The prestigious PRES course teaches classroom theory AND hands-on staging and redesign in real client’s homes. This is a must-do to gain your confidence and validate your abilities!

Graduates of the PRES program love what they are doing and loved the course, support and follow up they receive. Here are a few testimonials:

“I have known Dana Smithers for over two years through her Interior Redesign & Home Staging program at PRES Staging Resource Centre. When I first met Dana I was really taken back with the support that I received. Taking this program, I was now entering a new part of my life and it was a little scary, but the support I received from Dana and some of the other students was wonderful. I have continued to get education on Home Staging and Interior Redesigning from PRES with the monthly meetings. Dana has kept me up to date with the new trends and continues to educate me with these monthly programs offered through PRES.

Dana will always be on my speed dial. I remember when I had to do my first empty Home Staging quote I phoned Dana………”what do I do” she said to me Dianne first of all breathe…..you can do this your a “Great Stager”. Thinking to myself, yeah why panic, I sat back in my chair and thought Dana is right “I am a Great Stager” and thanks to Dana I know I am a “Great Stager” she gave me the confidence I needed to follow my dream.
I AM NOW DOING MY DREAM JOB… and I’m a GREAT INTERIOR REDESIGNER & HOME STAGER Thanks Dana
Dianne Boutilier of Focal Point Redesigns

Come and join us for the day and get inspired by others just like you and learn from the ‘Home Makeover Expert & Staging Guru’ Dana J. Smithers. She will share her Top 5 Tips for making your home more beautiful for living or for selling. If you are interested in this as a career, this is a good introduction to this work. Dana wants you to LOVE YOUR HOME!

Home Makeovers For Living or Selling Workshops
Date: April 17th 2010
Time: 9:30 am – 4:30pm
Location: John Braithwaite Community Centre – 145 West 1st Street North Vancouver (just north of Lonsdale Quay)
Cost: $57 for one or $97 for both
Registration: You must preregister for this event on line or email info@SunOnMyBackRedesigns.com

Georgina King of Benjamin Moore Richmond presented the latest colour trends for BM. Some we liked and some we didn’t. In Georgina’s usual expressive way we learned a whole lot more than what was planned! She is so incredibly knowledgeable it was hard to say we had to end our meeting!

Kathy van Gogh gracioulsy gave of her time in her studio which is part of this fantastic one-stop Benjamin Moore store. Kathy entertained us with some amazing ‘faux finishes’ and some new products this store location is offering. She offers classes to learn how to do faux finishes. The PRES members were very interested in the resurfacing of cupboards and counter tops – 2 key areas sellers need to update for selling.

What a great and fun filled day thanks to Georgina and Kathy and all the PRES members who were able to make this field trip day!

In the Lower Mainland of BC we are fortunate to have many rental furnishing companies to choose from. In other parts of BC and Alberta there are a few rental furnishing companies but not as good or as large as a company such as Fluff Designs in Vancouver. Most home stagers have their own small inventory and rely on rental stores to provide larger items such as sofas, desks, beds, etc. Many home stagers in smaller locations have larger inventory especially when they know they can provide better quality and styles of furnishings than local suppliers. Kym Tarr of ShoeString Interior Staging in Kelowna has great furnishings she offers her clientelle.

Here are a few TOP SECRETS about the process and how it works best:

1) be OPEN to what the PRES stager has to say about your furnishings whether you need some or have a vacant home – we are the experts here
2) the PRES stager will go to the rental furnishing store that they believe will have the best product/inventory to meet your needs. They may go to several stores before they finally decide on the best one for you. This can take up to 8 hours if it is a very large property.
3) PRES stagers will work within your budget to meet your needs. Once we have a quote we will review it with you for your approval.
4) Many PRES stagers have some of their own inventory and may choose some items of their own to use, and, some from a rental furnishing company
5) PRES Stagers know the best colour schemes for selling and will select product to work best with what you have or what they need to create for you.
6) Once PRES stagers have selected the appropriate inventory arrangements are made for delivery and they are there ready to go with the installation/staging set up
7) When the property is sold the seller notifies the stager and the stager comes to destage and the movers come for the pick up back to the rental furnishing store.

We make it seem ‘easy peasy’ but it takes a lot of skill to be a versatile PRES STAGER!!!

You will also receive a SPECIAL OFFER just by joining the webinar!

All you need is your computer and your phone. Make sure all your programs are closed except your internet and you will get a better connection.

FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

1. On Thursday night go to your computer and CLICK or Cut and Paste this link in your internet browser:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/575894843

2. Phone in to get on the webinar call and listen to the prompts:

Dial +1 416 900 1165

Access Code: 575-894-843

Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting (if you are calling in my phone you just press #the two digit pin number#)

Meeting ID: 575-894-843

On the webinar you will have an opportunity to ask questions and find out answers to any questions you may have. I look forward to talking with you!

You will only receive a SPECIAL OFFER by joining the webinar!

Mila Herenda of MIZO DESIGN SOLUTIONS coordinated a booth at the Fraser Valley Real Estate Trade Show held in early February with Nancy Glover of MIND YOUR MATTER. Other PRES members participating were Yvonne Swain of HINT OF ELEGANCE and Sally Weatherley of EXIT STAGE RIGHT.

They all had a great time collaborating for this event, and enjoyed meeting real estate professionals. It was interesting to learn that some realtors already had strong affiliations with staging companies, while others were just starting out and were just learning about staging. Some didn’t believe in staging, while others embraced our industry.

We were fortunate to have the support of READY, SET, SHOW of North Vancouver, who were very kind in supplying furniture rental at a generous discount. Yes, the rug you see is from 18 Karat and part of READY, SET, SHOW’s inventory.

Here is a testimonial from their happy client:

Louise and Joseph have transformed my kitchen.  It was small, outdated
and virtually non-functional.  With Louise and Joseph’s help, it’s now
open, light, and a delight to cook in.

The renovation was done with a fixed budget and Louise and Joseph
worked with me throughout the process to ensure I got excellent value
for my investment.  I couldn’t be happier with my new space – thank
you Joseph and Louise!

The Calgary Real Estate Board Conference and Tradeshow event was held on January 20th.  GreenApple Staging & Images was proud and excited to be an exhibitor, among approximately 100 others, all contributing to the theme, “A Brave New World”.

The GreenApple team had a great time mingling with both the attendees and other exhibitors. We had tons of traffic at our booth and got a chance to meet so many hardworking and forward thinking Realtors.

There is definitely an increased interest this year in Home Staging, professional Real estate Photography, and pre-market Consultations as part of an individual Agent’s marketing package. All part of the new economy. I believe these strategies are not just trends — they are definitely here to stay as our society continues to emphasize visual media.

It wasn’t all business! We had some fun, too, with our visitors . . .

Oh, and would you believe that every single lunch kit at the event contained nothing other than a green apple?!

Our booth was staged with our brand colors — black, white and apple green, of course — and we were happily surprised that GreenApple was declared one of the top 3 Staging Exhibitors! All were tied with an Honorable Mention for booth design and service. I was told by the judges that they just couldn’t choose between us.
Not bad for our first showing — we’ll take it!

We also held a draw and have given away a Pre-Market Consultation package and an MLS Photography Package. When I called the winners today, they were thrilled and are eager to apply these services to their next listing.

It’ll be all work and no play for awhile, as the “Spring” real estate season seems well underway already in Calgary. But that is exactly what we bargained for!

Thanks to everyone who visited us at the event, and all of those others who supported us in other ways.  We appreciate it!

Deena Cottingham & her team of GreenApple Staging

This was Designing Spacez 1st year in the CREB Forecast.  Designing Spacez is a Calgary based company and is a one stop shop, offering a varitey of services that include real estate staging, interior design and redesign, color consultation- provided by Janet Voth and her team and full construction Divison which is ran by Mike Voth (owner).

Designing Spacez a local Calgary company.  Please check them out at www.designingspacz.com

But to see the leading lady (Amy Adams)  in a first run Hollywood movie LEAP YEAR, staging a vacant condo in Boston this says to me we have finally made it !!! We are considered bona-fide professionals.

In a local radio station was running an ad for a software accounting package and they used a home stager as an example. This is very very good news – the word is getting out there. !