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SIF 'Week' in Review - Feb 1 thru Feb 9, 2008

By
Home Stager

This is our first attempt to create an official week in review for the SIF group.  It is something that many of the other larger groups do and that Craig has wanted to start for a long time, so we thought we would give it a shot.  Because we are only 10 days into the month, I thought I would cover everything from the first of the month. 

The week in review will be posted every Sunday and though it will currently be handled by the moderators, we would love to have all of you involved at some point, so don't be surprised if we ask you to take a whack at it.  It would be great if some of you even volunteered... ;)

Craig had suggested the top 5 posts of the week, but after looking through last weeks posts, 5 CATEGORIES really stood out to me. Without further ado....the week in review:

A Day in the Life - I love to read posts about the daily grind of the staging life.  Here are some of my favorites this week:

Picture of Home Stager: Kym Hough Staged to Sell Stager, SF Bay Area (Staged to Sell)I love my job, I love my job, I love my job...ok most days I love my job.  by Kim Hough

A very humorous list of some of the minor annoyances we all have to deal with as professional home stagers.

 

Home Stager: Elaine Manes IRIS ~ A Wonderful Space, LLC (A Wonderful Space, LLC)GRAB THE POPCORN...the Tale of the Masked Man!!!  by Elaine Maines

It may not be specifically about staging, but safety is an issue when you are all alone in a listing. Plus, I was glued to my seat until the very last sentence - very well written, Elaine!

 

This week in Creative Marketing - We are always looking for new ways to market ourselves and grab the public's attention. Here are a few ideas presented to us this week:

Picture of Home Stager: Juliet Johnson -  Home Staging NJ (Juliet Johnson Staging)A Custom Clue Game and A Scavenger Hunt ++ by Juliet Johnson

Kudos to Juliet for turning a supposed negative into a brilliant positive!  A lot of work went into this marketing effort, showing how dedicated Juliet is to the sale of her staged listings.  God job, Juliet!

Home Stager: Yvonne Root  Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root)

Home Stager Performs Strip Show Just to Garner Attention! by Yvonne Root

Strippers, killers and real estate.  Need I say more?


Real Estate - Other: Fred Light -  Real Estate Video Tours (Nashua Web Design  |  Nashua Video Tours)

Stage a house for a day. Just a day. Viable?  by Fred Light

Fred is not a stager (he's a photographer) but in this blog he both offers encouragement that the world is starting to see the value of staging and puts forward a concept he has been considering for a long time.  What do you think of Fred's idea?

Industry Happenings - We are working together to grow and bring attention to the industry we love. This is what is happening now:

Picture of Home Stager: Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com  RESA  (California Moods Inc)

You Can't Win If You Don't Play The Game! by Sheron Cardin

It may be too late to enter, but you can still participate by voting for your stager idol!


Home Stager: Shell Brodnax- RESA (The Staging Career Center)

Staging Legislation/Standards Create it Don't Wait for it by Shell Brodnax

Shell reminds us that we are the driving force behind our industry and we have the power to direct where it should go.

 

Business Specifics - We may be a creative group, but we are primarily business owners and need to know how to run a successful business.  SIF is also a great place for us to work out what practices are acceptable for our industry and what may not be. Here are some specifics addressed this week:

Home Stager: Ann O'Connell  (Attorney at Pendleton, Friedberg, Wilson & Hennessey, P.C.)

I don't need a contract . . . do I???  by Ann O'Connell

If you don't have a contract, get one!

 

Home Stager: Jackie Peraza, Home Stager - Framingham, Massachusetts (Perceptions AdverStaging(TM), LLC)

"BEFORE" Photos and Home Staging by Jackie Peraza

Jackie gives us some food for though on the appropriateness of posting your before photos.  What do you think?

 

News You Can Use - It seems we are always looking for specifics numbers and reliable imformation we can use to promote staging.  Two very useful items were posted this week:

Home Stager: Melissa Marro www.StagingAndRedesign.com www.RedesigningCharleston.com (First Impressions)

An Exact Property Comparision - The final numbers by Melissa Marro

Melissa Marro unearths the holy grail of staged vs. un-staged property comps and shares it with us. Bless you, Melissa!

 

Home Stager: Karel Rogers    I.R.I.S. (Real Estate Staging Unlimited)

Homegain Survey of TOP 10 Improvements STAGING #3 by Karel Rogers

Survey results - gotta love 'em!  Thanks for sharing your find, Karel!

 

So, there you have it.  The top 5 categories and their top posts for the week. Hope you enjoyed this new feature for Stage it Forward and I look forward to more great posts to review in the future.  You guys are awesome and deserve the recognition!

Comments(31)

Sandy Ridgway
Designs For You - Columbus, OH
Designs For You

What a great idea!  I've only been a member for a week now and really enjoy it.  I promise when I get my feet wetter I'll help out too.  The postings you listed were all really good.  If there had been a catagory for the posting that really made me laugh, it was the one on the toilet lid covers!  I loved that one.  I can picture the ugly pink one at my Mother's...which she insists is at the height of home fashion!! Anyway, great job.

Sandy

Feb 10, 2008 02:43 PM
Jackie Peraza
Perceptions AdverStaging(TM), LLC - Framingham, MA
Home Stager - Framingham, Massachusetts

Kimberly - Yay!  SIF has an official Week in Review!!

It's obvious you've put much into this.  Great job on the breakdown of the categories.

Jackie 

Feb 10, 2008 03:14 PM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker

I am so glad to see this get 'featured.' Our Staging Professional members bring such energy and passion to our network!

Kimberly, thanks for putting this together! What a great way to recognize so many who contribute so much to our industry, and the power of the Rain!

Feb 10, 2008 03:26 PM
Kym Hough
www.Staged-to-Sell - Danville, CA
Staged to Sell East Bay - Danville, CA
Kimberly, this is great and I am tickled pink that one of my postings has the honor of being listed. I love the mix of blogs and the categories. Makes for easy reading and somehow I had missed Elaine's which was great. It was a better recap today then my Sunday paper this morning. Where do you find the time!!!
Feb 10, 2008 04:03 PM
Yvonne Root
rooms b.y. root - Prescott, AZ
Home Stager - Northern Arizona
Kim, you whacked this right out of the ballpark! Home run for you, my friend. Your idea of the categories is (as Momma would have said) fantabulous! Thanks for including a rooms b.y. root marketing scenario in the assemblage. 
Feb 10, 2008 09:34 PM
Gary Barnett
Home Matters - Indianapolis, IN
Home Matters Property Stylist Group, Indianapolis
Kimberly, I like this a lot.  Thanks for putting this all together,
Feb 10, 2008 10:11 PM
Adam Affleck
Remax Charlottetown Realty - Charlottetown, PE

Great info.  I thank you for taking your time to post this valuable info.  I hope all others can use this to their advantage.

Thanks again,

Adam

http://www.adamaffleck.com/

 

http://www.atlanticrealtysolutions.com/

Feb 10, 2008 11:14 PM
Kimberly Wester
Valparaiso, IN

Lisa - I know what you mean.  Sometimes you can miss really great stuff.

Gina - I'm not sure how we could get that to work, but it's an awesome suggestion.  We will have to give that some thought and see what we can do!

Sandy - Thanks and welcome!  I am glad you are enjoying your time here in the rain.  I loved that post, too!

Jackie - I'm glad, too!  It wouldn't be worth doing if you guys didn't write such great stuff.

Feb 10, 2008 11:51 PM
Kimberly Wester
Valparaiso, IN

Rich - I agree and thanks for the encouragement!

Kym - I had to do something between loads of laundry ;)  I love your post - we all need to laugh at the silly things we deal with from time to time.

Yvonne - How could I not include a marketing idea that involves stripping?  Thanks for approving of the results.

Gary - Yeah!!  You are welcome...

Adam - Thanks for taking the time to read such a long post - and all that goes with it!

 

Feb 10, 2008 11:55 PM
Diane Aurit
LKN Realty, LLC - Mooresville, NC
Lake Norman Real Estate
Thanks for this great summary!  I don't normally read about staging so it is great to have the best chosen for us!
Feb 11, 2008 12:04 AM
Kimberly Wester
Valparaiso, IN
Diane - Well, I hope this post hooks you into reading more!  We really are an entertaining group, to say the least. Glad you have taken the time to look over what is here!
Feb 11, 2008 12:07 AM
Christy Powers
Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners - Pooler, GA
Pooler, Savannah Real Estate Agent
Those definitely were some great posts. Congratulations on your first SIF week in review. You did an excellent job!
Feb 11, 2008 03:31 AM
Abby Roselli
ALR Home Staging and Showcasing, LLC - Staten Island, NY
Staten Island Home Stager
This was perfect timing because I missed a ton this past week...need to spend some time catching up and what a perfect list to start with!  =)  Thanks Kimberly!
Feb 11, 2008 03:41 AM
Lori Kim Polk
Premiere Home Staging : Home Staging Services - Roseville, CA
Home Stager - Roseville, Sacramento
I love this! Almost like the Cliff notes of SIF. I have not had the time to read much or even respond lately and this is a great recap. What will you guys think up next? Mucho Kudos to you.
Feb 11, 2008 04:04 AM
Maria Borci
Real Estate - Kendall, FL
ABR-TRC-ASP - Kendall FL

Kimberly,

 

Nice recap here and  a lot to read and learn. Thanks so much,

Feb 11, 2008 04:29 AM
Juliet Johnson
Vizzitopia - St Johns, FL
Jacksonville Photography & Digital Marketing

Hey, great survey.  I particularly liked the section on creativity!!!!  Thanks for the mention.  As the Spring season gets under way, it's really nice to get a "highlights" version.

you're the best!

Julier

Feb 11, 2008 05:26 AM
Kathy Riggle
STAGING SMART N SOLD - Houston, TX
Houston Home Staging

Nice idea- week in review. Thanks for the highlights.

Kathy

Feb 11, 2008 08:37 AM
Kimberly Wester
Valparaiso, IN

Christy, Abby, Kathy and Maria - Thanks and you are welcome!

Juliet - I like that section, too!  You certainly are worth the mention!

Lori Kim - If you just read the Clif notes, you miss a lot of good stuff!  Don't forget to look at what else is out there.

 

Feb 11, 2008 10:49 AM
Terrylynn Fisher
Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA
HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.

Thanks, and I am happy to say I have read them all.  They were all good, informative, entertaining and valuable information.  Thanks for the update, I'll look at future updates just in case I missed something.

 

Feb 11, 2008 02:10 PM
Kimberly Wester
Valparaiso, IN
Terrylynn- You are welcome! Sometimes it is hard to keep up, isn't it?
Feb 13, 2008 08:10 AM