Duncan Scott's Blog

Kathleen Garvey joins the CSP Instructors Team

Duncan Scott (The Scotts Group Inc.) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:17:32 -0700

As a Staging Training Instructor and the Director of International Sales for CSP I am very pleased to join Christine Rae in welcoming Kathleen Garvey to the CSP Instructors Team. After following Kathleen's success and knowledge of staging on both Active Rain and Facebook I had the pleasure of meeting her in person via Jackson Wes t at this years RESA Convention in Las Vegas. In March of this year Kathleen joined me to co-teach the Staging Training class in Hamilton, Ontario. Her charming charisma, high energy and vast knowledge of staging, not to mention her strong background in teaching, captured the full attention of both myself and the students.

Kathleen, I'm really excited about you joining our team... and I'm looking forward to teaching with you again soon!

PRESS RELEASE

Top Real Estate Stager in U.S. Announces Home Staging Course Instructor Position with CSP to Aid Hurting Florida Economy

Award-winning and nationally known leader in the real estate staging industry, Kathleen Garvey announces she has been chosen by CSP International Training Academy as a top-level home staging course instructor. By teaching others how to create successful staging businesses, Garvey will help more individuals recover from the current economic challenges.

With the demand for home staging on the upswing, the need to provide better business training has increased according to Christine Rae, President & CEO of CSP International Training Academy. Rae states, Kathleen Garvey’s accomplished expertise and dynamic personality is widely-recognized in the real estate staging industry. CSP is extremely excited to have the opportunity to offer her leadership and teaching skills within our most popular home staging course.

Garvey, who is the current Florida State President for RESA, states that her desire to improve Florida’s hard hit real estate market influenced her decision. By teaching more people how to start and build profitable home staging businesses, Garvey wants to see her home state and others recover quicker. She also mentions that there is an increasing need for many existing home stagers to adjust their businesses as the real estate staging industry grows each year. Garvey believes that the opportunity to help others to become more successful can be accomplished by offering more education and better training.

The intensive three-day CSP home staging courses will be taught by Garvey throughout Florida and other U.S. states. Fans of home staging training can visit (http://www.csptraining.com) for an upcoming schedule of certification classes and more information.

Garvey is the third-term State President of Florida for RESA (http://realestatestagingassociation.com), which is the professional industry association for home stagers. She is also a successful business owner and lead designer of Enhanced Interiors & Home Staging located in Fort Myers, Florida. (http://www.enhancedinteriors.net)

After winning the title of RESA Stager Idol in 2008, Kathleen Garvey achieved international recognition. The Stager Idol real estate staging competition featured numbers of acclaimed home stagers from the US and Canada in the first-ever project challenge of its kind. In addition to other professional awards and nominations, Garvey has been highlighted in multiple national and international publications including Realtor Magazine, the official publication of NAR (National Association of Realtors). In 2010, Garvey has also been nominated for Professional Home Stager of the Year.

Home staging careers were recently rated by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the best small businesses as people turn to more independent ways to increase their income.

Certified Staging Professionals is the leading staging training company in North America and Australia. The CSPI Academy delivers comprehensive training programs in staging, redesign, green science and marketing, and provides unparalleled after-training support to real estate professionals, stagers, professional organizers, decorators and entrepreneurs.

Press Contact:

CSP International Training Academy

36 Hiscott Street Suite 100

St. Catharines, ON L2R1C8

1-888-782-4464

http://www.csptraining.com

Http://www.enhancedinteriors.net

enhancedinteriors@gmail.com

http://realestatestagingassociation.com

Certified Home Staging... What does it mean??

Duncan Scott (The Scotts Group Inc.) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:24:44 -0700

Recently I have been asked quite a bit about home staging training and what “Certification” means. At this point in time there is no governing body in the United States, Canada or Australia that gives out or approves a license for Home Staging.

What does this mean to you as a future Home Stager, Real Estate Sales Person/Broker or Homeowner?

Christine Rae, founder and President of Certified Staging Professionals (CSP™) decided to address this issue by creating and providing a 3 Day, 30 hour in class Home Staging Training Course that would not only teach home staging, but also the business practices on how to stay in business and make a living. The course is not just about making a home look good for pictures and viewings, but also how to bring the condition of the property up to today’s standards by using a proven 3 step process.

Graduates must sign and adhere to a strict Code of Conduct and ethics; those that do not follow the conduct & ethics are no longer allowed to be part of the organization. In order to graduate from the program, students must achieve 75% or higher on two written exams and stage a home on the market with their class and the CSP™ Instructor.

The CSP™ program is constantly being updated to meet today’s market requirements, graduates are encouraged to come back to class at anytime for a small nominal fee to refresh and update themselves. Much like what Realtors® have, there are also continuing education classes that are provided through the CSPI Training Academy.

Who Teaches the Program? The CSP™ Certified Staging Training Classes are only taught by instructors who have an active home staging business and know what is happening in the field. Each Trainer must also go through an intensive Instructor Training Program where they are audited by the President and other instructors before they are allowed to teach the program. They are a team who work together with Christine and each other to constantly keep the program current. CSP™ has instructors in the United States, Canada and Australia. You can find out more about each of them and their companies by clicking on their names: Christine Rae, Nairn Friemann, Lynelle Hartman, Joanne O’Donnell, Melissa Marro, Janne Petrie, Jackson West and myself Duncan Scott.

Certified Staging Professionals™ was the first Staging Training Company to offer an affordable insurance package to their graduates in Canada. Is this important? Would you want any other trade coming into your most expensive investment that did not have insurance?

So back to my earlier question: “What does this mean for you?”

As a Certified Home Staging Professional, you can go out confidently into the market knowing that you have the extensive hands on training on how to provide the best service to your customers and how to succeed in business. With the added support of on going training, you also know that you will always be on top of today’s trends.

As a Real Estate Professional, you know that every CSP™ Home Staging Consultant has been through hands on training on bringing the properties condition up to standard and on merchandising your listings, much like what you had to do to in order to get your license. Knowing that each CSP™ must adhere to a Code of Conduct means that you have the added security of contacting the CSP Head Office should any complaints or issues arise.

As a Homeowner, you have the piece of mind that you have a professionally trained home stager who has been taught how to get you the maximum return on your investment by consulting you on the condition of your home and then showcasing it to get the most buyers through the door.

CSP has made it easy for you to find a Certified Staging Professional near you… you can be rest assured by Clicking on the FIND A STAGER button that you have a trained professional who is in good standing with the organization.

So while there may not currently be a governing body on the Certification of Home Staging Training, don’t you feel better knowing that CSP™ is Raising the Bar on what is expected in Home Staging?

Please don’t hesitate to contact the CSP™ head office at 1-888-STAGING (782-4464), visit the office in person at 36 Hiscott Street, St. Catharine’s ON (9-6pm Mon –Fri), or contact any of our Certified Instructors via their websites.

Certified Home Staging Training

STAGING EVOLUTION... REVOLUTION

Duncan Scott (The Scotts Group Inc.) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:28:28 -0700

Below is an article I recently wrote and was published in Staging Standard Magazine, ENJOY!

Many people think staging is something new which came out of California. I can tell you from experience it not. It is a process which has been done for decades all over the world. In this decade it has evolved into the fastest growing industry in North America, due to the fact that it is now a recipe for a successful sale - a tailored marketing tool for an individual property for sale.

In the 70's & 80's, my father was on his way up on the corporate ladder: this meant moving every couple of years to a new city or even a new country. I was a "corporate brat" and while many think this might be hard on a child, I actually enjoyed meeting new people and seeing new places. I also believe it helped me map my future to join the Real Estate Industry, first as a salesperson in 1988 and now as a Staging business owner and Trainer for Certified Staging Professionals (CSP).

As a child, when I drew a picture of a house, mine would always have a "For Sale" sign on the front yard. I would watched my parents rush around making sure 2 cars would fit in the garage, replacing the wall paper, painting the house and making the basement look like it was always a neat and organized storage area. As kids, my siblings and I new the "special" family meeting was about to be held where we would be told we were moving and the lecture for keeping our rooms tidy was about to follow! These were the early days of staging and no one even knew it.

By age 18 I new I wanted to be a Real Estate Agent. I stared selling in the late 80's and was shocked to find not everyone did what my parents did to prepare the property for market. When I got my first listing I sat with the homeowners and discussed how to make the house look good from the outside-in. In the days before the Internet, buyers would look at a black and white picture and then drive by the property; it had to look good to get them to an appointment to view the inside. I would personally reconfigure the furniture and maximize the layout on my own listings. When I showed buyers vacant properties I would tell them where the sofa would go and ensure that a queen size bed would fit in the Master Bedroom. Even as little as 20 years ago I had no idea that I was staging, I just thought it was part of my job. In the late 90's a woman by the name of Ann Maurice came onto the television in the UK, (where I live and managed an "Estate Agency"), with a show called the "House Doctor". Ann would go into a home that wasn't selling and transform it into something that a buyer would want to see. The show was a HIT! Staging was moving to the next step, finally someone was out there who could get my listings prepared so I could focus on getting the property sold and getting more listings.

Pamela Fenton, of Homelife Realty One in Toronto, ON agrees;

"I want every property I list to be a show piece, but spending time on staging myself takes me away from showing and marketing to potential buyers. Having my Certified Staging Professional do the work for me and my clients allows me to sell my listings faster and service my customers to the level they expect"

Reflectively, over the last three decades staging has only been what CSP refers to as the second step of a 3 step process. Cleaning up, putting flowers in the front yard and depersonalizing are only the start. A property has to appeal to the more than 63% of buyers who will pay more money for a house that is "Move In Ready"

When you know the average seller is 57 years old and the average buyer is in their early 30's, you understand these two age groups have different wants and needs, and no none, no matter what age they are wants to feel like they are moving into their parents home. By hiring a qualifieed a qualified stage the seller can benefit by having a professional come in with furnishings and accessories which will appeal to the target market. The same goes goes for a vacant home, buyers come in and feel themselves in the home and see how it might look when they move in. In most cases if a buyer sees a furnished staged house, they will buy the vision they can actually see ove the one they have to imagine.

Taking that principle a step further, my good friend and fellow CSP Staging Trainer, Jackson West, (Reveal Estate, Vancouver, BC) explains the importance of knowing the difference in preparing a Condo and a House in the same price range as not all properties can be staged the same way:

"Today's buyers have high expectations therefore it is crucial to merchandise a space in a way that will attract the specific buyer demographic. You have to consider the needs and desired lifestyle of potential buyers while incorporating items to compliment and enhance the architetural features of the property. Buyers will remember what they are shown, so functionality is paramount. Contemporary furniture and accessories are going to look out of place in a traditional home, however, buyers will expect modern furnishings in a new development or high rise."

Another consideration is price differential; an executive home or luxury million dollar home will need different accessories and furniture than an entry home or condo. Janet Coates, (The House Stagers, Toronto, ON) a fellow CSP and asscoiate of mine explains:

"Choosing accessories for a multimillion dollar property is similar in some respects to any other property. You have to consider style and scale. However accessories in a luxury property have to be quality pieces. These properties are generally larger in scale and well appointed architecturally. Staging accessories need to enhance the space. Whether your are selling a starter condo or a luxury home, having the right look and feel is important to getting the property sold, having a professional staging consultant who knows the market and has the accessories to complete the job saves you time and money."

Having the right look is important but is not the only important factor, with the majority of buyers starting thier search on the Internet, pictures of the out and inside of the property are key to getting buyers in the door. Jackson provides his expertise for making sure the pictures capture the buyer's eye:

"A picture is worth a thousand buyers so it is worth having quality Real Estate photos. An appealing front exterior photo will entice people to look at the rest of the images. Showcase any attractive outdoor views the property has and include several interior shots too. A lack of photos may lead buyers to thing the property is not desirable. A wide-angle lens helps capture more detail of a room. Align the vertical lines of the room with the photo and capture more of the floor and less of the ceiling. Ensure rooms are well lit by turning on the lights and the lamps to give photos visual depth. Beware of reflections especially if you are using a flash. This is particularly true for mirrors, windows, glass table tops adn shiny objects. Finally and perhaps most improtantly think about the photo before you take it. Try moving 2 steps left, 2 steps right, a step back or drop to one knee. Even a slight change in perspective can make all the difference."

The CSP leading edge staging process includes 3 steps.

Step 1 is a complete, comprehensive, personalized evaluation of the property.

Step 2 is to address those conditions and bring the property's price range specifications.

Step 3 the final and key step, is to the CSP complete a full showcasing process to best position the property on the market. This step is vital to leave no chance. It features the reasons to buy, attracting buyers from the Internet, getting them into your property and putting offers on the table!

Paul Beauregard and Jennifer Pfuetzner, property sellers, attest to the benefits of using a CSP to stage their property. Last summer they were dealing with a job transfer across the country; just as the market was tumbling they were faced with trying to sell their large Victorian farmhouse in downtown Toronto. The property had not been touched since they moved in 10yrs prior. Many agents told them they were crazy to list in such a bad economy and they would never get their asking price. The agent they eventually selected insisted they would have to have the property professionally staged before marketing could begin. They interviewed several stagers deciding on a particular CSP from Toronto; they gave him the go ahead with the 3 step process of preparing their house for sale:

"(Our Stager) did more than just stage our 12+ room house. Through the entire process he explained to us what was being done and why. He took our house and transformed it into what it should have always been. This was not a cheap "Paint the Walls" staging, but a profound and fundamental rethinking of what the home was suppose to be. What it could be. What it should be... finally - as with so much in life - it boiled down to the bottom line; we were selling in the middle of summer in a collapsed market where agents were telling us not to list.

Many agents told us it would not sell. We were even told we were making a mistake listing the house for too high a price. Thanks to (our stager) our house sold in less than a day for $26,000 over list! (To be precise, it was on the market for 3 hours and we received multiple offers!). To leave no room for uncertainty - this home would have not have sold without (our stager's) contribution. And we received a generous multiple on the "Investment" we made by hiring (our CSP Stager)".

Never tell people they wont be able to sell their property, contact your CSP to help get your listings or home on the market, in the best condition and postitioned to attract buyers.

The staging industry is evolving quickly; specialty designations to compliment your work challenges are being developed: Eco-Staging, Staging for Divorce, Senior Move Management, E-Stager and Zoomer Staging are some that will def give your property the "Edge" when selling.

In closing, I have been in the Real Estate industry for over 20yrs in three different countries (Canada, USA, UK) and two different continents. the changes I've seen in what buyers are looking for in a property are remarkable. In Fall of 2006 I moved back to Canada from New York City and decided not to sell property but to stage it; the thrill of the transformation excites me each time I complete a showcasing... and even more so when the call comes in that the property is sold!

Oh FYI... I still occasionally draw pictures of houses... however now instead of a "For Sale" sign on the front yard, the property always has a "Sold for Over Asking" sign!

Cheers to all for a Fast Sales!

Duncan

They say a picture says a thousand words...

Duncan Scott (The Scotts Group Inc.) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:46:15 -0800

This one also says Thousands of dollars...

Asking price: $749,000

Selling price: $776,000

Staging costs: $15,000 (Paint, repairs, landscaping, furniture rental and staging costs)

Time on Market: 2 Hours!! In August 08

Changing a Condo...

Duncan Scott (The Scotts Group Inc.) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:10:03 -0800

Although I don't usually put flowers in the middle of the room... the goal here was to grab the buyers eye on the net... 15 comparable units on the market at the same time, in the same complex and this one sold in a week for asking... in a downturning market.

The First Time is the Best ...at least in memory!

Duncan Scott (The Scotts Group Inc.) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:49:48 -0700

Last December a Realtor I had met, while Condo shopping for friends in from London (UK), was explaining to me how hard a time she was having finding a stager that could do a job on short notice, due the boom happening in Toronto at the time. After a bit of discussion I agreed to "help" her out.

FLASHBACK: Over my lifespan I had been an agent in the UK and Canada, an Equestrian in NYC and Palm Beach and most recently, (after breaking my hip riding), I had worked in the Hedge Fund world of finance in the UK, NYC and Toronto, (Thank the heavens for getting a university education all those years ago i hadn't ever used!). All during that time I had helped people furnish and decorate their Condo's and Homes and had seriously been thinking about Home Staging... especially as I was a casualty of downsizing in the finance world.

Back on track... I had no budget (well very little), and no personal inventory for the vacant, renovated semi, but I really wanted to make a good impression and see if I could actually do this. I moved out of my own condo and in with a friend to gather up some cash to get the job done and continue to live on the small amount of money I was collecting on Unemployment insurance. How was I going to do this and not end up with Mud on my face???

Then it dawned on me, I had just put a huge amount of inventory into storage... i quickly found "Two Guys & a Van" and moved my belongings from storage into the house. For a bed i used a futon platform with an airmattress on top and a piece of foam on top of that to get the height, my own bed was the only thing I had kept when I moved in with the friend and decided that getting some sleep on something comfortable was the best thing! I bought a few extra pieces from Ikea and borrowed some other pieces from my agent... talk about multiple trips back and forth and all over the city... thank god I had the trusty "Wilson" the 11 yr old Volvo station wagon to load everything into!! (This car can hold the 3 seater sofa pictured below).

The days were long, as I was working alone, save for my sister and a friend that came over to help do the final cleaning.

The result is below... I've learned a lot since then, (like renting furniture... getting help... taking before shots... and getting help), but I will always remember how I got into this great business and the fantastic feeling I had at the end of the project. Especially during the agents open house when the feedback was great. The agent that got me started has become a great friend and refers me lots to other agents.

Even better news is the house sold in 7 days at 40K over asking! I did actually make a bit of money on the deal too!

I have "lots" still to learn, but having the support of other stagers here on AR and the other organization I belong to has been great and not something I would have expected.

Flash forward... my furniture, and some new pieces are now happily sitting in my new condo and no longer used for staging... FOR NOW!

Duncan Scott is the Founder and Owner of The Scotts Group inc., A Toronto Based Home Staging Company

Staging Professionals are Changing Lives… one project at a time!

Duncan Scott (The Scotts Group Inc.) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:05:38 -0700

Duncan Scott, (President), and Laurie Handley, (Project Manager), of the The Scotts Group Inc, a Toronto Based Home Staging company, are please to announce that they have joined the Certified Staging Professionals(TM) “Pay if Forward” Charity of Choice:Habitat for Humanity(R). The Scotts Group will donate a portion of its staging fees for every property staged to Habitat for Humanity(R). Donations collected by all CSP(TM) will be presented to Habitat for Humanity(R) at the CSP(TM) 2009 Convention.

Canadian Staging Professionals, (Certified Staging Professionals in the US), was founded in 2005 by Christine Rae. Christine has personally instructed more than 2,600 entrepreneurs on how how to start and grow a successful home staging business. In 2007 Christine was awarded the Real Estate Staging Associations Staging Innovator of Year Award. Christine is also the coauthor of Home Staging for Dummies published by Wiley Publishing, Inc.

In 2007, at the launch of the companies annual convention, CSP(TM) donated funds to the charity which was enough to pour a foundation for a home. The Scotts Group is joining a growning number of Certified Staging Professionals(TM) currently enrolled in the CSP(TM) Charity of Choice Program. This program is also ECO friendly as CSP’s will recommend that homeowners donate unwanted items to the local Habitat for Humanity(r) Restores.

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world , and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.

Habitat has built more than 225,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1 million people in more than 3000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. HFHI was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller and his wife Linda.

Links:
www.habitat.org
www.canadianstagingprofessionals.com
www.thescottsgroup.com

Toronto RESA Meeting - Aug 7, 2008

Duncan Scott (The Scotts Group Inc.) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:35:58 -0700

Attention all GTA Stagers:

The Toronto Chapter of RESA
is holding a meeting for all Toronto area Stagers.

We will be discussing the Staging climate in Toronto,
how one can get involved in some of the National RESA
initiatives, have a quick presentation of some fantastic
silk flower arrangements, as well as have a chance to
interact with some other Toronto area Stagers.

When: Thursday August 7, 2008
Time: 8:00am – 9:15am
Where: Le Marche 181 Bay Street T.O. (inside BCE Place)
Reserved Area in the Rear of Restaurant
Cost: Free to attend, your only cost will be what you eat.
Please RSVP if you intend to attend with a quick email to
scott@amodelsuite.com

If you have any questions feel free to contact Scott Wilson (416-604-3787) or Duncan Scott (416-562-8444).

Both Scott and Myself (Duncan) look forward to meeting you all!

STAGING FOR LIVING

Duncan Scott (The Scotts Group Inc.) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:09:26 -0700

John has just called from the office:

“My Parents are coming for the Long Weekend and their bringing Aunt B”

You hang up the phone after expressing your excitement, all the while thinking I’m the biggest liar! Honestly, who likes the inlaws coming for a visit?? Aunt B, didn’t that woman just take a “Home Staging Course”? What will she think??

You scan the Great Room, the kids toys are everywhere, the new furniture is crowded around the TV and you think “I thought we had a fireplace?”. Martha Stewart would run out of the kitchen screaming “That’s NOT a Good Thing” as you can’t even see the kitchen for everything that’s on the counters. You walk through the rest of the house and more of the same thing. There’s no time or money to hire a decorator, what to do???

A Home Stager comes to mind so you search the CSP™ directory.

The Scotts Group Inc, works with homeowners not just when they are selling their homes, but when they need help to get the home where they want it to be. Your home should have flow and feel like a place to show off when you’re living there. Why wait till you sell your home to enjoy it!

We will work on short deadlines!

Duncan Scott, (President and Founder), and his certified team will work with what you already own and love and will help you to shop for new pieces of furniture and accessories to give your home a place you’ll be proud to show off to neighbours, friends, the inlaws and even that annoying aunt!

While having fun is an important part of The Scotts Group Team, we are dedicated and serious to creating and working with you to create the look YOU want within the budget you set! Our Reputation is based on referrals!

We begin the process by walking through the home with you and finding out why you bought the home and what things you want to show off. From there we create a plan specifically tailored for your home.

If you’re not in the Greater Toronto area, The Scotts Group is proud to recommend Reveal Estate in Vancouver and Flair & Function in Ottawa. If your not in one of these areas, all of the Stagers listed on the CSP™ website have been Certified and Trained to help you achieve the results you are looking for!

Duncan Scott, President, CSP™
The Scotts Group Inc
Home Staging/Redesign/Project Coordination

Working with “People On the Move” since 1989