real estate staging: Agents and Home Sellers: How do you decide which home stager to hire?
- 04/22/09 07:41 AM
Since home staging is a completely unregulated field without official qualifications, it's difficult to know who to hire and whether they are "qualified." This difficulty is compounded by the fact that it is possible for home stagers to acquire a ready-made home staging portfolio to present as their own work, since some training programs offer this.
When reviewing a home staging portfolio, ask questions about the photos to satisfy yourself that these are the stager's own work.
If the stager can't tell you anything about the home or client, why they made the changes they did, or where the house … (5 comments)
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real estate staging: Home staging doesn't work
- 03/15/09 11:22 AM
"Home staging doesn't work," says the group of real estate agents sitting before the home stager trying to talk about her business.
It's amazing to me how many agents are still resistant to having their clients' homes decorated to sell. I challenge anyone to spend 4 minutes watching this video and then tell me that it wouldn't be easier to sell the staged property than how the home looked before. Which version of this property would you rather show on your own website when promoting your services?
Some facts to note before watching:
this Westport Connecticut house has sat on the … (10 comments)
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real estate staging: Stagers: Working For Free Doesn't Belong on Your Menu of Services
- 03/08/09 12:09 PM
I'm committed to ending this practice of free home staging because it lowers the perceived value of a stager's expertise and does a disservice to all of us.
My students don't stage homes for free "just to get their business started," they get paid for their time and expertise because they are providing a valuable service and should be compensated for it.
I know many new home stagers, afraid that they can't get their first client, will disagree with me. But hear me out for a moment:Picture this ... there's a new restaurant...
The chef's on the sidewalk, saying "come in … (21 comments)
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real estate staging: Home Stagers: Is my inventory bigger than yours?
- 02/08/09 06:48 AM
Too many home stagers seem to measure their success by the size of their inventory. That's a bit like a car company measuring their success by the size of their workforce.
Both are an indicator of overhead, but not necessarily an indicator of profits.
Now I'm not trying to wade into the debate about how the auto industry might get out of the mess it is in. The point of my analogy is that if home stagers measure their business success by the size of their furniture rental inventory they may be in deeper financial trouble then they're prepared to admit … (26 comments)
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real estate staging: 2009 Home Staging Horoscope by Staging Diva
- 01/01/09 07:38 AM
I wanted to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. For home stagers, I have a free gift you might enjoy, the Staging Diva 2009 Home Staging Horoscope.
While I have your attention I also want to say that 2009 is filled with possibilities for your business
You can hide at home worrying about the economy and use it as your excuse not to succeed, or you can make plans for how you're going to take advantage of the current situation. Home owners have never needed our help more than they do right now. And I would argue … (4 comments)
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real estate staging: If price is all that matters, why do we need real estate agents?
- 12/05/08 02:51 AM
I find it amazing when real estate agents say "price is what sells real estate." It's usually said within the context of "staging is a waste of time and money." We all know that price is important, as with most purchase decisions (especially in this economy).
However price is rarely the ONLY thing that inspires someone to actually buy something! Especially when it comes to the home their family will live in for years to come!
If it just came down to price, why would anyone need a real estate agent to show them a property, or help them understand the … (33 comments)
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real estate staging: Put your game face on and get out there and build your business
- 12/02/08 12:47 PM
Every entrepreneur experiences a period of time where confidence levels drop only to be replaced by soaring levels of fear and insecurity. The secret to making it through those days, weeks or even months of feeling insecure is to put on a brave face and keep going anyway.
Stepping out of your comfort zone to build your own business takes more than just “know-how”; you also need courage, determination and a very good game face.
I imagine even President-elect Obama has moments where he thinks, “What have I gotten myself into?” It's not like he can push a giant “pause button” … (7 comments)
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real estate staging: Staging Diva Shares Importance of Staging with Radio Morning Show
- 10/07/08 05:26 AM
I love doing radio but I've never been interviewed by three people at once before.
Katfish Morgan, Darryl Kornicky and Laura Stone grilled me about what to do when a house doesn't sell, whether stagers exist because agents aren't doing their job, what happens when stagers break things and more, on Live 88.5 Start Up Radio in Ottawa.
I have to say, the media are usually looking for a feel-good story when they interview me about staging, but this group was certainly trying to stir up some controversy.
You can download and listen to the 8 minute recording here.
I had no idea … (5 comments)
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real estate staging: Home Stagers: What's your favorite tool?
- 09/12/08 03:31 AM
Looking at the photo of me that's often used in the press, with the drill and tulips, you'd probably guess those are my favorite tools. Actually they come a close third and fourth. The most important staging tools a home stager has (other than their innate talent) is a measuring tape and paint swatch book.
Don't make the mistake of getting one of those small, light, easy to carry measuring tapes or those fancy new laser ones.
You need a good old fashioned contractors-grade tape measure. It's bulky and usual neon colored (so they can find it in the drywall dust … (12 comments)
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real estate staging: Staging Diva Shares House Selling Secrets on CNN Money
- 08/06/08 09:14 AM
CNN Money is featuring my House Selling Secrets and before and after photos of several of the homes I've staged through my home staging company Six Elements Inc, on their website.
If you click through the 21 (!) pages of links on the CNN site, you'll see my before and after shots with a description of the end results the clients acheived. How much they paid me, what the house was listed for, how long it took to sell and the final selling price.
All proof that home staging works.
I'm really happy that this media exposure has also generated a … (3 comments)
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real estate staging: Must-Have Marketing Tool for Real Estate Agents
- 06/05/08 03:50 PM
I receive countless emails from real estate agents asking if they should recommend a Home Stager to their clients.
My first question back would be, would you rather spend your time and money promoting a listing that looks like the one at the left, or one that looks like the one on the right. It's the same room after I staged it.
In my opinion, real estate agents are hesitant to utilize the services of professional home stagers for three key reasons:1. They do not fully understand what a stager does. 2. They feel that they provide adequate advice to their … (3 comments)
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real estate staging: The Importance of Kid's Rooms in Home Staging
- 05/26/08 05:59 AM
The goal of home staging is to help prospective buyers fall in love with the home and imagine themselves living there. If you're working on a 3+ bedroom home in a family neighborhood, it's important to show a child's room (even if the current owners are childless).
It doesn't take much to "set the stage" for a kid's room. An attractive "bed in the bag" set for the twin bed, a nightstand and lamp, a small chest or dresser and some stuffed animals and kid's books. One or two pieces of appropriate art, and you're done!
The idea here is that … (6 comments)
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real estate staging: House Hunting Is A Lot Like Speed Dating
- 05/01/08 01:58 AM
House hunting is a lot like "speed dating". You may have heard of this dating craze, whereby singles meet 20 or more potential mates in one evening by having 5 minute dates with each of them. The idea behind the phenomenon is that two people either have chemistry or they don't. Many of us look for a mate with a logical list of our personal criteria. But when the chemistry and emotional connection are right, who remembers logic? We follow our hearts.
If you've ever been house hunting, you can see the similarities. Your agent will take you to six or … (1 comments)
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real estate staging: Staging Diva Radio appearance: Why home staging works and why homeowners need home stagers
- 04/17/08 04:46 AM
Morning show host Dale Johnson has tons of questions for me about what home staging is, why it works, and how to find a home stager.
He knows his radio audience wants to know, but he's also confided to me that he's selling his property and has already used some of my tips from stagingdiva.com to enhance the home's curb appeal.
I'll be interviewed by Dale and you can listen to it live (via streaming audio from the station's website) Friday April 18. The show, Lincoln Live airs at 12:30 PM Central.
Checkout the KFOR 1240 AM Radio website, the link for … (0 comments)
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real estate staging: Why Hire A Professional Home Stager?
- 04/01/08 05:06 AM
Summary:There are lots of simple things a homeowner can do on their own to decorate their house to sell. However, many homeowners are unsure of where to start.
The process of selling a home can be completely overwhelming, but a Home Stager has the ability to look at a home with a fresh pair of eyes. They view the home as a highly critical buyer would see it.Why Hire a Professional Home Stager?There are lots of simple things a homeowner can do on their own to decorate their house to sell. They can get rid of clutter, re-paint, clean or put … (4 comments)
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real estate staging: Interior Design Show (IDS) 08 - Trade Day registration ends today!
- 02/15/08 05:34 AM
If you're looking for suppliers and ideas about design trends and you'll be in the Toronto area Feb. 22, don't miss today's deadline to sign up for the Interior Design Show's Trade Only Day.
You can read more about why I like going every year here.
Go directly to their site to register and learn more here.
I have no affiliation with them, I just thought any home stagers in the area would be interested.
Debra Gould, The Staging DivaPresident, Six Elements Inc.
Internationally recognized home staging expert Debra Gould, also known as The Staging Diva, bought decorating and sold 6 of her own homes … (0 comments)
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real estate staging: Help for butcher block counters?
- 01/15/08 07:17 AM
I've got a client with butcher block counter tops that have seen better days.
They're not scratched they just aren't an even tone and they have some rings from coffee cups or salad dressing bottles.
Anyone have any suggestions for how to even out the tone again? I'd like to avoid sanding them. Is there a product to clean them with and then would you oil them and if so, with what?
Any tips welcome!
By the way, in case this helps anyone else... I've successfully painted over ugly laminate counters. Have the painter sand them, apply a high adhesive primer and then paint … (13 comments)
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real estate staging: The Future of Home Staging
- 01/13/08 02:24 PM
Many people ask me where I see the future of home staging, or whether I think it’s a fad that will die out when people will stop decorating their homes to sell quickly and for top dollar.
We’ll eventually get to the point where staging a house is something that you just do when it’s time to sell
Look what happened to “home inspections.” Most people today wouldn’t buy a home without having it inspected first in order to make sure that the roof doesn’t leak, the foundation is solid, the furnace works, etc. There was a time when nobody did … (4 comments)
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real estate staging: Home Stagers: Did you think like an entrepreneur last year?
- 01/06/08 02:36 PM
An entrepreneur by definition is someone who has decided to take control of his/her future. We often start with nothing more than a good idea and a lot of determination, but are we cut out to run our own business with all that entails? I developed this simple quiz to help new home stagers gauge their ability to think like an entrepreneur.1. You get a business referral for a project in your area. You know this person has been given your contact information.Do you:a) Wait to hear from the potential client and assume they hired someone else if they don’t contact … (3 comments)
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real estate staging: Staging Diva Teaches Home Staging on new HGTV show
- 12/13/07 07:25 AM
I just finished an all day shoot for a new HGTV show to air this spring, "The Decorating Adventures of Ambrose Price." He was one of the contestants on the last season of HGTV's Designer SuperStar Challenge.
In one of the 13 episodes of this new show, I take Ambrose under my wing to teach him about how to stage a home. We visited three houses today and I talked through what was done right and what was wrong in each one. All were staged (though it was hard to tell in two of them!).
This January, we'll get together again on camera … (26 comments)
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Since home staging is a completely unregulated field without official qualifications, it's difficult to know who to hire and whether they are "qualified." This difficulty is compounded by the fact that it is possible for home stagers to acquire a ready-made home staging portfolio to present as their own work, since some training programs offer this. 
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