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Can you deliver the Goods?

By Lori Kim Polk

Home Stager with Premiere Home Staging : Home Staging Services

June 09, 2007 07:04 AM

The last two weeks has been a Staging Frenzy for me. I have run out of my own inventory and now I am renting from outside rental agencies. What I am finding is that the delivery fee has skyrocketed. It is anywhere from $150 to $490. Those prices are an entire room Staging for some homes and I do feel for my clients when I have to show them this. Are these entities taking advantage of the gas prices? What is it like in your area?

Lori Kim Polk, Artful Journey Designs and Staging, "Where We Exceed Your Expectations!"

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Cindy Richter

Interior Motiv Home Staging - Flower Mound, TX

IRIS Dallas, TX Home Stager

Not sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were. Gas is outrageous...but probably not as high as in CA!

Jun 09, 2007 07:57 AM

Lori Kim Polk

Premiere Home Staging : Home Staging Services - Roseville, CA

Home Stager - Roseville, Sacramento

Thanks Cindy. I am not sure what is going on but it definitely affects all of us!

Jun 09, 2007 08:19 AM

Michelle Minch

Moving Mountains Design Home Staging, Pasadena, CA - Los Angeles, CA

Home Staging Los Angeles and Orange County, CA

Hi LKP: So far prices here have held steady at Cort and Brook. $150 round trip unless you have an unusually large order. I have also found that the individual stores have a lot of leeway in what you get charged. The more you work with them, the more they will be willing/able to go out of thier way for you. $490 is outrageous. I would let them know that that is not acceptable and they will lose your business because of that.

Jun 09, 2007 08:26 AM

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Lori,

Here in Portland, Cort charges about $150-200 for most locations, but a fellow stager told me she was recently charged $500 by Cort due to the street location (difficult driveway, 23 steps to the front door). We also use People's Furniture and they charge a flat $100 for delivery & pick up. Like Michelle suggested, I would try to negotiate a better rate for your deliveries....those prices could really eat into your profit margin fast. Gas prices have come down this past week quite a bit, so they shouldn't be using that old excuse!

Oh by the way ~ I love your tagline! Is it new?

Jun 09, 2007 10:03 AM

Karen Otto

Home Star Staging - Plano, TX

Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Hello Ms. Lori - wow you have been busy! When you say you're using outside rental agencies isn't the client making the agreement with them(but I'm sure they're not happy about the cost)? Is Brook Furn. there? They generally have a flat rate I believe it's $150 for delivery and the eventual pick up of the large furniture. Do you have a source for rental accessories that you're using too? But I don't know if they change fees for different areas.

Jun 09, 2007 10:26 AM

Thank you Michelle, Maureen, and Karen. I have used Cort and Brook too several times and I may end up going back to them, altho I just got wind that Corts deliver went up. We have a new rental place here close to me that was opened up by a fellow Stager. She has some very neat things. I can just call her and she can put together something in a few hours. Her prices are competitive... but the delivery service starts at $150 and goes up from there depending on the amount of items. My last bid ended up with a $490 delivery charge! I asked her about it and she said that it was the way that she has decided to do it. Yikes! Yesterday, I did a cute Craftsman Bungello in old town and had to pursuade her to only charge me $150 for 6 items.

Rent-a-Center called me the other day and said that they would give me free delivery if I came back to them. Sounds inviting but they are really hit or miss with the inventory.

This gal has great stuff, she works hard to get your vision, has no minimum, can get the things out in 48 hours... but man I pay for it in the shorts! I am just not sure that I will want to continue to support her. I guess I have some decisions to make, huh?

Oh Karen. I also have had to buy some new accessories. The vacants are eating them up.

Jun 09, 2007 10:48 AM

Sheron Cardin

California Moods Inc - Selma, CA

ARTIST - A Home Stager/Sellers Best Friend!

Freight has always been a problem...they too have liability insurance etc., I have always charged freight separately and had clients pay separately. You want good deliverers who know how to set furniture down properly and take instruction well, especially in front of your clients. Convince your clients it is worth the extra dollars for the assurance of a timely delivery with quality handlers.

Jun 09, 2007 02:07 PM

Penny Schoenbeck

AZ Home Styling & Redesign - Mesa, AZ

AZ Home Styling

I usally rent from Aarons Corp. they charge $100 and if it's really far away they charge $150, those are both round trip. Not to bad!

Jun 09, 2007 03:59 PM

Can you deliver the Goods?

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