Well...in late Spring, I was able to get a little time with a local, busy developer to get advice about his prediction on the real estate market in the dc area. I told him I was very interested in moving full steam ahead on the Staging part of my business, since I did pretty well with it the prior summer. I was really interested in getting in front of builders and developers to let them know of my services, but was concerned with everything I was hearing about the state of the real estate market.
He didn't have much good to say about the market, especially in DC. He told me that many of the smaller investors/developers were NOT going to be active because the banks were no longer lending money. He encouraged me to reconsider my strategy and consider decorating office lobbies and offices, since the government had loads of cash and with the new administration, there might be a need to have these spaces redecorated.
Needless to say...I was a bit discouraged. After having a successful time the summer before I was really looking forward to getting back to Staging. So I thought and prayed and planned and figured. I found this new great new website/blog focused specifically on the DC condo and home real estate market, and seemd to carry a small number of ads from condo projects just finishing or soon to be finished. I contacted the site/blog and inquired about their stats on readership, exposure, daily hits and pricing. Ad rates were crazy low and I signed up for a one-month option. I was honest in speaking with the blogger/website owner - if no return, calls, or anything in 30 days, I am out.
Well...as fate would have it - on day 28 - I received a call from a realtor. He ultimately hired me to stage a single family home in April - literally 2 blocks from my own home. Five months and 7 properties later, I had the BUSIEST SUMMER EVER! The last two properties sold within 3 weeks of them being on the market. That ONE realtor led me to 2 others who kept me busy AND my ad (yes, I kept it running) lead me to another developer!
Below is a view of the last property (in Glover Park/Cathedral) that had an offer after 2.5 weeks on the market. The shortest turnaround on all of the projects from this summer!
Before of living room 2BD, 1BA condo
After - what a diference!
So although I do think it was wise to seek the advice of the original developer, I am really glad I didn't listen! I do think his words made it more serious and more me determined to figure it out.
So be careful who you listen too and let influence your business. And remember, no one has the magic crystal ball to see into the future - we are all trying to figure it out! But if you are serious about it, then DO IT!
Feel free to check out more of the staged rooms and homes on my portfolio. Thanks for all of the positive responses and feedback on my earlier posts! If you are in the Metro DC area, I have a warehouse full of decorative items, just waiting to dress up and help you sell your vacant property!

I selected this neat mid-century feeling bamboo table in the dining space. The table is round as in the picture here, but each section 'opens up' to a corner, making the table go from round to square. Its very cool!




















Pretty neat huh! So those doors came in handy, wouldn't you say! Thanks for checking it out! Hope it inspires you to be creative this Spring too!
