Done! Develop you Database in No Time

The idea of developing a database for a home stager can be a scary proposition for many people. But don’t be intimidated by the thought of starting from scratch for your customer database. There are a few important things that you need to remember when developing your system and before you know it, it will be up and running. The first thing is to choose a database program or supplier that suits your needs. There are a wide variety of programs available on the market, ranging in price and sophistication. Balance your needs with your budget and be careful not to choose a program that doesn’t offer you enough. And likewise, be careful that you don’t pick a database that offers far more than you need or you’ll be wasting your money and overwhelming yourself. Once you have the program, you need to start assembling the data. You may actually surprise yourself and realize that you have much of the data you need to get started. Look back through invoices and sales orders. You can start with the basics: customers name, address, services purchased, and any other information you may have collected. In your database, you will likely want information such as the customers service history – what you have done for them, any specific things that they requested, didn’t like, did like etc. Their account history – did they pay on time, promptly, any issues with their account etc. And if you have it, it’s good to know how customers heard about you and your services. Did they respond to an ad you placed, find you in the phone book, on the internet or hear about you from a friend? When it comes to developing your database, don’t forget to include the information of potential customers. This contact information is crucial when it comes to marketing and future sales. Just because a contact is not a customer right now, does not mean that they won’t be a customer in the future. Collect all the information you can to use later in future marketing efforts. Building your database will take some initial time and effort but once it’s up and running the maintenance that is required is minimal and the dividends that result from a well developed system are immense. This you will learn in your home staging training. About the Author: By Karen Schaefer, Founder of Simple Appeal, Inc. and APSD – The Association of Property Scene Designers. Through Karen, and her home stager school, you can learn more about staging, marketing, selling houses quickly and make property buyers swoon over your home staging career.

By Karen Schaefer, Founder of Simple Appeal, Inc. and APSD – The Association of Property Scene Designers. Through Karen, and her home stager school, you can learn more about staging, marketing, selling houses quickly and make property buyers swoon over your home staging career.

Add Curb Appeal without Breaking the Bank

We have all heard the term curb appeal before, but what does it really mean? In a nut shell, when it comes to curb appeal – you want potential buyers to fall in love with your property right when they pull up to the curb, before they ever set foot inside the front door. Many people, particularly those that are new at flipping properties, or home staging career down play the importance of curb appeal because they don’t want to spend money on the outside of the home. Do not make this mistake. Creating a beautiful looking exterior does not have to cost a fortune. In fact, with a few simple changes you will have buyers tripping over themselves to get in the front door to see what else your property has to offer. The first thing that you need to do may be obvious, but clean up and do general maintenance. Make sure there are no garbage cans sitting by the front door, or loose patio stones. Everything should be in good repair, and be clean. If necessary, rent a pressure washer and get all the dirt and grime off the siding to give the property some sparkle and shine. A fresh coat of paint for trim or shutters is not expensive and will go a long way to making a property pop. Choose colors that are fresh and draw the eye towards features such as windows and the front door. If it’s really needed, painting the entire house may cost a bit more but will be a worthwhile investment in the long run. The least expensive and most impressive way to add curb appeal is with landscaping, and you can often do these simple jobs yourself. Prune any overgrown shrubs and trees, making them look neat and tidy. Remove any weeds from the garden and plant a few bright flowers along a walk way or by the front door in order to make the home look welcome and inviting. In order to flip property quickly, investing a small amount into increasing the curb appeal will pay off in the end when your property sells faster and for the dollar amount you are asking. You can learn these and more in a reputable home stager school. About the author: Karen Schaeferis the founder of Simple Appeal, Inc. and APSD – The Association of Property Scene Designers which is composed of home stagers who have accumulated the best home staging training there is. Through Karen, you can learn more about staging, marketing and selling houses quickly.

Make Them Cry, Make Them Laugh – Make the Sale

In today’s real estate market, if you’re selling a home you are up against a lot of competition. That doesn’t make it impossible to flip a property; however you are going to know the secret behind home staging training in order to make your property stand out from the crowd. If you are like most people, you have heard about what home stagers do before. You will know all about smell of baking bread, and scented candles. Now I want you to forget all of that. I’m sure that some of it works, but in order to make your home stand out to potential buyers, you need to create Pockets of Emotion. Pockets of Emotion are little moments in a home when as the potential buyer walks through they are hit with a strong emotion. These moments make them stop and feel. Instead of simply browsing through a home evaluating the closet space and the layout, they are feeling the house and become emotionally connected. An example of creating a pocket of emotion in a condo aimed towards an upscale young urban couple would be to set up the dining area for a romantic dinner for two. Carry the theme over to the kitchen with a bouquet of roses with a hand written note. Take it into the bedroom with a bottle of champagne on the bed side table and rose petals floating in the bath. This scene sets a stage for a romantic evening, one that a potential buying couple can relate to. When you create Pockets of Emotion throughout a home, potential buyers will remember your property as the one that made them cry or laugh as they imagined their own lives playing out in the home. Taking the time to properly stage your property to make it memorable and not just another house that smelt of fresh bread will help you flip your property faster and with more success. By Karen Schaefer, Founder of Simple Appeal, Inc. and APSD – The Association of Property Scene Designers. To learn more about staging, marketing and selling houses quickly go to http://apsdmembers.com/homestager/directoffer.html for a free 30 day trial. About the author: By Karen Schaefer, Founder of Simple Appeal, Inc. and APSD – The Association of Property Scene Designers. Through Karen, and her home stager school, you can learn more about staging, marketing, selling houses quickly and make property buyers swoon over your home staging career.