At HSR, we are firm believers in not reinventing the wheel and learning from others. What makes our training so unique is its ability to evolve, grow and be relevant based upon the constant interviews, emails and feedback we are getting from veterans in our industry. These are just a few of the educational and inspiring emails I get daily. Enjoy!

Tears of Joy and a Two Hundred Dollar Tip!

Hi Audra

Thank you so much for returning my phone call today. The staging job was a GREAT success, the Real Estate Broker came over and went crazy over it but best of all the home owner cried! By the way the owner gave a two hundred dollar tip, you have to love that. I must say that it was really nice to talk with you and not some one from your office, not that that would be bad , but it really shows how much you care about us, much thanks from a small town in Oregon.

HSR Networking Pays Off - Holly's Story

Funny Song Written by an HSR Member

Retail Space to Showcase Work - Tammy's Story

Audra,

I wanted to share my success story with you since I have taken your course and developed my Home Staging and Interior Redesign business.

A friend of mine relocated her Art Gallery to downtown Jasper, AL. I told her I would design her new gallery to offer her a new look for her new location. She was overwhelmed. The renovation took several weeks, and turned out beautifully. As an act of appreciation, she asked if I would like to bring my Home Staging and Redesign office to her Gallery. I accepted and started my office transformation. During the renovation I had several clients ask for my services. A redesign, jewelry store renovation and a lake house redesign. I had two Realtors contact me to stage two homes for their clients. I was asked to speak at the Walker County Board of Realtors and Walker County Home Builders Association. As a Certified Home Staging Specialist, I have found that credentials is what it takes to get your name out to the public. We had our Grand Opening this past Saturday. SUCCESS!

Your course offered me a opportunity to pursue a career I have been developing for many years. Knowledge and experience is so valuable when you are trying to educate the public about Home Staging. I refer to your site daily. It gives me confidence that I am going in the right direction with my presentations and services.

I am forwarding you a real estate show of my office renovation. I am so proud of the way it has developed:

http://www.realestateshows.com/show.php?id=501197&code=d57032dd

I am so glad to have found your on-line course and absolutely believe that other courses I have found would not have produced the success I have found as a result of taking your course.

I had a new friend call and ask about me how I got started in my business and courses available. I told her your course would give her all the tools she would need to start her own Home Staging business. She came to my grand opening and saw my office, and said that gave her all the confidence she needed to get started.

Thanks for all the newsletters and encouragement you send. I hope my success story will motivate others to follow their dreams. I have made it and so can they!

Tammy Benson, Finishes By Design

Activity Equals Business - Kathryn's Story

I am just now in the marketing phase and had my second staging job last week, a 7000 sq ft home on two acres!

I had done a presentation at a real estate office for all of the realtors and one of them referred me to this client, to help prepare her home for sale this week end. I met with the realtor again this morning and they have invited me to participate in their "Tour of Homes" in June as a preferred vendor. They have also invited me to go on their realtor tours once a month, to help assess the needs of the new homes listed! I am very excited about this opportunity and will be asking other real estate offices the same.

I am taking two photography classes to get my skills up to par.
I loved the training and refer back to your site almost every day. I am also going to attend my first RESA meeting in Dallas next week.
Thank you again for everything.
Kathy

The Snowball Effect of Staging - Anita's Story

Hello Audra,

I was contacted by an older woman under a strict budget with an immaculate home. Her realtor did not think she needed to do anything but the woman felt sure she needed some help. Due to her budget restraints, I met with her twice and provided a written report. She “GOT” it! She took the report and ran with it. Her home was under contract in less than three weeks.

How do I know she “got” it? I was laying face down on my chiropractor’s table and he was telling me about house hunting with his father. So far they had looked at over 60 properties. He then started telling me about one home they looked at that he was certain had been staged. He said it was perfect – that walking through it his dad leaned over and whispered “I feel like I’ve just come home – like this was waiting for me.” They had two more properties to see but dad couldn’t get the one out of his mind. They told their realtor they wanted to make an offer on the “home,” but by the time they called, it was already under contract. Laying there and listening to the story, I asked “Was this home on Eric Drive?” “Yes!” he replied. I then told him it was one of mine and we got a big laugh. He then featured me on his website and sang my praises to all of his real estate patients. I just finished a job for one of his patients.

But that one job snowballed into more. Her realtor (remember the one that didn’t think she needed staging) called me and told me she was posting the photos and was just amazed at the transformation. She asked me to come and consult on her own home! Then she told her real estate partner about me, who then told a prestigious client (the Clerk of Court) about me, and she hired me for a day and a half of staging. I have now done two more consultations (paid for by the realtor) and have a mini-staging scheduled.

Continuous Networking Mode and Chamber of Commerce

Hi Audra,

Just thought I give you another crazy story to tell. Within one hour (I am NOT making this up) of finishing my new website and having you take the old one down, I got a call from a realtor wanting me to vacant stage a home of a client of his. I hadn't even planned to offer vacant staging for months, but I've called a furniture company and the rep is going to work with me. Nothing like learning by fire!! Anyway, I asked the realtor how he found me, and he said he found HSR on google and then went to the Colorado directory. He said I'm the first stager listed in CO Springs that has a website. So THANK YOU to you and all your staff that have helped me make this transition to the new business name and get everything up and runnning so fast!!!! Now if I only had my new business cards already... 🙂

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
Lisa Vargas

Audra's Side Note - The HSR Directory is by Expiration Date, so new signups and renewing early puts you towards the top because you have the furthest expiration date to your membership.

Continuous Networking Mode and Chamber of Commerce

Hello Audra,

...I had been with a client in Ross and we were shopping and a lady walked up to me and asked me for some decorating advice since she had over heard me speaking to my client. That turned out to be a big redesign project (kitchen, living room, bedroom, office, sun room, dining room). That client's fiancé owns 3 beach front property's and would like to put two on the market in February and he would like me to stage both property's. Both beach property's are furnished with some great pieces of furniture but I will need a few additional focal pieces. I am meeting with Fashion Furniture this morning to take a look at their selection of furniture.

I ended up attending a San Diego Chamber of Commerce after-five mixer with the Fashion Furniture representative and joined the Chamber of Commerce (Standard Package $450.00). Not sure if that was a smart move but the networking was phenomenal and I met 2 builder's and a few real estate agents. I will be able to use their logo on my website so I will contact the HSR web team to see how I can go about getting that on the site. They have also listed me in their directory under Home Stager and I am on a Housing Committee Board and a Business referral network team of 14 people.

Co-Sponsored Newsletters

Hi Audra,

This week I established my business checking account and I have partnered up with two Realtors.

I have also co-founded a newsletter to launch in the Springtime. It will target 700+ residents and the newsletter will feature regular articles on Home Staging and Real Estate among other topics on finance and inspiration to educate and empower readers.

I have also joined my local Chamber of Commerce and they announce new businesses and their contact information in the local newspapers. I think it's a great way to network with other businesses and get your name out there.

Michelle Molina

Note - Agents who send out newsletters are more than happy to split the cost and have you contribute as it lends credibility to their work and you!

Hi Audra,

I still advocate my HSR investment as some of the best money I've ever spent!

Take it from me, I have not been afraid - throughout my life to try different opportunities and this seems to be a very good fit for me. I am actually approaching my tenth year as I signed up with HSR on May 1st of 2007. Anyway, I think I've rounded the corner and will have more business than I can handle by myself next year at this same time. As your training manual mentions, I have found vacant home staging to be lucrative -especially since I have started investing in the purchase of my own furniture. I have two vacant stagings so far this month as well as a third partial. In addition, I have several quotes floating out there. I also notice a need with investors who have chosen to auction their properties- they only need the furniture for a few days and yet it ends up being even more work than a three month staging job, because everything is still done, but it is condensed into a tighter time frame. Well, I can barely keep up with everything I want to do. Thanks for all you do. I'm looking forward to an HSR convention and will definitely attend (and help too if you need it!)