home stager: Photos of your work can help protect you against liability, loss and theft
- 07/09/08 07:41 PM
Photos of our work as Stagers are a key part of our marketing - and we all usually take our before and after photos to demonstrate our skills as a Home Stager. We may even share our photos with our Realtor clients for their use in marketing the property.
But do you realize that photos serve completely different purposes too? Not only do they help us keep track of inventory, they help us keep track of where things were placed when we completed our Staging project. And they are visual proof of our inventory used in a client's house - which is … (7 comments)
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home stager: When the Seller has to Drop in Price does that Mean the Home Staging Didn't Work?
- 07/09/08 07:07 PM
Today's market is tough in many areas across the country. House prices are declining and depreciating in many areas, with some lucky regions holding strong to their values. No matter what the situation, we have to remember this: Staging Works. In any Market.
How can we say that when a Seller might have to drop their price after the Staging is done? If they have to drop their price, doesn't that mean the Staging didn't work?
No. And this is why.
A Seller only has control over two factors - how their house presents (Staging) and the list price. When one … (7 comments)
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home stager: Do Stagers have A.D.D.??
- 07/09/08 11:18 AM
Not to trivialize those with A.D.D. which I know is a serious concern for people with but I wonder if Stagers have a little bit of Attention Deficit Disorider . . . as one of the characteristics is a short attention span....
And most Stagers I talk with share that one of the things they love best about Staging is that you get in, do your thing, and get out and move on to the next project. I know I am that way.
I am not a person that has just one thing going on and find it hard to sit and read a book. I … (6 comments)
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home stager: US News & World Report Features Home Staging - July 3, 2008
- 07/08/08 04:56 PM
Link to this great article on "The Home Staging Cheat Sheet" featuring Home Staging Guru and The Creator of Home Staging - Barb Schwarz.
It addresses Home Staging as the key tool to selling a house! Full of great ideas and advice for readers, it addresses some key factors for Staging and things to consider when prepping a house for sale. More means more!
When we have national exposure like this on our business of Home Staging - it only helps to build the awareness of what we do for Sellers, Buyers and Realtors and cements our business even more into the … (3 comments)
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home stager: What Audience are you Staging for?
- 07/08/08 04:27 PM
Buyers? Sellers? Realtors? Fellow Stagers? Media? Decorators? Who are YOU staging for and why? The questions begs an answer - we have to know who our primary audience as we Stage or else we become like a split personality trying to please too many "bosses."
Do we Stage for the Realtor who might give us their opinion on what they want to see in the house even when inside we may not agree - but give in because we don't want to "confront" the Realtor?
Do we Stage for the Realtor that keeps us in the money with jobs and referrals making … (4 comments)
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home stager: Critic or Critiquer - what are you?
- 07/07/08 06:55 PM
CRITIC: One who tends to make harsh or carping judgments; a faultfinder
CRITIQUE: give review of, to discuss or comment on something, giving an honest assessment of its good and bad qualities
The definitions of these two simiilar words is really revealing.
A Critic takes things from a negative perspective and finds fault with others - and other processes they may not agree with - finding fault and lacking praise.
While a Critique is an objective assessment that provides the pros-and cons to whatever is being assessed and is not necessarily framed in the negative.
Anyone can be a critic - pointing … (7 comments)
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home stager: Share the Truth - Change a Life
- 07/07/08 06:07 PM
As much as some would have us believe that Staging is saturated and everywhere, Staging is still being discovered by those creative individuals trapped in a dead-end job.
I recenntly got an email from a hopefully future ASP Stager that wanted to know about the business and what it takes to succeed. After going back and forth with truthful insights about the market, she is resolved to get into the business as soon as possible. She will approach it with an honest outlook based on her market - and a real perspective on what it will take to succeed.
It is … (1 comments)
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home stager: For Local Trends in your Market and Future Outlook - ASK Local Successful Stagers
- 07/07/08 05:51 PM
If you want to know what is happening in your market ask those that work in your market. Sounds simple but I find that there are those that rely on the "expert advice" of someone that may have a global outlook on Staging, but is totally out of touch on what is happening in a specific area. Sometimes, these people are not even involved in the process of Staging so are totally out of touch with what is happening in today's markets.
My advice to anyone that is wondering how Staging or Real Estate is working in a region - find … (5 comments)
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home stager: How Can Staging Help Houses Compete With Foreclosure Properties?
- 07/07/08 05:08 PM
Foreclosures are everywhere all over the US - a product of a loan industry mistake that has cost thousands and thousands of homeowners their home - displacing them and flooding the market with devalued properties. We have read stories of people literally dumping their furnishings on their lawns because of lack of storage facility space in town - and walking away. These are high-end communities and bedroom communities from California to Florida and everywhere in between. If you are not living the nightmare, know that you are blessed and in the minority.
Who is "at fault" depends on which side you are … (1 comments)
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home stager: Home Staging Industry Awards To be Given at the IAHSP Convention!
- 07/07/08 04:23 PM
With about a week to go before our Annual IAHSP-ASP Home Staging Convention (I am getting sooooo excited!!!!) - I wanted to take the opportunity to toot the horn of really deserving and talented Home Stagers that have been nominated for prestigious Home Staging Industry Awards!
The Rising Star Award recognizes the ASP Stager that really took off after their ASP Course the past year. They began marketing, started or joined an IAHSP Chapter, and secured clients. They are setting the pace in their areas and are doing excellent Staging work!
The Barb Schwarz Staging Award of Excellence is a TOP … (3 comments)
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home stager: "Outstaging the Stager" - The Games Sellers Play
- 07/07/08 03:38 PM
It always makes me smile (and chuckle a bit inside) when a seller that knows I am coming over tries to "out-stage" me. This has happened numerous times - and still I manage to find 4 pages of recommendations for the seller - much to their surprise! I am not nitpicking either - these are standard do's and don't's for Staging - and any one of you that has the ability to advise a client would find the same to-do items. Out-Staging the Stager is hard to do for Sellers as they don't see things we see or understand the "WHY's" … (20 comments)
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home stager: What do the Olympics and Home Staging have in common?
- 06/30/08 08:02 PM
I am getting excited for the Summer Olympics - my family and I have been watching the time trials for track and field and swimming - and I am always amazed at the athletes.
They have been training for years for this event - and sadly some will not make it because of a stumble. or simply because they were not fast enough - and we are talking by a fraction of a second slow. And their dream of an Olympic medal will end - some for only 4 years - and they will go back to "work" training to be faster, stronger, and better, … (3 comments)
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home stager: Home Stagers - Sink or Swim it's up to You
- 06/28/08 04:43 AM
Two of our four children are involved in swim team this season and I am off to a swim meet today . . . but I was thinking about parallels between swimming and our Staging businesses. . . .
I know many Stagers are struggling to get business and many have closed their doors recently due to the economy and the demise of the real estate market. I think a lot of these people did not have a long term business plan because anyone that has been in business knows that a market for any product or service is not … (9 comments)
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home stager: Home Staging for Remodeling - a "New" Market Niche
- 06/28/08 04:23 AM
With the markets still struggling in most areas across the country finding new ways to respond and stay viable as a Stager is important. We are blessed with creativity but I think a lot of Stagers forget to use it when the traditional way of earning income dissipates.
When the going gets tough do you pack up and leave? I hope not. One of the great things about what we do is that we can Stage anything. It does not have to be a house for sale. Think about it.
Staging for Remodeling can happen two ways. When the foreclosure … (0 comments)
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home stager: Entrepreneur Magazine July 2008 Features Home Staging
- 06/23/08 06:30 AM
Pick up the latest copy of Entrepreneur Magazine to read the article on "Silver Lining" which addresses ways to succeed in a market that is changing. The author reviews the Top 10 businesses/careers that are tied to the Real Estate Industry and Home Staging is on the list as well as REO related businesses and services for Realtors and affiliates.
Kudos to Barb Schwarz, President & CEO of Stagedhomes.com, who is featured in the article, and (humbly) We Stage Sacramento- who provided some content on home staging as a business. You can read the article here and also find … (11 comments)
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home stager: Sometimes the greatest reward is the unexpected Thanks
- 06/14/08 08:49 AM
I got home from a week of teaching in Connecticut - beautiful state for those of you that live there! I loved how green it was and that as I drove on the freeway, all I saw were trees and green grass, not houses, shops, stores, sound walls and that like that we see here in California. And I drove around the Yale University campus which was fabulous - But I digress . . .
When I got home late last night, there was a box waiting for me. I love surprises - and so I wondered what was inside.
Imagine … (8 comments)
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home stager: Woman's World Features Home Staging! Get your copy today!
- 06/07/08 02:50 PM
MORE good press for us as Home Stagers! Woman's World is hot off the press and features Home Staging in this month's issue! I could not find the magazine online so go to your nearest store and find it there! The article features The Creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz and ASPs, and of course represents our industry well - as always.
I plan on sharing this latest article with everyone - giving us some additional credibiltiy and the ability to reach a mass audience. Way to go! - Jennie
… (11 comments)
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home stager: CBS Early Show Features Home Staging in "Selling a House in a Buyer's Market" Article
- 06/06/08 04:52 AM
More prime time press and exposure for Home Staging as a key part of selling houses. the CBS Early Show did a feature on "Selling a House in a Buyer's Market" and one the tips the author of the article discusses is making sure the house is Staged.
I was even more excited when I read the endorsement for the ASP Designation in this article - that was, I might add, unsolicited. CBS did their homework and recognized that having a house Staged is a key part of getting it sold, especially in today's market, and using the expertise of an accredited … (4 comments)
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home stager: If Home Staging is not Decorating or Design Why are So Many Trying to Make it Fit the Decorating Mold?
- 06/06/08 03:39 AM
It struck me today as I was writing an article that there seems to be an evolution of sorts in the Home Staging realm. Unfortunately, the evolution is not one of progress, but one of conformity - conformity to a standard that is the antithesis of the true essence of Home Staging. We need to be aware of this and remember what Staging is really about.
By one definition Staging is the process of preparing a house for sale so that it sells in the fastest time and at the best price. Staging is the opposite of decorating - which … (55 comments)
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home stager: Is the Staging industry going through a shake down?
- 05/28/08 07:44 AM
I have been absent from the site for a while (did you miss me?) during which time I have been Staging, and also traveling to different cities in the US to train others about Home Staging. It has been interesting to hear what various markets are experiencing with the tough resale market, and to learn which areas are still doing well. I have been to Evansville, Raleigh, Atlanta, Tampa, Scottsdale, Portland, San Jose, and Pleasanton. It has been an interesting way to hear about how the market is impacting our business with first hand glimses into the economy and attitude of entrepreneurs.
… (12 comments)
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Photos of our work as Stagers are a key part of our marketing - and we all usually take our before and after photos to demonstrate our skills as a Home Stager. We may even share our photos with our Realtor clients for their use in marketing the property.
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