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January Issue 2010
January 6, 2010 by becky.
Do you believe in miracles? I do! I’ve seen and experienced the “impossible.”
When a friend and I started a home-based party decorating, balloon and gift basket delivery business in 1980, nearly everyone said it was a bad idea. The country was languishing in the worst recession in decades with double-digit inflation, sky-high gas prices and record-breaking mortgage rates. I’m glad we didn’t listen.
Our sales volume the first year was $50,000. In 1980, $12,000. was an average annual salary. We went on to become an institution in Tallahassee for 10 years and sold franchises in 4 other cities. Our client list included Burt Reynolds, Governor Bob Graham, Florida State University, Brent Musburger and Barry Gibb of the Bee Gee’s.
Listen to your heart, not you head. Even in this uncertain economy, we are encouraged by what we hear.
I just got great report from a recent class grad. She just made $10,000. on a staging job in a high-end neighborhood. She gets about $2000. on her average job. Yvonne McClure, I am so proud of you.
Another grad, you may remember, is an agent who sold her listing in 22 days after it had been on the market for over 3 years. She then got 4 more listings from the neighbors who saw the “SOLD” sign. Staging Works!!!
The one-day Charge-Your-Batteries seminar is coming January 13th in Jacksonville.
Mina Shah from the Tony Robbins organization is our key-note speaker. We will record audio for those who cannot attend. You can choose to attend AM only to hear her unbelievable talk. Or attend both sessions which includes lunch and a free CD worth $25. I will share new staging strategies for 2010.
*Dec. 13th, Wednesday
*9:15 – 11:30, Mina Shah, AM only $18.
*12:00 – 3:15, Lunch & Becky Harmon, AM & PM $45. (includes a free CD worth $25.)
*Queens Harbour Clubhouse, 1131 Queens Harbour Blvd. 32225
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December Update
November 29, 2009 by becky.
Merry Christmas Friends, Family and Staging Fans,
Thanks to all who attended the Cottage by the Sea Decorating Extravaganza in early December. We were delighted to host more than 70 attendees. As promised, here is the article originally published in the Florida Times-Union that inspired the presentation.
Creative holiday decorations even old Scrooge could love
Perhaps you’ve shopped for family, sent out Christmas cards, strung outdoor lights and hung the last ornament on the tree. There is nothing left in the idea file or bank account for anything else. Perhaps you are an agent with several homes on the market and you need to add a touch of the holidays to them without going overboard … you don’t want the home to look like the Griswald’s in Christmas Vacation. On the other hand, you don’t want to be a Scrooge either when it comes to decorating. So, for those world-weary, exhausted and overworked individuals looking for a little inspiration, here is a list of easy, inexpensive, quick-fix holiday decorating ideas direct from my house.
- You can shop for decorations at your grocery store produce department. Cranberries will last from Thanksgiving until after the new year. They look festive in any clear glass container. You can layer them with things like coffee beans. Sprinkle a few drops of pure almond extract to the beans for a luscious amaretto scent. Tall glass cylinders can be purchased at craft stores for about $10. Place a 3-inch candle on top. Large wine goblets can hold cranberries and a tea light candle. You can carve out a votive-sized opening in an artichoke for a lovely candle holder. Bowls can be filled with small Granny Smith apples. They smell delightful and stay fresh for months.
Find free decorations in the backyard. Clippings from any evergreen tree or bush look great on the fireplace mantle with red candles. Holly, juniper and pine trees can be found in any neighborhood. Magnolia branches can be accented with white candles for a formal dining table display. Berries from nandina bushes can be placed with greenery for color. A little real greenery mixed with artificial can add freshness to the arrangement. A walk in the woods with pruning shears can yield a basket full of Mother Nature’s abundant offerings. A clipping or two from any wispy tree arranged in a vase can be surprisingly adequate to accent a large picture on a fireplace mantle.
- Your concrete angel by the front door can be dressed for the occasion with a wreath on her head. That yard bunny can be ready for the holidays with a wreath around his neck. If you don’t have a wreath the right size, a piece of garland will work. Place a small wreath around the neck of an old-fashioned teddy bear for a nostalgic look any child would love. Even the shorebird gets a wreath necklace.
- You can tuck a string of 20 tiny white lights inside an empty wine bottle for an unusual night-light. The bottle must be green, not clear, and the lights must be on green wire.- See picture above-Place several starfish on a wreath with a raffia bow. It’s great for a beach house. Use white starfish as ornaments on the tree. Fish netting can be arranged over the tree skirt to complete the look. Starfish also look beautiful in a basket on a casual dining table. Nautical charts can be photo-copied and laminated for interesting placemats. You can get navigational charts at any boat supply store.The best places to look for additional inspiration are the Christmas home tours in traditional neighborhoods. They feature many creative examples of the use of natural decorations. Also, collect the Christmas issues of popular decorating magazines for a wealth of inspiration.
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Start 2010 with a bang at our motivational seminar on January 13th, at the Queens Harbour Clubhouse. Mina Shah of the Tony Robbins organization will be the featured speaker. After lunch, we will delve into the latest on the staging front.
9:30 - 11:30 AM Mina Shah $18. Continental Breakfast- Morning Session THIS IS A FABULOUS PRESENTATION!!!
Lunch 12:00 - 3:30 PM $45. Both Sessions and Lunch
Becky
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November ‘09 Issue
November 9, 2009 by becky.
News will follow about the next class and a new teleseminar. But first…
My hubby, Chips, and I just returned from a glorious mountain vacation in Ashville,
I must tell you the sad, but true, news… that I am recovering from a computer crash. In a flash, my life was gone .Ugh!! Yes, I had a back-up in place. Long story. Don’t ask.
All was eventually recovered but I am struggling to get all my contacts back into the right groups. So if you received this newsletter by mistake, please forgive. This right-brained girl is slogging through a left-brained task with all the speed of a blonde ADHD (whoops, I mean ASID) decorator.
I must confess, I could not have survived this crash without the services of Martin Schramm, my mission-impossible, knight in shining cyber-space, who rescued me from certain doom and despair. His contact info is in my resource area.
On to staging/redesign news…
ANNOUNCEMENTS:1. New Staging Teleseminar- Monday, 23rd @ 8:00PM, EST. E-mail becky@beckyharmon.com to register. Limited space available. More details next week.
The October class experienced 2 amazing redesigns and I’m still hearing rave reviews from the homeowners three weeks later. You’d never guess how unhappy this one couple was with their house before our visit. They complained about space issues as we arrived. “These rooms don’t work for us. They’re too small.” This couple had been planning to either remodel or move. After a few hours of Transformations magic, we heard things like, “This is amazing. I can’t believe this is our house.” They are telling all their friends and planning a party.
The next house proved to be great fun to transform. The homeowner’s husband is a contractor and they would like to use this 50 year-old remodeled beach house as a model for the business. She was shocked and thrilled when she came down the stairs for the big “reveal.” We all experienced a surreal, fairy godmother moment. Tears and laughter followed. What a wonderful way to make a living!
Before
After
Here is the testimonial I just received from her:
The redesign was amazing! I didn’t know my house could look this great. What’s more amazing is the fact that I already owned all the “things” you used, but when you put it all together, it had so much more STYLE!I can’t thank you enough. It feels “finished” for the first time in 9 years! What more can I say? I LOVE IT!
FROM MY HEART First let me say, it’s a bit of a risk to take a destination-oriented, obsessive/compulsive man on a winding country road. A slow-moving cow can ruin your whole day.
As it turned out, everything about our trip - especially the cottage - was way beyond our expectations. In the class, I recently started teaching the “extra-mile” principle. In a nutshell, it means that after doing the best possible job for your clients, you find a way to take it over the top and do even more…go the extra mile.
The cottage owner had many extras waiting for us. Pumpkin bread from a nearby bakery sat beside an assortment of restaurant menus and sightseeing brochures. When I inspected a sheer fabric gift bag filled with chocolates, I found a surprise… a real amethyst stone. The creek that runs through the property is called Amethyst Creek. How creative! How over the top!
The extra-mile principle should apply to everything you do in your private and public life. Find a way to add something more and create a lifestyle of excellence.
Happy Staging,
Becky
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October Update
October 2, 2009 by becky.
Hello Friends, Family and Staging Fans,
Take a look at an “after” photo from one of our class hands-on projects.
Website: See more pics… www.transform-us.com
Newsflash #1
Staging Success Teleseminar: October 29th, Thursday, 9:00PM - 9:45PM
Register at Becky@BeckyHarmon.com
Newsflash #2
We are holding our first mobile certification class in Miami at a Ritz Carlton property on Nov. 17th - 19th. I will be teaching this class with Marilyn Cale as our host. We expect to fill this class quickly so tell your south Florida friends to call or e-mail ASAP.
Newsflash #3
We are offering E-staging as a low cost alternative at $25. per room. Details will appear on the website soon. You may remember that a high-end Orlando waterfront home sold in ONE DAY for full price after e-staging last month. Details in webinar
Newsflash #4
Agents: All the Transformations grads will do a short free consultation for home sellers at which time they will convince your client that it is insane not to stage your home in this market. More details in webinar.
Newsflash #5
We have 2 slots open for the November 3-day class. 11/10/09 - 11/12/09 . Fall special: We will pay for your hotel if you travel here.
| Favorite Resources ~These vendors can give you designer pricing on their products. I’ve received many good reports from clients about their work:
* Call Keith at the Carpet Man for designer and contractor pricing on flooring. 904-803-7825 * Call the Floor Club at 904-646-4400 for another great source for tile and flooring. * Call Chuck at Art Stones Marble and Granite for Countertops. 904-737-2922 * Call Alan at Christian Crafters International for your painting needs. 904-254-0518 * Call Alan at First Beach Productions for Video Tours. 904-247-5277 We are not liable for the work, warranties or service performed by these companies. They are not employees of Transformations.
|
 FROM MY HEART
There is voice that speaks from deep inside our heart and sometimes directs us. I believe it is God. I recently felt compelled to make connections with two specific people. So I e-mailed and then called two acquaintances I had not seen or spoken to in quite some time. I explained that I had a “feeling” that I should call to encourage them. One of them said that her husband had- just that week- left for a tour in Iraq. The other girl had just enlisted hospice to assist in the care of her terminally-ill husband. Both of these women needed someone to reach out to them in a simple way .Just a few days ago, my sister’s dream led to a decision to reevaluate what may have been unnecessary surgery for a family member. When I started this business, I had a strange experience that is too weird to be a coincidence that confirmed my decision. Read about it in an old blogpost. http://beckyharmon.com/2006/12/ Why am I mentioning this not-so-professional topic, Divine guidance, in a business newsletter? Many of my contacts and colleagues are at a crossroad of some kind. Folks, we cannot separate our emotions from our decision-making process. If something does not feel right, all the facts in the world should not sway us. Trust that inner voice. Something in your heart-of-hearts will always tell you which path to take. A voice will say, “This is the way.” Till next time… BECKY “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” Wayne Gretske |
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August/September Newsletter
August 13, 2009 by becky.
We just returned from a stay at the beach with the family…plus 6 grand kids and no TV. It was WILD! and WONDERFUL! I loved every minute. My husband took a marathon nap when we returned home.
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ALERT! ALERT!
I have a number of things to share that will encourage you about the future of staging:
1. I just read an e-mail from a friend in Orlando who sold her high-end lakefront house in one week-end. We could not stage it in the traditional manner, timing and distance, etc., so we e-staged the house. She sent several photos of the key rooms & I told her what to move and remove, add or replace. The result: “…We put the house up last Sunday, had two couples go through, both made offers. The second couple… gave us our asking price and it sold.” Nancy F.
Hooray Nancy! You did it!!
E-staging is not as effective as traditional staging, but it’s a viable option. It’s good for DIY individuals. We are adding it to the website soon as an additional service. The average cost is $25. per room.
2. CareerPath.com is a company known for tracking different employment fields to forecast future demand. There are always winners and losers in a changing economy. They claim that “staging is an emerging career poised for growth in coming years.”
It’s very encouraging. Read the article…
http://careerpath.com/career-advice/209501-7-emerging-jobs
MARY HABRES
3. One of our recent class grads, Mary Habres, has learned the importance of networking and marketing. She was recently featured in a front page article in the Florida Times-Union. You may remember Mary as the co-hostess of two of my recent teleseminars. It’s the first time, in recent memory, that a staging story has landed on the front page. We’ve come a long way, Baby! Mary, You Go Girl!!!
Read the article:
~The teleseminar replay will be available for a little longer. It addresses changes in the staging industry. Click on the link: http://www.youpublish.com/files/24034/Staging-Teleseminar-1
~Watch for the announcement of an upcoming webinar. It features some of our best before and after pictures and staging stats. All previous students should attend. We will not have a replay. ~There is one space available in the August certification class next week, two or three in September. 904-945-0093
Favorite Resources ~These vendors can give you designer pricing on their products. I’ve received many good reports from clients about their work: * Call Keith at the Carpet Man for designer and contractor pricing on flooring. 904-803-7825 * Call the Floor Club at 904-646-4400 for another great source for tile and flooring. * Call Chuck at Art Stones Marble and Granite for Countertops. 904-737-2922 * Call Alan at Christian Crafters International for your painting needs. 904-254-0518 * Call Alan at First Beach Productions for Video Tours. 904-247-5277 We are not liable for the work, warranties or service performed by these companies. They are not employees of Transformations.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
From The Heart You may remember that my Mom went to heaven two years ago and shortly thereafter my Dad’s brother, best friend and golf buddy, Uncle Bill, joined her. Both went with minimal illness, thank God, but little warning. My 88 year old Dad could have become depressed or despondent, but no, just the opposite. He recently shot a 78 on his favorite Orlando golf course; he still works most days in the family business and he speaks occasionally in his church. I’m not saying that we have not had a hiccup here and there. But we, as a family, choose to see the “glass half-full.” I remember, many years ago, when we read about a local man, 80 years old, who died while playing golf. Everyone said how tragic this was… everyone except my Dad. He said, “How wonderful… to live to be 80 and stay healthy enough to play golf till the day you depart this earth.” I don’t remember what we ate that night or what I was stressed-out about that day. I only remember how we all felt as we were lifted to a higher place. Thanks Daddy, for one of many such memories. Yes, the world is in economic turmoil. And no, we don’t want to ignore the challenges facing us. But no matter what’s happening, every single day, we can choose to be a “glass half-full” kind of person. Find the good in every person and every situation. Be kind to strangers. Pay it forward. Speak words of power. Most importantly, look for the magic in ordinary situations. It’s always there. Till next time… Happy Thoughts,Becky Harmon “A dream is a wish your heart makes.” Jiminy Crickett “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” Wayne Gretsky |
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July/August Newsletter
July 15, 2009 by becky.
WELCOME to STAGING NEWS—Becky Harmon
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRANSFORMATIONS!!! We are entering our fourth year stronger than ever, teaching the principles of redesign and staging to enthusiastic students from around the USA. Many new opportunities are on the way — teleconferences, online seminars and personal coaching, to name a few. We also plan to hold regional certification classes in several major cities in the fall. If you have 5 friends who wish to take the class, we will come to your city. E-mail for details.Interest in this industry is growing steadily. Our contact file is bursting with inquiries every day. I just received this interesting e-mail. I thought you all might like to see it. Career Path has recommended staging as a top emerging job opportunity in the changing economy. I feel my job, as a Florida Times-Union Columnist, is to promote the validity and value of Home Staging. It’s nice to see that a major employment forecaster is recognizing what we already know…that staging is here to stay and is rapidly growing in world-wide recognition. Hooray!!! www.CareerPath.Com.
We continue to receive great testimonies from excited class grads— “My husband & I placed our house on the market on May 1st & had a very competitive offer within three days!! By day five we had accepted an even better offer & sold our home! Our home sold incredibly fast, compared to other homes in our neighborhood this year, & for a good deal above “market value”. Needless to say, we are thrilled! I had worked hard staging our home prior to attending your class, but did do quite a few more things based upon your suggestions. Now I truly have had a great personal experience that reaffirms my belief in the benefit that this service can be to other sellers! Thank you, again!!!”
Amy Clark April ‘09 Class 
“The home I staged last Wednesday had 5 showings and 2 offers on the first day.”
Rebecca Earnhardt August ‘08 Class
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Quick Announcement: There will be another free 45 minute teleseminar on Thursday, July 16th, at 8:00PM. So many people were on vacation during our last call, we have decided to cover some of the same questions. We also plan to talk about changes in the industry. Agents, designers, and staging fans are invited to participate. We have very limited space. Your regular long-distance charges will apply. The call-in number is 1-219-509-8111 and access code is 884624#. becky@beckyharmon.com
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Back by Popular Demand: 1-day Staging Seminar
August 5th, Wednesday, 9:30AM till 3:45PM Queens Harbour Yacht and CClub 1311 Queens Harbour Blvd. 32225 $75.- 80% off Reg. Price of $425.Gourmet Lunch w/Dessert Supplies, Color Chart and Speaker’s Notes Money-Back Guarantee904-945-0093
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Take a look at our new picture gallery page…
http://www.transform-us.com/picture_gallery.htm Favorite Resources ~These vendors can give you designer pricing on their products. I’ve had 5 years or more of good reports from clients about their work: * Call Keith at the Carpet Man for designer and contractor pricing on flooring. 904-803-7825* Call the Floor Club at 904-646-4400 for another great source for tile and flooring.
* Call Chuck at Art Stones Marble and Granite for Countertops. 904-737-2922 * Call Alan at Christian Crafters International for your painting needs. 904-254-0518* Call Alan at First Beach Productions for Video Tours. 904-247-5277We are not liable for the work, warranties or service performed by these companies. They are not employees of Transformations.
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From The Heart I belonged to an accountability group for a season last year. During this time, I truly realized significant growth in several areas of my life. We all have strengths and weaknesses in various skills. We right-brained, creative types run screaming in the other direction when faced with paperwork. The simple act of writing goals and verbalizing them to another human-being effectively moved me forward in this and several other left-brained disciplines. Hooray!! There is power in community, commitment and connectivity. We need each other.My new group meets bi-monthly via conference call. I am also getting certified as a lifestyle coach. You can hear more about personal motivation and accountability in the next free teleseminar on July 16th, Thursday at 8:00PM EDT Your regular long distance charges will apply. 1-219-509-8111. Access code 884624#Till next time…Happy Thoughts,Becky Harmon “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.”Wayne Gretsky |
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May/June Newsletter
May 16, 2009 by becky.
Friends, Family and Staging Fans,
Quick Announcement: Listen to the free staging teleseminar that took place recently. We hosted callers from all over the country. We answer questions like, “How do you stage a vacant home?”
1-219-509-8113. access code 127673
Agents, designers, and staging fans are invited to listen. Your regular long distance charges will apply.
Don’t miss the 80% off One-Day Staging Cram Course/Seminar on June 4th. Info under calendar updates.
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We have enjoyed one of the most beautiful spring seasons here in Jacksonville that I can remember. We’ve kept our doors open to cool intracoastal breezes longer than usual. Winter and fall are usually quite lovely in North Florida.
My husband and I frequently haul our bikes to quaint Atlantic Beach to keep in shape. Our training headquarters is 10 minutes from some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida. The short drive to Amelia Island via the Mayport ferry and picturesque Talbot Island rivals anything you might see up the coast. North Florida including St. Augustine is home to numerous well-known writers and artists.
Over the winter, we hosted students from Michigan, Indiana, Maine, Ohio and New York. Many students continue to join us from south Florida, Atlanta and North Carolina.
We are celebrating the 3rd anniversary of the school by expanding in several areas.
We plan to have a mobile class ready soon. Our first regional classes will be in held South Florida and Atlanta and perhaps North Carolina. We have key people in each of these areas helping to coordinate the efforts. I’ll keep you posted.
Online seminars will be available soon also. We have started free teleconferences also. Watch your e-mails for times and dates. We must all keep informed about the ever-evolving staging phenomenon. HGTV has devoted most of their prime-time programing to Real Estate and staging related shows. Staging is getting more coverage that ever.
We’d like to hear from you. Let us know what you’d like see in the newsletter more often: staging success stories, motivational material, marketing strategies, more pictures, personal stories. Any comments about what you like or dislike will be welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have some cool things to report to reinforce your confidence in the value of real estate staging.
1. Our January class staged an agent’s personal residence in January. Before a sign went up and before the ink was dry on listing papers, it sold to the first person to take a look at it. Hooray!!
2. Mary Williams of Watson Realty uses our staging services more than anyone else. She was just congratulated as the best agent in her office and also for selling 10 million in 2008. She is in the top 10 best agents for her company, the largest in our area. Wow!!
3. Sandy Miller is another agent who stages a lot of her properties with Transformations. She sold over 5 million in 2008. Way to go!
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Call for special pricing on summer certification classes. 904-945-0093
Summer Calendar Updates:
One-Day Staging Seminar 80% Off -June 25th, Thursday
9:30AM till 3:45 @ Queens Harbour Yacht & CClub
Reg. Price $425. Now $75 *Money-Back Guarantee
Gourmet Lunch + Supplies, Color Chart & Speaker’s Notes
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June 5-day Certification Class: 15th-19th
July 3-day Certification Class: 14th - 16th
August 5-day Certification Class: 17th-21st
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Take a look at our new picture gallery page…
http://www.transform-us.com/picture_gallery.htm
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Favorite Resources
~These vendors can give you designer pricing on their products. I’ve had 5 years or more of good reports from clients about their work:
* Call Keith at the Carpet Man for flooring and next-day installation. 904-803-7825
* Call Chuck at Art Stones Marble and Granite for Countertops. 904-737-2922
* Call Alan at Christian Crafters International for your painting needs. 904-254-0518
We are not liable for the work, warranties or service performed by these companies. They are not employees of Transformations.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
More than 80% of home-buyers look online before deciding which properties to tour. First impressions still count….now more than ever.
Have you ever bought a magazine because of a beautiful cover page? Of course you have. We all start drawing conclusions after the first few seconds. Susan Boyle, Internet sensation and contestant on Britain’s Got Talent, showed the world that the we still judge a book by it’s cover. She also reminded us that beautiful things sometimes come in the most ordinary packages. I can still hear the song, I Dream the Dream, floating around in my head.
Two quick stories:
1. Transformations staged a million dollar house before the virtual tour and photos. Three good offers came in within 5 days… all from the Internet.
2. The team staged a modest home with unimpressive furniture. Nevertheless, the online pictures got the home a showing and an acceptable offer in 24 hours.
Conclusion: Be sure all your pictures are fantastic. Consider staging the virtual tour. Why put mediocre pictures online?? Really?
Which house would you buy?
Before
After
That’s all for now. Don’t forget to “Dream the Dream.” Till next time…
Happy Decorating,
Becky Harmon
“You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” Wayne Gretsky
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April Newsletter
April 8, 2009 by becky.
I wanted to start off by thanking Jacksonville Magazine for inviting all the local Transformations Staging School grads to a premiere party held recently at the beautiful Bo Concepts home furnishings store at the St. Johns Towne Center. Those who attended the event enjoyed food catered by the Blue Bamboo Restaurant. Special faces in the crowd included magazine managing editor, Alison Trinidad and VIP Peter Schlunssen with Bo Concepts direct from Denmark via NYC. We may all be collaborating on a posh penthouse staging in the future. I’ll keep you posted.
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Agents 2-day NO-FRILLS Staging Designation
*75% off + Special Bonus to 1st 20 to respond.
*May 13th - 14th, 9:00AM - 4:00PM
*Queens Harbour Yacht and CClub
*Lunch, Manual, Supplies worth $160.
*$75. Staging Gift Cert. - Free to all
*Reg. Price $1200. *Now $300.
*Very Limited Space, RSVP 945-0093 or e-mail
*We have a new opportunity for Real Estate professionals only. The main purpose of the this new class is to learn how to professionally stage your client’s homes. It will add a new service to your list of specialties. Most of the “staging” we have seen by agents is more like de-cluttering, cleaning, painting and removing non-essential furniture and accessories. Those are important things, of course, but do not go far enough. This class will focus more time on learning how to create excitement and add the Wow-factor. The most effective principles gleaned from 19 years in residencial design have been condensed to make up the heart of the curriculum. No “fluff,” just the “nitty-gritty” of staging’s best kept secrets.
*This class will help you to get new listings. Home sellers are watching the HGTV staging shows. They want this service!
*Our stats tell us that a staged home will sell in half the time and get at least 10% more money. Your clients will love you.
*Transformations, receipient of the 2008 Best of Jacksonville award, is the only staging class in the USA taught by an ASID interior designer. Students have come from as far away as Los Angeles to attend.
*There will be a hands-on opportunity in a real home to learn by doing.
*Special Rates for out-of-town attendees at the Wingate Inn on Hodges Blvd. 904-421-7000, ask for Lee
*Transformations grads can take this class at a special rate to brush-up on skills. E-mail for details.
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Be sure to check out the new Photo Gallery page on the main website. If you have surfed the staging sites, you won’t see many great photos of room make-overs. This page illustrates the dramatic difference professional design skills can make when transforming a room.
http://www.transform-us.com/picture_gallery.htm
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REDESIGN INSPIRATION…
“My house sings,” Oprah once said of her California residence. She could hardly contain her joy at finding and expressing her personal style. She has recently been the delighted recipient of a professional redesign.
Your house is not just a house. It’s a living. breathing thing. It’s your inner sanctum.
Whether you just need a little rearranging or an extreme make-over, home transformation can effect people in mysterious ways. ”I stay home a lot more now.” remarked a client after the redesign of her beach cottage. ”No restaurant, club or theater can compete with my ‘new’ home. It embraces me. It’s a sonnet. It’s a poem. It’s me.”
Well said! I’ll let that be the last word.
Happy Decorating.
Becky Harmon
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February/March ‘09
February 5, 2009 by becky.
Hello Staging Fans,
Before you fly off to another site, check out the pictures (below) from the January class. Now that this “tech-challenged ‘blonde’” has figured out how to upload pictures, you will see more interesting newsletters. It’s a very visual business. Like they say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Pictures also illustrate the difference between professional and ametuer staging.
Everyone’s talking about staging these days. There are numerous shows on HGTV and other channels in prime time featuring the staging process. Segments on this topic have been broadcast and aired on virtually every network, radio station and talk show, including Oprah, in the vast soup of lifestyle and home improvement programming. People are fascinated. Why?
There are three simple reasons:
1. People are intrigued by the makeover process. We all love to see the ugly duckling become the beautiful swan. Some say they are addicted to these redesign and staging TV shows.
2. It works!! The national statistics tell us that staging will result in selling the home in half the time. It can also save the homeowner up to 10% of the cost of the home. WOW!! Amazing!
3. It is truly the evolution of a whole new industry.
People sometimes disagree about number three. Some agents say they have been staging for years, even decades. But what they are doing is helping to declutter and streamline. That is part of the process - an important part - but that is not all there is to professional staging.
Let’s hear from a successful agent, Brad Kirk of Watson Realty, who decided to sell his personal residence. He did everything an agent should do to prepare a house for sale. He cleaned out closets, organized, decluttered and got the yard and house in pristine condition. Then he called in a professional stager.
“Before putting our home on the market, I decided to call a stager to get advice on what was needed to make our home more presentable,” Kirk said. “We made the changes, added a few accessories they thought we needed, and within 10 days had accepted a contract.” The stager picked out the perfect wall color and gave advice on carpet and tile upgrades. She then moved furniture to open up the seating arrangement and add visual space. Some art was repositioned and accessories added to reflect the coastal boating community’s theme.
Here is an easy way to explain the difference: Amateur stagers and agents “pull the weeds.” Professional stagers do that and also “plant the flowers.” They add the “Wow-Factor.” There’s a big difference! When you need a stager, be sure to call someone who is certified by a company who offers “hands-on” training.
Speaking of the “Wow Factor,” take a look at 2 pictures from our January class. This house needed streamlining and the furniture, including piano, needed repositioning. The color theme from the dining room was repeated in this living room. A note to our local alumni: I’ll let you all know when the next open house is scheduled.
As we have said before, the website photos and virtual tour need to be spectacular and must show off the best features of the house. We know that 80% of the homebuying public looks online before deciding which homes to see in person. Why take pictures if they are not fabulous?? Why not stage the virtual tour and/or photo session? Call for pricing. 904-945-0093
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January Class ‘09 ~ Staged to Sell *Living Room
*Dining Room of the same house
See More… http://www.transform-us.com/picture_gallery.htm
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Here is an audio testimonial from one of the November ‘08 Class Students, Mary Habres, who finished her second certification in January…
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one more…Connie Crosby, Allied ASID of Constance Crosby Interiors in Pensacola, Florida…
<iframe scroll=no width=75 height=25 frameborder=0 scrolling=no src=”http://PlayAudioMessage.com/play.asp?m=552951&f=ECCISX&ps=13&c=FFFFFF&pm=1&h=25″></iframe>
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Another note to our local stagers, designers and especially real estate agents:
Keith Harmon, my son, who is one of the managers at the Carpet man, has decided to offer a small set of the best selling and most popular carpet samples to each interior designer, decorator and R.E. office that contacts him. Call him and he’ll have it delivered to your office ASAP. 904-803-7825
If you remember from previous newsletters, they get the product straight from the manufacturer so they are also wholesalers. They actually sell to other carpet stores.
For instance, buying directly from the manufacturer allows them to sell a popular Shaw Stainmaster plush nylon that Home Depot sells for 3.99 a sq. ft. for only 1.69 a sq. ft. installed.
They now have a Phillips Hwy. location in addition to the Blanding/Wells Rd. location. It’s north of the Avenues, next to Steak ‘n Shake. Call today. 803-7825
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* The March Staging and Redesign Certification Class is the 16th - the 20th. I have space available. A special price is available for designers.
*A marketing/staging class is coming soon. We’ll have several guest speakers from different arenas. (More updates are coming soon.)
Thoughts From the Heart
~Women seem to frequently put their wants and needs on the back burner and sacrifice their dreams for a more convenient time. We seem to tolerate disorganization and sometimes chaos in our life to meet the demands of work and family. Take a minute today and do something for yourself that will cause you to move toward that goal of excellence in every area of your domain.
~Your home is an extension of your heart. It represents your personal statement to the world and to yourself. When we fill our lives with things that uplift us, we become a product of that environment. Having an organized and beautiful home is about honoring the very important person who lives there…YOU.
“You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” Wayne Gretzky
See the website for more details…www.transform-us.com.
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