Gina McNew Host of Diva in the House-'s Blog

The Diva Is Leaving The Building and Hanging Up Her Staging Stilettos....Thank You AR!

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:18:24 -0500

Okay...a bit dramatic sounding, but sorry...I've always wanted to use that line. It's true however...this Friday, Sept. 26th, the curtain goes down on the Diva in the House-The Voice of Real Estate Staging Show. My final guest will be Christine Rae, President and CEO of Certified Staging Professionals.

I want to publicly thank Christine and the CSP organization for having granted me the amazing opportunity to be " The Voice of Staging " for the last year and a half. Over that time I had the absolute pleasure to speak with many of today's hottest celebrity designers, HGTV producers and writers, fellow Professional Stagers from across the world ( all the way to Australia ) , business coaches, Bob Stewart of AR and numerous AR participants. Most amazing to me is that many of my "interviewees" have become dear friends and blessings in my life.

During the past year another thing has become very clear to me and that was that I was not fulfilling my own passion. My true love and what really excites me is the ability to help others be successful and explore that path that they always wanted to explore, but are hesitant to try.When I realized I was doing this myself, I knew it was time to walk the walk and go forth with my own mantra of " With Passion~Comes Possibility". I realized that the only way to do this was to focus 100% on my desires. I love the decor and staging industry, but I was wearing too many hats and had to give something up. The staging stillettos have been on the shelf for a while now while the launching of The Diva Success Network has gone from thought to reality. A weekly broadcast and a developing membership of fellow fem-preneurs who inspire, empower, enlighten and help others to be more successful either professionally or personally. In less then 3 months, over 1/4 of our guests have been seen on Oprah! I am delighted to share in this endeavor with my co-host Jessie LaFalce.

Along with the Diva Success Network which airs Thursdays at 1 p.m. eastern time at www.radiosandysprings.com and can be found at www.thedivasuccessnetwork.com , I will continue to have the opportunity to highlight the brightest and most talented professionals in the Home Services business through a brand new show called Professional Home Talk Radio. The new show is launching next month to lots of buzz and excitement.

I want to thank the many friends whom I have made through my time on Active Rain not only for their support of the show, but the personal support and encouragement they shared. I will occassionally pop in just to read up on the exciting and inspiring things you all will continue to bring forth! Many of you are now connections of mine through Facebook as well, so we will continue to be in touch!

Thank you all again! It's been a blast!!!

Cheers!

Wow! Congratulations to Thomas Scott a fellow AR Friend!

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:04:19 -0500

Wow! I don't know how many of you are AOL subscribers, but turning on my computer this morning I found a fabulous article written about Show Homes and Thomas Scott right there on my welcome news screen.

I would love to post the link to the article, but I don't know if that is a copyright infringement. I hope that Thomas can maybe print the article for everyone to see when he next visits AR.

Just wanted to congratulate a fellow AR friend on such a fabulous article and all the amazing exposure!

Hats are off to you Thomas!

Cheers!

Diva in the House is Headed To Australia!!! Staging Across the Big Pond With This Friday's Guests, Janne and Janelle

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:38:37 -0500

Wow! The CSP Diva in the House~The Voice of Real Estate Staging Show has had some amazing things happen over the past 15 months and this is another major highlight. We are going global! Recently, two business women, Janne and Janelle of Sydney Australia went on an awesome adventure to Canada to study with Christine Rae. As Janne writes,

"Jenelle and I took the plunge and both decided to head to Toronto in August to do Christine's course. It was fantastic! There is nothing like face to face teaching to get the most from your time and money as well as the hands on experience of staging a house as part of the program was just an amazing way to understand the process.

We learned so much about staging and, as Christine says, we had a few 'Ah Ha' moments that had never crossed our mind when we started."

Already well established in their existing business The Colour Designers, these ladies are introducing the Staging Industry to Sydney. Tune in to find out more of " How The World Stages " this Friday, Sept. 19th at 1 p.m. eastern time at www.radiosandysprings.com. It's sure to be an interesting hour!

Cheers!

John Gidding of Designed To Sell to be in studio guest Friday, Sept. 12th

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:12:09 -0500

Hi All;

Inviting you to tune in Friday, Sept. 12th at 1 p.m. est. time to hear John Gidding of Designed to Sell. John was recently introduced to me by some dear friends and graciously accepted my invite to join me on the radio.

Find out how this former model who Walked The Stage is now a very successful Designer appearing on one of HGTV's Top Ranked Staging Shows: Designed to Sell. Actually John worked the run way while attending college of which he graduated from both Yale and Harvard. He is a true design professional with the warmest of personalities. Learn John's secrets to staging with style by joining us at www.radiosandysprings.com Tune in LIVE at 1 to see us in the studio.

Unable to join us during the live show? Check back for all our archived shows at www.radiosandysprings.com/showpages/diva.php

Diva in the House Welcomes The House Doctor~Ann Maurice

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:12:09 -0500

Due to a technical glitch, I was unable to post the interview before it occured. You can however tune in to the archived show to hear a delightful chat with Ann Maurice.

'Twelve years ago she introduced the concept of property presentation to the UK on national television. As TV's House Doctor, she has gained a host of avid fans worldwide that tune in faithfully to watch her transform British homes. She has since become one of the top property / interior design faces on British Television, whose programmes attract in excess of 2.5 million viewers per episode.'

Known to her UK audience as " The Queen of Cream ", Ann is anything but neutral when it comes to her love and passion for Home Staging. You can hear from Ann how she rose to the ranks of The House Doctor by visiting the archived show at www.radiosandysprings.com/showpages/diva.php

The show date was Sept. 5th.

Ann was truly a delightful and engaging interview. I hope you will visit that show and many of our archived shows through the Radio Sandy Springs site or I-Tunes.

Cheers!

Matthew Finlason of The Stagers Interview Friday!!! Listen in to hear some of our favorite ACTIVE RAIN members THANKED by Matthew!

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:16:35 -0500

Hello Everyone;

Due to Matthew's very busy schedule, we had to pre-tape our interview that will air on Friday, Aug. 29th at 1 p.m. eastern. Matthew was an absolute delight to talk to! Such passion for Home Staging that it was very contagious to get caught up in all of his excitement and love for what he does. What truly touched me is Matthew's appreciation of all the fellow professional property stagers and his want to represent the staging industry in a positive light. I was really taken back by the comments he made about what he has learned through Active Rain. I hope that you will take time to listen to his interview and also be touched by his kudo's to some very recognizable names here on AR. As Matthew said...THEY are the experts and he learns from them.

Matthew if you check out this blog, again a GREAT BIG thank you for a truly enjoyable experience. I could have chatted with you all day! Thanks for the laughs! Keep in touch.

Check out the interview at www.radiosandysprings.com 1 p.m. eastern time Friday or visit the archived pages at www.radiosandysprings.com/showpages/diva.php 2 to 3 business days later. Remember to enjoy his show THE STAGERS on HGTV, Tuesday evenings!

Cheers!

HGTV'S The Stagers, Matthew Finlason to be a Guest on Diva in the House-The Voice of Real Estate Staging Radio

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:41:38 -0500

Tune in Friday, August 29th at 1 p.m. eastern time to hear my interview with Matthew Finlason of the hot new HGTV show, THE STAGERS. Get a behind the scenes sneak peak to the show and Matthew's Staging Tips and Tricks.

You can tune in live on the home page at www.radiosandysprings.com . Should you not be able to join us live, please visit the show's archived pages at www.radiosandysprings.com/showpages/diva.php 2 to 3 business days later to listen to the MP3. All shows are also archived through I-Tunes.

I am so looking forward to the opportunity to speak personally with Matthew and hope you will join us as well!

Cheers!

Join Me For An Informative Interview with Caren Baginski of HGTV

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:12:37 -0500

Hello Everyone:

I am delighted to be welcoming Caren Baginski of HGTV to the airwaves on Friday, Aug. 22nd at 1 p.m. eastern time at www.radiosandysprings.com Caren has lined up the following information to share with us during our hour together.

1. Recycling materials you already have to update your home

2. Playing up your environmentally-friendly home for buyers

3. Best environmental bang for your buck when considering what eco-friendly updates to do to your home

4. Staging eco-style for each room? Top 5 things to do in each room of the house to make it more eco-friendly

5. How to watch out for "greenwashing" and other terminology that comes from the eco-friendly territory

Caren Baginski is a freelance writer/editor living in Denver, Colorado with her pint-sized Papillon. She spent the last two years as decorating editor and Design Happens blogger for HGTV.com, and hosted a podcast series about design with interviewees including Carter Oosterhouse, Kim Myles, and Josh "Sparkle" Johnson. Her style? Sweetly eclectic and comfortable. Website: http://www.carenbaginski.com

Check out this and all of our shows at www.radiosandysprings.com/showpages/diva.php

Cheers!

Live Green~ Live Smart! Tune in to hear Peter Lytle Today!

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:29:24 -0500

Hi Everyone;

Diva in the House~The Voice of Real Estate Staging show is excited to announce that today's guest is Peter Lytle of www.livegreenlivesmart.org. LGLS is an environmental educational organization dedicated to promoting a sustainable planet through education, linking of resources and fostering a global green community.

If you are interested in learning additional ways you can help your sellers/buyers go GREEN then today's show is a must! Along with all of the great information Peter will be sharing, we will also hear about all the NEW, FABULOUS programs that CSP is bringing forth while partnering with this amazing organization.

Tune in at 1 p.m. eastern time on the home page at www.radiosandysprings.com If you are unable to join us live, visit the archived show page 2 to 3 business days later to download the interview. To go to the show page just visit www.radiosandysprings.com/showpages/diva.php

Thanks for listening!

Cheers!

Working With A Virtual Assistant Can Help Your Business Grow!!!

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:07:50 -0500

I have personally reached the point of needing to employ a Virtual Assistant and so this week's interview couldn't come at a more appropriate time. Diva in the House~The Voice of Real Estate Staging will be welcoming Erin Blaskie, otherwise known as The Virtual Assistant Coach as our show guest. During our interview Erin will be providing the following information:

Virtual Assistance 101

What a virtual assistant is (and what it isn't!)
What sort of tasks they can help you with in your business
How they can help grow and expand your business in ways you never thought possible
Where to find and hire a virtual assistant
What you can expect to pay a virtual assistant
What you can expect from hiring a virtual assistant

I hope you will join us and find out if hiring a Virtual Assistant is the right thing for you and your business growth plan. Tune in Friday, August 8th at 1 p.m. Eastern time at www.radiosandysprings.com Should you miss the live show, find us on I-Tunes or through our archived page at www.radiosandysprings.com/showpages/diva.php I also encourage you to check out Erin's web site for lots of useful information at www.thevacoach.com

Cheers!

Don't Be Green With Envy...

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:18:31 -0500

Be Green With Passion! This week on the CSP Diva in the House~The Voice of Real Estate Staging show we are honored to welcome Laura Turner Seydel. Growing up, Laura was more aware of environmental issues than most children. As daughter of CNN founder and philanthropist Ted Turner, she was exposed at an early age to how very ecologically desperate some areas of the world were. Together, Laura and her husband,Rutherford have established themselves as ecological activists, committed to making a difference in their own back yard. One major difference is known as Eco Manor, their own beautiful home.

Here are just a few facts about Eco Manor:

EcoManor is the first house ever to be certified by three of the country's leading green initiatives (U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Greater Atlanta HBA's EarthCraft House program and National Wildlife Federation's Backyard Wildlife Habitat program).
EcoManor is the first residence in the Southeast to combine advanced insulating and air sealing techniques, Energy Star appliances and lighting, a ground source heat pump system and photovoltaic solar panels that will power all of the home's daily electrical needs virtually.
EcoManor will be more than just a demonstration house to educate builders, architects, designers, vendors, landscapers and school teachers on the benefits of earth-friendly, energy-efficient homes, but will serve as the private home of the Seydel family.

You can find out more and take a virtual tour of this amazing home at www.ecomanor.com Tune in July 25th at 1 p.m. eastern time to hear my interview with Laura. Laura will speak not only about her own home, but ways in which we can all be going green in our homes. You can catch the live show on the home page at www.radiosandysprings.com , click on Live Streaming Video to see Laura in the studio with me.

If you miss the live show, check back to our archived page 2 to 3 business days later at www.radiosandysprings.com/showpages/diva.htm *** This is a new link...

Cheers!

I Can Hardly Curb My Enthusiam Over Curb Appeal!!! Tune In to Hear Michelle Molinari of Feature This

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:48:30 -0500

Hi All;

I am very delighted to be bringing on the airwaves a fellow Certified Staging Professional, Michelle Molinari of www.featurethisdotdotdot.com Michelle will be my featured guest on Diva in the House~The Voice of Real Estate Staging Friday, July 18th at 1 p.m. eastern time. Tune in at www.radiosandysprings.com

Michelle's specialty??? Curb Appeal and WOW! Does she have a wonderful and successful business model. Michelle even provided me with one of her very own detailed reports for a home in my neighborhood that has been on the market for a long time. There is no question in my mind that if Michelle's instructions were followed, this house would indeed stand out and be noticed as a property Buyer's would be proud to call HOME!

I hope you will join us for this very informative interview. Should you miss the live airing, visit us again at www.radiosandysprings.com/diva.php for the archived show.

Energized Blogger Meets Energized Seller This Friday, July 11th

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:12:32 -0500

Hi All;

I popped in to the rain to share news of this week's show guest and topic for Diva in the House~The Voice of Real Estate Staging and realized that this is my 100th post! Wow! So I have decided to appropriately title my blog, Energized Blogger Meets Energized Seller as that's what this week's Diva in the House Show is all about.

Energized Seller is a fairly new site but it is gaining notoriety and growing every day. Here is some information taken directly from www.energizedseller.com, "

Welcome! We're glad you've come to EnergizedSeller.com. We started EnergizedSeller because we saw what we believed to be a tremendous need home sellers have for common sense information that will help them get their homes ready to sell. We've all watched the home improvement shows, seen the pretty home magazines, and surfed the net for high gloss, heavily produced, general examples of what a house can look like if you have a high dollar professional team helping you. But the reality is that not all of us can afford or have access to that kind of "help" when it comes to selling a home.

This community web site is intended to give practical advice and answer your specific questions on improving your home in order to maximize its value and sell it as quickly as possible. Don't waste money on high end carpet; don't get frustrated when a buyer loses interest for what you consider "a stupid reason;" and don't keep the mindset that the buyer will just fix everything when they move in. Most buyers will scrutinize a house more closely if there are little things to "fix". The buyer does not want to fix anything; the buyer wants to move in... NOW! Selling your home, in order to maximize the value, takes a very proactive approach. EnergizedSeller.com and the professionals that contribute on this site present you with real life, practical solutions that will energize you and help you make smart, cost effective, timely improvements to your home for a quick and profitable sale. READ MORE AT THE ENERGIZED SELLER SITE.

I am pleased to welcome Dan Eason from Energized Seller, Friday, July 11th at 1 p.m. eastern time at www.radiosandysprings.com Dan has done a great job outlining our hour together with lots of valuable information about the site and how Realtors and Stagers can benefit from participating on the site. If you can't make the live show, visit the following link 2 to 3 days later for the archived podcast, www.radiosandysprings.com/diva.php

And Thanks Active Rain! 100 Posts and still blogging....

Cheers!

Take Time Out From Celebrating Our Nations Independence to Celebrate RESA'S Stager Idol Winner Kathleen Garvey

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:52:34 -0500

This 4th of July while you are enjoying some down time and before the fireworks take to the sky, join me on Diva in the House~The Voice of Real Estate Staging while I congratulate RESA'S Stager Idol Winner Kathleen Garvey. Kathleen, owner of Enhanced Interiors in Fort Meyers Florida, will be joining me on air at 1 p.m. eastern time to tell me what has happened to her since hearing she won the contest and share her thoughts and passions about the Staging Industry.

Tune in at www.radiosandysprings.com and hear us live on the home page. If you are unable to get away from the picnic table at that time, come back 2 to 3 business days later and listen at your leisure by visiting the archived page at www.radiosandysprings.com/diva.php Kathleen is a very talented stager ( as witnessed by her Idol entry) and a very sweet and friendly person to speak with. I recently found out that we share another love besides our professions and that's a total passion for SEC football! Sorry Kathleen...had to throw that in there! It's not often I get to chat with another Gator! Go Gators...and Go Kathleen....continued success to you always!

Cheers!

I'm Ready to Get My Frockz On! Are you???

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:27:31 -0500

I know...you tuned in just to find out what the " frockz" I was blogging about. Living in Atlanta and being an America's Mart Regular, I love when Market time is approaching as my mail box spills over with invites and product updates of new things appearing at the Mart. Here is one company that really got my attention. They are called Frockz and their website is simply www.frockz.com They are like " slip covers " for lamp shades. They are removable, washable and versatile. What a great way to update a lamp or keep your lighting inventory on trend without having to purchase a whole new lamp or search for just the right shade to compliment a decor.

I am looking forward to seeing the items up close and personally during the Home Furnishings Market July 11-15th. Check out their web site...I think you will agree that these are very cool!

Happy Browsing!

Cheers!

Be Prepared Is Not Just a Motto for the Boy Scouts! Establishing A Relationship With A Furniture Rental Company

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:49:15 -0500

I was very fortunate in my Staging Training years ago that my instructor Christine Rae made visiting with a furniture rental company a part of our time together. This added benefit provided me with the necessary tools for when that first call from an Agent came requesting a staging of a vacant property. I didn't have to go in to a panic or suffer on the job training as I knew exactly who to call and how to go about setting up that transaction. My ability to answer the Realtor's questions with confidence helped to secure a long term relationship.

I strongly suggest that every Home Stager have an established relationship with a local furniture rental company so that like any good Boy Scout~They are prepared! Whether you own your inventory or not, some times needs come along that you may not be able to handle and business can be lost by not having a plan B. I find that many Stagers do not have a Rental Company Representative in their arsenal. Fortunately there are women like Candice Love-Lightfoot ready, willing and able to provide solutions with rental furnishings. Candice works with Aaron Rents in my area of Atlanta and knows how valuable a relationship with the Staging Industry is. She has personally seen the needs of the Staging Industry increase in the market and has not only worked to be prepared for them, but has made it a point to make contact with many local Stagers to say hello and establish a business relationship.

Candice will be sharing her wealth of information on how to work with a furniture rental company this Friday at 1p.m. Eastern time on Diva in the House-The Voice of Real Estate Staging Radio. Tune in to learn how to establish a relationship with a furniture rental company, know how to use this relationship to build a more successful business and be able to provide your clients with all their furniture and accessory needs. To learn more about Aaron Furniture Rental you can visit their national website at www.aaronscf.com Even if you do not have the benefit of having a local Aaron's in your area, Candice's insight will be beneficial regardless of who you end up doing business with in the furniture rental industry.

Tune in at www.radiosandysprings.com If you are unable to hear the live broadcast, visit our show page at www.radiosandysprings.com/diva.php 2 to 3 business days later to hear the archived show and any of our other numerous shows.

VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR~WHATS IT DOING FOR REAL ESTATE?

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:28:14 -0500

Does anyone remember the song Video Killed the Radio Star? Back when MTV first started ( yes, I do remember that event ), some artists actually saw a decline in their album ( yes they had those then) sales due to the fact that once they could be seen and not just heard, they were no longer as popular.

Look at what the power of photos and video has done to the Real Estate Market. The way Real Estate is being sold and bought has changed dramatically and nothing that I know of has had more of an impact then the internet. A photo tour can literally make or break the possibility of a sale. A prospective Buyer will decide simply by the images presented on the MLS page whether or not a home is even worth visiting. If we can't get a Buyer to a property, we can't get the property sold.

Besides just the standard still photographs, there are 360 degree tours available of the property. I particularly love the tours that also offer a voice over to capture the " emotional feel " of actually walking through the home. People viewing a property from many miles away literally get the benefit of knowing what it would " feel " like to live in that particular home. This is a valuable tool being used to physically bring Buyers to visit a home. One such company that offers this exceptional service is Knightymestudios.com. Owner Tom Knight will be sharing his expertise on home tours this Friday, June 20th at 1 p.m. eastern time on Diva in the House-The Voice of Real Estate Staging. You can find Tom's profile right here on Active Rain and if you are a reader of Karen Dembsky's blogs you will be able to see some of his work which is absolutely fabulous!

Hope you will join us at www.radiosandysprings.com or listen to the archived show at www.radiosandysprings.com/diva.php

Cheers!

Publicity...You Want It, You Need It, But How Do You Get It???

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:08:29 -0500

Hi All;

I am very excited to welcome to the Diva in the House-The Voice of Real Estate Staging show Joan Stewart, a.k.a. The Publicity Hound. For those of you not familiar with Joan, are you in for a treat! Joan knows all the tips and tricks to getting Publicity for you and your business without spending a fortune!

Here are some of the things we hope to cover in our hour together:

"How to Promote Your Expertise Online and Offline and Generate Thousands of Dollars in Free Publicity."

The media love experts. They quote them. They write articles about them. They invite them onto programs like "Nightline" and "20/20." They come back to them again and again. Consumers love experts, too, and call on them to help solve a variety of problems. Consumers also buy products and services offered by experts. Publicity expert Joan Stewart, also known as The Publicity Hound, is a former newspaper editor who will share the secrets of how to promote your expertise online and offline. She'll show you how to determine whether you're an expert and, if you aren't, what you need to do to become one. Joan will also tell us how to form strong relations with media people and get thousands of dollars in free publicity.

You will learn:

--Where to start your publicity campaign and shortcuts that will save time

--The Number One thing journalists expect you to do when you contact them

--When you want the journalist to write the story, and when you can write yourself

--How to determine if you're an expert and what to do if you aren't

--How to jump to the next level of expertise

--Joan's all-time favorite fun ways for experts to generate publicity

--The scoop on press releases-why you must write them and the big benefit, even though journalists delete 99 out of 100 press releases

--The one thing you MUST have if you want to get onto TV

--The easiest way to get into big national magazines...this is so simple you'll wonder why you haven't been doing it for years

--The one group of people online that are in the position to create the biggest buzz for your story

--The one thing you can do that afternoon (it will take you less than 10 minutes) that will start pulling to your website immediately.

As you can see...we have lots of territory to cover during our interview. We'll cover all we can and then you can check out Joan's web site at www.thepublicityhound.com Be sure to sign up for Joan's free newsletter. I am serious when I say that I look forward to them, print them and use her tips regularly with amazing results!

Hope you'll join us this Friday, June 13th at 1 p.m. eastern time at www.radiosandysprings.com

Also...for all of you who enjoy the shows about running a successful business...check out my brand new show, The Diva Success Network, airing June 12th at 1 p.m. eastern time. The first mastermind group on the airwaves for fempreneurs by fempreneurs. Weekly we will bring forth some of the most inspriring, successful women ( and men ) in the business world today! I won't be able to blog about the show here...but if you are interested in learning more, or subscribing to our ezine, you can send an email to designbydivas@aol.com and request our newsletter. This Thursday tune in to Merci Miglino the Author of From Doormat to Diva...you will be wowed for sure!

Cheers!

DATE MY HOUSE...IT'S SINGLE AND AVAILABLE

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:28:44 -0500

Are you all familiar with the fairly new television show running on the Discovery Channel's TLC Network called Date My House? The premise of the show as stated on the TLC home page is,

"In today's increasingly difficult real estate market, eager sellers need to get creative to sell their property. As a result, they are turning to new and unexpected ways to interest - and capture - potential buyers. These buyers are also approaching the possible purchase as seriously as they would finding the right spouse - seeing as many prospects as possible and doing whatever it takes to determine if the pairing is indeed a perfect match. To move the courtship along, TLC plays matchmaker in the series Date My House, hosted by Bob Guiney and co hosted by Designer Nadia Geller."

What was so funny is when word of this show first circulated, I was getting emails left and right with people asking, "Is this You?" I have been doing a presentation for the past couple of years called Date My House~Your Home on the Real Estate Market. I wished it was me...but no, I had nothing to do with the format of the show or the production company...DARN IT! I do find it interesting however that someone else saw the correlation between buying a home and dating someone...or better yet...putting yourself on the dating market after having been off of it for years.

Join me this Friday June 6th at 1 p.m. Eastern time as I welcome to Diva in the House-The Voice of Real Estate Staging the Date My House Show's Designer, Nadia Geller. Nadia and I will discuss the premise of the new show, the trials and tribulations, and out of the box marketing ideas that any one can be applying to get their Home Sold in today's market place. Remember the old commercial line..." It's not your Dad's oldsmobile"...I like to say " It's not your Dad's Real Estate Market ". How we get homes sold is changing...and this show brings to light just how far some people are willing to go to get it done!

Tune in to Date My House Saturday evenings on TLC at 8:30 p.m. Tune in to Diva in the House-The Voice of Real Estate Staging every Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern time at www.radiosandysprings.com Come back any time to listen to the archived shows at www.radiosandysprings.com/diva.php

Do You Really Know How to Determine Your Niche Market??? Stop Wasting Your Advertising Dollars!

Wed, 28 May 2008 19:35:22 -0500

For many of you who are fans of the weekly radio show, you have heard me say over and over again Niche Marketing is one of the major tools for business success. Especially in today's economy...you need to know your market clearly so that every dollar you invest in your marketing gives you a clear and concise ROI. It's imperative! I am so delighted to be welcoming on to the show Wendy Gray Maynard otherwise known as the Marketing Maven. I found Wendy some time ago and took a program that she offered on Remarkable Marketing. I am a huge fan of niche marketing ( actually any marketing...it's an absolute passion of mine). I was so completely blown away by Wendy's 22 page report on identifying and working with your niche market that I felt compelled to personally write her to tell her so. That conversation led to the invitation for her to join me on the radio show. I feel very honored to have her as a guest and I am so excited to share her with all of you. Wendy has said that she will make that report available to all of you who tune in. I can not stress enough how thorough her program is. You will be amazed at what you can learn and how you can then apply those principles to your business to see immediate results.

Join Wendy and I this Friday, May 30th at 1 p.m. eastern time at www.radiosandysprings.com If you can't make the live show...look for the archived version 2 to 3 business days later at www.radiosandysprings.com/diva.php. You can visit Wendy's site at www.gomarketingmaven.com and sign up for her free e-zine.

I am excited to welcome Wendy and also to celebrate my 50th show!!! Thank you to Certified Staging Professionals for the most amazing opportunity. What a ride it has been and continues to be!

Cheers!

If You Have to Ask What A Web Site Coach Does~ You May Need Their Services

Wed, 21 May 2008 18:03:30 -0500

Recently I was in a conversation with a man who I was hoping to hire to do some web site work for me. During our time together, I mentioned that I was going to be interviewing someone on the radio show who is a Web Site Coach. He looked at me and asked, " Why Would Anyone Need A Website Coach"? That is when it occurred to me...if you need to ask that question, chances are you need to hire one. ( and chances are I may need to put the help wanted sign back up).

When I mentioned this conversation to Christine Chubenko...well, did she have lots to say! Christine Chubenko is in fact a Website Coach. Let's face it, how many of us really know what we should know when it comes to designing a web site? Websites are imperative to a business owner in today's high tech world. What however should we know before we invest money in to developing these sites? It's not all about the pretty...are we driving visitor's to our web sites and better yet, are we causing those visitors to become our clients? Are we getting as good a return on investment as we can? What are the do's and don'ts of owning a successful web site?

Tune in Friday, May 23 at 1 p.m. eastern time to Diva in the House-The Voice of Real Estate Staging at www.radiosandysprings.com My guest is Christine Chubenko from www.yourwebsitecoach.net You can read some wonderful articles written by Christine at http://www.yourwebsitecoach.net/articles.htm This is an hour of information you won't want to miss. This show, as well as all of our shows will be archived in 2 to 3 business days after the live show at www.radiosandysprings.com/diva.php

Cheers!

Branding for the 21st Century~What Every Business Owner Must Know to Profit from their Passion. Join the Radio Interview!

Thu, 08 May 2008 17:05:03 -0500

Hi All;

Just a quick reminder of tomorrow's radio show guest and topic. Liz Pabon, other wise known as The Branding Maven (http://www.thebrandingmaven.com/) will be my guest tomorrow, Friday, May 9th at 1 p.m. eastern time at http://www.radiosandysprings.com/ Unable to join the live broadcast? Visit the show page at www.radiosandysprings.com/diva.php 2 to 3 business days later to find the archived version for download or visit I-Tunes and look for the downloads from Diva in the House-The Voice of Real Estate Staging sponsored by Certified Staging Professionals.

Liz Pabon has worked with countless business owners including Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, Decorators etc. to teach them the secrets of success through personal branding. Many small business owners ignore the value of designing their brand. Here are some words taken directly from Liz's site, "You see, many small business entrepreneurs launch their marketing campaigns without considering what it is they are truly marketing. The only way to succeed in the 21st century, achieve your professional goals and take command of your market is to differentiate yourself and communicate your unique and distinct brand - the ‘why you' question must be answered loud and clear. Yes, you can differentiate your product or service, and you should, but guess what? If people aren't FIRST sold on you, your products will collect dust on the shelf and your services will never be experienced".

Tune in tomorrow to hear Liz speak on the topic Branding for the 21st Century: What Every Business Owner Must Know to Profit from their Passion. If you can't wait until then to find out more about Liz, visit her web site and sign up for her very valuable and insightful newsletters. This will be one informative hour anyone looking to increase their share in the market place won't want to miss.

Cheers!

The Open House Shuffle Duffle~A Gift For Home Sellers

Mon, 05 May 2008 11:53:54 -0500

Hi Everyone;

I wanted to share one of my favorite marketing tools. I give all my home sellers what I affectionately call " The Shuffle Duffle". I take one of those fold down laundry baskets, ( you know the kind you give to your college dorm dwellers ) and stuff it full of necessary items for a quick tidy up. I put in a pack of window cleaning wipes, furniture wipes, a lint roller and whistle. The window and furniture wipes are for a quick wipe up of any messes and or finger prints...the lint roller is for pet hair when running the vacuum isn't an option and the whistle...well that's the call to arms for those sellers who have children. I tell my sellers how to use the shuffle duffle and they absolutely love it. When a Realtor calls to say they are on their way...the seller retrieves their laundry bag filled with all the above items from the closet. The whistle is blown to alert the other home occupants to go grab their laundry bags and get to work. All items that are out of place such as shoes, children's games, magazines etc are tossed in to the laundry bag. The bags are then brought out to the car with the home sellers as they leave the house ( because it is strongly recommended that they not be home during showings ). On their return to the house, they simply empty out their bags, putting the items back where they belong and putting their shuffle duffle back in the closet with all of the necessary last minute clean up tools until the next Realtor's call. To make it even more of a marketing tool...you can get inexpensive luggage tags and place your business card in them and hang that on the laundry bag. I use these at all of my seller's seminars showing a home seller how to put together their own emergency pack and then raffle off the one that I have brought for demonstration purposes. The Realtors and sellers in attendance always laugh over them while loving the value of them. You can put this whole thing together for little money. I buy the foldable laundry bags at Walgreens where they are priced 2 for $5.00. You can buy the furniture and glass wipes along with great little lint rollers at the dollar store for a buck a piece. I have also found the whistles there as well. So you are talking about $6 to $7.00 total investment. The writers of the Home Staging for Dummies book thought it was such a fun concept that it is being featured in the new book. Another item I some times include is small playing games...again, easily found at the dollar store. I tell my home sellers to leave the little games in the bag so when they leave their house with their children, they can just drive to a park or playground and the little ones will have something to entertain themselves with while they are staying away from the house during the showing. The possibilities are endless.

Enjoy and Cheers!

Your Most Valuable Tool is Not In Your Toolbox!

Mon, 05 May 2008 10:47:42 -0500

I can almost guarantee that the most valuable tool anyone of us who owns a small business can posses is not kept in our toolboxes. For a successful business to grow and flourish, we need the best marketing tools available. We can be very talented decorators/stagers and or home sellers, but without successful marketing our businesses may not reach the level of success that we hope for. For some, our business can fail well before we get them off the ground because we are at a loss as to the how's and why's of growing a successful business. The old adage...build it and they will come...is sure to put you in the poor house if you do not have a wise marketing plan in place.

I am passionate about marketing. I am fortunate in that I have met some of the most successful marketers in our industry today. I have invited many of them to join me on the air to discuss how they became the successful entrepreneurs they are. This month I will be welcoming many talented women to share their stories and inspiration on Diva in the House-The Voice of Real Estate Staging. I hope you will tune in to the following line up to find ideas and inspiration that will help take your business to the next level. The three most important marketing tools every successful business must have are a unique and recognizable brand, a web site that not only brings you visitors, but makes them customers and lastly the ability to identify and reach a niche market.

The following guests can help you to reach your goals:

May 9: Liz Pabon, The Branding Maven (http://www.thebrandingmaven.com/) Liz will show you how to establish a brand that will make you stand out amongst your competitors. Visit her website today to get started by receiving her free newsletter and guide.

May 16: TerryLynn Fisher and Kym Hough: Two of the most successful women in the staging industry share their tips on how to grow your staging business and introduce us to their newest project, the Stager's List. (www.stagerslist.com)

May 23: Christine Cherbenko, Your Website Coach ( http://www.yourwebsitecoach.net/) Before you waste a lot of money on a website, find out what works. Christine will coach us on how to have a well developed website where you not only attract visitors, but gain customers.

May 30^th: Wendy Gray Maynard, Marketing Maven (http://www.gomarketingmaven.com/) Wendy has put together a program to help you identify your niche market. I actually participated in this seminar and it was fabulous! She teaches you how identifying and then marketing to a very specific niche market is the recipe for success.

Shows air every Friday at 1 p.m. eastern time on http://www.radiosandysprings.com/ All shows are archived 2 to 3 business days later for your convenience. Archived shows are available at www.radiosandysprings.com/diva.php You can also find our shows on I-tunes.

If you are serious about taking your business to the next level and need to know how to make that happen...I can guarantee you will get some of the best information out there from the above mentioned guests.

Craig Schiller Live Today at 1 P.M. Eastern Time on Diva in the House-The Voice of Real Estate Staging Radio

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:06:43 -0500

Reminder: Catch Craig Schiller live at 1 p.m. Eastern time, April 25th at http://www.radiosandysprings.com/ Craig will be speaking on the myths and misconceptions of Home Staging. Many of Craig's recent blog articles have found their way to national News Organizations. Craig is very passionate about the Home Staging Industry and so I am very excited to have him as a guest on the show.

Hope you will all be able to tune in today. If you miss the live show, return to the link www.radiosandysprings.com/diva.php on Tuesday of next week to download the archived show.

Cheers!