Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi,  I am a new member and I stage homes for Realtors, Builders and Sellers either before they go on the market or if they are lingering on the market.  I have been kicking around the idea of having people send me photos of the homes and for a fee I would provide advice on what changes needed to be made to "set the stage" to appeal to the majority of buyers.  I can do this in either occupied or vacant properties.  Do you see this as a viable service and would you use it?  Thanks so much for your advice.

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Gail Alexander, CEO Setting the Stage

Hello,

I think what you are offering is a viable service, but have concern that is what Realtors should be providing to their client. Therefore; you may want to focus on the people who are selling their own home without the use of a realtor. Just a thought!

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Jamie Dufrene
Rajin Enterprises
http://www.jceconsulting.net/

Hi Gail and Welcome!

Great service you offer there, I`ve seen television shows doing what you do and I`m glued to the tv when they come on...in a sense, it reminds me of marketing (presenting the house in such a way to get prospects salivating at the mouth in an effort to `buy`).

In addition to the idea of having people send you photos, have you entertained the idea of possibly selling the "information" showing them how to `stage` their own homes?

And perhaps as a `BONUS` for buying your information, they can send you photographs after they attempted to do it themselves for your expert opinion?

I see a great product/service here that could be sold nationwide (worldwide too)...

Instead of a bonus offer, this could also be upsold as a `premium` if you know what I mean.

Also, I looked at your site and there are some changes I`d recommend, but I`ll save that for another time, but one thing you can modify right now are the "FREE Staging Tips" you`re offering on the site.

Instead of giving that information away for free, have them sign-up to receive those free staging tips. When they sign-up (e-newsletter), you can set a series of autoresponders that will send them the tips at a pre-determined time automatically. After they receive each tip, at the end of the email, you can have a paragraph or two upselling your "ebook" and linking them to your site to purchase a copy.

Perhaps you can make arrangements with realtors where they give your `book` away for free to their `clients` to stage their house, and at the end, upsell your services there to have them send u photos via email (for a fee of course) for your expert critique.

Those are just some ideas off the top of my head. Hope these help.

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Website Startup Coach: Step-by-Step Coaching to Help You Build a Profitable Business Online!

Excellent call on the email list signup Cartess, that seems like a must. If you`ve got great content like that to share, ask for something minor in return that can pay great dividends down the road - contact info.

I think it`s a great idea in general Gail, definitely with the FSBO market in mind - as a homeowner, I would be more than willing to pay for professional advice on how to best stage a home for prospective buyers. I would want to see testimonials and/or other evidence of real results, if possible (i.e. this person`s house was on the market for 6 months before we worked with them, and we helped them close a deal at asking price within four weeks, or something of that nature).


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chuck fuller

Thanks so much for your suggestions and ideas,  all of which are great.  My website isn`t finished yet and I will be critiquing it when it is finished so your ideas would be very helpful.  I really appreciate all your thoughts and ideas.  Please keep them coming.  You know how it is when you get "stuck in a rut!"

Happy New Year and Great Success in 2007!



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Gail Alexander, CEO Setting the Stage

Indiana Garage Builders - garage design and custom build garages. Grand Garages and Storage Sheds. Serving Ohio for 20 years.s

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