I have been in sales and marketing in the past for a couple of small companies and also for a
couple of large fortune 500 companies.
This was when I made the "big bucks" and before I was old enough to get to do what I wanted to do.
I thought I worked for those 4 Companies for over 20 years just to make a good, better than average income and life for my family.
However, what I now realize is that without those professional experiences in sales, I would not have the knowledge I have now on how to make my own home staging business successful. And thanks to those experiences and those 4 companies, I have been able to successfully work for myself as a Realtor and now as a Professional Home Stager in Atlanta.
Getting to the point . . . my post here is inspired by a post I just read by Donna Schoby, titled, "I want off the Roller Coaster" that is a familiar feeling! Particularly to a small business owner!
The beauty of being in business for a few years is that you can begin to track your peaks and down time and plan accordingly. All businesses experience some sort of seasonal fluctuation. Smart business owners need to map and track what is affecting them from year to year - monitor the rise and fall.
Here is some of what I have noticed regarding my Peachtree Home Staging Business in Atlanta, GA.
2007 - Peachtree Home Staging's start up year. 80 % of my time was spent marketing on line and building my Web site. 20% was spent doing actual staging both vacant homes and occupied homes. It was impossible to track any seasonal ups or downs.
2008 - An interesting year of mostly "up" swings as my Internet presence became more and more significant. My Internet marketing and Social marketing was in full swing and became stronger month to month. Because of that it was still difficult to determine seasonal change. My web site hits continued to grow, so therefore, my business continued to grow as did my social networking and name recognition. Most every month was better and richer in closed business than the month before right thru December.
2009 - This has been the year that I can finally sit back and create some logical assumptions regarding seasonal trends. Note: I did not say STATISTICS; I'll need at least one more year to create relevant stats on the coming and going of closed business.
Here's is what I have noticed in 2009:
- During the 1st quarter and the month of April, I had a high concentration in Occupied Home Staging work and consultations. They were almost entirely people that planned to list their home in the spring.
- During the 1st quarter and the month of April, I also had a generous sprinkle of vacant homes to stage, but what I noticed about these vacant homes were that they were vacant homes going on the spring market for the first time. Renovation and preparation had gone into the homes to get them ready for market.
- MAY! Oh, my! What happened in May? It was BLAH! And I think I know why. Just like Realtors and Real Estate, my business halted for the kids and the school system. Proms, parties, school plays, picnics . . . school, school, school. The kids were busy in May so few jobs came my way (which seems odd, since kids never hire me, anyways! :-)
- June and July has brought a new trend. Only a few occupied stagings came my way. It seems to be all about vacant home staging. And it's not the same kind of vacants that called on my services during the first 4 months. These vacants now are homes that have sat on the market and have not sold. Now the agents and sellers want to do staging. Will it help? Absolutely. It's never too late; but I am the first to admit it would have been better to stage right from the beginning!
One more thing I have noticed: My inquiries, be it for vacant or occupied services are always highest at the end and first of the month. I think it has to do with how we as a society look at where we are on issues as we transition to a new calendar month. Any thoughts?
Are you wondering if I have any predictions for the balance of 2009? Of course I do!
#1 - School starts here on August 10th. I am anticipating a slow down after next week until Labor Day.
#2 - September should then pick up.
#3 - I predict that a large number of occupied home staging opportunities will surface among those who failed to sell in the earlier part of ‘09
#4 - lastly, I predict there will be more vacant home staging opportunities here with financial institutions and foreclosed properties.
We shall see . . . What's your ASSUMPTIONS AND PREDICTIONS? I want to hear!
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How folks live in a home is their business, how folks present the home for sale is our business!
For tips on how to prepare your home for sale and information on staging a home in Atlanta, visit the web site of PEACHTREE HOME STAGING or call us at 770 595-8809.
We do occupied and vacant home staging with professional perfection! Please visit our portfolio here
Peachtree Home Staging is a proud APPROVED AND ACCREDITED Business of the Greater Atlanta Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Georgia State President of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)
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