Sheron Cardin's Input...: Home Stagers; Where To Post And Why.

I was just reading an article from my Google alerts and it is very relevant to what we can represent here in AR. It shows what our focus should be and could be for each other as well as our viewing audience.

With the influx of new members jumping on board, it takes awhile to get oriented to all the groups here. I consider Stage it forward our main staging group and then we have specific groups for specific needs. I propose that after reading this article that we all participate in opening up our dialog with the other real estate professionals and play our part as the merchandisers in the scheme of things to come and then posting professional issues in the specific group that it is designed for.

I am going to itemize quickly the different groups for stagers:

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

Home Staging - Founder Kim Hilgenberg - This group is for the individuals interested in Home Staging. Individuals would include Realtors, real estate investors, flippers, home stagers, landlords (yes, I stage my rental property too), property managers, for a start. We will exchange ideas, tips and information.

Stagers Open Forum - Founder Val Allocco - A place for Active Rain members to come together and share ideas, ask questions, voice opinions and support one another.

Staging Secrets - Founder Karen Reynolds - Welcome Creative Geniuses! Here is a place for all Stagers to share their "secrets" of Staging -- their creative ways to solve problems (gee, we have problem houses? Go figure), ask advice, get advice & have some laughs about this crazy and wonderful profession we have chosen. I am sure we all agree that we have faced our challenges and are always in need of fresh ideas. That said, lets start sharing!

Rate Your Staging Training - Founder Shell Brodnax -   This group was created so people can rate their experiences with Staging Training so others may make informative choices. Rate your training on what you actually learned and the content of the program. Rate on a 5 star rating system. 1 Star Poor to 5 Star Great

Services for Real Estate Professionals - Founder Mary French - This group is for anyone out there who provides services for real estate professionals...or any real estate professional looking for services.

Newbies - Founder Karen Hurst - A Group for all newcomers to Active Rain. Come here to get all your questions answered about how to do things. This group is open to all Active Rainer's, both old and new. Input from older AR bloggers will be sought. If you have a question, just blog it and check off the Active Rain Newbies box at the bottom of your blog.

Realtors - Founder  Allison Stewart - For Professionals to discuss marketing strategies, overcoming obstacles, successful sales techniques

The Art of Marketing You - Founder  Marty Garaughty- Getting people to visit your website is one thing, getting them to come back, to bookmark or to tell people about your website is something else. Here we'll share some easy to use(no geek speak) marketing ideas, tools, toys, widgets and goodies to connect with your visitors and to keep them coming back.

Staging Successes Founder Judy Kincaid - This is a place for home stagers and real estate agents to discuss the benefits of staging and share their success stories. Feel free to share before and after staging photos. Tell us the stories of how staging helped sell properties that had previously languished on the market. These real life examples can be used to help your clients commit to staging. (Be sure everyone that when you post your successes that you get goggled by adding Home Staging in your title and lick on "For Real Estate Professionals then Industry News!" And then for Consumers; check your localism region for local advertising.)

Redesign Renegades - Founder Joni Van Deventer - This group is dedicated to stagers/designers/redesigners/decorators to expand our talents and discover hidden talents. You may have started in this business to be a stager and go out a redesigner or vice-versa. Anyone interested in design philosophies as well as how to promote your skills so that you are fulfilled in your chosen field. It will also be a fun adventure for anyone looking for more design avenues.

Staging Crafts and Creatives Founder Jacqueline Clark - Are you crafty? Are you creative? In the staging business you definitely have to be both to save money and create "buy me" power for a home. Share you ideas and photos of recent crafts that you've made yourself and used as accessories. Remember, this is only a place for tips, ideas, and crafty inventions that you have made or we can make with our own two hands!

Website Critique Founder Cheryl Reynen - Members can show all us AR Members their website - tell us what they would like us to specifically look at and get detailed critique on what we would change or enhance. Creating a professional website is tricky for some and some here on AR are a wealth of knowledge. Bring it on - I bet at least I can help you with what ever you need information on when it comes to Web design, Development and search engine optimization to get top ranks!

Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) Founder Shell Brodnax - The Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) was formed to provide support to all professional real estate stagers in North America. RESA is the portal to the staging industry and is the source of education and business tools focusing on the needs of stagers. RESA members will have access to up to date information relative to the changing industry, marketing support services and access to continuing education providers. RESA members are able to form local chapters where needed to provide peer to peer support and to provide education to real estate agents and homeowners on the benefits of staging.

Do-It-Yourself  Founder Christine Craig - Read up on how to do it yourself projects as well as share your own experiences with them.

Staging Before and After Pictures Founder Kathy Nielson  A group designed to showcase and share with others the beautiful transformations created by the Stagers of Active Rain.

The Real World of Home Staging Founder Karen Dembsky As the business of Home Staging becomes more rampant and is rapidly sweeping across the U.S. and Canada, the inquiries from interested Newbies and Wanna Be Home Stagers are dynamically increasing as well. This site is for experienced Home Staging Professionals to share their wisdom and advice to those interested in learning more about entering into a home staging business or career. The goal is to provide and build a “Real World” understanding of the Home Staging business struggles, obstacles, ethics, competitiveness, and standards.

House Warmers Founder Julianna Hind  Welcome to House Warmers! The forum for "move-in" services for the homeowner, including Interior Designers and Decorators, Organizers and Space Planners. Here we share information and highlight these and other valuable offerings to owners of new real estate: ~ Senior Transitions ~ Household Merges ~ New Home Decorating ~ Downsizing ~ Household Organizing ~ Home Office Set-up

Vacant House Staging and New Homes Founder Val Allocco A place for Home Stagers, Realtors, and Builders to discuss anything that pertains to a Vacant House, be it newly-constructed or a ‘re-sale’. 

If you have something personal that can be directed to an individual, it is better to send an email via Active Rain than to use their post for your comments. The link to email is on the profile page of every member.  

This list should give you a good idea of what groups to join and where you should post your subject.