Monday, February 27, 2012

What do you look for when choosing a Home Staging partner? Tip Number 2


Credentials. These are a good thing to look for.


When choosing a Stager to to be your Home Staging Partner, look for training they
have completed.


There are a number of reputable courses and associations offering exclusive
instruction in developing skills of preparing homes for sale. Each has criteria
and guidelines that must be met to be Accredited or Certified. A Home Stager
should be a member of at least one Association to ensure they are adhering to a
Code of Ethics and Standards. Any or all of the instruction schools and
associations will assure you have found a Stager that has taken the necessary
steps to be a Professional with credentials to prove it.


If you read my blog last week outlining My Tip Number 1 for choosing a Home Staging Partner, I stated that Realtors know how important credentials and training are to our business. As Stagers and Realtors we should continue our education as well. Returning to keep informed of changes in the real estate business and to keep our memberships current in affiliated associations.

Each different Home Staging course should also have different levels and types of
training. I have taken the additional course affording me the Master
designation with Staged Homes.com. (R) Special training is also available with
Staging instruction for different Staging catagories at various schools,
offering hands-on and online training.

As you explore, remember that a Home Stager is a Partner to homeowners, Realtors, builders and investors. We want to do as much as we can help properties to SOLD as quickly as possible and for the most amount of money with a Marketing Edge.

The best Stagers will bring additional web marketing because they have an
affiliation with the best training websites which offer this to their current
associates.

You will find Accredited Stagers have vendor discounts to pass along to clients. Places like: PODS, Sherwin Williams, Sears Commercial, to name a few.

All this because you will be partnered with a Home Staging Professional with Credentials.


Thursday, February 23, 2012

What do you look for when choosing a Home Staging partner? Tip Number 1


Tips for Choosing Your Home Staging Partner

1. Statistics, that's a good thing. You could look for those.

2. Credentials. Realtors know how important these are behind their name.

3. Properties on their website. What do they look like?

4. Geographical locations they serve. Do they have a potential for being an expert in your area?

5. Longevity? Are they a newbie?

All of these are important. Some may be more important to you than others.

Statistics should be very important. The least amount of days on the market per Staged Home. Well, this is definitely a good thing for a homeowner or a Realtor to consider. Not so good for my business though. That is right, I did just type that! As a Home Stager I should be looking for additional ways to generate income. You would think, right? When a house is under contract in days, I lose a possible source for additional income. I could potentially be receiving additional fees for the items I place in the property to enhance its appeal and appearance. Each day, week or month it does not sell, I am supposed to be collecting fees. This is a source of income for Stagers and a big one, for many. We all choose to work the way we want to work.

There are two things to consider with Statistics for me. Days on Market? Would I like to be in the Staging Inventory Rental business as well as, a Home Stager? Sure! Or profit from Home Staging professional fees, first and foremost? Of course! I have chosen to make it my business to see that I do my best to get a home Under Contract and SOLD, ASAP. Income from the additional days, weeks or months on market are not my focus. I want to be known as the partner that helps you get your properties off your "Active Listings", and on to the "Sold Listings" pages of your website. As well as the partner that helped you get those moved over with the biggest commission check possible. I suggest this is important to consider when you interview and choose your Home Staging partner. Aren't we all in the business of helping the property get SOLD?

Tip Number 1 to finding the right partner for you. This has been my opinion, backed by experience and a suggestion to think about your choice, thoroughly. Check out the Stagers Statistics, first and foremost.

What Statistic, when selling a house, is the most important to you?Look for Tip 2...soon.