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

Today I made Active Rain the first thing I do instead of the last thing I think about before I drift off to sleep ...

I have been so busy! My Staging business is taking off resulting in no time to prepare for Christmas. I have been running like road runner trying to get everything done. I think I have achieved it! Well, this is the day that we just say, "Well if I haven't done it by now it can wait." OR "What I have forgotten is just that. I will take care of it after Christmas."

Our Christmas is a mix. My father in law is in failing health and in the hospital. This is the 3rd or 4th stay there since October. He was always an active man, working 7 days a week but now is inactive; confined to a wheelchair. I love this man; he has been like a father to me for 35 years. I met him before I met my husband. This has been especially hard on my husband as he bears the weight of caring for his father. Anyway, God willing he will get out of the hospital this evening. I doubt he will come to our house - where we are gathering - but there will be comfort for each of us knowing he is out ...

Tonight - I'm having 10 for a light dinner. My kids, my daughter in law's sisters & parents are coming. I am looking forward to it. All SEVEN dogs will be here also - running in the yard and begging for food. LOL I love it! Tomorrow we will do breakfast at our house again followed by dinner at my sons.

I hope all of you can be surrounded by family & loved ones this Christmas.

God Bless Everyone ...

To my surprise & delight I logged on to Active Rain tonight and find myself a Featured Member! WOW!! Just a little blogging and see what you can do. Thank you all who have read my blog, responded ... this is fun!

It's been so hectic since Thanksgiving. I am in the midst of several Staging Projects all at price points and Stages. Some are starting, some have sold, are ending and some projects are holding their own!

It's been a banner year for my business - many thanks to the following Real Estate Agents in Hillsborough, Pinellas & Pasco counties for growing my business. I appreciate the faith you put in me and the fact that you allowed me to be my (imperfect) self and move forward in spite of myself!

Merry Christmas to All Jan Whitlow, ASPM, IAHSP

In my working life there is no worse task than filing. That dreaded filing! On a good day/week/month I avoid it like the plague! Today I have to face the mess I call my desk - OMG - it looks like this ---

please support me in my clean up efforts - I am holding each of you accountable. I started the morning with this diaster foremost on my mind yet I haven't turned to tackle it (it's now after 3PM & I want to take a nap)! It's just as easy to stay on the computer and not look to my left! LOL

The piles are the summation of one of my most successful months in my Home Staging business. I have Staged NINE homes since 9/25; traveled to Tallahassee twice and Highpoint, NC once. I have not had one single day I could devote to finding the top of my desk again. BTW - it's a two person desk in a two person office but my husband opted out of here for a small desk in one of the bedrooms. He cannot take my "piling." I cannot blame him. I try to keep up, I really try!

My pile(s) consist of magazines I have yet to go through (looking for great design PICS), catalogs I "think" I might purchase from; marketing ideas I have not gotten to; many little pieces of paper I use to jot down notes in the car when someone calls, notebooks from my last trip to Office Depot, packages, my Gmail & web site address list that I have not had time to convert (fully) into my Outlook and my dreaded collection of unorganized business cards, etc. Now I have filed the 12" stack of papers (about 6 months worth) I knew needed to go into the files AND organized the cabinet(s) - I have done something to make my life easier!

"Physician Heal Thyself!" Comes to mind - aren't I supposed to be organized ... I am a Home Staging Professional after all ... as Barb Schwarz, The Creator of Home Staging® says, "How we live in our homes and how we Stage them to sell are two different things!" Oh, I am an example of that!

Now that you have seen this do two things for me -

1. Show & tell your best "Pile or File" Story (PICS preferred so I will feel better)
2. Check back with me and pester me (a little) until I post the after version of my desk; when the mess is cleaned up and the filing done.

How are you feeling about your desk? Are you proud? I want to be ... Happy Halloween!!!

Jan Whitlow, ASPM, Director International Association of Home Staging Professionals

One time when my youngest son Alex was a little boy with his Grandma he turned to her and say, "Hey Grandma, did you miss me?"

She said, "Well, no honey you have been right here all the time."

Alex retorted, "No I haven't I went to Martha's Vineyard on the ferry then drove with Mom & Dad to Wisconsin to see the cheese." During this time Wisconsin had a large national promotion going about their cheese. Alex has a very vivid imagination and really wanted to go see all the Wisconsin cheese at that age. I believe he was four. Oh, how I miss my little boys; but at the same time I am so proud of the men they have become!!

My children BJ & A;ex are now 29 & 27 and work in the family business The Glass House in Clearwater Florida. They manufacturer & install glass shower enclosures & mirrors; the sister company Tempered Glass Industries tempers & fabricates glass. My sons are the 4th generation in the glass business which seems an odd thing to say each time I say it. What kind of family chooses & remains in the glass business for four generations? A close family does. Through the generations there has been & is love & respect for each other. I learned so much from this Whitlow clan I married into. The bonds are unbreakable; the love undeniable and the respect unlimited. We are blessed! I am blessed.

Here is a PIC from BJ's recent wedding - the men still greet each other with kisses - its beautiful!

Well, this post took an entirely different twist than I expected!! I have needed to post something for over a week but have been too busy to do so. I don't want you Rainers to forget who I am! LOL My Staging business is taking off - three Vacant Stagings in five days last week. I am still playing catch up from that.

Did you miss me? I have missed Active Rain - no time to stop!! Good night - Go Rays!!! Jan

Amazing Home Staging Story!

The Staging business never ceases to amaze me! The positive results of Staging Homes for Sale still Changes Lives - For the Better!

A property, of mine, that had been Staged and on the market for 10 months (over priced) was finally reduced to reflect current market values. It sold within two weeks! I knew this! What I did not know until I spoke to the Realtor yesterday was that the unit sold "due to the Staging", to quote the Realtor. This townhome did not have the lowest asking price in the complex and it did not have features that the other comps did. The Buyers loved it & made the offer due to the Staging!

The news to me yesterday was that the buyers did not try to negiciate down the selling price but offered just $1000 less!! This is amazing as the comp. in the complex; with more features is priced $30,000 less than my Staged unit!! It's September 2008!! I am happy for the sellers as they had been carrying two mortgage payments for almost a year! I LOVE THIS BUSINESS!! I cannot wait to see what good things come next!!

What is gleaned form all this?

1. Times have changed but a quality property will still bring a quality offer!
2. Do not listen to the gloom & doom! FYI - I have stopped listening to talk radio!
3. Attitude is everything! I refuse to participate in the recession!!! Period!!
4. Life is what you make it - and - that includes business!