Home Staging Blog by Jennie Norris

This past week, I had some alarming news!  I DIED in 2006!  I know there are some people that may have wanted me dead a time or two (LOL) but WOW! Here's what happened . . .

I was doing a check on some erroneous data on my credit report and found that this credit card that I have not had in use since 2003 was showing a balance due and many late dings.  When I called the credit issuer, I was told at first that their records showed I had assumed payments for someone that died.  When I said, "Uh - no - and please send me to your fraud department," upon digging deeper, it turns out that I was the person that was DEAD!

I had to ask - "What did I die from?"  And "Is my husband still alive?"  "Did we collect on my insurance policy?" - making light of the situation is one way to deal with it - but truly it sort of rattled me a bit.  They had me as dead in 2006 - reported to them by someone else. Who?  I don't know.  The fact that they believed it - is alarming too.  I wonder if this was someone that wanted to take my social security number - if I was dead - it could go to someone else.  Their records showed I had no balance - but the reporting agencies showed a different picture - which is easy to straighten out IF you have the correct info.  I took care of it on my end, but I started thinking about what else I could do to make sure I am protected.

So, I have signed on for a fraud protection service through www.equifax.com.  It is about $5 per month, and they will alert me to any activity on my credit and with my social security info.  Also, I was able to go to an 800# that lets me opt out of any unauthorized pulling of my credit - which happens to any of us that are getting those free solicitations in the mail - giving you credit, credit cards, and special loans.  Every time they send you these freebies, that means they have pulled your credit!  This puts a ding on your credit - it shows too many inquiries which can hurt you if you are trying to refinance.  I get these for my business as well - so any of us business owners - our credit is being pulled without our permission!  It can stop if YOU personally call to opt out.

Word to the wise - protect yourself, or you could end up DEAD (metaphorically speaking) - and your personal info may end up giving life to some low-life scum that would assume your identity!

- Jennie

CHICAGO - CHICAGO!!  What a great town - and the location for the annual ASP Convention held at the end of June!!  We had a BLAST!

This is me and Mark Reed - another trainer with Stagedhomes.com . .  .(now you know what I would look like as either A)Mo from the 3 stooges (check out the hair) or B)as a Flapper in the 20's.  Thank goodness for the hat - the wig was pretty funny!  We took a cruise out on the Lake - saw fireworks - it was spectacular!!

We had a BLAST in the WINDY CITY . . . taking the town by storm for the week!  I arrived early Monday and stayed until Sunday morning - enjoying the great Chi-town atmosphere!  We had nearly 300 people in attendance at our sold-out Convention (limited our space on purpose!) and all had a ball!  Staging is fun and it's also fun to celebrate with fellow Stagers!!

This is Me with Trish Pachak and Jeannie Berger - 2 other trainers with Stagedhomes.com

And of course, none of it would be possible without Barb Schwarz - my friend and mentor!  It was so great to be together and plans are already under way for our next year's Convention and Celebration!

I have just TODAY finally unpacked my suitcase (got home July 2nd!) . . . and just got shot back to life with kids, 4th of July and Family, and a class to teach, as well as Houses to Stage!  I LOVED the time in Chicago and meeting people from 29 states and 2 provinces of Canada!  WOW!!  To check out more of our photos - go to www.iahsp.com and link to the 2007 IAHSP Convention photo gallery that is being uploaded soon!

- Jennie

 I got a call from an ABC Reporter from New York City who was referred to me by Chris Connelly of ABC.  Chris and I met during the filming of the 20/20 segment.  The reporter wanted to know if Home Staging today in a slower market as we are experiencing pretty much all over the U.S. - was as important as it was nearly 2 years ago when the segment was filmed.  Of course - I said - it is even MORE necessary.  She had already interviewed Barb Schwarz with www.Stagedhomes.com at length - about current trends and stats.  So even though the segment was filmed in 2005 its relevance is still powerful.

The 20/20 Segment that aired Friday, June 22nd gave the Staging industry great exposure!  When it originally ran in October 2005, it was a positive and high-energy look at what we do in our business - and ABC's 20/20 really captured how we use our creativity to transform spaces.  The overall segment was on the real estate industry and honestly not all parts of that were favorable - from how Realtors sell houses, to working with custom builders, challenging experiences some home sellers had, etc.  I did not agree with how some segments were portrayed, but I could not have been happier about the Staging segment.

I love this segment - not because as a Home Stager I was privileged to be part of it due to my relationship with with the featured company, Stagedhomes.com and Barb Schwarz, but because the FUN of what we do shines through.  We don't have to come across as stodgy or corporate - we are CREATIVE - and the nature of what we do with sometimes not very much - is magic!

I hope you take the time to view this segment - you can view it by going to www.WeStageSacramento.com and clicking in the 20/20 link.

- Jennie

SOLD in 1 DAY!! Staging Works even in a tough market!

I love this business!  Even in a "down" market, houses that are presented well do sell!  We Staged a house about a week ago that was probably in its hey-day in the 80's.  The yellow-gold-brown tile on the floors and kitchen counters gave the age away of this lady that was trying hard to fit in with the younger look of today's houses.

The seller (flipper/investor) convinced himself that the 80's look would help bring a buyer - which just made our job as Stagers even more rewarding when we were able to transform a dated dame to a classy catch!  His budget was limited (of course) but we worked our magic anyway and brought out the highlights of the house.

The house SOLD to the VERY FIRST PERSON that saw it and fell in LOVE with it!!  House priced $12K above what the Realtor/Seller originally told me - and SOLD at full price!  YES!!  This client - also with a local news station - said his wife was "stunned" at the transformation of her old digs.  He said, "you are amazing!"  And of course a news feature is next!

Oh - and I don't want to forget to mention the average days on market for a house in this price category are about 60 days.  For a median priced home - expect 120 days on market.  So this is not a "hot" market by any stretch of the imagination and still houses that are presented well, are selling.  We just de-staged 2 houses today - both sold in a less than a month.

Happy Staging!

Jennie Norris, ASPM, IAHSP - Owner We Stage Sacramento