chicago: "What, How-N-Why?" This was How Our Day Flew By...
- 10/04/07 11:51 AM
Blogging was QUITE a popular topic yesterday at Emagine 2007 Expo... and educational event Coldwell Banker held for its agents in Chicago. I'm happy to report back that the day FLEW BY as ActiveRain's Caleb Mardini and I answered questions about blogging in the "Blooger's Lounge" set up at the Expo. I gotta admit it was very clever and forward thinking of Coldwell Banker to devote an area to where its agents could come and inquire about blogging. The Blogger's Lounge was very, very popular. (See Photo - Left) In fact, at one point I actually thought I was going to loose my voice as we answered over and over again the same 3 questions about blogging, … (20 comments)
chicago: EMAGINE... Education is Part of the Silver Lining in a Slow Market
- 09/28/07 09:17 AM
So the market is slow... ok its VERY slow. So what can you do? Well I think with every dark cloud there is a silver lining. One "upside" to a slow market is it provides an opportunity for rapid professional growth and development... and in that opportunity lies the possibility to be successful in any market. Next Wednesday, (October 3rd) Coldwell Banker has put together an amazing day full educational opportunities for their agents in and around Chicago-land. The Emagine 2007 Expo is a day for CB agents to come and learn of ways to increase their business by learning from marketing experts, top-notch panels … (34 comments)
chicago: "How Does Active Rain Make Money?" Chicago Wanted Answers.
- 06/18/07 12:22 AM
I swear EVERYONE, at this past weekend's Midwest West Celebration for Active Rain, wanted to know the answer to the GREAT mystery.... How does Active Rain make money? People even were grilling ME (as if I had an inside scoop). But like I told them... ask Matt. So sorry, you won't find that JUICY and complelling revelation here in this post. However I DO have some other secret tid-bits about Matt & Lydia you might not know. First, Matt does NOT like eating seafood. So I guess taking them to Navy Pier to a seafood restaurant, probably wasn't one of my best ideas! Also Matt has never seen fire-flies..., so when he did, he was … (35 comments)
chicago: MANGIA! MANGIA! and Celebrate Active Rain in Chicago-land this June 16th
- 06/01/07 09:47 AM
Don't FORGET the PAR-TAY RAIN CLOUD is moving to the MIDWEST on June 16th! We picked a site that would be easy to access from surrounding states of Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa. In my original announcement post I pretty much knew none of the details. BUT!!! No we've finalized the location at a Restaurant ICON that originated in Chicago as part of the Lettuce Entertainment Group of restaurants. So taaaaa daaaaa! We will be celebrating Saturday afternoon for lunch, adult libations (if you want) and rain soaked Birthday Cake at: Maggaino's Little Italy in Oak Brook... where being loud and festive is a good thing. Address: 240 Oak Brook Center … (46 comments)
Well the Rain Gods have spoken, (actually the Rain Goddess) and its official. Chicago is to be a celebration destination for Active Rain's 1 Year Anniversary Party Tour. The date for Chicago's event will be Saturday June 16th. Other events are scheduled for: June 2, Seattle, Washington June 9, Los Angeles, CaliforniaJune 23, Orlando, FloridaJune 30, New York, New YorkHere is what I know so far... Exact Time... TBA. Exact Location... TBA. Why are the details TBA (to be announced)? Because the Metro-Chicago area is HUGE … (45 comments)
chicago: I Confess... I've used the UGLY "R" WORD on the streets of metro Chicago
- 03/16/07 12:07 AM
I happen to know among clients, home selling professionals, developers and stagers that there is controversy swirling around this very hot topic. It seems like everyone is chiming in on one side or the other, having a very strong and opinion on the subject. However, some of these negative opinions I feel are quite prejudiced. I feel all these people are misinformed and it is their ignorance that propels the myth and controversy that surrounds the "R" word. Quite recently, we lost a client because we decided to start using the ugly "R" word. THIS got my blood boiling. NOW I am on a crusade to... Stamp out the … (33 comments)
chicago: Town-home sits UNSOLD for 7 months... THEN SELLS JUST 2 DAYS AFTER STAGING
- 03/09/07 01:22 AM
Here in Chicago, the Bucktown area has risen up to be a beautiful renaissance neighborhood. Just about 10 years ago it wasn't much to look at. However due to its close proximity to to downtown, builders came in tore out or rehabbed much of the old and built new. NOW Bucktown is one of Chicago's trendiest and vibrant neighborhoods. Because builders saw such opportunity and possibility... more and more came and built and built (and are still building actually) so the levels of inventory rose and rose and continues to rise. Unfortunately that creates a challenge. How does a seller, who originally bought new construction a few years back, differentiate their home … (23 comments)
chicago: REALTORS... Selling a home is as easy as riding a Tricycle
- 03/04/07 07:24 AM
When a home seller puts their home up for sale, they are much like kids about to go on a tricycle ride. But for this selling ride there are 4 basic elements impacting how smoothly the ride will go: Market, Location, Condition, and Price. The Market is the sidewalk that the seller's tricycle maneuvers on. Sometimes the market is bumpy, sometimes smooth. Regardless, what the markets surface conditions are, the seller must just roll along for there is little they can do to impact the market path. However, to get the tricycle ready for its travels, the seller must consider the 3 wheels … (55 comments)
chicago: Home Stagers... Your Website is the Display Window of Your Talent & Skills
- 03/03/07 08:35 AM
Knowing that the home staging industry is in the business of creating great first impressions, I often search the Internet looking at the websites of home stagers to see what kind of first impression they are or are NOT creating for the consuming public. I first started checking out home staging websites 3 1/2 years ago when I was opening my own home staging business and researching our industry. At that time, 2 home staging company's websites caught my eye and left me with an great impression of who they are and what the do. Those 2 staging companies were: Dekora in Vancouver and Nest Home Designin San … (19 comments)
chicago: Staged it Wright in Oak Park / River Forest IL
- 03/02/07 01:23 AM
When it comes to Architecture, the Oak Park / River Forest area of Illinois is one of the most historically significant areas in the world! For it is here that Frank Lloyd Wright had his first "studio" and created the now famous and easily recognizable form of architecture known as the Prairie Style. Dotted among the large stately mansions and tree lined streets of this area are Architectural masterpieces, created by Frank Lloyd Wright. And due to this areas close proximity to Chicago, builders have found it profitable to tear down less desirable older homes and replace them with new homes featuring all the … (15 comments)
chicago: Classic Georgian beautifully staged in Winnetka Illinois
- 02/28/07 11:11 AM
Since the start of Active Rain I know I have been a bit of a yapper. But lately I have been very quiet... but for good reason. WE HAVE BEEN BUSY! I thought you all might like to see some of what our crew here at Real Estaging has been working on that has kept us ALL so busy. Below is a FOLLOW UP staging project for a "boutique" builder I first blogged about in my UPSTAGING blog last summer. The first house we staged for the builder had been on the market for nearly 10 months when we staged it. But once … (26 comments)
chicago: Real-Time Networking Event in the Spirit of Active Rain!
- 02/07/07 11:16 AM
I know I have been kinda quiet in the rain... but it has been VERY busy here at Real Estaging. However... for all my Chicago-land Active Rain collogues I am VERY proud to announce a very cool event that I am co-sponsoring along with 2 other Active Rain Members. (Tripti Kasal of Real Living Infinity and Joe Zekus of YoChicago.) The event embodies the SPIRIT of what Active Rain makes possible... in REAL TIME. AND... the cool thing about the seminar is that it is a networking event that teaches real time networking skills! After attending a SIMILAR event, geared to the general business … (23 comments)
chicago: Standing Out in the Rain... a Lesson to take to Localism.
- 01/04/07 05:10 AM
Yesterday it was announced that of the 27,229 blog entries* posted on Active Rain since its début on June 25, 2006 my "very personal" post entitled "The Gift of Tears" was voted the Most Memorable post for the year. First, I have to say WOW and huge thank you to all who voted! And while I am flattered and grateful, it got me to thinking... Why? Why THAT post? Did that post REALLY have anything to do with Real Estate? As a professional in the Real Estate industry I know that working with people is at the core of what I … (40 comments)
Well I thought this picture really captured the essence of the last few post I created. In light of my recent post on Tears, and then all the boo-hooing and belly aching I was doing this past week... this seemed the perfect transition into Christmas. Oh and NO... they are NOT my children! In case you are wondering! (They actually are the children of one of my associate's friends here at Real Estaging.) Happy Holidays to all! Cry it forward... Me PS: Check out Santa's expression!
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chicago: Joy to the Rain
- 12/16/06 05:35 PM
To all my friends in the rain... I would just like to take a moment to wish you the very best and hope you have a joyous time with family and friends during the Holiday Season. It truly has been a gift to meet, learn and share with you here in the rain. Stage it forward... Me PS: This is my cyber gift to my cyber friends. Take it use it, post it, print it. Do what ever you like, where ever you like. And if you want a different format or a less blurry version of this wreath... just let me know. … (68 comments)
chicago: I can’t hold it any longer… this old Blog-Dog is gonna hit his 100th Post.
- 12/08/06 01:25 AM
Well I am about to a hit a personal milestone here in the rain. My next post will be #100! And while that may not seem like a lot for some bloggers here in the rain... it is for me. You see prior to joining Active Rain I barely knew what a blog was... let alone write one. (Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?) Anyway, now that I have been a part of all this am I am grateful for all I have learned AND the fun I have had. Yes... FUN! Fun has been for me part of my personal Return-On-Investment … (33 comments)
chicago: A BUBBLY WAY... to share your thanks & your message
- 12/03/06 11:19 AM
I know I talk a lot about staging. But my REAL passion is advertising and marketing. I LOVE to find new ways to break through the typical "advertising noise" and connect with people. (Staging just happens to be an amazing marketing tool that does this too... that is why I am so adamant about it.) Anyway, a few years back we decide to divert some of our advertising dollars away from print and find a ways to connect to our clients and potential clients in more creative and effectiveways. So what did we do? We throw a party! Well, actually we always had a personal holiday party... we … (13 comments)
chicago: DID OPRAH'S SHOW HELP HOME SELLERS....or was the message mixed and confusing?
- 11/25/06 10:27 AM
It's no secret how much I admire and am inspired by Oprah. So when I finally watched last week's show on preparing a home for its sale I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. While I applaud the shows desire to help home sellers who currently find themselves emotionally and financially burdened with a house that just won't sell... after watching it I felt the show sent a confusing and incomplete message to home seller's about what it takes to ready a house for its sale in a TOUGH buyer's market. The show chronicled the efforts of Oprah's design guru Nate Berkus … (37 comments)
chicago: Canned Cranberry Sauce… the jiggly symbol of an industry?
- 11/20/06 11:17 PM
This Thanksgiving every Realtor and home seller should be thankful and contemplate Canned Cranberry Sauce. As it/they sit/s on your plates, know that it/they symbolize/s what staging has to offer. Here is my scholarly list... 7 ways Canned Cranberry Sauce embodies Real Estate Staging! 1. Canned Cranberry Sauce does not cost much, but can have tasty results. 2. Canned Cranberry Sauce visually appeals to almost everyone. 3. Canned Cranberry Sauce takes the right tools and skill to get it out of a can properly. 4. Canned Cranberry Sauce is memorable without overpowering the rest of the food. 5. Canned Cranberry Sauce isn't cluttered with complex flavors. 6. Canned Cranberry Sauce is best served with the entrée, … (26 comments)
chicago: Property Pricing advice can be hard for sellers to swallow
- 11/09/06 04:13 AM
Being a stager can put us in a "funny spot" with sellers. After working in a seller's homes and transforming them in ways they never consider... sellers REALLY starts to TRUST us. Stagers need to be very careful. While you may be asked... a stager should NEVER suggest what a property should be listed for or sold for. Determining pricing is the Realtors job. So, while it is not our job to advise a client on pricing of their homes... this information is good to know and understand. Basacilly, if asked, I ALWAYS advise a seller to listen to and trust in the professional advise of a Realtor. Here are … (32 comments)
These are the creative writings of Craig Schiller, a home staging professional, passionate real estate marketing professional and founder of the Real Estaging, one of the nation's leading home staging companies.
Blogging was QUITE a popular topic yesterday at Emagine 2007 Expo... and educational event Coldwell Banker held for its agents in Chicago.
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