Love Letter from a Lurker

By
Home Stager with House Dressing


After reading Craig’s blog about his motivation in creating Stage It Forward I was moved to come out of the shadows.

Shortly after the first of the year I was a frustrated stager whose “business” had been operating for a few months with some success but lots of down time.  I had run out of marketing ideas, I was losing my enthusiasm and about to give up when I googled “home staging blog” and found myself in the middle of a blog by Craig with links to AR and a whole community of stagers.

I was amazed and thrilled and excited but wary also because the staging blogs I had visited before had turned out to be vehicles for recruiting people to training companies.  But the more I read the more I realized that there were real stagers from across the US and Canada from all backgrounds willing to help one another with good will, great information and humor.

 The encouragement you all sent to the brave souls who blogged I soaked up too.  It encouraged me to get out there and keep trying and now business is picking up, agents are excited about staging and they are spreading the word and I’m doing something I love—staging.

 

To Craig for starting this group and all of you who share your successes and failures and lots of advice—a big thank you and keep Staging It Forward! 

 

Deb 

Posted by

Deb Brodhecker

House Dressing Real Estate Staging & Interior Redesign, Sussex County, NJ

dressedhouse@gmail.com

www.dressedhouse.com

Comments (14)

Erica Howard
Take 2 Home Staging - Centerville, OH

Deb,

  Thanks for stepping out.  I am new to AR myself and am having so much fun reading all of this great info.  Driving my husband slightly crazy (Are you blogging again?)  We are going to need a new group AR Anonymous!

Erica

Mar 25, 2007 02:10 PM
Marci Toliver
438-4642 - Mauldin, SC
Anderson SC, Spartanburg,Greenville SC, Home Staging
Debra, welcome to Active Rain!  I also found this site due to Craig!  He is our awesome leader!!
Mar 25, 2007 02:21 PM
Craig Schiller
Trempealeau, WI

Deb... thanks for the compliments. But I did it JUST for the reasons you spoke of. In the short time I was on here I saw some great happening... among Realtors.

I sooooooo wanted that for Stagers... then boom... the Group feature.

BUT I have watched the guys that invented Active Rain... in order for THIS site to work it had to be free.

So it is with a GROUP... THAT is what makes it work.

I am not sure where I heard this from... "Give and you shall receive." But I kinda like it.

THANKS for the positive post. And welcome to the stager's puddle in the rain.

Me

Mar 25, 2007 02:42 PM
Sue Shockley
Setting the Space - Plymouth, MA
Wecome to the rain!  You will find that you will never be dry again!  It is a rain that keeps us stagers alive. It will be a vital part of our success as individual and as a whole!  Best to you and your business.  Look forward to reading more of your blogs!   Sue
Mar 25, 2007 04:03 PM
Sue Argue
Staged First Impressions - Hampton, NH
NH Home Stager
Deb, welcome...hold your head up high, keep smiling and educating your corner of the world. It's happening!
Mar 25, 2007 04:10 PM
Margaret Ann Innis
Decorate To Sell - Merrimack Valley Real Estate Staging - Andover, MA
Real Estate Staging - MA & NH
Hi Deb - This really is amazing isn't it!  When you do struggle to get a business going and growing it is hard.  And, to find a website with the thought and good nature and wealth of information contained herein it is HUGE!  All the best!
Mar 25, 2007 04:48 PM
Kathy Nielsen
http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

Welcome, Deb.  Warning, this place IS addicting. 

I'm glad to see you've jumped into the puddle.

Kathy

Mar 25, 2007 11:26 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Greetings, Deb.  This is a wonderful place to be but Kathy's right, be prepared---addicting is SO true.

No one warned me so don't say you haven't been warned :)  Enjoy it here, it's great!!

Mar 26, 2007 12:23 AM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY
Deb - Welcome - there is so much great information and creative marketing ideas here. Glad you found us!
Mar 26, 2007 12:39 PM
Val Allocco
Staged 2 Sell New York & Long Island - Northport, NY
HSE; ASHSR - Home Stager, for Manhattan, Brooklyn & Long Island

Hi Deb,

Welcome (from the shadows!)...your story is reaffirming to those who might be discouraged.  A success story is always well-received!

VAL

Mar 26, 2007 12:44 PM
Reece Mack
Simplicity Home Design, Thousand Oaks, CA - Thousand Oaks, CA
Owner

Glad to hear you hung in there!

 

Reece

Mar 26, 2007 12:58 PM
Sheron Cardin
California Moods Inc - Selma, CA
ARTIST - A Home Stager/Sellers Best Friend!

Hey Debra - welcome to the rain forest! We are glad to have you. I love the title...lurker...it is kinda fun to say...lurker. I lurk on some of the other groups and then something takes over me and I have to join in and comment. I always find someone I connect with wherever I go here. We are all pioneers with the highest intent and we are intent to keep it that way. Make a big splash!

Stage it forward. 

Mar 26, 2007 01:25 PM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

I'm constantly soaking it up here too! It is a great site and full of wonderful people free willing to share loads of information.  What you give will come back to you!  Looking forward to hearing about your adventures in staging!

 

Mar 27, 2007 10:36 AM
Debra Brodhecker
House Dressing - Branchville, NJ
House Dressing, New Jersey

Thanks so much for all the kind word and the big welcomes--now that I've come out of the shadows I intend to have a great time in the rain and hopefully be able to give back some of what has been given to me.

 Deb

Mar 28, 2007 05:20 AM