becky_harmon

Home Staging Tips in 2026

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 20:33:52 GMT

Foundational Principles that don't Change with Time

Start With Curb Appeal

First impressions matter, so make your home stand out the instant buyers pull up to the curb. Some upgrades can be done in a weekend and will cost more in sweat equity than actual dollars. This house was red brick and just a coat of white paint added some pizazz.

A few suggestions: rent a pressure washer to remove dirt and grime from your siding, roof, fascia and gutters. Paint the front door and/or shutters a bright color, but make sure it coordinates well with the rest of the home’s colors. Replace old house numbers, lighting, the mailbox and welcome mat. Clean up the edging around flowerbeds and lay down fresh mulch. My client here did not finish before this picture was taken. Fill in empty beds with small shrubs, seasonal flowers and greenery. Even if it’s the dead of winter, get a pair of urns or large planters and fill them with small evergreen shrubs and cold-hardy annuals. If you have window boxes, fill them with fresh greenery too. If your porch or stoop has room for furniture, add a couple of chairs to expand your outdoor living space.

Give the Kitchen a Facelift

Kitchens sell houses, so any updates you make have the potential to go a long way. And they don’t have to be expensive; some upgrades can be accomplished with mostly elbow grease. Start by showing off your storage. Pack up the seldom-used small appliances and holiday dishware for your next house and use up all the dry goods in the back of the pantry. Clear clutter off the countertops. Consider giving your cabinets a facelift with paint; go for classic white or try a dark neutral like gray or slate blue. At the very least, change the outdated hardware for an easy DIY. A corroded faucet or one caked with hard-water stains can be a big turn-off; swap it out for one with style and added function.

Pare Down Furniture

The most important thing you can do to prepare your home for sale is to get rid of clutter. One of the major contributors to a cluttered look is having too much furniture. When professional stagers descend on a home being prepped for market, they often whisk away as much as half the owner's furnishings so the house looks bigger. You want potential buyers to be able to move around each room without being blocked by furniture.

Make Bathrooms Shine

Scrub the bathrooms, then scrub them all again. Nothing will turn off a potential buyer more than a scuzzy bathroom. Remove hard-water stains from faucets, make sure there is no sign of mold and remove clutter by whittling down your cosmetics and products in the vanity and medicine cabinet. Invest in new shower curtains. If the tile is looking old, consider having it reglazed. If discolored grout is an issue, you can fix that with a $15 bottle of grout stain . If moldy caulk is around the tub or shower, remove it using a razor blade and then recaulk the entire area. Then when all that cleaning is done, create a spa look with fluffy white towels, candles, a few fancy soaps and a couple of apothecary-style accessories.

Amp Up Lighting

One of the things that make staged homes look so warm and welcoming is great lighting. Increase the wattage in your lamps and fixtures. Aim for a total of 100 watts for every 50 square feet. Don't depend on just one or two light fixtures per room, either. Make sure you have three types of lighting: ambient (general or overhead), task (pendant, under-cabinet or reading) and accent (table and wall).

Accessorize in Threes

Mixing the right accessories can make a room more inviting. When it comes to eye-pleasing accessorizing, odd numbers are preferable, especially three. Rather than lining up a trio of accessories in a row, imagine a triangle and place one object at each point. Scale is important, too, so in your group of three be sure to vary height and width, with the largest item at the back and the smallest in front. For maximum effect, group accessories by color, shape, texture or some other unifying elements.

That's a wrap. Business is gearing up and looking promising. Stay optimistic. RE is hopping again. If you think you would like to dip your toe in the water, there is great demand for what we do. We have 12,000 agents in our area and maybe 10 serious stagers. There are a few "Debbie Decorators" who have not been trained. There is room for YOU! Call the website. Let's talk.

Create a Color Story

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 21:55:16 GMT

New Whites/Neutrals for 2026

Color is king when it comes to composing a room. It is truly a symphony when the color is balanced, with soft, quiet moments and then crescendos of emotion. Color choices can make or break an otherwise great room. Why is that!!

People don't usually know the value of a color statement. Color can help to define their style. They either have too many colors in a room or not enough. Two important rules:
1. Calm the room by streamlining the quantity of colors. Avoid the visual confusion of too many colors. Use fewer and the room is inviting.
2. Then then decide where we want the eye to fall. Color draws your attention to the focal points.

It's not just the color itself but the color saturation that creates impact or serenity. The placement of each color as well as the intensity... all elements play a part.

First things first: pick a combination of 3 to 4 colors. Some should be neutrals and some need to be mood setters in the room. You can begin with a fabric or piece of art or even a photograph. This step usually helps avoid the problem of putting soft, muted shades with bright and strong colors.

Sherwin Williams has a tool that can establish a color scheme based on a photo or piece of art. Check out this exterior tropical color statement. The body of the house can be the cream or the khaki color with black trim. The shutters can be the coastal blue and the Terra Cotta front door can say, "Come Right In."

The butterfly Color Snap image, for example, pulls all the key colors out of a nature scene. It can also be a fabric or piece of art. This is my own personal color story. AND, I am a big fan of butterfly things, as you know.

What do you think of this next color statement?

Something about this picture just makes me happy. It was snapped late in the day on the 4th of July this year. I love all of these colors together, don't you! This combo could be for a vacation place.

Be prepared... stronger and darker colors are coming. Mossy green and navy are making a comeback. Wait and see. You will grow accustomed to it.

The new HGTV house is covered in neutrals accented by moody colors... navy and dark teal. Look out for some navy shower tile. It's dramatic and soothing at the same time. Also, expect to see terra cotta, taupe, deep green and gasp... burgandy/raspberry. Just when we obliterated it from the universe.... it's baaaack!!

This living room is more typical of our coastal area. Soft ocean blues... always in vogue. Timeless style. Nice!!

As we enter 2026 next month, be open to new ways of thinking to create a cohesive and relaxing room. Many elements need to come together.

Our color segment of the Certification Class is designed to equip you to visualize and create a balanced color story. If you get everything else right but miss the color statement, you have not succeeded in your job. It's that important!!

We promised some new whites and neutrals for 2026...

The color of the year for Sherwin Williams is Universal Khaki. This color has been a favorite for exteriors for decades. Its lighter companions are Relaxed Khaki and Wool Skein. The body of the house can be Relaxed Khaki and the trim can be Universal Khaki. The door and shutters can be the Wool Skein, which appears almost white. Any combo of these colors can work. You can throw in a bold color door for contrast, such as Refuge or Oakmoss.

Universal Khaki is a beautiful, darker interior color also. Maybe an intimate dining room or bedroom needs some drama and warmth.

My big freebie no no... Do not paint your home exterior in a light, bright white. It looks artificial and glaring. Colors are brighter in the sunshine. Go deeper and it will look more professional.

Exterior and interior painting can cost into the tens of thousands. Pay for a quick consult to prevent mistakes.

My fave whites for interior walls are, Shoji White, Panda White, White Duck, Neutral Ground. The lighter whites are Alabaster, Pure White and Snowbound.

Free samples are in your SW store.

Merry Christmas, my dearest old and new friends, and may 2026 be your Best Year Ever!!

One more picture. This body is in Alabaster with Universal Khaki window trim... instead of the typical black. Nice! See you next time.

Is Your Stager Insured; Is the Contract Enforeable

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 21:06:09 GMT

Your Stager's Breaks a Leg. What Now?

Agents and Homeowners… does your favorite stager have an enforceable contract? Is the company insured and certified?

I am not a big Facebook person, but I do monitor many stagers groups to keep a finger on the pulse of our industry. I am a longtime staging/redesign certification trainer and it’s my job to stay ahead of the curve in our fairly young staging universe.

One burning question that seems to come up again and again, “What do you have on your contract concerning…?” It could be a question about the pet policy, the de-staging notice, the heating and air conditioning requirement, the liability disclaimer. What if the agent is fired? What if he/she makes a decision the homeowner doesn’t know about? So many opportunities for disaster.

It is surprising to me that trained stagers would need to ask questions about contracts. I know there are untrained stagers out there because I meet them frequently. They take my classes. There are no government regulations for our industry so it’s like the wild, wild West out there.

If you are an agent or a homeowner, BEWARE! If you’re cute Stager has a pretty card, but no contract or certification or insurance, you could be at risk.

If you are a new stager or it’s been a long time since you attended a certification class, LISTEN UP! Here are some things you need on your contract. Certainly, have an attorney help you with the legal verbiage. But here goes…

Obviously, you need – Date, Name, Address, Phone, Email, (if vacant - current address), Access or LockBox code. List exactly what will happen, rooms that will be staged, when the lease will end and what happens if it needs to be extended.

Terms must indicate:

Tell them the deposit amount required to put them on the schedule, and when the balance is due, whether you take checks, credit card, PayPal.
They must have the home cleaned professionally and ready to be staged.
No major repairs can be done after the staging is in place, without permission.
Nothing should be moved or removed without permission.
Candles cannot be lit or linens used. They are for display only.
We have permission to put hangers in the wall. The owner must touch up wall after removal.
Our team is trained, certified, and insured.
We have permission to photograph the room and use them in our marketing.
We need running water, heating and air conditioning. We also need locks for the exterior doors for the safety of our stagers while in the house.
No showings can be scheduled on staging day.
Ideally, Real Estate photography should happen the following day.
The staging day can be rescheduled because of inclement weather.
The style choices are specific to the demographic and may not be the homeowners particular taste. We reserve the right to choose the style of furniture and accessories.
The homeowner or agent must provide access to the property.
The agent has permission to make choices for the homeowner. __initials___
If the agent is released, the contract is still in force.
We need 5 to 7 days-notice for termination of the contract or rescheduling the appointment. There will be a fine if this requirement cannot be met.
We need 5 to 7 days-notice to de-stage.
Both parties agree to hold each other harmless. Any liability would not be more than the total cost of the staging.
The homeowner has the right to enter into the contract.(a live-in girlfriend/boyfriend cannot sign the contract because she/he is not a legal owner of the house.)

These terms are the foundation of our basic vacant contract. The legal language should be written out by an attorney in your state. Additional terms will be needed to customize for different situations. Such as, pets must be offsite or contained on the staging day.

Because we are in touch with social groups who lead or train stagers around the country, we hear horror stories of stagers, agents or homeowners who have an unnecessary legal disaster.

Protect yourself! All of the forms and contracts, liability waivers, etc. are part of our training. The contracts alone are worth more than the price of our class.

Agents and homeowners… Don’t hire a stager who is not certified, insured and has an enforceable contract.

Home stagers… Don’t jump into this business without all of the legal safety nets that you need.

Our classes in Home Staging are accredited. Happy Fall

Coastal Style Staging

Fri, 16 May 2025 17:22:36 GMT

Perfect Pics of a Custom Style

LR of a modern beach house, staged to perfection for the location and vibe.

View from the middle of the room. Pillows pick up the colors on the art.

Clean lines and simple modern furniture win every time.

The kitchen is perfect for parties and busy family life.

Our go to color scheme for the beach... bright and colorful.

Perfect vibe for coastal, casual style.

The dining spot is inviting and blends right into the color scheme.

A wide-angle shot of the spacious master.

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Becky's Backstory

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 15:29:24 GMT

The Crazy, True Story of our Humble Beginnings

A lot of people, including clients and students, have been asking about the background story of Becky Harmon and Transformations. Who is Becky and why should I be listening to her? What preceded the birth and expansion of one of the top 10 home staging and redesign training centers in the USA?

Looking back now, as a 4th generation entrepreneur, I never quite fit into a traditional job. I tried bookkeeping and dental assisting before taking 10 years off to get married, have kids and get them into school.

In 1980, a friend and I pioneered one of Florida's first balloon bouquet delivery businesses in Tallahassee, Florida. Everyone thought I was crazy because we were in the middle of a recession and gas crises. ALERT: When your neighbors and friends think you're crazy, that's a good sign you are on the right track.

Working from home, we delivered bouquets of helium balloons and gift baskets for birthdays and special occasions dressed in various costumes. I was Chiquita, the Banana Lady and my partner was Magic Wanda, the Good Fairy, until we could afford to hire employees. Darth Vader, Miss Piggy and Zorro joined us later. We threw confetti on our recipients and kazooed a song. Our "I've Been Ballooned" bumper stickers went viral. By the way, I am the shy person in my family. What happened to me!

I had to get outside my comfort zone to be successful. Costumes, confetti and clowns, oh my!

We added party planning in the later years and became a well-known legislative and corporate event decorating source. Yes, we "ballooned" many famous people, including the governor, Bob Graham and many celebrities, such as Barry Gibb and Elton John. We eventually sold business opportunities in other cities. With almost no overhead costs, our 1st year, we grossed quadruple an average full-time salary, just selling balloons part-time.

The home-based business bug had bit me and it changed my desk job mindset.

When we moved to Jacksonville, I worked as an interior designer on a team with 12 talented people for 11 years. I earned my ASID design affiliation during that time. It was a great experience. This, I thought for many years, was my dream job. But, it was just another stepping stone.

My AHA moment came when I could not get off work to attend a family reunion event that was important to me. As I started evaluating my real priorities, I realized I wanted 2 things more than anything... control and freedom.

I began to hear about 2 new industries... home staging and redesign.

I spent quite a long time researching and talking to existing stagers and re-designers around the country. In 2003, there wasn't much information online or anywhere, no HGTV shows and no one was talking about any of this.

The Leap of Faith: One day, I asked God for a sign whether or not I should leave my safe, predictable and profitable job to strike out on my own. The next day, early morning, I was walking a familiar route on the golf course cart path in the community where I lived.

This particular day, I noticed some unusual new flowers blooming right around the ladies tee on hole #17. As I approached, I saw something I must have walked past 100 times before but never saw. The cart path was across the fairway. A large, engraved stone had been placed on the ground in memory of a lady golfer who had died of breast cancer. It said, "Don't lay up. Go for it!" In golfer's language, that means take the riskier shot. She was always encouraging other lady golfers to swing for the green and don't worry about possibly losing your ball in the massive lake/marsh.

I felt like I had been sprinkled all over with fairy dust by my fairy godmother. It was my sign! I cried! In 2004, I left my favorite boss and the coolest designer friends to begin Transformations Staging & Redesign. I guess you must let go of something first to embrace the more important reality... Time for family and friends, hobbies and travel. I still miss those days.

The school was born in the summer of 2006 with a full class of eager students who were mostly local. Now they come from literally every state in the US and beyond. The online class has now gone viral.

I love staging and redesign, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE teaching the class. And I have to say, my fairy godmother shows up by the last day of each class and I witness tears and euphoria every time. I can't take credit for it. It's the beautiful industries of staging and redesign creating hope for a better life and making dreams come true for women (and men) from every conceivable background. I haven't looked back.

And so, for you, what is your dream job? Write it on a goal list or vision board, put it on the fridge and ask for a sign. Habakkuk 2:2 has become one of my favorite scriptures. "Write the vision and engrave it plainly upon tablets (or a stone) so that everyone who passes by may be able to read it easily and quickly as he hastens by."

I ask that you feel hopeful today, that your dream job is within reach and that fairy dust is falling all over you right now. My wish for you today is, "Don't Lay Up. Go For It!"

Vision Casting and Setting the Stage

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 21:15:08 GMT

Staging your Limbic System for Success

I believe in vision boards. I create one for my personal and professional life each January. We turn on our creative right brain with color and pictures. So we need to set the stage for success by placing inspirational images in front of our eyes to keep our right brain engaged while the left brain does the tedious but necessary day to day work.

This concept is similar to staging a home for potential buyers to visualize and imagine life in that space. We use color in our staging, along with neutrals, to spark or light up the right brain. In previous blog posts, we talked about the difference between the right and left brain when it comes to selling success. The right brain is the part of the brain that controls spending money.

That same principle applies to feeling motivated and energized to spark action and fuel our passion. A vision board is a creative and beautiful way to put images in front of your eyes on a daily basis, motivating us to make time for the most important things.

For instance, if you want to get physically fit, a colorful picture of a physical activity. If you wish to travel more, look for images in the areas that you would love to visit. If you wish to meet powerful people, put their picture on your board. I met Marcus Lemonis when he renovated my son's house for an HGTV pilot series called the Renovator. If you are hoping to speak more often, have a picture of someone doing a TED talk, for instance. That is one of my personal goals for my business life.

Use a half sheet of black foam core. You can find it at Michael’s craft store. The framing department can cut it to the perfect size. My images come from magazines and trade journals.

I want to challenge you to create your vision board and send the picture to me. I will post the best ones on my social media and the first-place winner will get a free online staging and design certification class worth $750. Contact me by email and we will pick a winner by Valentines Day. Yay!!!

This is part of my vision board from a few years ago. Yes, my dreams are coming true as I practice these principles.

One last thing, speak as though the changes have already happened. Speak Affirmations daily. I can ...! I have ...!

I will ...! This will be your best year ever!! I can already see it!!

The Elephant in the Room

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 16:19:42 GMT

Liability Waivers, Insurance and Contracts... Are You Safe

Agents and Homeowners… does your favorite stager have an enforceable contract? Is the company insured and certified? Do they have a liability waiver?

I am not a big social media person, but I do monitor many stager's groups to keep a finger on the pulse of our industry. I am a longtime staging/redesign certification trainer and it’s my job to stay ahead of the curve in our fairly young staging universe.

If you are an agent or a homeowner, BEWARE! If you’re cute, Susie Stager has a pretty card and website, but no enforceable contract or certification or insurance, you could be at risk.

I served on the education and leadership academy for the Real Estate Staging Association for 3 years. I speak from experience.

Obviously, you need – Date, Name, Address, Phone, Email, (if vacant - current address), Access or Lock-Box code. List exactly what will happen, rooms that will be staged, when the lease will end and what happens if it needs to be extended.

Terms must indicate:

Tell them the deposit amount required to put them on the schedule, and when the balance is due, whether you take checks, credit card, PayPal.
They must have the home cleaned professionally and ready to be staged.
No major repairs can be done after the staging is in place, without permission.
Nothing should be moved or removed without permission.
Candles cannot be lit or linens used. They are for display only.
We have permission to put hangers in the wall. The owner must touch up wall after removal.
Our team is trained, certified, and insured.
We have permission to photograph the room and use in our marketing.
We need running water, heating and air conditioning. We also need locks for the exterior doors for the safety of our stagers while in the house.
No showings can be scheduled on staging day.
Ideally, Real Estate photography should happen the following day.
The staging day can be rescheduled because of inclement weather.
The style choices are specific to the demographic and may not be the homeowner's particular taste. We reserve the right to choose the style of furniture and accessories.
The homeowner or agent must provide access to the property.
The agent has permission to make choices for the homeowner. __initials___
If the agent is released, the contract is still in force.
We need 5 to 7-days notice for termination of the contract or rescheduling the appointment. There will be a fine if this requirement cannot be met.
We need 5 to 7-days notice to de-stage.
Both parties agree to hold each other harmless. Any liability would not be more than the total cost of the staging.
The homeowner has the right to enter into the contract. (a live-in girlfriend/boyfriend cannot sign the contract because she/he is not a legal owner of the house.)

These terms are the foundation of our basic vacant contract. Each job has a customized contract. The legal language should be written out by an attorney in your state. Terms vary... such as, pets must be offsite or contained on the staging day.

Because we are in touch with social groups who lead or train stagers around the country, we hear horror stories of stagers, agents or homeowners who have an unnecessary legal disaster.

Protect yourself! All of the forms and contracts, liability waivers, etc. are part of our training. The contracts alone are worth more than the price of our class.

Agents and homeowners… Don’t hire a stager who is not certified, insured and has an enforceable contract.

Home stagers… Don’t jump into this business without all of the legal safety nets that you need.

If I sound like your mother, it's for a good reason. Be professional and safe!! Till next time...

New Staging Photos and Insider Scoop

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 22:25:42 GMT

The Best of the Best

A fun stage in a resort neighborhood in World Golf Village. Transitional luxury at its best.

New lighting fixtures were added along with quartzite counters in kitchen and baths. Fresh paint and a fireplace refresh. It looks like a new house. The staging added just the perfect complement to all the custom touches.

Keep following for more photos of exceptional design and expert staging. Thank you for taking a look.

Please read this...

If you have not voted for me yet as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Stagers...

Here is the link. Thank you so much.

R eal Estate Staging Association® - Becky Harmon, (secure-platform.com)

Kitchen No Demo Reno- & LR, DR, BR Redo

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 20:37:50 GMT

Take a look at a beautiful, affordable cosmetic renovation on the river in Jacksonville.

This beautiful, cosmetic renovation transformed a late 90's safari style home into a more welcoming, stunning, functional space. Built for entertaining friends and family, this home update was mostly simple and straightforward. Many improvements made the space more open and practical. Take a look. What do you think?

BEFORE

The before pictures represent more of a safari look. It was professionally designed in 2000 when the house was built. The homeowner was ready for a more modern, soft coastal look. Every selection, down to the new appliances, fully represented their casual, boating lifestyle. Friends and family feel welcomed into this more functional living space and kitchen. The new countertops give them much more space to food prep and entertain friends. The taller cabinets added lots of space for large appliances. We eliminated the bread garage and added a coffee station. The new taupe sink matches the taupe cooktop. The new window treatments opened up the most magnificent view of the river. All lighting fixtures add a new dimension to the overall space. So many things came together over multiple conversations.

If you would like to brain-storm the possibilities, call for a free consultation.

20 Years Staging North Florida and Counting

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 17:08:18 GMT

What's Changed/What's in it for Me

It doesn’t seem possible, but we started Transformations in 2004. We’ve won a lot of awards and we’ve seen a lot of changes in the industry and we are very encouraged about the future! Home staging has evolved into a massive industry and there is a place for you.

Numerous people advised me to keep my reliable full-time job and not risk the unknowns of entrepreneurship. Even good friends and family encouraged me to make the safe choice. With friends like that... who needs enemies! L O L.

So glad we took the leap!!! Over the years, we added renovations, curb appeal consultations, vacation home furnishing and move management. We’ve consulted and staged homes from a 1000 ft.² flip home to 10,000 ft.² homes on the ocean and the river. Baby, we’ve done it all!

The Transformations School started in 2006 and this is where you come in. We have made many costly of mistakes along the way. Mistakes that you can avoid. We pioneered home staging in a very real sense.

This class has been lovingly updated and also condensed down to the most valuable and essential elements. It’s short but comprehensive. No fluff; just the nitty gritty of all that you will need to become a home stager or if you are already a stager or designer... raise your current image and income to a higher level.

I think Covid had a way of helping people prioritize their lives. We saw a lot of nurses and teachers reevaluating their career choice and opting for doing what they have always loved.... design.

After 30 years as an ASID interior designer, I believe it has never been easier to enter this industry. It’s easier to buy wholesale, tap into interior design perks and have a home-based business today than in the past.

The inexperienced, untrained hobby stagers are fading into the background or disappearing. The public is more discerning. They want to see credentials, such as a certification by a nationally recognized and awarded company.

The barriers are gone and the demand is rising. In our city alone, we have roughly 12,000 realtors/agents and only about 10 - 15 seriously competitive stagers. The industry needs you! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!

We are spilling the beans on everything you need to walk away from a dead-end career.

OK, is that voice in your head telling you to keep your safe, reliable job? I know… I was that person listening to the wrong voice for a long time. A friend invited me to a one-day motivational seminar by Robert Allen, who made a fortune in real estate. He said a lot over the course of the day but the biggest take-away, “You will never become a millionaire working for someone else.”

Transformations is the chic boutique of home staging and redesign training. We are not Macy's; we're Lily Pulitzer!! We are not trying to be the generic big guy. Just the design-oriented, high-end specialty source for exclusive, make-it-happen people!!

Where are those people who got in trouble for talking too much in school and were not afraid to color outside the lines. You doodle and dream big. You may be caught rearranging the shelves at Home Goods or rehanging your friend's art. You love color and texture. You go to model homes to satisfy your inner designer... waiting to get out. Let her/him out!!! You don't belong in a corporate desk.

Let’s talk about it!! Email Becky to set up a free brain-storm session. becky@beckyharmon.com

For those of you who graduated from our school, we are looking for stagers with a successful business from different parts of the country. We need class trainers!!

We will only partner with one company in any geographical location. We have Boston and Tennessee and maybe Missouri and North Carolina, so far. Claim your area. There is no franchise fee or cost. Hurry to reserve your opportunity!

As for now... I am opening some champagne.

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Who is in your Circle?

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 22:17:43 GMT

Find Your People, Your Place, Your Truth

Who do you call when storms blow in and disturb your plans? Who do you contact when you are struggling? Who is your cheerleader and who reins you in when you are tempted to sit in justified self-pity way too long.

Who is in your circle of friends who tells you the bare-bones truth? Don’t we all need someone outside of ourselves who can see us with 20/20 vision.

If all of your friends (your people) go from crisis to crisis and seem “happiest” in the dark and dirty valley… Girl, you need new friends!!!

Statistics show that our income will average that of our 5 best friends. In addition to income, the same is true of accomplishments and attitude.

I am blessed to have friends in a highly caffeinated circle of over-achievers, life-long learners and curious optimists. They are far from perfect, just like me, but they focus on the future, not the past. Some are family; some are friends. They are my cheerleaders, my home base, my center.

When I am pulled into the darkness by tragedy, circumstances or isolation, they pull me out. They can look inside my false exterior and see that I am in need of a hug and an honest assessment of the place where I am stuck.

Sometimes, we can sit in isolation so long that the darkness feels normal, safe and comfortable. I have been there. Someone else can offer perspective and pull us out of the quicksand.

We are honestly malleable or able to re-form/re-imagine ourselves till the day we exit earth. Yes! We can rise above the fray, come out of the gray and add color and dimension to a lifeless, lackluster existence. I have a long way to go but I am moving!!

We need community!! We need to belong! For me, it’s my stager/realtor friends, clients, family but mostly, it’s my church. We Are Family!!! cue Sister Sledge.

Are you drifting? Do you need an anchor? I hope you find your people, your place, your truth.

*************************************

Let’shave a conversation!! Contact me on the website. www.stagehappy.com A contact/appointment form will pop up.

I have collaborated with Porch.com and they wish to share a relevant article about home staging. You will find it a comprehensive gem of great information. https://porch.com/advice/maximize-homes-appeal-improvements-for-a-successful-sale

A Day in the Life + FAQ

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 20:46:15 GMT

A Cinderella Story in the Making

A Day in the Life

People often ask me what it’s like to be a Home Stager/re-designer. I can take you along with me on a typical day. Here goes...

I start out at our wholesale granite and quartz supplier and spend two hours choosing some options for a kitchen renovation. Then, I hop over to the nearby plumbing/kitchen/bath/lighting supplier to preview all of the kitchen appliances and some lighting fixtures for our appointment the next day. After that, I stopped by a different client’s home for a color consultation and a brainstorming session on a room refresh. $450 and $375

At the end of the day I coordinate/plan a $6500 staging with a lot of custom solutions. The homeowner wants to use some of her own furniture that she hopes to sell with the house. Then, some of our furniture and all of our accessories will transform the house.

This was a lucrative day for the business. Of course, every day is not like this. We have to spend time networking and planning. 50% of the certification class is business and marketing.

FAQ

1. Do I need to have a lot of furniture to become a home Stager? A. The answer is absolutely no. There are several sources for leased furniture in most communities, if you need it. You may wish to add furniture in the future, but many of our graduates use this business model. That way, they do not have to warehouse and transport furniture. They make money planning the job and leasing art, greenery, dishes, towels and accessories.

2. Do I need to have a design background to succeed as a home stager? A. Most of our successful graduates do not have design experience. One of our grads have their own design firms with designers working for them. Ex. Becky Robbins Designs in St. Louis, Mo. Also, check our www.dwellstaging.com out of Tampa, Florida. Another successful graduate.

3. I don’t do well with online classes, and I can’t come to Florida to take the hands-on in-person class? A. The online class is filled with videos, before and after photos, demonstrations, diagrams, room floor plans, etc. It is a rich and stimulating online program. Plus, you have a money-back guarantee. Why not give it a test drive at no risk?

Yes, my friends, you can be living the life of your dreams and flourishing in the design industry. It’s just not that hard to close one door and open another to live your life doing what you love.

A Cinderella Story in the Making

I was just speaking with a young woman, Janelle, about the tremendous potential in the home staging arena. Yes, even in this unstable economy, stagers are flourishing. If Real Estate is slow, we focus on redesign and updating. That is why we teach them together.

I shared with her how staging is the “Gateway Drug” that opens the door to interior design and lucrative renovations. When someone has experienced a successful staging, they almost always ask if we can help refresh and redesign the new house. This can be a simple as choosing paint color and new accessories or as complex as a coordinating a complete kitchen/bath reno.

My latest 5-month long kitchen, guest bath, family room and dining room renovation will be the topic of our first webinar in 2024. Watch for the invitation. You will see before and after pictures and learn the progression of tasks. You will hear about navigating the legal landscape of what you can and cannot do without a design degree. Contracts and timing… It’s all in there.

Back to Janelle… She shared how many people have told her that she should consider working in design. She cannot take the time to obtain a design degree and she plans to retire early from nursing. She needs to jump in with both feet and make money right away. She saw the website and nearly cried when she realized it is a doable business… there is a place for her design obsession. And... it doesn't take years to get there.

I know Janelle will be one of our superstars one day!! She survived Covid as a nurse. She is ready to make a living doing what she loves. We have grads all over the US, in Canada, South and Central America and the Carribean who are successful home stagers. We know if they can do it... YOU CAN!!!

Don’t procrastinate!! Take a concrete step now to open that door to your future. Call us to set up a phone appointment. As famous hockey player Wayne Gretsky says, “You’ll miss 100% of the shots you never take.”

Webinar for Curb Appeal Dummies

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 20:44:38 GMT

First Impression Secret Sauce

Do you still shop for magazines in a bookstore or the grocery store. I am always looking at them in the design/home category? I can’t resist a beautiful cover page. When it has vibrant color and striking graphics, I have to pick it up and thumb through it. I will usually buy it regardless of the content because I know it will be pretty on my coffee table.

As a home stager, I am always thinking… 'Will this be pretty on the cocktail table in one of our beach community homes or our more traditional St. John’s River area.' I have collected 10 years worth of Coastal Living magazine and dozens of Florida Design.

What is the trigger behind this expensive habit? As for me, I am triggered by color and beautiful composition. We all are! The right side of the brain lights up and is hungry for more.

When we stage a clean, neutralized interior, we cause the home buyer to be subconsciously drawn into a room. A thread of similar colors will pull them from room to room and calm their soul. An ordinary interior comes to life with just the right art and greenery, furniture and rugs. It’s like an oasis of beauty in the middle of an arid desert.

Before your homebuyers step into your staged home, they must pass through the curb appeal area. Is it speaking to them? What does it say? “Come right in. A special surprise is waiting for you inside that front door.” Or is it totally forgettable! Is it not speaking at all or does it say, “No one cares about this house.”

Find out how to create stunning exteriors, pick the perfect house paint colors, landscape like a pro with our free Curb Appeal presentation this Monday, 10-16-23 at 3 PM EDT. Limited number of spaces are available so gain access by replying to this email and then you will be sent an invitation Monday morning. There will be a replay for those who attend. This is a $100 value class. Yay!!

Flowers are the big winner when it comes to eye-catching exterior. Color will draw your attention to the best features.

Don't have room for large plants... try a beautiful pot of seasonal flowers.

Reply yes to this email newsletter and you will get an invitation to the complimentary presentation. It is a $100 value. You will love it!!

"It's Never Too Late to Be What You Might Have Been" George Eliot

becky-harmon@comcast.net (Becky Harmon) — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 20:27:44 GMT

"You Miss 100% of the Shots You Never Take" Wayne Gretsky

I love both of these quotes. In fact, they are on my website. Don’t we all want a little magic in our lives... it could be a beautiful new business or meeting that famous person you’ve always admired, or one of many seemingly impossible things that are waiting for you. Perhaps, not that far away.

I don’t know about you, but a lot of people in my circle of friends are feeling stuck since Covid. And I feel that way sometimes also.

All of the life-changing and pivotal moments in my life came with a preliminary difficult first step. One big move in the direction of a dream, then, the next steps seem effortless!!

When I started my company in 2004, I had to leave a successful design position of 11 years. It took me nearly a year to finally close that door and open another. It felt like pulling my feet out of quicksand.

But once I left my old job and the business essentials were set up, things started happening fast and my dream job turned into way more than I ever expected. And it continues on today, 19 years later.

Thanks to a great staging crew, I’ve won numerous industry awards and we continue to make national connections through the Real Estate Staging Association. I was on their leadership committee for three years, and I speak occasionally at trade association conventions around the country.

I met Marcus Lemonis here in Jacksonville last year. I had connected his production team with homeowners who needed the reno. It’s episode #8 of the Renovators on Discovery+. Healing a House is the title. Who knew?

I also met Candace Olson from HGTV at a conference. Add to that list Carson Kressley and Vern Yip. Many other high-profile people.

It has been a joyful roller coaster experience, especially through Covid, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. It has provided income for 19 years and when I’m ready to sell it, it will be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, up to a million dollars.

I make a minimum of $125 or more an hour plus quite a significant amount for leasing my design inventory for vacant homes. It’s a wonderful thing to get paid well to shop with other people’s money.

We are diving into the short-term vacation rental industry, because there is a big demand for it. Styling Airbnb’s has become a great side hustle, and in some ways, more lucrative than anything we’ve done before. Just yesterday, I got a call from Amy Powers, who is the current president of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals. More about that later.

I want to encourage any of you who are still on the fence about changing the trajectory of your life. It’s quite easy. The road map has been created for you and is frequently updated with all the newest industry opportunities. There is a place for you.

Is your heart beating a little faster? Is your soul stirring? Maybe you are one of us!!!

The First 6 Months is in the Books...

becky-harmon@comcast.net (Becky Harmon) — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 19:32:05 GMT

It's About Time - A Life-Changing Gift + A Chill Playlist

OK, OK!! We are at the 2023 halftime show!! The 4th of July!! What great goal did you accomplish from January through June? July marks a passage of time but also whispers words of encouragement... that the last 6 months can change your life.

Enjoy your holiday with friends and family but let your 'beach read' be motivational. I have a great book recommendation. 168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam

The book makes a compelling argument that we do, indeed, have more time than we think. Also, I am sharing a short passage from one of my mentors, Dan S. Kennedy's book titled, No BS Time Management . It will scare you or motivate you. One or the other.

Lecture About Time

By Dan S. Kennedy

Having recently had another birthday click over on the odometer, time is on my mind. It’s never far from it in my work-cave, because I have strategically placed more than a dozen clocks around the room and can’t look in any direction without seeing one. As I describe in my book, No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs, I organize everything with start and pre-determined end times; if someone has a phone appointment with me, they know in advance when it ends, not just when it starts, and it does end as scheduled even if in mid-sentence. I have trained and conditioned myself to be hyper-sensitive to time, and I train my clients to respect my hyper-sensitivity about it. Why?

Because your bank balance and your satisfaction or dissatisfaction with it is more a reflection of how you invest your time than reflection of anything else. This is the more dominant factor in wealth or relative poverty, success or failure, fulfillment or frustration than all externals combined – whatever Washington DC may be up to, whatever European welfare state is in collapse, whatever volcano or oil spill is occurring, whether economy is booming or struggling, whether your particular industry is healthy or diseased. These external things are fluid. In my 35 years as serial entrepreneur, made-from-scratch multi-millionaire, and business advisor to thousands, I’ve seen all these things and worse come and go, occur and occur again, and I’ve seen some entrepreneurs surrender their attitudes and reality to them, while others defy them and thrive. My primary area of specialization is marketing, and most of my articles are laser-focused on that, but truth is, marketing and selling of goods, services or concepts is sabotaged or supported by how much control the individual or individuals who are the business’ driving force exercise over the investment, direction and consumption of their time, and with it, their energy and creativity.

In reality, time is the asset the entrepreneur owns outright and has total control over. I don’t really need to follow you around and observe how you use your time to gauge how you’re doing in business. I only need hear about your philosophy about time that governs your behavior and what you will tolerate or refuse to tolerate in the behavior of those around you.

For example, do you have litmus tests, and what are they? One of mine: if somebody can’t keep seemingly minor commitments, they can’t be trusted to honor important ones either. If they are allowed to hang around, soon they’ll be the cause of you failing to honor your commitments to yourself and others. Or, for example, how do you relate time and goals? My hovering question is: will this use of my time move me measurably closer to my meaningful goals? Is there even a chance it will? If not, why do it.

It’s difficult to find a clock in Las Vegas casinos, because those casinos are designed to separate you from as much of your money as possible; to make you a loser , and that is best done by dulling your sensitivity to the passing of time. The same principle applies to your business life. The surest way to be a loser is to be casual or insensitive about time .

I’ve worked up close ‘n personal with many, many entrepreneurs who’ve converted ideas and grit into fortunes. The difference between them and the majority of also-rans is never the originality or even the quality of their ideas. As a matter of fact, I’ve seen fortunes manufactured from mediocre ideas, and great ideas still-born. This is important, because far too many entrepreneurs and, candidly, those who observe them, report on them, write about them, glorify their success stories, still hold up The Great Idea as the pedestal-worthy holy grail. That is worship of a false god.

Execute or be executed. It’s how business really works. Hardly anybody gets paid for their ideas. Not even the Imagineers at Disney. We actually get paid for what we get done . To the ignorant, my area of marketing seems to be about ideas. The insiders know: it is about implementation.

The entrepreneur has a situation encouraging of poor productivity: he is his own boss. Often this produces an unproductive employee and a lenient, dysfunctional boss. A two-fer. This is why you must create a success environment for yourself, impose strict deadlines on yourself and be ruthlessly resistant to waste of time by self and others, and hold yourself accountable hour by hour. If you aren’t willing to work under such self-imposed pressure, I suggest forgetting the idea of getting and staying rich as king of your own kingdom. Every great kingdom needs a ruler with an iron-fist.

Signing off for now. Oh, and by the way, the chill playlist is the 2 books mentioned here. Listen on Audible and you are sure to develop the skills to find time for chilling.

The next article will be an Anatomy of a Vacant Stage. So stay tuned. Love to all.

A Landmark Birthday, a Newspaper Article and NYC

Thu, 11 May 2023 16:49:30 GMT

Setting the Stage... for a Long Career

One of my favorite things about our home staging and redesign industry is the flexibility to take a vacation and celebrate special occasions. My landmark birthday marked a 20-year career in our wonderful industry. It seems hard to imagine that much time has passed. Our local Jacksonville/Ponte Vedra newspaper published a sweet article about my journey.
See it below.

One thing I've noticed from colleagues in the industry... no one retires. Just like RE agents who continue selling homes into the twilight years, we can keep staging and designing houses until the day we leave earth.... that is, if we want to. Why not stay engaged, go the gorgeous wholesale markets and let your stagers do the lion share of the work.

The day before my actual birthday, we staged a $2M dollar, 6,000 sq. ft. house in beautiful Ponte Vedra. It sold in a day for cash. That same week, we almost completely furnished an oceanfront vacation rental and our company has been hired to evaluate vacation rentals for the largest management property in St. Augustine. When you have good people, anything is possible.

Right after the crazy busy month, we took a 5-day trip to NYC with my new hubby, Dennis. My stagers took care of business while I enjoyed a fantastic vacation.

One of my colleagues that I met in Nashville at one of the industry conferences, had just sold her staging/design business for $1M. Yes, your business is building equity, just like a house. There is a formula for placing a value on your business and your "name." It's way more than you think. The longer you are in business at a profit, the better.

One more perk, if you are thinking about jumping in at this point, the design centers in key cities, like Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago and NYC are like Disneyland for decorators. It's a party for your senses and an opportunity to shop wholesale. Silent scream!!! You have no idea what fun you have in store!!

Here is the promised article:

Posted Thursday, April 27, 2023 12:00 am

By Shaun Ryan

At its core, home staging is about first impressions.

Transformations Staging & Redesign owner Becky Harmon compares a house showing to speed dating. In the latter, romantic hopefuls get five minutes to impress another person.

In real estate, home sellers get five seconds.

“Your first impression is everything, and it has to be as good as possible,” Harmon said.

That’s why so many people are turning to home staging experts who understand the importance of presentation. A well-staged home will first remove anything “negative” from the scene.

“The clutter and the day-to-day things, like a soap dish that’s not pretty on the sink — things that are distracting to the home buyer,” explained Harmon.

This done, the pro brings in accents — sometimes furniture — to give the home a “wow” factor.

“The best analogy I can think of is that decluttering is pulling the weeds and staging is adding the flowers,” Harmon said.

Harmon knows her business. A former interior designer, she started her Jacksonville-based company in 2004 when she realized people didn’t always need everything to be completely redone. And interior design is not inexpensive.

In fact, the Transformations team will frequently work with the homeowner’s own furnishings. This can save customers money.

“I don’t want the homeowner to spend a fortune,” Harmon said.

Still, she maintains a warehouse of accessories and a business arrangement with a furniture leasing company so that appropriate articles can be brought in for a showing or open house.

She cited statistics revealing that a home will often sell up to four times faster if it is staged. And, convenience of a quick sale aside, this can have financial implications.

“Over a period of two or three months, you have probably taken two or three markdowns, which can be as much as 10% of the home’s value,” Harmon said. “The cost of staging with furniture averages 1% of the home’s value, or less.”

And using the owner’s furnishings generally costs about a quarter of that, she said.

An important factor in staging a home the right way is understanding the style of the home, so that everything looks right. Many Ponte Vedra homes are in the Charleston Traditional style, Harmon said. Atlantic Beach, by contrast, is more Boho.

“At Marsh Landing, we want to give it a traditional, but Southern, flair,” Harmon said.

Still, she said, “we don’t do the same thing for any two houses.”

In addition to staging, Transformations does renovations and furnishes Airbnbs. Harmon teaches classes, which she said is her favorite part.

“We’re one of only a handful of accredited training centers around the country,” she said. “People come to my classes from as far away as California.”

Even after nearly two decades, the art of home staging hasn’t lost its appeal for Harmon.

“To go into homes and make them beautiful, it’s just exhilarating,” she said. “I’ll never get tired of that.”

To learn more about Transformations Staging & Redesign, its services and classes, go to transform-us.com.

Setting the stage for selling a home | The Ponte Vedra Recorder

A Big Announcement

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 15:54:04 GMT

Watch HGTV this Saturday, April 8th at 10:00PM

About a year ago, I was contacted by one of the HGTV casting department agents. They occasionally email all the ASID interior designers in Jacksonville asking for candidates for renovations. They were looking for homeowners in the Jacksonville area that were desperate for a renovation and had already started the process. They were looking for odd floorplans and challenging spaces.

At the same time, my son and his family, who live about four blocks from the beach, had just bought the house they have been renting for 10 years and we’re planning to renovate the dysfunctional kitchen. So, obviously, I put their name in as a candidate for an HGTV Reno.

They were being interviewed along with numerous other homeowners for this particular renovation. After several conversations with the casting person and some preliminary firming of the house and the family… they were chosen for this slot.

The fact that we have hundreds of designers who are ASID members in Jacksonville, and the fact that there were numerous homeowners who were being considered, it seems pretty incredible that they were chosen for this particular Reno.

Marcus Lemonis, best-known for the Profit on MSNBC, was the most caring and generous host during the preliminary filming and demo. He was extremely sensitive to what they wanted and did not want in the planning stages. He also donated a lot of his own money to renovate the upstairs.

I cannot add any pictures of the renovation because of agreements made to not reveal anything until after the show airs Saturday night, April 8 at 10 PM. I am pretty sure the increase in value of the property after the reno will be record breaking compared to typical shows of this kind.

I was not the designer on this project, because Marcus Lemonis is the actual designer. He made all the ultimate choices and did an incredible and creative reno with very challenging limitations in the floorplan of this house built in the 70’s.

My son, Derek Harmon, is the pastor along with his wife, Beth, of Ocean City Church in Jacksonville Beach. www.oceancitychurch.org He has a very demanding schedule. They had to move out of the house for over six months because of some setbacks in permitting, and some additional challenges that you will see if you watch the program.

On the day of the reveal, I got to meet Nancy from Nancy Glass Productions. She came down from her studio In Pennsylvania to meet the family and see the results in person. I have always admired her. She is a frequent producer for unique HGTV specials and does a lot of groundbreaking programming.

Turn into the show Saturday evening, the day before Easter, at 10 PM on HGTV. The show is called the Renovator and I am sure it’s going to be an incredible hit because Marcus Lemonis is such a creative and generous person.

Vision - How Life Changing Is It?

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:48:40 GMT

Total Transformation and a little Pixie Dust

Do you have a Vision Board for your business and/or your life in general?? A written list is one thing, but a visual picture of a concept or goal stays imprinted in your brain. Plus it is more motivational.

You can probably visualize your high school prom event from decades ago and maybe even the dress/tux you were wearing. But can you recall the amount of your grocery total from yesterday? Two reasons: A distinct visual picture vs a number on the cash register. Also, one moment was filled with emotion and one was mundane. Both visual images and emotion light up the right brain. Que Hallelujah Chorus .

The right brain is the creative, big picture center. It stimulates emotion and excitement, which you may need to take a scary big step.

Some of the goals from this lifestyle board:
Update and renovate some spaces in the home.
Save $250,000 for a retirement account.
Write down and interpret my active dreams.
Write my experiences in a book.
Speak more often.
Get a kayak and improve those skills... same with biking
Find a husband (Yes, and that happened last year in November. Halleluiah Chorus again.)
Read more.
Work on fitness. Reach goal weight. (Which I did before the wedding.)
Do hard things.

Since you asked.... here is a pic of the new hubby!!!

Get a sheet of black foam core from Michaels and have the framing department cut it in half. One for your lifestyle goal and one for your business goals. Tack images that inspire you to take action. Magazines work well for colorful pictures. Cut out catchy phrases to describe your intentions.

Put it where you can see it every day and please report back to me what happens next . I am very serious about the supernatural effects of this fun exercise. It is scientific!! Have a little faith! You take a step or two and God and the universe makes it happen. Don't we all need a little pixie dust sometimes?

A New Year... A New Life

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 21:15:13 GMT

YES!!! It's True!! I Am Married!!!

Reflecting back on this turbulent but wonderful past year or so, I never would have guessed in a million years that I would be remarried to an amazing and gifted man and living in a beautiful home. I am dizzy just thinking about the highs and lows, mountaintop and valley experiences of this last few years.

I have been in a wonderful support group for the last number of years, and I have learned so much about myself and recovery from these beautiful women. I think about all of you out there who have taken my classes and read my blog, and if I could choose something to tell you, that might give you hope, it would be this one thing… Think about what you’re thinking about. You can put yourself in a prison of your own thoughts if you focus on the negative and the things you cannot control. Instead, focus on the things that you can change and have the courage to move forward into the unknown.

The last few years brought change and challenge to my family and also to many of you. A number of my staging grads walked through storms of change and challenge.

Nevertheless, we are excited about new frontiers in the home staging industry. Exciting things are happening things, perhaps shaped by necessity and demand, such as the Airbnb industry as another profitable option for home stagers.

The interior design/renovation niche is also an exciting opportunity for you to consider. Now that I have recently moved into a new, beautiful house, my renovation, DNA is checking into high gear. We will be updating bathrooms and patio ASAP.

We will be offering more live training and mentoring options in the near future. Stay tuned to hear more about that. Reply to this email/blog to get on the list. Yay!! Looking forward to our best year ever!!

Success Story of the Year

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 19:27:58 GMT

Kristy Craig Anderson is Unstoppable!!!

We will be featuring stories of some of our high profile graduates in the coming blog posts. This one is my favorite...

Kristy Craig Anderson is an education buff. I think that is one of the secrets to her success. She was in education before she jumped feet-first into the world of home staging more than 6 years ago. After she took our staging class, she went on the win many national and local awards. She earned the Top 5 Rising Stars from RESA, the Real Estate Staging Association, right at the beginning. She fearlessly started to build her inventory as she trained stagers and managers to help her. She attends the staging industry conventions as often as possible. Continuing education is important for all of us.

As you can see in the picture, Kristy won Top Ten Best Staging Team of the Year in 2021, in spite of covid issues. Just this week, she said they average 6 to 8 vacant stages a week. She inspires me every time we talk as she tackles bigger and more challenging arenas. She pioneered vacation rental styling long before it was a thing. Dwell Villa is a full service design center with 3 or more big projects a month furnishing Air BNB's and beautiful homes for luxury living.

Quote from the Dwell website:
"We have been named TOP 5 and 10 NATIONAL STAGING COMPANY by HSRA 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and TOP 10 IN THE COUNTRY by RESA for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and BEST OF HOUZZ in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015. We’ve been featured on HGTV, national design blogs, news programs and leading real estate publications. We set the industry standard for quality design, client service, and efficient processes." www.dwellstaging.com

As if running a massive staging company wasn't enough, Kristy got into the retail marketplace a few years ago. She now maintains over 36K Sq Ft of showroom and warehouse space. I noticed on one of her InstaGram videos that they just unloaded a shipment worth 100K of inventory. Oh My Gosh!!! What's next!!!

So, this picture tells us that Kristy is generously sharing her expertise and speaking at trade conventions. There is a reason that some people rise to the top and others do not. Generosity, gratitude and giving back to the industry is essential. Also, excellence in every area from the first contact to the white-glove delivery and designer quality staging. Dwell is a great example of the best of the best in our industry.

Dwell Design division furnishes models and spec homes for builders, and minimal to luxury homes in the Bay area for homeowners. Vacation home design is a specialty because Tampa is known as a popular 2nd home destination. Check out the website for inspiration and ideas for your staging business. http://www.dwellstaging.com

Here at Transformations, we are finalizing a certification class on updating, remodeling and renovations, large and small. How do we navigate the interior design universe without getting into legal trouble.

Join us on the next blog post as we introduce another Transformations SuperStar Stager.

4th of July Motivational Gift

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 14:40:27 GMT

How was the First Half of your Year?

OK!!! I know how it is... There are always unmet goals and half finished projects when we look back on the first half of the year. What big change or goal is sitting on the back burner of your life. Is it still simmering or just cold and untouched as we slide into the 2nd half of the year. Guess What!! You can revive that project and breathe new life back into the cobwebs of your mind.

A good friend from the past I recently reconnected with has.... published 30 books. Wow!! Another friend just finished the most intriguing autobiography. I feel inspired to write. And I AM writing, as time and inspiration ebbs and flows.

My best friend here in Jacksonville, FL. and I have challenged each other to produce a page or two and some topics or chapter titles. This subtle pressure has worked for both of us. Get an accountability partner and set a small short term goal. Tell me about it. Let's challenge one another.

Every image and every word on my Vision Board is a daily reminder to write and read more, to exercise and to travel, to make homes beautiful, to get out on the water more, to enjoy the little things, make room for romance and more.

The helicopter, by the way, is a reminder that I have been rescued by God. Some of you know my story of the last few years. I am writing about it to help others navigate the world of addiction, co-dependence, support groups, PTSD and divorce. My life could be a "made for TV" movie!It all seems surreal now that it's over. But, I am a survivor and happier than ever!!

There is someone special standing next to me in this picture. God has brought the most amazing person into my life as I pivot to the single scene. Oh My Gosh!!! I could write a book about that also!! Having the time of my life!!

Back to you...
Make a list of your intentions for July - December. Email it to me for a $100 gift certificate toward any class or service. They are all on sale.

Let's have a short talk about how you can dive in and get started. Yay!!! becky@beckyharmon.com

Have a wonderful 4th of July with your friends and family!! Stay in touch!!! I appreciate you all.

The Domino Effect + Porch.com Article

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 17:52:25 GMT

What Happens in Your Brain When You Take Action

The Domino Effect

This may seem like a simple concept that we all understand. But why are we not implementing it on a regular basis. We all have incredible opportunity right in front of us every day…

1. Lose weight/get fit

2. Get an education

3. Get organized

4. Start a business

5. Connect with old friends

What happens in your brain when you take a step. The fact is widely known that one action leads to another equal or greater action. Maybe you don’t know that the second or third action is usually much larger or more impactful that the first baby step.

This video shows the principle in the physical realm. A tiny domino can knock over another one that is 1 ½ times bigger… and so on, eventually toppling one the size of the empire state building. Crazy, huh?!

https://youtu.be/y97rBdSYbkg

When you start something new or just clean out your junk drawer at home, your brain gets a hit of dopamine creating momentum. That can work for or against you. For instance, I went grocery shopping on a day that I had not eaten lunch. I bought a bag of gourmet potato chips from Trader Joe’s so I’d have a snack on hand if my grandkids came over. Before I got home, I was eating those potato chips and ultimately finished more than half the bag.

On the other hand, on the same day, I cleaned out and organized my gift wrapping bin and the momentum compelled me to rearrange my linen closet, a larger domino.

How can you put this principle to work right now?? What has been on your bucket or dream list?? Write a book? Become a home stager? Take one actionable step toward your biggest desires. You might be surprised what happens next.

I am going to help you. If you feel stuck or have experienced setbacks, let’s have a talk. If you just need a cheerleader to help you reach a higher level, let’s talk.

I am offering a free coaching call to all who email me before I reach the call number limit. It will be first come, first served. becky@beckyharmon.com

I was recently asked to write an article for Porch.com. The Marketing Manager contacted me and yesterday it was published. I wrote about Confirmation Bias and the importance of Home Staging. Read it here. Near the very bottom:
https://porch.com/advice/home-staging-advice.

Some Personal Straight Talk

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 20:45:49 GMT

I've Got Good News and Bad News

I’ve got good news and bad news…

The bad news...

I have not talked about this online very much. Just my small circle of best friends and family know the gritty details. My daughter-in-law has encouraged me to be real and authentic. A year ago, I went through a divorce after 50 years of marriage and then, a few months later, I lost my sister and best friend to lung cancer. On top of all that, a few weeks ago my ex-husband died in his sleep and ended a mostly good chapter in my life. The last few years were turbulent and crazy but my work and my love for the whole staging industry was a bright light for me, as it is for many of you. Work can be very therapeutic and life-saving. My family, my church, the friends that I have made in this industry and and my support group… you have truly saved me. I could be bitter and incredibly broken, but I am not. And this is the good news.…

My husband of many years did truly have a reconciliation in a lot of ways with my family and me in the weeks before he died. And honestly, he just went to sleep on earth and woke up in heaven. Don’t we all want to leave this planet that way!

The good news also is…

I have learned that an addiction does not mean that person does not love you. And I’ve learned that you can choose to be a survivor and be triumphant or you can let circumstances overwhelm you and take you down. It is a choice! Sometimes, it's a lot of little choices each day that can keep our heads above water. We make a daily choice to be strong, to lean on friends and support groups, and say no to trauma.

Life is hard but also incredibly beautiful. I have always been the 'glass half full' kind of person. It is a family trait. Starting with my parents and now, all of my siblings and me… we all choose life and happiness and we choose to see the good in all of the people around us no matter how broken they are.

Yes, sometimes that means we’re a little bit in denial. I have also learned the hard way that sometimes detachment is our only recourse. I’m just too busy to have a breakdown. I have to survive. I have my family, my graduates, clients and good friends. They depend on me and I love and depend on them also.

My ex-husband was a giant of a man. He was a great father, provider and husband for 95% of those 50 years. He managed over 400 people who loved him before he retired. He was generous and funny and lovable but in later years he was battling an addiction that was under the surface.

I have learned a lot about addiction and codependency in the last few years. We have wonderful resources at our disposal. Some people never make it out of the disappointment and devastation of an addiction in the family. It is a choice. I choose life and happiness.

I truly love you all. Thank you for being there!!

The Great Resignation + Valentine Gift

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 21:29:29 GMT

The World is Shifting

Calling all Creatives…

It is time to step out of your comfort zone and change the trajectory of your life. It is happening in droves. It’s called the Great Resignation by publications like the TIME, CNBC, Fortune and others. Google it.

People are more than ready to leave their pre-pandemic job for more flexibility and freedom. They got a taste of working from home and a glimpse of all those pretty home offices on Zoom calls. A seed was planted. Are you gonna sit in your “safe and predictable” job or are you gonna ride this rising wave of entrepreneurship that is exploding in all directions? Come on in; the water is glorious.

I can give you so many examples of people who left a job they didn't love to become so much more in our wonderful industry. Kristie left her job as a principal in a public elementary school to enter the world of home staging. She took Transformation's course many years ago. Today she has been recognized several times as one of the staging industry's Top Ten Stagers. She now has many awards under her belt and one of the fastest growing and largest staging companies in Florida. Dwell Staging of Tampa and now Sarasota. Kristie, we are so proud of you.

Cassandra Crosby left corporate America to take our course and enter the world of Redesign and Staging. She rocketed to success in Montgomery, Alabama. CCI Premier Staging. She also did an HGTV episode with David Bromstad. She now is mastering the art of furnishing and hosting glamorous Air BNBs. She has been featured in numerous publications.

Becky Robbins, once a hairstylist is now Becky Robbins Designs in St. Louis. She employs several designers and does renovation projects and now has a store. Woo Hoo, Becky!!

Now, it's your turn. We are offering the online class free to all who sign up for the in-person class. A $750 value. If coming to Jacksonville isn't possible, our online class is still our Covid special price of $500. And you get a free bonus... the Curb Appeal Class. Go to Classes on the website.

So, farewell for now. I love you all. Call me anytime. Till next time....

MATCH.COM and Silver Linings

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 16:43:43 GMT

Staging Your Comeback, part II

I originally captioned this picture, HOW MANY BLONDES DOES IT TAKE TO SCREW IN A LIGHT BULB? LOL This picture was taken after dinner out for the board, speakers and out-of-town guests. The conference was focused on advanced topics and the future for our industry.

The conference was so timely for me because this has been my most difficult year ever personally. As many of you know, my sister, who was my best friend, passed away from cancer in July. Her funeral was a colorful celebration of her free-spirited life. We all dressed up like hippies and the music plus friendship made for a spectacular memorial.

We also have some health issues in the family. (not Covid) Hopefulness is always our focus, though.

What you don't know, is... in April of this year, my marriage of 50+ years ended. Since I encourage my students and graduates to be transparent and talk about their issues, I felt it was time for me to share my evolving situation.

My ex-hubby and I are, and will continue to be, friends. It's a long story but a happy-ending... really!! I am extremely content and happy with my life right now. Yes, part of that is a choice I made. It totally works to look at your options and choose to be happy. I AM HAPPY!

I lost about 10 pounds and grew out my hair. It has been a crazy adventure!!! I am in a Christian singles group and we do all kinds of things, such as dinner, dancing, hiking, kayaking, short trips. It's wonderful!! I have made some crazy-good friends already!!!

Yes, I am on Match.com and if I were a comedienne, I would have some hilarious material. I am mostly "browsing" at this point. When I spoke at the RESA Edge conference, I talked about it a little. The audience loved it.

I shared one crazy story of a cute, older guy in the organic produce area at Sprouts coming closer to me and after a few moments of looking at me, he said, "Come here often?" He was hitting on me!!! I was so shocked, I almost dropped my grapefruit!! Who knew that the grocery store could be a pick-up place! LOL

I am having fun and I am optimistic about the future. How did that happen? This story might help to illustrate...

In the summer, I had a consultation in beautiful St. Simon's Island. I don't usually go that far (an hour and a half), but it was a beautiful day and I took my grandaughter, who helps me stage sometimes. On the trip home, a raging, dark storm was inland, on my right. And, an amazingly cloud-free sky was on my left, toward the coast. I-95 was right in the middle. The sky stayed like that the entire trip. We avoided most of the rain but I was in awe of the strange but beautiful contrast.

In addition to that, I had just recovered from cataract surgery. The colors appeared so much more vivid and surreal. I felt like God was pointing out a lesson for me. My natural tendency is toward the optimistic viewpoint anyway but God seemed to be saying, "Every day, every situation, every season... there are choices. We can't always alter our outcome but we can choose how to 'see' it. Look for the silver lining." We can put on different lenses to capture the beauty in a season of difficulty. It will make us better or bitter. I choose BETTER!!!!!

OK! Cute, single guys... here's my number...

Staging Your Comeback

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 14:30:42 GMT

Tap Into New Things Happening in the Industry

After attending the 2021 RESACon Virtual Conference last week, one word seems to be the concept for moving forward. Diversify!!!

After hearing from all the RESA Approved trainers and participating as a panelist, there is one big conclusion: We have to be prepared to shift and change as the world shifts into a new reality.

We saw this happen in 2008, when RE was suddenly a buyers market. Our number of active agents fell as the demand for homes diminished overnight.

Homes have been selling so fast that the demand for staging services has slowed. Yes, we still believe that staging will earn 6 to 10% more for the homeowner, but we have to reinvent ourselves.

My business, as well as a large number of our grads, increased this past year. We tapped into design and renovations of all sizes. We just completed furnishing an Air BNB at the beach. Several of my grads are pulling in over $200,000 annually doing mainly large scale renovations. One savvy gal in Alabama has a new and expanded service furnishing and managing Air BNB's.

The whole interior design industry is shifting. It is ripe for the taking. People don't want traditional design. They want to participate more in the process. This is the topic of a new class that we will be presenting online soon.

Also, our local chapter of RESA, the Real Estate Staging Association, will host a mega event here in Jacksonville on Nov. 4th. There is limited seating. It's $79 till the 16th. Then $99. It's a great value. A full day of speakers + my talk on diversify your biz. How can we tap into the interior design universe an navigate the legal landscape safely and effectively. Join us!!! See below....

Regional one-day conference for home stagers and realtors hosted by RESA Jacksonville, local chapter of the Real Estate Staging Association.

It’s a great opportunity to grow your business, become more efficient, and become more connected by learning from industry leaders.

Keynote Speaker: Bobbie McGrath is an award-winning Home Staging Expert and Business Coash. She is the Owner of Successful Staging and has staged over 5,000 Occupied Homes! Join Bobbie at RESA Edge Jacksonville where she'll be sharing her secrets about Key Partnerships with Realtors, Photographers and Stagers!

Adrienne Lord , Broker-Owner Staged to Sell Realty, is the current State President of RESA. Come and listen to her expertise about using technology specifically designed for Realtors and Stagers with scalable solutions to save time, sell faster for more $!

Becky Harmon , Owner, Transformation Staging School is an experienced Staging and Renovation Project Manager. We look forward to hearing all about her tips and tools to get properties market-ready!

***Click link below to register. Early Bird Special $79 available until October 10. To get discount please type ‘earlybird’ in the promo code spot before purchasing tickets.

https://bit.ly/RESAEdgeJax

Nov 4 Thursday 8:30-4:30 at Queens Harbour Yacht Club

For questions please email us at jaxresa@gmail.com .

It has Been a Year for the Record Books ... and It's only September

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 21:25:02 GMT

I lost my sister, who was my best friend, to cancer; and I also lost some other friends and important relationships to various challenges.

So, the following passage was shared by a fellow stager that I respect and I just had to pass it on. When I read this encouraging passage, I felt strangely grateful that, in spite of a difficult year, I am feel unusually optimistic and totally excited for the future, my next chapter and... yes, all of you out there . Here it is...

Me: Hey God.

God: Hello, my love.

Me: I'm falling apart. Can you put me back together?

God: I would rather not.

Me: ???????

God: Because you are not a puzzle.

Me: What about all of the pieces of my life that are falling down onto the ground?

God: Let them stay there for a while. They fell off for a reason. Take some time and decide if you need any of those pieces back.

Me: You don't understand! I'm breaking down!

God: No - you don't understand. You are breaking through. What you are feeling is just growing pains. You are shedding the things and the people in your life that are holding you back. You are not falling apart. You are falling into place. Relax. Take some deep breaths and allow those things you don't need anymore to fall off of you. Quit holding onto the pieces that don't fit you anymore. Let them fall off. Let them go.

Me: Once I start doing that, what will be left of me?

God: Only the very best pieces of you.

Me: I'm scared of changing.

God: I keep telling you - YOU ARE NOT CHANGING!! YOU ARE BECOMING!

Me: Becoming who?

God: Becoming who I created you to be! A person of light and love and charity and hope and courage and joy and mercy and grace and compassion. I made you for more than the shallow pieces you have decided adorn yourself with that you cling to with such greed and fear. Let those things fall off of you. I love you! Don't change! Become! Become! Become! Become who I made you to be. I'm going to keep telling you this until you remember it.

Me: There goes another piece.

God: Yep. Let it be.

Me: So...I'm not broken?

God: No - but you are breaking like the dawn. It's a new day. Become!! Become!!

Are you ready to Become! I am #becomingabetteryou #bemybestme #iambecoming #notbroken

If you are reading this, I pray a blessing over you to be surrounded by angels and mentors who love you, to be brave enough to take that next step, to move past the hard things and look for the good... it's always there. I am so excited, I am about to burst. I broke down with a 20 minute giggle-fit in my sister Mary Ann's guest room last week-end. I was laughing so hard, I could not talk. It was hilarious. It was involuntary; I could not stop! I was staying in Janice's room, where she spent a year and a half fighting cancer. I feel like Janice, my sister in heaven, visited us.

I am going to try to upload the video Mary took of my giggle-fest. If it doesn't upload, I will just put it on Facebook. Probably my personal page. Becky Morgan Harmon Oh My Gosh!! No make-up and in my nightie. Oh well... it's a new day for me. I am unafraid!!! What's the worst thing that can happen?!

Love you all to the moon!!

Staging Pictures Reveal & Solve a Challenge

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 17:54:15 GMT

Odd Floor Plans Need Staging + Updating Adds More to the Value

This formal living room area has a curved wall and people could not visualize where a sofa could be placed. The furniture helps to give the space function and appeal to the right and left brain. The left brain is practical and the right brain responds to color and style.

The addition of furniture not only allows the homebuyer to visualize where furniture could go; it lights up the part of the brain that makes buying decisions. That's why a car dealer has the customer test drive the car instead of look at a brochure.

There is a specific color thread that draws a buyer eye through the various rooms. There is a psychology to the color repetition.

This family room in the same house has a wide open space that was hard to define. A chaise style sofa strategically placed shows how much space there is for additional furniture. Such as, a sofa and loveseat.

The breakfast room table shows that the space is roomy and cozy. The pillows, art and dishes tie in the blue painted island. Nice!!

Directly across from this kitchen with the blue island is this beautiful accent wall. Garrison Sanborn with Sotheby's International Real Estate in Ponte Vedra updated the kitchen and bath and created this beautiful wall before putting it on the market. How nice to have a realtor with updating skills.

Take a look at this gorgeous master bath that he envisioned.

The whole point of this story is... consult a professional before listing a property to get updating advice and then stage it to get the full market value. I had a friend with a small patio home in our chic Ponte Vedra area and the savvy realtor/stager team told him...
"If you invest $10,000 in updating and then stage it, we can get $390 for it. If you do nothing, we can get $290. A $90,000 swing. Pretty obvious what the answer is. Update, then stage!!!

Oprah's Inspo in 30 Seconds

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 19:48:42 GMT

Which is More Important - A New Car or Words That Can Change Everything

Many years ago, I read this small paragraph from Oprah's personal page in her magazine, which was fairly new at the time. I edited a few words to make it more universal. So, it's not a direct quote. Even though its mainly about organizing and beautifying your space, I saw it as much more. I applied these words to my space but also my business, my relationships, my time. I hope it gives you goose-bumps like it did for me...

“As we begin to recognize ourselves for who we really are--- thinkers, leaders with limitless potential to transform not only ourselves but also the world around us---chaos in the car, at home, or at the office becomes the exception and excellence becomes the rule. When we speak, we’re the first to hear our words, to feel their impact. What we say and think manifests itself as the life we create, one choice at a time. And when we fill our lives with things that uplift us, we become a product of that environment. We want to give the world our best, and we want the best in return. Maintaining a gorgeous home or apartment is about respecting the very important person who lives in it…YOU.”

Ok, now... don't you get it! It It all starts with little choices made all day long. We create an environment for success. Every decision is filtered through the lense of excellence... at home. at work and with all aspects of your life.

Look at your circle of friends. Do they inspire you to grow and excel? Does your family lift you up or drag you down? Choose where you spend your time and attention. Is this hour on social media adding to my future plan? Is this text I am sending going to create peace and joy in your life or cause regret.

If this inspires you to act on your dreams, it is better than a new car, better than the HGTV giveaway house. Yes, because it is an invitation and an opportunity to have a great life, especially if you work for yourself. This little home staging business of mine has created close to a multi-million dollar business, in a fairly short time. It far exceeded my expectations. I took a leap of faith many years ago. Some one once told me that you will not become a millionaire working for someone else.

And this little Monarch butterfly was my inspiration, and the idea of Transformations. I was the caterpillar, in the cocoon, waiting for a sign but it didn't show up till I took a first step. The rest is history.

I have Good News and Bad News

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 18:01:03 GMT

Renovations Can Make You a Millionaire or Put You in Jail

AFTER

Renovations can make you a millionaire or put you in jail. A strong statement, yes, but let me tell you a story…

BEFORE

Yesterday, I got a call from a former student/graduate from our classes. She has drifted gradually into doing more design and renovation jobs. Her challenge was pricing and how to estimate her fee. There were some important issues she had not thought about. Let’s talk about that.

For the average stager, getting into redesign is the natural progression for a project. The homeowner usually says, “This is the best my home has ever looked! Will you come and help with my new home?”

The answer should always be, “YES!, let me help with your wall color and furniture placement.” This is easy. What isn’t easy is heading into the renovation zone.

How far can you go without stepping into dangerous liability issues? And pricing issues? You are not an architect or Joanna Gaines! How can you protect yourself from getting sued for a possible disaster when the materials you chose did not work as planned.

Possible scenarios:

1. Bamboo floors do not work well installed over a concrete slab. Moisture can warp the planks.

2. The wood-look tile pieces are not installed by a professional and begin cracking and popping up after the weather changes. The grout line needs more space with long planks.

3. The beautiful stone you chose for the shower wall cannot be used on the floor because it is ceramic and not sturdy enough for heavy use.

4. The stone installer, Larry, who is nice but has no insurance, falls off his ladder and spills tile adhesive on the wood floor and it cannot be successfully fixed. It is $25,000 to replace the floor. And medical bills for the homeowner’s insurance.

Silent scream!!!! Should I just avoid renovations altogether? Or, just be sure I know my limitations.

Now, the good news: I have grads who are pulling in upwards of $200,000 annually just picking out colors and materials and working with a contractor. The contractor has the liability on him and your contract clearly defines your obligations and protections.

One of my graduates in the mid-west has designers who work for her and she is comfortable taking on bigger projects.

I am in the middle of two renos on multi-million dollar houses now. It is lucrative and exciting. My job has been choosing all the materials and products used to complete the house. The current one will be staged when completed.

There is no substitute for experience but start small. Have a good flexible contract that can be customized. A redesign project can include some upgrade suggestions. But a big renovation takes a hefty contract, or what we call a Letter of Agreement, that protects you and your assets.

Pricing can be hourly, which is best for beginners. The quote can also be a percentage of the reno cost. So a $50,000 project would be $7,500 for your fee.

We are getting ready to publish a new Advanced Class on this topic. It was shared on the main stage of a trade association convention. It goes into detail about the newest and best materials and possible application problems. You need this class.

We will do a live online presentation for free and when it is placed into our online training format, it will be $125.

Send your RSVP to becky@beckyharmon.com . Limited space. The event is Tuesday, the 20th at 7:00PM EDT.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 15:29:49 GMT

5 Things You Need To Know

1. Do I need to have a lot of furniture to be a stager?

No, you do not! Most of our class attendees have no furniture at all when they start. They plan to use rental companies who lease furniture to homeowners to stage their vacant houses. They make money planning the stage, choosing the furniture for the style of the house, installing it all with the stager's accessories. They make money leasing their own art, greenery, towels, dishes, etc. It’s a great business model. Your accessories will fit nicely in a budget-friendly climate-controlled storage unit.

There are Pros and Cons to both business models, ( having furniture and not having it) that we discuss in the class.

A lot of our stagers/re-designers make life-long clients by offering redesign for the new house after the old house has sold. People are more open to paint color changes and small updates, like new flooring or countertops. They need help placing the new furniture, so space-planning is helpful. We are often asked to shop for new pillows, lamps and rugs, etc., to make the new space stylish and warm. Our company has made about $5000, so far, on a fun project that involved hanging art, rearranging furniture and shopping for fill-in pieces. So vacant staging with your own furniture isn’t the only way to make a nice living.

2. Can I make enough money just doing staging evaluations and color consultations?

When I attended my first staging convention, which was in San Francisco in 2014, I learned that one of the Real Estate Staging Association, RESA’s regional VP.s made 70% of her income from the walk-through evaluation. She said if you do just 8 a week at a minimum amount of $150 to $200, you will make between $60 and $70,000. That’s maybe 16 or so hours of your time a week. We have many stagers who pay for the evaluation to insure they get the listing.

The color consults start at $200 & up for 3 interior colors and $250 & up for exterior color choices. It’s very gratifying to help people make the correct choices and avoid costly mistakes.

These are good choices for someone who is older and not able to move furniture.

3. Does the class offer business, marketing and contracts?

There is an extensive business and marketing section. For instance, if branding and aesthetics are important to you, one look at our, business cards (see above), website and Facebook page should convince you that we understand and teach visual messaging. How important is your online image to potential clients? It’s everything!!!

4. What makes Transformations different than all the other staging/redesign trainers?

Three things…

First of all, we are approved by RESA and IAHSP, two trade giants in the industry. Becky currently represents our state as the Florida State President of RESA. She is a frequent speaker at industry conventions. She is also the only ASID interior designer teaching an accredited course in staging/redesign in the USA. We meet in a resort location in the Queens Harbour Yacht and Country Club on the ICW intracoastal waterway, 4 miles from the beach.

5. How does your price compare with other trainers?

Best of all, we are far below the average training cost for certification. Right now all classes are on sale for the next few weeks.

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Do What You Love

Sat, 30 Jan 2021 19:15:39 GMT

+ Green Staging Secrets

We are more excited for the future of our wonderful industry in 2021 than ever before. With strict Covid protocols in place with our stagers and in our certification classes, we had a great 3rd and 4th quarter. We have not finished our stats yet for 2020 but most of our staged houses sold within a week and sometimes within hours.

The last staging of the year was a very dated house, except the kitchen and master. We used some of the owner's furniture and some new things for the LR and DR. And we always stage the kitchen and baths and update all the art and add greenery and accessories.

It was painted and new lighting fixtures were added. It was a shocking improvement. The owner ended up with 5 offers in a few days and $25,000 over asking price. He spent less than $5000 on staging and improvements. The pictures are still online. 1201 Trailwood Dr. Neptune Beach, FL

Our classes have been expanded to add more design elements and advanced content. The schedule is on the website Classes page dropdown menu.

In the more populated parts of California, 60% of RE is automatically staged. In the rest of the USA, it's more like 5%. Most cities have about a 1 to 400 ratio of stagers to agents. It will be many years before there are enough stagers to meet the needs of all the agents and homeowners.

Sooooooo, this is your year to finally get certified and get out there. The RE world needs you! Call me ASAP to make sure you get a free consultation/coaching session about your future. Number at the top of page.

GREEN STAGING SECRETS

*To freshen and clean disposal: ½ cup of salt

*To dislodge waste: salt + baking soda

*To keep smelling fresh: grind lemon or orange rind

*To open a clogged drain: 1 cup baking soda + hot vinegar

*To ant-proof a space: spray lemon juice on entry areas

*To repel fleas: wash floors with juice of 4 lemons to ½ gallon water

*To kill roaches: place jar lids around filled with ½ sugar + ½ baking powder

*For stubborn microwave stains: 3T lemon juice + 1½ cups water; microwave 4 minutes, wipe clean

*To clean hard water stains in toilet: alka selzer or baking soda and vinegar or ½ cup of Borax in 1 gallon of water

*For stain in porcelain sink: 2 parts baking soda + 1 part peroxide

*To clean shower tiles: ¼ cup of ammonia + 1 gallon of water; use a thin coat of car wax to keep it clean

*When vinyl floor tile comes loose: use foil and a hot iron to reseal

*For quick removal of a small carpet stain: shaving cream

*To freshen carpet: sprinkle baking soda then vacuum

*Clean leather: WD40 will clean, lubricate and protect (test first)

*For mildew stains: white vinegar

*To clean grout: white vinegar

*To clean tub stains: 3 cups of white vinegar; let soak 4 hours

*shower doors: use ½ cup of vinegar, 1 cup of ammonia, ¼ cup of baking soda

*For rust stains on concrete driveway: vinegar

*For smelly tennis shoes: put kitty litter in a mesh bag and insert into shoes

*For oil on the driveway: kitty litter

*To freshen kitty litter box: add a few wedges of lemon

I cannot guarantee results or be responsible for mishaps and boo boos.

becky@beckyharmon.com , www.transform-us.com

80% say they will use their realtor again, but only 20% actually do... Why?

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 17:27:12 GMT

A Massive Survey Revealed Shocking Results

If you have any kind of a business, it is absolutely essential that you know these scary stats: After 5 years, at least 50% of your clients, who loved you at the time of your service, will leave you and use a competitor. It’s even worse for realtors: 80% of homeowners say they will use their realtor again but only 20% of them actually do, according to the NAR. Yike!! Why is that!!

A few years ago, ASID, the American Society of Interior Designers, conducted a very extensive study. They determined that you will lose half of your clients that you spent marketing dollars to acquire and worked tirelessly to please. They are leaving!! Stats don’t lie.

The survey revealed that 1 or 2% died, 3% moved away and 3% were lured away by competitors. Not surprising. But the shocker is: 68% of them leave you because of perceived indifference . I was speechless when I heard this at a continuing ed class, a few years ago.

Also, according to stats, it costs 5 times more to acquire new clients than it does to keep your existing clients. This is another surprising reality. But this can be good news!!

So, with this knowledge, how do I make sure that I am creating a system to maintain happy, life-long clients? It’s called TOMA… Top of Mind Awareness.

Here is my plan, in order of importance:

Every 30 days, send out a newsletter to all present and past clients.
Every 6 months, call just to catch up with them. “How are you? I was just thinking about you.”
Send a seasonal card, like Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Plan to take your best agent clients out to lunch periodically.
Occasionally, drop off a basket of sweet treats from Panera Bread to your favorite RE offices.
Plan an active social media presence that includes helpful tips and beautiful photos, not ads.

You CAN do this. It’s not that hard. Set up a system for contact and engagement and you will double your business. That’s it folks!! Happy Connecting!!

A Beautiful Mess

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 23:09:33 GMT

What 3 questions does your website need to answer... fast?

We live at a wonderful time for home-based businesses. Frankly, the world will never fully return to it’s pre-Covid state. Web presence is more crucial than ever. Not that long ago, you needed to own or rent a brick and mortar store to be competitive in a business. Now, your website is your store. It’s your identity. It’s you!!

Your website reaches out into cyberspace and broadcasts your special qualities to the waiting world, 24/7. How wonderful is that!!

The only drawback… you might not be sending the right message to the people who need your services. Is that possible?

Before I had my current website recreated, my web designer had to sit me down and tell me the painful truth… that my site was “a beautiful mess .”

I was shocked and a bit insulted. I loved my old site. It WAS beautiful but not easy to navigate. Just like a homeowner, I was not objective about my site. Web design has evolved and people tend to be less patient. They are not willing to search very long for information.

You must be able to answer the following questions in the first few seconds...

What is the purpose of your website?
Why are you different or better than competition?
What do you want them to do?

You have about 3 to 5 seconds to grab their attention. Confused people leave quickly. Remember these things:

You do not want to use a crazy text or bright colored background.
Put the Nav Bar on the top or left.
Use common titles and page names.
Each page should be formatted the same with the consistent fonts.
Too much “flash” can be unprofessional.

A website is like a garden that needs constant upkeep and attention. The content needs to stay fresh. People need a reason to keep coming back. A blog and Facebook page will keep you in the 21st century.

My new site attracts students from all over the US and the world, as far away as Canada and Brazil. My responses have more than tripled.

Some of my favorite sites:

Transformations Grad www.beckyrobbinsdesigns.com

Transformations Grad www.dwellstaging.com

Transformations Grad www.limedoordecor.com

Transformations Grad www.beyondstagingmi.com

Does your site need a makeover? Is it an ugly duckling that could be a beautiful swan? Do you need a professional opinion? Call for an evaluation asap.

Agents & Stagers - A Disaster Waiting to Happen?

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 17:43:02 GMT

Does Your Stager Have an Enforceable Contract

One burning question that seems to come up again and again is, “What do you have on your contract concerning…?” It could be a question about the pet policy, the de-staging notice, the heating and air requirement, the liability disclaimer. What if your agent is fired? What if he/she makes a decision the homeowner doesn’t know about? So many opportunities for disaster.

It’s surprising to me that trained stagers would need to ask questions about contracts. I know there are untrained stagers out there because I meet them frequently. They take my classes. There are no government regulations for our industry so it’s like the Wild, Wild West out there.

If you are an agent or homeowner, BEWARE, if your cute, Suzie Stager has a pretty card but no contract or certification or insurance!!!

If you are a new stager or it’s been a long time since you attended a certification class, LISTEN UP!! Here are some things to think about if you are unsure about what you need on your contract. Certainly, have an attorney help you with legal verbiage. But here goes…

Obviously, you need – Date, Name, Property Address, Phone, Email, Current Address, (if vacant), Access or LockBox Code

List exactly what will happen, rooms that will be staged, when the lease will end and what happens if it needs to be extended.

Terms must indicate:

1.Tell them the deposit amount required to put them on the schedule and when the balance is due, whether you take checks, CC, PPal
2.They must have the home cleaned and ready.
3.No major repairs can be done after staging.

4.Nothing should be moved or removed without permission.

5.Tell them that candles cannot be lit or linens used.

6.Also, get permission to put hangers in the wall. Owner must touch up after removal.

7.Tell them that you are certified, insured and your team is trained.

8.You must ask permission to photograph the rooms and use them in your advertising.

9.You actually need to insist that there is heating, air and running water. I also insist on a knob and a lock on the exterior doors. We sometimes stage flips in unreliable neighborhoods.

10.No showings should be scheduled on staging day (unless you will finish early).

11.You must state that the staging day can be rescheduled because of inclement weather. Hurricane Irma put all of Florida in a holding pattern for almost a week in 2017.

12.The homeowner or agent must provide access to the property. Yes, this needs to be in writing.

13.State that the style choices are specific to the demographic and may not be their particular taste. We reserve the right to choose what is used.

14.The agent has permission to make decisions on behalf of the homeowner. __initials__

15.If the agent is released, the contract is still in force. The contract is in force until destaging.

16.We need 5 to 7 days notice to terminate the contract or reschedule the appointment. A fine is customary for the inconvenience if they cannot meet this requirement.

17.We need 5 to 7 days notice to destage.

Most importantly…

18.Both parties agree to hold the other harmless. Any liability is limited to the cost of the staging job.

19.The homeowner has the right to enter into the contract. (no divorce disputes about ownership of the house)

These terms are the foundation of our basic vacant contract. The legal language should be written out by an attorney in your state. Additional terms will be needed to customize for different situations. Sometime the contract can be long, depending on the complexity. Our contract for occupied homes is quite different.

Next time, we will visit the liability waiver and unique contract or LOA (Letter of Agreement) used for design.

I hope we shed some light on this topic for anyone who thinks that home staging can be a hobby. Protecting your interests is serious business. Consider taking our very reasonable, sale-priced online class to get the benefit of about 28 forms and contracts that you absolutely need. The terms and critical language are spelled out for you in graphic detail. Click on Class in the Navigation Bar, and Online Class in the dropdown menu.

Till next time…

FAQ and Deep, Dark Secrets Uncovered

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 20:59:10 GMT

Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask

Are you accredited or approved by national staging associations. Yes!!! We have been in leadership with RESA for 10 years, I was the 2019 Florida State President for RESA and one of only 8 approved training providers. Also, accredited by the IAHSP. Read more on the ABOUT page.
How long does it take to finish the Online Staging Class? It depends, of course on the time you have available. Anywhere from 4 - 7 days to 2 weeks.
Do you have a low-cost option for vacant houses? Yes, Soft Staging is very affordable, starting at $600. It stages the kitchen, baths, LR, DR with art, accessories, greenery. see example: https://www.houzz.com/projects/5258989/amelia-island-vacant-soft-staging
Can realtors benefit from taking the staging class? Big YES!!! Generally, they will double their number of listings and sell them 4 X faster! YES!
If I bring in multiple students for the online class, can we get a discount? Big YES! Just contact me for details.
Is there a money-back guarantee? Yes, for all our classes. After 2 days taking the class, contact us for a 100% refund, no questions asked!
What have you changed to protect your in-person students from Covid? We meet at a beautiful Club Corp. property. This is Queens Harbour Yacht and CClub on the intracoastal waterway in Jacksonville Fl. They have stringent protocols in place and we meet in a larger space that allows social distancing. The meeting space is cleaned every day before we meet.
Is there follow-up after the class? We are like family once you take one of our classes. You have my cell number. We have monthly continuing ed and we are updating our Facebook group - Home Staging & Home Styling - to stay connected.
Are there different types of certifications? Yes and No!! All classes get certified in professional level Staging and Redesign and get a beautiful badge but the in-person classes get an extra badge called Designer Staging Professionals. The online attendees can earn that badge by sending before and after pictures of staging or redesign results.
Do you have a staging business? Yes!! Since 2004, we have been staging and designing interiors in North Florida and for 14 years before that, I was an ASID Interior Designer. We are in the trenches, every day, proving our methods with actual staging and redesign clients. Out website says, "We are the Chic Boutique of Home Staging Training. We are Lilly Pulitzer, not Macy's! Not the biggest but the most targeted, design-oriented training in the US. Who needs 100 forms when 25 will do. Ditch the Fluff and get the Nitty-Gritty of what matters most."

HomeBuyer's Mindset for 2020

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 20:52:56 GMT

6 Top Things Your Homebuyer Must Have

Selling your home for the most money possible requires understanding the homebuyer’s mindset.

Experiment: What’s on your list as you look for your new home?

Take a quick moment and write out your wish list for your new residence. Don’t list out location, cost or size requirements. Focus on the look and appeal of the home you hope to buy. What does that list include?

Your list might look like the following:
• Move in condition
• Clean, bright interior
• No nasty smells
• Nothing that clashes with your tastes – neutral wall colors
• Ease of lifestyle – the ability to imagine yourself living there
• An attractive exterior

Using your wish list for your new home helps you understand what potential buyers will hope to find when they consider purchasing your house. There is probably very little difference in the needs for your future home and the needs of those who might consider buying your property.

In your search for your future home, maybe you have spent some time looking at listing photos online or even touring potential homes. I bet you’ve come across some homes that spoke to you and others that were not as pleasing –– maybe even some that were complete turn-offs. What were the key factors in the properties you liked, and what were the issues with the ones you didn’t like?

Give this question some thought. Using your buying experience will help you get into the buyer’s mindset regarding your own house.

Another way of getting into the mind of a buyer is to go online and look at the listing photos of homes that are for sale in your area and your home’s price range. Which homes do you think will sell first? Why? (You can see recently sold properties by going to one of the real estate listing sites, such as Zillow , Trulia or Redfin , searching for your area and then filtering on sold properties. We prefer Redfin as they seem to keep the listing photos for sold homes on their website most consistently.)

Photo courtesy of Preferred Staging

The current home selling market is very different than just a decade ago. Unless you understand buyers’ requirements today, your home will take longer to sell and may sell for less than its potential. Failing to understand today’s buyer means thousands – or tens of thousands of dollars – lost!

What is different today than even just ten years ago?

Not too long ago, a home buyer would engage a real estate agent and tell them their needs. The real estate agent would take their requirements, get on a private home listing database and search for homes that met the criteria. They would select a handful of homes and the buyer and the agent would drive around looking at the homes. At the end of the tour, the real estate agent would get feedback, adjust the requirements based on the feedback, return to their database to find more suitable homes.

The process would repeat until the buyer narrowed down their selection and made an offer on their favorite property. In total, a typical buyer would tour 10 to 15 homes before they made their decision. The market for a typical buyer, therefore, was 10 – 15 homes. A seller’s challenge was to be the best out of a pretty small list.

Homebuyers today are much savvier on many fronts than just a decade ago. Today’s buyers are influenced largely by technology, but also by price and lifestyle. Technology has made searching home listings, understanding affordability, evaluating communities, and assessing real estate values much more assessable. Almost 100% start searching online before even engaging a real estate professional. In doing so, home buyers have a much better idea of what they want and what is on the market. Buyers today are also more specific in what they seek and are more willing to continue their search until they find that property which exactly meets their needs and wants. Today, buyers can view a virtually unlimited selection of homes at their convenience.

These changes have manifested in several ways. First, the competition is intense, and buyers are VERY selective. Even in areas that might be in a “seller’s market,” where homes sell quickly, homebuyers have lots of options and are more willing to wait for their desired property rather than to settle for a home in which they cannot immediately see themselves living. Homebuyers have simply been exposed to too many options to compromise.

Edited and reprinted from readyhomesell.com

When we staged this house in a resort style beach neighborhood, it had been on the market a year. Painting the walls and staging made all the difference. We used the homeowners rug and dining room and staged everything else. They got very close to asking price. The bath and kitchen still needed updating but staging and painting took care of many things on that list.

Home Staging is a lot like Speed Dating

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 01:02:31 GMT

First Impressions are more important than you think.

Speed Dating is a lot like Home Staging

You only have a short time to make a first impression. Speed dating is usually held in a club setting. Single (hopefully, LOL) people get paired with, perhaps, 10 different members of the opposite sex for 5 minutes “dates.” The reasoning: you know almost immediately if there is chemistry. If there is interest, an actual date is arranged. Why not!! You have a 5 minute opportunity to wow someone.

In real estate, you have 5 seconds. That’s how long it takes to form a positive or negative bias toward the house. Like we mentioned in our last month’s blog post, we have 2 subconscious columns in our brain. One is a Yes and one is a No .

Once we have formed a Confirmation Bias, the rest of the rooms lean toward confirming our bias. Yes or No. You have 5 seconds to wow a potential buyer .

Obviously, George Clooney is a great example of a good first impression in speed dating. I would buy that house. LOL

This beautiful, staged living room is also a grest example of a good first impression.

Years ago, when my best friend was in graduate school, she didn't have time to date "losers." She had high standards if someone asked her out... Grad student or good job, high profile car, certain style in clothing, etc. Imagine our surprise when we saw her at a Christmas party with a cowboy in a Garth Brooks style hat and driving a truck. She had met him at professional event. She almost immediately fell in love with his gorgeous blue eyes, dark hair and Sam Shephard deep voice. So, again, confirmation bias won out over her dating priority list.

This works in real estate also. If the right-brain factors (emotions) are engaged first, the priority list is not as critical. The flaws are minimized because... they are already in love.

When we moved to Jacksonville years ago and we were house hunting. we drove by a cute place that was so pretty outside. We asked our realtor to see it inside. Our realtor said it was way over our price limit and it had a pool, which we did not want. AND... it was not in the geographical location that we wanted. Guess what!! We bought that house! It was an emotional purchase and we were very happy in that house. So there!!

How can Confirmation Bias Hurt Your Home Sale?

Tue, 05 May 2020 19:50:50 GMT

First Impressions Matter More Than You Thought

One concept that bears heavily on our decision-making process is the term Confirmation Bias. In real estate, it reinforces the First Impression idea. To explain, if your first impression is really good, everything else you see will be leaning toward reinforcing your first impression. If it is good, we are biased to putting all other impressions in the same category. This must be the house for us.

If the first impression is bad, a great master bath won't overcome the negative front of the house. The buyers are already mentally checked out. This is another reason to get a great RE photographer. Your first impression is online. Then, at the house, it's outside . A new front door color can gives you the Lipstick you need to get them to make an appointment. (Read last month's blog about Right Brain vs. Left Brain.)

To explain, if we have a certain political bias, we will interpret the news based on our bias. We will also want to listen to those news outlets that reinforce our bias.

We have 2 columns in our brain. A YES and a NO. If the curb appeal is great or the first rooms are appealing, our first YES creates a bias toward that column. If you are a realtor or stager, LISTEN UP. If you have a limited budget to stage or improve, put it in the front of the house or yard.

So, what can you do to ensure a good first impression... Call a certified stager to do a walkthru evaluation. The service starts at $150 and will make sure the priories are addressed. Look through the lens of a camera to evaluate the front yard. Use natural colored cypress mulch. Paint the front door. I have some favorite colors for that.

I have found that agents do not usually have the skill to evaluate the curb appeal, in depth. Watch for an upcoming webinar on this topic. CURB APPEAL

Plant some colorful flowers, but choose the right ones for your conditions.

Remember that your home buyers want to find the perfect house. Professional Staging can cause them to minimize small imperfections, according to NAR. National Association of Realtors. Staging by a certified stager will sell your listing 4 to 5 X faster.

One more comment on Confirmation Bias... if you are a stager or designer and your website is home-made looking or mediocre, you will not get contacted for an appointment. If your first page isn't drop-dead gorgeous... crickets. Some tough love. I'm sorry!

Voting is still open. Anyone can vote. https://resa.awardsplatform.com/entry/vote/eyvoYRkb/RqyEaWJq?search=24b94cac9fb21299-29

Right-Brain vs. Left-Brain HomeBuying

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 21:50:52 GMT

A House is not just a House!! It's a Living, Breathing Thing!! It has a soul!

BoHo Style in a historic home can be the perfect demographic for an older neighborhood.

A House is not just a House… It’s a Living, Breathing Thing! It has a Soul.

One topic not mentioned often enough in the ever-changing world of home staging… I’ll call it the x-Factor. It’s emotion. How can we engage the emotional part of the decision-making process?

The left brain, the analytical side, chooses the square footage, the number of BRs and baths, the schools, the neighborhood. The left brain gets them there. But the right brain, the emotional side, makes the decision to buy.... and maybe causes them to spend more than they intended.

We are not just talking about the staging touches, although they are important also. We ARE talking about making your property irresistible by by creating an invisible, emotional connection to the the seller, the neighborhood and even the neighbors. How do we do that?

When my son and daughter-in-law were house-hunting in the downtown Jacksonville historic area, they ended up with 2 equally qualified house options. Both were the right size, the right school district, same features and fenced backyard.

But one house had a distinctive edge… a “Why We Love This House” home-made brochure. The cover was a black and white photo of the homeowners strolling the baby to the beautiful nearby Riverside Park. There were also pictures of the children on the piano. There was an immediate connection with the owners. The flowers on the porch were over-the-top gorgeous.

The list inside the brochure included right-brain things like,

1. If you are upstairs and all the doors are open, you feel like you are living in a treehouse. ( The house is surrounded by live oaks. )

2. The 100 year-old house was owned by one family for most of the 20th century and the builder/owner was a master carpenter. (My son started to envision decades of Christmas celebrations and Thanksgiving dinners in the living room and dining room .)

3. There are several secret passageways behind the closets. (The kids were thrilled.)

4. Every 4th of July, the neighbors all walk down to the river to watch the fireworks together. (They are almost looking forward to meeting the neighbors.)

Etc. Etc. You get the idea.

We have incorporated this concept in our general recommendations to our staging clients. Only the homeowner can create this list. It’s personal.

Now, as you know, in staging circles, we always recommend depersonalizing the house. We are not changing that advice.

But we do like to see a few pictures of the homeowners (GASP), especially if they are enjoying the amenities of the neighborhood. We ask them to share their favorite unique features of the house and the location on their 'Why we love this house" list.

In our study of the left-brain vs. right brain selling, the analytical side needs to be engaged first. So, the realtor needs to do a thorough job of describing the property. I think they should to create a little intrigue, if possible. Then, the stagers create a story to engage the right brain in the staging process.

There is a psychology to the color strategy, furniture placement and the lifestyle staging touches.
1. The hammock in the back yard with a tray and iced tea pitcher with glasses
2. The telescope or binoculars in the living room overlooking the intracoastal waterway, where boats can be seen
3. Rolled up beach towels in a cabana bath by the pool
4. Coastal Living magazine in a tray by the sofa
5. Navigational boating charts rolled up in a basket with old boat paddles for a yachting neighborhood
6. A glass vase with wine corks to decorate a bar area, along with some glasses and a bottle of wine in a tray

Of course, the house needs to be clean and pristine. The "Why We Love This House" brochure can be customized and placed with the realtor's cards and info. All of this together engages the right brain and makes the house unforgettable.

One house that our team staged in a gorgeous, gated neighborhood sold in 6 hours for a full-price, cash offer. We were concerned about it because, for the $800,000 price tag, the formal living room was small. But, the beautiful pool, summer kitchen and fire pit area were enhanced with outdoor dishes, candles, towels, lanterns and floating lights in the pool. I love a happy ending.

It reminds me of the guy my sister dated in law school. She was looking for husband material. She brought a tall, dark and handsome cowboy... hat and all to one of our parties. He was NOT exactly husband material but with a corvette and a voice like Sam Elliott, she forgot her senses and bought that house, so to speak. The right brain wins again!!

2 for the Price of 1 Sale

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 17:32:19 GMT

ONLINE Class Semi-Annual Sale, March 2020

OMGosh!!! Last year, when we offered this 2 for 1 sale price, I had a lot of people who missed the deadline. MARCH 31 Don't wait too long.

The way it works, one person pays the full price of $500 and then we allow a 2nd person to log in. I have to do it all manually. It takes another step but I am so excited to offer this to my sisters and brothers who love design and want to be certified.

THIS IS YOUR SIGN!!! Yes, you!! It's time!! It's your time!!! GO FOR IT!!!

I also wanted to post a few iphone pics from several of last week's stages. These are both key room jobs in totally different properties. One is an old condo and the other is a new beach house.

THE BEACH HOUSE

THE CONDO

The Condo

THE CONDO

Thank you for joining us for another Blog post. HAPPY STAGING!!

Frequently Asked Questions 2

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 02:08:27 GMT

5 Things You Need to Know

1. Do I need to have a lot of furniture to be a stager?

There are Pros and Cons to both business models, ( having furniture and not having it) that we discuss in the class.

2. Can I make enough money just doing staging evaluations and color consultations?

The color consults start at $200 & up for 3 interior colors and $250 & up for exterior color choices. It’s very gratifying to help people make the correct choices and avoid costly mistakes.

These are good choices for someone who is older and not able to move furniture.

3. Does the class offer business, marketing and contracts?

4. What makes Transformations different than all the other staging/redesign trainers?

Three things…

5. How does your price compare with other trainers?

Best of all, we are far below the average training cost for certification. Right now all classes are on sale for the next few weeks.

2020 Transformation

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 20:08:33 GMT

New Year, New Decade

Happy New Decade

I need your help!!! Some of you have been following for a long time; some are new.Some are graduates from our training; some are not. Whoever you are, I want to know more about you. We are updating and reevaluating everything. Our goal is to bring you the very best in designer/stager education.

1. Do you operate from a goal list?
2. What is your biggest challenge moving forward to accomplish your goals?
3. Are you a left brain or right brain learner? Analytical vs. Visual
4. Did you spend another year "all over the place" busy but not accomplishing much?
5. Did your income go up or down last year?
5. Would you join us for the free webinar to start your decade on the right foot?

If you are like me, there are some things on your list that didn't get done. We tend to do the easy tasks so we can cross them off the list. I read a great, small book by Brian Tracey a long time ago titled, Eat That Frog. The premise was if you have a difficult task, DO IT FIRST!!! That simple principle has moved the needle for me. I still find it difficult to do.

I am planning a LIVE webinar to discuss and teach ways to get things accomplished. I will list the books that made a huge difference in my life at the end of the post.

I wrote about vision boards in a post last year. I strongly believe that an image that represents your goal can be a constant reminder of your focus. It subliminally pushes your forward. If you are right brained, you must have one.

IF YOU CAN"T SEE IT, YOU CAN"T BE IT!!
WHEN THE VISION IS CLEAR, THE RESULTS WILL APPEAR!!

Here is a partial shot of my current board, which represents my goals and aspirations for the future. A few of the things on my list are:
1. Travel more
2. Kayak and bike in beautiful places
3. Write a new blog with a spiritual focus
4. Write 2 books, business & personal
5. Read more
6.See all Florida and south Georgia parks
7. Learn to cook healthy meals
8. Make my home an oasis, inside and out
9. Bring my business to a more national presence (The specific business goals are spelled out on my planner.)
10. Spend more time with family in fun places
ETC.

This is the other side of the same board. You will need a half sheet of black foam core, which is usually 15 X 20 inches.I use plain tacks to attach magazine clippings. Michaels Has both. Their framing department will cut the foam core for free. Design and lifestyle magazines will give you plenty of images to clip.
To control the color or size of this text, please change the global colors or text size under the Design section from the left menu of the editor.

A few of my favorite books:
High Performance Habits by Brendan Burchard
Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt
Millionaire Success Habits by Dean Graziosi
Dream It, Pin It, Live It by Terri Savelle Foy
168 Hours by Laura Vanderkam
Older Favorites
Talk Like Ted Carmine Gallo
The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino
What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Larua Vanderkam
Purple Cow by Seth Godin
The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
Blue Ocean Strategy by Chan Kim
The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo

BY THE WAY... If you are not signed up for the newsletter, you are missing out on freebies, webinars and discounts. The bottom of any website page gives you a place to do that. Till Next Time...

BLOG: Developing a Color Story

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 21:49:02 GMT

Color Brings It All Together

Something about this picture just makes me happy. It was snapped late in the day on the 4th of July this year. I love all of these colors together, don't you! This combo could be for a vacation place.

Be prepared... stronger and darker colors are coming. Hunter Green and Navy are making a comeback. Wait and see. You will grow accustomed to it.

The new HGTV house is covered in moody colors... navy and dark teal. It's dramatic and soothing at the same time. Also, expect to see terra cotta and dreamsicle peach and more orange.

This Living Room has a good balance of light and dark. The red/terra cotta is in at least 3 places... the rug, the urn and the pillow. A triangle of contrast. Nice!!

As we enter 2020, be open to new ways of thinking to create a cohesive and relaxing room. Many elements need to come together.

Our color segment of the Certification Class is so helpful to be equipped to visualize a balanced color story. If you get everything else right but miss the color statement, you have not succeeded in your job. It's that important!!

Happy New Year, my dearest old and new friends, and may it be your Best Year Ever!!

Why Home Staging is not Going Away

Sat, 02 Nov 2019 16:44:16 GMT

2020 Projections on the Future of Staging

2020 Home Staging Projections

15 years ago, when I started as a home stager and wrote a regular guest column on staging for the Florida Times Union’s real estate page, I predicted that a time was coming when all or almost all of residential RE would be automatically staged. At that time, people thought that staging was a passing fad. Obviously, we now know that it is not a fad. It has become one of the fastest growing segments of the massive real estate industry.

At the Real Estate Staging Association convention in Las Vegas, I learned this staggering fact: in bigger cities on the west coast, particularly California, 60% of the RE is staged. That number will gradually spread to the rest of the country, much like design styles and color trends. West coast to East coast and everywhere in-between.

I am more informed about stagers in Florida, of course. As the RESA Florida State President, I stay in touch with our chapters and members.

In our local north Florida area, we have around 9 to 10,000 agents and about as many listings for sale. We have maybe 10 competitive stagers and perhaps 30 or so who are mainly designers, agents or organizers who stage as an added service. That number includes hobbists and part-timers. Some of these are trained and insured, some are not!

It difficult to calculate exact numbers but there is one thing of which we can be certain: There is more than enough business for everyone!!! As this industry stretches and grows out of its humble beginnings, it becomes a force of nature in the business world.

I just returned from Nashville, where I had a chance to speak on the main stage alongside such notables as Candace Olsen, Thom Felicia and Carson Kressley. One of my biggest takeaways:

I met numerous stagers pulling in more than a million dollars a year and one gentleman staging entrepreneur from Boston who brings in 6 million a year. Yes!! You heard that right. He is the 6 million dollar man.

In conclusion, there has never been a better time to begin a career in home staging. We have a spot available in out November 5-Day Class. 18th – 22nd. It’s $500 off the retail price. Give yourself a life-changing Christmas gift this year. Also, the online class is back on sale again. Are you ready?

STAGING the World

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 15:10:12 GMT

Pulling in a Million a Year as a Stager

Candace Olsen and me, both speakers at the IAHSP Convention

I just returned from the IAHSP Conference in Nashville. I am so pumped!!! I met a lot of stagers pulling in a million or more a year. Who are they and how did this happen?

Obviously, they are at the conference because they value continuing education. Yes, they are all busy and it is inconvenient to take the time out of a packed schedule.BUT THEY KNOW WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE. Inspiration and Education!! Both are needed... like a much-needed vacation. Our brains need fresh input.

One of the common factors... stagers tapped into other services to round out their value. 12 years ago, I read Robert Allen's Multiple Streams of Income. It changed my life. I always have 2 or 3 different types of services to offer my design clients or staging clients.

I am planning to expand my offerings after meeting Blair Hamity of Setting the Space in the Boston area. He grossed 6 million last year. He dominates staging in his area and now has added interior design services, event staging and professional organizing. They expanded in every area that homeowners might have a need to prepare a home for sale. They have teams that do small renovations, flooring, painting and landscaping. He has 35 employees. He is constantly reinventing the wheel. I asked him to marry me. (not really)

Another interesting person, who wears several hats... Darcie Harkin from Ashton Woods Builders in Orlando. She manages the design studio and coordinates the interior designers for a large custom builder in Orlando. She realized that after a model home was sold the furniture, etc. was liquidated in a garage sale event for local designers for a fraction of the cost. .

She convinced the owners to let her have the furniture and accessories to stage the problem spec homes. It takes Redesign skills to do that. The homes always sell right away. Now, she is the super-star stager of a whole new department. This is reinventing the wheel. Darcie will be sharing her expertise on our Panel of Experts at our Advanced Class in Jacksonville this week. 10th and 11th http://www.transform-us.com/landing-page

Follow me on Instagram to see my short video intro at the conference. Transformations staging is my IG.

TOMA - Top of Mind Awareness

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 22:31:44 GMT

Why Some Stagers Have a Million Dollar Business + Celebrating a Milestone

Also, according to stats, it costs 5 times more to acquire new clients than it does to keep your existing clients. This is another surprising reality. But this can be good news!!

So, with this knowledge, how do I make sure that I am creating a system to maintain happy, life-long clients? It’s called TOMA… Top of Mind Awareness.

Here is my plan, in order of importance:

Every 30 days, send out a newsletter to all present and past clients.
Every 6 months, call just to catch up with them. “How are you? I was just thinking about you.”
Send a seasonal card, like Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Plan to take your best agent clients out to lunch periodically.
Occasionally, drop off a basket of sweet treats from Panera Bread to your favorite RE offices.
Plan an active social media presence that includes helpful tips and beautiful photos, not ads.

Plan to join us for our upcoming Advanced Marketing & Staging Class on the 10th and 11th of October. We still have space available. We will be addressing this topic. https://www.transform-us.com/ cost 80% less than it will be next time. This is YOUR time to thrive!!

You CAN do this. It’s not that hard. Set up a system for contact and engagement and you will double your business. That’s it folks!! Happy Connecting!!

Celebrating 12 Years of Classes

This summer, we marked 12 years of certification classes. We were pioneers back in 2006 when people thought that staging was a fad. WHOA!! Were they wrong, or what!! Obviously, as an industry, it has become much bigger than expected and now, it will always be a viable option for modern agents and home sellers everywhere. Thank you to all the graduates from all over the US and beyond (yes, we have numerous international grads) who made Transformations successful!! You all inspire me!

Becky's Backstory

Sat, 03 Aug 2019 20:35:49 GMT

The True Story of Our Humble Beginnings

A lot of people, including clients and students, have been asking about the background story of Becky Harmon and Transformations. Who is Becky and why should I be listening to her?What preceded the birth and expansion of one of the top 10 home staging and redesign training centers in the USA?

Looking back now, as a 4th generation entrepreneur, I never quite fit into a traditional job. I tried bookkeeping and administrative work before taking 10 years off to get married, have kids and get them into school.

I had to get outside my comfort zone to be successful. Costumes, confetti and clowns, oh my!

We added party planning in the later years and became a well-known legislative event decorating source. Yes, we "ballooned" many famous people, including the governor, Bob Graham and many celebrities, such as Barry Gibb and Elton John. We eventually sold business opportunities in other cities. With almost no overhead costs, our 1st year, we grossed quadruple an average full-time salary, just selling balloons part-time.

The home-based business bug had bit me and started changing my desk job mindset.

In 1990, after selling the business, we moved to South Carolina and for 3 years, I managed a small retail design center. It proved to be the hardest job for me, a right-brain dizzy blonde, but it covered every aspect of running a business and I grew to love it. It was an important stepping stone and my introduction to design.

 Me and my sisters at a family event

. I began to hear about 2 new industries... home staging and redesign.

This particular day, I noticed some unusual new flowers blooming right around the ladies tee on hole #17. As I approached, I saw something I must have walked past 100 times before but never saw. The cart path was across the fairway. A large engraved stone had been placed on the ground in memory of a lady golfer who had died of breast cancer. It said, "Don't lay up. Go for it!" In golfer's language, that means take the riskier shot. She was always encouraging other lady golfers to swing for the green and don't worry about possibly losing your ball in the massive lake/marsh.

I love staging and redesign but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE teaching the class. And I have to say, my fairy godmother shows up by the last day of each class and I witness tears and euphoria every time. I can't take credit for it. It's the beautiful new industries of staging and redesign creating hope for a better life and making dreams come true for women (and men) from every conceivable background. I haven't looked back.

And so for you, what is your dream job? Write it on a goal list or vision board, put it on the fridge and ask for a sign. Habakkuk 2:2 has become one of my favorite scriptures. "Write the vision and engrave it plainly upon tablets (or a stone) so that everyone who passes by may be able to read it easily and quickly as he hastens by."

I ask that you feel hopeful today, that your dream job is within reach and that fairy dust is falling all over you right now. My wish for you today is, "Don't Lay Up. Go For It!"

Dive Into Our Biggest Sale + Bookcase Styling

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 16:28:54 GMT

Details on our Advanced Class on Website

Top Tips For Staging Bookcases

We like to also "zig zag" the plants or greenery and color. Focal point pieces can be centered.

In the "before" picture (below), you can see that too many things make it difficult to enjoy the more special pieces. Less is more, as they say.

The best way to start is to remove everything and start fresh. If you are limited on time, just keep removing things till you have a few nice pieces.

There are some rules about com-position that we teach in the class, such as, texture, color and height. But they are a bit too time-consuming to explore here.

When there are books, we like to cover them with pretty paper, if practical, and put 1/3rd of them on the horizontal.

Display collections and pictures, of course, if you are not selling.

Put the tallest books and accessories on the ends and pull the books level on the front of the shelf.

The question always comes up, "Should we remove the family pictures?" For staging, we do remove most of them but I like to leave some pictures if they look professional and the family is a nice-looking, typical demographic for that neighborhood. If they look like the Addams Family or a biker gang, LOL, we tell them to remove all the pictures. I am serious, though.

People are curious about who lived in the house before them. They are superstitous and looking for signs that it is the perfect place for their family... or not.

Also, minimize religious or political objects on a bookcase or coffee table. Maybe even consider removing football team memorabilia. People are so sensitive. My hubby loves his Florida team but HATES the rival team.

Thank you for joining us again. We always try to add value to your business or lifestyle.

If you have been thinking about taking the new, updated online class, now is the time. We have extended the sale price. The details are on the website. Now $500 and get a $250 coupon towards a Jacksonville class later or a $100 off coupon to the Advanced Class this fall.

Online Class Info https://www.transform-us.com/online-home-staging-training.htm

We do still have space available for the July 22nd – 26th classes. Starting Email us ASAP. Ask about our BOGO. http://www.becky@beckyharmon.com

Redesign Your Life 2

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 20:43:35 GMT

BAD NEWS - TIME FLIES; GOOD NEWS - YOU'RE THE PILOT

Listen to this true story...

A number of years ago, I stepped up to the front door of a new client who lived in a big, expensive house at the beach. When she opened the front door, I was in shock!! It was a disaster inside. I thought she had forgotten the appointment! "Are you spring cleaning?" I asked, hoping to give her an excuse for the chaos. "No, I am not." Hmmm, I though as we walked around and she showed me the house.

There were toys everywhere and no beds were made; cereal boxes lined the countertops in a stunning, modern kitchen. I was there to help, accessorize, pick out a paint color and measure for a dining table.

She pulled out new some accessories, art, and lamps, hoping to put some pretty things into the family room. New furniture had arrived the week before. Things were everywhere. There was a stack of newspapers and magazines about 4 feet high. It was surreal!! I knew that hanging art and placing new things into a disorganized room would only add to the confusion.

This was a real-life, extreme example of what we sometimes do when we invest in a personal growth seminar or take a home staging class. We plan to put a shiny new "accessory" into our cluttered, chaotic life. It doesn't work!!

First, we have to declutter our lives before we add something new. Clutter can be things like watching too much TV, fear and anxiety, mismanaging money.

Renovations are costly and disruptive but the results are worth the mess and inconvenience. What is holding you back? ...

This is the first part of a small segment of our final day of class. It's my Mother Hen, Come to Jesus speech. Sometimes, there are tears. Confrontation and reality are part of radical change, for the good. Are you ready for an overhaul?

Here is the outline to understand where I am heading with this story. This will give you some food for thought. One last fact: People who write and monitor their goals on a daily basis will make 2 1/2 times more money. $40,000 or $120,000. Which do you prefer?

Redesign Your Life

1. Sometimes we can’t get breakthrough in our lives because of “Clutter.”

2. Clutter can be things like:

a. Too much TV

b. Unhealthy food

c. Coffee addiction

d. Fear and anxiety

e. Unorganized time

f. Negative thinking

3. “Renovations” are messy and disruptive, but they are necessary sometimes to move forward.

4. We cannot move forward till be deal with the negative issues in our lives.

5. Identify the areas where you need to “pull weeds’ or declutter.

6. Identify areas where you need to “plant flowers’ or put in the positive.

7. You need long term and short term goals for these areas:

a. Health

b. Career

c. Relationships

d. Spiritual

e. Vacations

One last thing... we are offering 1 free online certification class to someone who sends in a list of their goals. The drawing will be June 20th. Send them to becky@beckyharmon.com. The class value is $750. WooHoo!!!

One more last thing, Look for info on our Advanced Class, 2019 on the website. It's October 10th and 11th, meeting at the Queens Harbour Clubhouse. This is open to everyone. We will cover social media, photography, branding and vacant staging.
https://www.transform-us.com/landing-page

TIME TRAVEL, How You Can Tap Into A New View on Time Management

Thu, 02 May 2019 17:55:33 GMT

TIME TRAVEL, This Book Changed My Life

I just ordered 168 HOURS, You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam

It has been a game-changer to this right-brained, scatter-brained designer blonde!! Yes, designers are more Go-With-The-Flow people. I love/hate that about me. My thinking in this title, TIME TRAVEL, is that you can work more efficiently and take a vacation with your recovered time.

I want to share an excerpt from an account I follow... AmyandJordan.com. They are professional photographers and parents. Great thoughts on TIME MANAGEMENT:

HERE IS Something that can change your life. Please read it...

Ready for a LIFE CHANGER?

What’s our number one problem? Your number one problem? We never have enough time, right?!

So the question is: how do we find more hours in a day?!

We read a book by Laura Vanderkam called 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think that’s been a game changer for us. Convicting, applicable and e mpowering all at once. We have SO many takeaways from the book, that we really encourage you to read it on your own, but we’re going to share our biggest bite-sized takeaways here.

Laura’s a journalist who researched the time habits of Americans and found that most people say this:

I don’t have time for _______________.

While the most successful people would rephrase it like this:

I have time, but it’s not my priority.

In essence, she argues, even if we sleep eight hours every night, work a full 40-hour week and devote three hours per day to getting ready, eating, commuting and household responsibilities, we still have FIFTY non-sleeping hours per WEEK to do whatever we want.

But I don’t have time for _______________ (we all say.)

We do, Laura says. We're just not making _______________ our priority.

The most convicting part about the book for us is when she challenges every reader to track their time in 15-minute increments. (You can get her official time-tracking sheet on her website .) At first, we didn’t want to do it. Because we normally don’t like to ask a question when we don’t think we’ll like the answer — and we were pretty sure we wouldn’t like the answer to this question:

How are we REALLY spending our time?

More importantly, What are our spending choices keeping us from?

But we tracked it anyways.

And we were right! We didn’t like the answer.

When we listed out the priorities in our life, iPhones (social media scrolling!) and Netflix weren’t on it, yet they were unknowingly consuming dozens of cumulative hours every week that were keeping us from the things we actually cared about.

The worst part? We didn’t even realize it. Because it was subconscious.

If we were wasting a total of three hours per day on internet browsing and TV/streaming alone (which is actually below average , if you can believe it), here’s the math on just that:

3 hours x 7 days x 52 weeks = 1,092 hours per year.

ON NETFLIX?!

It gets worse.

When you divide 1,092 hours by 40 hours, you get TWENTY-SEVEN full workweeks.

That's a part-time job!

Just. By. Cutting. Netflix.

Those numbers startled us and forced us to ask ourselves two simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating questions:

1. Where else were we wasting time?

2. What could we accomplish if we actually aligned our time with our priorities ?

They were real take-an-honest-look-in-the-mirror-and-cut-the-BS-excuses kind of questions for us!

But the answers are exciting because simple fourth grade math gave us a sense of control again, that we had the time AND money to make our priorities happen if we did one simple but hard thing:

Actually make sure that the way we were spending our time REFLECTED our priorities .

So, in response to the two statements we hear from people all the time:

I can’t afford _______________.

I don’t have time for _______________.

We’d encourage you to ask yourself the two questions that we did:

What are my real priorities?

AND

If I stop wasting _____ hours every day on _______________, that’s _____ hours this week/month/year I’ll have for _______________.

With that time, I can do _______________ or earn _______________ that will allow me to do _______________.

OR

If I stop wasting _____ dollars every day on _______________, that’s _____ dollars this week/month/year I’ll have for _______________.

With that money, I can afford _______________ or earn _______________ that will allow me to afford _______________.

Here are three examples to get you started:

MONEY :

Old way of thinking: I can’t afford to go on a family vacation this year.

New way of thinking: One of my priorities is to go on a family vacation this year.

Then, do the math:

If I stop wasting $5 dollars every day on Starbucks , that’s $1,825 dollars this year that I’ll have for a family vacation .

TIME :

Old way of thinking: I don’t have time to exercise for one hour every day.

New way of thinking: My priority this year is to exercise one hour each day.

Then, do the math:

If I stop wasting 3 hours every day on Netflix , that’s 1 hour today I’ll have for exercise — and I still have two hours to watch Netflix !

NOW, LET’S LOOK AT TIME AND MONEY :

If I stop wasting 3 hours every day on Netflix , that’s 1,092 hours this year I’ll have for a part-time job .

With that time, I can work at Starbucks and earn $15 per hour which is $16,380 that will allow me to do a lot .

Plus, my coffee will be free — which saves an additional $1,825 .

How empowering is that?!
Amy & Jordan

p.s. We'd love to connect with you on Instagram at @amy_demos and @jordan_demos!

We Put Our Heads Together...

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 20:20:59 GMT

To come up with a great Curb Appeal presentation with all new pictures!

Sandra Racz, from the Decorating and Staging Academy, invited me to present on their famous last Tuesday (of the month) webinar. I was so flattered to participate with another trustworthy competitor and trainer. They are led by Sandra and the legendary JoAnne Lenart Weary. OMGoodness!!

You may notice that there is great co-operation and friendship between the national leaders in the constantly changing staging and redesign industry. That is great news for you, whether you are a newbie or a veteran in your home business.

We are including the link to see our first and latest collaboration... a new, improved curb appeal webinar. It will soon be an a la carte mini class in the online format. The last time we featured it in an in-person class, it was $79. Today, it's free to you for a short time.

https://vimeo.com/326841734 Click here.

I am in the process of refining and composing a selection of tried and true paint color combos for exteriors. Sherwin Williams designer account executives are consulting with me on this. Yay!!

We see so many mistakes when people choose color and upgrades for the exterior of the house. The roof color and paver color, if applicable, are the most important considerations because they are like "fixed finishes" that will not change.

Just like inside, the cooler colors, grays and blues, for instance, need a cool white trim color. That doesn't mean we cannot use a strong red door on a dark gray house. The gray has to have warm undertones. A pink front door works best with the true whites. Terra cotta works with the browner taupes, tans and khakis. Watch for our new color chart, coming soon.

BTW... the cost of the online certification class will be going up soon. I have been told that it is way to rich in content for the low price. Good news for you!!

I have heard from a lot of you already and I want to extend the invitation to chat sometime. I want to know your biggest fears or frustrations. Whether you have started you business or are just dreaming about, please email me so we can connect. Email me becky@beckyharmon.com

BRANDING is More Than Colors and Fonts

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 22:08:07 GMT

What is Your Message to the World

OMGosh! What an eyeopener!! The last RESA meeting speaker truly got my attention!! I felt like I had a pretty good handle on the topic of branding. After all, I am teaching it in my class. Why am I so focused on messaging?

I am in the process of a complete website overhaul. Very expensive and difficult when you have 30 pages. I wanted to streamline my message and simplify my info. What is the main thing that makes you different? Everyone says they are the best, the biggest!! That isn't going to bring you clients you unless you can back it up.

The Brand expert, Sarah Justice, from www.KindaWonderful.com , offered a brilliant, colorful presentation. Here's my takeaway...

A brand is the emotion left behind when someone interacts with your business on any level. Visual, Verbal, Experiential. It lives on in the mind of the consumer.

You need a strong foundation for your brand that aligns all your activities and communications. That's much more than consistent colors and fonts!

The foundation answers these questions: Who we are? Who is my ideal client? Where are they? How are we different? What is our personality? What is our promise? Wow!! That's a lot!

If you don't target your brand destination, you WILL NOT get there by accident! I am still working on my main message and I plan to consult with Sarah to fine-tune my materials.

These are the main messages I want my brand to illustrate:
1. I have a 25 year track record as an ASID interior designer. I am the only ASID designer in the USA teaching staging and redesign for certification. Also, very few stagers are also designers. I speak often on many stages, locally and nationally.
2. We meet in a yacht-club resort location on the ICW, the intracoastal waterway. The ocean is 10 minutes away. "Take a class and get a tan."
3. We are the Chic Boutique of Home Staging Training. "We are Lily Pulitzer, not Macy's. We are not the biggest but the most design-oriented class in the USA."
4. Our staged homes sell in 15 days, on average.

Please look at my new website and tell me what you think. Your opinion means everything to me. We are still changing out pictures. Too many house pictures? www.stagehappy.com Please email me or comment on the blog. I value all of you and love you to the moon and back!!

Big Rocks… What’s Your Why

Sat, 16 Feb 2019 16:53:00 GMT

BIG ROCKS A number of years ago, while attending a Toastmaster’s meeting, a respected mentor and leader showed us a vivid lesson in time management and goal setting. He was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration the students will never forget. As he stood […] The post Big Rocks… What’s Your Why appeared first on Stage Happy.

BIG ROCKS

A number of years ago, while attending a Toastmaster’s meeting, a respected mentor and leader showed us a vivid lesson in time management and goal setting. He was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration the students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high powered overachievers he said, “Okay, time for a quiz.”

He pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?”

Everyone in the class said, “Yes.”

Then he said, “Really?” He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between the big rocks. Then he asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?”

By this time the class was on to him. “Probably not,” one of them answered. “Good!” he replied.

He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?”

“No!” the class shouted.

Once again he said, “Good.” Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked,
“What is the point of this illustration?”

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!”

“No,” the speaker replied, “That’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”

What are the ‘big rocks’ in your life? Your children; Your loved ones; Your education; Your dreams; A worthy cause; Teaching or mentoring others; Doing things that you love; Time for yourself; Your health; Your significant other?

Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you’ll never get them in at all. If you sweat the little stuff (the gravel, the sand) then you’ll fill your life with little things you worry about that don’t really matter, and you’ll never have the real quality time you need to spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks).

So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the ‘big rocks’ in my life? Then, put those in your jar first.”

Feel free to pass this on to those you care about. I need to be reminded of this lesson on a regular basis. Paste a picture of your Big Rocks on a vision board where you can see it everyday. Read last month’s pst for more on vision boards. “Rock” your 2019 guys. Look for info on our next conference or Webinar.

The post Big Rocks… What’s Your Why appeared first on Stage Happy .

Goals, Videos and Vision Boards, Oh My!!

Sat, 05 Jan 2019 18:00:00 GMT

WANNA SEE SOME STAGING VIDEOS?? I have been publishing YouTube videos for years. They are not edited or polished but they will show you first-hand what our staged homes look like. I cover the simple but important details that make up a perfect staging outcome. Here are a few using a strong color thread and a […] The post Goals, Videos and Vision Boards, Oh My!! appeared first on Stage Happy.

I have a much better camera this year and I am excited for some of our early 2019 luxury home stage videos. We have a rustic, horse-country 6,000 sq. ft. home coming up soon and two large beach houses. A contemporary mid-century modern and a Tuscan Italian. You can’t do cookie-cutter staging in either of them. Enjoy the videos.

A Vision Board and a Goal List will Almost Triple Your Income

Many years ago, I heard a quote from a reliable source at a motivational seminar. It was either Brian Tracy or Zig Ziglar Himself: “You will make and average of $3,000 a month without goal setting and $7,000 a month with a goal setting program.” Of course, that was 20 years ago and the numbers have increased but it’s still relative. Nearly 2 1/2 times the income for goal setters. Pretty cool!

I use a sheet of paper divided in half vertically with a 3 inch heading. Three sections. In the left column, I list things to do in 1 to 2 days. In the right column, I list things to do in 1 to 2 weeks. The top section is for the long range objectives, such as… 1. writing a book or 2. traveling to New Zealand.

I have a list for 1. business,2. family and relationships,3. health and 4. spirituality. I monitor them regularly. Daily monitoring is best. Just 5 minutes at night. If you do not write a plan, the urgent will overtake the important. Everyday!

Every building, school, church, park or business that you see around you started as a thought, an idea! It then became a wish, then a goal and then a plan.

Can you imagine a home builder starting to build a house without blueprints? I know a lot of dreamers who want to take our certification classes… One sweet gal has been trying for several years to make it happen.

One the other hand. thousands of my grads have taken the leap into this seemingly scary, but glorious new reality… a shiny, new career. Some were single moms cleaning houses; some were stay-at-home moms, burnt out teachers & nurses and now they have thriving businesses.

One grad is Kristie Anderson from Tampa Bay, FL. www.dwellstaging.com She has about 8 employees and an 8,000 sq. ft. warehouse. She has spoken at our Real Estate Staging Association Convention and won Top 10 Stager of the year for 2 years in a row. She has now expanded to Sarasota. You Go Girl!!!

Another grad is from Montgomery, Alabama and worked with David Bromstadt from HGTV on a designer house. Cassandra Crosby. Premier Design & Staging. I am so proud of you both, Cassandra and Kristie! I love what you are doing to grow and move forward.

Vision Boards help to get us there. They consist of visual images of our goals for our near or distant future. We all need them and for some mysterious reason, they tend to help us get moving in the right direction. I’M IN!

Start with cork board or black foamcore and pin clipped photos or magazine images that point to a desired outcome. We are such a product of our surroundings and what we see. Let’s make a commitment to begin somewhere. Such as, clip a picture of that luxury vacation and put it on the fridge. Let the things we see and say and do move us in the direction of our dreams. I love this quote from Oprah from one of her early magazine articles.

“As we begin to recognize ourselves for who we really are—thinkers, leaders with limitless potential to transform not only ourselves but also the world around us—chaos in the car, at home, or at the office becomes the exception and excellence becomes the rule. When we speak, we’re the first to hear our words, to feel their impact. What we say and think manifests itself as the life we create, one choice at a time. And when we fill our lives with things that uplift us, we become a product of that environment. We want to give the world our best, and we want the best in return. Maintaining a gorgeous home or apartment is about respecting the very important person who lives in it…YOU.”

What are your main goals? Start right here and tell the world what you are doing this year. Put it on this public blog post. Tell the world and be unafraid!! I have 3500 readers. You can trust your heart to them.

The post Goals, Videos and Vision Boards, Oh My!! appeared first on Stage Happy .

From My Heart – Christmas Giveaways + Exciting Things for 2019

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 20:03:00 GMT

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. A PERSONAL NOTE FROM BECKY HARMON: I am so grateful for all the wonderful people I have met since we started this class many years ago. And thanks to many of you who have shared personal stories of transition and change in your life […] The post From My Heart – Christmas Giveaways + Exciting Things for 2019 appeared first on Stage Happy.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

A PERSONAL NOTE FROM BECKY HARMON: I am so grateful for all the wonderful people I have met since we started this class many years ago. And thanks to many of you who have shared personal stories of transition and change in your life as you entered this new adventure. Â Some of you said you had a “feeling or sense” that there was an unfinished chapter in your life. You took a leap of faith!! Thanks for believing!

I’m looking forward to meeting all our future stagers and redesigners. The joy of seeing homes and lives “transformed” in this wonderful business cannot be described or explained in words. I can only say that you will love it. – Becky

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Elliot

We have some goodies for you. Send a reply to this post or email me, and we will register you for the upcoming webinar January 16th at 1:00 EST, called 10 Things Realtor’s Don’t know About Stagers . You don’t want to miss this opportunity. If you can’t be there, you will get a link to the replay.

Also, we have very limited seating for a Curb Appeal Certification Class, mainly for local realtors and stagers. We will include coffee and bagels, etc. in the morning and a gourmet lunch at noon. You will also learn some photography tips and backyard lifestyle staging ideas. We will end with an introduction to Marketing to Millennials… young, savvy, luxury homeowners. Bonus – You will get a CURB APPEAL EXPERT badge for your website.

Where: QUEENS HARBOUR Clubhouse, 1131 QH Blvd. 32225

When: January 30th, 9:30AM to 3:00PM

What: Curb Appeal Certification Class, coffee, snacks, lunch and a beautiful badge for your marketing.

Cost: $79. Look for the Pay Pal Button or email me for more info.

The post From My Heart – Christmas Giveaways + Exciting Things for 2019 appeared first on Stage Happy .

If You Don’t Know What a LOA is, Read This ASAP

Mon, 05 Nov 2018 02:27:00 GMT

Have a cup of coffee and take a few minutes. This post may just save your business from a possible disaster. The natural progression of a successful staging job takes us into the new house. Suggest redesign to your client to help personalize their newly purchased home. It can be a color consulting, furniture placement and/or hanging art service. Also, […] The post If You Don’t Know What a LOA is, Read This ASAP appeared first on Stage Happy.

Have a cup of coffee and take a few minutes. This post may just save your business from a possible disaster.

The natural progression of a successful staging job takes us into the new house. Suggest redesign to your client to help personalize their newly purchased home. It can be a color consulting, furniture placement and/or hanging art service. Also, under the definition of re-design, you can include choosing new pillows, rugs, bedspreads. But, if the job involves a lot of your time or a renovation, be sure your contract spells out your role and liability. We call that contract a Letter of Agreement in the design world.

1. What does your LOA need to say? In addition to the name, address, phone of each party, it needs a detailed description of the scope of the work and timeline.

2. It also helps to define the overall style direction and itemize pieces that will change.

3. Include disclaimers such as: “While we make every effort to make practical selections, we cannot guarantee the performance of fabrics and finishes.” Or, “We cannot guarantee everyone will be immediately happy with their selections.” Sometimes, you are creating a room based on abstract ideas. “I want a dreamy, cool and comfortable space.”

4. Just one more thought… don’t advise your client on major renovations. Unless you have significant experience with renos or you are an interior designer, stick to choosing materials and colors. Such as, flooring, countertops and back splashes.

5. We always give the client 2 or 3 choices on everything, such as paint color, design materials and fabrics, so that the final decision is always the homeowners. I give my opinion but the final choice is theirs. Good advice from 25 years in interior design.

6. Also, add something like, “Any adjustments or changes must be approved with a signature.”

7. It’s good to add a dispute resolution option, just in case.

8. Also end with contract termination conditions, such as written notice and signatures by each party. Add a provision for paying all outstanding invoices in the event of termination of contract.

9. Add a liability waiver stating that you are “not liable for the work, warranties or service performed by various vendors.” They are not your employees.

Whew!! Are you snoozing yet!! This isn’t the fun part of our business but it is necessary and will help you sleep at night.

10. Have an attorney read over it. It doesn’t need complex legal terminology. Our classes go into detail with updated sample contracts and everything you need to be protected.

I hope we added some value to your business. Till next time…

The post If You Don’t Know What a LOA is, Read This ASAP appeared first on Stage Happy .

NEWEST STAGING PHOTOS

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 18:25:00 GMT

Lifestyle Staging touches must be subtle. Color is the best strategy. Begin with a splashy rug. Greenery is important also. Art may be the best element to define the demographic. Space planning is the best way to be sure your proportions are […] The post NEWEST STAGING PHOTOS appeared first on Stage Happy.

Lifestyle Staging touches must be subtle.

Color is the best strategy. Begin with a splashy rug.

Greenery is important also. Art may be the best element to define the demographic.

Space planning is the best way to be sure your proportions are in scale with the room.

Good photo angles capture the best images.

The investor wanted to have an eat-in kitchen.

Details matter!

Pretty bedroom accessories complete the look.

Bathrooms always need lots of attention.

The post NEWEST STAGING PHOTOS appeared first on Stage Happy .

WHAT’S IN YOUR STAGING CONTRACT? Gotta Read This

Mon, 03 Sep 2018 02:39:00 GMT

I am not a big Facebook person, but I do monitor many stager’s groups to keep a finger on the pulse of our industry. I am a longtime staging/redesign certification trainer and it’s my job to stay ahead of the curve in our fairly young universe. One burning question that seems to come up again […] The post WHAT’S IN YOUR STAGING CONTRACT? Gotta Read This appeared first on Stage Happy.

If you are new or it’s been a long time since you attended a certification class, LISTEN UP!! Here are some things to think about if you are unsure about what you need on your contract. Certainly, have an attorney help you with legal verbiage. But here goes…

Obviously, you need – Date, Name, Property Address, Phone, Email, Current Address, (if vacant), Access or LockBox Code

List exactly what will happen, rooms that will be staged, when the lease will end and what happens if it needs to be extended.

Terms must indicate:

Tell them the deposit amount required to put them on the schedule and when the balance is due, whether you take checks, CC, PPal

They must have the home cleaned and ready. No major repairs can be done after staging.

Nothing should be moved or removed without permission.

Tell them that candles cannot be lit or linens used.

Also, get permission to put hangers in the wall. Owner must touch up after removal.

Tell them that you are certified, insured and your team is trained.

You must ask permission to photograph the rooms and use them in your advertising.

You actually need to insist that there is heating, air and running water. I also insist on a knob and a lock on the exterior doors. We sometimes stage flips in unreliable neighborhoods.

No showings should be scheduled on staging day (unless you will finish early).

You must state that the staging day can be rescheduled because of inclement weather. Hurricane Irma put all of Florida in a holding pattern for almost a week in 2017.

The homeowner or agent must provide access to the property. Yes, this needs to be in writing.

State that the style choices are specific to the demographic and may not be their particular taste. We reserve the right to choose what is used.

The agent has permission to make decisions on behalf of the homeowner. __initials__

If the agent is released, the contract is still in force. The contract is in force until destaging.

We need 5 to 7 days notice to terminate the contract or reschedule the appointment. A fine is customary for the inconvenience if they cannot meet this requirement.

We need 5 to 7 days notice to destage.

Most importantly…

Both parties agree to hold the other harmless. Any liability is limited to the cost of the staging job.

The homeowner has the right to enter into the contract. (no divorce disputes about ownership of the house)

These are the foundation of our basic vacant contract. The legal language should be written out by an attorney in your state. Additional terms will be needed to customize for different situations. Sometime the contract can be long, depending on the complexity. Our contract for occupied homes is quite different.

Next time, we will visit the liability waiver and unique contract or LOA (Letter of Agreement) used for redesign.

Till next time…

The post WHAT’S IN YOUR STAGING CONTRACT? Gotta Read This appeared first on Stage Happy .

OMGosh!! I Needed This!! and RESA News

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 18:34:00 GMT

Women seem to frequently put their wants and needs on the back burner and sacrifice their dreams for a more convenient time. They tolerate chaos and disorganization in their lives to meet the demands of work and family. Take a minute today and do something for yourself that will cause you to move […] The post OMGosh!! I Needed This!! and RESA News appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post OMGosh!! I Needed This!! and RESA News appeared first on Stage Happy .

10 THINGS REALTORS DON’T KNOW ABOUT STAGING

Fri, 04 May 2018 15:19:00 GMT

What you don’t know CAN hurt you. If you are a home seller, home stager or agent, LISTEN UP. If the agent recommends staging and the client refuses the advice… when the property lingers on the market, the home sellers can’t blame the agent. If the homeowner has to look for a stager on their […] The post 10 THINGS REALTORS DON’T KNOW ABOUT STAGING appeared first on Stage Happy.

Nick Johnson Photography

What you don’t know CAN hurt you. If you are a home seller, home stager or agent, LISTEN UP.

I have a beautiful webinar coming very soon called, the Realtor’s Wake-Up Call. Every realtor and stager needs to see it. It has beautiful pictures, loads of tips and tricks and the latest stats. If you want to get the link to the presentation, reply to this newsletter and leave your Name, Email and whether you are a stager, agent or staging fan.

Branding is the Bomb

Sat, 07 Apr 2018 15:34:00 GMT

Branding Your Business, Logos and Websites Branding is the image of a product or business in the marketplace. It sets your business apart from your competitors. It illustrates the unique qualities or characteristics of your company. Branding elements can be colors, fonts and/or a combination of words that describe your specialty. For instance, American Airlines […] The post Branding is the Bomb appeared first on Stage Happy.

Logo for Transformations Grads

Branding Your Business, Logos and Websites

Branding is the image of a product or business in the marketplace. It sets your business apart from your competitors. It illustrates the unique qualities or characteristics of your company.

Branding elements can be colors, fonts and/or a combination of words that describe your specialty. For instance, American Airlines is associated with the song, Rhapsody in Blue. Or Coca Cola, It’s the Real Thing. We use a butterfly because it’s a symbol of transformation. The monarch butterfly started the Orange color scheme.

Create a mission statement and a tag line about your business by writing all the words and symbols that describe you and your unique qualities. Adjectives, colors, images.

You may need to use a graphic designer to create your logo and brand. A company called 99 Designs can give you lots of choices for $99. Check them out. I paid $500 for the Designer Staging Professionals image. $99 is a great price.

Keep your accent colors consistent in your logo and even pictures that decorate your website. Stock copyright free pictures can be purchased from places like iStock. It is unlikely that you will begin with photos that are good enough for your main pages. Your portfolio must always be photos of your work only.

One side of our business card

Look at the websites mentioned on the Class page of the Transformations website. You will see a simple, consistent style with a white background. Keep it concise and to the point. Uncluttered and simple. Your most important statement needs to be on the first page.

A Word Press website that you can change without tech assistance is the best way to go. There are tutorials online to show you how to set up a basic site. If you are tech-challenged, use a template site like Wix to build your site.

Start with a brain dump. List as many adjectives describing your unique qualities or specialties. The pare it down to the best ones and combine it with an image. Voila!!

Great Color Consistency in This Photo

As you post on Facebook and Instagram, keep your colors and filters consistent. Occasionally, weed out pictures that don’t reflect who you are in your business and your personal life.

Get a recent professional headshot and put it on your card, marketing materials and your website. Use the same picture throughout your various platforms. People need to mentally connect with your image and photo to feel confident calling you for an appointment. Your picture removes a barrier in their mind.

That’s all for now!! Happy Branding!!

The post Branding is the Bomb appeared first on Stage Happy .

Top of Mind Awareness

Wed, 07 Mar 2018 01:09:00 GMT

50% of your clients will leave you. If you have any kind of a business, it is absolutely essential that you know these scary stats: After 5 years, at least 50% of your clients, who loved you at the time of your service, will leave you and use a competitor. It’s even worse […] The post Top of Mind Awareness appeared first on Stage Happy.

50% of your clients will leave you.

SPRING INTO ACTION

Also, according to stats, it costs 5 times more to acquire new clients than it does to keep your existing clients. This is another surprising reality. But this can be good news!!

So, with this knowledge, how do I make sure that I am creating a system to maintain happy, life-long clients? It’s called TOMA… Top of Mind Awareness.

Here is my plan, in order of importance:

You CAN do this. It’s not that hard. Set up a system for contact and engagement and you will double your business. That’s it folks!! Happy Connecting!!

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The post Top of Mind Awareness appeared first on Stage Happy .

5 HOMES Sold in 1 to 3 Days in 2018 + Show Stopper Color

Tue, 06 Feb 2018 22:35:00 GMT

What Show-Stopper front door color, along with light staging, helped bring multiple offers after a few days on the market. People in the neighborhood slowed down as they drove by to look at this color transformation. Some people were snapping pictures. Here my favorite color for front doors… BOLD BRICK from Sherwin Williams. Also, we got […] The post 5 HOMES Sold in 1 to 3 Days in 2018 + Show Stopper Color appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post 5 HOMES Sold in 1 to 3 Days in 2018 + Show Stopper Color appeared first on Stage Happy .

New Paint Colors for 2018 + Best Staging and Design Colors, ETC.

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 18:25:00 GMT

What is the best paint color for staging? What is the best color for front doors? The best cabinet color? The best coastal colors? The best gray? The best color for dark rooms? The best exterior color? What is the best tool for choosing exterior color combinations? It’s all here!!! Look on the chart […] The post New Paint Colors for 2018 + Best Staging and Design Colors, ETC. appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post New Paint Colors for 2018 + Best Staging and Design Colors, ETC. appeared first on Stage Happy .

Guess Who is Speaking at the RESA Convention?

Sat, 16 Dec 2017 19:05:00 GMT

I am honored to be speaking at our 2018 RESA Convention in Las Vegas. I am so excited to be teaching on one of my favorite topics as a designer. I will be sharing all about flooring and design elements. It seems to be the weakest area of training and experience for a lot of stagers. During my first few years that […] The post Guess Who is Speaking at the RESA Convention? appeared first on Stage Happy.

I am honored to be speaking at our 2018 RESA Convention in Las Vegas. I am so excited to be teaching on one of my favorite topics as a designer.

I will be sharing all about flooring and design elements. It seems to be the weakest area of training and experience for a lot of stagers. During my first few years that I exclusively focused on staging full-time, I noticed that 1/3rd of my income was from referral fees, mostly flooring. You don’t need to know everything but if you have a working knowledge of the basics, you are able to tackle more small renovation projects with confidence. Are you tapping in to that opportunity?

COME TO THE CONVENTION IN JULY!!! We are hoping to rock the house with Transformations grads!!! And YES!! you can come to the convention if you are not an official stager/re-designer yet. You sign up as a non-member. www.realestatestagingassociation.com

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Just a few days ago, I also got these graphics and this wonderful news:

We have just been included in the IAHSP, International Association of Home Staging Professionals, list of accredited certification training courses. You must complete training by any one of a short, select list to be eligible to join. We were already one of the RESA’s approved trainers. All this makes your training through Transformations more valuable.

Thank you for joining us. We always try to add value to your business or lifestyle.

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If you are interested in taking the new, updated Online Class, Email me. EMAIL Or go right to the Online Class info page. The pricing is in blue text at the bottom of the page. It is money-back guaranteed and going up in price soon.

ONLINE CLASS ACCESS

We do have space available in our January 22nd – 23rd, 3-day Jacksonville class. This class is for all those who have a knack for design and color. Contact me to get the best price.

More and more, we are training existing certified stagers who just wish to continue their education by taking another class.

We are not the biggest trainer… Remember, we’re Lily Pulitzer, not Macy’s. Why slog thru 100 forms when 25 will do. Get the Nitty-Gritty of what really works. We are the most targeted, design-orientated class in the US. Realtors and Designers love our classes.

The early 2018 classes are filling up quickly. If you bring a friend, you get a special discount.

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Join us on Social Media… FB and Instagram for frequent tips on staging and design. We share pictures of our finished rooms and lots more.

Facebook Link

Instagram Link

904-207-7527

The post Guess Who is Speaking at the RESA Convention? appeared first on Stage Happy .

MAN CAVE and DRONE PICTURES Get the Sale

Sat, 16 Dec 2017 18:33:00 GMT

Man Cave and Drone Pictures Get the Sale Home sellers and agents, if you are not taking advantage of the benefits of the low-cost staging evaluation, you are leaving money on the table. Part of this $150 evaluation included suggestions for “staging” the Man Cave. The Corvette, pool table and big-screen TV all […] The post MAN CAVE and DRONE PICTURES Get the Sale appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post MAN CAVE and DRONE PICTURES Get the Sale appeared first on Stage Happy .

Your Life is a Canvas

Mon, 02 Oct 2017 18:58:00 GMT

The post Your Life is a Canvas appeared first on Stage Happy .

Occupied Staging -Beach House Pics

Sun, 03 Sep 2017 02:50:00 GMT

Welcome to a short presentation about Occupied Staging, using some of our accessories. This home, new on the market today, is in old Atlantic Beach and this was a budget-priced job. This post is mostly pictures, such as our master, seen below… After Picture One of the biggest problems, according to the agent, […] The post Occupied Staging -Beach House Pics appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Occupied Staging -Beach House Pics appeared first on Stage Happy .

Top 10 TIPS for STYLING BOOKCASES

Mon, 31 Jul 2017 00:58:00 GMT

Bookcase Styling

B ookcases can be intimidating to tackle at times. Most of the time, my students are hesitant to start working on a cluttered display. This bookcase was styled by a recent class. An easy way to do it quickly, is to keep removing things till you have only the most striking items left.

We like to also “zig zag” the plants or greenery and color. Focal point pieces can be centered.

In the “before” picture (below), you can see that too many things make it difficult to enjoy the more special pieces. Less is more, as they say.

The best way to start is to remove everything and start fresh. If you are limited on time, just keep removing things till you have a few nice pieces.

There are some rules about com-
po sition that we teach in the class, such as, texture, color and height. But they are a bit too time-consuming
to explore here.

When there are books, we like to cover them with pretty paper, if practical, and put 1/3rd of them on the horizontal.

Display collections and pictures, of course, if you are not selling.

Put the tallest books and accessories on the ends and pull the books level on the front of the shelf.

The question always comes up, “Should we remove the family pictures?” For staging, we do remove most of them but I like to leave some pictures if they look professional and the family is a nice-looking,

https://www.transform-us.com/online-home-staging-training.htm

We do still have space available for the August classes. Starting the 21st – 25thth. Email us ASAP. Ask about our BOGO. Email

The post Top 10 TIPS for STYLING BOOKCASES appeared first on Stage Happy .

A HOUSE is not just a HOUSE. It’s a Living, Breathing Thing!

Wed, 17 May 2017 14:50:00 GMT

A House is not just a House… It’s a Living, Breathing Thing! It has a Soul. One topic not mentioned often enough in the ever-changing world of home staging… I’ll call it the x-Factor. It’s emotion. How can we engage the emotional part of the decision-making process? We are not just talking about the staging […] The post A HOUSE is not just a HOUSE. It’s a Living, Breathing Thing! appeared first on Stage Happy.

www.stagehappy.com

The post A HOUSE is not just a HOUSE. It’s a Living, Breathing Thing! appeared first on Stage Happy .

Left Brain or Right Brain Home Stagers

Thu, 13 Apr 2017 23:30:00 GMT

Transformations Grad on HGTV LEFT-BRAIN vs. RIGHT -BRAIN Which one are you? Actually, it takes a little of both to be a successful stager/re-designer. Learn why here. I am totally right-brain, through and through. Right-brains love color and they are not afraid to tackle Home Goods and […] The post Left Brain or Right Brain Home Stagers appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Left Brain or Right Brain Home Stagers appeared first on Stage Happy .

Curb Appeal for Dummies 2

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 15:40:00 GMT

Avondale Porch Curb Appeal analysis has become a major part of our staging evaluations. We pay more attention to things like house color and condition, not to mention the need to fill in missing or dead shrubs. Balance, […] The post Curb Appeal for Dummies 2 appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Curb Appeal for Dummies 2 appeared first on Stage Happy .

Staging Hacks and More…

Fri, 10 Feb 2017 01:25:00 GMT

Living Room, Dining Room in Beach House Budget Staging Encouraging story for homestagers, agents and homeowner’s… We recommended some inexpensive updating for this 70’s style house in Atlantic Beach. Original everything! White 12″ floor tile throughout […] The post Staging Hacks and More… appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Staging Hacks and More… appeared first on Stage Happy .

Color Forecast for 2017, HGTV Dream House

Fri, 06 Jan 2017 20:16:00 GMT

St. Simon’s Island Lighthouse I am so excited about 2017!!! We had our biggest year ever and reports from our staging network of grads is very encouraging. Many are expanding, hiring more stagers and designers to be […] The post Color Forecast for 2017, HGTV Dream House appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Color Forecast for 2017, HGTV Dream House appeared first on Stage Happy .

Merry Christmas Gifts for You

Mon, 19 Dec 2016 21:41:00 GMT

Merry Christmas and Happy 2017 Is your spouse looking for a life-changing gift for you? Do you need a significant discount for this to be an option for you? I have a gift for you. A box of our newest manuals came back with a couple of typos not corrected. I can’t return them. We […] The post Merry Christmas Gifts for You appeared first on Stage Happy.

Is your spouse looking for a life-changing gift for you? Do you need a significant discount for this to be an option for you?

becky@beckyharmon.com

The post Merry Christmas Gifts for You appeared first on Stage Happy .

Online Class Sale + New Student Pictures

Fri, 25 Nov 2016 21:15:00 GMT

Beware! Staging Class will make you a shopaholic!!! BEWARE!!!! Staging Class will turn you into an accessory shopaholic!! These student grads from our November class that ended last Friday discovered At Home before driving back to North Carolina. They nearly filled up the Suburban. What fun!! We toured my storage facility during the class and […] The post Online Class Sale + New Student Pictures appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Online Class Sale + New Student Pictures appeared first on Stage Happy .

5 Things Realtors Hate about Stagers

Thu, 03 Nov 2016 21:43:00 GMT

The information in this post is a combination of notes taken from a presentation at a recent Real Estate Staging Association seminar by Adrienne Lord, of Sell or Dwell, who is both a stager and an agent with Coldwell Banker. She completed a 2 year survey of realtors in our area. I added my […] The post 5 Things Realtors Hate about Stagers appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post 5 Things Realtors Hate about Stagers appeared first on Stage Happy .

Vacant Staging is Killing It

Fri, 05 Aug 2016 02:35:00 GMT

Vacant Staging, Dining Room I don’t want to brag, but we’ve been killing it in our vacant staging department. Two problem houses were staged recently with our minimum priced packages. One was in San Jose […] The post Vacant Staging is Killing It appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Vacant Staging is Killing It appeared first on Stage Happy .

Celebrating 10 Years + the Transformations Story

Fri, 06 May 2016 23:05:00 GMT

Trip to St. Simon’s Island A lot of people, including clients and students, have been asking about the background story of Becky Harmon and Transformations. Who is Becky and why should I be listening to her? What preceded the birth and expansion of […] The post Celebrating 10 Years + the Transformations Story appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Celebrating 10 Years + the Transformations Story appeared first on Stage Happy .

Vision Boards

Tue, 05 Apr 2016 14:57:00 GMT

You need a vision board! There is power in visualization to help shape a positive mindset. I attended an all-day event yesterday, and 3 of the speakers talked about the importance of a visual image of your goals and aspirations. People who do this and define their desires clearly will enjoy 3 times the income. […] The post Vision Boards appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Vision Boards appeared first on Stage Happy .

Are They Cheating on You?

Sun, 06 Mar 2016 01:15:00 GMT

Picture from Better Homes & Gardens Are They Cheating on You? A number of years ago, I attended a continuing education class for designers where I learned the shocking truth that after 5 years, over 50% of our loyal clients end up leaving us […] The post Are They Cheating on You? appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Are They Cheating on You? appeared first on Stage Happy .

#1 Biggest Challenge for Home Sellers

Fri, 12 Feb 2016 16:34:00 GMT

Picture from Better Homes & Gardens What is the biggest challenge homeowners face when selling their property? The biggest challenge, by far, is downsizing as a senior. Senior move management is a whole new industry. This is an untapped opportunity for stagers as Baby Boomers retire or transition to an over- 55 adult community. If […] The post #1 Biggest Challenge for Home Sellers appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post #1 Biggest Challenge for Home Sellers appeared first on Stage Happy .

January 2016 Grads

Sun, 31 Jan 2016 19:14:00 GMT

The post January 2016 Grads appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post January 2016 Grads appeared first on Stage Happy .

3 Biggest Bio Blunders

Fri, 08 Jan 2016 03:45:00 GMT

3 Biggest Bio Blunders to Avoid Whether you are a realtor, stager or designer… a strong, descriptive bio can make all the difference when it comes to attracting your ideal clients in 2016. I just attended a Nancy Juetten webinar about streamlining your online bio. What an eye-opener! We all need to occasionally hone our […] The post 3 Biggest Bio Blunders appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post 3 Biggest Bio Blunders appeared first on Stage Happy .

Online Class Sale

Tue, 01 Dec 2015 00:44:00 GMT

*Big news! We are participating in the after Thanksgiving Cyber Sale. The online class is half-price for the next week or so. That is $375 total, instead of $750. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to get started in home staging and interior redesign before the end of the year. When you pay the $300 […] The post Online Class Sale appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Online Class Sale appeared first on Stage Happy .

Who are your 5 Best Friends

Tue, 10 Nov 2015 01:25:00 GMT

Happy Fall, You All!!! We just returned from a few days in the mountains for the leaf change. It always inspires me when I get a change of scenery. The artistic talent in and around the Asheville area amazes me. Artistic people seem to be drawn to each other. They mentor one another. They flourish […] The post Who are your 5 Best Friends appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Who are your 5 Best Friends appeared first on Stage Happy .

A Day in the Life of a Stager

Fri, 09 Oct 2015 17:44:00 GMT

Have you ever finished a crazy staging job and wished you’d had a videographer recording it? Because no one would believe it otherwise. Well, we just survived a true HGTV drama. It could have been a staging episode with all the deadlines and chaos. Excited and organized, two assistants and I arrived at the designated […] The post A Day in the Life of a Stager appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post A Day in the Life of a Stager appeared first on Stage Happy .

Curb Appeal for Dummies

Wed, 30 Sep 2015 16:34:00 GMT

Avondale Porch I always enjoy styling and staging houses in our intracoastal neighborhood. One of the problems I run into frequently is overgrown shrubs and outdated plant selections. Newer varieties perform better and don’t take over the visual space that we call Curb Appeal. When these […] The post Curb Appeal for Dummies appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Curb Appeal for Dummies appeared first on Stage Happy .

Magic Wanda Makes an Appearance

Sat, 15 Aug 2015 14:31:00 GMT

Women seem to frequently put their wants and needs on the back burner and sacrifice their dreams for a more convenient time. We seem to tolerate disorganization and sometimes chaos in our life to meet the demands of work and family. Take a minute today and do something for yourself that will cause you to move toward […] The post Magic Wanda Makes an Appearance appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Magic Wanda Makes an Appearance appeared first on Stage Happy .

Flying Off the Shelves

Tue, 07 Jul 2015 02:31:00 GMT

Have you heard? Homes are selling like hot cakes. Consequently, we should all be busier, right? The answer is … yes… if you have positioned yourself as the “go-to” person for home staging for your area. What strategies can place you at the top of your industry? At the Real Estate Staging Association convention awhile […] The post Flying Off the Shelves appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Flying Off the Shelves appeared first on Stage Happy .

New Ideas for Your Business

Sat, 21 Mar 2015 14:50:00 GMT

I love networking with successful people. I have a few nuggets of info for you from one of those meetings and also from stager Cathy Malone, who was our “roving reporter” at the RESA convention. I met with stager Amy Maynor from Beauty for Homes last week for a brainstorming session. Amy produced […] The post New Ideas for Your Business appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post New Ideas for Your Business appeared first on Stage Happy .

FAQ and New Pictures

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 18:01:00 GMT

What’s new for 2015? What is changing in our industry? Any predictions for the future of home staging and redesign? I get questions about the future of our industry all the time. We speak regularly to real estate investors, agents and home buyers in our area. We also participate in a monthly conference call […] The post FAQ and New Pictures appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post FAQ and New Pictures appeared first on Stage Happy .

Top 8 Best Business Books

Mon, 22 Dec 2014 17:24:00 GMT

~ SOME OBSERVATIONS from 2014 More and more investors or property rehabbers are staging their properties. How interesting!! In the past, we’ve seen little interest from this community of real estate professionals. Not necessarily because they are mostly men, but because their beliefs and training methods have not changed much in years. Also, Jacksonville, it seems, […] The post Top 8 Best Business Books appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Top 8 Best Business Books appeared first on Stage Happy .

New Top 10 Reasons to Stage Your Home

Tue, 04 Nov 2014 00:24:00 GMT

Happy Fall, You All, We just returned from a lovely vacation in Montreat, just outside of Ashville, North Carolina. I noticed something cool. In Montreat and also here in Jacksonville, people are paying more attention to curb appeal. I’m so happy about that! I have been gathering pictures for my CURB APPEAL for […] The post New Top 10 Reasons to Stage Your Home appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post New Top 10 Reasons to Stage Your Home appeared first on Stage Happy .

Home and Patio Show Pictures from our Designer Rooms

Thu, 23 Oct 2014 01:48:00 GMT

Sandra Millis, of Southern Comfort Redesign, and I have created the Design Rooms feature of this weeks Fall Home & Patio Show. We are on WJXT tomorrow morning at 9:15AM. I don’t have time to do anything but share the pictures of our designs. The concept, “The simple beige sofa is the little black dress.” The […] The post Home and Patio Show Pictures from our Designer Rooms appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Home and Patio Show Pictures from our Designer Rooms appeared first on Stage Happy .

Our House and New Stats

Sat, 30 Aug 2014 15:22:00 GMT

I have a feeling you want to know the story about our house. Did we sell it? You’ll never guess what happened! Hubby and I sat down with a trusted realtor friend and she asked us a few questions. She then stated confidently, “You don’t really want to move, do you?” Hubby and I looked […] The post Our House and New Stats appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Our House and New Stats appeared first on Stage Happy .

The Client From Hell… Me

Fri, 27 Jun 2014 18:33:00 GMT

I have new found compassion for all the home sellers out there that we work with on a regular basis. We are going through that process right now, preparing our home to sell. Aaaagh! It’s not fun! In the spring, we thought it might be a good time to downsize. My friend and frequent […] The post The Client From Hell… Me appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post The Client From Hell… Me appeared first on Stage Happy .

The Wow-Factor Lifestyle

Mon, 31 Mar 2014 14:56:00 GMT

The WOW-Factor Lifestyle is a topic that comes up over and over. It can encompass everything you do and everything you believe. I am thrilled that concept is making a difference in my students’ businesses and also in Transformations. Here are a few recent reports of “over-the-top” success stories: *Irene from Massachusetts just finished the […] The post The Wow-Factor Lifestyle appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post The Wow-Factor Lifestyle appeared first on Stage Happy .

10 MUST HAVE Designer Apps

Wed, 12 Feb 2014 02:41:00 GMT

Dear Friends and Family, As some of you know, my sweet, 92 year-old Dad fell asleep on January 26th and woke up in heaven. He was not sick or uncomfortable. It was his time. I am thankful all of us could be there with him. Thank you all for the notes, cards and phone calls. […] The post 10 MUST HAVE Designer Apps appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post 10 MUST HAVE Designer Apps appeared first on Stage Happy .

Award from HOUZZ for 2014 and other news…

Wed, 05 Feb 2014 18:43:00 GMT

We are happy to announce that we have just received the HOUZZ 2014 award for customer satisfaction. Yay!!! Thank you to all our wonderful clients and student grads who made this possible. Also, this Power Point includes the pictures from several of our most recent Vacant Staging Projects. Vacant Staging Pictures The post Award from HOUZZ for 2014 and other news… appeared first on Stage Happy.

We are happy to announce that we have just received the HOUZZ 2014 award for customer satisfaction. Yay!!! Thank you to all our wonderful clients and student grads who made this possible.

The post Award from HOUZZ for 2014 and other news… appeared first on Stage Happy .

Vacant Home Staging Pictures

Wed, 04 Dec 2013 20:26:00 GMT

Here are some pictures from a recent vacant home staging. The home is in Marsh Landing, a luxury beach and golf community. This is the breakfast room. Just two rooms were furnished to keep the price down. Accessories, art and plants were placed in 8 rooms. It’s really beautiful. I want to move in. Master Bath Shells, […] The post Vacant Home Staging Pictures appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Vacant Home Staging Pictures appeared first on Stage Happy .

Elevator Speeches and the Wow-Factor Lifestyle

Thu, 28 Nov 2013 01:12:00 GMT

~One of the reasons for the November/December blog is to inspire you to create a memorable elevator speech. I participated in a lengthy Linked-In discussion recently about this topic. In case you don’t know, an elevator speech is a short 15 to 30 second introduction to a new person or group. It’s an opportunity to […] The post Elevator Speeches and the Wow-Factor Lifestyle appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Elevator Speeches and the Wow-Factor Lifestyle appeared first on Stage Happy .

Listed Sunday, 4 Showings Monday, 2 Offers Tuesday

Sun, 20 Oct 2013 05:19:00 GMT

HAPPY FALL, YOU ALL I was in my October class a few days ago talking about the 3 different staging jobs from the week before. This e-mail came in from one of the homeowners: “Becky, I put the house on the MLS on Sunday afternoon, had 4 showings on Monday got two contracts on Tuesday […] The post Listed Sunday, 4 Showings Monday, 2 Offers Tuesday appeared first on Stage Happy.

I was in my October class a few days ago talking about the 3 different staging jobs from the week before. This e-mail came in from one of the homeowners:

I put the house on the MLS on Sunday afternoon, had 4 showings on Monday got two contracts on Tuesday signed one today for $780,000.
Thanks for all your help. People thought the house was beautiful!”

To tell you the truth, I was almost as happy as he was. It was 99% of asking price. I love it.
Here are some of the pics…

The post Listed Sunday, 4 Showings Monday, 2 Offers Tuesday appeared first on Stage Happy .

It’s 11 O’Clock! Do you know where your clients are tonight?

Thu, 05 Sep 2013 22:55:00 GMT

In case you don’t know this already, your clients are on Pinterest, Houzz and yes, even Linked In… oftentimes till the wee hours of the morning. They are also hooked on blogs that talk about decorating and how to style your home. If you don’t have a profile on each of these three social media giants, […] The post It’s 11 O’Clock! Do you know where your clients are tonight? appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post It’s 11 O’Clock! Do you know where your clients are tonight? appeared first on Stage Happy .

The Staging Report

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 02:41:00 GMT

So many of you have asked about the Staging Report, I decided to publish my notes from this segment of our certification class. This is a combination of my policies and the best from the RESA Convention session on this topic. Karen Otto taught the convention class. 70% of her business comes from this service alone. […] The post The Staging Report appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post The Staging Report appeared first on Stage Happy .

HGTV Smart House in Jacksonville Beach

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:01:00 GMT

This is part of the kitchen in the HGTV Smart House in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. It will be open for viewing for the next 2 weeks. It is located at the old Florida style neighborhood called Paradise Key. The builder is Glen Layton and the whole development is laidback and casual. The understated […] The post HGTV Smart House in Jacksonville Beach appeared first on Stage Happy.

The main color theme is spa blue, actually Watery from Sherwin Williams, and orange. Lots of glass tile and island accessories. The art, mainly from local artists, added more pops of color. Large black and white photographs from the area’s past beach history covered the entry hallway.

The post HGTV Smart House in Jacksonville Beach appeared first on Stage Happy .

Flying off the Shelves…

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:41:00 GMT

Flying off the Shelves… Have you heard? Homes are selling like hot cakes. Consequently, we should all be busier, right? The answer is … yes… if you have positioned yourself as the “go-to” person for home staging for your area. What strategies can place you at the top of your industry? At the Real Estate […] The post appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post appeared first on Stage Happy .

This Girl is on FIRE, March Post

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:04:00 GMT

Sandringham Dr. – Sold in 12 daysShipwatch Dr. Waterfront house – Sold in 5 daysAdmirals Bend, ICW Waterfront house – Sold in 17 days I suppose everyone has heard Alicia Keys new hit and award-winning single, Girl on Fire. After a record 2012 for us and many of our class grads and a fabulous Real […] The post This Girl is on FIRE, March Post appeared first on Stage Happy.

Sandringham Dr . – Sold in 12 days
Shipwatch Dr. Waterfront house – Sold in 5 days
Admirals Bend , ICW Waterfront house – Sold in 17 days

The post This Girl is on FIRE, March Post appeared first on Stage Happy .

Three Questions I Get Asked Frequently…

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:10:00 GMT

Three questions I get asked frequently: What kind of people are taking the staging /redesign class? How are some of the graduates doing now? What are some of their websites? 1. Let me profile some of the unique and exceptional people who have decided to get certified by Transformations. *Amy Maynor is mainly a wife […] The post Three Questions I Get Asked Frequently… appeared first on Stage Happy.

Three questions I get asked frequently:

What kind of people are taking the staging /redesign class?

How are some of the graduates doing now?

What are some of their websites?

1. Let me profile some of the unique and exceptional people who have decided to get certified by Transformations.

*Amy Maynor is mainly a wife and mom but also a property manager who has a lot of experience rehabbing and flipping luxury homes. She produced two successful shows for HGTV in the early years of that network.

*Jaima Brown Emmert is an international fabric and wallpaper designer from Chicago and Naples. Her blog is a favorite in the design world. Jaime Brown Home is the name of her company.

*Angelia Savage, a former Miss Florida, flipped luxury homes in New York City and the Cayman Islands. She worked for Donald Trump.

*Fran Gunner of San Diego is in the process of starring in her own HGTV reality show. She is an artist and stager/redesigner.

*Three people from different Pottery Barn’s design teams have joined us for classes.

2. Some of the students are making great strides in the staging/redesign world.

*Kim Osborne is the owner of VIP Staging and Home Management in Jacksonville. She employs a team of four who coordinate all her projects. Her business is growing rapidly. Her lead designer, Becky Quaid, is also a graduate of Transformations.

*Royce Koury is a stager and interior designer in Raleigh, North Carolina. She also has clients in Florida and Las Vegas.

*Randa Clark is an interior designer and stager from Chicago who specializes in design for those with chemical sensitivities.

*Sandra Millis of Southern Comfort Redesign does a lot of staging for property managers and furnishes models for one of our top builders here in Jacksonville.

*Yvonne McClure in Pennsylvania broke our record for the highest paying staging job, so far… $10,000 for labor alone.

First impressions are crucial not just with homes but also websites. Your website can make or break a staging career. Here are a few student grads websites. Compare them to the average stager’s site:

The post Three Questions I Get Asked Frequently… appeared first on Stage Happy .

It’s a Wonderful Life Anyway and Teleseminar News and new Power Point

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 01:25:00 GMT

Merry Christmas to you all. I hope you are enjoying your friends family as we wrap up the last days of 2012. I feel such a sense of anticipation and, yes, JOY, as I plan for 2013. No, not everything is perfect in this stager’s life and business, but so much is going well that I’m […] The post It’s a Wonderful Life Anyway and Teleseminar News and new Power Point appeared first on Stage Happy.

Merry Christmas to you all. I hope you are enjoying your friends family as we wrap up the last days of 2012. I feel such a sense of anticipation and, yes, JOY, as I plan for 2013.

No, not everything is perfect in this stager’s life and business, but so much is going well that I’m a bit beside myself.

Many of you know that I am a person of faith. My son is the pastor of a new Jacksonville Beach church. It’s a cross between a coffee bar and a contemporary music club. Huge black & white pictures of beaches landmarks grace the walls. www.OceanCityChurch.org . The last few services have been off-the-charts, goose-bump good. Sigh!! I’m happy!

What a “Wonderful Life” we are witnessing all around!

I see miracles happening in the lives of family and friends in crises. I celebrate the markers of progress with those in successful cancer treatment and grieve with those who did not have good news. Farewell Bonnie, my dear friend. I will miss you. I look forward to seeing you on the other side of the rainbow someday.

It’s a Wonderful Life, anyway, in spite of struggles and challenges. We have entered the world of luxury vacation rentals. It’s not easy but a great opportunity to help property owners, mostly from out-of-town, to update and beautify their investments. I’ll share more later as we work through gradually evaluating the problem units.

If you have not been on the newsletter list, you’ve missed some great posts on business tips and news about the industry. Archives link: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs001/1101601434862/archive/1102799026125.html

Join the list at the top of any website page. http://www.transform-us.com/

The RESA Showhouse was so much fun. We will have more pictures later but here are a few now.

There will be a vacant-home teleseminar on the 9th of January at 8:00PM EST. E-mail for a spot in the class. becky@beckyharmon.com The first RESA meeting will be the 11th of January at the San Pablo branch of the library, Beach Blvd. at 10:15AM to 11:45AM. Anyone interested in staging or redesign is welcome. $5. RE agents are free.

Notice to all student grads. The Student Presentation has been updated with many new pictures and great, new statistics from RESA and Zillow. It’s powerful! It’s not available to the public.

You can get a new copy for $12 plus $4
shipping.

The post It’s a Wonderful Life Anyway and Teleseminar News and new Power Point appeared first on Stage Happy .

Real Estate Staging Association Christmas Showhouse

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 18:23:00 GMT

Join us for a tour of the first annual RESA Christmas Showhouse on Sat., December 8th from 11:00AM to 4:00PM, Queens Harbour on Atlantic Blvd. $10 with a ticket or $15 at the door. Park at the Queens Harbour Sports Complex for a quick shuttle to the house. This low-country style home on the intra-coastal […] The post Real Estate Staging Association Christmas Showhouse appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Real Estate Staging Association Christmas Showhouse appeared first on Stage Happy .

Lifestyle Staging Tips

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:32:00 GMT

You asked for it… You got it! Here is my secret list of favorite lifestyle staging tips. Don’t tell anyone. 1. Create a theme and play up a focal point. For a coastal theme, use a framed navigational chart over the fireplace, for instance. The charts can also be rolled up and placed in a […] The post Lifestyle Staging Tips appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Lifestyle Staging Tips appeared first on Stage Happy .

Curb Appeal Sets the Stage

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 03:41:00 GMT

I always enjoy styling and staging houses in our intracoastal neighborhood of Queens Harbour. One of the problems I run into frequently is overgrown shrubs and outdated plant selections. Newer varieties perform better and don’t take over the visual space that we […] The post Curb Appeal Sets the Stage appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Curb Appeal Sets the Stage appeared first on Stage Happy .

Advanced Class Recordings

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 03:07:00 GMT

Great news! The Advanced Class held in June at the Queens Harbour Yacht and Country Club was a hit. Yay! The recordings will be ready by the first week of August. If you could not make it to this special class, the class will come to you. Yay!There are only 25 sets in the first […] The post Advanced Class Recordings appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post Advanced Class Recordings appeared first on Stage Happy .

More Advanced Class Photos

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:57:00 GMT

I am finally posting some more pictures of the Advanced Class on June 8th and 9th. The reviews are still coming in and the verdict is:” It was fabulous!” ” I will come every year from now on.” “I have never been more confident and enthusiastic about my business.” “It was like a 2-day ‘girl’s […] The post More Advanced Class Photos appeared first on Stage Happy.

I am finally posting some more pictures of the Advanced Class on June 8th and 9th. The reviews are still coming in and the verdict is:” It was fabulous!” ” I will come every year from now on.” “I have never been more confident and enthusiastic about my business.” “It was like a 2-day ‘girl’s night out.'” Thank you all for the wonderful comments.

One of our more popular segments was creating color boards with Sherwin William’s HGTV color collection. This is Royce Koury, a designer from
North Carolina, representing her group.

All the girls contributed to the fun.

..
Friday night dinner out on the intracoastal waterway.

We have Randa from Chicago and Shawna and Shirley from Orlando.

These girls got the color memo. Beautiful happy group!!!

I am working on the recordings of the various speakers and hopefully we will have something soon. Our newsletter should be out in a day or two. If you have not signed up from the website, your spam filter may swallow it. More news coming…

The post More Advanced Class Photos appeared first on Stage Happy .

“There’s No Place Like Home Staging” Pictures, etc.

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 18:06:00 GMT

First DayOur 1st Annual Advanced 2-day Staging Class was a smash hit!! Everyone left euphoric and excited about all the possibilities out there now in our wonderful world of Staging and Redesign. Our speakers gave us all wonderful ideas and inspiration. Wally SearsThank you to Jerry Busche, Wally Sears, Mary Habres, Donna Mancini, Cyndi Rice […] The post “There’s No Place Like Home Staging” Pictures, etc. appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post “There’s No Place Like Home Staging” Pictures, etc. appeared first on Stage Happy .

Advanced Class Info

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:40:00 GMT

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME STAGING June 8th and 9th, QueensHarbour Yacht Club, 1131 Queens Harbour Blvd., Jacksonville, Fl. 32225, Veranda Room overlooking the Marina, Intracoastal Waterway Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the biggest event in the 6-year history of Transformations Staging School. Advanced-Stager certification will be awarded to the attendees. The guest […] The post Advanced Class Info appeared first on Stage Happy.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME STAGING

Veranda Room overlooking the Marina, Intracoastal Waterway

The guest speakers on the agenda are:

· Marketing in the 21 ^st Century – Mary Habres, Marketing Coach

Get your Ruby-Red Slippers on over Pay Pal blog post below to put down a deposit to save a space. Or e-mail me.

becky@beckyharmon.com

PS. By the way, this is not a standard staging training session. It is mainly focused on how to take any business to the next level whether you are a stager, agent, organizer or decorator. The class is not a substitute for training but will give a boost of confidence to anyone in a home-based business.

The post Advanced Class Info appeared first on Stage Happy .

Advanced Class Pay Deposit

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:15:00 GMT

The Advanced Class is scheduled for Friday June 8th and Saturday June 9th at the Queens Harbour Yacht and Country Club, 1100 Queens Harbour Blvd., Jacksonville, Fl. 32225 More info is in the 2012 Events Blog.
http://stagehappy.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-events-and-convention-news.html

We are awarding Pro-Stager Certification with this class. We hope you plan to join us. The class is half-filled now. We have attendees from Virginia, Texas, Chicago, Orlando, etc. Most of the regular classes are $500 a day. This one is 80% less at $100 a day. $200 total.

Friday after class, we will walk on the beach and have dinner at a Jax. Beach hot spot, not necessarily in that order.

Here is your Pay Pal button. The deposit is $100. You can pay the balance at or before the class. 904-945-0093

The post Advanced Class Pay Deposit appeared first on Stage Happy .

Mentoring/Coaching Call – Stay in Touch with your Clients

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 21:32:00 GMT

I am starting an official coaching/mentoring opportunity for our students and any staging business enthusiasts. Those who stay connected always flourish and grow. Several years ago, I got certified as a lifestyle coach through Dream Mentors International. The concept of accountability and goal-setting works to bring us all up to a higher level of […] The post Mentoring/Coaching Call – Stay in Touch with your Clients appeared first on Stage Happy.

Be on our inaugural team for a group bi-monthly mentoring session called “Happy Hour with Becky.” We also offer a one-on-one strategy session by appointment. The first month is complimentary to see if you like it. Sign-up for the first month at no charge. Next session is March 28th. We had about 30 on our first call. Get more info… becky@beckyharmon.com

The post Mentoring/Coaching Call – Stay in Touch with your Clients appeared first on Stage Happy .

Special Gift for You

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:32:00 GMT

Hi Everyone,This link will be up for a few days. Enjoy the presentation that was featured at the ASID designers meeting recently. We had to edit out my jokes because of time issues. So it’s not funny. �� The sound is just okay but the pictures and information are valuable. Enjoy! If it doesn’t start […] The post Special Gift for You appeared first on Stage Happy.

Staging Presentation

The post Special Gift for You appeared first on Stage Happy .

ASID Designers Opportunities

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:42:00 GMT

ASID members, How very nice to meet so many of my colleagues in design. 40 turned out for the event. Thank you for joining us Thursday night for a short presentation on Real Estate Staging. Also, thank you for signing up for more info about a special class for design professionals. E-mail for special designer […] The post ASID Designers Opportunities appeared first on Stage Happy.

The post ASID Designers Opportunities appeared first on Stage Happy .

2012 EVENTS & Convention News

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:06:00 GMT

“THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME STAGING” Convention in Jacksonville, FloridaHosted by Transformations Staging School Be sure to mark your calendars for June 8th and 9th. Follow the Yellow Brick Road to our Advanced Staging Convention here in Jacksonville at Queens Harbour Yacht and Country Club. Queens Harbour is located on the intracoastal waterway a few minutes from the […] The post 2012 EVENTS & Convention News appeared first on Stage Happy.

“THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME STAGING” Convention in Jacksonville, Florida
Hosted by Transformations Staging School

Be sure to mark your calendars for June 8th and 9th. Follow the Yellow Brick Road to our Advanced Staging Convention here in Jacksonville at Queens Harbour Yacht and Country Club. Queens Harbour is located on the intracoastal waterway a few minutes from the ocean.

It will be a continuing education opportunity for any veteran stagers or redesigners and home stylists. Anyone interested in staging is welcome but the focus is on new trends, marketing, extra streams of income. We will feature guest speakers in the fields of organizing, website creation, social media, architectural photography, time management and more. You will be able to get a new professional headshot for your website, etc. A lot of bang for your buck.

Friday night, weather permitting, we will caravan to the beach for dinner and pictures, and hopefully, get our feet in the sand.

It will cost $200 and includes gourmet lunches and snacks. There will be many goodies and a drawing for the Grand Prize.

This class is half-filled already!!!

If I Only Had a Brain, I’d be skipping on over to the Emerald City to join the fun. becky@beckyharmon.com
www.transform-us.com

The post 2012 EVENTS & Convention News appeared first on Stage Happy .

Ribbons and Reindeer and Bows, Oh My…

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:25:00 GMT

I have always loved driving past this beautiful home on the intracoastal waterway. It reminds me of the house in the movie, the Prince of Tides. This December, the holiday decorations spoke volumes about the delightful people who must live there.I called the homeowners and asked if I could photo this imaginative display. They graciously agreed, I’m […] The post Ribbons and Raindeer and Bows, Oh My… appeared first on Stage Happy.

I have always loved driving past this beautiful home on the intracoastal waterway. It reminds me of the house in the movie, the Prince of Tides. This December, the holiday decorations spoke volumes about the delightful people who must live there.

I called the homeowners and asked if I could photo this imaginative display. They graciously agreed, I’m happy to report.

The main ingrediant… miles of glittery, colorful ribbon, wrapped and twisted around wreaths and raindeer. White lights embellish all the groupings and a few small trees.

The post Ribbons and Raindeer and Bows, Oh My… appeared first on Stage Happy .

A True Christmas Story

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:51:00 GMT

I shared this story once before but I’ve been asked to share it again…

In these uncertain times, there is comfort in remembering and celebrating the traditions of Christmas. This special season gives us an opportunity to reflect and be grateful for simple things, such as family, faith and home.

It seems more important than ever for us to know that God “speaks” to us today. So I feel compelled to share with you a new chapter in the strange and wonderful Rainbow Story that began in April of ‘07. Many of you may remember the beginning of this story from last year:

My cute, tender-hearted and glamorous 83 year old mother, Eileen, went ”home” to heaven on Friday 4-27-07 after a very brief illness. Mom was known as the “go-to” person for prayer in our family. At the funeral, many people came to the front of the chapel and shared stories of answered prayer, some quite remarkable.

Mom’s favorite passage in the Bible is Psalm 91. She recited this prayer of protection for her family every day. Her favorite verse was Psalm 91:11. “He will give His angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways.” That same verse was on a picture right outside the ICU door at Florida Hospital . Psalm 91 was the preselected reading in Mom’s church at the regular Sunday service 4-29-07, two days before the funeral. The number 91 has appeared in various places throughout the year. Coincidence? I think not!

On Friday afternoon, the day of her passing, as many friends and family were telling wonderful “Eileen” stories in my sister Mary Ann’s kitchen, I looked up toward heaven and said, “Mom, are you hearing this? Isn’t this amazing?” At that exact moment, a family friend who lives across the lake called and told us all to run out side. There, before our eyes, was the most glorious rainbow. As long as I can remember, a rainbow has been Mom’s sign from God that “Everything is gonna be alright.” We all had goosebumps and grins as we stood there in the brief sun shower.

Since then, rainbows have been turning up everywhere.

*There was a rainbow on the TV as we turned it off the night before the funeral.

*Mary Ann’s personal assistant’s daily inspirational message on her computer for May 1st, the day of the funeral, included a large picture of a rainbow.

*My 6 year-old grandson, who knew nothing about the story (and usually draws rockets and robots), drew a picture for me of, you guessed it—a rainbow.

*The following Friday, May 4th, my husband Chips ran inside as he arrived home from work and asked me to quickly turn on the radio. We listened to the most delightful rendition of “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. We went out and bought the CD and played it non-stop for days.

*A few days later, I was looking for a Mother’s Day card to send to my Dad, sisters and brother. To my surprise, Hallmark offered a musical card with a rainbow picture on the front. When I opened it, the song inside the card was none other than the one that we had been listening to non-stop. I had a goosebump experience in the store. Coincidence? I think not!

* On Mom’s Birthday, May 25th, some of the family was at the beach for Memorial week-end. A beautiful rainbow appeared in the morning over the ocean.

* June 1st, at a concert, rainbow flags waved over us right above where we were seated in a packed auditorium.

Many more rainbows have appeared over the course of time, usually on or around our birthdays. For instance, in January of ‘08, while we were in St. Augustine to celebrate Janice’s birthday, we walked out of a store, and there it was, her rainbow peeking out from behind a cloud. We had just been talking about the rainbow story.

The best chapter, so far, of this wonderful story happened to Mary Ann last December ‘07. At that time in her life, everything that meant “home” to her had been somewhat disrupted: Her law firm was going through a difficult and emotional transition and she was facing the teardown and remodel of her beautiful waterfront home that held so many memories. Many other things were unsettled and most of all, this would be her first Christmas without Mom.

In the midst of all the chaos, Mary and Pat decided to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary, which was 10 days before Christmas, with a getaway trip to California wine country. They had some Marriott vacation points that were about to expire.

I need to back up a bit and tell you that when Mary was a little girl, Mom would occasionally give her an early Christmas present if she was upset about something. She was the youngest of the girls. So, in the beginning of December, we told her to expect an early Christmas present from Mom. Of course, we didn’t have any idea what that might be.

Back to Napa Valley — On the last day of the trip, the actual Anniversary, after visiting the last winery, Pat decided to take a different route back to the hotel. After turning the car around and heading up the hill, there in all its glory, was a magnificent rainbow in the blue sky. There was no rain anywhere that they could see. Pat said, “Now I’ve got goosebumps.” They snapped a picture before the rainbow faded. Mary was crying when she called from her cell phone to say that her present from Mom had arrived. She was beginning to feel that “everything was gonna be alright,” which is the rainbow message. But that is not the end of the story.

They decided to make one additional stop before leaving the area and chose the winery where the rainbow had appeared. The first thing they saw as they entered the building’s lobby/gift area was a limited edition print of a gorgeous rainbow over Napa Valley . Major goosebumps this time. Needless to say, they bought the picture. Coincidence? Certainly not! But that is STILL not the end of the story.

The day after Christmas, we were all standing around in Mary’s kitchen talking about the 2 California rainbows, so she brought in the picture for us to see. I looked at the limited edition number at the bottom of the picture (which no one else had noticed) and I was momentarily speechless. It was number 91 (out of 100 prints). Psalm 91, remember, was Mom’s favorite scripture passage. Tears and more goosebumps. We felt like we had been sprinkled all over with pixie dust.

Think about it—God had to line things up perfectly. In California , if Pat had not turned around, they would have missed the first rainbow. If they had not stopped one more time, they would have missed the second rainbow, the picture in the winery. If just one more or one less person had purchased a picture before they got there, the limited edition number would not be significant. Out of 100 pictures that were printed, what are the chances that they would get number 91? One in 100! What are the chances that the 91st rainbow picture would be on display in this particular winery moments after a rainless rainbow appeared in the sky directly above. One in a million, maybe. I can almost hear Mom talking to God now—”And can you make all this happen on their anniversary?”

I can’t explain how all of this has made the loss of Mom less painful and the reality of God more tangible—but it has. I can’t explain why God chose to reach down from the top of the universe, wrap His arms around us and give us a present wrapped in a rainbow—but He did.

My wish for you this Christmas is that your heart is filled with hope and childlike faith to believe in a God who speaks to us, who takes care of us and gives us rainbows and pixie dust.

Merry Christmas,

Becky and Chips

Mom, I hope you don’t mind that we shared the Rainbow Story with our dearest friends and loved ones. Now, it’s their Christmas present also, in a way. So now, whenever they see a rainbow, they will know it’s a gift God and a sign from Him that “everything is gonna be alright.”

The post A True Christmas Story appeared first on Stage Happy .

December News

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:59:00 GMT

Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. December usually flys by so fast and I’m not sure I’ll have time to “talk” to you again. Don’t want to wait any longer on these announcements. We are rolling out so many new things in January, I don’t know where to start… 1. First and most […] The post December News appeared first on Stage Happy.

Here is an article I wrote for the Times-Union a few years ago all about decorating your home and
staged properties for the holidays.

The post December News appeared first on Stage Happy .

Happy Thanksgiving and Bringing Home the Bacon

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:07:00 GMT

It’s November 23rd. Do you know where your turkey platter is? This is the best time of year to judge whether or not you have turned over a new leaf and reordered your life. Do you have it all together yet or are you like me?… A lot better than previous years and but still not […] The post Happy Thanksgiving and Bringing Home the Bacon appeared first on Stage Happy.

It’s November 23rd. Do you know where your turkey platter is?

This is the best time of year to judge whether or not you have turned over a new leaf and reordered your life. Do you have it all together yet or are you like me?… A lot better than previous years and but still not ready for a Martha Stewart inspection.

I actually baked my first turkey many years ago with the plastic giblet bag still in it. Who knew? One year, at my sister’s house, the oven went into self-cleaning mode and locked itself with the turkey inside.

I’ve got the timing down perfectly now after many years of trial and error. My best tip… cook the turkey the day before. It’s downhill from there.

My biggest problem now… my hubby is hog hunting today. Seriously! I already have two turkeys in my fridge. Where in God’s green earth am I going to find space for a piggy, for crying out loud. I’ll let you know how things turn out.

Watch for an article on organizing to appear after the turkey platter gets put away at our house. Don’t we all need to simplify and focus on what’s really important… shopping!! No honestly, I mean family and friends, of course.

I am truly grateful for all of you and hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving with your loved ones. Till next time…

(This is not turkey but shrimp at Bubba’s, Paula Dean’s kin, in Savannah last fall.)

The post Happy Thanksgiving and Bringing Home the Bacon appeared first on Stage Happy .

November State of Mind

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:58:00 GMT

Somehow, November gets a bad rap. People are hesitant to tackle a new project. Thanksgiving and Christmas are looming and we feel that it is just a busy time of year. The truth is, Thanksgiving is just one day out of the month and even if you are traveling that week-end, 25 days of November are still open for a new adventure, a new vision, a new business.

Don’t let the world dampen your desire for a new lease on life. Just change your paradigm. I have several close friends who are left-brained, get-er-done types. I thank God for them. They always have a way of seeing the end result and forging ahead to completion. Don’t be a product of someone else’s doomed-before-you-start attidude. Yes, you can do hard things.

Our October class just ended and, as often happens… the attendees become close friends and leave on a high note… almost euphoric sometimes. It’s important, girls, to keep going and let the momentum carry you through the mundane business necessities in the beginning of any new venture. But YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

Choose your friends carefully when you need to stay motivated. Listen to the right voices. Give more, be more, do more… have more.

As Oprah once said, “We give the world our best and we expect the best in return. When we create an atmosphere of excellence, we become a product of that environment. An organized office and a beautiful home respects the very important person who lives there… YOU!”

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New Staged Home Pictures…

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:13:00 GMT

Don’t you love this time of year? Our October class just staged this beautiful home. What fun! Because we are a coastal city, we usually play up natural waterfront lifestyle living in our listings when we can. This intracoastal neighborhood home reflects the atmosphere so desired by buyers coming to this area. The colors were streamlined and all […] The post New Staged Home Pictures… appeared first on Stage Happy.

Lifestyle staging, which is a favorite segment in our class, includes adding touches that reflect things they will enjoy doing in the house… like entertaining friends at the bar with a cool glass of wine. Sometimes we will stage a family room overlooking the intracoastal marsh or the St. John’s River with binoculars and a book about local birds. In a recent Ponte Vedra Blvd. beach house, we put the homeowners collection of sharks teeth in a lovely crystal dish and placed it in a prominate place.

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Your Life is a Canvas and Webinar Info

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:56:00 GMT

Yes, your life is a canvas. You are the artist and creator of your destiny. Paint it with style and expression, depth and color.

One of my favorite quotes is, “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” Who’s in charge anyway? YOU are!!! Be who you are! Do what you love!

I am a mentor, teacher and lifestyle coach. Too often, I see women and men who feel trapped in a job they no longer like. Inner and outer voices tell them they can’t do more and be more. I’m here to tell you… DO NOT LISTEN TO THE WRONG VOICES!!

Yes you can do it!! There is always a way to make your dream a reality. Just take one step in that direction. Do it today and never look back. Color your day with promise and possibility.

We have scheduled a Staging Crash Course Webinar for partial certification credit. It will be September 29th and October 27th from 7:00 to 8:30ish. September still has a few spots open. Student grads and registered students are $20 and RE Agents are $50. All others are $70. It is money-back guaranteed. E-mail for payment details. becky@beckyharmon.com .

Happy Fall, you all.

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September Business Update

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:52:00 GMT

<> <> *If you are interested in a possible staging career or you wish to enhance your existing decorating or staging business, you are invited to attend our Staging Crash Course webinar showing some of our latest projects including a $2,000,000 house. Sign up for Sept. 29th or Oct. 27th from 7:00PM to 8:30PM Limited […] The post September Business Update appeared first on Stage Happy.

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HAPPY 4th of July!

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 01:50:00 GMT

HAPPY 4th of July! I love this holiday. What a great opportunity to be with friends and family to celebrate our national birthday. Hope your day was full of fireworks and sparkle. We love what we do. I am so thankful for 5 years of teaching new business owners how to stage and redesign homes […] The post appeared first on Stage Happy.

When I started, many well-meaning voices suggested that it was probably a fad and not worth the investment of time and money… certainly not worth leaving a thriving interior design job that I loved. But they were all wrong.

Zig Ziglar
Jim Roan
Les Brown
Joel Osteen
John Maxwell

I will end by saying how much I appreciate all of you who faithfully read my newsletters and love the business of Staging, Redesign and personal motivation. I salute all those working in this wonderful industry. I still keep pinching myself when I wake up in the morning… a wonderful family, many great friends and I get paid for doing something that I love.

The post appeared first on Stage Happy .

June 2011

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:49:00 GMT

Grand-baby Abe The weather was glorious for the Memorial Week-end. There continued to be an East breeze and the outgoing tide left plenty of space for all beach activities… swimming, surfing, fishing, reading, sleeping. We experimented with the new kayak and decided the calmer waters of Huegonot Part and Ft. George may suit these inexperienced paddlers […] The post June 2011 appeared first on Stage Happy.

The weather was glorious for the Memorial Week-end. There continued to be an East breeze and the outgoing tide left plenty of space for all beach activities… swimming, surfing, fishing, reading, sleeping.

We experimented with the new kayak and decided the calmer waters of Huegonot Part and Ft. George may suit these inexperienced paddlers better. I’ll let you know how we do.

On our very first kayak adventure at Hanna Park last year, a live mullet jumped out of the water and down my t-shirt. My scream reached into south Georgia. I’m sure the fish was as distressed as I was. Do mullets have ears?

The post June 2011 appeared first on Stage Happy .

DREAM SEEDS

Tue, 24 May 2011 18:53:00 GMT

Are you a possibility thinker? You can be. It’s just a matter of choice. Not big choices, mind you. It’s the small daily choices that determine our destiny. Is it really that simple? REDESIGN YOUR LIFE is my continual theme song. I’m a work-in-progress, a perpetual renovation project. I should post a permanent sign on […] The post DREAM SEEDS appeared first on Stage Happy.

Are you a possibility thinker? You can be. It’s just a matter of choice. Not big choices, mind you. It’s the small daily choices that determine our destiny.

Is it really that simple? REDESIGN YOUR LIFE is my continual theme song. I’m a work-in-progress, a perpetual renovation project. I should post a permanent sign on my forehead that says, Beware— CONSTRUCTION ZONE.

I love this (slightly modified) quote from Oprah:

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