We Stage Sacramento Blog Post - Home Staging for Sale or Living

"Your Job Sounds So Fun!" - The Reality of a Home Staging Career

2009-09-16T22:09:00.000-07:00

If I have heard that once, I have heard it 100 times. "Your job sounds so fun!" and to be fair, I suppose from the outside looking in, it DOES seem like a "fun job." Most recently as I was boarding a plane the flight attendant spied my carry on that promotes my Staging business and exclaimed how fun my job must be . . .

What the public sees is the transformation of a house - room by room - where we use creativity and skill to enhance what the public sees when buying a house. What they don't see is all the work and planning that went in to that successful transformation.

Seems that most people believe that Home Staging is a "fun" job . . . probably ranking up there with Genie, magician, dolphin trainer, or some other "job" where a person appears to get to do something others perceive is lots of fun but don't really understand all the work behind the result. I haven't asked, but I think they believe that we just move a bunch of decor around and diddle with fabric or bedding, and tossing pillows is the most labor intensive thing we do.

To most, they probably figure we have an army of "workers" at our disposal, like those people on TV - that work for free, and make magic happen with their saws, lumber, and materials they just pull out of their magic trucks or vans. If there are Stagers that do this, it is a very, very small percentage. Most of us are the ones doing the work, moving the stuff, and lifting the furniture.

What they don't realize is that although Home Staging is "fun" it is also a lot of work. Home Staging itself is very physical too, or it can be. Home Stagers sweat. Home Stagers strain. Home Stagers can even stress out.

The reality of Staging is that it is not glamorous and the "fun" is not about the ease of what we do, but about the reward of a job well done. Most professional Home Stagers I know that actually work a business, and don't just preach about it, are in the trenches getting sweaty and schlepping stuff from point A to house B.

The days when I Stage, I show up in my "uniform" which is comfortable shorts and a tank top, sandals or tennis shoes, and my hair up in a clip. To be brutally honest, on days when I wake up and know I am Staging a vacant house, I don't bother with makeup, except maybe some lipstick, and - shocker here - don't even bother to style or comb my hair. Why bother - I am going to sweat - and I am not going to see a client so vanity goes out the window. I just stick my hair up in a scrunchy or hair clip - and off I go to "work." Where I live, the temps can reach over 110 degrees in the summer, and just loading up for a Staging project brings a workout. We don't "perspire." We sweat.

In the winter, we bundle up and deal with the cold temps and freezing weather - and hope that our projects "beat the rain" or other bad weather, but we've Staged during near hurricane winds, and with fog so thick we can hardly see to drive. God bless those Stagers that deal with hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, sleet, and any other weather related challenges. Like the mailman, come rain, wind, snow or shine, the show must go on!

I have been physically injured numerous times from Staging. I have broken toes, injured my foot, pulled muscles, gotten bruises, cut myself, gotten tennis-elbow from lifting furniture, and had a bungee cord snap back in my face, splitting my lip open. In that case, the show went on, and we Staged a house because we needed to get it done, with my lip bleeding for 9 hours. Good news is it was my lip - a few inches higher and it would have taken out my eye. I have had sore back, legs, arms and neck from Staging - and over the years have gotten smarter about how much physical labor I personally do, opting to hire movers and manual labor help whenever the budget allows. There are "tools" we can use to help minimize some of the physical strain - furniture lifters, movers, and such, but the bottom line is that we cannot escape the physical nature of Staging. Even if we are just pulling inventory and loading our truck, that is physical.

Home Staging is fun because we are helping others, we do get to see the transformation of a space happen relatively quickly, and we get the reward of accomplishment when the house sells faster than expected - compared to the marketed un-staged competition. But it's not "fun" in the sense that it's easy to do.

Working with clients and providing Staging reports is not physical, but it is mental. We may not sweat while preparing the Staging report (unless the homeowner does not have their air conditioning on), but the mental side of coming up with a plan of action on the spot, and then having the ability to convey that plan with compassion and kindness to a Seller that may or may not be ready to hear the suggestions, or be excited about moving, can be a challenge and be somewhat stressful. The emotional aspect is something we have to be prepared for each time we work with a client. We never know what response they are going to have to our plan, and much of the time we act in the role of compassionate counselor, encouraging them to make changes that will ultimately benefit them the most in the sale of their property.

The longer we engage in business, the more confidence we get, and the better prepared we feel going in to work with a client, but I don't believe we ever fully get over that feeling of pressure to perform Staging magic, using what a Seller has or bringing in some "WOW" factor, with the hopes that everything will turn out great. We have a vision, we work to carry that out to the best of our ability, factoring in what the seller has to work with, any limitations we may have, the necessary timeframe, and budget.

My last Staging report was done late one afternoon, and the next day we showed up to do hands-on Staging to finish it off, with the clock ticking from a Realtor that wanted to get the house on the MLS - ASAP! Of course, the Realtor was thrilled and the seller got a real kick out of seeing how we used her things, combined with some basic inventory - to get her house show ready. She even said, "You were not like those people on TV - you treated me very kindly and I appreciate that." Working with pressure is not something every person can handle, and yet professional Stagers do it every day.

My greatest satisfaction comes not just from seeing a room come together with my ideas that transfer from mind to reality, but from the reaction of a client that cannot believe how nice their house looks, and from a Realtor who is thrilled at a tranformation of their listing. And it comes from a part of me that feels great joy at using my talent and creativity in a way that helps someone else.

Ultimately, when I finish a Staging project, there is a part of me that just wants to high-five someone, or do a celebration dance. As I have shared with colleagues - having a "theme song" is important and keeping the actual Staging fun - by sharing it with other professional ASP Stagers is what make it fun for me as well. As I learned from my mentor, Barb Schwarz, "having a party with myself" is half the fun of Staging - and that happens when I do something unexpected with Staging, when my creativity comes out and we use something in a new way, or make something out of "nothing" in order to achieve a goal. I love that feeling.

However, the "work" behind Staging never ends. Any successful Stager will tell you that getting the business is always on our minds. We are managers, marketers, and workers. Besides the physical labor that leaves us sweaty and tired, there is the constant marketing that has to occur. We can never just sit back and "wait" for business but must constantly find ways to reach our target audience with our message of how we can help them achieve their goals of selling faster and at the best price.

As a markets change, we have to change our strategy for getting business, so we are also adjusting to economic trends that impact our business. Any successful Home Stager will attest to the reality behind reinvention, and carving out market niches to stay viable.

Yes, our "job is fun" but it is also a lot of work - mentally and physically. We have to have endurance to make it through the tougher times, we have to have optimism to keep our hope alive when the going gets tough, and we have to rejuvenate our creative spirit by continuing to find new ways to test our skills and transform houses and spaces that truly need our Staging touch.

So those of you out there looking from the outside at Home Staging - and believe it is one of those "fun" jobs - what it is really is a passion that we have turned into a career. Despite the physical, mental and even emotional work it takes, we love it because it feeds a part of our soul or spirit that nothing else meets.

THAT is the real "fun" behind Home Staging.

New Tiny URL

2009-09-15T19:58:00.000-07:00

http://tinyurl.com/JennieNorrisBlog

Visit the URL to view blog posts about Home Staging, and business.

- Jennie

Our ASP Staged Houses are SELLING in RECORD TIME! - By Jennie Norris, ASPM, IAHSP

2009-08-17T23:19:00.001-07:00

We are so excited! In our tough market where average days on market can be 100 - we have seen nearly all our ASP Staged properties SELL within 30 days or LESS!

Our We Stage Sacramento success stories are part of the national statistics that are tracked by Stagedhomes.com and of course as a savvy business owner, I also prepare my own company stats to share with clients locally. Our graphic representation of our success (below) speaks volumes.

Not only are the ASP Staged houses we have Staged selling, but they are getting multiple offers, selling for MORE than list, or selling AT LIST price, and in one case at 92% of list. Getting multiple offers in this market is something we have not heard about for over 2 years - and it is happening with the ASP Staged properties!

It is exciting to be able to help Sellers and Realtors achieve their goals of selling in the shortest time and at the best price!

- Jennie Norris, ASPM, IAHSP - Owner, We Stage Sacramento
http://www.westagesacramento.com/

We Stage Sacramento - STAGING SUCCESS STATISTICS!

Virtual Staging – Selling a House is not the Time to Air Brush for Perfection

2009-08-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

Virtual Staging – Selling a House is not the Time to Air Brush for Perfection

by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP President

In the world of fashion, models, Hollywood, and the media – much of what we see is not real. Lighting, clever stylists, and make-up can drastically alter the appearance of the model or subject. Then add in the common practice used in print media of air-brushing out flaws, and the person that is featured in the photo spread often does not resemble that at all in real life. In recent years, we have all read or seen actresses criticizing magazines for doing everything from altering their size, elongating their legs, deleting scars or cellulite, and adding things like abs and muscles.

All this is done with the magic of the computer, software and clever person with the mouse.

We know when we look at a person in a magazine that 99% of the time they don’t really look like that in person. We love to see the tabloids actually catch these models or actors in real life with their messy hair, real bodies and flaws. It reminds us that there are many clever things that can be done with a computer and software specifically designed to alter photographic images.

Although we accept this action in the world of fashion and Hollywood, we should not accept this as an acceptable trend for Real Estate and Home Staging.

Virtual Staging. This is where vacant rooms are “Staged” using images of furnishings and décor that are not real. The rooms are not truly Staged – as they are done by a person at a computer, not by a trained expert in the house. For some they may feel this is an alternative to having to invest in real Home Staging. However, the savings they get may actually end up costing them far more in legal fees or reputation than if they Staged it properly in the first place.

Photos do help sell a house, but how do we know that the images and dimensions in a “virtually Staged room” are accurate? How can we be sure that certain flaws have not been removed? Since Buyers are not imaginative, can we trust that they can translate what is in a little photo to a large empty room? Most importantly, editing out flaws or altering the appearance of rooms in houses for the sole purpose of selling the house is bordering on deception. In the opinion of professional Accredited Staging Professional® (ASP®) Home Stagers everywhere, the photos of the house should be of the real house – not a virtual representation of the house.

Another problem is that Buyers will eventually go and see the house in person, and imagine their disappointment when the photo they saw online is not the representation of what they see in person. Their energy will drop, and they will not be able to translate the excitement of nice furnishings found in a virtual photo to a droll, empty room that echoes. Buyers need to experience a real Staged house with real furnishings and décor to not only know if their own furnishings will fit, but they need it in order to have a real emotional connection. That connection is what sells the house and makes it a home.

The National Association of Realtors® (NAR®) Magazine came out with an article (July 30, 2009) admonishing agents and Sellers to not give credence to the idea of virtual Staging. It is a risky proposition that could find itself being worked out in a court of law with disgruntled Buyers who felt deceived by a clever computer tech with some slick software.

The link below contains the full article and there is an excerpt below. http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2009073002?OpenDocument

“However, there are some potential pitfalls to virtual staging, including liability issues. There is the chance, for example, that a buyer will challenge whether the digitally altered photos provided an accurate rendering of the space. After moving in, the new owner could make a case for misrepresentation of the property against the real estate practitioner.

Another problem is the lack of control that sellers and practitioners experience in terms of color schemes and accessories. Virtually staged properties tend toward neutral tones and commonplace art and window treatments that could turn off some prospective buyers.”

(Virtual Staging: Brilliant but Maybe Dangerous? Daily Real Estate News -July 30, 2009)

The moral of the story is virtually clear. With Home Staging, ensure an honest and accurate representation by entrusting your house or listing to a trained professional ASP® Home Stager, and not the clever skills of a computer jockey equipped with a mouse. That mousetrap could prove fatal to the purchase, the Seller, and even a Realtor’s career.

Staging versus Design - More on the TRUTH about Legislation

2009-07-27T09:39:00.001-07:00

As I write this, I am wearing the hat of the President for 2009-2010 of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) that for over 10 years has been serving the Home Staging industry with integrity. We have members in every state in the country as well as in Canada and Europe. I have been a proud member of IAHSP since 2003. We were the first association to provide educational forums, conventions, and local chapters to support our members. Our "model" of success has been emulated by other groups that have popped up recently. They say "imitation is the greatest form of flattery." IAHSP should be really flattered.

That said, I am amazed at the continuing misinformation being spewed by associations intent on recruiting membership. Two in particular have coupled up on the "supposed" legislation that they say will harm Home Stagers. They have stated in writing that our IAHSP association has put its head in the sand because we do not agree with their fear mongering and claims that legislation that targets interior designers will harm Home Stagers. They scoff at the notion that we actually went and asked the ASID organization about the legislation. And because the information we found does not agree with their fear-based claims, now everyone is a "liar" - except them.

When will this posturing end?

If you are reading this - the only thing you need to know is that there is always a motivation behind people asking for "support" for an issue. In this case, they want your dollars. They want to legitimize their reason for existence and they do this by deliberately striking fear in to the minds of business owners everywhere. Imagine how excited this interior design advocate group must have been when they realized there was a whole new profit center they could tap into with Home Stagers? And they gained access to this group through an association that is supposed to be serving Home Stagers. How is dragging Home Stagers into this issue serving them?

I am sure these groups provide value to their members in other ways, but wtih regard to the issue of legislation and how it will harm Home Stagers, they are way off base. The facts speak for themselves.

We are not disputing that this is a real issue of concern for interior designers everywhere.

The issue is of great concern for INTERIOR DESIGNERS. They do have reason for concern as if they do not want to fall under the auspices of what constitutes an interior designer as defined by this legislation, it could cause them to lose their business. By all means - fight the good fight. We wish you luck and we support you in your endeavors. But dragging Home Stagers along into the trenches will not help your cause at all. It only muddies it up.

Anyone with a semblance of intelligence can read the legislation and see that it does not target anyone in the Home Staging industry.

Our position paper on this issue tells the reader to investigate for themselves. Do NOT rely on aritcles written by those with a clear bias, or those that take the issue to the extreme. Unless you are not solely a Home Stager. If you are someone that does Home Staging AND Decorating AND Interior Design - the legislation could apply to you only in your Interior Designer capacity. But we shared all that in our thoughtful position paper we send out and posted recently.

The bottom line for IAHSP is that Home Staging is NOT decorating or interior design.

This person actually admits that in her blog post. They are NOT the same - and yet she and another association are trying diligently to meld all forms of decorating-design-Staging into one amorphous blob. WHY? They are all stand-alone business entities. Their goals are not the same. Therefore, any legislation targeting one group - i.e., interior designers, does not automatically target the other two. However, in their world, all 3 are at risk. How can this be? On one hand they acknowledge that they are all different and then in the next breath are telling readers that legislation applies to all? Huh?

I took the time to contact the President of this design advocacy group, and did not receive a reply back. She completely ignored my attempts to reach out and better understand why she felt that Home Stagers should be part of this "battle." Never heard back. I have emails to prove I did reach out and my intent was to cooperatively understand the issue and how it pertained to Home Stagers. The interior design advocacy group is right to be concerned about this issue for their Interior Designer members. But jumping into bed with a fledgling Home Staging association and then directing the fear towards Home Stagers, to me, is not a responsible action.

I also do not appreicate the repeated attempts discredit IAHSP - the top Home Staging association that has set the standard for excellence for over a decade. IAHSP is the only association that is based in EDUCATION first, as well as Ethics and Excellence. We actually have standards for membership - starting with being educated by a reputable company in Home Staging.

People that have hands in both interior design and Home Staging - it is hard to find an association that truly serves your interests. My advice is to belong to a Home Staging association, and then belong to an Interior Design association. Two separate memberships to serve two separate business facets. That way when and if you do have issues with legislation, you will have proper represenatation with a group that truly has your interests at heart.

What is important to know for all our wonderful IAHSP Members is that we will continue to print the truth - and we do not have a hidden agenda. Our sharing the facts responsibly with our members and the Home Staging community at large is not about increasing membership or having people give money to "fight" an issue that is not really about us at all.

This is NOT about "us versus them" - it is NOT about which Home Staging association is better, etc. It IS about not putting Home Stagers into a place of fear over an issue that is not about Staging. It IS about ensuring that we keep the lines of our industries clearly defined. IAHSP understands this. We hope that others see the light as well.

The members of our IAHSP International Board are ALL VOLUNTARY! No one is paid to serve. In that way, we are not tempted to latch on to an issue that could bring profit to our association. The "rebuttal" from this advocacy group insinuated incorrectly that IAHSP was for profit. That is not true. And as we shared in our position paper - think carefully about who you want to associate with - when deciding membership in an association that is there to truly serve you as a Home Stager.

Ask the Presidents of these other "associations" if they get paid to do what they do - I bet the answer will confirm what I and many others believe. It takes money to pay for salaries - that money comes from memberships. IAHSP dues pay for websites that give our members added exposure, as well as for our IAHSP Chapters and the coordination it takes to help support over 100 chapters in North America. That is it. No salaries are paid to IAHSP Board members or chapter leaders.

I serve IAHSP because I value my association and believe in what we stand for and how we serve our members.

I hope that these other groups can agree to disagree - and show some mutual respect for what we each strive for in serving our members. Only time will tell the truth. Until then, Home Stagers should not live in fear of being "shut down" by legislation that is clearly not about what we do in our Home Staging businesses nor be told by associations that are supposedly serving Home Stagers that they should be concerned. To me that is irresponsible.

For more information please go to http://www.iahsp.com and link to the following information: "Myths and Facts about Proposed Legislation"

http://www.stagedhomes.com/training/A%20Official%20Answer%20from%20American%20Society%20of%20Interior%20Designers%20%20%20July%202009.pdf

The Art of Appreciation

2009-07-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

"Thank you." Two simple words that hold the power to elevate another's attitude and validate a relationship.

Why don't we hear these words more often? When my children were little, it was one of the first things I taught them - to be appreciative and say, "Thank you," when someone did something for them or gave them something. It is something that has to be taught as it is not an automatic, and it is something that shows good manners from childhood forward.

Why then as we enter the business world, does it seem so rare to receive a "Thank you" for a job well done? Showing appreciation to our clients should be on the top of our list, but somewhere along the ines, it seems that the "loyal client" is forgotten or taken for granted in the quest to add more clients to our roster.

When I work with a client, of course I like to be appreciated for how hard I work, the services I provide, the extra effort I put in to a project, and how our whole team wants to make the client happy and have a success story to tell when our Staged houses sell. We make sure to appreciate our clients, and I am always shocked when I am not treated respectfully or with appreciation when I have the "client hat" on. I often say to myself, "If I treated my clients the way I have been treated by this company I would be out of business."

Showing appreciation is vitual for the longevity of a business.

A saying or adage I really like is "It is easier to keep a current client happy than it is to find a new one." How true.

So how can we show appreciation for our clients? It's as simple as 1-2-3.

1. Send thank you cards - handwritten. Never under-estimate the power of the pen! The written word is powerful - the sentiments we can share in a short amount of space when we sincerely express gratitude goes miles in locking our clients in to us for the long haul.

2. Give little appreciation gifts. This is not about spending a lot of money on things - it's about giving little tokens of appreciation. One of my favorite things to give to my clients is a Starbucks Gift Card with a note that says, "You're a Star in My Book." The gift cards is usually about $5 - enough for a cup of coffee and a pastry, but the thought is what counts and I have received "Thank you cards" for my thank you cards!

3. Give Referrals. One of the best ways to show appreciation is to give a referral to your client. Remember what they do for a living and send business their way. Make sure that whoever you do refer mentions your name - so that your client knows that you want to help them succeed too.

Follow these simple suggestions for showing appreciation to your clients, and you will have a loyal client base that does value your relationship, send you referrals, and is with you for many years to come.

Sellers - Are you READY for your Close-Up? by Jennie Norris, ASPM, IAHSP

2009-07-09T12:02:00.000-07:00

“All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up" - Gloria Swanson, Sunset Boulevard, circa 1940.

Those famous words helped immortalize the great Cecil B. DeMille. And it got me thinking. How many times have you had photos taken of yourself where you really were not prepared for that “close-up?” Or worse, been on television with a camera inches from your face showing every pore? It reminds me that there is nothing like preparation – lighting, makeup, positioning – that allows us to take that great photo or be on television without fear of looking “bad.”

When applied to Home Staging we have to ask . . .

How many Sellers are ready for their Close Up?

My experience as a professional Home Stager tells me – not many. Even with the glut of television shows on Home Staging that should help educate the public to do SOMETHING to their houses before putting them up for sale, the fact remains, most Sellers are NOT prepared for their close-up.

However, when Buyers come in to a house, they notice EVERYTHING – and they do get Close-up. They notice not only the floor-plan, but how well cared for the house is. They notice smells. They look at grout, window tracks, windows, sinks, toilets, carpet stains, caulking in the tubs or showers – and if there is mildew, dirt, or debris, the assumption is that the house is not well-maintained. This causes a Buyer to be hesitant about purchasing a house – because they assume that they may have deeper issues to deal with should they purchase a house that is not “Show Ready.”

Why aren’t Sellers ready for their Close-up?

In most cases, it’s because Sellers believe that their house is “fine the way they have lived in it” – and don’t fully understand the WHY behind prepping it for the Buyer.

In other cases, the Seller allows emotions to cloud the need for prepping their house – feeling slighted or insulted when suggestions regarding cleanliness or de-cluttering are made.

And in some cases, it’s because the people involved in helping sell the house lacked the courage to tell the Seller the truth about their house.

Telling the Truth can be Tough

It can be tough to tell someone the truth – but are we truly helping a Seller when we refrain from letting them know about key issues or concerns we KNOW will impact the Sale?

NO. We have an obligation to help Sellers – and the key is to use proper timing and couch it in kindness. This is where someone that is trained to handle Sellers – stands out from those that use criticism and sarcasm (like on television) to tell the “truth.”

How do we get a Seller ready for their Close-Up?

Sellers need an HONEST assessment of their house – and independent third party that is able to be subjective in the house and come up with a plan of action for the Seller.

Sellers need to be willing to implement the independent suggestions – in order to make their house appealing to ALL Buyers.

Where do Sellers get an Honest Assessment?

Sellers can hire a professional Home Stager who will come in and prepare a detailed Home Staging Plan – that addresses how to prep the house room by room, inside and outside. The Home Stager can also help implement the Staging Plan based on how much time and effort the Seller has.

The best place to locate an individual who can provide accurate recommendations is through the www.Stagedhomes.com directory of professionally trained Home Stagers.

Clean is a Relative Term

We need to help Sellers put aside their feelings and realize that Clean is a relative term. But when it comes to Selling, there must be a high standard of CLEAN applied to the house, and a Seller that truly wants to sell will be willing to put added effort into the preparation of their house so that the house stands up to the highest level of Cleanliness.

How much does it Cost?

Typically, a Home Staging Plan ranges from $150-$450 nationwide for an average size house (2,000-2,500 square feet), and is based on the size of the house and the time it takes to prepare the Plan.

Hands-on Staging could be an additional $200-$2,000 or more – again, depending on what is needed. What you want to stay away from is the “Stager” that tells you to remove everything from your house and replace it with trendy, costly decorations and furnishings – a tactic employed by those intent on Selling their “stuff” and not your house. Around the country, these “Stagers” charge in the tens-of-thousands of dollars to Stage a house – which is a disservice to Sellers.

Vacant houses do require a higher investment than when a Seller has things to work with in the house – furniture and décor. However, the statistics show that even having to rent furnishings and décor to Sell a house in most markets costs less than a price reduction.

Ask for Credentials and Insurance Policy

As a Seller – you can ask to see a Home Stager’s credentials – and ask them what they mean. An Accreditation is the highest form of training for the Home Staging industry. Only one reputable company offers this form of training, and is linked to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to provide education on Home Staging. The Accredited Staging Professional® (ASP®) Course has been around for over 10 years and has nearly 40 years of experience behind it.

Also - be wary of Stagers on blog sites that have a lot of “points” – this does not make them an expert Stager – just someone that blogs a lot online. Think about it - if they are online blogging all the time they could not be “out there” actually Staging. Ask for references and referrals. A quality and qualified Stager will be able to produce both.

Lastly, make sure the Home Stager is INSURED. Without a valid insurance policy, YOU are at risk when you invite this person in to you house. If something is damaged or broken, and the Stager has no insurance policy, the repair costs will be on you.

Home Staging - Why LESS Means MORE by Jennie Norris, ASPM, IAHSP

2009-06-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

De-cluttering. Editing. Room refreshing. Purging. No matter how you slice it (or say it) it still amounts to “Home Staging.”

Home Staging is all about LESS is MORE.

LESS is MORE for Buyers - as it allows them to see MORE of the house when there is LESS to distract them.

LESS is MORE for Sellers. When Sellers listen to the sage advice of a professional ASP Home Stager, and put away things as directed by the Staging Plan, the Seller will get MORE for their house than their un-Staged competition.
The reverse is true too.

MORE means LESS for Sellers - when their houses are too cluttered and selling features are obscured or hidden behind objects or drowing in decor and clutter, a Buyer cannot appreciate all the selling features of the house and an overwhelmed mind says, “no.”

This can be confusing to a public that is watching television shows where the house is remodeled, decorated and called “Staged” for sale. It is truly misleading. There are many ways to Stage a house where the Seller is unable to make improvements or upgrades based on budget and timeframe. The house would be marketed appropriately, but it can still be showcased to show its best when it is ASP Staged.

When you have LESS can you afford MORE? The answer is YES. The truth is - many Sellers simply do not have the amount of money being touted on television as necessary to Stage a house. Shows tell us to spend $2,000 and remodel our houses. The truth is the average investment to Stage your house using the ideas of a professional Home Stager who provides a detailed plan to the Seller is about $300 - that seems much more reasonable and something most homeowners can afford. Depending on the Seller’s timeframe and budget, the ASP Stager can come and help finish off the Staging for an additioanl fee, and even bring in “WOW” Factor to help add visual appeal.

Is MORE Better than LESS? No. Some Stagers are being taught to “Decorate to sell” a house. This is a cardinal sin in the world of Home Staging. Staging is a real estate tool to help market a property. Although we do consider things like placement, color, and items used in the Staging process, ASP Home Staging is NOT about the stuff. It’s always about the SPACE.

With many other entities jumping on the Home Staging bandwagon and “training” people to “be Stagers” it’s important to ask about the qualifications and credentials of anyone you consider working with to Stage your house or listing. Make sure your Stager is insured, up to date in their designation, and a member of the first and highly respected International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP).

In the world of Home Staging, only the Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Designation has been around for over 10 years, and has nearly 40 years of history and experience behind it based on the success and career of Barb Schwarz, the Inventor and Creator of the Home Staging Concept.

Is MORE ever too MUCH? Yes. In the world of training and designations, beware of the “education junkie” - who has taken oodles of classes and has many initials after their name. To me, that is a confused Home Stager that really does not understand his or her role with the Seller and his or her role within the real estate industry. Getting too many viewpoints begins to dilute the purity and message of Home Staging. What I have seen is that those that are into taking many classes inevitably end up in the “Staging is Decorating” category and lose the pure essence of what Home Staging is. Home Staging is a marketing and presentation tool to help a piece of real estate sell. Pure and simple.

LESS is MORE is our motto for Staging and Selling a house. If you wonder how much you need to remove or what to do - it’s a wise investment to pay for a detailed Staging Report - that tells you what to do in each room of your house. Or you can hire a team of professionals to just get it done for you - where you leave for the day and your house is transformed while you are gone - and you come back to a whole new house - that is STAGED and ready for sale!

Get MORE instead of LESS for your house or listing. Realtors earn MORE commission not LESS when a house is Staged and sells rather than dropping in price.
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If you have a house or listing in the Sacramento area - and want it professioanlly Staged, we invite you to contact the ASP Home Staging experts at We Stage Sacramento. We are Accredited, Insured and adhere to a professional code of ethics. Call us at 888-WE-STAGE to let us help you achieve your goal of Staging and Selling. We work with Sellers, Realtors, Builders and Investors throughout Placer, El Dorado and Sacramento counties.

Why Standing Out in the Crowd with Home Staging is a GOOD thing!

2009-04-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

Why Standing Out in the Crowd is a GOOD Thing!
By: Jennie Norris, ASPM®, IAHSP®
Owner, We Stage Sacramento
www.WeStageSacramento.com

Blend in. Fit in. Don’t bring attention to your self.
Sure, with relationships or life – some people use that philosophy, but when it comes to selling a house, turns out Standing out in the crowd and being different from the rest is a GOOD thing.

Home Staging. Those two words have become more well known in the last five years. The actual service has been around for 37 years, and sellers have been given tips about prepping their house for the market for decades.

Home Staging is being featured on television, magazines, newspapers, and news media features. There are statistics that prove a Staged house will sell faster than one that is not Staged in any market. (the best resource for statisticsand articles featuring Home Staging is www.Stagedhomes.com). One would think with all the exposure it would be a no-brainer to have every house Staged. And yet the majority of houses for sale are in sore need of Home Staging help. In fact, in some markets less than 1% of the houses are being professionally Staged, and in others it’s approaching 40-50%.

To some Home Staging is a Fad or Trend. To others it’s a well known Marketing Tool that gets a house sold. Now is NOT the time to “Blend In.”

So what is the big deal about Home Staging anyway?

Can’t buyers just look past all the “stuff” in a person’s house? Don’t they know that they are going to live in the house in a different way?

Believe it or not – the answer to that question is a resounding, “NO!” Home Staging is about three things: Talent and Time and Money.

TALENT: Less than 10% of the population has a “gift” or eye for seeing things in a different way, and we don’t just mean a different color pillow or a few minor changes. We mean that most people cannot picture a room or a house in a different way once they have an image of it in their heads. When a Buyer looks at a room full of “stuff” they have a very hard time picturing the room any other way, and they certainly cannot envision it cleared out, refreshed, repainted, recarpeted and rearranged. That is beyond 90% of the Buyers out there. Staging truly is a talent or gift.

TIME and MONEY: Does Home Staging really matter in today’s market where house values are continuing to go down? Of course! Even in a slow market or a declining market, a house can still SELL at its BEST VALUE. What is that best value? It is the price a Buyer is willing to pay for the property – and so first and best impressions matter. Staging in today’s market will save time on the market – and this means the house is less likely to drop in price. That is an estimated 5-20% of the list price!

Some recent Success stories and statistics from

We Stage Sacramento:

An occupied house in Roseville that was put on the market in the low $600’s – SOLD in 3 days at FULL PRICE after it was Staged.
A house in Folsom priced in the $500K range languished vacant on the market for nearly 5 months - was Staged and SOLD right away – and closed escrow within 35 days!

That is in TODAY’s market – where “nothing is selling.”

So Being Different IS Better in Selling a House:
1. It gets the Buyer to make an offer on a well-priced and well presented house.
2. Home Staging sells the House and sells the Buyer on the purchase because it looks and feels different than other houses.
3. Home Staging is all about positioning a product on the market in a way that makes it appealing to all buyers.
4. Home Staging is a key marketing tool for Realtors to differentiate a house from other products on the market and differentiate themselves as a Realtor.
5. Buyers like to view the house online first – so photos and/or virtual tours of the property should be of “Staged” rooms and a Staged house.

The question you need to ask yourself is: Do YOU want your house or listing to get the positive attention – where buyers make a BIG DEAL made about your house and bring a good deal to the table? Or do you want your house or listing to sit and languish on the market with all the other poorly presented properties?

In this case, it’s GOOD to stand out in the crowd!

What is Happening in We Stage Sacramento and the World of Home Staging?

2009-04-19T22:03:00.000-07:00

My last post was a while ago - and I have to be honest, I sort of lost my spark of wanting to write posts based on what our family was dealing with in December. The loss of a family member is always hard, and especially tough when it is someone that is taken long before they should - in their prime.

My brother in law passed away in February due to complications from an "accident" he suffered while joggin August 30th, 2008. It was not really an accident but I don't know what else to call it. . . he became severely dehydrated, his heart stopped as a result, he died on the trail, and then was revived. But his brain that went without oxygen for too long never did recover, and he was basically disabled to the point that he was a vegatable mentally. This was a severe blow to my sister and their son, and our whole family. He had just turned 50 and had so much to live for - but that was not to be his path. We miss him.

So I really have not felt the spark to write since then. But I felt it was time to share some good news and success . . .

I am happy to share that Staging is picking up momentum here in the Sacramento region, to the point that we have consistent calls coming in for occupied and vacant houses.

We are also hearing good results from our efforts. The last house we Staged was an occupied house, and it SOLD in only 3 days at FULL PRICE! We brought in basic decor and mostly helped the Seller with a Staging Plan that he implemented. It is always gratifying to hear such great news, especially when the doom and gloom of the market continues all over the US.

We have several vacant houses Staged and are awaiting the success on those properties. Of course, price is still a key factor - and must be partnered with Home Staging as a presentation and key marketing tool. We are also getting calls for Staging to Live, and New Homeowner Move In. Our specialty of Green or Eco-Friendly Home Staging is also a draw for those interested in that market niche.

We are looking forward to a successful second quarter - and hope that business continues to be steady throughout the year.

Reflecting on 2008 and hopes for 2009

2008-12-30T14:26:00.000-08:00

We only have 2 days left of 2008. When I look back on the year I evaluate the growth and success of business by certain standards - profitability, volume of projects, and monetary revenue. But this past year, I think a new standard needs to be applied for businesses that were/are tied to the real estate market: Still Standing.

Those business owners that have managed to weather the storm and are still standing after the turmoil and terrible financial mess - should be very proud. The market took a toll - we lost a lot of very creative and talented Home Stagers who were not able to sustain enough income to remain viable. Other industries suffered the loss of talented people as well - many are still reeling from the impact of losing so much in such a short period of time.

Home Stagers sold off their inventory, shut their doors, and went back to what? A JOB - a way to earn money that they may sort of enjoy but does not really fuel their passion. My hope is that when the market rebounds - and it will - those people will find their passion again, and get back to the roots of what makes them truly happy - creating something out of nothing, and helping all parties realize their goals of selling a house in a shorter time and at the best price.

It has been a learning experience as well - for those that have never run a business - weathering storms economically is a normal process - maybe not to the degree we all experienced collectively, but no business is on a growth upswing its entire time. Learning to plan carefully and tuck funds away for the hard times - is a good idea - and one that with 20-20 vision looking back- we would have done more.

For me - I hope that 2009 brings prosperity back to the homeowner, the seller, the realtor - the investor, and the builder - as those are our clients. Without them out there moving, selling, buying and building, we have no business.

Posers - All Talk but Little Walk

2008-12-20T19:27:00.000-08:00

I was watching this media segment on some celebrity nonsense, and they kept referring to people as "Posers." In fact, one urban dictionary definition of "Poser" is:

A poser is someone who tries to fit into a profile they aren't. People who try to give off the impression that they are one thing when they are really another.

Also, a poser can be one who says they can do something that they can't.

I know we all have Staging Posers in our markets. I ran across one that was hired to do a Staging project, and turns out he was a Realtor "Posing" as a Stager - who picked out rental furniture that was a total mish-mash, but was cheaper than a real Stager. End result - the house did not sell when it should - and the client ended up spending way more money to have it done right the second time around!

These Posers are people that claim they know how to Stage but really don't. This person could be anyone from the homeowner who thinks because they watch HGTV they can successfully Stage their house, to a person that reads a book or a "how-to" pamphlet created and all of a sudden is an "expert" on what to do, to someone that actually starts up a Staging business, but really has no idea what Staging is all about. Although some of the media shows and publications help, the GIFT of Staging is not something you can just wake up one day and claim to have. To me it is a God-given gift was have from birth - the abiltiy to see things in a new way, to picture and envision rooms, yards, houses transformed. Not everyone has it - so not everyone can be a Stager.

According to one website: Calling someone a poser is the same thing as accusing them of being fake or inauthentic. They may talk the talk, but they don't walk the walk

How do we overcome the Posers in our own industry?

First, I hate to say it here on a blog site, but just because someone is writing about it - does not mean they are actually doing it. The public has to be savvy about not just picking someone because they have a bunch of points. Sadly, some are impressed by that, but as I blogged in the past, http://activerain.com/blogsview/371376/If-You-Are-In-Here-You-Are-Not-Out-There if a person is always in "here" blogging, and on numerous other sites posting things, they could not possibly be out "there" as much as a they claim, unless they literally never sleep. That, to me, is a Poser.

Writing about it and DOING it are two totally different things! Now I know Blogging can be like a full-time job - and it IS for some that actually get paid to comment on life, websites, etc., or for those that want to parlay their blog sites into publiciations. . . However, when our full time job we "blog about" is Staging - how can we be wearing both hats and be legit in our business? I know there are some that make it work, but a non-Poser will have a balance - not spending all their time on a blog site, and have real examples of productive work - which brings me to the next point.

Hopefully the public is savvy enough to actually look at the portfolios of the potential Stager - and makes sure that the photos included are of their work. And a Stager that is really out there running a business will have RECENT examples of successful Staging work, and statistics they track. Or at least they should. If they are promoting the same old photo from a year ago, chances are they have not really been "out there" Staging and are "posing" with those that have been out there working.

I know the tough market has meant business slow down for many markets - mine included - and yet because we are in this long term, we have recent examples and success stories we could share. A Poser will not have those.

Next - ASK for Credentials. A Poser won't have any. That is a pretty simple solution there. A Home Staging Poser will most likely talk about how much they love decorating, or perhaps they even came from a different parallel field, but they really won't be able to talk too much about how they have self-educated themselves in this field, or reference classes they may have taken.

How about ASKING for Insurance: A Poser probably will not have made the investment to insure a business that does not really exist. They want to be considered a Home Stager, but they don't really want to make the investment in a business. Not only does it leave their clients at risk, but they are putting their own family at risk by not insuring their business.

How about this important distinction: A Poser will not have success. Because they really don't know what they are doing, their houses don't sell and they cannot toot their horn over fabulous Staging transformations that result in record sales, or other stats that help sustain the Staging market.

Finally I think this question really weeds out the Posers from the Home Stagers that really plan on doing this as long as their minds will allow . . . Ask the Poser "How long do you see yourself doing this and why?" The Poser usually looks at Staging as a quick buck, and gets out as fast as they got in when the going gets tough. Or the Poser does not understand truly how Staging can work to sell a house - and will just dump in basic decor or a ton of greenery and call the house "Staged."

Posers are all talk and very little walk. They want to be like those that are successful in this fun, exciting, roller coaster ride of a business we call Staging - but it's time to identify the Posers so that the public does not get led down a primrose path of false expectations.

Jennie

2008-11-30T10:17:00.001-08:00

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We Stage Sacramento Statistics Support Home Staging in Down Market

2008-11-11T19:36:00.000-08:00

We Stage Sacramento has just released statistics for the 3rd quarter showing a strong support for Staging with We Stage Sacramento experts. Whether the houses they Staged were Vacant or Occupied, the results were significant when compared to the overall market.

Business was slower in the first part of the year but picked up significantly in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, with nearly all houses that were Staged selling in fewer days than the regional averages.

An estimated 95% of the We Stage Sacramento ASP Staged properties received offers from Buyers within 60 days. Of those houses, 60% of them received offers in 30 days or less. One house that had been languishing vacant and undesirable for a year in Sun City Roseville, received an offer about 60 days after being Staged.

That is a typical success story for a Staged property. Even Investors entering the market are wising up to the need to Stage properties before reintroducing them to the market. Houses that are Staged are more appealing in both photos and online tours, as well as show better in person than the un-Staged competition.

Statistics traditionally shared Realtors state that the average price reduction is approximately 5-10% of the list price. In June 2008, NAR came out with a revised statistic for the housing market that suggested a houses may drop as much as 10-20% on average to respond to the current market. The average price reduction occurs every thirty days.

When the success of Staging a house is applied to a house priced at $500K, instead of dropping $25-$50K or $50-$100K in price, a house can be ASP Staged for far less. The average investment to Stage a house is $500 for an Occupied house and an average of $2,500 for a Vacant house. Monthly rental fees may apply for inventory that is placed in the house but the overall investment to successfully Stage a house is far less than a price reduction.

When a house is priced right and Staged, it attracts a Buyer and sells. When Presentation is not considered, Price becomes the only tool for leverage to get a Buyer to purchase the house, costing a seller thousands of dollars. When compared to the proof that Staging works, even in a down market, having a property Staged could very well save a seller thousands of dollars and weeks or months of time on the market.

Average days on market for houses under $500K are hovering between 90-124 days for Placer, Sacramento and El Dorado Counties, and are at between 124-137 days for houses over $500K according to MLS data. We Stage Sacramento is the industry leader in Home Staging Services for the greater Sacramento region.

Since 2002 We Stage Sacramento has been professionally Staging houses and to date their team of ASP Stagers has Staged over 2,500 properties. All members of the We Stage Sacramento team are Accredited Staging Professionals (ASP) Stagers, and are members of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP).

What Do Home Stagers and Major League Baseball Players Have in Common?

2008-10-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

Well it certainly is not our annual multi-million dollar contracts . . . or the papparazzi that follow us around! LOL

But seriously . . . I was out to dinner with my husband and friends on Sunday, and the Tampa Bay-Boston final series game was on television. We were seated at the bar waiting for our table, and people were shouting and yelling for their preferred team.

I said hello to the man seated next to me - he looked to be in his mid-50's - and as he watched the game he sort of whimsically said, "You know - those guys really have it great. They get to do something they have loved since childhood and make money at it."

Hmmm.

So I turned to him and said, "Well I may not make the multi-million dollar annual contracts of the baseball players, but I get to do something I love and have been passionate about since I was young."

He was intrigued - I told him about Home Staging, and found out he was an engineer (boring - to me anyway) and from the environmental business arena (where I used to work) . . .

Think about it - it's true. As Home Stagers, we get to use our creativity that we've had since we were very young, and make money and have a life because of it.

Most people (including me) were taught to get educated, get a good job, pay bills, and pursue something that helped make enough money to support the lifestyle we want.

When I found Home Staging as a viable business, it opened my eyes and my life to the possibilities of doing something I really enjoy. I hope to teach my kids that their passions are worth pursuing - and there are ways to make income doing something they love not just doing something for money.

There is a difference, as most of us know. Any of us that have ever worked for someone else doing something we really did not enjoy can attest to this truth.

I think there are many people that are following their passions and doing things they truly enjoy. The true test is to ask ourselves, "Do I see myself doing this for the rest of my life and if so, will I be happy?"

The best part of all is that we CAN earn good money as a Home Stager - it totally depends on how we build our business. We can be successful, we can even have "fans."

Home Run for Home Staging!

- Jennie

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To work with Home Stagers that are passionate about what they do to help you Stage your house or listing, call We Stage Sacramento - 1-888-WE-STAGE. Serving Placer, El Dorado and Sacramento Counties since 2002.

Staging Success Story - One Year on the Market - then Staged and SOLD!

2008-10-14T10:58:00.000-07:00

This house was sitting languishing on the market for over a year. The Realtor had the listing the entire time - and was very frustrated at the lack of an offer. The Seller was not open to Staging - and so just sat on the market, month after month adjusting the price of the house as the only means of competing in a down market.

Finally - the Realtor decided to Stage the house - investing her own money to make it happen. God bless that Realtor. I am not a believer that the agent should have to pay for a vacant install, but in this case, the Realtor just wanted to get the house Sold. We worked with her tight budget and put key pieces in all major rooms to help the house look more updated and appealing.

We first advised painting out some areas that were distractions for buyers. This entrance to the family was pretty much what buyers first saw when they walked through the door. The Seller at first (who had moved out months prior) was reluctant to have the realtor's husband paint it - "I paid a lot of money for the gold gilded faux painting." You have moved out - remember? So the columns were painted.

We also removed the swags of burgundy fabric that shrouded all the windows. Some panels, some fringe, some sheer fabric - all burgundy, all old and dusty, all had to go. We also had some of the plastic fake fan fronds removed. What was underneath, although a little dated, was better than the plastic.

So there you have it - Staging helped to SELL this house that for a YEAR was overlooked. My only sad point to all this is that I wish the Seller and Realtor had decided to get it staged when it first came on the market. I estimate that because of lack of Staging, this house dropped $40K in price.

The investment in Staging was about $2,500 overall.

$40,000 or $2,500? Which is the better deal? You tell me!

In the short term, a Seller might think that Staging is not a good use of their money - because they think that their house will Sell quickly. Then over time, as PRICE becomes the only factor to bargain with in a declining market, the wisdom of Staging FIRST - comes back to haunt them.

Staging is the only service done in preparation of the house that brings measurable value. It helps a seller keep more of their equity and gets a house sold faster than the un-staged competition.

If only . . . well at least the house IS SOLD - it took 60 days to get a buyer even though immediately after the Staging, the neighbors were Raving about how good the house looked! New photos were taken, and the house had new LIFE as a product on the market. Our average DOM are at about 117.

Hopefully next time the seller will Stage first. Hopefully next time the Realtor will call us sooner than later. Gladly we have another Staging Success Story for We Stage Sacramento!
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We Stage Sacramento is your regional home staging expert resource for Vacant and Occupied Houses! Call us when you want to successfully Stage and SELL your listing or house! 1-888-WE-STAGE.

Do we need a 12-Step Program for Stagers?

2008-10-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

I blogged back in July about Home Stagers having A.D.D. http://activerain.com/blogsview/585638/Do-Stagers-have-A
– and although I know most of us do not actually have that condition – I did think that Stagers enjoy staging because of the short term gratification element.

Along those same lines - I also believe that those of that have found our life passion with Staging are ADDicted to Staging.

What is an addict? Websters defines it as: A person who cannot resist a habit, especially the use of drugs or alcohol, for physiological or psychological reasons.

OK – let’s just remove the drugs and alcohol part – and put in “A person who cannot resist a habit, especially the use of Staging and creativity, for physiological and psychological reasons.” – and there you have it!

We that love Home Staging are Staging Addicts!

Does this mean we need our own 12-Step program for support? Having grown up in a 12-step household (so this is not in any way meant to demean the helpful groups that saved my family’s life), I can just hear the statements now at the weekly support groups – “SA – Stagers Anonymous.”

“Hello, my name is Jennie, and I am a Staging Addict.” Group: “Hello, Jennie.”

The 12 Steps would be launched with the statement:

1. I am powerless over Staging - and help declutter other houses so their lives will not be unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a power greater than myself – Staging - could restore me and my clients’ houses to sanity.

Etcetera.

The truth is, like an addict, I CAN feel myself going through withdrawals when I have not had my hands in someone else’s house. My husband and kids notice it too – as I begin to “re-Stage” our own house – rearranging things, straightening, and fussing in the house – in order to make something “old new again.” It bothers them – they want to be able to leave a blanket on the ground or not put the centerpiece back where it belongs after playing our Wii. To me – I often don’t feel complete until my own house is back “in order” and yet I do have clutter – the kind that most families with children would have. Books, papers, collections, displayed school projects, and laundry – lots of laundry. And yet I recognize when I am crossing over to the addiction fix - I become sort of like a whirling dervish - spinning through my house cleaning, straightening, and re-doing displays. Time for a Staging project - FAST!

I do believe we that love Staging are ADDICTED to it - as one of my mentors proudly shared, "It gets in our blood stream - it's addictive." And yet I also know it is one of those "healthy" addictions. We are not harming anyone in the process of Staging (unless we drop a box on our toe), and we do help others to achieve their goals.

Now as I am writing this - I realize that as Home Stagers, we are addicted to Staging spaces and making houses more visually appealing, which is true. But what about the other role we play in this 12-Step world?

Think about it. Are we also codependent as Stagers? Do we do for others what they should do for themselves - but are not able? Yes we do. The decluttering, the proper presentation for the overwhelmed home seller - are all things the seller (or Realtor) are not able to do - and we come in and "save the day" with our plans, our creativity, our inventory, our knowledge.

Hmmm. I had not thought of that before now - but there is a grain of truth. We do help rescue the sale time and time again, offering up our solutions, telling our sellers not to be concerned - we'll take care of it - and allowing them to step aside and pass the responsibility for presentation of the house to us.

I guess we play both roles – we are the proverbial Addict and the Enabler. But the good news is that we are not hurting anyone in the process – we are helping. We are helping feed our own addiction and helping the Client achieve their goal of selling, even if it means we have to do the work ourselves.

Afterall - life should not be all boring - we have to have some FUN to feed our spirit - even if it is an addiction that can drive some of our family and friends crazy! And that is a whole other 12-step program.

SA unite!

Home Staging is Not For Sissies

2008-10-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

Bette Davis once famously said, “Old Age is no place for Sissies.”

Well I think we can rephrase that statement to say,
“Home Staging is no place for Sissies.”

Definition of Sissy: A person defined as timid, weak or cowardly.

Professional home stagers know that in order to be successful you have to really work hard, and work smart. Being timid, weak or cowardly is a sure recipe for failure as a Home Stager.

We have to be bold, strong, and brave – especially in a market that is changing.

This does not mean we don’t have fear about rejection or discomfort in approaching people about our business. Fear is a natural part of any human – fear is normal, however we have to get past our fear and overcome it in order to have the success we want. We cannot let our fear paralyze us to the point of inaction.

We have to bold to get our message out to our audience. We have to, as the title of one of my favorite books says, “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.”

We have to be bold in our Staging as well – and make sure that our Staging really is Staging, not decorating or design, and not something done to appease a pushy client. We have to be bold and educate our clients about what home staging is – and what it is not, and begin to counter the things we see on television that are really harming us as Stagers. I have yet to see one show that truly depicts what we do as Stagers, that has not crossed the line into decorating, design, remodeling, and criticism.

Being bold in Staging also means reinventing our look from time to time so that our Staging does not get stale or predictable. It means having fun with what we do and use our creativity in situations where others would give up – and go shopping. I love that part of being a home stager – that I was taught to use creativity first, and then the dollar, to help clients. It is a challenge we rise to time and time again, to the delight of our clients and Realtors who never thought the house could look so great, and never thought of using items in the way we used them in the staging process.

We have to be strong – physically and mentally.

Physical strength is needed. I did not realize how much physical activity it would take to be successful in Staging. I am a strong woman – I always have been. I was a dancer in my younger years and played all sorts of sports and have an arm that would rival good quarterbacks. With a team partner I have moved whole houses of furniture in to vacant staging projects, and have loaded and unloaded trucks, and warehouses. It is a prerequisite of our job to be strong physically, and the good news is for those that do not have the physical strength, we can hire help!

I got smarter as I grew my business, and we do hire labor for moving things – heck, I only have one back, and I don’t want to tweak it out because of Staging (and I have J). I have suffered sore back, tennis elbow, broken toes, scrapes, bruises, and the near loss of an eye from a flying bungee (hit my lip instead and split it open). Once those things happen, you tend to reassess the wisdom of “doing it all alone” to save money, and begin to stage smarter.

Hiring help actually helped us stage faster, smarter and kept us from getting overly tired and injured. So we actually are able to accomplish more in one day than in the past. I have always said, as long as have our minds and can envision the plan for Staging, we can stage.

Mental strength to me is more important than physical strength. With so many people jumping in to the Staging market, it is now about mental sharpness, and being able to deliver a message of WHY a person needs to work with my company or me as a Stager, versus someone else. Positioning.

It requires staying on top of the real estate market and trends, and responding in kind to keep business flowing. It also requires a constant positive attitude adjustment so that I don’t end up locking myself up in fear, or analysis paralysis – both also the kiss of death for Stagers. I don’t bury my head in the sand and ignore what is obviously happening with our economy, I ask, “How will this affect our business, and what can I do to help stimulate production?”

It always boils down to marketing – and so I find ways to entice clients to use our services and remind them of the benefits of Staging versus sitting on the market.

And we have to be brave – of course, our Staging does not take the bravery of our armed forces, but we do have to have a sense or courage and bravery when we go out to promote our business. We have to have courage in the face of economic times where financial disaster seems to be looming around every corner. We have to be brave and delve in to new market niches – and be willing to reinvent ourselves to respond to the market and the needs of customers. We have to have the courage to keep a positive attitude when everything and everyone around us might be telling us doom and gloom information.

The natural tendency for most humans is to hunker down and wait it out – but waiting in our business, means not doing face time, and not getting out there to go after business, and this is too risky for us as Stagers. In tough times, we have to be out there even MORE than in the past- because our business is built on relationships, and when we are out of sight, we are out of mind. That then leaves potential opportunities for Staging up for grabs for the person that is out there, a presence in person, and actively asking for business.

So sissy stagers will fall away in these tough times, and the strong will survive. This is the way it with all species – it’s called, Survival of the Fittest.

When this economy turns around (and it will), we will find ourselves with even more ways to serve our clients, the ability to earn even more than we ever thought possible, and the strength to keep Staging day by day.

_______________________________________________________

We Stage Sacramento is a full-service Home Staging company serving the Greater Sacramento market. For over six years we have been helping sellers, builders and Realtors prepare houses for sale, successfully staging over 2,500 properties. Our Services also include services for redesign, holiday staging, and workplace staging. We are members of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) and Accredited as ASP Home Stagers. Call us at 888-WE-STAGE or www.WeStageSacramento.com

Home Staging - Stage it Right with We Stage Sacramento

2008-10-01T18:12:00.001-07:00

When you want to Stage your house, contact the professionals at We Stage Sacramento. With the most years of experience in our region, and the most expertise of any company in the area, we are the right choice for your Staging needs.

Some stagers want to force you to rent expensive inventory to help "showcase" your house, but the truth is, unless your furniture has been totally chewed up by the dog, or is missing a leg or two, it is probably just fine. This is because Staging is not about Decorating. We are not selling your things, we are selling your house. We do want your house to present well - and so the experts at We Stage Sacramento have a few tricks up our sleeves to help present any house in its best form including slip covers, artwork, area rugs for color, and creativity to know to best use your things, and combine our decor only when needed.

There are other Stagers that dabble in Staging because "it's fun!" - and they are hobbyists. They are probably not insured to protect you, your house and their things eitehr because as a hobbyist they don't want to invest the hundreds of dollars annually to provide proper insurance. This means "Buyer Beware." In fact, you need to ASK to see the valid insurance policy before hiring any home stager. When a lit candle "prop" that is not blown out can burn your house to the ground, don't you want to make sure there is someone responsible financially behind the Staging? We Stage Sacramento is fully insured to protect our clients.

There are other Stagers that woke up one day and decided to "be" a Stager. Maybe they watched a bunch of episodes of HGTV, and then "voila!" they found their calling. They printed off business cards at home, and set up shop. No training, no code of ethics, no accoutability. So when they mishandle your project or client, there is no recourse for you - because they don't answer to anyone else. This is risky for you.

Make sure that the Stager you choose has training - and the best training out there is through Stagedhomes.com and the Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Course. Developed by Barb Schwarz, the Creator of Home Staging, the ASP Course is the most thorough and professional course for home stagers. Others out there have either copied (poorly, I might add) her format, content and ideas, or come up with their own by deviating away from the roots of Home Staging and focusing instead on things like feng shui, decorating, and design. All We Stage Sacramento team members are ASP Graduates and we attend our annual Home Staging convention for the latest ideas and services for Staging.

There are Stagers out there that also don't believe in professional associations for ongoing learning and networking. This is also a sign of someone that does not want to be accountable, nor grow in their skills. Our team are members of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP), the first and only professional association serving the Home Staging industry internationally. Requirements to join include educational and professional standards of excellence. There are other groups out there, but they let anyone in - with no professional standards needed. Again, this is risky. Stick with those that are part of a proven group that has standards and sets the quality level for the industry.

Staging it right means Staging with We Stage Sacramento - as we fit all the criteria listed above. Check out other stagers. They are either part-timers, Realtors that dabble in Staging, or hobbyists. There are very few full-time Stagers in our market. I am proud to blog about our team - we are dedicated to Staging, and are still standing proud in our Staging shoes even with the toughest market we have faced in the six years we've been serving the Sacramento region.

Color and Decorating Trends for Fall 2008!

2008-09-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

Color and Decorating Trends for Fall 2008!
By Jennie Norris, ASPM®, IAHSP®, Owner, We Stage Sacramento

Color trends for fall are in one word: BOLD!

The color palettes for paint companies will continue to be in the bold family lines of warm tones, with hints of homage to the past for those young enough to recall the pea-greens and mustard golds of the 50’s and 60’s. With colors like periwinkle, navy, and chartreuse back on the color spectrum of acceptability, we should see some interesting combinations in homes. Throw in some rusty reds, fuchsia, lime green, plum and navy, and you have the “new” color palette being touted by groups such as ColorMix 08 found at Sherwin Williams. Not all palettes are bold, you can also enjoy a wonderful soothing palette of colors that have a peachy hint of a base color to warm them up.

The difference with today’s houses and painted walls are the furniture pieces that sit in the rooms that we find are mostly in the dark tones with classic clean lines. Framed art is also a way to create a new look and the wood frames have replaced the faux gilded frames from the past with a fresh and clean look that sits well on any wall color.

For guidance on what color to paint walls, take inspiration from your art. If you have a fabulous key piece that you really like, select a color from the piece of art, and use that as the background color or inspiration accent color for your room. If you are not confident putting bold colors on walls, you don’t have to paint the wall that color, but how about placing some lovely accent pillows in the accent tone on your sofa or chair? Or add an urn or other decorative object in that color. Add a thick faux mink throw draped over the arm of a sofa or chair, and your look says, “Come and sit – enjoy!”

You can also take inspiration from nature or a journey you have taken to another country where the culture of color inspires you! Get inspired by the costumes, the food palette, and buildings.

When looking at nature, notice how blues and greens blend together, and a pop of color such as yellow, red, purple, or pink give a special touch and draw the eye, much like a blossom of a flowering shrub captures your attention.

If you are looking to achieve a fresh look for your “tired” interior, consider the services of a Home Staging professional that can apply their “Staging to Live” techniques in your home. Unlike designers or decorators that will try to sell you on expensive new furnishings (as they typically make their profit on the margin of wholesale to retail cost), an ASP Stager will use what you have, apply a fresh set of skilled eyes to your room, and refresh your interior with their creativity.

For more information on how to take your home from frumpy to fabulous while sticking to your budget, give us a call! We’d be happy to provide an in-home Staging to Live Plan where you can do the work or we can help you transform you home, passing along our discounts and savings to you.

Call We Stage Sacramento at 888-WE-STAGE or (916)768-1662 http://www.westagesacramento.com/

Here are some tips from pros on the Color Trends for 2008-2009*:

Purple - in fashion and home, purple is the front runner of color.
Yellow - Yellow is the new orange! Orange will still remain with a presence, but not quite as hot as yellow.
Blues - varying shades from soft spa blues to robin’s egg blues to deep sea blues. Many nature inspired blues.
Greens - with all of the buzz about the environment, natural greens are making their way into the home
Browns -look great with other hot colors, especially the softer colors where black would be too harsh.

Home Accessory Trends - These trends allow you to maintain a conservative color base (neutral floors and walls) while playing with punches of color. These accessories can be replaced annually giving you a complete new look without a huge investment.

Bright colors - yellows, deep spicy reds, deep sea blues

Bold stripes - mainly thin multi stripes

Large scale patterns - big bright oversized florals, animal prints are still hanging around

Metallics - are still here contrary to previous forecasts. Perhaps the addition of pearl finishes and continued success of mirrored finishes are helping the metallic finishes stay around. Metal finishes are leaning more towards patina finishes rather than bright, shiny finishes.

Kitchen Trends

Wall colors - either soft colors to compliment any cabinet color whether it be stained light finishes or dark finishes or painted color or bright bold colors to add life and punch to your kitchen walls.

Backsplashes - adding a backsplash can give you an updated and stylish face lift to your kitchen

Cabinets - New multilayered finishes are taking center stage with painted finishes, distressing, glazes and rub through finish techniques.

Tile Trends

Metals - copper and stainless tiles compliment appliances, countertops in traditional and contemporary kitchens and baths.

Glass - glass accents from mosaics, to single accents, to full walls and backsplashes in glass tiles

Faux hardwood tiles - these tiles are great for rooms with a lot of water and moisture where hardwood might not be the most practical choice.

Window frames - a new trend is to remove a pictures window casing and replace with tile.

*Source: 2008 Color Trends February 28, 2008 – Floor Talk Online

Home Staging Standards are Important

2008-08-22T22:24:00.001-07:00

The Olympics are nearly over - and my familly and I have enjoyed watching all the competitors. We have cheered for winners and felt badly for those that had unfortunate episodes where they were defeated. Whether they win or don't place in the top 3, the athletes all have one thing in common - they had to qualify to be considered in the top for their country.

For Home Staging - we have to have standards as well. There are those that don't believe this in practice even though in theory they may spout the need for standards. The International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) is a professional association open to all Stagers. However, to join IAHSP a Stager must meet standards of education and quality. They must first gain education and earn a professional designation and then agree to the code of ethics.

The designation IAHSP chose as the one Stagers needed to have in order to join is the Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Designation. It is the longest standing designation with the most history and credibility behind it. It boasts over 14,000 graduates from classes that have been taught since 2,000 and was developed by the Creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz.

Just like the National Association of Realtors (NAR) requires members to first be licensed real e state agents, and then get additional education, and join at the national, state, and local levels in order to be a member, IAHSP does the same. In fact most associations for a professional group require some sort of education and standards in order to join. The American Medical Association is only open to MD's, and the National Speakers Association is only open to professional speakers that have to meet certain criteria.

In the world of home staging, there are groups that allow ANYONE to join - regardless of their background - education or not. Is this helping to serve the Staging industry? No. By allowing just anyone to join, it waters down the quality of service and membership of the group that becomes only as strong as the weakest members.

Opening up a "professional association" to anyone that calls themselves a Stager means I could wake up one day after watching a bunch of HGTV shows and proclaim myself a Stager and join this group. I would be in the same category in the eyes of the public that does not know better - even though I have professional education, a designation, and adhere to a code of ethics that is enforceable. I am not interested in belonging to a group that waters down the importance of professionalism in Home Staging by allowing hobbyists and un-educated people to join.

When looking at selecting a home stager, it is important to find out what association they belong to - and make sure that the association itself is one that serves the industry with a higher expectation of performance - not only in how a Stager interacts with their clients, but also in their overall quality of work.

As an ASP Master Stager, I do belong to IAHSP - and am a proud member of the first and best association serving our industry.

- Jennie

Are Sellers Ignorant or Just Arrogant?

2008-08-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

Presentation of a house for sale seems like a no-brainer to many that are involved in the industry. Yet there are still houses out there on the market that have not had one whit of attention paid to cleanliness and clutter.

Here piggy piggy!

This begs the question: Are the Sellers Ignorant or just Plain Arrogant?

Do they REALLY not know all about how to present their house for sale?

Ignorance - which in this case is not bliss. It's "blah!"

And does the listing agent really not know what to tell them about keeping their house picked up and make it presentable to buyers?

Or are they just thumbing their nose at the process of attracting a buyer? Arrogance - an attitude that few can afford to have in a market where the competition is stiff, and prices are decreasing.

I had this question posed to me yesterday - by someone that has their house on the market. This seller toured other listings to check out the competition and was shocked at what they saw in a house - same price range, smaller square footage.

They shared there was a half-eaten granola bar left on the kitchen floor. The bathroom shower was so disgusting they said she would not want to shower in there - ever! Every room was dirty - the grout, the window tracks, the counters, the flooring. You get the picture.

They toured it at an Open House - with the listing agent touring the buyers through the pig sty.

Their house, meanwhile, is neat and tidy, it is ready for any buyer to walk into and picture themselves living there. It has been depersonalized and prepared for sale.

In this day and age of media exposure, articles, television shows, professional home stagers in EVERY market in the US . . . HOW is it possible that these people still don't have a clue?

And it is not just about the Sellers - the REALTOR needs to wise up and get tough on the client. Letting them leave their house a mess, is a mistake. If the REALTOR truly wants to SELL the house - and not just show a pig-sty to the public, then there needs to be a truthful conversation with the sellers.

If the Sellers don't care about keeping up appearances - that means they are not motivated to sell - and that Realtor is just wasting time and dollars marketing a property that is a turn-off to anyone that walks through the door.

And the public that is out there shopping - trust me, they would rather buy a house that has been well maintained and cared for than one that looks like it has been neglected.

The only ones that want a house like that - they will low-ball the price and hope that the sellers that don't care about presenting a nice product to the market won't care about their equity and price either.

Arrogance - a costly mistake. Ignorance - let's educate the sellers and get them to clean up their act!

Home Staging - WHY it Works - The Science Behind the Skill

2008-08-02T15:52:00.001-07:00

Home Staging – WHY it works – the Science Behind the Skill

We all have heard that Staging works based on massive media exposure both on television and in print, and the statistics that are tracked. With all this information out there, it still puzzles me that people will not incorporate Staging when selling their houses or don’t understand WHY it is crucial to Stage® a house for Buyers.

The New York Times just came out with yet another article on Home Staging featuring Barb Schwarz, President & CEO of Stagedhomes.com, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/31/garden/31fix.html?scp=1&sq=home%20staging&st=cse
And Consumer Reports just conducted an interview with Barb Schwarz, who is also the Creator of Home Staging™ and President of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals® (IAHSP®) that will be out next week regarding Staging.

Why if there is so much press coverage, media shows on television, and concrete proof that Staging works, are so many NOT doing it to sell a house? It truly baffles me because of course in my years of Staging professionally, I have witnessed first-hand the benefits of Staging that resulted in a quick sale and a happy seller.

Do you know WHY Staging Works – and elicits that Buyer instinct to kick in? We want a Buyer to say, “Ahhh!” in a house – not “Ugh!” We want them to say, “Oh Yes,” not “Oh No!” HOW do we make that happen and do you understand the WHY of what actually happens in those few seconds when a Buyer views a house as a potential purchase?

The best explanation for WHY Staging makes us feel better in a house has been explained to me by Barb Schwarz, my mentor. She has an affinity for quantum physics and the study of energy and atoms. In one of her seminars, a renowned metaphysics professor spoke with her and he confirmed what she had learned in her years incorporating Staging into the sale of houses.

She learned and has shared that everything in the world is made up of atoms and energy. We think a table is a solid item in a room, but it is not – it is comprised of millions of atoms that form that type of object, and atoms that are brought together in various combinations form everything from a life object such as a dog or cat or human, to what we call inanimate objects, such as a table or chair.

When a house is full of “stuff” – the atoms or energy that comprise those items are literally fighting for air space. The energy of that room or house is “stressed” because there is too much “stuff” and not enough space for the atoms to exist without conflict. And that stress is what we sense in ourselves when we walk into a house or a room of a house that is cluttered and crowded. We feel “stressed” because the room IS stressed – with too many atoms and too little space.

When items are packed or rearranged or removed from the house or room, the end result is that the space has been de-stressed. THAT is what we sense when we walk into a house or room that has been Staged. We say the room or house “feels better” than another one we may have previewed online or in person. That feeling is created because the Staging has de-stressed the environment and the remaining objects have enough space in which to exist – so that the result is a calming effect.

If you don’t believe me – take a look at these sets of photos:

BEFORE ASP® Staging – This office was a mess – the Seller had papers cascading out of every room in the house. This is NOT how a Buyer wants to experience a potential purchase. (photo property of We Stage Sacramento. All rights reserved).

After ASP® Staging – Decluttering and helping create organizational solutions for this Seller was the KEY to preparing this office for Buyers. (photo property of We Stage Sacramento. All rights reserved).

Before ASP® Staging – This Master Bedroom was “lived in” – and had practicality written all over it. Unfortunately, Buyers don’t want to see all our personal things. (photo property of We Stage Sacramento. All rights reserved).

After ASP® Staging – Updating the colors and artwork helped bring this Master into the current trends and helped it compete with new construction homes as well. Simple organizational solutions and encouragement to the Sellers helped them sell their house in record time. (photo property of We Stage Sacramento. All rights reserved).

Before ASP® Staging – The Family Room was completely closed off with this huge sectional that blocked access to the room. This is not inviting to buyers. (photo property of We Stage Sacramento. All rights reserved).

After ASP® Staging – The Family Room sectional was rearranged to give a key access point to the Focal Point of the room – the gorgeous stone fireplace. This is a much more pleasing arrangement for buyers. (photo property of We Stage Sacramento. All rights reserved).

These photos demonstrate that when the clutter and excess is removed from a space, we can sense it with a photo of the room – and breathe a sigh of relief and pleasure at the AFTER photos shown.

Now imagine the Buyers that are looking online at all the photos of poorly presented rooms and houses, and ask whether you blame them for skipping over your listing or your house when it shows like the BEFORE sets above? Buyers give your house or listing about 3 seconds before they say, “Next!” Getting them to preview the house in person is now secondary to them visiting your listing online – and making a decision on the virtual showing that is taking place.

The same theory of energy and appeal relates to vacant houses as well. Before you think, “Well since the room is vacant, it must feel really stress-free to Buyers,” think again.

The reason vacant houses have no appeal is there is no energy in the room. There is nothing to give us a sense of like or appeal – because there is nothing creating energy IN the space. Yes, there is flooring and walls, but the empty space is TOO stark and does not elicit that same feeling of “AHH” that a Staged house does.

Before ASP® Staging – This Master Bedroom of a new construction house had updated wall colors and fixtures, but was too Stark. (photo property of We Stage Sacramento. All rights reserved).

A vacant house NEEDS items in it – furnishings and décor – to help create that feeling of “AHH” (or Awe) in the house. In addition, without furniture – a Buyer is left to their own inadequate imagination to figure out if their furniture will look good or fit in the room. Again, when an estimated 85% of Buyers are looking online FIRST to determine if they want to tour a house in person, with nothing in a room, they cannot tell if their king sized bed or large screen TV will fit in a room. There is nothing there to relate it to as far as furniture, and as Barb Schwarz says, “Buyers only know what they see, not the way it’s going to be.”© This is very true – and so Staging helps a buyer to know how they would live in a house.

Quantum Physics – translated to Selling a house – means Staging is an integral part of making life and space stress free – and that is WHY a Buyer decides on an emotional level that they have to purchase a particular home over another comparable property.

Now you know.

____________________________________________________________________
For more information on how we can help you prepare your house or listing for sale, contact the Home Staging experts at We Stage Sacramento at 888-WE-STAGE. Visit us online at http://www.westagesacramento.com/. We are ready to help you achieve your goal of selling your house in the shortest time and for the best price.

Home Staging for Investors

2008-07-28T18:02:00.000-07:00

Home Staging - the tool that helps Buyers imagine themselves living in a house that has been presented for them - is not just a marketing tool for traditional sellers. Home Staging is also a key tool for marketing Investor properties.

A professional Home Stager can offer valuable assistance to an investor that is picking up properties sight unseen at auction. The Stager can help with everything from remodeling the property - coordinating local service providers, handymen, contractors, as well as help select options for improving the property for Buyers. Instead of selling a "blob of oatmeal" - real estate jargon for a house that has beige wall, beige carpeting, and bland appliances - a Home Stager will know what colors and materials to use based on the market and type of house, helping the Investor place their funds in the most important areas and priority items for the house.

Home Staging once the house has been repaired or remodeled will help it show better to Buyers on the internet, in photos, and in person. This is important as the Investor property is now competing with normal resale homes as well as the foreclosures that are still on the market. Investors that are able to place a small investment in the Staging of their property up front, will recoup that money in the sales price and time on market.

On average, Staging of a vacant house can be as little as $750.00 to about $2,000 depending on the size, style and price of the property. Some Staging companies can offer Investor Staging packages for their clients - addressing key areas of the house with furniture and decor that will help highlight key rooms. Even with with ongoing rental of about 50% of the upfront Staging investment, the overall fee for Staging the house is less than a price reduction. When an average price reduction is 5-10% of the list price of the house, the Staging will then help the Seller - the Investor - keep that much more in their pockets.

Some Home Stagers can help with additional marketing of the property once it is Staged - and offer to place it on various websites and share the property informaion with their sphere of influence, helping give key exposure to the property.

Investors that are savvy enough to purchase properties and take advantage of a sluggish real estate market need to keep in mind that Home Staging is a savvy marketing tool for that property when it is reintroduced to the market. When the Investor changes hats and becomes the Seller, it is important to put the best face forward for the house they are now selling - and make it appeal to all Buyers, and Home Staging is the key to open that door to Selling Success.

For information on Investor Home Staging, please call We Stage Sacramento at 888-WE-STAGE, www.WeStageSacramento.com. We Stage Sacramento has Staged over 2,500 houses for sale since 2002, and is the largest and most versatile home staging company in the greater Sacramento area. Contact Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP, for more information.

Home Staging - It's All About Packaging That Product to Sell

2008-07-22T12:43:00.001-07:00

Home Staging is all about Presentation and Marketing.

Sellers that understand this are going to be able to benefit from the process of preparing their house for sale.

First, when Selling, it is important to understand that the Home you have been living in is now a House that is coming on the market - and it going to be marketed like a Product - and this Product will be competing against other Products on the market. Much like you go to a grocery store to purchase items, you would not likely grab the crushed box of cereal or the one with a torn edge or label. You would select the one that looks the best. Product Packaging.

We live in our Home, we Sell our House, and we Market the Product.

I first learned this concept under the mentorship of Barb Schwarz, the Creator of Home Staging, who incorporated Staging long before it was the "hot trend."

That mental transition has to take place in order for us to truly be able to move out of our home - and present the house for a new Buyer.

The process of Staging involves neutralizing the house - but this does not mean making everything plain and of one color like oatmeal. It DOES mean we need to remove things that are too personal, potentially offensive, or distracting for Buyers. It also means we need to think like a BUYER and ask ourselves, "Would I want to see this in a house I was touring as a Buyer?"

What I have found in my years as a professional ASP Home Stager is that when a Seller resists Staging their house - even in a small part - it is because they either do not understand WHY they need to follow the process, or they are not motivated to sell. My job as their Stager is to help them understand the reasons why we do what we do in Staging - and to help them along the way.

When a House is Staged properly, it can be Marketed right, and Buyers will be able to make an emotional connection to the house - and feel like it could be their HOME. So we go full circle.

Buyers are looking at Products on the internet and screening them out. They tour Houses to see which one is right for them. And they make an offer on a HOME they want.

When that happens, we know the Staging has worked, the Seller is happy, and the Buyer is Home.

Home Staging Roots are Long and Deep - the Truth about "Where Staging Came From"

2008-07-21T21:52:00.000-07:00

Barb Schwarz, ASPM, IAHSP, Certified Speaking Professional, has been recognized for many things in her career - Successful Realtor, Broker, Mentor, Motivational Speaker, and Creator of Home Staging. In this last role, she once again demonstrates why she is at the forefront of the real estate industry as a visionary and expert.

I felt the need to post this blog because I have seen the industry change in the past 6 years as a professional home stager, and certain areas like training have been flooded by many that want to profit off the need for education. That's fine. But I keep my ear to the ground and hear the craziest things about "how" someone supposedly came up with the idea for their course or association - and this post is about giving credit where credit is due - and about being honest about origins and education.

Having had the privilege of being in Barb's company many times as a student, mentoree, and friend (more like family) I have seen how dedicated she is to furthering the education of the public through press, seminars and one-on-one conversations about the benefits of Home Staging and how it can change lives, one at a time. She literally sleeps, eat, and breathes staging, and no one that I know is as devoted (or as she says, "possessed") with this responsibility of properly educating the world about Staging.

The roots of Home Staging are long and deep and like an oak tree have stood the test of time. The character of an oak tree is about strength, courage, endurance, and truth - and this is a great parallel for our Staging industry and Barb Schwarz, President & CEO of Stagedhomes.com and President of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals. Barb is not "perfect" but if she has made any "mistakes" in her journey, they are few, and her successes are many.

Over the past 36 years the service of Staging has been shared with over a million Realtors and helped launch the careers of independent business owners that started a home staging business. For over 15 years in the 1980s and 1990's, Barb toured the country, sharing the benefits of Staging as a key marketing tool for Realtors - reaching mass audiences and nearly 1 million Realtors with her message and success principles. Since that time, she continues to educate mass audiences, with her Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Course - the first course, designation and Accreditation developed for Realtors and Stagers.

When she created the first professional designation for Home Staging in the 90's, she opened up a door for many others that would come years later that saw an opportunity in the educational arena. She clearly remembers the moment she had the vision to create the first professional designation - and it was a vision for the future. Ask others about their "moment of inspiration" - I know it was not the same as Barb's - where hers came from a spiritual place of a calling that was bigger than herself and was not about ego.

It's like that movie "Working Girl" when at the pivotal part in the movie, Sigourney Weaver's character is asked how she came up with the idea for the project, and she bumbles and stumbles - because she did not originate the idea, and she instantly loses credibiltiy and respect for lying to her colleagues and trying to claim someone else's work as her own. Wouldn't life be great if it were so easy to expose "imposters?" (or at least those that are not truly honest about their own education origins?)

In a place where Barb nearly lost her life, and did lose her ability to walk and talk for a period of time, the vision for a designation and industry that would parallel the National Association of Realtors and National Speakers Association are clear benchmarks in the development of the educational process that has now reached thousands of Stagers and over a million Realtors. Most of the others have come from a place of competition, of trying to benefit from what they saw as a profitable industry, and were not born from innovation or inspiration, or heart.

We have had posts on the origins of home staging where others have claimed to have been the first, and I have even heard first-hand at trade shows those that were associated with Barb's claim THEY trained Her - which is laughable.

Some of these people's claims are just fraudulant - they never were in the real estate industry and so would not have been able to come up with the concepts, phrases and processes Barb developed as a succesful Realtor and innovator. And yet they are teaching programs that are eerily similar to the ASP program developed by Barb and based in HER years of success in real estate. She even has a book that was published in the early 1980's where much of the content of her program is published - so the idea for the ASP designation and course was based largely on her stories and success principles chronicled and documented in this best seller. No one else can demonstrate that clear connection or history in the industry.

She was recognized as one of the Most Influential People in Real Estate - as voted on by her peers in the real estate industry. Other awards that I have seen are given by relatives or friends of those that are nominated and in my opinion do not have the same merit and prestige as the nominated field was not all inclusive, not voted on by peers throughout the industry, and for some was rather incestuous.

My research on the various companies out there that offer any sort of Staging education - from very basic information with little or no credibility to a handful of companies that actually offer a respected designation - is that they ALL can trace their roots to Barb in some manner. If they were not a student or former trainer of hers, they saw her on the road or read her books on Staging, or perhaps saw her videos from years past. There are those that have come at this whole staging industry from a different origin - decorating or design industry - and so their roots are not in, to me, the purest form of Staging - which is real estate and marketing. Still, they have used the model Barb set forth in her company to build their own training organizations. There may be one or 2 exceptions - but I believe I am pretty accurate based on my research.

Some may dispute my statement above, but go ahead and do your homework, like I have. No one else can boast 36 years of history in this industry - and no one else remembers the day they said the word "Stage your house" for the first time - and created an entire vocabulary related to what we do - stage, stager, staging, destage, etc. - and so I know that the others that came after Barb, like myself, would have found information online or in a book store, or from word of mouth that winds its way - even if in a small thread - back to Barb. All you have to do is ASK - and listen to their answers and find out for yourself where the truth is. Fortunately, the truth is documented and published in books - so it's pretty hard these days to claim something as truth that can easily be disputed by the facts found in many places.

There are those that have blatently (and illegally) taken her copyrighted materials to form a framework and basis for their own "training" companies. There are those that have studied with her, or served with her company - and have started competing groups without even giving credit for where their knowledge came. Some of these people were like family - invited into Barb's home and life, loved by her, and the way in which things unravled were painful and incredibly mean spirited towards Barb by some. Still Barb marches on - because she has to - because she is driven by more than just her emotions that I am sure made her ask herself "is this all worth it?"

These people amaze me - It's as if they want us all to believe they woke up one day in the past few years or less, and had all this knowledge on their own. It sometimes makes my stomach turn to see people that have used Barb to further their careers turn against that which made them successful. No matter the circumstances for departure from "Barb's world," the fact remains that there have been many that have built their next move on her shoulders. I, for one, would like to see that acknowledged but to do that it takes courage, grace, honesty, and integrity. I could not sleep at night if I knew my entire existence as a company or entity was based on anything but truth and honesty.

The media exposure opportunities shared by Barb willingly with her family of ASPs has created a basis for "expertise" in Stagers that today refuse to even acknowledge or honor the source of their so-called "fame," and yet continue to hang their hat on their participation in segments originated with Barb - that she did not have to share - in order to perpetuate their status as an expert Stager or Realtor.

I have not yet seen any other supposed "expert" involve their fellow colleagues or graduates in as many segments, articles, and events as Barb has. Well - part of that is because they don't get the same volume of media opportunities. Others hog the spotlight for themselves - and Barb shares - as it is one of her foundations and commitment to those she serves.

I don't have a problem with other companies taking advantage of a training industry, or others that want to help Stagers launch businesses. That is not the point of this blog post. I acknowledge there are some good courses out there headed by wonderful people. And there are those that I would not give a second glance. My issue is with those who conduct their company with such little integrity - not giving credit to the origins of THEIR own education (formal or informal) and instead want us all to believe they came up with all the ideas for their program on their own.

Each time someone else comes out with a course, program, group, or association (and I know we have not seen the last of "new training companies or designations"), I smile inside because I know for the most part that there are no originators - just immitators. Some have said to her, "You changed my life,"or "I did not know Staging even existed as a career and business for me," and then go off without regard to their origins or remembrance of who got them started. Others may toss in items about decorating, feng shui, etc. - and may call things different words or use slightly altered phrases, or even different methods to educate their students, but in the end, they are emulating the one that started it all - started us all on this wonderful journey in Home Staging - and that is Barb Schwarz. Just give credit where credit is due.

As Barb frequently shares, life is too short to be in the darkness - and instead of using her time and energy to pursue or dispute those that have not honored the origins of their education - she moves forward, using her ideas and vision to move ahead at light speed, paving the way for the future of home staging, always rooted in the truth, with courage, strength and endurance - just like the oak tree.

For me - that is the type of person I want to be around - and I do hang my success - not on the shoulders of Barb Schwarz - but in the heart of what she shares with each person she meets - and touches their lives for the better.

- Jennie

Foreclosure Home Staging

2008-07-20T11:33:00.001-07:00

The foreclosures that are flooding many regions of our country are of great concern to many in the real estate and financial industries, and of course, to homeowners that live in these areas. As more of these vacant homes are put on the market for sale, the only consideration seems to be Price as a strategy for getting these properties sold.

The fact is, a Foreclosure property needs to be treated lke any other house for sale. The difference, of course, is that instead of an individual homeowner selling the house, the bank or financial institution is selling the house. However, Buyers are the same. Even when Investors are purchasing the house, it should be presented in a way that helps it stand out from the other houses on the market.

Enter Home Staging. Home Staging is the only tool that has been proven to help a house sell in a shorter period of time which helps the seller (bank or individual) retain more of the house's value. Just because the bank is losing money on a foreclosure property, they can still invest in a reasonable amount of Home Staging to present the property for prospective buyers.

When the carrying costs on a foreclosure property are in the tens of thousands of dollars, Staging is a minimal investment that will help get the house sold. Price is not the only strategy that helps sell a house. Buyers respond to a Staged home because it feels better than the other empty houses and is easier to imagine living in - and the buyer is then more likely to purchase the one that shows well in photos and in person that the one that has not had any preparation or marketing done to attract a buyer.

When a foreclosure property does not sell, it eventually ends up in auction - where the bank loses an incredible amount of money and potential profit versus selling it with a traditional real estate process.

I would love to see bank managers, asset managers, other real estate owned managers of these financial institutions take an honest look at how their properties are NOT being marketed for buyers and make a small investment up front to Stage the house - and price it for the market - but not just blow out the price as their only sales strategy. The other homeowners that live with the foreclosures in their neighborhoods that are driving house values down, down, down would support and effort by the banks and lending institutions to help the houses sell sooner than later.

This is especially true because the demise of the market is tied to the selling of loans to unqualified homeowners - and this whole mess was created by the banks that are now stuck trying to offload properties. In my opinion, the lenders created this, and the least they can do is do MORE to help these properties sell and help protect the value of the houses and homeowners that are hanging on to their properties.

Home Staging Convention - IAHSP & ASPs Lead the Home Staging Industry

2008-07-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

I just attended the annual IAHSP Convention in Seattle and it was so great! I am so excited to share all the new services and tools with my clients - as no one else in the industry has the resources - than Accredited Staging Professionals. Stagedhomes.com has put together state-of-the-art and cutting edge products and services that will make our role as ASP Stagers serving sellers and Realtors even easier!

I met so many wonderful ASP Stagers from all over the United States and Canada that are working to grow successful Home Staging businesses. The open sharing of what is working in all markets was so helpful, and the high level of education we received invaluable. The convention featured speakers that shared on key marketing strategies, internet marketing, working with clients, integrating multi-media approaches to our presentations, and business management, inventory mamagmenet, and business planning. We heard about key new market niches we can approach to grow our revenue and continue to thrive in Staging even with some areas where the foreclosures have outnumbered traditional listings.

Overall it was fabulous and Barb Schwarz, President & CEO of Stagedhomes.com, was the visionary behind our Convention and inspiration that fed our spirits and hearts throughout the event.

I am excited to depart from Seattle in a few short hours and get back home to Roseville, CA where I will be implementing many new services for our key clients.

Home Staging works - and I am so proud to be associated wth Stagedomes.com and the ASP Masters and ASPs around the country that uphold integrity as the number one trait for business.

Home Staging is Not Decorating

2008-06-05T20:22:00.000-07:00

If Home Staging is not Decorating or Design Why are So Many Trying to Make it Fit the Decorating Mold?

It struck me today as I was writing an article that there seems to be an evolution of sorts in the Home Staging realm. Unfortunately, the evolution is not one of progress, but one of conformity - conformity to a standard that is the antithesis of the true essence of Home Staging. We need to be aware of this and remember what Staging is really about.

By one definition Staging is the process of preparing a house for sale so that it sells in the fastest time and at the best price. Staging is the opposite of decorating – which is all about personalizing a space. When was the last time you picked up a decorating magazine and found it full of ways to clear out the space and make it universally appealing to everyone? I don’t see articles like that in decorating or home interior magazines. What I see are ideas on personalizing colors, fabric choices, and furniture styles – all with the intent of making a space personal to the owner and pitching the latest trends in the decorating industry.

Let’s face it – there are a lot of Stagers in business, and I do believe we do the industry proud as a group. But, I am concerned about what I see as a push towards elements of decorating that really have no place in Staging. This is not a criticism of decorators or designers, and yet many from those fields promote themselves as Stagers, and have blended the lines, so to speak, between what Staging is and what it is not. And we are letting it happen.

As an example, when the windows of a house have a hard line at the top, Home Stagers often swag a simple drape of fabric over the top to soften the lines, and possibly to frame the window. It is cleverly done, a quick step in the Staging process and it works. Stagers that are focused on the decorating or design side of things would say “Tsk, Tsk! The fabric is not at the right length or no hardware was used.” I say, “Who cares if the fabric does not go all the way to the floor? Do you really think a buyer is going to notice much less care?” To me, the fact that the window is framed is enough – and it is just for an effect, it is not for “living” and certainly is not there to win a style award. And yet it IS tasteful and does the trick. And how about mixing woods? I can hear the collective groan from decorators and designers all over America dismayed by the use of more than one wood color or grain in a house – and yet is the buyer purchasing the furniture? No – they are purchasing the HOUSE! So – mix away, Stagers. By the way, the eclectic look is IN so free yourselves from the “matchy-matchy” mental attitude.

I know there are cross over elements in Staging that are common with Decorating and Design, but what I see more and more are “Stagers” that are putting these “D” hats – trying to compete with that “look,” which in true form misses the boat of Staging completely. Yes we have to follow current color trends and styles with Staging, but not to the point where we over-do a Staging job, or get so wrapped up into the need for a particular style or look for our Staging, that we blow a budget, take too much time on a job, or forget that the average buyer is going to be in the house for a short period of time. Our job is to highlight the best features of the house, minimize the distractions, and give a buyer a reason to purchase the house, not our stuff.

Now I can already hear some of you shaking your heads at my commentary – but take a look at some of the Staging that is out there and you tell me you don’t think it has crossed into decorating. It might look very nice – I am not saying it doesn’t – but is it overdone? And ask yourselves, “Is this what we want?” Do we want the public thinking Staging is like decorating – and therefore you need to pour more than is needed into a house for sale or not bother because they feel their stuff does not measure up?

The television shows that are supposedly “about home staging” are really about remodeling, redesigning and decorating a house for sale. Tell me I am wrong. I watch them just like you do. These shows deliver the wrong message to the public and I yearn for a show on Real Staging – where purging, packing, and creativity are the focus. Not one of these supposed shows on Staging is really about Staging. That is a tragedy in my book. When will we wake up and begin to demand that the reflection of what we do is accurate? We were so happy to have “some” coverage that we never stopped to consider “who is delivering the message?” For me, I don’t want the designer on the “Designed to Sell” (you see – even the NAME is wrong!) representing what I do as a Home Stager. How about you? Are you proud of how we are represented on these shows as the caustic critics or devoted designers?

What I am concerned about is Stagers forgetting the true roots of Staging – and stepping into Decorating or Design shoes and walking a path away from the true goal of Staging. Paths that end up making the staging more costly and time consuming than it needs to be. I also wonder why some Staging classes feel the need to include information on feng shui, color analysis, spatial planning and the like? Is this because there is the fear that if we don’t “know it all” we cannot serve our client or are they too conforming to the misguided perception of what Staging is really about? If a Stager wants to delve into redesign, that’s great, and I think it’s wise to carve out multiple niches for business, but if I want information on those things, I can read a book. When I was trained, it was to learn to be successful as a Stager, I already knew how to decorate.

My advice is to stick to the true roots of Staging and remember what the goal is – get the house sold – not make it look pretty. In the process of Staging, a house does end up looking wonderful, but the original goal of selling the space and the house cannot be forgotten because of baubles and bling. Trying to apply the “rules” of decorating and design to Staging is like trying to fit a square block in a round hole. It doesn’t work and the focus becomes on the fit and not the finished product – the house. Break free from the design or decorating mold, and express yourself freely with “simply Staging.”

Clutter - do we HAVE to live with it? It's our Destiny.

2008-05-30T19:19:00.000-07:00

As a professional Home Stager, my job is to help de-clutter spaces and help sellers part with personal things for selling their house. It's rewarding to see houses de-stressed by my plans and efforts and it's easy when it's "someone else's stuff."

But what about my own house? And yours? Could you put your house on the market "as is" or would you have to have a major "come to Jesus" meeting with your spouse or significant other, the kids, and yourself? I would.

I just get so frustrated sometimes - I think "Am I the only person in my household of 6 that puts anything away, or throws anything away?" I find the potato chip bag rolled up with a rubber band - and inside are the crumbs no one wants! Throw it away! Do you really think someone wants chip crumbs? I purge out the refrigerator because no one else does - and I find all sorts of science experiments in the works - leftovers no one ate while I was gone, and expired food. Ick. Throw it away!

I find collections of the oddest things in my kid's rooms - rocks, bottle caps, dirt clods (we have 3 boys and 1 girl). And lately the boys have been venturing to the fields where they are finding shot gun shells and bullet casings. First of all, I don't live in the country so WHY is someone shooting off a shotgun or gun in this field near our house?

They proudly show me their treasures, and all I praise them - but inside am thinking, "Great, more stuff to have to store." I know it's a right of passage for kids - they need their treasures and things. Can I just admit to you here how HARD it is for me to leave their stuff alone? I will "arrange" things better so that they have SOME space on their desk in their room that was put there for them to do homework or draw - but is so laden down with trading cards, rocks, metal things, and who knows what else, that they end up doing homework in the kitchen!

One of my sons is already prepared for Fourth of July (and has been ready since about January) and has rigged up one of his plastic trucks with little firecrackers (from my husband) - and it sits, all taped together waiting for that one special day of the year when blowing things up is OK.

My daughter - she is a little better, but a collector none-the-less. She has at LEAST 45 stuffed animals and dolls lining shelves, cubbies and her bed. Her dolls are carefully put to "bed" with blankets or a piece of her clothing on them (she is almost 14 now) - and yet she loves her things. She has little mementos stored all over her room on the surfaces. At least she makes her bed in the morning. Most days.

The other day, I was actually doing the bed making rounds for the house and found an entire box full of food in her room! It was like she was camping out or ready for a "situation" with all the goodies she had stashed up in her room! When I asked her about it - she said, "Oh yeah! I brought that up when (her friend) came over to spend the night and we were studying. We wanted snack food." OK.

Anyway, I sit in my office and seem to move one pile to another - taking stuff off one surface and putting it on another, figuring out what I can throw away and what still needs my attention. I have "future projects" that I willl get to when I have more time. My office is also our bonus room - with books and videos galore because I gave up my "office" for one of our sons so he could have his own room like the rest of the kids.

Don't even get me started about my husband's "office" out front in our free standing Casita. There is so much paperwork and stuff out there - he now is at the dining room table. He says it's so he can "monitor" the kids while working. Um - the kids are in school all day - nice try. :-) I love him, but he does not know where to begin to clean up his office, and if I do it, I'll kill him before it's done. If I had free reign in the place, fine, but I can't take the reasons WHY he wants to hang on to stuff, and we end up arguing rather than sorting, purging, and organizing.

The other day, he was griping to me about his "lost" drill charger. I said, "The one that is in the garage in your work bench" He said it was not there. After a day of hearing him complain that, "You must have moved it and now it's lost." I got up. I walked to our garage. I opened up the top drawer of his workbench area where his tools are stored - and what do you know! There it was! Amazing! They can't put anything away, and they also can't find anything that is in the logical place!

Outside of the sentimental factor, I have come to the conclusion that some of this "need for stuff" or inability to organize is definitely genetic. And I "blame" my husband! (smile). I am the purger and he is the collector or "don't throw it away yet - I might need it." His Mom is a collector extraodinaire. (Although My Dad could give his Mom a run for her money!) She is the hardest breed of all because the stuff she finds and collects is actually worth something! Antiques, and fabulous semi-precious stones, and cool artifacts, and salvaged architectural pieces from old Chicago houses, etc. She has the other stuff too - a collection of heart shaped rocks - they are pretty neat, but after 50 years of "finding" them you can imagine they are all over the house.

And I am not totally innocent either. I have boxes of my children's school papers. Why am I saving them? I have some of their more significant things from the years in school, but I am thinking that years from now they will have the "best time going through all their old papers!" I want them to see writing samples of what their handwriting was at 7 or 8 years old, and be able to look back on old school projects.

Am I INSANE!? I have 4 children and already have stuffed one large file cabinet of their work, plus 2 bankers boxes in the rafters. At this rate (our kids are 8-13 years old and we have 10 more years of school to go - these memories will crowd us out of the garage! Do I put them in storage or will my kids really care? I don't have anything from my childhood - except a few class photos, some certificates, and awards. All our "treasures" were boxed up and stored in my grandparent's cottage by the ocean - in a shed - that was not airtight. Rain, mold and time ate up whatever was in the boxes.

So I think I have "over-compensation syndrome." I did not have much to look back on (and I am not "scarred" by it - I just think it would have been cool to show our kids some of my work) so I am ensuring my children will - but how much is too much? In addition to their schoolwork - they have scrapbooks from their early years, photo albums and journals I have kept about their lives. Yes, I stopped being as diligent about writing about 2 years ago - but I do hit them once in a while and update who they are and some of their milestone accomplishments. I can see the need to scale back, or this will get out of control.

So - why bother having cupboards and storage areas - when it all ends up out on the floor or on the counters anyway? Why don't we all just live with everything in reach and in view? It is the constant battle between de-stressing our house (and our lives) by putting thing away or getting rid of things, and the "practical" side of life.

I do think organization is a learned skill - so my job is to help teach my kids to organize and purge - within reason because I have Staged enough houses to know that when a space is decluttered, the people living there can feel and sense the difference and are less stressed themselves.

I get stressed out with too much stuff around and see the value in professional organizers because just like it's hard to Stage your own house objectively, getting a 3rd party in to help purge is a great service! I can organize too - but I have to deal with the "I can't believe you threw away my prized hacky-sack" and a husband that goes dumpster diving to see what else I got rid of. Sigh.

I do have a solution for that one - load up your car with the hefty bags of items no longer needed (according to you - the expert :))- and drive to a remote dumpster far, far away! Yes - I HAVE done that. You know what? No one asked where the items were. That is the TRUE test of clutter. If you don't miss it once it's gone - it wasn't needed in the first place!

Home Staging - Will We Survive the Market?

2008-05-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

I have had the opportunity to travel across the country in the past few months (in my role as a Trainer with Stagedhomes.com) - meeting with existing Stagers and teaching those new entrepreneurs that are excited about launching a business. The question on everyone's mind is "will Staging survive the market?"

I am also a Stager that has a large business in the Sacramento area - and this question has crossed our minds as well. The answer in a nutshell is, "YES" - we will survive but we have to have a survival kit! The crux of the survival kit is Marketing - and finding new clients and new market niches to carve out if the resale market is suffering. Those that do not stay out there marketing - the answer is "NO" - but it is not because of lack of opportunity - it is because of lack of effort and belief. We cannot escape face time - and the networking one-on-one that is the key to developing relationships for our business.

Other things besides Marketing to include in the Survival kit:

1 bag of Belief
1 case of Positive Attitude
1 jug of Perserverance
Tons of Networking - go to all available opportunities
3-4 New Niches - develop specialities for business or other market segments

We have some great press that has come out recently including HGTV's article on "The Top 25 Mistakes Sellers Make" - with #1 being NOT staging! That is wonderful press for what we do and stresses the importance of having an independent assessment of a house for sale. Here is the link to the article HERE and read it if you have not done so already!

We have other press that has come out recently from CBS News - and there is an article coming out in Entrepreneur Magazine July 2008 issue on businesses tied to the real estate market - that will toot the horn of Staging.

So why are so many Stagers living in FEAR of the market? With so much negative press, it is sometimes hard to focus on the positive. There are also those that got into this business as a hobby - and have not put the focus needed to survive the tough times. But when we have the attitude that we are in this for the long haul, then we have to learn to adjust to various markets - and create the demand for our services.

In a slow market, Home Staging is needed more than ever! It is a necessary part of selling a house for a homeowner that truly wants the best offer in the shortest amount of time. We just Staged an average house that was priced a bit higher than market comps - and it sold in 1 day with multiple offers! The sellers are thrilled and so is the Realtor. The power of presentation is the key! There are buyers out there - and all it takes is ONE that falls in love with a house - and makes that emotional connection.

When you have a house that needs Staging - give us a call. We work on Vacant and Occupied houses for sale in all price categories and areas of the Sacramento region. We also provide Staging to Live for homeowners that are not moving but want to refresh their houses.

1-888-WE-STAGE - http://www.westagesacramento.com/

House Sells in 1 Day at Over List Price!

2008-05-19T23:05:00.000-07:00

Who says the market is dead? Yes, there are a glut of foreclosures on the market and this means that pricing a house right is key to getting a sale - but so is presentation! Sellers that overlook presentation as the KEY factor to getting a buyer to make an offer are missing a huge opportunity.

The last house I staged was listed for sale and within 24 hours had an over-asking price offer! No - it was not priced below the competition - in fact, when the house closes, it will be the highest price per square foot selling house in the neighborhood! This will help elevate house values in the region ensuring that the listing agent will get more business! Success attracts more success! The Realtor has all his listings Staged so that they look their best before coming on the market. His dedication to his sellers pays off - and will lead to future business and bragging rights when the house closes and he has a great success story to tell.

What was our secret? First, I came up with a Staging Plan - telling the sellers exactly what to do in order to decluttter and depersonalize the house. The listing agent told me that there was not much to do and the house was originally planned to be listed within 2 days of my initial consultation and report. Once I got in the house, I informed the listing agent that a lot of work had to be done and the listing agent had to reset the target date so that the sellers had time to implement all the suggestions. It took an extra week to get the house ready, but it was worth it. I helped them save money on storage containers and boxes for packing using vendor partners that I get special discounts with because of my background and training.

Once the sellers packed up, removed or put away the items suggested in the report, my team and I moved to Phase 2 where we provided hands-on Staging in support of the listing so that the house shows its best to buyers. We brought in some accessories, decor, greenery, trees and artwork, area rugs and bedding. The sellers came home after our Staging was complete and could not believe it was the same house The changes were minor but enough of an impact that the house looked totally different to them . . . and the sellers fell in love with their house all over again, which is a good thing! In fact they remarked "This is the most beautiful house we've seen!" which made me smile because they've been living in it for years, but just had forgotten what they loved about it when they purchased. This is typical for most homeowners - as we lose our house under clutter and personal items, and the features of the house get lost.

Today's market is still tough - we are not seeing houses flying off the market with multiple offers or over asking price offers for the average house. Investment properties aside, the average homeowner faces a tough market full of foreclosures that drive the prices down. But a house that is presented well and is ready to move in - that gives a buyer comfort and confidence they are making a good purchase - is attractive when compared to a house that has been trashed or is "as is" with who knows what hidden issues lurking in the walls.

This Staging story ends with a very happy ending! The house is in a solid escrow - and will close in record time! The sellers are thrilled and the buyers are very excited.

For help getting your house on the market, call the experts at We Stage Sacramento. We know what to do in order to best showcase your house for buyers. Call 888-WE-STAGE

HGTV Supports Home Staging as the TOP Action Item for Sellers!

2008-05-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

I found it very validating when HGTV devoted a show to the Top 25 Mistakes Sellers Make - and at the top of the list was not Staging. This tells me that after 36 years of building the industry, we are finally at the place where the media "gets it."

Interestingly, the 25th mistake Sellers make was putting too much stuff in their house - and overdecorating. That goes right along with what I have been taught by my mentor, Barb Schwarz, the Creator of Home Staging. She wast the first to point out that Staging is depersonalizing and Decorating is personalizing. The goals of each service are totally different.

When I am helping decorate a house, I am considering the likes and tastes of the home owner. I will use things they like, whether or not I personally think they are tasteful or along current trends.

When I am Staging for Sale - I consider the BUYER only. My job is to help sell the house - and so I have to consider what a buyer would want and expect to see in a house - and since we don't know anything about a buyer's background (race, religion, age, kids or not, etc.) the house has to appeal to a very broad spectrum of people. This means it has to be broadly appealing, with colors that are neutral and along current trends, and depersonalized of any of the sellers' items that would make a buyer possibly feel uncomfortable.

So - I say "Great Job!" to HGTV! Finally - what I do for a living for the past 6 years is getting the recognition and understanding that it deserves. What I know is that a Staged House is a Sold House - in any market! It's the one the buyers connect with emotionally - and it is the one that is prepared for the buyer to move right in.

For more information on how you can properly have your house Staged for sale, contact the experts at We Stage Sacramento and let us come up with a detailed Staging Plan for you!

Can We Achieve The Focus of A Dog?

2008-04-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

What is it about a Dog and his ball ?

Our dog, Copper, showed me something last night that made me really think about the word FOCUS.

At about 9 PM last night, my children began to panic as Copper was no where to be found. "When was the last time you saw him?" I asked - as I had been dutifully working upstairs. "I saw him run out in the backyard," my son Steven told me, "and he never came back."

I called his name out in the darkness - no response. Normally he will come running or at least let me know where he is. Nothing. No sounds. No response. My mind immediately went to the "dark side" of fear thinking, "Oh my gosh - he has been eaten by a wild animal." Yes - a wild animal that could scale our iron fence and make off with my 22 pound cockapoo. A wild anumal that lives in the midst of suburbia (although we do back to an open space with a creek, trees, and well - it could happen).

Well - anyway, the mind was leading me astray and I got a flashlight and headed to the back corner. I was sure I would find his little body - either passed out or injured, too weak to get up or respond to my calls.

No - a totally unexpected sight greeted me. There was my dog at the edge of our pool. He was frozen in one position. He was focused. He was not moving. He was not barking. He would not even turn his head. What was he looking at? His tennis ball that had somehow fallen in the water.

The ball had somehow ended up in the water and he would not leave without it (nevermind that he had 5 others inside - he wanted THIS one). I noticed then that the area around the pool was wet with his paw prints - and I deduced that he had actually been trying for some time to get his ball OUT of the water. But lacking long limbs and a tool to scoop the ball up - he was not successful. But he had tried - he had made the effort, and when that did not work, he did the only thing he could think of - stay focused and get someone to help him.

It made me pause. It made me laugh. It made me think. He remained fixated on his ball until I got my husband to get the pool scooper thing (don't ask me what the technical name is) and get the ball. Copper finally came to the house - wet paws and all - and happy because he got what he wanted. He stayed until he achieved his goal with the help of another - but the goal was achieved.

What if we had that type of single-minded focus of a dog in our work? That we would stick to it until we achieved what we wanted - worked for - and expected? I think too many times we get distracted or disbelief creeps in and we give up.

When we can channel our focus to a goal - and stick to it - that is when we succeed. Whether we eventually have to enlist the support of other people or other tools - staying focused until the goal is achieved is the key.

What is your tennis ball? Focus on it - and wait to achieve it.

What Hat Are You Wearing?

2008-04-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

With all the shows and media coverage on Staging, it is natural for people to believe that "anyone" can stage. The fact is, that is not true. Anyone can learn to copy basic tips and maybe some ideas, but for true Staging to happen, a trained Stager needs to be involved.

When less than 10% of the population has the ability to picture a room in a different way, it is not possible for "every" homeowner or realtor (or friend) to manifest that ability. Staging is not just about putting table cloths out (which actually is a no-no) and adding some greenery. It is about strategic placement that occurs after a house has been depersonalized.

I want to make sure that anyone that is looking to prepare a house for sale actually uses someone that is trained to know what that means. We have had friends, neighbors, even appraisers poke their noses into what we do best and what we've been trained to do - and I am amazed at some of the "advice" our clients hear.

Case in point - a family I know just put their house on the market using a Realtor that is not an area specialist. House is not "professionally" Staged - and I can tell because they have a narrow front window by their door where jumbles of jackets hang, greeting a buyer with a messy display of home familiarity - familiarity that should be removed, packed or put away. The photos of the house show cleaned surfaces and pleasant arrangements, so someone put on their "Stager hat" to get rooms ready for buyers, but I still see too many personal items, and odd arrangements of furniture.

When I teach classes I have Realtors and Stagers in the classroom. I make sure the Realtors that like to "dabble" in Staging know that their job is really to sell a house - and if they really enjoy the Staging side, they need to ask themselves if taking all that time to Stage a house is really what pays them money, or is it getting a new buyer or listing? The analogy I gave is that their "staging" would be like me getting my real estate license and listing houses at .5% because it's "fun." How would that honor my relationships with my Realtors, nor allow me to actually serve my "clients" - because my true joy is in Staging.

So - what hat are you wearing?

If you are a seller, let an expert give you objective advice on the sale of your house.

If you are a Realtor, your income comes from listing and selling houses, not Staging.
As a Stager, bring me in to help you both achieve your goals.

Home Staging WORKS even in a "down market"

2008-04-09T13:14:00.000-07:00

Another Staging SUCCESS Story to share with our readers - Staging is working to help houses SELL even in our "down" market. We just Staged a $1.495 Million house and it SOLD the first week!

We have all heard about the terrible foreclosure market - and how that is having a huge impact on normal sellers. They are trying to compete with houses that are flooding the market - some in decent shape, with others have been trashed.

How does a Seller compete in these times? PRESENTATION MATTERS now more than ever! Buying a house is still an EMOTIONAL decision. Buyers will either connect with a house or not. Making the investment to prepare a house for sale can be the difference between sitting and selling.

The average investment to Stage an occupied house using what the homeowner has in new, creative ways - is about $500.00. The process starts with a Staging Plan telling the seller what to do to get their house ready - they can pack up their personal things and clutter according to the Plan - and then have some help on the back end to add the "Wow" factor with their things or with some limited inventory rental.

The result - a house that is ready for a BUYER to BUY!

For vacant houses - we provide a FREE preview of the house and a Pricing Proposal that includes pricing for time and inventory to best present the house for sale. Once we all agree to pricing and terms, the house is Staged right away. The difference between a vacant and Staged house is amazing - putting furnishings in key areas of the house allows a buyer to emotionally connect.

Our last two vacant high-end properties SOLD in less than a week - in our "down" market! That is virtually unheard of for "normal" listings - but when they are Staged and priced right - the buyers will buy.

Staging also costs less than most people think - for a vacant house - Staging starts at about $1,200 and can be as much as $5,000 for a higher end house. The fee includes installation and first 30 days of rental, and then there would be ongoing rental investment until the house sold.

Even with ongoing rental, the Investment in Staging is always less than a price reduction! When the house is priced right and Staged - it should sell - and this means it will not have to experienced a price-reduction.

When you want Staging done right - contact the experts at We Stage Sacramento - the region's first and premier Home Staging Company. We stage it all - from big to small! Give us a call at 888-WE-STAGE or go to http://www.westagesacramento.com/ to view our background, testimonials, and examples of our work.

Home Exteriors - Curb Appeal & Landscaping

2008-04-07T20:23:00.000-07:00

LANDSCAPING AND CURB APPEAL

“The art of enhancing the exterior of a house or dwelling

so it is pleasing to the viewer and homeowner.”

LANDSCAPING and CURB APPEAL – are critical elements needed for the sale of a house - because if we can’t get a buyer in the front door – they will never see all the great features about a house. The 3 second rule applies to the outside of the house – in just 3 seconds, a person looking at the house will form an opinion, and if they don’t like what they see or feel about the house, they will keep on driving.

Landscaping and Curb Appeal are not the same thing - a house can be professionally landscaped and still lack curb appeal. They are also not just about selling – and hopefully you and your clients that are not moving can use some of the tips and ideas in this month’s issue for your own houses too!

This process does not have to be expensive either – and a lot of attention on HGTV shows has been paid to remodeling the exterior of a house for the pleasure of the homeowner or the attraction of a buyer. The exterior of a house is important as it is the first impression a person has of the house – but the good news is even if you don’t have a lot of money to do major renovations on the outside, there is hope! There is a lot that can be done with good old-fashioned common sense and some sweat equity.

EXTERIOR APPEAL: It all starts with CURB APPEAL and curb appeal is about color, texture, foliage and how it all blends to feature the house.

Ask yourself this question and be willing to answer it honestly: How appealing is YOUR home’s exterior? How much color should you have for selling or living? What about exterior painting? If you house needs a “face lift” what colors should you paint? We will answer that question coming up.

How about your Landscaping? Did the winter storms wreak havoc with your landscaping? Has the warmer weather that has brought out our blooms (and allergies) en force also caused you to wonder just where all the weeds came from that now dot or cluster your landscaping?

Let’s Get Started!

First – in order to truly assess a home’s curb appeal – we need to get a proper perspective. When was the last time you stood across the street or cul-de-sac and actually looked back at your house? This is a common practice when we Stage for our clients – but we often forget to do this with our own houses.

So – walk across the street and look back. What do you see?

Do your trees need trimming? Are your windows dirty? Is there debris on your room – or even forgotten toys? What condition are your gutters in and are they working properly? Do you like the colors on the exterior of you house – does the paint look faded? Is it chipping or peeling off?

You have begun your exterior improvement “to do list.” Paint is the lowest investment with the highest rate of return. Depending on the requirements where you live (Home Owners Association or not) – you may be able to change the paint color of your house and get it more in line with today’s trends, or at least refresh the current color with a fresh coat of paint. If painting the whole house is not in the budget, then consider painting your trim and freshening any painted shutters and your front door.

STAGING RECOMMENDATION: Barb Schwarz, the Creator of Home Staging™ says that no more than 3 colors on the outside of the house are needed. This means that between the body, trim, door, and shutters – we should only use 3 colors. This helps the house not to look too hodgepodge and chopped up. We have seen some real painting nightmares out there – and it looks like the owner or builder could not make up his or her mind!

Next – take a look at your plants. Are they neatly trimmed or have they a little out of control? Are the trees in good shape or are they too bushy? If you have a tree in the front yard, does it hide the house, preventing a buyer from easily viewing the house from the street as they drive up or by the house?

If there are lots of weeds, get rid of them by spraying weed killer that does not harm the plants or make quicker impacts by pulling the weeds from the roots. Then re-bark the flower and planting beds with a fresh layer of small sized bark.

We Stage Sacramento Staging TIP: LIMB & TRIM!
Limb trees up from the ground – if their branches have grown too low – cut them back or off and this allows the tree to grow taller and healthier without all that extra baggage to support. Trim shrubs down – shape them according to what looks best and keep them manageable. The BEST time to Limb & Trim is in the dormant season – or winter. But, if you are selling your house – and need to create some visual curb appeal, go ahead and Limb and Trim. A mature tree will not be impacted greatly by having a few limbs removed or cleaned up. Make sure to remove any “suckers” too – those are the little shoots that sprout up from the ground by the tree’s base – and are actually really bad for a tree.

Adding COLOR: For landscaping, the ideal yard has trees, shrubs and flowers blooming year round. Many gardens though seem to focus on the spring – and have a riot of color, only to be replaced with a sea of green for the rest of the year. There are many perennial trees, shrubs and groundcovers that bloom throughout the summer and into the fall. Even in the winter, we have some plants that will survive in the cold temperatures and give us some color to enjoy.

We Stage Sacramento Staging TIP: For selling – add color splashes – and cluster annuals or perennials together in like color categories. In other words, if you need some color on the outside, it’s better to purchase a flat of mums in all the same color and plant them together to get a big impact splash, than it is to spread them all out, or buy a flat of mixed colors.

With ONE color to focus on, the eye of the buyer will have an easier time focusing on the focal point of color, versus seeing it all scattered about and in small little increments. White and yellow in particular are good colors for landscape Staging as they are bold and bright – and show up day or night. Stay away from planting flowers that attract bees, and find ones that are nicely fragrant.

Add some additional interest with YARD ACCENTS:

We are not talking about pink flamingos or pin wheels or a lot of small collections of things in the yard or on fences. Those are fine for someone living in the house that really likes those items, but for selling, items that are too cutesy or distractions for the buyers need to go. What CAN stay are things like accent pots, urns, and wrought iron grilles. Place an accent pot in a flower bed, hang a wrought iron grille on the wall, and place urns by patios or doors to “frame” the entrance. You don’t have to plant anything inside them – many times they can act as a “stand alone” accent piece. Remember that our policy of “less is more” still applies and so just a few accent pieces to add appeal is what we want – not a lot of visual clutter on the walls and in the yard.

If you have un-used pots that housed annuals, get rid of them if you know you will not have time to plant anything new or maintain annuals while your house is for sale. Half-dead plants send a message to a buyer that the homeowner does not care about their plants – and therefore may not have cared for the inside either. So store unused pots in the garage or toss them out if they will not be used in the new house.

If you DO have time to plant some nice colorful annuals – add a splash of color by the front door, and in the patio on the table or by the door.

Yard Debris:
If you have old pieces of lumber, pipes, or other cast aside items that were once part of some home improvement project, get rid of them now.

Call up 800-GOT-JUNK and for a fee, they will come and haul away large piles of just about anything. If you have the time and energy to do this yourself, make sure it happens BEFORE anyone comes to see the house. A Buyer does not want to have to navigate around fencing, lumber, old pots, frames, or any other item in the yard as they walk along the side yards or in the backyard – plus those items could pose a potential hazard. Many homeowners casually toss things in their yards with the goal of “some day” taking it to the dump. Someday is TODAY. Make it happen. Even if you are not moving – remove these unused items from your yard – you will be amazed at how much bigger the yard seems and how much you appreciate being able to access previously blocked areas. This same rule applies to the garage – if you have not used it or thought about it in over a year, get rid of it! Free up your storage, rafters, and shelving in your garage. Donate items that can be used by others, have a garage sale, or just purge!

When you use We Stage Sacramento Staging Team – we can pass along our discount with 800-GOT-JUNK to you!

OUTDOOR FURNITURE:

Nice groupings of yard furniture can help create an “outdoor room” that is so popular these days. Many local stores have great collections of inexpensive yet sturdy furniture that is perfect for “setting the stage” outside. We recommend a table with 4 chairs and a clean, colorful umbrella in your back patio. Small bistro sets that look like wrought iron but are actually made of plastic are also a good trick. Lightweight and weatherproof, they make a nice addition to a smaller patio, front patio or garden niche. If you have a larger yard, consider getting a settee or a set of all-weather wicker chairs and create a “destination grouping” for the buyer. Put some colorful cushions and pillows on the chairs – and voila! Instant appeal! You can “stage” your tables with a colorful pitcher and acrylic glasses, or a pot of flowers. If you have an existing outdoor bar or barbeque, add some light décor to help “stage” the surfaces.

Don’t forget the pool area – if you have a pool make sure to add lounges by your pool area – just a couple will do – and this helps buyers to envision themselves enjoying the pool area on a warm afternoon. Keep pool toys put away, and make sure anyone looking at your house for sale is pool-safe or under strict supervision.

If you are living in the house and not selling – treat yourself to some new furniture and get rid of pieces that are falling apart. With the inexpensive collections offered by places like Target and Walmart, homeowners can easily furnish the outside and not be as concerned about weather wear-and-tear because the pieces did not cost a fortune – for between $300-$400 you can get an entire set of 5 pieces! You can even sometimes find some good bargains at Big Lots, Longs, and other smaller outfits. If you want to make an investment in furniture that will last longer, go to Pottery World or Outdoor Furniture in Roseville, Costco & Sam’s Club – or local stores near you - or shop online. The pieces are costly, but will have a longer lifespan.

Lastly – CLEAN UP!

There are many nice houses with appealing yards that are dirty on the outside! One of Barb Schwarz’s 7 C’s of Staging is “Clean” – and this applies not just to the inside of a house. Some houses could benefit from a nice power washing, and the windows that are the “eyes of the house” are often so smeary or dirty, it detracts from the view. Screens get dusty and dirty and then don’t allow a buyer to see clearly from the inside of the house – and we don’t want to detract from a potential sale.

Window Cleaners are very reasonably priced for the work they do – which is essentially climbing up on skinny ladders and retrieving our screens, washing windows so they sparkle, and then having to reinstall now clean screens. As an example, a 4,000 square foot 2-story house would be about $200 to clean. To me THAT is a bargain! Even without selling it is a good idea to have your windows and screens cleaned twice a year.

Walkways and driveways can also benefit from being washed down to eliminate dust, pollen and other droppings from birds or trees.

We Stage Sacramento Staging TIP: When photographing your house for brochures or online images, consider wetting down your driveway and walkways before taking the picture. This is a common “trick” professionals use and it works as it reflects the light and adds extra dimension and appeal to the photos.

Consider taking photos at night – of the house all lit up – and use those photos to promote the house in marketing materials.

We hope you have found the information shared here of value to you and your clients. Feel free to share our newsletter with others in your office or with your clients in order to give them an “expert opinion” on what works for presenting a house – for market or for living!

Color Speaks - What Does Your House Say?

2008-02-14T22:10:00.000-08:00

Color. It is part of our everyday life. We have color all around us and every color elicits an emotional and physical response. We are usually not even conscious of our body or mind going through the physiological process, but it happens. For example, in the world of color physiology, red is associated with blood and energy (or heat) and emotions that stir the blood such as anger or excitement.

There are entire industries devoted to the use of color and how to apply it to elicit desired responses or behaviors from consumers.

Consider this: Do you remember the old style Denny’s restaurants? Why were the booth colors orange and pink? Those colors were specifically selected so customers would not linger because orange and pink are stimulating colors that keep us unsettled. Their reasoning worked. Think about other restaurants where you have been that want you to stay a while – their color scheme was most likely soft, neutral, with calming colors of blue, green, greys, and soft purples, and dim lighting. Black and white are considered at the opposite ends of the color spectrum – with some schools of thought stating that they are not even colors. Black weighs down a space and white lifts it up – so together they help create an emotional anchor and should be used with accessories or art – a little splash here and there – to balance a room.

The art of “reading colors” has been a part of beauty and fashion for years – with certain colors making us look and feel younger and energetic and wrong colors literally making our complexion look sallow and eyes dull. When we wear certain colors, we actually feel happier and more uplifted, and the opposite is true when we wear other colors. When we paint our houses, we are dressing them up for show as well. How can we tell what colors work best? This article should help give you guidance whether you are selling it or living in it.

Here is a list of topics covered in this article:

▪Colors in our lives and our houses
▪Physiology of Color
▪Accent Walls – friend or foe?
▪Best Colors solutions for Selling
▪Embrace versus Replace
▪Contrast Colors to the Rescue
▪Where to get Help
▪Color Trends for 2008

Color is an integral part of our homes.

Just like we dress ourselves, we dress our house with colors used in accessories, artwork, and on walls. You may recall the avocado greens and gold colors found in houses in the 1950’s. Or how about tie-dye, and houses with olive green, orange, or dark brown shag carpets common in the 1960’s -70’s. The 1980’s seemed to be all about pastels and southwest color schemes. The 1990’s saw some shifting towards the use of color, but there was also an “all-white” movement afoot in homes. We did not see the full impact of using color in homes until the new millennium. It was almost as if with the turn of the century, homeowners left their fear box of white and enter the euphoric world of colored walls. Some of these people have really embraced the interior color world, while others remained more conservative – placing color on accent walls for punch and impact, while keeping the main walls a neutral.

We know the psychological impact of color can be found in nature.

Think about how you feel when you look at the water or sky, or sit under a tree. Blue and Green are relaxing. Cooler tones tend to be more relaxing, and Warmer tones tend to be more stimulating. So are some shades of purple such as lavender and periwinkle. If you want to relax in your bedroom, it’s probably a good idea not to paint it Red. On the other hand, if you have a room where you want constant activity, feel free to paint it Orange, Red, or Yellow – but just be sure you really like those colors because when they go on a wall they can really dominate!

Accent Walls – Friend or Foe?

If you are not quite ready to commit to an entire room re-do, consider an accent wall. Accent walls in red and burgundy are very common in dining rooms and kitchens. We are less likely to see this color in a bedroom or bathroom, but accent walls with a deeper tone of a soothing color behind a bed where a headboard is placed or a large piece of art makes a nice frame for the focal point of the bedroom. Experts share that we should never paint an outer wall as an accent wall.

What colors are best for the interior of a house?

Painting each room in a house a different color chops up the flow and actually is a detraction emotionally and visually. It’s better to use one color or tones of the same color family to flow through each room as a common thread, and then punch up color in various rooms with accent walls, or accessories and art. Dark colors close a room in and make it feel smaller – literally eliminating visual square footage because of the emotional response. It is never a good idea to paint a ceiling a dark color unless it is vaulted or higher than the standard 8-9 feet. Children’s rooms may have creative murals, fun colors and themes. Just keep in mind colors impact children more than adults – so keep the bright, stimulating colors off the walls unless you want Johnny and Susie up all night. If you want to have some fun, use accessories, props, and artwork to add the color but keep the background in a calming color or warm neutral.

These photos illustrate the difference strong colors versus warm neutral with accent colors in the accessories can do for presenting a room in a house that is for sale.

Warm Neutrals should be used as a background for the rooms in the house. White is called “the color of fear” with paint – meaning it is the sign of someone that does not know what to do – so does nothing. It seems clean and fresh, but really it’s boring. Houses exist with all white walls but they are usually ones with black and white decorating schemes, which is not practical for the everyday homeowner. White is great when used as an accent for moulding, trims, and cabinetry. On walls, even if you are not brave of heart to paint a wall orange, go for a nice tan color – or a soft gold or taupe. The walls come alive!

What if you are selling a house and you have bright colors on your walls? Colors speak to buyers. They say “Buy Me” or “When you buy me, before you move in you will have a lot of work to do.” If a buyer likes the color painted on a wall, great but to take that chance and eliminate an entire pool of buyers over a too-bright or odd color on the wall, does not make sense. In a market where there are a lot of houses for sale, making sure that a house is move-in ready is essential. Some sellers will argue that a buyer will usually paint the walls anyway, but painting a neutral wall is easy. Having to prime (possibly with multiple coats of paint) and then paint is a lot more work.

The best solution for selling is to paint out all the walls with a warm neutral. (Note: Sherwin Williams has a great line of colors and ASP Stagers can get a 40-60% discount on materials for clients.) We recommend sellers paint walls a warm tan, soft gold, or taupe color. Keep in mind that the undertone of the paint needs to blend nicely with cabinetry, carpet and flooring. Picking a color with a grey cast and painting it in a house with yellow or red oak cabinets will result in a mis-match and will not enhance the house. If you are not able to decide which color should be painted, seek the advice of a professional ASP Home Stager. Most ASP Stagers have color wheels and fan decks from professional paint supply stores and can easily help select a color that will be a good background to the features of the house.

“Embrace, not Replace.”

When a client states they will not invest in the painting, what do you do? First, we need to know how motivated this client is to get the results they want. There is a reason they don’t want to paint and it is usually about one of two factors: Cost or Attachment. Painting a whole house can cost a fair amount, but the return on investment more than makes up for it in the sale. There are discounts they can receive when they work with a Stager, and the fresh paint job can actually be marketed as a feature when selling the house. An attachment issue says the seller is not sure they want to move and because they like the color, if they don’t sell they don’t want to have to repaint the walls. They clearly lack the commitment to make necessary changes. The goal is to always work with the Seller to help educate them about why they need to make changes and give them solutions that make sense for them to achieve their sale.

What if the client just refuses to paint the bright walls?

How can you tone it down so that it is not such a shocker for a buyer? The solution is to counter-balance the color by adding accessories that are in the contrasting color. This takes experience to know exactly what to do, but it works! Again, an ASP Stager will know what colors to introduce in the room, and where to place them to help neutralize the impact of a too-bright or outdated color. As an example, a house that has too much blue – flooring or counters – would have gold, soft yellow, and perhaps even orange introduced with accessories, art and furnishings in order to play down the blue, and help a buyer focus on the house and not the blue paint or counters or carpet. The detracting color is still there, but with Staging the house is presented in a way that is appealing and helps a buyer to know how they might be able to deal with the color too.

Lastly, if you are planning a move and have not updated your house in a couple of decades, it’s time to bring your house into the current trends. Painting is a proven investment in a house that brings the highest rate of return.

Colors do speak to us. When we are Staging and selling a house, we want to make sure they are saying, “Come and linger here” and not “Run away!”

Whether you are selling or staying put – the We Stage Sacramento Staging Specialists can help advise you on what colors to select so that your house has the right combination of peace and pizzazz.

Want to know what the decorating color trends are for 2008?

Want to freshen up your house for 2008? Experts say earthtones are on the decline but still provide a great backdrop for most houses. Homeowners that are trend setters for style and decorating will add paint and decorative accessories and furnishings in the tones of soft grey blues, silvery green-blues, earthy greens, silvers and plums, and orchid. Expect to see more green used – as a following of being more earth and eco-friendly, plus green is the color of nature and life. Use of metallics and silver accents are a great touch to an already delightful palette.

We are an approved Sherwin-Williams vendor and receive 40-60% off on materials and supplies! Ask us how we can help YOU save on your painting needs!

Picture-Picture on the Net - How many Glances Will You Get?

2008-02-07T11:18:00.000-08:00

Pictures don't lie. The eye of the camera is a truth tool.

Photos online need to be of Staged houses in order to get a second glance.

I am still amazed in this day and age of digital photography with all the enhanced devices and services available to see poor photos (or no photos) online to promote and market a house for sale.

Photos need to be Staged too. Presentation matters.
Over 90% of buyers in most markets are searching online FIRST before even deciding which houses are candidates for purchase. Gone are the days where all houses are previewed via open houses or showings with an agent. Virtual Showings are the new buzz phrase - and in a virtual showing, the photos are king.

Staged houses show better in photos and in virtual tours online.
It's not just about clicking the camera and posting any photo to promote a house. Today, the savvy seller better make sure that the photos of their house - their product - are good ones that really showcase the space and selling features of their house.

Consider this photo - of a framed painting found in the dining room of a very high-end $2M house. Do you think Buyers would find a naked woman lounging on the bed appealing? Is this something they would expect to find in a dining room? No. And the buyers touring this house online or in person would remember this house as "The Naked Lady House."

Or how about his photo of a $550K house - this is supposed to be a Formal Living Room. Not only is it cluttered with ugly exercise equipment and random pieces of furniture lining the walls, but the "focal point" of the photo is the bare wall with an unattractive picture on the ground. What are these people thinking? The agent marketing this house needs to take a hard look at the photos and ask, "Is this photo going to help or hinder the sale?"

Or lastly, how about this photo - of the exterior of this over $500K house - can you even see what you are supposed to be buying? And worse than that, this is the ONLY photo for this house - there are no interior photos posted online. A buyer is going to pass right over this washed out photo with trees that block the house.

The amazing thing is that when searching online today I looked at 400 houses that fell within the criteria of $500,000 or higher for this particular city search. These houses for sale listed on Realtor.com had more than half of them featured with no photos other than the exterior photo posted. Of the ones that had additional photos, 75% of them had photos that were poor quality or did not showcase the house. Even a short-sale or REO needs to have a best-foot forward in order to attract an audience of buyers.

Here are some Tips for getting the most out of what is shown online - Staging Works and is a key marketing and presentation tool for Houses.

1. Get a good digital camera that can capture the entire room in a photo. If you have to, pay to have a professional take the photos as this is the first image a potential buyer will see online.

2. Make sure the lighting in the photo is an enhancement to the picture. If the lighting is too harsh, it will wash out part of the photo (like in the exterior house photo above) and the viewer cannot get a good perspective of what they are looking at in the picture. If the lighting coming from a window is too bright, it will wash out the photo and become the undesirable focal point. You are better off waiting for better lighting - either in the morning or later in the afternoon.

3. Take some photos at night. Exterior photos of a house lit up at night can be a fabulous way to showcase a house. Pools or other water features can reflect the light at night and create and artsy and attractive image.

4. LOOK at the pictures as you take them. The eye of the camera shows everything - the dog bowl, the cat toy, the shoe by the stairs, the random umbrella leaning against the house, the trash can, the old car, the weeds by the door, the person sitting in a chair, etc. These things we "filter out" with our minds, show up with evident clarity in photos. Remove the eye-sore and re-take the pictures!

Remember:You only have ONE CHANCE to make a FIRST IMPRESSION

- make it a good one!

Stage your Houses BEFORE they come on the market -

and take photos of Staged rooms to promote the house to the public!

Where to get Help: Work with a trained Accredited Staging Professional (ASP). They are the only nationally recognized designation for Home Staging. They have been trained to specifically prepare a house for sale and their goal is to help that house SELL.

On average a Staging Report Plan that provides specific detailed information on preparing a house for sale averages about $200.00 in most markets. When the seller implements this Staging Plan, the house is ready to show. If the house is vacant, a trained Stager can come out at no charge to preview the property and then provide a Staging Proposal for the investment to Stage the house for sale.

Whether Occupied Home or Vacant Home Staging - statistics prove that:

The investment in Staging is always less than a Price Reduction.

All members of the We Stage Sacramento Team

are ASP Trained Staging Specialists.

If you are in our area, we would love to help

you get your house ready to show!

Will Your House for Sale Attract Prince Charming?

2008-01-25T08:14:00.000-08:00

Fairy tales are fun. They often have a fair maiden that overcomes challenges to become a glamorous princess. There is usually a villain or wicked stepmother, and there are the helpers that encourage the main character along the journey. And to find Prince Charming, all it takes is some hope, belief, and a fairy Godmother. Applying this fairy tale to real estate and Staging, are houses for sale in need of better presentation that much different?

In real estate, the fair maiden is the house in need of some care and cleaning, and a new dress to put on to go to the ball – or in this case – to be Staged and showcased with all the other good-looking houses on the market. And the Fairy Godmother is a trained ASP Stager equipped not with a magic wand, but with talent and creativity to transform ugly spaces into beautiful rooms. Stagers transform the plain into something special. The villain is the market competition, and disbelief that any effort will make a difference. The pumpkin becomes the trucks that transport any inventory needed to add the “wow” factor. The white mice become fellow Stagers that assist us in our work. The stable horses become the muscles – movers that might be used. And there you have “Stagerella” - the story of getting a house ready to meet its Prince.

Search the internet for listings and you’ll also be appalled by what is there in photos. The eye of the camera does not lie. When an estimated 90% of buyers look online FIRST to research which houses might be prospects to buy, why is it that sellers and Realtors still don’t get the importance of putting good looking photos of Staged houses online? It would be like Cinderella going to the ball in her rags and expecting Prince Charming to give her a second glance. It would not happen. Why then do sellers and Realtors expect a buyer to give a house a second glance when the house is wearing rags?

Some sellers may not believe their house is worthy of a transformation, settling instead for being an Ugly Stepsister – destined to be overlooked and undersold. And yet, every house can have a Cinderella story. It begins with a plan and working with someone that can see past the rags and reveal the potential princess lurking in the shadows. In a declining market, the impact of Staging is even more important. Every house deserves to go to the ball in a pretty dress. Statistics still show that Staging is a key marketing tool – presentation matters, and buyers want to feel good about their purchase.

So put on the ball gown, fix up the hair, and get ready to meet the Prince. A house needs to be clean, de-cluttered, and shown at its best in order to sell.

Instead of sitting longer than needed and dropping more in price than is necessary, a Staged house will attract a Prince of a buyer – and they will live happily ever after.

Staging Statistics Prove Staging Works!

2008-01-14T14:03:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

We have some great new Staging Statistics to help us validate that Staging continues to work all over the country! As an Accredited Staging Professional Master (ASPM) it is my privilege to be associated with a company, Stagedhomes.com, that helps track national statistics for Staging.

In November 2007, they released the results of a 6 months survey of over 400 houses that were Staged for sale. The results showed that the ASP Staged houses sold 80% faster than the competition.

The other statistic was from Home Gain that updated a 2003 study of 2,000 Realtors. In 2008 this study shows that Staging is even MORE valuable as an investment in getting a house ready for sale!

As a Home Stager and Trainer - these statistics are vital to the continued growth of our industry.

In the Sacramento region that has been hit very hard by the market slow down, Staging continues to be a defining service for selling a house versus having it sit and wait for a buyer.

Our company statistics that I track at We Stage Sacramento show that houses that we Staged last year sold an average of 33% faster than the market averages, and some 90% faster.

Happy Staging!

- Jennie Norris, ASPM, IAHSP

Owner, We Stage Sacramento

Vice President, International Association of Home Staging Professionals

President, Greater Sacramento IAHSP Chapter

Official ASP Course Trainer, Stagedhomes.com

2007-08-29T12:13:00.001-07:00

http://activerain.com/blogs/jennie