As of late, I've been running into altercations with real estate agents who have a conflict with having a home staging sign posted in the yard along with their for sale sign. What is interesting is that they all have varied reasons why they don't want the sign out front....and in all honesty, their reasons just don't make sense. The latest reason was this: "I want people to focus on the home itself, not give a false impression that the home always looks like this." What??
Home Staging is designed to help the buyer see the entire home at its best. I spend time with my clients helping them understand that touching up paint here, cleaning areas there, and removing signs of build up, spider webs, pets and odors are simple things they can do that are extremely advantageous for them. THEN I address "packaging" the home to look fantastic. They understand the reasons and are so in awe when it is all complete. So why is it an REA compliments how beautiful the transformation is, raises the price to reflect such an awesome transformation, then questions why I want to post flyers/cards in the house and a sign in the yard? I don't believe somone who walks into a home questions if it always looked like it does during an open house.
I would really appreciate hearing from other home stagers to see how common this is for them, their feelings, and how they solved the conflicts. I do have signage covered very specifically in my contract and I'm sticking to my guns, but I do wish I didn't have to continuously explain that home staging can help them sell the home faster, not hinder the sale. At the same time, I'd like to hear from real estate agents as to their reasonings behind their reluctance to have buyers know a home has been staged. Even if someone wants to view the home just because it's been staged, it is advantageous....they will spread the word to others and the result could be a great sale.
Thank you in advance for expressing your thoughts on such a diverse and convoluted subject.
For the last few years I've been enjoying the business of Home Staging, Redesign, and Home & Office Organizing. I will admit that this business hasn't come without its small and large hurtles. But no matter what size of hurtles I've encountered; I seem to get over them by using my creativity and determination. But weekly I get calls from a number of people new to the industry who feel as if they are reinventing the wheel with each step they take. It can be difficult and exhausting learning how to make a successful business in Home Staging. This is where I would like to help.....
My goal is simple, but I need your help. I'd like to collect your five most common "hurtles" that you as a home stagers ran into when you begin your business. In other words, what were the missing details your training did not cover or details you ran into that you didn't expect to encounter? Then, how did you overcome those challenges or fears?
I hope most of you will help me to compile this list of challenges and solutions that we have all faced in this industry. After a few weeks, I will then put together the ten most common hurtles and their solutions, to share with people who are just getting into the industry. Of course those who've been in the industry for years might also benefit from these new ideas. This list will hopefully give home stagers a peace of mind and help them know they are not alone out there.
This industry calls for us to work together to help each other, to creatively and successfully tackle a variety of different situations, and to provide standardization for the industry. The more tangible information we have available, the better equipped we are to educate homeowners.
Possible hurtles you had to overcome:
•- Pricing
•- Making the "sell" over the phone
•- Approaching real estate companies
•- Creating/managing your website
•- Consultations - free or not too free
•- Marketing challenges
•- Working with, not against other home stagers
•- Offering too many services
Thank you in advance for your time in reflecting how you got to be where you are today. I look forward to your comments, ideas, stories, and strategies.....and know that others will enjoy and benefit from them!
I was looking at some sites and came across one today that really bothered me. About 16 months ago someone by the name of Rusty Phillips submitted an article on Hubpages entitled, "Home Staging Changed My Life". She/he says that you don't need any certification or training to become a Home Stager. After reading the many comments that followed, I decided to go ahead and submit a comment of my own. I'm sure you will agree that this article needs more comments submitted to uphold the intregrity and standards of this industry. Even though this article is over a year old, people like myself are still going to run across it and possibly get the wrong opinion if they don't read further through all the comments.
Please read this article and feel free to express your own opinion so those who want to get into the industry, have a clearer idea of what to expect and what will be expected of them. I'm sure I didn't cover all the points (it's been a long tiring day), so I hope you will fill in the gaps that I may have overlooked. It's articles like these that hinders accurate education for homeowners. It's no wonder we must continue to educate, educate, and educate the public.
Throughout history gold stood for generosity, nobility, divinity, and wisdom. The English word for yellow stems from the meaning "to gleam". Could the name come from minerals, flowers, vegetables, or fruits? In many cultures yellow or gold has been used to portray royalty, prestige, status and wealth. In others, it has symbolized the sun and energy, life and growth, and nobility and holiness. All cultures agree on yellow's warmth.
The message of yellow: People who are drawn to yellow are often insightful and intuitive. It's thought of as a friendly, joyous color that outgoing and open people love. In various studies, yellow is associated with comedy, playfulness, and a happy moods. Have you noticed how yellow ribbons have been used in the past as signs of hope and optimism, and in current years as symbols of a safe return home for our troops?
The personality of yellow: Yellow is luminous and warm as are the people who like and surround themselves with it. People who enjoy yellow are optimistic, imaginative, creative, artistic, often spiritual and intriguing, and highly intuitive. They are often perfectionists who balance themselves with a noticeable job. They will welcome you in and keep you there with their intriguing personality. They embrace change and tend to accomplish what they start.
No matter what shade of yellow you see, the moods are similar. The color portrays warmth, cheer, activity, youthful vigor, and softness as it stimulates our senses and lifts our spirits by letting sunshine into our lives. Warm yellow will enhance the natural light in any room. If you want to bring in added warmth to any of the cool colors of the spectrum in a room, add yellow into the palette.
Where other colors darken with saturation, yellow is the one color that becomes brighter with greater saturation. If you want the eye to be attracted to an area of attention, yellow is the color to use. When used in the kitchen where most families today gather, it offers an inviting and a sunny atmosphere in which to gather. In children's rooms, yellow is fun, bright and inviting.
As many people have heard, "Yellow sells a home". This is because a home's "curb appeal" draws people into its warmth to look further.
Can anyone tell me how I can go about getting my website up in google's ranking on the google page?
I have two competitors whose name shows up under activerain.com/.... and I would like to find out how to get my name added. Can anyone help me with this?
Roanoke is hosting another Earth Day that is going on today until 8:00 pm!
If you live in Roanoke Virginia and are near Grandin Road, please take advantage of food, music, and many booths and talk to others who are interested in preserving our planet NOW.
My new site is now up and running. Please take a look and let me know what you think. I have never put together an entire site before and after three months of revisions and frustrations I think I have got most of what I need.....with room to grow.....and there is still much to do to complete it.
I would like constructive feedback from fellow stagers!
When I was doing some research today I came upon an awesome site to share with people. A young lady named Cameron Chapman put together a list of 100 plus green sites to share with the world. She's done a remarkable job, so you might like to bookmark this page for future reference.
I hope it is as helpful to you as it is and will be for me.
http://mashable.com/2008/10/04/100-sites-for-green-living/
Cathy
If you live in or near the Roanoke area, I'd like to invite you to attend one of my workshops. These workshops are designed for Realtors and homeowners to collect more information about preparing their home to be sold, adding color to their homes confidently, and helping anyone maintain their home or work fiing systems. One of the workshops has been prepared just for busy housewives who have a full schedule just keeping up with the family's schedules.
I'm also presenting a series of "Going Green" workshops that you or a friend might find very useful. The workshops are offered through Roanoke County Parks & Recreation (540-772-PLAY) and are as follows:
Decorating With What You Have
Get the beautiful look you want for the rooms in your home by using the space you have, the things you have, and the creativity we help you to find. Learn what the ten most common decorating mistakes are that make you feel uncomfortable; you'll learn to recognize them and correct them. Bring to class a photo of a room that causes you the most problems and learn the steps needed to make it functional, appealing, and comfortable. Then go home and see how easy it is to make the transformations come to life. ages: teens and adults
Tue 3/17 6:30 - 9:00
Sat 4/4 10:00 - 12:30
Color Your Life!
We use color in our clothing, to make a statement about ourselves and to project an image, yet we've been slow to consider how surrounding ourselves with color can also make a statement about us. Why are people afraid to use the colors they love in our interiors? Learn how we all "acquire" that tendency to use colors that we grew up with or that's been handed down to us (you know who you are) and how to break away from the mold we've created for ourselves. New color trends have brought new life to our interiors...and a new, brighter attitude of ourselves when we use them.
Mon 4/3 7:00 - 9:00
Thu 5/14 7:00 - 9:00
Sidetracked Home Executives
Do you find yourself trying to clean house, get the kids to all their events, and have dinner on the table on time each day, only to find that you've gotten yourself sidetracked by everything else, once again? Well, you're not alone! We all have difficulty managing our time and prioritizing what needs to be done daily. Instead of enjoying our days, we are merely "reacting" to them. Now those misplaced priorities and undirected energies can be turned around. You'll go home armed with a rotating card system that schedules your chores and events on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Consider it a magic box your whole family can use simply and effectively. Your patience and attitude will improve dramatically as this system changes your life. Ages: adult
Mon 3/16 7:00 - 9:00
Tue 4/7 7:00 - 9:00
Sat 5/9 10:00 - 12:00
Papers, Papers, and More Papers
How do you manage all the junk mail, financial papers, appointment lists, business cards, coupons, magazines, and all the other papers you accumulate? You begin first by defining your own organizational style and needs. This workshop will discuss how to do just that then set up and maintain a "tickler file" for quick filing and retrieval of important papers. Next we'll discuss how to set up an office filing system that works for you and your style of learning. We all fall behind with paperwork, but we can conquer the piles and keep them small and manageable once we learn a few tricks. Find out how simple it really is. The whole family can now access papers quickly and painlessly.
Tue 3/24 7:00 - 9:00
Mon 4/20 6:30 - 8:30
How Safe are Your Skin Care Products?
If you care what you put into your body, you should care about what you put on your skin. In order for us to care properly for our skin, it's important for us to know what's in our skin care products. This workshop offers consumers knowledge and information to help you make better choices about the skin care products you choose. You will learn what harmful ingredients to avoid, how to read ingredient labels, what natural ingredients are beneficial for your healthy skin, and how to save money by making your own personalized natural skin care products quickly and easily! ages: teen to adult
Tue 3/31 7:00 - 9:00
Wed 4/15 6:30 - 8:30
Sat 5/2 10:00 - 12:00
How Safe are Your Household Cleaning Products?
Did you know that your favorite cleaner could be making you sick? Compelling evidence now links the chemicals in our household products to a range of conditions including cancer, asthma, allergies, and many other sensitivities and disorders. Yet cleaning products enter the marketplace with little or no testing for potential health risks. This workshop will provide you with lots of information about what harmful ingredients to avoid, choosing alternative natural products, and even making your own nontoxic, eco-friendly products with ingredients you already have in your kitchen. Learn how to save lots of money and keep your household safer for young children. ages: teen to adult
Throughout history, red has signaled excitement, danger, dynamism, and sex. In every culture, it elicits the strongest emotions. From primitive times, red has been associated with fire and flame, birth and renewal, destruction and evil; and capable of stirring strong emotions. The fiery, strong tones of red are majestic and imperious. True reds and hot red tones are symbolized as sexual energy, stimulation and vivacity. But red also has a serious and elegant side in its jeweled tones. Reds that have some orange in them tend to bring out the sensuous inner warmth and is very inviting.
Did you know? Physiologically, red causes an increased frequency of eye blinking and a rise in blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, and pulse rate? It's no wonder we "see red" when we become mad as the red shows up on our faces! Our sense of smell also improves as our taste buds become more sensitive and our appetite improves. On the sensual side of red, our hormonal and sexual activity increases along with our physical intensity of passion.
The personality of red: If red is your favorite color, you are very self-confident. Red is the hottest hue, the most exciting and sexiest, the second most powerful color, following black. Red is the loudest, most fun, most revitalizing, and most delicious of all colors. More than likely you don't just like red; you probably love the color and will use it for the rest of your life. Just as the color red is exciting, dangerous, and not easily ignored, so are the people who love this color. These people are intense, optimistic, and passionate in their pursuits, competitive, energetic, daring, and aggressive.
Reds can be used successfully in any room in a home. It is at home in a dining room where it can stimulate the apatite. Rich, dark reds can be very masculine in a den. In the bedroom, a bright red is right at home to create a sexy atmosphere. You can easily use reds as backdrops for niches, shelving, inside cabinets or armoires. When used with dark colored woods it creates a warm, comfortable setting.
Feng Shui and Red: Avoid red kitchens or there will be too much heat in the kitchen and the cook may become hot-tempered. Red and black can be used successfully as accent colors in a predominantly white kitchen.
Join me in the Living with Color group for the rest of the series. Next time: Orange's Radiant Energy
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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