In my blogs I have tried to teach that since staging is all about FIRST IMPRESSIONS then the stager ought to leave you (the realtor or the home seller) with one... a good first impression.
EVERY representation of us and our work ought to follow the base principles of our work... clean, organized, and beautiful. I've said that if a stager can not even do that in their business card, portfolio or in their website... why would you think that they can in a property they are preparing for sale?
I have found some wonderful stagers on the net and when I go through their sites I DO get a great first impression. But I just took a look at Luci Holt's site and portfolio of work on http://www.holtmodern.com/ and was inspired to write this blog. It looks great!
Craig
PS: LOOK no bogus alpha bit acronym after Luci's name either!
Minggu, 27 Agustus 2006
Sabtu, 26 Agustus 2006
Staging 101: Remove personal pictures.
Any realtor who has shown real estate will tell you that a buyer's eyes will lock on to the seller's personal items, (ie. wedding photos -see below) like a heat seeking missile.
That's why when preparing a home for sale stagers will start by having the seller de-personalize the property.
We often suggest that the seller box up (since they are going to be moving anyway) or put away all family photos, awards, trophies, diplomas, children's artwork and religious artifacts.
Why do we suggest this? Simple: You want potential buyers to focus the property and see it as a home for themselves.
To reinforce my point... enjoy these little photographic gems I thought cought the magic of that "special day".
That's why when preparing a home for sale stagers will start by having the seller de-personalize the property.
We often suggest that the seller box up (since they are going to be moving anyway) or put away all family photos, awards, trophies, diplomas, children's artwork and religious artifacts.
Why do we suggest this? Simple: You want potential buyers to focus the property and see it as a home for themselves.
To reinforce my point... enjoy these little photographic gems I thought cought the magic of that "special day".
Kamis, 24 Agustus 2006
WOW! Blogging about staging can be polarizing!
Since I started blogging I have received a quite a few emails and comments to my blogs. While some people been very supportive and in agreement ... others take great umbrage to what I have to say. Regardless, I sincerly WELCOME each and every email and comment.
I approach my blogging as a personal place to post my opinions, my view points, my ideas, my beliefs, my insights, my findings, my thoughts, my concerns, my wishes, my issues, and my frustrations as they relate to real estate staging. It is not the GOSPEL of staging! I do not and WILL NOT ever claim to be the sole authority on staging (or marketing for that matter). All I can do is shine my light on a growing industry... an industry I am quite passionate about.
My hope and purpose in blogging is to create active dialogue. I have been reminded that my "ignorance is bliss". I agree 100%! My ignorance/naiveté gives me a vantage point to ask the questions I ask, and to swim up stream when I think I need to.
Another purpose of my blog is to raise questions in the hopes to raise the bar of professionalism in the field of staging. If you don't ask questions and don't challenge the status quo, then how does one grow?
I am in a unique position... I am successful yet UN-affiliated with any professional staging organization. So I "ignorantly" ask the questions that I do.
I do not want to or ever plan on creating a staging training school or my own accrediting body. I DO plan on doing absolutely everything I can to make sure the consumer and realtor understands the industry and can therefore make the best educated decision they can. I KNOW that cream will rise to the top.
I SINCERELY appreciate and welcome ALL comments... positive or negative.
Craig
I approach my blogging as a personal place to post my opinions, my view points, my ideas, my beliefs, my insights, my findings, my thoughts, my concerns, my wishes, my issues, and my frustrations as they relate to real estate staging. It is not the GOSPEL of staging! I do not and WILL NOT ever claim to be the sole authority on staging (or marketing for that matter). All I can do is shine my light on a growing industry... an industry I am quite passionate about.
My hope and purpose in blogging is to create active dialogue. I have been reminded that my "ignorance is bliss". I agree 100%! My ignorance/naiveté gives me a vantage point to ask the questions I ask, and to swim up stream when I think I need to.
Another purpose of my blog is to raise questions in the hopes to raise the bar of professionalism in the field of staging. If you don't ask questions and don't challenge the status quo, then how does one grow?
I am in a unique position... I am successful yet UN-affiliated with any professional staging organization. So I "ignorantly" ask the questions that I do.
I do not want to or ever plan on creating a staging training school or my own accrediting body. I DO plan on doing absolutely everything I can to make sure the consumer and realtor understands the industry and can therefore make the best educated decision they can. I KNOW that cream will rise to the top.
I SINCERELY appreciate and welcome ALL comments... positive or negative.
Craig
Selasa, 22 Agustus 2006
Effective Staging: cuts through the noise.
I wrote my last blog "Quasimodo Kristal... the Hunch Back Realtor of Notre Denver" for two reasons. First I wanted to entertain abit, but second was to make a point.
The point I wanted to make was that like ANY media over time it becomes harder for one's message to be heard. And as wonderful as blogging is, it will be increasingly difficult to cut through noise and stand out as more and more people join and start sharing in their own blogs.
Effective marketing considers the media in which it is occurring and "cuts through". Humor is one way to cut through (for now). But it is not always appropriate. Pictures or a great head line can always help.
So bottom line...consider the medium and your audience and CRAFT your message. I once heard it discribed as "Speaking into the listening of your audience."
Keep this also in mind when you are looking for a real estate stager in your area. A good stager understands that the service they provide is a marketing tool that helps the seller cut through the noise. It is NOT interior decorating. If the stager doesn't ask a core and simple question, "Who will most likely buy this property?" then I would be suspect of their skills.
Craig
The point I wanted to make was that like ANY media over time it becomes harder for one's message to be heard. And as wonderful as blogging is, it will be increasingly difficult to cut through noise and stand out as more and more people join and start sharing in their own blogs.
Effective marketing considers the media in which it is occurring and "cuts through". Humor is one way to cut through (for now). But it is not always appropriate. Pictures or a great head line can always help.
So bottom line...consider the medium and your audience and CRAFT your message. I once heard it discribed as "Speaking into the listening of your audience."
Keep this also in mind when you are looking for a real estate stager in your area. A good stager understands that the service they provide is a marketing tool that helps the seller cut through the noise. It is NOT interior decorating. If the stager doesn't ask a core and simple question, "Who will most likely buy this property?" then I would be suspect of their skills.
Craig
Sabtu, 19 Agustus 2006
Quasimodo Kristal... the Hunch Back Realtor of Notre Denver
Recently Quasimodo Kristal, the Hunch Back Realtor of Notre Denver http://www.kristalsellsdenver.com/ sought us out… she needed help with her own personal transformation.
Unafraid of challenges, we at Real Estaging took Kristal on… after all transformations are our business.
We brought into our studios and worked for days... and I must say our stylists once again earned EVERY penny. We are proud of our work, whether it is in a home or on an utterly disgusting grotesque face like Kristal's.
Our transformation of Kristal brings forth the inner-beauty of Kristal to the outer-ugly of Kristal. (Oprah would be so proud!)
Smile... it's the weekend,
Craig
( KRISTAL... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU... for being such a good sport and a sweetie!)
Unafraid of challenges, we at Real Estaging took Kristal on… after all transformations are our business.
We brought into our studios and worked for days... and I must say our stylists once again earned EVERY penny. We are proud of our work, whether it is in a home or on an utterly disgusting grotesque face like Kristal's.
Our transformation of Kristal brings forth the inner-beauty of Kristal to the outer-ugly of Kristal. (Oprah would be so proud!)
Smile... it's the weekend,
Craig
( KRISTAL... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU... for being such a good sport and a sweetie!)
Kamis, 17 Agustus 2006
Lesson learned... take the higher ground.
So I call this blog my brain dump... and find it a valuable way to capture my thoughts and quickly document my days. (Oprah has her journals... I gotta blog. For some reason "gotta blog" sounds about as exciting as Charlie Brown when he was tricker treating... " I gotta rock.")
Well I just had the oddest/bizarre telephone call at 11:30 PM. I was startled as I woke to answer it... thinking it was one of those middle of the night emergency calls that makes your heart stop.
But it turned out it was a realtor that was first a friend and then a client.... in fact, it was the person I must give credit to for introducing me to the staging concept 2 1/2 years ago.
Recently things between us had changed... While I was grateful for the staging leads he provided us, early in our business he also pushed us to rent office space from him. My partner and I decided we didn't need additional office space as we knew it was more important to invest in our Prop Library. In hindsight, this decision to invest in our Prop Library was wise and critical to our success; it has been key in differentiating us from other stagers and gives us a very unique tool and marketing advantage.
So last May, when I learned he had found another staging resource for his client's needs... I was glad for him and respected his decision. I knew it was best to disassociate ourselves professionally in the hopes to save our nearly 20 year friendship. (But I now guess that can't be, as his call was abusive and full of anger.)
So the lesson I learned is... when you don't work well with someone it is smarter to take the higher ground and walk away... and respect each the other's differences. At least that's what I am going to do.
Craig
Well I just had the oddest/bizarre telephone call at 11:30 PM. I was startled as I woke to answer it... thinking it was one of those middle of the night emergency calls that makes your heart stop.
But it turned out it was a realtor that was first a friend and then a client.... in fact, it was the person I must give credit to for introducing me to the staging concept 2 1/2 years ago.
Recently things between us had changed... While I was grateful for the staging leads he provided us, early in our business he also pushed us to rent office space from him. My partner and I decided we didn't need additional office space as we knew it was more important to invest in our Prop Library. In hindsight, this decision to invest in our Prop Library was wise and critical to our success; it has been key in differentiating us from other stagers and gives us a very unique tool and marketing advantage.
So last May, when I learned he had found another staging resource for his client's needs... I was glad for him and respected his decision. I knew it was best to disassociate ourselves professionally in the hopes to save our nearly 20 year friendship. (But I now guess that can't be, as his call was abusive and full of anger.)
So the lesson I learned is... when you don't work well with someone it is smarter to take the higher ground and walk away... and respect each the other's differences. At least that's what I am going to do.
Craig
Marketing/Staging outside YOUR box
Today I had a very cool marketing conversation with a guy that was "thinking outside of the box". It was surprising considering he typically thinks IN BOXES (he operates STORE-TO-DOOR container storage solutions in Libertyville Illinois).
Anyway, Marty Freed of Store-To-Door http://www.storetodoor.com (with locations in 5 cities across the US) is looking to market a storage service package directly to home sellers. He knows that clutter kills equity... and wants to create a "no-brainer" solution for people that need to clean out the clutter. He asked us to be the "clutter" cops and come and point out what can stay and what NEEDS to go.
I thought it was a very clever idea... but what makes such a great service is the simplicity and ONE stop resource Marty is trying to be for his clients. He knows that what he can be is MORE than not just about packing up and storing "stuff"... it is about being a resource and how he can help making the WHOLE selling and moving experience as easy as possible.
The lesson for me was that we can all benefit by looking to each other to see who we like and who we can team with and provide our clients with the BEST real estate experience as possible... and while it is good for us, it is better for the client too.
Craig
Anyway, Marty Freed of Store-To-Door http://www.storetodoor.com (with locations in 5 cities across the US) is looking to market a storage service package directly to home sellers. He knows that clutter kills equity... and wants to create a "no-brainer" solution for people that need to clean out the clutter. He asked us to be the "clutter" cops and come and point out what can stay and what NEEDS to go.
I thought it was a very clever idea... but what makes such a great service is the simplicity and ONE stop resource Marty is trying to be for his clients. He knows that what he can be is MORE than not just about packing up and storing "stuff"... it is about being a resource and how he can help making the WHOLE selling and moving experience as easy as possible.
The lesson for me was that we can all benefit by looking to each other to see who we like and who we can team with and provide our clients with the BEST real estate experience as possible... and while it is good for us, it is better for the client too.
Craig
Minggu, 13 Agustus 2006
AUTHENTIC & UNIVERSAL Credentialing for Stagers
A realtor collegue from Florida contacted me and shared the perfect parallel to help explain my concerns and wishes for AUTHENTIC and UNIVERSAL Credentialing of Stagers. (Now why didn't I think of this? LOL)
Anyway, JoAnn Guida made the GOOD POINT that ... "Once upon a time Interior Designers weren`t licensed either today they have to be a member of the ASID." She went on to ask, "Do you believe the same will hold true for staging?I believe this is exactly where this is heading."
So actually ASID is an impartial society that requires members meet a few acceptance standards: they must have a combination of accredited design education and/or full-time work experience and pass a two-day accreditation examination administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ).
Interior Designers with ASID credentials after their names... have been trained outside of ASID. AND the NCIDQ exam is much like what an accountant would have to take in order to become credentialed as a CPA. The National Council for Interior Design Qualification does not teach... it sets the standards and tests the standards... for the safety and well being of the public.
To be honest I am not sure just how to best structure Staging Accrediation... all I do know is that "credentialing" would tell a more truthful story if it were created, administered and monitored by an IMPARTIAL 3rd party.
If a person wants to boast that they were trained at a particular school/methodology... that is FINE with me. And that is really what these "credentials" that you now see are. AND I do think that there are better schools training staging than others. Think Harvard vs. Lewis University... both schools have an accounting program. But JUST because a person went to Harvard does NOT mean the are better.
But this alphabet soup of credentials that people are throwing around staging world really MEANS NOTHING.
Let's put it this way... being a stager I could start teaching staging classes and after a person paid and sat thru my training I could give them a credential... like PSA - Professional Staging Associate. SOUNDS good but who the heck am I to define and determine what constitutes quality in an industry that operates in North America and Europe and beyond?
Thanks JoAnn for taking the time to ask and listen...
Craig
Anyway, JoAnn Guida made the GOOD POINT that ... "Once upon a time Interior Designers weren`t licensed either today they have to be a member of the ASID." She went on to ask, "Do you believe the same will hold true for staging?I believe this is exactly where this is heading."
So actually ASID is an impartial society that requires members meet a few acceptance standards: they must have a combination of accredited design education and/or full-time work experience and pass a two-day accreditation examination administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ).
Interior Designers with ASID credentials after their names... have been trained outside of ASID. AND the NCIDQ exam is much like what an accountant would have to take in order to become credentialed as a CPA. The National Council for Interior Design Qualification does not teach... it sets the standards and tests the standards... for the safety and well being of the public.
To be honest I am not sure just how to best structure Staging Accrediation... all I do know is that "credentialing" would tell a more truthful story if it were created, administered and monitored by an IMPARTIAL 3rd party.
If a person wants to boast that they were trained at a particular school/methodology... that is FINE with me. And that is really what these "credentials" that you now see are. AND I do think that there are better schools training staging than others. Think Harvard vs. Lewis University... both schools have an accounting program. But JUST because a person went to Harvard does NOT mean the are better.
But this alphabet soup of credentials that people are throwing around staging world really MEANS NOTHING.
Let's put it this way... being a stager I could start teaching staging classes and after a person paid and sat thru my training I could give them a credential... like PSA - Professional Staging Associate. SOUNDS good but who the heck am I to define and determine what constitutes quality in an industry that operates in North America and Europe and beyond?
Thanks JoAnn for taking the time to ask and listen...
Craig
Sabtu, 12 Agustus 2006
REAL ESTAGING announces a whole new level of service!
Here at Real Estaging we are constantaly trying to offer the best in real estate staging services. That is why we are proud to announce that we are the first staging company in North America to offer this level of service. We call it Real Erazing... perfect for properties that have no hope, and home sellers that have no clue.
Bruno Bulldozeroni, our lead stylist in this newly formed department, will be happy to tear down and destroy any listing of your choice, AND for a limited time... his cousin "Knuckles" will be happy to "persuade to reconsider" any seller who insistes they know the best asking price that their property should be listed at.
(This offer not valid in New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Las Vegas or Celebration FL)
Smile!
Craig
Jumat, 11 Agustus 2006
Stepping on "accredited/certified” stager’s toes…AGAIN!
I've said it before... staging talent is NOT just acquired by sitting in a weekend seminar or EVEN a week-long workshop. I have worked with people that have NO formal training and they have "it".
Real Estate staging is having an eye for symmetry, balance, scale, proportion, and color. It is also a keen and innate talent for marketing and visual merchandising, as well as, having a sense of organization, cleanliness and flow. It is an understanding of sales demographics and how they can impact the "setting" of a property for sale in the market place.
I DO NOT think that what I described above is something one "certifiably" LEARNS in a weekend workshop. I question what the industry is NOW calling "accredtied/certified" stager.
WHERE is the test of one's TRUE understanding of EACH staging skill I describe above? If a Realtor must be tested, if a Mortgage Broker must be tested, and if a Home Inspector must be tested... then why not a Real Estate Stager? If it is an "accredited" SKILL then let's do so, but not by paying $300 to$3,000 and sitting for a long weekend in a hotel conference room. LET'S accredit/certify stagers based on tested KNOWLEDGE and SKILL.
But if for now, one gets in touch with these skills, talents and passions by attending a seminar or workshop ... THEN it is money WELL SPENT. But just because one has spent the money does NOT make them qualified or suited to do what it takes. It only can make them aware to what is possible, but ultimately they need to have TALENT.
I am passionate for providing the public with a service that ULTIMATELY benefits them. I do not want them "bamboozled' by amateurs. It makes my job harder and more importantly ROBS sellers from what REALLY is possible when a professional is hired. It is NOT much different than the argument of what a WELL TRAINED professional Realtor has to offer when compared to a discount broker.
In my opinion (and that is ALL a blog is to be)... "Certified/Accredited" stagers shouldn't be so quick to defend their training... I believe one should be quicker to fight for and defend the benefits staging brings to a seller and make certain EVERYTHING in the industry protects those benefits.
I am not better... I am just ahead of most (not all) other stagers. I learn more and more every day.
Craig
Real Estate staging is having an eye for symmetry, balance, scale, proportion, and color. It is also a keen and innate talent for marketing and visual merchandising, as well as, having a sense of organization, cleanliness and flow. It is an understanding of sales demographics and how they can impact the "setting" of a property for sale in the market place.
I DO NOT think that what I described above is something one "certifiably" LEARNS in a weekend workshop. I question what the industry is NOW calling "accredtied/certified" stager.
WHERE is the test of one's TRUE understanding of EACH staging skill I describe above? If a Realtor must be tested, if a Mortgage Broker must be tested, and if a Home Inspector must be tested... then why not a Real Estate Stager? If it is an "accredited" SKILL then let's do so, but not by paying $300 to$3,000 and sitting for a long weekend in a hotel conference room. LET'S accredit/certify stagers based on tested KNOWLEDGE and SKILL.
But if for now, one gets in touch with these skills, talents and passions by attending a seminar or workshop ... THEN it is money WELL SPENT. But just because one has spent the money does NOT make them qualified or suited to do what it takes. It only can make them aware to what is possible, but ultimately they need to have TALENT.
I am passionate for providing the public with a service that ULTIMATELY benefits them. I do not want them "bamboozled' by amateurs. It makes my job harder and more importantly ROBS sellers from what REALLY is possible when a professional is hired. It is NOT much different than the argument of what a WELL TRAINED professional Realtor has to offer when compared to a discount broker.
In my opinion (and that is ALL a blog is to be)... "Certified/Accredited" stagers shouldn't be so quick to defend their training... I believe one should be quicker to fight for and defend the benefits staging brings to a seller and make certain EVERYTHING in the industry protects those benefits.
I am not better... I am just ahead of most (not all) other stagers. I learn more and more every day.
Craig
Kamis, 10 Agustus 2006
GET THIS... real estate staging is NOT interior design!
So in the last week now, twice I have had clients that want to tell ME how to stage their totally vacant properties. That is like going to the dentist and telling him you know how to drill our own teeth... and asking for the drill while he watches. Real Estate staging is NOT interior design. The work we do is NOT a reflection of the seller's life, tastes, hopes, dreams, or wishes. It IS a cohesive and UNDERSTATED expression of what the LARGEST home buying demographic segment would find appealing.
To date we NOW have over 2OOO props in our prop library. We have painstakingly selected EACH prop to compliment a home... yet not SCREAM for attention.
Interior designers have UNLIMITED resources to create a design statements that reflect a client's tastes. The "design" of a good staged property blends in a bit, so that the HOME IS THE STAR, and that the buyer will feel welcomed and enticed to buy.
A PROFESSIONAL stager understands that. A person that has paid their $300 bucks to be magically turned into a "Professional Stager"... well I have harped on that before in other blogs and enough.
Speaking of enough... I think that is.
CRAIG
To date we NOW have over 2OOO props in our prop library. We have painstakingly selected EACH prop to compliment a home... yet not SCREAM for attention.
Interior designers have UNLIMITED resources to create a design statements that reflect a client's tastes. The "design" of a good staged property blends in a bit, so that the HOME IS THE STAR, and that the buyer will feel welcomed and enticed to buy.
A PROFESSIONAL stager understands that. A person that has paid their $300 bucks to be magically turned into a "Professional Stager"... well I have harped on that before in other blogs and enough.
Speaking of enough... I think that is.
CRAIG
Senin, 07 Agustus 2006
Real Estate Staging for Broker-Centric Realtors vs. Agent-Centric Realtors
I love blogging... it gives me the opportunity to share and vent at the same time. AND, I have to admit thanks to so many of you... we keep refining our message and services to ultimately benefit the realtor and their sellers.
Anyway, what I have noticed from the start of Real Estaging is that IN GENERAL it is easier to connect with one type of Real Estate Company over another. The distinction and difference is that there are Broker-Centric companies and Agent-Centric companies.
In case you don't know the difference... Broker-Centric companies believe that the Company is the mechanism that drives the real estate industry. The Agent-Centric company believes the Agent is what drives the industry.
Which type of company is better!!!!? I am not sure... all I know it that Agent-Centric realtors seem to connect quicker (and ultimately benefit) to what staging has to offer. Broker-Centric companies have hoops and layers they go thru before they will allow us to HELP THEM.
Regardless, real estate STAGING WORKS... and if you do NOT have a GOOD staging resource to rely on when the need arises... well then you are crippling your effectiveness as a realtor.
Enough for now... CRAIG
Anyway, what I have noticed from the start of Real Estaging is that IN GENERAL it is easier to connect with one type of Real Estate Company over another. The distinction and difference is that there are Broker-Centric companies and Agent-Centric companies.
In case you don't know the difference... Broker-Centric companies believe that the Company is the mechanism that drives the real estate industry. The Agent-Centric company believes the Agent is what drives the industry.
Which type of company is better!!!!? I am not sure... all I know it that Agent-Centric realtors seem to connect quicker (and ultimately benefit) to what staging has to offer. Broker-Centric companies have hoops and layers they go thru before they will allow us to HELP THEM.
Regardless, real estate STAGING WORKS... and if you do NOT have a GOOD staging resource to rely on when the need arises... well then you are crippling your effectiveness as a realtor.
Enough for now... CRAIG
Jumat, 04 Agustus 2006
A PROPERTY'S VALUE (Humor)
Sometimes you just gotta laugh. The great thing about blogging is, if it is written from a personal point of view, it lets the reader know the "backstory" of who you are. Integrating HUMOR into what we do is a big part of how I and Real Estaging operates.
I pulled together this little flyer to use it in my info kits too. But if you would like a PDF file of this... just let me know.
Craig
Kamis, 03 Agustus 2006
I admit... Staging ISN'T Necessary!
Even though I am a stager, I will be the first to say Staging ISN'T necessary to sell a home.
Does it help? YES.
Can the seller profit from it? YES.
Can a home sell faster? YES.
But it is necessary? NOPE.
I can remember my father was the type of guy that always bought the "diamond in the rough." He could see potential around the mess... and those are the houses he bought... and at a lower price.
One of the reasons why we take (and post) so many photos of so many different types, styles and levels of staging on our website is in the hope that home sellers can SEE their lives in a previous staging we have done. Testimonials of course are of GREAT help too.
BUT... there are those that just are not interested staging. Realtors who like to use stagers need to realize that sometimes people just aren't going to want a stager coming in. It is unfortunate and frustrating but is is what you have sell into. But is not MUCH different than a car dealer having a car for sale that is only a couple years old but with ULTRA high miles... its not the perfect car to sell, but they still would have to sell it.
Well that is MORE than enough nor now... CRAIG
Does it help? YES.
Can the seller profit from it? YES.
Can a home sell faster? YES.
But it is necessary? NOPE.
I can remember my father was the type of guy that always bought the "diamond in the rough." He could see potential around the mess... and those are the houses he bought... and at a lower price.
One of the reasons why we take (and post) so many photos of so many different types, styles and levels of staging on our website is in the hope that home sellers can SEE their lives in a previous staging we have done. Testimonials of course are of GREAT help too.
BUT... there are those that just are not interested staging. Realtors who like to use stagers need to realize that sometimes people just aren't going to want a stager coming in. It is unfortunate and frustrating but is is what you have sell into. But is not MUCH different than a car dealer having a car for sale that is only a couple years old but with ULTRA high miles... its not the perfect car to sell, but they still would have to sell it.
Well that is MORE than enough nor now... CRAIG
Rabu, 02 Agustus 2006
"WHAT ARE YOU?"
Today Kimberly Wong a Realtor at @Properties here in Chicago asked me, "What are you?"
Knowing the 2 things I specialize in, I think she wanted/expected me to choose between being an Interior Designer (which I am) and a Home Stager.
But I had to just smile... and look at her with a big grin and answer... "MARKETER!" Why did I answer this way? Because THAT is what I have done ALL of my life.
While I went back to study interior design at age 38, the eternal marketer has in me has adapted my design talents into a tool to help sell real estate.
So I have found the perfect blend... doing what I know innately (marketing) and doing what I love implicitly (design). People refer to it as a gift... I just say it's "me."
THAT is why I welcome questions, comments and concerns about staging and marketing from anyone regardless of where you are in the nation...
I love what I do, I know it works and I want you to know it can help you too.
Craig
Knowing the 2 things I specialize in, I think she wanted/expected me to choose between being an Interior Designer (which I am) and a Home Stager.
But I had to just smile... and look at her with a big grin and answer... "MARKETER!" Why did I answer this way? Because THAT is what I have done ALL of my life.
While I went back to study interior design at age 38, the eternal marketer has in me has adapted my design talents into a tool to help sell real estate.
So I have found the perfect blend... doing what I know innately (marketing) and doing what I love implicitly (design). People refer to it as a gift... I just say it's "me."
THAT is why I welcome questions, comments and concerns about staging and marketing from anyone regardless of where you are in the nation...
I love what I do, I know it works and I want you to know it can help you too.
Craig
Selasa, 01 Agustus 2006
Staging Success Story: "SWEAT EQUITY ON STERIODS"
I recently read a blog that made the GOOD point that staging does not raise the appraised value of a home. BUT STAGING CAN BE A VERY PROFITABLE VENTURE!
Every agent knows, a home that goes to market has a possible low/high list price point range. This low/high price is primarly based on condition, features, and finishes.
But you might not know that if the staging is done correctly, the asking price can be raised to the high side of the range... considerably in cases!
GOOD staging is what I call "sweat equity on steroids."
Our best "sweat equity on steroids" success story was for a couple who this past spring ended up LISTING their home for $20,000 MORE from what the agent originally was going to list it for, HAD WE NOT STAGED IT!
The agent Dotti Ellis of RE/MAX Northwest here in Park Ridge who also happens to be a friend of mine who for 2 years I had tried to convince to use our services... needless to say she is now SOLD on REAL ESTAGING. OH and sellers ALSO received an offer in 4 days after listing... who ended up being the buyer too.
REAL ESTAGING has coined a simple phrase... "Stage it, List it, Show it, Sell it." THAT ORDER WORKS THE BEST! YES, you can stage after it has been on the market... but what the heck if EVERYONE (seller, agent and stager) can win from the get go... then I say go for it.
I love this stagning biz, I am passionate about it... and if ANYONE has ANY questions about staging or a stager... PLEASE call or email me. I will gladly answer ANY QUESTIONS, EVEN IF YOU ARE WAY OUT IN TIM-BUK-TOO (meaning outside of Chicago).
I love helping and I am committed to help the real estate industry flourish in these changing times.
Well... THAT is more than enough for now... CRAIG
Every agent knows, a home that goes to market has a possible low/high list price point range. This low/high price is primarly based on condition, features, and finishes.
But you might not know that if the staging is done correctly, the asking price can be raised to the high side of the range... considerably in cases!
GOOD staging is what I call "sweat equity on steroids."
Our best "sweat equity on steroids" success story was for a couple who this past spring ended up LISTING their home for $20,000 MORE from what the agent originally was going to list it for, HAD WE NOT STAGED IT!The agent Dotti Ellis of RE/MAX Northwest here in Park Ridge who also happens to be a friend of mine who for 2 years I had tried to convince to use our services... needless to say she is now SOLD on REAL ESTAGING. OH and sellers ALSO received an offer in 4 days after listing... who ended up being the buyer too.
REAL ESTAGING has coined a simple phrase... "Stage it, List it, Show it, Sell it." THAT ORDER WORKS THE BEST! YES, you can stage after it has been on the market... but what the heck if EVERYONE (seller, agent and stager) can win from the get go... then I say go for it.
I love this stagning biz, I am passionate about it... and if ANYONE has ANY questions about staging or a stager... PLEASE call or email me. I will gladly answer ANY QUESTIONS, EVEN IF YOU ARE WAY OUT IN TIM-BUK-TOO (meaning outside of Chicago).
I love helping and I am committed to help the real estate industry flourish in these changing times.
Well... THAT is more than enough for now... CRAIG
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