Home Staging Gets a Red Eye in Chicago

"You can rent movies. You can rent an apartment. If you live or work in a street-parking desert, you can even rent a space for your ride. So why not add luxury to that list?" This is what Kyra Kyles wrote the introduction to her cover story in last weeks Red Eye Newspaper. (For those of you that don't know what a "Red Eye" is... well it is the hip urban free daily newspaper published by the Tribune Corporation here in Chicago.)

The article, entitled "Rent An Image" looked at some of the interesting luxury items that are available to rent in Chicago-land. Well, I have to admit I never considered the props we have available as ubber LUXURY items, like the Austin Martin automobiles and the Prada handbags the article spoke of. But Kyra who interviewed Real Estaging for a side bar story entitled "Go ahead and rent that furniture", (Click on image on lwft to enlarge) pointed out the fact that props can be rented to help you sell your home for more money (Click on image at left to read it). Besides making homes look more appealing, staging has helped sellers make more money when they RAISED the asking price. as well as help to sell homes faster... and considering "time is money" staging a home should be a considered in this current market.

Most home seller's think that staging props are rented for use ONLY in and for vacant property sales. Seller's don't know that some home stager's can also rent just the right piece or pieces to finish off the look and appeal of their property as they live there while it on the market. The main advantage of renting is the fact that the seller need not spend the time to shop for decorative items or spend full retail prices to buy those items. The other VERY important advantage of using a stager's props is the fact that a stager knows to use pieces that are UNDERSTATED. When selling your home, your house needs to be the star, not the stuff in it. Experienced stagers know how to create a "put together look" with out our stuff ending up being a beautiful distraction.

So thanks Red Eye... your unique story angle helps to make another fine point about home staging.

Me


PS: If you would like to see an entire PDF sample of Chicago's Red Eye Newspaper... CLICK HERE.

Home Staging Gets a Red Eye in Chicago

"You can rent movies. You can rent an apartment. If you live or work in a street-parking desert, you can even rent a space for your ride. So why not add luxury to that list?" This is what Kyra Kyles wrote the introduction to her cover story in last weeks Red Eye Newspaper. (For those of you that don't know what a "Red Eye" is... well it is the hip urban free daily newspaper published by the Tribune Corporation here in Chicago.)

The article, entitled "Rent An Image" looked at some of the interesting luxury items that are available to rent in Chicago-land. Well, I have to admit I never considered the props we have available as ubber LUXURY items, like the Austin Martin automobiles and the Prada handbags the article spoke of. But Kyra who interviewed Real Estaging for a side bar story entitled "Go ahead and rent that furniture", (Click on image on lwft to enlarge) pointed out the fact that props can be rented to help you sell your home for more money (Click on image at left to read it). Besides making homes look more appealing, staging has helped sellers make more money when they RAISED the asking price. as well as help to sell homes faster... and considering "time is money" staging a home should be a considered in this current market.

Most home seller's think that staging props are rented for use ONLY in and for vacant property sales. Seller's don't know that some home stager's can also rent just the right piece or pieces to finish off the look and appeal of their property as they live there while it on the market. The main advantage of renting is the fact that the seller need not spend the time to shop for decorative items or spend full retail prices to buy those items. The other VERY important advantage of using a stager's props is the fact that a stager knows to use pieces that are UNDERSTATED. When selling your home, your house needs to be the star, not the stuff in it. Experienced stagers know how to create a "put together look" with out our stuff ending up being a beautiful distraction.

So thanks Red Eye... your unique story angle helps to make another fine point about home staging.

Me


PS: If you would like to see an entire PDF sample of Chicago's Red Eye Newspaper... CLICK HERE.

WOW! THANKS... this Home Staging Blog is a "MUST READ"

The authors over at Future of Real Estate and Loans recently posted a list of blogs they feel are "MUST READS".

They write "there’s a ton of excellent mortgage and real estate blogs out there – way too many to list, in fact. But for a unique spin on the market as well as perspective that makes sense to anyone interested in real estate anywhere, there are some blogs that really are masters of their niche."

Home Staging Rants & Ravings is definitely in good company. To see the entire list, click here to read 11 Must Read Daily Real Estate Blogs.

THANKS GUYS! The recognition is appreciated.

WOW! THANKS... this Home Staging Blog is a "MUST READ"

The authors over at Future of Real Estate and Loans recently posted a list of blogs they feel are "MUST READS".

They write "there’s a ton of excellent mortgage and real estate blogs out there – way too many to list, in fact. But for a unique spin on the market as well as perspective that makes sense to anyone interested in real estate anywhere, there are some blogs that really are masters of their niche."

Home Staging Rants & Ravings is definitely in good company. To see the entire list, click here to read 11 Must Read Daily Real Estate Blogs.

THANKS GUYS! The recognition is appreciated.

Industry VP Connected the Dot... Now I'm Gonna Paint the Picture

Recently I read an interesting post by Jennie Norris, a Vice President at stagedhomes.com. In her blog Jennie “connected” with what I see as one of the important yet troublesome industry "dots" that other stagers in others markets have experienced.

Jennie wrote an expose' on what she felt were wrongful pricing strategies taking place. Her (members only) post on Stage It Forward, entitled, “Get off your back and on your feet - and walk out of the red-light district!” describes her frustrations with the low ball fees other stagers are charging for their services. Jennie writes "When are we going to stop giving it away - and realize the VALUE of what we bring to the table? And if you are out there undercharging because you think it's the only way you can get business - for shame! Take another look at what your market will bear - and don't leave money on the table!"

While low ball pricing may be a new issue for Jennie in Sacramento, it is NOT new to other stagers in other markets across the country... including me. AND you might be surprised to know that I believe that while lowball pricing is occurring, it is NOT the biggest issue facing us. WHY lowball pricing is occurring is a bigger issue that I want to address here in this post.

So the BIGGER picture and facts as I see them are…

• FACT: It is very EASY and FAST for someone to become a home stager. NO formal training is required. (I happen to be this type of stager.)
• FACT: Because foundation training programs have made it SO easy and fast (from 1 day to 1 month) to become a trained certified/accredited stager, there is NOW and continues to be a glut of graduates empowered as a "professional" stagers entering the market place. In some markets there are more then it can bare. Of course the larger the market the greater the probability a stager WILL compete with a fellow graduate from the same foundation course they took, as well as a graduate some other training courses.
• FACT: The home seller/consumer has NO idea what good staging is or is NOT. Our industry has created NO way do differentiate/compare common types of service or FEES for those services we provide. (Even the auto industry has common TYPES of cars: Compact, Economy, Midsize, SUV etc...)
• FACT: When starting a new staging business there are those who are hungry for business and WILL undercut the "going" rates in order to get some work under their belts. A new stager's "pay" could be the opportunity to capture amazing after photos for their portfolio. (Heck, I did this when I started.)
• FACT: The home seller/consumer market has NO idea what staging costs. What a home seller believes staging costs is often based on a unrealistic understanding... that comes directly from TV shows like Designed to Sell. Shows like this NEVER take into account the LABOR fees to pay the host, Lisa LaPorte. or her team of staging laborers.
• FACT: The real estate market is extremely slow... and in some markets totally stalled. Because it is so slow, sellers are VERY cautious about spending their hard earned money on staging as for MANY, staging is an unproven risky venture. So for them the cheaper the better.

So, where this industry is at is the result of MANY players and circumstances working in tandem and unfolding over time. Companies, organizations and individuals must step up and work together and do their parts to create solutions… instead of trying to undo and undermine any attempt at building this industry. BUT, while some are not doing all they can, we still are making progress… one fine example of a company working to improve the home staging industry is Brook Furniture Rental. Brook's sponsorship of 2 of 27 national Stage It Forward RoundTables and their formation of a Home Staging Advisory Panel is a HUGE step and huge commitment to all in this industry.

Getting back to what can be done... First, all members of the home staging industry must realize this industry is no longer made up of 1,2 or 3 players... it is made up of 1000's... stagers, vendors, and trainers. The Stage It Forward (SIF) Group on AR and now SIF RoundTables are a START in the breaking down of the barriers between those individuals and companies that for whatever reason try/wanted to operate in a protectionist bubble.

RESA has been trying, (with limited success) to get foundation training programs to work together. The public needs a way to KNOW what a TRAINED STAGER is and how the consumer can differentiate a formally trained stager from a "yesterday I aren’t one today I is one" stager.

The 27 Stage It Forward RoundTables taking place across North America are tackling bigger issues that touch all stagers regardless of where they were trained, what market they are in, who there competition is, or how big/little old/new their staging company is. Those that try to ban, thwart or scare people away from the possibilities the meetings hold only help to keeps us all stuck.

The SIF Quartley Qwick Staging Stats (QSTAT's) WILL help to begin to address some of the issues above. Stagers who get jobs will know what average rate for staging is for a DEFINED type of staging in that market. Currently, how a stager ultimately chooses to PRICE their services is totally up to them. BUT with QSTAT's bench mark price ranges could be communicated. The competing stager's who presented THEIR solutions would have NATIONAL, STATE and LOCAL data that can be presented to the consumer to EDUCATE them to make an informed decision. You might say the staging playing field would be level.

There is so much more I can write about that will help begin to paint the masterpiece of a industry so many of us see and believe in. But for now... this seems to be enough.

Sorry this was so lengthy...
Me

Industry VP Connected the Dot... Now I'm Gonna Paint the Picture

Recently I read an interesting post by Jennie Norris, a Vice President at stagedhomes.com. In her blog Jennie “connected” with what I see as one of the important yet troublesome industry "dots" that other stagers in others markets have experienced.

Jennie wrote an expose' on what she felt were wrongful pricing strategies taking place. Her (members only) post on Stage It Forward, entitled, “Get off your back and on your feet - and walk out of the red-light district!” describes her frustrations with the low ball fees other stagers are charging for their services. Jennie writes "When are we going to stop giving it away - and realize the VALUE of what we bring to the table? And if you are out there undercharging because you think it's the only way you can get business - for shame! Take another look at what your market will bear - and don't leave money on the table!"

While low ball pricing may be a new issue for Jennie in Sacramento, it is NOT new to other stagers in other markets across the country... including me. AND you might be surprised to know that I believe that while lowball pricing is occurring, it is NOT the biggest issue facing us. WHY lowball pricing is occurring is a bigger issue that I want to address here in this post.

So the BIGGER picture and facts as I see them are…

• FACT: It is very EASY and FAST for someone to become a home stager. NO formal training is required. (I happen to be this type of stager.)
• FACT: Because foundation training programs have made it SO easy and fast (from 1 day to 1 month) to become a trained certified/accredited stager, there is NOW and continues to be a glut of graduates empowered as a "professional" stagers entering the market place. In some markets there are more then it can bare. Of course the larger the market the greater the probability a stager WILL compete with a fellow graduate from the same foundation course they took, as well as a graduate some other training courses.
• FACT: The home seller/consumer has NO idea what good staging is or is NOT. Our industry has created NO way do differentiate/compare common types of service or FEES for those services we provide. (Even the auto industry has common TYPES of cars: Compact, Economy, Midsize, SUV etc...)
• FACT: When starting a new staging business there are those who are hungry for business and WILL undercut the "going" rates in order to get some work under their belts. A new stager's "pay" could be the opportunity to capture amazing after photos for their portfolio. (Heck, I did this when I started.)
• FACT: The home seller/consumer market has NO idea what staging costs. What a home seller believes staging costs is often based on a unrealistic understanding... that comes directly from TV shows like Designed to Sell. Shows like this NEVER take into account the LABOR fees to pay the host, Lisa LaPorte. or her team of staging laborers.
• FACT: The real estate market is extremely slow... and in some markets totally stalled. Because it is so slow, sellers are VERY cautious about spending their hard earned money on staging as for MANY, staging is an unproven risky venture. So for them the cheaper the better.

So, where this industry is at is the result of MANY players and circumstances working in tandem and unfolding over time. Companies, organizations and individuals must step up and work together and do their parts to create solutions… instead of trying to undo and undermine any attempt at building this industry. BUT, while some are not doing all they can, we still are making progress… one fine example of a company working to improve the home staging industry is Brook Furniture Rental. Brook's sponsorship of 2 of 27 national Stage It Forward RoundTables and their formation of a Home Staging Advisory Panel is a HUGE step and huge commitment to all in this industry.

Getting back to what can be done... First, all members of the home staging industry must realize this industry is no longer made up of 1,2 or 3 players... it is made up of 1000's... stagers, vendors, and trainers. The Stage It Forward (SIF) Group on AR and now SIF RoundTables are a START in the breaking down of the barriers between those individuals and companies that for whatever reason try/wanted to operate in a protectionist bubble.

RESA has been trying, (with limited success) to get foundation training programs to work together. The public needs a way to KNOW what a TRAINED STAGER is and how the consumer can differentiate a formally trained stager from a "yesterday I aren’t one today I is one" stager.

The 27 Stage It Forward RoundTables taking place across North America are tackling bigger issues that touch all stagers regardless of where they were trained, what market they are in, who there competition is, or how big/little old/new their staging company is. Those that try to ban, thwart or scare people away from the possibilities the meetings hold only help to keeps us all stuck.

The SIF Quartley Qwick Staging Stats (QSTAT's) WILL help to begin to address some of the issues above. Stagers who get jobs will know what average rate for staging is for a DEFINED type of staging in that market. Currently, how a stager ultimately chooses to PRICE their services is totally up to them. BUT with QSTAT's bench mark price ranges could be communicated. The competing stager's who presented THEIR solutions would have NATIONAL, STATE and LOCAL data that can be presented to the consumer to EDUCATE them to make an informed decision. You might say the staging playing field would be level.

There is so much more I can write about that will help begin to paint the masterpiece of a industry so many of us see and believe in. But for now... this seems to be enough.

Sorry this was so lengthy...
Me

ROCK & ROLL: "Where It's At" for the Home Staging Industry

During a cold winter's drive over this past holiday weekend I had a chance to reflect on all that I see going on (or NOT going on) in the home staging industry. As I look at WHO we are and WHERE we are... the more I am sure the real estate staging industry is not quite YET ready to handle the BIGGER vision of unity so many in this industry say they want. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a BAD thing; this is just an "IS" thing.

I recently commented in another stager's blog that I thought home stagers could learn from the Realtor community who benefit from working together and learning together as a unified group in the association known as the National Association of Realtors.

Having as an END GOAL within industry to have own NAR like organization/association is an AWESOME goal... which I embrace 100%. But, with the “results” and lack of response we are getting to the idea so far, I wonder if maybe we are trying to hard to make this end goal happen. If this IS the case, what can we do? Well, without loosing site of the END GOAL, maybe what is more important is that we define smaller goals and take smaller steps that start moving us to that big "associated" END GOAL.

Right now there are many thoughts, ideas, concepts and strategies being discussed by a VERY vocal minority. But are the stagers that comprise the industry actions REALLY equal to what the vocal minority are shouting for as the BIG picture? I am not sure sure it is. But, if you think it is, then why does it feel like we are still stuck?

Why isn't there this vast tidal force of stagers joining together as a unified association?

Well, I believe part of the reason we are a bit “stuck” is the fact that our industry is riddled with misunderstanding, distrust, conflicting philosophies, and big egos. Plus, it doesn't help that real estate market is the worst it has been in decades. But even though we are obviously not experiencing ideal conditions, this should NOT stop those of us who are committed to creating something more for ALL in this industry.

So as a "loose" industry what can we do to get ourselves tightened up and unstuck? Well, maybe, without realizing it we are getting ourselves out of this rut by starting with a rock and roll motion... kind of like what one does to get a car unstuck out of a snow bank. I have come to notice an interesting phenomena that happens when someone tries to “rock” this industry forward with an idea or concept. Immediately following a rock forward there tends to be a counter “roll” back by someone else.

Case in point... the group of stagers organized under the banner called Stage It Forward (SIF) currently have scheduled over 25 industry RoundTable discussion meetings planned for all over the USA and Canada. Even though SIF has "rocked" forward there are some who feels it is necessary to roll with their own independent roundtable gatherings. This is the rock & roll I am talking about that takes place daily in this industry. So while different interpretations of a similar thing will happen, what is more important is who we are as individuals and how we respond to these differences... respectful professionalism is essential!
For those on the outside looking in the "rock" a with a "roll" response can seem a little negative. But like the motion necessary to get a car unstuck out of a snowbank, I am beginning to see how this forward and back (counter) motion is necessary to create the momentum that will get us unstuck so that we can trust in and fully embrace bigger united goals... like creating an NAR for home staging.

So while I have hoped we would already be traveling along in unity... I’ve come to see that the rock & and roll motion is not all that bad. What is most important is that the home staging industry is in motion and soon to be more unstuck.

Just my thoughts as I rock and roll...
Me

ROCK & ROLL: "Where It's At" for the Home Staging Industry

During a cold winter's drive over this past holiday weekend I had a chance to reflect on all that I see going on (or NOT going on) in the home staging industry. As I look at WHO we are and WHERE we are... the more I am sure the real estate staging industry is not quite YET ready to handle the BIGGER vision of unity so many in this industry say they want. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a BAD thing; this is just an "IS" thing.

I recently commented in another stager's blog that I thought home stagers could learn from the Realtor community who benefit from working together and learning together as a unified group in the association known as the National Association of Realtors.

Having as an END GOAL within industry to have own NAR like organization/association is an AWESOME goal... which I embrace 100%. But, with the “results” and lack of response we are getting to the idea so far, I wonder if maybe we are trying to hard to make this end goal happen. If this IS the case, what can we do? Well, without loosing site of the END GOAL, maybe what is more important is that we define smaller goals and take smaller steps that start moving us to that big "associated" END GOAL.

Right now there are many thoughts, ideas, concepts and strategies being discussed by a VERY vocal minority. But are the stagers that comprise the industry actions REALLY equal to what the vocal minority are shouting for as the BIG picture? I am not sure sure it is. But, if you think it is, then why does it feel like we are still stuck?

Why isn't there this vast tidal force of stagers joining together as a unified association?

Well, I believe part of the reason we are a bit “stuck” is the fact that our industry is riddled with misunderstanding, distrust, conflicting philosophies, and big egos. Plus, it doesn't help that real estate market is the worst it has been in decades. But even though we are obviously not experiencing ideal conditions, this should NOT stop those of us who are committed to creating something more for ALL in this industry.

So as a "loose" industry what can we do to get ourselves tightened up and unstuck? Well, maybe, without realizing it we are getting ourselves out of this rut by starting with a rock and roll motion... kind of like what one does to get a car unstuck out of a snow bank. I have come to notice an interesting phenomena that happens when someone tries to “rock” this industry forward with an idea or concept. Immediately following a rock forward there tends to be a counter “roll” back by someone else.

Case in point... the group of stagers organized under the banner called Stage It Forward (SIF) currently have scheduled over 25 industry RoundTable discussion meetings planned for all over the USA and Canada. Even though SIF has "rocked" forward there are some who feels it is necessary to roll with their own independent roundtable gatherings. This is the rock & roll I am talking about that takes place daily in this industry. So while different interpretations of a similar thing will happen, what is more important is who we are as individuals and how we respond to these differences... respectful professionalism is essential!
For those on the outside looking in the "rock" a with a "roll" response can seem a little negative. But like the motion necessary to get a car unstuck out of a snowbank, I am beginning to see how this forward and back (counter) motion is necessary to create the momentum that will get us unstuck so that we can trust in and fully embrace bigger united goals... like creating an NAR for home staging.

So while I have hoped we would already be traveling along in unity... I’ve come to see that the rock & and roll motion is not all that bad. What is most important is that the home staging industry is in motion and soon to be more unstuck.

Just my thoughts as I rock and roll...
Me

Will Home Stager's Statistics Bust Your NUTS?

By now you have all read the glowing stories and/or watched the captivating HGTV shows that triumphantly boast: "SOLD in one day after home staging!" "Multiple offerings after home staging!" "SOLD at first open house right after staging!" Yet even after all these great staging experiences have been reported in mainstream media, there still is apprehension by Home Sellers and the Realtor community to tap in to and use staging solutions that help sell homes… especially in this slower market.

Now don't get me wrong, there are those of you who have been "early adaptors" of home staging services. But in general, Stagers still experience quite a bit of resistance and reluctance by both Realtors and Sellers alike. Stagers have learned that their nut of concern, which needs be busted into, is the fact that there are no national, independent and verifiable statistics that back up claims of staging effectiveness.

While some individual stagers do keep their own personal statistic, there are NO comprehensive and consistently tracked national data to back stagers up. So, unfortunately. all we end up having too offer, are the tales of all the wonderful experience our clients have had… but this never seems to be enough. Our clients are asking for and need more data.

Up until now, the primary reason there are no NATIONAL real estate staging statistics is due to the fact that within the home staging industry there has been no autonomous body independent of the competitive foundation training organizations to capture statistical data . But this is all going to change... thanks in part to a group of stagers of Stage It Forward and their new Quarterly Qwik Staging Stats program.

Stage It Forward (SIF), an independent group of over 1200 stagers, are now going to regularly track staging stats. Once gathered and tabulated, the home staging industry will finally and continually collect the data needed to convince home sellers and Realtors that staging is an effective marketing strategy on both the national and state levels.

Besides finally having statistics, there is another benefit to SIF stagers joining together… that benefit is it starts industry standardization! Just as there are different types of automobiles (sub-compact, economy, intermediate etc...), most Realtors and Home Sellers do not realize that there are actually 5 different “types” of home staging. Being able to track statistical effectiveness about each staging type will help Realtors and sellers understand and choose from the best staging solution.

Additional benefits from standardizing staging industry data include:

• Real estate market fluctuations as they relate to staging will be captured and reported.
• State and national statistics will be compiled.
• Standard fee ranges for standardized service types will be reported.
• SIF’s Data gathering process will create an audit trail.

SIF realize there is MORE that needs to be done, but this definitely is a good start. SIF has stated over and over that it is best that our industry CRAWLS before it walks applying slow and steady pressure will surly help the industry bust open the statistic nut.

Staging It Forward...
Me

Will Home Stager's Statistics Bust Your NUTS?

By now you have all read the glowing stories and/or watched the captivating HGTV shows that triumphantly boast: "SOLD in one day after home staging!" "Multiple offerings after home staging!" "SOLD at first open house right after staging!" Yet even after all these great staging experiences have been reported in mainstream media, there still is apprehension by Home Sellers and the Realtor community to tap in to and use staging solutions that help sell homes… especially in this slower market.

Now don't get me wrong, there are those of you who have been "early adaptors" of home staging services. But in general, Stagers still experience quite a bit of resistance and reluctance by both Realtors and Sellers alike. Stagers have learned that their nut of concern, which needs be busted into, is the fact that there are no national, independent and verifiable statistics that back up claims of staging effectiveness.

While some individual stagers do keep their own personal statistic, there are NO comprehensive and consistently tracked national data to back stagers up. So, unfortunately. all we end up having too offer, are the tales of all the wonderful experience our clients have had… but this never seems to be enough. Our clients are asking for and need more data.

Up until now, the primary reason there are no NATIONAL real estate staging statistics is due to the fact that within the home staging industry there has been no autonomous body independent of the competitive foundation training organizations to capture statistical data . But this is all going to change... thanks in part to a group of stagers of Stage It Forward and their new Quarterly Qwik Staging Stats program.

Stage It Forward (SIF), an independent group of over 1200 stagers, are now going to regularly track staging stats. Once gathered and tabulated, the home staging industry will finally and continually collect the data needed to convince home sellers and Realtors that staging is an effective marketing strategy on both the national and state levels.

Besides finally having statistics, there is another benefit to SIF stagers joining together… that benefit is it starts industry standardization! Just as there are different types of automobiles (sub-compact, economy, intermediate etc...), most Realtors and Home Sellers do not realize that there are actually 5 different “types” of home staging. Being able to track statistical effectiveness about each staging type will help Realtors and sellers understand and choose from the best staging solution.

Additional benefits from standardizing staging industry data include:

• Real estate market fluctuations as they relate to staging will be captured and reported.
• State and national statistics will be compiled.
• Standard fee ranges for standardized service types will be reported.
• SIF’s Data gathering process will create an audit trail.

SIF realize there is MORE that needs to be done, but this definitely is a good start. SIF has stated over and over that it is best that our industry CRAWLS before it walks applying slow and steady pressure will surly help the industry bust open the statistic nut.

Staging It Forward...
Me

HAPPY NEUTRAL DAY… Home Sellers are your Decorations Up?

With the 2nd most decorated holiday right around the corner, I thought it would be a great time for me to discuss a home staging issue that comes up each year… Should a home seller put up holiday decorations?

Typically, I advise sellers to use VERY little or NO decorations for ANY holiday. WHY? Well, for the simple reason I have said time and time again... when selling a property the house is to be the "star” not the stuff.

It is a fact that a house holds the greatest appeal when it is neutral. Neutrally makes it easier for a buyer to map their lives into a house that is for sale. If a holiday is not a part of the buyer’s life, then the decorations are no longer neutral and they then become a distraction.

But even if you suspect that most likely the buyers looking at your home do celebrate the holiday you want to decorate for… the decorations can be a distraction. Holiday decorations, by design, are made to stand out from the ordinariness of our lives and to be looked at. The time a buyer allots to look at a home is short and precious… having it used up looking at decorations is not the best use of it when in reality the house is what they have come to SEE and are considering BUYING.

So, if a home seller insists on putting up decorations for upcoming holidays, I strongly recommend that those decorations then be taken down immediately (and I do mean immediately) after the holiday.

Remember... the most important day to decorate for is Neutral Day.

Stage It Forward…
Me
(Craig @ Real Estaging)

Post Script: I have to thank Ines Garcia of Miamism. She wrote to me asking me to re-write on this topic. She remembered a post of mine from over a year ago she thought shared an important message about using Halloween Decorations in homes that are for sale. That post can be found here: Halloween Decorations or DISTRACTIONS?

HAPPY NEUTRAL DAY… Home Sellers are your Decorations Up?

With the 2nd most decorated holiday right around the corner, I thought it would be a great time for me to discuss a home staging issue that comes up each year… Should a home seller put up holiday decorations?

Typically, I advise sellers to use VERY little or NO decorations for ANY holiday. WHY? Well, for the simple reason I have said time and time again... when selling a property the house is to be the "star” not the stuff.

It is a fact that a house holds the greatest appeal when it is neutral. Neutrally makes it easier for a buyer to map their lives into a house that is for sale. If a holiday is not a part of the buyer’s life, then the decorations are no longer neutral and they then become a distraction.

But even if you suspect that most likely the buyers looking at your home do celebrate the holiday you want to decorate for… the decorations can be a distraction. Holiday decorations, by design, are made to stand out from the ordinariness of our lives and to be looked at. The time a buyer allots to look at a home is short and precious… having it used up looking at decorations is not the best use of it when in reality the house is what they have come to SEE and are considering BUYING.

So, if a home seller insists on putting up decorations for upcoming holidays, I strongly recommend that those decorations then be taken down immediately (and I do mean immediately) after the holiday.

Remember... the most important day to decorate for is Neutral Day.

Stage It Forward…
Me
(Craig @ Real Estaging)

Post Script: I have to thank Ines Garcia of Miamism. She wrote to me asking me to re-write on this topic. She remembered a post of mine from over a year ago she thought shared an important message about using Halloween Decorations in homes that are for sale. That post can be found here: Halloween Decorations or DISTRACTIONS?

Bitch-N-Moan, Bitch-N-Moan… FINALLY I Am Not Alone

For over a year now I have been venting the personal frustrations I have with the fact that I see more and more POORLY qualified people entering the field of staging. For the sake time and space, I don’t think it is important that I regurgitate what I have already written of, but if you are interested reading what I had to say, check out these past posts…

• Under Qualified "stagers" Flood the Market
• Another FEISTY BLOG about "Professional" Staging!
• ASP? HSE? What's-a-stager-SUPPOSED-to-be?
• Stone Cold Reality: Dying Dreams & Limited Opportunities
• Inconvenient Truths about Home Staging

Anyway, I find am no longer alone. Lately more and more expirienced stagers all across the US have begun to email me and/or called me to voice similar concerns and frustrations.
In fact, quite recently, I received a set of photos (above) of a Bad Staging sent to be by an experienced stager (CF) that says they “…have had it with crappy staging!”

CF recently lost a job to a new “professional” whose work is pictured. CF found the After Photo and sent it to me with the Before Photos they took. CF also shared with me quite a few details about what was wrong with the overall staging. But since I do have pictures of the entire project I am only going to concentrate my critique on the one set of images show here.

I have to admit that at first I was a little reluctant to post these images. But then I got to thinking… what besides Bitch-N-Moaning could i do that would be postive? How could I turn BAD STAGING into something that would ultimatly help a seller sell and help this industry grow? I then realizewd that if I can turn examples of BAD staging into something positive… then mediocre stagers, home sellers and realtors can begin to undertand and appreciate what makes good real estate staging good.

So getting back to the BAD Staging pictured above... what is wrong with the makeover pictured above?

Well first off, CF told me that the “picture” above the fireplace in this family room is not actually a picture; rather, it is in fact a fake flat screen TV. Because it is a family room the way the furniture has been arranged is not conducive to watching TV… as it SHOULD. CF says that having the sofa face the TV was a viable and correct solution.

I immediately noticed and had problems with the 3 pictures on the wall behind the sofa. Why are they stepping up to the right? Why are they off center? And why are they so small? While scale and proportion (size) is important. I would be more understanding if the sofa would be centered under them and they ran side by side, equally spaced and at the same height. As they are now it makes the room feel out of balance.

Next, by simply sliding the lamp on the end table from the left to the right (closer to the sofa) would establish the lamp & table as and end anchor point. The lamp slid to the right would also frame the sofa and when lit brighten up the dark and heavy element in the room… the sofa.

Finally, CF wondered why the bar stool was set between the sofa and the fireplace. To be honest I don’t know either.

So there you have first example of Bad Staging that was sent to me. If you have examples that you would like to share with me, feel free to send them. I will try to post one example of “Bad Staging” per week… by doing so I hope stagers all learn and the consuming public will know and demand more of all in this industry who present themselves as “professional”.

Stage It Forward…
Me

Bitch-N-Moan, Bitch-N-Moan… FINALLY I Am Not Alone

For over a year now I have been venting the personal frustrations I have with the fact that I see more and more POORLY qualified people entering the field of staging. For the sake time and space, I don’t think it is important that I regurgitate what I have already written of, but if you are interested reading what I had to say, check out these past posts…

• Under Qualified "stagers" Flood the Market
• Another FEISTY BLOG about "Professional" Staging!
• ASP? HSE? What's-a-stager-SUPPOSED-to-be?
• Stone Cold Reality: Dying Dreams & Limited Opportunities
• Inconvenient Truths about Home Staging

Anyway, I find am no longer alone. Lately more and more expirienced stagers all across the US have begun to email me and/or called me to voice similar concerns and frustrations.
In fact, quite recently, I received a set of photos (above) of a Bad Staging sent to be by an experienced stager (CF) that says they “…have had it with crappy staging!”

CF recently lost a job to a new “professional” whose work is pictured. CF found the After Photo and sent it to me with the Before Photos they took. CF also shared with me quite a few details about what was wrong with the overall staging. But since I do have pictures of the entire project I am only going to concentrate my critique on the one set of images show here.

I have to admit that at first I was a little reluctant to post these images. But then I got to thinking… what besides Bitch-N-Moaning could i do that would be postive? How could I turn BAD STAGING into something that would ultimatly help a seller sell and help this industry grow? I then realizewd that if I can turn examples of BAD staging into something positive… then mediocre stagers, home sellers and realtors can begin to undertand and appreciate what makes good real estate staging good.

So getting back to the BAD Staging pictured above... what is wrong with the makeover pictured above?

Well first off, CF told me that the “picture” above the fireplace in this family room is not actually a picture; rather, it is in fact a fake flat screen TV. Because it is a family room the way the furniture has been arranged is not conducive to watching TV… as it SHOULD. CF says that having the sofa face the TV was a viable and correct solution.

I immediately noticed and had problems with the 3 pictures on the wall behind the sofa. Why are they stepping up to the right? Why are they off center? And why are they so small? While scale and proportion (size) is important. I would be more understanding if the sofa would be centered under them and they ran side by side, equally spaced and at the same height. As they are now it makes the room feel out of balance.

Next, by simply sliding the lamp on the end table from the left to the right (closer to the sofa) would establish the lamp & table as and end anchor point. The lamp slid to the right would also frame the sofa and when lit brighten up the dark and heavy element in the room… the sofa.

Finally, CF wondered why the bar stool was set between the sofa and the fireplace. To be honest I don’t know either.

So there you have first example of Bad Staging that was sent to me. If you have examples that you would like to share with me, feel free to send them. I will try to post one example of “Bad Staging” per week… by doing so I hope stagers all learn and the consuming public will know and demand more of all in this industry who present themselves as “professional”.

Stage It Forward…
Me

Get Your Thoughts OUT of the GUTTER!

Until recently, it was always true that what a home buyer saw the instant they first drove up upon a property could make or break its sale. If the home was appealing, from the gutter, it was said to have "Curb Appeal".

But times have changed, and while "Curb Appeal" still matters... today it matters in a different place and way. Watch this 30 second Curb Appeal Quiz Show to find learn just where Curb Appeal ACTUALLY now begins... the final conclusion might challenge your way of thinking.

CURB APPEAL QUIZ SHOW 30 Seconds Long

(If you can not see the show above... Click Here.)

Home sellers need to know that with the vast amount of inventory in the market today, home buyers are now first prescreening homes online to help them decide just what they want to tour in person.

Because online prescreening (or should I say pre-shopping) is now so prevelent, it is my opinion that with today's easy to use digital technology, Realtors have the obligation to capture and present the absolute best images and comprehensive visual experience of a property for buyers to shop and consider.

So if your home is languising in the market you might want to work with an expirienced home stager who can not only help you re-examine but also update your property's "Web Appeal"... because if you don't, your home's sale could remain in the gutter.

Stage It Forward...
Me

PS: This post was inspired by a ongoing series of post by one of my favorite real estate bloggers, Athol Kay. On his blog (ReAgent in Connecticut) page he is constantly posting examples of BAD real estate photograpy... as well as giving tips on how to FIX pictures. For a shock and a chuckle I suggest you check out his series Bad MLS Photo of the Day.

Hmmm, Now that I think of it I think Athol may be on to something... maybe I should have people start scouring the web for BAD STAGING photos and start sending them to me?

Get Your Thoughts OUT of the GUTTER!

Until recently, it was always true that what a home buyer saw the instant they first drove up upon a property could make or break its sale. If the home was appealing, from the gutter, it was said to have "Curb Appeal".

But times have changed, and while "Curb Appeal" still matters... today it matters in a different place and way. Watch this 30 second Curb Appeal Quiz Show to find learn just where Curb Appeal ACTUALLY now begins... the final conclusion might challenge your way of thinking.

CURB APPEAL QUIZ SHOW 30 Seconds Long

(If you can not see the show above... Click Here.)

Home sellers need to know that with the vast amount of inventory in the market today, home buyers are now first prescreening homes online to help them decide just what they want to tour in person.

Because online prescreening (or should I say pre-shopping) is now so prevelent, it is my opinion that with today's easy to use digital technology, Realtors have the obligation to capture and present the absolute best images and comprehensive visual experience of a property for buyers to shop and consider.

So if your home is languising in the market you might want to work with an expirienced home stager who can not only help you re-examine but also update your property's "Web Appeal"... because if you don't, your home's sale could remain in the gutter.

Stage It Forward...
Me

PS: This post was inspired by a ongoing series of post by one of my favorite real estate bloggers, Athol Kay. On his blog (ReAgent in Connecticut) page he is constantly posting examples of BAD real estate photograpy... as well as giving tips on how to FIX pictures. For a shock and a chuckle I suggest you check out his series Bad MLS Photo of the Day.

Hmmm, Now that I think of it I think Athol may be on to something... maybe I should have people start scouring the web for BAD STAGING photos and start sending them to me?

Home Stage & Blogging... Reflecting Opportunities in Real Estate Marketing

For a little over a year now I have been writing about home staging here in this blog. I have to admit I have been fortunate in raising my staging voice up in an ever expanding world of real estate blogging. I believe part of the reason for my blogging success is due to the fact that the approach I take to blogging reflects the approach I take to staging.

When it comes to staging and selling a home it is no secret that good curb appeal is desirable. If a buyer doesn't like what they see, there is a good chance they will just move on. Well the same goes for a blog. I consider a blog’s headline its initial curb appeal. Headlines should be interesting and captivating so that your reader wants to stop in and read on.

When touring a home, which is for sale, a second critical moment takes place the instant the buyer opens the door and sees the interior of a home for the first time. What a buyer sees in this moment better be a visually appealing. For just as it is important that a stager creates an attractive first visual impression within the homes interior, the same can be said for using a picture in a blog. A strong visual impression positively reinforces what the buyer/reader are about to see/read.

Moving on (literally) is the next key element to both staging and blogging. A home that is staged well has certain connected "flow" that entices the buyer to move from room to room. As you develop your blog it should have transition/flow as your reader travels from paragraph to paragraph.

Recently we here at Real Estaging have seen more and more amature stagers’s relying on contrived tricks and gimmicks (i.e. champagne glasses on the edge of tubs) that make the house look “too staged” and ultimately distract a buyer away from seeing the home and it’s “personality”. So whether one is staging a home or writing blogging it is important that the unique personality of the home, or you the writer, comes through. Staging and blogging is about making connections… the buyer needs to “connect” to a home they are going to buy. In order to gain long term readership, readers need to connect to you. And remember… always be original, never plagiarize another's work, it will come back to haunt you.

The final parallel that I see between staging and blogging has to do with clutter. It is a well know fact that stagers remove all unnecessary distractions and get down to the homes most basic elements. Well the same goes for blogging. Keep in mind that reader often will skim your blog, so give it a lot of white space to make that process easier. Also you might want to consider highlighting key phrases in each paragraph that if only they are read… the basic gist of the blog is communicated.

So there you have it… my staged blog on home staging and blogging. Respectively, each can create a good reflection of home seller's home or a real estate professional's words.

Stage It Forward…
Me

POST SCRIPT 1: "They" must like what this blog has to say... cause once again it gets picked up fed to the masses, click each link to see it at: NBC - NY and USA TODAY's online news sources.

POST SCRIPT 2: I have had the idea for this blog bouncing around my head for a while.. but I gotta admit I am glad I held off from writing it until now. Tomorrow I am to be and industry expert panelist on home stager and real estate blogging at Coldwell Banker's Emagine Expo 2007 here in Chicago. With over 1,200 attendees coming to this event, it creates perfect reason to finally write this blended blog.

Home Stage & Blogging... Reflecting Opportunities in Real Estate Marketing

For a little over a year now I have been writing about home staging here in this blog. I have to admit I have been fortunate in raising my staging voice up in an ever expanding world of real estate blogging. I believe part of the reason for my blogging success is due to the fact that the approach I take to blogging reflects the approach I take to staging.

When it comes to staging and selling a home it is no secret that good curb appeal is desirable. If a buyer doesn't like what they see, there is a good chance they will just move on. Well the same goes for a blog. I consider a blog’s headline its initial curb appeal. Headlines should be interesting and captivating so that your reader wants to stop in and read on.

When touring a home, which is for sale, a second critical moment takes place the instant the buyer opens the door and sees the interior of a home for the first time. What a buyer sees in this moment better be a visually appealing. For just as it is important that a stager creates an attractive first visual impression within the homes interior, the same can be said for using a picture in a blog. A strong visual impression positively reinforces what the buyer/reader are about to see/read.

Moving on (literally) is the next key element to both staging and blogging. A home that is staged well has certain connected "flow" that entices the buyer to move from room to room. As you develop your blog it should have transition/flow as your reader travels from paragraph to paragraph.

Recently we here at Real Estaging have seen more and more amature stagers’s relying on contrived tricks and gimmicks (i.e. champagne glasses on the edge of tubs) that make the house look “too staged” and ultimately distract a buyer away from seeing the home and it’s “personality”. So whether one is staging a home or writing blogging it is important that the unique personality of the home, or you the writer, comes through. Staging and blogging is about making connections… the buyer needs to “connect” to a home they are going to buy. In order to gain long term readership, readers need to connect to you. And remember… always be original, never plagiarize another's work, it will come back to haunt you.

The final parallel that I see between staging and blogging has to do with clutter. It is a well know fact that stagers remove all unnecessary distractions and get down to the homes most basic elements. Well the same goes for blogging. Keep in mind that reader often will skim your blog, so give it a lot of white space to make that process easier. Also you might want to consider highlighting key phrases in each paragraph that if only they are read… the basic gist of the blog is communicated.

So there you have it… my staged blog on home staging and blogging. Respectively, each can create a good reflection of home seller's home or a real estate professional's words.

Stage It Forward…
Me

POST SCRIPT 1: "They" must like what this blog has to say... cause once again it gets picked up fed to the masses, click each link to see it at: NBC - NY and USA TODAY's online news sources.

POST SCRIPT 2: I have had the idea for this blog bouncing around my head for a while.. but I gotta admit I am glad I held off from writing it until now. Tomorrow I am to be and industry expert panelist on home stager and real estate blogging at Coldwell Banker's Emagine Expo 2007 here in Chicago. With over 1,200 attendees coming to this event, it creates perfect reason to finally write this blended blog.

Ranting & Raving... I Guess it WILL get you Top Blogging Awards!

Well... September was a good month for Home Staging Rants & Ravings.

We are very pleased and honored to announce that this site was ranked in the TOP 100 Real Estate Blog Sites by International Listings.

International Listings is "the premier listing service for luxury homes world wide." WOW ! We are honored to be recognized by such a noted real estate site.

With the thousands of real estate blogs out there I know it took International Listings quite a while to scoure the web to find the best of the best. They then group the blogs in one of the following categories for their TOP 100 BLOGS: Appraisals, Entertainment, Green Ideas, Home buyers, Home Improvement, Doom & Boom, Investing, Marketing, Mortgage Brokers, News, Niche Markets, Technology and the Title Industry. (This blog can was categorized in the Niche Marketing catigory.)

So thank you for the TOP 100 AWARD!

The honor is insprirational... so keep watching. We plan on writing more compelling blogs and being a powerful voice for home staging and the home staging industry in the future.

Stage It Forward...

Me

Ranting & Raving... I Guess it WILL get you Top Blogging Awards!

Well... September was a good month for Home Staging Rants & Ravings.

We are very pleased and honored to announce that this site was ranked in the TOP 100 Real Estate Blog Sites by International Listings.

International Listings is "the premier listing service for luxury homes world wide." WOW ! We are honored to be recognized by such a noted real estate site.

With the thousands of real estate blogs out there I know it took International Listings quite a while to scoure the web to find the best of the best. They then group the blogs in one of the following categories for their TOP 100 BLOGS: Appraisals, Entertainment, Green Ideas, Home buyers, Home Improvement, Doom & Boom, Investing, Marketing, Mortgage Brokers, News, Niche Markets, Technology and the Title Industry. (This blog can was categorized in the Niche Marketing catigory.)

So thank you for the TOP 100 AWARD!

The honor is insprirational... so keep watching. We plan on writing more compelling blogs and being a powerful voice for home staging and the home staging industry in the future.

Stage It Forward...

Me

Clearing Churned Up Waters

Recently I posted two similar blogs entitled: "Inconvenient Truths about Home Staging". One, which was shorter edited version, was posted on Active Rain while a more complete and comprehensive version was posted here on this site. The post created quite a ruckus with a foundation training company whose website I quoted directly from and linked to, to prove that I was not making an unsubstantiated point. Agitated with what I said, they contacted me with Cease & Desist email and comment. I honored their request and removed all references to them in my posts and all links I had placed on both my blogs to their site.

Obviously, I now know they view my words as direct attack on their program, which was not the point. This staging foundation training organization is/was NOT doing anything that most other training organizations within the staging industry are doing or have done. Heck, for all I know this training organization my offer one of the most compressive and in-expensive training programs available in the industry today.

It is no secret that foundation training programs are a big part of the home staging industry. The point I was making had to do with the industry's foundation training programs as a whole. Being that I am one of the LEAST formally trained stagers in home staging industry (I happen to be self trained) I am in a unique position that allows me to be neutral about training. Staying neutral, yet believing in the benefits of training, I tried to be a trusted resource to those that seek out my advice on foundation training program. To make it easy for those who are interested in home staging training, I have compiled a FREE reference list (in alphabetical order) of 33 different training programs I currently know of here for all to access. (This list is being used. How do I know? Well, for one thing Goggle Analytics lets me know.)

But I digress… the point I was making in the original "Inconvenient Truths" blog was that I see the staging INDUSTRY being partially responsible for the bashing the staging industry got in the report on staging by the National Association of Exclusive Buyers Agents (NAEBA). While I felt much of what the NAEBA said was wrong and a bit sensationalized, I still don't believe it was all wrong. The report got me thinking about the Home Staging Industry... and the collective "who and how" we have been and how there was some truth to what the NAEBA reported.

So with the home staging industry in my sites, I started to re-examine and write what I refereed to as a "Frankenstein" of a problem in our industry... Credentials. I have found at least 34 different foundation staging training programs in North America. I have no idea how good or bad any of these courses are. I can tell you that I have spoken to MANY stagers from all over the USA & Canada... some have raved about their training others were not impressed. I’ve heard all opinions. But, in general I believe people are pretty happy that they received formal training... even if only for the fact that training was a springboard for them in the industry.

However, with no industry "board of staging education" overseeing what is actually being taught... there is no way of knowing how truly good or bad the training these organizations are offering is, or how compressive and complete it is.

Currently how the industry is set up, to be a staging trainer all one needs to do is open their doors.... and say they are a staging training school. Plus, on top of that the fact anyone can easily open up a training school, many of these organizations then offer quick "Accredited Certifications" for their graduates to add to their names in the hopes to legitimize their graduates as "stagers" to the eyes of the consumer, I believe this further compromises the whole industry. Who decides what is good? Who decides what is bad? Who decides what is right? Who decides what is wrong? Who knows!

For the most part the consuming public has no understanding of all this backstory. Historically the consuming public views and relies on credentials as proof of ability. The consuming pubic believes the person who has been "Accredited/Certified" by an organization has gone through a process were they have been trained, tested and PASSED thru a testing process. Even baby sitters can now be certified, but only after being tested. TESTING is TYPICAL and expected in an ACCREDITATION PROCESS. As the staging industry stands today, what it takes to be a stager is more about credentials and less about the combination of talent, experience, & education. So much emphasis is being placed on Accrediting Credentials.

I am not the first to broach this topic, for it has been in the industry's conversation and has been a point contention for awhile.

I believe the industry's allowance of and reliance on unregulated certification and accreditation can exposes the consumer to less then good and qualified staging. I believe it can and will ultimately dilute what staging can make available. With no regulation on training, training schools, curriculum, testing, or certification this will a problem that will continue to get bigger. Having no standards will ultimately mean there will be consumers that use stagers that do substandard work and give organizations ammunition to continue to write negative reports on staging as the NAEBA did.

In my opinion, because of the way the home staging industry is, the consumer is currently becoming more and more venerable and exposed to substandard staging... and because this is so our industry will ultimately loose face and legitimacy.

THIS IS ONE OF MY TRUTHS in Inconvenient Truths about Home Staging.

Stage It Forward...
Me

Clearing Churned Up Waters

Recently I posted two similar blogs entitled: "Inconvenient Truths about Home Staging". One, which was shorter edited version, was posted on Active Rain while a more complete and comprehensive version was posted here on this site. The post created quite a ruckus with a foundation training company whose website I quoted directly from and linked to, to prove that I was not making an unsubstantiated point. Agitated with what I said, they contacted me with Cease & Desist email and comment. I honored their request and removed all references to them in my posts and all links I had placed on both my blogs to their site.

Obviously, I now know they view my words as direct attack on their program, which was not the point. This staging foundation training organization is/was NOT doing anything that most other training organizations within the staging industry are doing or have done. Heck, for all I know this training organization my offer one of the most compressive and in-expensive training programs available in the industry today.

It is no secret that foundation training programs are a big part of the home staging industry. The point I was making had to do with the industry's foundation training programs as a whole. Being that I am one of the LEAST formally trained stagers in home staging industry (I happen to be self trained) I am in a unique position that allows me to be neutral about training. Staying neutral, yet believing in the benefits of training, I tried to be a trusted resource to those that seek out my advice on foundation training program. To make it easy for those who are interested in home staging training, I have compiled a FREE reference list (in alphabetical order) of 33 different training programs I currently know of here for all to access. (This list is being used. How do I know? Well, for one thing Goggle Analytics lets me know.)

But I digress… the point I was making in the original "Inconvenient Truths" blog was that I see the staging INDUSTRY being partially responsible for the bashing the staging industry got in the report on staging by the National Association of Exclusive Buyers Agents (NAEBA). While I felt much of what the NAEBA said was wrong and a bit sensationalized, I still don't believe it was all wrong. The report got me thinking about the Home Staging Industry... and the collective "who and how" we have been and how there was some truth to what the NAEBA reported.

So with the home staging industry in my sites, I started to re-examine and write what I refereed to as a "Frankenstein" of a problem in our industry... Credentials. I have found at least 34 different foundation staging training programs in North America. I have no idea how good or bad any of these courses are. I can tell you that I have spoken to MANY stagers from all over the USA & Canada... some have raved about their training others were not impressed. I’ve heard all opinions. But, in general I believe people are pretty happy that they received formal training... even if only for the fact that training was a springboard for them in the industry.

However, with no industry "board of staging education" overseeing what is actually being taught... there is no way of knowing how truly good or bad the training these organizations are offering is, or how compressive and complete it is.

Currently how the industry is set up, to be a staging trainer all one needs to do is open their doors.... and say they are a staging training school. Plus, on top of that the fact anyone can easily open up a training school, many of these organizations then offer quick "Accredited Certifications" for their graduates to add to their names in the hopes to legitimize their graduates as "stagers" to the eyes of the consumer, I believe this further compromises the whole industry. Who decides what is good? Who decides what is bad? Who decides what is right? Who decides what is wrong? Who knows!

For the most part the consuming public has no understanding of all this backstory. Historically the consuming public views and relies on credentials as proof of ability. The consuming pubic believes the person who has been "Accredited/Certified" by an organization has gone through a process were they have been trained, tested and PASSED thru a testing process. Even baby sitters can now be certified, but only after being tested. TESTING is TYPICAL and expected in an ACCREDITATION PROCESS. As the staging industry stands today, what it takes to be a stager is more about credentials and less about the combination of talent, experience, & education. So much emphasis is being placed on Accrediting Credentials.

I am not the first to broach this topic, for it has been in the industry's conversation and has been a point contention for awhile.

I believe the industry's allowance of and reliance on unregulated certification and accreditation can exposes the consumer to less then good and qualified staging. I believe it can and will ultimately dilute what staging can make available. With no regulation on training, training schools, curriculum, testing, or certification this will a problem that will continue to get bigger. Having no standards will ultimately mean there will be consumers that use stagers that do substandard work and give organizations ammunition to continue to write negative reports on staging as the NAEBA did.

In my opinion, because of the way the home staging industry is, the consumer is currently becoming more and more venerable and exposed to substandard staging... and because this is so our industry will ultimately loose face and legitimacy.

THIS IS ONE OF MY TRUTHS in Inconvenient Truths about Home Staging.

Stage It Forward...
Me

Staging is Simple Arithmetic... Sort Of

If you spend any time researching real estate staging you will quickly read some of the most fundamental advice commonly given by home stagers is to REMOVE the CLUTTER and THIN-OUT any excess "stuff" in a home that is going to be for sale. Stagers seem to effectively communicate the message that SUBTRACTION is part of Staging 101.

However, we here at Real Estaging have come to learn that sometimes what it takes to properly stage an occupied home is NOT just what needs to be taken out... but what needs to be put in. ADDITION, or adding items to the home, is the other half have to the staging equation that is often overlooked by MANY stagers.

It is easy for a stager, that does not have inventory, to say nothing needs to be added to improve a homes appeal. Which may be 100% correct. But what if just by adding a few items your home goes from ordinary to extremely memorable and wonderfully appealing? Having access to props could be to your selling benifit.

When looking for a stager, consider the fact that stagers who have invested in prop inventories have made a strong commitment to not only their profession, but ultimately the sale of your home.

So what props do we typically see a home needing? Well, most often we bring in wall art, plants and lamps. Time and time again we find that home sellers do not have enough of these basics decorative items that really add to a property's overall appeal.

Finally, even if a stager has props, when it comes to adding them... scale, proportion, style, color, selection and then placement matter GREATLY. This I can not stress enough. As you watch the above show (or if you need to click this link) notice how our props blend seamlessly with the home owner's existing accessories and furnishings. If you have a hard time determining which props are our props... then we have done our job.

We know our Staging Arithmetic.

Stage It Forward...
Me

Staging is Simple Arithmetic... Sort Of

If you spend any time researching real estate staging you will quickly read some of the most fundamental advice commonly given by home stagers is to REMOVE the CLUTTER and THIN-OUT any excess "stuff" in a home that is going to be for sale. Stagers seem to effectively communicate the message that SUBTRACTION is part of Staging 101.

However, we here at Real Estaging have come to learn that sometimes what it takes to properly stage an occupied home is NOT just what needs to be taken out... but what needs to be put in. ADDITION, or adding items to the home, is the other half have to the staging equation that is often overlooked by MANY stagers.

It is easy for a stager, that does not have inventory, to say nothing needs to be added to improve a homes appeal. Which may be 100% correct. But what if just by adding a few items your home goes from ordinary to extremely memorable and wonderfully appealing? Having access to props could be to your selling benifit.

When looking for a stager, consider the fact that stagers who have invested in prop inventories have made a strong commitment to not only their profession, but ultimately the sale of your home.

So what props do we typically see a home needing? Well, most often we bring in wall art, plants and lamps. Time and time again we find that home sellers do not have enough of these basics decorative items that really add to a property's overall appeal.

Finally, even if a stager has props, when it comes to adding them... scale, proportion, style, color, selection and then placement matter GREATLY. This I can not stress enough. As you watch the above show (or if you need to click this link) notice how our props blend seamlessly with the home owner's existing accessories and furnishings. If you have a hard time determining which props are our props... then we have done our job.

We know our Staging Arithmetic.

Stage It Forward...
Me

Inconvenient Truths about Home Staging

Negativity about good things always seems to attract attention. So it is not surprise that in a recent report published by the National Association of Exclusive Buyers Agents (NAEBA) entitled: “How to not get tricked by staging and potentially save $5,645 when you buy your home” has attracted main stream media attention.

While some of the NAEBA report on staging was positive and accurate, most of it was a negative spin they were trying to put on staging in a sensationalized attempt to champion their position that buyer’s agents are better agents then traditional Realtors that work with both buyers and sellers. The basic premise of the NAEBA report claimed that buyer agents were more able to sniff out staging “tricks” used to disguise problems and deceitfully lure a potential buyer to emotionally be attracted to a problematic home. It’s as if the NAEBA actually believed that home stagers did not know that all homes are eventually professionally inspected and that hiding problems and issues works against the seller’s best interests.

In the report, the NAEBA warned buyers that “staging effects can make a home seem more appealing to the eye”. How scandalous! How conniving! How shady of the seller to put their home’s best face forward to make it as appealing as possible. I guess the same could be said for anyone applying for a job who decides to wear their best suit, get a haircut and shine their shoes in a shady attempt to emotionally lure a potential employer to hire them.

While the NAEBA report was inaccurate in much of what is said, that does not take the Home Staging industry off the hook for what I see as a rapidly growing problem in this industry. I am going to go out on a limb to say that the Home Staging Industry is a bit responsible for attracting the negative report the NAEBA has published.

Right now home sellers are desperate for a magical solution to help them sell a property languishing in an extremely slow market. Unfortunately, desperate times will bring out both dreamers and dubious characters. It is no surprise that with all the great PR home staging has been getting, more and more people (be they honest or dishonest) are attracted to making money as home stagers.

A multitude of foundation training programs in home staging have sprung up that will “certify,” “accredit” and graduate home staging “professionals” and “experts” in as little as ONE DAY.In fact, just last week I learned of a foundation training program that advertises that for only $249.95, a person interested in becoming a home stager need only buy a training CD that was designed to get budding stagers started in their own business. Two of the benefits they advertise is that their program has low start up costs and low overhead. No previous experience is required. They even include their Certificate of Achievement at no extra costs right with the CD to prove that you were professionally trained. WOW, how generous to send a Certificate of Achievement right with it!

This “overnight certification in a box” points to a Frankenstein that this industry created. The industry’s fixation on quick accredited certifications makes a hypocrisy out of education. This is NOT to say education and training are neither valuable nor helpful. In fact, some of the nation’s finest home stagers started their careers by first taking foundation training programs.

Unfortunately, home sellers looking to hire a stager in today’s market often do not realize that stagers that tout the fact that they are accredited, certified or professional experts may have just yesterday received their certificate in a box or just finished a 3 day workshop in Home Staging. While education is important, the home seller needs to know that in this market where a flood of baby stager’s are just entering it, EXPERIENCE trumps all else and in fact is quintessential. For with experience comes an education and wisdom about home staging that can not be burned on to a CD or taught in a 1, 2 or 3 day work shop.

Much like what the NAEBA report spoke of, some inexperienced stagers will resort to contrived tricks thinking that making a home look and feel staged is the right thing to do. But the experienced stager knows a home should never look or feel staged. If a buyer’s eye is attracted to look at the staging and not the home, then the stager has not done their work. An experienced home stager knows the home should always be the star… not the stuff in it.

The above picture is a perfect example of what I am talking about. Kate Hart of Hart & Associates, an experienced home stager in Philadelphia, just happened to send me this picture of really bad staging. Kate snapped the "staged treasure" in the bathroom of a vacant home she was recently called in to re-stage. The "props" placed in a box speaks volumes as to how much is not known about staging by the stager that initially had been hired to stage it. The rest of the property was as bad... and because it was staged so poorly, the owners actually stopped showing it. Kate was called in to save the day.

All this puts experienced stagers, who believe we can be a strong and respected industry within real estate and want it to succeed, in a precarious position. We have seen time and time again the joy in a seller’s eye when their property has been sold with the help of staging. We also know the passion and exuberance new stagers have for this profession and we know that for the industry to grow it will need more stagers. But most importantly we know we are now being watched and scrutinized. Nothing less than the finest understanding of staging and implementation of it will help us all grow, anything else will not only degrade the industry, but also what staging makes available to the home seller.

Stage It Forward...
Me

NOTE: At the request of the foundation training company that I originally referenced in this blog, I have removed their name and the link to their site.

I have also removed the foundation training company from the hugley popular informational reference list : "33 Home Staging Training Programs to Consider" on the right hand column of this blog.