After writing the blog about my successes and failures, I came to the wonderful realization that I had finally carved out a niche for myself here in New Hampshire. I enjoyed 26 years of cardiology nursing before switching over to home staging, so I knew a little about specializing. I got a broad nursing education, but then narrowed my work experience down until I reached a point where I was pretty darn good at something!
Remember those mazes that you did as a kid when you were on a long car trip? You took your pencil and moved it along the paper until you came to a "road block", then you'd have to backtrack and find the path without blocks, and finally you'd get to the End. Ha! Satisfying.
Here is my work maze: I've gone thru vacant staging, occupied staging, model staging, $2.2 million dollar to $300K home staging, staging consultations and staged photography. I started out rather broad then narrowed my work experience again until I've reached a point where I'm pretty darn good at --Staged Photography. I LOVE IT!!
There are so many home stagers at Active Rain who create gorgeous spaces from vacant properties. Now we have a Vacant Stager's Group dedicated to these business owners. It requires inventory and/or furniture rentals, monthly billing, trucks, deadlines, elevators, parking out front of buildings hoping you don't get towed...am I being clear? It's a tough home staging niche!
Nan Hayes offers training classes for Certification in Relocation & Transition Specialty, CRTS. This organization helps 55+ residents with relocation and re-organization. National Association of Senior Move Managers, check out this site if this sounds interesting to you. If you'd like to learn more, check out Nan's website or email her at nhayes@moveseniors.com
If you're a new stager trying to figure it all out-- try different staging projects. See what works for you in your area. Find out what you're good at, and what you're passionate about.
Grab hold, work hard, speak the universal language called kindness...I wish you great success.
Have you found your niche?
Staged First Impressions, Home Staging in NH. Offering Staged Photography to market homes for sale.
What is Staged Photography?
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Having a niche is so important. Before I got into real estate I practiced law - I started do real estate law -- condominium converstions -- that was fun! Then, I started specializing in environmental law and superfund cases -- I travelled all over the US -- that was fun! Then, I found that I loved mediation and it was far better than litigation and that was gratifying. Then, I moved to NH and didn't want to take the bar again so I got into real estate. I found a niche --working with buyers only! It requires a very different set of skills -- and it is very rewarding. I still find once and a while I feel like I am somewhere in that maze!