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

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

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

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

"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

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

The "art" of the THANK YOU NOTE

In today's age, where it seems like it is all about hard core marketing, sometimes what is forgotten is that marketing is ultimately about building authentic relationships.
A simple thank you card can so easily begin or solidify a relationship... IF one writes and formats the note's message correctly.

Here are some simple tips that I follow...

1. Write from the heart... don't try to sell ANYTHING
2. Make it personal... refer to something ONLY you and that person know and share
3. Write something that you think will make the person smile or chuckle
4. The card is to THANK and ONLY SINCERLY thank... it is not a camouflaged sales pitch
5. Hand write it
6. Just sign your name... no need to tuck you business card in it. If you were sincere, the person will remember you for a lot longer than the period of time it takes them to throw your card away.
7. Use a real stamp (I also recommend commemorative stamps) not a postal meter mark
8. Hand write the envelope out too, don't put your name on the envelope just a return address. It adds a bit of mystery and intrigue.
9. Expect NOTHING in return. If you can be generous without having any ulterior motives... then you really are being thankful.
   

Craig