My name is Leslie Godbold and I am suppose to write Blog #2 in a series for New Stagers. This blog is suppose to tell you tips and important info on setting up and maintaining your office. (I will get to those, just not today)

I am suppose to write this blog in the morning but I jumped out of bed and told my husband," I have to tell them now before I lose the passion". 

What I am going to write about is a great tip, and yes, it can have an impact on your office. A positive one! But if you don't have this , you don't need office procedures anyway. No work, No need.

#1.......  The BEST..........   The One and Only...... Why does she stand out?!?!

The tip is: What makes you so special? What is it about you that will make home staging skeptics hire you?

Oh you have the talent? You have the eye? Almost every woman and a lot of men, I have ever spoke with about home staging , say they have staging talent. Seriously! They know, they watch HGTV's and TLC's staging shows and they could do that hands down...... even better than the show's stagers. That is what they believe!

You have to deliver a great service and results but that is NOT enough. Something else has to push you out of the crowd. So what is special about you and your business? So special that you get hired over and over again, despite all of your clients knowing how to do your job!

All of the established stagers, that I have known for years , have a special "IT" and know how to use it to their advantage. I know what has made me succeed, my clients know......but you are not me. You have your own talents , abilities and unique value.

Tell us about IT! Yell it from the roof tops! If you have the IT to succeed then You MUST have the passion and ability to let the world know! But I will explain that part later. Right now, Proclaim your uniqueness here! 

If you are too shy or quiet to write it in a comment, How are you going to convince potential clients to trust you with their biggest investment....their home, the home that their memories were made in, the home where their love ones lay their heads down at night. They aren't going to trust just anyone, you have to be special. You are! Tell us why!

 Are you going to be one of the up and coming ( or already on the rise) leaders for the staging industry? Let us hear you ROAR! 

Tell us how you are special and then start yelling it to the world!!

Note: This blog is in a series to try to offer tips and ideas for new stagers. To read the previous blog, please click New Business Owners- Are you Ready?  Thanks

You are living your dream....

You have researched, studied, and practiced practiced and practiced your skills. So you are ready to open your business or are you? Let's see if you are....

This isn't the fun part but it is mandatory. A Successful business has a great product AND a effective office.

 As the owner, you are responsible for all legal aspects of your business.(Here are a few)

• 1.Corporate/ Legal and Tax Matters- Hopefully you have your tax adviser and legal professional help you plan and carry out all required matters for corporate and tax matters.

 Some of these items might be:

Deciding and filing for your new corporation (Federal, State and local)

Choosing your name

Business Structure- S corp, LLC etc

Financing

Taxes set up

Obtaining required permits, licenses and approvals

Setting up and organize your bookkeeping process

Open Bank account

• 2. Insurance- I have liability insurance and coverage for my inventory of furniture and accessories. Please discuss with your insurance provider all of the possible scenarios that our field needs to cover.  Do not think "I will get insurance when I have the money" I waited and unfortunately was reminded when a fellow stager (uninsured) had her items stolen. The fellow stager got insurance the next day and so did I. I was lucky but you might be the unlucky one.

• 3. Have your personal finances covered for 6 months- So you can concentrate on your biz not personal bills

This should keep you busy for a little while.But it is not over yet. There are many areas that a business owner must keep on top of.

The next blog will be about organizing and setting up your office and paper work.

Please include your thoughts and suggestions as established business owners

 

Thanks,

Leslie

 

Home Staging business owners must stay up-to-date and active in the staging industry  while running their businesses. Where do we find the time???

RESA's  NC chapter has a  monthly teleconference to keep members updated on:

• RESA news ( local, state, regional and North America)
• RESA educational projects-  Our state and local members are very busy with RESA activities to educate and inform homeowners, builders, real estate investors & professionals and the public.... about home staging and it's benefits)
• home staging discussions- anything and everything you can think of !!
• subjects that can help our individual businesses (marketing, business matters, networking, presentations, any matter that a member would like addressed)
• tips and suggestions from owners, of successful staging businesses
• news and statistics concerning the real estate market
• home staging statistics in NC and local areas
• continue our relationship with real estate professionals in promoting our educational goals

This is a joint project because all members receive help for their businesses but also have an area or subject that they can share with others.

 If you are a NC member and have not received the contact info for tomorrow please contact Leslie Godbold  at ashevillestagers@aol.com or NCHomestaging@aol.com

If you aren't a RESA (Real Estate Staging Association) member join now  to be an active part of the Staging Industry !!

What is a home stager?

A home stager is a professional merchandiser that consults or physically assists in preparing a property to be placed on the Real Estate Market

What's involved in staging?           

• Create a staging plan for the total presentation of the property including:

1. Correct confusing or distracting areas or issues in the property (IE room flow, furniture placement, positive memory association, correct memory of details etc)
2. Create or improve color scheme and décor for appeal (visually and emotionally)
3. Use of furniture and accessories to showcase positive features and assets

• The knowledge, experience and talent to implement the staging plan
• Knowing current requests and demands from local and national home buyers
• Enable the public to easily view the property in a clean and comfortable environment
•  Enhance and promote agent's marketing plan (IE similar demographic targets, media type considerations, provide professional support, etc)

The above factors are just a few of the issues we address.

Merchandising your property is a multi-faceted process and entails more than just making pretty places.

Leslie Godbold,  owner of  Asheville Stagers "We do more than make pretty places"

Do you think....

Cleaning your house makes it market ready?

The attention should be drawn to your collection of _________ to showcase the house?

Having every square inch covered in furniture, is more welcoming?

Everyone will feel comfortable in your "boldly painted/decorated " home?  

Your pets (and their smells) welcome the house hunters?

They will notice the fireplace that is hiding behind the big armoire?

Turning the lights off and the blinds closed will save money and help get top dollar offers?

Showing your property vacant doesn't cause problems?

Having your property sit on the market for months or years is necessary in the current market?

The pictures of you, your family and all of your friends make the house hunters feel at home?

Do you think you see your house the way the viewers will? (Or your friends, they have seen it too many times  to notice that problem too)

If you answered Yes to any of the above the answer is clear.

YES, call your professional home stager today!

Many of us are too busy with career, family, children, school all of the demands that are required of us. So we value our time

When searching for your new home, You deserve to have the homes prepared to sell and not having to visit homes that are cluttered, unclean or have other distractions that hinder and distract your viewing.

What does a staged property give you! Piece of mind and more time....because Staged Properties:

• should show clear and uncluttered MLS and advertising pictures of the property-Do you have time to dig through all of the cluttered houses pictured?

• Can save you time by visiting viewable properties that meet your requirements

• Are open and uncluttered so you can really see what is offered.

• Staged Properties are NOT prepared to hide anything but rather open your eyes, In fact an analysis may be  made by the professional stager dealing with cosmetic recommendations that the home seller may need to address

• Staged Houses can show that the owners are taking care of this home. If it isn't taken care of now what makes you think it was taken care of before it was in the public eye?

• Staged Houses show some of the possibilities the home offers. Like the furniture placement and room flow? Follow the professional's example  with your furniture or hire them to set up your new home

Staging works for home buyers and home sellers!!

When your time is valuable, view homes that are ready for your visit. 

Leslie Godbold

Asheville Stagers

Home staging works for Home Sellers and Home Buyers, Home Staging Asheville NC, Hendersonville NC, Madison Co NC, Haywood County NC ,Western North Carolina

When your clients walk into your business are they welcomed? Their needs addressed immediately?

   OR  

Does the waiting room/lobby welcome them or does it make them nervous or on edge realizing they shouldn't be here.....

When they follow you to your office what do they see? The boxes in the hallway, The crooked art work, what is that smell? (things that you haven't noticed for months) But they do!

Professional Stagers know the impact your atmosphere, furnishings, colors etc have on the public's perception of you and your services.  Call your local stager today for a consultation to address the impressions and distractions that are limiting your business.

It's not expensive nor time consuming but can spell success! 

Improving your business image in Asheville NC or the western NC area? For successfully projecting the quality of service and/or products you offer contact Asheville Stagers

Home staging principles usually ring true in all locations but just as The Real Estate Market varies from one location to another so does the desires, needs and wants of potential home buyers.

As a Professional Home Stager in WNC, I am in constant contact with other home staging professionals around the United States and Canada to keep abreast of the constantly changing needs,wants and desires of potential home buyers in their area.

Home Staging in Asheville NC or any location is influenced by a large number of people and families relocating to that area.  Your local home stager must stay current on home staging trends to prepare your home to connect to new comers as well as locals.

Potential Home buyers may desire a condo , a smaller home in a senior citizen community, a beginners' home , a family home , a horse farm or a get away.  But what makes them choose that property instead of the similar property down the road? What is it about your client's home that makes the potential home buyer walk away?  For the answer Contact an experienced home stager in your area.

Home stagers are not just decorators who can bring in inventory to furnish your property to look appealing, who explain to owners why changes need to take place and which ones will aide in selling their property quickly and for a fair market price or to properly merchandise the property' features........ But We also must stay current on all aspects of home staging and in all locations.

Home Staging professionals are experts, at making "the World Feel at Home".

Thank you

Leslie D. Godbold

Owner of Asheville Stagers

Home staging principles usually ring true in all areas but just as The Real Estate Market varies in different locations so does the desires, needs and wants of potential home buyers.

As a Professional Home Stager in WNC, I am in constant contact with other home staging professionals around the United States and Canada to keep abreast of the constantly changing needs and desires of potential home buyers in their area.

Home Staging in Asheville NC or any location is influenced by a large number of people and families relocating to that area. 

Potential Home buyers may desire a condo in downtown Asheville NC, a downsized home in a Hendersonville NC senior citizen community, a beginners' home in Waynesville NC, a family home in Weaverville, a horse farm in Tryon or a mountain get away in WNC.  But what makes them choose that property instead of the same size property down the road? What is it about your client's home that makes the potential home buyer walk away?  For the answer Contact an experienced home stager in your area.

 Home stagers are not just decorators who can bring in their inventory to furnish your property to look appealing, who explain to owners why changes need to take place and which ones will aide in selling their property quickly and for a fair market price or to properly merchandise the property' features........

We are also professionals who know what makes the world feel at home.

Home staging can help sell homes in all counties in Western North Carolina.

Thank you

Leslie D. Godbold

Owner of Asheville Stagers

We serve Asheville, Hendersonville, Weaverville, Waynesville, Tryon, Sylva, Franklin, Highland, Marshall, Mars Hill, and all counties in Western North Carolina

Home staging principles usually ring true in all areas of the United States but just as The Real Estate Market varies in different locations so does the desires, needs and wants of potential home buyers.

As a Professional Home Stager in WNC, I am in constant contact with other home staging professionals around the United States and Canada to keep abreast of the constantly changing needs and desires of potential home buyers in their area.

Home Staging in Asheville NC or any location is influenced by a large number of people and families relocating to that area. 

Potential Home buyers may desire a condo in downtown Asheville NC, a downsized home in a Hendersonville NC senior citizen community, a beginners' home in Waynesville NC, a family home in Weaverville, a horse farm in Tryon or a mountain get away in WNC.  But what makes them choose that property instead of the same size property down the road? What is it about your client's home that makes the potential home buyer walk away?  For the answer Contact an experienced home stager in your area.

 Home stagers are not just decorators who can bring in their inventory to furnish your property to look appealing, who explain to owners why changes need to take place and which ones will aide in selling their property quickly and for a fair market price or properly merchandise the property' features........

We are also professionals who know what makes the world feel at home.

Home staging can help sell homes in all counties in Western North Carolina.

Thank you

Leslie D. Godbold

Owner of Asheville Stagers

We serve Asheville, Hendersonville, Weaverville, Waynesville, Tryon, Sylva, Franklin, Highland, Marshall, Mars Hill, and all counties in Western North Carolina