~I know many of you glance through the first section, Staging News, and never make it to stories at the end of the newsletter. We’re all busy. So, before you do that, let me give a short intro to those important articles. Don’t miss them…  

Announcement to Home-sellers:
~If you are unhappy with the number of times your home is getting shown, I have good news and bad news—(Continue reading in the Website Photos, Etc. article below.)

~I feel like I’ve been sprinkled all over by my fairy godmother. Last month, you may remember, we spoke of a “charity staging” for a family in need because of serious health issues. You won’t believe what happened— (To read more, drop down to the “From the Heart” section at the bottom of the newsletter.)

~The February one-day staging seminar, that we hold at Queens Harbour every 8 weeks, consisted of a combination of designers and agents. One of the agents, Joan Burnett, surprised me with a great report—

“Becky—Thanks so much for your time and info. The seminar was very helpful. In fact, I had a vacant home with outdated Kelly green carpeting and nothing else. The day after your course, I went to Wal-Mart, spent approx. $80. on a few bright towels, rugs, candles and freshener. I Then I went home and used two of my dining chairs, some silk plants, a table, wine glasses and a bottle of Chianti, a nice salad bowl and a couple of cook books and staged this home. I now have an accepted contract with a very good offer!!! Thanks again, it was enjoyable and profitable!
P.S. Becky, I forgot to tell you the home had been on the market 7 months with NO offers.” Joan Burnett, Watson Realty

WOW!!!
Thanks, Joan, for the testimonial. This must have happened within a week or so because that class just ended February 27th.

I love to hear success stories. There are just too many to publish them all.

~The March and May certification classes are filled. There are a few openings still in the April 3-day class. The schedule is on the website on the “Class” page. You can now pay your deposit online. The “Payment Options” link is on the class page. www.transform-us.com.

~Our next One-day Staging Seminar will be Wednesday, May 7th at the Queens Harbour Yacht and Country Club. The time is 9:30am to 3:45pm. The seminar will include a continental breakfast and a fabulous lunch. We cover some of the topics from the certification class.
1. Furniture Arranging
2. Before/After Pictures
3. Choosing and Understanding Color
4. Accessory Placement
5. Staging Tips Often Overlooked by Agents
6. How to Stage an Empty Home

Also included: Speaker’s notes, a Benjamin Moore chart of the most popular colors and a graph paper note and sketch pad.

This $500. class is $250 for the general public. We offer a special price to agents and designers of $125. If you have a group of three or more, e-mail for special pricing.
becky@beckyharmon.com

If you are considering the certification class, the one-day seminar is a good way to check it out. The investment will be rebated back to you if you sign up for the extended class. Sign up now online. www.transform-us.com and go to the “Class” page and click on “Class Payment Options”.

If you’d like to come but have scheduling conflicts or you are in another city—check out our new One-Day Staging Seminar on DVD. See details below the testimonials.

Here are some reviews from the most recent seminar attendees—

“We’re always told that if we attend a training seminar of any kind and learn just one thing, it was well worth it. However, in your class, I learned a whole new wealth of information that I will be able to incorporate into my daily real estate business and my personal life as well.
The day went by so fast. I enjoyed everything in and about the staging class. Obviously IT WORKS!
Thanks Again !”
Pat Conrad,
Watson Realty Corp.

“I had a great time and I learned several key things that will help me personally and professionally. You are a great teacher who obviously enjoys her job. Your enthusiasm is contagious!”
Best Regards,
Patti Namey, Watson Realty, Broker Associate

~The One-Day Staging Class DVD is available NOW.

If you are unable to attend the one-day staging seminar (perhaps you are out-of-town or just busy), the seminar can come to you. We have a professionally produced one hour DVD of the class with all the demos for $125. It includes all the “Before and After” photos and the popular segment called Staging Tips (even your agent doesn’t know about). We include a list with our favorite, frequently-used paint colors. It will be sent out within 2 days. You can order it by e-mailing becky@beckyharmon.com.

Also Available to ship now—
*A 5-minute DVD of an actual Transformations staging/redesign produced by Creation Studios. It can be used by professionals to do presentations. The before and after shots are spectacular. With this DVD, you can illustrate the benefits of this service to your clients. $35. plus Shipping and Handling Go to the website www.transform-us.com then go to the “Class” page and click on “Online Class/DVD”.

WEBSITE PHOTOS:

Announcement to Homesellers:

If you are unhappy with the number of times your home is getting shown, I have good news and bad news—

*The good news - More than 80% of the home-buying public looks at listings online before making an appointment to actually see a house.

*The bad news - More than 80% of the home-buying public looks at listings online before making an appointment to actually see a house.

Of course, what I mean is that it’s good news if you have great photos and bad news if you don’t. If your home is not model-ready, you are not going to get great photos.

Listen to this story—

Transformations staged a $900,000. house in a popular gated neighborhood - before the scheduled virtual tour and website photos. The house looked amazing!! The agent had three offers within FIVE days of putting pictures and the virtual tour online - two for full price. One man drove all night from Virginia to see it. A fourth offer was in the works.

All of these people were from out-of-town and had already decided on the neighborhood.

I am just waiting for home-sellers and agents everywhere to realize what an indispensable value professional staging can be to the selling process.

What potiential buyer might be surfing through listings right at this moment, hoping a picture or virtual tour is going to whisper to them: “Here I am. Buy me.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you’d like to see an excellent example of good photos, go to www.queensharbouryachtandcountryclub.com/realestate. and go to this listing MLS415418. Transformations staged the house recently before the photographer was called in. What you don’t see is the previous bright yellow walls in the living room and dark red walls in the kitchen. Lots of art and accessories were removed and the remaining ones were repositioned. Neutral pillows replaced hot pink ones. All accent colors except cobalt blue, salmon and yellow came out and plants went in. Check it out.

I recommend that you look at www.firstbeachproductions.com to see a great example of a “video tour”. It seems to be replacing the old concept of a “virtual tour” and offers a better perception of reality.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FROM THE HEART

I feel like I’ve been sprinkled all over by my fairy godmother. Last month, you may remember, we spoke of a “charity staging” for family in need because of serious health issues. You won’t believe what happened—

To begin, I’d like to repeat the opening paragraph from last month in case you missed it:

“I witnessed a beautifull collaboration of several generous class alums in January. I sent out an “all points bulletin” requesting volunteers to aid a family in need. I was conducting my regular class which was followed by a visit from out-of-town family (so I was unavailable) when I received the e-mail. This family desperately needed staging but could not afford it. The couple is expecting a baby they know has Down Syndrome. The father has endured three brain surgeries and they had very little furniture left in the house. Under the direction of Coral Lanier and with the help of Libby Conner, Pam Belcher and Sandy Miller a “miracle” was performed in that little house. Many of the former students offered to help and some donated items for them, including Deborah Broughton. The homeowners were quite moved by the effort this group of amazing individuals made on their behalf—and so was I.”

This, my dear friends, was the e-mail I recieved from Sandy Miller, the listing agent a few weeks ago—

“This email may be premature but I have to share!!
The folks that were helped by your fellow students with the infamous “charity staging” finally got the house 100% ready for the sign in the yard and the pictures to be taken.
*I put the house in the MLS this Monday. They received an offer yesterday, Tuesday after just one showing and on the market less than 24 hours!*
The house looked so cute and I honestly believe that it would not had gotten the offer if it had not been staged.
We have not gotten the ink dry and are still working out minor details with the offer but I feel we are almost there. The fact the Sellers got the showing (perhaps from the pics online) and an offer within hours of the viewing is AMAZING!!
There are so many homes for sale of similar sf and style as theirs and those are 3 bedrooms, this is a 2 bedroom!!
Again I am a believer!
Thank you.”
Sandy Miller, USN (Ret)
Watson Realty Corp.

What can I add to that testimony? Thanks again to the Transformation class grads - I call them Staging Angels - who frequently make themselves available to help someone in need. Oprah would be proud.

I wish you all a happy St. Patty’s Day. Keep on believing. We’re on the right track.
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Next month, I will report on the “Who Moved My Cheese” Conference I attended in Orlando.
Real Estate Agents of America—
Are you ready for change??
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“There’s No Place like Home”. Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz

Till next time…

Becky Harmon
Transformations