Lynne Roe

RainCamp San Diego and Home Staging in Orange County, CA

How could RainCamp in San Diego help my Home Staging business in Orange County? Isn't RainCamp just for Realtors? And would Orange County Realtors be there for networking?

Read on...

It was Thursday, August 5, 2010. The location was truly awe-inspiring; a picture-perfect day at the most beautiful and serene college campus in Southern California, the University of San Diego. It was an all-around glorious day! ...very little traffic on the 60-mile trip south; easy, close-in parking, great coffee, short registration lines, friendly RainCamp staffers...

It was my second RainCamp; actually Remedial RainCamp: I'm the kind of person who needs lots of reminders and reviews of the intricacies of presenting a good blog and encouragement to keep trying to make each blog better and more interesting. So that was my goal. Little did I know that an encounter in the Ladies' Room would lead to the added bonus of meeting a potential client!

My success story, which I hope to update as things progress:

I got a call yesterday from a Realtor I met at RainCamp. Actually, I forced my business card on her in the Ladies' Room on a break! Who says RainCamp doesn't empower you? Not my usual style, really, but couldn't pass up the chance to make a connection with such a prominent local Realtor. Fortunately for me, she was very gracious about my unorthodox introduction and accepted my my card with a smile.

As it turns out, this Realtor is going to suggest to her clients that they invest in home Staging (with my company).Based on Staging statistics, our collaboration would definitely get her listing sold quickly and for more money.

Not only is she gracious, but savvy, as well.

As is my professional policy, I offered her my RainMaker Staging discount. We'll be talking again in a few days after whe gets the go-ahead from her sellers.

But to the point of my story:

I want to say this in a positive way, if I can manage it... As a Stager, I've had some less-than-wonderful encounters with a few unscrupulous Realtors out there in the non-Active R

ain community. Sorry, guys, but you do have a relatively negative image to overcome... but maybe that's just here in Southern California.

Because of a few negative experiences, I'm now very wary when interacting with agentsI don't know, no matter how slick and sophisticated they appear...

However, to my delight, unlike the general population of Raltors, it appears that Active Rain attracts positive, hard-working individuals with a good work ethic, who allow themselves to be accountable to their community by being part of Active Rain. Therefore, I feel an instant connection and am less apprehensive about doing business with them. I now regularly check out Realtors to see if they're part of the Active Rain "family" before I actively pursue meeting them. What a comfort it is to have the Active Rain affiliation.

Active Rain is like a personal introduction from a friend!

RainCamp San Diego helped me connect with Active Rain Realtors in southern California, which can only help my Home Staging business.

So, not only did I achieve my goal of learning a little more about blogging at Remedial RainCamp, but there was the unexpected bonus of being able to network with local Active Rain Realtors. A win-win for everyone!

Thank you, Active Rain!

Is my Home Staging website too beautiful for San Juan Capistrano and all of Southern California?

I know it sounds ridiculous, but my Home Staging website is so professional looking and beautifully done that it may be scaring off potential clients! What do you think?

If you visit my website to learn more about the benefits of Home Staging, you will see that it was beautifully designed and built by my good friend, Amber Ramies, Amber Invited Invitation and Design Studio. When faced with the challenge of designing a website for my Home Staging business, Amber cheerfully took on the project, even though her expertise is primarily in print design.

There is lots of Flash and jpegs of Before and After photos...

and a portfolio of my work...

and a page about me... Which is where the problem may lie...

Is my list of accomplishments too lengthy? and intimidating? Should I "dumb it down"? That thought makes me hurt all over!

I've worked very hard to achieve what I have and view my Staging as more of a boutique design studio than a run-of-the-mill Staging business...

The point of Staging is to make the experience of viewing the home as comfortable and appealing as possible and presenting the home in its best possible light, while enabling the potential buyer to imagine their family living in that home.

Although "keeping it neutral" has its place in Home Staging for real estate sales, I always keep in mind the style of the home and what will enhance it. Each home has its own character (or lack of, in many cases). This character is what I like to spotlight wih my Staging. Obviously, if a home buyer is looking in a neighborhood of Tuscan-style homes, that is what they expect to see. I would certainly Stage that home differently than I would a Loft in downtown Long Beach or San Diego.

I also query the Realtor as to who he/she is marketing the home to. Single family with young children? Empty-Nester's? Young professionals? Second or third-home buyers?

So, I ask you, is my website too beautiful for Realtors and homeowners in San Juan Capistrano and other communities in Southern California?

Home Staging: Houses that are Staged, sell faster and for more money in Orange County, CA

Statistics prove that houses that are Staged, sell faster and for more money! How simple is that!?!

Good HOME Staging gives the very best first impression.

All of us who Stage have long lists of testimonials from our very happy clients. We all wish that all Realtors would spread the word about how important the first impression of a home is when showing a listing. Buyers cannot imagine how it will be, only what they see.

And unfortunately, what they smell! If you can smell it, you can't sell it! A great tip: Pure Ayre spray. Some hardware stores carry it and you can also order it from http://stagedhomes/Search.bok?category=Real+Estate+Agent+Cleaning. One 14-ounce bottle goes a long way. This product will eliminate almost any smell. I've used it successfully for cat odor, cigarette and cigar odor, cooking smells, and more. Sorry.. I know... TMI!

From a simple verbal consultation to a full-blown Staging, any listing can be enhanced; photos of Staged homes enrich newspaper and internet advertising, marketing flyers, and especially crucial "curb appeal". Not to mention the excitement generated for fellow agents who view and show your listing.

We Stagers are here to help you Realtors make a quick and easy sale! Work with us! You won't be disappointed. Just spread the word to your clients of the tremendous value of Staging and we'll do the rest.

STAGING: BEFORE AND AFTER

REALTORS: WHICH PROPERTY DO YOU THINK YOUR BUYERS WOULD RESPOND TO? The Property that has been Staged? Or not?

REALTORS: WHICH PROPERTY WOULD GET THE BEST RESULTS FOR YOUR CLIENT FROM YOUR MARKETING EFFORTS?

The Property that has been Staged? Or not?

REALTORS: PLEASE TRY TO CONVEY TO YOUR SELLERS THAT THE INVESTMENT IN STAGING IS ALWAYS FAR LESS THAN THE FIRST PRICE REDUCTION!!!

Time after time, the Staging Statistics confirm that Staging is the best investment that your seller can make. The home pictured above was on the market for one year, un-Staged. After the client hired a new Realtor, who encouraged Staging, the house had an offer within one month!

Buyers need to imagine themselves living in the space that they see, not what will be, either on-line or in person. I can't imagine anyone relating to the un-Staged photo above. Personally, when I don't see photos of the inside of the home in the listing, I'm sure that it is a dump... or looks like one and the Realtor is embarrassed to show it in the listing photos. Definitely a red flag!

TESTIMONIAL: FROM THE SELLER OF THIS HOME, "Lynne's work was (and is) exceptional. I'm sure her staging expertise was a key factor in leading us to a quick house sale. Lynne, thank you. Your timely focus, your taste, and your knowledge of interior design fit my house perfectly!"