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It's Time To TOOT - A Little Bit Louder Now!

By Calie Waterhouse

Education & Training

August 06, 2007 08:25 AM

Why? Why? Why? I just have to ask, "Why?"

WHY is it so hard for home stagers to stand up and be heard? Why are we so quiet about the service we provide? What's the big secret?

With first hand knowledge and personal experience behind you, think about it this way - A vacant home is empty, uninviting - sitting there waiting for someone (anyone) to pour some attention on it.

Empty Vacant Home Time To Toot

But a staged home offers possibilities, potential and promise.

Time To Toot

What picture is coming to your mind? Do you really want to be thought of as a home where "no one's home"? Don't you want to be known?

So - home stagers of A/R - I want to hear from you, but more importantly your perspective clients want to hear from you.

If you don't tell people what sets you apart from the others or how incredibly talented you are - how are they ever going to find out?

If you don't tell people what you do for a living, how will they ever be able to use you or refer you?

If you don't hand out your cards or give presentations, what is going to make your phone ring?

If you don't do bids or consultations, what will sustain your business?

I know it's hard and perhaps out of your box - but I think it's time for home stagers to start tooting - and I mean loudly! No more of this wishful fantasy-land type thinking - I mean proactive, jump out of the boat and in the water type of thinking.

Don't let fear hold you back. JUST DON'T. You are so much better than this. Wanna know how I know?

Because you're a lot like me.

Well?

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Cheri Dueker

Transitional Designs, LLC - Saint Louis, MO

Transitional Designs, LLC, Home Staging St. Louis

Calie: This is a great post....I agree that as a group, we need to be more proactive. For those of us in areas where staging is new, we seem to give the same talk over and over. We work to go above and beyond to provide services as part of the real estate team to sell the property. I compare it to putting on a wedding-great service is all in the details. By the time the property is open to the public, the selling should go smoothly, like a bride walking down the aisle. All of the work of staging and marketing should be complete and the home should be pristine. I acutally feel bad when I attend open houses in my area where the homes are empty and NOTHING has been done to stage or market the property. Goes to show how important the choice of realtor is when putting your property on the market. A dynamic realtor and terrific stager are critical to selling in the current market.

Aug 06, 2007 11:35 AM

Calie Waterhouse

Chandler, AZ

Community Builder

Well, Shelly - the question now is - what are you going to do differently? How about a blog about you?

Cindy - take the 3P's and run with them. How about a blog about how your blogging bringing you business?

Aug 06, 2007 11:36 AM

Calie Waterhouse

Chandler, AZ

Community Builder

Cheri- I love your comparison to a wedding. As far as the lifeless vacants in your area, this is definitely a do-not-want-to-miss opportunity to give them a bid to stage it and make a connection. Even if they decide not to stage the one you're standing in - they will definitely need you in the future. I guarantee it!

Aug 06, 2007 11:47 AM

Juliet Johnson

Vizzitopia - St Johns, FL

Jacksonville Photography & Digital Marketing

I really like your marketing idea of offering a proposal, uninvited, to anything that looks terrible at a Sunday open house. Realtors, after all, have no clue what things cost. It's up to us to educate them. This is a great way.

I look forward to getting to know you better here... you have much wisdom to share.

Aug 06, 2007 02:01 PM

Juliet Johnson

Vizzitopia - St Johns, FL

Jacksonville Photography & Digital Marketing

I look forward to getting to know you better here... you have much wisdom to share.

Aug 06, 2007 02:02 PM

Yvonne Root

rooms b.y. root - Prescott, AZ

Home Stager - Northern Arizona

Calie, I'm banging the drum while you toot that horn. Do you think we should wear those blue uniforms? This is an excellent post. Hummmm, is that why I gave it a 5 you think? More active as opposed to passive advertising is where we are headed.

Aug 06, 2007 04:05 PM

Calie Waterhouse

Chandler, AZ

Community Builder

Thank you, Yvonne. I can feel your energy as your fingers are flying across the keyboard. What a day it's been, huh? You're doing a great job of staging it forward, Yvonne. I hope the staging community of Prescott is reciprocating by using your services and paying you, as well.

Aug 06, 2007 04:08 PM

Calie Waterhouse

Chandler, AZ

Community Builder

Thanks, Juliet. I enjoy sharing the the few good ideas that I have every now and then. I look forward to hearing more from you, as well.

Aug 06, 2007 04:09 PM

Betty Haney

Haney Consulting - Calgary, AB

Calie, Okay I'm going to do it - a blog about how Attention to Detail is making a difference in the marketplace - and I'm going 'public.' Very, very few of my blogs make it public. I feel safer in the Members Only category. After reading your post, you have inspired me and it is time to stand up and be counted. Thanks Betty (I'm just not sure when...)

Aug 06, 2007 05:28 PM

Kathleen Garvey

HomeSmart Cherry Creek - Denver - Denver, CO

Denver's Neighborhood Expert - Listings & Sales

THANK Calie....Tooting the horns is going to make a bigger difference! Writing insightful and creative blogs about what we do and allowing them to be read publically is another way to do so!! Regards-Kathleen

Aug 07, 2007 03:59 AM

Rhonda Hay Rawlins

Glastonbury Home Staging - Glastonbury, CT

Callie - Thanks for your encouragement and cheerleading. Well can use a nudge, a push, a kick in the pants!

Aug 07, 2007 07:59 AM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Calie - way to go girl and you're right on - in many cases stagers are like a "one man band" (in some areas that it's relatively new) and it gets tough after a while and no results. You've got to be your own advocate and like you said just DO IT! Do something each day to move you further along. Find your niche and go for it.

SIF is like a big Staging Pep Squad and you're now officially the Head Cheerleader!

Aug 07, 2007 09:35 AM

Yvonne Root

rooms b.y. root - Prescott, AZ

Home Stager - Northern Arizona

It seems I just have to jump back in here. You are so right Karen, Calie is indeed the Head Cheerleader! She is worth gold to the staging community. Calie is another of those who is working hard to raise the bar for stagers as well as elevate the understanding of the community. Rah, rah, rah!!!

Aug 07, 2007 10:29 AM

Calie Waterhouse

Chandler, AZ

Community Builder

Well, Betty, I just checked your blog and you haven't done it yet! If you can blog about raffia (!), you can certainly tell the world how wonderful you are!

Kathleen - Welcome newbie to A/R. I wonder if all of Ft. Meyers knows that you are their guiding beacon to home sales? Don't you think it's time to tell them?

Rhonda- I'm known for needing a good swift kick every now and again. Where's your blog about your services? With recommendations like those - you should be screaming it from the Connecticut rooftops!

Karen - Rah, Rah, Rah, Sis, Boom, Bah - Stagers are .... so quiet. I love your saying, "Let us take your house from "For Sale" to SOLD! - I'd print this up in bright red and mail it to every REALTOR in your area. I bet that would get their attention!

Yvonne- I always wanted to be a cheerleader. Know what held me back? My Mom always said I was too smart! Hmmm... I wonder what she really meant :) I'm so thankful to have you in my corner, Yvonne. You are such an amazing, godly woman. I covet your prayers and appreciate your friendship. I look forward to seeing the great things you are about to accomplish!

Aug 07, 2007 02:24 PM

Julia Fedak

Royal LePage State Realty - Ancaster, ON

Calie...you are one GOOD motivator! Besides staging, you should be a motivational speaker for stagers!!! If you have any suggestions for my marketing strategy..feel free. I can always use more clients! Julia

Aug 08, 2007 01:12 AM

Rachel Backus

Staged Makeovers - Hudson, OH

www.stagedmakeovers.com

Right on! At the company I work for, Staged Makeovers, we are not ashamed to let people know about our extensive education and experience. We put it right on our website and start every staging and public presentation out by sharing our backgrounds. When people know you are serious about what you do, then they will take you seriously. I love this post, you've got me motivated!

Aug 08, 2007 07:10 AM

Calie Waterhouse

Chandler, AZ

Community Builder

Woo Hoo Rachel - I checked your website - that is really cool. You could write a fabulous blog - just on the branding concept of your website. Where did you come up with the idea? I was watching a cable show the other night about a tattoo artist who specializes in the same type of graphics you have on your site. Definitely not your run-of-the-mill staging site, for sure!

Aug 09, 2007 06:09 AM

Rachel Backus

Staged Makeovers - Hudson, OH

www.stagedmakeovers.com

Thanks Calie! I guess I can't take credit for the awesome branding. My boss, Sharon Kreighbaum, the owner of Staged Makeovers, came up with the fabulous graphics along with one of her graphic designers.

Aug 10, 2007 02:33 AM

Sharon Kreighbaum

Staged Makeovers - Hudson, OH

www.stagedmakeovers.com

Thanks for your comment to Rachel about our Staged Makeovers web site graphics. I love the 50's, and all the retro graphics that represent that time. I cut and pasted some ideas and sent them to a graphic designer in LA. He came up with the site. He's totally amazing and you can see more of his work at www.dancingtornado.com. His name is Richard Lucas or "Luke" and he is an actor, standup comic, musician and graphic designer who lives in Hollywood. Talk about creativity and talent!!!!!! I found him from his web site that had an array of retro graphic work that I loved. Thanks for commenting on our site. Sharon Kreighbaum.

Aug 10, 2007 04:18 AM

Karen Dembsky

Peachtree Home Staging LLC, Home Staging in Atlanta, GA - Peachtree City, GA

Atlanta Home Staging

Don't know how I missed this post! You are right on Callie! It does get hard tooting your own horn. I am writing the words "Toot, Toot, Toot" on every page of my day-timer!

Aug 10, 2007 08:46 AM