Aloha Staging gave it's first staging seminar last week. We called it, The WIIFM's of Staging...What's In It For Me!
The idea was to educate on the following
1. What staging REALLY is: So many people are under the impression that professional stagers are good decorators. I always remind them that yes a good stager has a naturally talent and eye for "decorating" but there is so much more to professional staging than just decorating. It is about understanding the demographics of the potential buyers and what trends they are looking for, having the ability to create the right feeling and flow through the property and have the essence of each room captured in each photograph for internet and print marketing. We are about presenting the best possible product, that even includes when we have to put "lipstick on pigs".
2. How to present it to their clients: Most Realtors are challenged when it comes to presenting it to their clients or potential clients. So many feel they need to sell staging the homeowners. They need to present what staging is during the listing presentation and support the benefits of staging to the homeowner. The stager needs to meet with the client during the listing presentation or shortly after signing with the Realtor. This is when the stager educate the seller further, get to know them and answer any concerns or objections the seller might have. We have customize staging inserts for our Realtors for their listing presentations.
3. How it benefits their business: The benefit to the Realtors is a more professional image because they have a professional stager that is on their team. Their listings show extremely better than the competition. In this current market, it is NOT acceptable to just have a listing look "OK". Everyone at the seminar agreed that their properties needed to look outstanding. They are easier to market and are always ready to show. They photograph well and will attract more potential buyers from the Internet searches.
We partnered with an associate of mine that is a "Wine Guy" and had a wine tasting before and after the seminar. We also had the event sponsored by a new partner of ours, Karen Bartholomew of Diversified Capital Funding! We couldn't have done it without her.
We had an interactive group that asked so many great questions and enjoyed the seminar and the wine! We had such a great response from the group that we will be holding another one in October. This time I will be partnering up with a branding and marketing coach, Ellen Looyen. I urge all of us to get out there and educate as much as we can. There are so many "Staging" shows on TV that don't do our industry justice!
Mahalo,
Kahai
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