first impressions: First Impression-ist Masterpieces Now Hang in the Active Rain Gallery - 04/14/08 11:05 AM
Last week something new began to be seen in the great hallowed halls of Active Rain. Beautiful blog masterpieces started to appear. Active Rain gave to us all another great new improvement to help us all better differentiate and further brand ourselves through our blogs. We now all have the access to a … (57 comments)
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first impressions: I FINALLY Gots Me a Purdy Puddle... in the Rain - 04/11/08 03:09 PM
The ONLY problem I have EVER had about Active Rain was it is UGLY. YUP UGLY and I have not been afraid to let the Rain Gods (Matt Heaton and Johnathon Washburn) know how I felt.
But there is a saying, "you only get to complain if you are willing to provide a solution." So … (30 comments)
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first impressions: 100,000 DING DONG's, Stage It Forward Calling... with a Member Button for YOU! - 06/04/07 02:35 PM
With this post I have gone over the 100k Point. How befitting to reach this milestone with this post. While I did not time it as such, (I actually thought it would be this Friday with a Good Word Series post.) this post really does make this special for me ... because this post … (55 comments)
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first impressions: ENTER THE RAIN... from a New, Beautiful & Different Perspective - 04/05/07 09:37 PM
Every Realtor knows that first impressions matter. So can I be honest here? (And this has bugged me about Active Rain from the start.) Active Rain's front door is UGLY.
Yup UGLY! Yes, Yes I know it is fully "functional" door... but let's face it... its ugly. It has NO … (65 comments)
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first impressions: First Appearing on "STAGE" 3 years Ago... TODAY! - 03/19/07 07:09 AM
Today, on the 3rd anniversary of my first home staging... I thought I would share the backstory behind my first staging experience and how it convinced ME that home staging works.
In March of 2004, a little after I had completed my studies in Interior Design, I was asked to stage a condo (that had a lot going … (27 comments)
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first impressions: I Confess... I've used the UGLY "R" WORD on the streets of metro Chicago - 03/16/07 07:07 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 … (33 comments)
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first impressions: Town-home sits UNSOLD for 7 months... THEN SELLS JUST 2 DAYS AFTER STAGING - 03/09/07 09:22 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 … (23 comments)
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first impressions: THINK CRUSTY THOUGHTS... When Taking Listing Photos - 03/06/07 09:38 AM
Realtors you'll notice that while I am a home stager, a number of my blog postings have to do with taking better photos of listings. This is because I KNOW that what a home buyers SEES influences their desire to purchase... or NOT. But what a buyer SEES often starts BEFORE they drive up to … (56 comments)
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first impressions: Home Stagers... Your Website is the Display Window of Your Talent & Skills - 03/03/07 04:35 PM
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 … (19 comments)
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first impressions: Staged it Wright in Oak Park / River Forest IL - 03/02/07 09:23 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 … (15 comments)
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first impressions: Classic Georgian beautifully staged in Winnetka Illinois - 02/28/07 07:11 PM
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 … (26 comments)
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first impressions: DO YOUR HOMEWORK... before you sign up for training. - 01/08/07 10:00 AM
Home staging is beginning to blossom as interest and awareness grows and more and more people positively experience the rewards of that home staging brings to both the home seller and realtor.And... with so much positive possibility and "buzz" about what we do... more and more people are trusting in home … (48 comments)
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first impressions: For Crying Out Loud... it's CHRISTMAS! - 12/22/06 09:32 AM
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 … (34 comments)
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first impressions: Joy to the Rain - 12/17/06 01:35 AM
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 … (72 comments)
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first impressions: A BUBBLY WAY... to share your thanks & your message - 12/03/06 07:19 PM
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 … (13 comments)
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first impressions: TRIX FIX 12 PIX - 12/01/06 08:22 PM
For both the realtor and a stager... GOOD photography of the property for sale is a necessity. For the realtor, the photos you take of your listing show the product you are trying to sell. For the stager the photos of your work capture and chronicle your staging skills.
Therefore it is to BOTH … (38 comments)
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first impressions: HOLIDAY DECORATING: Should home sellers GRINch or BARE it? - 11/29/06 08:45 AM
Back in the fall I blogged on about whether or not it was wise to decorate for Halloween... and while at that time many people gave varied opinions, I stated that I thought it best not to.
SO... what about Christmas? Should a home seller decorate their house during Christmas Season? My … (20 comments)
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first impressions: WOW does this stager have "IT" or what? - 11/02/06 07:40 AM
With nearly 170 Real Estate Stagers now listed here on Active Rain I tend to only have time to "check out" those who have jumped further in the puddle and participate more fully by blogging and commenting.
Recently I stumbled upon Jessica Hughes of Ambiance Staging. a new stager that I believe has … (11 comments)
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first impressions: Who has recently touched you professionally? - 10/11/06 07:35 AM
Who have you meet professionally that really impresses you and are glad you met?
Well here is my “touching” story…
For me it is Kim Ashely here in Chicago. I had bumped into Kim a couple times at various real estate luncheons... and I basically steered clear of her. WHY? Well my company, Real … (9 comments)
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first impressions: Someone needs to tell the truth... PHOTOS LIE! - 10/03/06 07:29 PM
In my previous post today I showed Before & After Photos of a property that we just completed staging. What I did NOT show was how I got those After Photos to look so good.
Realtors and stagers need to understand a very important point about digital cameras... THEY DISTORT THE TRUTH.
Below is … (76 comments)
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first impressions: Halloween Decorations or DISTRACTIONS? - 09/30/06 01:55 PM
Well it's that time of the year when the ghost, goblins, gouls come out of attics and basements and into homes. While for some the day is great fun... for other's Halloween carries a negative connotation.
You might want to suggest to your seller's that this year they cut back or totally avoid decorating.
As a stager I advise our … (31 comments)
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first impressions: Tips for Stagers: regarding Before & After Pictures - 09/07/06 07:27 AM
Photograph EVERY project. Pictures are SOOOO important... they tell our story in an instant. THAT is why I have so many posted on my website. You can write and write and write... but people will ALWAYS look at the pictures.
AND I keep updating them too, because you have 2 … (11 comments)
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first impressions: Staging 101: Remove personal pictures. - 08/26/06 07:13 AM
Any realtor who has shown real estate will tell you that a buyer's eyes will lock on to the seller's personal items, (ie. wedding photos -see below) like a heat seeking missile.
That's why when preparing a home for sale stagers will start by having the seller de-personalize the property.
We often suggest … (11 comments)
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first impressions: GET THIS... real estate staging is NOT interior design! - 08/09/06 07:40 PM
So in the last week now, twice I have had clients that want to tell ME how to stage their totally vacant properties. That is like going to the dentist and telling him you know how to drill our own teeth... and asking for the drill while he watches. Real Estate … (5 comments)
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first impressions: YOUR LISTING'S VALUE (Humor) - 08/04/06 06:51 AM
Sometimes you just gotta laugh. The great thing about blogging is, if it is written from a personal point of view, it lets the reader know the "backstory" of who you are. Integrating HUMOR into what we do is a big part of how Real Estaging and I operates.
While the home … (5 comments)
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first impressions: I admit... Staging ISN'T Necessary! - 08/02/06 10:21 PM
Even though I am a stager, I will be the first to say Staging ISN'T necessary to sell a home.
Does it help? YES.
Can the seller profit from it? YES.
Can a home sell faster? YES.
But it is necessary? NOPE.
I can remember my father was the type of … (5 comments)
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first impressions: Under Qualifed "Stagers" Flood the Market - 07/23/06 09:44 PM
Too many unqualified and untalented people are entering the field of staging... seeing it as a way to make a quick buck. It is easy to separate the amateurs from the professionals. Since they are in the business of "good first impressions" then their websites (heck, their business card) should give you just that. If the site and … (24 comments)
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