How do you Master Your Business? Learn from Others who are Where You Want to Be!

How do you MASTER your Business?

One of the best things about our industry is the ample opportunities for continued education on a variety of topics.  As people have gained experience and invested YEARS in the home staging, design and real estate industry, it is natural to want to impart that knowledge on to others who are newer.  

One of my favorite courses that I have developed and taught for the past 8 years is the Accredited Staging Professional MASTER Course.  This is the TOP credential for our industry, and it is for business owners who are at the point where they need to grow and Scale for success, or remain status quo and turn business away.  It is for those who want to eventually transition out of the industry and sell their company as a viable asset, not just sell off their items at garage sale prices. It originally was created as an extension of the ASP Home Stager course - a deeper dive into what was taught in the initial education.  

Over time, it became CLEAR to me that industry pros needed and wanted MORE!  My belief is you cannot teach what you do not know or have not personally experienced, and the developed or the ASPM Course never had a large staging company, warehouse, trucks, movers, staging team, wholesale purchases in volume, or sold a staging business.  It was necessary for me to update and modernized it to make it RELEVANT for TODAY's staging entrepreneur.

You have a unique OPPORTUNITY to learn from EXPERTS with Home Staging & Design Companies that are in the TOP 2% globally based on revenue, volume and services offered. The three instructors: Myself, Sandra Holmes and Blair Hamaty - have nearly 60 years of combined experience in growing a thriving business. We are teaching the ASP Master Course in LONDON Nov 2-5.  The HSA-UK Forum event is on the 2nd and your ASPM Course investment INCLUDES this conference. PLUS you will be part of this historic event that is the FIRST Live ASP Master Course taught in Europe!

INSTRUCTORS:

WHAT WE COVER:

Learning from others does not mean YOU are not knowledgeable.  It means you are TEACHABLE and OPEN to learning what works.  Sure - you could try and glean information and concepts by using Google or AI. . . but the internet doesn't teach you HOW to be successful - it just provides information on what others have done.

My approach to learning has always been to soak it up - and get as much as I can from those I respect. There are some who collect credentials - and spend all their time in classes versus actually implementing the knowledge.  I know where I need to learn and will seek out specific courses or individuals who are coaching or teaching on that topic so I can learn how to succeed in that area.

When I got started in 2002, there were NO experienced people I could learn from - we were all going through the process together - and now that I have 21 years of experience, I can look back and share what to do to succeed and what to avoid - and I love sharing that knowledge with others. Why wouldn't I want someone else to shorten their success journey? There are pitfalls and mistakes made along the way that were painful and I do not want someone else to go through what I had to experience.

Those entering the industry in the past 5-10 years have benefitted from all the "pioneers" who laid the groundwork for success - educating the public and potential clients all over the world so they understand WHY they need to incorporate Staging in the process of selling a property.

Come JOIN US in LONDON!  Space is limited and if you want to come - we will make sure to have a seat for you!  Go to www.IAHSPSCALE.com to learn more and register!  Use code EU500 to save $500 OFF the registration price. Payment plans available, and your HSA-UK ticket fee is INCLUDED in your registration!

Flaccid and Limp in the Bedroom? Not a good look.

Yeah - yeah - got your attention . . . but really where was YOUR mind going?  I was talking about AIR BEDS - of course.  For home staging, this has been an item some use instead of real mattresses in Staged bedrooms.

For those who use blow up beds, ever had one deflate on you after you left?  (One key reason why we need to check on our Staging to make sure things still look good!). 

What an embarrassing call THAT is. . .  "Um, Hello?" "Yes" - "This is ____ - and well, the bedroom bed looks sort of funny - and limp."  Uh oh!  A leak, a hole, or an improperly screwed on sealer - and you have "Flaccid Bed Syndrome!"

We had this happen too many times - getting calls from sellers or agents letting us know our air mattress had sprung a leak and bed was flat.  This is why we switched to real mattresses.   

If you use air mattresses, to get rid of Flaccid Bed Syndrome - use these simple tips.

1.  Blow the mattress up first when you get to the house so that you can check on it while there and make sure it is still firm when you leave.

2. When deflating a bed for de-staging, be careful not to crimp the mattress to hard to where it might create a hole.

3.  Store air beds in boxes when not in use so that in storage they are not susceptible to being poked or damaged by other items in your storage or warehouse.

4.  If you are unsure about the condition of a mattress, bring a back-up.  Remember - "I am not going back" is the motto.

5.  Put a note on the bed if you feel that the public might sit on the beds or damage them.   Personally I don't put notes on the bed telling people to keep off or that it's just a prop, but it's not a bad idea.

6. Consider using real mattresses or two box springs stacked together in a bedroom.  Yes the storage factor can be an issue, but you will not be constantly having to replace deflated beds that have a negative impact on buyers, and your ultimate reputation.

I did not know that was in the Agreement - Protecting Your Business

One of the most important business forms a Professional Home Stager needs to have is a great Staging Agreement.  Operating a business without an agreement leaves you open for huge risk.  Crafting a professional and air-tight agreement will serve you well as you grow your business.  

Here are some Do's and Don'ts when it comes to Agreements:

DON'T Stage a property without an agreement in place.  I don't care how nice the people are, if they have not signed your agreement, they are not obligated to pay you, or even return the items you put in their property.  Do NOT show up and Stage believing they will sign the paperwork and pay for the services.  Please - do NOT do that!  With how easy it is to have clients sign docs now, there is no reason a person does not adhere to your policy - unless they are planning on taking advantage of you.

DON'T forget about the payment terms.  If you are a professional Home Stager and are not accepting credit cards for payments, you are operating at the mercy of your clients.  Invoicing for payments is a waste of your time and because you do not have a valid form of payment saved for the client, they may NEVER pay you!  ACH drafts is an option, but you are still at the mercy of when your client decides to pay you. You need to be in charge of processing payments.  

There are lots of options out there to allow you to process credit card payments where YOU are the one in control.  Merchant fees are write-offs and a cost of doing business.  For me, my time is worth so much more than generating invoices, calling to hound people for payment and keeping track of deposits and checks, or not getting paid at all. 

DO use an online signing program such as Docusign or E-Sign.  It will save you so much TIME and hassle to be able to send agreements to your clients electronically.  The forms are easy to complete on a smart phone, tablet or computer, and they DO hold up in court as official legal documents.

DO have an attorney or other trusted legal adviser review your agreements.  There are online resources to help you craft a fairly good agreement, but having a professional review it for any inconsistencies or information that you need to add is a good idea.  

DO continue to revise your Agreements over time.  Situations arise that you may not have thought of or planned for, and when that happens, you may opt to put a new term or condition in your Agreement.

Like the time I went to Stage a house and there was no electricity.  I was literally Staging by flashlight.  Next agreement that went out had, "Electricity must be functioning," in the terms.  I also went to Stage a property that had been winterized by the seller - so not only was it freezing cold IN the house, the toilets would not work.  We were not by any quick shops so THAT was a situation we did not enjoy!  Next agreement, "Plumbing and heat must be operational." We cannot change the past, we can only learn from it - so use your "experiences" to help you strengthen your agreements.

The agreements need to spell out:

1. Your terms for doing business - what you are providing (services) 
2. Pricing and payment terms
3. Penalties for properties that are not Stage Ready upon your arrival
4. Removal terms such a 7 business day notice to remove or else a rush fee applies
5. Ongoing rental terms - when does the rental start, do you provide refunds for unused portions or for a client who neglects to tell you they don't want to renew and then asks for a refund.
6. Payment timing - do you take full payment at time agreement is signed or a partial deposit?
7. The deposit is non-refundable (I personally take 100% of the fee up front at time of agreement being signed and it is not refundable)
8. All request for removal of Staging items must be in WRITING (text or email)
9. What happens if a payment declines or is not made?  (retrieval of items immediately)
10. Access to the property - you either have a lockbox code or you make a key so you can access the property to check on the Staging items.
11. If the agent or seller changes the access and does not notify you prior to pick up day, you charge a penalty for your time, your crew's time, etc. for not being able to access the property.

Special Circumstances:

• Electricity is on
• Heat works
• Plumbing is operational
• A/C works (in summer for hot places)
• No audience while Staging takes place
• Information about the inventory - it is Staging inventory and not necessarily new
• Difference between Staging and design - client does not get to select or control inventory selections
• Staging selections are at your sole discretion
• No substitutions or additions
• If there are pets, they need to be secured
• Photo use and release
• Other

Get all requests in writing:
This advice was given to me by a credit card company after a client disputed charges.  I won the dispute, but enacted that rule so that there is never any question on when a client makes a request and how that date falls in line with the required time frame for giving notice and avoiding charges.  

When you have a solid Agreement in place, if a client does dispute payments that were applied from their credit cards, you will have a great paper trail and document to send to dispute any charge-back issues.  

Is Ignorance, Bliss?

One of the things I have learned over my 16 years in business to date is clients often do not bother to read what they are signing.  Does that mean they are off the hook when it comes time to enforce your terms?  No.  

I am AMAZED at how many clients do not bother to read what they are signing.  Our agreements are not like the Microsoft agreements that everyone just signs without bothering to read. Microsoft honestly could put in their agreements I would owe them a million dollars or my first born child, and I would have just selected, "AGREE TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS" because I don't want to take the time to plow through all the legalese.

Our haste in getting through the paperwork can put us at risk.  Clients who sign a Staging Agreement and initial certain clauses without reading what they are signing cannot use ignorance as a reason to have you make special arrangements for them or expect to have the rules bent. Being able to point back to the Agreement they signed (and perhaps even initialed special terms) protects your business and money.

This is a business.  Treat it like a business and protect your interests.

For sample Staging Agreements go to the www.iahsp.com site.  It is one of the resources we have provided to our members.  Not a member?  You can join and become part of the world's largest Home Staging Association!

One of our recent Staging projects - an investor flip, remodel in #Denver #Colorado.  Remodel turned out nicely and the Staging helped present the property in the best way for Buyers.

Vacant Houses Are Like a Christmas Tree Stand with No Tree! Stage it BEFORE you List it!

Vacant Houses have no visual appeal - they are like a Christmas tree stand with no tree!!  This holiday season, make sure you have the BEST first impression - Stage it BEFORE you List it!

#home #staging #stager #Denver #Colorado #house #property #vacant

Do what you LOVE - find your Passion and WORK is replaced by a PURPOSE!

Do what you Love . . . Don’t just Work as a Means to an End

I was listening to a radio show the other day and they were talking about jobs and how people should not whine about having to work – it’s a means to an ends. . . 

There was a caller that kept changing jobs because she was unhappy with her workmates, they annoyed her, they were not intelligent enough, she got bored, or whatever other reasons she tossed out there – she was not happy at her work.  I just kept thinking, “She is in the wrong industry.”  If someone is that unhappy in their job that they keep looking for “it” somewhere else – and job hops, and hates going to work – they need to do something else. 

I kept thinking to myself:  “They need to find their passion.”

However the advice from the radio people was, “Suck it up.”  They actually said for working, “We do what we have to in order to have the life we want.” 

In other words a job is just a paycheck and working is part of what we all HAVE to do in order to pay bills and have a life that we hopefully enjoy.  It does not really matter if you really like it or enjoy the people you work with . . . you do it because you have to in order to live the life you want.

WRONG.  Anyone else find something wrong with that advice?

Settling for a job just to pay bills – is a miserable existence.  I know many people do it and I also know for many in this economy having any job is a blessing . . . but I just feel sad for those people.

Finding a passion is the key to happiness in the work world.  I think high school counselors should be helping kids discover their passions – whatever it is – and steer that child into an industry they will enjoy – not just figure out what jobs pay the best and steer that kid into an industry they will hate.

Why did I have a physician in one of my recent ASP® Training classes?  She has a full-fledged career as a Doctor – M.D. – and yet wants to be a Home Stager.  This person was so full of life and creative energy – her field (oncology) was stifling that in her – and dealing with death and dying was just not fueling her passion.  She was good at it – but she wanted something more.

Realizing there is an industry that pays well and will fuel that creativity opened the door of opportunity for her . . . I expect her to be very successful and much happier as a professional Home Stager!

Follow your Passion!  Then work is not drudgery or just a means to an end . . . it is something you look forward to every day! 

You know how some people just get through the week and then live for the weekend?  I live for Staging!  I get so excited when I get to work with a client and help them get their house ready for sale!

But in order to follow your Passion, you have to know what your Passion is.  It might be working with kids, or gardening, or writing or health and fitness, or old cars, or any number of things. . . There are careers for all those fields – they may not pay the same as you are making now – or maybe they will pay more – but what I have found is that I would easily give up $$$ in order to be HAPPY in what I am doing daily and be motivated to be the best in that field that I can be!

I thought about all this and realized how lucky I am to have found Home Staging.  I had a passion for creative things – decorating, painting, remodeling houses, and found this industry.  It is my work – and yet it is not a means to an ends only.  It’s not just a way to provide income to my family so we can do what we love.  It is my passion!

My motto is, “I do what I love so I can live the life I love.”

I love Staging.  In fact all the Stagers I know love Staging.  We did it for free for much of our lives for crying out loud!  Finding there was an industry that would actually pay me for my creative energy and ideas is the icing on the cake.  Knowing I am helping other people (one of my passions), using my creativity and talent (another of my passions) and earning great income (a great benefit of the industry – and OK a passion as who does not want to be paid well?) is the proverbial trifecta of working for me!

So if you are reading this and are doing what you love, say a little prayer of thanks as you truly are blessed.  If you know someone that is unhappy in what they are doing – ask them, “What you are really passionate about?”

It’s never too late to re-invent yourself.

Age is just a number and I’d rather go out of this life doing what I love than suffer in silence or never discover and use my true passion.

Recent Staging Projects - Take a Look at our Portfolio online!

We have had a very productive year so far!  Check out some of our recent projects by clicking on the link below:

https://www.sensationalhome.com/portfolio

We Stage all types of properties from modest to multi-million dollar!  Our team covers the region from Monument to Loveland, Evergreen to Parker, and we do go to areas outside those cities as well.  

Just call and ask!  888-WE-STAGE or 303-717-7918
or email SensationalHomeStagingCO@gmail.com

Smaller Square Footage Property needed Staging to help Buyers Visualize how to arrange furniture and use the space. Sensational Home Staging Success!!

This house was on the market with no offers prior to Staging.  Once we Staged the main rooms it helped Buyers to see how to arrange furniture and how to use the space.  AND the seller got an OFFER almost immediately! 

Contemporary Downtown remodel-flip Staged for Sale - Sensational Home Staging - Denver Region's Premier Home Staging Resource

Recent Staging Project - Parker Colorado Beauty - Bef & Aft pics show the difference Staging makes!

Click the link to see before and after photos of a recent Staging project we completed for a vacant upscale property in Parker, Colorado.  The house has been on the market a while - and a new listing agent took over the listing and brought us in to Stage.  Before Staging Buyer complaints were that it was too dark and odd space upstairs in the loft area.  Now using light furniture and decor and Staging rooms to give a purpose, Buyers will have a much easier time picturing this as their home.

Sonado Place Staging Bef & Aft

Investor Property Flip in Arvada - Sensational Home Staging sets the scene for buyers to help get a fast sale!