Welcome!

Here it is — the first blog post on my new website!  I wanted to take just a moment to let you know how I arrived at this place and where we’re headed from here.  It will be my honor and privilege to have you join me on my journey.

In January of 2007 I found myself unemployed after having left a job at a swanky country club in Buckhead.  What next?  For some strange reason, I decided to become licensed as a Realtor.   I mean, what else did I have to do?  I signed up for classes at the local GAMLS office and got to work.

One day, while on class break, I ventured into the little retail store.  I happened upon a book on Home Staging and thought it looked interesting.  I purchased the book, took it home, read the entire thing that night, and immediately knew that I wanted to be a home stager!  I proceeded with my RE classes and got my license, signed up with the local Keller Williams office, then tried to figure out how to get started in home staging.

Fast forward a few months.  In July of 2007 I became accredited as a home stager through StagedHomes.com.  In August I was open for business!  And the rest, as they say, is history.

Not quite.  We all know what’s been going on with the Real Estate market the past few years, right?  If you haven’t heard, I guess you’ve been living in a cave in the mountains of Peru.  Yes, the market tanked the year (maybe even the day?) that I got into real estate.  I remember hearing comments around the office like, “I’ve never seen anything like this before!”  Of course, I was concentrating on staging rather than selling, but my business was affected, too.

To make a long story not quite so long, it’s been tough to get a staging business up and running these past few years.  Yes, sellers need staging more than ever, but given the economy, not many are willing to pay for it.  Since I’m tired of working for free, I decided I needed to reinvent myself, but how?

Several months ago I became a certified color consultant.  Wow, I had no idea there were so many people out there who couldn’t decide what color to paint their living room!  I continue to get calls frequently from frantic homeowners.  In fact, just this morning I received an email that said, “I DESPERATELY need your help!”  So these days, while my business is in transition, I am working primarily as a color consultant and interior stylist.  Woo hoo!!!

All that to say, I am in the process of transitioning my business from Stage, Show & Sell Home Staging Co. to Patsy Overton Interiors.  While my former business was all about home staging, my new business is much broader, encompassing color consultations, decorating, redesign and, yes, home staging. 

That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.  Please join me as I delve into the wonderful world of home de′cor whether it be through decorating or home staging.  I’ll share some educational news, trends, photos of recent jobs, and the funny things that happen along the way.  It’s going to be fun!  Please check in often and share the journey with me.  Again, welcome!