Chic Gems Gals Profile: Ann Alderson
Ann is modeling the Chic Gems "Design Your Own" Pearl

Ann Alderson is the owner of Staging South Tampa. She is a Professional Home Stager and Home Selling Strategist and creator of the Home Selling Game Plan—Plan of Attack. As a Professional Home Stager, Ann has helped Realtors and home sellers create market ready homes that SELL. With Ann's guidance, the Home Selling Game Plan empowers home sellers to prepare their own home for sale and gives them all the tools and solutions they need to reach their goals of selling at the best possible price the market will bear.

Ann's Background:
I was a senior executive assistant with international firms Goldman Sachs and KPMG for over 16 years. While at KPMG, I was one of only 20 assistants nationwide to be honored as an “Amazing Indispensable Assistant.” I was laid off at Goldman in a corporate downsizing in April 2008. After earning three staging certifications, Staging South Tampa was launched March 1, 2009.

What inspires Ann:
Helping people move on in their lives. Let’s take divorce, for example. The most difficult possession to surrender during a divorce is the home. Staging makes that transition easier. Maximizing assets is crucial during a divorce. You don’t want to sell a house at a loss or below market price because one of the owners is dragging his or her feet hoping to hold onto the asset. The goal of staging is to help both parties get the best possible price for the house in the shortest possible time. Staging increases value and lowers days on market, both important factors during a divorce. The process of staging can help clients on their path to psychologically shedding their house. Staging creates a neutral territory, depersonalizes the space and allows the owners to move on in a more positive way.

What sets Ann apart from her competition:
My Exclusive Game Plan—Plan of Attack! Smart buyers look for a house that is move-in ready in all aspects, and a staged home is just that. But you can’t get from “A” to “Z” without a plan. I give all my clients a clear schedule of all the activities that need to take place.  I break it down into manageable steps and offer tons of helpful home selling tips and advice. To my knowledge, I am the only Professional Home Stager setting my clients up for success with a clearly defined Plan of Attack.

What Challenges Ann faces as an Entrepreneur:
Let’s face it, we’re in a really tough real estate market. My biggest challenge is educating Realtors to make it a part of their first client meeting to address staging as part of how they do business. It’s hard to ask a seller to spend money on repairs and cosmetics and then ask them to take a beating on the price.  But if they’re going to sell they will have to execute the necessary dress up.  This is about getting the house sold at the maximum price the market will bear.  If the seller can’t do this then they probably shouldn’t sell. 

Advice from Ann:
Staging is often confused as our purpose. The Stager’s purpose is marketing, our process is staging.
To learn more about home staging, please visit Ann’s website at StagingSouthTampa.com


Thank you for reading!
All the very best,
Sarah Radford
CEO/Designer
Chic Gems Couture Jewelry
Designer Jewelry for Professional Women