Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Garcia.
Amanda, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Houston Home Staging & Design began 12 years ago when I met my now husband. He was great, but his house was not! He had recently moved to an older home near I-10 and Wilcrest from a downtown loft. All of his furniture went great in the loft, but not in an old single-family residence. It drove me crazy! Nothing made sense. I was about to graduate college with a Biology degree, so I was not on the path of interior design at all. However, after we got married and had our first son, we decided to renovate the house. My husband was a bit hesitant when I wanted to knock down several walls in the main living space, but he went with it. The transformation completely changed the functionality as well as aesthetics of the home. By changing the space, I changed the way I felt about the house. That process began a new career path for me. When we sold that house for a nice profit, we got the flipping bug and decided to do it again. At that point, it made sense for me to get my Real Estate license to find my own deals. After a few successful flips, homeowners liked what we did to our houses so much that they hired me to renovate theirs. That is how I started working with clients. It wasn’t planned at all, it just morphed into something more. Shortly thereafter, the mortgage crisis hit, and I focused on working with clients instead of flips. Being a Realtor also, I was able to view many different properties and saw that many sellers and other Realtors struggle with how to present their property in the best light. So, in 2012 after staging my own listings and helping a few other Realtors with theirs, I realized there was a great need to help people maximize the potential and bring out the best in their homes. Even if they can’t do a major remodel there is so much you can do to showcase the positives and make a space inviting. At that point, the business continued to evolve and I got the opportunity to work on the Southern Living Showcase Home which resulted in Houston Home Staging & Design winning the 2015 Prism Award for Best Master Bath Interior Design and Finalist for Best Family Room Interior Design. Following the Prism awards, I began working with other homeowners on the design of their homes from architecture phase throughout construction. Today, I am fortunate enough to be able to work on so many of the different aspects of the Residential Design and Real Estate that I love, whether it is selling, staging, remodeling, or helping with the overall design of a home. There is so much satisfaction in taking a room or an entire house and making it shine.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every new business has to struggle to grow. I have learned to be adaptable and flexible when necessary. Many of the challenges are common to small business owners, and moms in particular. First and foremost, I am a wife and mother. I think most moms, those that work inside the home or outside the home, have an internal struggle with the balance of taking care of their family and contributing to the family financially or just for your own identity outside of the home. That has been the biggest for me and I knew early on that a 9-5 wouldn’t be the right fit. I feel like I get the best of both worlds. A few of the other elements that have been a little difficult along the way have certainly been market shifts, economic changes, etc. But, those have also been the things that helped me and my business grow and be able to explore new opportunities.
Please tell us about Houston Home Staging & Design.
Perspective is what sets us apart. Every client needs home services at some point. It may be prior to listing for sale, after purchasing a new home, or a remodel instead of selling. Our 10-year proven track record allows us to approach each project with confidence. Being a Realtor myself, I understand firsthand many of the struggles Realtors face when helping their clients prepare a home for listing. Staging a home is not just pillows and a bowl of lemons. When we stage a property, we create a space that triggers an emotional response to that property. We are known for bringing the highest sale price quickly and consistently. When it comes to design and remodels, our award-winning deliverables extend from Hardscape and pools to kitchen and bath remodels to additions.
I’m proud of the versatility of Houston Home Staging & Design. I have learned so much about the different aspects of the industry and how they come together. We can be a “one stop shop” for some clients, or part of a team with other Realtors, contractors, and investors for others. No two projects are the same. We work with the client to find and execute the best solution for them.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I can’t really narrow it down to just one. One of my favorite memories is going on day long trail rides with my mom. I definitely got my love for horses from her. We would pack lunches and ride all day. Another favorite would be playing sports with my dad. We would play tennis, softball, basketball, and football (I wanted to be the first female quarterback in the NFL, but that obviously didn’t happen!). The last one I will include has to be my grandfather running around pushing my sister and I in his wheelbarrow. I think those memories motivate me get up and play with my kids and not just sit on the sidelines.
Contact Info:
- Website: houston-staging.com
- Phone: 713-501-9930
- Email: info@houston-staging.com
- Other: https://www.houzz.com/pro/houstonhomestaginganddesign/houston-home-staging-and-design
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