Andy's Blog

Andy's Blog http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog The Power of Staging en Staging Homes Successfully this Summer http://www.realblogging.com/andy039s-blog/staging-homes-successfully-summer <p>It doesn’t matter what the “experts” say about the market – it’s June, school is out and folks are on the move.  Now is the time to ensure that you haven’t left anything to chance.  It’s the time to embrace the concept of <em>home staging</em> like it’s your best friend … because it is!  </p> <p>1.         While standing at the entrance of the house you have just listed, take lots of photographs of the garden and exterior and especially the front door.  Download them and have a good hard look at what you’re dealing with.  This is your time to be super observant.</p> <div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/andy039s-blog/staging-homes-successfully-summer">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/andy039s-blog/staging-homes-successfully-summer#comments Agent Productivity Broker Profitability Buying & Selling A Home General Generational Selling New Agents Professionalism Real Estate Marketing Andy's Blog Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:01:56 +0000 Andy Capelluto 1688 at http://www.realblogging.com Enticing Exteriors http://www.realblogging.com/enticing-exterors <p>A recent Real Estate Agent Community Trends survey, sponsored by Jeld-Wen Inc., found <strong>82 percent of real estate agents had</strong> <strong>buyers refuse to look inside a house based on its exterior appearance</strong><strong><em>.</em></strong><em>" Now t</em>hat doesn’t surprise me at all. I clearly remember house hunting for my first home and pausing outside many a home, only to drive off if the exterior lacked appeal.</p> <div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/enticing-exterors">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/enticing-exterors#comments Buying & Selling A Home Economy & Housing Bubble Education & Training Real Estate Trends Specialty Services Andy's Blog Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:27:03 +0000 Andy Capelluto 1685 at http://www.realblogging.com Teachers Pet http://www.realblogging.com/andy039s-blog/teachers-pet <p>    <img src="/sites/realblogging.com/files/Mary%20Jankowski%20Before%202.gif" alt="" width="150" /><img src="/sites/realblogging.com/files/Mary%20Jankowski%20After%202.gif" alt="" width="150" />Nothing delights a teacher more than an enthusiastic student who without delay sets to work on the new skill acquired.  Such was the case when <a href="http://www.realtormaryjankowski.com" target="_blank" title="Mary Jankowski of Reid Real Estate">Mary Jankowski of Reid Real Estate</a> in Bremerton Washington took <strong><a href="http://www.thepowerofstaging.com" title="The Power of Staging">The Power of Staging</a></strong> class recently.  Her eagerness paid off as she set to work staging her listing.  Less than 3 weeks after taking the class and after only 5 day</p> <div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/andy039s-blog/teachers-pet">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/andy039s-blog/teachers-pet#comments Buying & Selling A Home Coaching & Mentoring Economy & Housing Bubble Education & Training home staging Real Estate Trends Specialty Services Andy's Blog Thu, 15 May 2008 05:58:56 +0000 Andy Capelluto 1649 at http://www.realblogging.com NO HOUSE LEFT BEHIND http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/no-house-left-behind <p align="left"><strong>NO HOUSE LEFT BEHIND</strong> ought to become the mantra of every real estate agent.   As we deal with the consequences of a sluggish market, it becomes essential that a certain degree of renovation should take place prior to the listing of <em><strong>every</strong></em> home.  That is if you’re hoping to attract the selective buyers who have an over abundance of choices.</p> <div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/no-house-left-behind">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/no-house-left-behind#comments Buying & Selling A Home Career Development Economy & Housing Bubble Education & Training Inspirational Internet/eCommerce New Agents Real Estate Careers Real Estate Marketing Real Estate Trends Specialty Services Andy's Blog Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:15:50 +0000 Andy Capelluto 1586 at http://www.realblogging.com Benjamin Moore gets my vote http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/benjamin-moore-gets-my-vote <p align="justify"><img src="/sites/realblogging.com/files/Benjamin%20Moore.jpg" alt="" width="150" align="right" />Any woman who’s ever has her favorite lipstick or eye shadow color discontinued might relate to this one.  Horror of horrors, my tried, tested and trusted paint color – the interior color that goes with traditional, contemporary and eclectic décor schemes alike had been discontinued.  To make matters worse, I was the last one to find out.</p> <p align="justify">When a past student brought it to my attention and after I had wiped the egg off my face I jumped into action.  Always of the belief to keep it simple, I set about looking for the most up to date, practical for all styles of room, in all states of the country, paint color for home staging.</p> <div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/benjamin-moore-gets-my-vote">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/benjamin-moore-gets-my-vote#comments Buying & Selling A Home Education & Training Real Estate Trends Specialty Services Andy's Blog Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:01:46 +0000 Andy Capelluto 1521 at http://www.realblogging.com Give US A chance http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/give-us-chance <p><img src="/sites/realblogging.com/files/USA%20Flag.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="150" height="1" align="right" /> Naturally my thoughts turned to China as the time came for me to source a product specifically for The Power of Staging Classes.</p> <div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/give-us-chance">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/give-us-chance#comments Specialty Services Andy's Blog Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:29:33 +0000 Andy Capelluto 1470 at http://www.realblogging.com Take the U out of a House http://www.realblogging.com/take-u-out-house <p><img src="/IMG_1385%20(2).JPG" border="0" alt="horns" width="1" height="1" />I just love working with Real Estate Professionals!  They spend a size-able part of each day touring through other people’s homes.  Could this be the reason that collectively agents have the most fabulous sense of humor?  House hunters are naturally curious.  What we aiming for when staging a house is a smooth tour of the dwelling with no distractions.  Thanks to the never ending wisdom shared by agents in my classes the list of ways to depersonalize a home seems endless………<img src="/sites/all/modules/tinymce/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/themes/advanced/images/spacer.gif" alt="<--break->" title="<--break-->" width="100%" height="12" /> <img></p> <div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/take-u-out-house">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/take-u-out-house#comments Andy's Blog Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:35:42 +0000 Andy Capelluto 1406 at http://www.realblogging.com Education through Experience http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/education-through-experience <p> My October and November staging classes have been jam packed with agents eager to explore every option available to them. It seems they’ll try anything that might reverse the momentum of the ever growing mound of unsold homes. Yes, it’s clear, the pendulum has swung, and it is important to remember that the pendulum will swing again.</p> <div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/education-through-experience">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/education-through-experience#comments Education & Training Andy's Blog Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:28:20 +0000 Andy Capelluto 1349 at http://www.realblogging.com Enter the 'Stagent' http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/enter-stagent <p class="MsoNormal"> Kudos to the stagent who looked her sellers fearlessly in the eyes and announced that she was going to stage their home. First she had the sellers follow a ‘to do’ list of decluttering, cleaning and repairing. She had them start the packing process and guided them as to how to store their items. </p> <p> The story inspired me, especially because this is something I’ve always envisioned. </p> <p><div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/enter-stagent">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/enter-stagent#comments Specialty Services Andy's Blog Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:05:56 +0000 Andy Capelluto 1296 at http://www.realblogging.com Moody Blue http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/moody-blue <p> I couldn’t help wondering why this client had asked to consult with me if she was opposed to everything I suggested. Our meeting felt like an arm wrestle as she flexed her muscle throughout our time together leaving me wondering which one of us had more experience in Home Staging.</p> <div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/moody-blue">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/moody-blue#comments Specialty Services Andy's Blog Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:17:52 +0000 Andy Capelluto 1258 at http://www.realblogging.com Staging around the world http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/staging-around-world <p> Perhaps I should have said goodbye - especially as I was going to be away overseas for 5 weeks. Still unaccustomed to being a blogger, I'm reminded of my responsibility. It's almost like having a big family (out in the blogosphere) who are waiting to glean some news, wanting to know what intelligent information I might have to share. </p> <div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/staging-around-world">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/staging-around-world#comments Specialty Services Andy's Blog Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:48:43 +0000 Andy Capelluto 1211 at http://www.realblogging.com Presentation, Presentation, Presentation http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/presentation-presentation-presentation <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">After the real estate adage of location, location, location I think I'd like to add a new one; presentation, presentation, presentation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">"? </span>And it seems I'm not alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">"? </span>There's a young bright spark out there who shares my views.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">"? </span>He's a Real Estate Agent with Orlando Real Estate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">"? </span>I tracked him down to <a href="http://www.ekday.com/">www.ekday.com</a>"? and it's almost as if this young man has been reading my mind.</span></p><p /><div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/presentation-presentation-presentation">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/presentation-presentation-presentation#comments Professionalism Andy's Blog Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:02:02 +0000 Andy Capelluto 886 at http://www.realblogging.com The Staging Spectrum http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/staging-spectrum <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.2pt; mso-outline-level: 1"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">The Staging Spectrum</span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> is the name I have given to the degree of staging each different home may require.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">"? </span>Likewise it is the amount of staging each seller may be prepared to undertake in terms of time, energy and expenditure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">"? </span>We may decide simply to clean and tidy the home and spend nothing or we may choose to stage the entire home and deliver truckloads of furniture giving it the look of a model home while also spending a substantial amount in the process<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">.</b></span></p><p /><div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/staging-spectrum">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/staging-spectrum#comments Education & Training Andy's Blog Tue, 29 May 2007 06:07:31 +0000 Andy Capelluto 866 at http://www.realblogging.com Priorities....... http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/priorities <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">After days of writer's blog ' sorry make that writer's block, I have decided to abandon my planned topic on how to beautify the exterior of the home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">"? </span>Surely all homeowners know that as spring appears, so we cut back the dead wood of the winter, plant seasonal color, aerate and fertilize the grass and remove outdoor furniture covers or better still, invest in some wonderful new outdoor furniture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">"? </span>So let me move onto something that has completely consumed my mind body and spirit this week. </span></p><p /><p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></span></p><p /><p>"?</p><div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/priorities">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/priorities#comments Andy's Blog Wed, 16 May 2007 07:50:47 +0000 Andy Capelluto 844 at http://www.realblogging.com Staged to Enjoy! http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/staged-enjoy <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">I can't tell you how impressed I was with the foresight of a delightful young couple who were referred to me by their Real Estate Agent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">"? </span>This was a first for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">"? </span>I've spent over 20 years in the interior design industry, five years of which I've spent staging homes, consulting on home staging and the best part of all, teaching "clock hour' classes on Home Staging to Real Estate Professionals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">"? </span>This couple had just recently bought a condo and their intention was to live in it for a few years and then upgrade to something bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">"? </span></span></p><p /><div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/staged-enjoy">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/staged-enjoy#comments home staging Andy's Blog Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:00:00 +0000 Andy Capelluto 692 at http://www.realblogging.com Over staged or understated? http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/over-staged-or-understated <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;">Pricing a home accurately and presenting it properly are without a doubt two of the most important factors that contribute to a swift sale.<span> </span>Real Estate agents are generally far more in touch with home values than their clients.<span> </span>All too often they are faced with the challenge of dealing with sellers who have unrealistic expectations of their asking price. </span></p><p /><div class="og_rss_groups"><a href="/andys-blog" class="links og_links">Andy's Blog</a></div><p><a href="http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/over-staged-or-understated">read more</a></p> http://www.realblogging.com/andys-blog/over-staged-or-understated#comments Buying & Selling A Home Andy's Blog Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:57:21 +0000 Andy Capelluto 627 at http://www.realblogging.com