Latham, NY

The Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Course from Stagedhomes.com (www.Stagedhomes.com) - the industry leader in Home Staging Training - is coming to ALBANY, NY - OCT 12-14, 2011.

This class is being offered for both Realtors and Home Stagers that would like to earn both a professional Accreditation and Designation for Home Staging. An ACCREDITATION is the highest form of Training in the Staging industry!

Realtors attend the first 2 days and learn about Home Staging as a listing and marketing tool, as well as things they can do to help their own clients prepare their houses for sale. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professioanls (IAHSP) - the only professional association that serves only Home Stagers and the Home Staging industry, and has standards of membership that begin with education. No other association has educational standards prior to joining - this sets IAHSP apart with our standards of quality, ethics and excellence. For over 12 years IAHSP has set the standards of excellence in the real estate and Staging industry and no other group has the longevity, integrity and history that IAHSP provides.

Professional Stagers attend for 3 days and learn about the real estate industry and how to work with Sellers and Realtors for business, as well as how to establish, manage, market and maintain a successful Home Staging business. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) the only professional association founded in education and excellence standards, for the Home Staging industry.

ASP graduates also receive access to the Staging University, the largest online resource for Home Staging success and is a private resource available only to ASP graduates.

This class is taught in a LIVE classroom setting with a Trainer that has actual success and knowledge related to Home Staging and real estate. All questions are answered and you have ongoing support from a real person that cares about your success after you graduate. The hours you receive are the equivalent of a college semester course with 24 hours of Stager education and 16 hours of Realtor education.

Only Stagedhomes.com has over 12 years of training history, and is based in nearly 40 years of experience by the Creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz.

If you would like to become trained as a professional Home Stager, enroll now to receive the only legitimate Accreditation available for Home Staging in a live classroom forum. An Accreditation is the HIGHEST form of training in the Home Staging industry.

If you are a Military Spouse - you can enroll in this course under the MyCAA Program. Click here to find out more: http://www.stagedhomes.com/public/MyCAA.php

Go to www.Stagedhomes.com for information including a course comparison spreadsheet that will give you an entire summary of the most imporant things to consider when getting training, and how our ASP Course stacks up to others that are offered. https://www.stagedhomes.com/PDF/COURSE%20COMPARISON%20SPREADSHEET-SHC%20ONLY.pdf

Here is the link to the registration information for the ALBANY, NY COURSE: http://www.stagedhomes.com/training/registration/new-york/latham/?id=33 If you have any questions you can contact Stagedhomes.com at 800-392-7161 Save $$ off your tuition as an ASP Home Stager or ASP Real Estate Agent by using code BACK TO SCHOOL when registering.

Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP, Owner & Principal Stager, Sensational Home Staging

If they say first impressions are everything, (which I agree with) how could an agent send a listing thru into the MLS as a "new" listing with poor photos? First off, it only stays on the hotsheet for 48 hours. Therefore you really have to take pride and get the best photos you can initially because that is when the house will be seen by that largest audience. If you aren't qualified to capture good angles/shots, then it's probably a good idea to hire a professional. There are photographers that specialize in this for a simple fee of around $100 per home, well worth it in the case that prompted me to write this am's blog...The other important factor that needs to be touched on regarding the "Hotsheet" is that when the listing gets inputted into the MLS your first target audience are the other agents in the MLS. If you don't have the listing looking as good as it needs to, how do you expect other agents to recommend to their buyers to view this home? In our case, the GCAR board of Realtors has about 3,000 agents. So each time I input one of our new listings, you are first marketing the listing to these members.

In selling a home, we all know the goal is to work together to sell the property for it's highest possible value in the shortest amount of time. As the homeowner, you need to be cognoscente of how your home looks online (with the photos) and if it isn't up to par that's a good conversation to have with your agent.

For recommendations or these photographers or other questions regarding the preparation of listing your home give a call (518) 669.1804 or email mike@thefieldteam.com.

Home Buying 101: First Time Homebuyers - Steps to a successful close (edit/delete)

The process of buying the single most expensive investment of you life should really be treated as such...Even though we as Realtors conduct how ever many of these each year, we need to recognize the patience that's required in working with new home buyers. Most of the time agents do a poor job setting the expectations of purchasing a home. After you have finally found a home that is agreeable to your lifestyle, here is are the necessary steps to expect after you have settled on a price:

1. The attorney's approval: (2-5 Days from the signing of both parties, typically) In New York, just like anything else- attorneys are involved in the contract. They play an important role in overseeing the process for their respective client. During this stage, the attorneys will come together and submit thier acceptance of the contract or they may request certain changes be made in order to satisfy their acceptance. Even though you have a signed contract (as a buyer or seller), you need to be aware that until both attorney's agree on the contract, a seller can accept another offer & a buyer can walk for another property.
2. The inspections: (1-2 weeks from the signing of both parties, typically) This is customarily the only out of pocket expense that the buyer incurs before the closing. The typical inspections include "the main three" - structural, pest & radon. Other inspections include the well & septic if they apply to that particualr property. Generally, this expense could be anywhere from $300-1,000 depending on the inspections necessary.
3. The Mortgage Loan Commitment: (2-4 weeks from the signing of both parties typically) Depending on the loan officer (LO) or bank, the application is submitted after the inspections. The appraiser is usually sent out to examine the property's value by comparing it to similar properties that have sold within the last 6 months in a close proximity. Tracing the sale of properties back to 1 year was typical until the Fall of '09(ish). Once the file has gone thru all the underwriting & has been approved it's cleared for a close pending the successful title search & "other items"...
4. The Title Search; (3-6 weeks from the signing of both parties typically) In NYS the attorney arranges the title search & most times Real Estate attorneys have their own title companies. Once a clear title has been secured on the property, the attorney sends the report back to the bank for what usually is the last thing the bank needs in order to clear the file.
5. CLOSING: (3-6 weeks from the signing of both parties, typically) This is it!...Time for your walk thru. Next you sign away get the keys & CONGRATS your a home owner!

These steps are an abbreviated version to many of the other roles an agent, loan officer, attorney & title company play into the successful steps of a real estate closing however they do paint a general picture as what to expect!...If you'd like to go over this in more detail, now your talking about getting the HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE!- THATS A DIFFERENT STORY! YOU MUST CALL Michael J. Field of the FIELD TEAM at Keller Williams Realty in order to experience that at 518.669.1804.

The Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) Course from Stagedhomes.com - the industry leader in Home Staging Training - is coming to the ALBANY-LATHAM, NY area - MAY 4-6, 2010

This class is being offered for both Realtors and Home Stagers that would like to earn both a professional Accreditation and Designation for Home Staging. Realtors attend the first 2 days (May 4-5) and learn about Home Staging as a listing and marketing tool, as well as things they can do to help their own clients prepare their houses for sale. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professioanls (IAHSP) - the only professional association that serves only Home Stagers and the Home Staging industry, and has standards of membership that begin with education. No other association has educational standards prior to joining - this sets IAHSP apart with our standards of quality, ethics and excellence.

Professional Stagers attend for 3 days - May 4-6 and learn about the real estate industry and how to work with Sellers and Realtors for business, as well as how to establish, manage, market and maintain a successful Home Staging business. They become members of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals (IAHSP) the only professional association founded in education and excellence standards, for the Home Staging industry.

Only Stagedhomes.com has over 11 years of training history, and is based in nearly 40 years of experience by the Creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz.

If you would like to become trained as a professional Home Stager, enroll now to receive the only legitimate Accreditation available for Home Staging in a live classroom forum.

If you are a Military Spouse - you can enroll in this course under the MyCAA Program. Click here to find out more: http://www.stagedhomes.com/public/MyCAA.php

Go to www.Stagedhomes.com for information including a course comparison spreadsheet that will give you an entire summary of the most imporant things to consider when getting training, and how our ASP Course stacks up to others that are offered. http://www.stagedhomes.com/PDF/COURSE%20COMPARISON%20SPREADSHEET-SHC%20ONLY.pdf

Here is the link to the registration information for the Albany-Latham course online: http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=796292

When you sign up you can save $150 off your tuition as an ASP Home Stager and $50 off your tuition as an ASP Real Estate Agent. Use CODE "SAVE2010" when registering. If you have any questions, please contact Stagedhomes.com at 800-392-7161. You can also email me as the Trainer directly at Jennie@stagedhomes.com