I had a meeting with a realtor yesterday to discuss my staging business. I learned some things I did not know but am glad that I did so I can keep it mind before I do a presentation before a group of people.

1. Professionalism, professionalism, professionalism. This is a play on the saying, "Location, location, location." These people work with professionals who dress the part and carry themselves professionally everyday. I found out that it is not only important to dress and act the part, but also to have professional looking marketing materials. I had forgot to take in my portfolio and instead brought in an example of a thrown together foam core board with pictures of staging. It was not professional looking due to the fact that I had one week to put together a staging speech and needed an example of staging for a booth without having to bring in furniture. The foam core board was something all I could think of at the time. I know the board did not look professional but I was trying to show the realtor an example of what staging looked like.

2. Don't call them realators. They are realtors. Don't put in that extra syllable.

3. It is better to offer say a coupon for like 10% off something rather than to offer free services. The word free conjures up ideas that there is a catch.

4. Don't say "if" say "when". Like "if you hire me as a stager". Say, "when you hire me as a stager" there is no such word as "if".

5. The agent liked the brochures and my flyers. She suggeted I put together information to give to the agents. Wait a few weeks, and give out some more information. This is to establish that I am a professional who knows what I am talking about and to get my name circulating around their office.

6. Email newsletters and not to putthem into the realtors' mailboxes. Chances are if they are in the mailboxes they will be thrown away. The realtor said they always read email but they get too much paper and it usually ends up in the trash.

7. Concentrate on one or two offices at a time. Get well known there first. Focus on the big well known offices.

8. Make sure to state in my presentations and on any marketing materials that there is an urgency for staging. Have an interesting subject line in your newsletter so it will grab their attention.

9. Do not give the impression you are desparate for work even if you are. Again, this really refers to Number #1 where you need to look and act the part.

10.  Make your pictures more valuable. Show how staging really changes the look of a room and why it is so needed in this field.

I am sure there are many more, but these are the things that really spoke to me. I hope this helps someone who is starting out in the business or those who really never thought about this much.