Cindy's Ranting on Her Life in the Staging Industry

Halloween Special Sale for EcoJoe// $3.1 St. Joseph Statues!

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:26:32 -0500

Hey Active Rainers

We are doing a SUPER special deal for EcoJoe for Halloween!

**Who is EcoJoe?

In real estate, there is a popular custom of burying St. Joseph statues and pray to him for having good luck in selling the homes quickly. However, most products on the market are made from plastic, which are toxic to produce and toxic for the environment to be left buried in the ground. EcoJoe is a GREEN alternative to those plastic St Joseph statues. He is bio-degradable and eco-friendly!

EcoJoe is also a great green marketing tool and promotional product for real estate professionals to break the ice and get the conversations going. Better yet, instead of burying plastic Joes and increase demands on plastic, you can now have an eco-friendly alternative!

To thank our awesome fans on Facebook and their amazing support during our first 3-month launch (can you believe it’s almost 3 months???), we are running an ONE DAY ONLY special promotion on Halloween for our Facebook Fans!

(If you are not a fan yet, no worries, just head on over www.facebook.com/ecojoe to join!)

Here is the juicy 411:

On Halloween morning 12am EST (or 9pm PST on 10/30/2009), we will send out a Facebook page update to all our fans with the special Halloween only promotional code for you to use at check-out. This code allows you to buy an 10-pack of EcoJoes for $31. That’s $3.1 per EcoJoe!

If you are already a fan, pass on this great deal to your friends!

If you are not yet a fan, no worries, just become a fan at www.facebook.com/ecojoe

*please note, shipping will be calculated separately.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

What's Up With Cindy Lin Nowadays???

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:50:49 -0500

I must say that although I've been away from the Rain for a period of day, there are just days I feel like I've never left the Rain. When I go to real estate events (stagers or real estate in general), there are still people coming up to me and say hello. That is always an amazing feeling!

I think the last year for me has been fairly challenging and at the same time amazingly exhilirating. There are a lot of changes that occured in my business that sometimes I still cannot believe what had happened?? A lot of things changed since I moved my business out of my house last summer:

Staged4more moved into a commercial space
which allowed a lot of new opportunities to open up like retailers, more inventory, etc. (then again, more maintainence and overhead...)
I won a business competition that basically changed my business and my life (check: http://www.countmein.org)
I think my most challenging aspect for sure: launching a new business venture: EcoJoe, the Original Eco-Friendly St. Joseph Statue Home Selling Kit) (see: www.ecojoekits.com and www.facebook.com/ecojoe) which literally launched last month, and took roughly 9 months to make the actual thing happen!
And yes, I'm still staging!

All and all it has been amazing and makes me feel incredibly grateful. A lot of it frankly has to do with Active Rain opening up my world 3 years ago. If I didn't start blogging and subsequently get involved with social networking, I wouldn't have this many amazing friends all around the country who continue to support me during my business ventures.

I may have been in and out of the rain, but please keep in touch!!!

Where do you link to get leads/sales?

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:24:13 -0500

(you may have noticed that this blog does not link to my normal staging blog. I now write a tech topic only blog at www.smallbizgurltalkstech.com)

milano stazione centrale ferrovie - milan train station / italia, italy / hdr by paolo margari on Flickr

I get asked that questions all the time now since the real estate market had slowed down. I meet a lot of people who are not working as much as it used to be, or just plain desperate for work.

Frankly, that’s like asking me “What bar do you go to to find a husband?“ or “What diet do you do to lose weight?“ There are just no magic bullets in any types of networking, whether it is online or in person. What works is persistence, consistency, and being geniunely caring to your sphere and friends. It never hurts to have a bigger sphere, in real estate (or small busienss for that matter), you never know where your next referral will come from or if you will meet a potential business partner.

There are tricks to get you there quicker: Continue reading

My First Flip Adventure

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:36:16 -0600

Hey folks!

So I have had my flip cam forever and I have just been recording random family stuff and traveling stuff for my own amusement. I finally put it to good use for my business last night for recording a 90-sec video pitch for one of my business partner Edith Yeung's new pet project: bigsuccess.tv

Using flip is super easy, but I must say recording is hard. After an hour of bumbbling and mumbling, I finally had a decent sounding video to show the world. It was very difficult for me, because I was not happy with the way the lighting worked in my house or how I looked on screen. After 30 minutes fiddling around, I decided to screw it and take a less formal approach by sitting down and propping the camera in my face. Because the more formal sounding I am, I think the more boring I sound.

I was 20 secs over, so I had to edit everything done and cut out the unnecessary sentences. I was clueless since it was very first video recording E-VER! But luckily the amazing Mike Mueller came to rescue via twitter. (@mikemueller or http://areweconnected.com/) 3 hours later fiddling around Window Movie Maker, I was able to upload it to Youtube (first time too!!!)

Please take a look and give me feedbacks: http://apps.facebook.com/bigsuccess/watch?contestant=35

I think it's a little boring, but it's my first video (ever!) editing and filming, so I welcome any suggestions to spice it up.

Also feel free to vote for me: http://apps.facebook.com/bigsuccess/watch?contestant=35
and connect with me on facebook: http://tinyurl.com/3jryvf

My first video was not too bad of a disaster, but it was actually pretty fasinating and fun. Now I know how to put my flip video to use better, I will definitely record many more. No longer a video virgin....

Cheers,
Cindy

Active Rain Love is There, No Matter How Long You Have Been Away

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:23:12 -0600

I had a chance recently to go to LA and spoke at local stager's event (graciously hosted by the Brooks distribution center) about online marketing (we also now offer trainings, if you are interested, visit Staged4more's Training page). I was really pleasantly surprised to get emails from people before the event on them looking forward to me speaking about online marketing and looking forward to finally meet me since they have been seeing my photos around on Active Rain. When I got to the event, I was really taken aback by how many people remembered me from Active Rain, even if I had never met them before.

("Hello! Hello. Hello?)

That's what I really love about Active Rain, I have made so many cool and meaningful friends on an online real estate community. THEN the most awesome thing is that when I go to real estate events that I meet people in person, it's like we have been friends for years. People even come up and say "Next time you come to LA, you can come and stay at my house." How amazing is that? Active Rain not only has given me education from my peers, knowledge from senior stagers, encouragement and lots of love both online and in person. If it weren't for these amazing friendships developed over the internet, I would've never have so much fun owning a staging business!

Come see me speak at Brook Furniture Los Angeles Home Stager Appreciation Event

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:23:32 -0600

I was very honored to be invited and got invited to speak. The most incredible thing is of course visiting seeing friends in the staging industry and meet new ones.

If you are coming to see me speak, PLEASE DOWNLOAD THIS WORKSHEET:handout-los-angeles-stagers-appreciation-event

Brook Furniture is generously hosting a day of networking, learning and lunch for all Los Angeles Home Stagers. And the best part? Its FREE!

Who? All professional home stagers are invited

Where? Brook Furniture Distribution Center

18960 E. San Jose Ave.

City of Industry, CA 91748

When? Monday February 9, 2009, 10:00AM

The Agenda:

10:00 - 11:00 AM Networking and socializing

11:00 AM-12:00 Noon Presentation about SEO (search engine optimization) by Professional Stager Cindy Lin of Staged4more

12:00 - 1:00PM Lunch and presentation about adding custom window treatments to your offerings for additional income, presented by Ashley Whittenberger from The Interiority Complex. Lunch is generously provided by Brook Furniture.

1:00 - 2:00 PM Tour of the Brook Furniture Distribution Center. A behind the scenes look at their warehouse facility.

2:00 - 3:00 PM Presentation about Feng Shui and how it applies to home staging by Feng Shui Expert Sharon Ball

3:00 - 4:00 PM Additional networking and socializing

This event is free, but please RSVP so we can get an accurate head count. Here is a link to the Evite:

If you have any questions, you can email Michelle Minch at Michelle@MovingMountainsDesign.com or contact Connie Tebyani (805)553-9952 or Connie@PlatinumHomeStaging.com .

I look forward to seeing you all there!

Home Staging Success Stories Needed for BOOK

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:58:44 -0600

Hello ladies & gents

I am in the process of finishing up my book on real estate marketing that is set for publishing this spring and want to incorporate a few more case studies.

Please email me cindy@staged4more.com if you are interested. I am looking for case studies of agents who:
*transformed their businesses after incorporating home staging as selling strategy
*have successes of selling homes after the properties are staged:
if this is the case, please share the details of the listing: listing price, sold price, days on market, sellers' comments, etc.

These interviews will be done via podcasts or blog formats and will be incorporate into the book as well (double exposure!) I am looking to incorporate success stories nationwide.

Cheers,
Cindy

cindy@staged4more.com

A New Year Gift For You (Free Download)

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:11:50 -0600

Hello Staged4more community!

Thanks again for your amazing support in the past few years. I know I have been quiet on the blog lately, but with good reasons. Staged4more had received great press opportunities in 2008, such as staging for HGTV and awards (2008 Make Mine A Million competition winner in Micro category and Sam Walton Emerging Entrepreneur Award). All these are very exciting. What is even more exciting is what I have in store for you in 2009!

*2 real estate marketing books will be published this year
*an eco-friendly real estate product line
*a home accessories product line
*new website (yes, we are growing out of this one!) that will have online shopping capabilities and more free useful content for you
*trainings in areas like green training, color designs, redesigns, etc.

As a token of appreciation for all your wonderful support since I founded Staged4more, here is a 2009-staged4more-real-estate-goals-calendar. You can print on any letter size paper of your choosing. All you need to do once you printed is cut them up and put them in a CD case for your desktop. (see photos below) I have also letterpressed these calendars and gave them out as gifts to clients, vendors and some of our Facebook fans. If you would like a letterpress copy, please email me directly at cindy (at) staged4more (dot) com. We have very few copies left.

Here are some photos:

HAPPY NEW YEAR! enjoy the calendars!

MMM my first podcast on Home Staging!

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:25:38 -0600

Whew!

I know, I know, I haven’t written blogs for awhile (you will see why in 2009! I have books and courses for training companies being written & published right now, so all the writing juice went that way… You will definitely be the first to know when the first book hit the market in mid-spring next year)

I have always wanted to do podcasts for awhile, so here was my first try today! I interviewed TerryLynn Fisher, who not only gave me lots of words of wisdom when I was a newbie stager, who is also a wealth of sources for both real estate industry and staging industry. She has been incredibly active in real estate circles with her green initiatives, she also co-founded Stager’s List, which is a community dedicated for stagers to buy, sell their inventory.

The topics were very broad. I have decided for the podcasts, we are not going to do any formal Q&A, but more of a chatting format. I personally think it is also easier to listen to. Our topics included are:

*Top producers’ secrets even in down economy
*Staging industry
*Stager’s trainings
*Realtors who stage properties themselves vs. Realtors who work with stagers as a team together -> what are the differences and how that has changed Realtor’s business (TerryLynn has done both)
*Green initiatives in our industry
*Economic benefits of staging
*Being realtor/stager is a small business
*Profitable & sustainable business models
*Return on investment of staging & stats
*First LEED-H house in Northern California (Margarido House)

To listen, go to TalkShoe to either join stagingbabe’s community or just to listen.

Please help me welcome Monica!

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:42:44 -0500

Hello the lovely Active Rain community!

Please help me welcome my friend Monica Vera who is a stager in Texas! She is just about to write her first blog and she needs some encouragement! I would love if you can shoot her a message to help her getting over the first step! We were all once newbies ourselves and don't you remember how hesitant it could be to start that first step? So please help me and send her a WARM ACTIVE RAIN WELCOME!!!

Her profile is http://activerain.com/blogs/lmbdesign

Her business is LMB Design in San Antonio Texas!!

Cheers,

Cindy

Don’t Be Fooled by the 2 big D words in Home Staging

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:48:37 -0500

I read this script recently that teaches realtors how to teach their clients “on staging home to sell:”

“I’m going to give you the two biggest money-making words there are when it comes to showing your home: depersonalize and declutter. It’ll make you house look bigger and is the best thing you can do.”

Hmm, really?

De-personalize and de-clutter, although 2 important aspects in home staging, does NOT substitute home staging.

(furnished not staged)

I have heard agents telling their clients all the time, and I even have sellers say to me all the time, “Oh, I know I need to de-personalize and de-clutter. I learn that from HGTV.“ or “All I need is to de-peronsalize and de-clutter, I don’t need anything else.” And that’s ALL they do.

And you know what happens when you just de-personalize and de-clutter? You are just showing an empty space and a shell of a home. BUT PEOPLE WANT TO BUY MORE THAN JUST 4 WALLS AND A ROOF.

We often forget what it felt like when we were buyers when we sell our homes. We forgot that we (Read more …)

It's SCHEDULED! The next SIF Round Table in SF bay area!

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:39:18 -0500

Contact Real Estate Staging Association for event and ticket information.

LETS GET TOGETHER, MINGLE, GREET AND CHAT!

RSVP HERE

Stage It Forward: San Francisco Bay Area Stagers' Get Together

Thursday, November 13, 2008 from 12:00 PM - 03:00 PM (PT)

South San Francisco, CA Share this event

November is "Home Staging Awareness Month"

November is Home Staging Awareness Month

Professional Home Stagers Gather to Discuss Industry News and Promote Home Staging

The Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) the Trade Association for Professional Home Stagers has announced that November is Home Staging Awareness Month.

RESA along with IRIS and ASHSR is proud to announce that we are National Co-Sponsors of Home Staging Awareness Month.

During Home Staging Awareness Month the popular “Stage it Forward” (SIF) Round Table Meetings will be taking place all over North America. SIF originated from a powerful internet blogging community that is hosted by Real Estate Blogging website called Active Rain.

The meetings will focus on the Staging Industry, creating standards, ethics and the wants and needs of the Professional Stager. You ALL can have a voice in creating standards and choosing the direction you want your industry to take.

Keeping with the tradition of SIF and RESA ALL Stagers are welcome to attend or facilitate/moderate a meeting. You do not have to be a member of RESA to attend or facilitate the meeting nor do you have to hold any particular designation.

LIGHT LUNCH WILL BE SERVED. RSVP HERE!

When

Thursday, November 13, 2008 from 12:00 PM - 03:00 PM (PT)

Add to my calendar

RSVP HERE!

Where

Staged4more Warehouse
390 Swift Avenue #6
South San Francisco, CA 94080

Yahoo | Mapquest | Microsoft

Hosted By

Real Estate Staging Association

The Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) the Trade Association for Professional Home Stagers has announced that November is Home Staging Awareness Month.

	View other Real Estate Staging Association events
	Contact the Host
	Subscribe to receive notifications of future events by this host View XML Feed Subscribe to RSS Feed Subscribe to Atom Feed Add to Google Add to My Yahoo! Add to My AOL Add to My MSN

RSVP HERE!

See Tim Ferriss Speak in San Francisco. Discount Code BIZSCY148

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:29:39 -0500

Hello ladies & gents

I know this has nothing to do with staging But many of you who read my blogs know I am passionate about technology and its application to small businesses. My business certainly has benefited from technology tremendously and I would not have found the success that I have without using technology to streamline processes and lower my overheads.

With that said, I am one of the co-organizers for BizTechDay and I just found out we have booked Tim Ferriss of 4-hour Work Week for our keynote!

Here are the details:
BizTechDay – Technology Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners Saturday October 25 All Day Event
BiztechDay is the only conference that puts your business first before technology. Come meet Timothy Ferriss, best selling author of 4-Hour Work Week and George Wright (Marketing Genius behind the (Read more …)

jumping up and down I WON! I WON!

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:59:49 -0500

Local Business Woman Named As Micro to Millions Awardee at Make Mine a Million $ Business™ Albuquerque Event

San Francisco, San Francisco September 10, 2008 Real Estate

(PRLEAP.COM) San Francisco, CA –[September 17, 2008] – Non-profit business program, Make Mine A Million $ Business has selected local business woman Cindy Lin of Staged4more Home Staging and Redesigns as one of 5 business women awardees to win the Micro to Millions awards package at the Albuquerque event on September 18, 2008 at the Wool Warehouse.

The exciting event will feature female entrepreneurs from New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California who competed for business development packages that include $5,000 in financing, coaching, and membership in a nation-wide community of women business owners providing assistance to help their businesses grow to million-dollar enterprises. The event will include educational and network opportunities in addition to keynote speeches by Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish and Nely Galan, Founder of GaLAn Entertainment.

Cindy Lin is the founder and lead designer of Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns, which opened its door February 2006. Even at age 27, Lin is already an accomplished home staging professional and stylist. In additions to her staging work, her real estate blogs, coaching and speaking engagements have set her apart as a leader of the home staging industry. She has studied with various successful home staging and design professionals, including Barb Schwarz, the original creator of home staging, Mary Knackstedt, author of first interior design textbook, Christine Rae, staging educator and author of Home Staging for Dummies. Lin holds several key staging designations which include Accredited Staging Professional Master (ASPM), Interior Redesign Industry Specialist (IRIS) and Certified Staging Professional (CSP). She served as Charter President for San Francisco Chapter of International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) from 2005-2007 and recently became Charter President for San Francisco Chapter of Real Estate Staging Association (RESA).

To date, she has assisted 60+ San Francisco bay area home sellers and agents to stage and sell $45+ million worth of real estate, in which, earned a combined $1,527,000 in over-asking price. Her work and Staged4more have appeared in San Francisco Chronicle, San Mateo County Times, Home & Garden Television (HGTV) and many other online media.

In 2007, 62% of her company Staged4more’s staged & sold listings were sold Over-Asking with an average of 3.34% increase in selling price, which equaled to an average return on investment of staging at 1129.24% for her sellers. For an $800,000 listing, that’s an average of $26,720 increase over the original listing price.

“Winning this program means a lot to me. Home staging is such a young industry, and there are a lot of turbulence within the industry as well as external distrust and pressures from the consumers. One of the main struggles among seasoned stagers is that ‘Does our business model work? Can we be here for the long run while dealing with temperamental economy, tests of legitimacy and unethical behaviors done by unqualified individuals who are just in it for the glory?’ By winning the micro program means what I am doing and planning to do make sense. Being accepted into the micro program is also encouraging for other female small business owners in the networking groups that I host, as well as women entrepreneurs my age. It can be intimidating working in a field that is dominated by people twice my age, without the life experiences or the previous corporate lives like most of my competitors or clients have. I am often asked about my age when I first meet potential clients, or being treated as an intern,” said Lin.

More than four hundred women applied for the packages being awarded at this event. The Micro to Millions program is an offshoot of the Make Mine a Million $ Business program, which began in 2005 to provide packages of support to women who had been in business for over two years and had reached $250,000 in annual revenue. The Micro to Millions program was created to provide the right help to women who had not yet achieved that level of growth, but were determined to reach the million-dollar mark.

Described as a cross between “The Apprentice” and “American Idol,” the Make Mine a Million $ Business competition provides twenty women whose businesses have hit $250,000 in annual revenue the opportunity to present their business in a 3 minute “elevator pitch” to a panel of business experts and a live audience. Ten Make Mine a Million $ Business winners will be chosen by the audience and judges who collaborate on the selection process.

Launched in 2005 by Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence and founding partner American Express OPEN ®, the Make Mine a Million $ Business program was created to help post-start up, women-owned businesses grow to one million dollars in annual revenue. Since the inception, the program has hosted 18 competitions in cities around the country and grown into a nationwide movement.

“We are excited to come to New Mexico and provide support to women entrepreneurs in the region,” said Nell Merlino, founder and president of Count Me In. “The number of applicants mirrors the growth of our entrepreneurs’ businesses and their desire to take them to the million dollar level.”

The Make Mine a Million $ Business program has garnered support from organizations who are all joining hands in order to make an impact in women’s lives and strengthening the US economy. The impressive list of blue-chip national sponsors include American Express OPEN, Cisco, Dell, FedEx, and JetBlue. Sponsors provide an array of products and services that serve as invaluable tools for growth.

For more information about how women can grow their businesses please visit www.makemineamillion.org.

About Count Me In
Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence is the leading national not-for-profit provider of on-line business loans and resources for women to grow their micro businesses into $million enterprises. Find us at www.countmein.org or call 212-245-1245.

Media Contacts:
Ann Noder Marybeth Grass
Orca Communications for Make Mine A Million $
480-248-0012 602-896-7643
Ann@orcacommunications.com Marybeth@orcacommunications.com

Discount Code for A Spectacular Biz-Boosting Event

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:44:23 -0500

Hello ladies & gents,

I am one of the co-organizers for BizTechDay, a fabulous all-day event packed with information that is 200% devoted to growing your business with efficiency and cutting-edge technologies (that are easy to learn!)

A lot of you know I am passionate about technology and using it to make my business smoother and my life easier. I have had great successes with utilizing online media for Staged4more, to the point I am now coaching other small business owners how to do it. I used a lot of the social media and web tools (that are mostly free) to get to #1 on Google in my home base for FREE in 6 months.

A lot of the stuff we are planning are exactly about that. You will learn about using social media that are FREE TOOLS for you, such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Yelp, e-commerce platforms, email marketing tools, Search Engine Optimization strategies and much more). The schedule offers 2 tracks with more than 10 workshops to choose from as well as keynote speakers, networking and a Genius Bar! The workshops will all be led by industry-leading experts.

SIGN UP FOR BIZTECHDAY NOW! After 9/15, the price goes up $100! Use discount code BIZSCY148

Cost: $149 before September 15th, $249 after September 15th
Location: Downtown San Francisco Hilton

BizTechDay is sponsored by the Small Business Administration (SBA), Ladies Who Launch, American Express OPEN, EventBrite, IBM, Craig’s List, Constant Contact and Meetup.

This is a tremendous opportunity to spend a Saturday with great people and get some great information to build your business! You can access the early bird special ($149 per person) by using the following link:

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/141023806/BIZTECH/101793602

TO YOUR SUCCESS!

Cheers,
Cindy

Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:55:35 -0500

When Bill Cliton saw Monica Lewinsky, he thought “hmm, I can cross that line, because I am the President!” Obviously, an impeachment trial later and many months of public humiliation, he finally admitted: “Yes, I did have sexual relationship with Monica.”

Well, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

Through my life, I have learned that I can’t be all things to all people. If I can be all those things to all people, I will be a very unhappy and tired person. It’s difficult to please everyone! If I followed my parents’ wishes, I would become a doctor and a lawyer and a financial banker, married to some guy, have 2 kids, 1 dog and live at their house. Scary thought, isn’t it??

Similarly, as professionals, we can’t be all things to our clients. As much as I would love to make more money, I can’t paint my clients’ walls, landscape their yards, or power-clean their houses, etc. Why? Sure I can, I can hire couple guys to do it. BUT, are the end results are going to be as good as the jobs done by professionals? By doing everything for clients to “save” them money, is this the best for MY client? No, I think not. My clients hire me to stage their houses well so the listings will sell, not to do all these other things. Ultimately it will be much cheaper and cost effective to have the job done well by professionals who are pros in their fields. That’s why I leave the painting to the painters. They know how to deal with different textures of the wall, and how different types of paint affect the overall effects. Well, I don’t. I just know what color looks good. Application of the color is a total different story. Similarly with landscaping or cleaning, I will never landscape or clean as well as professionals who do this EVERYDAY. I have a black thumb, I have even killed cactus.

As a professional, I intend on doing what’s best for my clients, not what I can do “okay” for my clients. That’s why I am skeptical when I see ads of cleaning companies or furniture companies start offering staging as part of their services.
I also hear this a lot from sellers & agents “I can totally stage the house myself, I watch HGTV.” I also get a lot of calls from agents: “Um, my clients staged their house and it looks terrible. What can you do?” Just because I watch food channel, it doesn’t mean I can do whip out a 8-course meal like Bobby Flay. The professionals who work on these TV shows have a lot of trainings and professional experiences, and that’s why they are good at what they do. True, staging is not rocket science, but there are still some finesse to it.

A fellow real estate blogger and a realtor Jessica Wynn Horton shared similar sentiments on her post at Bloodhound: (Read more …)

Related Articles:

Back from the Road, On With Normal Staging Life!

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:28:56 -0500

(this is a slightly "vintage" post, but I totally forgot I wrote it!)

July was a series of conferences and vendor fairs for me, very fruitful ones but also feeling very imbalanced. Finally today I am feeling more settled and getting ready back to the normal everyday life as a stager.

Before all the chaos started, I did sneak up to Vancouver to meet Jackson West, a very talented stager in Vancouver.

Jackson was very kind to show me around Vancouver when I arrived and we gabbed about real estate and home staging over dinner. He also showed me his staged properties. They were AWESOME and beautifully staged. (I don't know why I forgot to take a photo with Jackson, wouldn't that been lovely? Next time ;) )

Jackson told me that there is an urban legend associated to this building… It was designed by a heroin addict… Believe it or not? See the entrance yourself.

The IAHSP (International Association of Home Staging Professionals) Convention was very successful, I spoke during all 3 days of the conference (ASPM panel, Meet the Pro sessions and Keynote) and all went off without a hitch. I still can’t believe people want to listen to me talk and my sessions were full. I enjoyed meeting new faces, and feel very honored to finally take the same stage as my staging idols.

I also caved into my inner tourist and rode the ducky in Seattle. (It’s a tour “boat” that drives on land and in water.) I used to live in DC and saw these all the time at Union Station but never occurred to me to ride one. But after seeing the duckies around Seattle in troves, I caved. I think the best part about my tour (Read More...)

Interview with Cindy Lin: The Current Staging Landscape

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:19:33 -0500

I’m wondering what your day is like?
My day to day is very different. It’s like snowflakes, no 2 days are alike. On days when I am doing installations, my call time starts at 7am to pull inventory, or the night before to pack everything up. With bigger jobs I tend to rent a box truck, which means it’s extra hours to pick up and return vehicle. Typically I spend 5-8 hours on job site with 1-2 assistants. That does NOT include prep time and clean up time after we return to warehouse.

On days when I don’t have installations, I have things range from appointments to visit home owners for consultations, meeting with potential vendors, meeting realtors, networking events, to admin work like invoicing, billing, writing, researching, working on expanding my business, marketing, continue education, cleaning inventory, cataloging inventory, moving furniture, shopping for new inventory, working on current trends, reading, LOTS of things to do.

I typically work 6-7 days a week, ranging from 6-12 hours per day.

And how you feel the market is doing?
Market is market, there will be hot times and cold times, busy times and slow times. It’s cyclical, just like any business. Like ice cream truck does better in summer than winter, or coats are more popular in winter. We have ups and downs as well in real estate. The market timing depends on where you are in the country. In San Francisco bay area, the market (Read more …)

Related Articles:

Being Green Can Be Your Market Differentiator

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:15:42 -0500

(photo by ShutterSparks)

I recent took on a client who wants me to redesign her existing home right now but at the same time preparing it for sale 2-3 years down the line. When I suggested green finishes, she was very open to it.

This is why:

a) Green finishes are healthier to live in the home, especially if you have young children and pets. They roll around in those finishes every day on the floor, touching the wall, you want to make sure the finishes are quality green materials that is safe to live in. It’s also better for your installer, they don’t need to breathe in those terrible chemical smells. Moreover, you are not exposed to off-gasing from non-green materials or chemical glue. In typical carpet installation, the chemical glue emits toxic off-gasing for 8 years after it is installed. 8 years!!! Do you want your children or grandchildren to breathe that toxic in for 8 years?!

b) Quality green finishes and materials perform just as well as non-green finishes, if not better. Take the new green fabrics for example, they breath well therefore reduce the chance for skin allergy. They are not processed in chemicals so they are healthier to wear or to sleep in. You are not rubbing those chemicals off your skin that can cause irritations and rashes, you sleep better. You sleep better, you perform better during the day. Not a bad bargain at all.

c) Green finishes increase RESALE value. It’s true. By being more environmentally conscious and by installing green finishes and green appliances, you are reducing the costs to maintain your home, utilities and helping the planet out. With an rapid increase awareness of being green and eco-friendly, using green finishes and materials make the (Read more …)

Warehousing help please!

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:54:11 -0500

Hello ladies & gents

I recently transitioned into a commercial warehouse space that is about 3600 square feet and 14 feet tall. My problem this week has been figuring out what's the best shelving and storage options for all my inventory. Anyone has any suggestions??

I can't seem to figure out what's the best way to store things that is the best use of space, easy to retrieve items and inventory them, and accomadating for inventory growth. Any ideas would be appreciated!

Cheers,

Cindy

Join Us Next Tuesday for Greening Your Business!

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Fri, 30 May 2008 18:31:24 -0500

One of the groups that I am involved in is pow.wow: networking the power of fabulous women. Next Tuesday, we are having an event on this new and increasingly popular concept of doing business: GREEN.

(photo by Tomatoskin)

But what does it mean to be Green? Do you actually save money? Or it just makes you look good? Another way of marketing?

Pow.wow panel: Green + Your Business

Event Date: Tuesday June 3rd, 6:30-8:30
Location: Paragon Realty, 1160 Battery at Union St., SF

Join us for a round table discussion about what it means to your business to be “green”. Is this something that’s marketable? Should it be? How does this impact my costs? My sales? Are we all just sick of hearing about how green everyone is, or do we want more more more?

Panelists include:

-Lucas Heldfond, Spring

-Lauren Fornes, Faceparlour.com

-Matt Scullin, New Resource Bank

-Brad Coy, EcoBroker from San Francisco Real Estate Services

-Joel Karr, Group 41

RSVP is required: by email or Get your tickets now. Powwow Members are free, guests are $20 per person.

***PLEASE NOTE POWWOW IS A WOMEN'S NETWORKING GROUP. All members are women and only women can attend.

Related Articles:

New Staged Listing! Sherwood Serenity — 150 Casitas Way San Francisco

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Sat, 17 May 2008 14:26:00 -0500

This was a very interesting project. The owner’s daughter was an artist and they traveled around the world a lot so they had very interesting artwork and collections throughout the home. They were very interesting stuff, but just not suitable for staging and the purpose of selling. If the home was not staged, the buyers will be focusing on the sellers’ collection and art and not see the house itself.

The seller was also very resisting to change, which I fully understand. After all, she lived in the home for about 40 years. It’s understandable that this is a very drastic change for her. Martiza, the listing agent, was a total super star. She helped the seller packed up 30 boxes worth of books along and carried 8 life size seals sculptures to the truck for the seller (you will see one of the life size seals in the Living Room Before photo, it’s right underneath the piano). At minimal budget and a little of paint (seller was not willing to repaint anything, especially the dark red in the dining room), we staged the house.

Let us know what you think!

Here are some before & after, and you can watch the slide show via flickr here. To see the virtual tour, go to this link here: Virtual Tour of 150 Casitas Way, San Francisco.

Brief info on the home:

Melissa & Maritza Casciato
415 490 7998 -
415 595 9910
Keller Williams San Francisco
melissa@buysellSFhomes.com

List Price: $1,395,000150 Casitas Ave, San Francisco 94127

Sherwood Serenity
San Francisco living in a serene, natural setting is the feeling that comes across when coming upon this Sherwood Forest home. Built in 1965, this home has been in the same family since it was built. Perched at the top of the hill on quiet Casitas Avenue, views of Twin Peaks can be seen from the four bedrooms on the second floor and the living room on the main floor - Home staged by Staged4More!
Melissa & Maritza Casciato
www.buysellsfhomes.com

(Read more …)

You Are A Stager? Did You Sign Up For RESA Rally Yet?!

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Fri, 16 May 2008 23:11:49 -0500

I am very excited to say the Shell is coming to bay area to teach San Francisco bay area stagers a few tricks up her sleeves! Shell has had extensive experiences in the real estate and home staging industry. I believe this will be a great beneficial session for both new and seasoned stagers.

To sign up, please visit RESA online at www.realestatestagingassociation.com!
RESA, stands for Real Estate Staging Association, was formed in order to:

“support all professional real estate stagers in North America regardless of their designations, backgrounds or training. RESA is a portal to the staging industry and is a source of education and business tools focusing on the needs of stagers. Members have access to up to date information relative to the staging industry, marketing support services and access to continuing education providers.

Why have trade associations?

Most established professions or trades have a professional association. Associations are formed in order to represent those in the target industry and to bring legitimacy to the profession. People working in their specific trades choose to belong to the trade associations for many reasons. Some offer discounts, group benefits, political agendas, regulations, etc.

When new industries are created they are either unregulated or government regulated. Unregulated industries often experience a lack of consistency and standards, a lack of ethics, and renegade practices. Government regulated industries typically arise from the need to protect the public or when un-regulated industries become so unmanageable the government needs to step in to correct it.” (From RESA Website)

It will be a great event and I hope you will be able to make it!

Vote for Staged4more’s New Business Card Designs!

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:22:34 -0500

My lovely and talented new Graphics Coordinator Jenny had designed some really cool designs for our new business cards. And we need your vote!

Please either comment or vote on the polldaddy poll here.

Here are the choices:

4 None of these

Post your thoughts, additional comments below at the nifty white box.

Thanks for voting! The voting will close on 5/20/2008. I would really appreciate any of your feedbacks or suggestions! I am not going to tell you which one I like yet ;)

Cheers,

Cindy

Finally, Brain Returns After My Stager Jedi Training

Cindy Lin // Staged4more & EcoJoe (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns) — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:20:12 -0500

It’s only been 7 days since my Certified Staging Professionals (CSP) training, and frankly my brain still hurts from so much information. All and all it was an excellent training and continue education. Christine Rae, the creator of CSP staging training really packed in a lot of materials and I literally felt like I went on a Jedi Training in a galaxy far far away (Walnut Creek can do that to ya).

I also got my tests in the mail last Friday. That’s right, I had a midterm and a final and overall I scored a B. (Gosh darn it I really wanted an A!) But she wrote “very good ” on the test so I feel slightly better

What I love about the training is that there were a lot of information on both design & business sides of the staging business and all the classmates are in the business at least 2 years, so we can fast forward all that newbie stuff and learned from each other’s experiences and dealing more advanced issues in our businesses. It was a really solid continue education.

I was the youngest of the bunch (in actual age and business age).

(photo by grebo guru)
Before the training I was feeling a bit frustrated with my business. I felt that it had plateaued. It was great to be in the presence of other more experienced stagers to know that it is perfectly normal to feel so and that breakthrough is possible.

(read the rest here)

Cindy's Ranting on Her Life in the Staging Industry

Halloween Special Sale for EcoJoe// $3.1 St. Joseph Statues!

What's Up With Cindy Lin Nowadays???

Where do you link to get leads/sales?

My First Flip Adventure

Hey folks!

Active Rain Love is There, No Matter How Long You Have Been Away

Come see me speak at Brook Furniture Los Angeles Home Stager Appreciation Event

Home Staging Success Stories Needed for BOOK

A New Year Gift For You (Free Download)

MMM my first podcast on Home Staging!

Please help me welcome Monica!

Don’t Be Fooled by the 2 big D words in Home Staging

It's SCHEDULED! The next SIF Round Table in SF bay area!

Stage It Forward: San Francisco Bay Area Stagers' Get Together

Real Estate Staging Association

See Tim Ferriss Speak in San Francisco. Discount Code BIZSCY148

jumping up and down I WON! I WON!

Most Popular Posts

Discount Code for A Spectacular Biz-Boosting Event

Most Popular Posts

Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should

Most Popular Posts

Back from the Road, On With Normal Staging Life!

Interview with Cindy Lin: The Current Staging Landscape

Most Popular Posts

Being Green Can Be Your Market Differentiator

Warehousing help please!

Join Us Next Tuesday for Greening Your Business!

One of the groups that I am involved in is pow.wow: networking the power of fabulous women. Next Tuesday, we are having an event on this new and increasingly popular concept of doing business: GREEN.

Pow.wow panel: Green + Your Business

Most Popular Posts

New Staged Listing! Sherwood Serenity — 150 Casitas Way San Francisco

You Are A Stager? Did You Sign Up For RESA Rally Yet?!

Vote for Staged4more’s New Business Card Designs!

Finally, Brain Returns After My Stager Jedi Training

Cindy's Ranting on Her Life in the Staging Industry

Halloween Special Sale for EcoJoe// $3.1 St. Joseph Statues!

What's Up With Cindy Lin Nowadays???

Where do you link to get leads/sales?

My First Flip Adventure

Hey folks!

Active Rain Love is There, No Matter How Long You Have Been Away

Come see me speak at Brook Furniture Los Angeles Home Stager Appreciation Event

Home Staging Success Stories Needed for BOOK

A New Year Gift For You (Free Download)

MMM my first podcast on Home Staging!

Please help me welcome Monica!

Don’t Be Fooled by the 2 big D words in Home Staging

It's SCHEDULED! The next SIF Round Table in SF bay area!

Stage It Forward: San Francisco Bay Area Stagers' Get Together

Real Estate Staging Association

See Tim Ferriss Speak in San Francisco. Discount Code BIZSCY148

*jumping up and down* I WON! I WON!

Most Popular Posts

Discount Code for A Spectacular Biz-Boosting Event

Most Popular Posts

Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should

Most Popular Posts

Back from the Road, On With Normal Staging Life!

Interview with Cindy Lin: The Current Staging Landscape

Most Popular Posts

Being Green Can Be Your Market Differentiator

Warehousing help please!

Join Us Next Tuesday for Greening Your Business!

One of the groups that I am involved in is pow.wow: networking the power of fabulous women. Next Tuesday, we are having an event on this new and increasingly popular concept of doing business: GREEN.

Pow.wow panel: Green + Your Business

Most Popular Posts

New Staged Listing! Sherwood Serenity — 150 Casitas Way San Francisco

You Are A Stager? Did You Sign Up For RESA Rally Yet?!

Vote for Staged4more’s New Business Card Designs!

Finally, Brain Returns After My Stager Jedi Training

jumping up and down I WON! I WON!