The Update on the following RANT; The following home was vacant and on the market for over 7 month. After our Staging Consultation on June 12, 2008, they DID repaint the interior and follow some other suggestions which were made - as of today, June 26, 2008 - it is NOW IN ESCROW.

A little Professional Home Staging ADVICE can go a l-o-n-g way! 

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So many today are out for themselves, trying to earn the "quick buck" regardless of the ramifications or how it is perceived in regards to business. A penny earned, is a penny earned - right?

I beg to differ. I prefer the school of thought that honesty and integrity trumps the amount of money made on any one deal. Why waste my time going from client - to - client  - to - client making a fast buck, when I can build true business relationships that will last over time, thus reaping a bigger reward. Maybe now: maybe not until much later. However,  when serving my clients I would much rather be honest in my humble, professional opinion and build a working relationship built on trust, than to have the other person walk away with a bad taste in their mouth.

Case in point:  A local REA contacted our company to a vacant house in which the owner had been relocated for business and the Relocation Company told her to get the house staged.  After the REA was not only late to the appointment, I called her to find that she hadn't even left the office yet. Instead of getting upset and "sticking it to her", we waited calmly and even informed her that during that time another REA had come to view the home w/ an interested buyer - they spent less than 5 minutes in the house and left. 

Upon entering there were SO many screws, nails, damage to walls and trim from pets, there was even flocked dust lines where the pictures used to be over 6 months before ~ please note that this was a fairly new, gated community.  One bathroom had been sponge painted in bright grass green, and the adjoining bedroom was floor to ceiling navy blue.

We gave an estimate for staging the house, and when the REA replied that the Relocation Company wanted to only stage with what they called "warmers" (cook books, canisters and towels) for $X,  a good percentage of people would say "GREAT!  EASY MONEY!"

But I digress.  I informed the Realtor I would rather they spend whatever money on repainting the house, then to make a quick buck.  Staging is not to distract the buyer with cheesy vignettes from the fact that the walls were filthy.  Cook books would not sell the house for the fact that the kitchen cabinets needed to be reconditioned, and no amount of towels would convince a buyer that the shade of sponged green in a bathroom would be OK to live with, even if only for a while.

Was I crazy to pass up easy money?  Maybe. We could all stand to make a few extra bucks in today's market.  However, I chalk it up to honesty and integrity. I would rather the Realtor and the Relocation Company knows that my company, Platinum Home Staging, Inc. has their best interest at heart.  We're all in this business to sell homes. 

Will she use me on other properties? Maybe.
Will she refer me to other agents?  I hope so.
I guess I'm just making deposits into the bank of karma ~ call me crazy.

Platinum Home Staging, Inc. has been recognized and grown into a tremendous success built on customer service, integrity and best of all, customer referrals. 

Of  the thousands of homes listed in your area,
How will your home compete?

www.PlatinumHomeStaging.com
(805)  553 ~ 9952