Jan Whitlow, ASPM, #1 Pinellas Co AR Stager/Blogger

Selling Edge Home Staging Announces

House Sitting comes to Tampa Bay- a WIN/WIN!

Tampa Bay, Florida - April 7, 2009 - Selling Edge Home Staging is proud to announce they are the Staging Company for the new innovative, forward thinking Professional Home Sitters, Inc.

Professional Home Sitters provides house sitting services for vacant properties in the Tampa Bay area. Qualified sitters are matched with appropriate properties and each home is Professional Staged.

Sitters Benefits - *Live Large for Less *Great for temporary living - until you decide to purchase; during a transition period in life; military families and more.

Realtor Benefits - *Real Estate Ready to Show 24/7 *Listings are monitored by sitter; issues reported immediately *A Staged house with Professional Sitters sells faster!

Seller Benefits - *Maintained by the sitter *Utility costs are eliminated *Helped with expenses * Insurance reduced *Property maintain for you *House is kept clean in & out. AND MORE!

Professional Home Sitters, Inc

This unique service is designed to provide qualified Home Sitters for vacant home owners, snowbirds, and vacationers who want their home occupied and cared for while they are away.

Services are provided at no cost and no worry to Home Owners! An extensive screening process to carefully select conscientious Home Sitters that will provide you peace of mind.

Home Sitters benefit from the opportunity to live in a high quality home while paying a greatly reduced fee. In exchange they agree to take immaculate care of the inside and outside of the home. Frequent onsite inspections will ensure your confidence in Professional Home Sitters services and our Professional Home Sitters who continually maintain your property.

About Professional Home Sitters, Inc PO Box 8862, Madeira Beach, FL, 33738

Call 727-851-SITR (7487) FAX -727-209-1442

The form to apply to be a House Sitter can be found on our web site.

Yesterday one of my Realtors called to tell me that another of my Staged properties was in contract!! Wonderful! This one is such a sweet story ...

THE CONTRACT IS FOR 50K - YES - $50,000 OVER ASKING PRICE

During one of my MAPS Coaching Calls with Tony DiCello, Director of MAPS Tony spoke about a priced right AND Staged home in Texas that sold for $100K over the asking price - in 2009. The home was prepared beautifully - STAGED; attracted several Buyers; a bidding war ensued ... talk about the good old days!!

Who out there can share a similiar story? Our Real Estate Industry needs positive news - do tell!

In early December I sponsored at a Keller Williams seminar (the Gary & Nikki Ulbaldi Offices in the Tampa Bay area of Florida) where I had the privilege of meeting and sitting in on one of Tony DiCello's presentations. Tony is a MAPS coach out of Austin, TX. He is excellent; an extreme motivator!! As was the case at the seminar I got up to share my 10 minutes; just as I am; copnveying my passion for Home Staging ... I guess Tony liked what he saw!

Tony called me several weeks later and asked little ‘ole me to help him with a MAPS coaching call on Home Staging. He is currently going through Gary Keller's Shift Book. It was time for Tactic #8 Seller Staging Strategies. Tony wanted to give his clients an in depth lesson on Professional Home Staging. I found it a privilege and delight to be asked to speak about my passion. The call was yesterday (first of two) - I think it went well.

Thank you so much Tony for giving me this opportunity! You have given me much just by asking me to join you for the call. AND thank you for motivating me during the seminar - the song Eye of the Tiger has always given me goose bumps and motivation ... after meeting you I made it my c-phone ring tone ... reminding me to get pumped and press on at every ring of the phone!!

Jan

Let's be honest here - we all are on Active Rain to connect with other professionals in our industry; keep up with the latest BUZZ and (of course) gain business!! I have learned so much and enjoyed every minute of the experience. Its almost as much fun as Home Staging - ??? - no!

Well, here is my shameless; self promotion - I WANT YOUR BUSINESS! Not intended to offend anyone!!!

2008 ended with a bang for Selling Edge Home Staging - I am proud to say! Some of my statistics are -

• Average days on the market for SOLD properties was 41.25 Days
• During the last quarter of 2008 the average days on the market for SOLD properties was 24 days

Whether you are -

• Looking for the latest, greatest, truest information on the Home Staging Industry
• Are sick of hearing about Home Staging yet you want to know Truth vs. Fiction
• Are looking for a Home Staging Professional with
  • Integrity
  • That honors your clients
  • Respects the Realtor® client relationship
  • Is NOT a Realtor®
  • A proven track record

I say this not because my business is slow but because I love this business and know its not about the money but about helping people move on. I am productive right now - the phone is ringing!

I remember well the feeling in 1980 as we were selling our first home during a recession with double digit interest rates and high unemployment.

LET ME BUY YOU LUNCH ... CALL ME!!

I really need some advise here. I have flipped through the pages of all my gardening books and done Google searches ... I fear my ponytail palm is dying. I am so sad.

The tree is in the landscape; was on the property when we bought it. The bottom is 4' in diameter and the stalks (there are three) are over 10' tall. We moved it 2 years ago (experts did) from the back to the front yard to feature it!! I will be just sick if it goes ...

My gardner came in about 2 months ago and the mulch high (covering the round bottom) around it, I know that is really bad. That problem has been rectified but it is loosing all its leaves (the few it had). Does anyone have advise?

After seeing pictures like this on the Internet tonight I am really worried ...