our newly opened 6000 sq.ft. Workroom and Warehouse located in the shadow of Kennesaw Mountain in Marietta, GA. Our warehouse is open by appointment for our realtors, clients, and even other stagers to tour and use.
The best is yet to come!
Has it been a smooth road?
Atlantans did not know what home staging was in 2005! My early presentations focused mostly on teaching realtors and sellers about what the service of staging really is or can be and why they should consider using it.
Then along came HGTV! Viewers became hooked on the possibilities! Classic Staging even got involved, along with three other colleagues. We won the opportunity to Stage 2 homes for the FLIP THIS HOUSE ATLANTA series. Through pouring rain, mud drenched driveways, no heat or toilets, and curtain calls before dawn; we learned that what you see as the finished result on TV is just a bit distorted!
So HGTV, A&E and others did the work for us by bringing staging into the spotlight. What a great thing! But what has also happened, because of the “Hollywood effect”, is now consumers have a false expectation of what the investment really is going to be.
My regular challenge is explaining and justifying to my clients what their investment in staging will be, and for what service, and why they should move forward with the project. And the answer is…….
“Staging is an investment and not a cost because there is a direct return. Staging creates a measurable and
marketable change in the perceived value of a property. It will cause the house to sell more quickly and it will sell for more money than if it were not staged. We call this ROSI, Return on Staging Investment.”
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Classic Staging LLC – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Classic Staging works in both vacant and occupied homes. There are separate services offered for each but the main two are Walk and Talk consultations for occupieds and Lifestyle Staging for vacants.
The Walk and Talk is a very concise, goal and guideline driven 2-3 hour consultation, delivered in a gentle manner to teach the client how to prepare their own home for market. If they are unable to do the work themselves, we have a team that can showcase a home in one day.
Lifestyle Staging for vacants means we prepare each project in a custom manner, addressing specifically the target buying audience and the stature of the home. This is different from other staging companies. We own and house all of our own inventory and have a vast amount of unique and interesting, fun pieces to incorporate into our projects. We LOVE to shop, so colors and styles stay current to the most up to trends.
It is extremely gratifying to count many realtor clients we have partnered with for over 10 years and they continue to refer us to their colleagues and clients. Sellers have come back to Classic Staging for help with second and third generations of selling homes. We are a referral based business and honored to continue to be called upon.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Atlanta is my beloved home. I have lived here all of my life… well, since the 4th grade! Almost all of my family is still in the Atlanta area, including my parents, children and grandchildren.
I love our people AND our places. Atlantans are warm and inviting. We say Hey! and we hug. When someone moves here from another place, our forwardness sometimes seems awkward to them. But soon they realize, that’s just our way!
It is absolutely fantastic and exciting to see our growth. We actually make movies and music here now! And the move toward the people-friendly ‘Work Live Play’ concept is taking a strong-hold in all parts of the city. The pride I felt seeing us play hostess to the Olympics is indescribable. Planning for that event itself was one of the motivating factors that began our revitalization. The dream to see Downtown and its fabulous historic parts such as Little Five Points, Virginia Highlands, the West End, Oakhurst, Midtown to just name a few… what fun it is to hang out in the city. And Buckhead, I miss the old little Buckhead Village, but wow what a grand place it is now. In a past life, I worked for MSA at the corner of Peachtree and Lenox. John Imlay, our CEO predicted Buckhead’s boom. He must have been an insider. When my husband Philip and I moved our family to Woodstock in 1990 (he called it a townette, LOL), we talked about its potential; and now, it has surpassed some of our other little OTP towns and is actually a destination! Yes, I love Atlanta.
Ok, so let’s talk about the traffic. THIS is my dislike. Wow! I’m really counting on that flyover up 75 to take the traffic back a notch! And, let’s get rapid rail up to Cobb and Cherokee County. Please.
Pricing:
- Vacant Staging is custom and the industry norm to anticipate is 1-3% of the asking price.
- Walk and Talk Consultations start at 2 hours for $295.00. Additional hours are $125 each.
Contact Info:
- Address: Mailing Address: 1207 Primrose Lane Woodstock, GA 30189
Workroom/Warehouse: 1349 Old 41 Hwy, #215, Marietta, GA . 30060 - Website: http://www.classicstagingllc.com
- Phone: 404-234-6908
- Email: jeannewe@classicstagingllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classicstagingllc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@classicstaging
Image Credit:
Jerry King, J. King Images, John Bailey Realty, The Stormont Team, J D Kellum, Keller Williams Realty, Ro Presinger, Berkshire Hathaway, Home Services, Nestor Rivera, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
