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Beware of Wolves In Sheeps Clothing! Can't wait for "Auld Lang Syne"!

By
Home Stager with Renewed Rooms

Wow, what a year...  I can't wait for 2008 to be over!

I met two young women exactly on December 5, 2007.   I believed everything they said....they had been taken by a "staging trainer"  I didn't bother to check their credibility.   I  was on top of the world.My business was about to explode.  All my predictions of success were coming TRUE....UH----OHHHHH!

It was a farce.  Early in the relationship...these women entered a contest for home staging.  While I was uncomfortable because they did not do the work...I kept silent.  After all they were a part of my company...but there was more and more that didn't add up...  I kept asking for signatures...they kept hesitating.

Their vindictiveness was not something I had ever experienced before...I said enough...they erased all of my Vizz-vox productions, (I have proof), they made my entire year a living hell....Accused me of things they were doing... it was the most unbelievable time of my life...I LEARNED A VERY VALUABLE LESSON...ASK QUESTIONS....MAKE SURE YOU GET SIGNATURES FIRST...

Their demands were enormous....and you need to know they come off as so sweet and honest.  But after the "you are great"....all of a sudden nothing was good enough, they refused to pay for much but demanded even more...it was an amazing time.

 Oh, I won both law suits I filed against them but they are some of the shrewdest, most manipulating women I have ever met... BEWARE!  E-mail me and I will personally talk to you about who and what they did so you don't have to suffer what I have this past year.  They have cost me $1,000's...I'm still surviving but it has been brutal, emotional,and not worth what I thought they would bring to the table....

 I can't wait for 2009!  Except for my membership in IRIS, my family, my great clients and friends it has been a horrendous year and I can't wait for the new one.

Happy Holidays to you all and Here's to a great 2009!

Comments (8)

Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Glad to know you can start the new year smiling and fresh.  Looks like not only your "rooms are renewed"  but so is your "life"  Much success and harmony to you in 2009 Renee!! 

Dec 13, 2008 02:04 AM
Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Ouch Renee this sounds VERY painful.  I have missed you and wondered what you were doing.  Sorry to hear about this.  Here's to a properous and healthy 2009 for you.  BTW you got my IRIS vote. 

Dec 13, 2008 04:42 AM
Toronto's 2 Hounds Design: Decorating + Staging
2 Hounds Design + Home Staging - Toronto, ON

Congratulations on winning the law suits. I had a hunch YOU would win.

 

Dec 13, 2008 09:45 AM
Renee Pratta
Renewed Rooms - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Renewed Rooms - SC

Cathy Lee, Ginger & Dane:  Thank you.  I have truly gone through transition this year and while it has been a rough road, the reason I shared is to help anyone who is also going through some turmoil...  A staging acquaintance said I wear my heart on my sleeve.  It is very true...I'm transparent it is who I am.  I just want other stagers to know I'm here if you need a friend, if you need a shoulder...  I had several fine people help me through my turmoil, I hope I can "pay it forward"

Ginger, sincere thanks for your vote, I believe in what IRIS is trying to accomplish and while this economy is making all of us a little off balance, in the end those of us who survive the storm will come out strong.

Happy 2009 to you all.

Renee 

 

Dec 14, 2008 02:41 PM
Emma Vargas
Simply Staging - Cameron Park, CA
Simply Staging

Renee-  It sounds like you learned a valuable lesson in life.  It's too bad that there are people out there that you feel we need to be warned about, it's very sad indeed.  I too feel that I'm very trusting of people and I know that I need to be more careful.  Thanks for the reminder.  Here's hoping that '09 is a wonderful new start for those of us who deserve it.

Dec 14, 2008 04:51 PM
Anonymous
Renee Pratta

Emma:  Thanks ...It was an extremely valuable but sad lesson.  I am at peace now and so looking forward to the coming year.  I just felt I had to share my experience in the hope that just maybe someone can glean a little spec of caution if approached by someone who wants to be a "part of" your business.  

Dec 15, 2008 04:35 AM
#6
Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging

I'm glad to hear that you won both lawsuits.  Since they have new business partners - er 'affiliates' per the eblast and blogs they (wolves) have written - that lurk in the rain, I hope they are reading.... This way they won't be the 3rd staging company that is duped by the same duo.....

Dec 15, 2008 08:53 AM
Pam Faulkner
Faulkner House Interior Redesign - Herndon, VA
Room Transformations Fairfax & Loudoun Counties VA

Renee,  I'm a little late in reading this but my hair stood on end to thing of what you must have gone through with these two women.  To go into business with the intention of "stealing" is just incomprehensible to me, though I know that there are people like that in the world.  "Time wounds all heels" and "What goes around, comes around" are two phrases that spring to mind.  You may not see the retribution, but it will come, believe it.  The lawsuit win is a start.  Congratulations on that.

Great of you to post the warning.

Jun 29, 2009 05:08 AM