staged homes: HOME SELLERS... I'm Not Popeye, So Don't You Be Wimpy! - 06/25/07 05:55 PM
When I was a kid I used to watch the Popeye cartoon on TV. (To be honest I don't even know if it is on anymore or if the strip even runs in news papers.)
Anyway, one of the cartoon's secondary characters was named Wimpy. While Wimpy was a sweet harmless loveable … (60 comments)
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staged homes: Barb's Schwarz's New Book Reveals Home Staging Business is NOT "Pretty" Hocus Pocus! - 06/02/07 11:50 AM
A few weeks back I posted an announcement of the soon to be released book by Barb Schwarz (grand dame' of home staging) entitled: "Building a Successful Home Staging Business."
So I now have read Barb's new book and here is my promised "Book Review".
First, while I did not agree with everything she writes of... I have … (23 comments)
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staged homes: Dear ASP/ASPM's... I do Believe ONENESS is NOT One Sided - 05/15/07 07:11 AM
I have learned that mentioning Barb Schwarz's name in a blog is like taking a match to gasoline.
This is my reply to one of the last comments posted in my last blog post entitled: Will Staging Biz Book Hitting Shelves (this week) Hit the Target? I think my own comment bares repeating here to … (14 comments)
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staged homes: Will Staging Biz Book Hitting Shelves (this week) Hit the Target? - 05/13/07 07:29 AM
Well, I couldn't have planned it better if I tried. But considering my last post, about the difficulties of owning a home staging business, the fact that Barb Schwarz is releasing a new book this week entitled "Building a Successful Home Staging Business" is timed perfectly.
Just what will this book reveal? … (70 comments)
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staged homes: Cold Hard Reality: Dying Dreams and Limited Opportunities - 05/10/07 09:30 PM
With each passing week I receive emails with questions from stagers asking me how to approach and solve a myriad of issues and challenges facing them and in their staging business. Some of these are issues QUITE complex and take MORE than just a quick email response. Unfortunately as I work … (66 comments)
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staged homes: Do Shifty Sellers Stage to Bamboozle Buyers? - 05/02/07 09:56 AM
Realtors, if you use home stagers, here is a point to ponder...
Should an occupied property that HAS been staged be ADVERTISED as such?
I bring this point up as I feel an educated Realtor is an empowered Realtor.
So, before answering "YES" consider this... I personally think it is the LISTING REALTORS responsibility to … (50 comments)
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staged homes: My Personal COMMENT on a STAGER'S STORM in the Rain - 04/17/07 09:29 AM
While it was NOT the intent of my initial post entitled "Was Barb Schwarz the 'INVENTOR' of Home Staging"... somehow this post did cause issues to swirl to the surface. And in all this there lies a lesson for ANYONE who writes a blog.
So first let's talk about MY PERSONAL PURPOSE for writing that … (25 comments)
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staged homes: 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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staged homes: 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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staged homes: 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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staged homes: Active Rain created One Stage for an entirely new industry - 03/08/07 12:41 AM
The guys that created Active Rain might not realize it (and I KNOW they definitely did not intend it) but they have created something wonderful.
They have created a stage so that the voices of an entire industry, only in its infancy and struggling to be heard, could be heard. That industry is … (32 comments)
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staged homes: REALTORS... Selling a home is as easy as riding a Tricycle - 03/04/07 03:24 PM
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 … (57 comments)
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staged homes: 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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staged homes: 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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staged homes: 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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staged homes: Active Rain drops create ripples of opportunity & possibility in 2007 - 12/31/06 11:37 AM
So it is the closing of the inaugural year of Active Rain... and what a year it has been for all who have taken part of this amazing community.
In a year where the real estate industry was swirling with change and challenge and where large companies were jockeying for position on the web... … (32 comments)
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staged homes: 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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staged homes: 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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staged homes: Welcome Stagers! I have a "pumped up" idea... - 11/28/06 05:21 PM
FIRST!!! WOW.... You gotta love them AR guys. Those "drips" know how to "drop" in nice features.
To prime our new STAGE IT FORWARD GROUP pump... please go back to your blog postings about staging and re-assign its group under the new Stage It Forward catigory. That way, your best and most informative blogs will appear … (9 comments)
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staged homes: Canned Cranberry Sauce… the jiggly symbol of an industry? - 11/21/06 07:17 AM
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 … (26 comments)
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staged homes: Working with Seniors... requires some flexibility! - 11/20/06 06:49 AM
Well I finally had my opportunity to talk about real estate staging to the group of seniors selling their homes. The auditorium was PACKED with an overflow crowd... to a point that there were those that needed to be turned away. To be honest I did NOT expect so many.
Upset and anxiety filled the room. You could feel that the folks … (47 comments)
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staged homes: The CRAPPY part of a staging business is JUMBO sized CHALLENGES! - 11/18/06 06:29 PM
So you are or want to be a real estate stager? Well, it is a fun and rewarding business... but I would be lying if I said it was not with out it JUMBO challenges.
Since I have been blogging about staging I have "connected" with stagers from all over the United … (39 comments)
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staged homes: I'D LIKE TO NEEDLE YOU TO MAKE A MARKETING POINT - 11/08/06 09:28 AM
I am a stickler for words. (Pardon the pun.) But something has been bothering me since I first started my own home staging company. It has to do with referring to ourselves as "Home Stagers" Is that the best way to describe ourselves? Is being a "Home" Stager actually what we are? Does that … (30 comments)
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staged homes: Visting the Edge of 2 Worlds - 11/05/06 08:22 AM
So I have been back for a week from my trip to China...and what a trip it was. While I went there because the professional merchandising/design advice of "me" was needed, the personal "me" was impacted.
Since returning I have been asked questions like: "How was it?" "Did you have a nice time?" "What did … (21 comments)
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staged homes: STAGE IT FORWARD... - 11/03/06 08:33 AM
Active Rain has given me a platform from where I can share my voice. So I get a LOT of stagers asking for my advice, my help, my thoughts and I am honored and humbled... and a bit frustrated.
I am “frustrated” because I see a huge need and want to help. There … (30 comments)
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staged homes: 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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staged homes: DRIVE-BY Comment HITS one of my Blogs... AGAIN! - 11/01/06 07:38 AM
Well for the second time this week one of my blogs has been “hit” with a comment from someone outside Active Rain.
This time the anonymous comment hit a blog I posted way back on August 10th entitled Stepping on "accredited/certified” stager’s toes…
And while I could let just the anonymous comment … (16 comments)
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staged homes: Blog Comments: Thorns amongst the flowers. - 10/30/06 10:47 PM
When I posted my “Little Orphan Rodney” blog this morning I never thought it would create such a firestorm of comments.
I been so inspired by the spirit of kindness and generosity on Active Rain that I try hard to make my voice here be a voice of inclusion, a voice a … (10 comments)
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staged homes: Staging Realtors... how big are your guns? - 10/25/06 06:07 AM
When should a realtor, who considers themselves to be a stager, bring in a professional real estate stager? In my opinion it really comes down to 3 key elements: TIME, TALENT, & TREASURE. A keen and rich knowledge of these basic 3 elements and a system for implementing and administering them is … (14 comments)
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staged homes: Staged Property does NOT sell... BUT WHY? - 10/18/06 10:06 PM
Here is a set of Before & After pictures of a TOTALLY VACANT property we staged back in mid June and un-staged today.
IT DID NOT SELL. WHY? Was it because staging really does not help?
SOME nay-sayers might (and will) jump to that conclusion. I happen to have experienced … (15 comments)
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staged homes: Who wrote the book on Home Staging? - 10/09/06 07:55 PM
Well from the looks of if... 5 different people so far. So there is NOT a lot written about the subject as of yet. I happen to own all but have only read 4 of the 5 books listed here so far. And I gotta admit... not all staging books … (15 comments)
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staged homes: ASP? HSE? What's-a-stager-SUPPOSED-to-be? - 10/08/06 08:24 AM
My answer is... EITHER. NEITHER. BOTH.
Cindy Lin, a new stager here on AR commented on one of my previous blogs. Cindy summed up her desire for training and her training experience well when she said, "granted the talent of staging is not teachable, but business models and skills are. i … (32 comments)
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staged homes: Real Estate Stagers establish a new record here on the A.R. Blogger Hwy. - 10/07/06 06:16 PM
Well, I personally want to welcome Active Rain's 100th Stager: Maureen Henry of Rockland Home Staging.
Being #100 is truely is a milestone for stagers here on AR... who currently expirience a ratio of 40:1 when you compare realtors to stagers here on AR.
Realtors... more and more stagers are out there.... I encourage you … (14 comments)
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staged homes: ANNOUNCING: My new book on Real Estate Staging - 10/07/06 12:17 PM
While there are a few books out there that talk about real estate staging. I still feel there is room for a more comprehensive discussion.
I have been working on my own staging book and am PROUD to début the cover HERE on ACTIVE RAIN.
For marketing purposes (so that I … (29 comments)
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staged homes: If Switzerland was a color, what color would it be? - 10/05/06 06:52 PM
Ok… so this is NOT a blog on behalf of the Swiss Visitor & Convention Bureau.
It is a blog with another basic staging tip about color of and in a house
Q: What is the RIGHT color to use in a home that is on the market… most notably for paint and carpet?
A: … (6 comments)
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staged homes: Over Done vs. Done Right - 10/03/06 04:05 PM
Here is a picture of the livingroom of property we just completed yesterday. Which version of the same room do you think more people will relate to as "their new home"? This happens to be a property on the markete in an ultra HOT gentrifying area on Chicago's north side.
The room on the left has … (14 comments)
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staged homes: NO SALE! for Good Morning America - 10/02/06 05:12 PM
If you didn't catch the conclusion of GMA's "Sell Your House In a Week Challenge"... well it was NOT a happy ending. Real estate expert Barbara Corcoran gave it her all to prepare and market the NJ house and get it sold in 1 week. And while they had 80 people … (15 comments)
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staged homes: BUDDING STAGERS... here are 7 tips to OPEN DOORS to business. - 09/28/06 07:09 PM
One of the delights of being on Active Rain is receiving emails like this...
"Hi craig, Im in the process of getting my staging business off the ground but so far no one seems interested! I live in a area that staging is very new. My business is the first of its … (7 comments)
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staged homes: USE YOUR EYES! - 09/27/06 07:13 PM
I know there are those realtors out there that have never heard of staging... even here on AR. So I blog on.. for YOU are the gateway for recommendation of our staging services.
If you are interested in considering using a stager... USE YOUR EYES and look at stagers here on AR as … (7 comments)
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staged homes: Another FEISTY BLOG about "Professional" Staging! - 09/27/06 06:22 PM
Well it seems like everyone and there brother/sister is becoming a stager. Which is a good and bad thing.
GOOD... because it means the industry and the concept is growing.
BAD... because is seem like all a person needs to do is get a cute name, business card and an accredited/certified “staging … (5 comments)
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staged homes: Your Royal Highness: The CLEAN of Staging - 09/24/06 08:29 AM
When we speak of staging, we talk of a lot of things. Like thinning, de-cluttering, organizing, rearranging, repairing, trimming, mowing, painting, etc… but Cleaning reigns over all. The house on market should be cleaned as if Royalty was coming to visit… and remember royals wear gloves.
In today’s age, with all the … (9 comments)
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staged homes: Staging Web Sites - 09/22/06 09:31 PM
Since I have been a member of Active Rain I have be in contact with so many people "intrigued" with staging and the possibility of staging.
I am honored to "field" the questions of stagers or wanna be stagers ( by "wanna be" I mean people intrigued in the opportunity staging offers). So … (8 comments)
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staged homes: I CONFESS... I watch OPRAH and enjoy it! - 09/18/06 06:14 PM
So today opens the new season of Oprah. I am sooooo in need of a fresh Oprah "fix".
I recently was shopping for props for our prop library at IKEA here in Chicago and there was a woman that looked so much like Oprah... I had to ask. She just … (17 comments)
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staged homes: Be careful what you ask for - 09/17/06 06:09 PM
Well this past week has been the busiest of my life. Hard, long and both physically and mentally exhausting. This is the one thing about staging I fear all the staging seminars are not teaching in their weekend workshops.
I woke a 3 AM 3 times this week to try to get … (13 comments)
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staged homes: Stager’s Prop Library: YES or NO? - 09/11/06 06:30 PM
To follow up on an earlier blog, I wanted to share with other stagers my thoughts on why creating and maintaining a Prop Library is a GOOD business decision.
While some stager's suggest that it is easy to find perfect "hidden treasures" in and around a home that could be used … (13 comments)
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staged homes: Staging should BLEND with the house and the target buyer - 09/10/06 08:51 AM
Debra Gould blogged on this topic yesterday and as I was posting my comments on her blog there was more I thought I could add.
Debra said it perfectly whe she said staging should NOT "...look contrived and artificial, it needs to fit the mood of the house. You shouldn't be … (12 comments)
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staged homes: God really knows how to be a kill joy! - 09/09/06 07:11 AM
(Alternate blog title: "Church Blocks view and ends sale.")
So all week long I have been "ranting and raving" about the high rise luxury condo we just had completed staging and how the priced was raised and how a person who had first scene it at the lower price was now considering it … (4 comments)
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staged homes: 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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staged homes: This Staging Story keeps GETTING BETTER... offer is coming in. - 09/05/06 09:12 PM
I told all my fellow Rain Drops that I would keep you posted...
So today the listing agent called to tell me she had a 3rd showing to the same client of the property we JUST finished staging on Friday.
You may all recall that this is the property where the priced was RAISED … (4 comments)
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staged homes: Asking Price RAISED $55,000 after Real Estaging! - 09/02/06 11:47 AM
I know I keep ranting and raving about how staging can impact the asking price of real estate. So I am just THRILLED to share this story of a property we JUST finished staging yesterday morning (September 1). We fully staged the Foyer, Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Hallway, Master Bedroom and Master Bathroom … (22 comments)
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staged homes: History CAN repeat itself... even for stagers - 08/27/06 11:51 AM
I love the staging industry... but sometimes I am dismayed by it.
I can't help but compare what I see happening in this industry to what has happened to the auto industry.
Years ago (back in the 60's) my father bought a Toyota. People laughed, ridiculed, and dismissed these cars by … (2 comments)
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staged homes: Staging is hard PHYSICAL WORK! - 08/15/06 05:11 AM
I don't think people realize just what it takes to stage a property. Let me PERSONALLY tell you it is NOT for the meek and mild.
My associates and I have been on the RUN trying to get various properties unstaged and then new properties staged!
To do this right, you need … (14 comments)
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staged homes: AUTHENTIC & UNIVERSAL Credentialing for Stagers - 08/13/06 11:40 AM
THIS is why I love ActiveRain.... actually JoAnn Guida came up with the perfect parallel to help explain my concerns and wishes for AUTHENTIC and UNIVERSAL credentialing of stagers. (Now why didn't I think of this? LOL)
Anyway, JoAnn made the GOOD POINT that ... "Once upon a time Interior Designers … (6 comments)
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staged homes: SCANDLE: a MAN joins Woman's Council of Realtors! - 08/10/06 07:15 PM
Not really a scandal... but today I joined the Woman's Council of Realtors (North Shore). WOW does this chapter have it's stuff together.
Today's speaker was Lynn Madison. http://www.lynnmadison.com/ A LEGEND in this "neck of the woods"... when it comes to training and development of PROFESSIONALS in real estate.
Today, Lynn's totally informative topic … (5 comments)
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staged homes: Stepping on "accredited/certified” stager’s toes… - 08/10/06 06:24 AM
I've said it before... staging talent is NOT just acquired by sitting in a weekend seminar or EVEN a week-long workshop. I have worked with people that have NO formal training and they have "it".
Real Estate staging is having an eye for symmetry, balance, scale, proportion, and color. It is also a … (27 comments)
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staged homes: 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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staged homes: 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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staged homes: 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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staged homes: The "art" of the THANK YOU NOTE - 07/30/06 01:26 PM
In today's age, where it seems like it is all about hard core marketing, sometimes what is forgotten is that marketing is ultimately about building authentic relationships.
A simple thank you card can so easily begin or solidify a relationship... IF one writes and formats the note's message correctly.
Here are some simple tips … (12 comments)
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staged homes: UP STAGING the competition... 2 VERY different stagings on the same property - 07/29/06 10:25 AM
Realtors need to know that just because a person or business call themelves "stagers" does not mean that they can actually do a professional job. EVEN if they are "Accrediated".
Here is an actual job we recently re-staged. The builder has paid an unbelievable $9,000 in fees to this furniture rental company! This type of … (34 comments)
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staged homes: Stagers stepping out of the box... - 07/28/06 06:03 PM
When staging a property... scale, proportion, color and style matter greatly.
That is why we have developed our own extensive Staging Prop Library that allows our Property Stylists to select just the right pieces that subtly blend in, yet enhance the properties overall appeal.
Comprised of neary 2000 items and valued at … (5 comments)
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staged homes: Staging as advertising expense? - 07/25/06 07:39 PM
In the short time I have been a part of ActiveRain, I am amazed (and delighted) at out how many of you have either commented to my BLOGS directly or sent me an email about what I share.
I just thought I was an average guy with some thoughts and opinions and a love for what I do, … (4 comments)
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staged homes: Stagers: Certified, accredited and waving a magic wand... - 07/24/06 08:21 PM
I feel compelled to yap a bit more on my blog from yesterday. First, keep in mind that what I have to say is just my opinion based on my observations. But after yesterday's insightful comments from Kristal Kraft, and Geri Sonkin I was inspired to do some more sleuthing to back up my … (10 comments)
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staged homes: What Every Realtor Should Know About Home Staging - 07/22/06 04:28 PM
Because real estate staging is still relatively new in the Midwest we still get a lot of questions from Realtors about our services.
Many Realtors say they already "do their own staging"... which I think is great. But in this world were time is money, my question back to Realtors often is: … (15 comments)
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