TESTIMONIALS

Lynda's home staging services were very helpful in selling our home. She worked closely with us and patiently examined each space inside and outside our home. Even though we had thought of our own ideas as to what needed updating and replacing, her expertise helped us focus on exactly what was required. It was nice to have a professional opinion to help us decide on which improvements were essential. It was great that we ended up saving quite a bit of time and money by following her suggestions, but what made Lynda's services so indispensable was the fact that our house sold after 1 day on the market. Thank you!

Kevon & Christina Arjune - Waterloo

Thanks so much for your help with our house. We followed your book closely and it sold in 2 days!

Renee K.

We sold our house so fast, to the first people who came through! In a couple hours Lynda was able to create a plan for our house makeover, and we were able to carry it through in only a few days. The final result was amazing - we almost don't want to move anymore! Many things will remain as she suggested until we leave as we like the little changes so much. She also shared some household tips we will certainly be using in our new place. Thanks!

Nadine and Jeff Heimpel, Waterloo

Our house sold in less than two weeks. We had decided to closely follow Lynda's home staging advice, and it showed convincing results. For two hours, Lynda went from room to room, suggesting into detail and taking notes how we could best prepare our home for showing. Then she left her notes with us. That made it easy to remember what needed to be de-cluttered, changed or upgraded for better presentation. We were downsizing and did not want to purchase additional decorative art. For a low fee, Lynda gave us from her own stock the pieces we needed to give our home more appeal. — Many thanks for a great job, Lynda! Your expert advice certainly made a big difference in the sale of our home.

Kurt & Hanna Fischer, Waterloo

Having Lynda come through our home was an illuminating experience. I found that she encouraged me where I had taken positive steps, and was able to give me valuable tips to improve certain disadvantageous areas. I found her professional but amiable, and especially appreciated the clear advice recorded in her notebook for me to reference later. She definitely helped us to show our house to its best advantage. Thanks Lynda!

Yvonne Haley

We contacted L.B. Schmidt Creative Services and Home Staging after our house had been on the market for 7 months. We moved into our dream home before listing the property, so our house was completely empty and we were carrying the cost of two mortgages.

When we had moved out our furniture, the house seemed much smaller than it had when we lived there. We asked our Realtor whether we should stage the property and he said that staging was a waste of money. Our Realtor had two open houses every weekend and many people had seen the property. Throughout the 7 months we had two offers on the property, both with conditions that eventually caused the deals to fall apart. When the second offer fell through we decided to cancel our listing with the Realtor.

Upon a recommendation, we contacted L.B. Schmidt Creative Services and arranged a time to walk through the property together for a consultation. Lynda provided detailed room-by-room suggestions throughout the property, both concerning aesthetic and general maintenance issues. After being on the market for so long we were willing to trust Lynda's professional opinion and recommendations and invest the effort and money to get it done.

Lynda provided excellent contacts for service-people to help with the painting and maintenance. In total, it took us about a week to bring the property to showing condition. At that point Lynda visited our new home to choose some pieces of furniture to bring back to the vacant house for staging and as well she supplied us with some additional pieces and accessories. When Lynda was finished the house was beautiful!

We began our new listing and open houses and did not have any negative feedback on the home what so ever! After only one week we had 4 parties bidding on the property and it was sold firm after only 10 days of being listed. We ended up selling over the asking price, no conditions, and a closing date only two weeks later.

We are now huge advocates of home staging, and believe that we would not have had the response we did if the house did not look so beautiful from Lynda's staging.

The best advice I can pass along is to stage your home before bringing it to market as it makes an enormous difference and it will save you money in the end!

Dr. Suzanne Kearns — Kitchener

I found Lynda to be a very professional and highly creative person. Yet, at the same time she was caring and sensitive to our needs and feelings as she advised us on the staging process of our home ( which we lived in for over 18 years —there was a lot of clutter to be taken care of) as we made it ready for sale.

She was such a great help emotionally and physically in the moving process and I would highly recommend her to anyone as they prepare their home for selling.

I was extremely pleased with her decorating and skillful arrangement of making the house appear as a "model home appearance".

Well done Lynda!

Nuke and Vie Shim — Waterloo

I have had the pleasure of working with Lynda Schmidt on three of my homes over the past year. I presented Lynda with the challenge of staging three of my sold homes for the purpose of filming virtual tours. Timelines and budgets were very tight and the complexities involved of re-arranging and staging three houses in a row was immense. Lynda pulled it off with grace, calmness and in a professional work ethic that I wished all of my trade persons and suppliers had. I would highly recommend Lynda for any of your staging and or decorating needs.

Feel free to call me for more information and visit Lynda's work on my web page: www.hawksviewhomes.com.

Sincerely,

David Reid

President — Hawksview Homes

Our family had decided it was time to move to a bigger home. We wanted to be sure our home sold quickly and for the best possible price. Our agent provided us with the service of Lynda Schmidt. I had no previous experience in selling a home but Lynda's knowledge and expertise proved invaluable. After the initial walk-through of our home, Lynda identified 5 key areas for which my husband and I needed to focus. At first the tasks seemed overwhelming but we tackled each one step by step.

Lynda and I worked with a painter who removed wallpaper in 4 rooms and did a wonderful job painting each area with the colours that Lynda had chosen (we will be using some of these same colours in our new home!). We removed a lot of 'excess' wall photos and edited eah room. Boxes, toys, furniture, etc went to storage but this process made each room look larger and more attractive. In total we spent less than $2500 during this home staging process.

It was not just the big things like painting that Lynda helped with but also with the small things — a bowl of fruit on the counter, drapes opened a particular way, the placement of a chair. These small improvements definitely made our home look like a model home!

We listed our home at a price above what we had originally anticipated. Within 4 days, we had signed an offer at a price only $900 below list. It was amazing! There is no way that this would have happened without Lynda's help and advice!

Thanks Lynda.

Sharon W. - Kitchener

Thank you for your help in staging our home. It was a pleasure to work with you. At first I grumbled at the extra work, but when our home sold in five hours from when the sign went up, I was very happy I'd done everything you recommended. We got almost full asking price, and best of all, we didn't have to go through weeks of home showings! Thank you so much,

Jeanette Duncan - Waterloo

We highly recommend Lynda Schmidt's talents as a home stager. She was very professional, enthusiastic and easy to work with.

Our century home became absolutely stunning with Lynda's creative suggestions. We almost thought of staying but we did list our house and received two offers within ten days.

Great job Lynda!

Thanks again,

Sirkka & Bob Cooper - Ayr

As everyone knows, moving/selling your home is one of the most stressful events in life. When our real estate agent recommended Lynda to provide advice on getting our home ready to be sold, I had no idea that she would become instrumental in decompressing the pressure that I felt.

Lynda made suggestions for moving furniture and pictures that dramatically changed the look of our home. It didn't look like our home anymore and although that made me a little sad, Lynda said that it was her job to transform "my home" into a "house" that potential buyers could see themselves and "their" things in. Once I got that concept, Lynda became an invaluable resource to me.

She treated me as a friend and I sensed that what she did for our house, she would have done for herself or for her very best friend. You can trust Lynda to put 100% effort into her work; the best part is that she used mostly what we already had, but her eye for placement of items is just remarkable.

Thanks Lynda!

Lucia - Winterbourne

Lynda's expertise was invaluable to the sale of my home. She took the time to discuss my move, get a sense of what I was willing and able to do, and consider my goals. She was very easy to work with, going at a pace that was very comfortable for me. My house looked fabulous by the time she finished! As well, Lynda's ideas helped me to get rid of the clutter, making my packing an easier task too. I would definitely reccommend her services.

Julie

When the time came to sell my parents' estate, my main focus was on their condo. They had lived in Waterloo for many years and although they had a nice unit in a very well-kept building, the fact was that in the cold light of dawn, the walls needed painting, the kitchen was totally 1970s, the bathrooms needed a complete overhaul, and the carpeting was beyond salvation… It didn't take long to realize that there was a huge job ahead before there could be any thought of going to market.

There was another problem too. This renovation was going to be a large commitment of time and effort even if I lived in the Waterloo area, but I make my home in the extreme east end of Toronto. I knew I needed someone on the spot to help out. I needed a general contractor, but not just a general contractor. I needed someone who could look after my interests as estate administrator, and someone who could get the unit ready for sale. I needed someone who knew local trade's people and who had experience in cost control. Yet the person had to have a real flair for marketing and had to be in touch with the current Waterloo County real estate market. A tall order and a mistake would be costly!

I did some research and one name came up several times. I contacted Lynda Schmidt of L.B. Schmidt - Creative Services. We met at the condo for an initial meeting. I had a lot of questions but what I was really looking for was a vision of how the project would turn out. I needed to get the assurance that my objectives would take priority, while benefiting from someone who had many successful projects under her belt. I needed someone I could trust.

After only four weeks when the work was done, my wife and I visited the condo again. Amazing! My wife really liked the kitchen but she was really blown away with the bathroom renovations and treatments. What we were seeing was nothing short of a model suite in an upscale building! Anyone looking for a new place could easily see themselves as very happy new owners.

Much of the original furniture was still there but beautifully rearranged. There was fresh art and some furniture pieces from Lynda's rental collection. She had selected new carpets, paint, counter tops, light fixtures and window treatments through out. There were flowers and even a couple of bowls of toffee — anything to help the sales process!

Naturally we were delighted. More importance though, our real estate agent was also impressed. Realtors seem to do a better job if they personally like the property. I didn't take long before we were presented with a solid, totally clean offer. But even after I accepted the offer, Lynda took care of some post-sale details: disposing of some of the old furniture, supervising the movers, and looking after some last minute cleaning.

Lynda delivered everything I needed — experience, competence, reliability, and marketing skill while keeping a tight eye on my budget. This was a very successful project. I am happy to recommend Lynda Schmidt of L.B. Schmidt - Creative Services.

Gerry B., Toronto

Just wanted to say thank you for all your help with staging our home — it sold in no time! I am confident that your attention to details and expertise was a huge factor in our success — not only in selling so quickly but also obtaining most of our asking price. I appreciated your professional approach and very detailed presentation — which quickly became my "to do list" bible. A lot of the positive comments from our buyer were directly related to your wonderful suggestions. Thank you — you are awesome and I would highly recommend your services to anyone considering selling their home.

Kim Barrington, Cambridge

As part of my service when listing a home, I am pleased to offer a "home staging service" to all my clients. Over the past few years, I have frequently called upon the expertise of Lynda Schmidt of L.B. Schmidt Creative Services A.S.P. & C.C.S.P.

My clients have been very impressed with Lynda's ideas, her energy and dedication to giving the best advice possible in order to expedite the sale of their homes. I appreciate that whenever I call Lynda; she always makes the time to contact my clients within a day and books an appointment with them at their convenience. After her consultation, she always lets me know what she has suggested. With her well trained eye, even the smallest idea can make an amazing difference to how a house shows!! Lynda has also been known to 'roll up her sleeves' and help move furniture, supply articles to enhance a room and always go the extra mile! I am grateful for her knowledge and talent and will continue to offer her services to my clients.

Marc Engel, Sales Rep - Remax Twin City Realty Inc. Brokerage

I think your newsletter is wonderful! Beautifully laid out, informative and very useful to see before and afters. That's what opens up clients eyes on the potential. I will print this out when one of my kids can connect me to a colour printer. I really enjoyed meeting with you. You have such a warm, calm and reassuring manner and I really enjoyed working with you.

Kris Velanoff

On behalf of Diane and myself we would like to extend our thanks and appreciation for the manner in which you lived up to your responsibilities in staging our home.

Your efforts on our behalf have impressed not only the agents, but our potential buyers have been overly expressive in their kind remarks and comments about the look of our home.

Countless phone calls and a "desperation" call by Diane did not go unanswered and for that Lynda we are truly grateful. Changes were difficult especially when family members added their input. Your detailed instructions plus the recommended contractors kept us on track but more importantly your response to our needs over and above your initial visit made the difference.

Again Lynda many thanks you're International Association of Home Staging Professionals are no doubt proud to have you as a Member.

Diane & Murray Steben - Kitchener, Ontario

I used the expertise of LB Schmidt-Creative Services during the preparation to list our house. Our first meeting was very comprehensive. As we walked through each room, Lynda made a list of items that needed attention. She then compiled the list along with creative suggestions to enhance each issue; all while being mindful of cost and budget.

Shortly after our first visit she emailed a detailed list of trades people/professionals and their contact information. These people were true professionals and had worked with Lynda before. They were able to get in and make the changes quickly to enable us to list our house as quickly as possible.

Some of the changes we made included some painting, refinishing our stairs, changing the kitchen sink and faucets, organizing /clutter control, furniture reorganizing, and general staging. Trust me, by the time you have completed all of her suggestions, you will enjoy your house so much you may reconsider selling.

Her ability to quickly build client rapore allows everyone to feel at ease at a time often filled with change and uncertainty. Her professionalism was evident in her timely follow ups and response to the client's needs. Our experience with Lynda was very positive and I would definitely recommend her services to anyone considering placing their home on the market.

Heather Gingerich

I didn't really have much of an appreciation for "staging a home" until I met Lynda. In very short order, she had helped me compile a prioritized task list for every room in the house. I was able to develop a work plan under tight time constraints to prepare my house for selling. I was even more impressed when she helped me put the finishing touches on each room with her own pieces of art and decor. I consistently received comments from Realtors about how well my place showed and it was thanks to Lynda for her counsel and her flair for decorating. I would not hesitate to contract Lynda again on my next house sale.

Greg Kaye - Waterloo, Ontario

I am so fortunate to have Lynda as a professional stager. She is punctual, polite, knowledgeable and loves what she does; not afraid to get dirty! We had fun and accomplished so much together. I feel hopeful and confident that our house will sell now.

Lynda, THANK YOU dearly for creating the WOW!!!

Carmen Poulin - Conestogo, Ontario

Having worked with Lynda on a number of "Home Staging" projects during the past two years I can attest to the fact that Lynda is highly competent and creative in her approach to decorating and design recommendations regarding Real Estate presentation. In every case, she has carefully detailed recommendations to Home Owners with respect to enhancing and improving the "show ability" of their properties, from interior rooms to exterior landscaping...

In summary, Lynda's professionalism and competency is exceptional, making her one of the best in this field in the K-W area. I would highly recommend Lynda...

Rick Lammert - RE/Max Solid Gold Realty — www.ricksellskw.com

Meeting and working with you has been a remarkable experience. Your energy, creativity, and professionalism are truly outstanding. You took on a mighty challenge and cut it down to size in so little time it could make your head spin, the results were outstanding. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend your service to anyone. You are truly a master at what you do.

Velmon and Alexander Haag - Waterloo

We had just put an offer in on a new house and we had to sell our existing house fast as a condition of purchasing the new house. We came up with a fare market value to list our house with the help of our Realtor and then he told us he would send in a Home Stager to help us sell our house .You arrived punctually and greeted us with a warm smile and sense of undeniable grace... We followed your ideas and spent about 300.00 in total for the master plan. We could not believe what you were able to do to our house. The look was amazing...The Realtor staked a "For Sale" sign into the ground about 3:00pm and by 8:00pm the same day we sold our house! Our house sold in 5 hours for 99.38% of our asking price...we owe it all to you and don't think we could have done it without you. Lynda, in our opinion you are a genius, you know your stuff and we highly recommend you.

Dr. Karl & Nadine Salo - Kitchener

I really need to express my excitement and gratitude for receiving your services and what it meant to get my place sold in 5 days. Your expertise in Staging and your wonderful personality went along way in helping me sell my condo. Your enthusiasm with your work shows and that was evident when you helped me to move furniture, to show me your vision. It was very much appreciated. If I need to sell again you will be the first to know!

John Wright - Waterloo

Within 3 days of listing we had 7 showings and lots of comments." The home showed very well", "The home looks great". We received two offers in the first week and the property sold for 99.5% of the asking price.

Bob Depasquale - RE/Max Solid Gold Realty — www.homewithbob.com

Lynda's services have been a tremendous help to my clients when preparing their homes for sale. Lynda's knowledge, experience and staging recommendations have helped my clients' homes sell faster and for the highest possible price.

Dave Roach - RE/Max Twin City Realty — www.kitchenerwaterloorealestate.com

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for coming into our home to do a Home Staging consultation. What a difference it made!

We had our house listed with a real estate agent for almost 7 months. We decided that it was time to look for another agent... We then acquired a Home Stager to come in and look at our home and maybe give some suggestions/ideas.

And that's where you came in. We would like to thank you for taking the time to come to our home on a Sunday afternoon. You were very professional and took the time to go through each and every area of our home and explain to us what home staging was all about. We appreciate you bringing some of the photos of homes you have staged before, it gave us an idea of what we needed to do. We felt very confident that this would pay off. Suggesting moving the furniture to a different wall made a big difference, which we would never had thought of. We took into consideration all your recommendations and did as much as we possibly could and it definitely paid off...

Our house listed and within 8 days we had an offer! We were very excited. On the 11th day we had an official SOLD!

Rosalind & Craig Wheaton - Kitchener

I have used the services of Lynda Schmidt on my last eleven listings and can say, without reservation that her home staging was directly responsible for very speedy sales in all cases. She is thorough, understanding and has a knack to know what needs to be done to give the home that "WOW" factor. I will use her services every at every opportunity.

Richard Putnam - RE/Max Twin City Realty — www.wonputt.com

You certainly did an awesome job at our home with great results, I'm sure the house sold quickly because of the staging. I just can't say enough good about you, very easy and fun to work with, I feel like I made a new friend that day, your the best! I will be contacting you soon for your services to make choices in our new home.

Debbie Boyd - Conestogo