Northern Arizona Home Staging

Helping Home Sellers Realize the Dream of Moving On Part III of a Passport Series

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:54:52 -0500

This is the third part of a series concerning acquiring “passports” which you will need in order to adequately pursue and receive your dreams. If you haven’t seen Part I you will need to start there to satisfactorily understand what this business with “passports” is all about. If you are interested in knowing which “passports” an excellent home stager uses you will want to look at Part II of the series.

You know you must sell your home and you are ready to begin collecting the “passports” which will be of the most importance to you concerning how to sell in the shortest amount of time and at the top end of the possible price range for your particular property. The following “passports” will serve you well and will be significant to realizing your dream of selling your property.

The first Passport a home seller needs is Proper Professionals to serve you in the process of preparing, merchandising and marketing your real estate. They are:

Real estate agent or broker
Home staging professional

After you have secured your real estate agent or your home stager you will be given information concerning which other professionals will be best suited to your particular needs. Some of the types of professionals home stagers will be able to recommend or provide for you on an as-needed basis are:

Landscaper or yard maintenance crew
House cleaning professionals
Pre-pack specialist
Moving company
Storage providers
Pet sitting providers
Handyman service
Painter
Plumber
Electrician

The Third Passport needed by a home seller is a Mind-set that today’s market is not yesterday’s market. The actual value of your property is guided and decided by what home buyers are willing to pay in the buyer’s market in which we presently find ourselves. Further, the Mind-set that your home has once again become a house and is a product to be displayed, to be promoted and to be sold.

Understanding that the professionals with whom you surround yourself have been chosen by you to boost your opportunities within the real estate market is your Fourth Passport. Additionally, you need to recognize that the advice, suggestions and guidance offered by these trained and specialized pros are given with the express purpose of easing your transition; finding the best way to minimize your expenses; and, most importantly, selling your real estate.

The Fifth Passport you need is A Budget which will take into account your time, skills and monetary involvement in the organizing of the tasks involved in properly preparing and displaying your real estate in today’s market.

Gathering and using the above passports will be your way of moving toward your dream. Collect these passports and get ready to move!

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Information provided by Yvonne Root of rooms b.y. root located in central northern Arizona. Find the team of rooms b.y. root using the various passports acquired through time and purpose in Anthem, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Cottonwood, the Verde Valley, Camp Verde, Cornville, Dewey-Humboldt, Mayer, Spring Valley, Cordes Lakes, Black Canyon City, New River and surrounding communities.

The Merry-Go-Round and the Home Stager

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:23:22 -0500

A few months ago I noticed that my merry-go-round was spinning a bit faster than the speed at which I felt comfortable. But. . . but, I was having soooooooooooo much fun. Finally there came that moment when I recognized that growing my home staging business (a part of the fun) had to be a priority over some of the other things where I was involved.

One of the tasks I realized I should give up was that of moderating every other week for Stage it Forward and writing the Week in Review on that same week. Doggone it, I was having a blast and thought perhaps there was some other way to lighten the load. After a bit of thought and a few conversations with the crew at rooms b.y. root it became apparent that I would indeed have to let go of that particular “job.”

It has been a blast and a privilege to have been a part of the moderating gang. I’m grateful for the opportunity.

Thank you, Craig Schiller for opening the door for me.

Thanks to all of you for being such faithful readers and for all your great comments!

The ride is still turning and I’m still enjoying it – I just have one less task to be concerned about for a while as my home staging business in central northern Arizona grows.

Get the Necessary Passports for Your Dream of Being a Home Stager - Part II of a Passport Series

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:31:36 -0500

In this, the second portion of the Passport Series, we will take a look at some passports which are important to growing a home staging business. If you haven’t already seen Part I you will need to take a look in order to understand what purchasing or acquiring multiple “passports” is all about.

Following is a segmented list of the various passports you will be using as a home stager.

In order to be prepared to serve your clients you will need a well stocked:

Office
Accessory Library (Look at Michelle Minch's and Jo Potvin's warehouses!)
Furniture supply
List of suppliers and service providers
Contact list for those who will be able to work with you

Some types or pieces of marketing material you will need to have are:

Business Cards (Debra Gould and the commenters have great examples!)
Website (Craig Schiller makes excellent points about websites for stagers.)
Brochure
For real estate agents
For home owners
About your business
About you
Flyers
Portfolio
(Take time to see some great marketing material information from Kimberly Wester.)

A few of the office “tools” you will need are:

A calendar
A phone
A computer
Reference files
Action files (a good explanation)
A dictionary
A Thesaurus
Décor related reference books
Marketing related books
A Daily Contact Sheet
A FAX machine
A printer
A copy machine
Business Card storage system (for cards you collect from others)
File storage system
A labeler
A stapler
Rubber bands (some fun ways to use them)
Paper clips
Pens and pencils

A number of the home staging “tools” you will need are:

A tool box or container
Plastic totes or containers
Measuring tape
Laser level
Level
Stud finder
Steamer
Ironing board and iron
Bed risers
Various screwdrivers
Various types and sizes of pliers
Drill
Scissors
Staple gun
Sliders and lifter
Sand paper
An emery board
Bar soap
Various hammers
Flashlight
Small ladder
Monofilament line
Glue gun
T-pins
Extension cords
Pencils
Broom
Mop
Vacuum
Dusting supplies
A box knife
Razor holder and razor blades
Camera (Which one? Check out the photography group.)

Some home staging supplies you need are:

Nails
Screws
Wall hooks
Staples
Rubber bands
Ribbon
Extra batteries
Battery charger
Glue gun sticks
Liquid nails®

Various types of tape (duct, painters, electrical, etc.)
Mounting squares

Other items you will need while staging are:

Bottled water
Bottled water
Cleaning supplies
Marketing materials
A portable music system
A clock or watch
A timer
A notepad
Pens and pencils
A cell phone
A calendar (I use a Planner Pad others use a hand-held device)

Some alliances which will be beneficial to a home staging business are:

Real estate agents and brokers
Builders
Investors
Photographer
Landscaper
Garden cleaning and maintenance crew
Pre-pack specialist
House cleaning crew
Moving company
Storage providers
Pet sitting providers
Handyman service
Painter
Plumber
Electrician
Fellow home stagers

Some skills needed by a home stager are:

Ability to see the big picture
Attention to details
Understanding of basic design principles
Communication skills
Knowledge of various target market expectations
Awareness of real estate trends in your particular locale
Discernment concerning
Your clients’ needs
Your family’s needs
Your needs
Daily and life-long flexibility

If you don’t have all the passports listed above it is OK. At least you know which you will need to plan for. You may also decide that not all the passports are necessary for your particular home staging business. And, I’m sure there are other items or skills which you can add to the list.

One way to use the above lists is to print this article, check off the things you know you already have, then highlight the items, skills, alliances you want to have, and begin planning for how and when you will be acquiring them.

Decide which will require time, education or a monetary investment. Then decide how you will proceed toward your goal of attaining the passports you will need.

The final article in this series is about helping home sellers realize the dream of moving on.

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Stage it Forward – Week in Review – Questions, Answers and Fumes June 29 to July 5, 2008

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:49:12 -0500

Questions

Nancy Cleary asks Is This a Good Time To Raise Your Prices?

And Barbara Cluck-Miksits wanted to know Oh No – Now What do we Do? (Members Only)

Here is an interesting question Faux Pas or Faux Paint? That is the Question! (Members Only) from Cheryl Marantino

Chris Horton wanted to know What is the most under rated, most over looked and forgotten part of home staging.

Jennie Norris asked What do the Olympics and Home Staging have in common?

Julia Maher wondered, Stagers: Who's Your Go-To Person?

With a bit of fun thrown in the mix Sheron Cardin asked, Where does road rage come from?

Antonio Rodriguez asked, What do you tell a home seller ?????

Kimberly Wester lighted up the big boards with this simple question, Your Business? ...Or Your Life?

Laurie Calhoun’s question IS IMPORTANT! What does “staged” mean?

Bill Kennedy’s excellent question, Does Allowing Carpet Allowances Allow For More Offers? deserves an answer.

Cindy Bryant wanted to know -- Do You Have To Be A Type A Personality To Survive In Business?

Answers

Julea Joseph talked about Tales of an Interior Stylist - Pushing all the Right Buttons when Staging a Living Room

Michelle Finnamore showed How to Stage a Golf Tee Off Spot in a Ravine Lot

Nika Stewart shared 3 Ways to Make More Money with Email

Cathy Lee brought us an answer for home sellers titled, Follow up on Daughter wanting some "LOVE" left in her parent's home

And take a look at this fantastic set of answers from Michelle Minch

The Benefits of Staging A Home

Speaking of Answers, Karen Dembsky (with tongue planted firmly in cheek) gave us this fantastic bit of information to help our clients know all about using the Home Staging Stimulus for All!

Margaret Innis shared a simple bit of marketing wisdom in I stopped marketing & had a cup of coffee!

Diana Young shared how to Light the Way (but don't let your cords show!)

Monica Murphy gave some great information with 70%-90% of Buyers Really Don't "See" Your Vacant

Maureen Henry made this bold statement There’s something about red… while showing some great examples.

Another good answer was brought to us by Thomas Scott. Business Cards as a Marketing Brochure

Kathy Nielsen knows localism and she titled her advantageous post, Going Local! Localism that is... (Members Only)

This may look like a question, but it is a splendid answer from Elaine Manes

Decorating vs Staging...what's the difference?

Safeway has a few answers and I point them out with, The Home Staging Business and Safeway Have a Lot in Common

Check out Bryce Mohan’s excellent answer to photography dilemmas. Unstaged Interiors & White Walls:

Chris Horton stepped up to the plate again – this time with some answers. Five tips for great curb appeal to get homes sold!

Kym Hough answers a burning question with, Bullseye...when a Realtor and A Professional Stager Teams up

Sheila Swanson shared these answers, Top things I learned when talking with a realtor about staging

And, how about Phyllis Pafumi’s direct answer to a burning question? THE NUMBER 1 THING TO NOT DO WHEN SELLING YOUR HOME IS.......

Karen Otto had some fun answers with Games that I play when staging (Members Only)

Virginia Tatseos also had some photography answers. Go stand in the corner................. or the doorway (Members Only)

Teresa Meyer offers great advice in, Staging Martha Stewart style!

A Bit of Fuming

Karen Otto weighed in with Pirates of the internet (Members Only)

Connie Tebyani was concerned about A picture says a 1,000 words....A Staged picture can tell a story! (Members Only)

And, Michael Fontana uses a bit of humor to get across his rant about the Best Little Home Stager in Texas - Warning: Satire!

Are You Truly Prepared to Receive Your Dreams?

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:13:03 -0500

“Believing in your dreams demands that you are prepared to receive them” Barbara J. Winter in her book Making a Living Without a Job.

The above quote from Winter’s book is written on a 3 X 5 card which is stuck in the French Memo Board that hangs at eye-level next to my computer.

That small reminder takes my mind back to the pages in which Winter describes how she realized she needed to purchase a passport if she truly believed in her dream of returning to England. The unfolding of the tale which goes from desire to dream to a trip to England is the backdrop Winters uses to help readers understand the importance of being prepared to receive their individual dreams.

When I began to understand the principles behind the story I also began to think in terms of which “passports” I needed to purchase or achieve in order to go to the place (being a great home stager) I wanted to go.

Following are some examples of what items or skills (passports) I already owned when preparing for my journey:

Business savvy
Display trained background
Interior Design education
Computer
Cell phone
Desk
Daily Planner

Here are some examples of items or skills (passports) which I found I needed to acquire:

Color laser printer
Marketing savvy
Separate office space
Another file cabinet
Business alliances
Wide variety of staging accessories
Quality steamer

You get the picture – being prepared requires thoughtfulness and, yes, some time and some money.

This is the first in a 3 part series concerning being prepared to receive your dreams.

In part 2 we take a look at how a home stager can be prepared to receive his or her dreams by acquiring particular passports.

Part 3 concerns how home sellers may realize their dreams of selling their properties through being prepared with the proper passports.

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Information provided by Yvonne Root of rooms b.y. root located in central northern Arizona. Find the team of rooms b.y. root using the various passports acquired through time and purpose in Anthem, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Cottonwood, the Verde Valley, Camp Verde, Cornville, Dewey-Humboldt, Mayer, Spring Valley, Cordes Lakes, Black Canyon City, New River and surrounding communities.

What Independence Means to a Home Seller

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:07:14 -0500

When you hire an independent contractor (your local home stager) to prepare your property to independently stand out in today’s market you will no longer be dependent on the hope of independence from mortgage payments, taxes, yard maintenance costs, housekeeping expenses and insurance payments on the real estate you wish to sell.

After you take time to celebrate the independence of the USA be sure to call your local home staging specialist who will help you move towards your goal of celebrating the next holiday in your new home.

Have an exciting, fun and safe Independence Day celebration! Then call your local professional home stager and let him or her show you which fuses are best to light for the finest display of your real estate and get ready to move!

Happy Fourth of July to All!!!

The Home Staging Business and Safeway Have a Lot in Common

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:47:14 -0500

Because we shop at Safeway (sometimes in Anthem and other times in Prescott Valley or Prescott, even on occasion in Cottonwood, Arizona) for much of our family’s food needs we have experienced first hand much of what this BusinessWeek story speaks of concerning the new look and feel of Safeway stores.

“Safeway wanted a fresher, healthier image. The first step was to become fresher and healthier.”

Apparently, when Safeway began feeling the crunch from so called “big-box” stores from one side and upscale specialty stores from the other they began to take action to change not only their image but also their offerings. According to the story their plan and their implementation of the plan has paid off and their earnings have increased accordingly.

We are going to look at what the folks at Safeway did to stop their decline and increase their earnings and how home stagers (or other entrepreneurs) can benefit from the example. The people from Safeway who developed these strategies understand that marketing is NOT just advertising – marketing is the total package of who you are and what your company does to serve your customers. [Some people call it branding, but because I’ve been in on a few round-ups and because just thinking about the branding of the cattle recalls horrid smells for me I try not to use the word branding too much.] I’m smiling; are you?

"We [needed to] differentiate our offering from other conventional supermarkets."

Find your niche. Here are some good posts found right here on ActiveRain which will help you know more about choosing a niche

How to Select a Niche Market in Real Estate by Peter Testa

Establish a Niche Market...Stay on Top! by Debra A. Brooks

Are You a Marketing Specialist or General Practioner? by Shannon Aldrich

Scratch Your Niche by Kristal Kraft

Here is a whole group devoted to the essence of creating a niche.

“. . .the company used what management gurus call authentic marketing: the art of telling consumers a story they want to believe, then delivering the products and experience that make the story real.”

Put together a marketing package which tells the true story of who you and your business are. If you are a more staid check-off-the-list business person like Sandy Dixon then let that show in how you market yourself.

If, on the other hand, you are exciting, excitable and excited like Melissa Marro by all means show that to your potential clients.

Or you may consider yourself, like yours truly, to be a mixture of these personality types. The type of client you desire will be the type of client you will most often receive when they are alerted through your marketing materials what type of business person you are.

Your marketing package should include everything which you put on the internet and anything you create on paper. For example the agreement we use at rooms b.y. root is only a few pages long, has NO small print, shows our logo, is easy to read and easy to understand. (See, I told you we’re are a blend of check-it-off and lets-have-fun!)

Speaking of showing our Logo

The rooms b.y. root logo is designed to show a bit of whimsy while at the same time being easily readable, identifiable and “rememberable.” Another point of interest about the logo is that people often ask about the punctuation in the middle. We are able to tell the story of how the b and the y with the periods after each of them came about and give our potential clients another connecting point.

"Safeway committed to spend $1.6 billion a year over six years to remodel all 1,775 of its stores."

Well if you have $1.6 billion a year to spend over the next six years then give me a call and we will work out a deal. If, on the other hand you don’t; then make plans for spending as much as you possibly can towards development, growth and marketing. If you are not willing to take a risk with your cash, your retirement plans, your network of friends or even your basic routines then you are much less likely to discover a way to grow your business. This post by Xan, titled You have to spend money to make money. . . pretty much shows it all.

“The company also resolved to pare back labor costs, which led to strikes and lockouts.”

Understand there will be obstacles and setbacks as you move along your path towards success. Gosh, if it was easy, then just about anybody could do it; right? You sent emails, snail mails, you showed up at open houses, you baked cookies till they were taking over your life, you vowed to call “your real estate contacts” every Wednesday and still you have yet to find a viable client. Do Not give up. Try a different tactic like becoming a member of your local home builder’s association or a networking group; offer to teach classes about décor at your local library; continue to show up at the open houses and this time take house specific information to the lonely real estate agent. Working through the problems will make your business more healthy and ready to take on the market, your competitors and even yourself when the time is right.

"We were very careful not to talk about quality until we had stepped up quality,"

Deliver what you promise. You are much more likely to grow your business when your reputation as a business person who gives more than promised precedes you. Here is an example of (Kathy Nielsen)

and a lesson concerning (Chris Pollinger)

giving more than what was promised.

Will The Shower Curtain Used In This Staging Seal The Deal? By Kathy Nielsen

Promise Little, But Deliver Everything by Chris Pollinger

"The moral of Safeway's tale? A compelling story is key to authentic marketing."

Have you found your niche and learned how best to serve within that framework? Does your marketing material tell your story? Have you made a business and a marketing plan and are you willing to take some risk? Are you prepared to deal with the obstacles and setbacks you are certain to encounter? Do you deliver what you promise and more?

Most importantly -- What is your compelling story?

Stage it Forward “Week in Review and Way Back Too” June 15 – 21, 2008

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:58:29 -0500

One of the basic tenets of good design and of good organization is to group like things. You know how it works – I mean, it is so simple. Open your cutlery drawer and you have a shining example; all your knives are in one slot, all the desert forks in another, the dinner forks take yet another position and so on. Want another example? Bookshelves. Yep, you want to be able to retrieve your decorating books easily or your tomes concerning the civil war – whatever – you group them together for easy access.

So what does all that have to do with the Stage it Forward week in review? Typically, no matter what format I use to present the posts which are used in the reviews there is a grouping of the information in one way or another. So this week when I looked at the list of posts I had gathered through the week to be highlighted in this post my goal was to see the pattern in which they would fit.

I had a few categories which made sense to me but some of the posts were giving me trouble and I couldn’t figure out how to group them. Then it finally came to me. I’ll use my mom’s favorite grouping. Check out the categories and see if you know which is my mom’s. :)

Category One: Sandy Dixon (hey, Sandy was on a roll this week – what can I say?)

It’s time for you to get --- Ready, Set, and Speak

Introductions & Media Kits

Realtor Relations

Category Two: Helping Other Stagers (We all need a little push once in a while.)

For Karen, Sheila and Shobha – A Peek at My Marketing Packet by Kimberly Wester

AND BEHIND THIS DOOR IS…… by Gary Barnett

Speaking Their Language....Can you do it? by Melissa Marro

Want to Give your Clients Free Paint Color Samples? by Michelle Molinari

Category Three: Good Question! (deserving of honest answers)

Will Fabulous Staging Make Up For A Leaky Roof? by Patricia Kennedy

Is Your Listing An Idol Or Just Idle? by Karen Dembsky

How Different Does Your Home or Listing Look on the Internet? by Kathy Nielsen

Category Four: Because I said so! That's Why!

What To Do With Old by Barbara Cluck-Mitsits

This is NOT ok by Christine Craig

It wasn’t the staging, it was the price reduction…. Uh…. yeah…. SURE! by Melissa Marro

Premature Listing Syndrome – New Hampshire Stager Cautions Home Sellers by Sharon Tara

What are your favorite comebacks to Realtors who don’t believe? by Tessa Skeens

Category Five: How do your table settings measure up? (includes past posts)

There is something I had to tell you…and finally I remembered…Do you use silverware in your “Tablescapes?” (Members Only) by Fernando Rosado

Staging a Dining Room Table Without Cutlery – An Alternative (Members Only) by Charlene Storozuk

Staging Alternatives to “Setting” the Table by Conni Tebyani

Because this table top discussion seemed to be a bit of a hot issue this week I decided to include a few posts from the past to round out the discussion a bit more. There were many to choose from but these 9 were easy to find and had some interesting information in them. What do you think?

Jackson West spoke about cutting the cutlery.

Jackie Peraza took a look back and mentioned cutlery.

Debra Gould gave us her take on table settings.

Staging tips and table settings came up in Michelle Minch's post.

Here is what Pam Faulkner has to say on the subject.

Setting a table with flair is Kathy Dyer's topic.

Cindy Lin entertains guests.

Craig Schiller added his voice to the discussion too.

And Phyllis Pafumi discusses simple ways to set the table and the stage.

Is someone ringing the dinner bell? Or is that the sound meaning, "Get Back to Staging!"

What Do YOU Do?

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:51:19 -0500

I am the administrator of an exclusive home display and merchandising firm. Our clients are intelligent and highly motivated individuals, who seek quality, expect expertise and understand the importance of capitalizing ventures which will provide high returns.

By providing imaginative thinking, problem solving skills and understanding the importance of proper decision making the associates within my firm, rooms b.y. root, operate with our clientele to place their individual properties in the advanced strategic position of garnering the most advantageous price point possible within the individual property’s acceptable range.

Further, the whole blasted team (from rooms b.y. root, of course) has a collective fun and productive adventure with each house to which we are invited. That is to say, we love what we do and we do it with joy and exuberance.

Now tell me; what do you do dearie?

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Information provided by Yvonne Root of rooms b.y. root. The associates of rooms b.y. root are known to practice their art with joy in the central northern Arizona locations of Anthem, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Dewey-Humboldt, Mayer, Cordes Lakes, Black Canyon City, New River and surrounding communities.

Home Stager Recommends You PINCH YOUR PURSE!

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:39:38 -0500

In a recent article I discussed the fact that it will cost to prepare a property for sale.

If you haven't read that piece then just click on the blue words above and you will know what I'm talking about.

BUT, preparing your home for sale may not be as big an outlay you as you may have thought.

There are three major factors concerning what you need to stage houses for sale. They are:

Time

Money

Skill

By using a mixture of all three (time, money and skill) in the amounts best suited to your particular property and your specific needs and capabilities you will be able to move your real estate up the market ladder.

When an excellent home stager assesses your property and discusses your abilities and your budget you will be assured of being on the fast track to present your home in its best possible light.

Calling your local home staging expert costs you nothing!

Failing to properly prepare your property to be its best in today’s market is much more likely to pinch your purse. Can you afford it?

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Information provided by Yvonne Root of rooms b.y. root. You can find the rooms by root team staging houses in Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Anthem, New River, Black Canyon City, Cordes Lakes, Spring Valley, Mayer, Dewey-Humboldt and all surrounding communities in the central northern Arizona corridor.

Circus Anyone? – Stage it Forward – Week in Review June 1 thru 7, 2008

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:39:51 -0500

This has indeed been one crazy week here in the Rain of the Stage it Forward group. This is so much better than a three-ring circus!

Everything from practically every member being tagged to the announcement of Stager Idol; from a call for education to a fabulous lesson in hoop jumping; from a heads up concerning an outside post which speaks of staging from the seller’s viewpoint to a fine example of saving a client more than $3000 with a simple consultation; from an excellent explanation for guiding clients starting with great decorating thru purposeful staging to the announcement of another staging radio program.

The above links will take you (in random order) to the featured posts of these worthy authors:

Craig Schiller

Kathy Nielsen

Juliet Johnson

Karen Otto

Michelle Minch

Michelle Molinari

and Shell Brodnax

Congratulations Kathleen Garvey!

Excellent work Renee Pratta and Jackson West!

Every single stager who entered the Stager Idol contest is a winner and we applaud you all!

Preparing Your Property to Sell is Going to Cost You!!!

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:54:46 -0500

Of course not preparing your property for sale is likely to cost you even more – like the hope you had for selling your house.

You have heard it said other ways before. Here are some of them:

No pain; no gain.

You get what you pay for.

Nothing ventured; nothing gained.

Penny wise and pound foolish.

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Did you know that for as little as $200 you can receive information from a professional home stager which is designed to improve the market position of your specific house? When you are ready to move upward and onward it is time to call your local home staging expert.

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Information provided by Yvonne Root of rooms b.y. root. You will find the rooms b.y. root team preparing properties for today’s market in central Northern Arizona. Look for them in Anthem, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Cornville, Dewey-Humboldt, Mayer, Spring Valley, Cordes Lakes, Black Canyon City, New River and all surrounding communities.

Home Stager Contain Yourself!

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Tue, 27 May 2008 06:57:30 -0500

There are many containers which a home stager must use in order to provide excellent house staging consultations and services.

Some we find important to us are:

Business End

Plastic Totes

File Cabinets

Brief Case

Tool Box

Waste Basket

Utility Trailer

Business-Card File

Paper Clip Holder

Desk Drawers

Staging End

Vases

Baskets

Plate Holders

Soap Dispensers

Decorative Bowls

Hat Boxes

Pitchers

Plant Pots

Bags

What we recently added to our plethora of containers is a leather covered, lidded file box which contains our marketing materials. This box remains in the automobile to be used at the drop of a hat.

Here is the back story. While fueling my car the other day I was approached by a gentleman who had seen the signage on the back window. He asked if I was the home stager. With a smile I admitted he had found me out. He asked for information. Still with a smile I handed him what I had – a business card. We talked briefly and he was on his way.

I slapped my forehead (nothing to do with any vegetable drink) and vowed never to be caught short of marketing material again.

The above mentioned box now contains these files:

About Yvonne – tri-fold flyers with biographical information about (well duh!) me.

C Benefits – single page brochures with information about how our clients will be benefited by having their homes staged.

C Choose – single page brochures containing facts concerning what clients need to know about choosing a particular home stager.

C Information – tri-folds which explain “Home Staging for Today’s Home Seller.”

Guarantee – two sided pages which spell out our guarantees and code of ethics to home sellers and real estate agents.

R Choose – single page brochures giving information to real estate agents about how to choose a home stager to recommend to their clients.

R Information – tri-fold flyers designed to give real estate agents what they need to know about offering added value for their clients by telling them how to get in touch with a professional home stager.

Several REALTOR® packets which contain fact sheets about how to introduce the concept of home staging to their clients, guarantees page, added value tri-folds, benefits flyers and a business card contained in dual-pocket folders with business card slots.

So there, you have the whole story. I just couldn’t contain myself.

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Information provided by Yvonne Root of rooms b.y. root. Find the home staging team at rooms b.y. root in Anthem, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Black Canyon City, New River, Mayer, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Dewey-Humboldt and surrounding Arizona communities.

Yvonne is available to speak for small or large groups from luncheons and club meetings to seminars concerning home staging and décor topics. Call Tonya Schulte concerning schedule and fees at 928-499-4798.

Stage it Forward - Week in Review May 18 thru 24, 2008 The Good Stuff

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Mon, 26 May 2008 14:39:30 -0500

From the first blog posted on the 18th by Karen Otto all about paint, staging and photography (Members Only) all the way to the last blog posted on the 24th by Charissa Robinette discussing move in services there were 112 posts in Stage it Forward.

Here are some other fun facts. Within the 7 day period all 112 posts were presented by only 71 authors. There were a total of 20 featured posts.

One author wrote 6 posts, four writers created 5 posts each, three bloggers made 3 entries each and eleven essayists had 2 entries each. You will just have to do the rest of the math for yourself.

There are 1932 members of Stage it Forward and it takes 20 pages to list them. Any member of ActiveRain (89,376 members as I type) can look at the posts in Stage it Forward and see even those which are posted for “members only.” People who are not members of ActiveRain can also view our posts with the exception of the "members only" posts. But I'm told that in certain cases even non-members can see our "members only" posts. Huh?!?! It is worth considering.

Here are some of the posts which either already did turn a few heads or should have.

Cari Pilon tells us all about how staging is beneficial to home BUYERS.

Grin with Michelle Molinari as she discusses Polska Kielbasa or furniture or something. :)

Mariana Vazzana gives excellent information beyond the advice to protect your photos. She shows you how.

This window treatment idea Sheron Cardin shares is simply fun, fun, fun.

Sage advice from Donna Schoby helps stagers find several ways to stay abreast of the industry.

Melissa Marro speaks the truth about zipping it in order to close the deal.

Gretchen Blankenship. Hey, even though it is my blog that will pop up when you click here it is really Gretchen who has written the meat of the blog. It is worth checking out.

And, of course, Juliet Johnson helps folks figure out how to make cents by using sense including scents. Now that makes perfectly good sense! Right?

Or as my dad used to say, "All it takes is a little horse sense."

It was a fun week with lots of good information for your perusal.

Stage it Forward - Week in Review May 18 thru 24, 2008 The Good Stuff

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Mon, 26 May 2008 14:31:47 -0500

From the first blog posted on the 18th by Karen Otto all about paint, staging and photography (Members Only) all the way to the last blog posted on the 24th by Charissa Robinette discussing move in services there were 112 posts in Stage it Forward.

Here are some other fun facts. Within the 7 day period all 112 posts were presented by only 71 authors. There were a total of 20 featured posts.

One author wrote 6 posts, four writers created 5 posts each, three bloggers made 3 entries each and eleven essayists had 2 entries each.

Here are some of the posts which either already did turn a few heads or should have.

Cari Pilon tells us all about how staging is beneficial to home BUYERS.

Grin with Michelle Molinari as she discusses Polska Kielbasa or furniture or something. :)

Mariana Vazzana gives excellent information beyond the advice to protect your photos. She shows you how.

This window treatment idea Sheron Cardin shares is simply fun, fun, fun.

Sage advice from Donna Schoby helps stagers find several ways to stay abreast of the industry.

Melissa Marro speaks the truth about zipping it in order to close the deal.

Gretchen Blankenship. Hey, even though it is my blog that will pop up when you click here it is really Gretchen who has written the meat of the blog. It is worth checking out.

And, of course, Juliet Johnson helps folks figure out how to make cents by using sense including scents. Now that makes perfectly good sense! Right?

Or as my dad used to say, "All it takes is a little horse sense."

It was a fun week with lots of good information for your perusal.

Home Staging – HGTV -- This Real Estate Agent is After My Own Heart!

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Fri, 23 May 2008 08:50:34 -0500

Not long ago, after doing a bit of internet research I came upon a real estate agent (in my neck of the woods)

who seemed to have her act together. I hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting her so I took the initiative of picking up the phone and introducing myself. We had a pleasant and brief conversation in which we agreed to look at ways we could be of assistance to one another.

Because both of us are busy women we had a flurry of e-mail and phone conversations before we were able to get together and have a face-to-face discussion. I already knew I was going to like her but after meeting Gretchen Blankenship

of Windermere Real Estate Northern Arizona I was elated. I walked away knowing I had been blessed to have found someone with whom I could chat easily, who was able to inform and teach me, and who has a special talent for understanding the real world of real estate in which we now find ourselves.

Among other things we agreed to try a little experiment of guest blogging for one another. My spot on her post is up and ready for the reading. I sure would like it if you would take time to check it out and comment there.

But before you leave – you just have to check out what Gretchen has to say about the market and about HGTV and about what it takes to sell homes in the real world here in the Prescott Arizona area. This sizzles!

HGTV and “The Real World of Real Estate”

Okay, I admit it. I’m a huge HGTV fan. Since I love to remodel and decorate I enjoy shows that focus on style and color. But as a real estate agent I really get a kick out of shows like “Sell This House”, “What You Get for the Money”, and of course “House Hunters” and “Designed to Sell”. While many aspects of the shows are a far cry from the reality of real estate in the real world, there are still some good tips that home sellers can glean that will help them improve their chances of getting a relatively quick sale in our slow market.

Let’s take “Designed to Sell” as a case in point. Here are some lessons we can learn from the show and what Buyers generally like to see in a home:

Open floorplan with a nice “flow”.

No overpowering colors (although occasionally a bolder color which accents a focal point of the home can give a house that “wow factor”).

A clean, clean, clean home.

Curb appeal that makes buyers want to tour the inside.

Updated flooring, bathrooms, kitchens, and lighting.

From my personal experience in working extensively with buyers, I can attest to the fact that just like “Designed to Sell” emphasizes, first impressions do mean a lot. Buyers will often make a snap decision about whether or not they like a house the moment they walk through the front door, sometimes rejecting the house with a vague comment like, “We’ll know the right house when we see it,” or “This house just doesn’t feel right.” These comments often come from the very same clients who tell me they have a good imagination and can look past the negative (such as weird paint colors, dated wallpaper, or stained carpeting). The fact of the matter is, however, that usually they cannot envision anything other than what they see. It is truly the rare person who can imagine the full potential of a property.

But now, back to “Designed to Sell” and what you don’t learn from the show:

Quick fixes that are cheap often look that way to a buyer, too. (Painted appliances, painted fireplace surrounds, and faux tiles are examples of “improvements” not to do.)
Open houses don’t sell houses. In the Prescott area, it is very difficult to get even two or three guests to attend a heavily advertised Open House, so I really enjoy watching the parade of people who supposedly attend the “Designed to Sell” open houses. (If you look closely, you can almost pick out the homeowner’s Mom and Dad and the Sister and her family. Sorry but it appears that not only is the home staged, but the Open House is, too!)
It takes more than just staging to sell a house. It also takes a proven pricing strategy as well as targeted marketing, too.

Bottom line for a relatively quick sale in a slow market: A combination of an ideal price, coupled with marketing that will attract buyers to tour the home. Once the potential buyers are through the door, then it’s all about how well your home shows compared with the other homes the buyer will be looking at. If you’re contemplating selling your home, you need to keep in mind that there are currently more than 3100 homes for sale in the Prescott MLS. As of 1^st Quarter 2008, about 150 homes were selling each month, so that equates to approximately a 1 in 25 chance that your home will sell in the next 22 months. Therefore, it’s very important to make every buyer’s first impression of your home really count!

Information contributed by Gretchen Blankenship, Sales Associate with Windermere Real Estate Northern Arizona in Prescott, Arizona. “You can count on me to put my pricing strategy and marketing skills to work for you!” Contact Gretchen at Gretchen@MyPrescottHome.com or go to www.MyPrescottHome.com to learn more about selling your home in a slow market.

Yes, I have sent an invitation to Gretchen to join in the fun here in the ActiveRain puddles. She will be a great addition to our network if she does decide to enter. Don't you agree?

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To find great real estate information and to learn more about preparing a home for sale in the Prescott Arizona area contact the home staging team at rooms b.y. root. You will find them staging homes in Prescott, Prescott Valley, Dewey-Humboldt, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Mayer, New River, Black Canyon City, Anthem and the surrounding communities.

Stage it Forward – Rule of Thirds – Week in Review 5/4 – 5/10/08

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Sat, 10 May 2008 17:51:37 -0500

Because I’m a firm believer in being ODD when it comes to décor (or as those who know me will attest – also in many other areas of my life) I decided to use the Rule of Thirds when preparing this blog post. Here was my original thinking – the posts in Stage it Forward should be directed toward three major audiences. [As every good author knows, one MUST identify his audience before he writes the first word. So, while some of our posts in this forum can be read by and appreciated by people from each of the three groups it is wise to identify for which group we are writing before the key tapping begins.]

Our three audiences? Well, of course, fellow stagers; but also real estate brokers, agents and other pros; as well as (the bottom line) home sellers.

Talk to Stagers

The following folks shared ways to make individual home staging businesses as well as the staging industry better.

Selecting the right furniture to buy by Adam Luttrell

The Open House Shuffle Duffle – A Gift For Home Sellers by Gina McNew

RECPIPROCITY, COMPENSATION AND INDUSTRY RESPECT by Jackie Peraza

You Publish.com – Home Staging Power Point by Maureen Henry

Talk to Real Estate Agents, Brokers and other pros

In these posts you will find information and insights which will be of help to the many professional real estate folks home stagers work with on a regular basis.

Real Stagers Versus the TV Stager by Marci Toliver

White walls, open floorplan. . . What’s a buyer to think? by Melissa Marro

So You Don’t Believe in the Power of Home Staging by Yvonne Root

Refining to Sell: The New “Curb Appeal” by Jodi Poliseno

Talk to Home Sellers

The following authors were able to present information which will be useful to home sellers as they make decisions concerning ways to prepare their homes for sale or when they make decisions about who to hire for helping with the staging process. (Clue – home sellers want to know home stagers are knowledgeable, capable and munificent.)

Houses ARE selling in California. . .Take a look by Kym Hough

Staged Photos Do Triple Duty by Gina Zimmerman

Staged In Roanoke Virginia and Sold in Less than 1 Week by Wanda Richards

Quick No Weed Flower Bed for Spring – Staging Your Garden by Cindy Bryant

So You Don’t Believe in the Power of Home Staging

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:25:50 -0500

Do you believe in the power of marketing in general?

Do you believe the way a product is packaged makes a difference in number of sales?

Do you believe quality or lack of quality is an important determining factor in the price of any product?

Do you believe first impressions count?

Do you believe fresh is a good adjective to use in conjunction with for-sale products?

Do you believe the phrase; “I love it!” is not a good indicator that a home shopper has placed a particular property in the “good” column?

Do you believe there are more houses on the market then there are home buyers at the present time?

Do you believe it is important to give your house an edge over its price point competition?

Do you believe in putting your best foot forward when meeting important people or folks who have the power to change your life?

Do you believe it is worth some effort or a small monetary investment to be reassured you have done everything humanly possible to be sure your house is the one property viewed by potential buyers which will be remembered for a good reason rather than a bad reason?

Do you believe you know more than a professional home stager about what home buyers are looking for in today’s market?

Do you believe there is nothing you can do which will help you receive full value for your house?

If you still don’t believe in the power of home staging it may be because you believe the only people who can afford to have house staging assistance are the rich and famous. Just like when you view a fantastic movie you may need to suspend your disbelief for a short while as you call your local home stager and see how very affordable is the service provided by home stagers. Better than a fantastic movie, the suspension of your disbelief will allow you to improve the marketability of your house and increase your overall promotion factor in today’s real estate world.

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Information provided by Yvonne Root of rooms b.y. root. You can find the home staging team from rooms b.y. root working their magic in various locations in northern central Arizona. They serve clients located in Prescott, Prescott Valley, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Dewey, Humboldt, Mayer, Cordes Lakes, Black Canyon City, New River, Anthem and all surrounding communities.

Home Staging Practice Which Starts With Great Ideas and Theories

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:04:19 -0500

“A person’s mind stretched to a new idea can never return to its original dimensions.” Oliver Wendell Holmes

I Had a Great Idea!

In truth I had about eight billion three hundred million six hundred thousand and forty four “great” ideas. With time and the facts of life the list was narrowed to about seven or eight really (and truly) great ideas. Some of my “great” ideas were ahead of their time and some behind. Others of my “great” ideas were simply stupid. Then more were fine ideas for someone else. And still others were ideas that simply needed to simmer for a while before they could be useful for anyone at all.

Suffice it to say – because I have education and experience, flair and finesse, desire and determination I thought it was a good idea to become a home stager. While not all of my life experiences have led to this path, enough of them have to make me feel comfortable hanging out the shingle and tapping on the keys.

“We must respect the other fellow’s religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children are smart.” Henry Louis Mencken

My Flawed Theory

Helping people (home sellers, house builders and real estate agents or brokers) to prepare for-sale properties to not only look but also be the best they can be (given the original condition and the allotted budget) before their debut on the market would fall into the no-brainer category and simply be an easy sell.

“In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.” Yogi Berra

The Practice Beyond Theory

While some parts of the original Theory – home staging is a great way to help home sellers, house builders and real estate agents or brokers prepare their for-sale properties before they are placed on the market – are beyond doubt, there are other parts which have needed revision. Before I get to the revision I’ll explain the three major facts behind the theory.

All things being equal the vast majority of shoppers are much more likely to choose the attractive package over the ugly (or even the plain) package.
Most home sellers don’t know how to achieve decorative balance and harmony, but like their counterpoints, the home shopper, they recognize it when they see it.
In the scheme of both the real estate world and the decorative world the investment in staging is a bargain.

As for the revision in my flawed theory – I now understand that there is no easy sell when a new concept is being presented to the buyer. Because the value of home staging is a concept which I and my fellow home stagers understand it doesn’t follow that the average consumer has heard of or understands the worth of the process. As players in the real estate world, it is up to home stagers to step by step help both agents and home sellers understand more than the magic of transforming a space but also the magic of giving home buyers an appealing package which speaks to their heads (basic repairs and upkeep have been addressed – I can move in without hassle and get on with my life) and their hearts (this home looks like a place where I can hang my dreams.)

So, one chance encounter at a time, one open house meeting at a time, one speech at the MLS breakfast group at a time, one blog at a time, one press release at a time, one community class at a time, one sign on a vehicle at a time, one newsletter at a time, one visit to a realty office at a time, one email at a time, one phone call at a time, one membership in the local NAR group at a time, one membership in the local contractors group at a time, one house staging at a time, we will find that our potential clients are learning and UNDERSTANDING more and more about home staging – one day at a time.

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Information provided by Yvonne Root of rooms b.y. root. Yvonne not only likes preparing homes for sale she also enjoys helping folks understand the benefits to be achieved by staging homes. She would love to hear from you. The team at rooms b.y. root are most likely to be found staging homes in northern central Arizona. Look for them in Anthem, Black Canyon City, New River, Mayer, Dewey-Humboldt, Prescott Valley, Prescott, Cottonwood, Camp Verde and surrounding communities.

Seller Motivated! (Rant Warning)

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Sun, 04 May 2008 22:27:52 -0500

Have you spent time with a person who feels it is necessary to explain on a regular basis that he or she is SMART? If you are like me, what you may want to say to that person is, “If you are so doggone smart, you don’t have to go around proclaiming it to everyone because they will know.” You may even think -- if you are really smart you will be smart enough to let that smartness show without self-proclamation. If someone is honestly smart IT WILL SHOW!

Have you seen (or used) the words, “Seller Motivated,” in copy for the listing of real estate? May I be so bold as to assert that those words can be counter productive? It is sort of like showing a picture of a beautiful woman and writing the caption, “Beautiful Woman,” beneath it. Duh!

It could even be worse if the caption, “Beautiful Woman,” is written beneath a picture of a less than beautiful woman.

My notion is that if a home seller is indeed “motivated” then IT WILL SHOW! The house will be priced right. The home seller will follow the instructions of the real estate professional concerning leaving the property during showings, about dealing with pets, regarding honest disclosure and so on. And, of course, (you know I had to say this) all steps necessary to prepare the house to show well on a daily basis will have been taken. (This is my not so subtle way of saying that engaging a home stager is one way to prove the seller is indeed motivated.)

As Daddy used to tell me – Don’t say it, do it!

So if marketing materials for a motivated seller’s property needs more than the mention of the excellent price (as suggested by a great real estate agent) and the fantastic exterior and interior photos (made possible by an excellent home stager) it would seem best to use words which paint the picture of the unseen features and amenities and leave off the code words. After all, “Motivated Seller,” tends to alert buyers to the thought that the seller is desperate. And, we all know that a true motivated seller is not at all distraught but instead is well prepared.

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Information provided by Yvonne Root of rooms b.y. root. The home staging team at rooms b.y. root helps motivated sellers in northern central Arizona. Look for them to be preparing homes for sale in Prescott, Prescott Valley, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Dewey, Humboldt, Mayer, Cordes Lakes, Black Canyon City, New River, Anthem and all surrounding communities.

Hairdressers, Home Stagers and What the Heck do They Do?

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:08:47 -0500

You know what a hairdresser is.

Here is something else you know about hairdressers. You know what it is they do. They cut hair. Hairdressers also color hair and they even take it upon themselves to make curly hair straight and straight hair curly. Hairdressers are on their feet a lot.

The bottom line about hairdressers is it is their job to keep their clients looking great! Although, I do remember seeing a sign in a beauty salon which read, “I am a beautician, not a magician!”

What got me started on this post was a recent remark from my hair dresser. He is an excellent marketer and has taught me a number of things concerning marketing.

What my hairdresser, Bruce, said was, “I can’t believe how much time you have spent marketing your business.” Remember I said he is a great marketer so he was NOT discounting the fact that marketing is important. He was simply surprised at how much marketing is necessary to get a home staging business off the ground.

We talked a few more minutes and we realized the big difference in what it takes for him to market and what it takes for me to market.

Here is the main difference. It is the first sentence in this article – You know what a hairdresser is.

When Bruce is asked what he does; and he answers, “I’m a hairdresser,” he never ever receives a blank stare or a retort of, “What does that mean?” He need not mention the TV shows which depict his trade. He doesn’t have cause for trying to explain how he cuts hair or how he colors it. Bruce never has to explain that when a person spends money for a good hairdresser the rewards are:

Better self esteem
Improved physical appearance
Being socially acceptable
One’s social status is more pronounced
Hair is easier to manage

Elevator speeches aside home stagers are making strides at assuring the consumer that home staging is necessary for:

Better self esteem
Improved physical appearance
Being socially acceptable
Assuring one’s social status is more pronounced
Property is easier to manage

Here are some of the skills we assume a good hairdresser will have:

Expertise concerning which style is best for each individual texture of hair
Knowledge of the latest styles
Familiarity with flattering styles for particular facial shapes
Proficiency with chemicals
Cutting skills

Here are some of the skills a good home stager has:

Expertise concerning which style is best for each individual property
Knowledge of the latest styles
Familiarity with flattering styles for particular houses
Proficiency with accessories
Merchandising skills

Here is something you may not have thought about concerning your hairdresser.

He doesn’t promise you will win a beauty contest
She won’t guarantee that you will get the job you are applying for
She can’t assure you will find the perfect man
He will never warranty you will rock the socks off your spouse
He isn’t going to be able to be able to hand you your 4 year degree

Here is something you may not have thought about concerning your home stager

He doesn’t promise your house is priced right to sell
She won’t guarantee that you will get the traffic necessary to sell a property
She can’t assure you will find the perfect house shopper
He will never warranty you will sell within a certain time frame
He isn’t going to be able to make sure your real estate agent will market aggressively

But, when you have found a great hairdresser you know he or she will do their very best to make your hair the best it can be. You know you will receive all the benefits a wonderful hairdresser can give you! You know what an excellent hairdresser is and what he does.

And, when you have found a fantastic home stager you know he or she will do their very best to make your property the best it can be. You know you will receive all the benefits an excellent home stager can give you. If you don't know yet, the time is coming when you will know what an excellent home stager is and what he does.

Bet you didn’t know hairdressers and home stagers had so much in common.

If you want to improve your sociability call a great hairdresser!

If you want to improve your property’s marketability call a great home stager!

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Information provided by Yvonne Root of rooms b.y. root. The rooms b.y. root team strive to improve the marketability of homes all over northern central Arizona. They can be found staging homes in Prescott, Prescott Valley, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Dewey-Humboldt, Mayer, Cordes Lakes, Black Canyon City, New River, Anthem and all surrounding communities.

Stage it Forward Week in Review 4/20 to 4/25/08 Staging is Not for Sissies

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:16:10 -0500

Just sos ya knows – there were slightly more than 160 posts in Stage it Forward this past week. Since I have never counted before, I don’t know if that is average or not. Here are 14 of those posts which I feel are cream of the crop, super-duper special. I think you will agree.

If you, like I, missed this post the first time through, you’ll wish you hadn’t. It is full of some great information concerning the staging world from the past week. Nice work Julianna Hind!

Michelle Molinari did an excellent job of explaining why Staging is Not For Everyone. This line alone, Not all homeowners require recuperating all their equity with expediency, is worth remembering. Michelle, you made me smile, you made me think and for that I thank you.

Ok, it appears Juliet Johnson was on a tear when she wrote this little ditty. I could just hear her intriguing Brit Voice as I read this piece. She did make some interesting points concerning the home staging industry. Be sure to check her links. Juliet, when Mom says to be polite – she means it! [Aside to Juliet – thanks for giving me the best complement I had received all week.]

Almost as much as I love before and after pictures I like to see photos of places which are making a difference in getting the word out about the staging industry. Thomas Scott shares some trade show photos which are indeed professionally inspiring. Pass on the kudos to your contemporaries please, Thomas.

Heather Chotard, gave us some fun pics with a few giggles and “Uh-huhs!” along the way. It is nice when we can laugh at ourselves and at the same time alert our potential clients to the fact that a home staging business is much more than just pushing a few pieces of furniture around and calling it “pretty.” What is the line in that song? I work hard for my money. Is that it? Heather you do know there are other things in life besides staging; don’t you? I can’t think what they are though.

The heads-up Sandy Dixon invariably provides concerning ways to improve a home staging business are must reads for many of us. Once again, Sandy, you have given seasoned and new stagers information which will serve only to strengthen the industry. Thank you!

The two-edged sword (or is that three edged?) that Kym Hough wields in this post is a must see for what I consider the three audiences we have here in Stage it Forward. Kym speaks to home sellers, stagers and real estate professionals. Listen up, folks. Kym knows whereof she speaks. Every single listing staged with a transitional style with a touch of Asian? I seem to have missed that lesson.

Rant? Perhaps. Educational? Uh-huh! (Just in case you are wondering, I include contractors and spec builders along with real estate agents and brokers under the category of real estate pros.)

Shelley Roufs asks a question I hadn’t seen addressed here before. It is an important and valid query which is worth noting. If you haven’t thought about the issue before, perhaps it is time. Shelly, your assessment of the possibilities concerning who might be offended is right on.

OK Gary, I confess. I take a three foot eraser with me to every home staging. The first thing we do is erase all the structural flaws and damaged building parts. Gary Barnett has, once again, firmly planted his tongue in his cheek and shown us the craziness of anyone thinking that the job of a home stager is to (expletive deleted) the home buyer. Oh gosh, Gary, what will you think of next?

I have another confession. I have no idea how Alexandra Fletcher and Emily Hagerman type their blogs with four hands (and they don’t seem to want to reveal that bit of information.) But, man oh man, do they wallop a punch when they explain how builders are understanding the importance of optimally preparing a property for sale. And just look at those photos! Alexandra or Emily or both – congratulations for making the feature on the front page, too!

Kimberly Wester begins her post with this sentence, In today's market, it is important for sellers and RE agents alike to realize that standard marketing techniques are no longer sufficient when selling any property. And, I’m telling you folks, it only gets better from there. This blog is well staged, well written and well --- well, very GOOD. Oh yeah, Kim, this sentence, That is the basic premise of staging - to assist sellers in turning their home into their house so that it becomes a marketable product for their agent to get it sold! is the ribbon on your very well wrapped package. Well done!

Teresa Meyer adds another piece to the puzzle for those seeking home staging understanding. As Teresa says, Successful Staging is more than throwing a few pieces of furniture into a room. Successful Stagers know that information concerning the potential buyer of a home is an essential tool to be used wisely during the staging process. Way to tell it like it is Teresa!

Then along comes Pam Faulkner with an interesting post about helping our clients get the most out of their staging investment and their staged homes. You know, even the stuff in the medicine cabinet may need to find a better resting place while homes are being shown. Pam, you used the information you read in a very positive way to alert home sellers to the fact that home stagers assume the most important agenda item for a home seller is selling the home. This is an easy and informative read!

Lori Kim Polk knows staging. Lori Kim Polk knows how to tell the story. Lori Kim Polk shows that when a home owner is willing to listen to the advice they are paying for it pays off. Hum, now that is interesting. Great account LKP. Bravo Miss Polk!

Professional Home Stagers from all across the North American Continent made this blog possible. To all of you – thanks for the great reads, the important information and the willingness you have to share!

Stage it Forward Week in Review 4/6 – 4/12/08 -- Do You Hear the Music?

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:48:01 -0500

For about two years now, the Stage it Forward group has been in rehearsal for when the time came to perform.

Listen up choir! Time for run through is coming to a close. It looks as if our intended audience is starting to walk in the doors. Let’s be prepared to give them what they came for. If we do our job well, when they walk away they should be singing our praises . . . and ringing our phones.

Who is our audience? 1) Real estate pros and consumers 2) fellow stagers

Now we have moved into the arena in which we no longer will find ourselves preaching only to the choir.

Here are three posts which will help you understand why I say the spectators are coming in the room. Be sure to check out who is commenting on these posts – the audience arrives. It is also worth your time to search the links.

Craig Schiller used the "I" word and got the attention of a few people. Ignorance?

Then a few feathers seem to have been more than ruffled. Did you see what else Craig had to say?

Later Jesse Clifton steps into the Stage it Forward group and continues the dialogue when he asks, To Stage or Not to Stage.

While there were a lot of things happening in SIF this week, it seemed to me that this conversation is the start of good things for everyone!

It will be nice to have them stick around for a while so they will get to know us, understand the staging industry and perhaps take a second look.

THIS is the job of Stage it Forward -- starting a dialogue... clarifying issues, and making sure the message is clearly being addressed. Craig Schiller, founder of the Active Rain group, Stage it Forward

Home Staging Must Offer House SPECIFIC and Owner EXPLICIT Solutions

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:04:06 -0500

Each home is indeed distinct.

Even houses which are built with the same plans are occupied by very diverse persons and require different solutions.

An excellent house stager who knows how to address the precise issues involved with each individual house as well as with each unique home owner is the best solution to being sure that any given house is in fact prepared to be the best in today’s market.

The needs and desires of the house seller must be addressed in ways which will help him through the process with the least amount of stress possible. Finding ways to produce best solution design plans while also establishing home seller well being is a skill held by a well informed and responsible home stager who will guide with balance throughout the process.

Knowing when to hold fast to the home staging plan and when to bend to the perceived needs of the home seller will insure the best outcome.

Once again the myth that home staging is only about making a space look pretty is shot to the ground.

Information provided by Yvonne Root of rooms b.y. root. The rooms b.y. root team can be found preparing houses for sale in northern central Arizona. Look for them in your neighborhood in Anthem, New River, Black Canyon City, Cordes Lakes, Mayer, Dewey-Humboldt, Prescott Valley, Prescott, Camp Verde, Cottonwood and the surrounding communities.

Home Staging, Home School, La Leche League and ActiveRain

Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:07:19 -0500

I don’t have time to write this blog. I have other things which MUST be accomplished today. I wrote a blog Sunday. I wrote a blog Monday. I wrote a blog Tuesday. I have other things to do today and I should not be writing a blog on Wednesday. But I am. I have to. I must write this blog because there will be no better opportunity to say what I have to say.

Being the organized little creature I am I will start at the beginning.

Monday morning – Craig Schiller wrote this blog.

Also Monday morning – Bryant Tutas wrote the following comment to that blog.

Really good post Craig. I think you are right that appearance and perception help in the selling of any product. When I was young I stocked shelves in a grocery store. If an item wouldn't sell at $.29 we could change the price to 3 for $1 and they would fly off the shelves!!! It was a perception issue not a pricing issue.

In my market a well presented house may not sell for more but it may sell quicker. Staging is not being used in my area yet. If I can just find a seller that isn't in some stage of foreclosure I may give it a try.

03/31/2008 05:40 PM

by Bryant Tutas, Broker-REALTOR(R) Tutas Towne Realty, Inc

Later on Monday morning – I sent an email to Craig which said something to the effect of, “I can’t believe it!!! Bryant Tutas has said he may give staging a try! Well done my friend!!!!” (Those probably aren’t the exact words but there were a lot of exclamation points as depicted.)

This morning Craig Schiller wrote this blog.

Then Broker Bryant wrote the following comment to Craig's second blog.

Craig, You done well my friend. I'm glad I could be your motivation even if it was due to my lack of understanding. If it helps....I GET IT!!! :)

If I can get my head around it my next post will be about home staging.

04/02/2008 07:40 AM

by Bryant Tutas, Broker-REALTOR(R) Tutas Towne Realty, Inc

I’m feeling oh so good at this point and vowed to subscribe to Broker Bryant because I simply don’t want to miss his home staging post.

Then I read down a little further and I see this comment

I love Craig's pretty Blog :)

As far as getting it goes...We do 'get it' and always have. The problem is that Seller's in our area are a bit behind the times. Believe it or not they are just now catching on to the Blogging thing. Many of the Seller's in Poinciana are not ready for the future, which includes staging. The ones that are ready can't afford the extra cost.

I hope this helps you to understand that our Market is unique and still struggling to catch up to the 21st Century. It seems it takes 1 step forward and 2 steps back.

Shoot It Forward my dear friend :)

P.S. I still think responding to the Reader's on your Blog would truly help Rain in your target audience :)

TLW...ROAR!

04/02/2008 08:01 AM

by "The Lovely Wife"...Broker Bryant's...Wife!

OK, I have to admit, I’m a secret admirer of TLW. I watch her writing and her antics with glee! I like to check on her once in a while just to see what she is doing. Just because. Until now I have remained one of her secret admirers. (I think I will go ahead and subscribe to her blog also now that I’m out of the closet on that one.)

But, yes I said BUT!

But, TLW, you forced me to write a blog which has been rolling around in the back of my head for a few weeks if not months now. So it should be pretty well thought out even if I am doing it in haste. Remember, I have things to do today!!!

Home Staging, Home School, La Leche League and ActiveRain

As a home stager I often hear from real estate agents that their home sellers simply can’t afford to pay for my services. Some of these REAs even mention the “F” word – Foreclosure.

After hearing the “they can’t afford it” line over and over I remembered a conversation I had with one of my long time home school buddies. She and I both home schooled our children for their entire school years. One of the lines we heard from home school wannabes as they frequently tried to get one of us to teach their children was – I can’t afford to be home with my kids, I have to work.

My friend, Karen, shared with me that she had heard that line many times before in a different relationship. Karen was a leader in the La Leche League. She said she never learned how to respond to the women who chose not to breast feed after they told her they couldn’t afford it and drove off in their Mercedes with the diamonds sparkling from each finger.

Same thing happened with home school. If only those people who could “afford” to home school did so then no one would have ever heard of home school. We made it work by changing our habits, our desires and our lifestyle.

For a person to be able to “afford” the services of a home stager he may have to cut out the satellite dish for a month or two. (What the heck, he’s moving anyway, he may as well get started early.) He may have to stop having lunch out every day and stop paying $5 for a cup of coffee on his way to work each morning. For a person to be able to “afford” the services of a home stager she may have to stop buying new shoes for the next season and see if last year’s will work for this season too. She may have to dip into the reserve of wine and not purchase a new one on her way home from work. For a person to “afford” the services of a home stager he may need to change a few habits, or desires or his lifestyle – for a very short period of time.

Then again, he may not need to change a single thing. A couple of hundred dollars in most areas buys a person the expertise a home stager can bring to the table. A few thousand dollars in most areas buys a person the hands on actions of a home stager.

Yes, there are a few people who really ain’t got the dough and no way to get it. They are few and far between.

Allowing home sellers the opportunity to say, “Yes, I’m interested in trying that,” or “No, I don’t want to hire a home stager,” doesn’t have to be about deciding if someone can afford the service or not.

Most can.

Others can if they really want to.

And only a few are really ready to give up their homes and stand in the soup line.

Yvonne Root from Northern Arizona, near Prescott said that.

And Curley

the home stager dog agrees with me!