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Issue: #45October 2010
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In This Issue
What to Look For When Choosing A Home Stager
Coming Soon To An Office Near You!
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"Thanks again. And I really love working with you ! Your advice is wonderful and it will help these folks get their homes off the market if they listen."

 

Sincerely,

 

Lorraine Spock, Keller Williams Realtor and Past President CCAR (Centre County Association of Realtors)

Simply.
 
 
It's how we do things.
 
 

Room to Breathe Home Organizing & Staging

For Your Sellers

Too often do we see sellers going the wrong way, only to end up redoing things and paying more than necessary. It's also never too early to start thinking and planning for future sale. We also see sellers wait too long before preparing for sale and this is incredibly overwhelming for them. 

 

Encourage your sellers to start sooner rather than later...selling and moving doesn't have to be a stressful and frustrating process for them.

Greetings!        
I don't know about you, but I love to watch how trends in business change over the years.  When I started my business in 2004, hardly anyone knew what home staging was, much less was anyone doing it here. 
 
There is now a much bigger awareness and several stagers in business now.  Unfortuntely, I've heard some interesting stories from both realtors and sellers...please be very careful when selecting a stager to represent you and your client's, potentially, biggest investment.  The tips below will help you know what to look for in a professional home stager. 
 
Next month we'll be featuring how you can best work with a stager to ensure a smooth, well working relationship.  Stay tuned...
 
Happy Staging and Selling,
 
 
 Jessica Dolan
 Bringer of Order
 
 and
 
Paige Gorman
Stagin' Paige
  
 
 
P.S.  It would be wonderful if wanted to work with Kelly or Paige soon!  They can be reached at 814.360.1063.
 
 
 
What to Look for When Choosing A Home Stager
 bodner
 
With the growing number of home staging training schools popping up to make a fast buck, the result is a glut of "home stagers" in the marketplace with absolutely no experience and no idea of how to run a business.

Are you willing to put your client's largest investment into the hands of someone without the expertise necessary to get the results you need? This could turn out to be a very costly mistake.

Here are some things to keep in mind when selecting a home stager:

Lowest Quote/Free Consultations

Beware of home stagers that come in at a much lower bid than others. Usually it's reflected in the quality of accessories and furniture that they will provide.

Some home stagers may offer you free home staging consultations. As my parents always told me, "nothing in life is ever free".  There's always a catch and in this case, it may be that he or she has absolutely no experience and may give your client potentially harmful advice.

Web Site

Make sure that the home stager has a professional Web site; not just a "cookie-cutter" mini-site provided through a training school or association.  In today's world, anyone serious about doing business must have a Web site.

If the home stager you are considering hiring does not have one, perhaps he or she is more of a hobbyist.

Having a Web site demonstrates that the home stager means business and takes a serious approach to what they do. Make sure you look for testimonials from other real estate professionals as this speaks volumes as to their credibility and capability.  If you don't happen to see them on the website, don't be afraid to ask for them.

Portfolio

When interviewing your home stager, ask to see either prints or a CD of photos from his or her portfolio. If they don't have this, you should pass on this person.

In today's world of technology, with the click of a mouse, photos can be taken from one home stager's Web site and plunked onto another's site and passed off as their work.

If the home stager did in fact do the work, she will have photographs that she can show you. She will probably have several photos of the same room taken from different angles than what appears on her Web site.

This is one way of proving who actually performed the staging if there ever is a discrepancy. A "copy-and-paste stager" would not be able to supply these other shots.

Also, if the home stager's portfolio consists of only a few photos, there's a chance that these are photos taken from a group staging project at their training school and not actual work that the home stager has completed on his or her own.

Stock Photos

This really falls under the Portfolio heading, but it's so important, that it deserves its own heading. When checking the home stager's Web site, be sure that the portfolio section of their Web site isn't made up of stock photos.

The portfolio only should contain their work so it does not mislead the public.

Business Insurance

Ask for proof of insurance coverage: commercial general liability insurance. A professional home stager will not set foot in a client's home without having proper coverage. The liabilities are just too great (for both parties).

Business Contract

Ensure that the home stager uses a contract as part of their business practice. There are some home stagers that don't. You want to make sure that your client is protected.

As you can see, you need to consider lots of things before hiring a home stager. The decision should not be taken lightly since there is a lot riding on it.

Don't be left looking like the bad guy with your client if something goes wrong. Make sure you do your homework before choosing your home stager.

By Charlene Storozuk, Dezigner Digz

We Work With YouTo Provide the Best Service For the Seller
 
Room to Breathe Home Organizing & Staging can:
  
  • Prepare your home for quicker listing using our laser focused, high energy team of stagers, cleaners, painters, movers,  landscapers, decluttter pro's,  appraisers, and a network of other reliable service professionals.

  • Assist in choosing the correct color and/or style for paint, carpet, flooring, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, furniture, art, appliances, and anything else you may need to make your house appealing to buyers.

  • Shop for decorative accessories on any budget

  • Pack and label boxes for an easy, stress free move

  • Help get rid of unwanted items either for cash or charitable donation

  • Assist in the further marketing of your house once it's been staged

  • Prepare the house each time there is a showing so you can be sure the house makes its best first impression on buyers

  • And so, so, so much more....!
Coming Soon To An Office Near You

   Breakfast or Lunch Is On Us.
 
Yep, you read correctly, Room to Breathe is not only providing breakfast or lunch to your office, but also giving you a free 1 hour staging Q & A session. 
 
During the hour you may pick the brains of dynamic staging duo, Jessica Dolan and Paige Gorman of Room to Breathe.
 
 
Sessions are still available:
 
June 15th Breakfast:  Coldwell Banker
 
Setpember 30th Lunch: Keller Williams  
 
October/Novermber ??: Insert Your Company Name Here!
 
Email [email protected] now to select your date and time for this free session, not to mention free breakfast or lunch!