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The Worst Day of Home Staging Is Still Better Than ....Anything Else?

By Calie Waterhouse

Education & Training

June 19, 2007 02:26 PM

Home Staging, Property Merchandising, Redesign, Redecorating, Fluffing, Property Staging, Neutralizing ....

Before Staging After Staging

Let me be the first to admit it - I love staging and it's been very rewarding journey. But ... it's not all fun and games, is it? We have nannies and before/after school care. We drive mobile restaurants and have DVD players in our cars. We carry "inventory" with us every day and lug heavy boxes in/out of moving vans. We even spend countless hours searching for just the right accessory. The business of staging is hard work. The physical act of staging is back breaking hard work. When it's 110degrees outside or there's snow on the ground, this is hard work.

So - if it's such hard work, why do we do it? Allow me to share my opinion and then let's chat. Share with me your journey, your feelings and your reasons.

I believe ... It's plain and simple. Out of the gazillion people who inhabit Earth, we are a minority. We are amongst the very few who actually have the honor of saying that we LOVE what we do. We LOVE making a difference. We LOVE working with people, shopping, staging and the results of a job well done. For me, I LOVE the feeling of knowing that I'm actually doing something that I'm good at. I feel that I've been "called" to this profession and I'm proud to be a part of it.

Like the saying goes ...

"I'd rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate. ~ George Burns

Sound like you? How about ...

"If you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else."~ Joseph Campbell

And my all time favorite ....

"Chase your passion, not your pension. ~ Denise Waitley

1. Passion

2. Good at it.

3. Enjoy it.

So - Is your worst day of staging, still better than .... ?

How many reasons can we come up with for doing what we do?

4. (Your answer goes here)....

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Calie Waterhouse

Chandler, AZ

Community Builder

I found another saying that seems appropriate -

"She is so totally absorbed in a vocation -- both a gift and a mastering passion -- that she has no time to be absorbed with the self's worries about itself. And that is the moral of the story: You can pursue happiness by wearing a torn jersey. You can catch it by being good at something you love. - George Will

Jun 19, 2007 02:35 PM

Thanks for commenting Deborah - as the saying goes, "A blog without a comment, is like a day without sunshine" ... Thanks for brightening my day!

Jun 25, 2007 01:14 AM

Angie Vandenbergh

Crye-Leike, Realtors - Memphis, TN

A Crye-Leike Blogger

A note to everyone reading this article. It was featured in Active Rain's Week in Review 6/18/07---6/24/07

This post was one of the Top 25 picks for the week! Congratulations and thanks for writing a great blog!

Jun 25, 2007 02:20 AM

Thank you, Angie for including little ol' me in the Top 25....I'm still doing the happy dance! I hope everyone take a few extra minutes to read the blogs you've highlighted, Angie - all of them have so much to offer. It's overwhelming to think that A/R has amassed an extensive collection of brilliance in one place.

Jun 25, 2007 02:25 AM

Kimberley Hawley

Hawley Interiors & Staging - Caledon, ON

Hawley Interiors & Staging

I absolutely love what I do as well. Everyone gets excited about a staged home. The realtors are happy, the home owners are happy, therefore, I'm happy. Even when working with older folks who understand that I'm there to make their house more appealing to buyers and think this means I should take down all of the light fixtures and clean them, is better than a day in an office. Even when I come home with a swollen toe because I dropped a table on it is better than. . .like you said Calie . . .anything!

Jun 25, 2007 02:51 AM

Hey Kimberly - I see your new to A/R - WELCOME. Thanks for stopping by and adding your two cents. Now - an idea for your first blog - how about how you work with older folks? I know home staging with seniors is a growing challenge here in Arizona (we have a lot of seniors & retired folks) .... Hmmm.... something to think about.

Jun 25, 2007 02:55 AM

Kathleen Lordbock

Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN

Keller Williams Realty Professionals

Creative nesting - that is it! I've designed& re-designed my properties and helped friends and relatives for years because it was fun and I am good at it. Now I get to make money - wow!

Jun 25, 2007 04:47 AM

Hey Kathleen - if someone ever asks you about a name for their business, I think "Creative Nesting" would be a perfect redesign business name ... think about the logo possibilities! Thanks for stopping by - I'm glad to hear you're making money in Minnesota.

Jun 25, 2007 05:06 AM

I have a blog on names not to use

and it has a link to Yvonne Root's names that people are using for their staging companies, please add on.

Jun 25, 2007 06:07 AM

Thanks, Kathleen - I've already added my two cents, but it's still very funny! Thanks for the reminder.

Jun 25, 2007 06:13 AM

Julia Fedak

Royal LePage State Realty - Ancaster, ON

We help others...

we create, we share, we teach; and in turn, we learn. We learn about others. How they live. Most people have a story to tell....and I learn SOMETHING from EVERY staging.

that's what I love about it.

Julia

Jun 25, 2007 08:48 AM

Yvonne Root

rooms b.y. root - Prescott, AZ

Home Stager - Northern Arizona

Calie, I'm adding a reason for why I love this wild and wacky profession. You. It is so nice to be able to actually sit down (in Starbucks, of course) and talk with someone who knows this is a hard business to be in but also knows it is very rewarding and oh so fun! So, I'm more than a month late in getting here, but I finally made it. And, I must add I also love touching all the fun textures that come our way because we get to shop, shop and shop some more.

Jul 23, 2007 12:17 AM

Yvonne - you're just too sweet. I, too, enjoy our time together! You're an awesome lady with great talent. I'm the one who's fortunate to be able to call you a friend. :)

Jul 23, 2007 12:27 AM

Kathleen Garvey

HomeSmart Cherry Creek - Denver - Denver, CO

Denver's Neighborhood Expert - Listings & Sales

Hello Callie-My business is officially being organized as a home stager however, I have done this for years in different capacities! This is such a fantastic time for our industry and I am so thrilled to be a part it's growth! Your blog reminded me of the many smiles we give to people who just beam at the improvements we make!! Making money for something you Love is ideal and it simply takes belief in yourself!! Thank you!! Regards-Kathleen

Jul 23, 2007 08:41 AM

The Worst Day of Home Staging Is Still Better Than ....Anything Else?

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Calie Waterhouse

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