"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."

Sir Winston Churchill

 I am a history buff and have always loved that quote. Listening seems sometimes to be a lost art.  Think of how many people in your everyday encounters really listen to what is being said to them.  Truthfully, every now and then I find myself zoning out while thinking ahead to other things on the horizon when I am in conversation with someone. It's a really horrible thing born of always being in a rush and trying to be a step ahead.  I find I do this way more than I should, kick myself a few times and get back on track.  I do this a lot with my kids.  I get really impatient for them to get to the point.  But guess what?  If I'm not really listening I miss the point!

  I hate to admit that I have done this with a client or two in the past. In business this can be a real killer.  What is your client really saying to you?  Are you so jazzed in presenting yourself and your service that you run over them with a steamroller of facts and statistics?  I think this was my biggest mistake when I first began talking with potential clients.  I was so eager to sell my service that I didn't really listen, I mean really listen. I reviewed the conversation in my head, thought of things I should have said and then stopped dead cold.  I realized what I missed and should have said because I wasn't really listening.  Has this happened to you before?

Listening to things we may not want to hear falls into this category also.  How does service improve or business grow if one is not open to listening to constructive criticism or alternative ideas?  I have gotten some great input for my business by listening to clients and mentors.  Sometimes listening to things not so pleasant but none the less valuable.

I am not saying anything new here.  Listening is first and foremost the most important part of any business arsenal.  Unfortunately it can seem rare in today's hurry up world.  How many times have you felt rushed at a visit with your doctor?  How about the clerk that is speaking on the phone while trying to wait on customers? Do I want someone having that recollection of my business or service?  Would you?

Reminding myself to listen effectively is an exercise I must do on a daily basis.  An exercise that brings great rewards to me, my business and most importantly my clients.  Who knows who will be listening to them after I have long left the scene.

AccentPositives provides effective and economical consultations on site and online.  We service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.

Madison avenue makes tons of money for ideas in advertising.  Donatella Versace makes money for her fashion ideas.  Ideas and creativity are a commodity that many pay top dollar for.  If creativity, innovation and problem solving were so easy, everyone would do it and there would be no Madison Avenue or Versace.

How do you put a price on creativity and the ability to envision a plan before it even is put on paper? How do you put a price on problem solving and the ability to improvise?

One of the most common complaints and misconceptions about Staging is the cost.  Staging is too expensive and not worthy of the fees being charged.  Why should Stagers be paid at time of service instead of when the property closes?  After all, how hard is it pick colors, pare down floor plans or pick out "knick knacks".

Staging is advertising; very cost effective advertising when you consider the potential returns. Think about it.  Staging is live advertising that people can reach out and touch.  How much is that worth?  Especially when it doesn't come across as high gloss and contrived.

If it involves little skill or creativity, why has the industry emerged?  Anyone can do it, right? Why denigrate the worth of this service?

As a seller, I have listened to agents we interviewed brag about how much they spent in advertising and getting the word out about their listings.  "Nobody does more."  I have heard this common theme from homeowner clients who have not seen the results of all this marketing and advertising. Well how much did all that advertising cost?  Advertising a listing that shows poorly for a typical listing period is way more expensive than Staging. 

A simple Consultation, depending on the company, can range from $500 on the high end to about $150 on the low end.  This many times alone is all that is required to get a home ready to show and shorten time on the market.  How much was that print spread that just shows the outside of a listing and not always in a flattering light?  What will generate more interest, that or photos taken of a ready to show listing loaded on multiple Internet websites for all to see.

Consider the price of ideas and then take your pick.

AccentPositives provides effective and economical consultations on site and online.  We Service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.

Attention Competitors, Realtor "Stagers" and Stager hopefuls:  I've had it, had it, HAD IT!!!! 

My little shop has been in business now for over two years.  I started with nothing.  Some of the things I did....I took a small business course.  Researched the industry, looked at other websites and listened and read quite a bit here on AR before I jumped into the forum. I am always studying and trying to find ways to make my skills better, my service better, hear that...not just bigger but BETTER. 

I don't fleece my customers with unnecessary services or charges and I am up front about what I can and can't do.  I refer to other Stagers gladly, I don't ask for a fee, just reciprocal consideration when the opportunity presents itself.  That's how good business is done.

Bottom line is I was not lazy, I did not steal or use subterfuge to set up my pricing structure, determine services or steal clients.  I am not huge but I found a niche and I work at it to make it better.

Posing as a potential client, using names of dead authors (might work on some, I read a ton) and requesting answers to all your staging questions be in writing instead of speaking with a human on the phone are dead give aways as to who you are.  When you cancel your consultation after you get or can't get what you were looking for please don't tell me "I ran into a friend who is a realty stager, and she asked to come over first."  PALEEESE!

Try the good old fashion way of making it.  WORK, WORK and WORK some more.  Stop stealing staging photos and calling them your own.  Stop plagerizing other peoples words and methods of doing things. 

Be honest and ethical about the way you do things and only good will follow.

I have found much support here on Activerain by other Stagers and Real Estate professionals.  I am always trying to return that courtesy within reason.  I am not nearly as experienced as many of the Stagers here on AR but I share what I know willingly.  I have spent upwards of 45 minutes or more on the phone with the honest types who call and want to know what I know about the business.  I am not stingy.

Bottom line, if you can't do it yourself honestly, maybe you should not try to do it at all.  While you are trying to figure it out, Don't email or call our company, yeah that's right, I don't need your "business."

Thanks for your attention.

AccentPositives provides effective and economical consultations on site and online.  We service the Inland Empire Area of Southern California.

Hanging pot racks are a common fixture in many "gourmet" kitchens.  You see them in many style homes where they may not even belong.  They can make run of the mill kitchens look a little more upscale, adding contrast and interest to an otherwise boring space.

Hanging such a fixture must be thought out carefully as much for style as function.  The most common mistake made when hanging these is the location.  They will most often close in a kitchen with low ceilings and outdated lighting.  Another common error is hanging racks in spots that actually block overhead lighting and so low that heads hit the pots.

Placement should make sense, like over an island prep area or next to a cooking surface, again not blocking lighting or chopping up walking around space.  It's not fun hitting your head on a pot when walking around the room getting to things.

When hanging a rack, consider how it will be used and how often.  Some like hanging racks as decor, others like the function aspect.  When staging a home for sale that thought process will tell you if you should take it down.  In small homes, where kitchen storage is at a premium, it can be an attractive selling feature if presented neatly and in a location that makes sense. 

It must be totally spotless with the minimum number of clean, colorful items hanging from them. The items should appear functional and complement the kitchen and it's surroundings. No fake chili peppers or garlic bulbs please! 

It should look sturdy and stylish.  There is nothing uglier than a homemade rack that looks homemade. I have seen many that are barely hanging on by a thread.  It must be securely mounted or a nice smack in the head could be on the horizon. 

Probably the above left could be considered art, but what about below?                                                          

An exaggerated example? Yes but as a Stager, the most common problem I see is that many who have hanging pot racks use them as a catch all for everything that won't fit in cabinet or drawer storage.  They gather dust and grease if not cleaned on a regular basis and so do the items hanging from them. 

Nothing says yuk! better than greasy dusty pots hanging from the ceiling.  It most certainly gets potential buyers thinking there is not enough storage in the kitchen.

If you have a pot rack hanging in your kitchen, step back and really look hard.  If you use it and can't do without it, pare it down and spiff it up.  Many buyers like them.

If you are not sure about it, take it down.  You can always take it with you to the next place!

AccentPositives provides effective and economical consultations on site and online.  We service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.

"I am so busy doing nothing, that the idea of doing anything..which as you know always leads to something...cuts into the nothing and then forces me to have to drop everything."  Jerry Seinfeld

Those of you who were fans knew that Jerry always said his show's premise was a show about nothing.  That's right, he and his cast could turn 30 minutes of nothing into a whole lotta funny.  Whether it was Kramer eating Jerry's cereal or Newman and a look, it was funny and entertaining.

I often wonder if the same principle could hold true for blogging.  I have found the well run dry recently.  Just not into it as much.  I haven't been feeling well.  Sucking up too much dirt on the softball fields of socal.

Could I too write a blog about a whole lotta nothing? I have seen them on AR. 

I feel the pressure to blog about a topic, any topic.  I have thought of none interesting to ME lately.  How rude of me to not consider what others may find interesting, I know. 

I try to keep my blog subjects tight, you know, somehow related to Real Estate.  I do stray here and there into the political or bitchy but not too much. 

I know you people out there don't want to read a blog by me bragging about how Staging works, those never get many comments, for me anyway. I don't do many of those. 

My keyboard stares back at me in silence lately.  It screams, write somthing you dummy....anything....it will make you feel better. 

I say...why clog the blog with nothing?  Is "nothing" going to inform anyone, make them laugh or cry?  Shoot, I can't even think of any good realtor jokes lately, that's something my best friend loves.  Did you hear the one about the realtor who......aghh you've already heard that one.

So if you've stuck to reading down this far you obviously have realized that this blog really is about a whole lotta nothing!  Thanks for reading it!

AccentPositives provides effective and economical consultations on site and online.  We service the Inland Empire area of Southern California

This is my most absolutely favorite time of the year.  Playoff time, World Series just around the corner.

Time stands still for me in October.  I plan everything around access to radio, TV anywhere or any place I can catch a glimpse of the game, a score an instant replay. 

I believe the big man upstairs must have invented the internet accessible cell phone for baseball junkies.  Football, forget about it!

I love the smell of the grass, the roar of the crowd and that smack sound when bat meets ball.  There's nothing like the hearing the pop of a ball in the glove after some high cheese.

It's been rough being a Braves fan these past seasons but even living in Angels-Dodgers terrritory hasn't dimmed my loyalty to the chop.  We Braves fans don't wave girly hankys we swing tomahawks!  I know it's not as PC but I don't care, it's fun!

Some of my best memories revolve around baseball.  When you're in that stadium, it's really great to see so many people in one place who don't know each other have something in common.

Sounds naive but wouldn't it be great if countries could settle their differences in a best of 7 series.  A coin toss to determine who bats first and off they go!

Some of the best food on the planet can be had at a ballpark and I'm not talking fish tacos and chardonnay.  Oh Yah...big greasy hot dogs and messy nachos with beer. 

   That's all American.   

So to all baseball lovers out there savor every remaining moment of this season, I know I will.  The boys of summer are soon leaving the stage and the countdown to spring training begins.

AccentPositives provides effective and economical consultations on site and on line.  We service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.

Stagers wear many hats and one of them is as close to being a relationship counselor as it gets. Of course I am speaking about the relationship between a seller, their house and their "stuff".

We all know moving and selling a home can be very stressful and overwhelming. It's a letting go process for many. I have seen the look of relief on more than one face in the past as I arrived to do a consultation. 

Stress is a lot of little tiny things that eventually add up to a mountain.  That mountain is really just a little pile if you look at things in a simpler way. Sellers need a little help letting go, it's normal. We can speed up the letting go process and this has both emotional and financial benefits.

The polish and bling of a fully completed Staging job is the public face but what about what goes on behind the scenes?

One of the most important questions we should ask a client; "How much do you really need?"

This linen closet is one of 3 in a home with 3 bathrooms. Each bathroom had its own closet.

After some discussion and listening and understanding, this was the answer to the question.

We even found sets of sheets never opened ready for use when the seller sets up their new place! 

This behind the scenes example won't make the MLS and it won't be on a brochure but it will impress a potential buyer.  It's an important part of the selling package. What's backstage at your place?

AccentPositives provides effective and economical consultations on sight and on line.  We service the Inland Empire area of Southern California

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It's funny as you get on in years, the things that you would roll your eyes about when younger start making sense.  Have you ever caught yourself sounding like your mother?  Something many of us swore would never happen right?

I have four very great kids, healthy, happy and yes deprived.  Some of their friends have every known electronic, toy or gadget known to exist.  The latest, greatest and newest.  They wear the latest, greatest and newest. We are way behind in our neighborhood.  Why just last year we purchased a play station! No we don't have a Wi!

Just like the kids in our neighborhood, the real estate landscape around my area became inundated with every bell and whistle a homeowner could want.  Unchecked refinancing, low interest rates and inflated property values fueled this consumption to excess.  Hummers and spanking new RVs became visible on every block for a time.  Boats, new pool construction and loft room addtitions were the rage.  You couldn't pay a contractor enough to answer your calls, show up for appointments on time or treat you semi respectfully on a job.

So I have a friend who is a buyer's agent.  She has allowed me to tag along with her as an "assistant" when showing homes to clients.  I felt this would be another education in seeing what buyer's expectations are out there, especially now in this market.  What an education!

High expectations they are, even for first time home buyers.  In an era of HGTV and FLN, many people absolutely believe a house is a dump unless it has certain amenities that were once considered high end. Hardwoods, granite, fancy moldings and high end appliances.  Yes they want it all. They want it all and now they want if for nothing...because they can.

The cycle of a buyer's market and a seller's market has always been a given.  But now it has become an especially vicious buyer's market in my opinion. 

In Staging this has created many high expectations also.  Recommending ROI improvements and advice on correcting "design" flaws are a large part of Staging Consultations.  It isn't just about presenting a pleasing livable space, it has to WOW the folks.  The wowier the better.

What ever happened to the the good old buyer that was looking for maintained, clean, spacious and in a good school district?  Big yard not good enough, must have BBQ from heaven and rock pool.

This may sound like a rant longing for the good ole days but it's not really.  What it is is a lament on how spoiled, superficial and materialistic we are and why things are headed down the economic roads they are.

 I don't mean we shouldn't want better things or more things but it's like people now view it as a right, a given and they are being cheated or deprived if they don't get what they want right now. Like children.

So I am back where I started this.  With my children.  My kids have offered to sell their play station and other stuff if mommy and daddy don't have money to pay for their house.  Everyday they walk past houses in our neighborhood, houses where their friends lived, that have bank owned notices in the windows.

Maybe just maybe we can teach them that there is a better form of high expectations; human kindness, empathy and responsiblility.

AccentPositives provides effective and economical consultations on site and on line.  We service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.

Today the average American home has more TVs than people.  Over half of all homes have at least 3 or more sets.  Even in homes of families considered below the poverty line, televisions are plentiful. 

Big screen, flat screen, everywhere a screen screen.  Those dang outlets are everywhere and such an eyesore when trying to present a property for sale.  Not to mention the sets themselves. 

Not everyone who buys a set takes into consideration how it looks and where it will look and fit best.  They wing it and many times end up with something too large for the space or too awkwardly shaped to fit against the wall leaving an eyesore of exposed cables and wires.

TVs are even being substituted for or presented as art.  I guess that's ok, I am not really of that mind but they certainly are more stylish than they used to be. 

You will see them over fireplaces like this.  Many times they are placed too high, a common mistake made with art pieces also.  You need to crane your neck to view the screen.  I am not a fan of this placement, as in this photo, I think it takes away from the lovely fireplace.  

I think the TV would look nicer in the big empty hole to the left.  If a TV is to be wall mounted, mount it as art at eye level. As a seller, I would want to have the prospective buyer notice the beautiful stonework that stays with the house, not the cool TV.

How many homes have you been in where the very first thing you see is the TV?   Funny how house hunters are put off by this but have the same going on in their own homes most likely. I always tell sellers to pack em up, all but one.  The horrified expressions are mind boggling.  It's like you may have told someone to pack grandma off to the old folks home. TVs in bedrooms and bathrooms detract and are huge dust collectors.

Buyers do like to be able to visualize where their set or sets will go though. If the spot where the set sits is awkward and cumbersome, consider moving the outlet to an area that makes more sense.  Builders choices and prior owners choices don't always make sense.  Moving an outlet is not a huge cost. 

The local cable company charges $19.95 to move an outlet to another wall or room and will put it on the regular cable bill.   A small price to pay for better flow and function.   The whole look and balance of a room could change on simply moving one outlet. this applys to lighting as well.

Many times it is hard to talk a client into these small but effective changes but it is worth the effort and result.  As a seller, you don't want the buyer wondering if the house or your TVs are for sale!

AccentPositives provides effective and economical consultations on sight and on line.  We service the Inland Empire area of Southern California.

The color purple is really hot now days.  Yes it is.  It's splashed all over the design magazines and TV  shows, it's the "it" color at this very moment. Purple has always been by oldest daughter's favorite color.

Now I am not afraid of color and never have been.  Bright reds, greens of all shades I can work with and it will not look like a Christmas scheme.  I love the challenge of making bold colors work in spaces.  I never feel the urge to plaster or cover everything in whites, tans and beiges, never have.  When I enter a home on a Consult I make every possible effort to work with the existing color scheme unless it is very dirty or dingy and not salvagable.

I must confess that Purple and Pink scare the living daylights out of me. They take me back to many former house hunts where I ran across the purple and mauve color scheme.  This color would cower me in fright and indecision.  I absolutely hated it and was very vocal about it to anyone who would listen. When I think purple, I think Barney The Dinosaur.....yea let's not go there!

Recently though, I have seen some really exceptional use of the color purple in Staging.  It gives me pause and makes me think there is hope for me yet.  I just need to get over it and take the plunge. So I thought it would be really great to see some examples from any fellow Stagers out there who are using this color and how.  I recently saw a blog where the color purple was worked in through dining room chairs.  Absolutely beautiful. 

So it is my hope that any of you fine Stagers out there that are using this very trendy color will post some of your examples to inspire those like me who are chicken.  Either Redesign or Staging examples would be great.  Also, I would like to know if this color is getting good reviews from clients both Redesign and Staging.

Happy fun and safe Halloween!

AccentPositives provides economical and effective Home Staging Consultations.  We service the Inland Empire Area of Southern California.