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Stagers - Do You Stay Current on Real Estate News/Trends?

By
Mortgage and Lending with Liberty Bank of Arkansas

As stagers we not only need to stay current on changing decor trends, but also your local real estate trends and real estate news in general.  When a stager is looking at staging a property they will look at the local trends, the target market for the property and research competing homes on the market. They will know what buyers are looking for in a home.  This is why we need to stay current with the local market and news. Staging is not just about decorating. If a stager does not stay current on real estate news and trends it can and will effect their business in one way or another.

Here are some ways I keep current.

1. Subscribe to Realty Times online

2. Subscribe to Realtor Online magazine

3. Member of local board of Realtors

4. Read local news

5. Online reserach

6. Networking with local lenders, appraisers, inspectors, anyone that works with real estate

7. And of cousre a member of the wonderful rain! (Reading posts and comments from Realtors helps me understand a little more of what they deal with each day, and this in return can help me serve them better)

How about you? What do you do to stay current or do you?

Posted by

Donna Schoby

Mortgage Loan Officer

NMLS#862999

479-696-3804

dschoby@mylibertybank.com 


APPLY ONLINE AT www.mylibertybank.com/donnaschoby


 

                                           

 

 

 

Comments (12)

Home Staging
Showhomes - Nashville, TN

Donna, Great post! Staying current makes a big difference. I'm amazed at how little Realtors sometimes know about the market. It pays to be professionally prepared when talking or presenting to REAs and home owners. I'd add having a good grasp of local sale times in the area and price range of the home you target is also really critical. You have to have access to the MLS for this but its worth it!

May 23, 2008 10:25 AM
Lori Kim Polk
Premiere Home Staging : Home Staging Services - Roseville, CA
Home Stager - Roseville, Sacramento

This is more than just important.. it is imperative to be successful as a stager. The more you build relationships with different REAs in your area, the more questions you can ask and the more info you will learn. Make friends with some Loan people too. Open houses are a great way just to get a feel for what is out there. Staging trends depend on the area. It is good to know about the economy so that you have a game plan when talking with clients. You can be successful in any market and it shouldn't change your staging policies and practices. If you want to know what is out there... just get out there and see for yourself. ;))

May 23, 2008 02:02 PM
Cari Pilon
RE:STYLE Home Staging - Brighton, MI
RE:STYLE Home Staging

When in doubt - just ask! I was at a client's the other day and had a preconcieved idea that this condo community was targeted toward the older generation. Not 100% sure - I asked the home owner. She said that it was mostly the community consisted of older people, but younger singles and couples is what had moved in most recently.

The seller is a great source for neighborhood information.

May 23, 2008 02:14 PM
Donna Schoby
Liberty Bank of Arkansas - Bentonville, AR

Thomas - I'll have to check to see if I have access to the MLS, I'm a new member not sure about that in my area.

Lori- I am friends with some lenders, I was in real estate lending for 10 years, I also go to open houses every chance I get, this is a great way to meet agents and talk about the local market.

Cari - Yes, neighborhood information is great, I also ask the agent about the community the property is located in, sometimes I receive a call from a near by town, and I am not as familer with that community as with my own.

May 23, 2008 02:36 PM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Spot on Donna!!  Building relationships and getting involved with the real estate community is the best networking.  I am priviledged to know the best of the best!! I attend our Realtor weekly marketing meetings and serve on the board at one of them.  I belong to our local Realtor Association and receive their e-newsletters and monthly magazine. I also belong to Women's Council of  Realtor's.  The monthly educational speakers at their events are outstanding!!! Knowledge is Power!

   

May 23, 2008 03:59 PM
Karen Dembsky
Peachtree Home Staging LLC, Home Staging in Atlanta, GA - Peachtree City, GA
Atlanta Home Staging

It's critical -- thx for sharing this advice!  Featured in the group http://activerain.com/groups/RealWorldHomeStaging

May 24, 2008 01:43 AM
Donna Schoby
Liberty Bank of Arkansas - Bentonville, AR

Cathy - I agree, knowledge is power. Thanks for stopping by.

Karen - Yea! My first feature on Real World Home Staging and Stage If Foward. I kinda like those little gold stars! Thanks

May 24, 2008 07:49 AM
Terrylynn Fisher
Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA
HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.

Oh, how right you are.  Staging we were doing 5 years ago, is nothing like what we must do today to keep up with our knowledge base, keep current for our Realtor clients and homeowner clients on trends and what is going on in the staging end of the real estate industry.  They are interchangeable and affect each other as to how the market is and what kind of staging is taking place.  The demands of the public and the Realtor community are going to direct our future business and we'll be telling them what those trends will be if we are smart.

May 24, 2008 07:47 PM
Tanya Venable
Orlando, FL
SEO, Mobile SEO, and Internet Marketing Consultant

Donna, great post!  Stagers definitely have to stay abreast of all current real estate news.  It will only help us be better and more effective stagers.

May 25, 2008 06:06 AM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals

We do need to stay current and stage for the potential buyers.

May 25, 2008 04:39 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

You've made some excellent points about knowledge of our market.  It pays to ask every realtor you meet about the trends they've noticed, DOM data, etc.  The more we know, the more credibility we gain with potential clients.

May 26, 2008 05:00 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Hi Donna,

Great post!  I am part of some wonderful organizations like IRIS (Interior Redesign Industry Specialist's), We Make Color Easy and I read the trends they share with us.  I also check out various information from HGTV on a variety of subjects, Better Homes and Gardens, etc.  Online like you mentioned is a quick and easy way to learn on just about anything.  I continue to ask my fellow Realtors and Mortgage Banker friends, too! 

Have a Colorful Day!

Jun 02, 2008 12:04 AM
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