Together with so many of you I’m stressed beyond stressed.  At times over the past couple of weeks I’ve felt paralyzed.  This putrid economy and a particularly nerve-racking time in my personal life had me eager to get to my new job yesterday.   New job? you must be wondering. What happened to School of Staging? You can relax on this one. School of Staging is here to stay but I have taken on a second job. Actually, it’s an unpaid position that started during the summer when my son and …

It’s been fascinating to witness developments in the home staging industry over the past few years. For my first few years as a staging instructor I had to define and explain staging. Nowadays it is a phenomenon that has changed the way real estate is sold. In 2004, I ‘Googled’ home staging, there were 16,768 entries. (I wrote it down) Today, Google home staging and you’ll see 4,770,000 entries.

For years we professed that kitchens and bathrooms were without a doubt the most important areas of a home. We termed them the ‘deal makers and deal breakers’ of Real Estate. Today with the crisis in the economy, we’re seeing a surplus of inventory like never before.

Witnessing the burgeoning staging industry has me marveling at the viral nature of its growth. Well over two thousand Real Estate Agents now hold the AHS Designation, which means that they are able to guide their sellers through the process of staging their homes. In today’s market we know that this is a crucial part of the sales process.

During a recent trip to South Africa, I stumbled on a project so exciting I felt compelled to resume my old occupation as buyer of furniture and interior decorative accessories. For almost two decades of my life I travelled to third world countries around the globe, being constantly astounded by what human beings can create with their hands. At the time I couldn’t have imagined a job more joyful than sourcing, selecting and shipping stunning pieces all for use to embellish exquisite expensive interiors.

It doesn’t matter what the “experts” say about the market – it’s June, school is out and folks are on the move.  Now is the time to ensure that you haven’t left anything to chance.  It’s the time to embrace the concept of home staging like it’s your best friend … because it is!  
1.         While standing at the entrance of the house you have just listed, take lots of photographs of the garden and exterior and especially the front door.  Download them and have a good hard look at what …

A recent Real Estate Agent Community Trends survey, sponsored by Jeld-Wen Inc., found 82 percent of real estate agents had buyers refuse to look inside a house based on its exterior appearance.” Now that doesn’t surprise me at all. I clearly remember house hunting for my first home and pausing outside many a home, only to drive off if the exterior lacked appeal.

 Nothing delights a teacher more than an enthusiastic student who without delay sets to work on the new skill acquired.  Such was the case when Mary Jankowski of Reid Real Estate in Bremerton Washington took The Power of Staging class recently.  Her eagerness paid off as she set to work staging her listing.  Less than 3 weeks after taking the class and after only 5 days of staging the home using the clients’ furniture and a few acquired accessories, she had an offer and successful sale.
Mary’s passion was so palpable …

NO HOUSE LEFT BEHIND ought to become the mantra of every real estate agent.   As we deal with the consequences of a sluggish market, it becomes essential that a certain degree of renovation should take place prior to the listing of every home.  That is if you’re hoping to attract the selective buyers who have an over abundance of choices.
I urge every real estate professional out there to disregard the premise that only a select few have the skills to stage a home.  Home Staging is not brain surgery.  It …

Any woman who’s ever has her favorite lipstick or eye shadow color discontinued might relate to this one. Horror of horrors, my tried, tested and trusted paint color – the interior color that goes with traditional, contemporary and eclectic décor schemes alike had been discontinued. To make matters worse, I was the last one to find out.

Naturally my thoughts turned to China as the time came for me to source a product specifically for The Power of Staging Classes. With the course gaining both in popularity and momentum I felt that it was time to take it to the next level by adding a simple yet effective teaching tool that agents could use with their clients.  This would certainly add an additional element of professionalism to their AHS Designation   For many years I had sourced and manufactured furniture and decorative accessories in countries around the world …