chicago stager: First Appearing on "STAGE" 3 years Ago... TODAY! - 03/19/07 12:09 AM
Today, on the 3rd anniversary of my first home staging... I thought I would share the backstory behind my first staging experience and how it convinced ME that home staging works.
In March of 2004, a little after I had completed my studies in Interior Design, I was asked to stage a condo (that had a lot going against it) in Chicago.
I can remember thinking... "Staging? What's that?" You see, I really knew NOTHING about staging.  So I went about researching what I could on the web. But unfortunately, at that time, there was not much information to be found, as there is today, but there was enough information that I got the … (27 comments)

chicago stager: I Confess... I've used the UGLY "R" WORD on the streets of metro Chicago - 03/16/07 12:07 AM
I happen to know among clients, home selling professionals, developers and stagers that there is controversy swirling around this very hot topic.  It seems like everyone is chiming in on one side or the other, having a very strong and opinion on the subject. However, some of these negative opinions I feel are quite prejudiced. I feel all these people are misinformed and it is their ignorance that propels the myth and controversy that surrounds the "R" word.
Quite recently, we lost a client because we decided to start using the ugly "R" word. THIS got my blood boiling. NOW I am on a crusade to... Stamp out the … (33 comments)

chicago stager: STAGE IT FORWARD... by giving IT back - 03/10/07 10:59 PM
The importance and willingness to give back is basic to what the group of stagers in Stage it Forward are all about. Its so basic, that in the group's short description here on Active Rain, the words "share" or "sharing" is used in 3 separate places.
For me however, Stage It Forward is more than just helping other stagers grow their businesses... for me, Stage It Forward meant using my time, talent and treasure to benefit my community.  So at Real Estaging, our current Stage It Forward effort centers around the creation of a spectacular community wide fund raising event for Brickton Art Center... a WONDERFUL not-for profit organization (grounded in outreach) in Park Ridge Illinois.
This year we helped … (10 comments)

chicago stager: Town-home sits UNSOLD for 7 months... THEN SELLS JUST 2 DAYS AFTER STAGING - 03/09/07 01:22 AM
Here in Chicago, the Bucktown area has risen up to be a beautiful renaissance neighborhood. Just about 10 years ago it wasn't much to look at. However due to its close proximity to to downtown, builders came in tore out or rehabbed much of the old and built new. NOW Bucktown is one of Chicago's trendiest and vibrant neighborhoods.
Because builders saw such opportunity and possibility... more and more came and built and built (and are still building actually) so the levels of inventory rose and rose and continues to rise. Unfortunately that creates a challenge. How does a seller, who originally bought new construction a few years back, differentiate their home … (23 comments)

chicago stager: Staged it Wright in Oak Park / River Forest IL - 03/02/07 01:23 AM
When it comes to Architecture, the Oak Park / River Forest area of Illinois is one of the most historically significant areas in the world!  For it is here that Frank Lloyd Wright had his first "studio" and created the now famous and easily recognizable form of architecture known as the Prairie Style.
Dotted among the large stately mansions and tree lined streets of this area are Architectural masterpieces, created by Frank Lloyd Wright.  And due to this areas close proximity to Chicago, builders have found it profitable to tear down less desirable older homes and replace them with new homes featuring all the … (15 comments)

chicago stager: Classic Georgian beautifully staged in Winnetka Illinois - 02/28/07 11:11 AM
Since the start of Active Rain I know I have been a bit of a yapper. But lately I have been very quiet... but for good reason. WE HAVE BEEN BUSY!
I thought you all might like to see some of what our crew here at Real Estaging has been working on that has kept us ALL so busy.
Below is a FOLLOW UP staging project for a "boutique" builder I first blogged about in my UPSTAGING blog last summer. The first house we staged for the builder had been on the market for nearly 10 months when we staged it. But once … (26 comments)

chicago stager: HOLIDAY DECORATING: Should home sellers GRINch or BARE it? - 11/29/06 12:45 AM
Back in the fall I blogged on about whether or not it was wise to decorate for Halloween... and while at that time many people gave varied opinions, I stated that I thought it best not to.
SO... what about Christmas? Should a home seller decorate their house during Christmas Season? My answer is a definite and resounding... CONDITIONAL YES.
Decorating a house for sale during the Christmas Season is a little different then decorating for the Halloween Season.
While the Christmas selling market is MUCH slower, and the Holiday decorations are not as "creepy" and offensive looking... Decorations still can be distractions.
So … (20 comments)

chicago stager: 2 Sides of the Real Estate Transaction - 10/01/06 06:22 AM
It is often said that buying a home is the biggest PURCHASE one will ever make in their lives.
But there are 2 sides to every story.
Does it NOT stand to reason that putting one's home on the market would then be a person's biggest SALE in their life?
I think sometimes that is forgotten... and that is where stagers go to work.
Plain and Simple... Stager's help maxmize the BIGGEST SALE in one's life.
 
… (5 comments)

chicago stager: Halloween Decorations or DISTRACTIONS? - 09/30/06 06:55 AM
Well it's that time of the year when the ghost, goblins, gouls come out of attics and basements and into homes. While for some the day is great fun... for other's Halloween carries a negative connotation. 
You might want to suggest to your seller's that this year they cut back or totally avoid decorating.
As a stager I advise our clients to use VERY little or NO decorations. WHY? For the simple reason... when selling a house the HOME is to be the "star of the show" not the stuff.
PRO OR CON Halloween... NOT decorating makes sense because:
 * If a buyer LIKES Halloween you don't want them looking at all … (31 comments)

chicago stager: GET THIS... real estate staging is NOT interior design! - 08/09/06 12:40 PM
So in the last week now, twice I have had clients that want to tell ME how to stage their totally vacant properties.  That is like going to the dentist and telling him you know how to drill our own teeth... and asking for the drill while he watches.  Real Estate staging is NOT interior design. The work we do is NOT a reflection of the seller's life, tastes, hopes, dreams, or wishes.  It IS a cohesive and UNDERSTATED expression of what the LARGEST home buying demographic segment would find appealing.
To date we NOW have over 2OOO props in our … (5 comments)

chicago stager: What Every Realtor Should Know About Home Staging - 07/22/06 09:28 AM
Because real estate staging is still relatively new in the Midwest we still get a lot of questions from Realtors about our services. 
Many Realtors say they  already "do their own staging"... which I think is great.  But in this world were time is money, my question back to Realtors often is: "Is staging the BEST use of your time?"  Is chasing a dust bunny, scheleping a coffee table, or arraging nic-nacs really what you want to do? Just something to think about...
Anyway to help Realtors understand and work with our staff better, we actually have a brochure directed right to the … (15 comments)

 
These are the creative writings of Craig Schiller, a home staging professional, passionate real estate marketing professional and founder of the Real Estaging, one of the nation's leading home staging companies.


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