Deciding to Wait it Out? - 10/29/08 02:15 PM

 
 
 
 
It's something I've heard many times over the last 6 months or so from prospective home staging clients from around the Atlanta area: 


"We've decided to just to wait it out to see if the market gets any better."
 
 
 
I suppose if you aren't in a dire need to sell your home then this would make sense...the market has to recover to some degree and at some point, right? 
I remember reading an Active Rain post months ago by someone who referred to people using their equity as an ATM machine.  … (15 comments)

Creating a One-Stop-Shop Solution for Homesellers - 10/22/08 04:24 PM


 
 
 
 
 
 
Networking is a key factor to owning a successful home staging business.  While there are many opportunities to have repeat business, in a market like we have today, there's no guarantee that previous clients can be relied upon for subsequential business.  That's where networking becomes invaluable because, like every other service business, it's those referrals that will get the business before the random company from the yellow pages.
It's been said before that the real estate professional and the home stager make a great team to successfully prepare and market a home for … (4 comments)

An Alternative to Craigs List - 10/19/08 12:55 PM
Part of preparing to stage a house begins with decluttering.  The homeowner must begin the process of moving, at this point, by packing up unnecessary items or unloading things they no longer need/want.  Home stagers can guide homeowners through this process but ultimately it is the homeowner that must make the final decision.
When the process of sorting through your belongings begins, you have to decide what should stay and what should go begins, the decisions need to be made 'what to do' with the things that in the 'Go' pile.  As part of my home staging consultation report, I suggest things … (12 comments)

Any Divas in the House? - 10/15/08 11:36 AM
I'm a Diva in some ways.  Well, I try to be anyway.  A smart diva knows how to save a penny or two here and there so she can spend them in on other things.  Even if you're not a diva, but you like to save money when shopping or dining out, you have to check out this site!
Coupon Divas
Our economy is forcing us to pinch our hard earned pennies these days.  Eh, there is a lesson to be learned in this if we really pay attention. But in the meantime until things recover, and if you still have money to … (2 comments)

It's Never Too Late to Say 'Thank You' - 10/13/08 11:06 AM

 
 
 
About a month ago I received the most wonderful voicemail message from a prospective home staging client in Alpharetta, for whom I did a free estimate for about 6 months prior.  It was for an occupied home and she was looking to start preparing to list the house this fall. 
 
 
 
Let me back up and say that about a month after doing this free estimate for her, and for about 3 other prospects (it was springtime...it was peak season...gotta take advantage of the traffic!), I realized that I could no longer afford to do … (13 comments)