Orlando, FL – February 15, 2012 – Christine Rae, President of CSP International Business Training Academy, a staging certification and Real Estate Strategy company, recently published an article on her website (http://www.stagingtraining.com) discussing the importance of customer service. The article, titled “Home Staging Success: Five Customer Service Secrets,” shares tangible steps to improve customer service.

Christine writes, “Like most businesses, your home staging business can’t thrive without providing a high level of customer service. Exceptional customer service results in “raving fans” of your business—customers who are so delighted with your business that they can’t stop telling their friends and family members about you.”

Certified Staging Professionals trains home stagers through a comprehensive course of study that includes 3 days in a classroom, 4 weeks of home study and 6 weeks of hands-on market coaching. CSP is also a resource for Realtors and home sellers to find and hire graduates of this highly accredited staging education program, for assisting them in successfully closing their real estate sale.

The entire article can be found at http://www.stagingtraining.com/articles/home-staging-success-five-customer-service-secrets.php

To learn more about Christine Rae and Certified Staging Professionals, please visit http://www.stagingtraining.com.

About CSP International™ Business Training Academy: 

CSP began as the brainchild of its founder and president, Christine Rae. A long-time corporate executive, Christine began with the CSP program and a goal of bringing her penchant for high standards and business ethics, together with her knowledge of design and the real estate industry to an industry without a map. Her own extensive training came from across North America including New York City, California, Texas and the Carolinas.  From her research Christine knew there was a need for a distinctly different approach to staging. Growing from one course to a complete school with several physical locations and 15 well trained instructors, the CSP program is the leading global source for finding highly trained stagers and is the primary destination for anyone wanting to become a stager, it is the company more real estate agents turn to, on behalf of their clients. They are a Canadian success story for sure but no longer strictly Canadian having expanded to the United States in 2006 and Australia in 2009.  The program has been translated into Mandarin; Global license opportunities currently under review include China, Germany and France.

About the CSP® designation: 

The CSP® designation is recognized by real estate professionals, builders, home stagers, decorators and home sellers for its brand reputation of excellence. The designation identifies home staging consultants who have achieved certification in the staging industry which included quality hands-on training with vigorous testing, apprenticeship, business process and ethics.

About Christine Rae:

Christine Rae, founder and president of the CSP International™ Business Training Academy, is well-known and well-respected for her work in the Real Estate Staging industry, author of Home Staging for Dummies, a small business growth expert, international speaker, trainer and developer of EcoStaging® Her passion for staging, décor, the green movement and successful entrepreneurial ventures is satisfied with her desire to help people.  Her talents are reflected in the success of the Academy. Christine’s dedication to excellence has developed CSP into an international success and into more than a training program – the CSP International Academy is a sustainable resource for continuing education, professionalism & a support network to its graduates.

RESA Convention was well represented by CSP graduates, CSP Instructor and celebrity Cathy Hobbs, formerly an HGTV Design Star Finalist (Season 6) was the keynote speaker educating everyone on “Getting PR and Getting Noticed!”, CSP Instructor Jackson West shared how to “Rev Up Your Redesign Revenue” and CSP Director of Marketing, Angela Brooks had everyone rating their business with “Your Business on Juice!” Marketing Model.

“Supporting your trade association is a must if you want to see your industry grow.” says Christine Rae, President of CSP International Training Academy and the first recipient in the staging industry to receive the RESA Lifetime Achievement Award for her innovation, leadership and work to promote and grow the industry “While the awards are an amazing validation of our entrepreneurs dedication to the work, we feel honored to be part of their success; we have made it our company vision to provide support, mentoring programs and ongoing and continuing education so that they can excel.  We are so proud.”

“With 13 CSP finalists announced in December, it is thrilling to know nine awards were given to graduates of the CSP program. They have worked hard and deserve acknowledgement for their accomplishments” says Angela Brooks, Director of Marketing for CSP International Training Academy and VP RESA Canada. “All the winners of the RESA Annual Awards should be proud and I encourage those who didn’t take the time to enter this year to start preparing now, so time is not an obstacle to celebrating your business success.”

CSP RESA Finalist & Winners

2012 RESA® Lifetime Achievement Award – 1^st time
Christine Rae

2012 RESA® Innovator of the Year™
Christine Rae, – Finalist
Tammy O’Brien – WINNER

2012 RESA ® Company of the Year™
Pineapple Interiors – WINNER

2012 RESA Best Occupied Staging Canada
Kelly Peletier – Finalist
Nancy Hoag – Finalist

2012 RESA® Rookie Stager of the Year Finalists
Kristy Mattiazzo – WINNER

2012 RESA® Overall Rookie Stager of the Year Winner
Kristy Mattiazzo – WINNER

2012 RESA® Professional Stager of the Year
Nairn Friemann – WINNER

2012 RESA® Overall Professional Stager of the Year
Nairn Friemann – WINNER

2012 RESA ® Professional Stager of the Year Finalist Region 2 Midwest
David Cieslak – Finalist

2012 RESA® Professional Stager of the Year™ Region 4 West
Maureen Bray – WINNER
Kerry Roth – Finalist

2012 RESA® Professional Stager of the Year™ Finalist Region 5 Canada
Joanne Abrahams – Finalist
Kelly Peletier – Finalist
Monica Stanciu – WINNER

The Real Estate Staging Association is the member run trade organization for professional stagers in North America. They provide support services and educational resources for stagers in addition to Realtors and consumers. For more information visit the RESA website at www.RealEstateStagingAssociation.com

About CSP International™ Business Training Academy: 

CSP began as the brainchild of its founder and president, Christine Rae. A long-time corporate executive, Christine began with the CSP program and a goal of bringing her penchant for high standards and business ethics, together with her knowledge of design and the real estate industry to an industry without a map. Her own extensive training came from across North America including New York City, California, Texas and the Carolinas.  From her research Christine knew there was a need for a distinctly different approach to staging. Growing from one course to a complete school with several physical locations and 15 well trained instructors, the CSP program is the leading global source for finding highly trained stagers and is the primary destination for anyone wanting to become a stager, it is the company more real estate agents turn to, on behalf of their clients. They are a Canadian success story for sure but no longer strictly Canadian having expanded to the United States in 2006 and Australia in 2009.  The program has been translated into Mandarin; Global license opportunities currently under review include China, Germany and France.

About the CSP® designation: 

The CSP® designation is recognized by real estate professionals, builders, home stagers, decorators and home sellers for its brand reputation of excellence. The designation identifies home staging consultants who have achieved certification in the staging industry, which included quality hands-on training with vigorous testing, apprenticeship, business process and ethics.

Orlando, FL – February 7, 2012 – Christine Rae, President of CSP International Business Training Academy, a Home Staging Training and Real Estate Strategy company, recently published a blog on her website (http://www.stagingtraining.com) reviewing the importance of education for business owners. The blog, titled “Invest in Your Education and Take Your Home Staging Business to the Next Level,” describes several benefits of investing in one’s education.

Christine writes, “As a business owner, you have the power to determine the ultimate success or failure of your venture. There isn’t a more important investment that you can make, than your education.”

Certified Staging Professionals trains home stagers through a comprehensive course of study that includes 3 days in a classroom, 4 weeks of home study and 6 weeks of hands-on market coaching. CSP is also a resource for Realtors and home sellers to find and hire graduates of this highly accredited staging education program, for assisting them in successfully closing their real estate sale.

The entire blog can be found at http://www.stagingtraining.com/blog/invest-in-your-education-and-take-your-home-staging-business-to-the-next-level.php

To learn more about Christine Rae and Certified Staging Professionals, please visit http://www.stagingtraining.com.

About CSP International™ Business Training Academy: 

CSP began as the brainchild of its founder and president, Christine Rae. A long-time corporate executive, Christine began with the CSP program and a goal of bringing her penchant for high standards and business ethics, together with her knowledge of design and the real estate industry to an industry without a map. Her own extensive training came from across North America including New York City, California, Texas and the Carolinas.  From her research Christine knew there was a need for a distinctly different approach to staging. Growing from one course to a complete school with several physical locations and 15 well trained instructors, the CSP program is the leading global source for finding highly trained stagers and is the primary destination for anyone wanting to become a stager, it is the company more real estate agents turn to, on behalf of their clients. They are a Canadian success story for sure but no longer strictly Canadian having expanded to the United States in 2006 and Australia in 2009.  The program has been translated into Mandarin; Global license opportunities currently under review include China, Germany and France.

About the CSP® designation: 

The CSP® designation is recognized by real estate professionals, builders, home stagers, decorators and home sellers for its brand reputation of excellence. The designation identifies home staging consultants who have achieved certification in the staging industry which included quality hands-on training with vigorous testing, apprenticeship, business process and ethics.

About Christine Rae:

Christine Rae, founder and president of the CSP International™ Business Training Academy, is well-known and well-respected for her work in the Real Estate Staging industry, author of Home Staging for Dummies, a small business growth expert, international speaker, trainer and developer of EcoStaging® Her passion for staging, décor, the green movement and successful entrepreneurial ventures is satisfied with her desire to help people.  Her talents are reflected in the success of the Academy. Christine’s dedication to excellence has developed CSP into an international success and into more than a training program – the CSP International Academy is a sustainable resource for continuing education, professionalism & a support network to its graduates.

Orlando, FL – February 6, 2012 –  Best selling author, Christine Rae, President of CSP International Business Training Academy, a Home Staging Training and Real Estate Strategy company, was proud to accept the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 Real Estate Staging Association™ (RESA®) Home Staging Industry Awards™. Shell Brodnax, president of RESA®, presented Christine with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition for her tremendous work to build credibility and value for the real estate staging industry. Rae said “I am so very honored and grateful to receive this recognition from RESA and the industry” Christine was also a finalist in the in the Innovator of the Year™ category of this year’s Awards.

Industry professionals from all over North America submitted for consideration for the industry’s most prestigious awards. A panel of industry professionals judged the finalists and the winners were announced at the RESA Home Staging International Convention on February 1, 2012 in Las Vegas.

Christine Rae and Certified Staging Professionals trains home stagers through a comprehensive course of study that includes 3 days in a classroom, 4 weeks of home study and 6 weeks of hands-on market coaching. CSP is also a resource for Realtors and home sellers to find and hire graduates of this highly accredited staging education program, for assisting them in successfully closing their real estate sale.  Christine is also the best-selling author of the recent business book, Trendsetters: The World’s Leading Experts Reveal Top Trends To Help You Achieve Greater Health, Wealth and Success!

Along with Christine, several other finalists for awards this year were members of CSP.  These finalists have participated in Christine’s staging courses and training in addition to  successfully completing CSP’s home staging certification.

Other CSP members who are finalists for this year’s awards include two category award winners Nairn Friemann and Kristy Mattiazzo. Other finalists and winners were Monica Stanciu, Tammy O’Brien, David Cieslak, Maureen Bray, Kerry Roth, Joanne Abrahams, Kelly Peletier and Nancy Hoag.

To learn more about Christine Rae and Certified Staging Professionals, please visit http://www.stagingtraining.com.

For more information regarding Real Estate Staging, please visit www.RealEstateStagingAssociation.com and www.RESAConvention.com, or call 888-201-8687.

About CSP International™ Business Training Academy: 

CSP began as the brainchild of its founder and president, Christine Rae. A long-time corporate executive, Christine began with the CSP program and a goal of bringing her penchant for high standards and business ethics, together with her knowledge of design and the real estate industry to an industry without a map. Her own extensive training came from across North America including New York City, California, Texas and the Carolinas.  From her research Christine knew there was a need for a distinctly different approach to staging. Growing from one course to a complete school with several physical locations and 15 well trained instructors, the CSP program is the leading global source for finding highly trained stagers and is the primary destination for anyone wanting to become a stager, it is the company more real estate agents turn to, on behalf of their clients. They are a Canadian success story for sure but no longer strictly Canadian having expanded to the United States in 2006 and Australia in 2009.  The program has been translated into Mandarin; Global license opportunities currently under review include China, Germany and France.

About the CSP® designation: 

The CSP® designation is recognized by real estate professionals, builders, home stagers, decorators and home sellers for its brand reputation of excellence. The designation identifies home staging consultants who have achieved certification in the staging industry, which included quality hands-on training with vigorous testing, apprenticeship, business process and ethics.

About Christine Rae:

Christine Rae, founder and president of the CSP International™ Business Training Academy, is well-known and well-respected for her work in the Real Estate Staging industry, author of Home Staging for Dummies, a small business growth expert, international speaker, trainer and developer of EcoStaging® Her passion for staging, décor, the green movement and successful entrepreneurial ventures is satisfied with her desire to help people.  Her talents are reflected in the success of the Academy. Christine’s dedication to excellence has developed CSP into an international success and into more than a training program – the CSP International Academy is a sustainable resource for continuing education, professionalism & a support network to its graduates.

This concept is very relevant to you as a home staging professional.

You and I know otherwise, but 90% of home sellers don’t realize that they are likely to sell their home for far too little money. They don’t know that it is going to take them longer than it has to. Home staging simply isn’t on their radar screen—despite the fact that they would benefit tremendously from these services.

7% of home sellers are aware that their house isn’t going to sell for as much as they’d like, and that it may be a longer, more difficult process than they were hoping for.

And finally, the remaining 3% are well aware of the challenge that they are facing and are actively looking for a solution.

Knowing this, how should you allocate your marketing resources?

It may be possible for you to reach a member of the 90%, persuade him or her that there is a problem, and get them to accept that your services are the solution. A member of the 7% may be easier to educate and more willing to accept your solution. But clearly, the 3% of home sellers that are well aware of their problem are going to be the “easiest sell.”

It is not that reaching a member of the 90% is impossible… the problem is that reaching the 90% requires a far greater investment of time and resources from you. A member of the 3%, on the other hand, can be thought of as the low-hanging fruit!

That is why, at CSP International, we train staging professionals to target the 3% of sellers out there who know that they need help. And that is why we provide marketing and educational solutions that are designed to reach those 3% effectively.

Of course, one of the most difficult part of the process is identifying the 3% that are going to be the most receptive to your services. Below are some quick starting points:

Target the affluent. Typically, affluent individuals are more likely to see the value of making an investment… and that is exactly what a staging professional is.

Target those already looking for help. Whether it is advertising on an internet forum or targeting real-life networks, look for individuals who are actively searching for help in selling their home at a higher price.

Build relationships with realtors and brokers. Experienced real estate agents can quickly gauge whether or not a seller is willing to invest into the process of selling their home or not. Establish relationships with these brokers and urge them to send potential clients your way. It’s a win-win-win scenario… the seller receives more for their home, the broker gets a higher commission, and you get paid!

Don’t waste your time marketing to those who don’t even realize they have a problem. Target the 3% of sellers who know that they need your services. Please contact us for more details on this subject.

And when an individual or family chooses to sell their home, they are often in a cash crunch. As a result, they are extremely reluctant to spend anything more than they must on the process of selling.

So as a staging professional, how can you persuade such customers to utilize your services?

You must demonstrate the value you offer and the benefits your services provide.

For instance:

Explain that home staging is a short-term investment with a proven return. As you know, sellers who choose to stage their home typically sell for a significantly higher price than they otherwise could have—paying for the cost of staging several times over. Emphasize this point to potential clients!

Explain that home staging will expedite the process of selling, as well as bring in more money. Many sellers are in a rush, as you know. During the summer, families are typically in a hurry to relocate before the start of the next school year. Professionals are often forced to relocate for work. Therefore, the fact that your services can help them sell more quickly is very valuable. Drive the point home!

Even in the strongest of economies, no consumer is going to willingly part with their money if they don’t see the value. In our current struggling economy, demonstrating value is even more important. Don’t waste your time going over the details of the process or sharing information until you are certain that the potential client recognizes the value in what you do.

At CSP International, we specialize in helping staging professionals to market themselves effectively. If you’d like to learn more, please get in touch with us today!

1)     The customer doesn’t always have to be right… but he or she should always be understood. Contrary to the old maxim, the customer isn’t always right. You can’t simply give an unhappy customer whatever he wants to make him happy. But you should always take the time to understand their perspective and their complaint. Don’t be dismissive—listen carefully and make it clear that you understand their frustration. In many cases, simply listening is enough to placate an unhappy customer.

2)     Expectation management is the key to happy customers. “Under promise, over deliver” should be a core principle for your business. Don’t create unrealistic expectation for yourself. If a job will take you three days, tell the customer that it will be completed within five. That way, when you finish ahead of your deadline, they will be happily surprised and also provides a buffer in the event unforeseen delays arise, you won’t have to explain a missed deadline.

3)     Become a resource to your customers. From time to time, customers will request help in an area that is outside your expertise. When that happens, don’t simply say “sorry—I can’t help you.” Instead, connect them with a professional that can meet their needs. Your customers will begin to see you as a valuable resource—somebody they can turn to for solutions. This is a fantastic reputation to build!

4)     Instill a mindset of service in your employees. Employees in many businesses see customers as an annoying distraction. Explain that customers aren’t a distraction- customers are the top priority. The importance of this mindset cannot be overstated. If you and your employees don’t prioritize customer service, your customers will feel like an afterthought. Don’t let that happen!

5)     Look for “WOW” opportunities. A “WOW” opportunity is a chance to go above and beyond the call of duty for your customer. This may mean finishing a project early. It may mean going to great lengths to resolve a challenge. Look for opportunities to blow the socks of your customers, so to speak. These days, consumers aren’t used to exceptional customer service—so when you provide it, it will stand out!

The level of customer service you provide will play a huge role in determining how successful your home staging business will be. Great customer service leads to loyalty on the part of your customers—and results in leads to more business referrals. Contact us today to learn more!

Orlando, FL – January 26, 2012 – Christine Rae, President of CSP International Business Training Academy, a Home Staging Certification and Real Estate Strategy company, is proud to announce that she has chosen Nairn Friemann as the 2011 recipient of the President’s award.  This award is in conjunction with the recently announced results of the 2011 CSP® Business Awards.

Each year Certified Staging Professionals® recognizes excellence in 10 separate categories, and at Ms. Rae’s discretion, the prestigious President’s Award. The President’s Award is granted to the real estate and home staging professional who shows outstanding work and support in the industry.

Nairn Friemann, MBA

This year’s recipient, Nairn Friemann, MBA, is an internationally recognized home staging expert, Certified Staging Professional and trainer for the CSP International Academy. As owner and lead stylist of Ingenuity & Pizzazz, Inc., one of New York City’s top home staging companies, she has collaborated with brokers and homeowners on the staging and marketing of over $600 million of real estate.

“Nairn has supported CSP from the very beginning.  Her prior teaching experience at Concordia University married with her stellar staging work for leading real estate companies in New York City, provide an invaluable foundation of experience to the CSP program; students award accolades all the time.
Warren Buffet said ‘Price is what you pay, Value is what you get.’  This sentiment is surely showcased by Nairn’s contribution to the continued success of CSP International’s reputation of excellence,” remarked Christine Rae.

Christine Rae

More information about the CSP® Business Awards can be found at http://www.stagingtraining.com/staging-information/csp-business-awards.php

To learn more about Certified Staging Professionals, please visit http://www.stagingtraining.com.

About CSP International™ Business Training Academy: 

CSP began as the brainchild of its founder and president, Christine Rae. A long-time corporate executive, Christine began with the CSP program and a goal of bringing her penchant for high standards and business ethics, together with her knowledge of design and the real estate industry to an industry without a map. Her own extensive training came from across North America including New York City, California, Texas and the Carolinas.  From her research Christine knew there was a need for a distinctly different approach to staging. Growing from one course to a complete school with several physical locations and 15 well trained instructors, the CSP program is the leading global source for finding highly trained stagers and is the primary destination for anyone wanting to become a stager, it is the company more real estate agents turn to, on behalf of their clients. They are a Canadian success story for sure but no longer strictly Canadian having expanded to the United States in 2006 and Australia in 2009.  The program has been translated into Mandarin; Global license opportunities currently under review include China, Germany and France.

About the CSP® designation: 

The CSP® designation is recognized by real estate professionals, builders, home stagers, decorators and home sellers for its brand reputation of excellence. The designation identifies home staging consultants who have achieved certification in the staging industry, which included quality hands-on training with vigorous testing, apprenticeship, business process and ethics.

About Christine Rae:

Christine Rae, founder and president of the CSP International™ Business Training Academy, is well-known and well-respected for her work in the Real Estate Staging industry, author of Home Staging for Dummies, a small business growth expert, international speaker, trainer and developer of EcoStaging® Her passion for staging, décor, the green movement and successful entrepreneurial ventures is satisfied with her desire to help people.  Her talents are reflected in the success of the Academy. Christine’s dedication to excellence has developed CSP into an international success and into more than a training program – the CSP International Academy is a sustainable resource for continuing education, professionalism & a support network to its graduates.