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
Friday, August 22, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Are Sellers Ignorant or Just Arrogant?
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!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Home Staging - WHY it Works - The Science Behind the Skill
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).
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.
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).
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). 
After ASP® Staging – The Master now has color and “WOW” Factor added to help Buyers imagine living in the house. (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.
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.
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