1)     An understanding first and foremost, that success in the home staging industry results from the right approach to marketing. At the end of the day, it is your marketing & communication strategies that will make or break your business. How do you acquire and convert leads? Do you create “raving fans” of your services who spread the word? I understand marketing may not be your favorite task—but the reality is , without a well-conceived plan, it’s unlikely you’ll achieve the success you desire.

2)     A relentless commitment to self-improvement, both in terms of knowledge and in skill. One of the distinguishing characteristics of successful business owners in every industry is that they are always learning. Whether it is general business strategy or specific technical details, such as color mapping, curb appeal, design style or trends; successful home staging professionals are never satisfied with their current body of knowledge. Read books, attend workshops, listen to audiotapes and attend industry events— whatever works for your learning style. Just don’t stop growing!

3)     A focus on bottom-line results—and the ability to make adjustments as needed. Every business is about results—and home staging is certainly no exception. Are your services working for your clients? Are they selling their houses for more money than similar un-staged homes? Are they pleased with the service you provide? If the answer to any of these questions is “no”, adjustments are necessary. You should also regularly evaluate the state of your own business—are you attracting new clients? Are you positioned well in your market? Have you differentiated yourself from your competition? Are you pleased with your results? If not, make the necessary adjustments!

There is no “magic bullet” that will ensure success in the home staging industry. However, if you are able to apply the three secrets I’ve shared today, you will be well on the way to success. Contact me today to learn more about personal coaching for the staging industry! Christine@christinerae.com

Don’t get me wrong– hard work is certainly a good thing. But in and of itself it’s not enough. Whether you are in the home staging business or some other industry, the reality is that it’s more important to work smart than it is to work hard.

What does that really mean? Working smart in the home staging industry means having a plan. It means developing the flair, the knowledge, and the right approach to marketing. Ultimately, it can mean a six figure income and the lifestyle you have always desired. (Yes! You can make money in this business)

Unfortunately, too many professionals in the home staging industry never achieve their dreams.

Instead, they work themselves into the ground—investing time into all of the wrong places. Whether it is chasing the wrong type of clients, marketing themselves through the wrong channels, or taking the wrong approach to presentations—too many home stagers work long hours, and have nothing to show for it at the end.

Nothing brings me more joy as a professional than providing these hard-working, dedicated professionals with the knowledge they need to turn their business into a success. That’s why I was thrilled last week to receive this message from an attendee of a recent class:

“I am SO glad I took this course! Christine Rae is a genius! She is a top-notch Instructor and a very classy lady…she made the class SO interesting and fun. Her ‘Co-Pilot’ Lynelle is equally skilled/savvy! I wish I had taken this course sooner!!! If anyone’s ‘thinking’ about taking this course…STOP THINKING…get on with your career…The CSP course will take you there! I had the ‘creative flair’ part down pat…was just needing some guidance around the business planning/pricing models…done and done…time to get this business rolling! Thanks.”

This individual experienced the “eureka!” moment that many home stagers never experience. She is now equipped with the knowledge, that combined with her skill set and work ethic, will allow her business to grow dramatically.

So remember: it’s not about working hard. It’s about working purposefully, equipped with the knowledge you need to succeed. To learn more, feel free to get in touch with me today!

“The problem is most people don’t build the business; they build themselves a job. They’re self-employed and that’s the problem. Businesses by definition must have integrity. Integrity means it just holds its shape and it can operate without you.”

In this quote, Kiyosaki, who has co-authored a book about entrepreneurship with none other than Donald Trump, really gets to the root of one of the biggest issues in business at the moment. A lot of entrepreneurs are primarily concerned with getting themselves a job, a relatively short-sighted aim that will help fulfill short-term goals. What should be more important is establishing a strong business base. That way, they can not only be in charge of their own futures, but they will also be boosting the economy by generating more jobs than just their own.

Very few businesses can survive with just one person doing everything; if every new company hired three additional people, to take care of accounting, secretarial duties, etc., the recession would be over. Entrepreneurs who think beyond themselves when setting out onto new ventures, are more likely to  thrive.

Graduates from the CSP International Business Training Academy, are trained professionals.  They learn how to establish themselves as businesspeople, not just potential employees. As business expert Michael E. Gerber said, “Working on the business not in the business is key to success.” The professionals who follow our process and marketing matrix, learn to set long-term goals for their business, and are equipped with the skills, knowledge and abilities to ensure they will always be in demand.

Earlier this month, a news story caught my eye, which seems to show that staging houses is not only demonstrably effective, but it may in fact be responsible for an upturn – albeit a slight, gradual upturn – in the housing market.

Realogy Corp. is one of the biggest brokerage firms out there, and it recently announced that its franchising offshoot Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Real Estate has just signed a deal to expand its brand all over Canada.  BHG is another group that believes strongly in the importance of correctly staging a property to improve its chances of being sold, and so it is gratifying to see them expand so strongly. It really shows that the science of House Staging is being taken more and more seriously, and it really emphasizes what I keep telling people: stage, stage, stage!

Today’s current economy is still in flux, with an optimistic outlook. According to a release by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), existing home sales rates are higher this year than last. While June was a more successful month than July, this annual increase indicates a hopefulness of housing recovery. Despite this long term growth, the short term indicators appear disappointing. According to the NAR, “The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $174,000 in July, down 4.4 percent from July 2010.”

However, the numbers are not all bad. “Existing condominium and co-op sales were unchanged at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 550,000 in July, and are 17.3 percent above the 469,000-unit pace one year ago,” reported NAR.

It’s our belief that any home staging professional can work their way out of a recession by building and investing in his or her own business. By doing this, they learn how to offer innovative and experienced solutions in any housing market conditions. The majority of staging industry professionals struggle because they have no business experience and don’t know they need it. However, we teach all of our students about that critical business side as well as refine their décor skills to meet both facets of their staging business. Folks, we are not your local decorating company. We are in the business of real estate sales!

Reference: http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2011/08/july_ehs

In a recently published USA Today article, families are having so much trouble with selling their homes that they resorted to foreclosure. “Some couples are being creative by having one spouse stay in the home through the foreclosure process. The article says by not having to pay the mortgage, the burden is reduced as well as the stress on the family. What that means is the other partner has more money for spousal and child support.”

Obviously this is not a best-case scenario; you don’t have to settle for financial disaster.

If you are going through a divorce, the best way to maximize your home’s value is to sell your home at the best price possible. By working with a trained, real estate savvy home staging company, your property will be transformed to appeal to a targeted segment of potential buyers who are most likely to purchase. You can enjoy new beginnings for yourself, as your property attracts new buyers who can buy without the acrimony and stress of a divided household.  When a property is staged, buyers can more easily see the higher value in the property as a result of the techniques used to highlight the best features of living in that space. Not only will the results ease your monetary strain, but also eliminate the burden of stress on your already heavy relationship situation.

There is a solution for selling your house successfully; working with a Certified Staging Professional gives you The Sellers Edge™   Find a stager near you at www.findyourstager.com .   Interested in starting your own business go to www.stagingtraining.com or call 1 888 STAGING

Reference:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/story/2011-09-10/economy-affairs-divorce-marriage/50340948/1?csp=obinsite

When thinking about property for sale, it’s critical to consider it as a marketable commodity rather than a place of residence. This is significant for the seller also. Rather than their home continuing to function as the place of solace and comfort it has been for years, it must be considered as sellable product to be marketed to buyers for all of its compelling features. This is, often, a challenging transition of thought. But that’s what staging is all about.

Once you have shifted your thinking, your actions will change accordingly. Rather than selecting a new paint color which appeals to your own personal taste, you’ll choose one based on a psychological strategy for which hues attract the targeted buyer for your client’s home. Similarly, you’ll think differently about the real estate sale process. The rooms throughout the house should convey the message that the buyer can have the lifestyle of their dreams. This could mean that the knitting hobby room would be better shown as a great space for at-home yoga.

Shifted thinking leads to fast home sales!