Karen Otto, Home Stager, Plano, TX 469)964-0516 www.homestarstaging.com

If you're looking for something to do tonight look no further than Mystiqal in Downtown Dallas! You don't have to fly to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras!

Parade Map

I'll be working at one of the booths selling beads and other commemorative items, if you're there please stop by and say hi!

This fun filled event benefits a local organization - The Elisa Project , which educates & creates awareness for our community on disordered eating - a cause and an organization I am a big supporter of.

Here are some photos of last night's Mystiqal event:

Truth be told whenever I watch American Idol I often find myself thinking like Simon Cowell when the words he speaks come forth from his gob in his critique of the contestants. If you search your heart you may admit that Simon is pretty right on in his assessment of many of these folks and as a industry expert he should know a good from poor singer. However I would never in a million years say some of the things he does in the hurtful manner in which he says it.

Yes, Simon's scathing remarks and harsh constructive criticism make for good TV, but I would never want to offend or intentionally hurt a client.

Now Paula Abdul is consistently sweet and gushy in her praise for various contestants, however she delivers her critiques with the gentle hand of compassion and understanding, not the iron mallet of Mr. Cowell. Often times however I think that feelings of the contestants override her constructive judgement. After all they are there not only to perform but to learn how they can improve and become the next American Idol. A soft hand in these situations and competitions is not what they need, but her gentle manner and kind heart are much appreciated I'm sure by the deer in the headlights Idol wannabes.

We could all use a little Paula compassion in our home staging consulting strategy but we need to also give feedback that can be used to improve upon.

Randy Jackson is a funny one. I can't always tell what he's going to do or say. He seems to assess Simon and Paula's reactions and then combines them in with his own take. He's literally funny, engaging and entertaining - I have yet to grow tired of him saying "daaawg" to the contestants. Randy has stayed back in terms of how he is featured on the show but what he says also makes for good critique but turns it towards himself and personal tastes at times with the phrase, "it's just not gonna do it for me dawg".

Good natured Randy humor always lightens the mood and gets conversation going however make sure it's about the success of the sale, not what we personally like.

(Sorry new judge I don't know enough about you yet)

Well this brings me back to the topic of this blog, Home Stagers which one are you?

When you visit a client and make a home staging assessment on their home do you

• Go in no holes barred and make them cry with the results like Simon?
• Hold their hand, even cry with them in each room and gently tell them (not wanting to hurt their feelings) what they can to do to make their home look its best possibly like Paula?
• Approach the situation in a joking and entertaining manner & let them know they have to get rid of the "dawgs!" ala Randy?

OR

Are you a good combination of all 3?

• Are you able to assess the situation like an industry expert?
• Can you handle a few tears and laughs along the way while not hurting your client's feelings?
• Do you give your clients what they need to improve the house and move on to be the

Home Star Staging brings the combination of expertise, compassion and even some fun to the American Home Seller in North Texas. Will the next one be you?

In continuation of the Thrive, not just Survive series presented by the North Texas Small Business Development Center and Collin College workshop session 2 focuses on your sales and marketing strategy in a tough economy:

From the website:

Session 2: Your Sales and Marketing Strategy in a "Tough Economy"
Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Time: 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Collin College Courtyard Center

Learn:

• How to determine your market to know who your competitors really are.
• How to price your products and services.
• How what your customer needs are and how to exceed them (Under Promise, Over Deliver)

For more information and to register see Thrive, Not Just Survive.

Being a Professional Home Stager in the Great State of Texas has its share of perks as well as challenges. Texans are a proud people and guns are a way of life for many. From hunting, recreational shooting to security, guns are generally accepted here as "normal".

Now I bring up this point not to stir controversy or state a position on them rather, I bring it up as a Professional Home Stager who recommends that while in the process of selling a home, sellers should take serious the consideration to remove or at minimum, lock safely and securely any weapons in the home.

Why?

For answers to this as well as a variety of other subjects please visit Selling Safely

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As a regular contributor and professional member on Energized Seller, the website "For Home Selling and Home Staging Tips" I encourage you to consider joining and contributing to this FREE website and position yourself as the expert in your field.

I am passionate about educating others on the benefits of home staging and ES has given our industry a forum to do so while connecting us to home sellers across the country.

Energized Seller is one of many social / business networking sites to choose from however I have dedicated myself to the platform that encourages education and dialogue between Real Estate Professionals around the country and home sellers looking for professional advice.

Energized Seller supports hiring Realtors and industry professionals and in no way encourages sellers to "go it alone". Check out the articles and discussion topics and see for yourself just how much ES supports Real Estate Professionals and the sellers we serve.

North Texas Home Sellers, Home Star Stagingwants you to sell safely and we're here for you!

On Wednesday I had the pleasure to attend the North Texas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Collin College workshop, Thrive, not just Survive. It was a great opportunity to network and get some relevant information for today's small business owner. There's still more to this series too!

This workshop was the brainchild of Marta Frey, Director of the SBDC. Not only does Marta work hard for the center but she works even harder for each of their clients making each one of us feel like the "only one" that matters. Our success is their success.

If you haven't already heard of them or used their services, this FREE RESOURCE is available to you to help start, maintain and grow your business - no matter the industry - to the next level. I highly recommend this awesome resource here in North Texas! I believe there is a Small Business Development Center in most areas too - do a search for one near you.

One of the speakers at the Thrive workshop was Jeff Brady, anchorman for WFAA Channel 8 News here in Dallas, TX. He presented part of the Marketing series and I thought his tidbits on helpful email newsletter campaigns were relevant to our blogs and newsletters. Even though he spoke from a news anchor's perspective and "news stories" the information can be easily adapted for our use.

He educated us on how we can grab people's attention in a "new story", e-newsletter (or blog). Some key points:

• Think about the demographics of your target market & who you are reaching
• Do some research
• How you can benefit your audience (or readers)?
• How is your service better than the next?
• What makes you the expert?

Jeff related that for a channel he used to work for their target demographic market was "Diet Coke Debbie" a middle aged woman who liked to drink diet coke was a description of part of the demographic their station was reaching at a certain part of the day. It's important to know yours too.

Who is the demographic and audience you are trying to reach?

• Home sellers in a certain area?
• What defines that seller?
• Who are they?
• What price point of home do you wish to service?
• Are you looking to partner with Realtors?
• What can you do that they need?
• What makes you the specialist?
• Why are you better than the rest?

I'm passing his tips along to you and hope you find it as useful as I did.

Adapted from Jeff Brady's talk here are:

"5 Powerful Tips from a TV News Guy to Developing Compelling Content "

1. Deliver a benefit - What can you do to help your reader?

a. Save money?

b. Live healthier?

c. Sell their house?

d. Market their home by home staging or services?

2. Find a "newsworthy nugget"- look to your local & national news sources, print news, TV, and internet for helpful information for your readers in bite size format. Include it in your newsletters and blogs. It helps you position yourself as "knowing more as the industry expert"

3. K.I.S.S. - (Keep it simply "sweetie") no jargon!

4. Write a strong subject line - Hook ‘em fast! Jeff said this is the #1 thing for inciting curiosity to read more. The news term is a "teaser".

5. Include lists

a. Top 10

b. "Dirty dozen list for how to sell a house"

c. 5 Best kept home selling secrets

Simple, effective tools we can all apply to our newsletters and blogs.

For North Texans who want more information on the series you can go to Thrive, not just Survive blogspot. This is an ongoing series of FREE workshops and classes now through the month of March.

Taking advantage of free resources from the North Texas SBDC and relaying helpful tips to my fellow North Texans, Home Star Staging is here for you!