Staging And Redesign - My View of the Industry

Occupied, vacant, then staged: Look at the difference staging makes in this house!

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:54:31 -0600

Michele's listing but my staging job....

Via Michele Reneau, Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI ~ Charleston, SC Relocation Experts Team (Carolina One Real Estate):

We just took a listing that has previous been on the market in Goose Creek for over 10 months. When we reviewed the past listings prior to our listing appointment, we instantly knew the problem(s) and how we could improve the odds of selling. The problem was presentation! It's the first rule in marketing IMHO. The product must be appealing and packaged properly. This is a lovely home with a fabulous floorplan in a wonderful community but the previous listings didn't convey this. If buyers don't like what they see in the photos, they aren't going to step in the door.

During the first listing, the house was occupied and wasn't showcase properly to entice a buyer. This home is in a neighborhood competing with new construction and a model home making it irrestible to buyers. In second listing, the house was vacant. The rooms looked small, lonely and forgotten. This home needed the dining room needed to be painted and the house needed to be staged. The transformation made by Melissa Marro of First Impressions is amazing as showcased in the photos below. We are expecting amazing results and can wait to report back. What do you think? Which house photos are going to make a buyer schedule a showing? They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I believe they can be worth several thousand dollars in saving carrying costs and helping a seller retain more of their equity. I wish I would have met this seller sooner because I believe if we had taken this listing sooner and made these changes, they would have sold sooner and at a higher price since the market has changed in the last 10 months when they went on the market.

UPDATE 11/16/09: We've been on the market 10 days and we just got our first showing and an offer!! While it was a low offer and I'm not sure if we'll work it out, it goes to show staging works! This property was on the market with another agent for 10 MONTHS with NO action. Just 10 days with staging has produced an offer!

We are Relocation Specialists with Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, SC. Contact Top Real Estate Agents, North Charleston, SC Relocation Experts, CRS, GRI, ABR. Licensed Realtors® in South Carolina at 843-849-5217 to list your home for sale or to purchase a home in Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville, North Charleston, Hanahan, Mount Pleasant and the surrounding areas in Charleston County, Berkeley County or Dorchester County, South Carolina. The Charleston Relocation Experts Team specializes in relocations, first time homebuyers and creating marketing exposure to sell your home in the Charleston SC Real Estate market. We can also be contacted at info@CharlestonRelocationExperts.com. To view all North Charleston SC and surrounding homes for Sale Click Here and then click on Search for Homes.

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First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign is a nationally award winning company owned and operated in Summerville, SC a suburb of Charleston, SC. We provide high quality staging for both occupied and vacant homes in the greater surrounding areas and beyond! For more information please visit, www.WeStageSC.com. If you are interested in learning about making Home Staging your profession, please visit, www.StagingAndRedesign.com for more information.

If you still don't believe staging works...here's more proof!

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:49:44 -0600

Thanks for the great press here Michele!

Via Michele Reneau, Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI ~ Charleston, SC Relocation Experts Team (Carolina One Real Estate):

We recently took a listing in Goose Creek, SC in Berkeley County that had been on the market for over 10 months with another company. The first listing was occupied by the homeowners and the 2^nd listing was vacant after they relocated out of the area. I previously blogged about this listing showing vacant, occupied and staged photos-Take a look at the difference here. I've posted photos of the most dramatic room transformation here-the dining room.

During the previous 10 months, they had approximately 25-30 showings with not even one offer. In just 10 DAYS, we had our 1^st showing and an offer in hand. I do not believe this is luck of the draw. The property shows amazingly different and looks like a model after the fantastic staging job by First Impressions staging company and it cost the owner less than 1% of the sales price to have the whole house staged and repaint this room. Because of the new look, we even raised the price slightly to offset the staging costs. While the offer is still in its infancy and I'm not sure we will come to terms, the fact of the matter is that this home has now generated an offer. Staging works! This home proved it in just 10 days to elicit an offer. Even if this one doesn't work out, I'm confident, we'll get another bite.

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CRETeam

We are approved by Boeing 3^rd party relocation company as Charleston Boeing Relocation Specialists with Carolina One Real Estate in Charleston, SC. Visit us at www.CharlestonBoeingRealtors.com. Contact Top Real Estate Agents, North Charleston, SC Relocation Experts, CRS, GRI, ABR. Licensed Realtors® in South Carolina at 843-849-5217 to list your home for sale or to purchase a home in Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville, North Charleston, Hanahan, Mount Pleasant and the surrounding areas in Charleston County, Berkeley County or Dorchester County, South Carolina. The Charleston Relocation Experts Team specializes in relocations, first time homebuyers and creating marketing exposure to sell your home in the Charleston SC Real Estate market. We can also be contacted at info@CharlestonRelocationExperts.com. To view all North Charleston SC and surrounding homes for sale at www.myCharlestonMLS.com

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Shake It Off and Step Up

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:54:20 -0600

I havce heard this story and it really does make one realize that sometimes the things we think may be hurting us are actually helping us... and on another similar note, sometimes when we give up and try to bury our problems they come up again...

Just a thought....

Via Norma Toering Rolling Hills & Palos Verdes Property (REMAX Palos Verdes Realty Lic# 01147470):

Setbacks happen. Life is sprinkled with challenges as we navigate our way through our daily path. Sometimes it is a minor annoyance, sometimes it is more serious; setbacks come in all sizes and impacts.

I like to start the week with a little motivational reading and today it is the source of inspiration for this post. I'll paraphase and truncate it in my attempt to share it.

A mule fell into a dry well and cried out for help. He knew he could not escape such a deep hole without assistance. The farmer heard his cry, investigated and deemed the rescue impossible. He decided to end the mule's suffering and began shoveling dirt and stones upon the mule's back.

The mule was confused when the first scoop full of debris hit his back. When the second struck he felt betrayed. When the third load fell on him he knew it was time for action. He shook it off his back and stepped up. The farmer continued to shovel and each time the mule shook it off and stepped upon the growing mound of soil and stones beneath his feet.

Amazed at his mule's will to overcome, the farmer called for his worker and together they shoveled, and the mule continued to shake it off and step up. At the end of a long challenging day, the mule stepped up and walked out of the well.

Shake it off and step up.

Thanks to Yoga For Every Body--the catalyst for this post.

Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800

PalosVerdesLifestyle - Nominated by Relocation.com as one of the top ten Los Angeles area real estate blogs. Ranked by Technorati in the top 1% of all blogs. As seen in the Daily Breeze newspaper.

South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Find Norma on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn - Email Norma

Palos Verdes Homes for Sale - Palos Verdes Houses
Palos Verdes Horse Property - Palos Verdes Realtor Blog
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Palos Verdes Coastal Homes - Palos Verdes Estates Homes

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You Changed Your Clock - Is It Time to Change Your Life?

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:11:48 -0600

This was fantastically written and thought out. I'm happy to reblog it for your enjoyment!

Via Kate Wheeler CCIM Murphy NC Real Estate for Sale (Country Homes and Land Murphy NC Realtor ):

November is here and traditionally it's the time to begin preparing for the holidays. For most of us, it's like taking on an additional part time job - shopping, cooking, decorating, wrapping gifts, entertaining.

Since joining Activerain, I've already taken on a second full time job... writing market reports and hyperlocal posts, revamping my website and attending online courses in Internet marketing and technology, otherwise known as reading blogs. The homework level is crippling.

As I sat down at the computer this morning, I found a note to myself scribbled on a scrap of paper:

"Edit your life as though you're a writer or a filmmaker. Cut out the chaos and the clutter. Keep only the very best."

So with this extra hour on the first day of November, I'm taking stock of how I want to spend the other 24 hours today and every other day. This isn't going to be a blog about cleaning out your closets. It's about getting back to the basics. Which of your daily activities brings you joy or enriches your life and the lives of those around you?

Starting the morning by sharing a cup of cowboy coffee with my husband as we sit on the deck and greet the sunrise is one activity I'll never give up. I'd much rather miss an extra hour of sleep and have that special time together to start my day.

Baking an apple pie is an acivity that takes a great deal of time. But for me it's a way of bonding with my daughter. The time we spend talking and laughing together is priceless. So I'll be keeping that chore. I'd rather have those memories years from now than to recall dashing to the store for a frozen dessert because I spent that extra hour on the Internet.

But I've made the decision to delete negative people from my life. That's one of the toughest things to do, especially if it's someone who has been in your life for a long time, but it can have the biggest payoff. Listening to complaints, backbiting and gossip every time you take a coffee break at the office or run into your neighbor at the store drains the soul.

Another group I'm getting rid of are the drama queens. And I'm not just taking about women here. Sorry, guys, but some of you are the biggest drama queens around. I don't care how big your deal is - real estate is not a life or death matter. And I don't need to spend MY time listening to your endless tales of triumph and tribulation.

So as dawn breaks over the mountains in Murphy, I've decided that today, I'm going to look at eveything I do with two questions in mind -

Does this bring me joy?

Does it enrich my life or the lives of those around me?

Looking for your dream getaway in the mountains of Murphy, North Carolina? Visit the country homes and land website to see all the latest listings.

Enjoy a preview of our scenic mountains in the YouTube video Murphy Mountain Nights

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Are You a Facebook Friend Who Gets "Hidden?"

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:55:44 -0500

Fantastic Tips for social media.... particuarly a handyman I am friends with... who just may end up hidden now that I know I can do that!

Via Michele Rose, Burlington County Realtor, RESA (Weichert Realtors, Rose-Colored Staging):

Your Facebook friends may have hidden you and you didn't know it! Yes, you could be talking to, well, no one. OK- maybe it's not that bad, but there may be some friends you are missing.

I have been on Facebook for about a year now and have amassed a modest 127 friends. I don't often go seeking friends but I do love adding friends when they find me! Facebook has been a great way for me to get to know friends better, colleagues, and sometimes even strangers if we have a common bond such as our business.

I love sharing what I'm doing and hearing about what my friends are up to during the day. But, as with anything, there are times when it's not so much a thrill. There are times I have "un-friended" people and have "hidden" others.

Why?

What were their crimes to deserve this? As I share a few reasons, consider if you've been guilty!

Unfriended: Generally the only reason I would actually "un-friend" someone is for obscenity. It's my Facebook, I have other friends and colleagues who see it, and I just plain don't want it.

Hidden: I "hide" people more often when I don't want to lose their friendship but I just can't take their posts any longer! This allows me to occasionally go in and see what they're up to and still maintain contact with them. Most of the time, they're not aware they're hidden and that I'm not seeing their posts.

Some reasons I have "hidden" friends:

•  Constant sales pitch: Whether it's business, politics, your religion, or your new diet you can't stop talking about. Mention it now and then, fine. Post it over and over and over again, sometimes 3 or more times in a row and you're hidden.

•  Constant updates: Like 4-5 in a row. Whether it's what you're doing every minute, or what you ate-- edit yourself. Please. I really do not need to know everything!

•  Quotes:  Remember: You are not the only one who constantly posts quotes. There's only so many quotes I can take!

I think the thing to remember is that this is Social Media-- with the emphasis on social. It is not usually the content that will get someone hidden as much as it is the frequency of that content. I want to know who you are, not your sales pitch, or a random quote. Think of it as a party-- you wouldn't walk in and start your sales pitch. You would seek to form relationships.

Facebook is also a "give and take." Do you post frequently but never comment on anyone else's posts? Don't be a selfish Facebook friend! How good can a relationship be if it's one-sided?

Facebook is a wonderful way to connect and re-connect with friends, colleagues, and others, but as in any relationship, it needs nourishment and time invested.

So, are there Facebook habits you can change? I know I'm not the only one who hides people for these reasons!

Please try to avoid these habits-- you are in a vibrant industry with plenty of great things to share!

Don't go and get yourself hidden!





Michele Roseis a Realtor and Professional Home Stager in Burlington County, NJ. She has been assisting both buyers and sellers with their real estate needs for the last 5 years. In 2007, she formed Rose-Colored Staging to help sellers market their homes with professional home staging.

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What Are YOU Expecting For 2010...What Should You Be Doing NOW?

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:51:39 -0500

I think this is an interesting perspective with lots of great tips and information.... for all my agent friends, read on!

Via Tim and Julie Harris (Harris Real Estate University):

OK, we are almost there....the end of 2009.

Collective sigh of relief......

I am sure most of you are glad that 2009 is almost over and you are looking forward to better times in 2010.

Many agents will look back on 2009 as the year they (finally) transitioned into the new market. More so, there is a new breed of agents who took action early and are now leading the markets. (Listen to recent Free interviews with many of the nation's top producing agents now)

Either way, you have lived through the worst aspects of the housing crash.

For that, you should congratulate yourself. You are a survivor. There is something special within you that has allowed you to do what hundreds of thousands of other agents couldn't (or wouldn't) do.

Now, lets focus forward and be prepared for what is coming next.

You and I need to have a heart-to-heart chat about what you should be doing now...so that you can move from being merely a survivor and join the ranks of the agents who are now the nation's new top producers.

We have been warning the real estate community that the foreclosure ‘crisis/ mess/ epidemic/ whatever’ would only get worse....for well over a year.

Some agents listened...some agents ignored the message....some agents responded negatively......

Regardless, we continued to share what we knew to be true with as many agents who cared to listen.

Its our sincerest hope that we helped many of you. For those of you who have yet to 'tune in' know this....its NOT TOO late for you. You can do this. You can easily follow in the footsteps of the thousands of Realtors who have successfully transitioned from denial...to acceptance...into discovering that this market is nothing to fear. Matter of fact, once you learn what this market requires you can help MORE people and make MORE money than you could of ever thought possible....

Do you need a free coaching call? If you need help..of any kind...regardless if you are a HREU student or not...request a FREE Coaching Call.

We did this while it seemed the rest of the real estate industry spent most of the year reporting that housing had ‘reached bottom’.

Listen, I 100% understand why so many agents believe they can only be successful when the market is headed up. Heck, that's what the boom market was all about. When homes were quickly appreciating it was easy to motivate folks to buy and sell. For a while, owning a home was akin to possessing a winning lottery ticket.

But, that's not our reality now...is it?

So, here it is....

HREU Students (and future students)….at best we are half way through this real estate correction. (Watch the video now that explains the current real estate market cycle) Expect at least another 1-3 years of ‘correcting…lowering..home prices’ followed by a slow climb back to '07 home values. Its been reported many times that homes won’t return to peak values for 10+ years in some markets.

If you are are an agent who expects to be in the real estate business in the Spring there are 2 things that you must be mastering NOW: Short Sales and how-to list REOs. There is no question that these 2 skills should now be considered mandatory.

Exerpts from an article featured on CNN.com

Despite concerted government-led and lender-supported efforts to prevent foreclosures, the number of filings hit a record high in the third quarter, according to a report issued Thursday.

“They were the worst three months of all time,” said Rick Sharga, spokesman for RealtyTrac, an online marketer of foreclosed homes.

During that time, 937,840 homes received a foreclosure letter — whether a default notice, auction notice or bank repossession, the RealtyTrac report said. That means one in every 136 U.S. homes were in foreclosure, which is a 5% increase from the second quarter and a 23% jump over the third quarter of 2008.

Realtors, its NOT too late for you to learn how to become a REO Listing Agent. Staggering fact…the banks simply don’t have enough REO listing agents. Its now being estimated that the number of foreclosures coming isn’t…5,000,000…ins’t 7,000,000…but, 13,000,000! Nothing like this has ever happened before. Watch the FREE Agent REO Secrets video and then download your FREE Agent REO Secrets book.

Nevada continued to be the worst-hit state with one filing for every 23 households. But even tranquil Vermont, where the foreclosure crisis has barely brushed the housing market, saw foreclosure filings jump nearly 170% compared with the third quarter of 2008. Still, that resulted in just one filing for every 5,023 households in the state — the best record in the country.

The RealtyTrac report also unveiled the results for September, and it found that there was slight relief from foreclosure filings. Last month, notices totaled 343,638, down 4% compared with August. Unfortunately, that total accounts for 87,821 homes that were repossessed by lenders.

That deluge contributed significantly to the quarter’s record 237,052 repossessions, a 21% jump from the previous three months. So far this year lenders have taken back 623,852 homes.

“REO activity increased from the previous quarter in all but two states and the District of Columbia, indicating that lenders may be starting to work through some of the pent-up foreclosure inventory caused by legislative delays, loan-modification efforts and high volumes of distressed properties,” James Saccacio, RealtyTrac’s CEO, said in a statement.

Most disturbing is that all foreclosures — not just repossessions — are rampant despite efforts to corral them. Not only has the Obama administration’s Making Home Affordable foreclosure prevention program taken a bite out of REOs but lenders themselves have scaled back repossessions over the past few months to give the program time to work.

And in some low-price markets, lenders simply aren’t following through on foreclosures, according to Jim Rokakis, treasurer for Cuyahoga County, Ohio, which includes Cleveland.

“They’ll even set the date for the sheriff’s sale, but they don’t file the final papers,” he said. “They hold it in abeyance and let the residents stay in the house.”

In ever more frequent cases, delinquent borrowers want out of the mortgage worse than the lenders. There are no firm statistics for it, but many industry watchers claim the percentage of REOs caused by borrowers voluntarily walking away from their homes is skyrocketing.

Agents, did you read that last sentence?

The number of homeowners who are deciding to simply ‘walk-away’ is skyrocketing! What does that mean to you?

HUGE opportunity. Learn how to easily list and sell Short Sales.

Considering what is happening in your real estate market…with so many homeowners upside down…if they must sell..and their listing agent doesn’t know how to do a Short Sale..what happens? They lose the home to foreclosure. You can help them avoid the foreclosure blight and earn tons-of-dough when you list and sell their homes through the Short Sale process. Watch the FREE Agent Short Sale Secrets video and then download the FREE Agent Short Sale Secrets crash course!

A study of the trend by the Chicago Booth School of Business and the Kellogg School of Management determined that when home price declines drop home values 10% below the mortgage balances, people start to give up their homes. When “negative equity” approaches 50%, 17% of households default, even when they can still afford their mortgage payments.

No end in sight

The foreclosure crisis may not diminish anytime soon. “The fastest growing area is in the 180 days late-plus category, the most seriously delinquent borrowers,” Sharga said. “It’s going to be a lingering problem.”

Plus, the RealtyTrac statistics may understate the depth of the foreclosure mess because lender and government actions have delayed many filings. As a result, some delinquencies have not been counted on the foreclosure tallies. That means the crisis may not end quickly.

And because there are so many delinquent borrowers, Sharga predicts the banks will be slow to take back their properties and put the repossessed homes back on the market.

“It’s hard to envision [the banks] putting millions on properties up for sale and cratering prices,” he said. “Recovery will be slow and gradual. I don’t see home prices getting much better until 2013.”

The only question is...how many home owners will YOU help in 2010? How many REO Listings will YOU represent in 2010? NOW is the time to take action, to be sure you don't just 'survive' another year, but that 2010 is your year to THRIVE.

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Do You Want to Know How Much Home Staging Costs...But Don't Want to Ask?

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:46:29 -0500

I think Judy answers a common question with pretty accurate numbers for most major markets.

Via Judy Kincaid, Tampa Home Stager (Destined To Sell Property Preparation and Staging Services):

Many home stagers were taught, in their training programs, not to post staging fees on their websites.  The intended purpose was to encourage people to call for pricing and give us a chance to explain how staging would benefit them. However, I have come to realize that many people are automatically assuming that home staging is too expensive and never making that call.

Since many people still adhere to the old adage, "If you have to ask, you probably can't afford it anyway," I am in the process of designing a new website that will have my staging fees and services clearly explained and prominently displayed.

I have seen quite a few blog comments from Real Estate Agents asking, "How much does home staging cost?"  If the question is answered at all, it is usually the standard, "Staging costs less than your first price reduction." True as that might be, I know you want an answer with $$$.

These are the average (or most widely used) price ranges. Some stagers' fees are lower; some are higher.

OCCUPIED HOME STAGING

VERBAL HOME STAGING CONSULTATION -- $100 - $300

HOME STAGING CONSULTATION WITH WRITTEN REPORT -- $200 - $475

HANDS-ON STAGING  -- $75 - $125 hr. (many stagers have a 2-3 hour minimum)

Rather than an hourly fee, some home stagers charge a flat rate for either half or full day staging:

$300 - $400 for half day   (4 - 5 hours)

$500 - $800 for a full day (6 - 8 hours)

VACANT HOME STAGING

The average cost for vacant home staging in the majority of markets ranges from $1,500 to $5000.

Fees may be even lower for vignette or light staging but they could be considerably higher for homes that have excessive square footage or require high-end furnishings and accessories.

Now that you have a better idea of the cost of home staging, don't hesitate to contact some local home stagers and inquire about their fees for staging an occupied home. Ask if they can give you a ballpark figure for staging a vacant home. They will be happy you called.

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Are You Marketing Your Blog?

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:43:18 -0500

I found this to be an interesting read! Since marketing is always one of those things I take very seriously I thought we may need to pay a little more attention to some of the small things we do that make a BIG DIFFERENCE!

Via Heather Chavez, Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 412-4469 (Second Self Virtual Assistance):

Are you marketing your blog or are you just writing it? Yes, Word Press, Blogger, TypePad and Active Rain allow for a certain amount of "Google juice". But, are you simply posting your blog on one of these platforms hoping that someone reads it...sometime? Or are you actively marketing your blog to those readers surfing the internet, hungry for the knowledge you know that only you can impart? If you aren't actively marketing your blog, you may be missing one of the greatest opportunities to get your voice heard.

There are several great blog directories that you absolutely MUST add your blog to, such as Technorati and Blogarama (just to name a couple). Automated submission tools like Pingomatic can get your blog pinged and sent to a couple dozen different services on the web. And, by adding your RSS feeds to several feed managers, such as Feedburner, you can get your posts listed in record-breaking time. Don't forget to add these RSS feeds to all your social networks as well to keep track of any post you list in real-time.

If you don't know how or where to add your blogs and RSS feeds, feel free to contact Second Self Virtual Assistance. Second Self is always ready to lend a helping hand to get your voice hear. You are marketing your services. But, are you marketing your blog?

Heather Chavez, Real Estate Virtual Assistant - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

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Learn Home Staging from industry leaders Christine Rae, Melissa Marro & Linda Barnett in Indianapolis!

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:55:38 -0500

Certified Staging Professionals (CSP^TM) course comes to Indianapolis, Indiana

Linda Barnett, Founder of Home Matters Home Staging of Indianapolis, Indiana announces that on Nov. 17-19th, 2009, the long awaited and highly respected CSP^TM course, for Real Estate Staging will be taught in Indianapolis.

PRLog (Press Release) - Oct 22, 2009 - CSP^TM certified staging courses are cutting edge and recognized by leaders in the field of the home staging training industry. The Certified Staging Professional Organization offers a variety of specialized courses. The CSP^TM Staging Course is a 30 hour course which provides the foundation for those wanting to start a career or own a business in real estate property staging. The proven CSP^TM process is a blend of interior redesign techniques, along with business, marketing and communication skills, to effectively market a house for sale. Owning a business involves so much more than talent; like pricing, invoicing, communications and vital marketing components. The program includes a one year membership in the CSP Alumni Association, which provides the support and resources crucial to building a profitable, home staging business. Barnett, founder of one of Indiana's largest, most successful and fastest growing Home Staging, Training and Rental companies, recently became a certified instructor for both the 3 day CSP^TM Stagers course and the CSP^TM Elite Real Estate agents' course.

"This first November 17th class will be an exciting event for students." Barnett says, "Christine Rae, CSP Founder and Author of "Home Staging for Dummies" along with Melissa Marro, owner, First Impressions Staging & Redesign and CSP^TM, Director of North American Operations will both be here in Indianapolis and along with myself will instruct parts of the 3 day course". "If you come to this session I can probably even get Christine to autograph your very own copy the Home Staging for Dummies book" Barnett noted.

Barnett-A Staging professional, interior decorator, former realtor and Certified Home Staging Trainer-founded Home Matters in 2004, and has since worked with more than 850 homeowners, realtors, builders and investors throughout the Indianapolis metropolitan area, helping them sell homes for an average 98% of the list price and in an average of 48 days on the market after staging. Barnett and Home Matters have been featured in numerous media, including The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis House & Home Magazine, Indianapolis Business Journal, REAL ESTATE Lifestyle Magazine, FOX 59 News, and WISH-TV/Angies List segments. Also in 2008, Barnett became Presidents of the Indiana State Chapter of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA). Barnett is also an Indiana State certified instructor through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency and the Indiana Real Estate Commission has been offering certified training to Home Stagers and Real Estate agents for several years, including a GRI Continued Education class for the Indiana Association of Realtors at the IUPUI Campus at Kokomo, Indiana. "I could not be more pleased to be offering the CSP^TM Courses. Christine has developed first class training courses and I feel fortunate to be involve," Barnett said.

For further details about Home Matters and the CSP Training Courses please visit our web site at www.homemattersllc.com or go directly to the CSP web site at www.csptraining.com

# # #

About Home Matters: Home Matters Home Staging & Training is a professional home staging and training company serving all of the Indianapolis, Indiana Metropolitan area. Home Matters has become one of Indiana's largest, most successful and fastest growing home staging, redesign and training companies in Indiana. Founded in 2004 by Linda Barnett, Home Matters has since serviced over 850 clients helping them sell homes for an average 97% of the list price and in an average of 48 days on the market after staging. Linda's background as a former Realtor, owner of a Gift Basket and Event planning business and Certified Interior Decorator has served her well in the Home Staging Industry.

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Crap, I think we just offended the neighbors

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:58:10 -0500

I didn't see this in the staging channels and it soooo applies to what we do I wanted to be sure you saw it.... of course it is on the dashboard.... but I don't think to go there everyday so I thought you might not either....

Via Todd Clark (Broker) (503)524-9494 (Beaverton, Oregon Real Estate Expert) (Palazzo Realty Group):

I had a listing that had some neighbors that were nice neighbors, but their yard was somewhat of an eyesore. It really wasn't as much the yard as it was the house. It also needed some touch up and my seller was willing to help out.

You see, in today's world my seller and I figured the reason for not painting the house and doing the up keep on the yard was because of the lack of money. But, it turns out that they just didn't see a reason too.

This is where we went from being helpful to (apparently) offensive. My seller offered to pay to have his yard professionally cleaned up, landscaped, and to have the side of the house that faced him painted at no cost to the owners next door. But, I guess they didn't see it as a way to help him sell his house, but rather as an insult to how they kept their yard and house.

Now, we had an angry neighbor who wanted to do what ever they could to make the yard as ugly as possible. Kids toys everywhere, lawn equipment left out, yard debris piled next to the fence, but the one that really said it all was while trying to show the home having their kid come out and pee on the fence.

I think we have a problem. I said and we need to figure out what to do about it. We went and talked to the neighbor and explained it wasn't the seller that was upset with the yard, they had lived next door to each other for 5 years and he thought he was a great neighbor, but the feedback was saying otherwise.

They sat down, hammered out their differences, and the yard got cleaned up, the house painted and my client got his home sold. This could have gone on for forever, it could have gone to court. But instead, two level headed people sat down and discussed what the real issue was and worked out a compromise over a mis-understanding.

What do you do when you offend someone? Do you walk away and ignore the situation, or be upfront and say your sorry? Or do you work something out so they can understand your side of the story? Lucky my seller did the latter and it worked out great for him, but it certainly could have been a lot worse! What would you have done in this situation?

Todd Clark - Broker / Sales Coach
Palazzo Realty Group
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Tigard OR homes for sale, homes for sale in zip code, 97223,97224, Tigard Oregon Realtor, Tigard OR Realtor, Tigard Oregon MLS Search, Tigard OR MLS Search, 1st time home buying expert, short sale expert, avoiding foreclosure in Tigard, helping families home, LivingBeaverton, Townhomes for sale, home for sale, house for sale, Bull Mountain North, Bull Mountain South, King City, Mountainview, Greenburg, Summer Lake Neighborhood, Summerfield neighborhood, Tigard neighborhood, Walnut Grove Neighborhood. Tigard Oregon Real Estate, Tigard OR real estate, Todd Clark, (503)524-9494, WWW.LivingTigard.com, www.IFoundYourNewHome.com, www.SavingyouFromForeclosure.com

©2009 Todd Clark - Crap, I think we just offended the neighbors

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Marketing Can Be Fun...But Numbers Are Everything

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:53:32 -0500

Just in case you don't look at the dashboard every day... THIS IS GREAT!!

Via Larry Easto (Real Estate Marketing Link):

As much as I love writing about marketing, I am very aware that effective marketing is impossible without sound business planning.

Good Business Planning

Some of the factors that contribute to good business planning are:

knowing your numbers;

knowing who your clients are;

know who can assist you and what they can do for you;

being aware of what you are doing;

having a schedule to dedicate 60% of your time towards building new business by prospecting for new clients;

being clear of your budget and time;

knowing your peak performance time; and finally - fully planning your year with adequate time off.

Numbers Are Everything

We have to know where we stand. How would we know where we are going unless we know where we are?

The numbers provide the objective data about everything we need to know about our business activities:

how many calls you have to make in order to connect with a good lead

how many leads you need in order to generate one client

how much money you make from each client

how much money you earn for each call you make...and for each hour you work

how many Internet hits you need to get one client

etc.

We have to know things like this...but unfortunately we often find...or make...ourselves too busy to track these numbers, let alone pay much attention to them.

Certainly many sales people have the motivation to undertake varied and demanding actions.

But far too often tracking and making sense of the numbers is not one of these actions.

Sure it's great to feel good about what we are doing...but what do your numbers tell you?

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Help me win a cruise with a local home builder!!

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:45:15 -0500

OK, this sounds really funny to be asking, but I know I have a lot of friends here in the rain who have facebook and so I'm asking a favor. One of our local builders, Lennar Homes, is having a facebook friendship cruise contest. The winner will receive two cruise tickets. In order to win you have to have the most number of "likes"...

Will you please go to Lennar's fan page (just look up Lennar and it's the one with a cruise ship for the photo) and look for my posting (look for my photo) and "like" the post.... Feel free to post your own as well.... HURRY THE CONTEST ENDS ON OCTOBER 15TH!

http://www.facebook.com/Lennar?ref=search&sid=794028961.3296442963..1

Here is my entry in case you are interested....

"My best friend is Sue Wilson. About 5 years ago she actually quit her job, rented out her home and moved to South Carolina to help my husband and I with 2 teenage foster children we were trying to adopt. Unfortunately the adoption never worked out ...but she has stayed here in SC with us, helping my family in virtually all aspects of our lives including helping me grow my new staging business - which is now quite successful thanks in large part to Sue's help. Over the past few weeks she has spent nearly the equivelent of a full time job helping us refurb a home we recently purchased not accepting any monetary payments. The work this week actually included acid washing the slate floors in the entry way and powder room as the previous owners literally had pigs in the home that they didn't clean up after. It certainly would be fantastic if I could win a cruise to take her away in reward for all the hard work and friendship she has shown over the past few years!!"

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Are you using the right photos for your client?

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:45:18 -0500

This week I staged a luxury home in Kiawah Island and unfortunately finished after it was getting dark, leaving me with less than fabulous photos. Going back to get new photos wasn't an easy feat, however. My office is over 1.5 hrs away, the community is gated and gaining entrance isn't easy. So, why did I work so hard to get back today - spending too much of my day in a car for a 20 minute photo shoot?

So... here is what happened when I went back today...

Had I decided not to spend the time to get new photos I would not choose to use any of these for my portfolio - one of the primary sources of my new jobs. I also would not have been doing justice to my clients who use my after photos as their MLS photos most of the time. Using only the darker photos, the home is not inspiring. Sure, you can see there are windows but you cannot see how stunning the light and views are through them....

Sometimes, even though it is inconvenient, it is important to realize what our objectives are - to sell the home. Photos go a long way to this end.... keeping both the agent and seller happy with my work is also a benefit!

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Small changes in the bedroom can make a big improvement....

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:21:03 -0500

As stagers a big part of our job is frequently working with what a homeowner has to keep the budgets low. Frankly it isn't always economical to rent or purchase all new, nor is it even really necessary. In this luxury home in Kiawah Island, the sellers used this home as their vacation home and had many great things available. Still the befores weren't quite the best they could be for sale...

What did we do? The first thing to happen was removing the large area rug to show off the floors. In turn, this enhanced the windows. We also painted the wall a subtle tan called, softer tan (Sherwin Williams) to warm the space. Removing the Laura Ashley window treatments helped tone down the blue, allowing the warmer tones to shine through... Paring down the knick knacks and pulling some furniture from other rooms (headboard, nightstands and lamps) finished off the room....

in this room the first thing that needed to happen was to shed the green walls. While the green outside the windows is fantastic, the bright green (cold) walls was not working against the warmer tones in the room. Next we removed the large area rug, again to show the warmer tones of the floor and trimwork. Then added a round table & lamp, bedskirts, artwork and some throw pillows from other rooms in the home. The final touch was paring down the knick knacks.

The total cost was around $650 including painting both rooms. What is the return on investment for the seller? I suppose that can only be answered when an offer comes. The real question might be will an offer come sooner? Would the second set of photos help inspire buyers to come over the first set? Does the second set feel more like a high end home than the first? What about dated vs updated?

So far from the agents and seller, all reviews have been rave.... let's hope buyers feel the same way....

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Finding the luxury in a master suite of a million dollar listing.....

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:04:37 -0500

This week my assistant and I staged a phenomenal home in the luxury Kiawah Island market. The agent, Lucie Jones of Dunes Properties, and I have worked together before. The last home we worked together on defied odds and sold in 4 months (the average DOM in this community is over a year - and there are currently 8 years worth of inventory on the market last I had heard). The moment she took this new listing she knew that we would be working together again.... As we walked through the home - a secondary home for the owners who lived in another state - it was clear that the home had been in their possession for many years and hadn't been updated in some time. The overall bones of the home were fabulous, however!

The biggest problem, in my opinion actually was in the master suite - it did not feel at all masterful. With a $1,000,000 plus price tag, that seems a minimum requirement. Here are the problems that I viewed with the room....

The queen sized bed shoved into the corner with only one night stand did not feel cozy for a million dollar luxury beach house. The problem seemed to be that there were no other walls to move the bed against without moving the bed under a set of windows. To top it off, the wall that made the most sense of moving the bed to (second set of photos) was unbalanced. The windows were not evenly distributed along the wall and simply moving the bed there would have felt awkward.... so, what to do?

(old dark photos removed for newly taken photos)

Now I wish we had finished this home earlier in the day, and hopefully we'll have the opportunity to go back to this gated community to take additonal after photos, but you can see the amazing change. We swapped the queen sized bed for a king, hung some curtains to create a solid wall where there were unbalanced windows (only losing a view of the neighbor's back yard), and creating a masterful luxurious setting. Much of the furniture that had been in this room was used in other parts of the home, the rest was either picked up by family members or donated to habitat.

Overall the change only costs a few hundred dollars, but what was the return on investment for the sellers?

How would potential buyers have responded to the thought of spending a million dollars on a home where the master bed was shoved in a corner? A king sized bed was out of the question with the previous layout.

Today, the views and open and expansive space is the first thing buyers will see when they walk into this space.... the agents for this property are thrilled and I'm hoping to receive positive comments after the brokers open house today....

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Diary of a Home Renovation - Fabulous flooring!

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:59:03 -0500

While I was out of town last week perhaps the biggest change to our house to date took place... NEW FLOORS!! While the before photos of the living room look OK, to be honest the laminate flooring was gross. It obviously had gotten wet and as laminate tends to do was buckling..... Wanting to be as environmentally concientious as possible, I went with a fantastic vertical carbonized bamboo...

buckling laminate flooring was not working out... ripping them out was the best option.

After ripping up the laminate flooring we found out that the subfloors actually had been painted (per neighbors the homeowners lived like this for some time). Woodboys, our new flooring installers, were happy about this as it apparently created a new moisure barrier in addition to the barrier they installed.

You can also see my husband installing new 6" baseboards in this space. I like the statement of 6" over 4".

I'm really pleased that these lead into the dining room as well, creating a more open feeling (i'll have photos, but we are still working on the ceilings and rooms are taped off - for now that includes the dining). New french doors have also been installed and all the trim work painted with a nice crisp white. The new color is Basketry by Behr.

The rooms in the family room/den have been a bit of a quandry too. We knew we needed to do something with them. The question was, to refinish them or to put in new bamboo floors here too.... We went with the less expensive option (about $1000 less) and then held our breath having no idea how it would turn out.

We started this space by priming and painting to get rid of the cave feeling....

Then they refinished the floors....

I think we made a great decision! The floors are really stunning in person with the variety of wood grains shown off so well. (btw, in case you are wondering about that unpainted window to the right... it's being replaced so we haven't spent time painting it yet.)

So, what was the cost of flooring in the living room, dining room and refinishing the family room? It was a little less than $6000 professionally installed. The return on investment is significantly higher however... not that I'm doing this for resale (this time).

Now are are about 2-3 weeks from moving in.... I can't wait to see what this room will look like with furniture!

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Finding new cheese is simple - it's leaving the old cheese soon enough that's the problem

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:08:50 -0500

So I've been trying to feed my mind and not just work, work and then spend time being mom/wife/friend. My best friend always asks me why I don't read something actually interesting, but to me, the business books actually are interesting! I recently blogged about completing E-Myth Revisited and how it inspired my life and business - all thanks to not actually having the books I ordered arrive in time for my last flight to Stagers List Expo. Taking a nice warm bubble bath tonight after a long day of staging in Kiawah Island, I thought I would do a little light reading. I picked Who Moved My Cheese as it seemed to be a short book with big print and a catchy title.

Well, I finished it during my bubble bath, so clearly it was short reading but boy was it fabulous! So, what did I learn? I learned first of all that I'm not quite a mouse, but I'm not really Hem or Haw either. Maybe because my whole life we moved every few years and I've always been adaptive I never have had too much of an issue letting go and moving on, maybe because I enjoy creating new things - either way I am glad to have learned the lesson of the littlepeople early on. I can see when the cheese is moving or running out. I see so many businesses and people in today's economy who not only can't find the new cheese but just don't know that the cheese is getting ready to move, or it has already moved and isn't coming back.....

The real estate industry, being so technically driven these days, is a prime example. How many agents, stagers and other associated businesses are falling behind, waiting for the cheese to come back? It's just a down economy, the market will come back.... Staging is a fad, it will be gone when the market changes... My house will sell at this price because I paid x amount for it 2 years ago and my neighbors house sold for x amount 6 months ago....

Watching the new TV show Real Estate Intervention I see a whole lot of people who just don't know the Cheese has moved and who think that if they just ..... then the cheese will come back. Wake up everyone!!! The cheese has moved and isn't coming back. Sure, eventually we'll find some new cheese, but it will probably be different cheese - learn to think of the journey of finding it, not just having it....

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Feeling overwhelmed, overworked and stressed out?

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:43:32 -0500

With so much travelling lately I've finally had a chance to catch up on some reading that I've been wanting to do. A couple of weeks ago, sitting in the Chicago airport, I went on Amazon and ordered a few books which had been recommended to me. I wanted reading materials for my next trip - to the Indianapolis Stagers List Expo. Thinking on suggestions that I've gotten lately I ordered Who Moved My Cheese, Shift & Real Estate Rainmaker, Guide to Online Marketing. Working non-stop and getting completely worn out trying to keep up with the travel, moving, renovating a new home, selling our current home, staging, paperwork, marketing, and being a mom (with 2 kids in college, 1 in middle school - my middle child just having gotten engaged last week) I was actually looking forward to the time away, socializing with my good friends and having some time to myself to just kick back and read.

Unfortunately things don't always go as planned and leaving on Monday afternoon found that none of my books had arrived for my flight. I decided that I wasn't up to writing press releases on this set of flights and had really been looking forward to time to read and learn something new. I decided to pick up a book at the airport. Walking into the airport bookstore it is clear that there are few choices, so I might have to be less picky than usual. Then I saw it... E-Myth Revisited. I had no idea what the book was about but I recalled that 6 months or so ago 4 different collegues told me I should pick it up. I asked my husband to get it from the library for me several times, but apparently our local library has a limited selection in the business section. Hmmm... trying to listen to the call of the universe, I picked it up (though honestly some of the other titles had me second guessing this decision).

Sitting at the gate I began to read and within moments knew why I was called to read this book today. By the time I landed in Indianapolis I knew that this had been the right book at the right time and I was inspired and full of thoughts which came flowing through my computer the first moments I could get to a work and powerpoint document. For anyone reading this blog that owns their own business who hasn't read the book - stop reading and go to Amazon to order this book now! I can honestly say that much of Sarah's story (you'll understand if you've read the book, if you haven't then do so now!) was mine. I understand her situation all too well & have been feeling the way she felt, except that I'm not really the technician type, more the entrepreneur. Either way, I've been finding myself in the wrong porportions of Technician, Entrepreneur and Manager. Something has been needing to change for some time now.. I suppose I've always been the 'straw that breaks the camel's back' kind of girl and we've been piling up straws at a rapid rate.

The overall gist of the book seemed to be that most individuals who go into business are technicians who want to control their paychecks, destinys and be their own bosses. Unfortunately what happens is that they either lack other skills or find they burn out trying to do it all. Eventually things begin to slip through the cracks and frustration mounts until the business fails or the owner quits. Feeling overwhelmed myself I continued to read to find the answers....

Perhaps the first and most striking thing I found was that despite my best plans and paperwork (I tend to update my business plan twice a year) I had yet to formally discuss and outline the duties and responsibiities of the members of my company. What this tends to lead to is exactly what is going on in my business at the moment - an ebb and flow of productivity with no one taking full responsibility of the sitation at hand. Now, this certainly doesn't mean that we aren't successful, clearly we are when you look at where we've been, where we are and where we are going but what happens as we continue to grow? It became clear that if we didn't do something soon we would be out of control and chaos would ensue... we are already on that path. Having recently seen this in another successful business and understanding the long path to efficiency recovery I decided that a flow chart was now in order.... outlining exactly what everyone's responsibilities are, the order of business and processes.

I also learned that I need to dumb down my processes... the advice in E-Myth was that the processes should be so simple any high schooler can do it with little assistance or guidance. Not being much of a 'manager' this was last on my list of priorities. I've learned that sometimes what ends up last on my list really should be first, however. Now I'm in the process of identifying how I do every part of my job and how I can convey it to the next person who comes along. This will allow me to do my favorite part of the business - be creative - be the entrepreneur....

Because I have so much to say and this blog is already much longer than I had planned I'll end this one by saying that if you haven't already read the book and you are feeling overwhelmed, overworked and frustrated.... you might just find the solution in black and white!

Of course... when you finish, you'll also want to pick up E-Myth Mastery, which is what I read on the flight home from Indianapolis. Amazingly enough, Gary & Linda Barnett happened to have a copy sitting right there for me to borrow..... isn't the universe a funny thing?

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StagersList Expo Indianapolis September 29th

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:23:25 -0500

Commentary provided by one of the attendees of the Indianapolis Stagers list Expo this week....

Via Carolyn Stieger, ASPM, IAHSP, CRTS, WCR, WWOCAR (We Stage Greater Detroit, Inc. ):

StagerList Expo Indianapolis - What a great experience today! The tips and tricks that were shared today were incredible. Staging is an industry that is so new and there needs to be more education to the public and Realtors to understand how to present our added value as team members to the Realtor listing proposals.

Listening to Realtors that utilize Home Stagers share their real life experiences. Top producers with a 98.5% selling price to listing price results, raving about Home Stagers as their team members!
This will be my new LinkenIn request: I'm looking for Realtors in the greater Detroit (Southeast Michgian)area that want to grow their business and team up with a professional Home Stager.

The value for me to attend this Expo is priceless. (Being away from my business for 4 days in this busy time of year, was a huge time commitment, a 5 1/2 hour road trip in rain and high winds) This is the most cost effective, stager to stager networking and industry education event this year in my area!

I can't wait to learn more tomorrow! If you have the opportunity to attend a StagersList.com Expo in your area this year, be sure to attend. Great Value, Great Experience

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StagersList Expo Indianapolis September 29th

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:21:26 -0500

a wonderful commentary from an attendee of the Indianapolis stagers list Expo this week!

Via Carolyn Stieger, ASPM, IAHSP, CRTS, WCR, WWOCAR (We Stage Greater Detroit, Inc. ):

StagerList Expo Indianapolis - What a great experience today! The tips and tricks that were shared today were incredible. Staging is an industry that is so new and there needs to be more education to the public and Realtors to understand how to present our added value as team members to the Realtor listing proposals.

Listening to Realtors that utilize Home Stagers share their real life experiences. Top producers with a 98.5% selling price to listing price results, raving about Home Stagers as their team members!
This will be my new LinkenIn request: I'm looking for Realtors in the greater Detroit (Southeast Michgian)area that want to grow their business and team up with a professional Home Stager.

The value for me to attend this Expo is priceless. (Being away from my business for 4 days in this busy time of year, was a huge time commitment, a 5 1/2 hour road trip in rain and high winds) This is the most cost effective, stager to stager networking and industry education event this year in my area!

I can't wait to learn more tomorrow! If you have the opportunity to attend a StagersList.com Expo in your area this year, be sure to attend. Great Value, Great Experience

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

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:58:23 -0500

A great post explaining why CSP Training is different than many others out there... We set the bar higher, where it should be!

Via Duncan Scott (The Scotts Group Inc.):

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

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Diary of a Home Renovation - Prime, Paint and Cave be gone....

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:31:29 -0500

Why is it that so many 1970s homes have wood panelling? Ok, so that was sylish back then but why do so many men still like it? Why is it that men cringe when you say you want to paint over wood? Well, if you are one of those guys who love the look of paneling and the 'man cave'... look away!

Our den before....

This depressing room was given a lift with A LOT of primer and some great pigmented paint...

The floors will be redone later this week and the windows are supposed to be replaced soon (why they weren't painted). The desk was left in the home and hauled out this evening. Shelves and cupboard doors still need to be added but you can already see the changes happening.

Right now this is the room that has the biggest improvement. Prior to the paint job this room was dark and depressing... today this room is bright and feels clean and fresh - even a little beachy.

The cost of this makeover? About $100. When working on value add, paint is frequently the most cost effective change you can make.

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Diary of a Home Renovation - Sometimes making do is good enough....

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:17:29 -0500

In order to close on our new home we were told a few things by our lender - the first of which was it would have to have usable flooring throughout the home. Well, somehow they let the fact that there was no carpeting slide upstairs, but the kitchen seemed to be another issue... If you remember, this was one of the scarier looking parts of our new home...

since this is where the fridge would go we were certain there was going to be damage to the subflooring and we would have to rip all of this out and have a big job on our hands. Instead we got lucky and found out that the previous owner had actually installed a layer of plywood and sticky tiles over the original subflooring and roll out vinyl floor. Per the inspection there was no real damage, which meant we had easy (and cheap) options available to us....

Now I will say that we plan on completely gutting the kitchen within the next 6 months and replacing the flooring with what we want was not on the list of fixing before closing - it would have been a waste of money since it would all be ripped out when we eventually gut the kitchen. Our goal was to get the room done inexpensively and make it last for 6 months....

This was our solution...

STICKY TILES! At 68 cents each we just couldn't go wrong. Here was the process for anyone who finds themselves in this same situation....

First we pulled up the second layer of plywood and sticky tiles in a nice neat square area. We then purchased and installed new plywood in that area. Adding two layers of sticky tiles (one to meet the height of the previous sticky tiles and then one to cover the entire flooring surface) we continued throughout the room making this the only part of the home that actually feels reasonably clean.

Now, I'm the first to admit that it is not particularly attractive but the idea was to do this as cheap as possible (entire room cost less than $90) and pass the appraisal.... Mission accomplished!

Tips & Techniques on sticky tiles.....

How to cut the tiles to fit when you can't use an entire square - turn the tile upside down and butt up against the wall you are trying to measure to. With a straight edge mark where the overhang on the tile is and using a razor knife score the tile along that mark. Bend the tile along the scoring and cut down that line. This is actually super easy. Remember that your tile will ultimately be upside down and backwards when you are scoring so pay attention to which side has the good edge.

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Diary of a Home Renovation - Sometimes it gets worse before it gets better

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:40:45 -0500

We've been working on the new home for about 2.5 weeks now and are definately making progress. Unfortunately sometimes it's really hard to tell. A lot of what we've been doing has been ripping things apart, tearing it out or pulling it down. The good news is that this part of the process is very cheap... really mostly free!

Remember the Dining Room Before....

Vinyl sticky tile flooring, popcorn ceiling, wrong color walls for my decor....

Our progress....

In the living room and dining room we ripped out the vinyl flooring, painted the walls and scraped the ceilings (ok, they haven't been scraped in the living room yet... which is sad because it needs it the most, but apparently this will be a job we'll have to hire out as the previous owner did something to make this a very tricky job.) We also added new 6" baseboards and are in the process of painting the crown molding and all the trimwork.

New bamboo flooring goes in this week and I'm excited to see it.....

Remember the Master Bedroom before....

Well, we ripped out the shelving and mudded the walls.... new carpeting is in the process of going in....

Now in an ideal world we would have been able to finish the ceilings and painted everything before the flooring was installed. If we were flipping this house it definately would have gone in a different order. Unfortunately we are trying to sell our current residence and really would prefer to sell it without living in it... especially with so much work going on in this house. As soon as the home is habitable we'll be moving in....

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Staging Pays off - Under Contract in Park West, Mt. Pleasant in less than 24 hrs!

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:43:06 -0500

One of the things stagers and agents need to stop talking about is how much staging costs. in today's market we need to talk about the INVESTMENT of staging. Staging doesn't cost nearly as much as it provides in saved time on market and higher offers.

Recently a Realtor in the Charleston/Mt. Pleasant market took the CSP Elite Agent course and received her CSP Affiliate Designation. When I arrived for her first staging consultation for a vacant unit that she personally owned she already knew the benefits staging would provide. We discussed which rooms we thought would provide the most value in staging and agreed upon a price. Within the week my team set to staging this lovely condo in Park West.

We agreed that the home should be completely ready for market PRIOR to listing it including finishing the staging, having photos and visual tour ready (which we provided) and all marketing pieces into place. Since this had already been explained to this new real estate professional in her CSP Elite class she knew the process. The results were no less than textbook perfect! Here is what she had to say less than 24 hrs after the home went on the market....

"I had a call from a buyer's agent less than one hour later and had a written offer to purchase, at 97% of list price, less than 24 hrs after I went "live"! I received that written offer before Jenna in our office had processed the paperwork I had given her re the listing, before it went out on the HotSheet as a new listing to fellow agents in our office! Wohoo!

I spent today satisfying contingencies and have a signed contract, with all parties happy for the time being anyhow, with a (cash) close October 15^th. Keep your fingers crossed, ok?

This is GREAT advertising/marketing for both you and for me. My goal was to get under contract within 30 days, consistently, in this market. Never did I dream I might go under contract in less than 24 hours! The only contingency left is a routine home inspection, scheduled to take place within a week or so.

Staging, coupled with great pricing, is the way to go! As both you and Michele know, I am a on board with this, even thou I am a rookie.

I hope this all works out well and I look forward to continued partnership with you in the future. Let's keep the furniture in place til closer to close, til the inspection contingency is fulfilled, just in case........................"

So for all of the sellers and agents that feel that staging is just an expense that is too costly to consider, remember that staging is really an INVESTMENT that has a high rate of return.

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