When should you bring in a Stager?

"When should I bring in a Stager?"

I get asked this question a lot and it is an easy one to answer:  "Bring in a professional Stager when you want to Sell your house (or listing)."

My recommendation is to get that person in to your house (or listing) BEFORE the house is coming on the market so it truly has the best foot forward.  If you are planning on selling your house come spring - get the Staging assessment done NOW so you have time to get the work done.  

To me it's not a matter of picking or choosing to bring an outside expert in or not - it's a standard protocol for those that want to sell their house versus having it sit on the market.

Getting a 3rd party opinion is good - I have done it for my own house.  Why?  Well we often don't "see" our house the way a Buyer sees it.  When someone comes to your house for the first time they notice EVERYTHING - all your decor, your photos, your stuff.  Meanwhile, because we LIVE in the house we filter out the excess and the things we are used to seeing.  I call it "selective vision."

Buyers don't have Selective Vision - they have "TOTAL Vision" - meaning they take it all in and form an opinion based on what they see.

They ask: 

• "Could we live here?"
• They notice if the rooms feel crowded or cluttered.
• They notice if the house is clean or not.
• The notice the condition of the yard and home.
• They wonder how much work it will take to fix up to their standards.
• They calculate the effort it will take to make it "their home."

And then they weigh all this against the asking price and the competition and decide whether or not to make an offer.

So as a Seller - don't give them a reason NOT to make an offer on YOUR house.  You may love your stuff, but let's face it - our taste is subjective - and we cannot be mistaken in our thinking that just because we paid a lot of money to have our house decorated, or paid a lot of money for some custom piece of furniture - that everyone is going to love it the way WE do.  That is not reality.

And it's hard to be OBJECTIVE in our own houses - so get that 3rd party objective opinion from your expert Home Stager.  They are trained to know what to keep and what to put away or pack, and what to paint out - the changes that will help you make money and the ones you don't have to do.

Some things you should know:  Not all Stagers are created equal so ASK for credentials and ask to see a portfolio.  Ask for references.  Ask for statistics.  Any Stager worth their salt will be tracking their business success and have proof to show you that their Staging suggestions work!  Ask about any added value services, discounts, and exposure they can give you . . .

And then make your selection based on rapport and relatability - the person you feel will do the best job for you.  Then sit back and watch how your house (or listing) SELLS because it is prepped right for the market.

Check out my other blog posts on how much this should cost or what the fees are relative to Staging!  http://sensationalstagedhomeblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-are-you-paying-me-for.html

Home Staging Training - Navigating the Plethora of Options and Knowing What to Look For and What to Avoid by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, Owner Sensational Home Staging

Home Staging Training - Navigating the Plethora of Options

and Knowing What to Look For and What to Avoid

Nearly 40 years ago the industry of Home Staging was created by Barb Schwarz, and 12 years ago it went to the next step with the creation of the first professional designation and course offered for a much needed service.

Flash forward to where we are today and there are many "courses" (and I use that word lightly) that offer some sort of education for Home Staging.

If I were looking for a class today it would be confusing.

I don't envy those that are researching to find a place to be trained. Did you know there are over 30 "classes" found online you can take to get educated in Staging?

Did you know the Staging industry is not regulated . . . Yet?

It's true. No one is regulating who can teach or offer a course or call themselves a Home Stager.

Fact is, some courses are reputable and others are scams.

There are those in the industry that claim you don't need a professional designation to Stage® and some say that there is no such thing as an Accreditation for Home Staging. The first part is true and the second part is false.

Anyone can claim to have been in business or have all this experience and unfortunately there is no way to stop someone from making false claims. Personally, I am frustrated at how some people even explain their credentials in this industry - falsely stating experience and impact when there are those that know what is shared is not true.
So how can you tell the difference when no one really regulates what is shared?

You have to do your homework.

A. Do the research: Ask the questions . . .

1. How long has this course been around?

2. Is the course content about Home Staging only or does it cross over into other industries, diluting the focus of my business?

3. Do the real estate agents know about this class and recognize the designation?

4. Is my Trainer someone that actually has built their own Home Staging business successfully?

5. Will the company be there 5 years from now when I need help?

6. What ongoing support will I have from my Trainer and the Company?

7. What kind of exposure will I receive online to help me succeed?

8. Do they have a professional Association for me to join?

9. Does this Association have standards for joining like requiring education first?

10. Are there local chapters of this Association that I can be part of for ongoing success?

11. What kind of ongoing education is there?

12. Is there a code of ethics and professional standards that are upheld?

13. What national and regional industry company partnerships do I have to help me add value to what I bring to my client?

14. Ask for references of others that have taken the class and find out what they though and how successful they have been.

B. ASK WHAT the course is about.
If you want to be a professional Home Stager - take a Home Staging Course.

For those reading this post that is a key distinction. Staging is a stand-alone industry that falls under the auspices of the Real Estate industry.

It is not decorating or design or redesign - they are stand alone industries and provide valuable services for people in need of professional decorating or design work.

In other words, if you want to be a professional Home Stager, take a professional Home Staging course that sticks to the fundamentals of what it takes to own and operate a successful Home Staging business.

If you want to be a designer, decorator, redesigner, feng shui expert, color expert, etc. - then take a course specifically catering to that service and industry.

They are all unique industries and services and should not lumped under the auspices of "Home Staging."

I believe in not putting all your eggs in one basket and to diversify, but I also do not believe in diluting.

Diluting is trying to cover too much in one course so that the student doesn't really learn what it takes to be successful in any one industry.

Diversifying is adding knowledge about other services you would like to offer such as color, feng shui, redesign, interior design, interior decorating and so on - and you can do that at a later time so you can offer added services to your clients.

Are there cross over elements with these various industries and services? Sure - but it's important to note that the goals of these industries are not the same.

Staging is about depersonalizing and preparing a house for sale for an unknown Buyer and to make a property appeal to a particular and distinct audience. The likes and dislikes of the homeowner really do not come into play as the house is being prepared for the Buyer so it must be very broadly appealing.

Decorating, Design, Redesign, Feng Shui, and Color Trends are about customizing and personalizing a home and in the process, the likes and dislikes of the property owner are the main consideration. It does not have to be broadly appealing, and in most cases is not simply because the work is being done to please the property owner.

C. You need to ask yourself, "Who is behind this course?"

It seems these days that everyone wants to teach a class or course on Home Staging - and I can't blame them - when you are successful and want to share with others, it's a natural path to take in the industry.

But as a person considering launching a career in Home Staging you have to dig deeper and ask yourself if the class you are considering has any recognition in the Real Estate industry?

Because as a professional Home Stager - you don't want to pay money for a class and just get knowledge - you want to take a course that is actually going to help you succeed in your own business.

Fact is, a new course and designation that has not been around is not going to have the brand recognition of one that has been established and has integrity in the industry.

The only way to get that is longevity. You can either be part of the movement to help brand a new course and set of initials or go with one that is already established - and your participation will be about branding YOU with the muscles of the already established course and designation behind you.

D. Online Exposure:

One of the best ways to determine if a class is reputable or not is how you are represented online and how you are marketed to the public and Realtors that want to hire you.

Yes, you may have your own website, but...

Your training company should have a way of promoting and marketing you online and a way to drive business to you - and they must invest the right amount of money on your behalf to ensure that when the public does search for people to work with, you have a fighting chance to be found.

To do that successfully takes a LOT of money and this is where the smaller training camps clearly fall short. You don't want to go with a training company that lacks capital to fund site optimization and site design that will help build your business and give you proper exposure.

E. Who is Successful?
Next you want to evaluate what Stagers have business in your region - and find out how successful they are.

Find out where their training roots are - I know those that took a reputable class and launched their business successfully, and then may have branched into something else - even training their own course - but you need to go back to that core training as that is what created their success initially.

Ask the people that are successful TODAY - don't ask those that tried and failed or quit. Find someone that is where you want to be and ask them HOW they did it - and then do your own research so that you can be launched on the right path for success and have a business that will serve your clients and you as long as you want to be in business.

Do your homework. Ask questions. Make an informed decision so that when you launch your Home Staging business you have the resources to help you grow for the long term.

F. WHAT TO AVOID:

1.  Avoid courses that cannot point you to real life graduates that have actual success.

2.  Avoid courses that have not been around long - they have no history of success or graduate they can point you to that have been successful.

3.  Check the BBB rating of the course - and if they don't have one that should be a red flag. These are companies taking your money and should be rated online and pay the fees to be part of the BBB network.

4.  Avoid any course that guarantees you any sort of income post graduation. That is impossible to provide to graduates as you are not employees of their company and are an independent business owner so your success is truly up to you.

5.  Avoid online courses that have no access to a real person that you can ask question of during your training.

6.  Avoid courses that cannot tell you how to price yourself for where you live - specifically - as the range of pricing for Staging varies greatly depending on geography and you don't want to "guess" at how to price yourself in business. You could end up leaving a LOT of money on the table or price yourself out of your market which would be a big mistake too.

7.  Avoid anything that sounds too good to be true - it probably is.

8.  Avoid a course that has no ongoing support for YOU - an Association, exposure online, and ways to market you for success.

9.  Avoid Associations that allow anyone to join. You will have made an investment in your training and business - do you really want to be part of a group that allows ANYONE to join - therefore diluting what you paid for and the standards you set for your business?

I hope this article has been helpful to you - and as a professional Home Stager that has owned and operated a successful Staging business for nearly 10 years and is a professional Trainer for 6 years, let me know how I can help YOU make a choice. Just email me at SensationalHomeStaging@q.com or go to www.SensationalHome.com to contact me.

WHAT ARE YOU PAYING ME FOR? Part 4 of 4 by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP President

WHAT ARE YOU PAYING ME FOR?: PART 4

 

In this series of 4 articles on what you pay for when hiring a professional Home Stager, this last article covers the inventory investment for houses that need a little or a lot of pizzazz to attract a potential buyer.

I hear this question a lot: "When it comes to renting items for Staging why can't they just sit for FREE in a house until it sells?" Great question and before I can answer it let's look at some facts.

 

What is inventory? Inventory consists of décor and furnishing used to add visual appeal to a property. The inventory can be a few items to help enhance a Seller's existing things to help add "Wow Factor" or inventory can be furniture and décor to help furnish a vacant house. Therefore inventory can be artwork, bedding, accessories, greenery, furniture, rugs, and so forth.

 

Inventory a professional Home Stager brings in is a convenience to the Seller - so that they do not have to purchase extra items, store them, or move them to a new property.

 

Inventory = Overhead: When an item is purchased it becomes an overhead expense and property of the company. Professional Stagers are not just pulling stuff out of their houses to stick in a vacant house or to help spiff up house that needs some pizzazz. They make an investment in selecting things that are universally appealing, will enhance a house, and make it look better for the buying public. They must also consider the style of the house they are Staging - not every piece of décor is useful in every house for sale. So we have to purchase things specific for types of properties as well.

 

Think about this: That piece of furniture, lamp, vase or fichus tree costs money every time it is moved or used. There is labor involved, gas and time.

When it is stored - there is often overhead costs associated with warehouse or storage unit space.

 

Things get damaged in houses - from careless Sellers who may paint interiors, or by Buyers that break something or use something inappropriately.

 

So why can't items just sit for free in a house? Because all these costs have to be covered by the renting of the items.

So before any Stager turns a profit from "stuff" they bring into a house, they must first cover their overhead expenses of managing and maintaining that inventory, and then pay for the transportation of those items to and from the house.

 

• Moving costs average $200 each way per project for 2 men and a truck.
• A small Storage Unit averages $100-150 per month.
• A warehouse costs thousands to manage and maintain monthly.

Then there is the wear and tear on an item. Fabrics get stained, woods get nicked, and items get broken. Over time an item must be retired and replaced with a new item. The old one is sold or donated at pennies on the dollar. Things even get stolen from time to time - and have to be replaced. It's all a cost of doing business. And professional Home Stagers operate a business.

 

So when you are paying rental for things, you are helping that business owner cover operating costs and maintenance costs on having those items as a convenience to you - the Seller or Realtor - so that your house or listing CAN look better than the un-Staged marketed competition.

 

You pay for the "WOW Factor" to help your house or listing SELL - and when it sells we can say 100% of the time - "THE INVESTMENT OF STAGING IS LESS THAN A PRICE REDUCTION" - that you did NOT have to take because your house SOLD.

Green or Eco-Friendly Home Staging

Green Home Staging

By Jennie Norris, ASP Master®, IAHSP® President, President Denver IAHSP® Regional Chapter and Owner, Sensational Home Staging

The trend across the country is to have eco-friendly everything – “Green” is the buzz word to identify those people or industries that want to do more to conserve resources. People and companies are “going Green” in an effort to help protect our planet and our futures.

Did you know that ASP® Home Stagers have been doing this BEFORE the word “Green” was even in fashion? I was reminded of this during a leadership call with the Creator of Home Staging®, Barb Schwarz – who really has been teaching the idea of using what someone has or “repurposing” – which is really what the Green movement is all about – for nearly 40 years.


Home Staging with a Green focus or eco-friendly focus can be about using natural materials, cotton, bamboo, jute rugs, real greenery (instead of silk) which is so easy to do. . . I have done some of these projects and it is really simple to adapt to that type of Staging by thinking about what we are using and how we use it in Staging. (go to http://www.sensationalhome.com/ and link to eco-friendly home staging to learn more).


We even have an eco-friendly “star” in the ASP® Family that has developed a whole line of eco-friendly furniture to use in Staging houses – that is made from recycled materials and this genius was born from a need in the Staging industry and finding a way to fill it. (go to http://www.nextstagefurniture.com/ to find out more).


But when it comes to the average person’s home and selling – an ASP® Home Stager is already in the mode being Green – which is about using what is in the house – repurposing and find new uses for items that otherwise could get thrown out or as others in the industry that don’t have the same training might do – have the homeowner go purchase MORE stuff. . . that they don’t need which then causes even more wastefulness.


This philosophy has been taught for nearly 12 years and used in successful real estate sales for nearly 40 years! As the original Home Staging training course, Accredited Staging Professionals (ASPs) have been doing “Green Staging” since the beginning and that makes me really happy to know that I am part of an industry that does care about the environment and the future of our planet, and that we were doing a service for clients and the world before it was “trendy.”


So if you want a Green approach to preparing your occupied house for sale, look no further than your local ASP® Home Stager. Give them a call – and then sit back and watch in amazement as they transform your house using your things – and put the focus on selling your house – not selling you on purchasing a bunch of stuff you don’t need. If you have a vacant house – give your ASP® Stager a call to get an honest assessment of what you need to showcase your house working with your budget and timeframe to make the most impact for Buyers.

WHAT ARE YOU PAYING ME FOR? Part 3 of 4 by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP President

WHAT ARE YOU PAYING ME FOR: PART 3

By Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP®, Owner, Sensational Home Staging

In today's market, many people can be confused about what they are actually paying for when hiring a professional Stager. In my last post, I talked about the Staging Consultation and what the underlying costs are – and what you pay for when including this service as part of preparing your house for sale. Remember, professional Stagers have business overhead and marketing expenses, and the costs to having an actual business - not just a hobby - and why it's important to hire someone that knows what they are doing.

In this post - we talk about The Vacant House. This type of Staging has a lot of work that goes in before the actual Staging takes place. In most markets, a Vacant House Staging starts at about $800 and goes up from there. There are 3 types of Vacant Staging: Light, Moderate and Fully Furnished and based on your budget and the type of property we are Staging, we will recommend the most cost-effective solution that gets your property SOLD.

What we don’t want to do is say something is “Staged” when there is no furniture in the property, when the “Staging” is not going to truly help a Buyer visualize living in the house or when the quality is not of the standard based on the type of property. If you are not going to Stage it right, then don’t do it at all because you are wasting your money. You need to invest the money up front to get your house or listing SOLD so Stage it so that it will SELL.

Here is a run-down of what typically goes into Staging a vacant property:

For a Vacant House: I drive to the location of the house to preview the property – typically at no charge to the client or you. While I am there I begin to form a vision and plan for what has to be done to Stage the house. I am not being paid at this point.

I go back to my house and prepare a detailed proposal – and have to research pricing for rental items and furnishings that are needed for the Staging. I am still not being paid a dime. This process can take hours to even days to find the exact pieces that are needed for your particular house or listing. 
I put the proposal together and then share it with the my client. I answer any questions they may have about the Staging and pricing. I negotiate. I listen to concerns they may have and overcome them. Hours have gone into the process at this point and I have still not been paid anything.

Once the Seller agrees to the Staging, I have to send them an Staging Services Agreement and secure payment, and establish the date for the Staging.

Then the work begins of pulling the Staging together. I take time to source furnishings from my own inventory or outside source. I coordinate the financial aspects of the Staging. I pull a team together and hire them for the Staging day. More time in the process is taken here.

Once I process the payment according to the terms of the Agreement, I finally get paid. On Staging Day we meet early and get loaded up and ready. 70% of the Staging is completed by this point because I have been planning this project mentally and now it’s just a matter of executing the plan.

We drive to the house and get the Staging done. I coordinate the entire project – what piece goes where, what each room should look like, and convey that to the people I hired to work with me on the project.

Once the Staging is complete, I coordinate the return of trucks, pay for labor, and then turn to the marketing of the property. If there are any incidences with the Staging, my insurance policy is activated and I take care of it. My goal is to make the process as user-friendly and easy for Sellers and to get the house sold.

I take photos that I will share with Realtors as needed. I put your listing up on a special website featuring only Staged properties and brings leads to you. I send you an interactive media show on the house that you can use to market the property. I will create customized flyers for your future listings, and if I get a call from the house I Staged, the leads are passed to you as my partner in success.

And once the house Sells, I and my team come back and remove everything efficiently and effectively, and restock the inventory.

All this is done and included in the price of the Vacant Home Staging.

Can you see why something like this would cost more than $500?

WHAT ARE YOU PAYING ME FOR? Part 2 of 4 by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP President

In today's market, many people can be confused about what they are actually paying for when hiring a professional Stager. In my last post, I talked about the business overhead and marketing expenses, and the costs to having an actual business - not just a hobby - and why it's important to hire someone that knows what they are doing.


In this post - we talk about The Staging Consultation or as it is sometimes referred to "The Staging Report, Staging Plan, etc." No matter how you name it - the goal is to share with a Seller and/or Realtor what is needed to get a house ready for sale when the owner plans on doing the work themselves.... On average - the investment to provide a Staging Consultation averages between $150-$375 around the country and the pricing depends on the market where you live and the square footage of your house.


As you read below, consider this:

1. Average Appraisal: $400-$600

2. Average Home Inspection: $400+

3. Average Pest Inspection: $80-$100 and usually leads to $$$$ for repairs

Staging is the only service done in preparation of a house that brings MEASURABLE value and we help a homeowner keep 5-20% of their equity. So for the "Staging Report" - investing $150-$375 to get clear direction on what to do to help you keep 5-20% of your house value - is WORTH it!

For a Staging Consultation: I arrive at the scheduled time and rarely charge for time and gas to get to your client's house (unlike other service industries that have a "trip fee"). I have my report materials with me that I paid for - and a packet that I will leave with your client that I have prepped ahead of time.

When I walk in the door - I am immediately engaging my psychology skills to understand the Seller and what motivates them. In a matter of seconds to minutes I have to size up that person and adapt myself and my communication style to reflect theirs so we "sync" up and they are receptive to what I share. And when there is a couple - I must do this with not one, but two people - that I am sometimes meeting for the first time. This is called "developing Rapport" - and is a SKILL that must be learned through experience and training. Without Rapport - well - good luck getting your client to take down the painting of the naked woman or dead animal head they have hanging in their dining room.

Next, I have to walk through the house - first time to see it - and come up with "the Staging PLAN" in my head and figure out solutions that meet the Seller's timeframe and budget. I have to be able to "see" their house in a different way in my head. This talent is present in less than 10% of the population and it's more than just decluttering surfaces.

While I am there I am building camaraderie and rapport with the client - this is so when I go through my recommendations with them there is a foundation of trust and likeability between us. I do this in many ways - subtlety and skillfully.

Next, I prepare a detailed consultation report - and some Stagers hand-write this professionally while others prefer to type theirs. Regardless, your client is given a detailed summary of what is needed, room by room throughout the whole interior, and the curb appeal (all parts of their yard, the house, etc.) issue is addressed in detail as well.

When I go through my recommendations with the Seller, I must be able to communicate my vision effectively to the Seller in way that does not offend or hurt their feelings.

While I work with your client, I boost you as the Realtor - I edify, I am there as your advocate - I have your back. The deadline is set - and it all ties back to the desired MLS date that you have set with your client.

As a professional Stager that is networked throughout the region, I also provide Value Added Services to your Client in the form of discounts on things they may need such as paint supplies, moving services, storage services and more.

Then I follow up with your client - I make sure they are on track based on the goals and listing dates. I encourage them. I hand-hold if needed. I am available to help finish the Staging if they get overwhelmed or are not able to get it done themselves.

After the Staging is done, I help market that property (now not all Stagers do this - but I do). I take photos that I will share with Realtors as needed. I put your listing up on a special website featuring only Staged properties and brings leads to you. I send you an interactive media show on the house that you can use to market the property. I will create customized flyers for your future listings, and if I get a call from the house I Staged, the leads are passed to you as my partner in success.

All this is done and included in the price of the Staging Consultation Report. And all this helps YOU as the Seller or YOU as the Realtor (or as the Investor, Builder, etc.) KEEP more equity in the house.

So in summary - when you hire me for a Staging Consultation - you are paying me for my creativity, vision, ideas, psychology skills, communication skills, and business acumen to help get your client on board with the Staging and keep them on track.

It is a worthwhile investment to pay a Professional Home Stager to do it right!

WHAT ARE YOU PAYING ME FOR?

WHAT ARE YOU PAYING ME FOR? - by Jennie Norris, ASP Master, IAHSP Presidenrt

(Part 1 in a Series of 4)

I recently attended a real estate networking event and had a Realtor come to me and say, “It seems that all the Stagers in this market have increased their prices 100-fold and I cannot find anyone to work at the rate I paid before.” Intrigued I asked him about the pricing he had received and did my best not to laugh (or throw up in my mouth) when he shared that he was getting a vacant house Staged with rental inventory and time for only $500. I asked what happened to the person he was using, and he said, “She is not longer Staging.”

REALLY? Hmmm – I wonder why? Maybe it’s because she ran herself into the ground and was losing money – not able to even cover operating costs. It does not surprise me in the least this Stager is no longer around. And it upsets me to know there are still more wearing the same shoes of that Stager thinking “If I do it cheaply, people will hire me.”

My experience with anything CHEAP is that it does not hold up and the quality is poor. Cheap shoes, cheap clothing, cheap vacations . . . and Cheap Staging.

How many of these Cheap Stagers are lurking in your market and just what do we get paid for anyway?

This question has haunted me these past days as I mulled it over. It seems that the gap between wanting Staging to work but wanting it to be cheaply priced is still there and getting agents and sellers to walk over the Bridge of Value and understand WHAT we do in Staging needs to happen.

So just what DO you pay for when you hire a Stager AND WHY am I worth every dollar?

First, I have set up a BUSINESS. This means I have licenses, education and insurance. I have memberships, marketing fees and costs. That is called OVERHEAD. So the projects I do in Staging must at MINIMUM cover these basic operating costs to owning and operating a business. I did not get into business to lose money. It’s not just a hobby for me and it’s not just a way for me to get a creative “fix” by tweaking someone else’s house instead of my own.

Next, when I work with your client as a Realtor or with you as a Seller – you are not just paying me for ideas – although that is a large part of it. You are paying me for my vision and my ability to effectively communicate that vision to the Seller in a way that does not hurt their feelings or make them get upset at you for bringing me in to their house.

Anyone with creative bones can spew out an idea or thought. The key is to not do it with mean-spiritedness, not to offend. That takes experience and training. I am sad to say that probably over 50% of the “Stagers” in any market DO NOT have proper training and therefore are stomping all over the feelings (and odd items, poor paint choices, and clutter) of a Seller – instead of honoring that client.

When you pay me – you are paying for a skilled NEGOTIATOR, someone that understands the PSYCHOLOGY of Staging, and the MOTIVATING factors for a Seller.

You are paying me to make YOU look good to your Sellers . . . and if you are the public you are paying me to share honestly with you about your house and to explain the reasons behind recommendations in a way that makes you WANT to make changes.

You are paying me for my KNOWLEDGE of the market – and to know what should be done (or does not have to be done) to sell your house or listing. We are Selling your house or listing – and my job is to know WHAT recommendations are MOST important in your market.

I study statistics, I stay up on trends. I know what colors, fixtures, flooring, cabinetry, counters, etc. - are the ones Buyers want to see (and which ones they don’t) . . . and I know what it’s like to move and sell – it can be emotional, stressful, sad . . . and I don’t take that lightly.

You pay me for my discounts I get at local resources in your area.  I pass those through to my clients - unlike other industries where they make a profit on stuff or charge a fee for this - I include this as part of working with me as your Stager.

I am your advocate for future business referrals, Realtors. When you use me – and we form a Partnership for Success – I will help YOU get more business.

You see – Staging is NOT just about a “look” and having an idea for where to put the sofa or what clutter to take out.

Staging is a PROCESS – and it involves human emotions and feelings. It involves SKILL – creative and psychological . . . and It is a key tool to help sell a house to help the Seller achieve their goals and for Realtors to be successful.

Knowing all this - don’t you think it deserves the value that brings? Do you still think it should be CHEAP or want it to be CHEAP? And knowing that someone like me is out there and knows how to handle your client, is someone you can trust, is professional, has standards, training, and much more – don’t you believe that is worth working with me versus the low-ball leader?

Stay tuned for Parts 2-4 of this Series to understand WHAT you are paying for - the STEPS and PROCESSES a professional Stager goes through . . . to better help you know and understand the VALUE behind the PRICING.