Rockland Home Staging

I think the following pictures illustrate the difference between Home Staging and Decorating.  

This bathroom update was done using only the items the homeowner had on hand. Home staging does not have to be expensive.  The only money the homeowner spent was for a can of paint.  We stripped the border, painted the room an off white and rearranged the existing accessories.   The floral arrangement was in one of the home's bedrooms.  So what do you think of this under $25 makeover? 

Rockland Home Staging specializes in inexpensive transformations for the Rockland County homeowner.  Call us today to take the guesswork out of getting your home ready for sale.  (845)731-9510.  

I can't tell you how important these 9 simple words are to my marketing plan.

Here are some of the situations where I use this phrase:

Office Presentations - Whenever I do and office presentation I always ask the office manager if they can introduce me to the managers from the other branch offices. I ask for names and telephone numbers, then I discuss how hard it is to cold call and request that the office manager call ahead or send an email introducing me and telling the person that I will be calling. I also make sure it is OK that I mention their name when contacting the other manager - it helps to break the ice when talking to a new contact.

Meetings with Realtors - When I work with a new agent I try to find out who they think would value my services. I explain to them that I am trying to grow my business and would love some suggestions on who would be a good agent to partner with.

Networking Meetings- These are sometimes hard. I usually don't know anyone at these meetings so rather than stand there like a wallflower I walk up to someone and introduce myself. I always ask about their business first. After I have explained what I do I ask them if there is anyone in the room they think I should meet. Usually they can at least introduce me to one other person and I follow the same path around the room. When I come across someone I think they should meet I will introduce them as well. Networking groups only work if you know how to work them.

Friends and Acquaintances - Whenever I am out socially I carry my business cards. Often at sporting events or other occasions people want to know what I do. After explaining the concept of home staging they often tell me that their neighbor / friend / mother etc. is moving. I tell them I would appreciate it if they would pass my card along to their friend.

Why it works - People like to be the expert, they like to feel their opinions are valued and most people genuinely want to help others. When you nicely ask people, Is there anyone else you think I should meet? They are almost always happy to introduce you to one of their contacts. They feel good about themselves because they have done their good deed for the day.

Assignment - Shut off your computer. I know it is hard but you have to take a brake from blogging sometime right??? Go out - meet people - mingle - make contacts with wild abandon. You will feel good about yourself and so will the people helping you.

Many people have had great success posting their listings and services to Craig's list - it is a fantastic FREE way to market yourself and your services.   Here are the steps to posting your RES flyer to Craig's list:

1. Go to Craig's list and create an account.  It is free and takes a minute or so.

2. Realtors go to Real Estate Shows  Sign up for an account if you have not done so already.  Stagers can sign up using the information found here.  Create a Flyer - it is very easy for directions check out Jeff's tutorial video.  RES has many templates to choose from.  Don't forget to add pics and links to your website and AR Blog.

3.  Once you have created the Flyer go into Manage your shows in RES.  You will see a Publish button.  Hit that button.  You will see a tab at the top that says: FLYER.  Hit that tab.  

4.  In the middle of the page you will see a box that says Craigslist HTML.  Copy everything in the box.  It looks like a bunch of junk and it is quite long.  Apparently that is what HTML looks like.

5.  Go to http://www.craigslist.org/ 

6.  In the upper left hand corner hit:  Post to classifieds.

7.  Select services offered.

8.  Select Real estate Service

9 Choose a location

10.  You should see the blank ad form.   Create a Posting Title.

11. OK remember in step 4 you copied the RES HTML code - Now paste it  into the posting description.  (where you would normally type the description of the property or service)

12.  Hit continue

13.  Input the verification word at the bottom.

14. Hit Continue again.

15 you are done - The first time you publish with Craig's they email you a copy of your post.  I think you have to click on something to make the post official.  I think after that they just post the ad without the confirmation. 

16.  After 15 minutes or so you can go to Craig's list and view your ad.  In 1-2 days your Craig's list ad will appear in Yahoo and Goggle search results.  Can you say SEO!!!

The only thing with Craig's list is the ads are only good for 7 days.  Then they expire. So you have to repeat this every 7th day.  I just make it a part of my Monday routine. 

That is it.  I know it seems very long but it really only takes a few minutes.  If you have any questions let me know I'll try to help as best I can. 

Make the most out of your RES account!!!

Happy Posting. 

Here is a link to my ad on Craig's list:  http://newyork.craigslist.org/jsy/rts/437243925.html
(I have got to create a new show that does not have a toilet bowl on the front page!!!)