Special offer

Saving a sinking ship, sometimes it starts with re-arranging the deck chairs:

By
Real Estate Agent with HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 RS-76763

The world can be a frightful place and circumstances can cast even the most successful businesses and people into a downward spiral. It sometimes seems that one horrible situation follows another pulling it's unwitting participants downward into the dark abyss of hopelessness as one catastrophe piles upon another; fueled by negativity.  

I was recently asked by a newly hired business associate to organize and redesign his office. The firm that hired him had been beset by a number of unfortunate and untimely circumstances. The fateful events began with the unexpected passing of it's principle broker, followed by the illnesses and retirement of several of it's employees. The succession of death and illness quickly contributed to the unraveling of a once vibrant and successful business. Although, the dwindling staff had done it's best to recoup from these extenuating events, the atmosphere within the  organization was palatable and heavy like the caustic Hawaiian vog the seeps over the mountains into the valleys when the trade winds have disappeared.  

 

The newly hired associate immediately recognized that the office needed a face lift desperately and called JDS Consulting to help get things organized. The simple act of cleaning and organizing his new office had an instantaneous effect on everyone working there. Almost overnight the office transformed from drab to fab. The phones started ringing again, clients started coming in and the gloom lifted.

Sometimes saving a sinking ship starts with rearranging the deck chairs.

Posted by

Crypto Certified Agent - By Propy 

HI Pro Realty LLC

REALTORS®, PROPERTY MANAGERS® 

We are a boutique brokerage firm offering responsive, dedicated, and professional Real Estate Sales and Pet Friendly Management Services in Honolulu, Hawai'i. 

 

                Office: (808) 941-8866   Mobile: (808) 926-7667

 

Not Here
Active Rain Please Delete this account. Thank you - Kalamazoo, MI

Wow, what a difference. Can't imagine working in the previous office, great job!

Sep 20, 2008 12:04 AM
Kathy Passarette
Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY
L.I. Staging/Decorating

Aloha Kimo ~ What a difference!  I can believe that that office as depressing as it was, and affected people working there in a negative way.  Nice Job!

Sep 20, 2008 01:50 AM
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Aloha Paul, actually no one new where anything was, the business had gone into crisis mode and only the most essential tasks were kept organized. It was a difficult time for everyone.

Aloha Vicki, the real credit goes to the amazing person who hired me. His energy and enthusiasm is what really transformed the place.

Aloha HB, it was heart breaking to see but things are turning around in a big way.

Aloha Kathy, I wish I could convey the shift in thinking and how powerful it was, these photos were the closest thing.

 

Sep 20, 2008 09:26 AM
Phyllis Pafumi
ReStyled to Sell Home Staging New Jersey - Old Bridge, NJ
ReStyled to Sell Staging Homes NJ

NOw that's what I am talking about....NICE JOB..the desk by the window practically looks like it is leaning out I am sure the work in this office will be much more efficient now that the clutter is gone.

Phyllis Pafumi

Sep 30, 2008 03:23 PM
Alyce Martin
The Realty Group, LLC - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque - THE Place To Be!

Rearranging deck chairs to save a sinking ship - only a clever designer could come up with that.  You go Kimo.

Sep 30, 2008 04:04 PM
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Aloha Phyllis, thank you, we played around with the lay out and this worked the best.

Aloha Alyce, mahalo for your compliment, Hawaiian's have an acute love for word use, double entendres, and plays on words; it's in my blood.

Oct 01, 2008 11:12 AM
David Saks
Memphis, TN
Broker / Industry Analyst

Very nice, Kimo. Nicely organized and clutter free. Fine photos. You also revitalized the environment and, I'm sure, brought hope and cheer to your client in the wake of recent tragic events as you mentioned. In this case, it was more than just staging, it was also compassion and a bit of family psychology to help your client. It's demonstrated clearly in your effort. Fine job. Hope your having a great week in beautiful Hawaii.

Oct 01, 2008 11:57 AM
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Aloha David, Thanks for stopping by. Being positive is a powerful attitude and can do wonders. 

Oct 02, 2008 06:14 AM
Vicki Styons
RoomBenders - Columbia, SC

Kimo, obviously before you move the deck chairs, you had to use a backhoe to move all of the stuff :-)  Very nice office and conducive to working now. 

Oct 04, 2008 02:04 PM
Linda Jandura
Raleigh Cary Realty - Apex, NC
Realtor, North Carolina Buyer & Seller Specialist

Kimo, I couldn't have worked in the first environment at all! The second one is gorgeous, with plenty of feng shui.

I agree about the deck chairs. We once had a very small plain condo listed, with a great view of a small lake (ie- pond). We arranged the deck chairs to face the water, took a picture from inside looking out, and put that as our main picture. The condo sold in 12 hours!

 

Oct 09, 2008 04:43 AM
Terri Lucas
Exclusive Home Staging - Redondo Beach, CA
Exclusive Home Staging Los Angeles

Kimo, wow how wonderful.  A positive outcome to bad circumstances your help was amazin. I was even uplifted looking at the B&A. 

Oct 12, 2008 04:22 PM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

Oh Kimo, what a wonderful story. Your positive thoughts contributed to the redesign of this office speaks for itself. Thank goodness they knew to call you and rearrange the deck chairs. :)

Oct 15, 2008 09:00 AM
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Aloha Vicki, thank you a back hoe would have worked nicely.

Aloha Linda, mahalo for commenting and congratulations on that quick sale.

Aloha Terri, thanks! Positivity works, maybe not as well as the B & A but it works.

Aloha Michelle, I give all the credit of positivity to the one who hired me.

Oct 15, 2008 01:37 PM
Jill Schmit
Micoley & Company - Green Bay, WI
ABR, ASP, GRI

Congratulations on another great job - I think that your positive attitude is reflected in your work. The photos shows a definite change from negative 'befores' to inspiring 'afters'. Thanks for sharing.

Oct 16, 2008 01:24 AM
Michelle Pimentel
Empire Home Staging Solutions - Upland, CA
ASP, IAHSP Empire Home Staging

Kimo,

Fantastic work!  An organized office is a functioning office!  I bet your business associate was elated when it was completed.

Oct 16, 2008 03:21 AM
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Aloha Jill, my heart sank when I originally saw the space, I thought to myself 'something is not quite right here'. I began to see a pattern in the mess which indicated to me that it was a dump and run situation. People were avoiding the office so much so that they would literally just dump boxes, bags and paper work and leave.

Aloha Michelle P, I couldn't believe anything got done in that office but it did somehow. At least now you're not overcome by mess when you walk in the door.

Oct 16, 2008 07:34 AM
Michele Hess
Simply Staged Inc. - Rockford, IL
Home Stager Rockford - Simply Staged Inc

Kimo, I believe you just increased their income potential by creating a more productive office.  Looks great!!

Oct 16, 2008 11:33 PM
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Aloha Michelle, that would be great! If only it were quantifiable.

Oct 17, 2008 08:06 AM
Kathi Presutti
RE:STYLE LLC - Brighton, MI
Re:Style, LLC

Kimo, what an amazing and energizing transformation. Congratulations to you for having the talent, skill and stamina to create this!

Oct 22, 2008 11:34 AM
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Aloha Kathi, Thank you.

Oct 23, 2008 08:55 AM