Diana's Blog

marketing myself on the phone

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:05:51 -0800

I need help on a problem that I have all the time in my job as a home stager. So this is the deal, I'm looking for some tips on how to talk myself and my business up to clients on the phone.

You know the phone call, the real estate agent has suggested your services to the client, but the client is not sold yet. What should I say when I call them? Being that I'm not so great at the marketing/selling myself aspect of my job, I always feel like I stumble through this portion of contact with clients. I feel like I hover between sounding wimpy and sounding insulting. I think subsequently, I don't get as many jobs as I could be getting because of it.

Help AR community, I need your advice and coaching in this area. Oh, and thank you in advance for the help because I know how great the AR community is, and I'm sure I'll get great advice!

Will I go through withdrawal?

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:02:44 -0800

Today I go in for shoulder surgery, and one of my major worries is, how will I blog on AR? My arm will be in a sling for 2 weeks and I'm worried I'll go through AR withdrawal! Hopefully I will make a speedy recovery so I can get right back to it. Make sure you all blog a little extra for me because I'll still be reading all your blogs. Not being able to work or drive will make me crazy and I'll need to go on AR everyday to pass the time! Thanks to all who have wished me well and I'll be blogging again soon!

Packers loss :(

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 08:05:53 -0800

Well, you win some and you lose some. Yesterday the Packers looked a little lost in the cold and didn't win the NFC Championship. All of us here in Wisconsin are looking a little forlorned this morning. We were all so sure it would be the Packers and the Patriots in the Superbowl. All I can say now is "Go Giants"! As much as I hated the Giants yesterday, I will be rooting for them to upset the irritatingly cocky Patriots in the Superbowl in 2 weeks. Thank you for letting me vent my frustrations here in AR, I'll be looking forward to next football season! Go Packers!

Update of "how much is too much?"

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:26:51 -0800

Well, those of you who thought my "client to be" wasn't interested were correct. I called her back, per many of your pieces of advice. She blew me off! I was quite surprised. Being new to working with this real estate agent, I mistakenly believed that if he sent me to a specific seller, that meant they really wanted my services. I guess that just goes to show, I'm still a business newbie. I may be excellent at the Staging side of my job, but I still need to develop a thicker business skin. I know I need to be more detached when I contact sellers, but I still find myself getting emotionally attached to jobs before I even get them. I hear a little about the seller, i.e. they are having money troubles or family problems and need to sell fast; then I feel for them and want to help them so badly. So when I don't get a Staging job then I feel bad. Mind you, it's not for the loss of income, but for the fact that I can't help them sell. I feel like that's so "Pollyanna" of me. It's sort of embarrassing and I know I need to change that if I'm going to survive in the business world. I know that sometimes I need to set aside the creative, giving, and charitable side of my personality and dig down deep for the business, no-nonsense side of me. I will keep trying!

How often is too often?

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:44:45 -0800

When being asked by a real estate agent to contact one of their clients, how often is too often to call them back. I was asked by a REA that I work with to contact a client of his regarding getting their home staged, he said they were expecting my call and needed my services. I called the number he gave me and got an answering machine (with just the original computer recording voice on it). Do I call back after a few days? They have yet to return my call (4 days later). Do I call the real estate agent? Do I double check that the number is right? I don't want to seem pushy and in their face, but if the number was wrong or if they didn't get the message I also don't want to seem uninterested/unreliable. I'm in a pickle here.

The Active Rain community's help!

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 08:40:53 -0800

Wow! That's all I really have to say about this website's members. As a new member and a new blogger I really didn't know what to expect. I had an issue I needed to find a solution for (a smokers house that needed staged) and all I had to do was put the question out there. I received more than a dozen supportive, inventive, and extremely helpful pieces of advice from my fellow AR members. Thanks doesn't seem like enough. I am a AR member for life now. This is a wonderful place for people from the Real Estate/Mortgage/Staging industries. These three industries go hand in hand and you all proved how helpful we can be to one another! Bravo to AR!

Home Stager new to this group!

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:17:16 -0800

I am a home stager who is new to Active Rain and new to this group. I'm looking to share ideas/success stories about staging with other home stagers.

Home Stager new to this group!

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:15:25 -0800

I am a home stager in Wisconsin and I'm new to Active Rain and this group. Hello to all my fellow stagers out there. It sure is nice to speak with others who passionately believe in the art of staging, just like I do!

Home Stager in Wisconsin-New to this group!

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:12:42 -0800

Hello to all, I'm new to this group and new to Active Rain. I'm also fairly new to blogging and postings on the internet, so bear with me. If I mess up-I'm sorry!

Home Stager new to this group.

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:09:03 -0800

I'm new to Active Rain and new to this group. Are there any discussion blogs here or only home listings? I am a home stager and I'm looking for other to confer with about our industry.

Staging a smoker's home

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:45:54 -0800

I have a client whose husband is a smoker . He smokes inside the home and I'm having trouble convincing her to have him stop smoking in the house. I have already told her how buyers don't like the smell of smoke, and with all the competition out there now, that she has to do everything she can to help her house sell. She claims he just won't stop. I wonder if anyone has any suggestions for helping me convince her, or even him (he's never available to meet with me though) to stop the smoking in the home. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as this is a difficult home to sell as is. Thanks!

Hey there all my fellow Stagers!

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:12:41 -0800

I am new to this group, my name is Diana Robertson and I own Staged to Sell in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Marketing help

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:14:59 -0800

Well, I had a long, well though out and witty blog entry all set, but when I went to post it, it was erased. Aaaagh! Sometimes I just hate computers! Basically what it said was that I'm having trouble with marketing myself and my business and I'm looking for advice from the Real Estate agents out their. You are all so good at that portion of your job that I was hoping for some nuggets of knowledge that will help me get the word out about my Staging company, Staged to Sell. Thanks!

Home Stager looking to network/share ideas with other Home Stagers!

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:18:12 -0800

I'm new to this internet blogging/networking. Looking for someone to network/share ideas with. My Home Staging company is doing fairly well but I need to network to grow my business. Are their Home Stagers out their willing to discuss the business with me?

Today's Tough Real Estate Market

Diana Robertson (Staged to Sell) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:10:18 -0800

As you all know, this has been a tough real estate winter so far. We are all in the same boat-lots of inventory and very few buyers. Many of you know how valuable Home Staging can be in this volitile market and have already used my services or the services of another Home Stager. Home Staging can make the difference between a home sitting on the market for far too long and a home selling quickly and for top dollar. Staged to Sell is my Home Staging Company and I am committed to helping home owners and real estate agents sell their homes quickly. I believe in using what homeowners already own and when purchasing items for a stage I always use the "design on a dime" philosophy. I believe the less money I spend on a stage, means that much more money for the homeowner's profit. Beware of Home Stagers that want to spend thousands of dollars on new furniture and the like. Home Staging should be the vehicle to earn you more money, and I believe it is an invaluable asset for all real estate agents and homeowners. So remember, when you sell a home make sure you use a professional Home Stager to maximize your profit and sell quicker! In the end, everybody wins.