Val wrote a great post on this very topic - "Are We Airing Our Dirty Laundry".  Of course, not being very computer savvy I do not know how to post  the link.  She addressed these concerns very well and you are right it is very, very important to "filter" what we say.

HI Cindy,  I think agents are far too busy to stage as well as sell and get listings...they work 24-7 from what I've seen.  And while they may pick up lots of helpful information from here (we All do!), I think it better convinces them why they should call in a professional stager.  But Sandy is right, I remember Vals post but she also mentioned that even if it's for members only, anyone who is a member can view it.

Here is the link to Val's post. Are We "Airing Our Dirty Laundry" For All to See? It is usually easy to find an older post using the search function. If that fails, and it sometimes does, go to that person's home page and search their blogs.

Cindy, I have a friend who is a Professional Organizer and pretty well known in that field. Well, I can say real well known. Her name is Barbara Hemphil and she wrote the Taming the Paper Tiger books. I consider her a mentor and listen to what she says. Her attitude concerning "giving away too much information" is that you can tell folks (witness her books) everything about your chosen field and it won't hurt your business one little bit. It will only serve to establish you as an expert, thereby helping to grow your business. 

 That being said, I think it behooves us as members to think in terms of what we wish to accomplish by being on AR as a whole. This isn't a complete list but I can think of at least these reasons to be associated with any of the groups and to read, blog, respond etc.

In House Relationships

• To learn from others successes as well as their failures
• To teach others from our successes as well as our failures
• To know I'm not the only one who has had to face a particular issue
• To get specific advice or information
• To give specific advice or information
• To find folks within our chosen field with whom we would like to have a relationship with locally or long distance
• To find folks in other fields with whom we would like to develop a long distance or local relationship

Internet Marketing

• To help AR as a whole be placed higher in the search engine mechanisims
• To have our personal websites be placed higher in the search engine mechanisms
• To connect with our prospective clients (both those who found us because of AR and those we've directed to our websites in other ways -- all of whom may have access to our individual or corporal blogs)

Keeping all of that in mind IMHO should help us not only find our "voice" as bloggers but also help us at times hit the delete button instead of the post button when we have finished a particular blog. Since you posted this blog, I'm going to assume you and I have shared some of those "wince" moments after reading someone's post. It is not just Home Stagers who have made me wince by the way. It may help all of us as members if we remember that there are several blog-personality types within our community just as within any other community to which we belong. For instance

• Teachers
• Leaders
• Whiners
• Boasters
• Commedians
• Beginners
• SUPER SALESPEOPLE (the annoying type)
• Encouragers
• Thinkers
• Inspirers
• Flakes
• Comforters
• and (unfortunatly) a few who don't have all the cards in their decks

I was new to AR then, so no I didn't see Val's post, thanks for letting me know.

Great comments Yvonne!

I think Cindy brings up a good point. I too have also inadvertently come across AR blog postings while searching various things on home staging. Here are a couple thoughts...

 #1-I think we have to be careful how we address issues to do with staging, involving certain real estate agents, clients and others as they could likely view what we wrote.

#2- I do think this arms Realtors with new information, but if they are the type to think they can stage and sell homes then they were going to think that regardless of what great information they came across about staging on AR.

#3-It still is a really great way to promote our business! I just read last night one staging team got asked to be part of a staging show on HGTV!!! The web has lots of info, if they didn't find it on AR, they would find it somewhere else. With books, articles and info available everywhere, it should be the least of our concerns. In fact, it will only help us educate clients and realtors about the benefits and we will likely all get more business in future as a result.

 

A lot of the Realtors I'm talking to either don't know what staging is or claim  " I already do that!" .I then search out their MLS photos & see that they don't. In my area, we have more a need for education on home staging than worrying about giving secrets away or competition from other stagers.  For me, AR works perfectly.

Cindy- 

You are absolutley right to feel the way you do.  Sometimes, we do need to use our common sense filters before we hit the submit button.  But as we all know, not everyone has one of those filters. 

We should never reveal the name of any person or company that has been integral to a negative experience we have had 'in the field' and we should never post any derogatory comments. 

As far as revealing too much information - that is 6 of one and half a dozen of another.  We should (and need to) establish that we are knowledgeable of our field and there is no other way to do that than to reveal what we know.  I personally think that some others may try to do what we've revealed, but so much is easier said than done that I really believe that unless they are meant to be a stager, they will realize what a lot of work it is and never do it again.  (which quite frankly works in our favor) 

So, we must throw caution to the wind. If you are not comforatble with something you are about to post, DON'T!!!  Make it work for you, not against you. 

I think that most of the information about staging could be found by searching HGTV's website or purchasing a book on home staging.  I never worry about giving away secret staging information.  I look at it this way.  There are tons of how to manuals on the web on everything from staging to how to FSBO.  I think the more realtors read about staging the more they realize it is better to hire a professional.  And with homeowners there are always going to be the DIY types out there - and I'm willing to help them.  I don't think it hurts my business at all.  Actually I think they tell a lot of people and I may get clients from helping the DIYers.  

Having said that - the only thing I worry about on AR is sharing all my marketing ideas, which I have freely done.  So far there are no other home stagers in my area, but someday someone will start a home staging company in my area and will be able to read all about how I  went about marketing my company.   BUT it doesn't worry me enough to stop doing it.  I love reading about how others market their companies.

I do think Val brings up a very valid point - everything you write is a reflection on yourself and your company.  I never blog about problems I've had with clients and I never mock people with dated homes.  I try to only write positive things that I will be proud of if anyone reads them.   

I think it is acceptable to give SOME information away.  In doing so, you position yourself as an expert in your field and the Realtors will come to rely on you to relay that information to their clients.  Even if they offer staging advice to their clients, they can benefit from bringing in an impartial third party. 

The thought did cross my mind, but I always come back to a very interesting article I read about "1-800-got-junk" - about how they have these open meetings sometimes with their own competitors, and share EVERYTHING.  They truly believe that what ever you give out, you will get back 10 fold. (or thereabouts) - I wish I could find an electronic copy of the article somewhere.  It was very inspiring. 

I think knowing and doing are two different things.  Cookbooks are written, top recipes are written down, but we still pay chefs to cook for us.  I know how to clean my house, but it's a lot easier to pay someone else to do it!! :)

The way I see it,  the information on staging is all availble on the internet anyway.  I send out a staging tip newsletter every few weeks.  Our expertise is knowing not only what to do but how to do it.  Just my thoughts. 

Kathy Bernacchio, ASP

Stage to Sell

www.WeStageBatonRouge.com

 

Really good staging is a TALENT.  You either have the "eye" or you don't.  How many times have we had to Re-stage a property that someone else tried to stage?  Establish your expertise, show off your TALENT and you will have more business than you can handle.  Regardless of all the information available!

I love all of your comments, their great thanks.   I agree, in the end, "the proof is in the pudding".  I really do think you've got it or you don't as Deanne said.  I had a realtor tell me that his homeowners were excited because they staged their house themselves. He went to look at it, and said it was "awful".  Another homeowner, used our recommendation list and did quite a few things on it that weren't that expensive, the home had been on the market for a year previous to them doing this work, they basically painted, and de-cluttered. The agent said, they wanted to raise the price by 60K now the work was done. What the homeowner didn't understand was, if they had done everything on the recommended list or even the top 5 they might have been able to get their original list price.  But to raise it another 60k? needless to say, it's been on the market for another 6months. And the kicker to that story is the realtor offered to reimburse the owner the staging fee (if we did it) at closing. And the owner still did it themselves. Now go figure out that one!

Exactly - the Realtors don't have time to do the work involved in an actual staging!  They DO need us.

I agree with Deanne, staging is an inherent gift, a talent, more than a learned skill. Staging is an ART!  Following a list of instructions found on HGTV or elsewhere is not the same as having an eye for balance, proportion, scale, color, arrangement, light and the talent to devise and implement creative solutions to staging problems.

I took ten years of piano lessons as a kid. Can I play the piano? Technically, yes.  Is Carnegie Hall in my future? Just as soon as Broker Bryant's pig sprouts wings and soars up here to Illinois!

... Several months ago when I was just getting started with my business, I was lucky to find a realtor who "got it".. She called me for several walk throughs of occupied homes, and had me stage two vacants.. Then one day she called to ask me how one becomes a certified stager.. How does a stager get insured?.. etc,, Turns out that she had a "friend" who was helping her to stage some listings and apparently she was working for lots less than me.  ..  I was of course, hurt..  Obviously she thought she could take what she had learned from me to start doing staging herself. .. 

Now,,  here's the rest of the story..  I went to one of the listings that had been "staged" by the new duo, and it was just awful..   I couldn't believe how bad..  BUT, they obviously think that they can do this !.. So, what can you say or do when you encounter the realtor who says .."Staging ??? Oh I know ALL about it.. Oh,, WE do that ! " 

Anne Vigneri www.casavero.com Placitas NM

 

I believe that you can never give away too much information. If someone is going to read the blogs and use the information and get good results, they were never going to be your customer. The more likely the scenario is that they read the blog and realize that staging needs to be done but that they do not have the time or skill to do so. So, they either ignore what they've read or they hire someone.

Just my two cents. 

It amazes ME just how much is being shared here. It is a LOT for even me to keep up with... and I am a stager.

Above ALL else... TALENT is a key compenent to being a stager. I have seen many "TRAINED" stagers that really have NO clue or talent.

NOW... if you feel what you want to share needs to be contained... then use the Memeber Only option. However this OPTION is no read to be rude or mean.

Me

We need to always be mindful of everything that we speak about, here, there or anywhere

Phyllis Pafumi

Yvonne, I am still trying to figure out which category I belong in, but I think your observations are correct. 

Cindy,  your concerns are valid but if we are indeed professional, I don't think there is anything to worry about.  The staging, etc. blogs and posts are more or less just dialogue for all of us to share, learn and be supportive.  There is so much of it like Craig said it's hard to keep up with.  Sometimes topics can become heated but that has always seemed to work itself out and I believe that what was Val's blog was about.  As far as revealing 'Trade Secrets' I honestly believe that there are always going to be people that are DIYers that no matter their means they wouldn't hire a professional if YOU paid them, thank goodness that's only about 30-35% of the population, we just have to EDUCATE the rest of the population that we are HERE!!  So far every Realtor I have met with the exception of 1 would love for their sellers to hire a stager but like I have said before they can only do so much but we all know it would really help both the seller and Realtor.

 

Alyse:  Please find the article regarding 800-Got-Junk sharing everything with their competitors if you can.  Sounds like the idea in the 194? movie Miracle on Thirty-Fourth Street about a department store Santa telling a customer where to find a particular gift at a competing department store.   Anybody else remember that one?  Natalie Wood was in it as the child star.  The idea was priceless, though, because of course the customer won, and isn't that our goal, too?  Let's keep sharing, but of course keep your composure and "Don't say nothin' you wouldn't want repeated in front of your mother."

Joni, Is that what they mean by finding our "voice?" Do we have to choose to be an encourager or do we sometimes slip into a whiner mode without even trying? Wait I'll get back to you later, I'm looking for my cards

Patricia -  I've been looking.  I'm going to have to see if I can dig up a 'real' copy, as I can't seem to find it online anywhere.

Alyse:  Thanks.  Do post a copy or email it directly to me if you find it.

I'm of the theory that what you give out you get back and those that continue to only take will never be whole. But I understand exactly what you are saying here Cindy.  You can always write someone a personal email or post your blogs to "associates only" as well if there's something you want to only share with some.  Good business grows from you helping someone else grow their business - we're not reinventing the wheel here - a lot of what we all say we've thought and experienced in our own areas and just haven't written it first and talent and reputation will be your calling card.  This is the BEAUTY of this place - the free sharing of information, but yes, be careful if you don't feel comfortable sharing something with everyone.

Just, don't be surprised when your blogs start hitting page one. Be prepared, you don't want an "oops, shouldn't have said that."  AR really is amazing.  I am amazed everyday how AR blogs seem to be coming up a lot more on google than they were  6 months ago.  I did a lot of research, and I didn't know about active rain for months, and then it was buried several pages deep.  Not Anymore!

Wow, Cindy,

Looks like you really pushed a lot of sensitive buttons on this one. Created quite a controversy over just how much information to divulge into an AR blog. Reminds me of a similar situation in the electric motor industry a few years back. A foreign technology firm made a major (and I mean MAJOR) breakthrough in a testing methodology for armatures (integral part of the electric motor). The innovative company was granted patent's (including USA) on the procedure.

An entourage of their engineering and marketing staff came to the USA to present their mega-discovery at an international trade show. Although their resulting public presentation and supply of supportive documentation provided full disclosure, it did not result in the world beating a path to their doorstep as one might expect. In fact, it took several years before potential users of the new technology accepted and began utilizing the new testing method. The moral of this story? Regardless of the inherent value of a new product or service, it takes an agonizing amount of time for the targeted market to accept it.

Perhaps the same is true of trade secrets revealed by the blogging home stager. Not every reader is anxious to accept something new or different. As I am sure you would agree, there is still a lot of misunderstanding about the various aspects of home staging. Sadly, many of the readers just simply don't get it. It is imperative that you and other home stagers continue to educate the public about the benefits of your services. After all, home staging is a profession, not a hobby.

Understandably, realtors have been a bit slow to engage home staging services. Any additional service, added into the traditional real estate sales transaction, conjures up red cost flags.  Many realtors fear that staging will impact their commission. Far from it. Ordinarily, the seller pays the home staging fee and the realtor's commission is not compromised because the property sells for the full asking price and in a timely manner. To a realtor, time is money so it's really a win-win situation.

By default, realtors are the preferred group needed to endorse home staging as a value-added segment of the overall real estate transaction. Until they become aware of the bona fide advantages of professional home staging and get onboard, home stagers have a long row to hoe.

Keep up the good work presenting the unadulterated truth about home staging. Don't be overly concerned about giving away the crown jewels. As other commentators before me said, home staging ideas and techniques are publicly available on HGTV and many other sources.

And thanks to Active Rain for giving home stagers a real voice amongst the nation's real estate professionals!

I like how you think Toney Medrick! Are you a realtor or stager or perhaps both?  You made some great points here and the more voices we have singing in this  choir the more likely we'll finally be heard. Thanks for such a well thought out comment to Cindy's blog (which was great food for thought too!)

I figure my target market is listing agents who are busy. If they are working that field and doing what they do best, are they really here reading blogs about staging? I would venture my target market is not present in any significant concentration when I do a presentation at an office meeting. So adopting an attitude of giving insights and ideas in these talks positions me as an expert at adding value to the real estate transction. I figure either word travels to the top producers, or those in the room who are not ready today will call me when they are. In this way, I can be the most real and personable and helpful to agents out there who are still figuring out how to make real estate pay the bills. Plus, as many have mentioned before me, talent shows best when it is shining with no shades on. I think this also holds true for the AR blogs, although there I agree heartily that there are some topics that should be member only.

Hi Cindy,  Great blog.  You really got a lot of people thinking!  I too have been amazed . . . and pleasantly surprised at the unselfishness of fellow home stagers who have shared information on AR.  I feel this is  making all of us who have the design excpertise just that much better. And for those who are gifted with other talents . . .  they   don't have the time or the desire to play in our sand box.  They are too busy building their own sand castles to be any kind of threat to us!