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Are Stagers sent from Heaven?

By
Home Stager with Apostle Art Home Staging & Design

angel

                Are Stagers sent from Heaven?

Well, most of us do not have wings, although we have been known to "fly around" at lightening speed to get projects finished for our clients.

Angels? Ask some of our clients. I am sure there are scores of sellers and agents who would testify on their stagers' behalf. Just ask Jeanie. She will tell you how she was one step away from foreclosure after trying to sell for a year, and how her house sold 8 days after we staged her home gratis as part of a volunteer project.

Gaurdian Angels? Who looks after their properties with more tender loving care than a stager? Our projects are like children to us... they are our creations!

We guide sellers on how to maintain them. We gaurd over vacant homes, checking in on them while sellers are in far away lands, making sure their driveways are plowed or their grass cut.

Miracle Workers? Wow, is all I can say to that. Stagers work miracles every day! Real Estate agents are astounded by our miraculous ability to get sellers to take action and prepare their homes for the market. They say..."I've told them that a thousand times but they didn't do it...you say it once, and they get to it straight away!" Miraculous is certainly the words we here said after the awe inspiring transformations we perform on so many sad looking properties. :( And let's not forget all those stale properties that have been listed for months and even years that sell in less than a week after we stage.

Saints? Well, I know many a realtor who call on their saintly abilities day in and day out but we stagers also need saintly restraint at times. Like when a client calls to tell you they rented the vacant house you staged and the tenant has already moved in 2 months ago...with all of your inventory still in place. When you finally get access to go and destage you find they have stained your tablecloth and used your bedding and pillows...yuk!

So...are stagers sent from Heaven? Follow them around for a day and you'll see for yourself.

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~Apostle Art Home Staging & Design offers professional real estate staging services to sellers, real estate agents and investors in the Pocono Mountains Region and beyond. www.apostleart.com ~

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 ~Apostle Art Home Staging & Design offers professional Home Staging services to sellers, real estate agents and investors, as well as Design Services for homes and businesses located in the Pocono Mountains Region and beyond. www.apostleart.com ~

If you are selling your home or are a Real Estate Agent with Vacant or Occupied listing located in North Eastern Pennsylvania, The Pocono Mountains, Greater Stroudsburg Area and beyond...Please call us now so we can bring life to your listing and get you results with our Professional Home Staging Services...570-972-7939.

 

Comments (8)

Mandy Buchholz
Benchmark Realty, LLC - Murfreesboro, TN

I have never let the stager's merchandise stay past having a contract. The stagers in TN charge a monthly fee for the items in the house. The bill is sent directly to the agent and payment is due asap. You might implement this monthly fee if you don't do it and it should stop the abuse of your items.

Jan 21, 2010 12:59 AM
Valerie Sagheddu
Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA
~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

I do charge a monthly fee for the rentals. This was an unusual situation. We were approaching winter and the owner wanted to pull the staging and restage in the spring if he did not get a tenant. I offered to give him a reduced rental over the winter so he could keep it staged if he was NOT having a tenant in but staying on the market. He paid the reduced amount but never told me he had someone in there. I guess sometimes when you try to help people you end up getting taken advantage of...but I can't help it... It's my nature. I do learn from these experiences though and will try to avoid future problems.

Jan 21, 2010 01:13 AM
Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

YUK is right!!  Seems the owner took advantage....but on balance your "can do" "will do" approach with sellers/realtors will work for your business!  Some clients will take, take take....glad most are fair and appreciate what we do for them!!

Jan 21, 2010 01:28 AM
Valerie Sagheddu
Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA
~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

The story is actually much more involved and this was a true NIGHTMARE client. I will have to share the rest in future post.

Jan 21, 2010 01:34 AM
Xposure Real Estate Photography (Western North Carolina)
Xposure Real Estate Photography - Asheville, NC

Angels, Saints, Miracle workers, or anything else.....they sure make a photographer's job a whole lot easier!!!!

Xposure Real Estate Photography -- www.PropertyXposure.com

Jan 21, 2010 01:38 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Cute post idea, Valerie.  Regarding the tenant/rental nightmare, you might add to your contract that no one may live in the home for even one night or they will be in violation of the contract -- all costs for damage or replacement will be reimbursed by the client, etc.  And PLEASE demand a key for every single vacant home that you stage.  (These are my requirements and no one minds.)

Jan 21, 2010 01:43 PM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

I, like Maureen, have a key for vacants, it has not been a problem. In fact, most are so appreciative I have one. 

Jan 21, 2010 02:07 PM
Valerie Sagheddu
Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA
~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

I don't always have a key but will have the combo for the lock box. I have had sellers change realtors without telling me and I go to get in and there is a different lock there so that is some good advice to ALWAYS have a key. I can just go have one made myself once I'm in.

Maureen I like your wording for the contract...great idea. There were some other damages like a piece of artwork was broken but as I said there is more to this story and I would rather take the loss than contact this client again...post to follow on this nightmare client.

I do have in my contract that sellers are responsibile for the rental property and will be charged for damages but I am definately going to elaborate on that. Thanks!

Jan 21, 2010 08:59 PM