RESA Conference Call for Speakers and Sponsors

We are super excited to announce the planning for RESA’s conference is underway. If you had the good fortune of attending this years conference in January, you will recall what an amazing time we had. Next year in 2011, our goal is to put on an equally amazing conference. 

If you did not attend the conference, visit our conference site to get a glimpse of what it was like. We have photos, slide shows and video that captured the essence of this truly ground breaking event.    

Below is information for potential speakers, sponsors and early bird registration. You may visit the conference website directly as well www.RESAConvention.com 

Call for Speakers: 

Based on the feedback from this years conference, we are looking for speakers on the following subjects:    

How to create multiple income streams in order to enhance your staging business

How to effectively communicate the value of staging to agents and homeowners

Creative marketing strategies which may include media attention, newsletters, office presentations

Stage your way to profitability – buying inventory, accessories & staging with purpose to increase your profits

Inventory management

How to effectively use accessories, art and color

Growing your business by bringing on other stagers

How to close more sales and raise your profits

Pricing and contracts-We are looking for 3 successful stagers that are willing to share their pricing and contract information. This will be a sharing/interactive exercise with the entire group

Submit your own topic, if different from the above

Key Note- Motivational

Click for more information 

Call for Sponsors 

The RESA International Conference is the only one of its kind focused on providing professional stagers with personal and professional development opportunities to take their businesses to the next level of success. The conference will bring together businesses of all sizes from throughout the United States and Canada for education, networking and to strengthen this evolving industry.  

We are searching for VIPs (Valuable Industry Partners) that are serious about building lasting relationships with professional stagers. By taking advantage of sponsorship, exhibiting, and advertising opportunities, you will be among an exclusive group of organizations who partner with RESA to further its mission, while at the same time building YOUR brand with this loyal sector of the real estate staging indsutry.

RESA members look to our sponsors for not only the best solutions to the challenges they face in growing their businesses, but for partnerships with companies who are true champions for their success.

Click for more information

*2010 Sponsors will receive premier conference floor placement at the $1,500.00 level, if they sign up and pay fees by July 1, 2010 

Reserve Your Ticket In Advance 

If you are interested in attending, you will want to secure your ticket as soon as possible. Last year, the majority of people bought their conference ticket before we listed our speakers. This event did sell out. We expect to sell out this year as well. 

Great news on the hotel!!! Hotel rates are $89.00 a night and includes:

Unlimited Internet access in the guest rooms

Unlimited local and toll-free phone calls in the guest rooms

Fitness Facility (in our newly renovated spa) admission for two guests per reservation per day

Christian Audigier The Nightclub admission for two guests per stay

Notary/copy/fax services (up to 10 pages) and airline boarding pass printing at the TI Business Center

Daily newspaper available through the TI Business Center

Nightly VIP Viewing of the Sirens at TI (appearing 4 times nightly)

$20 credit for a future stay (one per stay)  

Click to register

Tara Storch, a RESA 2010 Rookie Stager of the Year finalist, loses her daughter Taylor, in a tragic skiing accident during spring break

It is with great sadness I share with you one of our members, Tara Storch and her husband Todd Storch from Coppell Texas tragically lost their 13 year old daughter, Taylor in a snow skiing accident while their family vacationed during spring break last week.

On March 15, 2010, Taylor Paige Storch passed away after a tragic snow skiing accident while on vacation with her family in Colorado. Taylor was a vivacious and creative teenager who was full of energy. She was extremely giving and continued to give through organ donation that saved the lives of several other people.

Taylor Storch

In memory of Taylor’s life, a memorial will be created and will include a tree and a beautiful plaque in the Coppell Middle School East student garden. “Taylor’s Tree” will be a place that all students can enjoy. Funds raised above and beyond will be used for additional memorial expenses as well as improvements for the school at the parent’s discretion. The Storch family appreciates your memorial contribution that will honor the memory of an amazing daughter, sister and friend.

You can see the memorial page here: http://facebook.com/remembertaylor

You can see the donation area here: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=375911179567&id=383409813136&ref=mf

Real Estate Staging Statistics Prove Staging Works, Even in Current Market Conditions

Stockton, CA February 24, 2010  Real Estate Staging Association® (RESA®) the member run trade association  for professional  stagers has released statistics on the effectiveness of Real Estate Staging  and the results are phenomenal. 

The study includes properties sold from January 2009 to December 2009:

126 vacant and occupied homes previously on the market on average 263 days unsold. Those same homes were staged and sold in 60 days on average. This is 78% less time on the market after staging. 

284 vacant and occupied homes that were staged before they went on the market, sold in 40.5 days on average after staging.  The entire study can be downloaded for free at www.RealEstateStagingAssociation.com  

RESA® has also updated the Consumer’s Guide to Real Estate Staging with the statistical data. The guide is a reference for home owners and real estate agents. Parts of the HomeGain® Home Sale Maximizer Guide™ are also included in the RESA publications. The HomeGain® study surveyed 1,000 Real Estate Agents that reported staging had a 586% return on their clients investment and 82% of agents are now recommending staging to their clients. “RESA’s statistics further supports what HomeGain® has been reporting – that home staging works,” stated Louis Cammarosano, General Manager at HomeGain®. 

“We are very excited about the results of the study.  Real Estate Staging is an effective way to market a property and the statistics prove so”, said Shell Brodnax RESA’s CEO.   RESA is continuing to collect data on staging and will be releasing yearly reports on their findings. 

HomeGain® is a leading provider of online marketing programs that connect real estate agents and brokers with home buyers and sellers. HomeGain® offers free services to find and compare real estate agents, research home values, and view homes for sale. REALTORS® use HomeGain’s real estate marketing programs to connect with consumers, promote their services and grow their business. www.Homegain.com 

The Real Estate Staging Association is the member run trade organization for professional stagers in North America. We provide support services and educational resources for professional stagers in addition to providing vital information regarding the benefits of staging to REALTORS® and consumers. For more information on staging or to hire a professional stager, contact Shell Brodnax or visit the RESA Web site at www.RealEstateStagingAssociation.com    or call 800-201-8687

RESA International Home Staging Conference Recap

It’s been one week since the largest, ground breaking; trend setting conference in the history of home staging took place in Fabulous Las Vegas!

With over 220 home stagers representing the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom to say the RESA conference was a HUGE SUCCESS is an understatement.

The conference was kicked off my HGTV’s Matthew Finlason in typical non-disappointing Matthew style. Matthew kept the audience motivated by speaking about diversifying and sustaining your brand in fluctuating markets.

I spoke about the state of our industry, where we came from, where we are and where we are going.

Ricardo Bueno spoke about the importance of social media to market your business.

David Avrin The Visibility Coach, professional speaker and author presented It’s Not Who You Know – It’s Who Knows YOU! – How to Raise Your Profits by Raising Your Profile!    David made us laugh while teaching us how to increase your visibility and position yourself as an expert.

Founder of www.WomenHomeOwners.com Ginny Mees, spoke about how to use networking as a marketing tool. Check out Ginny’s network!

Our lunch time presenter was HGTV’s Designed to Sell’s Bethany Souza.  Bethany is simply charming, professional and funny! She talked to us about raising the bar with our staging business and finding your signature style.

President of HSR and National VP of RESA, the amazing and engaging Audra Slinkey spoke on Ten Critical Keys to Every Successful Website.  

Our workshops included Melissa Marro covering Creating Limitless Market Opportunities – Becoming the “Go-To” Company. Terrylynn Fisher covered how to “collaborate” with REALTORS® as a professional and not be a “service provider”. Lori Kim Polk covered how to diversify your business by working with flippers and Kathy Nielsen and Michelle Minch taught us how to take amazing photographs to highlight our staging work.

The Home Staging Industry Awards were presented and they deserve a blog of their own so click here to read who was honored.

Day Two:

Ashley Whittenberger taught us about Pricing Strategies for Stagers. Ashley is funny and engaging and brought a lot of important information to the conference.  

 Our panel of experts included Audra Slinkey of HSR, Christine Rae of CSP, Matthew Finlason from HGTV’s The Stagers, Joanne Lenart-Weary from One Day Decorating and Jackson West from the W-Networks TV show the Experts. Click to view some of the amazing panel session.

RESA’s trademark and copyright attorney Erik Pelton spoke to us about the importance of trademarks, copyrights and how it affects your business.

Mike Robbins Author, Speaker, Coach was our keynote speaker. Mike delighted us with the message of the power of authenticity. In our personal and business lives being authentic is a powerful tool. Mike has written a book on this subject and I highly recommend it. Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken: Transform Your Life with the Power of Authenticity. Mike is funny, reflective and made us all think.

I closed the conference with the message of the Law of Attraction. Reminding everyone to take what they have learned and “make it happen”. The power of the law of attraction to manifest what you want, need and desire in your life is 100% attainable.

I want to thank everyone that attended and contributed to the conference. The feedback we are getting is fantastic. We are looking forward to organizing next year’s conference.

Here are a few of the reviews I was able to locate here on active rain Ashley Whittenberger, Carmella Abella, Alicia Autrey, Nancy Maurer and Melissa Marro.  

For a visual review of the conference go to www.RESAConvention.com

Home Staging Industry Awards Announced

The 4^th Annual Home Staging Industry Awards were presented at the RESA Conference on January 25^th at the Treasure Island Hotel, Casino and Resort in Fabulous Las Vegas.

The Home Staging Industry Awards were created to honor professionals that work in and service the home staging industry.

The RESA Leadership Awards were presented as follows:

RESA Local Chapter President of the Year: Pam Ellis, Seattle, Washington

RESA State Chapter President of the Year: Ashley Whittenberger, Texas

RESA Regional Vice President of the Year: DesAnn Collins, Region 2, IL, IN, MI, OH, WI

RESA National Board Member of the Year: Kathy Nielsen, RVP Region 8 AL, FL, GA, NC, SC

The Home Staging Industry Awards were presented as follows:

RESA Innovator of the Year: Dan Eason, Energized Seller

RESA Product of the Year: Staging Standard Magazine and Sherwin Williams

RESA Staging REALTOR® of the Year Michelle Reneau

RESA Rookie Stager of the Year: Paige Earles, Pearle Staging and Design, Atlanta, Georgia

RESA Professional Stager of the Year: Michelle Minch, Moving Mountains Design, Pasadena, California

RESA would like to thank our judges for the Rookie and Pro Stager awards: Bethany Souza from HGTV’s Designed to Sell, Matthew Finlason from HGTV’s The Stagers and Deborah Gilmore the 2010 Women’s Council of Realtors National President.

It was a pleasure to honor such deserving professionals in our industry. To view the awards ceremony featuring all the finalists and presentations of the awards visit http://resaconvention.com/awards/

RESA Forms Reltationship with Boomer-Living.com

RESA would like to annouce a new relationship with www.Boomer-Living.com.

Boomer-Living.com is a resource for Baby Boomers. RESA has been asked to supply information to Boomer-Living.com on seniors and moving. If anyone specializes in helping Boomers with their moving needs, please feel free to submit an article to Shell@RESA-HQ.org We will get you featured on the Boomer-Living Website.

Article Specs:

Must email a WORD DOC

400 words or less

Boiler plate bio for author at bottom

Veranda 10 font size

Photos 294 x 164 px must be attached as a jpg

Attached a bio head shot of yourself as well 294 x 164 px

Articles must be about boomer related issues such as moving tips, stress tips for moving, staging tips for moving etc. We are also accepting articles on Green Living for the Boomer.

Jackson West Joining the RESA Conference

Jackson West is joining our panel of experts at the RESA International Home Staging Conference.

Jackson’s love of architectural features, furniture, artwork and accessories made him a success from the start of his staging career. Since launching his home staging company, Reveal Estate, in 2006 he has merchandised properties selling for a combined total of more than 70 million dollars. His interior redesign work can be seen in the book “Home Staging For Dummies”™ as well as mutliple editions of the “Staging Standard” magazine and various home decor publications. Jackson is also featured on a television series for the W Network in Canada and is an award winning blogger.

A “Staging Guru” of information and trends in the industry, Jackson’s insight and knowledge is often sought after by other home stagers. When he is not working in private residences or model homes he travels as a keynote speaker as well as a mentor and instructor for Certified Staging Professionals™. While his niche has long been downtown properties in a higher price range, the principles of design, functionality and flow he teaches are equally effective in every home.

Jackson West

Bethany Souza from HGTV Joins the RESA Convention

Bethany Souza first realized her passion for real estate when she was recruited from the hospitality field into the world of commercial brokerage. Parlaying her vast hotel experience into real estate, she became dually licensed in California and Nevada, representing Las Vegas Boulevard hotel owners, land developers and coastal estate buyers in multimillion-dollar transactions.

Never one to sit on the sidelines, Bethany was quick to follow her aspirations of being a hotel owner and moved to Illinois to personally renovate, decorate and open her own small luxury inn. In addition to running the inn, staging homes and renovating rental properties, Bethany represents real estate developers in sales and design for high-profile condominium projects across the United States.

Bethany Souza HGTV's Designed to Sell

Bethany Souza shares how her experience with representing Las Vegas Boulevard hotel owners, land developers and coastal estate buyers in multimillion-dollar transactions helped her build a thriving business.
 
Bethany will also participate in our panel of Experts as well as present the RESA Rookie Stager of the Year Award.

Matthew Finlason from HGTV’s The Stagers Joins RESA Conference

 

 

Matthew Finlason HGTV's The Stagers

 

Designer, TV Host, Mover & ShakerBorn in Jamaica and raised in Canada, loud, outspoken, and endlessly entertaining Matthew Finlason was introduced to the construction business at a young age. Learning the ins-and-outs of building and property development from the ground up he soon discovered, like his father, a talent for designing homes. Like his decorator mother, he possesses an eclectic knack for breathing life into any dull space. He continues develop real estate, design interiors, decorate and stage homes throughout Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and the Caribbean. Catch Matthew’s antics and aesthetics in Season 2 of the HGTV television series ‘The Stagers’ as he rushes to transform problem homes, with DEKORAinto show suites — often in just a few days. Amid the tantrums and turmoil are tips and touch-up ideas you can put to work in your own home. ‘The Stagers’, produced by Paperny Films and creatively produced by Keith Behrman received 4 Leo Awards for which Matthew won “Best Host” in a “Lifestyle Series”.

Also a prolific designer and art director for stage, commercial, film and television projects, Matthew formed The Concept Room – an artistic collective he directs to develop and execute ideas in production design, art direction, stage design, interior design, and lifestyle programming. He recently worked with Scott Smith and Gregory Middleton on ‘Capturing George’, a short film commemorating George F. Walker’s 2009 Governor General Award; Samantha Jo Simmonds’ ‘Grace’; and Cam Labine’s feature film ‘Control ALT Delete’ which premiered at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival. Somehow he finds the time to set design Paul Anthony’s televised LIVE Comedy Cabaret ‘Talent Time’.

Tune in to watch Matthew and his teammate, Olympic gold medalist Kristy Yamaguchi, as they compete in a high-pressure, high-octane race-against-the-clock design competition! Brought to you by Los Angeles-based Pie Town Productions, ‘HGTV Showdown’ is centre stage for competitive drama where the best of HGTV’s design stars battle for supremacy.

Matthew will kick off our conference with pure Matthew style! 

Matthew will speak on how to stay motivated by diversifying and sustaining your brand in fluctuating markets.    “A stager’s skills set has never been more relevant!” 

Matthew will also be serving on our panel of Experts as well as Crown the RESA Professional Stager of the Year.

www.RESAConference.com Get your ticket today and come meet Matthew.

RESA Staging Industry Awards 2010

• RESA Professional Stager of the Year
• RESA Rookie Stager of the Year
• RESA Staging Innovator of the Year
• RESA Staging REALTOR® of the Year
• RESA Product of the Year

• Both RESA members and non-members may nominate up to 5 home stagers for this category
• Only RESA members may be nominated.  If you’re unclear as to whether or not the professional stager is a member of RESA, please use the following set of directions at the bottom of this document or ask the nominee
• Last year’s winners are eligible to be nominated in the same category
• Last year’s nominees are eligible   
• Self nominations are not allowed 

• Nominees who have had ethics disciplinary actions pending or taken in the last 2 years will be disqualified.
• Nominees must be a RESA member in good standing
• The top 5 nominees with the highest number of nominations will be the top 5 finalists.
• Finalists will submit a summary (using the criteria listed below) that highlights why they should be voted RESA Professional Stager of the Year. Submissions can be up to 5 pages and submitted as a PDF.

• Self nominations are allowed. However, if self nominating, you may only nominate yourself once
• Both RESA members and non-members may nominate up to 5 home stagers for this category
• Only RESA members may be nominated for this category. If you’re unclear as to whether or not the professional stager is a member of RESA, please use the following set of directions at the bottom of this document or ask the nominee
• The top 5 nominees with the highest number of nominations will be the top 5 finalists
• Must be in business less than 2 years as of January 2010

• Nominees who have had ethics disciplinary actions pending or taken in the last 2 years will be disqualified
• Nominees must be a RESA member in good standing
• The top 5 nominees with the highest number of nominations will be the top 5 finalists
• Finalists will submit a summary (using the criteria listed below) that highlights why they should be voted RESA Rookie Stager of the Year. Submissions can be up to 5 pages and submitted as a PDF 

Finalist will be judged on the following:

• Must be a service provider to the home staging industry. Examples are: Furniture Rental Company, Home Staging Training Providers, Social Networking Sites, Marketing Tools and Resources for Stagers, etc.
• Self nominations are not allowed
• Nominees that are RESA members who have had ethics disciplinary actions pending or taken in the last 2 years will be disqualified
• Both RESA members and non-members may nominate up to 3 choices for this category
• Nominations must include a link to the company website
• Last year’s winners are eligible to be nominated in the same category
• Last year’s nominees are eligible   

Finalists:

• The top 3 nominees with the highest number of nominations will be the top 3 finalists
• Finalists will be asked to submit a summary (using the criteria listed below) that highlights why they should be voted RESA Innovator of the Year. Submissions can be up to 2 pages and submitted as a PDF

• How the provider delivers excellent service to the home staging industry/home stagers
• How they are contributing to the growth of the home staging industry

• Both RESA members and non-members may be nominated
• Both RESA members and non-members may nominate up to 3 REALTORS® for this category
• Last year’s winners are eligible to be nominated in the same category
• Last year’s nominees are eligible   
• Nominee must be a REALTOR®

• The top 4 nominees will be determined by RESA leadership
• The top 4 nominees will be the finalists
• Nominees that are RESA members who have had ethics disciplinary actions pending or taken in the last 2 years will be disqualified
• Finalist will submit a summary (using the criteria listed below) that highlights why they should be voted RESA Staging REALTOR® of the Year.  Submissions can be up to 2 pages and submitted as a PDF

Finalist will be judged on the following:

• How they think staging has increased their overall business
• How staging has improved their listing presentation
• How they work with professional stagers
• Why they think staging is important when selling real estate

• RESA members and non-members may nominate up to 3 products for this category
• Self nominations are allowed. However, if self nominating, you may only nominate your product once
• Last year’s winners are eligible to be nominated in the same category
• Last year’s nominees are eligible   

Finalists:

• The top 3 nominees with the highest number of nominations will be the top 3 finalists
• Nominees that are RESA members who have had ethics disciplinary actions pending or taken in the last 2 years will be disqualified
• Finalist will submit a summary (using the criteria listed below) that highlights why they should be voted RESA Product of the Year.  Submissions can be up to 2 pages and submitted as a PDF

Finalist will be judged on the following:

• How well their product relates to a home stagers business
• How easy the product is to use
• Overall customer service of product provider

Nomination Guidelines: