Step one – Throw away obvious trash

Go through the space with an eye for things that can be thrown out immediately. Do not get tied up with things that may be thrown out. Just take out all of the "no-brainers," so to speak.

Do not let this trash stay around or in view. If there is enough trash, coordinate a bulk pick up with the city. If not, put it in bags or wrap it up in a tarp or sheet for trash day. Until trash day, resist the temptation to pull things out of the trash pile.

Step two – Clear away a wall and walkway

Clear away one long wall and a central walkway through the space, even if you have to stack some things higher to do it. If possible, keep furniture and larger items stacked together on the perimeter of the piles. Leave a clear space near the room’s entrance for a sorting table, but do not set up the table until "Step 7."

Step three – Pull items out by "department"

Imagine the space is a new retail store, and that you have been hired to set the store up for opening day. What items would you put with each other? You are going to pull out and group items into departments along the cleared wall.

Start by pulling out everything you can from the department with the largest items (i.e., appliances, furniture). Stack the items in a very condensed way by the cleared wall to conserve the space you have claimed. When all of the furniture is handled, choose another department, working from departments with larger things to departments with the smaller things. Place the smaller things into boxes within their department. Put a sign up over each department, so you (or anyone working on the project) can immediately see how items are sorted.

 

Step one – Prepare your sorting area

Choose a space, preferably indoors, where you can secure and sort through the possessions from the space you are preparing to declutter. You will need a generous amount of space, either on the floor or on shelves, to hold the items during the process.

Set up a sorting table and place a blank legal pad and pen on it. Collect any empty boxes or containers you have, packing tape, packing tissue, scissors, a utility knife, several "Sharpie" markers, some sticky notes, file folders, paper clips, a stapler with extra staples, and rubber bands, and place them in an organized way under the table. Going forward, you can use a radio in this area, but, preferably, leave your phones and televisions elsewhere.

Step two - Designate "letting-go" areas

Before clearing the space you are decluttering, designate areas to hold the items temporarily that you will decide to toss, sell, donate or give-to-friends-and-family. Your trash and donate areas, for example, will be convenient to the trash or donation collection process (i.e., near the regular trash, or in front of the building for pickup). Your sell pile may be in the basement if you hold an annual sale or in a vehicle for delivery to a consignment shop. Your give-to-friends-and-family pile may be either in your vehicle, so you can deliver items directly, or in a place you keep gifts until the appropriate occasion arises.

Step three - Pull out any "no-brainer" toss, sell and donate items

Go through the entire space three times with an eye for things that can be thrown out, sold or donated. Do not get tied up with things that may be thrown out, sold or donated. Just take out all of the "no-brainers," so to speak. 

Do not let these items stay around or in view. If there is enough trash or donations, coordinate a special pick up. If not, put the trash in bags or wrap it up in a tarp or sheet for the next trash day. Sell and donate items can be place in your vehicle for delivery to those locations. Resist the temptation to revisit your decisions.

 

Step 1: Recognize, own and embrace your clutter problem.

Every item of clutter has a thought or a feeling attached to it. Maybe a thought about how an item can be used in the future or a guilty feeling about a worthless item dropped into the space after a long workday. Recognizing that you have clutter and that you, and the others in your household, share the responsibility for it is an essential realization that will help you move forward to a solution.

At this point, you can begin looking at your clutter as a solution in process. Try to release your embarrassment, and keep only enough guilt to drive you toward and help you maintain your objectives.

Step 2: Develop a vision and commit to a result.

Consider the result you would like to achieve. Do you merely want to reclaim your foyer, or is there some way you would like re-purpose the room? If you are sorting through the drawers of an antique sideboard, what will you store in the drawers later?

A large decluttering project can be overwhelming and being very specific about your outcome will help you through the obstacles that will arise to discourage you. While you are out shopping or on your lunch hour, pick up some paint samples, look at your options for organizing products, or visit a furniture or decorating store. Clip pictures from your favorite magazines or draw a picture of your ideal result

Step 3: Make a time plan.

What are your time constraints? Some of my clients want quick results so they can move on with their lives. They see a big event, such as an upcoming family visit, a vacation from work, or a significant birthday as an opportunity to finally dig through their messes. If you prefer a speedy result, you should consider scheduling a professional organizer with a crew, or a group of trusty friends and family. During the sorting process, you will be inundated with decisions, a professional organizer will provide an overall plan and lead the "troops," freeing you up to concentrate on the individual pieces of clutter.

Other clients have plenty of time and prefer to work through their clutter with the help of a weekly coaching session with a professional organizer and on-going support from a "clutter partner." Clutter partners are close friends who help you declutter, often in exchange for helping them do the same.



In any case, having a set of time goals that are tied to your vision is essential.

Click here to see the examples of Staging Bids and Proposals on the University!

Labels: bids, proposals

Update your profile & create your feature page

With the many thousands of visitors to the site each month you are missing your best marketing tool if your Profile and Feature Page is not top notch.

Career Book

  Your best marking tool and you need more than one!  Call you doctor, accountant, hair dresser, lawyer… Take them out to lunch and educate them as to what you REALLY do.  Show them your career book and offer to let them take your career book to their office for the waiting area.  Not only will they do that but they will pass your Career Book around the office to their employees.

Business Cards/Brochures

   You need something to put in people’s hands as you meet them

ASP™ Photo Tote

Use the 3 foot rule…If someone is standing 3 foot from you…TALK TO THEM about Staging®  The ASP Photo Bag is a great ice breaker because is creates interest and questions.

Labels: ASP Network

Labels: advice, Staging tips

Labels: Stage to live

Click here to see the Sherwin- Williams paint colors Barb has choose for Staging!

Labels: colors, ideas, paint, Staging

Click here to see the Staging Ideas on the University!

Feel free to share your own here!

Labels: staging ideas

Labels: business planing, planning

CONTAIN –

1.   Storage is KEY!  Is the piece easy to contain either in a storage unit, in a box, bag or on a shelf?  ALWAYS keep your eyes open for useful storage aids including shelving, cardboard boxes (unusual shaped boxes sometimes come in very useful too), clear boxes or tubs, any and all large zippered bags, packing materials, oversized plastic (to cover couches, etc.), old blankets, furniture pads, etc.  The time you spend up front in taking care of your storage needs will pay for itself over and over! 


2.   Hand-held shrink wrap rolls are invaluable tools to wrap around rugs, or around drawers, breakable items, etc.  I always have a supply of the 6” rolls and a few of the larger rolls as well.


3. If something requires multiple pieces to assemble each time – chances are you won’t take the time to mess with it.  Think what can be loaded, unloaded, wrapped, and put away in a reasonable amount of time.


4. IMPORTANT TIP:  Watch for stores that are going out of business – they usually sell off their store fixtures and shelving for bargain prices.  You can usually pick up great bins, racks, office supplies, boxes, and misc. bulk material handling stuff.  Keep your eyes open for carts, laundry bins, or shelves on wheels.  They come in extremely handy if you have to Stage a house/condo  that has an elevator or simply for moving your inventory around.


5. In my warehouse I have one large shelf near the entrance that is dedicated to packing materials including bubble wrap, paper, plastic bags, cardboard, IKEA bags (these are great blue bags that you can buy for $1.00 that I always transport my pillows and lampshades in), etc. Reuse and Recycle as much as you can within reason of course! 

CARRY –

• Must be lightweight enough that you (and one other person) can lift it.  It should not be too bulky or awkward in shape or you will find yourself fighting with it more than being glad you have it. 


• Keep in mind that sometimes large chairs and couches have trouble fitting through doors, so unless you plan on having assistance, don’t plan on using them alone.


• Never try to carry too many things at once – especially if they don’t belong to you.  Use respect and care when handling your client’s things and only carry one item in each hand. 


• Use proper ergonomics when lifting anything heavy, and get in the habit of always picking up items from the bottom (i.e. don’t pick up lamps from their harps, or vases from their necks, or flower arrangements with the stems.  You never know when something is not attached or has an existing crack, etc.)

Question #1:  Based on your Business Plan and Marketing Plan, Who is your Target audience – your potential client?

Ideas to consider: 

Residential: Occupied &/or Vacant??? Consultations &/or Stagings???

                      Owner vacant or Builder Vacant???

Commercial: Occupied and/or Vacant???

Question #2: When you determine that you want to Stage vacants, do you buy Inventory or not?

BIG IDEA:  DO NOT BUY INVENTORY UNTIL YOU NEED IT!  How many vacant Stagings do you have SCHEDULED?  Schedule, and then buy as needed.

Networking or Not Working – It’s Your Choice!

Even if you think of yourself as a great Networker, you might want to consider a few life lessons about Networking.  They are:

Make Networking a REAL goal!  Networking is a daily activity.  It’s like eating an elephant – one bite at a time!

Recognize, Organize, and Reorganize Your Current Network!  All of us have a network, but most of the time we aren’t aware of it.  Make a list of all the people on your holiday greeting card list, in your home owner’s association, your church, and your professional associations.  You get the idea.

Make Sure Your Networking Tools Are Ready At All Times!  This doesn’t mean your business card or brochure.  It means making sure you have a clear objective, an appropriate attitude, and great phone skills.

Make the First Contact in Any Situation.  Walk up to someone, look them in the eye, introduce yourself, and ask a question.

Help Others.  My goal is always to be remembered well.  What better way than helping other people?

Keep in Touch Regularly.  This may not sound important, but believe me, both positive and negative things make lasting impressions.

Say Thank You and MEAN IT!  We say thanks to the person who brings us water at our table and thanks to the person who takes our money at the bank.  We certainly need to say thanks to those who give us their time.

And Just Do It!!!!

I.          Identify Your Client – Tailor your presentation to your client.  Do you have a niche market?  You need to be clear exactly who your message is for.  Who can you help the most?  Who do you understand the best?  Where do you have the most experience?  Think all of this through and develop your message specifically for this ideal client. Examples:  Home Owner, Real Estate Agent, Builder, others?

II.         Identify Specific Challenges for each client and tailor Marketing Portfolio.              What does your client want to do but doesn’t know how.  What’s missing for them?  What are they struggling with?  What is confusing or frustrating for them? Clearly articulate this: “I work with these kind of clients who have this kind of challenge.”

Kelly McFrederick, ASPM, IAHSP

ASP Course Trainer, Stagedhomes.com

• What are we worth?-We have a value service worth dollars as an investment for the Home Seller. “WE ARE CREATING WEALTH FOR OUR CLIENTS, WE DESERVE TO BE PAID!”

• Pricing per hour-All Staging Services derive from your worth per hour and what the market will bear as we continue to grow and you gain experience.

• Some Staging projects can are priced by “What is worth to me to get the Staging Project Accomplished and Completed?” and “How much do I want to make per day or per hour?”

93% of ASP Staged Homes sell in 1 month or les

31.8 days or less for ASP Staged Homes

160 days or more for Non-Staged Homes

Labels: Stage, Staging, Statistics

Barb's Coaching Calls for You!

As The Creator of Home Staging® and the ASP Home Staging business model of today, our ASP designation and course, our IAHSP Association and  Foundation,a top selling broker,  and author Barb Schwarz is giving you, as an ASP, free monthly coaching conference calls!

 

Barb has seen it all and has experienced almost  every situation that can arise in a Home Staging business.  Barb has a wealth of knowledge and will personally share it all with  you through her free monthly coaching conference calls.  Barb shares her valuable information as she has worked with happy and unhappy sellers, bids accepted and rejected, too much or too little inventory, pricing that gives away service or charging too much, real estate agent concerns and questions, what works and what doesn’t work.  Now in addition to our great ASP Courses and the IAHSP association, Barb is personally sharing even more with you...at no cost to you!

 

Below are just some of the topics she has chosen to share with you, one at a time, in each of her seventy-five minute, monthly coaching conference calls.

 

Tune in, learn, grow, and become better educated so you can happily grow your business even more!  Each month Barb will pick one of the topics listed below and it will be a surprise which one she will choose each month.

   

So, call in, take notes and mark your calendar for the 3rd Monday of each month at 5 PM, Pacific Standard Time for seventy-five minutes with Barb.  You have nothing to lose, everything to gain and will be so glad you did.  Whatever you do...you won't want to miss this time each month with Barb!

 

There is no need to pre-register.

 

 

Barb’s Coaching Calls:  Hot Topics for YOU!

• Pricing Your Business to Make Money
• ASP Stagers and Agents Working Together
• Staging Your Bid So Your Seller Says "YES"! 
• Consultations are Gold Mines
• IAHSP and the Benefits for YOU
• Inventory: A Lot, A Little or None
• The Business of Running A Staging Business
• Keeping the Client Happy
• Building an ASP Team
• Marketing Mania
• The Top 5 Keys to Your Success
• The Secrets of Working Successfully with Real Estate Agents
• And Much More!

 As always if you have any questions,  feel free to contact us anytime!

The 2007 Convention in Chicago was a hit! ASPs from all around theUS and Canada gathered at Chicago’s historical Navy Pier to further educatethemselves and network with some of the top Home Stagers in the industry; staying true to the convention theme for 2007, "ASPs Lead Real Estate and The Home Staging Industry into the Future."

Barb Schwarz personally invited and honored IAHSP Chapter Presidents, convention speakers, committee members, select sponsors, and SHC staff with a cruise on Lake Michigan on the Odyssey ship for a special lunch in their honor. Everyone was introduced and acknowledged for their support and dedication to the event. As a pianist played for entertainment, those in attendance by special invitation were served a top-notch lunch. The ship was filled with excitement for all the great things that would take place at the convention in the next few days. Every year Barb hosts a special private luncheon as she honors those who contribute and help make the convention the special convention that it is.

It was a full house at the Exhibitor Faire as ASPs arrived to register and sign up for their Meet the Pro sessions. The exhibit floor was filled with chatter, great giveaways, handouts, and door prizes. Exhibitors took the opportunity to learn how to serve our members and are eager to partner with our ASPs, IAHSP Chapters, and SHC. Our ASPs did a wonderful job communicating their needs to the exhibitors and the day was very productive for all. Watch for some exciting opportunities for ASPs with our exhibitors in the near future!

Wednesday Evening a special leadership IAHSP meeting was held. Many great new things are happening that all need to know about and carry back to the IAHSP Chapters about. And in this meeting Barb introduced all local leaders in attendance. IAHSP current events were shared and reviewed and leaders were encouraged to build momentum and share all the knowledge and information they gain from the event with their local IAHSP chapter members. The enthusiasm in the room was contagious!

Barb Schwarz. The Creator of Home Staging, CEO Stagedhomes.com, President and Founder of IAHSP and the IAHSP Foundation opened the 2007 convention with a highly educational session about Home Staging Ideas of Today, Stagedhomse.com latest and greatest new services and accomplishments for ASP’s. Barb also introduced a brand new Power Point for all ASP Stagers to have and use as they market their ASP Businesses. For the next three days education was paramount for all with sessions of speakers who shared information about the changing Real Estate and Home Staging industry, marketing techniques pertinent to the Home Staging business, website and internet technology, business growth, a top 10 list of must-do’s, business coaching, insurance and teaming with Ronald McDonald House Charities for the World Wide Staging Service Week. Each session was educational with turn-key information structured to assist and encourage attendees to grow their Home Staging businesses.

Wednesday evening all ASP’s in attendance were entertained by "The Chicago Town Dixie Stompers," a four piece band while ASPs learned to swing the Charleston with "Big City Swing." The dance floor was packed and the evening was fun for all! Barb also hosted a very special ASPM reception in her own home after the main networking event that evening as well.

Friday, the Meet the Pros sessions was packed with really great information shared by ASPs and ASPMs to help all ASPs grow their business and further their education. These sessions are a favorite of our ASP attendees and are packed full of information!

Friday evening all attendees had the option to attend a field trip hosted by Personal Preference, entitled IAHSP- Stage It With Art. Chartered busses transported ASP members to Personal Preference’s facilities to shop with discounts of 40-70% off! Guests were greeted with great food, door prizes, a wonderful team of staff and great art at great prices. It was a very special event for all that attended.

Money was raised for the IAHSP Foundation with some really wonderful silent and live auction items. A grand total of over $20,000 was raised for the IAHSP Foundation to be given back to the local communities our IAHSP Chapters serve through our ASP World Wide Staging Service Week!! Thank you to all who donated generously to this worthwhile cause by contributing an item for each auction and to those that bid on and bought an item to raise the dollars that will help us all serve others. Our new IAHSP Green bracelets that carry Barb’s mission statement of "Think Globally, Act Locally" are on each bracelet and as Barb auctioned them off they all were sold. This was a great way to raise money for our great cause of our Staging Service Week in September. Thank you to each of our IAHSP Chapters and to all ASP/ASPMs who spontaneously contributed to the bracelet auction on Saturday and to our live and silent auctions throughout the convention!
The convention closed with a valuable Q&A with Barb Schwarz and her closing standing ovation speech to lead ASP’s into the future. Saturday evening our ASP/IAHSP Roaring 20’s Dinner Cruise aboard the Mystic Blue on Lake Michigan was fabulous and enjoyed by all in attendance. Mary DeBella, ASPM, was awarded the 'Barb Schwarz Staging Excellence Award’ for her talent and contribution to the Home Staging Industry and Edith Bookstein, ASPM, was awarded the IAHSP Spirit Award for her spirit and willingness to help all ASPs through volunteering and kindness. ASP’s were treated to great food, music, dancing and the evening ended with a fabulous firework show under the stars!

Please post your comments or questions about the topic of today's coaching call with Barb.

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