Lafayette, Louisiana Real Estate Stagers Have Dinner With Matthew Finlason of HGTV's "The Stagers" (edit/delete)

An opportunity arose for my conceptual staging team at the Real Estate Staging Association's First Annual Conference to join Matthew Finlason and his staging friends at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas to share dinner together.

 

Talk about a neat evening!

Matthew is genuine, personable, humble, and hilarious all at the same time.

He spoke to the entire group about his gratitude to spend time with his "peers" and commended us for the hard work we do day in  and day out.

He reminisced about his childhood in Jamaica, where he earned his allowance helping his interior decorating mom every day, which sounded familiar to me, as the child of a decorator myself (is there a support group for us?).

He also said something profound to me about how creating a beautiful living environment can heal the sick and downtrodden, and I know from experience that he is absolutely correct.

I feel very lucky to have been a participant in what was surely a highlight for both my personal and business life, and very inspirational evening of laughter and camaraderie.

Thank you Matthew, and all the stagers & friends at Planet Hollywood, including Karen Otto, Charlene Storozuk, Melissa Marro, Bevin Googer, James Hannah, and my own team members, Barbara Guilliot and Renee Molinari.

 

~Michelle Molinari

 

Certified Staging Professional, Feature This... Real Estate Staging,www.FeatureThisDotDotDot.com

CSP Elite Instructor, Certified Staging Professionals, www.CSPElite.com

Lead Conceptual Designer, www.CurbAppealForDummies.com

Vice-President of Acadiana Real Estate Staging Association, www.AcadianaRESA.com

 

 

Barbara Guilliot is a Conceptual Designer who helps homeowners discover the equity  hidden in their property. As veteran Real Estate Stager certified by the ODDAA in 2006. Ms. Guilliot was truly rarity on the real estate scene in this industry in those early days when very few folks had ever heard of it, let alone seen it performed on a listing. Ms. Guilliot experience as a Stager in the Lafayette, Louisiana market, has helped her transition into a Conceptual Staging Designer for Feature This ... Real Estate Staging and Interior Décor and it's exterior staging division,  CurbAppealForDummies.com.

And now, with her RESA membership, we can all benefit from getting to know her better. She's real Pioneer Staging Stock, and we are very proud to have her as a member of our Acadiana Chapter!

Ever wonder how to get some quality face time with an agent, one on one, like, for an hour?

Have you tried asking one to lunch? I did, a couple of weeks ago, as a response on Dr. Chantal's blog, no less. Now she is going to be our speaker at our November RESA meeting! We had a very nice lunch at the Olive Garden, and got to know one another  a little bit beyond what our websites have to say about ourselves. It was a refreshing and productive break from my routine, and she from hers, and I'm so glad she called me and took me up on my offer. 

We discovered that we are both transplants, of sorts, and have compatible senses of humor. We also both love fried ravioli and we live fairly close to one another. We shared adoption stories in our families' histories, and we discussed the merits of growing rice vs. raising cattle, as we both live on farms. 

So, if you are wondering how to get to know a Realtor, start off by asking them if you can feed them...  

It works for me!

~Michelle Molinari

President, Acadiana RESA

Lafayette - Stagers from all around Louisiana came together for first-ever gathering of Stagers across all affililiations and designations. The group of five women met at Cort Furniture on Johnston Street for a three and a half hour discussion about Louisiana's Real Estate Staging Industry.

Some of the topics covered included the benefits of the major staging associations, such as RESA, ASHSR, and IRIS. Industry standards were also discussed, along with building alliances with Real Estate Agents who are aware of the statistical monetary benefits of staging for their client's properties. One of the most interesting topics was the alliance of stagers on a local and statewide level to raise awareness and educate the real estate industry as a whole about the dedication, talent and professionalism that Louisiana Stagers consistently offer to home sellers and Real Estate Agents throughout the state.

The attendees were Michelle Molinari, President of Acadiana RESA and Lead Virtual Designer For www.CurbAppealForDummies.com,  Carol Hebert-Harper of "Feature This... Real Estate Staging"in Abbeville, Freelance Stager Barbara Guilliot of Lafayette, Sheri Morgan, owner of Ace of Space Redesign in Baton Rouge, and Karen Hebert-Price of Yours Truly Designs in Abbeville.

Cort Furniture was kind to offer their fabulous showroom and attentive staff, and PODS Storage of Baton Rouge catered a delicious Mexican luncheon from Coyote Blues.

Stage It Forward is a proactive Staging Group on Active Rain, a community of Real Estate Professionals dedicated to their industries, and working in alliance with others in their fields.

This Stage IT Forward Round Table Event is the first of it's kind, and these Louisiana Stagers were proud to participate in this unprecedented North American gathering taking place all over the U.S. and Canada this month of November, which is HOME STAGING AWARENESS MONTH.

This BLOG could be all about YOU, if you joined the Acadiana Real Estate Association. We want to write all about you, your Staging business, your accomplishments, and your talent!

Contact us and FEEL THE LOVE of your FELLOW STAGERS!