At this function, Best in class service awards were presented to service providers of F.C. Tucker who offer services in 29 different categories to their agents and Home Sellers. This honor is given to service providers based on feedback from agents and clients utilizing the services of these companies. 

Drum roll please……Our company, Home Matters was awarded best in Class in the Home Staging & Design category for the second straight year.  This is such a special honor for us because it comes from feedback of those many agents and home owners that have used our services.  As I said last year when accepting this award, any honor, award or special recognition that myself or my design specialists have received over the years is always special to me; but the ones that come directly from those that have used and depended on our services are always the most meaningful for me.

Our goal from the very beginning of our company still remains in force today. We simply provide the most meaningful and valuable experience we can for our clients so that they can sell their homes and move on with their lives. By doing so it shows that by staying focused on our clients and their needs; honors, awards and recognition will follow.

Thank you so very much to all of the agents and home owners here in Indiana who have voiced their satisfaction for the services we have provided.  We thank you and we are always happy to offer our experience and expertise.

Valerie Hayes  Home Links Division Service Coordinator & Linda Barnett

Linda Barnett & Elaine Sholty President of Home Link Division

Jim Litton Owner F.C Tucker & Linda Barnett

Linda Barnett, Founder of Home Matters Home Staging of Indianapolis, Indiana announces that the long awaited and highly anticipated CSP™ courses, for Real Estate Staging will be taught in Indianapolis.
.

CSP™ certified staging courses are cutting edge and recognized by leaders in the field of the home staging training industry. The Certified Staging Professional Organization offers a variety of specialized courses.  The CSP™ Staging Course is a 30 hour course which provides the foundation for those wanting to start a career or own a business in real estate property staging. The proven CSP™ process is a blend of interior redesign techniques, along with business, marketing and communication skills, to effectively market a house for sale. Owning a business involves so much more than talent; like pricing, invoicing, communications and vital marketing components.  The program includes a one year membership in the CSP Alumni Association, which provides the support and resources crucial to building a profitable, home staging business.

The CSP™ Elite Course is a one day course for Real Estate agents that provides comprehensive training and insight on staging principles, best practices and strategies for agents to assist property sellers to maximize equity gain during the sale of a property.

Barnett, founder of one of Indiana’s largest, most successful and fastest growing Home Staging, Training and Rental companies, recently became a certified instructor for both the 3 day CSP™ Stagers course and the CSP™ Elite Real Estate agents’ course. 
Barnett is also an Indiana State certified instructor through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency and the Indiana Real Estate Commission has been offering certified training to Home Stagers and Real Estate agents for several years, including a GRI Continued Education class for the Indiana Association of Realtors at the IUPUI Campus at Kokomo, Indiana. “I could not be more pleased to be offering the CSP™ Stager and CSP Elite Courses.  CSP has developed first class training courses and I feel fortunate to be their Mid-West instructor,” Barnett said.
For further details about the CSP Training Courses please visit the training page on our web site or go directly to the CSP web site at www.csptraining.com

.
Not this time. Could this just be a sign that homeowners are truly exploring their options and they understand that their home is a product and they need a property presentation specialist on board as well as a real estate agent to maximize their selling potential?  I would like to think so; so much that I would like to believe that real estate sales are evolving and all parties involved in the real estate transaction participate in their specific role, for in this joint collaboration the anatomy of a successful sale is realized.

.
My favorite quote from this story was this, “While none of these changes are major and the furniture will return to the warehouse once the condo is sold, the effect they are having on visitors is measurable.”
 What is your favorite line or quote?

Click Here to Read Article
Moral of Story:  Plan Today for a Successful Tomorrow!

 
When I started Home Matters in 2004, it was the first Home Staging Company in all of central Indiana.  Approximately 1.5 million People in the Indianapolis area and me, one lone stager.  Even with having been a former Real Estate Agent, in 2004 I would talk to my old Real Estate colleagues and they would squint and reply, “What is it your doing?”  And now, here we are 5 years and eight hundred plus staged homes later, the Art Institute of Indianapolis wants me to educate their students about Home Staging.  Gary simply smiles and says “You’ve come a long way baby.”  There are moments like this that it feels like a long way, but then again, so much of my time these days is still spent on the education of; Realtors on how to use a Home Stager, new stagers on how to stage homes and run a home staging business and the general public on the psychology and value of home staging.  Eight hundred homes seems huge to me, but then again, it is really just a drop in the bucket considering how many homes have been on the market here in Indianapolis area over these past 5 years. My take on this business is as the educational journey continues, the evolution of our companies will continue.

 
To my delight, last Tuesday, the day of the presentation, Michelle and 13 of her students, along with Fabiola Malerbi, Academic Director-Interior Design for the Art Institute, battled a treacherous storm to come to our training facility to participate in a 2 hour discussion about Home Staging.  What a great bunch of students they were.  So involved in home fashion and so many questions.  Without a doubt they were the most informed and yet inquisitive group I have ever had the pleasure of talking with. I’m hopeful that we may even have converted a few of them to become future Home Stagers.  Thanks to Michelle, Fabiola and all of the Students from the Art Institute of Indianapolis for being such a great group to spend the afternoon with.
So, what does this all mean, besides the fact that I had a really great experience with them?  Well it simply means that I am more convinced now than ever before that we have to keep on teaching about home staging.  We have to teach them and then teach them again and again and then teach them some more!  We have to teach our communities and most importantly, we have to teach each other.  And if we do this really well, then we can all be known as stager just like we planned to be.

We were there as part of the Tucker HOME-LINK vendor fair which was held on the first afternoon of the event. HOME-LINK is Tucker’s network of service and product providers. Directly at the conclusion of the day’s event, there was a vendor banquet and awards ceremony. The banquet was very nice with great food and the awards ceremony even better.  There were many classifications of honors given out that evening.  Some were for painters, electricians, plumbers, and yes, also home stagers. This honor is based on feedback from agents and clients utilizing the services of many companies. What a wonderful surprise when it came down to the home staging and design category honors. Home Matters, Home Staging and Redesign were awarded “Best in Class”.  Any honor, award or special recognition that myself or my design specialists have received over the years is always special to me; but the ones that come directly from those that have used and depended on our services are always the most meaningful.

Also as an added bonus, we were just recently made aware that Home Matters, Home Staging and Redesign are the highest rated Home Staging Company in the Central Indiana area by Angie’s List. Angie’s list, as I’m sure many of you know is the nation’s leading source for consumer ratings on local preferred service companies. Detailed feedback from members is used as the basis for providing up-to-date, reliable, unbiased ratings and reviews. Home Matters maintains an across the board “A” rating in all categories.  Again just like the Tucker award, this acknowledgment is an honor that we appreciate very much.
Our goal from the very beginning still remains in the forefront of our business. We simply provide a meaningful and valuable experience for those who are in need of our service. By doing so it does show that by staying focused on our clients and their needs; honors, awards and recognition will follow.

Thank you so very much to all of the agents and home owners here in Central Indiana who has taken the time to raise their voices of satisfaction.  We thank you and we are always happy to offer our experience and expertise.

Savvy home sellers know the main components of a successful sale: keeping (or getting) their home in good-as-new condition; presenting their home so that it appeals (online, in print and in person) to buyers in the targeted demographic; and hiring a professional realtor to make sure that their home gets priced to sell and marketed to be seen. Yet there is another critical point which home sellers often forget: even though “price is king” in this buyer’s market, sellers still control the keys to their own castles.

Unfortunately, many home sellers fail to realize just how much power they have to ensure that their homes will sell quickly and profitably. For any given home, it is ultimately the seller who decides whether the home will enter the market “as is” or in peak condition; the seller who decides to use the support of professionals (realtors, inspectors, home stagers, etc.) or go it alone; and the seller who decides the price of the home. Without the realization of their power, sellers fail to maximize their role in their home-selling process.    

The job of real estate professionals is to remind home sellers of their power and provide them with first-rate support. This is where a home stager can be a realtor’s best ally. Stagers can objectively and knowledgeably assess sellers’ needs, explore their motivations, address their questions and concerns, advise them to listen to the wise counsel of their realtors, and remind them of their tremendous capacity to help ensure a successful home sale. By working closely with realtors and sellers, stagers can present a home that will compel buyers to become the next king or queen of the castle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Linda Barnett, Founder of Home Matters, to Offer Staging and Redesign (SAR) Certification Courses

Nearly five years after having founded one of the most successful and fastest growing home staging and redesign companies in Indiana, Linda Barnett is expanding Home Matters to include a new training division. Starting in January of 2009, Barnett will offer a series of 5-day Staging and Redesign (SAR) certification courses for stagers and 2-day SAR certification courses for real estate agents.

The SAR Certification Course for Stagers combines classroom training with field experience to provide a strong foundation for the art and business of staging and redesign in vacant and occupied homes. The SAR Certification Course for Agents utilizes classroom and hands-on training to give real estate professionals the tools to improve the marketability of their clients’ homes and generate faster, more profitable sales. Each course includes personalized instruction, as well as ongoing professional and marketing support, to help ensure participants’ success.      

Both of the SAR courses were created and certified by Melissa Marro of Charleston, SC, who founded First Impressions Home Staging and Interior Redesign in 2005 and helped it become one of the premiere staging and training companies in the southeast. Marro holds several leadership positions in the staging/redesign industry, including the South Carolina State Chapter President of the Interior Redesign and Staging Industry Specialists (IRIS). Marro tapped Barnett to become the Midwest SAR Instructor because of her longstanding record of success in the Indianapolis metropolitan area and her leadership in the staging/redesign industry.  

This collaboration between Barnett and Marro marks the latest step in their efforts to enhance standardization and elevate professionalism within the staging/redesign industry. Also to this end, they are both active in—and have been nominated for various awards by—the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) of North America and have served as moderators for RESA’s Stage it Forward (SIF) Roundtable Forums, a series of nationwide conferences for staging and redesign professionals.

Thanks to everyone who participated in our event…. A Big, Big THANKS to all of our sponsors, RESA, SIF, IRIS, ASHSR  and a HUGE, HUGE, THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL LUNCH  SPONSOR…….PACK-RAT OF THE GREATER INDIANAPOLIS AREA.

Staging is practical. Most people wouldn’t leave the house without an umbrella, slicker or galoshes on a rainy day. So why don’t sellers fully prepare to invest in their home’s equity before putting it on the market? Most buyers can have their home professionally staged for much less than the cost of a price reduction. Staging allows sellers to capitalize on buyers’ first impressions and save unnecessary time on the market.

Staging is motivating. Most owners wouldn’t sell a car without repairing and detailing it. So why would anyone put a home on the market without making sure it’s in good condition and appealing to buyers? Often, the answer is that home sellers simply don’t know what to do to improve their chances of a successful sale or how to do it. A consultation with a professional stager can give sellers the detailed and prioritized information to calm their fears and gain a “can-do” attitude!

Staging adds value. Savvy sellers (and realtors) know that staging is a wise investment. Who wouldn’t want to have their home (or listing) appeal to a wide range of buyers in the targeted demographic, and sell faster and/for more money than its competition? Talk about weathering the storm!

Staging is state of the art. Staged homes not only look better when buyers visit, but also in MLS listing photos and virtual tours. And, since more than 80% of buyers now find their next home online before scheduling a tour, staging helps ensure that a home makes a buyer’s must-see list. Every home for sale must be ready for its close-up, if it is to have the competitive edge in today’s technology-driven market.

Staging yields proven results. Statistics consistently show that staged homes sell more successfully (faster and/or for more money) than non-staged homes. And, although the exact numbers may vary according to state or region, the profitable results of home staging are being realized nationwide (and beyond)—even in this stormy market.

So, whether sellers need the expert information and motivation to do the work themselves or the hands-on services of a professional, a home stager can help ensure that the skies ahead will be clearer. During these turbulent times, home staging can provide the ray of sunshine that allows sellers to find their next dream home at the end of the rainbow—while keeping more of their pot of gold.

We would like to invite all professional stagers in the vicinity to attend.  In fact, if Indianapolis is the closest round table that is taking place to your home location, we would love to have you in our attendance.  Come join us as we learn and share with each other regarding our industry.

SIF, in many ways is the collective voice of the Home Staging Industry. Craig Schiller, the founder of SIF and its members have always been committed to grass roots involvement to form that collective voice.  The driving principals were to provide a venue where Stagers could gather to discuss issues and concepts, share ideas for one and all; a place to listen and be heard, all in a non-biased, non-judgmental way.  In that spirit, the Indianapolis Round Table group will be discussing Home Staging topics ranging from National level issues to those more local in nature.

A big Thanks to our sponsors, Shell Brodnax (RESA), Sandy Dixon (IRIS) and Audra Slinkey (ASHSR) for making this event possible.

To register for the event, go to the RESA web site at www.RealEstateStagingAssociation.com and click on the event calendar and go to Nov.  Find the Indianapolis event shown on the 13th, click on it to register.  For questions about the Indianapolis event call Gary Barnett at (317) 797-1947.