Luxury-Home Owners in U.S. Use ‘Short Sales’ as Defaults Rise - http://bit.ly/78SXpV

Home Staging – Knowing the Reasons why it is Worth your Time and Money - http://bit.ly/83Ni8m

New Post: Top 5 Marketing Methodologies for Professional Home Stagers http://bit.ly/8BAhxt

The Biggest Real Estate Flops of 2009- hi-end RE mkt failed to attract buyers even after huge discounts - http://bit.ly/5P8U64

CUTE IDEA: Good-looking garden planters don't have to hibernate all winter-put them to work in front of the fireplace...http://bit.ly/6Ul3Q9

Built in Closet Organizers for Home Staging - http://bit.ly/8JxUUM - I recommend IKEA PAX Closet Organizers-inexpensive & they look great!

Advantages to Staging your Home - http://bit.ly/7ljVe0

The Pros and Cons of Staging Your Home - http://bit.ly/81IdYL

How to Sell Your Home in a Lousy Economy - http://bit.ly/6HT4RY

How to Sell Your Home in a Lousy Economy - http://bit.ly/6HT4RY

Home Stagers are illusionists and artists?? Bottom line, we help your house show well to attract potential buyers. http://bit.ly/8PwNt8

Clean up your fireplace and make it a focal point in your home to be a great selling point - http://bit.ly/6nA8Vu

5 Simple Steps to Stage Your Home For Sale in 5 Days Or Less - http://bit.ly/82as5S

Are your sellers receptive to Home Staging? Here’s why it pays to ask – every time. http://bit.ly/8qK7aE

Seven Tips to Get Your Home "Show Ready" in Seven Minutes! http://bit.ly/59ebGu

Does your curb appeal impress that potential home buyer? http://bit.ly/8Eolqc

The #1 rule to selling a hm is remove emotional attchmnts; applies 2 holiday decor too. Tips for staging hm this Dechttp://bit.ly/5Pm2Pm

Staging and Organizing Closets in Occupied Homes - http://bit.ly/6zCLBv

Pesky Guests: Did unwanted guests move in to your home? and no, we're not referring to the in-laws...http://bit.ly/6cWD58

Season's greenings: Hoping to get your front lawn into the holiday spirit? It's all about simplicity and natural elegance - http://bit.ly/5nDyEf

Holiday Helper: Stay in check this festive season with a step-by-step prep calendar - http://bit.ly/5DQq3M

Effective home staging is not THE solution; it is a marketing tool to facilitate a successful end result. http://bit.ly/7Dax9k

Realities of Real Estate: My house isn't selling - What should I do? http://bit.ly/7erEUG

New Post: Top 5 Websites to Get Great Home Staging Ideas and Tips http://bit.ly/776uSv

Stage the Halls: Dress Up ur Home4Sale this Holiday Season-Create a festive buyer-friendly enviro w/winter staging tipshttp://bit.ly/5IX8In

Good advice for those of you in Colder Climates: Staging Your Home During Winter - http://ping.fm/IufMI
-

8 Steps to Make Your Home Wheelchair Accessible - http://bit.ly/7yRCJl

DIY tips for selling your home through this holiday season - http://bit.ly/7FhG13

GREAT ARTICLE: The NEW 3 Most Important Words in Real Estate - http://bit.ly/5pBegp

No matter ur budget, hm staging is worth it. w/n reason, how much u invest in quality hm staging will come back 2Uhttp://bit.ly/8Rwjzg

5 tips for staging your home, especially if you're on a budget - http://bit.ly/61D3Kc

Selling Your Home in a Buyers Market - http://bit.ly/5qEULH

7 Secrets to Getting Top Dollar For You Home For Sale - http://bit.ly/6teEpa

GOOD NEWS: All reports are that home sales rose in October - http://bit.ly/8Xc5Wb & http://bit.ly/8FyoQm

A holiday surprise, homes can sell; here is how to do it - http://bit.ly/8viRYA

What to be thankful for in real estateh - ttp://bit.ly/7XLU2R - I especially like Mark Boud's comments...ditto! =)

Next 1 Interactive, Inc. Announces Its Resort & Residence Television NW Airing Programming on Travel & Real Estate Nowhttp://bit.ly/8YlvDF

In the market for selling help: Exasperated owner gets advice from 3 house pros - http://bit.ly/4PfgkK

Innovative Home Staging Is Key to Home Sales in Down Market - http://bit.ly/3gugIE

Pricing Your Home to Sell Quickly: Set the Right Price for a Fast Home Sale - http://bit.ly/300lBK

SURPRISE, SURPRISE... Americans continue to remain delusional about the value of their homes, according to a newly released report by Zillow - http://bit.ly/SKwSK

Real estate industry group hopeful about market - http://bit.ly/2Jxtli

WOOHOO! New data shows continuing So Cal RE recoveryhttp://bit.ly/2hAHqM; So Cal home prices edge upward again in Octhttp://bit.ly/2F5Ke1

Preparing to Sell Your House: A Cleaning Checklist for the Two Most Important Rooms in Your Home - http://bit.ly/2KYVic

Winter/Holiday Decorating Advice from Designer, Thomas O'Brien - http://bit.ly/1UfES9

Who says people won't pay for staging - did you see the $30K estimate on Million Dollar Listing? http://bit.ly/18M0Wu

Isn't it time your house worked for you? Contract your house out as a model for 1000s of dollars/day for photo shoots - http://bit.ly/KoPsd

Smarter Agent expands mobile presence 4 RE listings-app gives realtors an edge cuz lets hm buyers search on own time. http://bit.ly/2Hbyyb

Lowe's sees signs for hope despite loss-seeing better perf in some of hrdst hit housing mkts-CA, FL&parts of desert SW- http://bit.ly/2knLqK

Excellent reasoning...Does a Home Office Affect Property Value? http://bit.ly/1mGMkF

Making a great first impression is as valuable as location. Don't forget: Homes must be nice outside, too - http://bit.ly/1Q5nWv

Great advice regardless of where you live...Four Crucial Don’ts When Improving Your Miami Beach Real Estate - http://bit.ly/lDWVv

Agents Say Decluttering, Staging Give Best Bang for Buck - http://bit.ly/11s3q8

When housing news is good or bad, complaints follow-seems 2B much bigr appetite 4 bad news about RE mkt than good news. http://bit.ly/3iqLIL

New Post: If not NOW, then when? http://bit.ly/3pkTDG

Welcome to the pageant! Home staging puts your home in the spotlight while increasing its value - http://bit.ly/2O6m46

Home staging still valuable & not MORE VALUABLE for sellers TODAY - http://bit.ly/2HJDR

Upgrading to a Pro-Style Kitchen » Everything you need to know about taking your kitchen to the next level - http://bit.ly/1CPbpq

8 Great Thanksgiving Decorating Ideas » http://bit.ly/4kOZzJ

If Location(X3) are the 3 most important words in RE, the 3 2nd most important have 2B Condition Condition Condition - http://bit.ly/2sUp12

When a picture is worth .... the asking price: Why pro photos will pay off when selling your home - http://bit.ly/2bnSKf

Market With Meaning: Don't offer your customers products--offer them solutions, connections and satisfaction. http://bit.ly/2FLbku

Four Sure-Fire Ways to Sell Miami Beach Luxury Homes (or anywhere for that matter...) - http://bit.ly/4CSGY8

Got $49M burning a hole in your bank acct? Joe Montana puts Sonoma County estate on market - http://bit.ly/4fzplK

The trend continues...Nashville home sales rise for first time in 3 years - WOOHOO! http://bit.ly/1uxEZQ

Home sales up from last year - great news for lower CO & Dallas-Forth Worth! http://bit.ly/1bL8g1
http://bit.ly/hQfHD

Hanging Outdoor Christmas Lights - http://bit.ly/MZ0i1

Three Ways to a More Efficient Kitchen - http://bit.ly/2DeYHM

How to Get a Chandelier Crystal Clear! http://bit.ly/21q3L6

8 Myths of Staging to Sell - Busted - http://bit.ly/4APBOR

Get The Best Price For Your Property With Home Staging - http://bit.ly/4k0Qbq

Showhomes Sees Spike in Sales of Luxury Hms- staged hms are selling in a fraction of the time most hms are taking 2sellhttp://bit.ly/2xsUiB

4 Home Improvements that Can Boost the Value of Your Home - http://bit.ly/1YV7y5

New Post: HomeGain 2009 Top 12 Home Improvements Survey Results http://bit.ly/1YcApT

Clean out your messiest closet in no time w/these easy organizing strategies & tips. It's easier than you think! [video] http://bit.ly/Reyhf

Your Guide to Keeping House Cleaning Under Control-from the kitchen to the bedroom-how to keep your home neat & tidy. http://bit.ly/1j9EJI

Update your Home w/the Changing Seasons...here
are 101 ideas from 101 designers, and there's something for every room - http://bit.ly/1qLfCv

Now get closed-sale prices as fast as a RE agent-get hm values in WA area (& other big RE mkts) new tool by Redfin - http://bit.ly/tREY3

Realtors hope trends signal market stabilization - http://bit.ly/3xvh83

WOO HOO for CO! - Greeley real estate shows signs of a turnaround - http://bit.ly/3HYXLu

Staging Your Home – Hiding The Kids Things - http://bit.ly/armtw

Ever wanted to tour $10M+ houses? Now you can since L.A.-area real estate agents are holding open mansionshttp://bit.ly/7QRHO

Senate extends home-buyer tax credit&jobless aid 2 existing homeownrs. 2B approvd by the House&signed by Obama w/n dayshttp://bit.ly/3wdiKw

The Leading Benefits of Open Houses - http://bit.ly/2GfRHP

Check out HomeGain's 2009 Top 12 Home Improvements Survey Results - http://bit.ly/3tES3W

WOO HOO! Home Stagers Are Really Busy in the East - http://bit.ly/88pNy

SAD: RE Price Plunge makes U.S. Homeownership once considered a path to wealth, now leading to disillusionment. http://bit.ly/2PKcbR

Budget Staging Tips - http://bit.ly/1xHqse

Take week to spice up decor - as holidays approach, step back w/ obj eye 2 create more welcoming & less humdrum enviro- http://bit.ly/1SSF2k

Developers try free chic to sell their empty condos-
Top decorators given carte blanche; dazzled buyers start bidding- http://bit.ly/2jQQ2n

A naked truth: The problems with trying to sell a house before it's properly dressed - http://bit.ly/2Siwat

Real estate industry has more reason for optimism - http://bit.ly/1O2Why

Bay Area RE-sellers have had 2 come 2 realize can’t just get any price they want; have to do more 2 prep home4sale now- http://bit.ly/2A6eeR

Banks turn to home staging to sell homes - http://bit.ly/3JTBb

HGTV's Bank for Your Buck Experts Discuss the Best and Worst in Remodeling Investments and Home Staging - http://bit.ly/4DzHqZ

Style expert Cindy Crawford chatting live on HGTV's blog Thurs, 10/29, from 1-3pm ET to answer design & decorating ?s - http://bit.ly/4LtOQ

Home Staging Important As Ever In The Current Economy - http://bit.ly/4oMNYK

Use Halloween to Sell Your Home - http://bit.ly/i3EZz

How to Sell That Haunted House - http://bit.ly/4wIJ0q

Mass. home sales rise for 3rd straight mo - SFH sales in Massachusetts increased for the 3rd consecutive month in Sept - http://bit.ly/S8DAV

Boston home prices tick up in Case-Shiller index - http://bit.ly/3XzLXQ

Pending RE sales bode well for Oregon-
Figs shows 233 sales in the pipeline, 44.7% more than a yr ago in Jackson Cnty-http://bit.ly/47AhQh

Positive Numbers For Florida Real Estate: Sales Up - Buyers Going For Lower Priced Homes - http://bit.ly/35wu6P

How to Improve your Home to Sell Faster - updating and staging your home can make or break a sale. http://bit.ly/15WGyQ

Coldwell Banker launches iPhone app-enables users 2 easily search 4 property listings&recent hm sales in 28 countries. http://bit.ly/1Mnp4T

New Post: The Countdown to my 40th Birthday is ON! http://bit.ly/10zvho

New Post: Creating that Wow! Factor for your Open House with Marley Majcher on the Staged Home Lifesty.. http://bit.ly/NHthd

New Post: How to Maintain Your Home with Brent Scott of Premier Home Inspection on Staged Home Lifesty.. http://bit.ly/18YaSU

New Post: 4 Steps to Staging for an Open House http://bit.ly/15zztp

Did you hear about former supermodel's new home decor line at JC Penney? Check out Cindy Crawford Style...http://bit.ly/4oHfg1

Staging Your Home for Sale: Give Every Room a Purpose - http://bit.ly/2MyylM

Fed says economy perked up from depressed levels- conditions stabilized/improvd modestly in most parts of country - http://bit.ly/4BW9FA

Fewer short sales are coming up short- http://bit.ly/4bhro6

Here's the article I was interviewed for: 4 Steps to Staging for an Open House-Give your hm the "wow" factor it needs - http://bit.ly/1pgQIJ

Tips to help sell your home faster and for more money - http://bit.ly/4iPa4h

Reading about someone I admire: Ivanka Plays Her 'Trump Card' - http://bit.ly/4GxazJ

YAY FOR CANADA! Canadian Real Estate Rebounds to Record Levels - http://bit.ly/Ft3To

Make your property clutter-free to prepare for a successful sale - http://bit.ly/4rtpiB

Home stagers sell ideals, decor - They show houses to best advantage in sluggish market - http://bit.ly/4sOjHn

Reading: "Change in appraisals causing uproar" - http://bit.ly/1VnYAU

Good idea? Should RE Pros&Stagers Join Forces?Partnrshp would allevi8 seller aprehnsn about payin 4stagingcosts upfronthttp://bit.ly/3iZUn0

Are you a luxury home buyers? Check out this $25M mansion now up for a paltry $6M! - http://bit.ly/11HZWr

WOO HOO! California home sales and prices inch up - The SF Bay Area acctd 4 a higher %age of the CA mkt gains in Sept - http://bit.ly/3NhKZ

Bay Area home sales up modestly - http://bit.ly/4xdxNX

REAL ESTATE: Housing recovery isn't as close to reality as some statistics suggest - http://bit.ly/lJvMl

Curb Appeal: Make Your Home's Exterior Inviting - http://bit.ly/gUpqO

Attract home buyers with a few seasonal touches - http://bit.ly/e5kbO

Home Stage And Get Your Home Sold Fast - http://bit.ly/kUN1i

Love using apothecary jars for staging & decorating...check out these fabulous examples - http://bit.ly/421UL2

Canadian home prices show return to sales cycle tho not a boom - low gains in pricing next year - http://bit.ly/18GgAR

Real estate activity shows strength in recent wks-per Mortgage Bankers Assoc, mrtg loan appl volume rose 16.4% last wk- http://bit.ly/3qxBYh

Now's the time to move to No. Cal...Lower-priced homes expected to drive Silicon Valley market next year - http://bit.ly/2LY7Vx

New Post: Staging a Home for a Successful Sales Result with Thomas Scott of Showhomes on Staged Home L.. http://bit.ly/oD02m

Increase Energy Efficiency with Budget Projects - http://bit.ly/1F2Rx

Top 5 Green Fall Projects - http://bit.ly/3EUuOI

Can I just say, thank God I'm in CA!! Winter Preparedness for your Fairbanks Alaska home-A fall homeowners checklist - http://bit.ly/6oabL

Add Warmth When Selling Your Home - http://bit.ly/HI1pl

Painting Dos & Don'ts - Follow these helpful hints for your next painting project - http://bit.ly/15RP04

Unfortunately...it is the reality of today's market - Home Sellers in U.S. Cut Prices by $28.4 Billion, Trulia Says - http://bit.ly/kKJVi

Great tips for any size home...Stage Your Condo To Maximize Profits - http://bit.ly/NIWMY

Why Real Estate Staging is Important - http://bit.ly/pKMLg

How To Move Your House In A Tough Market - http://bit.ly/3zuCTu

New Post: Effective Home Staging Business Tip: Have them at “Hello” http://bit.ly/4kQM05

Learn Why Home Staging Is All The Rage - http://ping.fm/yjG0p

Learn Why Home Staging Is All The Rage - http://ping.fm/Wi2EP

Simple and inexpensive ways to Stage Your Home - http://bit.ly/3k027z

Top 10 Home Improvements for Your Buck - http://bit.ly/234aE

Reading: "Living in a House Staged for Sale is NOT FUN!" http://bit.ly/X74EB - can definitely be a change fr reg lifestyle but so worth it!

Reading: "Every Seller Needs to Know, What Sells a house?" http://bit.ly/2sQKXz

Reading: "4 mistakes to avoid when you're selling a home" - http://bit.ly/2BmgQO

World's best countries to live in - the U.S. drops to 13, while China makes a big jump in the global rankings http://bit.ly/SKYWF

Just read "Don't let staging blind you to faults"-proves that staging works. Part of mktg hm2SELL, NOT2conceal defects! http://bit.ly/DHoYo

Manhattan real estate sales 'stabilizing'-there are finally some glimmers of hope 4 Manhattan's beaten-down res RE mkt - http://bit.ly/tlPc0

The Deadly Sins of Home Sellers: What Seller's Should Not Do When Trying To Sell Their Home - http://bit.ly/4izGio

7 of the top 10 most expensive markets in 2009 is in California - 3 in Northern CA...check it out --> http://bit.ly/M9NJ8

Six late-season tips for home sellers - http://bit.ly/h2XRF

Good news for Washington State: August pending home sales rise to 2 1/2 year high - http://bit.ly/maVDl

Good news for Massachusetts: More signs this housing rebound is real - http://bit.ly/Zv8FT

Interesting article: Are Distressed Homes Worth It? http://bit.ly/2o3Jt3

New Post: Painting Tips for Preparing Your House to Sell http://bit.ly/RvPfU

Favorite Colors Inspired by Fall and how you can use them in your own home - http://bit.ly/32Tt0v

Reading: "What is my home worth? Beats me. (More on the appraisal mess.)" http://bit.ly/ylUxn

Great Suggestions For Staging Your Home to Make It Sell Fast and For a High Price http://bit.ly/Hq132

Home Staging Videos For Seller Success to help guide sellers on the various aspects of staging - http://bit.ly/4pveyj

New Post: How to Organize for a Low Stress Move with D. Allison Lee on the Staged Home Lifestyle Radio.. http://bit.ly/13Q5C2

New Post: Are You Networking with the Right People? http://bit.ly/4sDWCT

Join us for "Staged Home Lifestyle Radio Show at 10am PT TODAY w/@DAllisonLee - How to Organize a Low Stress Move - http://bit.ly/VXP8y

New Post: Staged Home Lifestyle Radio Show with Feng Shui Expert, Catherine Grison http://bit.ly/6HsQp

Now's your chance to buy a luxury home...Seeking Real Estate Bargains? Try Looking at the High End http://bit.ly/5NweP

Great advice: 10 steps to take before you sell http://bit.ly/5jY4V

Reading: "Recovery seen in '10 - Signs of improvement good, but financing still problematic" - http://bit.ly/14Y7m2

Reading: Seven Digit Sales - http://bit.ly/NMign Marketing needs to focus on value & strength of long-term investment, not price

New Post: The Staged Home Lifestyle Radio Show is “Live” TODAY! http://bit.ly/4gYUd

Selling a house? Here are 10 ways to help get it SOLD faster... http://bit.ly/4A2yEN

New Post: Effective Home Staging Business Tip: Who’s the Boss? http://bit.ly/baFpo

New Post: Achieving the Staged Home Lifestyle - Countdown to Clean http://bit.ly/3GZ5Lh

Countdown to Clean - Simple things you can do daily, weekly, monthly and yearly to keep your home spotlesshttp://bit.ly/9exXu

Trouble selling the house? A little lipstick here and a coat of paint there by a staging company can help http://bit.ly/yuApm

Are you selling after the summer? Here are some tips from Real estate agents to put some sizzle back in your efforts http://bit.ly/2lEQZ9

New Post: Effective Home Staging Tip: It’s All About the “Feeling” http://bit.ly/VlmOv

Tired of muted & diluted colors? How about some good saturation & color strength! Perfect as we enter the fall season...http://bit.ly/hBzQM

Reading some great news: "Real estate on the cusp of recovery"-Toronto home prices will be higher by the end of this yr http://bit.ly/15VFwV

Always a good reminder - Staging to sell: Home staging is vital when selling in a "buyer's market" http://bit.ly/12uCoV

Reading this very informative article: "Business is Booming for Real Estate Receivers" http://bit.ly/8efcs

A slump in real estate sales appears 2B over in NY's Hamptons-3rd qtr sales likely be triple the figs posted 6 mos agohttp://bit.ly/CQOA6

The U.S. housing market is rebounding faster than expected - July home sales surge more than 7% - woo hoo! http://bit.ly/u7Bnc

Home Maintenance Tips: Getting Your Home Ready for Fall http://bit.ly/mZ9wo

Video Marketing is HOT! HOT! HOT! Online Video Viewing Reaches Record Audience http://bit.ly/Dxqqn

There's nothing worse than a listing that languishes unsold for weeks or months. Here are some tips to get it SOLD! http://bit.ly/w6nIm

Finally...someone speaking my language! Real estate: Ins and outs of open houses http://bit.ly/M8EIf

Good news 4 US too-out of 155 mkts incl in a survey, 125 showed median price increases. Chk if where u live is on list http://bit.ly/FLHyR

Great news for Canadians: Canada posts record July for real estate sales http://bit.ly/d5TMX and Canada home resales set July record http://bit.ly/VCOnB

New Post: The *Staged Home Lifestyle Network* is NOW OPEN! http://bit.ly/2pKX7q

Excellent article about Real Estate Selling Myths - http://ping.fm/gTpHJ

New Post: Quick Tips for Living the Staged Home Lifestyle http://bit.ly/GXMRy

Reading "10 Cities Primed for a Real Estate Recovery" - is where you live on the list? http://bit.ly/22t7h3

New Post: It’s time for the *STAGED HOME LIFESTYLE NETWORK* Virtual Launch Party http://bit.ly/e4yxJ

Getting ready for *STAGED HOME LIFESTYLE NETWORK* Virtual Launch party tomorrow nite - meet me there... http://bit.ly/3wc0zu

Gr8 news across the country-combo of fewr new 4closrs&more sales of existng 4closrs; key steps 2 rtng 2a more normal mkt http://bit.ly/c8yYy

Self-Correcting RE Mkt takes 1st Baby Steps “Agents s/b lookg @ qtrly sales increases rather than yr over yr analysis http://bit.ly/i1bor

Mortgage lending seems poised 2 open back up-increase in lending capacity more 2 do w/strength of bank than Real Estate http://bit.ly/18zCzS

It's Ba-ack! As much as 112 offers on one property - crazy! Silicon Valley real estate market: The bidding war is back http://bit.ly/31vVe

New Post: test http://bit.ly/lHRK3

New Post: The Staging of #REBCSF: A Behind the Scenes Tour http://bit.ly/1E2ztO

I LOVE THIS...takes staging to a whole new level! "Trash Can Photography" All The Rage With California Realtors http://bit.ly/1936Z0

NAR rpts Pending home sales rise in June - 5th straight monthly gain puts housing on 'sounder footing' http://bit.ly/2oSaOM

Powerful Professional Home Stager Resources (http://ping.fm/V9wpV)

If Home Staging Can Help Get this house SOLD, Yours Will Be a Piece of Cake! Video Case Study (http://ping.fm/ef0x3)

Home Stager listed as #1 in a list of 7 Emerging Jobs http://bit.ly/fVrI3; My advice...jump in with eyes wide open http://bit.ly/10avI5

Just came across this blog post - how cool! http://bit.ly/10avI5

And you thought you had problems...Annie Leibovitz Sued over Exorbitant Debt - $24M of debt... http://bit.ly/4iXQp3

One time you could feel good about being average - "High-End Homes Frozen Out of Budding Housing Rebound" http://bit.ly/1ETHPL

Albuquerque RE recovers
in some areas-Some local realtors are optimistic after home sales rise 4 1st time in over a yr. http://bit.ly/K4Ovq

Online auction new RE tool-www.absauction.com is structured similar to eBay, but bidders must be invited to participate http://bit.ly/mSruw

Area real-estate values still creeping up-demand remains, but tougher access to credit has cut sales volume by about 20%s

Reading some good news this morning! "Welcome to the bottom: Housing begins slow rebound" http://bit.ly/AqstM

Reading "How My Real Estate Bottom Prediction Is Similar to Cramer's" http://bit.ly/EBXVO

New Post: If Home Staging Can Help Get this house SOLD, Yours Will Be a Piece of Cake! (Watch & Leave C.. http://bit.ly/wm7Ou

Just read "Why Your House Isn't Selling" - excellent points... http://bit.ly/gkjNn

Residential RE sales picture improves as sellers get more realistic in pricing http://ping.fm/SSk6S properly from start is KEY!

Here it is...what you've been wanting to know about the Staged Home Lifestyle Network (http://ping.fm/u4W1k)

Starbucks is going GREEN! http://bit.ly/11yREP

New Post: Effective Home Staging Tip Series #8 - It’s Showtime: Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary! http://bit.ly/steMZ

What the housing turnaround will look like-
Cape Coral FL was 1 of foreclosr capitals of America- now seeing a rebound http://bit.ly/4yGOlZ

Home Sales Beat Expectations: What's Next? 5 Things to Know - http://bit.ly/la2KS

Pretty good review; I was going to write one too-this will do for now. Virtual staging-brilliant (& maybe dangerous...) http://bit.ly/nuLrC

Reading interesting article "Deal shakes up Marin real estate scene" - http://bit.ly/HrB4O

New Post: Effective Home Staging Tip Series #7: Master the Inner Game of Home Selling! http://bit.ly/12KNh3

Staging a high-end home for sale requires a different kind of makeover http://bit.ly/9uwiy

Reading: "Real estate appraisers take it on the chin" http://bit.ly/4MpJa

New Post: Effective Home Staging Tip Series #6: Setting the Stage for Your Home Selling Success http://bit.ly/D4Lrs

New Post: Effective Home Staging Tip Series #5: How to Prioritize Projects and Hire the Right Vendors http://bit.ly/11heep

New Post: Effective Home Staging Tip Series #4: What Upgrades are Expected? http://bit.ly/z9byC

New Post: Effective Home Staging Tip Series #3: How to Create Your Plan of Attack During the Pre-Stagin.. http://bit.ly/OuGHO

New Post: Effective Home Staging Tip Series #2: What Really Sells a House? http://bit.ly/GSkDR

New Post: Effective Home Staging Tip Series #1: What is Home Staging and What is it Not? http://bit.ly/Kry4u

REPros: UR invited 2 learn about a revolutionary system 2 help make ur listings STAND OUT amongst all the distressed hmshttp://bit.ly/Ryhy7

New Post: “Set the Stage for Your Success” is an Award Winning Ezine http://bit.ly/oPJ8E

It's not a big secret that 4closrs are driving the mkt; how are u making ur listings STAND OUT from the distressed hms? http://bit.ly/Ryhy7

Bay Area home prices rose mo-over-mo 4 3rd str8 time as sales reachd highest level in 3 yrs in June http://bit.ly/187BlP http://bit.ly/d4Sv0

New Post: The *Do-It-Yourself Home Buyer Attraction System* is COMING SOON! http://bit.ly/zdqia

New Post: Review of *TLC’s Stager Invasion* http://bit.ly/8C0Yx

13 Designers Fight It Out in Hollywood - Who Will Become a Star? New Season of HGTV's Design Star Premieres this Sunday 10/9c

Learn From Some Mistakes That Sellers Have Made When Staging Their Homes http://bit.ly/179xPG

Lower prices&historicly low mortgage rates r drawng buyers n2 the mkt...clean, well-staged, well-priced hms cont 2 sell. http://bit.ly/S4Q1f

Bay Area Real Estate Shows Signs of Improvement-prices have increased an avg of 28% btwn the 1st & 2nd qrtrs of 2009 http://bit.ly/aCzYK

Brad Pitt's Make It Right Duplexes - Curr. 32 fams are either living in a Make It Right hm or have 1 undr construction. http://bit.ly/mOVMc

Reading "20 Things I'm Glad Life Taught Me" http://bit.ly/c0Tm2

New Post: OMG, The Kids Toys Have Taken Over The House! http://ping.fm/Xe2bb

Seriously...this is the best time to buy, if you can...Reading "America's Fastest-Falling Neighborhoods" http://bit.ly/tXq1m

Need to get away&relax...check out the 2009 Resort Spa Poll Results-Hawaii is a state of bliss 4 spa-goers & CA is gold http://bit.ly/19NXSf

Are you the type of person who has big plans but just never seems to get anywhere with them? http://bit.ly/pkjyE

New Post: Avoid Making Mistakes By Being an “Old School” Real Estate Professional http://ping.fm/2rAXz

Wishing everyone a fabulous 4th of July holiday weekend!!!

7) do something every day! by doing something every day u develop momentum. This forward motion motivates you, inspires you & energizes you!

5) Organize the list by sequence & priority and 6) Take action on your plan immediately!

4) Make a list of EVERYTHING u could do 2 achv ur goal. Henry Ford said "the biggst goal can b acmplshd if u breakitdown n2 enuf sml steps.

2) Write it down- a goal not in writing is like smoke; it drifts away&disappears! Only 3% of adults have writtn goals & every1 else wks4them

Here is Brian Tracy's 7 step Formula to set & achieve goals - enjoy! 1) Decide exactly what you want - be specific.

Been reading "The Power of Discipline - 7 ways it can change your life" by Brian Tracy - highly recommend!!!

Realtors Hopes Rise As Home Sales Inch Upward; 10% commissions in Oregon! & home staging seminars http://bit.ly/18sh7Y

No major plans this weekend? Try some of these Home Improvement Projects for $100 or Less http://bit.ly/fPCEv

New Post: The *Ultimate Blueprint to Home Staging Business Success* is now Available! http://ping.fm/iyehH

New Post: MindMap Your Way to Home Staging Business Success http://ping.fm/Wna5a

If you've got a passion for staging design, here's a blueprint to make you shine! http://bit.ly/jI1l1

All Your Home's a Stage - Staging homes makes for faster sales; "Staging is big, it's really, really big." http://bit.ly/N3L2k

Top 10 Home Buying Mistakes That Can Cost You
Avoid these blunders that homebuyers commonly make - http://bit.ly/q2tIX

Bill aims to suspend new appraisal rules-REAs hoping Congress approve reprieve from new rules 2 stop appraisal-rigging http://bit.ly/rY5Oe

Good Tips on How to Sell Your Home Quickly (regardless of location) http://bit.ly/qtZ4b

New Post: Protect Your Investment in Natural Stone Products with Expert Stone and Grout Sealing http://ping.fm/8sKJR

New Post: Alice T Chan presents *Highlights of PCBC* http://ping.fm/bVXUV

New Post: Top 3 Benefits of Home Staging http://ping.fm/H9SfN

New TLC show "Stager Invasion" premiers tomorrow, 6/30 - see interview w/ host Lisa Lynch - http://bit.ly/1ymXs

New HGTV show "Real Estate Intervention"- tuff luv 4 homesellers in denial & grasp what their place is REALLY worth - http://bit.ly/3L5JBb

NAR Prez mtg w/Deputy Atty Gen to share Realtor concerns & stories & asking for assistance in resolving HVCC probs http://bit.ly/GcRYz

Statewide open house aims at first-time buyers-the message: $8000 fed tax credit ends Nov 30-now's the time to shop http://bit.ly/3t57aT

Home Stagers: Are you making the 7 Deadly Mistakes? Learn how to avoid them here...http://bit.ly/12Tvzt

Why bother speculating? Let's just wait & see-looking up = good sign! Mixed signals on Reading real estate market - http://bit.ly/17GhcP

Home Prices Rise in CA Again- median price for existing SFH rose for 3rd straight mo - is mkt bottoming out? - http://bit.ly/9zYKB

Can I Afford To Have My Home Staged? Sound advice fr a formr hmbldr w/40 yrs exp-pro staged hms have a dstinct advantage http://bit.ly/tVgR4

New Appraisal Rules are Creating Drama, Drama, Drama - Appraisers Blamed for Killing a Market Recovery - http://bit.ly/qcRUe

What’s With All the Moaning About Home Appraisals? http://bit.ly/kx9zz

Faulty appraisals may be adding to real estate woes - http://bit.ly/2BANr7

This is Reality...Mastering the “Faux Clean:” Dealing With the Stress of Selling a House - http://bit.ly/11GjIG

Get Top Dollar From Your Home with Home Staging Strategies http://bit.ly/OE4qX

Sell it w/a great 1st impression- It's not a magic wand, but it is key to making property stand out from the competitionhttp://bit.ly/QatDk

Hm sales stablizng;weak recovry;Hm sellrs competng agnst bargn-pricd 4closrs;1in3 hms sold lst mo=4closr OR distrsd salehttp://bit.ly/wlAUb

3 Positive Notes from Existing Home Sales - http://bit.ly/qoNqN

Home staging – what is the first step? http://bit.ly/rJKpe

RE industry has always been slow to accept & adopt new tech, but now tapping n2 pop-culture online to help drive saleshttp://bit.ly/sI2TN

With housing values still tumbling, what's the best way to gauge prices? http://bit.ly/uIhSN

Are low home appraisals to blame for slow U.S. housing recovery? http://bit.ly/11JlVa

Real estate may be turning us on once again-Home buyers in Toronto are showing signs of retrning confidence this summer. http://bit.ly/r0fiX

Real estate investing gets online boost - http://bit.ly/1hE9Ni

Heading out to SF for PCBC today; will share the latest & greatest finds in bldg & design w/you via video next wk...Happy Friday everyone!

WOO HOO!!! Bay Area home prices rise for second straight month - http://bit.ly/ouKoh

When you market your house online, make sure the images are picture perfect - http://bit.ly/sf27G

Are you seeing these problems too? Tighter appraisals hurting home sales http://bit.ly/tyCsv

Looking to start over? Find a new job? A new house? Here are U.S. mkts where jobs are avail & real estate is affordablehttp://bit.ly/du5nX

New Post: Effective Home Staging Tip: Create a Lasting Impression on Your Buyers by Avoiding the “Vanil.. http://ping.fm/UhzVq

New Post: Effective Home Staging Tips: the “UN-Curb Appeal” http://ping.fm/fECMQ

Home Property Value – How to increase your Real Estate Home Value http://bit.ly/Negcz

CA Boom Design Show Heads To Beverly Hills June 26-28 - http://bit.ly/1EOjD - more info @
http://ping.fm/C1ePM

HURRAY for Canada - Canada Existing Home Sales Rose 8% in May From April (Update1) - http://bit.ly/VJV5a

Despite slow sales, many builders believe the industry is approachng bottom, esp in some of the most distressed markets http://bit.ly/16ndSI

As median sale prices plunge, are Real Estate Investors Attracted to San Francisco? Learn why/why not - http://bit.ly/nEVNi

Cost Effective Upgrades for your Bath to Prepare it to SELL (http://ping.fm/2ypkO)

New Post: Cost Effective Upgrades for your Bath to Prepare it to SELL http://ping.fm/Id1Lx

New Post: How to Find Cost Effective Lighting Options to Prepare Your House to Sell http://ping.fm/A9ht3

In tough times, developers bring innovation back to marketing - how are you doing the same? http://bit.ly/c0ANX

New Post: Leverage Testimonials to Grow Your Home Staging Business http://ping.fm/jBgGv

New Post: TIDY UP, if not for yourself, at least for others! http://ping.fm/adU5H

A Simple Guide to Keeping Your Counters Clutter-free - http://bit.ly/ae6Th

New Post: 5 Important Home Selling Tips for Today’s Real Estate Market http://ping.fm/ObmIJ

Check out these Brilliant Buildings: 136 Amazing Approaches to Architecture - http://bit.ly/sZAUO

"Feng Shui On Steroids: Design Your Space to Achieve Your Goals" (interior design+law of attraction=>fabulous!) - http://bit.ly/ZFGCm

"Illuminate your clutter hiding spaces" - don't allow the madness to fall into the deep dark hole - http://bit.ly/6xsX6

10 ways to turn off a homebuyer - smart sellers should avoid these at all costs! http://bit.ly/k5qSe

New Post: Professional House Painting Tips for Preparing Your House to SELL http://ping.fm/3QoYW

Staging & styling your home to sell or enjoy - give yourself a psychological boost http://bit.ly/15gVSI #fb

Good advice, esp. last paragraph-I would just change "some" to "all" - NO ONE wants a tour guide to view a home - http://bit.ly/8voVU #fb

Real Estate Industry Gets More Good News in May - http://bit.ly/iAXzi #fb

Biz Tip: if ur drivin around town w/a signonurcar adv ur prosvcs, Bawareof typeofperson ur being-whywouldany1want2wk w/you if URaB****H! #fb

Sad...a local realtor was @ the same location being VERY RUDE to the store staff-guess she's not concerned about her reputation. #fb

What You Get for... $465,000-see comparison of 3 homes in MA, KY & SF-Yes, SanFran-don't b dsappointd by what u get! http://bit.ly/tOiTN #fb

Just got back from filming this week's field trip video - will post soon. Was lots of fun and chock full of tips...stay tuned! #fb

Reading "Real Estate Industry Gets More Good News in May" - http://bit.ly/geE1r

Learn 7 Steps to an Organic Landscape - Grow healthy grass & ornamentals, fresh veggies & fruit — all without chemicals http://bit.ly/20HP0

Very helpful tips: Spring Cleaning Myths & Mistakes- http://bit.ly/ZfqaD My recs: dry clean carpets v. steam & opt 4 prof windowcleaning #fb

Reading "Will the Busy Real Estate Market Last?" [business is way, way up this spring ("our best May and June ever")] http://bit.ly/14Vjfx

Reading "Positive signs in real-estate market springing to life - Pending-sales index up 6.7% in April" - http://bit.ly/1arda9

new iPhone free app lets u snap a pic of any color & instantly match it to 3,300+ hues in Benjamin Moore’s color sys http://bit.ly/Udz7O #fb

What do u think of this urban farm concept 4r NYC’s Roosevelt Island? Understand need but doesn't do much 4 NYC skyline http://bit.ly/qrCMP #fb

Reading "Homes sales skyrocketing while prices fall: Is it time to buy?" http://bit.ly/2bPUEh

NAR rpt-home sales increased in April prompting NABE to state “there are emerging signs that economy is stabilizing” http://bit.ly/kUFYY #fb

Stand Out and Sell More - Using Neighborhood Knowledge to Build your Business ebook available at http://ping.fm/taDCV #fb

secret 2 increasing income for RE pros really is no secret - spend more time bldg strong rel'ships w/quality prospects, using eff presntatns #fb

Why would a developer name a st Flat Broke Way? Geez talk about stackg odds against u-who in their rite mind would want 2 live on that st?

Reading "Local home prices, real-estate market hold steady" http://bit.ly/Arjg5 #fb

Home sales increased 49.2% in April in CA compared with the same period a year ago while the median price of an existing home declined 36.5%

Reading: "CA Real Estate Market Recovery: Sales Boom, Marketing Time Falls, and Unsold Inventory Drops" - http://bit.ly/2HcnP6

New Post: How To Create a Tropical Tablescape and a Kitchen Theme using Props available at TJ Maxx http://ping.fm/Oco4M

New Post: Building Your Brand Identity as a Professional Home Stager http://ping.fm/eTHhL

New Post: There is a Psychology behind Home Staging http://ping.fm/zr55F

Western home sales up 16% in April but foreclosures are draggin prices down - http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_us_home_sales_western_cities.html

April existing home sales inch upward, prices fall - it's DUAL MARKET right now - http://ping.fm/dxuUz

Have you seen this yet? Staging Design is NOT meant to Suit Seller's Taste - please let me know what you think...http://ping.fm/Iongq

A good exterior paint job transforms the appearance of your residence. It's like getting a new home almost overnight - http://bit.ly/uOyMZ

Yay for OHIO - Buyer's market could spark home sales turnaround - http://bit.ly/1awEZa

For a faster sale, prep home wisely - You want to be proactive in this market - http://bit.ly/4EtIX

Reading "Sellers need to get realistic about what their homes are worth"-most r in denial about what their hms r worth- http://bit.ly/nCqb5

New Post: Home Staging Tip: Staging Design is NOT meant to Suit Seller’s Taste http://ping.fm/Y5aaI

New Post: Home Staging Tip: How to Add Pizzazz to Your Master Bedroom http://ping.fm/40QwB

Staging Secrets: How to Dress Your House for Sale Success - 13 tips to make a home into buyer-bait http://bit.ly/ncH7Z (via Front Door)

Median home price in NorCal rises slightly - suggesting some parts of the region's housing market could be stabilizing - http://bit.ly/wCO9v

Want a colorful hm but need direction? Take HGTVs color quiz 2 reveal ur color persnality-I'm classy&sophisticated, u? http://bit.ly/15D35C

Summer Travel Plans? Here are a few tips on How to Pack Smart for a Trip - http://bit.ly/VQIzD

Are you an unclutterer? - http://bit.ly/YtLFN

Need a little more NRG? Here are 55 Ways 2 Get a little extra oomph...#41 is my fave - http://bit.ly/hHFki

Do you have a million things to do and unsure where to start? Here are 9 Practical Ways to To Help Stay Focused - http://bit.ly/GqGwR

"Phoenix's housing bust goes boom"-More homes are selling than at any time since 2006
http://ping.fm/zmz4j

Excellent Read: "Choosing the right REALTOR to sell you home" - http://ping.fm/i7Jok

"Listen to Your Stager, Not Your Heart"
http://ping.fm/orKSH

Professional stagers are paid to bring out the best in your home. Don't take it personally.

Bad appraisals hurting sales & costing consumers - http://ping.fm/Flqnk

New Post: Leveraging Social Media to Grow Your Home Staging Business http://ping.fm/UplPz

What do u think? Laminate Flrs: Hardwood's Killer or Colleague? I prefer hw-some lam looks good, but most still look cheap 2 me http://ping.fm/DtCVP

Real Estate Marketing Efforts Ineffective in Tough Markets - check out upcoming virtual referral expo - http://bit.ly/iH9j9

New Post: Home Improvement Lessons from HGTV’s “Bang For Your Buck” Part 2 http://ping.fm/EPQ3A

New Post: Home Improvement Lessons from HGTV’s “Bang For Your Buck” Part 1 http://ping.fm/pymQ0

New Post: New Home Staging Props available at Pier 1 Imports http://ping.fm/rNNPv

Real Estate Market Waking From Deep Sleep -
With Prices Still Down, Pending Home Sales Now on the Rise - http://ping.fm/eC8Li

When times are tough, get creative - http://ping.fm/MaAyy

Homes priced well will sell - http://ping.fm/KatM3

New Post: The Successful Staging Biz Teleseminar Series Event Begins this Week! http://ping.fm/Eu8sv

Backstage Pass to Staging Success Features Darlene Willman (http://ping.fm/3JlxP)

Get the scoop about incentives & risks for home shoppers ready to buy - http://hamptonroads.com/2009/05/plenty-incentives-risks-home-shoppers-ready-buy

None of us has a crystal ball - We don�t know where the bottom is. But we know interest rates are great right now, and we don�t know what they�ll be down the road.

This is not the time to talk about investment-we need to focus on the primary reason you buy a house-you buy it to raise a family.

Must have staging tool: affordable deco frames installed in 20 mins. http://ping.fm/PO7qK

Practical Tips For Making Your Home Irresistible To Buyers - http://ping.fm/sJJim

Sites to help us understand the troubled RE mkt -
http://ping.fm/KOAQx

New Post: 10 Practical Tips For Creating Agreements For Your Home Staging Business http://ping.fm/5YZNk

New Post: Video Home Staging Tip: What Type of Buyers Does Your Home�s Curb Appeal Attract? http://ping.fm/C21J9

New Post: Home Staging Tips: Kids Bedrooms http://ping.fm/PBluU

New Post: Home Staging with Alice T. Chan Intro Video http://ping.fm/C5Ezs

New Post: Clarifying Possibilities for Working Part-time v. Full-time as a Home Stager http://ping.fm/RtUcA

New Post: Effective Home Staging is Achieved by Designing a Lifestyle that Appeals to the Property’s Ta.. http://ping.fm/RV4oa

New Post: Effective Home Staging is Achieved by Designing a Lifestyle that Appeals to the Property’s Ta.. http://ping.fm/WdBD8

New Post: Are you Lacking Systems in Your Home Staging Business? http://ping.fm/pz1NX

New Post: Response to Inquiry about Looking for a Home Staging School http://ping.fm/XIpAY

New Post: How Home Staging Is Like Dancing with the Stars - Part 2 of 2 http://ping.fm/s3dqb

New Post: How Home Staging Is Like Dancing with the Stars - Part 1 of 2 http://ping.fm/ivND5

New Post: Home Staging Happy Hour happens this week…come join us! http://ping.fm/cZdJT

New Post: Magazines Make Great Home Staging Props http://ping.fm/nUgCK

New Post: Staging Tip: Using Cookbooks to Create Themes for Staging Your Kitchen http://ping.fm/ajmK6

Beware of the HYPE about Starting a Home Staging Business

I am amazed by the amount of B.S. there is on the internet about starting a home staging business. It's unbelievable that what these people come up with. Who are they? I can't imagine they could be real Stagers that have any experience to draw from. Here's one article from some bozo off a website called barnumproductions.com. No contact info, nothing...isn't that curious? Guess he doesn't want anyone's real life experience to rebuke his ridiculous message. I mean, come on...Learn To Become A Home Stager And Become Rich!!! Are you kidding me with that? If any of you thought you'd become rich by being a Home Stager, let me be the first to burst that bubble for you. It's highly unlikely that will happen.

Allow me to highlight some of the crap that's in this article so you don't give him the satisfaction of traffic to his site...(this is actually his article in its entirety - one paragraph)

"If you are looking for a new business that can make you money, forget it. What you need is a business that can make you rich. You may not know it but the business that you want could have been sitting right in front of your nose. If you're the type of woman who just loves to decorate and redecorate your house time and time again, why not make your beautiful hidden talent known to your friends, relatives and neighbors just how good you are with home decorations and become a home stager? You will surely enjoy this kind of business because you will be doing it at your own pace and time and decide how much you will be charging for your services. In other words, you can make your own house as your "training ground" and work you way up to your neighbors and friends. You don't have to look around for some training guide. The first step that you need to enhance your home-staging skills is to go online and see what this business can do for you."
Let's address a few things...

"If you're the type of woman who just loves to decorate and redecorate your house time and time again, why not make your beautiful hidden talent known to your friends, relatives and neighbors just how good you are with home decorations and become a home stager?" This has been the biggest problem with this industry since day one. Sure, it helps to have passion for what you do, but just because you're a good decorator, does not make you a good business person. I witnessed this first hand when I took my training to learn more about this industry. Women all around me were elated to find this new industry and thought that this was "their calling", but they had absolutely no idea what running a business entailed. They'd never had any sales experience, was scared to death of networking or even picking up the phone. All they wanted to do was get paid to decorate. That may have worked when the market was HOT, but sadly now that the real estate market has changed so dramatically, many of these "dreamers" have fallen by the wayside.

It's not their fault. Unfortunately, most of these "trainers" out there don't really talk about the realities of running a staging business and the importance of treating it like a real business. They just capitalize on how "fun" this business is. Well, it's no fun if you you're the best kept secret in town or if you can't pay your bills because you don't know how to get and keep the business.

"You will surely enjoy this kind of business because you will be doing it at your own pace and time" - apparently, this expert has never experienced a seller's market when houses were sold minutes after landing on the MLS - at your own pace and time rarely factored into my real life staging schedule. I quickly learned how to manage my schedule and set boundaries with clients so that there was a clear understanding that business takes place during business hours and calling me and expecting a response at 10pm on a Sunday night was not acceptable, but you were at the mercy of the frenzy that was happening for a few years. Another misconception is being able to stage "on your own time". There may be some flexibility with vacant properties, but if it's owner occupied, they want you in and out quickly. Nobody wants you in their home in the evening when they're trying to have dinner, take care of the kids, and wind down from a day at work.

Lastly, "the first step that you need to enhance your home-staging skills is to go online and see what this business can do for you" - HUH?!!! How does going online "enhance your home staging skills?"

As the latin saying goes "caveat emptor" or "buyer beware". Don't accept what people - especially someone who obviously knows NOTHING about the Home Staging industry steer you the wrong way. I love this business, but I'll be the first to tell you that it's not an easy business and it's not the same business it was just a few short years ago. To survive, you have to change with the times. The strategies that you've used to get to where you are today, will not take you to the business that you want tomorrow. The rules have changed! Accept it and figure out how to play by the new rules.


© 2009 AKC Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, but here's what you MUST include with it: Alice T. Chan, the Staging Designer's Success Coach, publishes the bi-weekly ezine "Set the Stage for Your Success". If you're ready to skyrocket your Staging Design business and gain credibility in record time, get your FREE tips now at
www.SuccessfulStagingBiz.com.

"Communicating How Home Staging Helps Sell Homes in a Buyers Market v. a Sellers Market"

As the real estate market changes, Home Stagers need to change their marketing message to match what the current climate is. Keeping your message current with today's events is very important.

For the last few years, Stagers have been marketing home staging as a value added service that will help you "sell your home faster and for more money". In fact, anyone who has been in business for more than 3 years probably has success stories of properties that sold for hundreds if not, thousands of dollars above asking. Not to say that doesn't still happen today because I still hear of success stories like that if the property is priced right and properly prepared for sale.

However, now that the market has shifted from a seller's market to a buyer's market, changing your marketing message to focus on how home staging will help you "sell your property faster" would resonate with your audience much more. Eliminating the emphasis on the "for more money" part would make sense and would be an added bonus when it does happen.

Throughout your marketing efforts, remember to always keep in mind, what your customer wants to hear and tailor your solution to that. Repositioning your message to what's needed right now adds to your credibility and believability. Just like keeping your home staging designs fresh and reflective of current home fashions and color trends, the same is needed in your marketing message.

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Real Estate Pros & Home Sellers: learn how to recession proof your home sale - http://ping.fm/ac3vo

invites all SF Bay Area Realtors & Home Sellers to Home Buyer Attraction Bootcamp http://ping.fm/vV5Vm

Are You Giving it Away?

Prequalify and Understand the Difference between an Interview and a Consultation

When the phone rings with a potential client, it is imperative that you use this opportunity to screen the caller for their appropriateness for your business. During the phone conversation, you will find out whether the caller is a viable prospect for your services or if their budget is not in line with your pricing schedule.

A few questions that you should always ask is:
* How did you hear about our business?
* Tell me about your project.
* Do you have a budget in mind? If they say "no", give them a price range that is typical of a property of their square footage as a benchmark to further qualify them. Everyone has a budget, but is not always willing to disclose it...just in case, by some miracle, what they had in mind is lower than what you will quote them.
* Who else are you interviewing?

This pre-qualification process will help you AVOID running around town, from property to property, giving away free advice and estimates. This is an easy trap to fall into, especially when you're new to the business. It's understandable that you get excited when a prospective customer calls, but it's even more important for you to value your time and avoid giving away your knowledge.

An interview should be just that, an interview. It is an opportunity for the client to meet you and for you to meet the client. It is not the time to start designing. This is the most important time to establish your value as a professional as well as the value of your time. Depending upon the nature of the project, i.e. model home merchandising or remodel for resale, you may need to go to their project for a site visit. Accompanying Realtors to their Listing Presentations to discuss the value add that your services provide is not uncommon once you have established strong business relationships.
* Schedule a day and time that is mutually convenient.
* An interview does not need to be more than one hour.
* Explain to them what will happen during the interview including a brief walkthrough, a review of your portfolio, and some Q&A on both sides.
* Keep in mind, an interview and a consultation are two different things.

While an interview is meant to get acquainted, a consultation is a paid visit in which you should give them ideas for their project.
* Schedule one to two hours, as required, and confirm the fee
* Explain that you will be answering any questions they might have.
* This is a chance to discuss options for space planning, value of different types of projects for real estate value, including renovations, and general decluttering.

If you've ever called upon an attorney for help, you know they don't just give away their expert advice at no charge (unless you're a close friend or relative). The same goes for doctors, accountants, and other professional service providers. Take a cue from them and value your time and specialized knowledge. You're worth it!


© 2009 AKC Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, but here's what you MUST include with it: Alice T. Chan, the Staging Designers' Success Coach, publishes the bi-weekly ezine "Set the Stage for Your Success". If you're ready to skyrocket your Staging Design business and gain credibility in record time, get your FREE tips now at www.SuccessfulStagingBiz.com.

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Window Shop for Inspiration

Do you ever feel like you're doing the same thing over and over again? That's how I feel about our family meals. We know how to make a handful of dishes relatively well and it's just a neverending rotation of the same things, week after week. Sound familiar - BORING!!!

This could happen with our Staging design as well. We know what inventory we have to work with and how it could be set up. It can be a challenge sometimes to keep your design plans fresh. I was very conscious of this because I didn't want realtors to walk into one of my staged properties and say, "oh this looks just like what she did at the XYZ house". If we staged a property in town and then another property in a nearby city, I did not have a problem recreating ths same look there, but NEVER in the same city where the same group of realtors would likely see the house. I was always reminding my team to change things up on every property we worked on.

So what do you do when you run out of ideas? How about window shopping? I recently walked by Banana Republic and saw these two windows and had to take a photo because the first thing that popped in my mind was, that would be a great idea for Staging!
If you can't tell what's in the background, they are clothing design sketches. This would be a great theme for an office. You can probably find some photos from magazines to substitute the sketches or even find a clothing design sketchbook that you can extract pages from. Framing the tear sheets would give you a more polished look.

Need ideas for kitchens? Visit some gourmet cooking stores. Need ideas for bathrooms? Visit the bath department of a department store. I love visiting the china department at Bloomies or Macys to get ideas for tablescapes. Next time you're at the mall, look around and see where else you can find inspiration for your staging plans.

© 2009 AKC Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, but here's what you MUST include with it: Alice T. Chan, the Staging Designer's Success Coach, publishes the bi-weekly ezine "Set the Stage for Your Success". If you're ready to skyrocket your Staging Design business and gain credibility in record time, get your FREE tips now at www.SuccessfulStagingBiz.com.

Effective Home Staging is Achieved by Designing a Lifestyle that Appeals to the Property's Target Market

We all know that Home Staging is the art of decorating a home to sell quickly and for top dollar. It is the most proven way to get the highest selling price for a property as you prepare it for sale. An important thing for both Real Estate Agents and Home Stagers to remember is that before you start the staging process, you need to to do research about who is most likely going to buy the house, otherwise known as the target market.

Staging is not just about hanging up some art, sticking a tree in the corner and adding pretty pillows to the sofa. This seems to be the misconception sometimes. Haven't we all received phone calls from potential customers who tell us, "oh, there's not much to be done. Just a few accessories will do the trick". That's someone who doesn't truly understand the psychology behind Staging. It's part of your marketing plan and should be very strategic. By knowing who the target market is, you will be able to design a lifestyle around that to appeal to that specific group of potential buyers and the real estate agent can design a marketing plan specifically to attract those same people.

So next time you're commissioned to transform a property into a marketable showcase, ask yourself (or the real estate agent) - Who are the prospective buyers? What do they like? Do they have kids? Do they have pets? Do their parents live with them?

Here are 5 reasons why you should know who the buyers will be:

1. You can cater the property to them
2. You can draw immediate attention and instant appeal
3. You can fix up the property faster and more economically
4. The house will sell faster
5. The sellers will save time and ultimately, money.

To elaborate on who the prospective buyers is, you want to know the following: Where are they from? What is their background? What is their ethnic heritage? Scope out the neighborhood and get to know the neighbors so you learn what type of person is likely to move into the neighborhood. Generally speaking, there is a commonality amongst neighbors.

Visit competing homes for sale to see what those homes have to offer to give you a better sense of the types of upgrades that may or may not be needed. Notice the likes and dislikes of the neighborhood. Are all the yards well maintained? Are they privacy seekers? Is there a sense of community? It's important to take their lifestyles into consideration so you can design the right way to market the property to that type of person.

Is this community mostly filled with starter families? If so, staging bedrooms for young kids would be a good idea. Otherwise, if the neighborhood consists mostly of older kids, you'll need to design more sophisticated spaces. Are they huge sports fans? Capitalizing on a homey family room with a BIG plasma TV would be ideal for that type of neighborhood. Is it in a golf community? Perhaps creating a study with a golf theme is just the thing you need or maybe a coastal or beach themed space in a water community or designing a floor plan that takes advantage of fantastic views.


If you're ever in doubt about how to create buyer appeal that caters to a specific target market, visit new home developments in your area and see how they have designed their model units. Developers spend a lot of time and money doing market research about who their potential buyers will be and relay that information to their model home designers. The style and décor needs to match the neighborhood, the home, and most importantly, the target market.


For example, if it's a 2 bedroom, 1 bath condo in the city or a more metropolitan part of town, the likely target market is a single person - a bachelor or bachelorette or even a young couple. The ideal buyer is most likely someone in their 20s. Their lifestyle is going to be very carefree because there are no "family" considerations. Their style is probably going to be more contemporary and edgy. The second bedroom could be staged as a home office because that's probably what it would be used for. Staging it as a guest bedroom or a nursery is going to be less appealing.

On the flip side, if it's a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, single family home in the suburbs, this is a classic family home. The potential buyer or "target market" is going to be a couple with a growing family. Their lifestyle is going to be very family-oriented so the family room and kitchen areas are very important as this is where they will be spending most of their time. The décor should be more relaxed and family friendly.

You'll need to work with the real estate agent to know who the potential buyers are and deliver the perfect house to them. Figure out what they want versus what they need. Remember, it's not about you or the seller; it's what the buyers want that will sell the house. You need a focused design plan to create the results the seller wants. When they learn that your services are more strategic and designed to help them achieve their goals, they'll be more inclined to refer you and want to work with you. Your goals should always be to position yourself as a value added service, not a frivolous expense.


© 2009 AKC Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, but here's what you MUST include with it: Alice T. Chan, the Staging Designer's Success Coach, publishes the bi-weekly ezine "Set the Stage for Your Success". If you're ready to skyrocket your Staging Design business and gain credibility in record time, get your FREE tips now at www.SuccessfulStagingBiz.com.

Avoid the DEADLY Staging Mistake Made on HGTV’s “Buy Me”

I’ve been watching the HGTV program, “Buy Me” which is a show about the drama that Real Estate Agents and Sellers go through as they sell a home. It’s actually pretty comical for me.

Just like sports enthusiasts who yell at the television screen about how the players should be playing, I’m making comments about what the sellers should be doing, what the real estate agents should be doing, and what the Stagers should be doing.

I know, it’s absolutely ridiculous and it’s obviously easier to be objective and hardnosed from your couch than it is when you’re in front of your customers. However, there was one HUGE error in judgment that occurred on one of the episodes that I wanted to address.

On this particular episode, the sellers were told by their Agent that they needed to Stage their house and she talked with them about de-cluttering, packing and changing the use of their sunroom, but she really glossed over the details.

The Agent did not include the Sellers in the conversation with the Stagers about what really needed to be done and why. She also did not find out what they would need while they lived in the home during the selling process.

Long story short, the sellers left for a week long vacation during which time the Real Estate Agent and the Stagers took care of packing, redesigning and Staging their home. When the Sellers returned to their “Staged” home, they were extremely unhappy about not being able to find things and the overall inconvenience of the Staging.

Because they were never educated they actually viewed it as a nuisance rather than seeing the value it added to the marketability of their property. The big lesson here is NEVER Stage a House without participation by the occupants!!!

First of all, this applies to both vacant and owner occupied properties, but more so for the latter for obvious reasons. This is important for vacant properties if the sellers are going to be visiting the home frequently and overseeing its maintenance.

It is absolutely imperative with owner occupied properties because making the house showcase ready for the big debut is important, but it’s even more important that it stays in that condition during the duration of the time the house is on the market.

Consider these rules of thumb regardless of who hired you or who’s paying for the staging services:

1) Keep all parties in the loop.

Parties include the Real Estate Agent AND the owners/sellers/occupants (hopefully these are all the same people). I always recommend providing ALL parties with a copy of the written consultation so everyone is on the same page about what needs to be done.

Everyone should know what needs to be done, the timeframe for completing the tasks and who is responsible for doing the work, i.e. is it the owners/sellers sole responsibility or will there be a need to hire outside sources to help move the projects along.

2) Sellers/Occupants need to be educated about what the Staging process is and what it entails.

3) Sellers/Occupants need to be educated about how to live in a staged home.

Sometimes this could be dramatically different from their regular lifestyle and they have to be made aware of that.

Even if you have to discuss the smallest details like keeping the toothpaste in the medicine cabinet vs. on the sink counter or vacuuming up hair in the bathroom every morning before they leave the house, to making the bed EVERY DAY, that is your role and responsibility as a Stager to get the message across to the client.

DON’T put yourself in the position where your clients view your service as a nuisance rather than a value add. It is really a collaborative effort between the Real Estate Agent, the Stager and the Homeowners/Sellers.

Keeping a clear, definite line of communication open is the key to a successful relationship during all the “drama”.

Creative Ideas for Marketing Promotions Guaranteed to Get You Noticed

In your frenzy to get prospects to notice you, remember you and ultimately hire you, what are you doing to capture their attention? As you heard me say before, you are not in the business of Home Staging, rather you are in the business of marketing your Home Staging services. So what is it that you are doing to creatively market yourself?
Remember, it is important that you are in front of your prospects all the time. They must automatically think of you when they have Home Staging needs. It is not enough to network and market only on an as needed basis. By then, you're desperate and desperation is not client attractive.

My recommendation is to get a year-at-a-glance calendar and map out your marketing schedule on a monthly, then yearly basis. For instance, if you know that your local realtor association meetings are on a Thursday, block out your calendar so that you know you will be attending those meetings every Thursday. At all the realtor association meetings I've ever attended, they have allowed vendors to display fliers, stand up to introduce themselves, as well as sponsor tables or become affiliates. If your budget does not allow for sponsoring yet, bring fliers or brochures. Since you know this is something you'll be doing weekly, I would put a little more effort into it and run monthly specials and create a marketing promotion on a regular basis, tied to the time of year. For instance, January is a great time for New Years and Chinese New Year is at the end of this month.

Almost every month there is some holiday or seasonal theme you can tie your marketing to. You're all creative types so take a minute to write down a few ideas that come to mind and start working on implementing them right away.

I've outlined a list of 7 fun promotional marketing ideas that you could customize for your own business that's guaranteed to get the attention of your prospects.

This is one of my favorites and I've used it in my Staging business as well as in other applications. It's also very timely since Chinese New Year is on January 26 this year- 1) Fortune Cookies with customized fortunes such as "It is our good fortune to have you as our client" or "Good Fortune come to those who Stage". You can even make them more irresistible by getting chocolate dipped fortune cookies. I would highly recommend getting individually wrapped cookies. Fill a plastic or paper Chinese take out box with the cookies and customize the outside of the box with your company information. I guarantee you will get rave reviews with this!!!

2) Mini Trash Can with "You'd Be NUTS to Trash This Opportunity" printed on it. Put a few peanuts in the trash can (the kind with the shells work well) along with a marketing flier crumpled up inside. Even if you didn't get the printing on the trash can, you can use the headline on the marketing flier itself. Other headlines could be "Don't trash your equity by not Staging" or "Don't risk throwing your commissions away in the trash!"

3) Shredded Money in a plastic bag - "Without my Staging help, your commissions could end up like this" - think this one will get their attention?

4) Stress Toys - stress toys are great because they come in all shapes and themes and you can really play with the marketing line depending on what you use. Examples: "Staging Reduces Stress" or "Listings Stressing You Out? Call Your Stager for Relief" (use the phone shape stress toy) or "Your Listings Making you Crabby? (use the crab shape stress toy).

5) Key - "Unlock the Profits in your Listing with Staging" or "Home Staging Unlocks Profits in Your Listings" (you can use different types of keys or even a key shaped stress toy)

For several years, I sponsored the Holiday Party for my local Realtor Association. If my memory serves me right, they had a wine themed dinner one year so I created a card that read - "Staging works like a Charm" and hung a wine charm on each one and they were placed on every plate. Another year, they had dinner on a yacht so I bought little plastic toy boats and had labels made that read "Cruise into Escrow with a Quick & Profitable Sale - Use Home Staging". I believe I also filled the little boats with individually wrapped lifesavers candies. Again, these were placed on each plate.

The goal is to consistently get your message out there, so that your prospects get to know you, like you, trust you, and inevitably want to work with you. Doing just one thing won't be the end all of your marketing efforts, but it's one piece of the pie that can help launch your pursuit to becoming a client magnet. Plus, it's a lot of fun - and it works!!!