WHAT'S THE DEAL?

Submit your "before and after" photos for a chance to win one of four prizes worth $500 each or a grand prize worth $900.

HOW DOES THIS WORK?

Post your "before / after photos" on your ActiveRain blog in any or all of the following four categories (post as many as you want!):

1. Vacant new homes.

2. Vacant resale homes.

3. Repositioned/removed furniture. That is, you staged a room by working with what you were given. You did this by repositioning or removing existing furniture.

4. Furniture Added. That is, you staged a home by adding furniture to complete a look. The furniture was added from furniture rental stores, your inventory or from purchased stock.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY.

ActiveRain Members:

Step 1. Create an ActiveRain blog post with your photos embedded. (See how to embed photos here.)

Step 2. Tag the blog post with the words: "I Staged It Photo Contest". (See how to tag a blog post here.)
(Hint: Copy the words exactly as shown above and then paste that into the "tag" field.)

Step 3. In your blog post, state for which of the 4 categories you are submitting each before/after set.
    Category 1: Vacant new homes.
    Category 2: Vacant resale homes.
    Category 3: Repositioned/removed furniture.
    Category 4: Furniture added.

Step 4. Post your blog.

Non-ActiveRain Members:

Step 1. Create a free ActiveRain profile.

Step 2. Follow the steps above for ActiveRain members.

WHAT'S THE PRIZE?

One winner will be selected for each category. The winner in each category will receive a $200 Visa gift card plus one free registration to RealtyU’s fully transferrable online Certified Short-Sale Professional (CSP) course. ($500 total value.) Keep the cash and choose to take the course for yourself or gift it to an agent-client.

Grand prize. In lieu of a category prize, one overall winner will be selected to receive the following ($900 total value):

• a $300 Visa gift card;

• one free registration to RealtyU’s fully transferrable online Certified Short-Sale Professional (CSP) designation course;

• one free registration to RealtyU’s fully transferrable online Accredited Luxury Home Specialist (ALHS) designation course.

Again, you may choose to keep the cash and either take the courses yourself or gift them to agent-clients.

JUDGING CRITERIA.

Creative use of:

• staging principles,

• furniture placement,

• space,

• colors,

• vignettes.

DETAILS

• Contest entries begin immediately and must be submitted before midnight on Saturday, July 26, 2008 (Pacific).

• Winners will be announced on or before Friday, August 1, 2008 via ActiveRain’s Stage It Forward group and on the RealBlogging real estate blog. Winners will also be notified via e-mail.

• Winners qualify for one prize only and will receive the higher valued prize if qualified for a category prize and the grand prize.

• Submitted photos should have dimensions of at least 640 x 480 and must include non-watermarked “Before” and “After” photos.

• Contestants agree photos may be used by Andy Capelluto - The Power of Staging, RealtyU and its affiliated companies for education and marketing purposes. (Note: Any photos used will give attribution to the contestant. So, make sure you include your contact information.)

• Contestants agree they have authorization to submit the photos, per ActiveRain terms of service.

• Unlimited entries per person. Stack your chances of winning – submit as many before/after entry sets as you want!

Good luck!