I was recently at the Salon getting my hair done when my hairdresser introduced me as a Home Stager to another customer, who is a realtor here on Long Island. This, of course gave us both common ground and much to talk about.
I realize now, that in my eagerness to introduce my business to her and explain the concept of Home Staging in a favorable light, I was more involved with getting my own points of interest across to her. In actuality I should have been asking her what she knew about the concept of Home Staging, and whether she would ever use it - and if not, why?
It seems that since the inception of my business, I have vacillated between "offensive and defensive" tactics because I was under the impression that most realtors in my area did not have an interest in using staging as a tool to help sell their listings. After 4 months on Active Rain, I have learned so much about the correlation between realtors and other industry professionals. Although I should have known better than to launch into 'self-promotion' with the realtor I spoke with that day at the Salon, I did have an epiphany as a result of my 'faux pas'.
I believe that gaining the respect and trust of the realtors with whom I wish to work, is paramount to fostering an understanding and 'partnership' between Stagers and Realtors. We need to find out what they know about Home Staging and what questions or reservations they might have which would prevent them from working with us.
I RESOLVE to spend more time LISTENING and less time PROMOTING in 2007!
Have a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year!
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