Today we’d like to introduce you to Gracielle Ahued.
Hi Gracielle, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Becoming a home stager – happened by accident. After weeks on the market, our vacant investment home had received little to no attention. Our real estate agent suggested that my husband and I ‘decorate’ the home to show potential clients how to live in the space. After staging the house, it sold in a few days for over the asking price! I knew at that moment this is what I wanted to do. This was the career ahead of me. I was confident I could help people sell their homes, and that is how Beenova Design & Restoration was born. I absolutely fell in love with this fast-paced industry.
I found my passion, my talent, and decided to become a full-time home stager. I put myself through an accredited home staging program and that really got me grounded on the fundamentals of owning a business and staging homes. The things I am most passionate about in life are my son, my husband, my family and my career. Outside of work, I am mostly known for being very driven and a world traveler. I love traveling abroad and expanding my cultural experiences and knowledge. To think deeply about my career journey up to the present moment, I realized that who I have become and where I am it is not the result of a series of coincidences, it has been hard work and determination.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Although there are always challenges to running your own business, I am so fortunate to wake up and love what I do for a living every day. After working in mortgage for fifteen years, being in this dynamic industry was such a change of pace. I found myself shopping for inventory, managing our warehouse, moving around non-stop, and networking with many different people.
As for many other things, there are learning curves and challenges which we had to overcome on our journey. But as my mother used to say, “everything is possible when you have the passion for it.” Home staging is fun because we are helping others, but it can also be very demanding, physically and mentally! This business involves more than most people realize. Many do not see all the work and planning that goes into each successful transformation. But in the end, it is about the reward of a job well done! One of the major obstacles in growing our brand was developing business and marketing plans and letting the community know who Beenova Design & Restoration is.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Beenova Design & Restoration?
Firstly, I would like to preface this by stating that 95% of home buyers shop online first. This means that they search the various home sites and decide from those pictures which homes they will go see in person. We help make homes stand out above the rest. With home staging, we transform showings into sales by helping potential buyers have an emotional connection with the home. Year one, we staged 40 homes in DFW, allotting for $18M in real estate sales! 90% of our client’s homes sold, on average, in 5 days, and several within hours of hitting the market. Many of our client’s homes sold significantly over the asking price. We continue to grow every year, each year, bringing many more success stories and happy clients.
Our business also includes manufacturing furnishings, importing soft goods and selling staging inventory to investors and buyers. In addition, we also specialize in kitchen and bathroom re-design. I love transforming spaces; it is the best feeling to see the reaction of a client that cannot believe how amazing their home turned out. A huge advantage to working with us is that we own all our moving trucks and inventory. We are also members of RESA (Real Estate Staging Association) and Metrotex Association of Realtors, which is the 4th largest real estate association in the United States. We are professionally trained and certified in home staging and participate in continuing education to keep up with modern design, staying current with all design trends.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I am so grateful to have family and friends who always encourage me to do what I love. I could not have done this without the love and support of my husband. Teaming up with him has been great as we complement each other as we grow in this business together. We have made sacrifices and had some bumps along the road but seeing how our company is growing organically feels wonderful, as it is the culmination of our hard work. Furthermore, the relationships I have developed with my clients are the most important part of my business. I will always be thankful for each homeowner, real estate agent, broker, builder and investor that trusts me with their projects and believe in my vision.
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@beenovadesign.com
- Website: www.beenovadesign.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beenovadesign/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beenovadesign/
Image Credits
Personal Photo Credit: Tony Valadez All Home Staging Photos Credit: Shoot2Sale
