Kalamazoo, MI

Brand New PRES Home Staging Home Study Course Starts Tomorrow!

I am so excited to be able to offer my brand new PRES Home Staging Home Study course to anyone, anywhere in the world who is interested in starting their own home staging business.This has been a dream of mine for years now and to finally be doing it for me, is a wonderful accomplishment. It's not just about teaching people how to start and run a successful home staging business, it's so much more than that. I get to share my sacred gift of teaching, writing and mentoring with thousands of people. And I know this course will transform their lives forever!

So are you ready to be transformed! Whether you are just getting started or your existing home staging busienss (and you) need a boost - check it out because it starts tomorrow September 22, 2011.

We are all ready to get started tomorrow with the very first module in my brand new on line PRES® Staging and Redesign Training Course and all that's missing is... YOU!

'"7 Steps To Creating Your Home Staging Business -
Make Money Doing What You Love!" '

www.HomeStagingBusinessCourse.com

Created especially for those who want to learn how to be a professional home stager as well as seasoned professionals looking for an additional boost to their knowledgebase, this one-of-a-kind, 7-step program (plus tons of bonuses!) walks you through my entire PRES® Staging Training curriculum that I teach in a classroom setting...all from the comfort of your home!

Here's what we'll be covering:

Module 1: How to Get Started and Create Your Business Plan for Success!

Module 2: Learn the PRES® 10-Step Secret Success Formula for Home Staging & Redesign Room Set Ups

Module 3: Create A Branding Buzz Through Marketing Magic So You're Not The Best Kept Secret!

Module 4: Increase Sales -- Get Noticed and Be Remembered

Module 5: Create Attractive Pricing by Creating Irresistible Offers

Module 6: Make a Small Investment In Starting Up Your Dream Business

Module 7: Take the Fear Out of Selling -- Relationship Selling Made Easy!

Plus these bonuses!

- A digital (PDF) copy of Dana's eBook: Getting Ready for an Open House in 10 Easy Steps.

- A digital (PDF) copy of Dana's eBook: Trade Secrets to Hanging Art Like a PRO

- A digital (PDF) copy of Dana's eBook: Creating Curb Appeal that Sells!

- An 8th LIVE Q & A CALL where I will answer all of your questions and ensure everything taught in the course is crystal clear.

- A complete set of templates, samples and checklists including invoices, client contracts, proposals, recommendations checklist and report, cover letters, consultation forms, rental quote forms and so much more!

PLUS!

Dana, I want to make sure you start your business with your best foot forward so am gifting anyone who signs up today TWO free mentoring sessions with me! I will work with you one-on-one to give you specific guidance unique to your situation so your new home staging career will take off like a rocket!

This is a high-content high-value course jam packed with tons of information sourced over the past 10 years.

Here's what just a few students I've trained have to say after taking the course:

I cannot tell you how much it means to have the PRES Staging Resource Centre and you Dana as a resource. As a new stager I love to actually stage but with your assistance I don't have to "reinvent the wheel" when it comes to forms and contracts. You have done it perfectly and because I am a "PRES Graduate" I am the fortunate one to be able to tap into your system. I not only have you as a resource to contact when I need it but I have all the other PRES Stagers who are not competitors but associates. Thank you for that. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Cheryl Grattan, With Flair Home Staging and Redesign

Within a few months of finishing my training with Dana J. Smithers I have had a number of staging consultations and one move in consultation. All were done with great success and the clients along with their realtors were thrilled. They were especially grateful for the follow up reports which they received within 24 hrs. of my consultations. This is all thanks to the terrific course and excellent instruction I received from Dana. Thanks so much Dana!

- Christine Dempster, Stage Right Home Staging

Come and join the PRES professional network of home stagers today. You will be starting your training tomorrow and can be a home stager in just a few short weeks!

I hope you will join me tomorrow, or if you know of anyone interested, please pass this link on to them. Learn more about it here: PRES Home Staging Business Course.

With Complete Gratitude

Dana J. Smithers

Once a railroad line connecting nine towns between Kalamazoo and South Haven, Michigan between 1870 and 1970, the Kal-Haven Trail in Southwest Michigan is now a State Park. The 34.5 mile Kal-Haven Trail is an active park all along its distance, even though some of the towns along this route have faded into the past.

I began my adventure exploring the Kal-Haven Trail in Southwest Michigan last Saturday, where I parked at the 10th Street trailhead in Kalamazoo, and bicycled 3.5 miles to the first town on the map. The trail head features a red caboose as the information center. Being that I got a late start, and I am still building my endurance on my mountain bike, this was enough for me on this 7 mile round trip.

I must say that this trail is beautifully maintained, and is one of the best bike rides in the area. The trail is mainly crushed limestone for a majority of the ride, and the grade is not too steep. It passes through the backs of some residential areas, and through some fields, farmland and woods along the way. The section I traveled was very beautiful and a nice quiet ride.

One of the things I like about this trail is the fact that there are benches along the way if you want to take a break, while either walking or riding. There are also restrooms at very spots as well. The trail is also well marked at each mile and 1/2 mile section of trail, so it is always easy to keep track of where you are and how far you have come.

Farther down the trail from where I traveled are covered bridges, old plantations and even a museum at the Bloomingdale Depot which is the halfway point of the trail. During the various seasons you can take in the colors of fields of flowers, summer honeysuckle and fall leaves along the way, depending on what time of year you go. The trail is also open to snow mobiles with the proper Michigan permits, as well as cross country skiing.

To reach the trail at the Kalamazoo end, take Interstate 131 to Exit 38B. Once off the exit, go to the 10th street and turn right. Then go two miles, and the trail head parking will be on your left. To access the South Haven trail head, take Interstate 196 to exit 20. then take Phoenix Road West to Bailey Road. Turn Right on Bailey Road and then left onto Wells Street, and the trail head will be on your left.

Here is my self-portrait while taking a break on the Kal-Haven Trail in Southwest, Michigan.

This past weekend I took a little excursion over to the 18th Annual UKC Dog Show in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was held at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds and Expo Center, which is a really good facility for a show that consists of both indoor and outdoor events.

I was with my little brother from Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and we went there originally to learn about different breeds of dogs. We found so much more, and had such a great time. Here are are few other photos I had not shared yet from this event:

This past Sunday on June 19th, I attended the United Kennel Club's (UKC) 18th Annual Dog Show, which also had a featured event of the 'Ultimate Air Dogs Competition'.  Dogs would run down a dock and jump off into a swimming pool, and were scored and measured for distance. 

This apparently is a very popular event, and some of the dogs really loved to perform for a crowd.  I stood there for a good hour in the sun filming this exciting event.  It was very cool to see the crowd cheering on the dogs.

I went to this event with my little brother from Big Brothers, Big Sisters (BBBS).  He had a great time watching the dogs, and it probably was the most exciting part of the entire event.

Listening to the announcer and judge, it appears this is a competition that is growing and traveling all over the country.  He said that anyone who wanted to enter their dog in the competition was welcome, and he offered instruction to owners on how to get the dogs started on jumping. 

The qualifying distance to make the finals was 24 feet 8 inches, and I saw only a few dogs make that distance when I watched.  Each dog is given two attempts, and most of the dogs jumped well under 10 feet.  However there were a few that you would of thought had wings on their feet as they just flew!

I never thought a dog show would be so much fun.  It is definitely an event that I will remember, and go again.  Seeing the Ultimate Air Dogs made me want to jump off a dock myself and join them.  I do not own a dog, but I have considered getting one. 

This was an exciting local event to go to and it required no admission fee.  We had to pay $4 for parking and that was it.  If you happen to hear of an event like this in your area, I highly recommend going, and taking the kids.  It is a lot of fun. 

I sat down and edited a video of the footage I shot yesterday, and I hope you will take time to watch it.  It is just a little over 2 minutes, but you will be amazed!  Those dogs can fly, and a lot of them really have some hang time!

I am a volunteer with Big Brothers, Big Sisters. This weekend I was looking for something unique and different to take my little brother to. We had already been to the zoo, car shows, the movies, and worn out a bowling alley over the winter months. I had called him on Saturday morning, and he did not call me back until late Saturday afternoon. We ended up planning to do something on Sunday.

I furiously was looking for something unique and original to take him to that we had not done before. I came across on a Michigan festivals website that the United Kennel Club (UKC) dog show was still going on at the fairgrounds in Kalamazoo, and Sunday was the final day. This was perfect! So I called my little brother back and made the arrangements to pick him up early Sunday morning.

We arrived at the dog show, not knowing what to expect. We paid for parking, and were handed a bag of stuff from the parking attendent. When we parked, I looked through the bag, and discovered a list of rules for visitors attending the dog show. So I read each one to my little brother, and made sure he understood.

The rules were pretty basic, but they made sense. Some of the rules were 'Ask the owner for permission before petting a dog, and they do not have to give you permission, so please understand that', 'Do not try to pet a dog that is eating, sleeping or growling', and a whole bunch more of other common sense rules.

Neither my little brother or I own a dog, so we approached this as a chance to learn about different breeds of dogs. We approached owners of dogs, and asked them questions about the breeds, backgrounds, etc.

A majority of the owners were quite willing to tell us all about them, especially when we told them we were with Big Brothers, Big Sisters. A few let my little brother pet the dogs, and even play with them. Here is a photo of Lorenzo with a Poodle. ---->

Usually the ones that did not were the ones who were busily prepping their dog for a viewing or competition, so we left them alone.

I do not know if you have ever been to a dog show, but I thought it was a lot of fun. We learned a lot about different breeds, and especially the ones we were most interested in. We also got to watch some dogs go through judging, and win some ribbons. It was facinating to watch the judging competitions.

One of the most fun parts of the event was the 'Ultimate Air Dogs' competition, where dogs competed in a running jump off a dock into water. That was really exciting, especially when you heard everyone cheering for the dogs. We saw one dog jump 25 feet! Amazing! I shot a lot of video at this event, and will probably share them once I edit them down. I got some great shots of the flying dogs off the docks. What fun!

So I definitely recommend going out into your community and taking in new events whenever possible. You never know where you might learn new things, and have a wonderful time!