Home Staging SOP

For most solopreneur home stagers NETWORKING is one of your key marketing strategies because you do not have a ‘company’ working on your behalf. You now are responsible for finding ways to attract new potential clients to work with you.

Are you joining networking groups where the members are your ideal target market, or who can give you referrals? This is an important question to ask yourself because there are only so many hours in the day that you have to spend on your marketing.

When I am teaching or conducting workshops on networking, I always recommend that you focus on ‘Quality’ and not ‘Quantity’. It’s not about how many cards can you get; it is about ‘how many relationships over time can you build’. In earlier ezines I talk about people needing to ‘Know You, Like You and Trust You’ before they will buy from you. We need to have our marketing pieces whether in person or electronically seen by them between 7 and 12 times. So it makes sense that just because you meet someone for the first time that they may not necessarily want to ‘buy from you’.

Follow up is critical after your networking event. When following up from a networking event it is considered very old school and unprofessional to follow up and try and sell something to someone you just met. You want to focus on ‘pull’ marketing rather than ‘push’ marketing so people self-select and want to buy from you. Find out how you can help them.

TOP 10 Networking TIPS – Creating A Networking System That Works You:

This is a system that I have used for years and 85 – 95% of my business has come from people I met at networking events. The business may not have come directly from the person I met but from what is called ‘Word of Mouth’ referrals – meaning someone who met or knows me, referred someone else to me whom I had not yet met.

This is what you need to do:

1. Determine which networking group is a good fit for you.

2. Attend as a guest a few times before you decide to join.

3. If you are shy and don’t consider yourself outgoing go with a friend but don’t stay together for the whole event.

4. The focus in networking is on the person you are meeting not on you – Ask Questions to get to know them: “How long have you been doing what you do?”, “What do you find most challenging in your business?”, “How did you get started?”, – you are there to learn about the other person not to tell them everything about yourself first; wait your turn.

5. Wear your name badge on your right hand side of your top – that way when shaking hands you can easily see each other’s name.

6. After you have chatted and exchanged business cards make a little note on the card about something to remind you of that person – sometimes a personal note on the card can be a great way to reconnect.

7. You have heard the expression ‘The Fortune Is In The Follow Up’ it’s true! When you follow up send everyone you met an email within the week. Always ask if there is anything you can help them with in your follow up email.

8. If there is someone you do want to meet with privately, ask them for a coffee meeting.

9. If you are on Facebook or LinkedIn see if they are too and connect with them.

10. Make sure they get into your database!!! With most database systems you can enter the contact name and they will then receive an email asking if they would like to sign up for your ezines/newsletters. If they are really interested in what you have to say or offer, they will ‘accept’. You can always send people directly to your site to sign up for future mailings, reports, courses, announcements, etc. but just in case…

PRES Staging Resource Centre founder, Dana J. Smithers, (founder and president of Sun On My Back Redesigns), has enjoyed a prestigious and successful career in Interior Decorating, Home Staging and Interior Redesign. Dana is passionate about this industry and has prepared over 700 students for successful Interior Decorating and Home Staging & Redesign careers of their own.

Just like technology, the Retail Merchandising industry is constantly changing. With new products being developed every day, there is always a need for new marketing techniques to attract new customers. And with stores constantly competing with other forms of advertising, it’s never been more important to capture a customer’s attention. Here are a few tips and tricks that can help you in this competitive career field:

* Remember the budget-conscious shoppers. In today’s economy, many shoppers are on tight budgets. These same shoppers are trading in the more expensive brands for brands with lower costs. This is good to keep in mind when you are choosing spotlight products.

* Don’t forget about Baby Boomers. Baby Boomers – those who were born between 1946 and 1964 – make up the largest consumer spending group, so make sure you include them in your target market.

* Develop visual merchandising concepts. When creating your plan, include visuals for the storefront, the layout of the entire store and promotional materials.

* Accessorize your end caps. End caps are commonly stocked with seasonal merchandise. In the off-season, use one product on the end caps and include accessories that match that product. If your featured product is a digital camera, add a photo printer, photo paper and memory cards.

* Light it up. Everything from store windows to the fitting rooms should be well lit. Use spotlights to draw attention to key products or to set the mood of the store. Just make sure they are installed properly.

This article is presented by the Academy Schaumburg. Contact us today if youre interested in developing marketable knowledge and career-relevant skills with an industry-current degree program from the Academy Schaumburg.

The Academy – Schaumburg does not guarantee employment or salary.

Riches in Niches

As more and more Home Stagers, Professional Organizers, Interior Designers and Real Estate Agents come to APSD for Home Staging Training and Certification, I realize the importance of teaching the concept of “Riches in Niches.”

Some of you already understand this idea and have specialized in one area or another, and others are still trying to be everything to everyone. I started with the idea that I could please everyone too. And I did, and then I was tired and broke. You have to face facts. As women (I know we have some GREAT guys too, but you don’t have the “pleaser” instinct of women!) we already have to please so many other people each day. We please our spouse, our children, our neighbors, our boss – basically anyone that walks in our path.

As I decided to make the real choice and lead the home staging industry, I realized that I could no longer be everything to everyone. I had to be extraordinary with my strengths and visions and help those that were willing and able to receive and exceed with my brand of training. I knew that I wanted to focus on the true business growth aspect of Home Staging Training and Certification. I didn’t want to teach people to put candles on a table. I wanted to teach systems, marketing and business development in an industry I loved. I wanted to teach creativity, lifestyle and money making techniques.

So, I niched myself and APSD as The Global Leader in Home Staging Training and Certification with a specific focus on exactly what I mentioned above.

And because I see the need of “niching” or creating a specialty, I teach 19 different streams of income to our highest level APSD member, Property Scene Designer. I want them to have the , education, resources and ability to niche. The same is true with my APSD Stager Pro’s. I teach 4 different streams of income in that course so they can become experts in certain areas and stand above any other Home Stagers in their market. Kim Holdbrook, one of my Certified APSD Stager Pro’s is awesome at Curb Appeal. She should make it an area of expertise. Mannie Tantawy perfects Origami displays and is already standing out as an expert in this area. Terri Garner is an expert with Home Staging for investment properties as is Cindy Captein. There are many more certified APSD Home Staging Professionals that have also seen the benefit of “niching” their home staging services, and have done so.

It does not mean that you can’t provide an entire menu of services but if you can become known for one specific thing, you will always be the “go to expert” which then opens the door for additional opportunity.

Here Is how you develop your niche:

1) Decide what aspect of Home Staging you Love the most. Do you love doing vacant homes? Maybe working with investors is your niche. What about high end properties? You might specialize in homes over $1 million. You could also focus just on certain type of Home Staging service, like Curb Appeal or Marketing.

2) Once you have decided what you love to do, become the expert. Take the training you need to get to the top of the pack. Practice, practice, practice. Next, you have to toot your own horn. Go out and start telling everyone who will listen, that you are the expert. Then own it internally and do an extraordinary job every single time.

3) Continue to Educate yourself. You can take a course, listen to CD’s, become a member of a great organization like APSD that offers continuing education, look at others work, attend Home Staging events, etc. The biggest mistake that most so-called experts make is they stop learning and growing. Then, others that are willing to receive education surpass them.

4) Market Yourself and your work endlessly. The more you talk about your specialty, the more others will as well. So, don’t be afraid to brag a little about your results and your extraordinary achievements. Before you know it, others will be doing it for you.

An easy way to begin to develop your “niche” status is to listen to the APSD Complimentary call I recently did on Curb Appeal. “Curb Appeal, Creating Impact and Profit in your Home Staging, Design and Real Estate Business.” You also still have time to take advantage of a very special offer I made at the end of the call! http://www/apsdmembers.com/curbappeal

To your joy and success,

Karen Schaefer
Founder, APSD
The Global Leader in Home Staging Training and Certification

There are lots of people, who are unfortunate, while selling their homes. Such things happen, as the major part of these people, dont wish to invest some funds and time to stage their houses. That’s the reason why here we wish to raise the issue of home staging as well as its significance for the fastest and advantageous home sale.
Despite the idea that every person has his or her own needs as well as tastes, many people still possesses a the same understanding of luxury and comfort. This is why, home staging, it may be not difficult to follow some general points, applied to create an appealing atmosphere within the exterior and interior of a house, which may be appreciated by many.
So, firstly it is crucial to make the home looking nice and trim. The presence of garbage or clutter is going to spoil the impression created by your house, once you will demonstrate it to your potential buyers. Secondly, the rooms in your own home should be well-lit, to allow your prospective buyers to view the furnishing of the house. And thirdly, the furnishing of the property as well as its style must provide the atmosphere of harmony and comfort, where your prospective buyers should be able to relax and enjoy their time, while staying at home.

You can try to build this type of attractive atmosphere, employing your own idea of comfort and style with some general principles we’ve mentioned previously above. On the other hand, if you would like to achieve the the greatest results, while making your property looking expensive and even acquiring the highest price for its sale, then it will be of great importance to take into account the advices of an expert to be able to stage a house to sell.
Today the real estate home staging appears to be quite intricate issue that will require a distinctive approach and consideration of the amount of significant points, which may be missed by non-professionals. Just to start staging a home we offer you to obtain decorating ideas provided by Lise Desormeaux, who is called a successful Home Staging and Decorating Educator. Her home staging tips present an excellent guide as for realtors as for homeowners, who will be capable to transform their properties into the million dollar homes, which often can be instantly sold. These tips might be also of great help for those, who’re going to decorate their abodes into the clutter-free and beautiful homes by not finding a decorator.
Follow the guidelines of Lisa Desormeaux, offered on www.lisedesormeaux.com, and you will be prepared to save big money, discovering the powerful secrets of home staging.

Memphis Home Staging extraordinaire Melissa Douglass took a few hours off recently to grant me an interview about home staging. Always on the look out for an interesting story, I became intrigued after being introduced to Mrs. Douglass at a local function. Together with her partner, Carmel Hopper, Home Stager Gals was formed nearly four years ago. Both have received accreditation after extensive training from the International Association of Home Staging Professionals. The IAHSP was founded by the famed West Coast Realtor and creator of home staging, Barb Schwarz.
What amazed me the most, other than her complete mastery of the subject, was to learn that ninety three percent of all homes that are staged sell within thirty days! That is an incredible statistic and if your are a real estate agent or a home seller, you are going to want to read of the many benefits that come with having Home Stager Gals expedite your sale. Home staging addresses the look and feel of your home, helping you make the best possible first impression on buyers. Whether you need furniture for a vacant home or need your home staged with existing furniture, they have you covered.

I need to sell my home now! That is a familiar song in many real estate offices. So let me ask you, how long do you want your home to sit vacant while you are living in another part of the country? You probably don’t want to be reminded of the horror stories about vacant homes when the owner is out of state. One month one of vacancy is a long time. First the grass and landscaping starts to look a little rough. Then it becomes obvious that the home is vacant, maybe some local teens decide to take an innocent peek and see? Other than a break in, the worst thing a vacant home can suffer is a broken window. Nothing says “keep looking” like a broken window. It certainly is not going to garner top offers is it?
Have you ever had the experience of walking in the front door of a house and having your nose assaulted by smoke or pet odors? You may think that some air freshener sprayed around while your on the way out the door is going to work just fine. And it probably will for a few minutes, but what is it going to smell like three days later, closed up with all the utilities off? The problem is that when people smell a strong fragrance, they automatically assume that you are trying to hide something. That is not the impression you want to give to prospective buyers. Their imagination is probably far worse than fact.
I asked Mrs. Douglass how Home Stager Gals dealt with the odor issue. “The answer,” she said, “Is to eliminate the odor.” Now that sounds logical I know, but I wasn’t making the connection until she told me about their ability to treat the entire home with the same technology that NASA uses to clean the air on the shuttle missions. It is beyond my capability to describe the science behind this but seeing is believing, or in the case here, smelling! I got the opportunity to use one of these machines in my home and I did not want to give it back. Seriously, I ended up purchasing one for my home. I was that impressed.

I know a few real estate investors and they will tell you that the Memphis real estate market is one of the hottest areas in the nation. They will also tell you that the last thing they want is to have a home sit vacant, simply because furnished homes sell faster than empty houses. Extensive surveys have shown us that buyers typically make a purchase decision within the first ten seconds of viewing a home. That is great but it really doesn’t help you once the mover has packed up all your furniture does it? Home Stager Gals takes care of this problem with a large inventory of furniture and accessories that can be used to stage a vacant house. They deliver and set it up for maximum impact and then after the sale, they come and move it out. It doesn’t get much easier that that. Fortunately, for those of us who aren’t moving we too can get a new look or a makeover on our home that would rival anything you see on cable television.

As a homeowner looking to move to another location there is a lot on your mind about what is going to happen once you get there. With all the pressures of moving, we typically are not in the right frame of mind to step back and take an honest look and ask if our home is ready to show. This is the major benefit that comes with enlisting Home Stager Gals, peace of mind!

copyright 2010 Greg Traver