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 you think of China?' And each time I am asked, I am stumped for an answer. Why stumped? Well the above pictures are 2 views of China I had out my hotel room windows. As I was taking them... I never realized they visually would capture the essence of my travel experience. They (21 comments)
staging process: Tips for Stagers: regarding Before & After Pictures
- 09/07/06 12:27 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 clients... the seller and the realtor. A seller might only look at your site a few times when they are thinking of hiring you. A realtor goes back and back and back just to keep "tabs" on you. If they always see new fresh images they know you are a (11 comments)
staging process: Staging 101: Remove personal pictures.
- 08/26/06 12:13 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 that the seller box up (since they are going to be moving anyway) or put away all family photos, awards, trophies, diplomas, children's artwork and religious artifacts. Why do we suggest this? Simple: You want potential buyers to focus the property and see it as a home for themselves. To reinforce (11 comments)
staging process: Staging is hard PHYSICAL WORK!
- 08/14/06 10:11 PM
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 to be a bit of Mack the Mover, Hazel the Cleaning Lady, Dolly the Decorator... all wrapped in one. Then on top of it all... you have to do it like Speedy Gonzoles. (So why am I so fat? LOL) Anyway, we just created a new position, one person just to handle coordinating (14 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.