Stager Idol ... What does that have to do with Humpty Dumpty?

Remember the nursery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty Sat On The Wall...Humpty Dumpty Had A Big FALL!

It's a shame Humpty Dumpty couldn't find a way over the wall so he could stand tall!

The Stager Idol Contest... is about to end.  Everyone that entered hoped to be recognized for their passion they are all winners and I am honored to be one of the final three.    

I have to admit, for me it has been a bumpy yet fulfilling journey finding ways over the wall.  Having made it this far,  I already feel like a winner. I have had the love and support from my family, friends, local Realtor community, local media and fellow stagers.

Entering the contest was truly stepping out of my comfort zone.  I sometimes felt like I was about to get to the wall and have a BIG FALL !   I'm passionate about my career, am on a mission to help Realtors and sellers understand the value of staging,  I love the creativity in what I do, feel I have a good business base because of my exceptional training, always have the best interest of the seller in my sights and truly am there for others in the industry who ask for my input.  Ahh but I have occasionally stumbled, made my share of mistakes. 

Thankfully,  I was and continue to be reminded by friends and confidents It truly is OK that I have made errors along the way... everyone who steps out of the comfort zone  are open to scrutiny.  No matter what the intention others will be sure to make you and others aware ...you have made mistakes... I continue to be encouraged when I feel I'm about to FALL OFF THE WALL to hold my head high.  I  continue to learn by just doing, being persistent and finding new ways of  building with others so we are all able to climb over the wall so no one will fall. 

As the final interviews are winding down...I sure am glad Humpty Dumpty is a nursery rhyme...

•·         I am a winner because I have persisted even during turmoil. 

•·         I am a winner because even before the final results are announced, I have benefited by entering The Stager Idol Contest, because I and the finalists have received recognition in our field on a National level.

•·         I am a winner because I have formed friendships with several of the contestants.

•·         I am a winner because I was reminded by entering this contest there are still opportunities to grow in life as well as the field of staging by leaving ones comfort zone.

•·         I am a winner because this contest has further enlightened me to the fact that "Life as a Professional Real Estate Stager is a journey not a race".

A sincere thank you to Shell Brodnax and RESA for what you have begun.  While your communications were always upbeat, I'm sure the launch and coordination of a new concept to enlighten the public on the craft of staging as well as its true benefits had its share of challenges.   Hopefully all professional stagers will continue to help you by building on what you have begun!     

How Often Do You Find It Difficult To Leave The Home You've Just Staged?

OK I admit it...every once in a while I linger longer, take more pictures anything to stay in a home I've just staged.  I sometimes fall in love...don't tell my husband!   Sometimes, what I thought was going to be another complicated floorplan in which I had to tell a story becomes a beautiful novel of flowing prose by the time I'm done....

This week I vacant staged a home on the Winyah Bay in Georgetown, SC.  It is a totally renovated home that is not historic but was built in the almost historic 1950's (YUK we won't talk about what year I was born...I don't quite feel historic yet either!)

 Maybe it was the pristine weather that I captured in my pictures, maybe I'm by myself to much as I staged this one  alone...or maybe there is a spirit inside this house that reached out and grabbed me...I hope it grabs a buyer too!

I just had to share...  http://www.vizzvox.com/stories/7HJWaimKgXy1w00fms

 Let me know what you think!

WOW, One of The Final Five...new friends, and PRESS Galore!

So how can you thank Shell Brodnax and RESA enough for creating the Stager Idol contest?

I was hesitant to sign up because of all the talent I see on Active Rain...but I tossed my hat in the ring just to see...  How exciting to be picked for the top 10!  The disecting of that first project was very interesting and as with all of us in life, one more thing on the plate!   So there I was at my Fed-X Kinkos running back and forth tweaking, printing, finding a typo even after I read the darn thing 150 times and praying the FED-Ex guy didn't come five minutes early!

Then the wait...and the I wish I would of or I could of...was it just OK?...Maybe I said too much...I like to talk...oh well...  

NEW FRIENDS

When the top five were notified,  everyone e-mailed each other with a congratulations!  Then, when in my e-mail I was whining about my broken wrist...and indicated that the cast was already disgusting and maybe I would decoupage it with my logo and put rhinestones on it Jackson offered to send be a "be dazzler"   ...I forgot to ask if its his!

Everyone sent such nice words of encouragement but Kathleen took the time to give me a call!  Now how nice is that?  We chatted and laughed and shared.

Now  I have a new friends too...

PRESS and a JOB

BUT that's not all!  Last night I sent out a press release, Shell supplied, which I  tweaked a little for me to some press and my database.  I woke up to a mailbox full of well wishers, two publications asking me for my headshot AND a job because it pushed a potential client over the fence when he saw I was in the top five....

That means I'm a winner already....gotta work on the next project though! .....I wish I had.....I wish I could....  Guess that part of me will never go away!

Thanks RESA, thanks Shell and Thanks to all the well wishers.  I promise to do my best in the next round too! 

Talk about untechie! I was featured and removed the blog!

Do you have the top five traits to sell your services?

When times start getting a little rough, I dust off all the sales books I've collected over the years and go back and review the basics of sales.

Many years ago when voice mail became an obstacle in getting to the decision maker, I remember going to a Steve Schiffman seminar where he suggested when making cold calls and you find yourself talking to voice mail, only leave part of a message.  Just enough so they know who is calling but not the whole motive for the message...they will want to call you back right?  He was entertaining and I did glean some tips but I think in todays savvy business world that is a transparent attempt to sell something.  I prefer leaving a whole message and follow up.

Another favorite is Jeffrey Gittomer.   He has a unique business card (a coin with his image stamped on it), is passionate about the art of the sale and had us laughing.  The company I worked for at the time decided to buy his entire program and weekly we had to finish a lesson...it got cheesy (sorry JG) and lost the value of its intention to better our sales and customer service skills...it became a running joke of who could click the fastest on the answers to get through the lesson for the week.

All the sales gurus, however,  have a common thread in their sales lessons.  They all incorporate the top five traits for effective sales:

• Creativity
• Passion
• Integrity
• Tenacity
• Commitment

The books are going back to the shelves, I'm digging in my heels and continuing onward to share with others my passion for staging with creativity, integrity, commitment and with unfaltering Tenacity!

Rate Your Staging Training ~ IRIS

How about 10+

My trainer,mentor and now friend, Sandy Dixon, who also happens to be the New Executive Director of IRIS was the one I chose to  take my training in Staging/redesign after interviewing a plethora of trainers.    

I had been active in advertising/marketing for most of my career.  My dream job, selling display advertising for The Washington Post, came to reality in 1999..  Then as fate would have it, I  recieved my //Realtor license in Maryland...just to understand what I loved,  looking at homes to see the decorating...long story short, I relocate to South Carolina to be close to our only daughter (out of six children).  Never had been to Myrtle Beach before then.  Immediately secured a job with a National builder in new home sales..it was the boom..money, just like The Post was incredible..but I felt unfulfilled.   Saw a segment on The Today Show about staging...within a few months I'm in Evergreen, CO taking a class from a woman who says, NO QUESTIONS, I can assure you they will be answered!  What??????  I love to disect a question, I love to give my opinion!  I thrive on giving my opinion.    AHHHHH---but sure enough she answers every darn question I may have....and some I didn't know I had.

 Again,long story short. she IS ONE OF THE BEST.  Gives me all the tools I need to launch my business...now if I could only be like her and be non-partial when a crisis arises.  Look at the facts and give an unbiased opinion..still working on that.

Many thanks to Sandy Dixon, of Interior Arrangements.  Her goal?  To help others in the industry.  That's it...not points, not glory, just help.

 I'm forever grateful.  The changes she has already made to rhe IRIS organization cannot be disputed...she is making it "the cream of the crop".

 Would like to add...for those who may be searching for training look to IRIS and its instructors.   They are dedicated to the craft of redesign and staging.  Don't feel intimidated about calling them and asking them questions about expectations.  Training is a huge investment and you need to feel comfortable that your investment will satisfy your needs.

As stagers we should insure our hands, they are our most precious tools

As Real Estate Stagers we should insure our hands...  There I was, coming off my high of giving back to back workshops to C-21 Realtors on the benefits of staging...day two, my booth was all set to now speak personnally to the "cream of the crop" as this was the end of year rally to honor top producers.  Early, I went to the hotel restaurant to get a liitle protein for my day ahead...was following the hostess when slip,bang bamm..a room full of patrons seeing me do a split and land on my hand.  My modesty was my first thought, I had a dress on...O.K. it wasn't over my head...but...ouch my hand sure did hurt.   A table full of women in the banking industry scolded the hostess...seems I was the second to fall in the same place within several minutes...I spent the rest of the day in the emergency room.  Luckily it is only one broken bone by my wrist..the radius not the worst they've ever seen...but ahhh my youth is fading so even a day later it is throbbing!

It is my right hand..my creative hand, my hand that writes notes, my hand that signs my name, ties bows, that keeps my keyboard flowing with letters on my desktop instead of the hunting and pecking I've now been reduced to...I was proud of my 90 wpm typing skill!

Oh well, good news..it will only be about eight weeks and I'm sure in a few days, my creative side will emerge when the pain subsides and the swelling goes down to find creative ways to do what use to be so easy.... 

WOW...instead of the ol days where they use to insure models legs, maybe we should get our staging insurers to add our hands!  They are one of the most precious of our Real Estate Staging tools! 

My swollen fingers and cast...instead of pain pills, I asked for a glass of wine!

Realtors...I already knew stagers were underappreciated in many of your eyes but I didn't expect this!..

EVERY Tuesday I am scheduled to present the benefits of Real Estate Staging at sales meetings for any company that will allow me to be there.  Most Brokers In charge are accomodating in allowing me 15 minutes or more.  I absolutely love showing my very "generic" PowerPoint presentation that highlights the value of staging and why Realtors should use Professional Stagers as part of their team and help get the house to SOLD!

Last week, instead of my usual Power Point, I signed up to be with eight various vendors that service Realtors and  have the opportunity for the Realtors at that office speak with us individually about our services.  We had to donate $75 to the charity of this offices choice...great idea and for a good cause.

So there I stood with my looped presentation showing incredible before and afters...on my computer.  There I stood with brochures and business cards and even a cute little "vignette"  I created in  someones office cubby...waiting.  I was put in an odd location behind the food so most people had their backs to me but I did not dispair.   I put my colorful logo sign up high and stood out from my cubby.  You can imagine how thrilled I was when I actually had someone, with a picture of a property in hand, come to me and begin discussing her dilemma of a vacant, renovated house that had some rooms that probably would be better served with furnishings. 

YOU CAN'T imagine how I felt when another Realtor, noticing her colleague talking to me, came over, spun her around in mid sentence and told her not to bother with the cost of staging the property.  With her back to me she said it was beautiful and did not need any help!  I tried to be polite and intervene.  She kept her back to me and walked away...UNBELIEVABLE!  I've called and e-mailed the agent with the photo...no response.

Wow!  I know that we real estate stagers are usually underappreciated.  I know how hard most of us work.  I know first hand when we begin averaging the pay to the hours it is below minimum wage.  I know how many of us go above and beyond to make a home "showcase" ready.  I know my personal standard and how I attempt to create a pro-active relationship with Realtors who use my services and usually become an integral part of their team.

I appreciate Realtors,  I even wrote a blog about appreciating them.   Heck, I'm even a licensed Realtor...but my passion is helping  Realtors and Sellers with the presentation and marketing of the property.  I stay an active Realtor so I can be in tune with the temperature of my market.   

So, why such disrespect?  I have no earthly idea who she was...I really don't think she had any idea who I was.  Why not listen and ask questions...if I don't communicate the Why's,  How's and Value of  Real Estate Staging to you, THEN form an opinion...Just give me and my fellow stagers a chance!

Trade Show Etiquette...some tips

Today  I was packing up my exhibit, I thought about all I saw wrong at todays show!  You see, in a former life I sold portable and modular exhibits.  I worked for one the leaders in the industry, The Joan Carol Design and Exhibit Group.  Every year we would scour the pages of the planned tradeshows (I told you a former life it was before computers) and select which ones we would attend every month...EVERY MONTH.

If you've ever been an exhibitor you know they can be grueling, exhilirating and packed full of qualified leads...but there is Etiquette involved.  At this show for Realtors, there were only about 50 booths and I was stunned to see two additional staging companies...that is quite a bit of competition for such a small show.  So, I'm thrilled we did EVERYTHING right!  Here are a few things we did and a few things you should NEVER do to make your next trade show a success:

• LOCATION:  Most people when entering a show turn right...it is natural.  The Redefining LUXE team had the FIRST booth as you entered. It is not always easy to get a good spot at a show, especially if it is your first and the same exhibitors return year after year BUT if you can try to pick an end location AND a location that it not to far from where people are entering.  Especially in those mega shows.
• SPONSORSHIP:  Sometimes it is cost prohibitive but being a sponsor helps keep your name on materials for the show, about the show...  We decided to give a cloth bag with our logo on them for the folks to put all the information they were gathering.  It is now a lasting reminder of who we were.
• Don't give them everything you have about your company.   A flyer, a little information about your company.  NOT your entire media/price/kit...You can have some fully packed folders with you for a real hot lead, but it is truly a waste of your money to give them all your information...which will probably be tossed in a corner OR if you're like me life is so busy, you end up not looking at any of it...just the ones you kept on top that you knew you would use.
• NEVER SIT OR EVEN WORSE SIT BEHIND A TABLE.  You are giving signals to the attendees that you are not interested.  We set up our booth to invite the attendee in...not only did we have their undivided attention, we knew they were qualified leads because they WANTED to be there.
• APPROPRIATE ATTIRE:  Who is your audience?  These were Realtors they generally dress in business attire.  So, we mirrored their attire.  This is the time to leave the piercings, funky hair dos, or crazy clothes at home unless you are at a hair show or an art show.   Also, wear comfortable shoes.  If your feet hurt from all the standing, you tend to be cranky with the folks you want to impress.
• ASK THEM about THEIR needs...in reference to your business.  Don't be heavy on the sales pitch to soon.
• Have a drawing item.  This is a great way to get the leads...but don't just have them toss it in the bowl..try to take it, talk to them for awhile and as they leave...indicate how "hot" the lead was by a number system.  You can pull out the #1's as soon as you get home to write a personal note...and get the business.
• Don't waste too much money on pencils, pads, key-chains...If you've worked a booth you know that people will reach around and take the shirt off your back if they think it is a givaway!  Just today a woman reached around the bowl and behind a frame for  the pen we were using to qualify leads....A piece of candy maybe...but save the promotional pieces as thank yous or to help engage a qualified lead.

Not etiquette...but Think about the design of your booth...We are in staging, we have to bring in accessories and furnishings to "Set The Stage"  but don't just plop it down.  Make it have purpose.  On the back of our display we had blow ups of Before and After, We had a looped Photo Show of our work and services continually playing  AND we had photo albums with more work.  We created a vignette with comfortable seating with a light on, candles...we set the scene!

One last thing...The keynote speaker, Gee Dunsten  www.geedunsten.com who has spoken to Real Estate Groups in every state but WV (I don't know why they did not elaborate)  came INTO our inviting booth to speak with us!    THAT's what TRADE SHOWS ARE ABOUT  NETWORKING, LEADS, BUSINESS SUCCESS!

What is Real Estate Staging To You?

In my opinion. Some call it house fluffing, some call it home enhancing and some call it home merchandising...simply put it is getting your house to SOLD!

With over 80% of home buyers starting their shopping online it is imperitive that the photos that your Realtor puts on MLS looks "showcase" ready.

When you sell your home you need to make it memorable!  Memorable in a good way!

You have to emotionally detach from the home...it is now a commodity a commodity that you need to package to sell.  Seriously, in todays market buyers have much to choose...you don't want them to click to the next listing because you love your macrame hanging on the wall or the "Williamsburg" blue that is so 1980's but that makes you feel happy. 

Remember when you stage your house...it is not about you.  You now have to package your house to appeal to the most buyers.  The way we live and the way we live in a staged home are two different things.

Keep your final goal in mind.... SOLD!   Help your Realtor and Stager...listen to their expert advice.  You will be so happy you did that first morning, after the sometimes stressful closing, when you wake up in the morning with the birds singing, a steaming cup of coffee in hand and the happy feeling of "newness"  in your new home!