stager: Home Stagers are you a Simon, Paula or Randy when it comes to your clients?
- 02/13/09 02:14 AM
Truth be told whenever I watch American Idol I often find myself thinking like Simon Cowell when the words he speaks come forth from his gob in his critique of the contestants. If you search your heart you may admit that Simon is pretty right on in his assessment of many of these folks and as a industry expert he should know a good from poor singer. However I would never in a million years say some of the things he does in the hurtful manner in which he says it. Yes, Simon's scathing remarks and harsh constructive criticism make for good TV, but I … (30 comments)
stager: Selling Safely - Why Guns don't say "buyer friendly"
- 02/06/09 12:36 PM
Being a Professional Home Stager in the Great State of Texas has its share of perks as well as challenges. Texans are a proud people and guns are a way of life for many. From hunting, recreational shooting to security, guns are generally accepted here as "normal". Now I bring up this point not to stir controversy or state a position on them rather, I bring it up as a Professional Home Stager who recommends that while in the process of selling a home, sellers should take serious the consideration to remove or at minimum, lock safely and securely any weapons … (20 comments)
stager: Selling a Home in North Texas? Need Help? This class may be just for you!
- 01/27/09 04:04 AM
Are you selling a home in North Texas in 2009 or thinking about it? Are you a North Texas Real Estate Professional who wants to learn more about helping your sellers achieve maximum results? Are you a Real Estate Investor who wants to know how to stage your investment properties? Then North Texas Home Sellers, Realtors & Investors (or anyone interested in learning more about home staging) it's not too late to enroll in the fun and informative Home Staging CE Course offered by Collin College from February 2nd through February 11th, 2009. Offered Monday and Wednesday nights from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM … (5 comments)
stager: Home Star Staging's success is Collin County, TX merchant's success
- 01/04/09 07:39 AM
Yes, it's a no brainer - my company's, Home Star Staging, success supports not only Collin County's economy but every area I do business in and that includes Dallas, parts of Denton and sometimes Tarrant counties as well. As I go through the always fun task of getting my year end receipts together I was looking at the businesses I frequent for goods and services in my day to day life as a home staging professional in North Texas. These businesses depend on me and you to patronize them in order for them to stay in business too. And if I'm a viable business I can afford to help … (14 comments)
stager: Looking for a few Good Stagers around the country
- 12/28/08 07:42 AM
As many of you may already know I'm a big fan of energizedseller.com the website for the dedicated Home Seller and Real Estate Professional. If you haven't checked out the site yet or joined, by all means, what are you waiting for? This is a FREE site connecting home sellers to RE Pros around the country with many great features being added daily and exposure nationally with supporters like the Dave Ramsey Show I was recently contacted by energizedseller to see if I'd be interested in a cross promotional type offer where my company, Home Star Staging would offer a discount through their site to visitors to the site … (9 comments)
stager: How one home stager reaches 200,000 (or more) Collin County, TX Residents - FREE
- 12/22/08 04:20 AM
I teach, therefore I reach. It's that simple. When my instructor packet arrived recently with the newly printed Winter-Spring 2009 Collin College Schedule of Continuing Education booklet inside, it dawned on me again. I am reaching well over 200,000 residents of Collin County Texas who are receiving their booklets with my Home Staging course in it, for free. The college sends this professionally printed course schedule out 3 times a year to all Collin County residents. How's that for marketing and it doesn't cost me a thing? Then I see it on page 8 this time, that's right, my very own home staging course … (35 comments)
stager: Home Stager survives Middle School Career Day, Plano, TX
- 11/21/08 01:42 AM
My fears were alleviated and I can still show my face around Plano,TX. Why? I survived middle school - AGAIN! I also believe I did not totally embarrass my 8th grader when I showed up on November 13th, 2008 for Career Day at Carpenter Middle School in Plano,TX. For a bit of reference you can visit the original blog post I wrote, Stage "my space", calling on my colleagues for HELP! when I first discovered I was signed on for the gig. It was a bit overwhelming to say the least initially. After mulling over many ideas (Thank YOU everyone who shared with … (17 comments)
stager: My win is your gain! Certified Short-Sale Professional (CSP) Course FREE to one lucky TEXAS REALTOR!
- 08/17/08 11:50 PM
This month Home Star Staging won part of a contest called, "I Staged This!" co-hosted by Realty U and Andy Capelluto on the Stage it Forward group here on Active Rain. It was a "before and after" photo contest. I entered some photos for the "vacant staging" category and won! The contest not only served as a fun way to compete for professional home stagers around the country but also as a search for photos to be used in presentations as part of Realty U's continuing education courses. Realtors all over the country will now see my work along with the other entrants. How exciting is that? I couldn't be … (10 comments)
stager: Home Staging CE Course Collin College, Plano,TX - What students say
- 08/03/08 01:35 PM
I recently received my evaluation reviews from the students I teach the Home Staging for Sellers and Realtors CE course for at Collin College in Plano, TX. I was excited, honored and humbled by the comments and wanted to share some of them with you here. 1. What did you like about the course? "Interesting content, enthusiastic instructor" "Instructor was pleasant and did not condescend as some instructors do. She showed us that though a professional, she is not the only one who can do this" "Great instructor!" "Went to great lengths to individualize her offerings according to the student's interests and objectives" … (4 comments)
stager: "The Stagers" on HGTV - My quick review
- 07/20/08 03:09 PM
Just finished watching "The Stagers" on HGTV and wanted to give a quick review on what I must say was a pretty fair representation of what we do and go through as professional home stagers although for many of us, on a much smaller scale. I don't know how many of you work on properties in the price point of the home featured in tonight's premiere episode - almost $5 million! Before watching I was apprehensive about how staging would be represented. Was this show going to be another show leaving our clients asking us why we couldn't do that for "under … (37 comments)
stager: How a Home Stager choose the new color on her own front door
- 07/17/08 02:32 AM
This summer we've been doing some improvements on our own house. It had been about 6 years since we did the last major improvements and we were ready to tackle a few more. As a professional home stager I understand the value of improving ones home before even thinking about selling. Far too often I see sellers who wished they'd done for themselves what they've improved for others when in the process of selling. For the other home improvements we've done this summer you can read the blog: Sellers, I feel your pain. Well we needed to paint our front door, desperately! It was … (24 comments)
stager: Got Pets? Selling a house? One sniff could snuff a sale
- 04/09/08 09:27 AM
Pets. We love them if we own them, they're our babies and a part of the family. However when selling, they become a different story when others will be entering and previewing your property. First and foremost, for the safety of your beloved pets, consideration must be given to how they will be kept safe while showing. Potential problems could arise if: An exterior door is left open for possible escape A usually friendly animal is frightened by strangers entering his "territory" and aggressive behavior ensues (I learned this first hand when I acquired a small Quaker Parrot. Oatie cannot be left out when visitors come because he flies … (14 comments)
stager: Dallas & Ft. Worth, TX IAHSP Invites YOU to a Spring Fling! April 30th, 2008
- 04/04/08 05:42 AM
The Dallas Regional Chapter of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (DIRC) and the Forth Worth Regional Chapter of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (FWIRC) along with our valued business parter CORT Furniture Rental, are co-hosting a fundraising event for World Wide Staging Service Week 2008 benefiting our philanthropies. Along with the IASHP Foundation, DIRC & FWIRC are also raising awareness and money to benefit Promise House, Dallas, TX. The Mission of Promise House (from the Promise House website) "The mission of Promise House is to stabilize and offer hope to youth and families in crisis through emergency shelter, crisis intervention, counseling, transitional living, street outreach, and … (7 comments)
stager: Stage"ducational" Broker's Tour
- 03/30/08 02:31 PM
Ever try to think of different ways to draw a crowd to your broker's tour on a new listing? Now I know food and drink are part of the usual suspects at these events, but how about in addtion to that, adding an informative "educational" portion of the tour? For those Realtors who have a Professional Home Stager on their team, if you already haven't asked, why not suggest to your Stager to come (provided of course they staged the property you've listed) and give a Q & A time for your Realtor colleagues who drop by? Believe it or not many Realtors still have questions … (15 comments)
stager: "Neighborhood" Open House Success Story
- 03/29/08 01:56 AM
I've worked with a Real Estate Investor now on several of his properties for the better part of a year. We've developed a great working relationship and know working together often results in the successful sale of the property. I have to say he's one of my favorite clients. He gave me a chance before others did and he's just a good person and we have a good line of communication open. Occassionally, as most investors and Realtors know, the sale of a home, even if under contract, can be a dicey deal, especially in this market. To make a long story not so … (76 comments)
stager: Collin County & Active Rain Realtor $pecial - Home Staging Consultation Coupon
- 03/28/08 10:33 AM
Home Star Staging is pleased to offer Collin County Realtors & local Active Rain Realtor members outside of Collin County in nearby surrounding areas this April Home Staging Consultation Coupon. I'd like to get to know you and show you how I can help you help you and your clients sell faster and for more money. A Home Staging Consultation is a great addition to your marketing and listing package. Call 469-964-0516 for more details. Make YOUR listing the STAR attraction in the competitive Real Estate market! Collin County REALTOR $pecial! BUY ONE GET ONE discount! SET YOUR LISTINGS APART FROM THE COMPETITION!!!! 2 hour comprehensive Home … (7 comments)
stager: A Most Valuable Player in a Successful Home Sale & it's FREE
- 03/17/08 09:29 AM
Sellers, do you want to know what is one of the most valuable things you have in terms of the successful sale of your home and it's FREE? I'll give you some hints: It's a something we never seem to have enough of It's gone before you know itSometimes it seems to stand still It flies too fast when you're having funIf only we could buy moreWhere does it go?Have you figured it out yet? The clock is ticking...... Well some may argue that time is money and you would be correct especially when selling a home, one of the most valuable things you have in … (14 comments)
stager: You get MORE at the Habitat ReStore - Staging Props for cheap!
- 02/12/08 08:26 AM
I almost didn't want to post this because I know not all professional home stagers have access to a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. But....If you do have a ReStore location near you, I highly recommend you go and check it out and get on their mailing list (if the store has one). If you need inventory for your home staging purposes this is often a great resource to find some great deals. I just received a newsletter this past week for my South Collin County ReStore in Plano, TX and featured this month was model home furniture from an area builder along … (48 comments)
Staging Your Home for Sale - Presented by Professional Home Stager, Karen Otto Favorites Login or register for a free Pegasus News user account in order to add this to your favorites. (As a bonus, you'll also unlock cool features like The Daily You, custom local music playlists and comment posting.) Tools Remind me via e-mail Remind me on my cell phone E-mail this to a friend Full Screen Map When: Saturday, Feb. 16, 2 p.m. Where: Denton Public Library (South Branch), 3228 Teasley Lane, Denton Cost: Free Age limit: Not available Categories: ResidentialDescription Are you in the process of selling your home? … (13 comments)
stager: Collin College, Plano, TX Offers Home Staging CE Course for Sellers & Realtors
- 02/06/08 12:56 AM
t's not too "latte" to enroll according to the Collin College Schedule of Continuing Education course offerings for January - April 2008. Although the February class is now underway there is still time to enroll for the April/May Home Staging CE course. Proudly announcing Home Staging a new CE Course offering at Collin College. Home Staging is a course that is; "Designed for the home owner or the professional real estate agent to prepare a home for resale. Learn the benefits of home staging and how staging a property for resale can help you achieve a faster sales time and top dollar". Collin County Professional Home Stager, Karen Otto shares … (11 comments)
As a North Texas Home Staging Professional this blog is a collection of information, thoughts, stories and ideas on the home staging profession as I personally experience it. I welcome comments and suggestions and hope I may help the home staging and real estate community in some way by my contributions on my blog. I am passionate about educating the public and real estate community on the benefits of home staging.
Truth be told whenever I watch American Idol I often find myself thinking like Simon Cowell when the words he speaks come forth from his gob in his critique of the contestants. If you search your heart you may admit that Simon is pretty right on in his assessment of many of these folks and as a industry expert he should know a good from poor singer. However I would never in a million years say some of the things he does in the hurtful manner in which he says it. 
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