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THE NEW HGTV SHOW "THE STAGERS" ... I SURE HOPE IT SUCKS!!!!

By Michelle Molinari

Home Stager with FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor

July 14, 2008 09:02 AM

I am looking forward to the HGTV show, even if it totally sucks, as in, portraying stagers as NOTHING like they really are!

And I hope it is overly dramatic and insulting!

I hope it makes people GLUED to the show for YEARS with it's shock-value, and totally mislead the public into thinking staging costs $2.99!

Press is press, and no matter how fantastically or horribly they portray staging, when I drive my staging-mobile down the streets, people are going to notice my mobile-advertising wrapped SUV. Then, they are going to point to my car and talk about staging with whomever is in their car with them.

Then they are going to read my web page address, and it will stick in their heads.
And when they get home, they are going to look me up, out of sheer curiosity.
Then, they are going to get an education on my website.
EVEN IF THEY NEVER CALL ME TO STAGE THEIR PROPERTY....I WIN.

If someone in my town is even thinking about staging, the pros...the cons.... the price...the point... I WIN!

Last year, NO ONE knew what staging was. This year, SOME people know what it is. A few more even understand how helpful it is. But when this show comes out....good, bad...or ugly....

They are talking about us! They are internalizing the concept. they are making it par-for-the-course and mainstreaming STAGING, just by talking about it and showing it, and showing the work & results!

I am not just excited for this show to air...I am working and planning my entire next marketing campaign to hit as the HGTV network is plugging this show. I am gonna ride the wave of publicity this show generates to get my target market to think...

HEY!!!! I KNOW A STAGER...right here in town! And she's actually pretty cool!

I don't know if the rest of you ladies and gents are gearing up for the explosion....but this show is gonna make our mysterious, little known specialization a household word, and shoot us out of the cannon!!!

We are gonna get interviews from our local press... wanting to capitalize on the publicity HGTV generates to also resonate with their readers/viewers.

AND I WILL TELL YOU HOW I KNOW...

Remember when that movie, The Hand that Rocks the Cradle... came out? I had a Nanny placement Service in Huntington Beach California when that movie premiered.

I had every TV station and talk show calling my little agency for WEEKS, just to have a local expert discuss the pitfalls and background check procedures, and talk about what parents can do to prevent a psycho-nanny from infiltrating their homes!!!

I placed a RUMP-LOAD of Nannies for months and months after that movie came out!

So let's polish our staging mobiles, get our hair done, re-stock our supply of business cards, and get ready to be ROCK STARS!!!!!!!!!

~Michelle

www.featurethisdotdotdot.com

www.curbappealfordummies.com

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Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

What a great attitude, thanks for sharing with us because as you can see it is contagious. This is very exciting. I'm really looking forward to seeing it, good or bad!

Jul 15, 2008 02:29 PM

Anonymous

Michelle Finnamore CSP www.advantagestaging.ca

Well there went 30 minutes I will never get back in my life. I do not think it represents Staging in a professional manner. I would not want homeowners to get the impression that even the smallest problem that arises cannot be dealt with in a professional manner. Having melt downs about glass that is cut the wrong size. Really. I know TV loves drama but I could not work in this profession if I had to have a melt down as many times in a day as that mother and daughter seem to have.

The end result is good. House on market for 3 month. Staged House sells in 8 days for near list. This is a good message to get out to the public. However, I don't think the average homeowner wants workers in their house that panic as much as these two do.

I always thought people who lived on the west coast were supposed to be so much more relaxed?

Jul 15, 2008 02:36 PM

#22

Janice Sutton

1st Stage Property Transformations - Murrieta, CA

Home Stager - Temecula Murrieta

Brrrrrr-Ring! Love it! You are too funny. I think you are right on! :)

Jul 15, 2008 04:02 PM

Anonymous

Michelle Finnamore CSP www.advantagestaging.ca

At my BNI networking meeting this morning serveral members came up to me to say that they had watched the show and were really turned off. Their wives were saying turn it off, lets go to sleep, this is really irratating to watch.

Sure hope HGTV and TLC has someone watching their own show with people other than who actually worked on the show to see how very annoying it is to the public to watch. I will be surprized to see this show last beyond it's original run if these comments are anything to go by.

Jul 16, 2008 12:56 AM

#24

Renee Pratta

Renewed Rooms - North Myrtle Beach, SC

Renewed Rooms - SC

Fingers are crossed...and I'm waiting by my phone! Should I hire operators?

Jul 16, 2008 02:52 PM

Michelle Molinari

FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor - Lafayette, LA

Feature This Real, Estate Staging & Curb Appeal Concepts

Well, kids...my statcounter is recording 29 hits a day for the past 3 weeks.

Last month...16.5.

Also, I am getting twice as many calls, and doing twice as many curb appeal strategy packages as last month.

Am I the only one noticing this bump in interest?

It's GOT to be the show, because I am not marketing twice as hard just yet... I am winding up for this show to air in the US before my media-blitz.

My duckies are in a row. Hope yours are, too!

~Michelle

Jul 16, 2008 08:53 PM

C. Bartch

Newark, OH

Michelle, You are too funny. I love this post and I don't know why I haven't subscribed to your blog before but I'm doing it right now. You always have great tips! Thanks for posting!!

Jul 16, 2008 11:51 PM

Michelle Molinari

FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor - Lafayette, LA

Feature This Real, Estate Staging & Curb Appeal Concepts

Thanks Cynthia!

I need all the subscribers I can get!

~Michelle

Jul 17, 2008 01:01 AM

David Moon

First Impressions Home Staging & Interior Redesign - Charleston, SC

First Impressions

For an insider's insights into the series, check out Matthew Finlason's comments under Charlene's post about Episode 2:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/584671/The-Stagers-Episode-2

Jul 17, 2008 01:49 AM

Michelle Molinari

FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor - Lafayette, LA

Feature This Real, Estate Staging & Curb Appeal Concepts

Thanks David!

How cool is that response!!!

Very gracious, too, I might add.

~Michelle

Jul 17, 2008 07:18 AM

Tori Lynn Wallitsch

Prudential Ambassador / Ross Designs, LLC - Omaha, NE

Michelle - I'm with you! Can't wait to see the show. It has been amazing to me in the three years I have been Staging to see the understanding grow (and thus the competition). I pride myself in being one of the foremost Stagers in Omaha to really advertise and educate the realtors about the concept.

Jul 17, 2008 11:38 AM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

I want to see a photo of your wrapped vehicle Michelle! You make really good points here. I just know it's going to be more drama than anything - it makes for good TV - all the world's a stage right?

Jul 17, 2008 01:47 PM

Michelle Molinari

FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor - Lafayette, LA

Feature This Real, Estate Staging & Curb Appeal Concepts

I know...I am DYING to see it myself. The guy who is the designer of the wrap has a TWO WEEK WAIT! I don't think I can make it that long. If he could just throw me a bone....a conceptual image, or something!

I can't wait to drive down the road in a peacock! I gave him this to give him a rough idea of what I am thinking as far ac color planning. Mind you... it will not be cartoon feathers..but a close-up photograph of real feathers! And the three body colors will fade gradually into each other.

I don't think ANYONE will miss my moving commercial, or forget it. It might be a nuisance!

I can't wait!!!!!

Jul 17, 2008 02:03 PM

Barbara Cluck-Miksits

BCM Home Staging LLC - Ridgewood, NJ

Home Staging - New Jersey

Michelle, I read that you said you are getting between 400 to 500 hits a month on you website. Is that the number of hits or unique visitors?

I have to tell you that every time I see this title I crack up. Thank you so much for making me laugh everyday. I will be back to comment again.

Jul 17, 2008 02:06 PM

Michelle Molinari

FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor - Lafayette, LA

Feature This Real, Estate Staging & Curb Appeal Concepts

Yes. 400 to 500 unique visits per month, not page loads.

It's at 52 unique visits as of 9:15 pm... IN ONE DAY!!!

That's off the chart, compared to my regular stats. Dunno what other people get.

I have 544 as of right this second for the month so far, July 17th.

It was 503 TOTAL for June.

What the heck is going on?

~Michelle

Jul 17, 2008 02:16 PM

Michelle Finnamore

Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON

Preparing your property for sale

Hi Michelle,

Maybe it is actually unique visits from Realtors at Active Rain?

My info lets me see who is actually visiting, as in names.

Maybe everyone on AR has come to know and love you as we all do and love to read your funny and informative blogs and finally decided to check out your website.

We can only hope it is the Realtors and they all call you for work.

Jul 18, 2008 01:24 AM

Michelle Molinari

FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor - Lafayette, LA

Feature This Real, Estate Staging & Curb Appeal Concepts

Hi Michelle F.-

I wish I could see all that with Statcounter, but I can't. I can see what they are googling, and it seems to be curb appeal and staging. But where do people get the sudden urge to investigate these two terms HGTV-esque terms? And what is spurring the jump? Could it possibly be "The Stagers" constantly being promoted the last few weeks? That is the only real difference I can detect.

Yes, many folks are from A/R. That means realtors. Realtors are resistant, by and large, to staging. But they are looking into it, apparently, and at twice the rate they did last month, on my site, clearly.

I don't care where they are or who they are. I just care that they are considering the possibility of hiring a stager or learning more about staging in general.

~Michelle

Jul 18, 2008 03:56 AM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

LOVE the peacock!

Jul 22, 2008 02:05 AM

Michelle Molinari

FEATURE THIS... Real Estate Staging & Interior Decor - Lafayette, LA

Feature This Real, Estate Staging & Curb Appeal Concepts

Thanks Karen...I cannot wait to drive around in that sucker...! Still waiting for the wrap man to finish the design....I am SURE it will look a lot better than my mock-up thing above.

Michelle

Jul 26, 2008 06:13 AM

Michelle Finnamore

Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON

Preparing your property for sale

Hi Michelle, I live on Peacock Lane. Coincidence that us Stagers are drawn to a bird that markets itself so well?

Jul 26, 2008 06:57 AM