Most of us agree that “staging is marketing, using design as the tool”. Accepting that Staging is Marketing, you must expect standard, traditional marketing principles to also be foundational principles of staging, no? I say, resoundingly, yes.

1. Product

Obviously, this is the house. How it’s presented, its condition,its overall appeal, unique selling features, key descriptors, etc.

2. Positioning

Who is the ideal buyer? Is this house a move-up home, a starter house for couple about to start a family, likely to appeal to a professor, a dog owner, what? All of this is positioning, – who is the customer that this product suits.

3. Promotion

How and Where are you letting people know the home is available? What is the offer? yes, the price, the taxes, the commission all play in,but what else? Does this house come with a team of maintenance folks already long established – the landscaper/lawn service, the tree people, the HVAC maintenance contract, the sprinkler contract, the dry cleaner delivery schedule, etc.

4. Price

Is your home the best value in the price bracket you’ve chosen. If not, consider shoring up the value. If still not, you’re at the wrong price point. You need to revisit the comps and determine what the market says each price bracket warrants.

5. Place

How do buyers view the property? Via an Realtor? Will you be holding a Public Open House? Will you run a “sneak peak” promotion? Is it all by special appointment? You need to make is as easy as possible for buyers to find your home. In a buyers’ market, these “places” are important, with rich rewards for the more creative.

Marketing’s 5 ‘p’s – Product, Positioning, Promotion, Price and Place… just as important for the home marketing team as it is for corporate and agency marketers.

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Unlike doctors who have continuing medical education, and realtors who have continuing ed requirements for their license in many states, we home stagers and real estate marketers do not.  No worries, you can find anything on the internet, no?

Certainly.  Enter – Active Rain – an online forum for everyone involved in the real estate space.(www.activerain.com) I’m not alone.AR has 91,690 members as of 5 minutes ago, and within AR, the most active group on home staging is Stage It Forward. (SIF)
SIF has 1,972 Members.The group has upwards of 9,150. It’s a huge, vivid, vibrant community with lots of personalities, lots of support, a few squabbles every now and again, and massive amounts of learning, ideas exchanged and creative brainstorming. It’s the brain child of Craig Schiller, a stager from Chicago and noted blogger in his own right.  Founded in 2006, on Nov. 28^th, it’s charter is  -

HOME STAGERS, this is an informational and networking community that believes the Home Staging Industry will grow and mature by reaching out to and sharing with other Stagers. This one FREE site allows Home Stagers to connect and share with their colleagues and clients. Our diverse background is our strength. By respectfully sharing and helping each other, we can all grow and develop so that ultimately the consumer is educated on the benefits of Home Staging and enjoy the benefits of quality service.

Recently there has been a lot of fuss, mainly from our own “Amarosa” as to who the heck is moderating the group and why do they feature the posts. Kindly 2 of the 4 Moderators stepped up to answer questions…out of which came a great show!

 Here’s the replay of the Stage It Forward Moderators

This was a live broadcast on BlogTalkRadio. To check out more shows there, please Click Juliet’s Radio Program.

This is my first post here on WordPress though I have written many over at www.ActiveRain.com/britvoice and a host of articles on EzineArticles.com. My writing focusses on home staging, how to sell your house and my adventures in NJ’s luxury real estate.  I’ve had an amusing career home staging thus far, and look forward to many more escapades, beautiful houses and super people along the way.

Today, is particularly exciting:  it’s part 2 of my audition with the Enlightened Wealth Institute to be one of their trainers, specifically on Home Staging.  How many people will be in the second installment, and will it be easier than the first time using Microsoft’s Live Meeting?  Hopefully, I’ve got the hang of it, and will remember to press the record button!!

And now I’d like to invite you to claim your free seasonal selling tips by clicking that link.  It will show you how to maximize the appeal of each season to boost the emotional appeal of your home.

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