Today we’d like to introduce you to Elaine Shaffer.
Elaine, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Organic Home Staging was founded in the fall of 2017 out of a passion for real estate, home decorating and helping others. My husband and I moved to Houston in 2015 and I had recently retired as a Human Resource Director. I spent the next couple of years volunteering for the Ronald McDonald House, Houston Junior Women’s Club and the Magnificat House of Houston. I realized I wanted to do more, so I began to explore home staging. I researched and found a program that allowed me to take my natural talent of decorating and partner it with a business model to form Organic Home Staging. Hard work and determination has always been part of my DNA so opening my own business although challenging at times, did not deter me from this goal.
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?
Struggle is a perspective, a moment of time compared to others. I was a single mother raising three sons by myself, going to school at night to obtain both my undergrad and MBA while working full time. Those were struggles! Watching the struggles the children of Ronald McDonald House go through everyday helps you keep things in perspective. Although starting your own business has challenges and bumps in the road, a lot of those are corrected by trial and errors and I don’t see them as struggles but more learning experiences. I smile every day for what I have, my husband, sons and family, my health and a job I love.
Please tell us about Organic Home Staging.
The definition of Organic means many things, but one of the definitions states: denoting a relation between elements of something such that they fit together harmoniously as necessary parts of a whole. We take the parts of a home (the good, the bad, the ugly) and create a harmonious “whole” hopefully enabling the home to sell quickly and for a good price. I strive to create an atmosphere that a buyer could see their family living in.
Organic Home Staging specializes in three areas:
Unoccupied Staging – I bring in everything to an empty home and create a home.
Occupied Staging – I work with the homeowner to use their items as well bringing in other items to create a modern, fresh environment
Walk and Talks – I walk from room to room with the homeowner reviewing what is necessary to prepare the home for sale.
I am a strong mature women who always put the customer first above all else. I am pleased that my Human Resource experience allows me to provide feedback to homeowners and realtors that make them trust and believe in me.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I have so many, I am one of six children born to Barbara and Bernard Marino in NY. I am second oldest, oldest girl what I remember above all else of my childhood was how fun it was, how my parents talked to us, played with us, protected us and were tough on us. In addition, my mom had “Big Clean Saturday” where we had to re-arrange furniture and clean each room – at the time I didn’t think it was so fun but now looking back I realize that this exercise helped me to develop my love of furniture placement and staging.
All this love that was given to me as a child allowed me to become the person I am today, one that I am proud of. My parents are gone but I know they would be so proud of all my accomplishments, raising three amazing sons by myself, obtaining two college degrees while raising my children, starting my own business and being a great grandmother. My brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews all believe in me and that makes my childhood special.
Pricing:
- Walk and Talk consultations are $250.00 – $300.00 based on size of the home
- Occupied and Vacant Staging quotes available on request
Contact Info:
- Website: www.organichomestaging.com
- Phone: 765-413-1218
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/organichomestaging/
- Other: https://www.houzz.com/pro/elaine-shaffer3429/organic-home-staging
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