My husband had relocated and was already living and working in Toronto when our home went on the market. With two young children, I knew I had to sell the house fast. I had five days before the first open house to prepare our home. I went through our home from top to bottom, de-cluttering, de-personalizing, touching up and cleaning. The final step involved creating strategic focal points in the home, to allow potential buyers to create an attachment with the house.

When our Realtor came by for the open house, he entered and he stopped, looked around and asked who had I hired to "stage" the house. I had no idea what he meant!

Within the first hour of the open house our agent called. He told us we had a firm offer and two more on the way. It was two weeks before Christmas, a time when the real estate market virtually grinds to a halt, but by the end of the day, the house was sold!

The Realtors who viewed our home that day also asked our agent, "What company had staged the home". That's when the seed was planted.

Since relocating to the Durham area just East of Toronto, Canada, I have spent a considerable amount of time researching the home staging industry. I have also spent time assisting friends and family to prepare their homes for sale.

Having previously owned and operated a successful advertising and marketing firm in Ottawa, I knew I had what it took to run a business and my background gave me a unique perspective to home staging. I approach every home as its own unique product to market and sell. That approach truly provides my customers with an advantage.

I build on my strong base to provide my customers the best possible service and I continually look for ways to improve and better educate myself. Recently, I participated in a program known as the "Staging Diva", offered by Debra Gould of Six Elements - an industry leader in Home Staging.

HOLT modern now services Halifax, Dartmouth and surrounding HRM.