Coffee Table Decorations: Organizing Coffee Table Books and Trays | Pott...

With a difficult real estate market, almost nothing is more important than stagging when you are getting ready to sell a house. I was quite excited to find this clip from Pottery Barn (after all, what's more exciting than a house described as a Pottery Barn decor !) but was left a little unimpressed. Is it just me? What do you think of these coffee table decorations???

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

A client I'm currently working with suggested that I put together a course to teach fellow Realtors how to photograph houses. The first thing that went through my mind was that he felt I need to supplement my income. After all, things are pretty slow. But this afternoon I took a hard look at some of the stuff that's in the MLS and they are just to funny not to share.This first gem is from a

Shadow! What Shadow?

According to media reports, the groundhog saw his shadow this morning and so we are in for six more weeks of winter. Impossible! It's so grey and gloomy out that my GPS system can't find a satellite signal and they're saying a groundhog found his shadow. It must be a conspiracy to slow down the local real estate market.Enjoy the perma-gray! It didn't slow down these ice fisherman on Conesus Lake.

Never Do This if Your House is on the Market!

A couple of weeks ago I was in the middle of showing a house when the phone rang. I continued to show the house, pointing out the deep closets and hardwoods in good condition, when the answering machine turned on."This is Joe. Leave a message," we all heard."This is a collect call from an inmate at the Monroe County Jail. Do you accept the charges?" was the message that was left!We all looked

What's In Your SPAM Folder?

If I don't show up for our real estate appointment this week it's because I've decided to retire. You see, I got this e-mail from a Canadian attorney . He represents the estate of a Shell Oil executive that died in a plane crash. They have not been able to locate family members and so he's asked if I would step in as next of kin and inherit a fortune. (Shell Oil....Shelsby...kind of sounds alike.

Where Was This Guy When I Needed Him?

Have you seen these billboards around town? We Buy Ugly Houses.com! A real estate agents dream come true!Like most agents, when I first started in the business and didn't have much experience, it seemed like I could only get listings that no one else wanted. Believe me, I've sold my fair share of ugly houses. Now, people actually call me to sell their house and usually they are pretty nice.

Home Stagers... Isn't it Time You Became a B.A.S.T.R.D. ARSE Like Me?

To my fellow home stagers... I did not want to make too big of a stink about this, but I am delighted to announce yet another staging training & certification course than is now becoming available to you.
While I know many of you all already are well trained staging professionals and have worked hard at applying the foundational basics in the art and business of home staging, I also know many of you still feel a bit inadequate and under-trained.

You’ve shared with me your tales of how your competition, at times, rubs your nose in the fact that they believe they are better educated then you... ESPECIALLY when it comes to the skillful use and application of Raffia.

Well, guess what? Your worries are over...

I am happy to announce I have been recently sought out by the British Academy of Staging Training & Raffia Design (B.A.S.T.R.D.) to be educated, certified and then bring back to you their renowned ARSE approach to staging.

Last weekend, I am happy to reveal, the B.A.S.T.R.D.s flew me over to cheery old England for an exhaustive training program to learn ZILLIONS of ways the professional home stager can use Raffia cheaply, yet beautifully, transform their client's properties. GOLLY! There was so much I had to learn in this grueling three day wonder workshop. WOW! I would never have thought one could create so much out of a shriveled stinky dead weed?

But even now, though I am so pooped out, I am just too excited and want to share with you that I am now a Master B.A.S.T.R.D ARSE. That's right I got my MBA! I'm a real live educated ARSE too. I can no longer say I “stage naked” as the renowned stager Kate Hart says. Oh, and more importantly… I am trained and authorized to now teach you the B.A.S.T.R.D. methodology so that you too can generate beautiful Raffia staging transformations. Just LOOK at all the stunning, yet clever, ways Raffia was used in the room pictured above. LOVELY, simply lovely.

You see one thing I learned was… NOTHING SELLS a home faster than a home staged with RAFFIA! And while I know many of you might think you know why it works so well, I know you believe it is because it looks cute and adorable. But it is not the way it LOOKS that helps it make a house sell. Actually it is the way that it SMELLS that SELLS! But I have to admit while it does look pretty too. WOW, there is so much to teach you. Did you know the ARSE tag line is, "Don’t be a stinker... swell smells sell!"

Well I just know the home staging industry will soon be revolutionized as more and more stagers use this misunderstood and underutilized tool. So I invite all home stagers to come learn the secrets of Raffia! I am now taking reservations for next month's inaugural class. Space is limited... so sign up now. And know, I look forward to teaching you how to be a total ARSE… just like me.

Smile It Forward...
Me

Post Script: I believe it is important that we can laugh at ourselves and not take ourselves too serious. A smile before the holiday is a good thing. Anyway, hope you enjoyed it... Happy 4th.

FAKING Your Home's Staging is Fine, Just Don't be CONTRIVED

While home staging does entail some visual creativity, in actuality it also requires a bit of merchandising and a few marketing "tricks" to get the job done. Unlike the practices of interior decorating, re-design, or even traditional interior design, much of what home staging is that it is the creation of an illusion of a possible lifestyle within a particular house so that it appeals to the largest home buying segment possible.

But it is important to note that in order to create REAL appeal, a home stager might have to resort to some "fakeness". One basic known industry practice (like decluttering or depersonalizing) every good stager relies on is to bring the outside in.

However, while some in our industry suggests that bringing the outside in is as a simple stroll out to one’s garden to cut something fresh and green, in reality this option just might be realistic. While, for some, this might SOUND like great advice to bring the outside in, for others the facts that either it’s freaking freezing and everything is dead in the garden or, oh ya you don't HAVE a garden, you live in a high-rise condo quite often IS reality.

So what can one do to bring the outside in? Well, this is where fake plants can help. Today's silk plants are so "perfect" and so widely accepted that they just blend into the background and, even MORE IMPORTANLY, do not draw the attention of a buyer's eye. Fake fruit works well too.

Also, using fake FOOD as props is a BIG No-No! For some reason, fake food captivates people’s attention… for they love to go up to and look and touch fake food to see just how "real" it looks. A good stager knows, and will advise their client, that anything that distracts a buyers so that they are looking at something other than the house steals precious selling attention.

For homes that are vacant, it is quite acceptable to use fake TV's. Because TV watching is a big part of our culture fake flat screens help a buyer understand how a room can be configured.

That with all that being said, I want to stress the importance that while sometimes "Fake" is fine... it is NEVER OK to resort to contrived trickery. Contrived and “cutesy” staging (Upper Picture ) is staging that just tries to hard. Resorting to gimmicks such as laying out silk gloves, with a single red rose (fake); setting a tray on a bed with a tea cup, a book of sonnets and the word "Love" configured with sticks from your garden; or setting out two champagne glasses wrapped with cute raffia bows on a tub’s edge is just NOT real and not the way most people live.

Because this is typically NOT the way people live, it becomes a contrived distraction to home buyers touring the house. So always remember, the best staging allows the HOUSE to be the star, not the stuff in it. The best and most talented stagers know and easily master the principal that "less is more" and their work is always tastefully understated.

The picture (Right >) of a staged property (staged and photographed this week by Marci Toliver of Fresh Eye Designs) is a perfect and pure example of how to apply an understated "less is more" approach to staging. As you can see, it is a beautifully appealing breakfast nook that is not contrived.

Oh ya, and one more thing, Marci just happened to make that floral arrangement herself…. using fake tulips.

Stage It Forward...
Me


PS: THANKS MARCI... for allowing me to feature this picture of your beautiful work. This is STUNNING staging!

PSS: My company, Real Estaging, happens to use proptronics.com as our supplier for these props. I recently spoke with Darlene, the owner of Proptronics… she graciously offered to give a discount to any stager who mentions this post. Please just ask for Darlene or Michael. HOW COOL IS THAT?

Canned Cranberry Sauce… a Jiggly Symbol of the Home Staging Industry?

This Thanksgiving every real rstate agent and home seller should be thankful and contemplate Canned Cranberry Sauce. As it sit on your plates, know that it symbolizes all that real estate staging has to offer.

Here is my scholarly list or reasons why...

7 ways Canned Cranberry Sauce embodies all that Home Staging has to offer!

1. Canned Cranberry Sauce like home staging does not cost much, but can have tasty results.

2. Canned Cranberry Sauce like home staging is visually appealing to everyone.

3. Canned Cranberry Sauce like home staging takes the right tools and skill to to prepare it properly.

4. Canned Cranberry Sauce like home staging is memorable without overpowering the rest that is around it.

5. Canned Cranberry Sauce like home staging isn't cluttered with complexity.

6. Canned Cranberry Sauce like home staging is best served at the beginning.

7. Canned Cranberry Sauce like home staging is not appreciated until it is tried.

Happy Thanksgiving and Stage it forward...
Craig (Me)

PS: But seriously, this Thanksgiving I am MOST thankful for those of our land, not on our soil, defending our country.

JUMBO sized CHALLENGES are the CRAPPY Part of a Staging Business

So you are or want to be a home stager? Well, it is a rewarding and fun business... but I would not be telling the truth if I said it was not without its JUMBO challenges.

Since I have been writing about staging I have "connected" with stagers from all over North America! I have communicated with amazing, talented, fun, and creative people who are committed to and love to their professions.

Oddly, these talks have been both INSIPIRING and SAD. So I bet you are wondering “Why sad?” Basically it is because, while these folks are good at providing staging services... now, after being out in the real world and applying what the learned, they find they are deeper into their profession in ways they NEVER thought about.

Unfortunately, while they have gained a new appreciation and respect for staging, they feel a bit lost when it comes to the day-to-day reality of BUSINESS OWNERSHIP... especially the staging business. I understand their dilemma... 2 years ago, when I presented the initial draft of our company's contract for staging services to our attorneys for legal review, they were surprised and dumb-founded! Their replay was... "Craig, you have a VERY complex business model."

I see stagers attracted to the "glamour" and fun creativity necessary to staging. But then reality sets in... in order to maintain and grow a successful staging business many do not think of ALL THE WORK in the other areas that MUST be given attention to and MASTERED.

These "jumbo challenge' areas include: Services Delivery, Sales, Marketing / Advertising, Inventory: Growth & management, Human Resources, Systems & Software, Strategic Partners, Office Space & Storage, Accounts Receivable/Payable and Outreach.

If one is serious about owning and growing their real estate staging business.... each of the areas listed above must be examined, defined and developed. WHY? Because if you don't actively value and TEND TO each of these areas within your own staging company... your competition will in theirs and you will ultimately loose out to them.

I hope to share with you all I can to help you with jumbo-sized challenges facing you in your own staging business... and know that I continue to work in my own real estate staging business to find solutions to make those challenges less crappy.

Stage it Forward...
Craig (Me)

WOW does this stager have "IT" or what?

Recently I stumbled upon Jessica Hughes of Ambiance Staging a new stager that I believe has “it”... in every sense of word. I believe she has a GREAT start, a GREAT attitude, GREAT talent, GREAT acumen and most importantly… tenacity.

A little while back I shared a “secret” on how to easily evaluate a stager. In that blog I said… “USE YOUR EYES and see the good AR stagers and use them as a litmus test to which you compare the stager you are considering in your market. Go to their websites... look at their galleries/portfolios. You WILL SEE fantastic work... and just plan garbage. LOOK at the website...is it attractive? Folks, stagers are in the MERCHANDISING BUSINESS, they SHOULD be able to merchandise themselves.”

Well I did this at Jessica’s web site: Ambiance Staging …and I was BLOWN away.

Her website is NOT and needs not to be the most, slick, fancy, hip, chic etc… But, like a good staging, her website (which she designed herself) is clean, stylish, un-cluttered, easy to understand, maneuver through and best of all it was inexpensive. For a self designed beginner it is one of the best I have ever seen!

While she doesn’t have hundreds of pictures in her portfolio… she has enough to give you a sense of her abilities.

The little link tab that says (About Us) is a subtle example of “faking it till you make it”. It makes her sound bigger than an “About Me” tab would. And it is the truth… when one is starting up a new business a partner/spouse IS part of the team in one way or another.

On top of being creative she is smart and witty. I encourage you to read 2 of her posts on Active Rain. The cleverly relate and feed of each other. The first one entitled 6 ½ Reasons to Stage is informative… the second one entitled 6 ½ Reasons NOT to Stage is hilarious.

Jessica is an AWESOME addition to the staging industry. In my opinion she is "IT".

PS: Jessica received her training to be a stager at HSR (Home Staging Resource). HSR is owned and operated by Audra Slinkey. Audra's voice can often be heard here Among the Rain Drops... as she is also a member of Active Rain.

Stagers... are we red headed step children that get no respect?

Lately I have been getting a lot of email from stagers that are frustrated with the response they have been getting from the real estate community. Basically they are surprised that realtors are not flocking to them with open welcoming arms and lavishing them with clients. Compared to mortgage brokers or home inspectors we are "red headed step children that get no respect".

The best advice I can give you is to "persevere".

Staging is new and in many parts of the country untested. So it is up to us as a united industry to get the word out about staging and the benefits it provides. When you are marketing yourself to realtors keep in mind the following and remember ultimately you need to craft your message to them and their issues/needs/concerns.

1.) Staging has become a leading-edge marketing tool for realtors that demonstrates they are savvy and leading edge.

2.) Staging fee is typically the seller’s expense, not the realtors! (Many realtors think the fee has to come out of their pocket.)

3.) Real estate staging is NOT just renting furniture… it is much more. It is up to you to explain the depth at which you go to prepare a house for market.

4.) The best time to stage is BEFORE a property is listed. Our work can move the listing price to the top end of the property’s possible price range thus covering our fees and making the seller MORE money.

5.) Let us discuss our services and fees directly with the home seller… this keeps the home seller from feeling as if additional fees are being tacked on by the realtor.

6.) INSTEAD of a price reduction… consider using us. Staging can be less costly and have more of an impact.

7.) Do not market yourself as a designer/ or decorator... rather market yourself as a "real estate/property "merchandiser". Why? Because bringing in a "designer/decorator" may be construed as an insult to a seller's tastes. Hiring a property merchandiser sounds like a wise marketing move.

In today's age, where it seems like it is all about hard core marketing, sometimes what is forgotten is that marketing ourselves and our services is ultimately about building authentic relationships. Finding ways to be of help to the realtor and EARN their respect will surely end the "little orphan Rodney syndrome" we all experience in this new industry.

Staging Realtors... how big are your guns?

When should a realtor, who considers themselves to be a stager, bring in a professional real estate stager?

In my opinion it really comes down to 3 key elements: TIME, TALENT, & TREASURE. A keen and rich knowledge of these basic 3 elements and a system for implementing and administering them is what truly makes a stager an effective resource. I have found if stager does not have access to all 3, they undermine the true benifits of staging and what is available to the seller. (Please note, the key word here is “access” and does not mean EVERY property needs all 3 elements.)

So realtors, if you are thinking about becoming a “Staging Realtor” but are not sure you want to, I ask you to consider the following basic questions regarding these 3 key elements.

TIME: How much time is preparing properties for market going to take you? Taking into account that staging can take a considerable of time to perform physical and/or project management tasks, is this the best use of your time?

TALENT: Do you already know and are you willing to continue to learn all you need to know, about landscaping, cleaning, de-cluttering, room & furnishing arrangement, home repair & maintenance to best prepare these properties for sale?

TREASURE (Props): Considering staging is real estate merchandising and that scale, proportion, color and style do make a difference… Do you have access to the RIGHT furnishings and decorative accessories that can be added to your properties that subtly blend in, yet enhance their overall appeal?

If as a realtor you are willing to fully and ongoingly commit to these basic elements of staging, as you commit to the basic growth and development of your realtor skills... I say GO FOR IT. But I think it is far to warn you... to do staging RIGHT it often takes more then one thinks. It might be best at times to call in the BIG GUNS of a professional stager.

Because sometimes it’s not what you know… it’s what you don’t know that you don’t know, that can best help your client sell their house.

Who wrote the book on Real Estate Staging?

Well from the looks of if... 5 different people so far. So there is NOT a lot written about the subject as of yet. I happen to own and have read 4 of the 5 books listed here. And I gotta admit... not all staging books are the same.

I am actually surprised to say that the ONE BOOK I thought would and SHOULD be the best of the bunch... is a bit of a let down on a number of levels.

While this industry is still on the grow, so I am sure there will be more an more written about staging in years to come.

With that in mind, I will say that the one book that I thought was one of the best for people (both sellers & realtors) wanting to LEARN basic and practical staging tips was Lori Matzke's book. Lori’s book was chock full of beautiful color example photos... and it is a lot easer to SHOW staging techniques than talk about it in just boring black and white text.

So here is the list of Staging Books I know of/have:

• - Designed to Sell by HGTV


• - Dress Your House for Success: 5 Fast, Easy Steps to Selling Your House, Apartment, or Condo for the Highest Possible Price! by Martha Webb and Sarah Parsons Zackheim


• - Home Staging: Creating Buyer-Friendly Rooms to Sell Your House by Lori Matzke


• - Home Staging: The Winning Way to Sell Your House for More Money by Barb Schwarz


• - Peggy's Corner: Stage Your Home for Profit by Peggy Selinger-Eaton & Gayla Moghannam

These books all can be found on Amazon… if your are interested in learning more I strongly suggest you check out them out before you buy. I will say you need NOT buy all.

If anyone knows of any other books... please let me know.

ANNOUNCING: My new book on Real Estate Staging

While there are a few books out there that talk about real estate staging. I still feel there is room for a more comprehensive discussion.

I have been working on my own staging book and am PROUD to début the cover.

For marketing purposes (so that I am better able to connect with my intended audience) I have written this book using my pen-name... Reala Stager.

But shhhhhhh.... that is a secret! My publisher does not want that information released to the general public.

Wadda ya think?

Not bad looking considering I designed it this morning in MS WORD!

If Switzerland was a color, what would it be?

Ok… so this is NOT a blog on behalf of the Swiss Visitor & Convention Bureau.

It is a blog with another basic staging tip about color of and in a house

Q: What is the RIGHT color to use in a home that is on the market… most notably for paint and carpet?

A: NEUTRAL COLORS trump all others. WHY? Because they are non-offensive and are... well neutral. And just because it is a neutral color does NOT equate to it being BORING.

If you have an owner that is reluctant to paint back to a neutral… You might want to make these points.

1. Most landlords who EVEN ALLOW a tenant to re-paint a rental then REQUIRES the rented property be painted BACK to a neutral (usually white) upon leaving… or forgo the security deposit. WHY do landlords do this? Well they KNOW the unit will be easier to rent AGAIN.

2. Spec homes are full of neutral elements. Wall colors, wall and floor tile, carpeting, and plumbing fixtures. WHY? Because builders and developers know they can SELL properties easier that incorporate these colors.

3. What are the color's used in most Spa's? Neautrals. Why? Because they have appeal and attraction... without offending.

I could go on… but those are three examples that might help you make your point.

UPStaging the Competition

Real Estaging was hired to re-stage this newly renovated home in Wilmette Illinios. Our goal was to bring excitement and life into the dull property, first "staged" by a furniture rental company.

Below are 2 Before & After views of our work.

Post Script: This property HAD sat on the market for over 9 months "staged" as shown in the BEFORE pictures. After we at Real Estaging came in and re-staged it.... it sold in 45 days!

STAGING SELLS HOMES!