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Archive for May 16, 2009

May/June Newsletter

May 16, 2009 by becky.

Friends, Family and Staging Fans,

Quick Announcement: Listen to the free staging teleseminar that took place recently. We hosted callers from all over the country. We answer questions like, “How do you stage a vacant home?”

1-219-509-8113. access code 127673

Agents, designers, and staging fans are invited to listen. Your regular long distance charges will apply.

Don’t miss the 80% off One-Day Staging Cram Course/Seminar on June 4th. Info under calendar updates.

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We have enjoyed one of the most beautiful spring seasons here in Jacksonville that I can remember. We’ve kept our doors open to cool intracoastal breezes longer than usual. Winter and fall are usually quite lovely in North Florida.

My husband and I frequently haul our bikes to quaint Atlantic Beach to keep in shape. Our training headquarters is 10 minutes from some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida. The short drive to Amelia Island via the Mayport ferry and picturesque Talbot Island rivals anything you might see up the coast. North Florida including St. Augustine is home to numerous well-known writers and artists.

Over the winter, we hosted students from Michigan, Indiana, Maine, Ohio and New York. Many students continue to join us from south Florida, Atlanta and North Carolina.

We are celebrating the 3rd anniversary of the school by expanding in several areas.

We plan to have a mobile class ready soon. Our first regional classes will be in held South Florida and Atlanta and perhaps North Carolina. We have key people in each of these areas helping to coordinate the efforts. I’ll keep you posted.

Online seminars will be available soon also. We have started free teleconferences also. Watch your e-mails for times and dates. We must all keep informed about the ever-evolving staging phenomenon. HGTV has devoted most of their prime-time programing to Real Estate and staging related shows. Staging is getting more coverage that ever.

We’d like to hear from you. Let us know what you’d like see in the newsletter more often: staging success stories, motivational material, marketing strategies, more pictures, personal stories. Any comments about what you like or dislike will be welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have some cool things to report to reinforce your confidence in the value of real estate staging.

1. Our January class staged an agent’s personal residence in January. Before a sign went up and before the ink was dry on listing papers, it sold to the first person to take a look at it. Hooray!!

2. Mary Williams of Watson Realty uses our staging services more than anyone else. She was just congratulated as the best agent in her office and also for selling 10 million in 2008. She is in the top 10 best agents for her company, the largest in our area. Wow!!

3. Sandy Miller is another agent who stages a lot of her properties with Transformations. She sold over 5 million in 2008. Way to go!

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Call for special pricing on summer certification classes. 904-945-0093

Summer Calendar Updates:

One-Day Staging Seminar 80% Off -June 25th, Thursday

9:30AM till 3:45 @ Queens Harbour Yacht & CClub

Reg. Price $425. Now $75 *Money-Back Guarantee

Gourmet Lunch + Supplies, Color Chart & Speaker’s Notes

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June 5-day Certification Class: 15th-19th

July 3-day Certification Class: 14th - 16th

August 5-day Certification Class: 17th-21st

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Take a look at our new picture gallery page…

http://www.transform-us.com/picture_gallery.htm

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Favorite Resources

~These vendors can give you designer pricing on their products. I’ve had 5 years or more of good reports from clients about their work:

* Call Keith at the Carpet Man for flooring and next-day installation. 904-803-7825

* Call Chuck at Art Stones Marble and Granite for Countertops. 904-737-2922

* Call Alan at Christian Crafters International for your painting needs. 904-254-0518

We are not liable for the work, warranties or service performed by these companies. They are not employees of Transformations.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

More than 80% of home-buyers look online before deciding which properties to tour. First impressions still count….now more than ever.

Have you ever bought a magazine because of a beautiful cover page? Of course you have. We all start drawing conclusions after the first few seconds. Susan Boyle, Internet sensation and contestant on Britain’s Got Talent, showed the world that the we still judge a book by it’s cover. She also reminded us that beautiful things sometimes come in the most ordinary packages. I can still hear the song, I Dream the Dream, floating around in my head.

Two quick stories:

1. Transformations staged a million dollar house before the virtual tour and photos. Three good offers came in within 5 days… all from the Internet.

2. The team staged a modest home with unimpressive furniture. Nevertheless, the online pictures got the home a showing and an acceptable offer in 24 hours.

Conclusion: Be sure all your pictures are fantastic. Consider staging the virtual tour. Why put mediocre pictures online?? Really?

Which house would you buy?