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I'm Sending My Love

By
Home Stager with ALR Home Staging and Showcasing, LLC

OK, OK, as quick as I had my appointment scheduled for yesterday I lost it just as quickly.  It's OK though.  I wanted to curse and yell...well, I'll be honest, I did when I got the message that she was cancellingWhat was the reason for cancelling?  AHHH, her realtor sent over a stager on Tuesday.  It was part of her marketing package and she didn't realize it.  NOTE TO SELF:  Get a relationship secured with a realtor!   I'm over it.  It's over and done with---not losing sleep.  She was the ONLY one to call from those cards I sent but it's still OK.  I sent another 20 cards out on Wednesday to some select FSBO listings that needed work!  We'll see how that goes cuz I'm not giving up!  

An absolutely positive note, I did get a call tonight from a homeseller that was checking out my website.  She found me, I didn't find her, and I've got an appointment on Monday!  A paid consultation!  WOO HOO!  (I'm keeping my fingers crossed her realtor doesn't pull another stager out of her bag too!  LOL)

In the meantime, between my readings on Georgia small business tax laws, I've taken advantage of some of the great ideas posted here on AR the last few weeks.  If you haven't checked this out already, you need to do it today!  Jeff Turner's Real Estate Shows is just amazing.  I created my account and played around with some before and after pics to make a show and see how they'd look.  Well, I was impressed and these are by far not the best examples of before and after staging pics.  Just wait until I get some really good ones!  :)  Thanks Jeff!  I love it!

Maureen Henry always has such cool, out of the box, marketing ideas.  I am trying out the branded email stationary to see what kind of feedback I get on that.  It looks great!  I'm very happy with it and it looks SO MUCH better than my Outlook signature!  :)  Thanks, Maureen, for introducing it!  Oh, and I am also trying out her suggestion with the Vflyer.  I know it's been around and quite a few use it, but for those of you new to this and haven't tried it, go for it.  It looked so good!  I have a friend in NJ who is a director of marketing and when she checked it out for me, she went crazy!  She'll be looking into it as well!  My goal is to get those Vflyers to work for me with the realtors!

My mentor, Kathy Nielsen...You rock, girl!  Thanks for all of your help, advice and giving me some Hands-On experience doing vacant staging.  I appreciate your friendship more than you will ever know!

I want to spread some more love to everyone else in the community...it's great to be a part of it and you all are wonderful!  I've learned more about business, staging, and LIFE in the last couple of months than I could have ever imagined and I KNOW that it is the only the tip of the iceburg! 

So, since I've taken so much from the group I'm wondering what it is that I can share in return.  Well, I'm reading a few books at the moment.  I'm weird---I don't read one at a time, I don't know why---maybe it's a commitment thing, I don't know.  Anyway, one of the books is How to Become a Rainmaker, by Jeffrey J. Fox.  Yes, I'm not going to lie, the Rain reference is what got me to pull it off the library shelf.  I'm going to make it my suggested reading for any one starting out their business, or just needing a boost in the selling area.  I'm only half way through but it's a great read.  It's fairly easy to read and understand...some of it is obvious but some of it was eye opening for me.  I've learned many ways how to SELL products over the years but there is such a difference between selling and MAKING IT RAIN!  I'm not saying anymore---read it yourself!  I've enjoyed it and I'm sure some of you will too.

Thanks everyone!

Abby

Comments(7)

Shell Brodnax
Real Estate Staging Association - Valley Springs, CA
CEO- RESA

Abby,

First let me commend you with a "cyber pat on the back" because you realized her canceling was a GIFT! You recognized to get a relationship with a Realtor. My advise, send a personal hand written note to the women that canceled, letting her know it was nice to talk to her, and if you can do anything for her in the future to please let her know, Include your card and if you have any marketing flyer's materials with your work on it include that.

Short story: Many years ago, I sold a staging course to a gal, she had a article written about her in the paper and got TONS of calls. Called me to thank me for the idea and tell me about it as she was happy. A few days later called back VERY upset because all of the calls were from people wanting to get into the staging business, and NOT ONE call for a job. She sent them my way etc. After I calmed her down I reassured her that the article will produce for her in other ways.

1. It got her exposure, I recommended she use it in her marketing. (she did and got jobs)

2. I told her that people save articles and maybe in six months someone may pull it out and call her. (yes she called in about  months and told me that happened)

3. I told her that the exposure will come back in many ways that she may not even realize yet. (yes it did, I comp'd her fees for a convention, we became friends, she became a trainer.

She ended up doing very well. Every little thing you do in your business ads up. It is an "accumulative effect" .

SO AWESOME job at keeping it positive!!

 

 

Apr 26, 2007 04:21 PM
Abby Roselli
ALR Home Staging and Showcasing, LLC - Staten Island, NY
Staten Island Home Stager

Hi Shell,

Sorry for taking so long to reply...I've been MIA this past week.  Thanks so much for your input.  I did follow up with a voice mail because she didn't answer her phone, but I thanked her for contacting me and told her to feel free to call if anything changes in the future and wished her well on the sale of the home.  I will follow up with a note card and a personal note...I just got them in the mail yesterday! :)  Yes, I keeping my head up that it will be accumulative! 

Have a great weekend,

Abby

May 05, 2007 06:48 AM
Steven Shewell
Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. - Ephrata, PA
The Mortgage Maverick

This is a great community.  I have been in business for over 20 years, but I learn something new every day from the wonderfully experienced members of AR.

Thanks for all of your wonderful ideas.

May 05, 2007 06:51 AM
Abby Roselli
ALR Home Staging and Showcasing, LLC - Staten Island, NY
Staten Island Home Stager

Hi Steven,

Love your biz name:  Mortgage Maverick!  That's awesome! 

Yes, I agree...I've learned tons from members of this group and I hope, as get some experience under my wings here, that I will have some great things to share.  Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy your weekend,

Abby

May 05, 2007 07:03 AM
Alix Pinzon
Open Mortgage, LLC NMLS # 2975 - Downey, CA
(562)743-6086
As you know, the spirit of Active Rain is to help each other.  The best way that I've found is by hitting each others' website, to improve internet search rankings.  I checked out your website, and I liked the pink buttons, that's cool.  If you have a second, please reciprocate the favor by checking out my website at http://www.southerncaliforniaappraisers.net/
Jan 09, 2008 05:10 AM
Terrylynn Fisher
Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA
HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.
Um, don't hope her realtor doesn't sabotage it, tell her you'll coordinate with her realtor, and get her name and number to connect with.  Tell the realtor how you will support her and give her your presentation so she is on board.  Remember the saying "Happens once, shame on you, Happens twice, shame on me"...don't let the business get away, it's just a two step process sometimes.  Go get them girl, you'll do fine.
Jan 09, 2008 06:00 AM
Abby Roselli
ALR Home Staging and Showcasing, LLC - Staten Island, NY
Staten Island Home Stager

Hi Gregg,  I took a trip on over...you'll get a hit on your contact us from me.  Thanks for taking a minute to visit my site!  =) 

Hi Terrylynn, As things turned out with this scenario, I did do the consultation and the homeowner DID hire me to stage it.  The listing agent loved the work I did and has called me a few times to let me know she's given my name out.  So that actually worked out well.  I'd call it all growing pains...I know better know, that's for sure!  =)  Thanks for commenting.  LOL, I forgot about this post...wheww, it's an oldie! 

 

Jan 09, 2008 06:48 AM