This has been an interesting week for me. I am teaching staging and redesign this week which means that my schedule is tight. Of course that means that my phone won't stop ringing. (This is NOT a complaint!) In trying to return and schedule these appointments in a timely manner I've learned a few things. The first of which is that I am n fact starting to win the battle on education. Let me give you a brief synopsis of some of the events that have transpired.....
* I received a phone call from an out of town agent about staging his vacant investment property. Three different staging companies were called.... we stage the unit on Monday.... (vacant, $288K)
* A seller who 'flips' homes was recommended by her agent that the current flip be staged in order for her to receive maximum benefit. We stage that unit on Tuesday. (vacant, $1.6 M)
* I received a phone call from an agent about an hour and a half north of here wanting to have one of his listings staged. He felt that the property just isn't living up to it's potential without any furniture. I was recommended by his client - who was given my name by a friend of hers - a local agent that I just staged a vacant home for. (The home I just staged was $550K and the one needing staged is $1.6M, both are vacant)
* I recieved another phone call from an agent who is trying to land a $2M listing. She wants to offer this service to the sellers as a way to set her apart from the competition. (vacant)
As of Tuesday I will have 10 vacant homes currently staged & on the market. I have 4 other quotes out with a strong reality of getting at least 2 of them. I have also contacted our local ERA office to help their agents service their new Gold plan clients. Every agent has been sent a letter, a copy of THEIR new policy, a brochure and business cards.
When I started Staging no one in Charleston even seemed to know what it was. Now my phone rings off the hook and on average I stage 2 vacant homes a week + consultations and owner occupied properties. I have a strong sense of the feeling that I am winning the battle on education... and it feels GREAT!
Melissa Marro, www.StagingAndRedesign.com - become a First Impressions member today!
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Melissa Marro, a published artist, now turned staging advocate and national speaker speaks her mind about real estate and the home staging industry. In her 'no holds barred' approach, audience members find real answers to the industries pitfalls and learn how to overcome them with tried and true information and guidance. With marketing as her passion, she turned a small home based business into one of the nation's largest home staging and training facilities. Selling her successful home staging company in January 2012, Marro is now a full time speaker and instructor for Staging And Resign and Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)'s trade events.
For more information on having Marro speak at one of your real estate functions, please contact her at 843.619.1593 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com
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