So far 2009 has been a little slow for vacants, but never fear we have a back-up plan to get us through some lean months.  We've been doing a lot of redesigns - using what the clients already own (I'm sure you are familiar with redesigns).  We had a call from a super sweet young couple to redo their living room and dining room.  When we got there, they explained they had nothing to work with, except some hand-me down pieces and a few old purchased items from IKEA.  They had 3 beautiful little girls, two of which were twin 4 year olds.  If we wanted to do a kids toy land, we had everything we needed.  They just wanted a space for them to retreat to that was pulled together without spending a lot of money.

They wanted to paint their home and were willing to purchase a few things: (New Dining Room Light, New Foyer Light, Window treatments, lamps and a few accessories - all for under $500 excluding painting),  They were thrilled with the results.  Now we will be doing the whole house.  (Before)

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It just goes to show you, for very little money, whether you're staging for re-sale or redesigning to stay, you can improve on any space you have, even if you don't have a lot of items.

At times, it's scary being a stager.

We were at a staging job for an occupied home yesterday.  The Realtor warned us before we arrived, that the clients were not eager to have us there.  Why, I don't know. This particular Realtor gives her clients 3 hours of our expertise on each listing, whether it be a consultation or showing up in our jeans and starting to move things around on the spot.  When we arrived at the home, I was my usual outgoing self and tried to assure the clients we were there to help.  My mouth was a little dry at the beginning of this appointment, and I noticed a little reluctance, but after talking to them about 2 minutes I knew our 3-hours would be great.  I had agonized for two days about this appointment.  The homeowners ended up helping us de-clutter and were more than happy to do anything we suggested to sell this property.  We had a great time and the house looked amazing when we left.

Do you feel HGTV has helped or hurt a stagers image?

Remember, we have the ability to turn around any situation we are faced with...be positive.  Knowing what our industry has to offer our clients, gives us the power to rise above any bad situation.  We have seen first hand the power of staging and when you believe in it, everyone else will. 

So what about you, what experiences can you share?  Why do you feel many clients are afraid of us?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

Okay - I hope you read my other post on buying a camera.   Debbie's Post  I will be the (Guinea pig) for those in search of a new camera for their staging projects.  For those who want to keep track of my progress, here are some pictures I took today from a few of our staged homes.  I need constructive criticism, please, on how to correct my lighting issues (pictures still not sharp).  I would also like to know how I go about correcting these - do I purchase Photo-shop Elements or do I just need a good flash (does Photo-shop make them crisp or is that done with different settings on the camera?).  How do you guys block out ugly windows (things on the outside).  I know it would take forever to teach me it all, but any small tips would help. These were taken on automatic with no touch-ups.  I will be starting lessons on my camera January 18th.  I am posting these in the Photography section as well.

Oh honey - you're so cute - get up and let me show you how it's done.

I feel so techy.......NOT! But I am always trying to learn something new. Yes, these young computer age kids still shake their head at me when I ask, "What is Google Juice or Link Love", but hey I'm trying to be hip....but I'm old. I think they feel sorry for me and think of their Mothers. They are trying to teach me new technology along with showing me great gadgets that I can use to blog with or about - to which I am so grateful but I feel I give them a sense of pride in knowing they are contributing to society by helping the elderly. I just wanted to be a great Stager and Redesigner...not a computer wiz but I am learning they go hand in hand.

A local Realtor wanted to interview my company, Rooms Rearranged a premier home staging company, on a Podcast to place on her Real Estate blog. At the time, since I didn't know what she was talking about and didn't want to look dumb, I said sure - why not. After I realized she was serious, I then learned I would be interviewed on some kind of a cyber-space talk show - OMG what have I done! I froze. I hate my own voice - I sound like a dork! Well - Candace Robinson a Licensed Realtor with HomeSmart International here in Phoenix and David Lopez , owner of Pezaudio.com, assured me it would be painless and they would walk me through it. I couldn't let them see me sweat (although they are so techy I'm sure they could see me through my computer). But to tell you the truth it was quite fun.

About 4 months ago I joined AZ Real Estate Blogging Network here in Phoenix. I must say I have met some wonderful people. They are so willing to help bring me into the 21^st Century with blogging. Although every time I leave a meeting my head is spinning, I still know I take away a little more knowledge after each meeting.

For those of you who are trying to learn all you can about SEO's, blogging and marketing your business in other ways, this may interest you. Let me know what you think - it's kind of long so I don't blame you if you don't listen to the whole thing but give it a shot.

Just go to the link and click on the arrow by, "Listen to podcast of article". I send you this route so you can see Candace's great blog page.

If you have the opportunity to work with a Realtor in your area that has a blog, this is a great tool for them to use, write about and have for information on their site about Staging.  If you have a blog, you can also feature it on your site.

Sometimes a home that needs staging finds you instead of you finding it.  There are many stories that go with every home on the market.  This particular home played on our hearts. 

When the Realtor told us about the homeowners, this was the story.  The couple had raised their children in this house.  After the children were gone, the couple decided to follow their dreams.  They purchased a home in a quaint  little artist town where they always wanted to be.  They no longer needed this 3000 square foot home.  They were ready to enjoy life together. 

The couple moved and shortly after the wife found out she had cancer and passed away 4 months later.  What a sad story of which I'm sure there are many - but this one tugged on our hearts.  The husband was left with two homes.  The family home would not sale.  The home had been on the market for over a year with no offers.  That is when we were called in.  After we heard the story, we knew we wanted to help warm up this vacant property.

We staged the vacant property.  And we are proud to say it sold within our 3-month contract.  This is when you feel great.  It's such a feeling of accomplishment that you can help a homeowner move-on. 

These are the times I love this profession.  What are your stories?

Rooms Rearranged and Sherry Olnhausen from Keller Williams hosted a Wine & Cheese Open House.  It was open to Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, Builders, Active Rain Members and the public.

A good time was had by all.  I'm proud to say one of our own AR members (Candace Robinson) walked away with the first gift of the evening.

For those of you that have never tried this type of marketing I say do it!  It was great fun and we were able to meet many people in our industry.  Of course, we had staged this vacant spec. that was built by  Palacia Homes.

We should all take every opportunity to network with each other.  It was also a great way to show off our staging project so Realtors and homeowners know exactly what they are getting. 

(Candace, Debbie & Vicki) -Candace takes her gift with a smile.

This great home is located in Tempe, AZ in a gated community nestled off the beaten path but within minutes of shopping and dining.  Call Sherry for all the details of this beauty.

Make connections whenever you can.  This is definitely a great way to do it!

Okay - I'm doing it, I'm venturing out into the world of AR. 

A recent post in Stage-It-Forward about leaving your comfort zone and blogging in other groups got me thinking.  I have mainly stayed in the comforting walls of SIF since joining AR.  So hello Arizona - let's get to know one another.

I am a home stager located in Chandler, AZ.  I have owned my company Rooms Rearranged since 2004.  We have enjoyed many years of helping Realtors and homeowners get their properties ready to sell. 

I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to a Wine & Cheese Event to preview one of Tempe's Newest Custom Home Communities in Chelsea Manor.  This home was built by Palacia Homes and could be what one of your buyers is looking for.  The event planner is Realtor Sherry Olnhausen of Keller Williams.  Rooms Rearranged staged this vacant listing.  I would love the chance to show off our work and answer any questions you may have on home staging.  Please join us:

WHEN:  Thursday, August 28th

WHERE:  7441 S Rita Lane - Tempe

(Elliot just east of Rural), MLS #2942559

TIME:  4:30pm to 7:30 pm

Door Prizes, Drawings and Giveaways

Door Prizes for the first 40 people, hundreds of dollars of giveaways too!

We would love to see you there for a glass of wine, some great cheese, a chance to win some great prizes and to view this beautiful property.  I would love to see some of my AZBlogger friends at this event before our meet-up on Friday.

Hope to see you there.

I want to ask the Active Rain SIF bloggers what they would do.   My head hurts!            

In the sluggish market of AZ. we've had many success stories.  Homeowner listings that have been on the market for over a year have hired us - we staged it - it sold.  Sometimes within a few months or a few  weeks - sometimes in a day!  I am sold on the concept of staging - 100% sold.  I know that it works!  But what do you do with the ones that don't sell and you have no control over the situation.

Here is my concern.  I've had 2 spec homes staged for a local builder for over a year - you heard me right...FOR OVER A YEAR!  Yes, some stagers would love this scenario.  You're right, I have made money on the rent but my stats look awful.  Beside the fact that I really feel bad for this builder and my ego is saying.....could I do more.....is my staging the reason....what can we do?  Then I snap out of it and say it's not my fault!  I can't control the price.  The homes look great and responses are wonderful.

I know these spec homes are over priced.  Even the Realtor that has the listings say they are overpriced.  I'm not faulting the builder, they bought the land on the high side of the market - now they are trying to get back their investment.  But when do you just let it go and realize you must take a loss?  Not for me to say....but what about my stats?  Do I worry about them - do I just let them go and collect my rent.  Homes that are priced over a million dollars (as these are) move slowly in our current market. 

What would you do in this situation?  I'm looking forward to your responses.  I think it's human nature to want to succeed in every situation, especially when you believe in your product.  I rack my brain daily to know what is the best solution.  Is it really up to me?  Help me justify this issue.

I received an e-mail the other day from a friend who sent me a "Life Expectancy Calculator" Virtual Age Calculator from Peter Russell's site, Created by Poodwaddle.com

After answering the questions, I realized there are some pretty simple techniques to extend our life expectancy. Did you know by simply eating breakfast every morning or sleeping an extra half hour at night can add years to your life?  As stagers or real estate professionals,  we know how stress plays an active roll in our lives.  We know to well the feast or famine of our business.  We are either stressed about being too busy (spreading ourselves too thin) or stressed when the phone is not ringing.  It is so important that we stay healthy for our family, friends and ourselves. 

Remember to take time to enjoy life.  Schedule time for yourself in your day-planner.  It will pay off in the long run.  Take the test to see what you can do to live a longer and healthier life!  Click on the pictures to take the test.

Stay healthy fellow stagers and Active Rain Family :) 

Arizona's Vacant Home Stagers

Do you ever feel like Jane of the Jungle?

 I'm sure most of you have found yourself in a predicament like this one.  You know - the times when you think you have everything for a staging job and then you realize you forgot something.  My sister took this picture of me driving from the passenger side of my SUV.  I could not see her!

My business partner is also my sister (the stories we could tell) we're always laughing about situations we have gotten ourselves into.  On this particular day while staging a vacant, we realized we needed more trees.  Trees - we need more trees - big trees!  Well.....we did what any good stager would do.  We ran over to our tree vendor located in Gilbert, AZ (about 20 miles away) but...we had to have those trees!

I have a large SUV but these trees were huge!  In order to make them all fit, they were shoved as far forward as possible and also hanging out the back window.  When you're on a deadline - safety seems to take a backseat - in this case it also took the front seat!  I really had no vision out of my vehicle.  My sister had to guide me back to the staging property.  We made it back safely and finished on time :)

We've literally had times when our vehicle was so crammed packed, that I had to hold my sister in the car, as I opened the door to let her out.  She's had sticks up her nose, area rugs on her head and has sat in the back seat covered in boxes while statues or florals were seat-belted in the front seat.  Sometimes it pays to be the driver.

We have our laughs, that's for sure.  Sometimes, I think we need to add Depends to our inventory.  I love this profession!  How many of you can relate and share your own stories.