The Times They Are A Changin'

Thx for sharing some obvious wisdom here!  I have featured your post in the group, "Real World Home Staging for Newbies"

Awesome, my friend!

Staging is no different than any other profession.  Continuing education is a must to stay current and continue to grow and excel.  Great post.

TerryLynn - beautifully said!  This industry has so much potential and I"m honored to be a part of it working with professionals such as yourself.  RESA is leading the way with standardizing and bringing much needed unity.  Stage On!

We all need to further and continue are education.  My summer reading list is a group of books on Home Staging.  A friend stopped by saw the stack and laughingly said, "Why do you need these."  I need them for a number of reasons:  continuing education, knowing what is being said about our wonderful industry, learning new tips, tricks and sources, developing a list of go to professionals. 

Many stagers in Michigan have been looking at RESA and waiting to see it take off or provide a compelling reason to get more strongly involved.  More and more organizations are creeping up and I have to look closely at membership and fees.  The cost of buying books at a discount is far less than joining 3 to 4 associations and believe me in Michigan we are counting all pennies to prove value.

I look forward to the Round Table and results.  It might be the boost needed in Michigan to move RESA forward here.  What are the plans to promote and publish the outcome of the round table? I do find it encouraging that so many professionals I admire from previous involvement in organizations, by reputation or by sharing on Active Rain are joining RESA.  It encourages me to take a closer look and it benefits the industry because organizations have to work harder to continue to grow by offering more and better benefits. 

Deborah,

When the RT's are finished all the results will be  compiled and released to everyone. Please do take a closer look at RESA we are looking for leadership in your area. Our leadership is designed to help you grow your business while bringing you credibility.  Please ring me if you want to discuss.

Terrylynn thanks for posting this!! We really have evolved in a positive way!!! Just wait until you see whats coming next!

Having been in this business for many years (long before anyone called it staging), I have seen many changes in the industry and as many of you know (just like in most professions) some give a bad name to many!  RESA is just what our profession needs to set the standards for many reasons.  There are some very exciting things happening with this association and it will soon become the "GO-TO" place for anyone looking for a professional stager , information on the industry and/or quality training!  Shell has done an awesome job pulling this all together with her business background and she should be applauded by everyone in the industry for her vision.  Being a member and being able to be a part of the decision making of where this self-governing body in the future is a very positive thing for all professional stagers and the industry.

No matter what your training everyone who wants to see staging looked upon as a true professional industry should join RESA.  I realize that with real estate market conditions being what they are, we all have to watch where our $$$ are spent but I can tell you, this is one you should definitely budget for.

Thanks Shell for your vision,  hard work, dedication and getting this off the ground.

Terrylynn...thanks for the great post.  Lots of good information for all stagers.

Karen, THANKS so much, trying to remember that everyone doesn't go to SIF all the time so want to post for you on Newbies...thanks for doing that as I think it's a non-threatening place for newbies to get their feet wet.

Leah, yes, Realtors do it, just means that they take their profession VERY seriously.

Mary, We feel the same way...we are honored and blessed by the professionalism of so many in this industry.  And GO RESA.  THANKS...

Deborah, my experience as a Realtor is that our money spent on our TRADE association is essential, many of the others are optional.  But the trade association will help shape the industry and the public looks there for guidance. 

Shell gets contacted as spokesperson for the RESA about the industry as the public and the press are beginning to realize that they don't want to ask an organization that just has their point of view based on their training or what they are selling.  SO, RESA speaks for ALL stagers.  They like that.

See the difference?

Terrylynn, I just had my eyes checked and my ophthalmologist is quite surprised that I have had so little change in my prescription over the last few years and I took my rose colored glasses off years ago.  Kidding!

Actually I tried hard when I first entered the staging world to recommend a separate organization like NAR to one of the largest training groups.  I belonged to NAR when I was a Realtor and know the importance of a trade organization and the dangers of too much personality. 

Right now in the Midwest the more people we have promoting staging the better off we are.  It is my sincere hope that the media talks to more than one source and it helps to reinforce the positive if they hear similar stories from more than one organization. 

RESAi s just starting out and doesn't have the leadership here in the Midwest.  Maybe this healthy discussion will trigger someone to start growing it and promoting it.  Most of us dance with the organizations that we trained with or are familiar with and I still will always prefer to have more than one partner.  I like healthy competition and the variety offered.  As I watch RESA grow, at some point I may join them. 

I remember a line from a blog of yours some time back.  I can't remember the actual blog, but you had a great line, "We are all selling something."  Right now we are all selling staging and the more we promote professional and ethical behavior the better off we are.  I look forward to an exciting round table discussion and I will keep an eye on RESA.

It is always fun and educational to meet with other stagers and RESA is a great way to come together and determine our future.

Shell as always thanks for your work.  We may not say it enough but your fans are many. 

Deborah, know what you mean, it pays to be skeptical before jumping in too fast.  I am thinking you are not alone in that thought.  SO just watch us.  The industry in it's infancy was drastically different from the industry we are becoming today and we'll be leading the way with RESA.  It's the proper way to forge the future for stagers everywhere.  But then later I'll tell you what I really think (sic).  I respect your decision to stand back and watch. And perhaps we'll meet in the middle one day. or in the midwest (I'm from Wisconsin and hubby from Iowa).

YES! YES! YES!  This is why we have been working on continuing ed programs for our company that we will begin offering at the beginning of the year.  We also plan on providing them to RESA for all designations to be able to utilize.  Growing the industry as a whole is an important focus.  The better the industry becomes, the better it is for everyone - stagers, agents & consumers!

Thanks Meslissa for spreading your wisdom as usual. 

Kathleen thanks for the comments here.  I'll be looking for future dialog