Meet Melissa

Since the time I was a young girl, I’ve had a giddy sort of passion for making people excited about their home. Even as a teenager I took advantage of every opportunity to rearrange furnishings for my family, neighbors and friends. I have always loved the surprise of helping people to see what they may not be able to on their own.

Sharing my expertise with my clients and watching them and their spaces come alive through the process is an incredible feeling! Regardless of the size or nature of each job, I continue to enjoy the thrill of the ‘reveal’ on every project I do.

In designing a home for living, or staging a property for resale, I offer this simple approach: attention to detail and dedication to achieving a warm and welcoming space while making the best possible use of resources and budget. Above all, I value the relationship with each client. Transforming lifestyle, function, and taste into a look that reflects each homeowner is my top priority. Each job becomes personal to me with the same goal always in mind, “Making your Spaces Places you love to be…”

A Penn State grad (WE ARE!), mother of 3 beautiful world-changers, lover of interiors and fine dark chocolate… Here's a little nugget I bet not many know about: the HOME in HOMEbymelissa has a dual meaning. The obvious reference is to our work, but even before that was the original acronym: the first letter of the name of each member of my family: Hope, Olivia, Melissa, Erin.

IN THE PRESS

How a Denver Borough designer created a living room that perfectly suits her life

Through her Denver-based business, HOME by Melissa, Hess offers design, staging and renovation services, working with a team of area contractors.

Everybody lives differently, so she has to listen to homeowners, connect with them and understand their needs. Making a home look pretty is easy, she says, but there has to be more. It’s about maximizing livability and functionality, and showing homeowners the potential of their space so it becomes a place they love to be.

“The highest compliment I get is: ‘I can’t wait to get home.’ ”

Read the full article at Lancaster Online >

Real estate staging draws new buyers in with clean primped, livable settings

Melissa Hess, a professional interior designer and real estate stager said, "Staging isn't just a professional service but very personal one." Think of staging a home for sale as putting your property's best foot forward. Sweep, wipe, light and hide, then take it a step further.

Jerry Lehman, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker, wholeheartedly supports the use of a stager by the seller because it has proven to produce quicker sales with higher profits.

"I find that Melissa delivers a personal and comprehensive service that produces results," Lehman said. "If people follow through with all of the suggestions from the Realtor and stager, I have found that homes sell more quickly."

Hess noted that a recent study by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) has shown that a staged home spends 85% less time on the market, and 65% of buyers pay more for homes that are move-in ready. "The investment in staging a home the first time around," said Hess, "is far better than a forced price reduction later."

Read the full article at Lancaster Online >