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Dana Smithers Staging School Instructor Best Staging Training & Coaching

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Want to know where to buy inexpensive yet gorgeous draperies for staging?

02-02-12
Dana Smithers Staging School Instructor Best Staging Training & Coaching

Whether you need some great looking & inexpensive drapery panels for staging or to brighten up your home Fabricland offers some terrific buys. As a member for $15 - $20 you can always get at least 25% off draperies and fabrics. Right now they have a fantastic sale with 50% off! Their panels give any home an updated look.

As a home stager I recommend using a hard window treatment such as a 2" faux wood blind (white to match the trim) and just add side drapery panels to soften the look, and to pull the room together. This is an inexpensive and attractive way to get a more updated look in your room. For a really modern look choose the ones with grommets and purchase a new brushed nickel or black rod iron rod; or go for the simpler version with a rod pocket which slips into standard curtain rods. I don't recommend spending much money on full draperies because the new owner may not like them! Be smart - stage with less.

Gorgeous Drapery Panels Perfect for Staging

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Home Redesign Adds Personality to a Bland Home! Find out how...

11-15-11
Dana Smithers Staging School Instructor Best Staging Training & Coaching

Home Redesign Adds Personality to a Bland Home. Find out how...

In the last PRES 5 day training course we had the opportunity to do a home makeover for a client who said her home was very bland, and seemed to lack personality. (A home makeover for living is all about bringing in the home owner's personal taste unlike staging where you want to create broad buyer appeal to the seller's target market) In the PRES hands-on course students apply what they learned in class to the two homes we transform - - one is a home makeover for living and one is a home makeover i.e. staging for selling.

When I did my initial consultation and tour of the home I noticed they had a lot of very nice bigger furnishings and some attractive accessories scattered throughout the home. But it was true - everything was quite bland UNTIL ... I sat down with Maureen, the home owner, and asked her if there was anything in storage that she might like me to incorporate in the home. BINGO! She said she and her husband had just come back from Africa, where he was born, and they had brought back some African art and even a canvas painting of the house he was born in.

African art taken out of storage for us to use

When we arrived, myself and my students, we were delighted to see more African art and accessories on the kitchen table. Now we had more to work with. So using the PRES 10 step secret success formula we got to work by emptying the room and then building it back up.

We did our 'walk about' in the home and discovered some African masks and some gorgeous African vases that would fit in perfectly with the new personality of the home.

Bland Personality in Living Room Before

We were able to incorporate some new furnishings and removed the curio cabinets to a new location.

Personality Plus! Living Room After

A created 'art wall' of more of their African collection!

African Art Collection Showcased!
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Do you have Passion, Persistence and Patience to be a Successful Home Stager?

11-10-11
Dana Smithers Staging School Instructor Best Staging Training & Coaching

Do you have the passion, persistence and patience needed to be a successful home staging entrepreneur?

I don't know when you decided that you wanted to become a home staging entrepreneur or why you did but I do know that the 'life of an entrepreneur' is not necessarily an easy, steady climb to success. You may have thought it was going to be because you wanted it so badly and you are really good at it so naturally it 'should' be easy to succeed. Well the truth is that the entrepreneurial road is the 'road less travelled' because it isn't easy. It tests your character and your belief in yourself (and perhaps even the Universe). But the rewards are great if you are willing to go the distance.

So when you find yourself coming up against roadblocks, challenges, sales not happening the way you planned, projects going sideways, clients not buying when you need them to - it's time to examine what it's going to take to get you through the rough spots.

There is of course a flip side to this - things do go smoothly, you achieve your sales targets, you love your clients, your clients love you and you get to do what you love! And for me this is why I am still doing what I started doing 10 years ago. And honestly I have gone through more roadblocks, bumps and hurdles than I ever thought possible. And yet, look where it has taken me – down the 'road less travelled' and the journey just keeps getting more interesting. I think it's a road well worth travelling and I hope you do too!

So here are 3 things that will help take you through the 'ups and downs' of being a home staging entrepreneur…

PASSION:

Webding Bullet

Without being passionate about your work you will soon come to resent what you are doing especially if you get to the stage of doing it only for 'the money'.

Webding Bullet

If you had passion for it at one time, what's changed? Are you doing too many of the things you don't love to do? Delegate them – look at what it's costing you not to delegate.

Webding Bullet

Perhaps it's time to just take a break from what you are doing. Take some time to reflect and ask yourself "If I could do anything in the world would I be doing home staging?" Depending on the answer what is it that you need to change to get where you want to go?

Webding Bullet

If you are not passionate about your work your clients can easily see this and in the process you become very unauthentic and unattractive to them and to yourself

PERSISTENCE:

Webding Bullet

Without you being persistent in taking 'consistent action' to create a successful home staging business nothing will happen to move you forward

Webding Bullet

Being persistent means that no matter what your little voice is telling you to do - like throw in the towel and go do something else - do not buy into this - call your coach or a supporter who can help you see the situation in a positive light

Webding Bullet

Your obstacles are only temporary and everyone has them - it goes with the territory - it's how you respond to them and the solutions that you find that build your character on your journey

Webding Bullet

It might just happen that by your persistence you reach a new level and make new connections that open up some new revenue streams you had never thought. You will never know if you don't persist...

PATIENCE:

Webding Bullet

When I'm coaching home stagers I hear this a lot: How can I be patient when I see my expenses exceed my revenues? Every new business faces this scenario. So plan for this. You have to have some faith that everything happens for a reason and that reason is there to serve you. Calm down and decide what is it that you can do to get some business coming your way. Perhaps you haven't been doing the marketing that you need to be doing. What can you do to attract some new clients?

Webding Bullet

I can also tell you that if you are not patient you will never know what you could have accomplished. Do you want the 'What if' scenario? What if I would have been patient just a bit longer for my business to take off. What could I have accomplished? Without patience you will never know...

Webding Bullet

The 'timing' of the Universe is not necessarily your timing is it? While many of us would like to be able to control more things in our life, timing is something we can never control. The 'life happens' stuff happens to all entrepreneurs so be patient and stay focused only on what you want to attract.


Your Action Assignment

If you find that you are missing the passion, lacking in persistence and just not feeling very patient about your business growth or lack of it, take some time to reflect. Create a 'Pros & Cons' list about your home staging business. For the items in the 'Cons' column, what could you do get them into the 'Pros' column. Do you need to do more delegating? Do you need to get out there so you're not the best kept secret? Have you been a little bit lazy on the follow-up calls side of things? Only you know - so be honest and find your passion, be persistent and have patience that it will all work out for you.

"You may never know what results come of YOUR ACTIONS,
but if you do nothing there will be NO RESULT."
Mahatma Ghandi

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PRES Home Stager gets fantastic ROI on a school trade show!

10-21-11
Dana Smithers Staging School Instructor Best Staging Training & Coaching

Always say YES to a 'FREE or Almost Free' marketing opportunity no matter how insignificant it might seem! I was coaching one of the PRES graduates Cheri Dardano of Chez Cheri and she mentioned that she had an opportunity to do participate in her daughter's school trade show. She didn't know if she should do it or not and asked me what I thought. Needless to say I said "YES" great idea, tell me about it. She said it could be either out on the school football field if it was still a nice day or inside the gym if the weather wasn't good. I was hoping that it would be inside as I felt she would have a little bit more captive audience there. Well it was in the gym and it only cost $20 for 4 hours of talking to parents and students who came by her little booth.

Part of the reason that this was a great opportunity is that Cheri had a chance to let the parents and other people know what she was now doing in her life. You see Cheri been a teacher (not at this school) and now she is a professional home stager and stylist. This was a great way for you to transition their thinking into the new Chez Cheri!

The best news of all - It went really well. She had one realtor in Vancouver encourage her to send in her contact information to him, as well as a few parents (5) and teachers (3) who were very interested in getting her advice about furniture placements, colours, etc. Also two contracts for sewing cushions. And one contact for the lottery prize homes. So 10 potential jobs, and she had a lot of "Wow! Good for you. I didn't know you did that!"

Cheri Dardano of Chez Cheri - mini trade show brings great ROI!!!
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Brand New PRES Home Staging Home Study Course Starts Tomorrow!

09-21-11
Dana Smithers Staging School Instructor Best Staging Training & Coaching

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

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