The title of this blog would make most of the people who know me laugh.  I am a huge advocate for never ever giving anything away for free- from a business prospective. Stagers work much too hard to discount their services whether that service is verbal or back breaking it should always be associated with a monetary amount.  No one values FREE, no one. 

How often have we heard had a homeowner or Realtor call us up and say would you mind just coming over and giving me a few ideas on what to do to prepare my home for market?  There is no fee for that right?  

But this is not a dissertation on why we Stagers should Never give away our services. This is actually a blog on the joy and satisfaction of working with a fabulous couple whose home we completed yesterday right up the street from my own home in Danville.

I met them almost a month ago through a wonderful Realtor from J. Rockcliff Realtors.  She had me do a consultation with the lovely couple who have strong English accents and a lively and engaging wit that had us laughing for the full hour.  They had lived in their lovely home for almost thirty years and they  were in the process of moving to the retirement community of Rossmore where they have just bought a home.

They had aquired hundreds of beautiful furnishings items over past three decades and each item had a strong a story they were wiling to share as we made our way through their home.  It took longer than usual because they had the Realtor and I laughing so much from their stories and jokes.  I have a special fondness for dry English humor and they had me laughing so hard at one point my eyes watered.

After the consultation we sent them the full room-by-room report and contract. They assured me that they had lots of help to get all the recommendations done and would be ready for staging soon.

Over the next several weeks we had phone conversations and a follow-up visit. The phone calls were often late at night and I became concerned when their voices became almost a whisper and they told me how exhausted they were by the process.  I stopped by to see how things were going and the couple looked like they had lost 10 pounds each and were about ready to collapse from exhaustion. I told them to stop packing - stop moving - stop whatever they had left. What items remained Staged to Sell would deal with at no extra charge. It seems their help had not materialized as planned and they were doing everything themselves.

When we arrived yesterday they were very tired and really ready to move on to their next home. They left that morning and we went to work using many of the homeowners own items. It took a even longer than expected, but when they returned at 4:00 and they entered the home they could not contain their excitement. They had smiles from ear to ear. I could feel this huge weight come right off their shoulders. Their wit and dry sense of humor returned and were in rare form.

The home they couldn't wait to leave just that morning was now "absolutely spectacular" in their eyes. When the Realtor arrived they practically ran to the door and told her their house had never looked so amazing. My crew and I were exhausted, but the satisfaction of helping this wonderful couple was worth every aching bone.

Sometimes margins are just not that darn important, I just hope my bookkeeper isn't listening.

Kym Hough's Staged to Sell serving Danville, Oakland, Lafayette, San Ramon and the Berkeley/Oakland area. For more information go to www.staged-to-sell.com