Home Staging Planting of Flowers
QUESTIONI am slowly working my way through your book and enjoying it very much.
I do have a question about one thing that I read. You stated that on one
job the redesigner planted flowers in front of the house and was able to
take them home after the house sold and use them again. Perhaps I
misunderstood but wouldn't flowers planted in the ground be part of the
home that the person was buying? If I bought that house I would
certainly expect the "landscaping" to come with it. I would be a bit
ticked off to find that the flowers that had helped make the house so
appealing were gone when I moved in. I would love to hear from you on
this and how this particular issue worked out. Many thanks.
ANSWERYou would always inform the home owner to specify in the fact sheets provided a buyer which items would not be staying. Then there are no surprises. I personally wouldn't plant them in the ground, but I make use of above the soil pottery so it is obviously an "accessory" belonging to the home owner and not part of the sale.
About Making Mistakes
VISITOR QUIRYI am being extremely cautious this time around and carefully looking into this business and your company. I have made to many mistakes in the past and I want this to be the right decision. I can't afford to jump into something again without really testing the waters first.
BARBARA'S RESPONSEBeen there, done that. Everything in life, however, is a risk. I bring you top quality training and tools. But you are the X factor. Check out the bronze redesign program then, because it allows you to buy what you want when you want it. But do fortify yourself with all of my design training, besides the basic business training, because you want confidence and success. The answers to the certification exam are in the training too, so if you want to eventually be certified you will pass the exam easily if you have fortified yourself with all of the design training.
If you have the passion for design and love for people, success is bound to follow given time. Many people don't have the passion and drive and fail. But the need for the service is dire and the training is exceptional.
New Yahoo Blog Added
Visit my newest Blog at Yahoo called "RedesignHomeStaging".
Can I Learn Home Staging Quickly?
QUESTION"I have no decorating skills but I need to learn fast.
I am a Realtor is your program suitable for me?"
ANSWERYou can learn fastest through our ebook training, but you do need to read the material on your computer.
BASIC HOME STAGING TUTORIAL - BUSINESS SIDEHome Staging Tutorial (ebook or manual)
DESIGN SIDEDecor Secrets Revealed (ebook only)
Arrange Your Stuff (manual only)
Where There's a Wall - There's a Way (book only)
Regards,
Barbara Jennings
Things You Should Not Pack for a Seller
The following items are examples of items that moving companies, by law or internal policy, can not transport so you don't want to be packing any of these items into boxes to be moved from one location to another, whether the home seller is moving it or you are on their behalf:
Hazardous MaterialsItems that are flammable, corrosive or explosive:Aerosols, Ammonia, Ammunition, Car batteries, Charcoal, Charcoal lighter fluid, Chemistry sets, Cleaning solvents, Fertilizer, Fireworks, Gasoline, Kerosene, Lamp oil, Liquid bleach, Loaded guns, Matches, Motor oil, Paint thinner, Nail polish remover, Paints, Pesticides, Poisons, Pool chemicals, Propane tanks, Sterno, Weed killer
PerishablesFood, plants or living things that may die or spoil in transit:Frozen foods, Plants, Produce Refrigerated foods, Open or half used foods
Not recommendedItems of personal importance or sentimental value:Stamp or coin collections, Deeds or wills, Moving documents, Family photographs, Furs, Securities, Cash, Valuable jewelry
I'll be putting more packing tips into future blogs, so check back for more.
The Guy's Rules
This is just too good not to share, even if it has nothing to do with home staging.
At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down. Finally, the guys'side of the story. (I must admit, it's pretty good.)
We always hear"the rules" from the female side. Now here are the rulesfromthe male side.
1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put itdown. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining aboutyou leaving it down. It takes less effort for you to let it down.
2. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides.Let it be.
3. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it thatway.
4. Crying is blackmail.
5. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:Subtle hints do not work!Strong hints do not work!Obvious hints do not work!Just say it!1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
6. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's whatwe do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
7. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact,all comments become null and void after 7 days.
8. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us toact like Chippendale guys.
9. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
10. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the waysmakes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
11. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done.Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
12. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say duringcommercials.
13. Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we.
14. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, forexample, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no ideawhat mauve is.
15. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing'swrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
16. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer youdon't want to hear.1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...Really.
17. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discusssuch topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, fishing, or monster trucks.
18. You have enough clothes.
19. You have too many shoes.
20. I am in shape. Round is a shape.
21. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; but did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.
Referral Labels and Stickers
Today I received a nice card from a mortgage broker with a sticker on the envelope flap and again on the inside of the card holding his business card in place.
The sticker merely says, "Oh, by the way, I'm never too busy for your referrals."
A quick search on the web will bring up loads of label/sticker companies that will be happy to make a custom sticker for you to say anything you want.
Public Speaking About Home Staging
A great way to present yourself as an expert (and pick up new clients) is to speak before groups: groups of agents, groups of women, groups of homeowners.
Anyone who owns a home is a potential client (staging or redesign).
Anyone thinking about buying a home is a potential client (redesign).
Why not kill two birds with one stone?
Two killer ways to overcome fear:
1) Know your subject thoroughly. Read my training. Stage your own home for practice. Pretend you're putting your own home on the market. Stage it.
2) Lie in a chair and relax. Close your eyes. Visualize yourself standing in front of a group of realtors or at a women's luncheon. Hear the noise. Smell the scent. Feel your adrenaline building. Imagine every moment vividly. Hear yourself. See yourself.
Your subconscious mind does not know the difference between what you vividly imagine and what you actually do. Therefore it "thinks" it has actual experience.
Experience builds confidence.
Home Staging Concerns
"I am recently divorced and would love to be able to start a business such as staging or restaging. Do you believe it would be possible to earn much money doing this in the St. Louis area? We have a large number of homeowners from all income bracket levels.
Do you discuss adding new furnishings to a home that does not have nice looking furnishings to work with, or, for a home that is vacant?
Do you teach staging along with restaging?"
For answers to these questions, please visit:
Home Staging Concerns
Home Staging vs. Empty Homes
My sister recently put her house up for sale. When she wrote and told me she planned on moving to a different state to be close to her daughters and leaving her home vacant while it was on the market, I warned her not to go that route.
So she listened.
She packed up most of her belongings, leaving the home looking very spacious (yet pleasant).
Not only did she sell it in record time, it was the first time in her life that she sold it for more than the asking price.
Home staging really does work.
Home Staging Website Design
QUESTIONI want to get started with a business in the Los Angeles area and I need to put a website together. I have done design work for years (for free) & just retired from an administrative position in marine & commercial refrigeration. I would like to name my business REARRANGE HOME DECORATING. I would aim my business toward homes & real estate sale preparation for homes. I need help putting a wesite together. Can you help or advise?
ANSWERI could do one for you but I'm very pricey at $2000 and above depending on size.
There are many places where you can purchase a small website and they provide you with a simple template to work in and you can do it yourself. I would refer you to my daughter, who is very good, and not as expensive as me, but she is swamped getting ready to go on tour to Europe in April.
A search on the internet should be advantageous to you.
Good luck,Barbara Jennings
Pricing for Home Staging Services
Hi Barbara,
I’m just getting started on the home staging end of my services. I have a $125 initial consultation with the checklist from your Rearrange It book and then I’ve priced the staging as $350 depending on the size of the home. I will also provide a list of vendors for services that I don’t do i.e. cleaning, painting, etc. However, as far as my service, I will be de-cluttering, de-personalizing and removing unnecessary furniture and accessories to open up the home. My question is what do I do with the items I remove, should I make sure the client has boxes ready before I arrive? Also, I don’t want to get roped into packing up their whole house and do not want to be responsible for the packing in case something breaks and it would be very time-consuming.
I’ve just ordered your new Home Staging book and I’m sure a lot of my questions will be answered, but I’m talking to realtors this week and they want to know more about my service so I’m mentally going through the process of staging a home. Also, should I put a time limit on the fee such as 4-5 hours? Since I’m not sure yet how long it will take me, I could be there for days. And should I give a written estimate or just tell them during the consultation what I would do?
Thanks so much for your help.
Sharyn
For my answer to this question, please visit:
http://www.decorate-redecorate.com/staged-homes.html
Send Me Your Home Staging Questions
Want advice on home staging for profit?Send your questions to:
http://www.decorate-redecorate.com/support.htmlTell others about this blog. I'd like to make it a community of sharing ideas for the home staging industry.
Home Staging for Profit Now Available!
My newest tutorial,
"Home Staging for Profit" is a sure-fire winner. Jam packed into the equivalent of 208 full sized pages, it covers the subject in depth. Don't pay those high priced seminar fees.
208 pages, 8-1/2x11 for print version (comb binding)
Or get our ebook version and save.
http://www.decorate-redecorate.com/home-staging-training.html
Home Staging for Profit
Start your own home staging business with our brand new, powerful training called "Home Staging for Profit". It's over 200 pages and comes in ebook or hard copy format.
It will be available for purchase by Wednesday, hopefully.
For more details:
http://www.decorate-redecorate.com/home-staging-training.html
